Tennis Warehouse Playtest - Babolat XALT!

[Dunlop300g]

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.

Very cool close up shot. It's interesting to compare your photo with the string construction diagram on the first page of this thread. This says a lot about the construction and how the outer two layers help this string to hold up. I'm comparing the notching in the close up to the actual break; you can also see from the "breakage gap" that there was still a considerable amount of tension in the string bed. The location of the break is super consistent with good ball striking. Either this one-off from the center mains or as you can see the huge notch on the center main; either of these could have gone. Photos like this are a great help in string reviews to be sure; so thanks so much for posting these.

 

[Chairman3]

Very cool close up shot. It's interesting to compare your photo with the string construction diagram on the first page of this thread. This says a lot about the construction and how the outer two layers help this string to hold up. I'm comparing the notching in the close up to the actual break; you can also see from the "breakage gap" that there was still a considerable amount of tension in the string bed. The location of the break is super consistent with good ball striking. Either this one-off from the center mains or as you can see the huge notch on the center main; either of these could have gone. Photos like this are a great help in string reviews to be sure; so thanks so much for posting these.

That's a good point about the gap and something I hadn't really thought of. It correlates with the feeling I had playing though in that I didn't experience a significant decline in tension.

 

[dandruffkb]

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.

Yay, this reassures me. I'm planning to post both of my reviews this week, and I was scared I was the only one to have not-so-great things with the hybrid. Loved the full bed much more. Felt like the ball-pocketing stayed the same in both set up, but the hybrid just didn't feel like I wasn't benefitting much or at all compared to other poly I've used in hybrids (including round ones as well like Hawk Touch or PTP).

 

[Cowboy]

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

I'll give that a shot to see how it compares.

Like I said, I really liked the hybrid setup... so much so that I've already purchased more to keep playing with.

 

[SlowTiger]

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

Too latem too cold for poly. I'm going to have to try out the full bed in indoor court settings

 

[Fighting phoenix]

I've got one stick strung with full bed Xalt, the other w/ Xalt in the mains, Blast Rough in the crosses. Impressions so far - the Xalt full bed feels great - crisp, lots of power, good feel at the net. I played a UTR match (I know - risky to play a "real" match while testing strings I'm not used to since I usually play with a full bed of poly) with the hybrid, and was really surprised by how stiff and poly-ish it felt. Better power and feel than a typical full poly set up, but not that different in a way. Groundies felt great, powerful, spinny, volleys great pocketing and touch. My only gripe was on my kick serve - not the normal bite I trying to kick serves out wide on the deuce court (I'm a lefty) that I get from my fully polys. Really fun play test so far and looking forward to see how both set-ups hold up.

 

[Fighting phoenix]

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.

@Crimsonchen now I totally understand why you're normal hybrid set-up didn't work with the Xalt/Blast Rough at those tensions - even with the Xalt in the mains at 53 lbs and Blast Rough in the crosses @ 50 lbs, this is the stiffest feeling multi/poly hybrid setup I've ever tried. Great strings, but not at all what I would have expected with a multi in the mains - very stiff feeling like a full bed of poly.

 

[Crimsonchen]

@Crimsonchen now I totally understand why you're normal hybrid set-up didn't work with the Xalt/Blast Rough at those tensions - even with the Xalt in the mains at 53 lbs and Blast Rough in the crosses @ 50 lbs, this is the stiffest feeling multi/poly hybrid setup I've ever tried. Great strings, but not at all what I would have expected with a multi in the mains - very stiff feeling like a full bed of poly.

Yep, very low launch angle haha the xalt is almost as stiff as a soft poly and I could feel my elbow falling off after about 20 minutes of singles hitting. I should have strung it in like the 40s lol

 

[Chairman3]

Partially agree with the comments about the lack of forgiveness[softness] in the hybrid.
Mine was rough mains and xalt crosses and I used my normal full-bed poly tension, so that helped keep it softer.

But I did play on a cold (mid 50s) FL night last week, and the hybrid felt more like full bed poly in those conditions. Little stiff, not as nice basically how poly feels when it's cold. So it didn't help there, and that's why I partially agree.

