Tennis Warehouse Playtest - Babolat XALT!

[StringStrungStrang]

Big John’s Babolat Xalt FULL BED Review

Tension(s) used for playtest:

58/50# strung on a Gamma electronic 6900 (10% prestretch) I was dumfounded on how tight to string the mains, 55 like a poly? 62 like gut? Guess I chickened out.

strung up nice and smooth, the coating helps with the weaves. No kinking.


Regular string set up:

Main: 16 ga. Kip gut @62 lbs./Cross: Isospeed Cream 17 @ 55 lbs.


Racquet used for test:

2018 (all red) Yonex vcore 100, lead added at 3 and 9

This is going to be difficult. Should I compare it to full bed poly? To full bed gut? To hybrids?
I decided to compare it mainly to a gut/poly combo, with perhaps some poly observations.

Control/Power of test string: Rating -

9/10 for control
7/10 for power

Control was excellent. I had excellent control over the shot no matter how hard the ball was hit at me. POWER? Not as much. The string did not help me add any depth to my shots. That being said, it gave me back what I put into the shot and the better a player you are, the more you want that. This is therefore not a criticism, just an observation. Overall, gut/poly and this string are pretty equal for control, but gut/poly gives you a little more “help” on power when you need it.

Feel (Comfortable? Stiff? Mush? Crisp? Uncomfortable?):

This is a muted feeling string. I could feel the string pocketing around the ball about 90% as well as gut/poly, perhaps 80% as well as a full bed gut stringing. 200% better than full bed poly.


Serving was good, but not excellent compared to gut/poly. My lefty spin serves didn’t jump as much. Receivers didn’t beat me up, but a good 20% more returns came into play as when I used my gut/poly racket. (I observed this in 2 different practice sets against the same group of guys, switching from one to the other back and forth during the sets)

Volleys were a strength, 90% as good as gut/poly and better than just about any poly I have tried.





Spin: Rating – 7 of 10

I hit pretty flat and it reacted well to flat strokes. When I applied a topspin swingpath or a slice swingpath on a groundstroke, it gave me slightly less spin than a gut/poly would. It didn’t feel like it was taking anything away, but it wasn’t helping any at all. Of course most full poly beds will give you a ton of spin with their snapback, etc. So unfortunately, this is a weakness of the string.



Playability Duration (did the playability change over time? How? Feel free to comment on durability & frictional wear as well):

Rating - 9 of 10

This string held up very well for playability. I do not hit with a ton of spin, so I am getting got plenty of hours (about 15 so far) out of it. Interestingly, even a 58 lbs., 15 hours in, there is very little notching.


Tension findings (what tension would you use if you strung it again? Why?):

I would likely keep the same tension (58/50) as I had no arm problems to speak of. I don’t know if I would drop the mains a few pounds to perhaps get a little more power, I simply don’t know.


List any additional thoughts (optional):

Will this replace gut? No, but I will say it is closer overall than any other string I have tried. This particular string is, IMHO, the most gut-like multi on the market today.

This is a very good string. I have tried a few multifilaments from other brands in the past in multi/poly hybrids. It seems obvious that this is a better product than those. However, I will have to wait until I cut this out and restring as a hybrid to deliver a final verdict n that issue.

With colder/wetter weather coming on, I have always kept one backup racket strung with some sort of non-gut string. This multi, perhaps in a hybrid with something that will allow more main string movement (stay tuned for the upcoming hybrid report) is poised to be my number one choice for that cold/wet/humid backup racket, or for clay, which chews up gut pretty good.

Overall, it is about 85% as good as gut, at about 50% of the cost of gut.

A big thank you to TW for allowing me to test this string!

Nice review @stapletonj !!
I liked how you compared to to gut/poly fullbed gut and fullbed poly. This gives a lot more context and helps all of us make a more informed decision.
I've been playing fullbed poly and a multi give or multi-hybrid gives a completely different type of feel and response, not better or worse, but better suited to some players and conditions than others.

 

[stapletonj]

I will probably cut out the full bed and string up the multi in the mains poly in the crosses hybrid tonight. THAT should really tell the tale as to whether this has near gut like qualities.

 

[Trip]

@stapletonj - Yes, great review. I'm curious: you stated Xalt was the most gut-like multi you've ever tried -- how many multi's have you tried? I presume most from all the major players? (Tecnifibre, Wilson, Head, Dunlop, IsoSpeed, plus however many smaller brands)? If so, then that's pretty impressive work by Babolat...

