Luxilon Bronze Prototype Review

[Geoff]

The good folks at Wilson sent BounceHitBounceHit and I a set of a new Luxilon string that I will call LuxilonBronze Prototype. It is bronze in color and is a poly. It is a 1.25mm gauge. I have hit with the string 5 times so far exclusively on hard courts (inside and outside).

My general review of the test string is pretty straight forward. It has good power for a poly. Easy on the arm. Nothing out of the ordinary spin wise. Very crisp feel and sound at contact. Easy to string. Good feel on touch shots and volleys. No compromise necessary for going from pace to spin. Really great at handling shots with a lot of pace. No trampolining found. I would compare this string to Luxilon 4G but softer and more powerful.

Tension(s) used for playtest - 24kg mains/23kg crosses
Regular string set up - Federer set up - Wilson Natural Gut 16/Luxilon ALU Rough (25kg/24kg)
Racquet brand and model used for test - Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph
Power of test string - Very Good
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - Crisp
Spin - Gives back what you put into it
Comfort - Very good with no discomfort at all in the arm
Durability - So far has lasted 8+ hours
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - Has maintained tension and playability from being freshly strung on 3/16
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - Very good control. No trampolining or unforeseen shots flying off the string bed.
Compare to the string you use most often - normal set up is my ultimate comfort and power set up. The test string is a stiffer feel and a crisper sound at impact
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) - I would not string this string at the top of the tension range. I would recommend 2-5 pounds below one's normal tension
List any additional thoughts (optional) - Will be interested where Wilson/Luxilon position this string in their current lineup. It could be part of their Soft family of strings. It was very easy to string for a poly.

Thank you Wilson for the opportunity to test this very interesting string. In my opinion this will be a very popular string.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

Sounds perfect, when is it coming out? Do you recommend to 4g users?

 

[Geoff]

Sounds perfect, when is it coming out? Do you recommend to 4g users?

I was told it is slated for a 2016 launch. I would definitely recommend 4G users give this a try.

 

[SpinToWin]

Can you take a picture of it and upload it or is that not allowed?

Sounds like a really interesting string. I hope the price is sensible.

 

[TennisManiac]

You just described Alu Power.

 

[Geoff]

Can you take a picture of it and upload it or is that not allowed?

Sounds like a really interesting string. I hope the price is sensible.

Hello Spin

Happy to share a picture taken after it was freshly strung

 

[SpinToWin]

Hello Spin

Happy to share a picture taken after it was freshly strung

Thanks!

You're spot on with the Bronze color. Now Luxilon has gold (4G), silver (Alu) and Bronze

 

[maxpotapov]

So now it has copper instead of aluminium or gold?

 

[Geoff]

Durability Update

10 minutes into hitting this am with Talk Tennis member mrc, the Luxilon Bronze prototype broke. The string lasted a little over 8 hours which was mostly singles with 1.5 hours of doubles included in the total. Probably should not have tried that ridiculous cross court angle on the dead run (which I missed).



Back to the trusty Federer set up!

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

10 minutes into hitting this am with Talk Tennis member mrc, the Luxilon Bronze prototype broke. The string lasted a little over 8 hours which was mostly singles with 1.5 hours of doubles included in the total. Probably should not have tried that ridiculous cross court angle on the dead run (which I missed).



Back to the trusty Federer set up!

Nah.......when you make 99/100 it tends to encourage a man! BHBH

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

My experience with the Luxilon Bronze Prototype has been much more limited than Geoff's as I've only used it for a few hours in an over-size, extended length frame I was considering before settling on the YT IG Rad Pro. So here goes with the caveat there will be more to follow once I've hit it more and in my preferred frame.

My first impression was very positive. I love the color of the string which perfectly compliments the orange hues of my new main squeeze frame. I tend to form an opinion of a string quickly, and once I find something I like well I stick with it. Through many 'flings' away from my AK90's over the years the constant was Lux BB Ace 18! And since I've only very recently migrated to Solinco Tour Bite 17 (in large part owing to my desire to find something a bit easier on the arm) I really wasn't "looking" for a new string. But Wilson offered, and hey who am I to say no??

So, what about the string, right?? Well, as much as I like TB the new Lux Bronze could change my mind!! This is a crisp but forgiving, arm friendly poly with excellent spin and an intoxicating (and unique, in my experience) SOUND at impact. What I hear with TB is more of a 'thud', but with the Lux Bronze it's more of a "Kerrr-wackkkk!!" I LOVE that sound! The LuxBronze also provided more power than I'm accustomed to with either BB Ace 18 or TB. And oh, it feels NOTHING like ALU Power, which I detest.

Best,

BHBH

 

[Rabbit]

I love the color of the string which perfectly compliments the orange hues of my new main squeeze frame.