 

[Dberger820]

Babolat Xalt Review (full bed)

1. Tension(s) used for playtest: 55lbs
2. Regular string set-up & tension: Babolat RPM Blast 17g (black) at 50lbs
3. Racquet used for test: 2021 Yonex VCore 98
4. Power/Control: Coming from being used to RPM Blast, I did not have huge expectations for the control section of this playtest. I have tried multifiliments over the years and while they are always powerful, they are never controlled and I get frustrated having to reposition my strings after each point. The Xalt string blew my expectations out of the water. I normally string my poly at 50 lbs so decided to increase to 55lbs due to it being a multi. During my first hit, I was dumbfounded on the feel. It felt more like a poly than a multi or even generic nylon. There was little free power and it felt dead outside of the sweetspot. I was thinking I messed up tremendously stringing it as high as I did. After about an hour though, the strings opened up and became more of what I was expecting. Power was not extreme and I did not feel any hot spots on the string bed. I had no problem directing the ball anywhere on the court. Serves felt very similar to RPM Blast, just with a little less bite on my spin second serve.
5. Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): I would hands down categorize this string in the "crisp" feeling for a multifiliment. I really enjoyed the way it played and how it felt coming from using a stiff poly. I never had any pain in my arm nor did it feel sore after playing a match which can sometimes be the case using RPM Blast, so that is great. The only other multi I have ever used that was even remotely in this string's feel is Dunlop Silk during it's first hour.
6. Spin: This was another area where I was hesitant going into the playtest with the multi. While yes, I did not get the amount of spin of RPM Blast, I did get respectable spin from this string. The launch angle was the biggest thing I had to adjust to as it comes off the string bed like my more traditional Head MG Radical 18x20. Quite a bit lower, but this allowed me to penetrate the court more which is something I have never focused on with the VCore. After 2 hours with this string, I was really grooving with the launch angle and control. Also probably helped that there was more power than RPM Blast and I routinely saw opponents get pushed back where they normally are able to step into my shots.
7. Durability: 10/10 for a multifiliment. Looking at my notes from my playtest, I didn't have noticeable string movement AT ALL until 3 hours in, and then nothing too crazy after 12 hours. Yes, I had to start adjusting my strings but it was moving them a quarter of an inch instead of 3/4 inch after a point. I do note that at 14 hours, I was starting to lose some control of depth as the strings are starting to trampoline more. For me, that is when I have to cut them out. Poly I am able to keep in longer due to them going more dead where multis go more lively as they age.
8. Playability Duration: Top notch for a multifiliment. I have told many guys I play with that don't like polys but like control to check this out.
9. Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): This is tough for me to say. While it felt stiff for the first 1-2 hours, I believe it was more to do with "this is not what I expected" rather than being too stiff. I believe I would keep it at 55lbs again because I really grooved with it for a long time after it settled in.
10. List any additional thoughts (optional): This string was fantastic to string with. Polys get tangled and become difficult towards the end of doing the crosses. This string was very pliable and made for easy stringing. I am unsure where/how glass is fitted into the string, but these feel just like other multis when stringing, albeit a lot less stretching when pulling tension.

Overall I was extremely pleased with this string. It is #1 on my list for people seeking control with comfort. I would be intrigued to see how these play side-by-side to the 'soft' polys as I think Babolat has produced something that really bridges the multi and poly lines. Well done Babolat!

 

[Casper777]

Have put some Xalt sets on my TF40 305 and both Gravities /Tour and Pro)

Really like this string! for winter it feels like a soft round poly (ok a bit more powerful and a tad less spinny) but it definitly does the trick

 

[evermilion]

Babolat Xalt Playtest

Regular Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Tru Pro Black Knight (1.23) @ 48/46 (lockout stringer)
Playtest Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Babolat Xalt (1.30) @ 55/55 (lockout stringer) 5 hours

