Tennis Warehouse: Gamma Multifilament Playtest

[TW Staff]

We have a limited number of Gamma Ocho TNT 16 and Gamma Ocho XP 16 strings for a playtest. This playtest is for USA TTW members only.

The application period has ended. Selected playtesters have been notified.

Review due by June 14


Include the following in your review:
String Received:
Tension(s) used for playtest
Regular string set up
Racquet brand and model used for test
Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Spin
Power
Comfort
Durability
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Compare to the string you use most often
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
List any additional thoughts (optional)

String shipping to playtesters Monday 5/16. Playtesters have been notified by email.

 

[cknobman]

String Received: Gamma Ocho TNT 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 60lbs full bed, 2 piece stringing

Regular string set up: Babolat RPM Blast 17 @54lbs full bed

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Aero

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): 9/10 I felt the control of this string was outstanding. Directional ground strokes were dependable and easy to execute. I felt like I had just a bit of extra time to change direction, if I wanted to, and keep my opponent off balance.
Depth was excellent with forehands landing deep in the court. Serves consistently landed deep in the service box and I was able to go for the corners.
Versus my regular poly the swing speed seemed less important for this string. I did not feel like I needed to have such a dependence on a rapid head speed acceleration through the ball.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): 9/10 Feel was comfortable and soft for me. No harsh vibrations on impact. Ball felt like it stayed on strings longer with a pocketing effect. This let me feel like I had just a bit more time to decide where I wanted my ball to go.

Spin: 7/10 This might look like a low score but for a non polyester string it really did a decent job of generating spin. The spin is nothing major when compared to RPM blast but it is there and its predictable so once I made the adjustment and knew what to expect I was able to adjust my groundstrokes accordingly.

Power: 8.5/10 Easy power is what I'd like to describe with this string. It comes from a combination of the feel and comfort that makes this string so easy to generate power with. I did not need to put so much effort into the swing and I felt like the ball pocketed just a tad longer which seemed to give that much more punch to each shot.

Comfort: 10/10 Extremely comfortable string. I felt no jarring on shots, no discomfort afterwards, and no pain in my elbow from extended play time.

Durability: 8/10 So I managed just under 5 hours of playtime with this string. That may seem short but for me and this not being a polyester I felt that it was pretty good. I usually break non polyester strings in less than 3 full sets.

Playability Duration: 9.5/10 I felt this string played the same from the first hit up until the time it broke. The only thing that changed during my time with the string as my last session it started the need more manual adjustment between shots but this is typical of this type of string.

Tension recommendations: I was happy enough with the 60lbs that I would not recommend any tension changes. Going lower I feel would resort to compromising control and going higher I feel it would sacrifice comfort and durability.

List any additional thoughts: This is a good string that I would recommend to any player that loves non polyester strings. I would really like to try this in a hybrid setup with some polyester as cross strings.

 

[wings56]

Got my email that I'll be included! Woohoo! Can it be done as a blend or does it need to be full bed?

 

[Ihatetennis]

Alright, if it lasts me longer than 45 minutes(average time with nxt and x-one) it will win in durability for a multi.

 

[392Hemi]

Im in too... After applying a few times before, I have been selected to my first playtest. Looking forward to it.

 

[TW Staff]

wings56,

Please playtest the string in a full bed.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

 

[Baseline13]

Thanks for the opportunity. Looking forward to this playtest.

 

[Matthew Lee]

Thank you, Tennis Warehouse!

Just in time, when I broke my go-to strings in my AI 98.

 

[branman1986]

Anyone have any suggestions for tension? I was thinking around 62lbs. I play black widow at 61, and the red code wax was pretty good at 55lbs.

 

[SJSA]

I will go for 58lbs just like my normal tension setup for multi strings.

 

[Mareqnyc]

I will go for 58lbs just like my normal tension setup for multi strings.

60-58 here

 

[SJSA]

I just received Ocho XP 16.
It feels like textured natural gut due to the edges on the string.

 

[Baseline13]

I strung my Ocho XP 16 at 59/57 in a Pure Aero Tour. Played 2 hours this AM and 2/3 hours tomorrow AM. I will have a review written in the next few days. Its a bit early to review yet but I will say it feels good and performs well.

 

[Matthew Lee]

I got Ocho XP 16 at 57 lbs on my AI 98. It's feeling a bit heavy, but I'm loving the topspin! Review will come out in...2-3 days?

 

[branman1986]

I got Ocho XP 16 at 57 lbs on my AI 98. It's feeling a bit heavy, but I'm loving the topspin! Review will come out in...2-3 days?

Did you wish you went higher tension?

 

[M Pillai]

Got Ocho XP and strung at 55lbs. Looking forward to the weekend tennis using it. I am also planning to let couple of my friends who are Biphase users for many years, hit with it and see what they think.

 

[392Hemi]

I received the Ocho TNT 16 today and will string them up this weekend.

On the back of the package it has feature ratings as:

Power: 8.5
Control: 8.5
Comfort: 8
Spin: 8
Durability: 7.5

I will keep Gamma's benchmarks in mind as I evaluate. But Im also curious from anyone who got the XP how Gamma rates the XP in these same categories.

 

[SJSA]

Gamma Ocho XP 16

Power: 8.5
Control: 8
Comfort: 8.5
Spin: 8
Durability: 7.5

 

[Matthew Lee]

Did you wish you went higher tension?

Honestly, yes...maybe 60 would've been good.

 

[Baseline13]

String Received:Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 59/57

Regular string set up: Gut or Isospeed Professional Mains and either OGSM crosses or V18 crosses.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Aero Tour

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): This string was very predictable for me. I was able to hit the ball deep or impart enough spin to hit a cross court shot shallow. Both slice and topspin were available with this string on the backhand side. It also served very well for me. Good power but not so much that it was uncontrollable.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I would call this string in this frame on the crisp side of muted. It had a great feel at impact and even with a stiffer frame like the PAT it was very comfortable on the arm.

Spin: Spin was really good for a multi but not as good as a full poly or probably a gut main poly hybrid.

Power: Power was good but not uncontrollable. There when I needed it but in total control. I would say it is higher powered than Isospeed Pro but lower than gut.

Comfort: String was very comfortable for me. I have had slight elbow problems in the past as I have aged and this string provided me plenty of comfort. Even balls that I caught late or outside the sweet spot didnt feel too punishing on my elbow or wrist.

Durability: I have played about 8 hours with this string job up to now and it is playing just as good as when I put it in. I hit with a full western forehand and mostly slice backhands (unless the ball is really set up to drive on the backhand side) and there is zero fraying for me at this point. There is some notching but minimal.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I haven't seen much of a change over time. For me it settled in around the 30-45 minute mark and has been really nice since then (not that it was bad right off the stringer).

Compare to the string you use most often: I have been using Isospeed Professional a lot lately in the mains and its a pretty unique string. This string compares in feeling but there is more movement of the strings with the Ocho XP and it has more power. The Isospeed Pro looses tension much faster but when it settles in it stays until it goes away (if that makes any sense).

