Need advice picking a shaped poly

T

tripleWRECK

New User
I believe I've narrowed down my options to these final four based on what I've been able to gather via Google. They all have good reviews and player feedback. But since I'd prefer not to buy and test all of them, can anyone offer comparisons or experience that would help me make a choice?

Genesis SpinX
Genesis Typhoon
Signum Pro Tornado
Solinco Revolution
MSV Focus Hex
Tourna BHB7

Thanks.
 
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What level are you, what is your playing style, what are you currntly using (string, racket, tension), what have you tried before and liked, etc...

All these things help make for a better recommendation.
 
Up&comer said:
What level are you, what is your playing style, what are you currntly using (string, racket, tension), what have you tried before and liked, etc...

All these things help make for a better recommendation.
Click to expand...

Of course. I'm an all court player, I'm using the BLX PS 95 and I've used ALU Rough/Spin for years at around 55lbs.
 
I'm going to go ahead and tell you that nothing will play like luxilon. They are very unique strings.

That being said, the two best shaped polys from that bunch would be msv focus hex and bhb7.
 
The only string you mentioned that I have experience with is tourna bhb7. It's a very cheap, plasticky feeling string. If you're used to luxilon, I'd avoid this string.
 
Focus Hex feels nothing like luxilon. Its a much softer poly. You'll have to string it higher to calm it down compared to the lux.

As Up&comer said nothing feels like lux. Most people that like lux and can't afford it gravitate to BHBR. Its still not the same though...

Everything you try is going to feel softer, or "thinner" or less substantial. Pasticky as above said. Its really hard to describe.. it just doesn't feel as solid as lux.

I currently am working my way through about 20 shaped poly sets crossed with OGSM to try and find one that i like BESIDES lux. I'll take the favorite cross it with a better multi and play with it a while then go back to lux. I'm guessing at this point I'll prefer the lux and just deal with it... but I have to try and see :)
 
I see. I'm just trying to avoid spending $17 per set on ALU since I go through strings pretty fast and as it's known, ALU goes dead before long.

You say these polys are softer than Lux, is that a bad thing?
 
I've been singing Lux Savage's praises lately. Different feeling than ALU but I like it very much. I was surprised when I found out it was shaped.
 
tripleWRECK said:
I see. I'm just trying to avoid spending $17 per set on ALU since I go through strings pretty fast and as it's known, ALU goes dead before long.

You say these polys are softer than Lux, is that a bad thing?
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Its not a bad thing. If you have arm problems its a good thing. However if you are looking for that "crisp" magic feel that lux has before it goes dead, its hard to find it. The soft polys don't seem to have that same crisp feeling. Its more muted. For instance although i sorta liked MSV hex, I absolutley HATED MSV hepta twist which is supposed to be just hex twisted. It felt even softer to me than hex. I dunno why. Others (like polystar turbo) are stiffer and have that snap, but it seems to feel less substantial and more plasticy. The snap seemed to go away after about an hour of hard hitting. The textured surface on the turbo went pretty much smooth after 3 ish hours in the sweet spot and in impacted spin slightly. I'd note however this was 3 hours of baseline practice and not full court play.

I just blew out the polystar turbo last week (Actually the OGSM crosses blew out at about 7 hours) and it had started to go dead at this point. Dead like board dead not launcher dead. I could tell because I was over hitting and was a bit sore where I should not have been (back shoulder and back tri's on serves).

So basically, the quest continues. Its going to be personally for you on what part of the Lux you like the most and can find in other strings. If you don't want to search yourself, as stated above try BHBR and just live with the thinner feeling of it. I would string it slightly higher than you were stringing the Lux.

I have not tried the Lux savage.. I'm going to have to give it a whirl.
 
Thanks for the explanation wmilas, I definitely follow your logic.

I've never had arm problems so I suppose I wouldn't want to lose any of the crispness of Lux. I ordered a set of Tour Bite, Typhoon, and SpinX to try just in case I end up taking to one of them.

Per mikelers suggestion I'm going to also try doing a hybrid with Thunder Blast and see how that plays.
 
Unfortunately my Typhoon either held tension better than any other string or is much stiffer at my regular tension of 53 and I had to cut it out after a couple hours.

However I'm enjoying SpinX quite a bit. Can anyone offer opinions on how Typhoon compares?

And anyone try Solinco Revolution? How is it next to Tour Bite?