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Strung mine up yesterday @ 47 lbs m / 53 lbs cross. Babolat Pure Strike 98 16 x19 - custom stripes ! Lead silicone and power pads.
No issues at all. The Xalt seemed firmer than I would have imagined for a multi and you can definitely feel the texture of the thinner RPM Rough.

 

[Cowboy]

When I stated that I was playing last Thursday night, I expected to have a decent match. Instead, I got stuck teaching some friends who had never touched a racquet. My first impression, from having nothing but lobs sent my way, was not good. I was somewhat disappointed in the string, as it felt like I was hitting with stiff cardboard. That was also when they were fresh off the stringer....so maybe they needed to rest/stretch a bit.

I have the RPM Rough in the mains at 48 lbs and the Xalt in the crosses at 53 lbs.

I had an actual good match tonight against a good, and very consistent, opponent. I'm blown away by how much I like these strings! My normal is Luxilon 4G Rough mains w/ NXT Control crosses at the same tension. Spin isn't quite as good as my normal setup, but these rival those in every other category. I was placing shots nicely and able to put a little more power behind them than I normally would. I'm very much looking forward to playing with these again.

 

[stapletonj]

@stapletonj - Yes, great review. I'm curious: you stated Xalt was the most gut-like multi you've ever tried -- how many multi's have you tried? I presume most from all the major players? (Tecnifibre, Wilson, Head, Dunlop, IsoSpeed, plus however many smaller brands)? If so, then that's pretty impressive work by Babolat...

Can't remember the exact name, but I can remember I've tried multis from Prince, Yonex, Dunlop, Gamma and Technifibre as I recall

 

[Trip]

Can't remember the exact name, but I can remember I've tried multis from Prince, Yonex, Dunlop, Gamma and Technifibre as I recall

Gotcha. Curious if you've tried Gosen AK Pro CX? That's one of the most gut-like synthetics I've ever tried.

 

[evermilion]

Anyone playing with the hybrid (XALT in the crosses) and noticed super low launch angle or low power? I'm struggling to adjust. This is in comparison to Black Knight/Velocity hybrid at same tension.

Could also just be a bad couple sessions....

 

[Chairman3]

Anyone playing with the hybrid (XALT in the crosses) and noticed super low launch angle or low power? I'm struggling to adjust. This is in comparison to Black Knight/Velocity hybrid at same tension.

Could also just be a bad couple sessions....

What tension and racquet?

My rough/xalt hybrid is excellent. Incredible combo of spin and power. I semi-keep forgetting the review is directed at the fullbed and have to keep making myself play with that racquet.

 

[evermilion]

What tension and racquet?

My rough/xalt hybrid is excellent. Incredible combo of spin and power. I semi-keep forgetting the review is directed at the fullbed and have to keep making myself play with that racquet.

50/55 in VC95.

 

[Trip]

@evermilion - Stringing crosses higher than your mains is, in and of itself, a recipe for a lower launch angle, so with Xalt, especially considering the lower power, you might try dropping tension a few pounds closer to the rough mains, maybe even equal to it, at, say, 51/51 or 52/52.

 

[evermilion]

I'll try equal tension in the second half sets. I got so used to going up 5 pounds for multi crosses because Velocity was so insanely launchy for me at 50 pounds.

 

[Chairman3]

50/55 in VC95.

I'd go 50lbs straight up

I did 48 in my ultra pro and it probably has a similar launch to your VC95.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Anyone playing with the hybrid (XALT in the crosses) and noticed super low launch angle or low power? I'm struggling to adjust. This is in comparison to Black Knight/Velocity hybrid at same tension.

Could also just be a bad couple sessions....

That is the same result I am getting (low launch and not great feel / power) ... and even much lower launch angle than my current Volkl Cyclone 16 / multi 1.30 experiment (which is comfy, firm with good feel, pop and enough spin). I usually play fullbed poly and I am not as of yet getting the "hybrid" benefit of comfort/feel / power that I was expecting. Will see how things change as the strings settle a bit.

 

[Trip]

That is the same result I am getting (low launch and not great feel / power) ... and even much lower launch angle than my current Volkl Cyclone 16 / multi 1.30 experiment (which is comfy, firm with good feel, pop and enough spin). I usually play fullbed poly and I am not as of yet getting the "hybrid" benefit of comfort/feel / power that I was expecting. Will see how things change as the strings settle a bit.

