String comparison database

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Do which is your best round poly so far??? And yes poly tour pro are .04mm smaller after stringing ..I measured either digital caliper
Poly Tour Strike 1.20 made the cut to my list of go-to's. Great tension maintenance and playability. Does lack a little spin but has good control for the thinner guage and doesn't feel dead.

For a little more power, I was also impressed by Element Soft IR. I need to revisit it, but just a good overall string if you like a little softer feel.
Hawk Power also falls into the category of a great all-rounder, but not exceptional in any category. This one I'd need to get at a discount for it to become a regular.
 

maksp

Semi-Pro
Poly Tour Strike 1.20 made the cut to my list of go-to's. Great tension maintenance and playability. Does lack a little spin but has good control for the thinner guage and doesn't feel dead.

For a little more power, I was also impressed by Element Soft IR. I need to revisit it, but just a good overall string if you like a little softer feel.
Hawk Power also falls into the category of a great all-rounder, but not exceptional in any category. This one I'd need to get at a discount for it to become a regular.
I've been testing 1.25mm msv bussard lately and so far its in my top 3 round strings but half or a third price of the other 2...alu power n yonex ptp yellow
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
I've been testing 1.25mm msv bussard lately and so far its in my top 3 round strings but half or a third price of the other 2...alu power n yonex ptp yellow
I haven't used alot of MSV but hear good things.
I think I used co-focus hex or something, some of their names are confusing. But it was pretty good.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
The dawn of a new era...
khIaaq.jpg

New year, new racquets, and our first string comparison
Hyper-G Round (HGR) v. Hybrid-G
The hybrid consistents of HGR mains and Xalt crosses.
More a fan of round poly's so excited for this new offering from Solinco.
Follow along in the TW playtest thread to see other reviews and hybrids.
 

maksp

Semi-Pro
The dawn of a new era...
khIaaq.jpg

New year, new racquets, and our first string comparison
Hyper-G Round (HGR) v. Hybrid-G
The hybrid consistents of HGR mains and Xalt crosses.
More a fan of round poly's so excited for this new offering from Solinco.
Follow along in the TW playtest thread to see other reviews and hybrids.
Is the surface slick or very slick? Ptp yellow is rough compared to blue ptp.. what is round hyper g compared to?
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Well about 3hrs on each racquet, the last hour on each, today, was after I put lead on, so still some adjustments there.

Overall, Hyper-G Round (HGR) is solid so far. Crisp but not really firm, decent control and good spin for a round string. It has alot of promise. Could be a new go-to if it has above average tension maintenance.

The Hybrid-G I'm mixed so far. The feel is great, the Xalt slightly softens the crispness and makes it more enjoyable. (I like a softer stringbed feel) The power is also a little higher than the full bed. The spin is what is suffering so far, it is noticeably less. The strange part is how much the crosses are moving. It's as if the crosses are sliding across the mains instead of the other way around. I need someone who studies string theory to explain this phenomenon to me.(?) So far it doesn't quite do enough for me compared to the full bed, so maybe not a good string to hybrid or maybe a bad cross selection.

We'll see how it plays out.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
We'll call this a midpoint update, about 5hrs on each racquet.

Two days of singles:
Yesterday I was ready to abandon the hybrid, it just isn't doing it for me, and the crosses move so much. It's not that it's bad, per sey, it just doesn't offer much that really draws me to it. Feel is good and power is decent but it's pretty one dimensional and not enough to make me need to use it again.
However, tonight I ended up playing it alot and it was working for me, go figure. Still, one of the weaker hybrids I've done as of late.


HGR seemed like it was going strong. Good spin, still good control and seemed to be holding tension well. That was yesterday...today it felt launchy and harder to control. Kind of surprised as it seemed like a complete 180. These things do happen quickly but I don't deny the inconsistency could be me.

Playing again later this week, so we'll see.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Another rousing test courtesy of TW. Like the Babolat Xalt test before, I was given some strings and used one in a fullbed and one in a hybrid.
In this case, the now released Hyper-G Round (HGR), a very exciting addition to that most infamous of strings. I opted for fullbed vs. HGR mains/Xalt crosses. I thought it'd be fun to compare another Xalt hybrid, so without further preambling...

Power: While not dramatic, the edge goes to the hybrid. Not surprisingly, a hybrid that contains a non-poly will almost always be more powerful than the fullbed poly. What was surprising was the relatively good power level that HGR had in a fullbed. While not soft poly powerful, it was not so dead and lifeless like some polys. Xalt is a fairly low-powered multi so that's why the hybrid was only marginally more powerful. The hybrid did do well on punching volleys deep. Jumping to conclusions, this was really the only area the hybrid outshined the fullbed.

Spin: Handedly, HGR had more spin than the hybrid. HGR also had good levels of spin for being round, so that's a positive as well. The hybrid...I'm still scratching my head. It not only lacked spin, the crosses seemed to be moving far more than the mains. Xalt is a decently spinny multi with a slick structure so all I cam imagine is the crosses were sliding on the mains since they were softer than the HGR. Not sure if that's accurate but the spin was definitely worse. Using a different cross would likely get you better spin as HGR itself had good spin.

Control: Again, HGR on its own had very good control given it doesn't have such a dead or stiff response. The hybrid was ok but not great, it usually felt like I was just pushing the ball. Going for targets, HGR did its thing well that is until tension loss started setting in. The hybrid was mostly the same, I never really trusted it for line-painting.

Feel: While not stiff, HGR is definitely a crisper string and a tad muted. Not overly muted, but it is there a bit. The hybrid did have a bit softer feel in the stringbed but Xalt is pretty firm, for a multi, so again somewhat marginal. The hybrid had a bit more powerful response than the fullbed. I think if other areas of the hybrid had performed well, I'd probably be saying I preferred the feel but it was so underwhelming everywhere else. I do prefer a bit softer response, so HGR with a different cross would likely be my preference.

Tension maintenance/durability: I used the HGR up to about 8 hrs, at 4-5 is when I noticed the most significant tension loss. I find this a little disappointing. It came suddenly and was noticeable. The string remained playable but the predictability and my confidence in it were gone so I didn't really press it. The hybrid I used about 6hrs and it was still ok. It feels like there's some tension loss but overall the performance is so medoicre it's hard to tell.

Finale: Well mixed results here...sort of. My choice of hybrid turned out to be not good at all. It had not many redeeming attributes to really make me want to use it again. As far the HGR, I really liked it.......but the tension maintenance was subpar. My personal standard is like 7-8hrs where this basically got 4-5 before some of its best qualities diminished. I will definitely use HGR again. I mostly used it through some cold weather, so maybe that had an impact. Maybe an 18x20 would give better holding power than the 16x20, we'll see. Overall, very promising performance just below average tension maintenance.

