Tennis Warehouse: Laserfibre Vorso Playtest (co-poly)

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

The application period for Laserfibre Vorso is over. Stay tuned for the next playtest!

To remain in good standing for future playtests, you must post your findings in this thread by the deadline.

* *Review Due by April 14 **

Include the following in your review:
Gauge received
Tension(s) used for playtest
Regular string set up
Racquet brand and model used for test
Power of test string
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Spin
Comfort
Durability
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
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)

We have emailed the selected playtesters.

 

[mikeler]

I already tried it out, so I'll pass. Check out mikeler's polys for the review...

 

[therecanbeonlyone]

I got the 16 gauge as well. The description that TW gives on the product page says this is a firm, control oriented co-poly. TW University has the stiffness at 180, which doesn't sound too bad and maybe trending towards soft for a poly. I just got mine yesterday, so haven't strung it up yet. Anyone have any idea yet on the firmness and/or power level? My tension range for poly is 48-50 lbs depending on a few variables. I think I am leaning towards 50 here.

 

[KBD2000]

I got the 16 gauge as well. The description that TW gives on the product page says this is a firm, control oriented co-poly. TW University has the stiffness at 180, which doesn't sound too bad and maybe trending towards soft for a poly. I just got mine yesterday, so haven't strung it up yet. Anyone have any idea yet on the firmness and/or power level? My tension range for poly is 48-50 lbs depending on a few variables. I think I am leaning towards 50 here.

I am using the Vorso 17 gauge. I agree with you, it is a softer poly. As for the power level, I find it has very nice power for a poly. I strung mine up at 50lbs and that works perfect for me!

 

[TW Staff]

I got the 16 gauge as well. The description that TW gives on the product page says this is a firm, control oriented co-poly. TW University has the stiffness at 180, which doesn't sound too bad and maybe trending towards soft for a poly. I just got mine yesterday, so haven't strung it up yet. Anyone have any idea yet on the firmness and/or power level? My tension range for poly is 48-50 lbs depending on a few variables. I think I am leaning towards 50 here.

We'll probably do some revisions to the description after more lab tests and court time - the stiffness is on the low side.

Jon

 

[Chotobaka]

Just curious, is this the same Laserfibre from years past with Tim Sullivan at the helm of the company?

 

[TW Staff]

Just curious, is this the same Laserfibre from years past with Tim Sullivan at the helm of the company?

New company, run by a couple of guys with many years in the business.

Jon

 

[Chotobaka]

New company, run by a couple of guys with many years in the business.

Jon

GOOD to hear. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Clintspin]

Gauge:17
Tension: 45lbs.
Regular setup: I don't really have one. I like the softer polys like Polyfibre TCS.
Racquet used for test: Pulled out the Avery Power for this test.
Power: More power than most polys. I thought it was just right.
Feel: Decent feel all around. Not harsh, not mushy.
Spin: Average for a poly
Comfort: Good. Don't think it will hurt healthy arms.
Durability: I don't break poly unless it is 19 or 20 gauge.
Playability duration: I haven't hit with it long enough to answer this but it seems like it is going to hold up well. It actually felt better as it settled in.
Control: Good. I didn't have any issues with control.
Compare to string used most often: I really like my soft polys like TCS, however this may make my list. It seems to offer good feel for a poly.
Tension recommendations: I would string this as you would any of your favorite polys.
Final thoughts: I like this string much better than some other recent polys I have tried. I think its much better for me than Solinco Hyper-G or Luxilon Element. To each his own but for me this is a better choice. The price is reasonable and I am glad to hear the company is being run by new owners. I will give more feedback if I discover any negatives.

Update 3/29/16 This string felt decent for a few hours and then sub-par. I stopped using it during a match. It also started to make a strange ping even though I use a dampener.

 

[PBODY99]

Gauge received .......................1.25 mm measured,package said it was 1.30 mm 16g black
Tension used.............. 44lbs
Regular string set up... >1.20 mm Poly Mains ZX crosses
Racquet ...................Prince Speeedport Gold 110
Power of test string.....Above average
Feel ...................... Very predictable
Spin .......................More than most 1.25mm polys
Comfort ...................Quite comfortable.
Durability****************** I generally do not break polys over 1.15mm
I cut then out when they feel dead
Playability Duration ......17.5 hours & a winning bh high mishit
Control......................Excellent. Errant shots due to operator error
Compare to Shaped polys *One one the easiest shaped polys to weave.
Tension recommendations **same as strung
List any additional thoughts **********One of the better shaped polys I have tried. Lasted longer than usual for me
I want to thank LaserFiber & TW for this testing opportunity.