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)I thought the tension that I used was perfect for this string. I got the control I needed but did not have any discomfort.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This string had some coil memory out of the package when I strung it but nothing serious. It was really easy to string and I think unless you or whoever strings for you is careless kinking the string wouldn't be a problem. I would like to try this in a 17g as most of my frames are 18 x 20 and thinner gauge strings work better for me in those strings. I could see myself using this string in the 17g in the future. I will definitely try this as a cross with my go to main string.

I think this string is worth a shot for anyone who wants a bit of extra power and comfort.

 

[392Hemi]

^^ I'm only about 3 hours into my TNT playtest so its a little too soon for my writeup, but I could have replaced "XP" with "TNT" and almost written the above word for word. But in a nutshell, I am very pleasantly surprised.

 

[Matthew Lee]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 57 (wish I had gone to 60)

Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone, Prince Tour XR, Solinco Hyper-G in 16 gauge.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Yonex Ezone AI 98 (customized)

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): In the first two hours, the string had good control, the ball didn't fly out or anything, and it was great. After that, the ball sailed just a little bit. I thought the racket felt a bit heavier in general with the string inside, but when I swung the thought went away.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Crisp and lively, definitely.

Spin: Spin was what surprised me. The groundies and slices had lots of spin, but the topspin serve had less spin. 8/10

Power: Lower power than other multis I've used before. 7.5/10

Comfort: Great; there were no issues with comfort. 10/10

Durability: After putting about 5 hours into this string, there is some string movement going on. Not bad, though. 7/10

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Ball sailed a TAD BIT long after the 4 hour mark. 7/10

Compare to the string you use most often: Personally, I feel that I like polys overall due to their durability and spin and control. This string had similar spin levels, but not the intense drop I've become used to. Control is less, but power and comfort is slightly better than the polys I use.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): Tension should be over 60 for rackets with low RA's like my own. Why? After getting this in my racket, I was looking for a little bit more control. Plus, when the tension drops (it did for me), there is more power and less control, so starting high is better.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Excellent string for people who utilize power and comfort, but want a spin-friendly option, too.

 

[392Hemi]

String Received: Gamma Ocho TNT 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 57/55 (mid+2/mid)

Regular string set up: Tecnifibre Multifeel 16

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Textreme Warrior 100

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Racquet performed well with the Ocho TNT strings. Power was there when I wanted it and strings give nice touch too

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Crisp but with nice plushness and pocketing

Spin: Very good for a multi

Power: Medium-high power, especially good pop on first serve

Comfort: My elbow can be sensitive to harsh strings. These gave me no discomfort at all

Durability: I've only played about 8 hours on them but no signs of wear and bare minimum notching

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): So far no change, except for the initial settling in, which was less than an hour. Strings were overall improved after break-in.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to Multifeel, the Gamma Ocho TNT strings are fairly similar. I would give the Gamma strings the edge in both power and spin, while the Tecnifibre have slightly better feel and comfort. Control was about the same. I'd also expect the Gamma will last longer since the Multifeel crosses begin to fray at around 6-8 hours and so far the TNT show no fraying at all.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): The tension I used is my normal starting point for a new string (mid+2 mains / mid crosses). I might experiment from there but this tension works well.

List any additional thoughts (optional): There was some coil memory and a few tangles as I unpackaged the strings and started stringing. But after a few passes it worked itself out and stringing was routine.

I have to admit I was hoping I would have been sent the higher end XP strings to test, but I am very impressed by the Ocho TNT. I am also going to be trying out Head Velocity MLT, but I will most definitely use the Ocho TNT again. Thanks TW for this opportunity.

 

[M Pillai]

Here is my official review.

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 55lbs

Regular string set up: Topspin Concept Pure 50(mains)/45(crosses)

Racquet brand and model used for test: Yonex MP Tour 1 Mid

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)

I felt the directional control was excellent. I had some difficulty to adjust myself to the trajectory of the ball using these strings, and I think it probably has a lot more to do with me. I may need more time with this strings to gain confidence on swinging full.

Down-the-line winners were a joy to hit with these. Had excellent feel on volleys. Hitting drop shots and touch-shots were a joy with this string. Also half-volleys, even when you were out of position and stretched out, turned out to be excellent, and kind of worked excellent for a serve & volley kind of style. Flat shots were good, and had tons of power, also they were landing with excellent control on where I wanted. But when I look for a bit more loop, I was not getting enough loop. I believe with a bit more time I would probably gain confidence on those shots. But in general I needed those shots to be reliable for my baseline game, and was not working out too good for me with the sessions I had. In-fact one thing which confused me is that I had enough spin on my flatish serves using this string to kick them high, so there was obviously some spin potential, but when I go for more of a “topspin” serve, again the trajectory was not what I was expecting, and I was not getting that high kicker I am used to.

High swing speed strokes, which usually lands well in were flying out for me using these strings, and I was kind of loosing confidence on them using these strins. But I feel like that I could adjust over a period of time. Anything with a bit lower swing speed was excellent with these strings (as mentioned above, touch shots/drop shots/volleys/half-volleys etc.)

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)

Crisp. Touch shots and drop shots felt really good. In fact any kind of shots with continental grip and less swing, felt extremely well (volleys/dropshot/half-volleys/stretch-shots/chop).

Spin

Average. Mixed feel about this aspect. I was not feeling much spin generation on my shots. But I believe the flattish ground strokes or serves had a lot of rotations, which matches with what my opponents were observing during practise sessions. A buddy of mine who is currently a user of another popular multi hit with my racket strung with Ocho XP thought, they were able to generate a lot more spin than their regular string, and even asked me to send them the string model/name (so that they can try it extensively).

Power

Excellent. This was a super charged Turbo. The power was excellent from this string. Outshined any other string I recently used in this category. Those stretchy shots, which my opponent attack me mercy-less which I usually dump to net, or just get it over to setup nicely for my opponent were a lot better, and forgiving, to eventually neutralize and get back into the point.

Comfort

Excellent. Excellent comfort. I never had arm issues with strings, but I did try some pretty wild (bad) flat swings, just to check the credibility of the “arm friendliness” claim. I am pretty sure those bad swings would have caused some pain for me in my regular strings, but were really no issue with “Ocho XP”. Also from the feedback of my friends who are already using another string which is know for its “comfort/arm-friendliness” mentioned that “Ocho XP” was having same comfort level.

Durability

Average. Not enough for me to use as my daily string. Probably this was expected anyway, since arm-friendliness comes at the cost of some durability. There was enough string damage after 6 hours of play time even though I was not doing my full swing most of the time with these strings.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)

Good. The string bed characteristics changed drastically in the first 15 minutes or so. But if you consider that to be a settling time, then the string pretty much held its good and bad pretty stable over the next 5 hours or so. So I would say the “playability” was pretty good for for an arm friendly multi-filament.

Compare to the string you use most often

I do use poly strings (Topspin pure concept) regularly. I think it is probably unfair comparison to compare with a poly string. But I know that I can hit with more confidence with low powered strings, and had better control on the trajectory on the ball. But I could not imagine to do some crazy shots I made with the “Ocho XP” using my regular strings.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)

I do not think a difference in tension would have made much difference for me. If there was another package I would have tried a bit more tension. But usually I like the pocketting feel of the string, so I do not think a tension difference would have made much difference for me about the love for “Ocho XP”.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

I think this is an excellent string for players at any level looking for an arm-friendly string, but still don't want to compromise much on the play-ability. The string is very forgiving and powerful. So if you are so used to swings using "low-power" strings there may be an adjustment period.

