Powerful polyester

[Alex Mann]

Any suggestions for polyester strings on the more powerful side?

Thanks

 

[Rabbit]

Tier One Ghost Wire is lively for a poly, MSV Focus Hex (in the thinner gauges)

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Prince xp, isospeed cream. Most red colored polys tend to be powerful.

 

[happyandbob]

here are the poly strings with the highest energy return in the TWU database. you can't take these as gospel because sometimes the properties of different gauges of the same string seem a little wonky, but this is usually a good starting place for investigation

String	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	Spin Potential
Luxilon Monotec Supersense 16L/1.25	1.25	209.7	47.7	93.5	2.1
Luxilon 4G S 15	1.41	314.3	23.5	91.8	NA
MSV Focus Hex Soft 17 (1.25)	1.25	228	29.4	91.4	6.3
Dunlop Explosive Speed 17 (1.25)	1.25	249.7	17.6	91.2	NA
Luxilon 4G 16L (1.25)	1.25	258.9	21.3	90.8	3.9
Head Hawk Rough 17	1.25	201.2	23.9	90.6	4.9
Solinco Outlast 18 (1.15)	1.15	186.3	26.9	90.6	6.6
Babolat RPM Team 16 Black	1.3	280.6	22	90.4	3.9
Gamma Ocho 16 (1.30)	1.3	242.9	23.3	90.4	6.9
Gamma Zo Verve 16 (1.32)	1.32	229.2	22.2	90.4	5.9
Kirschbaum Max Power 16 (1.30)	1.3	233.2	20.9	90.4	5.9
Tecnifibre Ruff Code 17 (1.25)	1.25	207.5	28.7	90.2	NA
Babolat RPM Blast Rough 16	1.3	209.7	29.5	90.1	8.2
Kirschbaum Max Power 17 (1.25)	1.25	240.6	23.5	90.1	5.4
Luxilon 4G 16 (1.30)	1.3	286.9	23.5	90.1	NA
Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25	1.25	217.2	25.4	90.1	6.7
Prince Tour XS 1.35	1.35	195.5	36.9	90.1	5
Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 16 (1.30)	1.3	238.3	18.7	90.1	NA
Kirschbaum Max Power Rough 18 (1.20)	1.2	195.5	27.8	89.9	6.8
L-Tec Premium Pro OS 16L	1.28	253.7	26.4	89.9	4.3
Solinco Tour Bite 19 (1.10)	1.1	171.5	32.2	89.9	7.2
Dunlop Black Widow 18 (1.21)	1.21	194.9	30.9	89.7	5.8
Head Lynx Tour 17 (1.25)	1.25	217.7	24.6	89.7	7.1
IsoSpeed Cream 17 (1.28)	1.28	177.7	28.1	89.7	NA
Kirschbaum Max Power Rough 17 (1.25)	1.25	223.5	26.4	89.7	5.6
Kirschbaum P2 17 (1.25)	1.25	235.5	33.9	89.7	4.9
Luxilon 4G Rough 16L	1.25	216	32.8	89.7	4.2
MSV Focus Hex Soft 17L (1.20)	1.2	194.3	25.8	89.7	7.3
Weiss Cannon Black 5 Edge 17 (1.24)	1.24	215.5	32.8	89.7	4.7
Yonex Poly Tour Spin G 1.25	1.25	237.2	25.7	89.7	4.8

 

[3loudboys]

String it real low to increase the pop a little.

 

[LOBALOT]

I find Voikl Cyclone Tour to be pretty powerful string in a full bed.

 

[Arzivu]

signum pro x-perience

 

[Uncoil]

Volkl Cyclone Tour

 

[taydbear7]

Head Lynx Tour, Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour and Volkl Cyclone Tour are all powerful. I had them around 50 lbs and probably need to go higher.

 

[Yamin]

Head lynx strung low if you need round.

 

[happyandbob]

Cyclone tour has been mentioned a couple of times. I find this to be a perplexing string -- on TTW there are folks who rave about its longevity/playability and now its power level. seems to run counter to the numbers in the TWU db. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

String	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	Spin Potential
Volkl Cyclone Tour 16 (1.30)	1.3	167.4	52.1	83.2	8.7
Volkl Cyclone Tour 17 (1.25)	1.25	170.9	52.6	82.6	6.1
Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 (1.20)	1.2	159.4	51.3	84.6	7.8

 

[LOBALOT]

It is a powerful string. All I can say is for $9 give it a shot.