 

[therecanbeonlyone]

So far, so good with the Vorso 16 gauge. I played a league singles match last night that was a high quality battle. My initial reaction is that this string has good pop for a poly (I strung it toward to top of my poly range at 50 lbs on a lockout), gives you what you put into it, and is comfy. The first time out I had confidence in all of my shots, and kept that confidence throughout the match. I am looking forward to the rest of this playtest.

 

[Mareqnyc]

Put in 9hrs of solid play with this string, here we go:

Gauge received - 16g

Tension(s) used for playtest - 50lbs

Regular string set up - WeissCannon Silverstring 1.20 53lbs or Solinco Revolution 18g 55/53/lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test - Head Graphene Prestige Pro

Power of test string - power was above average, as expected it increased a bit as it lost tension but balls didn't sail long which I liked.

Feel - Soft on contact with nice pocketing on big swings. Good touch for poly on drop shots and short slices.

Spin - well above average in terms of spin and stayed this way throughout its life. Balls dived down the court on heavy topspin shots, kick serves jumped around very nicely too. Texture wore down after about 4-5 hrs in the sweetspot area but spin was still adequate.

Comfort - Very soft impact for a poly. No issues in comfort at all.

Durability - Mains cut through crosses more than halfway by the end of the 9hr. I think it would snap within 10-12 hrs for sure. I cut out all my poly before 10hr mark if they don't break. Typical for poly, no complaints here.

Playability Duration - Once again very typical, predictable polyester behavior. I strung it at 50 lbs, It lost 7 lbs of tension in the first 2 hrs of solid topspin rallying, another 2 lbs in following 2hrs then it settled and lost only 0.5lbs in next 2 hrs. For the first 5-6 hours it played nearly the same, the power level increased a bit but not to the point where I needed to adjust my strokes very much- spin was still very good and brought the ball down the court nicely. It started dying and losing feel noticeably after about 8hrs which is great for poly in my experience.

Control - Great control, I was very confident with this string and going for all my shots. To my surprise even with initial tension loss control did not suffer as much as with many other soft polys available on the market. I hit some great angles with this string and ball went exactly where I intended it to.

Compare to the string you use most often - Silverstring is a bit more predictable, plays a more muted, is probably equal in control and playability duration, but I like the way it feels more than the Lasrerfibre. Solinco Revolution (18g) wins in spin and control. I would say this plays similar to Revolution in thicker gauge.

Tension recommendations - I would keep tension at 50lbs. I really liked how this string behaved throughout its life, very predictable response for a poly.

List any additional thoughts - This is a string that does everything right. It has a twisted texture and provides more than enough spin without "overgrabbing" the ball like some squared strings with sharp edges. If you are a polyester player that likes soft and predictable response you will not be disappointed with LaserFibre Vorso. I typically lean towards 17l or 18g strings but I was actually very happy with this 16g (1.28mm), I can see myself using this in the future.

 

[kevonian]

Put in 8-9 hours of solid play


Gauge received- 16g (1.28mm)

Tension(s) used for playtest -51lbs constant pull drop weight

Regular string set up– Isospeed Baseline 17g

Racquet brand and model used for test– Yonex DR 98

Power of test string- power was above average. It was much more than I am used to, but I was still able to handle and adjust to it easily. I am used to generating my own power, but I liked that this was giving me extra power.

Feel– Crisp. Very good touch for poly on drop shots. For me, all poly strings feel great right off the stringer, and this was no different.

Spin– Above average. Balls had some extra kick than what I am used to.

Comfort- Softer than what I am used to. Only had slight arm pain after 1 time when I used it. I think after it loosened up it felt better on my arm.

Durability– Hard to comment on durability as I’ve never broken a polyester string. But strings are still solid and snapping back in place

Playability Duration- I strung it at 51 lbs, It lost 7 lbs of tension in the first 2 hrs of solid hitting, another 1/1.5 lbs in following 2hrs then it settled. It felt better once if settled in. If i strung it a bit lower, I think it would player better during the settling in phase.

Control- Great control, I was going for all my shots with no worries. Drop shots were good. I usually gauge control of poly from the ability to hit my drop shots

Compare to the string you use most often- Isospeed is a bit more dead & muted, is probably equal in control, but Laserfibre seems to have longer playability. usually, I don't cut out poly unless I am starting to hit the fences. This poly is very easy to string and makes a noise when you pull through the crosses

Tension recommendations– I would string at 48.
See images below: 50.9 lbs was right off the stringer. 44.5 lbs was after a slow game of doubles. 43 lbs was after a tennis lesson with some decent hitting.

List any additional thoughts- This string does paint the balls black so if that is a downside to this string. I'm still looking for a black string that does not leave any marks on balls

 

[tnguy133]

Gauge received - 17g

Tension(s) used for playtest - 50lbs

Regular string set up - Topspin Cyberflash 17

Racquet brand and model used for test - Yonex Vcore Tour 89

Power of test string - Power of the string was above average for a poly but nowhere near gut

Feel - Feel was good, not super crisp but not muted a well balance between the two

Spin - Above average for a poly. The twisted texture really grabbed the ball nicely giving more spin than what i got from cyberflash.