 

[Brokenstrings]

String Received: Gamma OCHO TNT 16
Tension(s) used for playtest: 58 lbs.
Regular string set up: Solinco Hyper-G @ 56 lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test: Yonex Ezone DR 98
Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I felt the control of the string was very good for a multi. The octagonal shape must give this string a little extra spin which helped with depth control. It felt really good on all strokes, especially the BH slice (probably do to the extra punch of the multi). Nice and crisp on volleys as well. Really nice power on flat first serves, but I lacked a little control on 2nd serves.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Definitely a nice crisp multi feel. I always enjoy net play with multis and OCHO TNT didn't disappoint. Really nice feel with touch shots and put away volleys.
Spin: Spin was outstanding for a multifilament, probably the best of the 16g multis I've played with.
Power: Obviously multifilaments don't lack in the power department and this string was no exception. I will say the added spin might have toned down the power a bit, so I'd say it had a nice balance of control and power.
Comfort: It's a multifilament, not much to say other than very comfortable.
Durability: I'm very surprised how well the string has lasted. I have 8+ hours and the strings have some fraying, but considering most multis I've played with break between 6-8 hours, I'll consider this a success in the durability department.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Playability was great for the first 3-4 hours. After that, strings were starting to get stuck and balls were starting to sail on me a bit.
Compare to the string you use most often: I mostly use polys like Hyper G or Solstice Power. Obviously those strings are lower powered, heavy spin strings. I'd say OCHO TNT exceeded my expectations when it came to spin. It definitely didn't have as much spin as the polys I use, but still very impressive for a multifilament. OCHO TNT did have a little too much power for my liking, but as I mentioned above, the spin helped tame that down a bit.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): If I did this playtest again I'd probably string OCHO TNT around 60-62 lbs. I'd like to tone down the power just a bit.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Overall I was really pleased with the playtest. Although I mostly play with full bed polys, this string really makes you think about the benefits of a good multifilament. I might even try a few hybrid setups with OCHO TNT. To sum it up, I think most recreational players would really enjoy this string if they're looking for a high powered, arm friendly, multi with decent spin.

 

[Ihatetennis]

String Received: Gamma OCHO TNT 16
Tension(s) used for playtest: 64 lbs
Regular string set up: Clarke pit viper 17g 56lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test: head Graphene radical mp, 345g and 368sw 33in balance
Control (predictable trajectory? Super predictable
control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Really great performance. This string was especially good for drop shots and touch shots. Serves were all awesome and it played very similar to very soft poly
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Extremely crisp for a multi. Felt a lot like a super soft poly so for those who are trying to leave poly from injury this is a great choice
Spin: Spin was really great. I could swing the same as with my current set up and my balls had just a tad less spin
Power: power was awesome. I string it super tight to keep it tame, at 64 it played similar to an rpm or razorcode at 53 or so
Comfort: Comfortable by nature being a multi, but not as comfortable as an x one biphase
Durability: I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. 45 minutes of baseline hitting including a 6-1 set. Pretty solid for a multi
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):Playability was the same from start to finish
Compare to the string you use most often: I only use Clarke pit viper. It played like a more crisp less skinny version. Wayyyy better for touch shots than any other string I've used in a long time
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): since I saw the initial reviews I string it up fairly tight at 64 lbs. I would definitely string it 8-10 pounds tighter than what you do with poly.
List any additional thoughts (optional): awesome string, didn't last long enough for me to consider using it regularly. However if it was free I would possible switch to it from a poly

Absolutely amazing for serve and volley play. For anyone who plays serve and volley or chip and charge, try this out

 

[GS]

String Received: Gamma OCHO TNT 16.
Tension used: 57 lbs.
Regular string setup: Wilson NXT 16 at 57 lbs.
Racquet brand and model: Babolat AeroPro Drive
Control: Pretty impressive. I'm sure the 8 edges were a big help.
Feel: With a solid core in there, surprisingly nice, but not that soft. Forehand, backhand, and volley felt pretty good.
Spin: A huge difference from other multis, obviously because of the 8 edges. The ball would jump off the strings, but wasn't overwhelming.
Power: Pretty big, even at 57 lbs. Alittle too much power for my taste.
Comfort: Well, there's a solid core in there, so my sensitive arm and wrist felt it. But not that harshly.
Durability: It started fraying after 3 days of hard hitting, but probably won't break for another 3 days.
Playability: I thought this string really held up from day one to day three. No loss in tension. Impressive.
Compare to my usual string: I'm used to a highly rated multi, so that's the only problem---I'm not used to a big spin-making string with a solid core in there.
Tension recommendations: At 57 lbs, this string performed pretty well, for comfort and power. I'd recommend 57 lbs.
Any additional thoughts: I think I'd prefer the Gamma OCHO XP 16, since it's a real multi, and that's what I'm used to. So that's the next string for me to buy and try out.

 

[Ihatetennis]

I just wanna add, ocho tnt snapped like a poly

It knotches and not frayed. I'll upload pics later

 

[maxply]

String Received = Gamma Ocho tnt 16
Tension = 54lbs
Racquet = customized Pro Kennex Destiny Fcs 290 , 11.75 oz
Regular string set up = assorted mult and syn gut strings 16 guage

Control = Vey good control , easy to control depth and direction of shots. The control was every bit as good as Gosen synthetic gut. My forehand is pretty flat and I found very good control . I mostly slice my backhand and found this string great on slices, very easy to control depth and angles. The string also worked very well on dink and slice serve returns against net rushers.
Touch shots - were also very good , better than the average synthetic gut but not up to top multi standards.
Serves - had good power and slice, my topspin serve is not consistent enough to really judge.

Feel = crisp but comfy , again more comfy than a synthetic gut but less than a good multi , no issues for my somewhat sensitive arm.
Spin = as an older eastern forehand player I don't hit with a ton of spin , but it did seem to have more than a typical 16 gauge string. The string did shine on my slice backhand which was never better . Slice serves were also good.

Power = A bit more pop than Gosen or Gamma synthetic gut but not NRG multi standards. I liked the power a lot, enough for put away shots but not overpowered.
Comfort = as I mentioned it seemed a bit for comfy than a standard synthetic gut but not as comfy as a top multi. I liked the comfort for my sometimes sensitive wrist and elbow.

Durability = I am not much of a string breaker ( not much topspin) So far I have 4-5 hours on it only a couple of notches.

Playability Duration = The power seems to have gone up after about 4 hours ( tension drop) but I thing I will be able to use this string for a good while longer .
It seems like it will last as long as a syn gut.

Tension recommendation = I would most likely string this a bit tighter, 3-4 lbs. next time , the string plays a bit softer than its stiffness number would indicate , plus my wrist has been sensitive lately so I deliberately strung it a bit low .

