Mikeler's Polys
- Thread starter mikeler
- Start date
Perhaps you strung this one too tight. I found it to hold tension quite well, so maybe it didn't lose tension like the others and played tighter. I thought it was extremely comfortable and enjoyable in an 18x20 racquet so I could only imagine in a 16x16.
Durability was also exceptional for the 1.25+, maybe give that a shot. Because of the pyramid shape I found that it didn't notch like other strings.
Matchball
Semi-Pro
You know what, just recently tried it on my Tour G and I also found comfort to be a lot more than I expected. It did settle nicely and durability looks good so far (alternating between many frames I haven't put it to test). A stand out feature I found is that it plays with a very "linear" energy return, neither random, nor too explosive response. I am now curious to try it in an even more open stringbed. Low powered and not really crisp, strange animal this string.
mikeler
Moderator
I was not a big fan of the feel so I don't think I'll be trying it again.
I'm not a fan of triangular strings in general.
mikeler
Moderator
Weiss Cannon Black 5 Edge 17 mains/Prince Tour XC black 15 crosses
Pretty easy to string since the shaped poly is in the mains.
Tension it is strung: 60# on a lockout
Your regular string set up: Wilson Ripspin 15 @ 60# on a lockout machine
String pattern of your racquet: 16 x 16 (Prince Tour 100T ESP)
Power (or lack there of): Low/Medium powered
Feel: Pretty good on touch shots for a poly
Tension maintenance: Forgot to measure, sorry
Overall comments and feedback: See below
General: B5E has been my goto poly for years. I got a set of the 1.40mm Prince Tour XC from Power Player and decided to try my first poly/poly hybrid. It turned out to be a very nice experiment.
Serve/Return of Serve: Nasty spin on serves but still enough power to put some heat on the ball. Returns had great control, I was putting almost anything I could reach easily back in the court deep.
Strokes: Great spin on both wings. Depth control is excellent, most of the balls seem to want to land just inside the baseline. Nasty slice spin.
Volleys: Decent at net.
Touch shots: Pretty good on drop shots but not one of the best in the poly arena.
Softness: Didn't bother my arm.
Tension: 60# seems about perfect.
Durability: This is the first time B5E has ever broken on me. I've always used it in poly/multi hybrids in the past. It lasted about 9 sets of singles.
Movement: B5E moved some but not to the point where it bothered me.
Color: All black looks nice in the frame. I forgot that the Tour XC black is a bleeding string on the balls.
Conclusion: This is a really good setup for my frame. I might be inspired to try a Cyclone 16/Ripspin 15 thread after trying this hybrid.
Pretty easy to string since the shaped poly is in the mains.
Tension it is strung: 60# on a lockout
Your regular string set up: Wilson Ripspin 15 @ 60# on a lockout machine
String pattern of your racquet: 16 x 16 (Prince Tour 100T ESP)
Power (or lack there of): Low/Medium powered
Feel: Pretty good on touch shots for a poly
Tension maintenance: Forgot to measure, sorry
Overall comments and feedback: See below
General: B5E has been my goto poly for years. I got a set of the 1.40mm Prince Tour XC from Power Player and decided to try my first poly/poly hybrid. It turned out to be a very nice experiment.
Serve/Return of Serve: Nasty spin on serves but still enough power to put some heat on the ball. Returns had great control, I was putting almost anything I could reach easily back in the court deep.
Strokes: Great spin on both wings. Depth control is excellent, most of the balls seem to want to land just inside the baseline. Nasty slice spin.
Volleys: Decent at net.
Touch shots: Pretty good on drop shots but not one of the best in the poly arena.
Softness: Didn't bother my arm.
Tension: 60# seems about perfect.
Durability: This is the first time B5E has ever broken on me. I've always used it in poly/multi hybrids in the past. It lasted about 9 sets of singles.
Movement: B5E moved some but not to the point where it bothered me.
Color: All black looks nice in the frame. I forgot that the Tour XC black is a bleeding string on the balls.
Conclusion: This is a really good setup for my frame. I might be inspired to try a Cyclone 16/Ripspin 15 thread after trying this hybrid.
DustinW
Professional
I agree. I think I'm settling on Ripspin 16. I have some Tour XC 15L in right now. It is nice, but not quite as crisp as Ripspin and maybe a little less predictable.
parasailing
Legend
I haven't tried Prince XS. Was it possible you got a bad set?
mikeler
Moderator
Exactly my experience. My recent B5E experiment had a little more pocketing than both Ripspin and XC. I also recall that with Cyclone. My local shop has been out of Cyclone for awhile so I may hold off on that test for a little bit.
Hard to say for sure since I only tried it once. Nothing about it got me real excited to buy another set especially my tender elbow.
g4driver
Legend
Mikeler,
How you ever tried Cyclone Tour (CT) ?
You have Cyclone at #2 in your list - but no Cyclone Tour. ???
I'm going to mail you two packs of Iontec Black / and a two 1/2 packs of Cyclone Tour 16g -red or anthracite your choice -
please do us a favor and do a CT Main / Ripspin poly/poly Hybrid -
CT is uber soft but too powerful as a full bed. If you use Ripspin, it should tame the power of the CT.
