New firewire fan!
- Thread starter Solo Lee
- Start date
rockbox
Semi-Pro
It's by far the spinniest string I've used.
c-had
Rookie
How does it compare to other polys in terms of durability? I care more about going dead than tension maintenance. I currently use Cyclone 17, and really like the feel. But, after 6-8 hours of play, the string starts to go dead for me. I can still play with it, but my arm starts to hurt due to overhitting. I'd love to find an alternative that lasts a bit longer.
I have three reels if you want to buy them.
OlivierJulienB
Rookie
I also love this string, my favorite together with Gamma Moto.
Which color did you play, the red or the black?
OlivierJulienB
Rookie
Red 18g is great. I played also with FireWire Black and liked it, but not as much as the red one.
Had less sensation and less pop (maybe a tad less spin).
I will try it again, as I have another set of FW black.
rockbox
Semi-Pro
It's pretty average from a durability standpoint. Not bad, but not exceptional.
TRU PRO Official
Rookie
We just released a poly/holy hybrid string set called FireWire Boost. We recommend putting the triangular T1-FireWire in the mains and the round poly in the crosses. Feedback from our customers shows that this setup does increase durability when comparing it to a full set of FireWire.
LocNetMonster
Professional
Interested. PM me details . . .
BigHitta
Rookie
Me too. Have a reel of Firewire 18 gauge (black) gathering dust -- IM if interested. Great string but I have moved to the 17 gauge.
LocNetMonster
Professional
+1 for using FireWire in mains and slick poly in the crosses, especially in an open pattern racquet, for max spin.
I don't know if any one else has tried this but switching the two strings with FW in the crosses and 18g slick poly in the mains works quite well. For grins and giggles I'm trying FW in the crosses and Tier One's Tour Status in the mains. Volleying is definitely better and launch angle is much lower. The ball doesn't seem to spin as fast on ground strokes but for some reason backhand slices are heavier and placement/control is better.
TRU PRO Official
Rookie
Have you tried the Firewire Boost yet?
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
I too am interested in results of anyone who has gone from full-bed Firewire to Firewire Boost.
TRU PRO Official
Rookie
We hear from people who have tried it that it increases durability, same or even more ball bite, more control/less power.
LocNetMonster
Professional
Not yet
I meant to order a set with my order this morning, but got distracted and didn't add it to the cart. Definitely will give it a try soon. Just got in from my second hitting session today after playing with a stick loaded with TS/FW, one with TS/Prince XC and a full-bed Sgut for my constant at both. After playing all three, until something better comes along, Tour Status mains and FireWire crosses is my match play set-up. The best way to describe the feel, control and spin is intoxicating.
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
Thank you.
franco Rodriguez
New User
FIREWIRE IS nice string. after i read this post i went and pull the trigger on a 16 and 17gauge. so far i played with the 17 on my pure aero.
i had some awesome control and spin on my strokes, easy to generate power when needed also very soft.
im a 5.0 player that plays with volk 17 or hyper g17. i may order some more of this string to do more testing.
string durability is ok. it pop on me on my second singles match 2nd set which is fine. i prefer the strings to break than play lose.
i had some awesome control and spin on my strokes, easy to generate power when needed also very soft.
im a 5.0 player that plays with volk 17 or hyper g17. i may order some more of this string to do more testing.
string durability is ok. it pop on me on my second singles match 2nd set which is fine. i prefer the strings to break than play lose.