Additional thoughts = I think this is a great string for any non poly user, people who use a lot of slice, or players who want some comfort power and control. I think the price might be a bit high if you are a frequent string breaker, as it is a bit better than a standard syn gut but might not be worth 3-4 times the price.
I would and probably will use it again.
Thanks to TW for the opportunity.
I will gladly answer any other specific questions

 

[ten11]

String Received: gamma ocho xp 16g

Tension(s) used for playtest: 55lbs constant pull

Regular string set up: solinco tour bit 17g

Racquet brand and model used for test: dunlop option 2c, 95sq in, 16x19

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): very good control. super easy to control the trajectory of the shot. able to hit the ball deep with ease. drop shot and touch shot are easy too. very good all around string.
On server, it got good pop and spin. On ground strokes, it can direct the ball and put it deep consistently.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): firm to the crisp side.

Spin: super good spin for a multi string. This is by far the best spin multi I have played by a big margin.

Power: every good power. I thought it is a good tension for a 95 sq in racket but the power is very good and to my like. combined with spin, I am very happy and easy for me to hit my ground stroke and focus on my spin more because it is so easy to generate the power.

Comfort: very comfortable. this is a multi string and I have no issue with it.

Durability: so far, it holds up well for me. I am very happy for the durability.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): pretty good too. The string plays well through out the play test, not much change of playability for me. I also noticed there is limited string movement for me, so that is another plus.

Compare to the string you use most often: compare to tour bit, it has less spin but I am definitely happy with the spin this multi provides. It plays nice, very firm feel and I enjoy it a lot.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) 55lbs is good for me. If I have another set to use, I will put 55lbs again and make no adjust.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This is a great multi string to play and also a fun multi to play. First of all, it is a multi, so it feels comfortable. The firm string bed plays very well on volley. Got great pop on serve and ground stroke. The spin production is surprisingly good.
I already made recommendation to my friends who play exclusive on multi string. This is a must try for multi player and also for play who has elbow/shoulder issue.

 

[wings56]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 63 lbs

Regular string set up: Pro Hurricane 17g @ 63 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson Ncode Six One 95

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I'd definitely say predictable trajectory... It felt like I should have been in more control, but I felt things spraying around a bit... I'm used to a springier feel on slower swing speeds and this felt like I could pinpoint the direction better than a poly but I had to guide it a bit more if that makes sense.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Super crispy!

Spin: Definitely had more spin than I expected. I did really struggle getting bite on second serves... I tended to miss past the baseline with a floating ball.

Power: Very powerful. Flat shots were awesome to hit.

Comfort: I had forgotten how soft strings could feel. Very comfortable.

Durability: So different than a poly... I probably got 3.5 to 4 hours out of it when 3 strings exploded.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): It played the same throughout. Probably best right before it was ready to break.

Compare to the string you use most often: I still prefer a poly, but I would be interested to try this in a hybrid. I got a little more uncontrolled power than the polys I've used and much less durability. It sure made a great sound on flat shots though!

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I could have probably gone up to 65 lbs or more... I felt it just wanted to fly on me the whole time.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I want to try it as a hybrid. My 16 year old self would have used it and loved it in a full bed. I felt like it volleyed better than any string I've used in a while, so I could see this being a great string for a more old school type of player.

 

[jim e]

String Received: Gamma OCHO XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 57 lbs.

Regular string set up: Wilson Nat. Gut 16g. 64lbs.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Head Radical

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Great control string. Especially with big baseline drives, as it has a good blend of control with power and comfort.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): A crisp feeling string to me, compared to my normal nat. gut string. A good feel for volleys along with comfort.

Spin: Although I am an old school flat style hitter for the most part, spin was good when needed. Especially good spin for me with 2nd serves. The bite on the ball gave a good spin which was better than my nat. gut set up, especially on 2nd serves where I use more spin.

Power: Very good power for a multi. string. Not as much as nat. gut, but that's to be expected.

Comfort; I have a history of elbow issues, and this string was no issues at all. A very comfortable hit.

Durability; After 7 hours of singles, and 2 hours doubles, some notching and wear, but still has decent playability

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): After 7 hours of singles, and 2 hours doubles, although it is wearing it still has decent playability.I expect as few more decent hours of hitting with it.

Compare to the string you use most often: Nat. gut has more power, feel and comfort, but this string delivered more spin for my 2nd serves. A very good multi. string. This is a string I will purchase and keep on hand.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) This string was right on for me at 57lbs. Felt similar string bed stiffness as my nat. gut at 64lbs. so was easy to adjust to this string and dial in my baseline shots as I like to keep them deep, and was able to so with this string. I believe Gamma has a winner with this string.

 

[boilerfan]

String Received: Gamma Ocho TNT 16
Tension: 56 lbs, 1 piece stringing
Regular string set up: Full poly(Prince or Babolat usually), sometimes hybrid poly with syn gut.
Racquet used: Babolat Pure Aero Plus

Control: I was very pleased that I didn’t have to change trajectory for a spin type string. I had nice control and depth on my forehand, but the ball didn’t sail on my backhand which tends to be flatter than my forehand. Slice backhands were very nice with the easy access to spin and control. Also serving was great. I was able to get some spin for free which allowed me to add some power.

Feel: I would have to go with crisp. Definitely softer than I normally play with, but didn’t feel mushy either.

Spin: Very pleased with the spin. I was able to control it, which meant good depth control on my forehand, and slice backhands had good bite. I tend to struggle with some of the “shaped” strings because they change my trajectory, so I was glad to see some nice spin, but not uncontrollable.

Power: Power was controllable, which was nice. Slightly more power than my usual poly setups, but had no problems controlling it.

Comfort: Felt very comfortable. Reminded me how much better my arm can feel when I go away from poly. The comfort value of “8” definitely fit. The comfort really stuck out to me, but that might be because of my typical setup.

Durability: Broke in a little over an hour, so not an option to go full-bed for frequent string breakers. Reminded me why I use poly. Very disappointed it broke so quick since I was enjoying hitting with it.

Playability Duration: Broke too quick to have an opinion.

Compare to the string you use most often: I really liked it for the short time I had it. The comfort combined with the playability was really nice. The spin potential really made the power very controllable, so it played a lot like a slightly higher powered poly with a lot more comfort.

Tension recommendations: I used 56 and felt it was about where I would want it. I don’t flatten out my forehand much anymore, so I didn’t need a higher tension to control that shot.

Additional thoughts: I really liked the feel and spin, so I would definitely want to try this in a hybrid setup for durability reasons. I probably should have done that, but didn’t feel it was in the spirit of a play test.

 

[Mareqnyc]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 60/58

Regular string set up: I have been using mostly full beds of poly for 3 years now Solinco Revolution 18g 55/53 in my 18x20's is my regular setup along with Weisscannon Silverstring in open patterns at the same tension. Multis I have used on regular basis in the past include NRG2, X1, Isospeed Classic

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Project One 7 (killed two birds with one stone trying another string setup for the racquet playtest and play testing this string)

Control: I was prepared for a major adjustment coming from a full bed of polyester but it wasn't as dramatic as I anticipated. The textured shape of the XP really provides decent grab on the ball, but I must admit I had some issues with additional power specifically on approach shots (a lot flying just a bit long) and volleys having extra pop of the racquet face. I lost a bunch of points on these two occasions - approach and/or volley. Everything else was a smooth ride with above average directional control and nice trajectories specifically from the back of the court. Balls would dive in nicely on groundstrokes.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - it was definitely on the crispier side of multi. I actually expected more pocketing from this but was disappointed. Still it is soft at impact and after certain adjustment period it was very sweet at the net, great feel for drop shots and volleys.