Both tested at 47lbs in Pure Strike VS's
 
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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
The real dawn of a new era......[probably]
d8e7Yo.jpg

Here we've got a new one, both the string on the right and the comparison, and technically the racquets.

We've got Luxilon Eco Spin, the latest addition to the Eco-family and ALU Spin, which has probably been around awhile.
Coincidentally both are 5-sided, ALU is 1.27 and Eco is 1.25, they feel very similar thickness-wise. Both at 48lbs
Will they prove more similar or different?
 
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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Played 2 hours of doubles tonight (we won), about an hour on each string and have doubles tomorrow morning too.

Initial observations, they feel different both playing and physically.
EcoSpin (ES) feels like it has sharper edges compared to its ALU cousin despite them both being 5-sided strings.
ALU feels a little slicker.
Playing, the biting sensation is also more noticeable with ES which correlates with the sharper feeling edges.

Admittedly, I was pretty locked-in on the match, it was tight, so I wasn't paying as much attention to the strings. Tomorrow is just with some buddies, so I'll be more in tune with the string characteristics.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Well about 2hrs on each string and, honestly, it's going to be an uphill battle for ESpin.

The difference in feel between the two is distinct, suffice to say, I prefer the ALUSpin. Does this mean it's over for ESpin...not quite.
There are several areas where it could redeem itself like playability, tension maintenance, control, so we have alot of string left in this reel of a playtest. (Tennis metaphor)

So far ESpin has more bite but ALUSpin has a better sensation on contact. ESpin just feels a little plastic-y whereas ALUSpin is "smoother" or maybe "cleaner." I prefer the latter.
I'm also not really partial to shaped strings, so we'll see how the feel and playability change as the edges wear down.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Had a couple more hits with each, up to about 4hrs on each now.

Both are experiencing string movement, which is kind of surprising/disappointing so early. ALU definitely seems to be losing tension, which seems pretty consistent with regular ALU, still feels ok but we'll see how it goes. Seems like spin is going a bit, I think the next hit will be telling.
EcoSpin softened up some and feels better, spin is better than ALU but I can tell it is starting to lose some tension too.

If EcoSpin can hold its playability a bit longer, it may ellipse ALU's superior feel.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
The Eco vs ALU Spin challenge has wound down.

Not going to reveal the winner, otherwise why would you read the final write-up.

But as a tease, it ended up being a little closer than I initially thought, so stay tuned.

Played about 6hrs on each, I typically go longer but Ecospin did start to get a little harsh and I got hints of forearm tightness after the last two times I used it. I shut it down once that happens. But as with Lux strings, they lost tension at 3.5-5hrs anyway.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
EcoSpin v. ALU Spin

Luxilon's newest shaped offering in their newest line against the big bad perennial favorite. Both 5-sided, ES is 1.25 and ALUS is 1.27, this is marginal, to me, given they're the same number of sides. If anything I'd expect ALUS to be sharper feeling, but it actually isn't. Spin it to win it....

Power: EcoSpin (ES) has a little more pop than ALU Spin (ALUS) right off the bat. The entire Eco line has decent pop, none of them really had that super low-powered response but in the case of ES compared to ALUS, it has only slightly more pop. What I liked about ALUS compared to ES is the pop felt more predictable during its playability. Now ALUS did gain a little power from tension loss and definitely lost some spin and control, but I'll get to those later. The power level is average to maybe slightly above for both strings, definitely more spin focused. Overall, I'd say they were pretty even in terms of power, though, with the difference being in how it feels, which I'll touch on later as well.

Spin: This was a clear dub for ES. ES has more bite into the ball, that you can feel, and also maintained its spin better. ALUS never had the same bite and really never seemed to generate that easy spin that you got from ES. ALUS is probably better suited to more advanced players where a strong stroke will help generate the spin and the string will accentuate that. ES definitely helps with spin for those with less advanced mechanics. ALUS also seemed to lose its snapback fairly quickly and while ES lost some snap, its sharper shape helped maintain its spin potential. ES felt sharper than ALUS running your hand over the stringbed.

Control: This is a little tough. ALUS had better control but also lost it more quickly, particularly directional control. ES didn't quite peak as high in terms of control but it didn't bottom out as much either. Both lost control as tension loss set in but it felt like ALUS fell further. As a caveat, neither of these are really control-oriented strings. The focus here is big targets through spin generation, so there are better control strings out there. To me, the more stable spin potential from ES outweighs the slightly less control you get.

Feel: So here's where ALUS gains a pretty big advantage over ES. ALUS just felt smooth or cleaner. ES really felt kind of plastic-y and nearly stiff but definitely very crisp, and not a good crisp, at least not to me. It also felt very firm right off the stringer. ALUS just had that nice premium feel that we expect from ALU strings whereas ES does feel cheaper. The positive is that ES after an hour or so did soften up and felt a little better, but very quickly 4-5hrs began giving subtle signs of harshness. Despite its tension loss, ALUS maintained its pretty nice and clean feel. For a shaped string, ALUS is far and away better in terms of feel and probably one of the better feeling shaped strings in general. ES did create a little forearm tightness when using past the 4hr mark, I assume the edges were wearing down some. ALUS is the clear winner here.

Tension maintenance/durability: I played both just under 6hrs. ALUS, despite tension loss, I felt like it could continue to be used. It didn't have as much spin or control but felt ok and wasn't launching the ball. Notching was 25-30 percent maybe. ES on the other hand, was giving me minor forearm tightness on my last few uses. Ultimately that is why I quit testing either string. At near 6hrs, you could tell the peak performance was gone and I'm not fooling around with a string starting to feel harsh (ES). ES also probably had only 25-30 percent notching. This isn't surprising as I generally don't break poly. The playability duration is mostly on par with the worst polys, of which ALU is widely known to be in terms of playability duration. For the record, the other ECO strings (power and rough) are also not great and ES is in line with those two. From this perspective, neither string is really a fit for me as I supremely value playability duration.

Finale: So it did wind up closer in the end than I thought. The tipping point was definitely the fact that ES started to feel a little harsh. In addition, I really value the feel and feedback of a string, and ALUS was way ahead of ES there. I don't like that plastic/stiff feel; compared to ES, ALUS was just so much cleaner. Actually, ES reminded me alot of Poly Tour Drive. They both have very good bite and grab the ball, slightly stiff but gets stiffer, and only is good for 4-5hrs. From my perspective, ALUS probably doesn't have a lot of advantages over regular ALU either. The shape doesn't seem to significantly enhance spin but the 1.27 may be slightly more durable than 1.25 ALU while still having good feel. A solid comparison and definitely two different strings despite the same shape but neither wowed me. The Eco line has been a bit of a disappointment and ALU is well ALU.

