Tennis Warehouse: Luxilon 4G SOFT 1.25 Playtest

[TW Staff]

Luxilon 4G SOFT 1.25 Playtest

Playtest samples shipped on Friday November 20. Playtesters have been notified by email.

Deadline for reviews: Monday December 22

Include the following in your review:

String received:
Tension(s) used for playtest
Racquet used for playtest
Regular string set up
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)

 

[SJSA]

I was notified for this playtest by TW today.
I hope this string is more arm-friendly than Volkl V-Star I recently playtested.
Thanks to TW.

 

[TW Staff]

I was notified for this playtest by TW today.
I hope this string is more arm-friendly than Volkl V-Star I recently playtested.
Thanks to TW.

4G Soft posted a higher stiffness score in the TWU Lab, so tension accordingly.

Jon

 

[SpinToWin]

wait, is this 4G Soft or 4G 16L? :?

 

[djNEiGht]

Went home for lunch and found a pack of 4G Soft.

 

[Triskadekaphilia]

I was notified for this playtest by TW today.
I hope this string is more arm-friendly than Volkl V-Star I recently playtested.
Thanks to TW.

I tested v-star ... I can't imagine any poly playing softer than it! It felt softer than some syn guts I have used. Considering regular 4g is about the stiffest poly available I would imagine the soft is still fairly stiff.

 

[g4driver]

I was notified for this playtest by TW today.
I hope this string is more arm-friendly than Volkl V-Star I recently playtested.
Thanks to TW.

You should really mail that pack back to TW of you think anything by LUX will be softer than V-Star-

Seriously, LUX ain't known for soft poly.

 

[JDMasFCK]

You should really mail that pack back to TW of you think anything by LUX will be softer than V-Star-

Seriously, LUX ain't known for soft poly.

Agree with this, my pack came in today and the string feels pretty stiff even though the name implies that it's "soft". Time to string it up and give it a test drive!

 

[Thatshot]

I just strung this up on a Pure Drive at 55lbs. I will have a hit with it tonight and first thing I'm looking at is the stiffness. During stringing, it does have a bit of elasticity to it so I hope it plays true to its name.

 

[djNEiGht]

In hand it felt pretty stiff. I compared it to some 4GR and it was softer though. A bit annoying for this novice stringer...but it kinked on itself easily which showed it is softer. Felt fairly stiff once strung compared to the V-Star I just play tested.

 

[Thatshot]

I just strung this up on a Pure Drive at 55lbs. I will have a hit with it tonight and first thing I'm looking at is the stiffness. During stringing, it does have a bit of elasticity to it so I hope it plays true to its name.

First hit with it went well. I was out on a cold night around 50 degrees, the string played soft true to its name. It's soft not muted, with a slight bit of cripness to it, had plenty of spin, power feels around medium, plenty of control, really like it a lot! Can't wait to see what it looks like in daytime!

 

[eelhc]

Strung it up and hit about an Hr with it... Stringing went easy enough but it was on an open pattern. Not sure if I would enjoy string an 18x20 95sqin frame with this string.

String Received: Luxilon 4G Soft
Tension(s) used for playtest: M - 45lbs, X - 42lbs on a Prince NEOS 1500 Lockout, 50/50 Method. Lower tension to account for the colder temperatures (Indoor courts are usually kept at high 50s during the winter where I play).
Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Tour 98 ESP
Regular string set up: For this frame I usually use a full bed of Cyber Blue 17L @ M - 50lbs, X-47lbs.
Power of test string: Strung low tension on a low-powered flexible racquet. Balls were not sailing or launching any higher on me. I would say power is low-average.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Somewhat muted feel but this is mostly due to the frame. I've had arm issues in the past and the Tour 98 allows me to play poly without any discomfort. I would not say plush or mushy though.
Spin: I would say typical or average for a poly. I've also been experimenting with Yonex Poly Tour Pro lately and I think PTP spin is better.
Comfort: Comfortable. Again the string bed is not plush or mushy. But I also think the frame contributes a great deal here. I would say not as comfortable as Cyber Blue but my arm/shoulders/elbow felt fine after an hr.
Durability: I am not a string breaker even with an open pattern frame but I do cut the strings out as soon as tension loss becomes apparent. TBD.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): After ~1Hr of hitting, no significant tension loss.
Control: Good control. While I never felt that ball "dwell" on the string bed waiting for me to direct it, with good technique the ball generally went where I hit it.
Compare to the string you use most often: I didn't feel a significant difference vs Cyber Blue other than 4G Soft being perhaps a bit crisper. CB is dirt cheap so pricing will be key. I doubt I would stock 4G Soft at ~$18 set/$280/reel.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would keep it at M-45/X-42 unless tension drops significantly in subsequent hitting sessions.
List any additional thoughts (optional): If I had to give a verdict after an Hr, I would say there's nothing bad but nothing spectacular about 4G soft. Will follow up after subsequent hitting sessions.

Thanks Luxilon and Tennis Warehouse for the playtest sample.

 

[djNEiGht]

I strung mine up at 48# in a 98 si/63 RA frame. Have had GE issues in the past and recently recovered from a pinched nerve. So far so good. About x2 singles and x4 doubles.