Spin - It did not grab the ball as well as full bed of polyester obviously but it provides the most spin out of any synthetic I have used.

Power - typical full bed multi power, so quite high for a baseliner used to full polyester setups. Still, definitely more controllable (through spin) than full bed of gut or say NRG2

Comfort - no complaints here. zero soreness or wrist discomfort that I sometimes experience with my regular setups. I played this 4 days in a row 12 hrs altogether and no issues.

Durability - Not sure if the tighter string pattern was to blame (or thank) but It held up very nicely. Some fraying after 5 hrs and snapped at the end of 12hrs. Very good for a multi - I usually break those anywhere between 2-5hrs depending on the string/racquet.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) Played pretty consistent throughout its life. Got a little dead at the end but it did not turn into a trampoline the way some polyester does.

Compare to the string you use most often - Ocho XP provides much more power than Revolution or Silverstring being a completely different string type. Higher power level is the main adjustment, spin and ball grab is still not as good as any poly but definitely high for a multi. You get more control from the polys I use but definitely less touch and feel.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) would probably reduce the tension by 2 pounds next time for full multi players.

List any additional thoughts (optional) - This string will definitely work for a multi player who is looking for more spin and is used to the way full multi jobs play. It did remind me of NRG2 in terms of comfort and feel, but providing more spin. I can see myself using this for doubles and serve & volley (very good for kick serves and volleys). Although I typically play full bed of polyester I enjoyed this string a lot and will probably get a couple of sets for times when my arm is a bit sore and doubles play.

 

[Emkay]

String Received: Gamma Ocho TNT 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 58 lbs.

Regular string set up: Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.20 @ 52 lbs.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Yonex Ezone DR 98

Control: At this tension, within striking distance of a soft poly. Only a handful of balls sailed on me, and that was mostly under pressure during the brief adjustment period. Once the strings and I got used to each other, it was mostly point and shoot.

Feel: Plush with consistent feedback. I still felt connected to the ball and was able to execute volleys and drop shots with confidence.

Spin: The potential is there, but I found I had to work a little harder for it. However, with the free power provided by the string, I could take a more pronounced windshield wiper stroke to generate RPMs and still achieve good depth on groundstrokes. After a while, my forehand was really jumping off the court and with good pace. The only area where I found the spin to be lacking was my kick serve. I couldn’t get it to bite and I pushed a few more long than I usually do, though this improved a bit as I got used to the string.

Power: Easy and comfortable to access. Flat first serves really exploded off the stringbed, and flattening out my one handed backhand was a delight. Volleys were sublime and decisive.

Comfort: Excellent, even on off-center hits. This would be a great string to have in your racquet in a tournament on your 3rd match of the day.

Durability: I’m not a string breaker, and this has held up well. After 10 hours of hard hitting, it’s still maintained its playing characteristics.

Playability Duration: After about an hour of practice, the string settled in and remained consistent for the remainder of the playtest, though its started to notch.

Compare to the string you use most often: Not as crisp or spin friendly and more lively than Yonex Poly Tour Pro. Similar control characteristics at a higher tension

Tension recommendations: I was happy with the performance at the chosen tension: about 10% higher than what I string Poly Tour Pro.

Additional Thoughts: The control, spin potential, and easy power were a pleasant surprise to me. I’d consider keeping a racquet strung up with this in the bag when I’m looking to get a little free power without sacrificing much spin or control. I’d recommend soft poly players to give this one a go.

 

[Ihatetennis]

String Received: Gamma OCHO TNT 16
Tension(s) used for playtest: 64 lbs
Regular string set up: Clarke pit viper 17g 56lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test: head Graphene radical mp, 345g and 368sw 33in balance
Control (predictable trajectory? Super predictable
control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Really great performance. This string was especially good for drop shots and touch shots. Serves were all awesome and it played very similar to very soft poly
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Extremely crisp for a multi. Felt a lot like a super soft poly so for those who are trying to leave poly from injury this is a great choice
Spin: Spin was really great. I could swing the same as with my current set up and my balls had just a tad less spin
Power: power was awesome. I string it super tight to keep it tame, at 64 it played similar to an rpm or razorcode at 53 or so
Comfort: Comfortable by nature being a multi, but not as comfortable as an x one biphase
Durability: I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. 45 minutes of baseline hitting including a 6-1 set. Pretty solid for a multi
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):Playability was the same from start to finish
Compare to the string you use most often: I only use Clarke pit viper. It played like a more crisp less skinny version. Wayyyy better for touch shots than any other string I've used in a long time
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): since I saw the initial reviews I string it up fairly tight at 64 lbs. I would definitely string it 8-10 pounds tighter than what you do with poly.
List any additional thoughts (optional): awesome string, didn't last long enough for me to consider using it regularly. However if it was free I would possible switch to it from a poly

Absolutely amazing for serve and volley play. For anyone who plays serve and volley or chip and charge, try this out

I'm gonna add, I could not tell much about playbilty in terms of how long tension holds.

I wish I had gotten 2-3 sets so I could have given a better review, but unfortunately reviews end when the string pops.

 

[Daddy's]

String Received:

Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest:

58/56

Regular string set up:

I like multis in this racquet. I am directly comparing it to my other Melbourne strung with Technifibre Multifeel 16 at 58/56

Racquet brand and model used for test:

Boris Becker Melbourne

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)

This is an excellent multi very predictable very responsive to smooth controlled strokes. Its not a string for swinging as hard as you can from the baseline.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)

On the crisp side of multis not as soft and cushy as the Multifeel in my other racquet but in no way harsh. Gives good feel on the ball ,quick response off the string bed.


Spin:

Somewhat better spin than Multifeel. Actually as good as any multi I've tried. Just not change the world better.

Power:

Moderate multi power. Controllable with smoothness, but ready when you want let go on a short high bouncer.

Comfort:

Comfortable without being mushy. If you like poly hybrids it should work for you If you lean towards the natural gut, Biphase end of things it will be stiffer.

Durability:

Good durability started to show some wear with extra spring and softness at 8 to 10 hrs. I put a dozen string-savers in it and it felt great again


Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)

Felt good from the start started to get to lively at 8 hrs tension had dropped 15 % per Racquet Tune. Put a dozen string savers in and I think I got more control and spin than it started with. Still using it at 12 hrs.


Compare to the string you use most often

Slightly stiffer and more spin than Multifeel and Addiction. Similar feel to Volkl V-Feel and Head Reflex MLT and the old Gamma Asterisk string. I prefer Ocho XP to the others


Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)

58 is just about right for a 12.25 oz 18x20 64 stiffness classic frame


List any additional thoughts (optional)

This is my doubles racquet so volleys are high priority, also top spin lobs and ground strokes that keep the ball below net height, angled touch shots This string can handle all that. It also does well on flat and slice serves. It is best for touch shots and a controlled game.