Also, what is Signum Pro Tornado like?
 
tripleWRECK said:
Unfortunately my Typhoon either held tension better than any other string or is much stiffer at my regular tension of 53 and I had to cut it out after a couple hours.

However I'm enjoying SpinX quite a bit. Can anyone offer opinions on how Typhoon compares?

And anyone try Solinco Revolution? How is it next to Tour Bite?

Also, what is Signum Pro Tornado like?
Click to expand...

Anyone? :(
 
I tried genesis spin x, typhoon, and twisted razor recently, typhoon feels a little muted for my taste, there s also not alot of pop, but is really soft tho.

The remaining spin x and twisted razor are great strings, with twisted razor being on the control side. Spin x actually has alot of pop, the spin i dont notice much differences from my usual topspin concept pure 16 or
Babolat pro hurricane. It does great at the net as well. Hold tension really well.

Twisted razor is on the oher extreme, it is very low-powered/stiff, i usualy string at 55 in the states and 60 in asia, i lowered my usual tension by 2lbs and it s still stiff, so i advise people to lower their tension by 4lbs if they a to play with this string. However, once you past that twisted razor is hell of a string, it bites the ball like no other strings ive played with, i could smell burnt rubber when i hit my forehand. Someone in the forum posted a photo of his tennis after hitting with twistef razor string, where the felt is shredded to pieces, he was telling the truth, because it happened to me too.
 
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Thanks for sharing your experiences NW, I have enjoyed SpinX so far. My only complaint is that is has less bite than my regular ALU Spin.

Twisted Razor does look crazy, it looks quite similar to L-TEC's 3S as they're both triple-sided.


swfh, Mamba was kind enough to send me a set of Iontec Black to try. If I like it, I'm sure I'll love the hex version.
 
tripleWRECK said:
swfh, Mamba was kind enough to send me a set of Iontec Black to try. If I like it, I'm sure I'll love the hex version.
Click to expand...

i really like Iontec Hexa 1.20 and i LOVE Iontec and Iontec Black 1.25. premium performance at a bargain basement price. Iontec is my string of choice when it comes to poly. i string it in the high 40s in the PS85 and low to mid 50s in midplus sticks.
 
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tripleWRECK said:
Unfortunately my Typhoon either held tension better than any other string or is much stiffer at my regular tension of 53 and I had to cut it out after a couple hours.

However I'm enjoying SpinX quite a bit. Can anyone offer opinions on how Typhoon compares?

And anyone try Solinco Revolution? How is it next to Tour Bite?

Also, what is Signum Pro Tornado like?
Click to expand...

i've got a set of Revolution that i still haven't tried yet.
 
the 16gauge revolution is a really very stiff string, too stiff for my shoulder! i ordered a set of 17gauge i will sometime try out.
 
tripleWRECK said:
Try that stuff ASAP and report back! :)

Really curious of how Signum Pro Tornado is, I've heard some good things about it.
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will do! actually will be a bit before i'll get around to it. :( because i have to playtest the wilson test string next! 8-)

try the Iontec Black stuff ASAP and report back! :mrgreen:
 
Give the Iontec Hexa a shot before you commit to a reel of anything else.
That, and the Black may well be the sleeper strings of the year as well as one of the best price/performance values since OGSM.
 
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NoobWannabe said:
I tried genesis spin x, typhoon, and twisted razor recently, typhoon feels a little muted for my taste, there s also not alot of pop, but is really soft tho.

The remaining spin x and twisted razor are great strings, with twisted razor being on the control side. Spin x actually has alot of pop, the spin i dont notice much differences from my usual topspin concept pure 16 or
Babolat pro hurricane. It does great at the net as well. Hold tension really well.

Twisted razor is on the oher extreme, it is very low-powered/stiff, i usualy string at 55 in the states and 60 in asia, i lowered my usual tension by 2lbs and it s still stiff, so i advise people to lower their tension by 4lbs if they a to play with this string. However, once you past that twisted razor is hell of a string, it bites the ball like no other strings ive played with, i could smell burnt rubber when i hit my forehand. Someone in the forum posted a photo of his tennis after hitting with twistef razor string, where the felt is shredded to pieces, he was telling the truth, because it happened to me too.
Click to expand...

I take that back i played with genesis typhoon again yesterday and it was really sweet.
 
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