Besides tension differential, low launch with the multi in the crosses is not a huge surprise, either, in that with the more pliable, less-slick string placed there, the string bed often behaves less dynamically (less snapback, more tendency to lock up). Instead, try flipping the hybrid, and running the multi in the mains, and I think you'll see better launch angle results, plus other benefits. To accommodate for the power boost of putting multi in the mains, bump the tension roughly 7-10% overall, and I often find it beneficial to run a differential of non-poly mains higher than poly crosses by about 3-5%, which allows for even more launch angle and snapback travel. Also, you want the tension of the multi to be high enough that it maintains its "twang", ie. tendency to return to position after being displaced. All that said, if you've been doing poly/multi at, say, 50 pounds, do multi/poly at 55/53. It's often a noticeable improvement in launch angle, spin/snapback, touch and comfort.

 

[stapletonj]

Gotcha. Curious if you've tried Gosen AK Pro CX? That's one of the most gut-like synthetics I've ever tried.

can't say that I have. will keep an eye out for it

 

[Trip]

can't say that I have. will keep an eye out for it

Definitely do so. Versus Xalt, AKPCX will be higher powered, snappier in its rebound response, a bit more crisp feel, slightly better tension maintenance, and initially more slick due to the silicone coating (it does wear off fairly quickly, though, so I suggest pairing with a silicone oil coated poly like RPM, YPT Fire or Gosen G-Tour). Similar to Xalt, it makes for a great hybrid main or cross, provided you pair it with a slick-enough poly.

 

[stapletonj]

Definitely do so. Versus Xalt, AKPCX will be higher powered, snappier in its rebound response, a bit more crisp feel, slightly better tension maintenance, and initially more slick due to the silicone coating (it does wear off fairly quickly, though, so I suggest pairing with a silicone oil coated poly like RPM, YPT Fire or Gosen G-Tour). Similar to Xalt, it makes for a great hybrid main or cross, provided you pair it with a slick-enough poly.

Let me ask you this. I string my gut/poly at 62/55 lbs. If I string this with say YTP Fire as a cross, what tension do you believe would be the best on the mains to get as close a feel to the gut setup as possible?

 

[Trip]

Let me ask you this. I string my gut/poly at 62/55 lbs. If I string this with say YTP Fire as a cross, what tension do you believe would be the best on the mains to get as close a feel to the gut setup as possible?

I would probably start a pound lower with AKPCX, as it may feel a tad bit more firm than gut, but keep YPT Fire the same, so 61/55, or if you're going into a colder part of the year, maybe 60/54.

 

[Chairman3]

Xalt (full bed) is holding up surprisingly well.
Yes, the strings have basically been moving since hour 1 or 2, BUT tension maintenance seems good.
No crazy launching, still sounds "tight," and power is still controllable.
Pretty solid performance, based on the notching, I stick with my original prediction of 7-8hrs for breakage to occur.
I'm nearing 6hrs as of today, so we'll see

 

[Cowboy]

I've got 2.5 hours of real play (plus another hour of basically giving a lesson) on my hybrid setup. I had a singles match this past Tuesday evening and it felt like my most "complete" game yet. I've got another singles match scheduled for Monday, and I'm going to try to get another on Saturday or Sunday.

 

[Cowboy]

I went 3 sets last night in 3 hours. I can't tell you how many times we went to Deuce. Lost the first one 6-7. Won the next two 6-4, 6-4 after being down 0-3 in both the second and third sets.

Total time on hybrid setup 6.5 hours. I didn't feel like I played as complete of a game as I did against my previous opponent; however, I still feel like I'm playing my best tennis with this setup. I can put pace on it without them sailing long (no trampoline), or I can put touch on when needed. The spin generation still doesn't feel as good as my normal 4g rough/nxt control setup, but I feel like this setup excels in just about every other category.

I know that I need to cut them out so that I can do a full review on the full bed xalt; but that's so hard to want to do when I'm playing so good with these strings!

 

[Chairman3]

I know that I need to cut them out so that I can do a full review on the full bed xalt; but that's so hard to want to do when I'm playing so good with these strings!

Hence why you need two racquets
...Maybe more than two

 

[Cowboy]

Hence why you need two racquets
...Maybe more than two

I do have two, but the other has a full bed of TF X-1 that went in right before this playtest was announced. I'm using a Wilson Blade 100L v8 for the playtest.