Both tested at 48lbs in Whiteout 18x20's
 
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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Here's some excitement for the poly dominated comparison thread....
Ik4L1S.jpg

A multifilament comparison!!!!
The new Head Velocity Power vs. a Tecnifibre powerhouse..X1 Biphase.

My arm needs a break from some of the stiff polys I've been testing, very excited for this.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
At about 3 hrs on Velocity and 2.5 on X1, it's tough to say how they compare.

Velocity has more spin so far but has been wildly moving from after about the first 30 minutes. Today also seemed to show slight signs of tension dropping, few launchy balls. Notching is digging in nicely.

X1 isn't notched as much but also isn't moving as much, as a result I don't get as much spin either. Seems like the more controlled of the two strings.

It's funny, poly really does make things easier but these strings will make you better cause you really need solid technique.
Oddly enough, they don't seem much more powerful but I am +3lbs over my normal poly tension. Power is so relative and maybe with poly I am swinging harder or something knowing the control and spin will come.
But it almost feels like I'm working harder because the lack of given spin from poly. I guess I just expected a little more zip.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Haven't updated in awhile...test is going slower than normal, had to go out of town.

At present, about 7hrs on Velocity Power and 4.5 on X1

VP is on the precipice of breaking, it creaks after you hit a shot and you can barely slide a cross because the notches are so deep.
Spin/snapback has mostly been gone since 4-5hrs, control isn't terrible but it is unpredictable. Even in my 18x20, I'm working pretty hard with the string.

X1 never had as much spin as VP, control for it is still decent and amazingly, the strings aren't moving like crazy...yet. There's a tiny little hint of fraying going on, so clearly the outer coating is getting worn in a few spots, just a few. With that, I expect durability to be similar.

In a fullbed, neither add much power compared to how much spin you lose over a poly. X1 is also beyond my price range, I'll stick with a 16g syngut.
Both are likely top contenders as a cross in a hybrid though with VP likely having an edge due to its price.

Probably won't write the final comparo until they've both been snapped.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Finally getting this done....lot of changes since it started and didn't get to totally finish, but I digress
X1 Biphase (X1) v. Velocity Power (VP)

Here goes, a multi-comparison in a crowded sea of plastic strings. A very nice change of pace for me, although I am more of a syngut guy due to being cheap.

Power: So VP has "power" in its name...but really it wasn't overly powerful like I expected. I went up 3lbs over my normal poly tension but probably could've gone at least a pound or two lower. Compared to X1, the power levels were similar, with one exception. VP started having a more powerful/springy response as tension loss set in and playtime increased. X1 remained pretty consistent over the play-time and was noticeably more controlled than VP with the same amount of hours on it. Either would give you a boost compared to poly, just don't over-tension like I did. Feels like I could have easily played either of these at my normal 48lbs.

Spin: So here is the obvious let down of multi strings. Neither of these were even remotely near poly levels for spin. (Thanks captain obvious.) VP started with more spin and then promptly lost all of it at like 3-4hrs. While X1 had less spin to begin with, it never really lost as much either. I think I slightly [very slightly] preferred the more predictable nature of X1. Because VP lasted 7-8hrs before breaking, almost half the play-time (for me) had nearly zero spin. X1, however, had less spin overall but never lost it as much. So it really comes down to what you want. The other caveat is any "spin" player will probably break either faster than me. I used these in an 18x20 and I hit a little flatter. So VP losing its spin may correlate with breakage for others. Neither was impressive in the spin category.

Control: So, again, you don't necessarily buy multi's for their control. This is where they diverge a bit though. X1 seemed a slight bit firmer and did have more control than VP. Not even remotely approaching poly firmness though. So I think alot of the control is due to its generally more predictable nature. Haven't mentioned this yet either, VP almost instantly began moving which probably contributed some to its lower control. It's more springy feel likely contributed to less control as well. So for a multi X1 had good control while VP was average to just ok.

Feel: This is a little of a distinguishing category as well. X1 felt more firm compared to VP and remained mostly that way throughout with a little softer feel after the first hour or two. VP started out feeling like X1 but quickly loosened up and got more springy feeling. Neither of these are even remotely near poly firmness; as an aside they are completely different materials so the feel will be different even if measured stiffness were the same. Back on point, for me, X1 was better just because I really value predictability in string performance. It wasn't soft or springy but really wasn't crisp or firm either. VP loosened up and got more springy in a pretty linear way, i.e. until it breaks. Is there a substantial difference in feel, not really, but there is a bit of difference. If you are using them in a fullbed, you may want X1 but in a hybrid either would probably serve it's purpose.

Tension maintenance/durability: X1 seemed to hold tension better and did not begin moving around or losing it like VP did. VP basically started moving after only 30 mins and only got worse. As mentioned, it began feeling more springy and powerful as time went on and ultimately lasted about 7-8hrs. X1 stayed mostly predictable began moving at 4-5hrs and was showing signs of fraying at about the same time. Overall, it lasted about the same time as VP with maybe an extra hour of durability. I think part of that is attributed to it moving less. For both, durability was about what I get from 16g multi in an 18x20 pattern.

Finale: This was a nice pause from the normal poly tests. Also, I have never used X1 and I think it is highly regarded in the multi-verse (see what I did there :laughing:). In terms of what now, it depends. Are you using this in a hybrid or fullbed? Fullbed, I would take X1. It took a little more work for spin, but the smaller decline in performance outweighed that. Hybrid, I would probably take VP because the price is much better than X1 and what you gain in a fullbed can be mostly lost in a hybrid. VP really didn't have any standouts that make it more desirable than other multis I've used. I also haven't used regular Velocity so maybe there is something there.

Both tested at 51lbs in Whiteout 18x20s.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Where my thin poly lovers at?

We have a peach of a comparison ^^

Luxilon BB Ace 1.12 and Luxilon ALU Power 1.15

Oh yes
 
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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
MSV Focux-Hex 1.10 in a Tecnifibre Tempo 298 :cool:
Next will be in the same racket : Solinco Tour Bite 1.05
Interesting you say that.
I have wanted to do a comparison of Tour Bite 1.05 against like a 16g synthetic gut.
TW has TB 1.05 rated at 136 stiffness whereas most synthetic guts are like 140-180.
So it'd be curious to see how they compared on durability and comfort.
 