 

[lawrencejin]

Luxilon 4G Soft Review

I really enjoyed playing with 4G Soft. It felt quite stiff in the stringer, but played surprisingly soft/plush on the courts. Below is my review in TW format:

String received: Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25
Tension(s) used for playtest: 50lbs CP
Racquet used for playtest: Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 95
Regular string set up: Volkl Cylone 17 at 50lbs

Power: [3/5] This is a medium-powered string, comparable to the power level of Cyclone. I personally find it to strike a nice balance, allowing you to swing out with confidence on aggressive shots while at the same time not hampering your defensive shots too much.
Feel: [5/5] This string feels crisp and plush -- similar to Cyclone -- exactly the way I like it in a string. Let's hope the string doesn't lose its crispness over time.
Spin: [4/5] There is plenty of spin-potential here, and I really enjoyed hitting kick serves with this string. I debated whether it should be a 4 or a 5, but gave it a 4 because it doesn't quite generate spin like Cyclone -- but that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially when you're trying to hit flat.
Comfort: [4/5] It's pretty comfortable, no complaints here.
Durability: [4/5] So far, so good!
Playability Duration: TBD. The string played consistently thus far, so I'm optimistic that it will continue to do so for several more hours.
Control: [5/5] Control was excellent. I had no problems directing the ball to where I wanted to, and noticed no erratic bounces off the string bed.

Compare to the string you use most often: 4G Soft played quite similar to Cyclone, despite them looking very different. Both are crisp, plush, medium-powered, and very spin-friendly. Cyclone offers more spin, but it's possible that 4G Soft will maintain its playing characteristics better. All in all a great string!
Tension recommendations: If you like medium power, string at your regular tension. Add or drop a few pounds depending on your power preferences.
List any additional thoughts (optional): This was a very enjoyable playtest. I look forward to seeing 4G Soft in the market (but since it's Luxilon, I doubt I'll be able to afford it as my go-to set-up...). Thanks TW and Luxilon for the playtest!

 

[AC Tennis]

1st impressions

Strung up in my BLX 6.1 2012 95. Initial impression while stringing was, this is stiff. But on the court it felt really good! Soft, yet controllable. I will note that after 3 sets of doubles my shoulder hurt a bit. I had arm issues with the original 4G and I usually don't with normal soft polys. Will do a full review later after more play.

 

[julian]

higher stiffness score?

4G Soft posted a higher stiffness score in the TWU Lab, so tension accordingly.

Jon

Higher comparing to what?

 

[hyperion99]

Luxilon 4G SOFT 1.25 Playtest

Playtest samples shipped on Friday November 20. Playtesters have been notified by email.

Deadline for reviews: Monday December 22

Include the following in your review:

String received:
Tension(s) used for playtest
Racquet used for playtest
Regular string set up
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)

How and where do you sign up for string/racket playtests?
Thank you TW staff

 

[ricardo]

Higher comparing to what?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SJSA View Post
I was notified for this playtest by TW today.
I hope this string is more arm-friendly than Volkl V-Star I recently playtested.
Thanks to TW.

4G Soft posted a higher stiffness score in the TWU Lab, so tension accordingly.

Jon

 

[JDMasFCK]

String received: Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25
Tension(s) used for playtest: 48LBS
Racquet used for playtest: Babolat Pure Strike (18x20)
Regular string set up: Kirshbaum Pro Line Evolution (17G) at 49LBS
Power of test string: This string had decent amount of power. I noticed that it has the most power when freshly strung. The more I hit with it the more the power "died" out. Maybe it had to do with the feel, but overall the power was nothing to write home about.
Feel: Being that this string is marketed as "soft", it didn't feel like it at all when touching the string. I strung it at 48lbs thinking that would help with the stiffness but it did not do that much. These strings felt like I was hitting with a board (honestly). There was no pop or "feedback" from the string when compared to Kirshbaum Pro Line Evolution. The string was not very pleasant to hit with. I strung it in a full bed, but I think these strings would be more suited towards a hybrid setup because they did not shine in a full bed.
Spin This string has decent spin. I noticed that my shots were landing A LOT shorter when compared to Kirshbaum Pro Line Evolution. I also noticed that my shots were generally flatter as well. These strings do not snap back at all, the strings stay in one place and barely move and as a result the spin potential on these strings is weak (or so I found). Again I think these strings would be great for a hybrid but for a full bed, the mains weren't cutting it for me in terms of spin potentials. My kick serves were not kicking as much nor were my topspin shots landing with pace and spin when compared to my normal setup.
Comfort These strings were again decent in terms of comfort. Luxilon markets this string as their "softer" version of 4G and they aren't lying. It's soft, but not as soft as other strings on the market. It's just a TAD bit softer than the originally 4G and again it's nothing to boast about. The "board" feel was still there. Initially when freshly strung the strings felt pretty comfortable, but after awhile the strings started to feel stiff and not give as much. I ultimately had to cut out these strings because they were too uncomfortable to play and the spin potential was not cutting it for me, especially when you take the comfort into consideration.
Durability: These strings were pretty durable. Like the original 4G, these things are built like tanks. You will not be breaking these strings unless you hit with a super open string pattern. I think the durability is one only positive thing I can say about this string. I cut these strings out before I had a chance to pop them because it lacked spin and was starting to become uncomfortable to play with.
Playability Duration: I played with these strings for a good amount of time. I had it in my racquet for about 3 weeks. I played with it 7 days a week and about 2/3 hours each day. When freshly strung the strings felt pretty good (not as good as my preferred string), the spin/power and comfort was definitely there. Over time, the string loss it's comfort and the power and spin soon followed as well.
Control : The control was definitely there but again it was nothing spectacular. I could easily control my shots but they were landing really short (service line area) despite it being at a lower tension (48LBS). The string did feel a little bit heavier compared to my setup but it is very minimal (probably has to do with the construction of the strings).
Compare to the string you use most often When compared to Kirsbaum Pro Line Evolution, these strings are a HUGE downgrade. In terms of comfort, Pro Line Evolution blows 4G Soft out of the waters. But that is to be expected because Pro Line Evoution is a co-poly and 4G Soft is a poly. I get a lot more spin when using Pro Line Evolution then I do with 4G soft despite the fact that 4G Soft is string 1LB lower. Again this could do with the material and the way 4G soft is constructed. The only thing that 4G has over Kirshbaum Pro Line Evolution is durability. Before I had to cut out 4G Soft, I inspected the strings and it had a lot of life left in it. The strings were not cutting into each other. My old setup would have almost popped by this time already, but not with the 4G Soft.
Tension recommendations: I think choosing your tension is key to maximizing these strings. I found that the lower tension worked out best. DO NOT string these strings up tight. I felt like if I were to go up any higher, it would be VERY UNCOMFORTABLE even when freshly strung (and I only strung it at 48LBS).
List any additional thoughts: Honestly, this string felt like any other Luxilon string out there (I've tried all of them). It has that distinct "luxilon" feel. It is softer than the original 4G but by not that much. It is definitely not as soft as the other competitors on the market (Genesis Black Magic, Kirshbaum Pro line 2 etc). These strings had excellent durability but unfortunately that is the only positive thing I can say about these strings. While I did enjoy the playtest and it was not something I couldn't hit with at all. I was not that impressed with the strings. Would I purchase these strings in the future? Probably not. The only use these strings would have for me, is if I buy a racquet with a super open string pattern. Probably then these strings would be a good option, because of the durability. I think these strings would also excel in a hybrid. If you put these strings in the crosses and natural gut in the main. I think the strings would have a lot of potential. Unfortunately, that is something I am not going to experiment with but I do see it being a good combination in the future because of the tension maintenance and durability characteristics in the strings combined with the awesomeness (power/spin/comfort) of natural gut. That would be a winning setup. Overall it was a fun playtest and I really hope Luxilon creates something different than what they currently have because all of their strings feel the same one way or another.

