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Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
Followup with Playsight:
I tested the Neon Dust hybrid, driving 20 balls as hard as I can on the VC98+, comparing it to h 8hr old VS Touch 15L/PRCW18g hybrid, which I feel is a fairer match in string dimensions and launch angle.
Using fed forehands, I hit 5 cross and 5 inside out off both wings, as hard as I could with proper form for flattened topspin to keep the ball in, but not leaving the ground. Speed and spin were down 3 mph and 93 rpm down. Closer than I thought it felt but noticeable drop. The Cyclone 18L/ Pro Red Code Wax 18g was 2 mph faster and 73rpm higher off the forehand.
For serves, I hit 5 flat, 5 top and 5 slice serves each. Speed was down 4mph on average, and spin down 164rpm overall.
Overall, the Neon Dust really feels like a low powered string with above average feel (for such a thick string), for my game. I didn't bother testing further and just played. It's nice to swing out and take big cuts with, due to lower power characteristics, and the ball bite was quite decent (although the Playsight data did not show much spin enhancement, at least compared to my setup). Since I was hitting with a heavier topspin hitting partner, I ended up hitting out slightly flatter than I normally would, because my normal strokes were landing shorter. At net, despite being strung at 43/46, I felt less bite on slice volleys. I did do a couple of sneak attacks and those worked well, absorbing the incoming pace on the rise. The launch angle is medium low, partially due to the lower mains tension as recommended by Grapplesnake. My recommendation for Neon Dust is for those used to playing with 16g polys, looking for a bit of control but wanting to take big cuts.
 
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I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
@Sardines, I don't know if you have another set of Neon Dust to test, but I went against the Grapplesnake recommendation and retained my usual main tension and increased my usual cross tension by 3 pounds, and the stringbed was still relatively soft and comfy. The cross string is pretty soft and seems to lose a fair amount of tension - I think the CES mains would be better served by a stiffer, less tension-lossy cross string. It seems that the CES mains need to be firmly strung and supported in order to flatten the ball so the edges can grab the felt. Once the crosses lost tension, the amount of bite I went down pretty noticeably. The ball just started flying on me at around the 10 hour mark, and the strings were pretty notched by then as well.
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
I've only really hit with it for 3+ hrs, and it is loosening a bit but not a deep dive in tension like a Luxilon BB or something. My stringer does a 5% prestretch on his machine during stringing, which probably explains why tension maintenance is quite decent so far. @ 43/46lbs, there's plenty of 'pancaking, just not as much bite. That is why I think those who 'feel' they are getting more spin out of these strings isn't because of the string friction on the ball, but the ability to swing harder. Playsight shows me this, at least for my game. Going back to a normal tension should result in a higher launch angle.
I had notching after the 1st hour of easy hitting, but that's normal for me. I sorta like the board like feel. It's comfortable and not harsh at all even at full swing against a heavy ball. On the volley, the low power lends itself well for short and reflex volleys, even though there isn't as much bite or feel. I'd rather the string snap at 7-8 hrs @ 80% playability than last 20 hrs @ 65%. Overall, the strings are just too thick for me. If they shrink it by 0.05-0.1mm, I'll look at it again. Plus I want to test the new Volkl V-Square 18g as well, before I start my summer run.;):laughing:

Injured Again said:
@Sardines, I don't know if you have another set of Neon Dust to test, but I went against the Grapplesnake recommendation and retained my usual main tension and increased my usual cross tension by 3 pounds, and the stringbed was still relatively soft and comfy. The cross string is pretty soft and seems to lose a fair amount of tension - I think the CES mains would be better served by a stiffer, less tension-lossy cross string. It seems that the CES mains need to be firmly strung and supported in order to flatten the ball so the edges can grab the felt. Once the crosses lost tension, the amount of bite I went down pretty noticeably. The ball just started flying on me at around the 10 hour mark, and the strings were pretty notched by then as well.
Click to expand...
 