CT is softer with more spin and power than Cyclone
How you ever tried Cyclone Tour (CT) ?
You have Cyclone at #2 in your list - but no Cyclone Tour. ???
I'm going to mail you two packs of Iontec Black / and a two 1/2 packs of Cyclone Tour 16g -red or anthracite your choice -
please do us a favor and do a CT Main / Ripspin poly/poly Hybrid -
CT is uber soft but too powerful as a full bed. If you use Ripspin, it should tame the power of the CT.
CT is softer with more spin and power than Cyclone
mikeler
Moderator
You guys are just feeding the addiction!
bertrevert
Legend
Freshly strung, Ripspin 16 is crisp, comfortable. It exhibits amazing bite and grip on a ball. Snapback is vicious. Rally balls have extra RPM, high bounce, consistency.
If I had to isolate one or two key qualities it is that crisp thin bite it gives.
It is also surprising powerful when bent.
@48lbs in Blade 98S is bit of a rocket launcher, but a little more western in the grip to get the spin back, and most rally balls depart with inherent oomph which I attribute to RPMs on the ball. Crikey when bent there's power. Mostly it's fairly mute and touch and volleys can be a bit hard. But... the harder you swing the more the ball goes in.
Encouraging aggressive groundstroking can only be good
For a year I had GE (which is TE but inside of the elbow) and I very surprised that it has not been disturbed, perhaps even healed up, while still playing with a fairly stiff racq and this poly. With the sort of grip on the ball Ripspin gives sometimes tension feels transmitted down the shaft to tear into yr tendons, however, I think that's more the racq than the string.
Made two technique changes: more West in the grip, and a lot more of that propping the racq perpendicularly in the palm of hand in order to lasso the FH starting from a higher takeback.
I'm playing better: anyone asks, I say it's the string...
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
As good as this Luxilon alu power Feel is,,,,,it goes dead almost exactly at 3 hour mark. I have not broken it at this point so I have to cut it out
bertrevert
Legend
Sorry to repeat myself.
I think I'm still surprised I've found a poly my elbow is ok with.
Not perfect.
Still twinges and a bit of soreness, couldn't play everyday.
But this power buried in the Ripspin, what say you?
Connecting big on a FH is just so full-on, any other string it would result in uncontrollable ridiculous results, yet the ball has some serious snort with this string.
I'm still getting it wrong sometimes but with small technique tweaks the string amps up... I believe it has some serious power under the hood.
I think I'm still surprised I've found a poly my elbow is ok with.
Not perfect.
Still twinges and a bit of soreness, couldn't play everyday.
But this power buried in the Ripspin, what say you?
Connecting big on a FH is just so full-on, any other string it would result in uncontrollable ridiculous results, yet the ball has some serious snort with this string.
I'm still getting it wrong sometimes but with small technique tweaks the string amps up... I believe it has some serious power under the hood.
bertrevert
Legend
... three... a whole three (3) hours, gawd you must string yourself otherwise that amounts to prohibitively expensive, uneconomic, and a pita to restring so often. It's a thin string which may have something to do with it loosing whatever purposeful characteristics it has quite quickly..
I can confirm that,for people shanking "normally" like me(dunno,2-3 times in a set) the iontec 1.35mm does never break.I got 10hours of playing,the string was just half notched and it still retain some playability.I usually cut it at 8-10 hour mark, and I'm really satisfied at 28kg
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
If you're elbow twinges more often, I'd advise looking for an alternative... Ripspin is quite a stiff string actually. A very similar string that is softer is Head Hawk. It generally gets better reviews too. Give it a try, it may be the perfect compromise for your game AND your elbow
mikeler
Moderator
If you're elbow twinges more often, I'd advise looking for an alternative... Ripspin is quite a stiff string actually. A very similar string that is softer is Head Hawk. It generally gets better reviews too. Give it a try, it may be the perfect compromise for your game AND your elbow
Hawk seemed stiffer to me and did not generate as much spin. Plus it is more expensive.
bertrevert
Legend
If you're elbow twinges more often, I'd advise looking for an alternative... Ripspin is quite a stiff string actually. A very similar string that is softer is Head Hawk. It generally gets better reviews too. Give it a try, it may be the perfect compromise for your game AND your elbow
Tried the Hawk. Ouch.
My elbow complained.
Didn't get great reviews in threads here, but sure we all have to read widely if poss.
I thought it lacked a lot in many depts - boardy and disconnected - slippery sure, but it didn't impart bulk spin and really required heavy hitting to get going which is not always poss in doubles...
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Weird, I found Ripspin much stiffer, but I guess that's subjective
If you like Ripspin that much and your arm starts hurting at least go down 2 gauges. Thinner gauges are a lot softer, though not as durable, but you can't have it all
g4driver
Legend
Hahaha -
You have been reviewing multis for a long time and now polys. You have a standard and it makes it nice to read your opinion judging one string vs another from your singular view.