 

[seekay]

String received:

Luxilon 4G Soft

Tension(s) used for playtest:

50lb

Racquet used for playtest:

Wilson BLX3 Six.One 95S

Regular string set up:

Luxilon ALU Power Spin 127 @ 48 lb

Power of test string:

4G Soft felt a little above average in the power department (compared with other polys), but it was still in my preferred range, allowing for big swings that stay under control.

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

4G Soft is a little muted compared with other strings. It's a matter of preference, but I like a little more feedback when I hit the ball. It's also hard to describe in that it's a relatively stiff string, but doesn't feel jarring or uncomfortable in use.

Spin:

4G Soft's spin production is about average. I didn't feel like it was doing anything special, but it was adequate to hit a wide variety of serves and grounstrokes effectively.

Comfort:

This string is tough to rate in terms of comfort. I didn't feel like it was a comfortable string when hitting with it, but it never left me feeling sore at the end of a long hitting session, so I really can't complain.

Durability:

Durability is better than most. I wasn't able to play the string until breakage, but it's outlasted my normal ALU Power Spin setup and is still going strong.

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

This has always been 4G's strength, and 4G soft seems to be holding up just as well. The tension has dropped a little, but it's still performing well.

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

I really liked the control with this string. It's very predictable in its response; I feel confident controlling placement and depth.

Compare to the string you use most often:

4G Soft has less explosive power, spin, and feel than ALU Power Spin, but it lasts a lot longer and better. When fresh strung, ALU Power is the clear winner, but after about six hours, ALU Power's performance starts to fall off. In contrast, 4G Soft starts off closer to average, but stays there long enough to end up being a better string.

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

It was just fine at 50lb, but I'd try a few pounds less if I were to string it again.

List any additional thoughts (optional):

While I use it myself, ALU Power's limited (useful) lifespan causes me to hesitate recommending it to my customers. 4G provides those customers a better value, and once I sell out of my current stock, I'll consider restocking with 4G Soft instead. Compared with 4G, 4G Soft is a little more accessible to a recreational audience.

 

[Getting_Closer]

4G Soft

String received:

Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25

Tension(s) used for playtest:

53/51

Racquet used for playtest:

Prince Ozone Tour, modified to 12 oz ( I’m a solid 4.0, all court player)

Regular string set up:

Gut/poly,

Power of test string:

I consider myself lucky to be selected for all 4G, 4G rough, and 4G soft by TW. Among the three, I personally like the 4G rough the best, firm string bed, but still comfortable, produce spin when needed, and long last playability. 4G is the least liked, low power, not spin friendly. The power is better with 4G soft, comparing with 4G. It is almost like SPPP (Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.22) in power department.

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

I won’t describe the feeling as crisp. It is more muted. By touching the string, I would say it is stiff, but you do feel a bit of pocketing effect during impact, and it doesn’t cause any discomfort after a match.

Spin:

I guess 4G serials are never meant to be spin friendly in the first place. It does what an average round poly does, nothing is crazy. I am in transition from flat shots to top spin at the moment. Some of the shots were long due to lack of sufficient spin. I just say that the string was not very helpful, but it did reflect my inconsistent strokes.

Comfort:

It is comfortable. I don’t feel any pain after playing. I might drop a couple of pounds next time I use it as my shoulder was just a little bit sour from serving. Nothing is alarming. It did remind me of SPPP as playtest went on. It is felt like an upgrade or premium brand of SPPP. (I had that plastic feeling when playing with SPPP 1.22 from time to time, but it is inexpensive and does have all the qualities you need from a poly string.)

Durability:

No complain here. I suppose this is the selling point of all 4G serials. It doesn’t lose its playability for a long time, which is truly outstanding among all other poly strings. I may try to hybrid it again with my guts, and see how it goes. I like a lot when I hybrid 4G rough with guts.