Comfort - It was fairly soft and no discomfort at all

Durability - Put about 10 hours on this string set up and it has snapped. While it was still in my racket it lost its texture at about 4 hours in and sawed through most of the mains at around the 6-7 hr mark.

Playability Duration - The playability was great for the first 6 hours. After the texture wore off spin was reduced but it continued to play fairly well. After the 6 hr mark I began to lose control and power went up but was still very playable.

Control - Control was good I was able to aim the ball deep into the court and to the corners. While I was at net there was good of feel and I was able to easily hit drop volleys and aim for short angle volleys as well.

Compare to the string you use most often - Cyberflash is a bit more muted while being crisp, is probably equal in control along with playability duration. Spin was much better with Vorso but feel was better with cyberflash maybe due to using it for so long.

Tension recommendations - 50lbs seems good since this string is so similar to cyberflash although with better spin. I think 50lbs is a good starting point for adjustments for other players.

List any additional thoughts - Thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Laserfibre for the opportunity for this playtest

 

[MostDope]

Gauge received- 17g

Tension(s) used for playtest- 50 lbs

Regular string set up- Luxilon ALU 50 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test- Wilson Blade 98 16x19

Power of test string- Not too powerful, average polyester

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)- better feel than my usual Luxilon, more crisp

Spin- Well above what I am used to. Gave me confidence to swing big

Comfort- Average polyester, not too stiff

Durability- popped after about 4 hours

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)- once the string texture wore down a bit, playability seemed to die off

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)- like stated above, it gave me confidence to swing big at balls

Compare to the string you use most often- Better feel than my usual, durability was much less

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)- I would use 50 lbs again

List any additional thoughts- Thanks for picking me to play-test these strings!

 

[ten11]

Gauge received: 17g

Tension(s) used for playtest: 53lbs on constant pull

Regular string set up: genesis hexonic 18g at 45lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: head tgk 238.4, 363g, 11pt hl, 18x20.

Power of test string: above average. I read few reviewer's comment about the power and raise my string job few lbs extra on a 18x20 string pattern racket. it played real nice on my racket. got very good controllable power on drive and serve. Did not get challenged on back hand side but I do not miss power on back hand side, definitely a plus for me.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?), muted and firm. very nice feel. Great on volley and drop shot. Felt good on drive too. very consistent and very predictable. No harsh feel at all.

Spin: above average. I am very happy with the spin the string can produce. On an 18x20 string pattern racket, I can see ball kick up when I brush ball up and on my kick serve.

Comfort: very comfortable. I am not going to say it plays like a multi but definitely very soft feel and nothing to compliant about.

Durability: I am not a string break and this string holds up well. Nothing noticeable wear after more than 10 hours.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the play-ability changed over time): The string played very well into 10th hour, I did not notice any playing characteristic change. The power, the control, the spin, it just like the very first few hours.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): great on control as well. It is very responsive to my shot. On passing shot or down the line, I can pin point my shot. change direction and trajectory is easy. serve and volley with good command. Overall, this one has good control.

Compare to the string you use most often: compare to genesis hexonic 18g, this one is much better string all around. power, control, comfort and playability, it is all better than hexonic. The only thing hexonic might be better is the spin in the very first few hours.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): 53lbs on constant pull on 18x20 head prestige racket is good for me. I will not change the tension if I have more of this to play.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This is a great string I have played so far. For the other string I have played with, there are always one or two things that I do not like, but not for this one.
I will recommend this string to player who have arm issue because it is very soft and very comfortable. it is also a good fit for player who are looking for some power assistant.

Thanks tw for the play testing.

 

[parasailing]

How does this compare to Head Hawk Touch?

 

[eelhc]

04 April - Hit and drilled for ~1.5Hrs. Mix of groundstrokes, volleys, serves and some overheads. Playes a few games of singles.
07 April - Played 3 sets of Doubles
10 April - Played 2 sets of singles
24 April - Played 2 sets of singles
30 April - Hit for ~1.5Hrs

Stringing
Gauge Received: 17
Tension(s) used for playtest: 45# two-piece on a crank lockout, no pre-stretch
Regular string set up: M - Kirshbaum Pro Line II 1.15, X- Genesis Thunder Blast 16, both @ 45#
Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Strike (16x19)

I am in the Northeast at 2~300 feet above sea level so the altitude is not significant but temperature is. It's expected to be cold temperatures over the next couple of weeks here so I went low on the tension.