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S

spun_out

Semi-Pro
Injured Again said:
@Sardines, I don't know if you have another set of Neon Dust to test, but I went against the Grapplesnake recommendation and retained my usual main tension and increased my usual cross tension by 3 pounds, and the stringbed was still relatively soft and comfy. The cross string is pretty soft and seems to lose a fair amount of tension - I think the CES mains would be better served by a stiffer, less tension-lossy cross string. It seems that the CES mains need to be firmly strung and supported in order to flatten the ball so the edges can grab the felt. Once the crosses lost tension, the amount of bite I went down pretty noticeably. The ball just started flying on me at around the 10 hour mark, and the strings were pretty notched by then as well.
Click to expand...

i agree with this assessment. i couldn't make the hybrid work at lower tensions (42/45).
 
T

Tennis_NL

New User
Tennis_NL said:
Preliminary review Grapplesnake Alpha:
Strung Alpha on a Angell TC100 V3 at 22/21kg
Played with it for about 5 hours now. Definitely enjoy the comfort of this string, it is soft and my arm is quite sensitive at the moment and didn't ache at all.
I never really understood when people on these forums talked about controlled power. In my opinion they are opposites on a scale, it is either control or power. But now I do understand. This string definitely has more power than my normal set-up (Tier One Black Knight) but I could still control it and had a good feeling. The launch angle is moderate and lower than certain spin set-ups (for example Neon Dust hybrid). This string would have been ideal for me if it had a bit more bite to increase spin. The spin is a bit above average. I especially noticed the power increase in my serve and my opponents had a lot of trouble returning my serves.
Compared to the Neon Dust hybrid I definitely have a better feel with this string and know when the ball leaves my string if it will be in or out. That is something I couldn't always tell with Neon Dust. Though the spin potential with Neon Dust is considerable higher. Comfort is about the same for me.
I don't know the durability of the string yet but the strings are already moving in my racquet and in my case that normally means that it doesn't take that long for the string to snap. Will get back here when the string snaps and then I will put Tour Sniper in.
Click to expand...
Played some more with it and stand by mine preliminary review. Another thing I noticed is that making angles with this string is quite easy so my short cross shots were really a weapon. Didn't really notice a big drop in tension and would consider the tension maintenance quite good. However, there is one big disadvantage for me and that is the durability of the string, it snapped within 8 hours and most of that time were double matches. Other string with the same diameter last me 2 to 3 times longer.

I also played with Tour Sniper yesterday and today and it is a control string because of the low to medium level of power in it but I am missing spin with this string which made a lot of my shots just long or end in the net because of the low launch angle. I have the feeling that the Alpha has a bit more bite on the ball. I was having troubles serving because I couldn't get the string to bite the ball and then my slice and top spin serve were long or in the net. The comfort level of this string is once again really good. I had high expectations for this string but it is not a string which suits my game...
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
spun_out said:
i agree with this assessment. i couldn't make the hybrid work at lower tensions (42/45).
Click to expand...
If you read a few other reviews, some had success with spin at below 45 lbs tension, and others like yourself did not. While the physics would dictate higher tension/stiffer string bed may increase spin up to a point, the point of using Playsight to verify how much spin and pace, as well as trajectory of the ball path, of setups at 'my preferred' tension. I play in the high 50s with gut/poly, not all poly. I'm comfortable with Neon Dust @ 43/46, so I seriously doubt I'd like it at 53/50lbs, no matter how much spin I may get. I would have to play a somewhat different game, and that's too much of a departure for me.
A string should grip the ball well, if there is enough force to drive the ball 90+ mph and cause 'pancaking'. I didn't feel the string did as well as my other setups, and Playsight verified my impressions. I do not just rely on my 'feelings' or opponent impressions, which aren't quantifiable.
Normally, if there is more spin, the ball speed goes down and the trajectory changes. My admittedly very limited testing, shows the ball slowed and less spin. So it's indicative of lower power and less bite. Mind you, I compared it to gut/poly, which is known to have a very potent combination of power and bite. Even my own poly setup loses against it, but not by that much of a margin.
 
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liftordie

liftordie

Hall of Fame
Ready for my tournament tomorrow!!! I will grapplesnake them all!!!!!!!!! :cool::happydevil:

1558557177-img-20190522-200842.jpg
 
T

Tennis_Monk

Hall of Fame
I have received a demo set of strings for Tour Sniper and here are my observations.

Like other Strings from Grapple snake, these are very easy to string. Excellent tension maintenance. Very nice feel. Volleys and touch shots are great.

Topspin is ok but nothing like Cube or Alpha.
The strings are best suited for players with well rounded ground strokes ( which I'm not). When struck well, these strings are effective but not as forgiving on mishits. Flat serves are a pleasure to hit.

