PLAYTEST - Tourna Premium Poly 17

Tourna Premium Poly 17G Playtest:

Color received: Black

Tension(s) used for playtest: It was strung at 50lbs (*two piece)

Regular string set up: RPM Blast 17G varying from 46 to 50lbs

Racquet used for test: ProKennex Black Ace Pro

Control/Power: It felt like the string was engineered to be low-powered, control oriented string. I was able to hit out with full strokes without having to worry about balls flying off. The control was very good. No issues with hitting the intended targets. Overall, it played like how a good poly string should play.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): The feel was comfortable even at 50lbs. The racket probably helped, but there was no break-in period needed. The string felt nice and comfortable from the first hit. It kind of reminded me of Yonex Poly Tour Pro.

Spin: I did get the comments that the balls were bouncing off the ground nicely, but I usually hit with a lot of spin. It didn't feel like the string helped in creating more spin than other poly strings. It had a nice bite like a good poly, but I don't think the spin was its standout feature.

Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?): I already put in more hours with this string (8 hours) than my go to string (*RPM Blast - 6 hours), but the playability is still ok. It does feel like its lost some pin-point control by the 8th hour, but not really a big drop off. It feels like a nice durable string, even for the 16x19 string pattern.

Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?): The string has not notched, yet. It still has the snap back by the 8th hour of playing, but it did lose some pin-point feel. I think I can still get a few more hours of rally time, but maybe only a couple more hours of match playing with string.

Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?): Because it felt like a nice controlled string, I would drop the tension by 2 to 4 pounds to gain more power. I think there still would be control but with more power with lower tension.

Additional comments (optional): Quite surprised at the price point of this string. Kind of makes you wonder why other string cost much more. This is a fine product from Tourna. Thank you, TW. Thank you, Tourna. Thank you for the opportunity.
 
any updates from players that have played the string before in the white from years ago and to the current offerings?
 
djNEiGht said:
any updates from players that have played the string before in the white from years ago and to the current offerings?
Click to expand...

I played it a few years back. The positive reviews here do not match my memory of the string. Sorry man.. was not on this play-test.
 
djNEiGht said:
any updates from players that have played the string before in the white from years ago and to the current offerings?
Click to expand...
I actually ended up buying a reel of the white one which i believe is the "old" one. But haven't had a chance to test it out yet. Once I get the chance I'll try and post my findings
 
Are you talking about the original poly or the new one from the Playtest? I meant to say I enjoyed the Playtest and bought a reel of the original premium poly to compare lol
 
Crimsonchen said:
Are you talking about the original poly or the new one from the Playtest? I meant to say I enjoyed the Playtest and bought a reel of the original premium poly to compare lol
Click to expand...
-ahhh yeah
-the new one i am playtesting is good
-i dont know the old one
-but i've tried other tourna polys, and they have surprised me, in a positive way
-tourna polys - "in general" (y)
 
First, Thanks for tw and Tourna for the opportunity of play testing.

  • Color received: white 17g
  • Tension(s) used for playtest: 44lbs on wise constant pull
  • Regular string set up: signum pro yellow jacket 17g at 44 lbs
  • Racquet used for test: pro kennex 5g smi
  • Control/Power: I went to the lower end of my preference for the string tension because I have shoulder issue recently. even with the 44lbs on a 16x20 racket, I do not feel it is too powerful. as a matter of fact, I felt I would like to have a bit more power by adding more swing into the ball. The string plays nice and give decent spin and control, but less spin than the much stiffer yellow jacket I use regularly.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): The string play muted and comfortable on my setup. volley felt great and able to put the ball to the spot I wanted. It is soft poly and felt good strike the ball. I almost can feel the ball pocketing on strick.
  • Spin: as mentioned before, the spin is decent. I definite can feel the spin and control when I brush through the ball on both wings. For a soft poly, I think it is very good on spin production.
  • Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?): played a little over 10 hours on it now and still play decent. not as fresh as the fresh set but still playable for practice or feeding the ball. For the stiff poly, I normally play not more than 15 hours. since this is on the soft side, I will leave it for a bit longer.
  • Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?): after 10 hours, I don't see any sign of breakage. I normally do not break poly strings and it is fine for me.
  • Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?) I might add 1 or 2 lbs on this string. I felt I can get better control if do so.
  • Additional comments (optional) : This is a good option for player who is looking for value. It plays great overall and pretty arm friendly.
 