Stringing was typical for a 17 gauge poly except it seemed very slippery. Still, not too hard to string. Took me ~35 min from cutting out the old string bed to putting the dampener back on on a crank lockout. I would give it a light pre-stretch to take the coil memory out next time.

Playtest
Power of test string: Lots of power for a poly. Granted it was strung at 45# on a lockout, but the Pure Strike 16x19 is a low powered frame and most polys at that tension still require a full swing to generate power. It took very little effort to generate pace. Still lots of pop. Blocked serves, still got deep. No noticeable difference in "launch angle". No different. No different.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Muted/soft... almost bordering on plush. Reminded me of a multi more so than a poly. Off center hits still felt soft. I could feel the ball dwell on the stringbed a bit longer than the typical poly. Feeling very soft.... Kept looking at the stringbed to make sure it wasn't fraying like a Multi. Still feeling very soft. Still soft. The ball pocketing is just amazing for a poly.
Spin: Good spin. On the higher end of polys. The additional pop in the string is nicely controlled. Loved hitting drop volleys and watching them spin sideways/backwards. Spin/kick serves had a lot of action and topspin lobs were diving crazy fast. No noticeable difference for the 2nd outing. No noticeable wear on the twisted edges. Spin production has not changed. No change.
Comfort: Again, feels more like a multi than a poly. Very comfortable. Still very comfortable, no changes. Very comfortable still. Again, the soft feel and ball pocketing is amazing. Really surprising that it's a poly.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Will know after few additional hours of hitting. I don't break strings often so it'll depend on the tension loss. For the first ~1.5Hrs I would say it behaved like a typical poly. No changes. No change. A small amount of wear/notching but no string movement. No appreciable wear on the shape after ~10+ Hrs. The strings are beginning to move and notching is evident. Still very little change in playing characteristics though.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Even with the added pop I did not have to dial back the strokes. Predictable response and depth. No drop-off in control. Spin is still excellent. Excellent spin/control for this outing. Had a great night... was playing really well and painting the lines with both topspin and slices.
Compare to the string you use most often: I prefer the Vorso... added pop, spin, feel and comfort.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): In the present conditions (indoors high 50s/low 60s) I would leave it at 45#. Still chilly in the East coast. Weather will warm up at the end of the week... will have to see then. Warmer, but I would still leave it at 45#.
List any additional thoughts (optional): At ~$150/reel, $8.50/string job... it's pricier than the polys I use normally but if the tension maintenance/playability is good, I would consider it. TW has it on sale for $6.47 when buying 2 or more sets... Going to have to pick some up. Really liking this string.

 

[jim e]

Gauge received 17g.
Tension(s) used for playtest 44lbs.
Regular string set up Wilson nat. gut 64lbs.
Racquet brand and model used for test Head Radical
Power of test string 4/5 For a poly string this string had decent power with control, especially for a poly string.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)4/5 soft feel almost as decent as a multi. Feel was great for volleys that went well with the control.
Spin 3.4/5 I am a relatively flat style hitter, old school, but was able to produce spin as needed
Comfort 4/5 very comfortable to hit with be it baseline drives or volleys at net. Very nice soft comfort feel
Durability3/5 String broke at the 7th hour mark hitting all singles hitting
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)?/5 String hit well for the 7 hours it lasted. Would have liked to get more time hitting to see how long it would have taken to loose its characteristics, but I was happy with the playability for the 7 hours
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)4.5/5 The control was good on volleys and baseline drives. Was able to drive baseline drives deep with placement and did not take much to dial that in, control is the best attribute of this string
Compare to the string you use most often I use Wilson nat. gut most of the time, but this string for a poly was a great touch along with power and control, more like a multifilament string, but a little short of reaching what a quality nat. gut has in this respect.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)I think the 44lbs was a good mark for poly's for me especially the way this string hit, I would not have changed it
List any additional thoughts (optional)I wish I got more than the 7 hours hitting before it broke to see just how long the playability durability would have been, but like I said the 7 hours it did hit very well for the touch, feel control and power.

 

[NetMuncher]

Gauge received:
17g

Tension(s) used for playtest:
51

Regular string set up:
Volk Cyclone 18/Gosen OG Sheep 18 hybrid

Racquet brand and model used for test:
Pro Kennex Redondo Mid 93

Power of test string:
Little more power than other poly’s I’ve tried - Still very controllable due to the additional spin characteristics.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):
Nice muted firm feel. Very nice around the net on touch shots.

Spin:
The Laserfibre Vorso definitely had more spin than other poly’s I’ve tried even some textured poly’s. I did notice that the texture did start to wear after a few sets but not enough to affect the spin capabilities.
I was able to generate a little more spin on my serves and my backhand slice approach shots had a little extra bite.