Of the three strings I used from Grapplesnake, I would rate Alpha the best with cube a close follower. I would recommend Alpha and definitely keep Alpha in my rotation.
 
K

kblades

Semi-Pro
First off, I want to say thanks to Grapplesnake for the demo set of Alpha. This is the first GS string I’ve tried, and I have been blown away by how great it plays.

A little about my game...I am very quick and play an attacking all court style game preferring to end points quickly. My semi western forehand is my biggest weapon, and I hit mainly a 2HBH but will also mix in slices and 1HBH’s. I have not played USTA but have been told by others that do that I would likely be rated as a 4.5. I played in HS and a year of D2 in college.

I picked up a stringer last year and since then have experimented with a bunch of different string setups and tensions. I also demoed a lot of racquets last year. Settled on the 2015 PD for awhile, but ended up switching to the PS 16x19 for more control. My go to string setup in both of those racquets ended up being a full bed of YPTP, 1.25 in the PD and 1.20 in the PS @ 48lbs.

Alpha is the first string I’ve played with that I really can’t find where it is lacking in any one particular aspect. It is also the best combination I’ve found of “controlled power” even though that may sound contradictory. It is more powerful than many polys I’ve tried, yet I feel like I can tell right when the ball leaves the string bed where it’s going to land.

I strung it at 48lbs and it feels plush and comfy, more so than even PTP which most consider to be a softer poly. I’ve also found the tension maintenance and playability to be superb. With PTP, I can feel the playability dropping off as I play and have to keep adjusting my game slightly to compensate. But Alpha has maintained a very consistent feel and response.

The spin has also been above average compared to most strings I’ve played. I’ve been hitting some incredible angles playing with this string. Also, my playing partners have commented on how much more spin they’ve noticed on my slice serves and are having a harder time returning them.

I don’t consider it a negative, but the one area that required a little adjusting to was on touch shots. Due to it being a bit more powerful, I was finding drop shots landing deeper than I wanted. But after spending more time with it, I was able to dial back some on these shots and they started coming around.

So in summary, I thoroughly enjoyed Alpha. Powerful, yet still offers great control, great spin, comfortable, and good tension maintenance. I really can’t find anything negative to say about it other than perhaps it may be too powerful in some racquets such as a PD. It may also not be a good fit if you hit flatter. When I’d get lazy on my FH’s and not hit up on the ball with spin, I knew right away the ball was going to sail long. So if you hit flat, I could see this string being too powerful for some.

Edit: I have decided to make the switch to Alpha. I felt it outperforms my current string of choice in every category. I’m also going to recommend it to some of the better players I string for as I think they would enjoy it as well.

I’ll also continue to advocate for Grapplesnake. Their communications with me have been very prompt and they shipped out my demo set right away. So thanks for the great customer service and again for the opportunity to play test Alpha!


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Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
kdm711 said:
First off, I want to say thanks to Grapplesnake for the demo set of Alpha. This is the first GS string I’ve tried, and I have been blown away by how great it plays.

A little about my game...I am very quick and play an attacking all court style game preferring to end points quickly. My semi western forehand is my biggest weapon, and I hit mainly a 2HBH but will also mix in slices and 1HBH’s. I have not played USTA but have been told by others that do that I would likely be rated as a 4.5. I played in HS and a year of D2 in college.

I picked up a stringer last year and since then have experimented with a bunch of different string setups and tensions. I also demoed a lot of racquets last year. Settled on the 2015 PD for awhile, but ended up switching to the PS 16x19 for more control. My go to string setup in both of those racquets ended up being a full bed of YPTP, 1.25 in the PD and 1.20 in the PS @ 48lbs.

Alpha is the first string I’ve played with that I really can’t find where it is lacking in any one particular aspect. It is also the best combination I’ve found of “controlled power” even though that may sound contradictory. It is more powerful than many polys I’ve tried, yet I feel like I can tell right when the ball leaves the string bed where it’s going to land.

I strung it at 48lbs and it feels plush and comfy, more so than even PTP which most consider to be a softer poly. I’ve also found the tension maintenance and playability to be superb. With PTP, I can feel the playability dropping off as I play and have to keep adjusting my game slightly to compensate. But Alpha has maintained a very consistent feel and response.