I will say that in my case the longevity/playability is not great but I do not pre-stretch this string as I think that would alter the properties that make it softer and powerful.

What statistics in this table are you referencing? Is it Energy Return Percentage?

 

[happyandbob]

What statistics in this table are you referencing? Is it Energy Return Percentage?

Yes, that's the TWU measurement of how much energy the string puts back into the ball. According to them it's not a straight 1-1 correlation though because for stiffer strings, some of that energy is lost is crushing the ball rather than deflecting the strings. so high energy stiff strings put some of that energy into spin instead of shot power, while low stiffness strings put more into shot power and less into spin.

so power is the interplay of stiffness and energy return. cyclone tour is low stiffness, so i guess it does seem reasonable that it's higher power even though the energy return is low. the proof is in the playing, so i never use the TWU numbers as gospel, just to help me target strings to test out.

FWIW, here are the lowest stiffness polys in their DB -- cyclone tour shows up here.

String	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	Spin Potential
Solinco Tour Bite 20 (1.05)	1.05	136	47.3	87.2	5.8
Double AR Twice Shark (1.25)	0	143.4	63.8	79.7	5.7
Topspin Cyber Flash 17L	1.2	144	59.1	83.2	4.6
Polyfibre Poly Hightec 18	1.1	150.3	61	81	3.9
Polyfibre Cobra 17/1.20	1.2	154.3	63.7	79.6	3.6
Yonex Poly Tour Air 16L	1.25	154.9	41	88	4.2
Polyfibre TCS 18 (1.15)	1.15	156	61.1	81.4	NA
Volkl V-Torque 18 (1.18)	1.18	157.2	45.7	85.7	6
Polyfibre Hightec Premium 17	1.2	157.7	61.9	79.7	3.9
Polyfibre Poly Hightec 17	1.2	157.7	63	80.5	4
Polyfibre Viper 17/1.20	1.2	157.7	64.3	78	3.9
Polyfibre TCS 17	1.2	158.9	63.4	78.7	4.2
Topspin Cyber Flash 17	1.25	158.9	54.9	83.4	4.2
Gosen Sidewinder 17	1.23	159.4	46.7	85	4.6
IsoSpeed Pulse 17	1.2	159.4	55.6	83	NA
Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 (1.20)	1.2	159.4	51.3	84.6	7.8
Wilson Enduro Tour 18	1.21	159.4	63.7	81.2	NA
Polyfibre TCS Rapid 16L/1.25	1.25	160	64.3	78.7	4.3
Head Sonic Pro 16	1.3	160.6	57	81.2	4.2
Diadem Solstice Blace 17 (1.20)	1.2	161.7	52.7	83.9	NA
Solinco Tour Bite 18 (1.15)	1.15	161.7	50.6	84.8	5.8
Polyfibre Black Venom Rough 16L (1.25)	1.25	162.3	60.8	80.8	6.2
SuperString Pure Control V8 17	1.2	162.9	50.3	84.6	NA
Gosen Sidewinder 16 (1.31)	1.31	163.4	46.7	86.5	3.8
Volkl V-Star 18 (1.20)	1.2	163.4	50.7	85.2	0
Head Sonic Pro 17	1.251	164.6	54.9	83.9	3.9
IsoSpeed Pulse 16	1.3	164.6	56.9	81.5	4.7
Gosen Polylon PolyBreak 18 (1.20)	1.2	165.2	53.3	82.8	4.8
Poly Star Energy 17 (1.20)	1.2	165.2	63.6	77.3	4
Poly Star Turbo 16 (1.30)	1.3	165.2	66.7	77.3	5.3
Double AR Diablo (1.24)	1.24	166.9	55.4	79.4	7.4
Poly Star Classic 17 (1.20)	1.2	166.9	61.6	78.7	4
Polyfibre TCS 16L	1.25	166.9	62.1	79.2	3.8
Volkl V-Star 19 (1.10)	1.1	166.9	35.7	88.9	6.5
Signum Pro Tornado 18 (1.17)	1.17	167.4	39.1	86.1	5.9
Volkl Cyclone Tour 16 (1.30)	1.3	167.4	52.1	83.2	8.7

 

[LOBALOT]

These are great points and are exactly why I asked. Per this table Lux 4G is identified as a very powerful string. I think all of us would agree it is a control string and not a string one would describe as "Powerful". I for sure could see that it's stiffness would translate into more energy return.