• Power: Xalt "felt" lower-powered compared to most multifilaments I have tried, but, performance-wise, I did not feel any issues. This might be due to the higher stiffness, giving less of a trampoline-feel than what I was expecting from a multifilament string.
• Control: Extremely consistent response for a multifilament string, in my opinion. I did not experience much erratic launching of the balls that I get with Velocyity MLT in full-bed.
• Feel: I mentioned earlier in this thread, but Xalt felt like a poly in the initial couple hits. Very stiff "feel" for a multi and lacked the soft or mushy feel I usually expect from a multi. I suppose I could say that it's on the crisper side. Honestly, just from this short playtest session, I cannot quite say if this is comfortable or not; I'm a bit concerned/curious about long-term use.
• Spin: Spin was surprisingly very easy to generate, especially when compared to other multis. I felt like I didn't really need to adjust much to reach my comfortable level during ground stroke points. Obviously, when compared to my full poly setup, I couldn't generate the same ball shape in some heavy/spin shots. But, performance-wise, I felt no problem in the spin department. Short-angle shots were definitely a bit harder to execute, compared to my full poly setup.
• Durability: With mostly doubles match play, and about 15-20 minutes of singles ground stroke points, this setup lasted me about 5 hours total. The strings got heavily notched relatively quickly but did not fray at all. But once the outer coating came off, the strings frayed a bit and snapped shortly after.
• Playability Durability: The strings played consistently for the entirety of it's life. But I did notice that towards the end, spin was becoming difficult to generate and I ended up launching some balls long. However, this property is no where near as bad as other multifilaments (e.g. Velocity). Refer to the picture for string snap "gap", someone mentioned earlier in the thread. Tension loss was pretty small, although my reference is a poly setup.
• Tension Recommendation: 55# in VC95 felt okay. If I were to play this again, I would likely use the same tension.
• Additional Thoughts: Compared to my usual setup, the increased power was welcomed, especially considering not much was lost in the control department. Obviously, the spin cannot be compared to a full-poly setup, but I had no issues hitting out and through the ball. The flat serves gained more speed without much loss in control. For kick and slice, I did feel like I had to consciously up my racquet head speed, but that was a minor issue. Volleys and touch shots felt nice, though it took a bit to adjust from my current setup. Honestly, the only downside is the durability; if I were to just play singles, especially against some of the harder hitters in my league, I don't think it'll last 2 matches. Excellent performing string overall. I would be curious how my arm pain responds to it if I use this setup long-term.

HYBRID Review
Playtest Setup 1: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Babolat RPM Rough (1.25) x Babolat Xalt (1.30) @ 50/55 (lockout stringer) 5-6 hours (mostly doubles)
Playtest Setup 2: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Babolat RPM Rough (1.25) x Babolat Xalt (1.30) @ 50/50 (lockout stringer) 4-5 hours (singles and doubles)

• Mini-review: Unfortunately, this setup and my tennis did not go well at all. The immediate issue I had was that majority of my errors were into the net. This gave me the sensation that the setup was extremely under-powered with very low launch angle. This setup was so different from what I'm used to that I simply couldn't adjust, even after ~10 hours of total playtime. In the Setup #2, I lowered the tension on the Xalt cross to 50 from 55, which definitely felt better, but overall sentiment/issues remained. I have never played with RPM Rough, so this experience might not be attributed to the Xalt in the cross. (I would be interested to see how RPM Rough plays in full-bed.) Due to my poor performace sessions, I cannot confidently rate the spin/control, but, if I had to say, RPM Rough had pretty low spin for a shaped string but decent depth consistency, albeit consistent low, short balls. I honestly cannot comment much on directional control due to how bad I felt like I was playing; I was going for too much most of the time and hitting balls wide was common. Additionally, I really struggled to dial in my second serve, as I progressively lost confidence in how much grab I would get from a certain racquet head speed.
• Frictional Properties: The mains required straightening almost immediately at the tensions I tested. The RPM Rough mains have a very slight notch, while Xalt crosses looks to be almost flatted/sanded down at the intersections. Similarly to how Xalt full-bed snapped, Xalt in this hybrid snapped immediately after the out coating came off and frayed.
• Additional Thoughts: 100% I would prefer to play Xalt in full-bed. While I would not consider this particular hybrid, I would not be hesitant to put Xalt in the crosses with different poly string. If strung up against gut or round, smooth poly, I would expect this setup to play fine for a longer period. RPM Rough really shredded through Xalt, as would any poly do against a multi. Overall, this setup felt boardy without much feel; I would consider going down in tension significantly, if I had to give a recommendation.

Thank you to TW and Babolat for once again letting me playtest these strings. Thumbs up to Xalt full-bed!