The spin has also been above average compared to most strings I’ve played. I’ve been hitting some incredible angles playing with this string. Also, my playing partners have commented on how much more spin they’ve noticed on my slice serves and are having a harder time returning them.

I don’t consider it a negative, but the one area that required a little adjusting to was on touch shots. Due to it being a bit more powerful, I was finding drop shots landing deeper than I wanted. But after spending more time with it, I was able to dial back some on these shots and they started coming around.

So in summary, I thoroughly enjoyed Alpha. Powerful, yet still offers great control, great spin, comfortable, and good tension maintenance. I really can’t find anything negative to say about it other than perhaps it may be too powerful in some racquets such as a PD. It may also not be a good fit if you hit flatter. When I’d get lazy on my FH’s and not hit up on the ball with spin, I knew right away the ball was going to sail long. So if you hit flat, I could see this string being too powerful for some.

But for me I found it suited my game and racquet very well. I am considering switching to it but for me it ultimately comes down to deciding if it’s worth spending ~2x more per string job than YPTP. If I was playing competitively, it’d be a no brainer. But since I play mostly recreationally these days it’s a tougher sell. Actually, kicking myself for missing out on the Memorial Day sale and not picking up a reel of it :)

Either way, I’ll continue to recommend this string to others and advocate for Grapplesnake. Their communications with me have been very prompt and they shipped out my demo set right away. So thanks for the great customer service and again for the opportunity to play test Alpha!


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Click to expand...

Thank you for your review!

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
Nick777

Nick777

Semi-Pro
kdm711 said:
First off, I want to say thanks to Grapplesnake for the demo set of Alpha. This is the first GS string I’ve tried, and I have been blown away by how great it plays.

A little about my game...I am very quick and play an attacking all court style game preferring to end points quickly. My semi western forehand is my biggest weapon, and I hit mainly a 2HBH but will also mix in slices and 1HBH’s. I have not played USTA but have been told by others that do that I would likely be rated as a 4.5. I played in HS and a year of D2 in college.

I picked up a stringer last year and since then have experimented with a bunch of different string setups and tensions. I also demoed a lot of racquets last year. Settled on the 2015 PD for awhile, but ended up switching to the PS 16x19 for more control. My go to string setup in both of those racquets ended up being a full bed of YPTP, 1.25 in the PD and 1.20 in the PS @ 48lbs.

Alpha is the first string I’ve played with that I really can’t find where it is lacking in any one particular aspect. It is also the best combination I’ve found of “controlled power” even though that may sound contradictory. It is more powerful than many polys I’ve tried, yet I feel like I can tell right when the ball leaves the string bed where it’s going to land.

I strung it at 48lbs and it feels plush and comfy, more so than even PTP which most consider to be a softer poly. I’ve also found the tension maintenance and playability to be superb. With PTP, I can feel the playability dropping off as I play and have to keep adjusting my game slightly to compensate. But Alpha has maintained a very consistent feel and response.

The spin has also been above average compared to most strings I’ve played. I’ve been hitting some incredible angles playing with this string. Also, my playing partners have commented on how much more spin they’ve noticed on my slice serves and are having a harder time returning them.

I don’t consider it a negative, but the one area that required a little adjusting to was on touch shots. Due to it being a bit more powerful, I was finding drop shots landing deeper than I wanted. But after spending more time with it, I was able to dial back some on these shots and they started coming around.

So in summary, I thoroughly enjoyed Alpha. Powerful, yet still offers great control, great spin, comfortable, and good tension maintenance. I really can’t find anything negative to say about it other than perhaps it may be too powerful in some racquets such as a PD. It may also not be a good fit if you hit flatter. When I’d get lazy on my FH’s and not hit up on the ball with spin, I knew right away the ball was going to sail long. So if you hit flat, I could see this string being too powerful for some.

Edit: I have decided to make the switch to Alpha. I felt it outperforms my current string of choice in every category. I’m also going to recommend it to some of the better players I string for as I think they would enjoy it as well.

I’ll also continue to advocate for Grapplesnake. Their communications with me have been very prompt and they shipped out my demo set right away. So thanks for the great customer service and again for the opportunity to play test Alpha!


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Click to expand...
Can you please compare Alpha to yptp at control and touch? It is a little more powerfull also right?
 
Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
kdm711 said:
First off, I want to say thanks to Grapplesnake for the demo set of Alpha. This is the first GS string I’ve tried, and I have been blown away by how great it plays.

A little about my game...I am very quick and play an attacking all court style game preferring to end points quickly. My semi western forehand is my biggest weapon, and I hit mainly a 2HBH but will also mix in slices and 1HBH’s. I have not played USTA but have been told by others that do that I would likely be rated as a 4.5. I played in HS and a year of D2 in college.

I picked up a stringer last year and since then have experimented with a bunch of different string setups and tensions. I also demoed a lot of racquets last year. Settled on the 2015 PD for awhile, but ended up switching to the PS 16x19 for more control. My go to string setup in both of those racquets ended up being a full bed of YPTP, 1.25 in the PD and 1.20 in the PS @ 48lbs.

Alpha is the first string I’ve played with that I really can’t find where it is lacking in any one particular aspect. It is also the best combination I’ve found of “controlled power” even though that may sound contradictory. It is more powerful than many polys I’ve tried, yet I feel like I can tell right when the ball leaves the string bed where it’s going to land.

I strung it at 48lbs and it feels plush and comfy, more so than even PTP which most consider to be a softer poly. I’ve also found the tension maintenance and playability to be superb. With PTP, I can feel the playability dropping off as I play and have to keep adjusting my game slightly to compensate. But Alpha has maintained a very consistent feel and response.

The spin has also been above average compared to most strings I’ve played. I’ve been hitting some incredible angles playing with this string. Also, my playing partners have commented on how much more spin they’ve noticed on my slice serves and are having a harder time returning them.

I don’t consider it a negative, but the one area that required a little adjusting to was on touch shots. Due to it being a bit more powerful, I was finding drop shots landing deeper than I wanted. But after spending more time with it, I was able to dial back some on these shots and they started coming around.

So in summary, I thoroughly enjoyed Alpha. Powerful, yet still offers great control, great spin, comfortable, and good tension maintenance. I really can’t find anything negative to say about it other than perhaps it may be too powerful in some racquets such as a PD. It may also not be a good fit if you hit flatter. When I’d get lazy on my FH’s and not hit up on the ball with spin, I knew right away the ball was going to sail long. So if you hit flat, I could see this string being too powerful for some.

Edit: I have decided to make the switch to Alpha. I felt it outperforms my current string of choice in every category. I’m also going to recommend it to some of the better players I string for as I think they would enjoy it as well.

I’ll also continue to advocate for Grapplesnake. Their communications with me have been very prompt and they shipped out my demo set right away. So thanks for the great customer service and again for the opportunity to play test Alpha!


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Click to expand...

Thank you so much! Alpha is an excellent string, and we are happy to hear you made the switch!

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
K

kblades

Semi-Pro
Nick777 said:
Can you please compare Alpha to yptp at control and touch? It is a little more powerfull also right?
Click to expand...

Yes, Alpha is more powerful but better control also than yptp even though that sounds strange. Like I mentioned, Alpha just gave me confidence as soon as I hit my shots I knew where the ball was going to land.

As far as touch, I would give the edge to yptp due to it being less powerful which makes controlling depth on touch shots easier.

Compared to yptp, Alpha has better spin potential, felt softer, and in my opinion retained a consistent response and playability longer. I cut yptp out after 8-10 hours which by then tension has usually dropped below 40lbs and loses its playability. Shots start becoming erratic and I notice a significant drop off in control.

I’m at around 10 hours with Alpha and tension has dropped to 38lbs but its still retaining its playability. One thing I noticed with Alpha is it had a higher initial tension loss than yptp. I strung Alpha at 48lbs and 24 hrs after coming off the stringer without playing it had dropped to 42lbs. So prestretching may be a good idea to help with this initial tension loss. But after settling it has retained tension pretty well. For reference, I am stringing with a Prince Neos lockout machine, so if you are stringing with a CP machine it may help stretch it some as well.

@Grapplesnake USA Official I recall you mentioning tour sniper is prestretched from the factory. Is Alpha also prestreteched?


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Nick777

Nick777

Semi-Pro
kdm711 said:
Yes, Alpha is more powerful but better control also than yptp even though that sounds strange. Like I mentioned, Alpha just gave me confidence as soon as I hit my shots I knew where the ball was going to land.

