My tennis string review database.

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Dyreex Solaris Spin 1.25 22kg x Diadem Elevate V2 FS98

Comfortable on fast pace hitting. Control through spin.

Baseline: breaking it in with a beginner hitting partner it made no big impression. When I got to hit with advanced hitting partner at a fast pace and returning fast balls, it proved more comfortable, if this makes sense. Some strings just don't play well for me at low pace with this attacking oriented frame.

Forehands: when hit early, I could really hit through and get good results on flat hitting, but I enjoyed it better when I started exaggerating top-spin forehands hit a bit closer to my body at belly-level height. I could loop the ball to find short angles and play finesse shots very well, as the bite on the ball was very noticable. The comfort level/dwell-time was somewhere between Cube Max and Super Tour and the texture, was aggresively twisted, plasticky but with a shinny surface (not all the way slick).

Backhands: enjoyed hitting many backhand slices and top-spin backhands

Netplay: comfortable response on volleys

Conclusions: on a stiff 98 sq inch racket with a relatively dense string pattern, Solaris Spin full-bed will work great if you can have decent technique. I can't pick it over Super Tour for overall flat hitting. It was a comfortable experience hitting with it, minimal soreness on my joints and the good thing is I didn't feel it lacked power, so this tension worked great for me when I had to hit flat forehands or when I was pushed a few meters behind the baseline I was able to loop the ball cross-court with good depth landing the ball close to the baseline. Noticable bite/sound on slice services.

Comfort: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐➖
Stiffness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐➖➖
Power: ⭐⭐⭐⭐➖➖
Ball pocketing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐➖
Spin: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐➖
Feel: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐➖

similar options: String Kong Banana Bite, Mayami Magic Twist.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Next:

Diadem Elevate V2 FS98 x Mayami Tour Hex 1.23
Head Prestige MP 18*19 x Kirschbaum Max Power 1.25 (red)

* Diadem Nova FS100 x Isospeed Gery Fire 1.25
I plan to stick to the Elevate and Prestige and use the Nova less. I aim for 22-23kg when I string my rackets.

 

[kevonian]

Do you fine the Elevate v3 hard to string since the mains block many cross holes?

Next:

Diadem Elevate V2 FS98 x Mayami Tour Hex 1.23
Head Prestige MP 18*19 x Kirschbaum Max Power 1.25 (red)

* Diadem Nova FS100 x Isospeed Gery Fire 1.25
I plan to stick to the Elevate and Prestige and use the Nova less. I aim for 22-23kg when I string my rackets.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Do you fine the Elevate v3 hard to string since the mains block many cross holes?

I always string with 2 pieces. The most difficult racket to string was the Angell TC95. The easiest was the Tecnifibre TF-X1 300. The Elevate is a bit tricky towards the second-to-last bottom cross, but so was the Prestige today. I use a stringing tool "awl" to make some room.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

One of my best, if not the best, sessions yesterday. I split my time, around 1.5 hours+ between the Prestige MP 18*19 x Kirschbaum Max Power 1.25 (22kg) and the Diadem Elevate V2 FS98 x Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 (21+kg). Hitting partner: one of the most advanced in the area, advanced, leftie, heavy top-spin hitter.

Started warm-ups and baseline groundstrokes with the Elevate. Switched to the Prestige for 1 loooong set (4-6), switched to the Elevate for another set (1-6) and then some more groundstrokes with both.

At low-to-medium pace / warm-ups:

Tour Hex felt softer and thus more comfortable than the last 3 strings I played with the Elevate, Dyreex Super Tour 1.25, Tru Pro Tour Status 1.25, Dyreex Solaris Spin.

1st set with Max Power 1.25: Prestige MP tight 18*19

Dead-flat hitting with looong swings, pushing the ball forwards. There's no easy Power delivered by this Prestige, which I really like because it allows me to take very fast and full-swings without the fear of overshooting. Super low net-clearence. Balls would go to the net if I wasn't hitting the ball at optical position. It's challenging, but I like it, because there's absolutely no unpredictability in the results this frame gives me. I know bad shots is late hitting or lazy footwork and at the same time no optimal stroke I hit gives anything but predictable and pin-point accuracy. Max Power in turn complements this rackets great! It's low-powered, as I remember playing it as my first ever string with the Elevate a year+ ago. Slicing keeps the ball way low, but depth has to be provided by me, otherwise the ball bounces short. Hit several volleys and the directional control was great!