I actually picked up two more racquets yesterday, but they aren't the same as what I've been using to play. I found two Head Graphene 360+ Speed Lite racquets at a thrift store yesterday. Both need restringing, so it would make sense to put the hybrid in one and the full bed in the other. The problem there is that I don't really have a feel for these racquets yet. The guy I played last night was willing to stick around and hit a few balls after our match. It could be the string that is in it, or it could be the racquet; but it feels much more powerful than my Blade despite it having a lower weight.

 

[Chairman3]

@Cowboy
I was mostly kidding as the majority of people on this forum have far too many racquets.
Maybe it's a requirement to join these boards?

I do find myself playing the should I/shouldn't I game with restringing after I have just submitted for a playtest. I know if I restring, I will get selected

 

[Cowboy]

@Cowboy
I was mostly kidding as the majority of people on this forum have far too many racquets.
Maybe it's a requirement to join these boards?

I do find myself playing the should I/shouldn't I game with restringing after I have just submitted for a playtest. I know if I restring, I will get selected

No worries. I didn't pick up on the sarcasm, because it seems like most people who are serious about playing do have that mentality. I'd love to pick up another Blade for just such an occasion, but I don't know how often these playtest occur or if I'll even get selected for the next one.

I figure the two new-to-me Head racquets will either get put into my wife's tennis bag, as she only has one and I believe these are nicer than the one she currently uses; or I'll keep these to play with on occasion so that I can use them as dedicated playtest sticks and/or just different configuration for playing regularly. The flip side is that I could try to sell them....which was the original intent, but I think I can put them to better use.

 

[Chairman3]

Well my prediction was a little off, about 8 hours and hasn't snapped yet. My feeling is one solid return and it will, it looks close.
Plus my not great hitting lo this past few weeks has likely bought it a bit of extra longevity.

Interesting (and I'll post a pic later) one center main has what looks like a fray but it is stiff, feels plastic-y, and is a solid strand. Does not look or feel like traditional fraying where it is clearly alot of soft strands.
Wonder if it is the outer coating?

 

[Dunlop300g]

Ok Strings are in! Full bed Babolat XALT 16 ga / 1.30 at 55 lbs. in Dunlop 300g (similar to current Dunlop CX 200).

Initial Impressions after hitting with this set yesterday fresh off the Prince Neos 1000 machine ... it was "Love at First Strike"!!

Control was excellent and power was readily available and controllable. The string bed was slightly stiffer or crisper than other multi's that I've used this past year (Head Velocity MLT). The feel was so much nicer; almost a relief from the full bed polys of this past summer.

This initial hitting session was with one of our best club players who is at least a strong 4.5 player (maybe 5.0) and this string allowed me (4.0) to keep in some nice cross court forehand rallies with him. Backhand slice was better than average; topspin backhand was fine as well. I also tested service returns with him serving and was very impressed with how well the ball pocketed and redirected the power of his serves.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference and most pleasant surprise was the feel with volleys and also the power and pop that came off the string bed when hitting volleys off some pretty hard shots from my friend. He's like ... stand back almost to the service line so I can rip some at you; I'm like ok. It's like the string bed absorbs his shot and and just rockets it back with this very nice "pop". It's really fun hitting with this setup especially testing with a really good player like my friend Miguel who was so gracious in helping out with this test.

I'm so impressed by this string Babolat XALT. I will be updating this review completely in coming days; should be hitting again with it (can't wait) again today and then hopefully some serve testing and some match play. First impression bottom line: Love at First Strike !!

 

[evermilion]

Just hit with fullbed XALT as well yesterday. Much better than the hybrid. It's heavily notched already, so durability might be an issue for me.

My first impression was that this was the closest to a poly feel out of all the multis I've personally used (Velocity, Multifeel).

 

[Ombudsman]

@Cowboy
I was mostly kidding as the majority of people on this forum have far too many racquets.
Maybe it's a requirement to join these boards?

I do find myself playing the should I/shouldn't I game with restringing after I have just submitted for a playtest. I know if I restring, I will get selected

As a newbie on this forum, I might argue it’s this forum that creates the racquetaholics

I jest

Maybe

 

[Ombudsman]

Back on topic

I almost exclusively play with X1 BiPhase and sometimes the NRG2 in a full bed. Could anyone offer a comparison?