OK, now I am concerned. Geoff, has BHBH taken a recent blow to the head? Maybe an errant overhead from you? Or too many dives on hard courts?

Through many 'flings' away from my AK90's over the years the constant was Lux BB Ace 18! And since I've only very recently migrated to Solinco Tour Bite 17 (in large part owing to my desire to find something a bit easier on the arm) I really wasn't "looking" for a new string. But Wilson offered, and hey who am I to say no??

Interesting.... Did you ever try Ace at a tension lower than 63 (which I believe was your old tension)? I always wondered how comfortable that was, I didn't dare try it!

The LuxBronze also provided more power than I'm accustomed to with either BB Ace 18 or TB. And oh, it feels NOTHING like ALU Power, which I detest.

Best,

BHBH

Again, surprising! What don't you like about ALU in comparison?


If you're looking for a softer 18 that pockets and feels great, may I suggest a full bed of Prince XT 18?

Enjoy the spring as the world renews!

 

[Geoff]

OK, now I am concerned. Geoff, has BHBH taken a recent blow to the head? Maybe an errant overhead from you? Or too many dives on hard courts?

Yes Rabbit we are in mourning to BHBH going to the dark side. Could this be the apocalypse?

 

[Rabbit]

You don't mean!

Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!

Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...

The dead rising from the grave!

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

All from this? Or could it be from this?

He said: "The colors, the colors. Has anybody seen my good friend John?" Then he lit up a banana and then he hung up.

Has he been self-medicating by chance?

 

[Geoff]

You don't mean!






All from this? Or could it be from this?



Has he been self-medicating by chance?

Hello Rabbit. Maybe I am to blame with being the enabler. I start building more frames for him tonight. It allows me to pretend I am P1!

 

[Rabbit]

WOW! A friend indeed! I still think he should give the 2008 C10 a whirl.

 

[Geoff]

WOW! A friend indeed! I still think he should give the 2008 C10 a whirl.

New old stock and replacement parts are hard enough to find for the previous iterations. I can't imagine what it would be like to search for 7 year old frames and parts.

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Ten characters

Responses below!!!!

OK, now I am concerned. Geoff, has BHBH taken a recent blow to the head? Maybe an errant overhead from you? Or too many dives on hard courts?

>>>>>>>>>Just the usual dementia. Nothing new my friend.



Interesting.... Did you ever try Ace at a tension lower than 63 (which I believe was your old tension)? I always wondered how comfortable that was, I didn't dare try it!

>>>>>>>>>I did. Didn't play as well (for me!)



Again, surprising! What don't you like about ALU in comparison?

>>>>>>>>>The ALU always had a 'plastic' feel in my estimation. The Lux Bronze really 'pockets' the ball and has much better feel.


If you're looking for a softer 18 that pockets and feels great, may I suggest a full bed of Prince XT 18?

>>>>>>>>>I am in love. For now. :twisted:

Enjoy the spring as the world renews!

>>>>>>>>>>Finally!!!!!!!!

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Hello Rabbit. Maybe I am to blame with being the enabler. I start building more frames for him tonight. It allows me to pretend I am P1!

The Head YT IG Rad Pro in customized form is by far my favorite frame since the AK90. I can't wait to see four identical frames nestled in my bag, cloaked in plastic and blue painter's tape, ready for action!! BHBH

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

WOW! A friend indeed! I still think he should give the 2008 C10 a whirl.

For the first time since the AK90 I have no desire to demo. BHBH

 

[Geoff]

The Head YT IG Rad Pro in customized form is by far my favorite frame since the AK90. I can't wait to see four identical frames nestled in my bag, cloaked in plastic and blue painter's tape, ready for action!! BHBH

I have better get to work tonight! Hope I have enough silicone on hand!

 

[PeterFig]

Just a little update on this string ... Verdasco switched to it at Miami - using it in the mains.

** SCORE SPOILER FROM MARCH 29th BELOW **

Verdasco beat Nadal using this new string.

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

I have better get to work tonight! Hope I have enough silicone on hand!

As always, the results were perfect. Thanks again Geoff!! Best, BHBH

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Just a little update on this string ... Verdasco switched to it at Miami - using it in the mains.

** SCORE SPOILER FROM MARCH 29th BELOW **

Verdasco beat Nadal using this new string.

I knew his shots sounded different! Nice win, 'Nando!!! BHBH

 

[parasailing]

As part of the last Wilson 4G playtest, it came with a t-shirt that says 4G as good as gold. I wonder what the slogan for the t-shirt is going to be for their next Bronze palytest? How about Bronze as solid as things get!

 

[EasternRocks]

Bronze string mains, gut crosses it looks like?

2016 release? Why so late??

 

[chrisplchs]

Ahh, since the cat is out of the bag, I might as well add my thoughts.

Was fortunate to string a few up for a top college player and play to get his and my thoughts on "2016 Luxilon Prototype".