Thanks TW for the opportunity to test Ocho XP

 

[Simon Paterson]

wings56,

Please playtest the string in a full bed.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

Hi Brittany,

How do you register to become a play tester for rackets, strings, shoes etc...in the UK?

Thanks
Simon

 

[therecanbeonlyone]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 61/58 on a lockout machine

Regular string set up: Full bed poly for the past year (usually Volkl Cyclone 18 at 48-50 lbs). Prior to that I was a Head RIP Control 17 (which is a multi) user at around 58 lbs (but on a completely different racquet).

Racquet brand and model used for test: Volkl V1 Pro

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Trajectory was very predictable, if not a little low. I did have some trouble with slice floating on me, especially on approach shots. I slice aggressively and never did get comfortable with those shots during the playtest. I think this string performed for me best when I was rushed, to be honest. For instance, I played a mixed dubs match against a former college all american/davis cup player who returned hard at my feet several times. In those circumstances I was able to quickly flip a drive forehand right of the bounce pretty effectively. However, given extra time, it seemed like I would find a way to sail it more often than I liked.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): crisp and alive. I like a more dead string bed. This one felt alive during the whole playtest. This is not a bad thing, as feel comes down to personal preference.

Spin: Spin was good for a multi. Comparing to polys is not fair here. Compared to RIP Control 17, spin as slightly less, but that is one of the more spin-friendly multis you will find and a thinner gauge.

Power: Power was very good. Perhaps more than I would want, which may explain some of my experiences in my little story from the Control paragraph above.

Comfort: Overall comfort was very good. I played 5 singles matches, 1 doubles match, and 1 hitting session with a 5.0 lady who doesn't miss (so repeated 30-50 ball rallies). I never had any pains or twinges. This is more comfortable than RIP Control.

Durability: I am not a string breaker generally, and this one is still going. I'd say this string is slightly less than half way spent at this point.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Coming from Poly, this is a bright spot for this string. I first played this string right off the stringer and it was a little too lively. Once it settled, it stayed that way. Strings did start to move around after a couple of hours, but that doesn't greatly bother me. All of the other characteristics have stayed consistent since that initial 1-2 hours.

Compare to the string you use most often: I'll skip the comparison to poly, but give a big shout out to Gamma Moto Soft, which is their 5 sided poly and one that I loved. Comparing it to RIP Control, the string bed is livelier, comfort is more, power is more, spin is slightly less, durability and control strike me as somewhat less.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): For me, I would probably go up another pound or two on the mains. Then I would let it sit for a day before playing the first time. I feel that going higher on just the mains would tame some of that power, while keeping the crosses a few pounds lower would hopefully help the spin production.

List any additional thoughts (optional): If you are a multi player, you would probably be wise to try Ocho. It will give you some of the modern spin and playability benefits without the harsh characteristics of going poly. If you want those extra poly attributes, I would steer you to Gamma Moto Soft instead.

 

[Red001]

Hi guys,
This review is based on the feedback from my goddaughter. She is top ranked 10 and under in green ball division in Texas.

Review of the multifilament string Gamma Ocho TNT 16:

Include the following in your review:
Gauge received- 16
Tension(s) used for playtest- 45 lb.
Regular string set up- 45 lb, one piece stringing.
Racquet brand and model used for test - Wilson Juice 100.

Power of test string- medium power compared to Tecnifibre X-one Biphase.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) – crisp and more stiff relatively to my regular multifilament string.

Spin - provides adequate spin.

Comfort - prefer to have less stiffness, which is more profound for first 2-4 hours of playtest.
String moves a lot during playtest and constantly has to be fixed.

Durability- very durable string with minimal notching after 2 weeks of hard hitting.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)-
quite playable, tension drop 5% after first 2 hours, with 19.5% drop after 2 weeks which is roughly 15 hours of active hitting.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)-
It takes an effort to hit deeper shots, requires fast racquet head speed to generate more topspin, slices are good.

Compare to the string you use most often-
Compared to my regular Tecnifibre X-one Biphase this string has less power and comfort.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)-
I would recommend looser tension at 40 lb. for the advanced developing junior player. However I’d restring after 10 hours of active play.

List any additional thoughts (optional)-
Overall it is a good string for an adult player who prefers multifilament strings or junior player who still grows into the game.
We would consider this string if it is priced in the lower category compared to Tecnifibre X-one Biphase.

 

[flavaFlave]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 59 (Went for higher tension due to worry of too much power from the strings

Regular string set up: Black Spikey Shark 17g @ 54lb

Racquet brand and model used for test: Pure Aero (customized)

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): The first set the strings played very well. I was able to generate the top spin needed to keep the ball in the court the whole time with my fast swing speed. At the net, the strings played comfortably and I was able to really get a feel for the ball.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Crisp feeling for sure, slight pocketing initially but this was more prominent for me after the second set.

Spin: For a multifilament, I was surprised as to the access of spin I could achieve, however due to the shaped part, it could be a factor.

Power: Only other Multifilament I've used has been the NXT and this one IMO is a bit less on the power side than the NXT, however the NXTs I've only ever strung them at 56lb, I would probably try 61lb to keep more control in my hand

Comfort: no problems with comfort, especially since I come from a full poly bed.

Durability: There was string movement, but the fraying was not as bad as NXT in my previous multifilament experiences.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): After the second match, the strings were too powerful on the racket and it was a struggle to keep the ball in the court.

Compare to the string you use most often: If I have the need for a elbow friendly string, I would probably use this over the NXTs. Although since I'm an avid poly user, the string becomes too powerful for my taste after a short amount of time.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): If I were to try again, I would go at least 61 or the max range on any racket in order to keep that control for a longer period of time.

 

[WhETHANs]

String Received: Gamma Ocho TNT 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 63

Regular string set up: Solinco Revolution 16L at 55

Racquet brand and model used for test: Head Graphene XT Speed Pro 18/20

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Very good control, felt a lot like a softer poly at this high tension. I could place my shots very well

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I would consider it as pretty crisp. Enjoyed the increased amount of ball pocketing compared to Revolution.

Spin: Adequate spin. Definitely better than regular synthetic guts because texture but was not as good as a similarly textured poly such as revolution probably because of less snap back. Definitely could feel the shape on this syn gut during stringing

Power: I strung this string a bit too high, if I had another set would decrease tension by about 5 pounds. However, it did have decent power even at this tension but that's expected for syn guts. Hopefully it will lose a bit as it sits.