TIA

 

[SlowTiger]

I'm going to have to move to the full bed of xalt after this weekend. It wasn't super cold last night but the polys felt stiff and my wrist hurting

 

[Cowboy]

Back on topic

I almost exclusively play with X1 BiPhase and sometimes the NRG2 in a full bed. Could anyone offer a comparison?

TIA

I've got a full bed of X-1 in my other racquet. Like @SlowTiger , I'm going to be switching to the full bed this weekend. So I'll be able to compare side-by-side.

 

[Chairman3]

Another update:
About 9.5 hours, so close to breaking, still holding on by a thread though.
Biggest revelation, tension maintenance.
Even though it is nearing breakage, it isn't launching the ball and doesn't really seem super loose. So that is an improvement compared to other multis I've used.
Spin seems the same, will write final review once it breaks

 

[Dunlop300g]

Babloat XALT Full-Bed review

Tension(s) used for playtest Babolat XALT - Full Bed Test @ 55lbs.

Regular string setup and tension Luxilon ECO Power (full bed) at 50 lbs.

Racquet used for testing is Dunlop 300g (similar to the current Dunlop CX 200) 16x19 custom weighted and balanced

Power / Control - for this very control-oriented player’s frame, Babolat XALT is a perfect match in that it provides power well-suited for this racquet. It’s like a perfectly balanced hop / malt in a beer; an exquisite, complementary relationship.

Feel - slightly more crisp or less muted that other mutifilaments I have tried in the past. The ball pocketing is better than any lower tension poly that I’ve tried. So I find this characteristic quite impressive. Feel on touch volleys is quite extraordinary. Emotional feel - confident, connected and in love.

Spin - thus far I find spin to be adequate both on serves and ground strokes. I consider myself more of a spin player so I haven’t had any problems generating topspin off either side. And I would add that slice (biting backspin) is also very good with this string. So kick serves or slice serves seem to be working fine; I’m not sure this string is better than ECO Power on serve spin, but it doesn’t seem to lacking anything either. Spin being an integral part of control; no issues at all.

Durability - I’m into about 4 hours so far with another 3 coming this Wednesday and so far no complaints. I expect the coating on this string to give it a very good lifespan. I usually play with Multi’s till they break and this will be no exception; I love this string so I want to see it to the end.

Playability Duration - see above; I’m going to the end with this string. I will hybrid the other set for the playtest. But on Black Friday (25% off Babolat) I just had to get another set of this string; that’s how much of an impression it made on me; and of course also had to order the Dunlop CX 200 super sale (best deal I’ve seen in along time) to go with that string. How about playability as it relates to arm issues; this is a soft string, it’s comfortable to play with.

Tension recommendations - so far I’m completely happy at 55 lbs. Going into the winter season in California so this softer string is perfect.

Additional thoughts - I love service returns and with these strings in this setup I was able to hit some absolutely crushing returns in my last doubles match; this was what set this string apart for me. Take a big cut at the ball, hit out; power rewarded and no control lost. Ok it was love at first strike with this one. Truly a keeper. Super Thanks to Tennis Warehouse for this string test and also the recent great deals on the Dunlop CX 200 line.

 

[Casper777]

Just strung my Gravities with Xalt!

125 gauge for my Gravity Pro and 130 for the Tour

both at 23kg.

cant wait to try this new string!!

 

[Chairman3]

Well it happened, warming up for my singles match...

Took a close-up of the break

As you can see, true multifilament, you can see all the individual threads. They are tightly wrapped though and maybe this prevents fraying and earlier breakage. You can see in the first pic, hardly any fraying at all.

 

[Crimsonchen]