As far as touch, I would give the edge to yptp due to it being less powerful which makes controlling depth on touch shots easier.

Compared to yptp, Alpha has better spin potential, felt softer, and in my opinion retained a consistent response and playability longer. I cut yptp out after 8-10 hours which by then tension has usually dropped below 40lbs and loses its playability. Shots start becoming erratic and I notice a significant drop off in control.

I’m at around 10 hours with Alpha and tension has dropped to 38lbs but its still retaining its playability. One thing I noticed with Alpha is it had a higher initial tension loss than yptp. I strung Alpha at 48lbs and 24 hrs after coming off the stringer without playing it had dropped to 42lbs. So prestretching may be a good idea to help with this initial tension loss. But after settling it has retained tension pretty well.

@Grapplesnake USA Official I recall you mentioning tour sniper is prestretched from the factory. Is Alpha also prestreteched?


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Click to expand...
Thanks a lot, i ll give it a try some time, too bad its not available in my Country, i dont like the idea of prestretching a poly, is it as powerfull as cyclone tour for example? The bad thing is that my yptp reel almost finished but i am not going to buy a different poly reel without testing especially something that is 50€ more expensive than Yptp which i am satisfied overall
 
Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
Nick777 said:
Thanks a lot, i ll give it a try some time, too bad its not available in my Country, i dont like the idea of prestretching a poly, is it as powerfull as cyclone tour for example? The bad thing is that my yptp reel almost finished but i am not going to buy a different poly reel without testing especially something that is 50€ more expensive than Yptp which i am satisfied overall
Click to expand...

Where are you located?

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
kdm711 said:
Yes, Alpha is more powerful but better control also than yptp even though that sounds strange. Like I mentioned, Alpha just gave me confidence as soon as I hit my shots I knew where the ball was going to land.

As far as touch, I would give the edge to yptp due to it being less powerful which makes controlling depth on touch shots easier.

Compared to yptp, Alpha has better spin potential, felt softer, and in my opinion retained a consistent response and playability longer. I cut yptp out after 8-10 hours which by then tension has usually dropped below 40lbs and loses its playability. Shots start becoming erratic and I notice a significant drop off in control.

I’m at around 10 hours with Alpha and tension has dropped to 38lbs but its still retaining its playability. One thing I noticed with Alpha is it had a higher initial tension loss than yptp. I strung Alpha at 48lbs and 24 hrs after coming off the stringer without playing it had dropped to 42lbs. So prestretching may be a good idea to help with this initial tension loss. But after settling it has retained tension pretty well. For reference, I am stringing with a Prince Neos lockout machine, so if you are stringing with a CP machine it may help stretch it some as well.

@Grapplesnake USA Official I recall you mentioning tour sniper is prestretched from the factory. Is Alpha also prestreteched?


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Click to expand...

Tour Sniper comes partially pre-stretched to minimize that initial tension loss that is characteristic of the particular formula we are using on it, but at the same time we didn't want it to become stiff by taking all its elasticity, and that's why it's not fully pre-stretched.

Alpha isn't pre-stretched.

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
marquette100

marquette100

Semi-Pro
I used both the Cube and Alpha tennis string over the weekend When stringing you could tell cube was your extra shaped poly string, wire like with sharp edges making it a little more uncomfortable to string. Alpha was soft and did not feel like a poly when stringing at all, a complete breeze to string. Testing them out, Cube was a little dead for my liking, but did have great spin. Just not the pop i like out of my string. Alpha on the other hand was the most unique string I have ever tried. SO comfortable for a poly, lots of pop and feel/control. Not as much spin as the cube but you are so connected to the ball it doesn't matter. This is a string you must try. I have tried a lot of poly string and nothing plays like this. I am going to test out the tour sniper next, but Alpha appears to be my next string of choice. Extremely impressed.
 
A

AA7

Hall of Fame
@Grapplesnake USA Official

Any specific tension recommendations for Alpha... slightly under mid-tension?
how it the tension loss? if i am looking to settle in around 47lbs... do i string it 51lbs and have it drop and stabilize around 47?
 
Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
marquette100 said:
I used both the Cube and Alpha tennis string over the weekend When stringing you could tell cube was your extra shaped poly string, wire like with sharp edges making it a little more uncomfortable to string. Alpha was soft and did not feel like a poly when stringing at all, a complete breeze to string. Testing them out, Cube was a little dead for my liking, but did have great spin. Just not the pop i like out of my string. Alpha on the other hand was the most unique string I have ever tried. SO comfortable for a poly, lots of pop and feel/control. Not as much spin as the cube but you are so connected to the ball it doesn't matter. This is a string you must try. I have tried a lot of poly string and nothing plays like this. I am going to test out the tour sniper next, but Alpha appears to be my next string of choice. Extremely impressed.
Click to expand...

Super!

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
AA7 said:
@Grapplesnake USA Official

Any specific tension recommendations for Alpha... slightly under mid-tension?
how it the tension loss? if i am looking to settle in around 47lbs... do i string it 51lbs and have it drop and stabilize around 47?
Click to expand...

For Alpha, we recommend using your normal preferred poly tension. The string behaves very well at high and low tensions.

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
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P

PigPen

Professional
I tried Irukandji as a cross for NG. The string has good feel and low power (what I am looking for), but seems to have more of a ping than I'm used to. I was thinking of trying tour sniper as a cross with ng. Any thoughts?
 
liftordie

liftordie

Hall of Fame
PigPen said:
I tried Irukandji as a cross for NG. The string has good feel and low power (what I am looking for), but seems to have more of a ping than I'm used to. I was thinking of trying tour sniper as a cross with ng. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Try and let us know! ;)
 
Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
PigPen said:
I tried Irukandji as a cross for NG. The string has good feel and low power (what I am looking for), but seems to have more of a ping than I'm used to. I was thinking of trying tour sniper as a cross with ng. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Tour Sniper is a very good alternative as a Cross, because even though it is pentagonal, its edges are not very sharp and will provide spin and excellent control + feel along with Nat Gut.

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
loosegroove

loosegroove

Hall of Fame
Just strung up my Prince Phantom Pro 100 with Alpha 17g. I was planning on putting them in my newish Tour 100 310, but since I've ultimately made the decision to stick with the Pro 100, I figured I'd put them in there. Stringing them up, I thought Alpha felt a little thick for 1.25mm, not that it concerns me. The shaped profile didn't seem too extreme, and the string feels pretty slick (minimal friction when pulling the crosses though the mains). Let's see how they play tonight!
 
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Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
loosegroove said:
Just strung up my Prince Phantom Pro 100 with Alpha 17g. I was planning on putting them in my newish Tour 100 310, but since I've ultimately made the decision to stick with the Pro 100, I figured I'd put them in there. Stringing them up, I thought Alpha felt a little thick for 1.25mm, not that it concerns me. The shaped profile didn't seem too extreme, and the string feels pretty slick (minimal friction when pulling the crosses though the mains). Let's see how they play tonight!
Click to expand...

Hope you enjoyed Alpha! Can't wait to read your impressions.

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
K

kblades

Semi-Pro
loosegroove said:
Just strung up my Prince Phantom Pro 100 with Alpha 17g. I was planning on putting them in my newish Tour 100 310, but since I've ultimately made the decision to stick with the Pro 100, I figured I'd put them in there. Stringing them up, I thought Alpha felt a little thick for 1.25mm, not that it concerns me. The shaped profile didn't seem too extreme, and the string feels pretty slick (minimal friction when pulling the crosses though the mains). Let's see how they play tonight!
Click to expand...

Alpha is 1.25mm which is considered 16L compared to most standards. So it would seem thick if you were thinking it was a 17g (generally 1.20mm), but compared to other 16L/1.25mm strings it doesn’t seem any thicker than other imo.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
loosegroove

loosegroove

Hall of Fame
kdm711 said:
Alpha is 1.25mm which is considered 16L compared to most standards. So it would seem thick if you were thinking it was a 17g (generally 1.20mm), but compared to other 16L/1.25mm strings it doesn’t seem any thicker than other imo.
Click to expand...