1HBHfanatic said:
-this is my FIRST update on this string review
-i want to write it down before i forget
-i received the package today 2/21/2022
-its the 17g TOURNA.premium.poly in BLACK
-package reads that it is a DURABILITY/HARD/SLICK string
-after reading the package and its intended characteristics, i decided to play it against ypt.STRIKE (17g BLACK)

-just finished stringing it on my 2x w.blade-98s-v8s, strung it at 51lbs
-while stringing, i could tell it did have the slick outer coating!!
-not crazy slick, but enough to make it glide smoothly over the strings = easy poly stringing
-in this SLICK regard, both strings i chose seem to be similar
-i strung the tourna.premium.poly first!
-one notable difference ,(while stringing) was at the pulling of the tension of the second racket
-my machine (prince 5000) has a tension buzzer that beeps when the tension is reached
-the buzzer/beep sounded notably quicker when pulling tension on the ypt.STRIKE!!
-the buzzer/beep was a bit longer/delayed while pulling tension on the tourna.premium.poly!?
-that buzzer/beep difference indicates that the tourna.PREMIUM.poly is stretching a bit more than the ypt.STRIKE
-more updates to follow!
Click to expand...

-my additional/final notes on this review:

-my review of the Tourna’s new Premium Poly 17.
Color received: BLACK
Tension(s) used for playtest: 51lbs
Regular string set up: various FB polys
Racquet used for test: blade v8, 16/19
Control/Power: good, decent, expected control for a round slick co-poly
-power was as expected for a round slick co-poly!!, not hard or overly crisp, got more and more powerful at hour-10, getting a bit much at hour-20
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): feels like a co-poly string!,, not a comfort string (or comfort poly) but rather a classic co-poly, no arm issues through out the playtest
Spin: good spin for a round slick copoly, when i wanted to put spin on the ball, i got spin; but not like an edged poly type of spin, but the "expected" type of spin you will get from a ROUND co-poly
Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?): (NOTE, I am not a known string breaker) i had this string for almost 2 whole weeks,
-i tracked about 20hours; very good predictable, crisp, precise string from 0-10hrs; from 10hrs-20hrs there was gradual changes that i would notice more and more
-towards the end of the playtest the power was becoming a bit more than i wanted, had to cut it out
-the string was becoming more and more comfortable as the playtest was going
-towards the end of the 20hr test, the strings where becoming a bit more "LAUNCHY", not crazy different, but enough for me to switch to the other racquet/string when i needed to be more precise
-when cutting it out, there was still a bit more snap left on it, if i would have gone up in tension ,(a bit more) i could have played it a bit longer!?
Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?) (NOTE, i am not a heavy spin player) no significant notching and/or string movement noticed in the time i had it; i kept checking on notching and snapback with little change
-the slick outer coating on this poly is good/great, and IMO helped with the snapback; this would be a GOOD cross string in hybrid situations as well!!
Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?): on my racquet and for my game i would keep maybe go up 1-3 lbs higher
-i think you can go too high with this string, but it would take a alot to make it uncomfortable

Additional comments (optional): it is not a true 17g!!
-the package i received did not include the "mm" measurement, it just read "17G"
-i used a digital caliper to measure the string while on my racquets
-the yonex.poly.tour.STRIKE i compared it to, was measuring as stated ~1.23mm (on average)
-the TOURNA.premium.POLY had a mm measurement of ~1.19mm (on average!)
-the longer i played it, the more i notised the mm differences between the TOURNA and the yonex strings
-both string were suppose to be 1.25mm!!??
-i suspected this when no where on the package did it include the mm differences, like most packages do
-i don't mind smaller string gauges, i just wish manufacturers would stop playing that "head game", not necessary!!

-having said that ^ and finding the differences in thickness, for a "suspected" 18g copoly, tourna durability is good!!
-at no time in the 2 weeks did i notice any arm discomfort
-the power level was good and/or as expected for a ~18g (1.19mm) copoly
-in the 2weeks i had it, the string did not reach that dead, muted, lifeless feel!

-my conclusion of this string: this is a price to performance WINNER!!
-i would buy this product for what it does, and be more than happy for the performance i get/got!!

-thank you @TW Staff , for the opportunity!!
 
TOURNA PREMIUM POLY 17
  • Color received: Black
  • Tension(s) used for playtest: 55lb
  • Regular string set up: Technifibre X-one Biphase 16. 55lb.
  • Racquet used for test: Babolat Pure Drive
  • Control/Power: Control was good for my flat strokes. Directional control was excellent. It felt like I had to swing more for getting the depth I wanted, which hints a bit of lack of power.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Crisp. The strings felt good for point and shoot and have a crisp feel to it. I am usually a soft multifilament string user and so this poly test was not too arm friendly for me. But I would not blame that on the strings, it is just the user probably.
  • Spin: Frankly I am not much of a topspin guy, and I hit pretty flat strokes. So I cannot vouch on the topspin aspects of this string. I found that the slices kept really low and short and did not flot. So there seems to be good spin potential.
  • Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?): Yes. I don’t think I will break this string for a long time. But after around 10 hitting sessions I felt like the strings were dead, and there was no elasticity. There was absolutely no notching or fraying for me even then. So I am pretty sure the string would last me for a long time, just that probably not playable for me that long.
  • Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?): As I mentioned above, even after 10 hitting sessions the strings had no fraying or notching on my racquet. So I believe the durability is extremely good for me. I am a 3.5 level flat hitter. And so keep that in mind when considering durability if you are a college level player or something.
  • Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?): My stringer actually told me to string it at lower tension originally, but I insisted to go with my regular tension. If I have a second chance, I probably will go 10lb lower (45lb) since power was lacking for me during the play test.
  • Additional comments (optional): This string seems like an average poly string at a really good value. So this could be a really good cross option for many folks like me who really need a multi filament on mains. I was told to play test this in full bed, but if I use this again, I probably will use this as a hybrid in the crosses, with a softer string in mains.
 