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 57 lbs
• Regular string set-up & tension: Ytex Quadro Twist mains (56 lbs) and Tecnifibre Multifeel crosses (59 lbs)
• Racquet used for test: Head Speed Pro Auxetic
• Power/Control: Really impressed with this string in terms of power and control. I feel like it had a great balance between the two. The string definitely feels/plays like a string that is between a poly and a multifilament. Most multifilaments (for me) just have no bite or control on the ball and are mostly powerful strings whereas Xalt seems to give me a bit more control but still has a bit of power. The launch angle for this string was pretty low for me at 57 lbs in an 18x20 string pattern.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): I'd say the feel was pretty crisp. Xalt is definitely firmer than most multifilaments but a lot more comfortable than soft polys. I generally get arm pain when using polys or even hybrids with poly mains, but for this string I had no arm pain after 2 hour hitting sessions.
• Spin: Pretty much what I expected out of a multifilament, average spin and not a lot of bite on the ball. I already hit very low flat groundstrokes so I have no complaints. I will say that touch volleys and drop shots felt really great on this string bed and I don't often hit volleys well.
• Durability: With 9 hours in, there is some notching but there's a pretty good amount of life left. I hit decently hard at the 4.5 level but with the 18x20 string pattern, I don't break strings until maybe the 15 hour mark
• Playability Duration: within minutes of the initial hitting, the strings were already all over the place but that's expected out of a multifilament. I'd say the playability lasted for a long time on this one, I didn't notice much of a drop in tension.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I usually like a firmer string bed for control but I'd like to experiment with dropping a few lbs to see if the string maintains it's control properties. Other than that, I was happy with the results at 57 lbs.
• List any additional thoughts (optional): I definitely enjoyed this string and it was one of my favorite playtests. I suffer with golfers elbow so I tend to lean towards softer poly hybrids so this string is a good alternative for players looking for a string that performs well but is soft on the arm. I think my original set up (Quadro twist and multifeel) benefits me more as the poly bites the ball better than Xalt, but I could see myself using a full bed of Xalt in the future if soft polys are out of the question. Serving with this string was phenomenal as well. I had no issues getting pop on my serves and I felt right at home when serving with this string for the first time. When trying new strings out, I usually need an adjustment period to play at my peak level, but with this string, I felt confident in my groundstrokes and I was able to volley a lot cleaner with this string. It's not enough for me to switch from my current setup, but it will definitely be on my radar in the future. Stringing Xalt was pretty nice as well. It definitely felt like a firmer multifilament right out the case and it was very easy to slide the crosses.

HYBRID Section (this is only for those selected to provide an additional review)

• Which string was in mains/crosses? RPM rough mains/Xalt crosses
• Racquet used for playtest: Head Speed Pro Auxetic
• Tension(s) used for playtest: 56/59
• First off, I'd like to say I strung it at 56/59 so that I'd be able to compare it properly with my current set up which is a lot softer (Quadro Twist/Multifeel). I deeply regret stringing this hybrid this high because the launch angle was very, very low. I really had power shots over the net or they would drop in the service box. With that being said, the control on this set up was great in that sense. I will say that the RPM rough seemed to bite the ball pretty well and the hybrid seemed to have pretty good snap back. I didn't have to straighten the strings very often. I think at lower tensions, this hybrid has the potential to be very good and is probably better off having the Xalt in the mains as it almost plays like a soft poly. In regards to feel, at this tension, the hybrid was way too stiff for me. I felt elbow soreness within 20 minutes of hitting due to the RPM rough being strung at 56 lbs. All in all, I would prefer a full bed of Xalt, it played a lot better for me in the full bed as it was softer and had a greater balance of power/control/feel. Please don't let my experience with Xalt as a hybrid keep you away from trying to hybrid it. I would try either putting the Xalt in the mains, or go with a lower tension if I were to try this set up again. Thank you TW for the playtest experience!

 

[dandruffkb]

Well it happened, warming up for my singles match...

Took a close-up of the break

As you can see, true multifilament, you can see all the individual threads. They are tightly wrapped though and maybe this prevents fraying and earlier breakage. You can see in the first pic, hardly any fraying at all.

wow you hit the sweetspot/center of your stringbed better than me... mine is about to snap as well, but it is fraying everywhere as well

 

[Fighting phoenix]