I am just wondering if energy return is the right metric to use to measure a strings power or if there is combination of it and another trait which would translate into power.

Thanks

 

[loosegroove]

Agree with the Cyclone Tour comments. Add Red Ghost to the list for me. I need to try Silver Tour 7 again. First time it snapped prematurely.

 

[happyandbob]

I am just wondering if energy return is the right metric to use to measure a strings power or if there is combination of it and another trait which would translate into power.

so... funny you mention that. i've been using energy return / stiffness as a quick and dirty indication of "power". I've never posted it, because it's a kludge, but maybe it's useful for this discussion. here are the most and least "powerful" strings in the TWU database using my kludge as well as the top 25 most "powerful" poly strings.

String	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	Spin Potential	"Power"
Pacific Prime Gut Orange Bull 16 (1.30)	1.3	74.3	11.7	96.8	3.1	130
Solinco Tour Bite 20 (1.05)	1.05	136	47.3	87.2	5.8	64
Topspin Cyber Flash 17L	1.2	144	59.1	83.2	4.6	58
Yonex Poly Tour Air 16L	1.25	154.9	41	88	4.2	57
Double AR Twice Shark (1.25)	0	143.4	63.8	79.7	5.7	56
Volkl V-Torque 18 (1.18)	1.18	157.2	45.7	85.7	6	55
Polyfibre Poly Hightec 18	1.1	150.3	61	81	3.9	54
Gosen Sidewinder 17	1.23	159.4	46.7	85	4.6	53
Volkl V-Star 19 (1.10)	1.1	166.9	35.7	88.9	6.5	53
Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 (1.20)	1.2	159.4	51.3	84.6	7.8	53
Gosen Sidewinder 16 (1.31)	1.31	163.4	46.7	86.5	3.8	53
Topspin Cyber Flash 17	1.25	158.9	54.9	83.4	4.2	52
Solinco Tour Bite 18 (1.15)	1.15	161.7	50.6	84.8	5.8	52
Solinco Tour Bite 19 (1.10)	1.1	171.5	32.2	89.9	7.2	52
Polyfibre TCS 18 (1.15)	1.15	156	61.1	81.4	NA	52
Volkl V-Star 18 (1.20)	1.2	163.4	50.7	85.2	0	52
IsoSpeed Pulse 17	1.2	159.4	55.6	83	NA	52
SuperString Pure Control V8 17	1.2	162.9	50.3	84.6	NA	52
Diadem Solstice Blace 17 (1.20)	1.2	161.7	52.7	83.9	NA	52
Polyfibre Cobra 17/1.20	1.2	154.3	63.7	79.6	3.6	52
Signum Pro Tornado 18 (1.17)	1.17	167.4	39.1	86.1	5.9	51
Solinco Tour Bite Soft 18 (1.15)	1.15	172	31.3	88.4	7.3	51
Solinco Hyper-G-Soft 16L (1.25)	1.25	172	28.7	88	5.2	51
Gosen Poly Professional 17 (1.24)	1.24	169.2	44.6	86.5	5.6	51
Polyfibre Poly Hightec 17	1.2	157.7	63	80.5	4	51
Luxilon 4G S 15	1.41	314.3	23.5	91.8	NA	29

 

[SinneGOAT]

Cyclone tour has been mentioned a couple of times. I find this to be a perplexing string -- on TTW there are folks who rave about its longevity/playability and now its power level. seems to run counter to the numbers in the TWU db. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

String	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	Spin Potential
Volkl Cyclone Tour 16 (1.30)	1.3	167.4	52.1	83.2	8.7
Volkl Cyclone Tour 17 (1.25)	1.25	170.9	52.6	82.6	6.1
Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 (1.20)	1.2	159.4	51.3	84.6	7.8

Have you actually played with the string? The numbers say one thing, but playing says another. 4g says it’s soft but from actually playing with it it is stiff. Cyclone tour is powerful for a polyester.

 

[happyandbob]

Have you actually played with the string? The numbers say one thing, but playing says another. 4g says it’s soft but from actually playing with it it is stiff. Cyclone tour is powerful for a polyester.

i have not, but it's on the list of strings to try for sure. there is too much love on TTW to not give it a go. Every time i've considered it, the tension loss numbers scare me away, but many folks have said the loss of tension doesn't negatively impact playability.