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

It doesn’t break, and last a long time. By now (after three weeks of playing), I felt that the power might have increased somewhat, but it still feels good, minor notches showing up.


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

Great string for control. It was too much of control with 4G, I had to swing really hard, so it would not hit into net. It is not the case with 4G soft. The response is direct, and I know where the ball will land. The net play is decent too. Under spin can float to the baseline. Overall, it is a good poly string.

Compare to the string you use most often:

4G Soft is decent string with long last playability. I won’t switch to it as I still feel that gut/poly meets all my requirement at the moment. It is a bit of too mute to my liking. I feel like it is an upgrade of SPPP, one of my favorite strings. My go to string before the guts was Scorpion 1.22. Between the two (Scorpion and 4G S) I still prefer Scorpion as it has that crisp feeling, like sting.



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

I would drop two pounds next time I play this string as I felt just a little bit of sour in my shoulder from serving.

List any additional thoughts (optional):

It is a good poly with long lasting playability, especially for those who love the poly, but don’t string for themselves. Once again, thank TW for selecting me for all these great strings.

 

[atkinjr]

Tension(s) used for playtest:
55lbs (lockout)
Racquet used for playtest:
Yonex Ezone Ai 98
Regular string set up:
Volkl Cyclone Tour @ 57lbs
Power of test string:
For a control string, the power is fairly high. I felt great pop on my serves and could get good pace on groundstrokes.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) :
A combination between stiff and slightly muted. It feels similar to 4G, but not quite as crisp.
Spin:
Spin is the one area that I felt this string is lacking for what I look for in a poly. If I really went after it, I could get decent spin, but even then, the spin potential is limited.
Comfort:
I was expecting a softer more plush feel from this string, but it definitely played more like the standard 4G and was not as easy on the arm as Cyclone T. But if 4G is just a tad too harsh for you, this string would make sense, because does have a softness to it. But if you are looking for a soft poly, this isn’t it.
Durability:
Solid. I played about 10 sets of singles and a set or two of doubles before it starting notching considerably.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) :
Excellent. I typically cut out Cyclone T after a few days because the tension and playability go way down after 6-8 hours. But at the 8hr mark, the tension loss was minimal and performance was great. Also, there is hardly any break in needed…it plays well right off the bat.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) :
Very Good. I can get my shots where I want them in all aspects of my game. Volleys are the only exception, but this string performs well all over the court.
Compare to the string you use most often:
I like this string much better than Cyclone T…however my arm cannot handle the stiffness on serve. So as much as it out performs CT from the baseline, I cannot switch because of that. Also, I rely on my kick serve as a weapon and the spin just isn’t there compared to other setups.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) :
I felt the tension was just right. I strung it a couple pounds less than my typical poly and after a day it settled into a great tension zone.
List any additional thoughts (optional) :
I think this is a great addition to the Lux line up…It puts a great string like 4G in play for those with sensitive arms without sacrificing quality of play. Tension maintenance would make this a great string for a cross with Gut…something I may try. Overall, I was very happy with the opportunity to test out this string.

 

[bspitch1]

Tension(s) used for playtest:
44
Racquet used for playtest:
Wilson Blade 93
Regular string set up:
Tour bite @ 44
Power of test string:
Power seemed medium-low for a poly. I didn't find the power to be overbearing by any means. Seemed similar to Dunlop Black Widow.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) :
Pretty crisp. Seemed like a slightly more muted version of 4G
Spin:
Minimal at best. This was the one downfall of the string but it is hard to compare this string's spin compared to shaped or textured polys.
Comfort:
Seemed a bit softer than 4G but still relatively stiff. It seemed much more comfortable when i began playing with it than it did towards the end of its life.
Durability:
Decent - Lasted about 6 hours of singles set play.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) :
The string played well right off of the machine and seemed to stay consistent until it broke. Very impressed with this aspect.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) :
Great. I was able to hit my spots without much of a problem. It took a few minutes to get used to a non-textured/shaped poly but this impact was minimal.
Compare to the string you use most often:
I like the feel of this string more than tour bite, but it doesn't have the durability or spin potential of tour bite.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) :
I would keep my tension the same. Felt great, just lacked a bit of spin.
List any additional thoughts (optional) :
Thanks to TW and Luxilon for the opportunity to playtest!

 

[jim e]

Tension(s) used for playtest:
47 lbs.
Racquet used for playtest:
Head Radical
Regular string set up:
Wilson Nat. gut 16g.64 lbs.
Power of test string:
Medium power for a poly and as such it gives good control.3/5
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) :
Not a muted feel, but not exactly crisp either. Good feel with hard baseline drives. Good feel on serves but noticed a drop in power serving in comparison to my nat. gut set up. 3.5/5
Spin:
I hit a relatively flat style ball, but was able to produce spin as needed, as far as spin, it seems average for a poly. 3/5
Comfort:
Comfortable string for poly, but I have hit with softer hitting poly strings. In past I have had tennis elbow (not from tennis), and this string did not seem to cause any discomfort at all.3.5/5
Durability:
Decent - Lasted about 8 hours of singles 2 hours of doubles, and 45 min of practice serving before it broke on a practice serve. My practice serves are hard on strings.4/5
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) :
The 10 hours of set hitting the string kept its characteristics very well. It is a long playable string 4/5 .
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) :
After a short getting use to (as I typically hit with nat. gut, which is a very different type of string), control was surprisingly very good control with baseline depth shots, and it seemed to stay this way for the duration of its life before it broke.4/5
Compare to the string you use most often:
Hard to compare to nat. gut, as gut is more powerful, and comfort and feel, but this string was good control and comfort was fine with me, I may just try this with as a hybrid with gut to get some extra control.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) :
I would keep the same at 47lbs.as I would not want to increase tension to make stiffer to cause any arm issues.