Elrico

Rookie
Interesting you say that.
I have wanted to do a comparison of Tour Bite 1.05 against like a 16g synthetic gut.
TW has TB 1.05 rated at 136 stiffness whereas most synthetic guts are like 140-180.
So it'd be curious to see how they compared on durability and comfort.
(y) (y) within a few weeks
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
First few hours on each string today, managed to play twice.

Man is BB Ace a good string. I have no idea why they discontinued it. Tragic, anyway
The feel is terrific, lightly crisp and pure. But the control for such a thin string is still great.

ALU 115 on the other hand is not impressive so far. It feels like it's lacking control compared to Ace. It has a smooth and clean feel, maybe slightly more power, but so far I don't have the same confidence going for shots.

They were strung back to back by the same guy, so minimal variability there.
I'm genuinely curious how this will play out.
 
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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Up to about 5 hrs on both strings, this is where the rubber really meets the road..or rather meets the poly and by rubber I mean felt.....forget it

So we are at or past the point where most feel ALU, and alot of Lux strings, are bagged.
These have for sure lost snapback. The strings are moving and, critically, staying out of place. They are also probably 50% notched, it's hard to tell with such thin strings.

The feel is not bad though and control is still there but definitely less. They are beginning to have a little pingy sound, which is pretty distinct to Lux strings as they die, IME.
Say what you will, but they are still playable and don't feel bad. The most noticeable would be the ALU 115 makes you really work to get spin now. Any ball not hit with purpose is probably going to float long. Ace isn't far behind, but a little better.

My intent is to try and break them or get to 10 hours. Two complicating factors are I am not a poly breaker, typically, and I have a Hawk playtest to do. The upside, my playtest strings probably won't get here until next week and I have 3-4hrs of tennis planned before then.
So we'll see
 
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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
So I loved BB Ace and sadly discovered it after it had already been discontinued. I've off and on searched for a replacement. Is the thinnest Lux string a substitute...let's find out.

BB Ace 112 v. ALU Power 115

Power: This is interesting, both strings have some nice little pop to them. Is it their speciality, no, but I think the thin guage really gives a little extra compared to similar thicker polys. I want to say that ALU felt like it gave a little more than Ace. It was subtle but especially in the sweetspot, you get a great sound off the stringbed and a hot ball. Both strings fell in a really good spot with a moderate power level but still a controlled response. No crazy launching or hotspots. ALU got a little less controlled as the time wore on compared to Ace, but they were pretty similar.

Spin: This, again, was pretty close. Ace to me felt like it had slightly more spin more easily. Was it due to the 0.03 difference in guage, I doubt it, but maybe. ALU wasn't lacking spin, it just felt like you had to work a little harder to get it. Good consistent racquet head speed and complete swings. Naturally this is all strings, but some really do require more from the user. I had a similar experience with Head Hawk. Ace just gave spin a little easier and a little longer. Both strings were losing snapback and ALU definitely lost a lot of its spin potential toward the end. Compared to all round polys, these were both pretty average. Neither really gave so much extra spin, they're really more control strings than spin strings, but they weren't bad for spin. They worked for my game and I think would generally work better in denser patterns. The latter is because if you use a dense pattern you are probably comfortable with the level of spin you get from your racquet and likely already rely on solid technique. The other part is they will last longer in a denser pattern. I got to about 75% notching in a denser 16x19 and am not an overly spinny player.

Control: As referenced in the Spin section, these are really more about control than spin. By that I mean you probably need to bring the spin with your technique. These help you control the ball. For me, I felt like I had better control and confidence with Ace. It felt easier to target and go down the lines than ALU. Maybe it is the tad bit more power that ALU felt like it had, maybe I was sensing it as power but really it was just less control. Was ALU bad, not at all, just didn't quite seem like I could target as well. For the thin guage, both strings had very nice control. The response is a little livelier than thicker guage strings but that doesn't equate to less control. The thin guage translates far more to feeling the ball on the strings and this helps with control from my perspective. As I said, these probably are better suited to a denser pattern too. A more open pattern the strings would probably start moving around too much and/or break quicker.

Feel: This is where the two strings largely differ and the main reason that ALU is, unfortunately, not a replacement for Ace. Ace has this lightly crisp but pure feel to it. ALU didn't quite feel as direct and didn't have the same light crisp feeling that Ace did. A very experienced ALU user described it as "gummy" and I think that fits. I had never really experienced it before, but now I get it. ALU is sort of gummy and dampened where you don't notice that it is so firm and the feel is clean. Ace is just pure feel and feedback with a light tempura crispness. Neither are uncomfortable, stiff, or dead but they are definitely different. Also, ALU somehow didn't feel quite as thin or not thin in the same way as Ace, I think it probably has to do with that gummy sensation. Surprisingly, after about 7 hrs, neither was really harsh or bad feeling. ALU definitely changed in feel more than Ace, but both have held up OK. Snapback has definitely diminished and they are a little pingy, ALU more so, but they're still playable. I'll elaborate more in the next section.

Tension maintenance/durability: This is the big one. Basically these strings double down, Luxilon is not known for tension maintenance at all. These strings are no exception and they're also really thin. After about 7 hours, both have lost tension and significant snapback. Basically after every ball strike the strings are staying out of place and this started at about 4-5 hrs. For notching, I estimate about 70-75% and I typically don't break poly. I intended to play these to breakage, ideally, but a TW playtest cut that short. I'd estimate it would have been at least 10hrs just because I'm not normally a poly breaker. For others or those with more open-patterned racquets you are probably looking at less than 10 hours. I'd say for some, the loss of playability and tension would coincide with breakage. Overall, you should know what you're getting yourself into using such a thin guage in terms of durability. As mentioned, a dense pattern definitely enhances the experience. Ace used to be my favorite string in my Ultra Tour. The dense pattern will provide more durability but you can't escape the tension maintenance. So these both score a low-average for tension maintenance.

Finale: The point of this was to see if ALU 115 could replace or serve as a substitute for the discontinued, but loved by some, Ace. Short answer, it can't. For a summary of reasons why, focus mostly on the Feel section. This is where they differ and the key reason ALU can't serve as a substitute. Honestly, more people need to use thin guage poly as I doubt the average user is breaking 125 or 130 guage. But in terms of that, ALU is a little disappointing too. It basically plays just like the other guages and didn't have that thin communicative feel that I get from other thin strings. I may just not be an ALU fan. Maybe the drop off experienced with thicker guages isn't as pronounced, so that's a possible benefit. Otherwise, I think my beloved PT Strike 1.20 is a closer replacement for Ace even though it's a little thicker and slightly dampened. If you're looking for an Ace replacement find something with a lightly crisp, pure/direct, undampened, non-plastic type feel.