1st set with Tour Hex, switcing from the Prestige: Elevate V2 FS98 open 16*20

High launch angle issues with thin strings with the Elevate came to surface again, so flat hitting led to several flat shots to sail long. Could be the transition from the tight 18*19 to the open 16*20, but I got very easy Power and depth out of the Tour Hex. I had to start hitting with as much top-spin as possible. Then, the Control levels got high as I could loop my forehand hits wherever I wanted either short or long angles.

Cooling-down groundstrokes:

Tour Hex: Having gotten comfortable with the spin orientation of the Elevate x Tour Hex combo, I really enjoyed hitting exaggerating top-spin forehands getting medium-to-high net clearence. Slicing became very easy with very nice depth. 2-handed flat backhands were also great, as I would re-direct incoming balls cross court towards my partner's corner from any height. As pace went gradually down, it still remained comfortable, so it could be used by lower-level players than me.

Max Power: hit full, fast and flat or go home! The Control level on flat hitting is just top-notch. I can also lift some low balls from the mid-court. Top-spin is not for free. Flat 2-handed backhands were also great. Really enjoy hitting with the Prestige and Max Power suits it great.

I'll keep playing more when weather gets better. I didn't record footage today. They put some banners on the fenced and couldn't mount the phone mount.

Tour Hex will be tried in other rackets with tighter string patterns also, to see what's what with dead-flat hitting.

* Reference string setup for the Prestige: 1.5 hours with Head Hawk (mains) x Babolat Natural Gut (crosses)

 

[legcramp]

@konstantinos kalfountzos if you can only play with one string for a whole year, what would it be? I wanna try it.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

@konstantinos kalfountzos if you can only play with one string for a whole year, what would it be? I wanna try it.

I won't say "it's too hard to exclude others" etc. I'll be straight forward: It's the L-Tec Premium Meteor Pro 1.25 that is currently at the top of top-10 list.

If I said some other string, it would be me admiting that Pau Gasol was indeed the Best Defensive Player of the year, back in a day, ahead of LeBron James that year, while not making the 1st-Defensive Team!!! Paradox.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

I'm working on a YouTube format for my string reviews. It takes some time to put it all together. For me, editing is easy, but takes time, at least at this point.

Format could be something like:
1) myself in full-screen at the beginning and towards the end
2) at one corner of the screen, I will have the string I'm talking about, both sides of the packaging if they have a graph on the back
3) at the same place or diaginally across the string, myself talking about the string like voice-over while at the bigger part of the screen will be the hitting clips playing

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

First time hitting with ReString Zero 1.27 with the Diadem Elevate V2 FS98, after hitting the Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 with the same racket (Tour Hex review soon).

First impressions, got me off-guarded since I've played the 1.23 at lower tension with the Nova, the Zero 1.27 felt softer than Tour Hex, easier access to spin, significantly more powerful, less control on flat hitting. Missed a ton of flat forehands with neutral racket face coming from yesterday's session with the Head Tour 600 18*20. Of course, snapback is the absolutely super fast. The Elevate with the Zero with the semi-open 16*20 would suit best a clay-session and for sure a top-spin hitter. I try to hit with top-spin with strings of this orientation, but I'm not fast enough consistently to do this low-to-high motion, I prefer to hit flat, through the ball.
Could TennisNerd actually be right about finding Zero soft? Seems, so.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

About 3 hours in with Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 with the Prestige 18*19. It has more "juice" than Kirschbaum Max Power 1.25, as expected by me.

Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 seems to be one of the best overall strings I've played. Can hit the flat ball consistently, brushes the ball noticably when I exaggerate top-spin shots, it's not too stiff on the demanding Prestige, not as underpowered as Max Power which in turn offers top feel on flat balls and redirecting.

* Kirschbaum Flash 1.20/1.25 would be my first option from Kirchbaum and Max Power feels absolutely lovely on tight pattern for flat hitters.
** ReString Zero in terms of stiffness has me a bit confused: on the Diadem Nova it felt stiff and underpowered. on the semi-open 16*20 Elevate it's the other way around, medium stiffness and easy depth. Requires top-spin hitting.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

2 sets of an unreleased string came today. This one is a slightly oval shaped string. I will most probably string the Diadem Nova with it and then maybe the Prestige once I've played a couple more hours with Tour Hex.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

My Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 review is now up on YouTube. Can't post the link here due to TW restrictions.