I don't always agree with your choice in strings (Babolat Excel being one of my least favorite multis and X1 16 as a hybird with B5E) as my favorite. But your method and REPORT format standardize your string reviews and serve the readers here a great service .
It is too easy to get lost reading user A hates this string while B loves it.
mikeler
Moderator
It's not just you either. Fuji is sending me some Goldenset polys too. So thanks to both of you for letting me try some new stuff out. As for A loves a string while B hates it, just look at the two posts above yours!
mikeler
Moderator
Strings were mailed today - you should have them Wed or Thursday
Got rained out tonight
Cool, I'm looking forward to trying them out. Thank you again.
Hi, i have tested Cyclone and big hitter black 7 now due to positive comments on this forum, I did however the mistake to try them at different tensions so i want to hear how you compare these 2 side by side since you tried them both at 60.
I used 23/22kg on cyclone and 25/24 on bhb7, and the bhb seems more "dead" and lower powered than cyclone but perhaps thats just the tension difference ?
Thanks in advance, and thanks for your testing threads
I used 23/22kg on cyclone and 25/24 on bhb7, and the bhb seems more "dead" and lower powered than cyclone but perhaps thats just the tension difference ?
Thanks in advance, and thanks for your testing threads
djNEiGht
Legend
BHB7 took a set to break in and then it was honeymoon heaven. The felt was getting torn off the ball more than when I play with cyclone. However...it was only during the honeymoon period. To me, BHB7 went dead much sooner than expected. It was also not so fun to string
Cyclone seemed to play better much longer than my experience with BHB7's short window of play. It may not have torn the felt off or had that big loopy spin but was close enough for me.
Cyclone seemed to play better much longer than my experience with BHB7's short window of play. It may not have torn the felt off or had that big loopy spin but was close enough for me.
mikeler
Moderator
Have you tried Volkl V-Torque mikeler? Would be keen to hear your thoughts on this string. Half price for 2 or more on TW at the moment...
Not yet...
Doubles
Legend
The problem with both of those strings is that they tend to just lose their playability too quickly i.e. 6 hours or less. Personally, if you can deal with the decrease in spin, B5E is a good alternative as it'll last a lot longer.
djNEiGht
Legend
I felt that BHB7 lost their playability much sooner. I play mostly doubles about x4 a week and get about 3 weeks on the cyclone before it doesn't play (optimal and could prob play another week if I don't happen to resting) as I'd like it to. BHB7 lost it's magic much sooner. The tensions used on a 16x19 was 48 CP.
I did find some nice playability and a bit more pop that was a welcome characteristics when I play cyclone with a syn gut 50/52.
I am interested in trying some B5E in both a full bed and hybrid. I'm trying to make a dent in my string inventory as I went a bit crazy when I started stringing. Unless I get a set of B5E donated I won't be purchasing anything soon.
mikeler
Moderator
I would not bother with B5E full bed. Use it as a main string only with a smooth cross
djNEiGht
Legend
not even at a lower tension than your test at 64#s or at a larger gauge? Granted I don't see B5E except in 17g on TW. I don't play an open frame and usually like 17g. Not much of a string breaker either.
I am really happy with my cyclone/sg set up though so I would lean towards a hybrid.
Thanks though for your input. Again...have to make a dent in my string inventory before I get any more strings.
mikeler
Moderator
B5E plays really well in the ESPs and I might go back to it. If not, I'll cut you a half set off my reel.
djNEiGht
Legend
Regardless if you go back to it or not, thank you. I can look to see in my string inventory if I have something that might interest you.
mikeler
Moderator
You are just feeding the addiction!
TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
mikeler,
Have you played with Signum Pro Tornado or Genesis Typhoon yet? If so, what are you thoughts on these two?
Have you played with Signum Pro Tornado or Genesis Typhoon yet? If so, what are you thoughts on these two?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Have you tried the Signum Firestorm ? TW string guide is giving this string high marks on power. mid range rating for spin.
wonder how it compares to regular Luxilon alu power ?
wonder how it compares to regular Luxilon alu power ?
mikeler
Moderator
I tried Tornado as a main string but did not care for it. There should be a link to the review in post #1 of this thread.
Negative. Again, I'm not buying Luxilon strings because they are overpriced.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Signum Firestorm is not made by luxilon last time I checked. lol
mikeler
Moderator
How do you know for sure?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I only know what is printed on the packaging of the string pack I get.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
if my Poly and natural gut hybrid has been sitting in the racket bag for last 3 weeks, how much tension drop should I expect ?? it was strung at 60 lbs
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
my stringer don't prestretch guts. so you think there isn't much difference between if I let this sit for 3-4 days or I let it sit for 3-4 weeks ?
Yes sir, very little differences from 3-4 days to 3-4 weeks.something like 1lb for firm poly and 2lbs for soft poly...you could even not notice that.
BUT that's true only if the racquet is strung properly. If knots are not tied properly,for example,the last mains are loose and they will "suck" tension from the inner mains, so after some days the overall stringbed will lose tension.
BUT that's true only if the racquet is strung properly. If knots are not tied properly,for example,the last mains are loose and they will "suck" tension from the inner mains, so after some days the overall stringbed will lose tension.