Both tested at 48lbs in my Pro Staff 97s.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
No sooner than we finish one, we start another...

k1W9fe.jpg

Hawk Power stays in my top 5 list of strings, and for good reason. However, the last time I used it in the Pro Staff I wasn't that impressed, how will it fair now?

More importantly, can Hawk Touch eclipse its brother Hawk Power?
Never used Hawk Touch and not sure where it fits in but allegedly some Head players use it.
 
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K1Y

Professional
So I loved BB Ace and sadly discovered it after it had already been discontinued. I've off and on searched for a replacement. Is the thinnest Lux string a substitute...let's find out.

BB Ace 112 v. ALU Power 115

Power: This is interesting, both strings have some nice little pop to them. Is it their speciality, no, but I think the thin guage really gives a little extra compared to similar thicker polys. I want to say that ALU felt like it gave a little more than Ace. It was subtle but especially in the sweetspot, you get a great sound off the stringbed and a hot ball. Both strings fell in a really good spot with a moderate power level but still a controlled response. No crazy launching or hotspots. ALU got a little less controlled as the time wore on compared to Ace, but they were pretty similar.

Spin: This, again, was pretty close. Ace to me felt like it had slightly more spin more easily. Was it due to the 0.03 difference in guage, I doubt it, but maybe. ALU wasn't lacking spin, it just felt like you had to work a little harder to get it. Good consistent racquet head speed and complete swings. Naturally this is all strings, but some really do require more from the user. I had a similar experience with Head Hawk. Ace just gave spin a little easier and a little longer. Both strings were losing snapback and ALU definitely lost a lot of its spin potential toward the end. Compared to all round polys, these were both pretty average. Neither really gave so much extra spin, they're really more control strings than spin strings, but they weren't bad for spin. They worked for my game and I think would generally work better in denser patterns. The latter is because if you use a dense pattern you are probably comfortable with the level of spin you get from your racquet and likely already rely on solid technique. The other part is they will last longer in a denser pattern. I got to about 75% notching in a denser 16x19 and am not an overly spinny player.

Control: As referenced in the Spin section, these are really more about control than spin. By that I mean you probably need to bring the spin with your technique. These help you control the ball. For me, I felt like I had better control and confidence with Ace. It felt easier to target and go down the lines than ALU. Maybe it is the tad bit more power that ALU felt like it had, maybe I was sensing it as power but really it was just less control. Was ALU bad, not at all, just didn't quite seem like I could target as well. For the thin guage, both strings had very nice control. The response is a little livelier than thicker guage strings but that doesn't equate to less control. The thin guage translates far more to feeling the ball on the strings and this helps with control from my perspective. As I said, these probably are better suited to a denser pattern too. A more open pattern the strings would probably start moving around too much and/or break quicker.

Feel: This is where the two strings largely differ and the main reason that ALU is, unfortunately, not a replacement for Ace. Ace has this lightly crisp but pure feel to it. ALU didn't quite feel as direct and didn't have the same light crisp feeling that Ace did. A very experienced ALU user described it as "gummy" and I think that fits. I had never really experienced it before, but now I get it. ALU is sort of gummy and dampened where you don't notice that it is so firm and the feel is clean. Ace is just pure feel and feedback with a light tempura crispness. Neither are uncomfortable, stiff, or dead but they are definitely different. Also, ALU somehow didn't feel quite as thin or not thin in the same way as Ace, I think it probably has to do with that gummy sensation. Surprisingly, after about 7 hrs, neither was really harsh or bad feeling. ALU definitely changed in feel more than Ace, but both have held up OK. Snapback has definitely diminished and they are a little pingy, ALU more so, but they're still playable. I'll elaborate more in the next section.

Tension maintenance/durability: This is the big one. Basically these strings double down, Luxilon is not known for tension maintenance at all. These strings are no exception and they're also really thin. After about 7 hours, both have lost tension and significant snapback. Basically after every ball strike the strings are staying out of place and this started at about 4-5 hrs. For notching, I estimate about 70-75% and I typically don't break poly. I intended to play these to breakage, ideally, but a TW playtest cut that short. I'd estimate it would have been at least 10hrs just because I'm not normally a poly breaker. For others or those with more open-patterned racquets you are probably looking at less than 10 hours. I'd say for some, the loss of playability and tension would coincide with breakage. Overall, you should know what you're getting yourself into using such a thin guage in terms of durability. As mentioned, a dense pattern definitely enhances the experience. Ace used to be my favorite string in my Ultra Tour. The dense pattern will provide more durability but you can't escape the tension maintenance. So these both score a low-average for tension maintenance.

Finale: The point of this was to see if ALU 115 could replace or serve as a substitute for the discontinued, but loved by some, Ace. Short answer, it can't. For a summary of reasons why, focus mostly on the Feel section. This is where they differ and the key reason ALU can't serve as a substitute. Honestly, more people need to use thin guage poly as I doubt the average user is breaking 125 or 130 guage. But in terms of that, ALU is a little disappointing too. It basically plays just like the other guages and didn't have that thin communicative feel that I get from other thin strings. I may just not be an ALU fan. Maybe the drop off experienced with thicker guages isn't as pronounced, so that's a possible benefit. Otherwise, I think my beloved PT Strike 1.20 is a closer replacement for Ace even though it's a little thicker and slightly dampened. If you're looking for an Ace replacement find something with a lightly crisp, pure/direct, undampened, non-plastic type feel.

Both tested at 48lbs in my Pro Staff 97s.
Good review. Whats your current top 5 strings (including gauge)?
 

K1Y

Professional
No sooner than we finish one, we start another...

k1W9fe.jpg

Hawk Power stays in my top 5 list of strings, and for good reason. However, the last time I used it in the Pro Staff I wasn't that impressed, how will it fair now?

More importantly, can Hawk Touch eclipse its brother Hawk Power?
Never used Hawk Touch and not sure where it fits in but allegedly some Head players use it.
Very curious on your opinion on Hawk Touch. I have strung it a alot of times but I keep having mixed feelings about it. It's definetly good the first few hits.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Good review. Whats your current top 5 strings (including gauge)?
1. PT Strike 1.20
2. BB Ace 112*
3. Element IR Soft
4. Hawk Power
5. HyperG hybrid 1.20 (HG mains/HG Round crosses)

OLI:
Head Lynx
Big Banger Original
Babolat Xalt

*Ace was discontinued, but I recently was able to acquire a reel, so it gets an asterisk.
If I had to remove Ace I would put in Head Lynx as #2.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
SITREP:

Up to about 6.5 hours on each string, HawkP and HawkT, quite different strings for different players.
I have extensive use of Hawk Power in many different racquets, it is a perennial top 5* for me.
Hawk Touch I had never used and so far it is looking like a one and done.