 

[Arzivu]

What are your thoughts on the blue dyreex overgrips you've been using?

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

What are your thoughts on the blue dyreex overgrips you've been using?

Tough to say. I've been playing with usual white-synthetic overgrips from Diadem, MSV and Gamma, during my first year of regular tennis, all felt quite soft and spongy.

Then, I tried the Dyreex Absord and at first they felt thinner, something that allowed me to feel the grip bevels more. Especially on the retro-Prestige Tour 600, I feel the shape being more rectangular and the change on the grips from forehands to backhands more than modern rackets.

These are supposed to be similar to the classic Tourna overgrips which I've never used. My fingers are more connected to the grip, less dampening is allowed than with synthetic overgrips, but I use a dampener these past 6 months.

I like the fact they are not spongy, so the racket doesn't feel it moves separately (lagging) with my wrist. So, Dyreex Absorb are my go-to overgrips now.

As for durability, most of the time, my palms don't sweat at all. During June, 1 overgrip took me through almost a month (15+ hours with the V3 Elevate), then started fraying. That's the most I've used an overgrip.

Yesterday and very few other times that my palms sweated quite a lot, I could see the overgrip getting sweaty at the bottom part of the grip. It will for sure, absorb more palm sweat than a synthetic one.

Bottom line:

- the synthetic ones will feel spongy for the first 4 hours, then feel like a soft paper. They lose their "sponginess" rather quickly. MSV>Diadem>Gamma
- the Dyreex Absorb at no point feels like a paper - like a Gamma overgrip with "fire" graphics on it felt - it comes with some less softness that keep the same feel for longer, but overall durability in terms of absorbing sweat is very subjective. I think, though, it frays-away slower than synthetics.

 

[Arzivu]

Tough to say. I've been playing with usual white-synthetic overgrips from Diadem, MSV and Gamma, during my first year of regular tennis, all felt quite soft and spongy.

Then, I tried the Dyreex Absord and at first they felt thinner, something that allowed me to feel the grip bevels more. Especially on the retro-Prestige Tour 600, I feel the shape being more rectangular and the change on the grips from forehands to backhands more than modern rackets.

These are supposed to be similar to the classic Tourna overgrips which I've never used. My fingers are more connected to the grip, less dampening is allowed than with synthetic overgrips, but I use a dampener these past 6 months.

I like the fact they are not spongy, so the racket doesn't feel it moves separately (lagging) with my wrist. So, Dyreex Absorb are my go-to overgrips now.

As for durability, most of the time, my palms don't sweat at all. During June, 1 overgrip took me through almost a month (15+ hours with the V3 Elevate), then started fraying. That's the most I've used an overgrip.

Yesterday and very few other times that my palms sweated quite a lot, I could see the overgrip getting sweaty at the bottom part of the grip. It will for sure, absorb more palm sweat than a synthetic one.

Bottom line:

- the synthetic ones will feel spongy for the first 4 hours, then feel like a soft paper. They lose their "sponginess" rather quickly. MSV>Diadem>Gamma
- the Dyreex Absorb at no point feels like a paper - like a Gamma overgrip with "fire" graphics on it felt - it comes with some less softness that keep the same feel for longer, but overall durability in terms of absorbing sweat is very subjective. I think, though, it frays-away slower than synthetics.

Thank you for your detailed response!

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Non-sponsored/non-affilated review for ReString Zero 1.28:

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Yesterday, I picked the Diadem Elevate V2 x Kirschbaum Max Power 1.25 (red colour) combo up after about 1 week off tennis. Still, Max Power 1.25 transforms this very versatile Diadem frame into Lajovic-flat-hitter's weapon. Sensation upon contact is very very good, sweet-spot is quite forgiving, power is low, control is top-notch, spin assistance on top-spin forehands and backhand slices is one of the lowest I've experienced so far. Great connection at the net. It's shinny and has very good snapback had faster snapback on the Prestige 18*19.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Played 1+ hours today, after 2 long weeks off tennis. Not the highest intensity of hitting today, just keeping in touch with hitting the ball clean till weather gets better, finish some other stuff and get back into regular tennis hopefully early next week.

