My Kirschbaum String Experiments and Reviews

[M Pillai]

I gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised when playing. The bed was neither stiff nor launchy. I found them to be pretty comfortable with good pocketing and good return of energy (while still managing to be a low-medium powered string). They definitely grip the ball, and that was giving me good top/back spin. They were not overly powerful, so I could swing out and not have much fear of them going long. Serves were not overly powerful, but I could still put some stank (power) on the ball if needed.

I can relate to your short summary above of Black Shark. Definitely find it interesting the alternate opinions specifically when comparing strings. Do you prefer shaped polys or round polys in general?

 

[maksp]

Here is the summary of my comparison so far.

I guess I may have to add a one line summary of the string at some point. The below table is a work in progress, till I complete all my testing.

Try max power white... slicker n softer n more powerful then gray max power...feels like different string

 

[Cowboy]

I can relate to your short summary above of Black Shark. Definitely find it interesting the alternate opinions specifically when comparing strings. Do you prefer shaped polys or round polys in general?

I generally prefer round poly over shaped.

Shaped, in my experience, tends to lose snapback faster.

 

[AlexKangaroo]

Changed my Luxilon Elements (which I think TWE strung very badly with very loose knots) to the Super Smash Orange. 1 local league match behind me with them and I am fairly happy. I don't think the match was all that good to give an opinion, because the opponent wasn't at the same level and didn't even need to hit the ball that hard. It was still fun to notice the difference between the strings. No real complains about them other than they maybe felt better the harder and proper I actually hit them.

Strung at 23kg.

 

[M Pillai]

Sorry it will take me some more time to come back finishup some more review updates. I was spending time with some other brand strings over the last couple of weeks.... soon will be back on Kirschbaum.

 

[Cowboy]

I had another match with black shark last night. It could have been the temperature, but I found them to be a bit more unpredictable than before. I struggled to find the court. Seemed like everything was just a few inches long. My serve was still pretty good, but I had to revert to a lot of defensive slices to keep the ball in play. I should have switched racquets for the second set, but I didn't. Hindsight.

I'll play with them probably one more time before cutting them out. Of course, that might change if I just fall back in love; but I'm thinking 2 more hours might be all I get out of them. I'm currently at the 5-6 hour mark.

 

[Cowboy]

I had another match with black shark last night. It could have been the temperature, but I found them to be a bit more unpredictable than before. I struggled to find the court. Seemed like everything was just a few inches long. My serve was still pretty good, but I had to revert to a lot of defensive slices to keep the ball in play. I should have switched racquets for the second set, but I didn't. Hindsight.

I'll play with them probably one more time before cutting them out. Of course, that might change if I just fall back in love; but I'm thinking 2 more hours might be all I get out of them. I'm currently at the 5-6 hour mark.

Had a long match last night. With a hitting session in between, I'm probably around the 10 hour mark and that's as far as I can go with these.

The theme with Kirschbaum seems to be "at or below" average durability with great initial play. It's a great performing string while it lasts, so the real value is the cost for those who restring often. Am I off base?

 

[nyta2]

By the way, frankly, I have no idea why Intutive tennis guy chose to recommend "Super Smash Orange" , instead of some other Kirschbaum string. But I guess there is the "personal preference" come into picture. Nothing wrong with SSO, it is an average string. But why not Flash or Proline, since he is really recommending this for the average rec player.

guessing he was searching for super smash honey (discontinued?), which was a very dead string if i recall... can really swing out, and have confidence it will go in... but didn't have the snap back of a modern poly.
i remember wanting a dead string like kevlar (back when i was playing with prince problend)... kirschbaum super smash honey, imo, was the closest in poly form...
imo a good string for flatter hitters?