It's not that I dislike it, as I have some strings, I just don't think it suits my stroke and racquet. Also, I may not be advanced enough to use it, more on that in the final review.
Thirdly, it has a stiff feel and through the multiples of strings I've tested, I just like a little softer ones. Not opposed to crisp or plusher-firmness but outright stiff feeling just isn't for me.
One thing I do like is how satisfying it feels when you hit the sweetspot, and feels like a power boost too. (Compared to other strings, not compared to hitting outside the sweetspot.)
So HawkT has some redeeming qualities but also some that make it best suited for more advanced players with a different style than me.

HawkP is simple, just a solid all-rounder. Just a work horse poly with a nice feel. Sadly, I think this test may have revealed something unfortunate about the string...stay tuned.


*For my current top 5 strings, see post #83.
 
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tennispiglet

New User
About finished with Hawk Power and PTP, work travel has interfered and prolonged the comparison.

Review soon....

Stay tuned for Eco Rough vs Eco Power :D
can you please do the Solinco heaven strings comparison the hyper-g and the tour bite soft, please, thank you and maybe even them together like tour bite side ways and hyper-g up and down
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
can you please do the Solinco heaven strings comparison the hyper-g and the tour bite soft, please, thank you and maybe even them together like tour bite side ways and hyper-g up and down
Thanks for the suggestion, I know those are popular so I will try to get a couple sets and see.
Any particular guage?
 

tennispiglet

New User
Thanks for the suggestion, I know those are popular so I will try to get a couple sets and see.
Any particular guage?
1.25 for hyper-g
1.2 for tour bite soft
a friend of mine recommended this and I have been using this pattern on crosses and verticals. I like it but I want to hear your thoughts on the strings.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Another great comparison courtesy of TW. We've got a perennial favorite of mine, Hawk Power, and a totally different string [allegedly] used by a few Pro's, Hawk Touch. We could call this playtest "can't touch this" or "I've got the power" but I'm not one to appropriate 90s culture, so we'll stick with
Hawk Touch (HT) v. Hawk Power (HP).

Power: Hawk Power definitely leads the witness here...it is more powerful than Touch with a minor caveat, but I'll get to that. Hawk Power has some pop, not too much, but just enough and just right. Hawk Touch is mostly a control string BUT in the sweetspot you get a little power boost. Naturally, a racquet has more power in the sweetspot, but this is a distinct feeling and sound from HT and more so than other strings. You get that great "thwack" sound, kind of like when you hear a pro hit a ball, very satisfying. The other part, if you swing slower it is a little more powerful and can be launchy. HT really requires the user to be consistently maintaining higher swing speed whereas HP is more forgiving for the average user, such as myself.

Spin: While I am a devotee of HP, this is its primary shortcoming..it isn't great for spin. I rank it below average for a poly, even a round poly at that. But it just doesn't generate the RPMs, that is on the player, with which I can live. Hawk Touch also isn't a spin monster, but it comes easier than HP. I think part of its spin comes from the fact it is deader and the way it delivers power requires and encourages faster swings which aid in generating spin. HT is probably average to slightly above for spin compared to other round polys.

Control: By now it should be clear, HT is a controlled string designed for more advanced players. It rewards big swings and aggressive play to a degree which surpasses HP. But as I mentioned, to really reap the benefits you probably need to be more advanced where your stroke is more consistent. I felt it had less control when swinging slowly or pushing the ball; i.e. what beginner/lower-level players have a tendency to do more often. However, fast swings with good racquet head speed get you the full benefit and you can feel it stiffen up. HP is mostly average in terms of control, pretty good but not elite. HP really is more user-friendly, it'll let you know you've done something wrong but not punish you as badly.

Feel: Hawk Touch is stiff [full stop]. It is noticeably stiff off the stringer and loosens up some but not to anything I'd ever call soft. HP is kind of a better feeling, less plastic poly tour pro. Whether it's less plastic feeling because it's more muted or because it's softer is a bit more subjective. For me, it is a great balance where it isn't too muted and also isn't stiff or dead. Hits that great middleground of lightly crisp but in a smooth or clean way. Hawk Touch is just a stiffer poly to reign in big power and swings. Consider the guys using it, Sinner and Zverev, some big groundstroke power machines. HT never gave me arm/elbow trouble but I don't think I'd test your luck if you are sensitive to that. HP isn't the softest either but the shock feels less and probably would be ok for most.

Tension maintenance/durability: For the playtest I used them both 11 or 12 hrs each. Hawk Touch basically had minimal notching and felt ok in terms of tension loss. I'd attribute botg of these to how stiff it is. I'm not a Nadal-esque spin player and use a Pro Staff, so I don't often break poly. But I think for most it would be plenty durable and hold tension well. HP is a different story. While it didn't notch significantly, maybe 30-40 percent, it does lose tension and the character changes at 4-6 hrs. The upside is once the tension loss occurs it remains playable it just has more slingshot/trampoline feel about it. I don't mind this as I'm partial to a little of that sensation but it does require some adjustment. I've played HP out to 15hrs or so where it was 75 percent notched, pretty good string movement, and starting to lose control. I don't recommend this, but it can be done.

Finale: There were alot of ups and downs in this comparison. I got to try a new string, HT, always a positive. I got a little more comprehensive playtime of HP in my Pro Staff, also good. I discovered the two strings are pretty distinct and for pretty distinct players: HT for advanced players, particularly baseliners and HP more all-around and from beginners to advanced players. A good revelation on its own. Sadly, some pretty big downsides too. HT is not a string I'd need to use again immediately, just too stiff feeling for me and not enough redeeming qualities. I'm also probably not advanced enough to reliably use it all the time. Bummer. Closer to home, HP may not be the best string for the Pro Staff. Major bummer bro. I really like HP and the Pro Staff is my racquet of choice (for now, we've got something cooking behind the scenes) so for a top 5 string [of mine] to not be that great in my racquet is unfortunate. Not to say it's bad, it just doesn't add much and I have others that do more. Nevertheless, it stays in my top 5 and I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

Both tested at 48lbs in my Pro Staff 97s.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Well here's something new..
jxorhf.jpg


Tension or guage, can they be compared or compensated?
If so, in what proportion?
We've got Big Banger Original (1.30) at 45lbs and Poly Tour Strike 1.20 at 48lbs.
Will control be comparable? Will power or spin?
We'll see
 
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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
You may or may not have noticed the tension v. guage comparo is in a new set of racquets.
This comparison is mainly the result of needing some familiar strings to test the new racquets.