 

[Cowboy]

Babolat Xalt Playtest

Regular Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Tru Pro Black Knight (1.23) @ 48/46 (lockout stringer)
Playtest Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Babolat Xalt (1.30) @ 55/55 (lockout stringer) 5 hours

• Power: Xalt "felt" lower-powered compared to most multifilaments I have tried, but, performance-wise, I did not feel any issues. This might be due to the higher stiffness, giving less of a trampoline-feel than what I was expecting from a multifilament string.
• Control: Extremely consistent response for a multifilament string, in my opinion. I did not experience much erratic launching of the balls that I get with Velocyity MLT in full-bed.
• Feel: I mentioned earlier in this thread, but Xalt felt like a poly in the initial couple hits. Very stiff "feel" for a multi and lacked the soft or mushy feel I usually expect from a multi. I suppose I could say that it's on the crisper side. Honestly, just from this short playtest session, I cannot quite say if this is comfortable or not; I'm a bit concerned/curious about long-term use.
• Spin: Spin was surprisingly very easy to generate, especially when compared to other multis. I felt like I didn't really need to adjust much to reach my comfortable level during ground stroke points. Obviously, when compared to my full poly setup, I couldn't generate the same ball shape in some heavy/spin shots. But, performance-wise, I felt no problem in the spin department. Short-angle shots were definitely a bit harder to execute, compared to my full poly setup.
• Durability: With mostly doubles match play, and about 15-20 minutes of singles ground stroke points, this setup lasted me about 5 hours total. The strings got heavily notched relatively quickly but did not fray at all. But once the outer coating came off, the strings frayed a bit and snapped shortly after.
• Playability Durability: The strings played consistently for the entirety of it's life. But I did notice that towards the end, spin was becoming difficult to generate and I ended up launching some balls long. However, this property is no where near as bad as other multifilaments (e.g. Velocity). Refer to the picture for string snap "gap", someone mentioned earlier in the thread. Tension loss was pretty small, although my reference is a poly setup.
• Tension Recommendation: 55# in VC95 felt okay. If I were to play this again, I would likely use the same tension.
• Additional Thoughts: Compared to my usual setup, the increased power was welcomed, especially considering not much was lost in the control department. Obviously, the spin cannot be compared to a full-poly setup, but I had no issues hitting out and through the ball. The flat serves gained more speed without much loss in control. For kick and slice, I did feel like I had to consciously up my racquet head speed, but that was a minor issue. Volleys and touch shots felt nice, though it took a bit to adjust from my current setup. Honestly, the only downside is the durability; if I were to just play singles, especially against some of the harder hitters in my league, I don't think it'll last 2 matches. Excellent performing string overall. I would be curious how my arm pain responds to it if I use this setup long-term.

HYBRID Review
Playtest Setup 1: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Babolat RPM Rough (1.25) x Babolat Xalt (1.30) @ 50/55 (lockout stringer) 5-6 hours (mostly doubles)
Playtest Setup 2: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Babolat RPM Rough (1.25) x Babolat Xalt (1.30) @ 50/50 (lockout stringer) 4-5 hours (singles and doubles)

• Mini-review: Unfortunately, this setup and my tennis did not go well at all. The immediate issue I had was that majority of my errors were into the net. This gave me the sensation that the setup was extremely under-powered with very low launch angle. This setup was so different from what I'm used to that I simply couldn't adjust, even after ~10 hours of total playtime. In the Setup #2, I lowered the tension on the Xalt cross to 50 from 55, which definitely felt better, but overall sentiment/issues remained. I have never played with RPM Rough, so this experience might not be attributed to the Xalt in the cross. (I would be interested to see how RPM Rough plays in full-bed.) Due to my poor performace sessions, I cannot confidently rate the spin/control, but, if I had to say, RPM Rough had pretty low spin for a shaped string but decent depth consistency, albeit consistent low, short balls. I honestly cannot comment much on directional control due to how bad I felt like I was playing; I was going for too much most of the time and hitting balls wide was common. Additionally, I really struggled to dial in my second serve, as I progressively lost confidence in how much grab I would get from a certain racquet head speed.
• Frictional Properties: The mains required straightening almost immediately at the tensions I tested. The RPM Rough mains have a very slight notch, while Xalt crosses looks to be almost flatted/sanded down at the intersections. Similarly to how Xalt full-bed snapped, Xalt in this hybrid snapped immediately after the out coating came off and frayed.
• Additional Thoughts: 100% I would prefer to play Xalt in full-bed. While I would not consider this particular hybrid, I would not be hesitant to put Xalt in the crosses with different poly string. If strung up against gut or round, smooth poly, I would expect this setup to play fine for a longer period. RPM Rough really shredded through Xalt, as would any poly do against a multi. Overall, this setup felt boardy without much feel; I would consider going down in tension significantly, if I had to give a recommendation.

Thank you to TW and Babolat for once again letting me playtest these strings. Thumbs up to Xalt full-bed!

Kudos for consistent strike zone. I'd be curious to know your thoughts on a hybrid where the Xalt is the main and RPM Rough is in the crosses.