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Tourna Premium Poly 17


Thanks TW for including me in this playtest, as I love testing strings! **Special thanks to haq777 for providing a nice review template :)

Color Received:
White

Tension(s) used for playtest:
51lb Mains/ 48lb Cross

Regular string set up:
Tecnifibre Black Code Fire 17 (1.25)

Racquet used for playtest:
Technfibre VO2 T-Flash 315 (Baghdatis/Fischer Pro #1 mold)

Control/Power:
This is definitely a control-oriented string. I went right out to hit singles after stringing and found great control. At first felt pretty firm (but not uncomfortable) with decent pocketing for the first 15-20 minutes, then it opened up in the power and very nice pocketing, and less firm by a little bit after that. Premium Poly had a little bit of power, felt like slightly less power than the Black Code. Even after the initial break-in, I would say the control stayed on point. I could trust this string to put the ball where I wanted. If LUX 4G is the lowest powered co-poly at a 1 out of 10, I would put this at a around a 3-4.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Very comfortable for a firmer control-oriented poly. I was very surprised, because most poly strings this comfortable feel mushy to me (can't always feel where I made contact on the stringbed). Overall feel for was comfortably crisp. I have also used Ice Code quite a bit, and that string is also comfortable and crisp but more muted than the Tourna. The Tourna isn't soft per se, but never transmitted any bad vibrations to my arm, and off-center hits didn't hurt. The feedback was very nice, good pocketing in the sweetspot, and I could tell where I made contact on the stringbed. Felt great of volleys for me.

Spin:
This string was average, maybe even below average, in the spin department for a poly. It doesn't really "bite" the ball like Black Code does for me. Has great snapback, and is nice and slippery. When I really tried to put as much kick as possible on my serves, I would get that little extra spin that I expect from a poly, but I had to whip it with everything I had to see those results. I could get good spin from it, don't get me wrong, but most other polyester strings I've used would give me more spin.

Playability Durability (did it lose playability over time?):
I broke the string around 8 hours. Around 6-7 hours in, I noticed I lost a bit of that pinpoint control. After the initial 20 minute break-in, I felt like the string kept it's comfortable control-oriented characteristics until that 6 hour mark, when I felt like I lost control and that "pop" from the sweetspot. The last 1-2 hours before it broke, I could still play with it but the gratifying feel at impact had diminished: The strings felt more "dead", like they had lost some life, while at the same time I had either more power or less control, if that makes sense. Compared to Volkl Cyclone, which for me starts to drop off a cliff around 4-5 hours, this string never did that. I never noticed it really changing feel for those first 5 hours, then when it did start to bag out, it was gradual.

Durability (did it notch? - get stuck out of position?):
Quite durable, the main strings started notching after a few hours, causing the cross strings to get stuck out of place after intense rallies. My mains snapped back really well until around 5 hours, then they started getting stuck out of place a little, not crazy bad. When I finally popped a main string, the stringbed was pretty straight overall. For a thinner gauge affordable polyester, I am happy with the durability, especially the playability durability.

Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?):
This was pretty good tension in this stick for me, I might try actually stringing 2-3lb lower to try to get more spin. I feel like this string would be fine in a stiffer more powerful racquet strung up @55-58lb and still be comfortable while taming the power.

Additional comments (optional):
This was easy to string, and thought the string would feel much harsher than it played. ** I should note that a little over an hour of this playtest was me hitting serves without much downtime, which may have led to shorter durability, as my strings normally break on serves.