Comfort:
The Vorso 17 was fairly comfortable for a full bed. I’ll probably give this a go as a hybrid and I suspect that it would be a nice soft set up comparable to my current setup.

Durability:
As mentioned previously, I did notice that the texture started to wear after a few sets but again nothing that affected the spin. However, I did notice a drop in tension after the 4th hitting session (approximately 8hrs).

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):
The Vorso played well for the first 8 hours – good power with control and spin.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?):
With the use of the Vorso, I had good control over my shots, particularly my serves and volleys. I did have a tendency to hit some of my groundstrokes shorter than normal though.

Compare to the string you use most often:
The fullbed of Vorso has more spin potential than my current hybrid setup which is expected but compared to other poly fullbed setups I’d have to put this up near the top of my list; nice comfort, feel and spin.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):
In a fullbed configuration I’d probably drop the tension to around 47. But, I think I’ll give this a go in a hybrid at the same tension as in the play test.

Forgot to thank TW for the opportunity to test out the string.

 

[Getting_Closer]

Brief description of My Play Style:
Solid 4.0, aggressive at baseline, and come to net to finish off whenever I see opportunities

Gauge received:
17g. It feels like typical co-poly, no issue with stringing.

Tension(s) used for playtest:
48lbs

Regular string set up:
guts/poly hybrid at 52/48

Racquet brand and model used for test:
Prince Ozone Tour, customized to 12.4oz

Power of test string:
It actually reminds me of the Black widow or Side winder. Above average. No problem with passing shots. Off-center shot wasn’t dead, and it had that pocketing effect.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):
Great feel for a poly. Given that it is shaped, I am a little bit surprised by how soft it feels. It is definitely not muted, but it is not crisp either, kind of balanced between the two, and it is quite comfortable.


Spin:
It had great bite on the ball, and offered exceptional spin potential for the first 4 hours, and then kind of faded away as the texture were worn off. The kick serve was jumping quite high, much higher than my normal setup.

Comfort:
Throughout the playtest, I felt that it is a very comfortable poly. As I continue to play, the string never got stiff or harsh.

Durability:
Its durability appears to be typical, as I normally cut the poly out after 10 to 12 hours. After 10 hours, it was still able to snap back, even though the texture is pretty much all gone. There are notches as the main cut through around 10 hours.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):
I played with this string for over 10 hours. I had fun in the first 4 hours as it produced tons of spin that I have missed with my current setup. As I continued to play, the power increased somewhat and the spin potential dropped somewhat, but the control was still there, not like some other poly that begins to spray around.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?):
It had great control, at net and baseline. I had to adjust my shot a little bit as my shots were not as deep as I would like to. I can’t complain as my top spin become quite powerful weapon. I was able to hit an angle that I was not able to with my normal setup.

Compare to the string you use most often:
It might not be totally fair to Laserfibre Vorso if I compared it with my gut/poly hybrid. Among all polys, I would put it at the same level as Black Widow, which is another my favorite co poly: relatively powerful, great spin potential, and comfortable.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):
I will stick with 48, if not lower. It has never reached to a point that causes pain or discomfort throughout the playtest, but I do miss the easy power from the guts. After playing over 2 hours, I felt more exhausted with the extra effort I had to put in for the desired depth.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
This is indeed a great co-poly string at decent price. I would recommend to my friends about this new string. Thank TW and Laserfibre Vorso for this wonderful opportunity.

 

[Thatshot]

Gauge received
17gauge

Tension(s) used for playtest
55lbs

Regular string set up
Volkl Cyclone 17g

Racquet brand and model used for test
Babolat Pure Drive

Power of test string
Vorso feels like medium powered string, it doesn't slingshot the ball out like a rocket launcher but it certainly does give some good energy return after contact. Vorso makes for a very lively string bed, I like it!

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
First impression of this string is how soft and stretchy it is off the stringer, on the drop weight if I looked at it wrong it will drop another inch. Hitting it for the first time it felt very light and fluffy for how soft the string is, very refreshing and a lot of fun! String bed is not extremely crisp but not mushy either. It has a very soft and cushy feel to it.

Spin
The Vorso had good spin but its nothing exceptional, I felt that the previous string I had tested Pro Line II had better bite on the ball. The Vorso felt really slippery at contact, maybe its because of how soft the string is and really low friction between the mains and the cross. For this reason, it has really good snap back and produced good spin.

Comfort
Comfort without a doubt is extremely high, I'd have to say the Vorso is among some of the softest co-polys out on the market. Stringing this on a drop weight, its almost like stringing Isospeed Baseline, which will stretch like bubble gum. Surprisingly the string bed did not feel like mush, it played really light, fluffy and comfortable at the start.