 

[SJSA]

String received: Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25

Tensions used for playtest: 50lbs

Racquet used for playtest: Volkl Organix 10 Mid

Regular string set up: Natural Gut @59 lbs/MonoGut ZX Pro@56 lbs

Power of test string: This string has low-medium power for a co-poly string. It does not generate a lot of free power.

Feel: Stiff. I noticed this string is very stiff when it is out of the package. It felt soft for a couple of matches and getting stiffer after that.

Spin: Spin is decent but not exceptional for a poly.

Comfort: It might be softer than 4G but is not more comfortable than other soft co-polys such as Volkl V-Star.

Durability: Excellent. There are no notches for over 10 hours on this string.

Playability Duration: Excellent. The key of playability for co-poly is tension maintenance. It is minimal.

Control: Good. It is easy to control depth and placement.

Compare to the string you use most often: I recently had an opportunity to playtest for Volkl V-Star. 4G Soft is definitely stiffer than V-Star but better for tension maintenance.

Tension recommendations: No more than 50lbs. This string holds tension very well and it doesn’t need go over 50lbs.

List any additional thoughts: This string is ideal for hybrid setup as a cross with natural gut due to its tension maintenance. I don’t recommend 4G Soft for a full bed if you have any arm or shoulder issues. I’m considering it to switch with my current cross string, Ashaway Monogut ZX Pro.

I appreciate TW & Luxilon for the opportunity.

 

[AC Tennis]

My review

String received: Luxilon 4G SOFT 1.25

Tension(s) used for playtest: 48lbs on a drop weight machine

Racquet used for playtest: Wilson BLX Six.One 95 16x18 (red and black version)

Regular string set up: Prince Beast XP 17g at 48lbs.

Power of test string: Low powered. Like the original 4G, the string is low powered, but the control you get allows me to swing harder and faster than my normal set up, so pace coming off my racket is pretty good.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Softer than original 4G, but still pretty stiff/crisp. It is a pretty good feel, but much stiffer than my Beast XP.

Spin: Spin was good. Not exceptional, but again, I could impart pretty good spin because the control was so good. I could swing faster and have confidence that the ball would still stay in the court.

Comfort: OK, it felt really good when hitting, but after about a set my shoulder started hurting. I would switch back to my Beast XP and the pain would go away. So though softer than 4G, I still had arm issues with the new 4G soft.

Durability: Pretty good so far. I've got about 6 hours on the strings, but due to the arm issues, I can only hit it for about a set each outing, then have to switch to a softer string.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Playability has not really changed over time so tension maintenance is very good.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): To me this is the best aspect of this string. Control is awesome.

Compare to the string you use most often: Better control and tension maintenance than Beast XP. A little less spin. A lot less power. And the 4G soft hurts my arm. I play really well with it, but the arm issue is a deal breaker for me.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would drop it a couple lbs to around 46 to help with the arm issue. The control is so good I don't think the tension drop would hurt it.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Great string for control and good feel. A bit hard on the arm. And as it is Lux, probably out of my price range. But a fun play test. Thanks Lux and TW for the opportunity!

 

[scotus]

scotus' review of Luxilon 4G Soft 16L

String received: Luxilon 4G Soft 16L

Tension(s) used for playtest: 40 lbs M & 38 lbs X

Racquet used for playtest: Wilson Pro Staff 100LS Extended to 28 in.

Regular string set up: I switch around quite a bit, such as Volkl V-Torque 16 M & Luxilon M2 Pro X at 40 lbs, and Luxilon ALU Power Spin 16L M & Volkl V-Torque 16 X at 40 lbs, etc. Mostly full poly hybrids at low tensions. But I took 2 lbs off on the Xs for the 4G Soft because I feared it would be stiffer than my regular setups.

Power of test string: At 40/38 lbs of tension, 4G Soft had a nice pop and sufficient power to do everything I wanted without compromising control. Hitting flat winners was no problem. Flat serves had great power as well.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I loved the feel. The best way to describe it is solid, substantive, and beefy. It doesn't have the cheap plasticky feel. It doesn't feel light, weak, pillowy. But it feels slightly cushioned and crisp enough to help with touch shots, especially volleys. It is just solid, and I love that feel.

Spin: Spin surprised me. I am used to playing with super spinny shaped polys like ALU Spin and V-Torque, so I wasn't really expecting much. But I got all the spin I needed. If I were to give ALU Spin 10/10 and V-Torque 9.5/10 in the spin department, I would give 4G Soft about 8.5/10. After 2-3 hitting sessions, ALU Spin would be at 8/10, V-Torque 7.5/10, but 4G Soft is still around 8.5/10.

Comfort: It is very comfortable from the second session. I have very sensitive elbows, which is why I string my polys at low tension. I haven't had elbow problems in over a year, but 4G Soft gave me some pain in the first hitting session, but from the second session (i.e., after some tension loss), it was very arm-friendly. If I had to do this again, I would just string it up and let it sit for a 3-4 days before playing with it.

Durability: I have been switching between this setup and the ALU Spin setup each session. I play 2X a week, just doubles, so I suppose I spent about an hour or an 1-1/2 hours each session. After 5 sessions, it is still going strong.

Playability Duration: Tension is holding remarkably well, and so is spin and playability. I do notice the mains moving around but it has not affected the playability much.

Control: Even though I have a very open patterned racquet (16X15), the launch angle is normal and I get good depth with it. The change of direction comes easy as well.

Compare to the string you use most often: The string this comes closest to is Luxilon M2 Pro. This is a slightly-stiffer-feeling M2 Pro with significantly improved tension holding capability.