Conclusion:
For players who don't need extra help in the spin dept. and are looking for a control oriented budget polyester with a nice feel, this is the string for you! I like polyester, and a string has to feel good at the net for me, or it's a deal-breaker...and I was truly impressed with how well this string pockets the ball at this price point. Due to the slippery nature of this string, I think it would do well as a cross string in hybrid setups, either to add some pocketing/feel to a firmer poly main or to add some control to a softer Main string. 2 other Round White Polyesters I use a lot are TF Ice Code and Tier 1 Ghostwire. Out of the 3 (TF, T1, and Tourna), Ice code gives me the most spin and most comfortable muted feel, Ghostwire is a little firmer with a little more pop, bite, and power, the Tourna Premium was the lowest powered but I preferred the feedback it gave while being comfortable, but not muted. However, in regards to durability of the 3 aforementioned strings, the Ice Code and Ghostwire's playability lasts almost twice as long as the Tourna in the same gauge. If I was on a budget and just wanted control that didn't hurt my arm and wasn't too muted, I would buy Tourna Premium Poly White 17 in a heartbeat.
 
Last edited:
Review of Tourna Premium Poly 17g


Playtester Profile:

Male, 42 years old, 4.0 NTRP.

Playing Style:

I’m a baseliner who plays with a lot of topspin on both sides, with a semi-western forehand grip and a THBH.
I’ve been playing mostly doubles now and love to hit cross-court short-angled shots and offensive topspin lobs. Inconsistent net game and limited serve speed due to shoulder injury.

Duration (hours) and court surface of playtest:

About 9 hours (3 hitting sessions), 100% Har Tru.

Color Received: Black

Tension(s) used for playtest: Strung two-piece at 52lbs mains 49 lbs crosses.

Regular string set up: Head Sonic Pro Edge 17g (mains) X Isospeed Baseline 16L (crosses). Same tension.

Racquet used for test: Prince Classic Graphite 100

Control/Power: 8/0

For me, the biggest benefits of using poly strings are the control and spin they can deliver compared to other types of strings. I came into this playtest expecting a control-oriented string and it did not disappoint. I was able to really swing out with full strokes without fear of overhitting.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): 7/10

The feel was OK. I wouldn’t call it the most comfortable string ever, but it wasn’t harsh either. The feel was good from the first hit and only started to feel “deader” at the very end of the playtest.

Spin: 6/10

I’m used to playing with shaped polys in the mains, so it is understandable that this string was not able to match my regular set-up in the spin department. That being said, the amount of spin was adequate for a round poly and I feel it wasn’t detrimental to my game overall.


Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?): 8/10

This is usually where cheaper strings tend to fail, but this is string held up surprisingly well over the course of the playtest. The string was losing some snapback potential at the end of the third session, but that is on par with most polys I’ve ever played with and comparable to my go-to Isospeed Baseline.


Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?): 6.5/10

At the end of the second session, I started to see that the cross strings were cutting into the mains and they were starting to notch. By the 9th hour, there was some visible notching, but I think the strings still had a few more hours left on them, so durability is not an issue for me as I usually cut poly out after bout 10 hours of play.

Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?):

I like this tension but could maybe drop a couple of pounds or increase the tension differential to increase the spin, but it played well at my usual tension.

Additional comments (optional):

Like every piece of equipment, your experience with this string will depend on your expectations. If you are looking for the spin potential of a Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable, the softness of an Isospeed Cream, or that unique thumping feel of an Alu Power, you are surely going to be disappointed.

But if you (like me) are looking for a basic, inexpensive poly that will hold it’s playing characteristics well without being too soft or too harsh, then this is a good option for you.

Thanks, TW. And thanks to anyone reading this till the end. Hope this review is useful if you’re deciding if this string is right for you.

One last tip though, at this price point, why not give it a try, you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
 
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Tourna Premium Poly​

I’d like to begin by thanking Tennis Warehouse for giving me the opportunity to playtest Tourna Premium Poly. Thank you as well to the readers and posters on the TTW forum for your roles in keeping these forums fun and interesting. I hope you all can gain some value from my review.