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 57 lbs
• Regular string set-up & tension: Ytex Quadro Twist mains (56 lbs) and Tecnifibre Multifeel crosses (59 lbs)
• Racquet used for test: Head Speed Pro Auxetic
• Power/Control: Really impressed with this string in terms of power and control. I feel like it had a great balance between the two. The string definitely feels/plays like a string that is between a poly and a multifilament. Most multifilaments (for me) just have no bite or control on the ball and are mostly powerful strings whereas Xalt seems to give me a bit more control but still has a bit of power. The launch angle for this string was pretty low for me at 57 lbs in an 18x20 string pattern.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): I'd say the feel was pretty crisp. Xalt is definitely firmer than most multifilaments but a lot more comfortable than soft polys. I generally get arm pain when using polys or even hybrids with poly mains, but for this string I had no arm pain after 2 hour hitting sessions.
• Spin: Pretty much what I expected out of a multifilament, average spin and not a lot of bite on the ball. I already hit very low flat groundstrokes so I have no complaints. I will say that touch volleys and drop shots felt really great on this string bed and I don't often hit volleys well.
• Durability: With 9 hours in, there is some notching but there's a pretty good amount of life left. I hit decently hard at the 4.5 level but with the 18x20 string pattern, I don't break strings until maybe the 15 hour mark
• Playability Duration: within minutes of the initial hitting, the strings were already all over the place but that's expected out of a multifilament. I'd say the playability lasted for a long time on this one, I didn't notice much of a drop in tension.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I usually like a firmer string bed for control but I'd like to experiment with dropping a few lbs to see if the string maintains it's control properties. Other than that, I was happy with the results at 57 lbs.
• List any additional thoughts (optional): I definitely enjoyed this string and it was one of my favorite playtests. I suffer with golfers elbow so I tend to lean towards softer poly hybrids so this string is a good alternative for players looking for a string that performs well but is soft on the arm. I think my original set up (Quadro twist and multifeel) benefits me more as the poly bites the ball better than Xalt, but I could see myself using a full bed of Xalt in the future if soft polys are out of the question. Serving with this string was phenomenal as well. I had no issues getting pop on my serves and I felt right at home when serving with this string for the first time. When trying new strings out, I usually need an adjustment period to play at my peak level, but with this string, I felt confident in my groundstrokes and I was able to volley a lot cleaner with this string. It's not enough for me to switch from my current setup, but it will definitely be on my radar in the future. Stringing Xalt was pretty nice as well. It definitely felt like a firmer multifilament right out the case and it was very easy to slide the crosses.

HYBRID Section (this is only for those selected to provide an additional review)

• Which string was in mains/crosses? RPM rough mains/Xalt crosses
• Racquet used for playtest: Head Speed Pro Auxetic
• Tension(s) used for playtest: 56/59
• First off, I'd like to say I strung it at 56/59 so that I'd be able to compare it properly with my current set up which is a lot softer (Quadro Twist/Multifeel). I deeply regret stringing this hybrid this high because the launch angle was very, very low. I really had power shots over the net or they would drop in the service box. With that being said, the control on this set up was great in that sense. I will say that the RPM rough seemed to bite the ball pretty well and the hybrid seemed to have pretty good snap back. I didn't have to straighten the strings very often. I think at lower tensions, this hybrid has the potential to be very good and is probably better off having the Xalt in the mains as it almost plays like a soft poly. In regards to feel, at this tension, the hybrid was way too stiff for me. I felt elbow soreness within 20 minutes of hitting due to the RPM rough being strung at 56 lbs. All in all, I would prefer a full bed of Xalt, it played a lot better for me in the full bed as it was softer and had a greater balance of power/control/feel. Please don't let my experience with Xalt as a hybrid keep you away from trying to hybrid it. I would try either putting the Xalt in the mains, or go with a lower tension if I were to try this set up again. Thank you TW for the playtest experience!

Yeah, I would say 56mains with poly and 59 crosses with this string is generally way too high, especially if you have a sensitive arm to begin with. I also believe strongly that you get better snapback and feel with the multi/gut in the mains and polys in the crosses - otherwise the poly mains eat too easily into the multi crosses and lock up.

I strung my full bed of Xalt 53 mains/51 crosses, and my hybrid with 53 Xalt mains, 50 poly cross - hit once with the full bed of Xalt and it felt great! Excited for this since I haven't hit with a multi in a while.

 

[Cowboy]

Well it happened, warming up for my singles match...

Took a close-up of the break

As you can see, true multifilament, you can see all the individual threads. They are tightly wrapped though and maybe this prevents fraying and earlier breakage. You can see in the first pic, hardly any fraying at all.

That is interesting how little fraying there is prior to breakage. It almost looks more like the notching that I see in my poly strings when I cut them out.

I bet it has something to do with that coating. I noticed while stringing that the Xalt seems to have horrible (or maybe excellent) coil memory. It would get wound up around itself and I would have to manually straighten each time to prevent kinks. That aspect made stringing it somewhat annoying. The flip side to that is the coating made pulling the crosses a delight. Another huge plus is that there was zero slippage in my clamps. Some of the other premium multifilament strings (*cough* Wilson *cough) seem to slip in the clamps unless extra force is placed on them.