Tension recommendations I love it at low tension (40/38 lbs). I don't think I'd change it except I would ride out the initial tension loss stage for my arm's sake.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I would still opt for spinnier setups like ALU Spin and V-Torque, but this would be an awesome setup to keep in the bag for a backup racquet. After the initial tension drop, it keeps its tension and playability remarkably well. I might also test this as a cross in a poly/poly hybrid. I would definitely recommend this for gut/poly hybrids.

Thanks, TW!

 

[Six.one.touring]

4g soft 1.25

String received: 4G soft 1.25
Tension(s) used for playtest: 53 mains:51 crosses
Racquet used for playtest: Wilson ProStaff 90 (2014)
Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone 17g
Power of test string: Power felt similar to regular 4g, hence the similarity. Compared to other polys in the market I felt it had more than average power. The added power threw off my game for a little while but once I became familiar it helped with serves and my weaker backhand side.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I would say that the 4g soft is more of a muted feel. I did not really like the feel since I prefer crisper and stiffer strings. As a result, I did not have a good connection with my shots, reducing my ability to predict where my shot was going.
Spin: Spin production is average for a poly. I feel other strings in the market are more spin friendly like cyclone. I felt I had to work a bit harder to get the spin I was used to.
Comfort: Comfort was above average but I think it came at the cost of less connection with the ball.
Durability: Durability seems on par with the 4g which has good durability, better than Volkl Cyclone 17g.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I felt the playability was consistent for multiple hitting sessions. The tension held up well as well as the durability.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
-The controls there but b/c of the lower amount of spin I had to adjust mostly to that. After the adjustment, I performed better on my backhand side b/c of the added power. I reigned in my forehand strokes a bit to keep the ball in play more regularly. The 4g seems a bit heavier than Volkl Cyclone 17g as well which influenced my game. Depth control was a bit challenging on the forehand. The trajectory was not as predictable mostly because of feedback response from the strings.
Compare to the string you use most often
I play predominately with Volkl Cyclone 17g but have played other polys. The 4g is better at power, durability, comfort, and tension maintenance. The Cyclone has better spin and feel.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I felt the tension would’ve been better slightly higher to account for the added power but not much.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

 

[mokcl]

String received: Luxilon 4G SOFT 1.25
Tension used for playtest: 50 lbs / 48 lbs
Racquet used for playtest: Dunlop 4D 500 tour
Regular string set up: Full poly – isospeed baseline
Power of test string: Low to medium power. Balls were landed a little shorter compared to my regular setup.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): It is springy at the beginning and slowly transition to crisp.
Spin: Adequate but not outstanding.
Comfort: A little discomfort after match. Not sure because of the string or due to my 2 weeks vacation.
Durability: Strings show minimal notching after 5-6 hours. Pretty good in this aspect.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time). This string play better as the tension decreased over time.
Control: Control is average and I can’t seem to pocket the balls to guide it directionally.
Compare to the string you use most often Compared to my usual setup, this string has lower power, spin and control. At least not to my liking.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would lower the tension to 40 lbs to increase the power for deeper shots.
List any additional thoughts (optional) Tension dropped from 48lbs to 38 lbs after 3 matches (based on racquettune reading). This string doesn’t seem like holding the tension well.

Thanks TW and Luxilon for this play test.

 

[Captain Ron]

String received: Luxilon 4G Soft 125
Tension(s) used for playtest 42 lbs/42 lbs
Racquet used for playtest Babolat Pure Storm GT LTD
Regular string set up Gamma Moto 16 42 lbs/42 lbs
Power of test string Low powered, which I really liked, and definitely geared toward control. I would say the power level was just right for my setup.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) Feel was solid and slightly muted. I like the feel and felt that it gave a really predictable and controlled response. Even on reaction volleys and hard passing shots the string just felt really solid.
Spin Spin was average to below average for a smooth poly. There was better spin than syn gut but it didn't give me that extra spin that I look to get from a poly.
Comfort This string felt great in my racket. It is definitely a stiff string but was comfortable for me.
Durability This string resisted notching better than most smooth polys I have used and stayed smooth. I suspect it would fair very well as a cross for gut or syn gut. I noticed very little change in the response during the playtest. The stringbed seemed to have a slightly crisper response as the playtest went on.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) The string played well for me throughout the playtest and is still going strong. I expect that this will be one of the longer lasting smooth polys I have tried.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) Great control, especially on flat shots and flatter serves. This is an area where the string really shined. On all shots it gave a very predictable response and I never felt that the ball was going to do anything I didn't expect. The low powered response made it easy to keep the ball in.
Compare to the string you use most often Compared to Gamma Moto 16 this string felt like it had more control, a little less power and less spin. I like the 4G Soft for flatter shots and control.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I thought 42 lbs was about right in my racket. If I were to try it again I would probably drop the tension to 40 lbs to see if this would give a little more spin.
List any additional thoughts (optional) A solid, durable control oriented string. If you are looking for a durable control oriented string and can live with moderate spin (for a poly, more than syn gut or multi) this is a great option. I suspect this string would really shine in a hybrid. It resisted notching well, snaps back well and has great control which I think would work great in a hybrid.
I really enjoyed the playtest and thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Luxilon for letting me participate in the playtest!

 

[bigserving]

Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25 - Full Bed

TENSION USED FOR PLAYTEST - 50 lbs in both the mains and crosses strung on a lockout machine. Very little coil memory out of the baggie. To the touch, these strings feel rather stiff for a "soft" string.

RACQUET USED FOR TEST - Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour 95.

REGULAR STRING SETUP - The regular setup of Dunlop Black Widow 17 gauge, 50 lbs x 50 lbs strung on a lockout machine.