  • Color Received: White in 17 gauge.
  • Tension Used in Playtest: I strung Tourna Premium Poly on a Wilson Baiardo at 54 lbs. I found stringing to be relatively easy and not at all tedious. The string is smooth and malleable and so it weaves very easily.
  • Regular String Setup: For the past two years I have been playing with either full poly hybrids (shaped poly mains and smooth poly crosses), or gut/poly hybrids with either a smooth poly or shaped poly in the crosses. As of late (in the last six months) I have been mostly playing with gut/poly hybrids.
  • Racquet Used for Test: For a few years now I have played with the Head Youtek IG Prestige MP in either the original releases color scheme, or with the 25th Anniversary Model. Both are IG Prestige MP’s. For the purposes of this review, I used a IG Prestige MP with the original releases red color scheme.
  • Control/Power: Compared to my current setup (Gut/Poly Hybrid) Tourna Premium Poly was not as powerful and played much deader. I would place this string below most of my immediate choices in string. I find I get more control from coated and firmer polys. While hitting with Tourna Premium Poly I found that I could move the ball around the court reasonably well. I could not drop the ball deep in the court as often as I could with a coated firm poly. Tourna Premium Poly is by extension much more powerful than my preferred polys. I enjoyed the available power from Tourna Premium Poly on flat serves and on backhands. My flat serve saw benefits from Tourna Premium Poly compared to other polys. I found that my backhand had a little more power compared to other full poly beds, but it was lacking the security that I normally have from stiffer polys.
  • Feel: I enjoyed the feel from Tourna Premium Poly. While there is no poly anywhere on the planet that can compare to natural gut in the feel department, I found that Tourna Premium Poly was very comfortable for a poly. My first experience with Tourna Premium Poly was on volleys for about 30 minutes. Tourna Premium Poly was a pleasant experience to volley with and I found that it had good pocketing and was very plush. The sweet spot on the IG Prestige MP is rather small, but Tourna Premium Poly was soft enough that I didn’t get any harsh feedback when I was being pushed on more aggressive exchanges and couldn’t make clean contact as often. Going further into the playtest, I can say I was not bothered by Tourna Premium Poly’s feel and feedback on groundstrokes.
  • Spin: While playing with Tourna Premium Poly, I found that it was not any more difficult to generate topspin than with my other setups in my racquet of choice. The IG Prestige MP is a little more demanding when it comes to creating topspin, but Tourna Premium Poly did not fail me in imparting topspin on groundstrokes and topspin serves. That is not to say that it is a string I would prefer to play a topspin game with, but I think it is a viable option in that regard. I found that I got less topspin compared to my preferred options playing at my usual intensity.
  • Playability Duration: I used Tourna Premium Poly for 4 weeks before I began playing with another string. For the 4 weeks I played with Tourna Premium Poly, I believe I hit with it (feeding not included) for about 30 hours. I did not notice any tension or playability drop off for the first 10 or so days, but by the end of the first 2 weeks I could tell that the tension had dropped. Throughout the 3rd week I could still utilize the string bed with a decently stable output in terms of shot quality, this was around 23 hours in where the tension and playability were still somewhat acceptable. Going into the 25th hour and the 4th week, I found that Tourna Premium Poly slowly became unusable, I was not able to monitor tension loss, but towards the middle of the 3rd week I had relegated the racquet I strung it in to feeding and having volley to groundstroke practice rallies with my juniors.
  • Durability: Tourna Premium Poly began showing slight signs of notching by the end of the first week. By the 2nd week the notches were visible, and by the third week I found that my output at my usual intensity had gone down. I do not break strings anymore since switching to the 18x20 pattern and have not yet cut Tourna Premium Poly out. While the string is showing signs of obvious wear, I don’t think it is at risk of breaking soon.
  • Tension Findings: Tourna Premium Poly has what I could consider to be middle of the road in terms of tension maintenance. My usual choices in poly hold tension a little better because they are stiffer, and I find that stiffness helps at least in terms of feeling like my strings are still tight. Tourna Premium Poly held tension very well throughout the first 10 – 11 days of the playtest.
  • Additional Thoughts: I enjoyed Tourna Premium Poly for serve and volley. I think that because the string is soft and powerful, I felt very comfortable at the net. If I were to play this string again, I would envision it playing better in a more open pattern in a lighter racquet. I don’t think this string is stiff enough for me to play my game in my heavier racquet.
 
Last edited:
Thank you very much TTW and Tourna for giving me this opportunity to playtest this string. I only got about 6 hours of playing with this string, but I'd like to play with it a bit more and see if I can observe other findings.
  • Color received: Green

  • Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 lbs.

  • Regular string set up: Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 17g/Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16g: 48lbs/53lbs

  • Racquet used for test: Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD

  • Control/Power: I love the control on this string. I could really swing out at the ball and mostly be assured that the ball would stay in. I could probably have liked a little bit more power, but I liked the depth I was getting with my shots.
  • Control: 9/10 Power: 3/10
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Tourna Premium Poly felt dead and muted throughout the whole playtest. I didn't feel as connected to the ball with Tourna Premium Poly compared to other crisp co-polys, and it felt firmer than the co-polys that I've tried recently. It does feel a bit harsh if contact was made off-center.
  • Feel: 4/10
  • Spin: I mainly hit flat, so I don't focus too much on the amount of topspin I generate. I found the topspin adequate for me to play consistently well. One downside though was that I had trouble with my slices. It kept popping up way too often, and I couldn't hit the low slice.
  • Spin 4/10
  • Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?): I haven't really been able to put the miles on this string, but so far I haven't noticed any significant changes in playability since stringing the racket. Tourna Premium Poly plays pretty well right out of the machine with little to no break-in required.
  • Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?): Normally, I see co-polys already notch by the fifth or sixth hour, but so far I haven't experience that for Tourna Premium Poly. The strings have stayed in position for the whole playtest, and I haven't had to readjust the strings while playing.
  • Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?): I like the tension that I strung Tourna Premium Poly at. I can maybe go 2 lbs. lower to give myself extra depth, but I also liked how I can really swing out at the ball and not lose control.
  • Additional comments (optional): For a co-poly, this was very easy and straightforward to string. I think the coating made it easier for me to weave the string. For the price point, I can see myself putting a full bed of this string on my frame, or as a cross string in a hybrid. Tourna Premium Poly is definitely a string I will consider in the near future.
Huge thank you to Tennis Warehouse and Tourna again for allowing me to test this string!
 