There is no definitive standard for gauges, so I'm not sure why I referred to it as 17g. Anywho, I thought it seemed a little thicker than most 1.25s based on how snug it was in my Wise gripper, but maybe I felt that way since I've strung up primarily thin gauge lately.
 
marquette100

marquette100

Semi-Pro
I have tried Tour sniper. Very nice string, compared to Alpha it has just a little less power but felt like a little more spin. Not as soft as Alpha but still a very soft and comfortable poly. Would recommend giving it a try.
 
loosegroove

loosegroove

Hall of Fame
loosegroove said:
Just strung up my Prince Phantom Pro 100 with Alpha 17g. I was planning on putting them in my newish Tour 100 310, but since I've ultimately made the decision to stick with the Pro 100, I figured I'd put them in there. Stringing them up, I thought Alpha felt a little thick for 1.25mm, not that it concerns me. The shaped profile didn't seem too extreme, and the string feels pretty slick (minimal friction when pulling the crosses though the mains). Let's see how they play tonight!
Click to expand...

Had a few outings with Alpha strung up in my Prince Phantom Pro 100 at 45lbs. The main characteristics of this string are it’s predictable and control-oriented. Depth was easy to modulate and directional control was outstanding; I could really go for my targets. Coming from some juicier polys recently like Cyclone Tour, Signum Tornado, and Kirshbaum Evolution, Alpha felt a bit lower on the power spectrum. But it wasn’t too low powered, and it really rewarded stepping into the ball and taking good cuts. It wasn’t really a string for sitting on your back foot and rolling back shots, nor did it give me the sensation of judicious bite and ball pocketing. However it responded great when being assertive and committing to my strokes. Spin was good, and the launch angle wasn’t too drastic or erratic, which can sometimes be the case for me with shaped polys. I could easily alternate between high and deep arcing shots with plenty of net clearance, to low dipping passing shots. Alpha is comfy, but doesn’t feel so muted like regular Cyclone, or mushy like some other softer polys. I was missing a little power on serve (which I really need), but placement was great. And at net I was finding great touch. Overall Alpha’s a really well balanced poly. I think it probably would have been just the type of string I was looking for in my Prince Tour 310, where I sometimes found myself spraying groundstrokes. It still worked well in my Phantom Pro 100, but in this flexy low powered stick, I think I prefer a poly with a little more pop to help bail me out when I’m on the defensive or being lazy.
 
loosegroove

loosegroove

Hall of Fame
Just played against one of the bigger hitters (4.5) I have in my singles rotation, and I think this is where the virtues of Alpha shone most for me. With heavier balls and more pace coming my way, I really appreciated the control of Alpha, and could respond in kind with good cuts of my own. Power didn't seem to be lacking at all. Where I was most impressed was with my approach shots, and when coming in on my opponent's drop shots. The predictable trajectory made it easy for me to be aggressive with my forehand in these situations without hesitation.

During some casual doubles yesterday, after a day of bbqing, I felt like the string was feeling pretty low powered. But today, with my feet moving, and in a more competitive match, I thought the power level was just about perfect. It performs as advertised.
 
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Grapplesnake USA Official

Grapplesnake USA Official

Professional
loosegroove said:
Just played against one of the bigger hitters (4.5) I have in my singles rotation, and I think this is where the virtues of Alpha shone most for me. With heavier balls and more pace coming my way, I really appreciated the control of Alpha, and could respond in kind with good cuts of my own. Power didn't seem to be lacking at all. Where I was most impressed was with my approach shots, and when coming in on my opponent's drop shots. The predictable trajectory made it easy for me to be aggressive with my forehand in these situations without hesitation.

During some casual doubles yesterday, after a day of bbqing, I felt like the string was feeling pretty low powered. But today, with my feet moving, and in a more competitive match, I thought the power level was just about perfect. It performs as advertised.
Click to expand...

Happy you like it!

Grapplesnake USA
Tennis Strings Made in Germany
grapplesnakestringsusa@gmail.com
 
S

SlvrDragon50

Semi-Pro
Finally got to play with my Grapplesnake strings. I am really enjoying the Irukandji! I moved from 54/58 lbs of MSV Focus Hex 18/OGSM 18 to 54/58 of Grapplesnake Irukandji/OGSM 18. With the larger gauge poly, I was able to swing much faster without the balls sailing long. I think the sweet spot has narrowed a bit though as I was hitting just outside the sweet spot quite often. However, when I did hit in the sweet spot, it was so easy to hit with spin and control. I only played for about 2 hours today, and I am hoping to get at least 8-13 more hours out of this set.
 
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