POWER OF TEST STRING - As Polys go, I think that the power level would fall ion the slightly above average range. Of course, the power is nowhere near that of natural gut or multi, but decent enough and quite usable.

FEEL - In this racquet, these strings have a really great feel. They did not feel muted or mushy but rather they felt like a comfortable side of a stiffer playing string. The level of feel combined with the amount of power give these strings very playable feel overall.

SPIN - For a Luxilon string, I was a bit surprised by the amount of spin. There was plenty of spin, but for a "soft" string from the company whose strings are known for spin, I was expecting much more.

COMFORT - The soft really appears in the level of comfort in 4G Soft. For those of us that like a nice firm stringed that we get from poly, the level of comfort of these strings is very nice. For a poly with a relatively crisp string bed, there was no discomfort during, after, or at anytime during the test. Still, I think that the soft moniker is relative to other Luxilon strings.

DURABILITY - Difficult to find court time because of lots of rain in this part of the world lately. This test was for eight sets of singles in four hitting sessions over the course more than two weeks. The strings stayed together and did not break for fray during the test.

PLAYABILITY DURATION - There was a fairly noticeable drop in feel and tension toward the end of the test period. The string bed felt noticeably different, but was still firm enough to be playable. Still, I would restring if scheduled to play a tournament or a competitive match.

CONTROL - These strings have the usual great control that polys and co-polys offer. For a spin hitter like me, the combination of all of the string attributes come together to produce a very high level of control without sacrificing too much power. Just like other Luxilon strings, you must hit through the ball to get the most of the strings. If you do, you will add control to the power and feel of these strings.

COMPARE TO DUNLOP BLACK WIDOW - Luxilon 4G Soft has the more crisp feel. Black Widow is softer and has more power. Playability duration probably goes to Luxilon because the string bed is more firm to begin with that as the they lose tension, they remain more playable than the very soft Black Widow. Shots like serves, volleys, and slices I would give the edge to the Luxilon. Black Widow gets the edge on spin shots.

TENSION RECOMMENDATION - My Dunlop frame is considered a fairly low-powered frame. The 50 lb. test tension seemed to be a pretty good starting point for the test in such a low powered racquet. Next time I would string this string a couple of pounds looser maybe in the 46 to 48 pound range. I think a more loose stringed would still have enough control but would increase controllable power in this low-powered frame. Players with more powerful frames may prefer the lower power level when strung at tighter tensions.

LIST ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS - Luxilon has added another option to their family of strings. With this addition, there is an attempt at a softer string to go with the rest of the family. Like most of their other strings that I have tried these strings may be best for higher level players. Those players that like to swing hard and generate their own power and play better with a stiffer string bed. These strings are soft enough for players with very powerful frames looking for a string with less power than multis or natural gut. The level of comfort that I found makes these feel like a very good quality string that may work in a number of different types of racquets at different tensions, for even different types of players. Very good string from Luxilon.

 

[colan5934]

String received: Lux 4G Soft 1.25

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50 pounds

Racquet used for playtest: Babolat Pure Control Tour

Regular string set up: solinco Tour Bite 1.25 @ 50 pounds

Power of test string: Nice controlled response from this string. Not much power but more than Tour Bite or regular 4G. Placing the ball and painting lines was still pretty easy despite the softer response. I never really felt like I had to use extra caution to make a ball, but I always seemed to get enough on the ball to keep it deep and heavy in the court.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Softer than regular 4G, Tour Bite, and RPM Blast but not so soft that control suffered. I would describe it like somewhere between Lux M2 Pro and regular 4G. Volleys were surprisingly nice, especially on touch shots. I had to work a bit to get the ball deep in the court, but angles and droppers were a breeze.

Spin: nothing exceptional here, but definitely enough spin from a round string. Like I mentioned before, I never found myself being extra cautious to make balls when in a bind. There was enough spin for me to remain confident on all of my shots, which I don't always find from around polyesters, seeing as I prefer tour bite. You definitely get out what you put in from this string in both power and spin.

Comfort: It's a bit more comfortable than the stiffer polys I mentioned above, but it's nowhere near a poly/multi hybrid. It's a polyester, and if you have arm issues—I don't—be careful.

Durability: better than expected for durability. I played with it for 12 hours after a 3-week hiatus, so I wouldn't say I was hitting everything completely clean for the first 1/3 of the test, but considering it's almost double the time I get from tour bite, it's impressive to me. It's the durability I've come to expect from Luxilon.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Other than it becoming a little more dead after 3 or 4 hours, the playability was consistent throughout the test. I had the same experience with regular 4G. It's dead enough from the get-go, and it holds tension well for a poly, so I didn't notice much different from first ball to breakage aside from a slight deadening of the stringbed after a couple sessions.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I talked about it above, but control was probably the standout aspect of this string. Although it's not as crisp as I typically like, I still found enough control to swing out and put the ball in aggressive spots (corners, near the sidelines). Spot serving is what I go for over power, usually, and I hit a couple more aces than I usually do just by hitting spots.

Compare to the string you use most often: less crisp feeling and less spin than tour bite, but I still found enough control and power to play effectively with it. I liked it better on volleys due to the softer feel. When trying for short-angled spinny balls, I found that I would leave them a bit too high, so that's probably the one thing I would have to adjust the most if I were to switch to this string, and that's being really picky. Overall, it's a nice string and a valid option for those players who enjoy 4G but want a softer feel (not to be confused with comfortable).

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): keep it around your usual polyester tension. You definitely get out what you put in from it, so whatever you typically use for poly would be a good starting point.