 

[Chairman3]

That is interesting how little fraying there is prior to breakage. It almost looks more like the notching that I see in my poly strings when I cut them out.

I bet it has something to do with that coating. I noticed while stringing that the Xalt seems to have horrible (or maybe excellent) coil memory. It would get wound up around itself and I would have to manually straighten each time to prevent kinks. That aspect made stringing it somewhat annoying. The flip side to that is the coating made pulling the crosses a delight. Another huge plus is that there was zero slippage in my clamps. Some of the other premium multifilament strings (*cough* Wilson *cough) seem to slip in the clamps unless extra force is placed on them.

I do believe they have come up with a very durable coating/outer shell for Xalt.
Most synguts and multis feel slick then feel more rough, in the hitting area, after use due to the coating wearing off.
This was still pretty slick and the performance very consistent until breakage. The glass beads or whatever seem to be a good innovation. (Assuming it is actually a newer technology)

 

[StringStrungStrang]

That is interesting how little fraying there is prior to breakage. It almost looks more like the notching that I see in my poly strings when I cut them out.

I bet it has something to do with that coating. I noticed while stringing that the Xalt seems to have horrible (or maybe excellent) coil memory. It would get wound up around itself and I would have to manually straighten each time to prevent kinks. That aspect made stringing it somewhat annoying. The flip side to that is the coating made pulling the crosses a delight. Another huge plus is that there was zero slippage in my clamps. Some of the other premium multifilament strings (*cough* Wilson *cough) seem to slip in the clamps unless extra force is placed on them.

I am finding the exact same thing... in that Xalt plays and feels more like a soft poly than a multi to me - not a typical multi. In my hybrid it was low powered and gave the bed just a slight softer feel. I was hoping for more, but this would really suit someone who loves poly but wants to try a low powered multi. It kind of grew on me, but before I could really find a groove with it - it broke.

I am liking the full bed Babolat Xalt experience more ( which is the exact opposite of what I expected ). It just goes to show you there's no substitute for experience. I am finding the power, spin, and predictability much better suited to me. The only downside is the tension maintenance / durability. All strings suffer from this though, but I am feeling these are more to the shorter end of the scale.

 

[Molk]

Well it happened, warming up for my singles match...

Took a close-up of the break

As you can see, true multifilament, you can see all the individual threads. They are tightly wrapped though and maybe this prevents fraying and earlier breakage. You can see in the first pic, hardly any fraying at all.

Wow! A picture is worth 1000 words... I was about to recommend that you do not need string savers with Xalt.

 

[Chairman3]

Wow! A picture is worth 1000 words... I was about to recommend that you do not need string savers with Xalt.

It was after about 10hrs and, for me, that's pretty good durability for a multi.
I did have some early sessions with alot of wind, so wasn't striking the ball as cleanly. Real word I'd say 8-9hrs average and I'm not a particularly spinny player.

 

[evermilion]

50/50 was definitely better. But still a terrible hybrid combo. Might just be the RPM Rough I didn't like.

I just can't get any height with this setup.

 

[Chairman3]

50/50 was definitely better. But still a terrible hybrid combo. Might just be the RPM Rough I didn't like.

I just can't get any height with this setup.

I think it was just your tension. It definitely didn't grab the ball like some shaped mains would, but I had no issue with spin production.
I do feel like spin has declined some, I'm at about 8 hours use on my hybrid. The first few times out the spin was noticeably good, now it's leveled out.
Not sure if it can be attributed to the RPM main or Xalt cross

 

[evermilion]

I think it was just your tension. It definitely didn't grab the ball like some shaped mains would, but I had no issue with spin production.
I do feel like spin has declined some, I'm at about 8 hours use on my hybrid. The first few times out the spin was noticeably good, now it's leveled out.
Not sure if it can be attributed to the RPM main or Xalt cross

Ya, I would probably go a lot lower if I try again. But I might as well play XALT full-bed.

Durability was pretty nice for sure. That outer coating is something.

 

[Cowboy]

It definitely didn't grab the ball like some shaped mains would

100% agree.

I actually expected better spin with this setup. It wasn't awful, but it didn't seem to "help" with spin.

 

[Fighting phoenix]

Put the xalt in the mains! Blast rough is a good cross, as a main it’ll likely dig into the xalt cross and limit snapback