Look closely and you'll notice something missing from these Blades....
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
All happening at once, played 1.5hrs with each racquet this morning. Back to back singles sessions.

It cooled down ALOT in FL, not great for poly. This was especially noticeable with Big Banger Original. I digress

So far it seems like tension makes too much of a difference, even only 3 lbs. This is probably obvious to most though. The other early [and maybe obvious] observation is one I have long theorized, that tension really is the determinant of launch angle.
But what I will be curious to see is are you getting the same spin and pocketing with different tensions.

This comparison has more variables than usual but there's a good foundation here.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
At about 4.5 hours on each racquet.
The weather started warming back up and it is noticeable on the feel.

The variable most hard to account for is tension loss with this comparo.
PT Strike has excellent tension maintenance, a key reason I like it, Big Banger...not so much.

Approaching 5 hours, BBO is basically fully cooked. I usually like to go to 10 hrs each racquet for these comparos but with BBO it's probably pointless. I will use it a little more just to get some more data/observations but am formulating final thoughts.

This is not the most complete comparo but more an ad-hoc thought exercise of "how does a thin guage strung higher compare to a thick guage strung lower."
Which I've never directly done as a comparison.
 
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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
A little background..this was an impromptu comparison because I needed familiar strings to test a new pair of racquets. Conveniently, I chose control strings of the 1.20 and 1.30 variety and 3lbs lower tension for the thicker guage. To the point, the strings aren't that similar, Strike is more dampened and you don't feel its stiffness while Big Banger is more direct and firmer. The point was to see which made a difference more, tension or guage and, in part, can one compensate for the other. Away we go..

Power: This could be where a bigger difference lies and it isn't so much the power but more the delivery. Off the stringer both felt tight but once broken-in BBO felt a little more launchy while Strike maintained more of its low launch power. The hard part is BBO is a pretty low powered string, just a deader control string while Strike has like a smidge of pop to it. Some call BBO an old school poly (or first gen?) and this is an area I don't totally disagree. Polys have progressed to where they can have a bit of pop while still being controlled. The other part is BBO looses elasticity pretty quickly and it is much more noticeable and it plays like it feels less stretchy. So while you can gain a bit of an edge by dropping tension, with some strings you simply just lose more of its control, particularly for stiffer strings.

Spin: This is interesting and actually an area where BBO and Strike are pretty similar. Neither are a spin machine, it's BYOS (bring your own spin). I think you do gain an edge with a few pounds lower tension but it is highly string dependent. BBO felt like it was easier to roll the ball and add spin, more dwell time maybe or maybe just the confidence to swing harder and generate spin due to its control. To me there is a lower bound though, I have at BBO at 40lbs and it felt like it wouldn't stretch, it just felt dead. Strike, despite its thinner guage, felt like maybe it didn't give as spin. It seems like higher tension inhibits the natural elasticity to work at its best. Find the optimal spot for a given string can be tricky. Tension definitely plays a role in spin and lower isn't always better.

Control: This one became fairly obvious early on. In the world of control, tension reigns supreme. Despite the thinner guage, Strike had more control with its higher starting tension. But it is worth noting that a little dab will do you. I don't consider 3lbs to be alot and yet it felt noticeable that I had more control. Inversely, it also felt noticeable that BBO had lost some control by stringing it lower. I point this out not because my name is captain obvious but because BBO is a low-powered string but stringing lower didn't really net more power just less control. So regardless of string guage, if you want control, simply add a few pounds to your tension. And add a few pounds in moderation, my rule of thumb is 2lbs to have it be noticeable. The character of the string will impact this some but tension seems ultimately where you get control.

Feel: This is another area where the string itself has a big impact but there are some insights from this comparison. Stringing lower definitely gives a little springy/trampoline feel even with a stiff string like BBO. I touched on this a bit in power, BBO definitely felt more launchy at the lower tension while Strike was flatter and more controlled. Interestingly, I think BBO plays and feels better at a slightly higher tension. I've used it as low as 40 and as high as 52 and once it gets too low it feels like it won't stretch or snapback. So that's an interesting takeaway as it relates to tension, some perform better a little tighter. Strike I haven't had quite the range of tension but it remains a pretty controlled, dampened, lower launch string. I'll have to test it at 40lbs sometime to see how it does. The main difference in feel, for me, has to do with power delivery and launch, which are kind of on the fringe of feel. You can definitely change the launch angle with lower tension but you're likely to create a springy or trampoline type feel in the process.

Tension maintenance/durability: This mostly isn't impacted by tension but it's worth a short bit of commentary. Strike is nearly my number #1 string, excellent tension maintenance and great durability for a 1.20, nice feel and just really well all around. I easily play 15hrs with Strike without breaking and only a suggestion of a loss of control. BBO is at the opposite end of the spectrum, it is classic Luxilon...several hours of greatness followed by tension loss and not a great feeling. For BBO, I do think maybe stringing lower helped mitigate tension loss a little. It started out springier so the change in feel was a little less drastic but that's about it. I think poly strings are less likely to break when strung lower but again that's my personal theory. My other general theory is softer polys do better at lower tension. This based on prior experience with BBO at 40 and 45lbs where I felt like it underperformed compared to say 50.

Finale: Further removed from my own testing, I'm a little disappointed with this one. It was a very ad-hoc, unplanned comparison but the extra variable of using two different strings kind of overshadowed any meaningful results. It did solidify my opinion that anyone not breaking poly should drop down a guage. Thicker strings are for durability and don't really help with control, tension does. A thinner string could be strung tighter than its thicker counterpart for added control without losing a meaningful amount of comfort plus you get better feel.

Both tested in 18x19 Blades, BBO at 45lbs and PT Strike at 48lbs.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
While the last comparison was ho-hum this one is near and dear to me...

QeW1yS.jpg

Here we have my personal favorite Big Banger Ace 1.12 and something some say is a substitute, Isospeed v18 1.12.
Is there a substitute for my dearly departed Ace?
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Had the initial hits with both strings, annoyingly two different days.
V18 it was 65-ish degrees
Ace it was 55-ish degrees

Horrible weather for poly, thankfully these are very thin to maintain some semblance of feel.

Since it was two different days and conditions plus I am experimenting with lead, I only have initial impressions on each string.

So far V18 is nice, good feel, a little dampened definitely feels softer than Ace. But after about 2 hours, I like it. A very promising start.