DrumWizOHBD
Semi-Pro
I haven't tried the BOOST, hybrid, yet. But I have been using Firewire Red 16 Mains/Prince Tour XC 16L in the Crosses in my Prince Tour Pro 100 ESP. I assume this would be similar to the Boost because I get the same spin, with better feel and control, and seems like playability has lasted me a little longer. For reference, I felt the Firewire full bed started losing playability (losing control) and notching around 3-4 hours. With the hybrid I find the notching and Trampoline effect starts around 5-6 hours, for me. Firewire is more comfortable than Cyclone for me too, but the spin is a little more unpredictable. I love Firewire and Firewire hybrid from the baseline and on serves, but still struggling a bit with it at the net---could also be the racquet, as the open ESP pattern doesn't lend itself to precision at the net. I also feel like the Firewire plays a little dead on touch shots; it's like it pockets the ball much better on full swings. I want to try Firewire with a multi in the cross, but I am afraid it will break in 30 minutes! Anyone tried Firewire in a hybrid with multi?
I have used this hybrid twice so far, and tried it with a customer who loves the setup, and has asked for the Firewire hybrid again. I have tested most of the Tier One strings on my YONEX Rdis 100 MP and can say that they make very good strings and the price is exceptional. I also get amazing spin with the Strike Force Rip with a very comfortable feel and very nice control....it just drives me crazy that the strings don't lay straight it my racquet! It seems to play just fine, but even when freshly strung the strings' notches get caught on one another, which causes the strings to lay slightly out of parallel from each other. It's been my favorite "feeling" poly so far from T1. Firewire is a great value though, and I am about to test the 18g in my trusty Yonex Vcore 89 to see how it plays in a more closed string pattern vs my Prince ESP.
Durafluxx is a fantastic string as well, reminds me of Tour Bite Soft, with less power, and just slightly less inherent spin. Tour Status is like a softer more powerful Cyclone, however, the sharp edges wore off rather quickly and the string went dead very quickly for me--I didn't like it after 3 hours. Tried it twice, and got the same results, ready to cut it out at hour 3.
Firewire gives me the most topspin out of any other string I've ever used.
I have used this hybrid twice so far, and tried it with a customer who loves the setup, and has asked for the Firewire hybrid again. I have tested most of the Tier One strings on my YONEX Rdis 100 MP and can say that they make very good strings and the price is exceptional. I also get amazing spin with the Strike Force Rip with a very comfortable feel and very nice control....it just drives me crazy that the strings don't lay straight it my racquet! It seems to play just fine, but even when freshly strung the strings' notches get caught on one another, which causes the strings to lay slightly out of parallel from each other. It's been my favorite "feeling" poly so far from T1. Firewire is a great value though, and I am about to test the 18g in my trusty Yonex Vcore 89 to see how it plays in a more closed string pattern vs my Prince ESP.
Durafluxx is a fantastic string as well, reminds me of Tour Bite Soft, with less power, and just slightly less inherent spin. Tour Status is like a softer more powerful Cyclone, however, the sharp edges wore off rather quickly and the string went dead very quickly for me--I didn't like it after 3 hours. Tried it twice, and got the same results, ready to cut it out at hour 3.
Firewire gives me the most topspin out of any other string I've ever used.
LocNetMonster
Professional
Yep, I have. It works, but using a slick poly in the crosses is better. In my experience, the problem with multi crosses and FW mains is the Tier One string will quickly shave the strings outer coating, which keeps the mains from sliding back into place after about a set. Same thing with Sgut, which is why I was using XC in the crosses.
Strike Force Rip drives me crazy, too!!! I hate I can't get the string to lay straight after stringing ... hahahaha .... But, IMHO, it plays great as a cross with FW, too. I have several players who I string for using this combination.
It is counter intuitive, but I now use FW in the crosses and Tier One's Tour Status in the mains and Firewire in the crosses. Still get awesome spin, albeit a little less, but tons more than SGut along with better control and a tad bit longer life before going dead. I would highly recommend this set up for those who play with heavy slice. I hit a slice first serve that moves laterally on average two feet from its bounce point in the service box to the point it passes over the baseline. Needless to say, I'm seeing opponents swatting empty air more and more. Forehand slices at my opponents feet rarely get returned.
I have used x1 biphase. Very good at net and very powerful but does not last long.
DrumWizOHBD
Semi-Pro
Groovy, thanks for the feedback!