  • https://imgur.com/a/5c4OSOt
  • What color are you reviewing?
    • Green - Best color of any green of any poly I've used
    • It's a darker green than Solinco Hyper-G
  • Tension(s) used for playtest
    • 53 lbs
  • Regular racquet/string set up
    • My string set up changes but have mostly consisted of Pros Pro Eruption 1.24mm, any other Pros Pro, or any other smooth poly at 55lb
    • And when my shoulder is hurting Pros Pro synthetic gut 1.30mm at 57lb
    • Yonex Dr98+
  • Control/Spin
    • This is a much more control string as the touch and feel were good, but did not provide me with enough spin to keep my baseline shots in play. I noticed lots of my shots were long even playing indoors. I feel the spin on this was definitely lacking. I've used other smooth polys that could provide better spin but play stiffer. I would recommended this to a S&V player looking for good pop on the serve and superb control on the 1st volley.
  • Power
    • I personally felt that this was a medium-high powered string. I like larger gauge strings so maybe this being 1.20mm had a small part but I would say this gave it too much power than I usually play with. I would say stringing this at 56 would possibly help me with reducing the power and containing my shots. I would rate the power level on this a 8/10. I look for something that is usually 5/10 on the power scale when comparing Luxilon BBO would be considered 1/10.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
    • This string is a comfortable but muted poly. I won't normally have soreness from a poly unless I play multiple hours a week somewhere between 7-8 hours. But I put maybe 14 hours cumulative of singles & doubles. 70/30. I would like to try this again with a 1.25mm or bigger gauge
    • Stiffness 2/10
    • Mushy 5/10
  • Playability Duration (did the string lose playability over time?)
    • This string plays stable through its life. Normally, with the Pros Pro polys I play with start off amazing and the drop to playable until I cut it out or it breaks. This played average throughout the life. It didn't give off impressive feel right off the stringer which is something I usually crave when playing with fresh poly. So if you are looking for a string to set and forget for more than 15+ this will give you good life until it breaks. I think this string would eventually last me 30 hours of singles play before it breaks. The playability just was very even throughout
    • I usually can get 6-7 hours out of synthetic gut before it breaks and I will usually play with poly until it notches and doesn't snap back
  • Tension findings (would you use a different tension next time? Why?)
    • As mentioned above, I think the sweetspot would be 56 lbs. It has a lot of power and but I needed to raise tension to get the control needed to keep my shots in.
  • Overall
    • I really enjoyed the green color of this string. I was so happy to get the green because to me that is half the reason for me choosing strings. I know this is on the less expensive side when compared to Luxilon which is what I like. It gives great performance for the cost. I'm always looking for good low budget string options since I string for others I will definitely recommend this and keep it in my drawer for other clients.
    • From a stringing perspective, it is a super smooth poly and very easy to string. 10/10 for ease of stringing.
 