Ace...ah Ace, a lost love of mine. Thanks to a forum member, I now have a reel of it (cue "Reunited" by Peaches and Herb).
Ace is probably not the best at anything, except maybe feel, but the feel is so sublime. You feel so connected and in the write racquet it's just magic.
That why I use it and love it. The feel is uniquely Luxilon but in a super thin transmittant guage.
However, today it was cold so even freshly strung it felt dead and powerless.

Go away cold, I live in FL for a reason.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
SITREP:

At about 4.5-5 hrs on each string. They're definitely working to separate themselves from each other.

There are some distinct diffrences, namely V18 has more pop and feels softer.
Ace isn't stiff but I think its crispness coupled with its direct feel make the feedback more pronounced compared to the somewhat dampened feeling V18.

It's a dead heat for control, spin, and feel between the two with feel mostly coming down to personal preference at this point.
Durability is close with V18 being slightly more notched which is consistent with its softer feel.

Next two hits will be FL frigid :)eek:) 40-something and maybe low 50s the time after...depressing.
I digress or maybe I don't, all poly sucks in that cold of weather so I'll be curious if the ultra thing guage will help at all.

Trying to get a solid 10hrs on each even if they bag out or lose tension, weather be danged!

I do it for the people.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Now up to 7hrs or thereabouts

One highlight here, V18 is not a bad cold weather string, especially for poly.
It was 40 degrees here Wednesday morning and it felt ok. Still had a bit of pop and the feel was still soft not harsh or wire-y or dead.
Contrast that with Ace which felt powerless and a little stiff that same morning, to the point that I stopped using that racquet.

V18 is maybe 75% [or a bit less] notched at this point, still decent snapback but definitely some loss of control. Still feels good and that's what you want from an arm-friendly string.
Ace is maybe 50% notched, it is stiffer, still feels ok, some snapback has been lost as has some control.

Both are moving some and definitely heading toward the end.
I may wrap prior to the 10hr target either because the loss of control or potentially breakage. But at this point my conclusions are mostly firmed up anyway.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
This comparison has been a long-time coming and finally it is completed. It is here...for the people...dying to know, is Isospeed V18 the replacement for our dearly departed, illustrious, and highly underrated Luxilon Big Banger Ace 1.12?
Let's find out..
-In a rare, never before seen feature, the end of each category will conclude [similar or different].

Power: This is clear from the first hit, v18 has more pop than Ace. I would actually say this is a benefit of v18, it has a softer feel and is a little springier (you feel it when stringing) which results in extra pop. Really nice if you use a denser pattern or lower-powered racquet but unfortunately does set itself apart from Ace. While Ace is not a dead, control poly like a BBO or Razor Soft, it definitely has a more moderate power level, probably right down the middle between power and control. For me, Ace hits a great balance of control, power, and predictability. V18 has a little extra pop but it becomes more noticeable the longer you play and it was slightly more unpredictable. It wasn't crazy launchy or losing all control, but directional control got worse.
-[Different]

Spin: This is an area where they're actually more similar than different. They're both thin, round poly and while neither grip or bite the ball they both produce decent spin. I have to place them both near the middle of the spectrum in terms of spin production maybe leaning slightly toward more than less. I think you get more pocketing from v18 because it's softer but it doesn't necessarily give you more spin just more feel. Ace is fairly typical Luxilon, at least from my experience with their round strings, good spin but not outstanding. Neither let me down and they both gave plenty to the 18x19 pattern I was using. It never felt like I was lacking any spin but if you think the thinner guage gets you more spin, I don't think that's accurate. Both also lost spin in a similar fashion, you could start to feel the elasticity going as the hours increased.
-[Similar]

Control: This is kind of tough but I have to conclude that Ace has more control. I think if you swing confidently, it doesn't matter what string you're using but inherently Ace is a little crisper and has a little more direct feel to help with directional control. The slightly lower powered response and predictability of Ace also gives you the confidence. V18 as a trade-off gives you more pop but in tight situations and imperfect mechanics you may be worried about it launching. I do think because v18 has extra pop and is softer, you could just up the tension a few pounds for more control. As I noted in another comparison, tension makes a huge difference especially for control. The other thing I noted above was v18 loses tension and the power goes up and directional control goes down, this forces you to pick bigger targets. At the same amount of hours used on Ace, I still feel like I have more control.
-[Different]

Feel: So this should be obvious by now, they're different. This is one of the hallmarks of Ace, its direct and comfortably crisp feel. It's a Luxilon, it has that Lux DNA. V18 has a great feel too...but it's different. In addition to thin poly, I'm an afficionado of soft poly, so I really enjoyed v18 for that reason. As an aside, it worked particularly well in 40-50(F) [cold] temperature weather while Ace was powerless and dead. So for those cold weather players, consider v18 as an option. I digress, the feel of v18 is dampened and softer with a hint of springy. It feels nice and I enjoyed it, but it isn't the same. Unfortunately, a defining characteristic of a string is how it feels and its response and these two are quite a bit different. While Ace has a more predictable, neutral, direct response, v18 has a little springier, softer, dampened response. Neither is necessarily better than the other it just depends on your preference. If you need arm-friendly, v18 would long-term be a better option.
-[Different]

Tension maintenance/durability: They are pretty equal here with a slight [very slight] edge to Ace for durability. V18, as I said, increased its power a bit and lost some directional control as the play-time wore on. Sitting at about 8.5-9 hours I think it is nearly 75 percent notched, mains are moving out of place, but it isn't unplayable. It still feels ok just more springy. At about 8 hours, Ace is maybe 60-70 percent notched but mains are also moving out of place. The slightly stiffer Ace naturally has a little less notching, but not enough to say there's a significant difference in durability. The main difference is Ace is losing some of its nice feel and just getting a little deader feeling. This is pretty customary to Lux strings. They start to sound pingy and the feel goes. So v18 actually has an edge here because it notches a very little bit faster but the softer feel keeps it comfy.
-[Similar but kind of a Draw]

Finale: Sadly, for those who've run out of Ace, v18 isn't a one-to-one replacement. In the main categories that count, they're just too different. The feel is quite a bit different as is the stringbed response, and these are the key features of Ace for me. In its own right, v18 is a very nice string, especially for those who like really thin poly. Good bit of pop, arm-friendly, enough control and spin for most players but for more spin players durability could be an issue.

Where do we go from here? I'm not sure, ALU 1.15 isn't similar and neither is v18, I'd be on the look out for a crisp, thin, direct (or raw) feeling string as a replacement. Poly Tour Pro in a thinner guage could have a bit of that crisp feel but isn't as clean feeling and a bit more dampened and plastic-y.
For me, it is back to the drawing board to find a suitable replacement that I can recommend to Ace lovers who don't have a stash.
And a moment of silence for this great loss...
 
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