Orange feels an average poly, especially towards the end of the hitting session. Maxpower even though feels a tad stiffer at the beginning, it has a nice pop compared to orange, and so more enjoyable to play over longer period. Again nothing I can really say bad about Orange, just that it is not the most interesting string in Kirschbaum family, like Intutive tennis guy suggests.

agreed, probably a feel thing, especially if that was the string he spent 1000's of hours practicing with... (i used to play with it quite a bit)

I was interested in Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange, because it was recommended by Intuitive Tennis. I noticed it's stats on TWU indicate that it has a very big tension loss rating similar to ALU Power. Does this mean this string needs to be changed more often than say other poly's with ratings lower? Does the tension loss mean anything else than actually the tension dropping from let's say 23kg -> 20kg?

i definitely recall quick tension loss, but i was also breaking it in 8h, so i was restringing weekly

 

[AndrewUtz]

Kirschbaum USA seem to be teasing something. maybe a new string?

 

[M Pillai]

Changed my Luxilon Elements (which I think TWE strung very badly with very loose knots) to the Super Smash Orange. 1 local league match behind me with them and I am fairly happy. I don't think the match was all that good to give an opinion, because the opponent wasn't at the same level and didn't even need to hit the ball that hard. It was still fun to notice the difference between the strings. No real complains about them other than they maybe felt better the harder and proper I actually hit them.

Strung at 23kg.

If you are below 4.5 level, experiment with some lower tensions, like 19.5kg or 20kg. Orange seems to perform good at lower tensions when the racquet head speed is not as high. If you are 4.5+ level, give Maxpower a try, that was my favourtie, especially on days I swing out free.

 

[AlexKangaroo]

If you are below 4.5 level, experiment with some lower tensions, like 19.5kg or 20kg. Orange seems to perform good at lower tensions when the racquet head speed is not as high. If you are 4.5+ level, give Maxpower a try, that was my favourtie, especially on days I swing out free.

Thanks that's some good advice and I do have a sensitive wrist and elbow so low tension with Poly should work well for me. I do think I'm 4.0 level, but my country uses a different system and I'm not calibrated .

 

[SirCraigoryy]

@M Pillai first of all, I love this thread. I've been an avid user of Kirschbaum strings for years now (mostly Proline II 1.25) and I am constantly recommending them to people in the strings section. It's nice to see other people who appreciate them and recognize how good they are.

After reading through this thread and Kirschbaum strings being conveniently on sale at the time I decided to dip my toes back into the string market to try/re-try Max Power Silver 1.25, Max Power Red 1.25, and Max Power Rough 1.25 and can't wait to hit them when it warms up around me.

 

[M Pillai]

I decided to dip my toes back into the string market to try/re-try Max Power Silver 1.25, Max Power Red 1.25, and Max Power Rough 1.25 and can't wait to hit them when it warms up around me.

For me, maxpower gives that addictive feel when I play good and strong. But then I face one slicer/junk-baller who challenges my footwork, on a day I am a bit tired from work and I get to the realization that this is probably not sustainable relationship for a hacker like me. And then I go back to my trusty Evolution which just get things done day in and day out, and stays with me unconditonally, even through challenging times (like facing that slicer/junk baller on a tired day).

So Maxpower is like that hot-girlfriend you had in college

 

[ChrisJR3264]

Super smash and max power are really great strings. Performance, playability/durability.

 

[SirCraigoryy]

For me, maxpower gives that addictive feel when I play good and strong. But then I face one slicer/junk-baller who challenges my footwork, on a day I am a bit tired from work and I get to the realization that this is probably not sustainable relationship for a hacker like me. And then I go back to my trusty Evolution which just get things done day in and day out, and stays with me unconditonally, even through challenging times (like facing that slicer/junk baller on a tired day).

So Maxpower is like that hot-girlfriend you had in college

LOL that is a fantastic analogy! I've always heard guys say, "get yourself a 7 with a good personality and you're set for life", but what do I do if my wife is hotter than my "hot" girlfriend from college?!?!

All jokes aside I totally get that. That was the same reason I moved from the VCORE 95 to the VCORE SV 98. On my best days I could do whatever I wanted with the ball and my opponent. On my worst days I felt like I needed to apologize to my opponent for wasting their time lol.