Comfort: Great comfort. Can't complain

Durability: I have not played with it nearly enough to determine because preparation for a big tournament this weekend and rain has plagued Houston past few weeks. But it definitely looks like it will last long than usual multis and synthetic guts. Will update once played for longer.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Cannot comment upon yet but for the hour used so far, it seems consistent. Will update

Compare to the string you use most often: I don't often use synthetic guts often because I do not have arm problems and I like the feel of co polys. However, at tensions above 60, it feels very much like a hybrid I have used of Solinco revolution/ Gosen OG Sheep Micro at 55/58 but a bit more comfort, similar spin.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): Definitely would decrease tension to about 58 or maybe lower to take advantage of added power.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Overshot tension a bit too much and was not as high powered as expected. This seems like a string for an advanced younger child looking for more spin but to not sacrifice comfort or power, and also former poly users with arm issues. I love stringing synthetic guts, and this one was no exception.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

String Received:Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest:54/52

Regular string set up:Big Hitter Blue 17 g 50/48

Racquet brand and model used for test: Graphene Speed Pro

Control: Slightly above average for a multi. The last time I used a full bed of multi was about 2 months ago and that was Quasi Gut Armor. I’d say Ocho XP had better bite and control was pretty similar. The ball didn’t pocket as well as a poly, so the ball came off the stringbed quicker than anticipated at times. Control was much better at the next than from the baseline however.


Feel–The feel was pretty crisp. Very similar to the feel of Quasi Gut Armor. Definitely not mushy.

Spin– Spin was above average for a multi. Grabbed the ball better than expected. Not a replacement for poly, but for multi players it gives a little extra ball bite than X-1 Biphase or Sensation.

Power– Average. Obviously higher powered than a poly, but not as powerful as Bi-Phase. Once again very similar to Quasi Gut Armor in terms of power.

Comfort– Very comfortable. My TE is finally starting to clear up and playing with Ocho XP caused zero discomfort and allowed me to play pain free.

Durability– The string has started to fray a little. But tension has held up and I could probably get another doubles match or two out of the stringbed. I normally play with Poly, so I cut out my string before they break in most instances.

Playability Duration: Not much different from start to finish. Like I previously mentioned, tension held pretty well. String bed hasn’t gone mushy like poly does at the end of its life.

Compare to the string you use most often- Ocho XP doesn’t have the ball bite of control of Big Hitter Blue. It was more powerful, but the added ball bite helped control the ball more. Ocho XP held the ball on the string bed longer than your typical multi, but it didn’t pocket as well as Big Hitter Blue.

Tension recommendations - Tension was about right.

List any additional thoughts– This is definitely a string for multi and syn gut players to try. Never been a fan of Gamma strings, but this one didn’t have the plasticky, dead feel that I’ve experience in the past. You aren’t going to get poly like bite, pocketing, or spin, but its’ definitely has its own niche in the string market. Thanks TW and Gamma for another awesome play test opportunity.

 

[Lack]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16g

Tension(s) used for playtest - Main 61 lbs / Cross 59 lbs, drop weight prestretched

Regular string set up - Babolat Pro Hurricane, Main 51 lbs / Cross 49 lbs, drop weight prestretched

Racquet brand and model used for test - Babolat Pure Control 95 Plus

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - Loved the control of this string. Fast and full flat groundstrokes from the baseline went deep consistently. Topspin groundstrokes cleared the net safe and bounced high off the ground. Serves and volleys felt clean and solid overall. I really enjoyed hitting flat serves and it seemed like they were powerful than my usual setup. During the Initial kick serve practice, several balls went a bit out of the service line; however, they were easily adjusted after couple minutes of serving. For volleys, I usually take some time to get used to the string, but for this playtest, I was able to confidently execute right from the start. I was only disappointed on buggy whip shots and slices, because I didn't get the spin/curve, that I was looking for. I might have had some trouble if I went lower than tension 60 lbs.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - Felt crisp for me on tension 61M lbs/ 59C lbs

Spin - Generates amazing spin for a multi. 8/10

Power - Great combination of power and control. 9/10

Comfort - Very comfortable on the arm. No arm injuries during the playtest. 10/10

Durability - High durability for a multi. It started notching and fraying after 2 hours of hitting groundstrokes. Played 1 set and the string broke during the second set of service.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - After the initial hitting, the tension seemed to have dropped about 3- 5 lbs. After that, the tension felt consistent throughout the playtest.

Compare to the string you use most often - I often use poly strings for spin and control. However, I was surprised at how Gamma Ocho XP, a multi string, can bring out similar spin and control like the poly strings.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) - No, I would stay with the same tension, because I didn't have any issue with power nor control.

Thank you TW and Gamma for this great opportunity to playtest

 

[njhmusicman]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16g

Tension(s) used for playtest- 56lbs.

Regular string set up- Diadem Solstice Pro 15L @ 45lbs.

Racquet brand and model used for test- Wilson Pro Staff Classic 6.1 95 16X18

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)- Control was very good. I could swing out on my one-handed backhand and
have confidence that it would drop in. Forehand was a little bit to powerful but the ball still dropped in most of the time. slice was fine, volley were great. Nothing to complain in the
area of control.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)- Crisp, but not a plasticky feeling like Diadem Solstice Pro 15L.

Spin- Very good spin for a multi.

Power- Mid to High power. Flat serves were bombs, but Second serves were to powerful and would go long. A little to much power for my liking.

Comfort- Very comfortable, even on off center hits

Durability- More durable than most multi, did not notch after 3 hours.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)- It lost a couple of pounds after the first 45 minutes but than it plateaued and played great!

Compare to the string you use most often- Gamma Ocho XP had less spin, more power, less control, more comfort, less durability, and better playability than Diadem Solstice Pro 15L.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I liked the tension that it was at but I might try it a small bit tighter to get more control.

List any additional thoughts (optional)- Any string at the right tension works for me and this string did not disappoint. Thanks TW and Gamma for this playtest.

 

[kevonian]

String Received: Gamma Ocho TNT 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 62lbs full bed, 2 piece stringing

Regular string set up: Isospeed Baseline or Pro’s Pro Blackout 17g @55lbs full bed

Racquet brand and model used for test: Customized Yonex Dr98

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): 9/10 I felt the control of this string was outstanding. Depth was excellent with forehands landing deep in the court. Backhands felt a little bit off for me with this string possibly due to the different launch angle


Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): 9/10 Feel was comfortable and soft for me. No harsh vibrations on impact. Very crisp shots right off the stringer. A bit less crisp the 2nd time I hit with it, but broke soon after I noticed that

Spin: 7/10 Good enough for a non poly.

Power: 8.5/10 Easy power, a bit too much power, is what I'd like to describe with this string. I had to readjust how I Play because the balls were flying


Comfort: 10/10 Very comfortable string. I felt no jarring on shots, no discomfort afterwards, and no pain in my elbow from extended play time.

Durability: 8/10 Broke in a little over 2-3 hours, so not an option to go full-bed for frequent string breakers. Reminded me why I use poly. Disappointed, but expected, it broke so quick since I was enjoying hitting with it.

Playability Duration: 9.5/10 I felt this string played the similar with slight differences from the first hit up until the time it broke. Not too much string movement


Tension recommendations: Good enough with the 60lbs that I would not recommend any tension changes.

List any additional thoughts: This is a good string as a full bed that I would recommend to anyone, but I would really like to try this in a hybrid setup with some polyester mains and Ocho TNT as cross strings.