Kirschbaum Max Power 1.25 still played like I remember it played last time. Really well when hitting flat strokes and great touch at the net. It suffers on power and spin assistance. Exaggerated several top-spin forehands today, but didn't get easy and heavy kick like some shaped strings do. I bet Flash 1.25 and Evolution 1.25 will have better top-spin assistance. Attacking backhand slices are good, when I have the time to prepare early and move forewards.

+ flat hitting
+ holds playability very very well
+ re-directing incoming balls, hit early (or die trying)
+ touch at the net

- power
- spin assistance

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Last half-an-hour hit with Max Power today. Still, the same experience. Super durable for flat hitting. Launch angle today was lower than Synergy 98 x Isospeed Grey Fire 1.25.

I had given the Synergy to a friend to used while I was gone. He played a couple of doubles matches.

I will comment about Isospeed Grey Fire 1.25 once I've played more with it and after hitting with another string with the Synergy to compare.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Strang the Diadem Elevate with Mayami Machete x Tour Hex. I cut the Machete set in half. When I pulled the 4th main, Machete broke. First time ever seen a string break on my drop weight machine. Don't know what happened. I used the other half of Machete. Very sharp edged. I'll let you know my first impressions. I was between Big Spin x Tour Hex, but went with Machete first, since there rarely any reviews about it.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

My review about Max Power 1.25 on YouTube is now uploaded on YouTube.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Today's conditions were quite slow. Rained last 2 days and balls were getting out of life - low bounce.

Mayami Machete x Tour Hex felt like cheat code for top-spin hitting and backhand slicing. First time hitting with a triangular-shaped string. I expected some crazy launching, but it didn't happen. Good "pop" and very safe net clearence. Not "mushy" at all (maybe that will be the case with Big Spin in the mains?), quite the opposite: more responsive than (livelier) ReString Zero, slightly less than Kirschbaum Max Power. On my 2-handed backhan that is a bit off, returning after about 2-3 weeks off tennis, got good pop and net clearence.

Isospeed Grey Fire 1.25 on the Prince Synergy 98 had already been played by my hitting partner in 2 doubles matches while I was away. Today, it was my second hitting with it. Does everything above average. Can't say that something stands out. I didn't have the chance to play it freshly strung. Mediocre snapback, but on this semi-tight 18*18 it's no issue. One negative is that I'd like it a bit thighter strung, since the flexy Synergy provides significant ball pocketing. Still, it's going to be a good reference point for future string playtesting.

* All tensions are set at 25kg on my drop-weight machine. Keeping as fewer variables in this whole tennis string reviewing/comparison as possible.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Thank you for your detailed response!

Update about the Dyreex Absorb overgrips: in cold conditions, at least not during hot greek Summer temperatures, I don't like them as much as during Summer. Maybe that's the point with this type of overgrips. I will switch to synthetic overgrips again. I'll see what I have left.

 

[Arzivu]

Update about the Dyreex Absorb overgrips: in cold conditions, at least not during hot greek Summer temperatures, I don't like them as much as during Summer. Maybe that's the point with this type of overgrips. I will switch to synthetic overgrips again. I'll see what I have left.

I agree. Tacky ones for the winter and dry, absorbent for the hot summer days. My current favorite is diadem's. While the grip seems to fray fast, it remains playable for quite some time.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

A serious issue has come up with using Machete in the mains. A 4-ball-can will last me 1.5 hours at most. Takes the life out of the tennis balls and will bankrupt me. I will definitely record some hitting next time, because I really enjoy hitting with the heaviest top-spin I've hit so far.

 

[Arzivu]

Black Mist 1.30 started staying out of place yesterday.
In full-bed, it's too powerful and only short swings hit completely loose keep the ball in-bounds. It's super comfortable I guess feeding balls and hitting balls back to students, I guess.

I wonder if the new rough version tackles some of the issues you stated

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

I wonder if the new rough version tackles some of the issues you stated

Never liked the sensation of full-bed mutifilament. The only multifilament I've really enjoyed in two occasions was the RS Tennis New York in the mains with Base12 Alpha Lime in the crosses on the Diadem Nova and a Head Prestige 600. Played perfectly on the Prestige 600. I've never tried mutlifilament in the crosses. If we're talking Dyreex only, instead of Black Mist, I'd try the Spiral 1.35. It's highly praised by a pro-stringer I know in Dubai as the best pound-to-pound multifilament. He also considers RS New York the best one, but it's more expensive.