Tourna Premium Poly - 17g Yellow
sazuMSn.jpg

  • Color received:
    • Yellow - it's close to the color of Yonex Poly Tour Pro, but a little more translucent or pearly.
  • Tension(s) used for playtest
    • 49/48 lbs. I strung it up on my Alpha Pioneer dropweight. It's pretty easy to handle while stringing — slick, round, and not too stiff.
  • Regular string set up
    • Tecnifibre Razor Code, also at 49/48
  • Racquet used for test
    • 2020 Yonex Ezone 98
  • Control/Power
    • For a round poly, I felt like this string was in the middle of the pack in both categories. I'd say it's still on the control side of the string spectrum, but it has a decent amount of pop for a firm poly. In my experience, yellow polys are often a little livelier than their darker counterparts. Control was fine, but not on par with my favorite round strings (like Razor Code or Poly Tour Strike). I found myself aiming for bigger targets, because I didn't entirely trust the strings.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
    • For me, this string felt muted, firm, and a bit dead. I didn't feel as connected to the ball as I do with either Razor Code or Poly Tour Pro in the same racquet. I wouldn't say it's mushy, but it did feel vague at times. Again, I'd say this string is middle-of-the-road: relatively comfortable, firm, muted, average feel.
  • Spin
    • Started off strong, but went downhill in a hurry. For the first hour or so, I felt like I got plenty of spin. Of course there wasn't bite like Hyper-G or other shaped strings, but it was solid for a round poly. After that, I noticed significant notching in both the mains and the crosses. The stringbed started to lock, I lost snapback, and balls started flying on me. It was not fun. This was my greatest disappointment with this string, given that its marketing focused heavily on durability. Which leads me to...
  • Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?)
    • I had high hopes playability duration, but it let me down. On the bright side: tension maintenance seemed good, and the feel didn't change too much as the string broke in and aged. I still felt that playability changed too much over the string's lifespan, as the stringbed locked early. I was injured partly through my playtest, so unfortunately I didn't get to play until breakage. In some ways that was a relief, because I was ready to cut the string out after about 3-4 hours of play.
  • Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?)
    • After only about 2 hours, I saw heavy notching and had to work harder to find access to spin. For a durability-focused string, this was a major letdown.
  • Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?)
    • I thought 49# was a good starting point for this string, and I think it could go a few pounds up or a few pounds down depending on personal preference. It's firm enough that stringing low seems viable, and it's comfortable enough that stringing high wouldn't be unbearable.
  • Additional comments (optional)
    • I didn't hate this string, but I definitely didn't love it. It's about as average a poly as I could imagine: control is decent, power is decent, feel is okay, spin is fine until notching happens. The differentiating factor is the price, but for me that would be offset by the relatively quick notching. It might be decent as a cheap hybrid cross? I like that Tourna continues to offer affordable strings, but I think there are far better round polys on the market. Even in the budget arena, I would look at Isospeed's offerings before this string.
As always, a huge thanks to TW and Tourna for this playtest! The gear tests are one of the best parts of these forums.
 
TOURNA PREMIUM POLY 17

I will update my review once I use the string in matchplay. It was mainly for practice rallies.
  • Color received: Green
  • Tension(s) used for playtest: 40lb Mains and Crosses
  • Regular string set up: Depends, normally 60lb for Non Poly
  • Racquet used for test: Head Graphene Youtek Prestige MP
  • Control/Power:
    • 7.5/10. The poly is lower power but what I hope for was some solid control. The strings helped with having good neutral rallies, which is what I look for in a poly.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
    • 7/10. This is the lowest category since it felt pretty crisp. While not uncomfortable, I keep in mind my hitting sessions were under a couple hours, I couldn't tell if it was firm to the point of discomfort unless in a long match.
  • Spin:
    • 8.5/10 The spin is good. Had some nice rip. Mainly I have been practicing, hitting with the string and will start to use it for matchplay. This rating may get lower if I have trouble adjusting height over the net.
  • Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?):
    • 8/10 This rating may decrease pending on how the strings react over time.
  • Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?):
    • 9/10 These strings did not notch, a plus. Durability is great. I would compare it to most polys, but will continue playing with the setup to get a better feel.
  • Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?):
    • I would try 61lb next time, that way I can get a better sense of the control and comfort. The control was there in initial hits, and I am curious for whether there are significant improvements without large tradeoffs at 60lbs.
  • Additional comments (optional):
    • Overall an 8/10. Thanks TW and Tourna for the opportunity.
 
Alright Finally time to review this string. some background: roughly 4.0 player, primarily baseline, but working on all court. Topspin game working on flatter shots (was opposite before... went too far into topspin that i lost too much power...)
  • Color received: I received the black one
  • Tension(s) used for playtest:
    • used full bed at 52#
  • Regular string set up:
    • Isospeed baseline 17L 52#
  • Racquet used for test:
    • Yonex Ezone Dr 98
  • Control/Power:
    • It was definitely a little less powerful than my normal setup, though I would say it is about average in comparison to most polys. Control was good as a product of the lower power. I think it was overall a pretty decent poly with a good balance of power and control.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
    • Again, this was about an average stiff poly, maybe even on the slightly softer side. It was stiffer than my isospeed baseline, which I consider a softer poly. The feel was more on the crisp side, but I felt no discomfort from it.
  • Spin
    • Pretty average round poly spin action. Fairly similar to my isospeed baseline. Got spin when I needed and didn't when I didn't need it. Its a truly versatile poly string. Snapback was also pretty good.
  • Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?)
    • Unfortunately due to weather and general work, wasn't able to play with this string enough to actually comment on playability duration. I will say that it got a little more softer and powerful as time went on, but overall it performs pretty standard to other polys. lasted about the same as my isospeed baseline, but because it was a lower powered string it does last a little longer than the isospeed. at least in terms of my usability. maybe i need to increase tension on the isospeed though.
  • Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?)
    • Solid durability as a poly. definitely didn't move around as fast as my isospeed baseline, which started moving around around the 2 hour mark. Im also not a string breaker, but based on what I can see, the tourna has less of a notch compared to the isospeed.
  • Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?)
    • I think id keep it at this tension if I play with this again. I really liked the overall response.
  • Additional comments (optional)
    • I think that overall, its a solid option for a budget poly. Does it wow your world? No. But what it does is give a solid offering to anyone seeking a cheaper string that will do the job well. Not sure if it comes in a reel like isospeed baseline, as its not listed on the TW website, but if it does become available, and the price is comparable to isospeed baseline, I might convert. Until then though, when comparing the price of isospeed to the packs of tourna, id still say that isospeed takes the cake in terms of value over money. Also for those seeking a soft poly, isospeed is softer, but also not as long lasting, so really the choice is yours. I still like isospeed as a really cheap option that really doesn't do anything bad. the price just cant be beat. Overall I think that it was a good experience playing with the Tourna Premium Poly, and I really dont have anything negative to say about it. Its an all around basic and average round poly, and for its price and what it is, I think it does its job very well. Ive recently played with silver tour 7, and that was also a great string, so seems like Tourna has some good strings and a solid price point overall, so kudos to Tourna for doing things pretty well.
I'd like to thank TW and Tourna for this playtest opportunity, and I can say that I liked this very much.
 