Pros:
Much easier to string than ALU or 4G
Very soft when compared to the other strings on the Big Banger lineup
Power is good, similar to ALU
Spin is also similar, probably not as much but still very good
Feel is excellent

Cons:
Durability is a bit lacking (Broke much faster than ALU or Rough for me)
Slated for 2016 release
String seemed thicker than ALU, more like 1.30 BBO. I will check on a multimeter when I get the chance.


Seems like a huge winner by Luxilon which means cost might be $$$$$$

 

[EasternRocks]

Ahh, since the cat is out of the bag, I might as well add my thoughts.

Was fortunate to string a few up for a top college player and play to get his and my thoughts on "2016 Luxilon Prototype".


Pros:
Much easier to string than ALU or 4G
Very soft when compared to the other strings on the Big Banger lineup
Power is good, similar to ALU
Spin is also similar, probably not as much but still very good
Feel is excellent

Cons:
Durability is a bit lacking (Broke much faster than ALU or Rough for me)
Slated for 2016 release
String seemed thicker than ALU, more like 1.30 BBO. I will check on a multimeter when I get the chance.

Seems like a huge winner by Luxilon which means cost might be $$$$$$

Which college does he attend? Did he enjoy it enough to want to switch to it? What is his normal string set up and tension? What tension did you string the prototype at? What string is this most similar to on the current market?

You wouldn't happen to have any extra sets lying around do you? I'm also assuming this is a round poly. Hmm... interesting. Might be an awesome cross to put in with Gut mains.

 

[PeterFig]

Bronze string mains, gut crosses it looks like?

2016 release? Why so late??

Crosses: Head Hawk 1.20

2016: this string is still in prototype stage, Luxilon does a lot of research on strings through a lot of testing / prototyping before they put it out on the market.

 

[PeterFig]

String seemed thicker than ALU, more like 1.30 BBO. I will check on a multimeter when I get the chance.

There are 1.25 and 1.30 versions of the prototype so you may have had the 1.30 version.

 

[EasternRocks]

Crosses: Head Hawk 1.20

2016: this string is still in prototype stage, Luxilon does a lot of research on strings through a lot of testing / prototyping before they put it out on the market.

Really... Head Hawk? Huh. He was using ALU/ALU Feel earlier this year, so I'm not surprised he's doing a poly/poly hybrid. That's so interesting. How do you have this information if you don't mind me asking?

So are you saying that this string still might not make it to the market? What string would you say it plays like in the current market? I'd love to be a test dummy if possible

 

[PeterFig]

Really... Head Hawk? Huh. He was using ALU/ALU Feel earlier this year, so I'm not surprised he's doing a poly/poly hybrid. That's so interesting. How do you have this information if you don't mind me asking?

So are you saying that this string still might not make it to the market? I'd love to be a test dummy if possible

From the person at Wilson in charge of strings, who's also down in Miami at the tournament.

I'm sure it will make it to market, but it's constantly being tested and fine tuned. There may be seeding / demos of it before it's released but I don't have info on that. In the past TW has been part of string testing.

 

[EasternRocks]

From the person at Wilson in charge of strings, who's also down in Miami at the tournament.

I'm sure it will make it to market, but it's constantly being tested and fine tuned. There may be seeding / demos of it before it's released but I don't have info on that. In the past TW has been part of string testing.

Awesome, thanks. I edited my last post perhaps a little before you responded so I want to just pose the question again: If you know how the string plays yet, do you know what string its going to be similar to on the current market?

 

[PeterFig]

Awesome, thanks. I edited my last post perhaps a little before you responded so I want to just pose the question again: If you know how the string plays yet, do you know what string its going to be similar to on the current market?

I'm probably not the best person to reply. I haven't played with a lot of different polys so don't have a wide range to compare to. Having just played with the Alu Power Soft I would say this has some of it's characteristics but certainly more feel, power and ball pocketing. Others may have better answers for you.

 

[EasternRocks]

I'm probably not the best person to reply. I haven't played with a lot of different polys so don't have a wide range to compare to. Having just played with the Alu Power Soft I would say this has some of it's characteristics but certainly more feel, power and ball pocketing. Others may have better answers for you.

I found the APS to be too muted and lacks the crisp feel of the regular ALU. It appears that by softening up the string, it lost some of its crispness and some of its power too. I thought the Soft had less power than the regular ALU. What do you think of the assessment I have? How did it play for you?

If this string has more feel/power/ball pocketing then it might be an insanely great string. Would have to play it in both full set and hybrid!

 

[Fed Kennedy]

What racket is Fernando using?

 

[jisop]

Picked up a reel

Hope it's good will try it out in a couple of days

 

[EasternRocks]

Hope it's good will try it out in a couple of days

Where did you get it?