Durability
Durability is holding up nicely but in my experience the softer the string is the less durable it becomes. At the start, Vorso looked like it's holding up well, after a few days with it, I can see its starting to wear down. Another week, the string broke on a shank but overall I would say you will do just fine with Vorso unless you are a monstrous big hitter.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
This is the category a soft co-poly may have problem in, for how flexible the sting is, there is only a certain amount of time before the string loses its flexibility, I'll check back later to report how long until that happened. True to patterns of the past, the lively string bed starts off well but tails off at the end, I've lost that liveliness toward the end before it snapped.

Control
With how soft it is I never felt like I couldn't control my shots with this string bed. The Vorso responded well to all the directions I've pointed it to, it may not have pinpoint accuracy but it certainly does the job! Control may not be its selling point but I certainly did not have any issues with it.

Compare to the string you use most often
Compared to Cyclone, Vorso is a much softer string and in my opinion, Cyclone is a soft co-poly. Cyclone had better spin but Vorso had more power, comfort level goes to Vorso, playability duration goes to cyclone. Vorso is a unique string and certainly has its place in the world of strings, players have different tastes.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
For those that like a firmer string bed, I would suggest you go up 3 lbs or so for how soft and stretchy this string is.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Here is what I think of the Vorso, if you are looking to try this string, here is what to expect. Excellent comfort level, this is one of it's strengths, medium to slightly above medium power, spin is decent but nothing exceptional, average durability, lively string bed at the start but tails off, control is average.

 

[jbot]

Gauge:17
Tension: 55lbs.
Regular setup: multi in years past, but volkl cyclone 18g for the past year
Racquet used for test: Wilson Pro Staff 97
Power: more power than I'm used to from the Volkl Cyclone. Pleasant surprise.
Feel: I feel like I'm getting pretty good feel. Had more success with drop volley and top spin lobs during drills.
Spin: better than my normal setup. the texturing seems to make a difference for me.
Comfort: felt as good as my 18g which is already pretty good.
Durability: strings aren't getting stuck together/biting into each other too bad yet, and i hit relatively flat for the most part. the volkl will start biting into each other within a week of consistent playing.
Playability duration: still have nice movement of the strings. So far, 6 hours of play.
Control: control seems good. the added spin seems to have an impact on my play. doesn't act inconsistently, depth control is as good as the volkl and other strings i've tried.
Compare to string used most often: Overall, not factoring in price, this is probably better than my normal strings in every category except possibly comfort.
Tension recommendations: i've had good luck at 55lbs.
Final thoughts: I like these strings, and if they're reasonably priced (the volkl cyclone 18g was $40 for the 660ft reel lol) I would probably easily make the switch, especially considering it looks like i'll get significantly better like out of these. I'm a fan of the texturing, and overall performance.

 

[Lack]

Gauge received - 16

Tension(s) used for playtest - 51M / 49C lbs, prestretched

Regular string set up - Luxilon 4G Soft 16 at 51M / 49C lbs, prestretched

Racquet brand and model used for test - Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph

Power of test string - Definitely powerful than my regular setup. My groundstrokes and backhand slice went a bit deeper than I had predicted. After getting used to the string, I was able to swing big to the corners without the fear of making errors.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - It started crisp, then felt muted when the string started notching and shapes worn out.

Spin - Seems same as my usual setup. I was expecting this string to generate a lot more spin, due to the fact that it has shapes, but I was wrong. It definitely has great bite on the ball, but nothing surprising.

Comfort - Very comfortable, never had an arm issue playing tennis. Enjoyed the pop on serves and volleys. Hitting off center shots on groundstrokes do produce shock on the arm, but nothing serious.

Durability - Good durability. I noticed the shapes wearing out and strings notching after 5 hours of hitting singles. The string snapped at around 13 hours of playing.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - Low tension maintenance just like most polys out there. It was difficult to control the ball after 9 hours of hitting.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - Great control on fast swing speed. Topspin groundstrokes were easy to control and very predictable, but most flat groundstrokes went deeper than I had expected. Serves, volleys, and backhand slices were amazing. The string is very consistent for 3 singles matches.

Compare to the string you use most often - The main reason I use 4G Soft as my main set up is because of tension maintenance and control. Laserfiber Vorso seems to shine on every category except tension maintenance.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) - Yes, I would string 2 - 3 lbs higher than before, since this string provides more power than average polys.

Thanks TW and Laserfiber for this wonderful opportunity to playtest.

 

[hitthefence38]

Tension(s) used for playtest:50 Lbs

Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone @52 LBS on Babolat Pure Strike Tour

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

Power of test string: Babolat Pure Strike Tour

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The feeling is in line the Volkl Cyclone. I would say the strings has a crisp feel and soft. It feels like the Volkl Cyclone and Signum Pro Plasma merged together.

Spin: Nothing notable in this department. I see the markings on the ball, but the balls hit by me did not generate any differences according to the people I hit with.