  • Color received: Yellow
  • Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 lbs
  • Regular string set up: Regularly use black widow at 48-50 lbs
  • Racquet used for test: Strung it up on my Wilson Blade 98 v7 18 x 20
  • Control/Power: Did not feel too much control. I really like the pop but since I am used to using black widow, I did not feel this string to have much control. I think it feels like it has ridges but didn't play like it.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) The string felt soft to me and similar to what I usually like in terms of strings. The string was a little mushy and felt like the ball was launching a little too much. It could have been due to the string tension but it felt like it was giving a trampoline feel.
  • Spin: When stringing the racket, it looked like it was going to generate a lot of spin but it felt nothing out of the ordinary in terms of spin. There was decent spin and it could also be that since I am using a 18 x 20 string pattern, it didn't have much impact in terms of spin.
  • Playability Duration (did it lose playability over time?): The strings lost tension pretty quickly. I only used it for about a week and I eventually broke it on the fifth day, however it began to feel like a trampoline on the third day. The pocketing felt decent but nothing too good.
  • Durability (did it notch? -get stuck out of position?): I felt like the durability was decent. I am a string breaker and I thought it was a little less durable then the strings I normally use.
  • Tension findings (would you string it at a different tension on your next try? Why?): I would string at a slightly higher tension next time since it felt pretty loose at my usual 48lbs tension.
  • Additional comments (optional)
Spin 6/10
Power 8/10
Feel/Comfort 9/10
Durability 5/10

Overall a good string but I think there are better options for the price.
 
I got a set of this for fun and actually really liked the power level and feel but the playability doesn't last. Any suggestions on a similar feeling poly and low powered that doesn't die so easily?
 
SFrazeur said:
I got a set of this for fun and actually really liked the power level and feel but the playability doesn't last. Any suggestions on a similar feeling poly and low powered that doesn't die so easily?
Click to expand...

Have you tried Isospeed Baseline? It's one of the best options for a basic/inexpensive poly, and the different gauges offer more choices regarding the playing characteristics of the string.

Thinner gauges = + soft, + spin, - durability, - tension maintenance
Thicker gauges = + durability, + tension maintenance, - spin, - soft

I play with the 16L and it works well as cross string.
 
pedrogcr said:
Have you tried Isospeed Baseline? It's one of the best options for a basic/inexpensive poly, and the different gauges offer more choices regarding the playing characteristics of the string.

Thinner gauges = + soft, + spin, - durability, - tension maintenance
Thicker gauges = + durability, + tension maintenance, - spin, - soft

I play with the 16L and it works well as cross string.
Click to expand...


I'm not terribly concerned by the price, I just really liked the feel and low power level.
 
Ended up buying a reel of the white 17g with the "old" looking package and it seems to play very similar, if not the same as the black 17g I used during this Playtest. I want to say I'm about 90% sure it's the same. Seems to have great comfort and control
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest - Tourna Grit 17
Replies
45
Views
6K
Otinis
O
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest - Gamma Sapphire 1.23 & 1.28
2 3
Replies
105
Views
6K
Chairman3
C
TW Staff
PLAYTEST - Yonex POLYTOUR STRIKE (blue)
2
Replies
67
Views
7K
StringStrungStrang
StringStrungStrang
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Luxilon Element Rough 1.30mm
2 3
Replies
118
Views
16K
TahoeTennis
T
TW Staff
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Yonex POLYTOUR REV string!
2 3 4
Replies
195
Views
27K
WNB93
W
Back
Top