 

[SinneGOAT]

i have not, but it's on the list of strings to try for sure. there is too much love on TTW to not give it a go. Every time i've considered it, the tension loss numbers scare me away, but many folks have said the loss of tension doesn't negatively impact playability.

I played with the 16 gauge like g4driver recommended. Held it ok, pretty much a little below standard for a poly. I play 2-3 hours a day 4-5 days a week and it played good until about 2 1/2 weeks which is my max for poly.

 

[ragingbull1980]

Polystar energy. But it lasts like 45 min and its a rocket launcher.

 

[Folsom_Stringer_Musa]

Prince xp, isospeed cream. Most red colored polys tend to be powerful.

Which red ones have 4/5 edges?
Volkl V-Square - I just didn't like it. I dislike all Volkl strings. Just not for me.

 

[Folsom_Stringer_Musa]

Polystar energy. But it lasts like 45 min and its a rocket launcher.

The tension loss on that one is big. I have 1.10mm set to try someday.

 

[Folsom_Stringer_Musa]

Tier One Ghost Wire is lively for a poly, MSV Focus Hex (in the thinner gauges)

MSV Focus Hex Soft is a good choice in thinner gauge. I used 1.10mm black. Nice pop.

 

[happyandbob]

MSV Focus Hex Soft is a good choice in thinner gauge. I used 1.10mm black. Nice pop.

i just received a set of MSV focus hex soft 1.20, looking forward to trying it out once my MCL sprain heals

 

[LOBALOT]

i have not, but it's on the list of strings to try for sure. there is too much love on TTW to not give it a go. Every time i've considered it, the tension loss numbers scare me away, but many folks have said the loss of tension doesn't negatively impact playability.

Unfortunately, I string pretty low tension 51/47 and so the tension loss quickly goes from just right to a rocket launcher in not much time.

That is ok though as it is a really nice performing string at a nice price and string my own racquets so do not have that expense.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

MSV Focus Hex Soft is a good choice in thinner gauge. I used 1.10mm black. Nice pop.

Well, this one comes in red.

 

[LOBALOT]

Well, this one comes in red.

That is one issue with VCT. The red one is a really ugly kind of brick reddish brownish color. I do like the graphite black though.

 

[jim e]

If you are looking for power with a poly, why not hybrid it with natural gut mains, and poly cross. That will give you power and the gut will keep the playability last a longer time.

 

[ron schaap]

When searching for powerfull poly also take the stiffness ratings into account because they matter. The softer the more the collision of a tennis ball with the strings becomes a elastic collision as opposed to inelastic collision when you bounce your ball onto the ground, because then a lot of the energy is lost deforming the ball which cause heat like when you play squash you feel the ball is becoming hotter. Therefor i always have to laugh when i read about members who want to pancake tennisballs. They should use frying pans instead.

The only thing, the TWU professor should explain, because i dont understand, is why the energy return numbers differ between medium and fast hits for the same string? and what is a fast hit, only the serve or also a fast forehand?

 

[SOY78]

Polystar Energy if you can find it is pretty powerful

 

[str33tspirit]

Yes, that's the TWU measurement of how much energy the string puts back into the ball. According to them it's not a straight 1-1 correlation though because for stiffer strings, some of that energy is lost is crushing the ball rather than deflecting the strings. so high energy stiff strings put some of that energy into spin instead of shot power, while low stiffness strings put more into shot power and less into spin.

so power is the interplay of stiffness and energy return. cyclone tour is low stiffness, so i guess it does seem reasonable that it's higher power even though the energy return is low. the proof is in the playing, so i never use the TWU numbers as gospel, just to help me target strings to test out.

FWIW, here are the lowest stiffness polys in their DB -- cyclone tour shows up here.