LocNetMonster
Professional
Finally ordered and tried a set of Firewire Boost in my Pure Control Team. Here are my notes and impressions:
- The Noes-2 string recommended for crosses is the slickest string I've encountered. As I stringing I immediately thought about how much more spin I should be able to produce. My first impression of Noes-2 while stringing was it is a very slick version of Gamma's Poly Z.
- After the first few hits, I felt like I was hitting Poly Z again thanks to both the sound on contact with the ball and feel. The comparison ends there.
- With a driving flat stroke, I could hit a low clearance shoot deep with nice pace consistently. If I muscled the shot, the ball would fall 3 feet or more behind the baseline. The feel and sound were crisp with ample power.
- Normal ground strokes, however, had a huge launch off the strings. I didn't feel the bit nor did I feel like I had the control I do with a full bed of Firewire. What may have complicated the issue is I was playing in low to mid 90s temps.
- Firewire, IMHO, is temperamental - and may be the Noes-2 as well, when it comes temperature. I started hitting with it last October when it was cooler and played in mid-60s to mid-70s at 55#-57#. Loved it! Now, that we are in the summer months, I've been creeping the tension up between 65#-69# to get the same control, spin and not over hit. With Boost, even in the mid-60s the string bed feels spongy. I will order another set and try higher, like somewhere between 68# and 72#.
Boost vs Full bed Firewire
Spin: Couldn't get as many revolutions or that kamakaze drop, but I think that perception could change with a higher tension.
Slices: Okay, it's not a full bed.
Power: A ton and then some in a stiff frame over 13oz. Honestly, there is an over abundance. Explosive.
Control: About the same.
Durability: TBD.
Feel: Kinda sexy
Touch: String bed too springy. Need to evaluate at higher tension or wait until October.
- Also will order an additional set for grins and giggles to try the hybrid reversed. I like Firewire as a cross string, which is my preferred set up with Tour Status in the mains for tons of spin and lazer-guided control at the moment.
All-courters might benefit but I found I had to pay more attention on volleys to make sure I didn't hit them too deep. Overall, I think Boost would be a sweet set up for baseline grinders and corner rippers. For more experienced players, hitting winners I bet it would be like shooting ducks in a barrel with Boost from the behind the baseline.
LocNetMonster
Professional
Played again with the Boost stick last night for a few games. The temperature was in the low 80s. The set up played differently, a little more predictiable. Still has a lot more punch than a full bed of Firewire, but the control was better in the slightly cooler temp last night. Definitely, will have to try again at higher tension.
MarcusInKensington
Hall of Fame
I really liked the Firewire Boost hybrid in my old racquets, and am thinking of going back to it. Previously I put Firewire in the mains and Neos-2 in the crosses. Has anyone tried switching the strings around? If so, how did it play?
LocNetMonster
Professional
I haven't played Boost reversed, but FWIW, I really do like Firewire as a cross string, especially with Tier One's Tour Status as a main. My perception with this combo is a little less spin with more predictable control, especially on volleys.
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
Trying this tonight
LocNetMonster
Professional
Enjoy!
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
It's awesome! Firewire is too aggressively-shaped for me in the mains, while Tour Status has just the right amount of spin and control/launch angle. But, in crosses, Tour Status doesn't bite the ball enough for me on slices. Firewire solves that.
Really a fantastic combination with great playability.
Thanks for the idea!
What is wrong with being too aggressively shaped? Too much spin?
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
To me it is subjective, i.e. it depends on your play style. I prefer a more consistent and lower launch angle on ground strokes. Aggressively-shaped strings give me a higher launch angle and necessitate a faster swing. I like having the option to swing slower (tired, nervous, etc). It also gives me better consistency on touch shots. But, I appreciate the bite on slices and serves. That's why I like it as a cross.
It's just personal preference. I think both Tour Status and Firewire are made out of the same material composition. The main difference is the number of sides. I prefer more consistency out of my mains, that's all.