 

[Arzivu]

Never liked the sensation of full-bed mutifilament. The only multifilament I've really enjoyed in two occasions was the RS Tennis New York in the mains with Base12 Alpha Lime in the crosses on the Diadem Nova and a Head Prestige 600. Played perfectly on the Prestige 600. I've never tried mutlifilament in the crosses. If we're talking Dyreex only, instead of Black Mist, I'd try the Spiral 1.35. It's highly praised by a pro-stringer I know in Dubai as the best pound-to-pound multifilament. He also considers RS New York the best one, but it's more expensive.

Interesting info, thanks! Neither do I like full bed multis. My favorite is tecnifibre multifeel 15L used exclusively as a main in hybrids. It has an addictive crisp feel and the greatest snapback of any multi I have tried. Regarding black mist rough, I would like to try it only as a cross. Maybe it could be a good alternative for people that are "allergic" to polys.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Interesting info, thanks! Neither do I like full bed multis. My favorite is tecnifibre multifeel 15L used exclusively as a main in hybrids. It has an addictive crisp feel and the greatest snapback of any multi I have tried. Regarding black mist rough, I would like to try it only as a cross. Maybe it could be a good alternative for people that are "allergic" to polys.

RS New York doesn't seem to have any kind of outer layer to ensure snapback, (Diadem Impulse has one). New York is made in Japan and feels seems like a rope with twisted fibers when touching it. BUT when hitting with that kind of soft-poly in the crosses, it could be my go-to option for multi-main/soft-poly hybrid.

If Dyreex Spiral is 70-80% close to New York, I'd like to try that! Black Mist is just too elastic. I can only see it being used in the crosses, I guess, to offer comfort and power. I would use it, if I was a coach feeding balls/rallying with beginners to save my arm.

 

[Arzivu]

If Dyreex Spiral is 70-80% close to New York, I'd like to try that!

Spiral is a mixure of head rip control and tecnifibre duramix. At least that's what a Dyreex representative told me.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Would you be interested in me doing Tennis Racket Reviews, following the (YouTube) format I already use for tennis strings?

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

String Kong Orlando Raw 1.24 on the Prince Tour 95. A soft, slick and shaped string I've played before (1.28). I'll put RS Paris 1.20 on the Synergy 98 soon.

 

[Ares2323]

delate

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Poly x Poly hybrids I've been trying this past 1.5+ month seem to have something of an X Factor in what they offer. I've been hitting with more top-spin lately, maybe the hybrid playing mind games with me into a self-completing prophecy, but at the end of the line, I really like the way shaped main strings grab the ball offering extra rotation from the baseline, easier lift from the mid-court in combination with headlight balanced rackets and nice feel at the net.

Still, round-shaped strings, for now, seem to hit the low-backhand slices, approach slices and overall net-game a bit better.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

2nd hitting session after several days off. Trying to get my (late) timing right.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Time to see what's all the fuss about. While stringing Big Spin felt similar to the YTex Quadro Twist: SOFT - the "mushy" feel everyone's talking about.

I bet it will feel less responsive and powerful than Machete. I'm more curious to see how will be the flat hitting. Spin is gonna be there anyway.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

First decent hit with the Head Youtek Speed MP 16*19:

+ On the backhand side, it will definitely help me improve my 6-month-old 2-handed backhand.
+ Very easy to hit finesse shots.
+ Super whippy.

- 308 grams unstrung, underspeced, but lighter is better than heavier
- 325 grams strung and such headlightness make it feel "anemic" on the forehand side

Got home a couple hours ago, added 4 1gram lead strips at 3 and 9 o' clock and will report back next week.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Had some better hitting from the other side, later. That's the warm-up.

In comparison to the Machete x Tour Hex, Big Spin x Tour Hex today felt: softer, lower launch angle for sure, less immediate response (Machete is stiffer), less "pop", better control on flat hitting with no crazy launches taking place. When I started hitting harder, faster and with more topspin it really delivered very good consistency.

Big Spin is said before to feel "mushy", I'd say it's easier for the arm than full-bed of Tour Hex or the Machete mains hybrid with Tour Hex crosses.