String	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	Spin Potential
Solinco Tour Bite 20 (1.05)	1.05	136	47.3	87.2	5.8
Double AR Twice Shark (1.25)	0	143.4	63.8	79.7	5.7
Topspin Cyber Flash 17L	1.2	144	59.1	83.2	4.6
Polyfibre Poly Hightec 18	1.1	150.3	61	81	3.9
Polyfibre Cobra 17/1.20	1.2	154.3	63.7	79.6	3.6
Yonex Poly Tour Air 16L	1.25	154.9	41	88	4.2
Polyfibre TCS 18 (1.15)	1.15	156	61.1	81.4	NA
Volkl V-Torque 18 (1.18)	1.18	157.2	45.7	85.7	6
Polyfibre Hightec Premium 17	1.2	157.7	61.9	79.7	3.9
Polyfibre Poly Hightec 17	1.2	157.7	63	80.5	4
Polyfibre Viper 17/1.20	1.2	157.7	64.3	78	3.9
Polyfibre TCS 17	1.2	158.9	63.4	78.7	4.2
Topspin Cyber Flash 17	1.25	158.9	54.9	83.4	4.2
Gosen Sidewinder 17	1.23	159.4	46.7	85	4.6
IsoSpeed Pulse 17	1.2	159.4	55.6	83	NA
Volkl Cyclone Tour 18 (1.20)	1.2	159.4	51.3	84.6	7.8
Wilson Enduro Tour 18	1.21	159.4	63.7	81.2	NA
Polyfibre TCS Rapid 16L/1.25	1.25	160	64.3	78.7	4.3
Head Sonic Pro 16	1.3	160.6	57	81.2	4.2
Diadem Solstice Blace 17 (1.20)	1.2	161.7	52.7	83.9	NA
Solinco Tour Bite 18 (1.15)	1.15	161.7	50.6	84.8	5.8
Polyfibre Black Venom Rough 16L (1.25)	1.25	162.3	60.8	80.8	6.2
SuperString Pure Control V8 17	1.2	162.9	50.3	84.6	NA
Gosen Sidewinder 16 (1.31)	1.31	163.4	46.7	86.5	3.8
Volkl V-Star 18 (1.20)	1.2	163.4	50.7	85.2	0
Head Sonic Pro 17	1.251	164.6	54.9	83.9	3.9
IsoSpeed Pulse 16	1.3	164.6	56.9	81.5	4.7
Gosen Polylon PolyBreak 18 (1.20)	1.2	165.2	53.3	82.8	4.8
Poly Star Energy 17 (1.20)	1.2	165.2	63.6	77.3	4
Poly Star Turbo 16 (1.30)	1.3	165.2	66.7	77.3	5.3
Double AR Diablo (1.24)	1.24	166.9	55.4	79.4	7.4
Poly Star Classic 17 (1.20)	1.2	166.9	61.6	78.7	4
Polyfibre TCS 16L	1.25	166.9	62.1	79.2	3.8
Volkl V-Star 19 (1.10)	1.1	166.9	35.7	88.9	6.5
Signum Pro Tornado 18 (1.17)	1.17	167.4	39.1	86.1	5.9
Volkl Cyclone Tour 16 (1.30)	1.3	167.4	52.1	83.2	8.7

Is this saying that Tour Bite is softer than Cyclone tour or is it the opposite? I played with Tour Bite for 3 years and found it very stiff and controlled and thought it was the exact opposite for Cyclone tour which was too mushy. And from the other chart, there's no way 4G has more power than black widow. 4G is very low power. Black widow is super soft and powerful and breaks easily. Or I'm just very bad at judging strings

 

[happyandbob]

Is this saying that Tour Bite is softer than Cyclone tour or is it the opposite? I played with Tour Bite for 3 years and found it very stiff and controlled and thought it was the exact opposite for Cyclone tour which was too mushy.

according to the TWU numbers, tour bite looks to be stiffer than cyclone tour -- tour bite 1.15 is about the same stiffness as cyclone tour 1.20

Ithere's no way 4G has more power than black widow. 4G is very low power.

yes, although 4g has high energy return, according to TWU its super high stiffness would result in much of that energy compressing the ball rather than being imparted on the ball by the strings.

 

[topspinlob]

in my experience Signum Pro Firestorm 16G is a powerful poly. I can't imagine what the thinner gauge version plays like..

 

[str33tspirit]

according to the TWU numbers, tour bite looks to be stiffer than cyclone tour -- tour bite 1.15 is about the same stiffness as cyclone tour 1.20



yes, although 4g has high energy return, according to TWU its super high stiffness would result in much of that energy compressing the ball rather than being imparted on the ball by the strings.

Aah I didn't pay attention to the gauge. Thanks!

 

[jdub486]

Babolat RPM Blast Rough 17. Lively and soft with incredible spin potential but loses tension and control a bit too fast.