Either way I've been playing Proline II 1.25 as my daily driver for years for that same reason, plenty of pop when it's harder to get the racket around, the slickness of it gives me more than enough spin, and the comfort and tension maintenance are fantastic. My only knock is that it can feel mushy and disconnected from the ball but when I'm playing poorly I should be going for larger targets anyway but I haven't hit a crip string like Max Power in years so I'm super excited! I will be sure to come back and comment my findings even though I'm sure they have already been discussed at length here.

 

[RNBABOLAT]

LOL that is a fantastic analogy! I've always heard guys say, "get yourself a 7 with a good personality and you're set for life", but what do I do if my wife is hotter than my "hot" girlfriend from college?!?!

All jokes aside I totally get that. That was the same reason I moved from the VCORE 95 to the VCORE SV 98. On my best days I could do whatever I wanted with the ball and my opponent. On my worst days I felt like I needed to apologize to my opponent for wasting their time lol.

Either way I've been playing Proline II 1.25 as my daily driver for years for that same reason, plenty of pop when it's harder to get the racket around, the slickness of it gives me more than enough spin, and the comfort and tension maintenance are fantastic. My only knock is that it can feel mushy and disconnected from the ball but when I'm playing poorly I should be going for larger targets anyway but I haven't hit a crip string like Max Power in years so I'm super excited! I will be sure to come back and comment my findings even though I'm sure they have already been discussed at length here.

Hi, will you add some hydrids into your test? I'm looking in for some max power in the crosses with some shaped main like confidential. So if you can help me with your impressions I deeply appreciate that, regards

 

[AndrewUtz]

Hi, will you add some hydrids into your test? I'm looking in for some max power in the crosses with some shaped main like confidential. So if you can help me with your impressions I deeply appreciate that, regards

agreed. personally i’d love to try a pro tour control and pro line/pro line evo/pro line rough hybrid.

 

[Cowboy]

black shark / PLII hybrid would be a fun combo.

 

[SirCraigoryy]

Hi, will you add some hydrids into your test? I'm looking in for some max power in the crosses with some shaped main like confidential. So if you can help me with your impressions I deeply appreciate that, regards

Probably not since I almost always use a full bed as a lazy self stringer lol. However if you’re interested in something like that I would recommend max power in the crosses and tourna big hitter silver seven tour in the mains.

Big hitter silver seven tour is another string people on here may be familiar with but is a hidden gem in general. It’s a firm crisp seven sided silver poly. It’s relatively cheap, has tension maintenance second to none, since it has 7 sharp sides you get a very grippy more consistent response as opposed to one that could vary like confidential with less sides.

My brother was looking at hybriding those two together on my recommendation but ended up sticking to a full bed of silver seven tour because he was just used to it.

From reading reviews on max power it seems to have all the same play characteristics of silver seven tour except it’s a round poly so I imagine hybriding them together would give you a very uniform or similar to a full bed of each response if that’s something you would want.

 

[RNBABOLAT]

Probably not since I almost always use a full bed as a lazy self stringer lol. However if you’re interested in something like that I would recommend max power in the crosses and tourna big hitter silver seven tour in the mains.

Big hitter silver seven tour is another string people on here may be familiar with but is a hidden gem in general. It’s a firm crisp seven sided silver poly. It’s relatively cheap, has tension maintenance second to none, since it has 7 sharp sides you get a very grippy more consistent response as opposed to one that could vary like confidential with less sides.

My brother was looking at hybriding those two together on my recommendation but ended up sticking to a full bed of silver seven tour because he was just used to it.

From reading reviews on max power it seems to have all the same play characteristics of silver seven tour except it’s a round poly so I imagine hybriding them together would give you a very uniform or similar to a full bed of each response if that’s something you would want.

I actually want the slide sensation... I got some hex poly on the mains with some pro's pro blackout leftover and really liked the extra spin I got from just my regular full bed of confidential

 

[RNBABOLAT]

agreed. personally i’d love to try a pro tour control and pro line/pro line evo/pro line rough hybrid.