 

[MadisonTennis]

String Tested - 4G Soft

Tension - 52#s

Racket - Aeropro Team

Reg Strings - Volkl V Star (53#s mains)/Gosen Micro (55#s crosses)

Power - Thought power was very controllable. I was able to take full swings without the fear of the ball sailing.

Feel - Muted. It felt more soft than how stiff it actually was.'

Spin - This is one area where I preferred my normal strings. Spin was average with this string.

Comfort - Next time, I would go 1-2#s lower in tension. While my elbow and wrist did not hurt, I did feel shoulder pain after playing a match.

Durability - High marks here. More durable than my normal string set up. I could play atleast 10 hours with this string and it still felt great.

Control - Again, really enjoyed the control from all over the courts. Serves, groundstrokes, and volleys felt great with this string at 52#s.

Compare to my Set Up - I preferred the spin of my normal string set up. Control and power were very similar with both strings. At net, 4g Soft felt much better. My only complaint would be the toll it took on my shoulder.

Tension Next Time - I would like to try 1-2#s lower next time to see if my shoulder did not feel any pain. Again, the control was great at 52#s so I would experiment going lower.

Additional Comments - I really enjoyed this playtest and can see why a lot of people use Luxilon strings. The control and power get very high marks in my opinion. Next time, I would go a little lower on tension or even try a hybrid. As always, thanks to TW and Luxilon for allowing me to be part of this playtest.

 

[djNEiGht]

String received: Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25

Tension(s) used for playtest 48# on constant pull

Racquet used for playtest Boris Becker DC London

Regular string set up Nothing regular for now but often play with Volkl Cyclone

Power of test string Ample power when the string bed was fresh but lower than 4G and 4GR. Big hitters will probably enjoy this as they could swing away while generating good spin to catch the baseline.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) I found this to be muted over all during play. Felt stiff when hitting the palm of my hand

Spin Good spin for a control oriented poly. No where near as much spin as 4GR. Slightly less spin than a recent TT String test of Volkl V-Star

Comfort For a poly, there was no complaints when the string bed was still fresh and alive

Durability Did not play as much with this string bed due to getting sick. Got maybe 6-8 hours in and there was slight notching. I don't break poly strings and cut them out as the playability goes south

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) As some may have noticed, I stated "when fresh". After about 4-5 hours of play (mixture of singles and doubles) the spin, feel, and comfort started to fade.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) Good control for a soft string. I would say it lasted longer than Polystar Energy. Was not as good during the play test when compared to Volkl V-Star

Compare to the string you use most often Less spin, power, comfort, playability

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would string it lower to get a bit more power. Might add more comfort and life to the string.

List any additional thoughts (optional) The string was a bit annoying to install. There wasn't coil memory but it would kink up on me. Probably about 3 times during the string job. I don't recall this happening on other polys I've strung. I would go with the 4GR string even if it is a bit stiffer just for the increase in spin but then would find myself cutting it out much sooner. Toss up I guess. If there was a 4GS that was textured, that might be something to consider.

I had participated in previous 4G string tests (4G and 4GR) in the same racquet. I felt that even though I'm playing with a different set up I would visit this racquet again to give it a fair shake since this had been strung up before with a couple variations of Luxilon 4G

Thank you Luxilon and Talk Tennis/Tennis Warehouse for making this play test available.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

[Thatshot]

String received: Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25mm

Tension(s) used for playtest: 55lbs

Racquet used for playtest - Babolat Pure Drive

Regular string set up - Volkl Cyclone 17g at 55lbs

Power of test string - Luxilon 4G Soft is about medium powered, it started out a bit stiff then after it settled it had a nice blend of power and control. I didn't have to put anything extra to get good pace and penetration on the ball.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - 4G Soft is going along the line of a firm co-poly but it is no where near the stiffness of its predecessor Alu power and rough. True to its name, this string plays soft on a firm string bed. It has a touch of crispness to it instead of being muted. Excellent feeling string bed, doesn't take very long to get used to hitting with this string.

Spin - Spin is quite impressive with this one. For a none textured string, 4G Soft had an amazing amount of spin. Only way I can explain this is that on a firm string bed, this string is very slippery that it slides easily against each other and the snap back is amazing. Hi marks for spin!

Comfort - If it is the intention of Luxilon to make a string that can appeal to the broader fan base, this is it. This string has many excellent qualities to it but did not sacrifice its comfort level to do so. At 55lbs on a Pure Drive, any signs of stiffness would mean an end to my playtest. Glad to report back I am still playing with no signs of arm or elbow discomfort.

Durability - 4G Soft is very impressive in this category. 2 plus weeks into this play test it is holding up like a champ. There is some notching now and the string is starting to move around a little but this is after some vigorous training sessions and match play. I'd say the durability is right up there with Alu Power and Rough.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - Playability for the string started out a bit stiff then settled in nicely. There is a slight tension drop after a good amount of play but nothing really severe, if anything it provided a bit more comfort. I'm at the tail end of the play test string is moving, heavy notching and it is still playing nicely. Occasionally I will get a flyer or 2 at this point but overall it plays very well until the end.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - Control gets high marks for me here, string bed plays firm and loads of control. Ball does exactly what you expect it to, plays very precise dues to the firm string bed.

Compare to the string you use most often - I use Volkl Cyclone 17g and it is at the other end of the spectrum for polys, 4G Soft provides a firmer string bed but with ample comfort, spin is just as good in my opinion, Cyclone has a springiness to it, 4GS plays firm. Control goes to 4GS as well as durability.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
List any additional thoughts (optional)- After playing with it until it broke, I would string it at the tension I normally use. True to its name, this string plays soft with loads of control so there is really no need to change tension. I really enjoyed this play test and thought this is one of the better strings out on the market. I will use it again once it comes out.