Again, very impressed with Mayami. I can see this Big Spin x Tour Hex working better on the Nova (and thus other powerful tweeners) than the Machete x Tour Hex which is a cheat-code combo for heavy top-spin hitting and lots of slicing.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

I will be able to comment on RS Lyon 1.25 as soon as I will have played a few more hours with it and then have hit a bit with another setup with the Head Youtek Speed MP 16*19.
For now, and having played it 1+ years ago when playing at lower pace, I still find it doesn't offer any Power for free, as doesn't Kirschbaum Max Power to put some perpective. So, it doesn't feel like neither a "lively" string nor mute/mushy. It plays the flat strokes very very well. Contact point on time, the ball will not sail long. It's just not for casual hitting. It's demanding and rewards clean and flat hitting.

Very short clip. Unfortunately, I lost some good parts... I'll post some better hitting next time.

So far, with the Elevate's semi-open 16*20, Mayami Big Spin x Tour Hex offers me:

- launch angle between Tour Hex full-bed and Machete (mains) / Tour Hex (crosses)
- more comfortable than both
- power is lower than both (close to something like Kirschbaum Max Power red - less direct feel though)
- less direct feel than both
- top spin assistance is between the other two, as expected
- playability seems to last less than both
- can hit the long and flat swing better than both, maybe (not seen on this clip)

Maybe, this setup would suit better my Powerful "Tweener" Nova and not the Elevate, because of its open gaps. Maybe, I could try it on the Nova next time.

these are some quick-fire thoughts. Happy to share feedback about other aspects.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

5th Tour Hex cross stays curved towards the top, like this (

I'm enjoying this Big Spin x Tour Hex more than Machete x Tour Hex, simply for the fact that the Diadem Elevate V2 FS98 with it's semi-open string pattern hits the flat ball more predictably and the launch angle is lower. Top-spin assistance is more than enough for me to hit cross court shots with safe net clearence, still not as much spin assistance as the triangular Machete. Underspin on slices is also very effective.

The stringbed feels softer now that I've played it 5 times.

In my mind, it makes total sense to put the softer polyester in the mains and the stiffer one in the crosses. The latter keeps the power level lower, enhancing control (limiting launchy response).

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

3 weeks available ahead for tennis before another 1 week break:

Kirscbaum Flash 1.25 on the Head Youtek Speed MP 16*19
YTex Twisted Triangle x Pro Tour on the Diadem Elevate

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Played today with both setups. Started with the Speed, then switched to the Elevate, then switched back to the Speed.

This YTex hybrid had a crazy high launch angle! Took me more than 20 forehands to dial-in. Very soft stringbed, very spin friendly, control was found only with very much low-to-high swingpath. Not so much foreward swingpath needed with this one. The ball would explode quite easily with short swings, better felt on the compact 2-handed backhands I hit.

I would recommend this to people with arm issues who hit with top-spin with minimal foreward swingpath.

The Flash with the Speed was a totally other experience. Much better feeling!

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Picked up my Diadem Nova today after a long time, it seemed unmanageable to tame its Power. Helped a ton during the first 2 years, but now I like to take big swings and the Nova just doesn't work with almost any string I've put on it these past 5-6 months.

The YTex Triangle Twisted x Pro Tour hubrid is after playing around 4 hours with it is:

VERY soft
Very powerful
Very top-spin and under-spin friendly

Lacks predictability on flatter shots even when hit clean and early, nowhere near the Mayami Big Spin x Tour Hex combo.
Can't trust it for attacking plays, only for playing defense and returning balls with very high net clearence.

Suits players with short swings who need Comfort, Power and Spin assistance.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Dyreex Alu Tour 1.25 after hitting 1 + 1/4 hours straight with an ITF-level player. By miles the most intense flat hitting session I have hit in my life. Snapback is completely absent like has been the case with Luxilon 4G.

What great footwork he had and very heavy balls. I mean they came deep (I was standing Medvedev return almost deep) and when they bounced they launched flat towards me!

Alu Tour was buttery smooth throughout the session. Excellent feel upon contact on my forehand side. Great on several consecutive volleys I hit as a drill. I'll see how it will continue to play the next 2 times and I'll report again.

https://files.fm/u/79mrddw4c9

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Dyreex Black Edge 1.25 on the Youtek Speed MP 16*19 today, unlocked the top-spin game for me. It felt identical to the Kirschbaum XPlosive Speed 1.23 (x TF40 315 16*19).
Both felt: soft, medium-to-high power, control through top-spin but could handle the flat ball pretty decent.
More feedback with clips next time.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Dyreex Alu Tour 1.25 has some good "juice" left. Not the easiest and most forgiving string I've played, but not as demanding as Diadem Pro X, Topspin Cyber Flash and Dyreex Pro Player. But, I have to say, I liked it more last time I played it with the ITF level hitting partner. At yesterday's lower pace, I needed some easier top-spin, better string movement as my partner's balls were not very penetrative.