Comfort: Comfort was pretty high on this string. I am recovering from tennis elbow, and this string did not produce any harmful vibrations to my elbow.

Durability: The shape of the string has maintained for 10 hours of hitting, so I would say the durability results are expected.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): After 5 hours of hitting with the string, I did notice that there was a slight drop off in power. Spin was relatively the same.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): The depth on my groundstroke was slightly a bit lacking, but I felt I was in better control of my cross court shots and serve with this string.

Compare to the string you use most often: Volkl Cyclone and Signum Pro Plasma

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would recommend trying these strings at 45-50 lbs, just to be safer for those with elbow issues. It should have a bit more pop at this tension as well.

Thanks TW!

 

[welldone]

pre-note as an fyi: broke this after 70 minutes of play so didn't really get a lot of quality play time, but still part of a nice intense hitting session
Play Style: 5.5 varsity singles high school player. Extreme western forehand. One hander. Break strings constantly.

Gauge:16

Tension: 54-52

Regular setup: switch between full bed of alu power, ts cyber flash, tourna big hitter silver.

Racquet used for test: yonex vcore tour ultimate 97 @ 365 grams

Power: by far the most springy poly i've used aside from maybe some gamma that my friend had in his racquet at some point

Feel: found it to kinda be mushy and muted while feeling the actual racquet more. really really high launch angle. volleys felt really non precise and couldn't really get a groove.

Spin: found a little bit more on a few shots but was really inconsistent and didn't really have much snapback. found quite a few balls sailing longer than they should have.

Comfort: mid to soft and comfortable for a ploy

Durability: broke quicker than my regular setup pretty catastrophically. two mains broke at once (8&9) on a forehand approach shot. made a emphatically loud pop. noticed after the session was over teh entire twisted shape on the string ws almost completely gone with less than two hours of play.

Playability duration: hit best during the first 20 min but got notched really quickly and shape went away

Control: worst component of the string. really inconsistent in both spin and power causing quite a few problems

Compare to string used most often: way softer and less durable than anything i use

Tension recommendations: low to mid 50s. pretty average

Final thoughts: Really struggled to find too many merits to this string. Could recommend to someone who wants something a little softer. Better suited to someone who hits quite a bit softer and whose game doesn't rely as much on high rpm shots for everything.

 

[Solo Lee]

Gauge received - 16g
Tension(s) used for playtest: 45 lbs.
Regular string set up: Yonex poly tour pro 16g
Racquet brand and model used for test: yonex ai 98
Power of test string: this string felt more powerful than yonex ptp
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - this string felt quite crisp, soft but not muted.
Spin - i thought this string provided good spin. maybe a little more than yonex ptp.
Comfort - i really liked the comfort of this poly. didnt have any arm issues at all.
Durability - hit with this string for about 12 hours. and did not break. i do play at a 4.5 level and mostly from the baseline with decent amounts of topspin.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - this string felt pretty good for the first 4-5 hours, but did notice the string start losing its elasticity afterwards. however, the texture of the string seemed to fade after some time as well. i did get notches and noticed i was adjusting the strings towards the end of the playtest.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) control was good and on par with yonex ptp.
Compare to the string you use most often: i would say this string is quite decent, but not enough to switch from my usual setup.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) i always string poly below 50 and i would recommend this poly at the tension one usually prefers.
List any additional thoughts (optional) - thanks TW!! it was fun testing a new string!!!

 

[kvan]

I received the 16g.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 53/50

Regular string set up: Solinco Tour Bite 16 53/50

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Strike 16x19

Power of test string: Definitely had a bit more power than what I'm used to. I wouldn't say there was any huge trampolining, but power was certainly there when needed.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The string felt pretty soft right off the stringer and I thought it was easier to string than a lot of other polys. The string was crisp and a bit softer than Tour Bite.

Spin: Lots of black stripes on the balls, but nothing crazy here. Pretty average spin generation.

Comfort: I don't suffer from arm issues, but I felt this offering was plenty soft and it should be safe for those that want to play with poly but have a bit of a sore arm.

Durability: About 8 hours in, I have yet to snap the string. Durability is fine.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): There was a bit of a break in period, and then the power and spin remained consistent for a few hours until the pocketing increased a bit and I could feel some trampolining.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Easy to hit deep, but I had trouble getting nice angles with this string. Volleys were a pleasure, though, and directional control was fine. I liked flat serves, but once again, spin was lacking on second serves a bit for me.

Compare to the string you use most often: Tour bite is slightly stiffer, with more spin and less power.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I might bump up the string to tame the power, or see how it does at lower tensions (40s) to see how it would respond. Low 50s was fine, however.

Thanks TW and Laserfibre!