 

[purple-n-gold]

send me a set please,,,got lotsa string to offer in trade

 

[jisop]

 

[EasternRocks]

Can you email me to let me know how you got it?

 

[chrisplchs]

Actually just found out some new info. There are two different "bronze" or "prototype" string out there for Luxilon. One is called "bronze" which is available on a reel at 1.30 and supposedly 1.25. The string is printed "Luxilon Bronze".

The other I have only come across in individual sets. It is printed "Luxilon 2016 prototype".

The strings are seem identical in color from far away but when put next to each other, it can be seen that they are different shades of copper/bronze. The "2016 prototype" seem to be much more easier to string than the "bronze" but also breaks much faster

 

[EasternRocks]

Do you have any sets/reels?

 

[Xavier]

I have 6 sets...
You can contact me in private

 

[mrc]

Luxilon Bronze Demo-Review

Racquet-Yonex EZone AI 98
Tension 55LBS.
Normal Setup-Volkl VPRO Co-Poly 17G 55LBS.
Strining:Very easy to string. It strings up very quickly for a poly. Very similar to my Volkl V-PRO in terms of stringing ease. It might be a little stiffer but hard to notice much difference.

Playability: I like the string. I might go do down to 52 next time to really see if I can power it up a little bit. I needed access to a little bit more power on the ground as I found it to be very controlled but a little dead at 55lbs. The string is very precise and spin is excellent as well. I would not call it a spin heavy string but for someone with an all court game playing singles and doubles this is a great all around choice.
I hit with it for two hours and have not noticed any should tightness at all and my elbow is not sore at all. I would rate it pretty high on comfort.
The most noticeable characteristic of the string would be crisp and precise.

I have hit with 4G and it I HATED it. Hitting a tennis ball is supposed to be fun. I would not compare these two at all.

Have not hit with ALU Power much. I have a buddy that loves it and gladly pays the ridiculous price tag because he says its that much better. I have tried it a few times and never felt the magic. I prefer the Bronze string over ALU Power.

Enjoyed the test. I suppose I will be too cheap to pay 18$ a set when it comes out. However, those folks used to paying the premium for Luxilon will really like this string.

 

[push2win]

Luxilon Bronze Demo

I'm about five hours into hitting this string that was given to me by Geoff. Here is the feedback I felt after hitting with it thus far:
Tension(s) used for playtest - 50 lbs.

Regular string set up - Luxilon Alu Power Spin at 47 lbs.

Racquet brand and model used for test - Wilson H22 with 18x20 pattern. 350 grams - 328 swing weight - 7.5 points head light

Power of test string - Ample amount offered by the string

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - Muted

Spin - Above averaged since I usually favored a textured poly

Comfort - Really good in terms of polyester

Durability - Just over 5 hours in

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - Tension maintenance has started to drop a bit. I should have went up on tension for a string that is 1.25.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - Control has been great, even with some tension loss occurring. Ball pocketing is exceptional. An all-around comfortable string that works well with shots from all over the court.

Compare to the string you use most often - Definitely more lively and soft. I do favor a textured string, so the ball bite isn't what I would normally prefer, but I don't feel like I'm losing that much spin potential.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) - I wish I would have went up to 52 lbs. I was fearful that it would be as stiff as Alu Power, but it has more feel, and a higher comfort level. With that said, you can go up a few pounds on tension with this and shouldn't suffer any ill effects.

List any additional thoughts (optional) - This would be a string that I would be interested in trying again, either at a higher tension or as a hybrid. Since I'm beginning to tinker with softer set ups and some hybrids, I think this would blend great with a gut hybrid. For all that says it plays softer and more powerful than Alu Power is spot on. Definitely some similar characteristics in terms of play, but a much softer response. Definitely worth a try when it hits the market for someone who is looking for more pop, or still wants an all-poly set up even if they've lost a little bit on their ball, or has had some elbow trouble. Also, to back up what Geoff said, very easy to string!

 

[PeterFig]

This would be a string that I would be interested in trying again, either at a higher tension or as a hybrid.

My next restring I'll try it in a Hybrid ... replace Alu Rough for the Bronze in my Champion's Choice setup

 

[push2win]

My next restring I'll try it in a Hybrid ... replace Alu Rough for the Bronze in my Champion's Choice setup

Keep me updated. I think it sounds like a sweet setup!

 

[Nostradamus]

is this better or worse than Alu power feel ?

 

[PeterFig]

is this better or worse than Alu power feel ?

It's different - not sure worse/better. I prefer the Bronze but I really like the Alu Feel too. Bronze feels more plush with better pocketing, where the Alu Feel for me is much more crisp and feels like the ball jumps off the string. So really depends if you're looking for a more traditional, crisp poly feel (Alu Feel) or if you want something that plays more like a hybrid setup (Bronze).