 

[inzone]

String Received: Gamma TNT Ocho 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 63/55

Regular string set up: Poly 60/52, currently Prince Tour XC

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Ignite Team 95

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Good. The response was predictable on all shots, whether I was going for a hard flat shot or topspin shot.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): This feels crisp and comfortable.

Spin: Good spin for first 30 min, good snapback, after 30 min snapback is less

Power: Good. I get slightly more pop compared to poly even though I strung this higher than normal.

Comfort: Good compared to poly. Off center shots feel comfortable.

Durability: Only a little notching in the mains after 3 hours.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) Good during the first 30 min, then changed due to the strings getting rough/dirty. String movement was minimal during the first 30 minutes or so. After the first 30 min the strings would move more, but it plays the same 2 hours later.

Compare to the string you use most often: Seems to maintain tension well but the strings start to move everywhere after the first 30mins.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?). String higher if you use poly, I would not change the tension.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Easier to string compared to full poly.

 

[Getting_Closer]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 55/53lbs

Regular string set up: Guts/Poly Hybrid

Racquet brand and model used for test: Volkl Power Bridge 10 Mid

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
My experience with multi is mainly from Iso Speed Classic at the beginning stage of my tennis play. Since then I had tried a few, Wilson NXT, Dunlop Silk, Signum Pro Micro, Weiss Cannon, Prince… but I never used any multi regularly. Among all the multi I have tried, it reminds me a lot of that ISOSpeed Classic but with much more spin. There is direct response and good control. I have to echo someone in the previous posts, this string is good for any shots with continental grip: touch, volley, drop, overhead… point and shoot, crisp and solid. During the practice, when I swing casually, meaning, swinging from low to high with no rush, aiming at the baseline, I found that the power was sufficient, not as much as the guts, but typical multi power. The spin was visible, well above my expectation. Unfortunately, it loses its biting ability when I swing fast. I hit into the net more often than I should. The string seems to get slippery when I swing fast. It kind of bothers me, especially when I try to hit approach shots, or so called windshield wiper forehand , the ball either flies or hits into net…

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Crisp. It is not at gut level, but the ball jumps out of string bed, which I like quite a lot.

Spin
Like I said above, when you swing casually, the spin is visible, almost equivalent to gut/poly hybrid. The string itself feels rough, and somewhat toward the firm side of multi. Nonetheless, the faster you swing, the less spin you get…

Power
I would say 80% of my normal Babolat Touch/Scopion set up. The Wilson NXT may have higher power than this one though. My shots somehow tend to long when I try to apply top spin from the baseline, which would have been deep with my normal set up.

Comfort
No complain whatsoever. Actually, it is very comfortable. I don’t feel much of vibration at all.

Durability
Decent for multi. The string broke at 14 hour mark, given the size of my racket (93in^2), and the pattern (16*19), I would say it is decent or above average.


Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)

Good. After 8 hours, I began to lose some of the control. The balls tend to spray a little bit, but not too crazy. Very comfortable throughout the playtest to the last minutes.

Compare to the string you use most often
I would say it is better than ISOSPEED Classic as it is much more spin friendly. Less power than Wilson NXT, and less control than my normal Gut/Hybrid set up.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)

I would say my tension is pretty good for the racket I used. If I had used a racket with head size of 100 in^2, I would probably begin with 57/55.


List any additional thoughts (optional)
The string might be perfect for those with arm issues. It is very comfortable, spin friendly (relatively speaking…) Another good thing about it is that it doesn’t move as much as other typical multi, almost like ISOSPEED Classic. For the first a few hours, you don’t need to straighten the string. I enjoyed playtesting the string, and wanted to try it in a hybrid set up, using it as the main. I am pretty confident that the spin will improve even further…


Thanks to TW and Gamma for the playtest.

 

[SJSA]

String Received: Gamma Ocho XP 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 59 lbs

Regular string set up: Head Velocity MLT 16@58 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Tour 16x18

Control (predictable trajectory? easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Directional control isn’t that great compared to round multi strings. Maybe my open-pattern racquet with the textured string doesn’t work well together. I also need to adjust my power to control depth due to its relatively high power.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Its feel is between mushy and crisp with elastic feel. I read some reviews from other playtesters and they claimed this string is toward more crispy side but not for me.

Spin: Good. Spin is better than typical rounded multi strings but not better than ploy strings.

Power: High. I generate my own power using a low powered racquet. I need some adjustment for this string when hitting the opponent’s baselines.

Comfort: Excellent. It doesn’t trigger my sensitive elbow at all.

Durability: Good. I am not a string breaker but don’t see any notches or frays after over 10 hours of play.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I strung it @59 lbs but had a problem of string movement from beginning.

Compare to the string you use most often: Ocho XP reminds me the feel of Gamma Live Wire Professional Spin which I played once 4 years ago. It claims this string is “gut-like performance in a multifilament string" but I didn’t like its feel at all. I have played with Head Velocity MLT after playtesting it through TW. Velocity stands out all departments against Ocho XP even including price.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): The string tension might go over 60 lbs due to its high power and string movement.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I couldn’t find any superior advantages playing this string with paying $14.95 per set. Under $15 per set, there are lots of better multi strings to choose from.

I appreciate TW & Gamma giving me this playtest.

 

[branman1986]

I hope the cutoff time is Pacific Time! Sorry I'm so late, I was out of the country and got to play with the string this past week

Gamma Ocho TNT 16g

Tension(s) used for playtest: 61lbs on an Alpha Revo lockout machine

Regular string set up: Dunlop Black Widow at 61lbs, the multi I play with is Babolat Xcel at 59 lbs on a lockout

Racquet brand and model used for test: stock Babolat Pure Aero

Power of test string: The string was high powered, but dlow powered for a multifilament. Also, if you hit outside the sweet spot, it was very very low powered.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable? Brassy?): I would call it crisp, but if you really hit it in the sweetspot, I barely felt it at all. So I would call it crisp, but muted if you really nutted it.

Spin: The spin for a multi was exceptional. I have not played with a multi that had as much spin as this one

Durability: I noticed notching pretty immediately and the strings didn't move freely after about 30 minutes. I played for about 6 hours and I think I was very close to breaking it.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I didn't notice much tension loss at all, but I believe I would have broken it around the 7 to 8 hour mark.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): The control for me was excellent, I thought the spin was the best I've felt for a multi and the relatively low power(for a multi) kept my strokes inside the baseline. I had a little bit of left and right spray, but I think I could have locked that down with more play. At 61lbs, I was surprised I wasn't hitting past the baseline on groundstrokes. Slices were slightly popped up more than I was used to.

Compare to the string you use most often: Dunlop Black Widow at high tension is much more lively, and yet gives a more predictable shot between all the different strokes. My biggest problem with the string was the sweetspot felt a little small, and if I hit barely outside the sweetspot the shot power was much less and I had very little control.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I feel 61 was perfect.

If you installed it yourself feel free to list any installation thoughts (friction burn? Knot tying? coil memory?): This was easy to install as most multis are, it had above average coil memory for a multi, but resisted kinking. The pull across the strings while doing the crosses was slightly grainy.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I loved the relative low power for a multi and the spin, if I didn't mishit so much outside the sweetspot I think it would be my pick for a multi.