 

[rchjr2091]

Gauge received: 17g

Tension(s) used for playtest: 52lbs

Regular string set up: Solinco Tour Bite Soft 17g

Racquet brand and model used for test: AeroPro Drive 2013

Power of test string: Powerful ( especially at first)

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) : Crisp feel

Spin: Excellent spin

Comfort: Very comfortable

Durability: Good, have not broken a string after 10 plus hours

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)- I could tell a noticiable difference in the feel by the 5 hour mark.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
I felt control especially in the beginning of the test.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would use 52lbs again.

List any additional thoughts (optional) I would use this string again. Solinco TB soft is still my go to string but I wouldn't be disappointed if this was in my raquet.

Thank you TW for the opportunity to play test this string.

 

[Micalzon]

Gauge: 16g
Tension:48 lbs. Universal ATW
Regular setup:Volkl Cyclone Tour 17g @ 48 lbs.
Racquet used for test: Babolat Pure Storm Team

Power:Above average power, when compared to similar polys. Similar power as Cyclone.
Feel:Initially the set up felt crisp and soft.
Spin:About average for a 16g poly in my Pure Storm but I was expecting more due to its shape. FH’s and 1HBH had decent spin but I didn’t see any miracles in my kick or slice serves.
Comfort:This is a very comfortable string. I didn’t have any arm issues with this set up.
Durability:I’m not a string breaker so I can’t really comment on its overall durability.
Playability duration:The string felt decent the first session out. It seemed like it settled in a little more after about 2 hours of hitting. The string began to lose its shape and began to notch a little after about 6 hours of play with a few sessions of serve practice.
Control:I wasn’t impressed by the control. It wasn’t terrible but it did seem like the launch angle was difficult to dial in after just a few hours.
Compare to string used most often: Initially, played similar to Cyclone, though a little softer. Control is better with Cyclone. Played better at the net than most polys I’ve used, so there’s that.
Tension recommendations:I don’t think I would change the tension for hitters with fast swings, but, if needed, you could bump it up to low 50’s for those who have arm issues.

Final thoughts:Overall, nothing magical. It does have some above average elements (good power and playability at net) but about middle of the road when it comes to spin, control and playability duration. Good power on my first serves but it lacked good spin for kick/slice serves.

I appreciate the opportunity for the playtest.

 

[therecanbeonlyone]

Gauge received 16 gauge

Tension(s) used for playtest 50lbs; 1 piece on a lockout machine

Regular string set up Volkl Cyclone 18 at 48-50 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test Volkl Organix V1 Pro

Power of test string Very good power for a poly, definitely above average but not too much.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) This string felt soft, but not mushy. Not exactly crisp either. For me, I liked this feel, but don't quite know how to describe it.

Spin For a 16 gauge, it had good spin. I felt like this string gives you what you put into it. I hit a variety of top, slice, and flat during all of my matches (singles and doubles). The texture/shape of this string seemed subtle to me, so i am not sure how much effect that had on the spin production. Either way, I liked the variety i was able to get.

Comfort Comfort is extremely good for a poly. I played with this string for just over three weeks so far, including a league singles match against a big hitter and a league singles match against a junk ball slicer with a few league doubles matches and some serving on top of that. Last night I played 4 sets of doubles and my arm/shoulder/wrist feels fine today. In fact, I'll probably leave it in for another week or so.

Durability I am not a string breaker, so am not the best judge. The texture/shape didn't wear off as fast as others have before. Notching or more accurately, denting, started around 4 or 5 hours, but doesn't look like it will break soon. I haven't really had to straighten the strings either at this point.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) Honestly, I have not noticed a drop off in playability. Depth and control are still there. Nothing is sailing on me at this point. This string ranks pretty high on my list of playability duration.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) I didn't have to adjust for launch angle that much. If anything, the trajectory was maybe a little low, but that suits my game. Depth control is maybe the most important factor in my game. This string did what I wanted/expected. Serve was consistent, but maybe not quite as jumpy as with some other polys I have tried. Volleys and touch shots were really nice. My slice stayed low, but didn't bite quite as much as I would like (but that is expected when moving from 18 gauge to 16). Groundstrokes felt comfortable and predictable, as you got what you put into them.

Compare to the string you use most often I might actually prefer this Vorso to my Cyclone, which I use because of the price/performance ratio. I would probably try Vorso 17 instead, since I generally use a thinner string and enjoy the extra bite it would provide. I felt like the 16 gauge did everything well and predictably, and also was comfortable.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would leave the tension alone, especially since i never really felt it loosen up. Granted I strung it 3 days before I played it, so maybe I would notice more of a drop right off the stringer.

List any additional thoughts (optional) This is a really solid offering from Laserfibre. Welcome back to the string game. Thanks for the opportunity as well.