Dyreex Black Edge 1.25 is just too similar to Kirschbaum XPlosive Speed 1.23. If there's an actual difference, that could be durability in favor of Kirschbaum's pre-stretching (?!), but this is very nit-picking territory for the intermediate player to bother about.

The BLX is heavy and delivers a heavy punch. On the backhand side, my shorter and stiffer swings work very easily. On the forehand side, coming from the whippier Youtek Speed, I couldn't dial-in. That's the negative of bringing 3 totally different rackets on the court. Next time, I'll bring 2 and start with the BLX.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Dyreex Alu Tour 1.25 (6+ hours)

Initially, while it had a short well-time, there was a feeling as if the ball was sticking to the stringbed for a while, thus giving a very good sense of control, to redirect the balls that were coming to me. It's that "buttery" feel we call it. With the hours piling up, it has become a bit livelier, reducing the Control a bit, meaning some balls that I hit correctly went a bit far, not high. Certainly for advanced players who change after max 3-4 hours, I consider it a good choice.

Dyreex Black Edge 1.25 (4+ hours will play more)

Black Edge has become softer. The Speed MP has narrow boxes in the sweet-spot, but I still feel like I have a better control by hitting top-spin balls from my own center in the center opposite, rather than flat ones like with the RS Lyon 1.25 and Kirschbaum Flash 1.25. Flash is easier for me, but I've played it before, so I know more or less. Black Edge would play better on Diadem Elevate which has a more open weave, I think. Of course, it would last less. Here at Speed we have some lifespan left.
* very similar characteristics to Kirschbaum XPlosive Speed 1.23.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Dyreex Alu Tour 1.25:

First time I hit with it against an ITF-level hitting partner. I felt very connected with the stringbed, as it felt a bit "rubbery-buttery". The dwell-time was not long, quite the opposite I'd say, but during this short time on ball contact, it seemed the ball was sticking on the stringbed enabling me to redirect the ball at will.

The following hours, playing with advanced-intermediate hitting partners, the stringbed became slightly more powerful, not launchy, control was still at very high level, as was my confidence finding my spots very predictably.

Alu Tour is highly recommended by me for advanced players (+) who restring their rackets often and are looking for a tennis string that suits control-oriented rackets, especially rackets with small string spacing, as string movement (snapback) is not very fast, but the "rubbery-buttery" friction I felt during flat hitting is what they wish to feel too. Backhand slices were executed very well, staying low and deep and, believe me, you can go for lots of flat winners with this one!

* Alu Tour belongs to the family of control-oriented strings like Luxilon Alu Power, Topspin Cyber Flash, RS Lyon, Kirschbaum Max Power, L-Tec Celeste and Meteor Pro, Stringlab Orbitour Gold that, I believe, suit flat hitters.

Dyreex Black Edge 1.25:

A soft, top-spin oriented string that needs no break-in period and offers good control through top-spin. No arm-soreness whatsoever. This Youtek Speed is very thin, only 20mm wide and I feel it is quite low-powered to keep up with ITF-level hitting partners.

Against more down-to-earth hitting partners, I found some lack of predictability in terms of depth as the hours passed by when hitting completely flat on my forehand, coming from playing this racket with RS Lyon 1.25 and Kirschbaum Flash 1.25. Feel of being in control came better when hitting with top-spin. Both top-spin and underspin assistance was noticably higher than the round-shaped polyesters used before. I had it strung at low 20-21kg which I think is the best tension to use this string, at least the first time.

Black Edge is recommended for top-spin hitters that look for absolutely no break-in period, some added comfort and noticable string movement in full-bed. On rackets with open string patterns, I'd go for the 1.30 gauge for added durability, depending on how ofter you restring.

* Black Edge plays almost identical to Kirschbaum XPlosive Speed 1.23.

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All tennis string playtests last up to 8-9 hours max or just as much time with them as I feel I need to get a clear picture of what they offer to a player of my level and style. Durability can variate a lot depending on (too) many factors, only specific lab tests can elaborate on them, but I don't thing the median consumer needs to go that deep into the gear used.