But Pro Line is into the soft kind of string?? I don't know if the tension on Blackout went downhill in the first half hour so I'm a bit afraid of that slingshot effect into my elbow

 

[AndrewUtz]

But Pro Line is into the soft kind of string?? I don't know if the tension on Blackout went downhill in the first half hour so I'm a bit afraid of that slingshot effect into my elbow

sorry i’m not understanding what you’re saying. i think it’d be a fine setup though.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

I've played Flash, Evolution, XPlosive Speed and Max Power, most of them twice and in both the 1.20 and 1.25 gauge. To keep things as simple as possible:

The Flash 1.25 (orange) is the one I would use now in order to get back into playing some more regular tennis. It's a lively string that plays well from Day-1. On a powerful racket, I would pump-up the tension a couple kgs.

The XPlosive Speed was just "ok". There are plenty other options that are cheaper that do the same job. Also, I don't see myself using a shaped string in full-bed ever again. Since last year and from now on, I will always be hybriding them with slick and round cross strings for more movement.

The Evolution 1.25 is I feel the bridge between the Flash and Max Power. It's stiffer than Flash, but has more power and spin than Max Power. A high-intermediate player of any kind will not have any issues with this one in full-bed. It redirects incoming pace pretty well.

Max Power grey vs Max Power White / Red: all three are quite low-powered, but the main difference is that the Gray variation has a texture similar to "Alu-labelled" strings, while the Red and White variations are far slicker and make better cross-string options. In full-bed though, I must say, I really enjoyed the red variation.

* If I were Kirschbaum I would produce a 6-sided Max Power variation. They lask a good shaped string.

https://www.tennisnerd.net/gear/strings/string-reviews/kirschbaum-strings/36839

 

[AndrewUtz]

just ordered a pack of pro line rough for the crosses and pro tour control for the mains. gonna try it out, trying to do a kirschbaum version of my current string set up of hawk rough and lynx tour. i know max power rough may be closer for the cross, already have a reel of that though. anyway, excited to try.

 

[AndrewUtz]

I've played Flash, Evolution, XPlosive Speed and Max Power, most of them twice and in both the 1.20 and 1.25 gauge. To keep things as simple as possible:

The Flash 1.25 (orange) is the one I would use now in order to get back into playing some more regular tennis. It's a lively string that plays well from Day-1. On a powerful racket, I would pump-up the tension a couple kgs.

The XPlosive Speed was just "ok". There are plenty other options that are cheaper that do the same job. Also, I don't see myself using a shaped string in full-bed ever again. Since last year and from now on, I will always be hybriding them with slick and round cross strings for more movement.

The Evolution 1.25 is I feel the bridge between the Flash and Max Power. It's stiffer than Flash, but has more power and spin than Max Power. A high-intermediate player of any kind will not have any issues with this one in full-bed. It redirects incoming pace pretty well.

Max Power grey vs Max Power White / Red: all three are quite low-powered, but the main difference is that the Gray variation has a texture similar to "Alu-labelled" strings, while the Red and White variations are far slicker and make better cross-string options. In full-bed though, I must say, I really enjoyed the red variation.

* If I were Kirschbaum I would produce a 6-sided Max Power variation. They lask a good shaped string.

https://www.tennisnerd.net/gear/strings/string-reviews/kirschbaum-strings/36839

have to say evolution plays AWESOME for me.

 

[joaovitorss]

Evolution used to be Pro Line Evolution right?
Have gone through a reel of that string playing in an ezone DR100 and later a V-core Pro 97 310
Great string. Excellent playbility and great spin for a round
Definitely would like to use as a cross now days

Have a reel of Pro Tour Control 1.23 coming in the mail.
Gonna try in my Ezone98-2025 full bed first and then in a hybrid with max power 1.25 as I have a set of that.

If anyone has tried and can comment on Pro Tour Control, I’d appreciate it

 

[AndrewUtz]

Evolution used to be Pro Line Evolution right?
Have gone through a reel of that string playing in an ezone DR100 and later a V-core Pro 97 310
Great string. Excellent playbility and great spin for a round
Definitely would like to use as a cross now days

Have a reel of Pro Tour Control 1.23 coming in the mail.
Gonna try in my Ezone98-2025 full bed first and then in a hybrid with max power 1.25 as I have a set of that.

If anyone has tried and can comment on Pro Tour Control, I’d appreciate it

i ordered just a single 1.28 set and it’s still thinner than 1.25 lynx tour

 

[AndrewUtz]

testing out pro tour control and pro line rough hybrid today. will update.

1.28 pro tour control mains
1.25 pro line rough crosses

strung @ 54lbs

 

[AndrewUtz]

testing out pro tour control and pro line rough hybrid today. will update.

1.28 pro tour control mains
1.25 pro line rough crosses

strung @ 54lbs

very good! a true competitor to my standard setup of lynx tour and hawk rough. Lynx Tour/Hawk Rough edges it out a little bit but seriously great setup. if there’s ever a price difference I will have to opt for the kirschbaum. however the head setup lasts unbelievably long without notching/loss of snapback, obviously just one day I can’t tell about the durability and tension maintenance but with kirschbaum I expect it to be high.

 

[thenewbig3]

testing out pro tour control and pro line rough hybrid today. will update.

1.28 pro tour control mains
1.25 pro line rough crosses

strung @ 54lbs

Interested to know how this combo feels like after a few sessions...

 

[joaovitorss]

very good! a true competitor to my standard setup of lynx tour and hawk rough. Lynx Tour/Hawk Rough edges it out a little bit but seriously great setup. if there’s ever a price difference I will have to opt for the kirschbaum. however the head setup lasts unbelievably long without notching/loss of snapback, obviously just one day I can’t tell about the durability and tension maintenance but with kirschbaum I expect it to be high.

Great to hear.
I got my reel but won’t play for about two weeks due to injury.

I traded some sets for a friend of mine and he is enjoying the string. He is a great player but doesnt have so much experience testing products but he says he is getting great control and some pop.

Can’t wait to try and give some proper feedback

 

[AndrewUtz]

Interested to know how this combo feels like after a few sessions...

will update. kirschbaum has never let me down with any of their products i’ve tried. this thread has actually kinda reignited my flame for them a little bit. ordered some orange and and competition to try out as well.

 

[Arcturus]

Has anyone tried a Poly/Poly hybrid with Max Power?

I'm specifically thinking of Max Power/Evolution.

 

[joaovitorss]

Has anyone tried a Poly/Poly hybrid with Max Power?

I'm specifically thinking of Max Power/Evolution.

Never tried this but evolution will probably soften up the string bed a little and help with ball pocketing

 

[Arcturus]

Never tried this but evolution will probably soften up the string bed a little and help with ball pocketing

Yeah that's my intention as well. I'm unsure whether 1) you would notice an effect and if yes, 2) whether Evolution or MSV Swift is better for softening up the string bed without making it too unbalanced.

 

[joaovitorss]

Yeah that's my intention as well. I'm unsure whether 1) you would notice an effect and if yes, 2) whether Evolution or MSV Swift is better for softening up the string bed without making it too unbalanced.

I don’t think it will make it unbalanced if you opt for the same gauge as both strings offer good control despite having different stiffness ratings
Also both strings hold tension similarly

Never tried MSV strings though so can’t tell about that one

 

[thenewbig3]

Yeah that's my intention as well. I'm unsure whether 1) you would notice an effect and if yes, 2) whether Evolution or MSV Swift is better for softening up the string bed without making it too unbalanced.

You cant* really unbalance it - you may or may not like it based on your your preferences.

Imagine how unbalanced poly x gut or gut x poly or kevlar x zx is in theory (to you) BUT they work great once a good setup is found and familiarity is developed.

Ive tried small differences in stiffness and elasticity and massive differences in the same - no general formula on how much difference works. Ive typically enjoyed strings with a larger difference - especially if both have similar/decent usable life spans individually

In general for me in poly X poly
MAINS : stiffer, thicker, possibly shaped, crisper, more tension
CROSSES : softer, thinner, rounder, muted, lower tension

Go for it!

 

[AndrewUtz]

for some reason evolution just really suits my strokes/game