I'm still working on my review and going through the playtest, but as of right now, I'm the opposite..... i liked the hybrid more than the full bed. I also did the RPM in the mains.

Also, how long do most multi-filament strings last for you? 5 hours seems short, so I'm curious how this stands up to your expectation.

 

[ten11]

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 58lbs on constant pull
• Regular string set-up & tension: tier 1 firewire 53/natural gut 55lbs
• Racquet used for test: babolat aeropro drive original
• Power/Control: I have this string full bed at 58lbs, which is few lbs higher than my normal setup. On both wing, I can provide good amount of spin and control the ball very nicely. For the power, it is about right for me and not too powerful, I will drop for 2 lbs to gain a bit more power.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): at 58lbs, it felt stiff. It is very nice to produce spin but not feel so good on volley.
• Spin: as mentioned before, this string produce good amount of spin for a multifilment string. I can produce plenty of spin from ground stroke on both wing.
• Durability: I like the durability part of the string. after hitting over 15 hours, I have not seen much significant wear from the string.
• Playability Duration: after 15 hours, it still play nice and I start to enjoy the string more. possibly I start to get use to the feel the the string bed.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): for a full bed, I will consider 56lbs next time on this racket. I would like to have a bit more power for the setup, particularly for the serve. by dropping 2 lbs, I hope I can get a softer string bed to have a bit more feel in volley.
• List any additional thoughts (optional): I would think this is a great cross string for a hybrid setup.

Thanks tw and babolat for the play testing opportunity.

 

[evermilion]

Also, how long do most multi-filament strings last for you? 5 hours seems short, so I'm curious how this stands up to your expectation.

I usually don't play full-bed, but mix in Velocity in the cross when my arm's getting sore. If I'm playing just doubles matches, it usually gets me to middle of 3rd match, so average ~5-6 hours. In singles, it depends a lot on who I'm playing but 1-2 matches, so anywhere from 2-4 hours I'd say. I think Velocity is more durable of the multis I've played with, but I think Xalt is just as durable. I would probably expect an extra hour or 2 when playing full-bed.

Not sure what to make of my hybrid impression. I did hybrid, full-bed, then hybrid, just to give it some time between the session. I still didn't feel comfortable. Possible 50# might have been to high for my taste.

 

[appdach96]

Babolat XALT Full-Bed review

Tension: 58lbs in a full bed

Regular string setup: Diadem Evolution 17g or Technifibre X1 Biphase in red @ 58 lbs

Racquet : Yonex Ezone 2022 100 inch

Power / Control - this string provides good control and power for my groundstrokes, felt like not as much control on my volleys.

Feel- this string felt more mute than the 2 strings I prefer to use. I was not a huge fan of this string in the feel department. Felt like I did not have as much touch on my volleys. It felt crisp almost like a poly, just was not a fan, and it could have been due to the tension I strung it.

Spin- I had no issues generating spin with this string. Topspin was easier to produce that a good backhand slice, but overall a good result.

Durability- I played 10+ hours with this string with zero issues. I am not a string breaker, plus the coating seems to help the durability.

Playability Duration- After the 10 or so hours, I had my stringer cut it out and put my string back in. Something about the crisp more muted feel did not work with my game.

Tension recommendations- I always string @ 58 lbs but wondering if I went lower if I would have enjoyed the string more.

Additional thoughts: I wish I would have liked this string more...again, possibly at a lower tension I would have. Truly thankful to Babolat & Tennis Warehouse for allowing me to try this string. Always like trying new options in my setup to enhance my game. Also it is cold here in North Carolina, and where I live no indoor courts, this could also have been a factor in how the string performed for me. Thank you again!

 

[Fighting phoenix]

My Review of Xalt in both a full bed and as a hybrid (Xalt mains, RPM Blast Rough crosses) - headliner: Xalt is a great crisp multi-filament option for those not wanting to play with a poly! Not the best option for those seeking more comfort through a hybrid

FULL BED Xalt tensions used for playtest: 53 mains, 51 crosses

• Regular string set-up & tension: usually full bed of a softer poly, such as Toroline Wasabi, or a crisper stiffer poly like Lynx Tour, ~51 lbs mains, 49 lbs crosses
• Racquet used for test: Head Auxetic Extreme Tour
• Power/Control: Power was great - easy depth on ground strokes, easy put away power on volleys and overheads, flat and slice first serves packed a punch. In short, power was great, and control was just fine and better than I expected from a multi-filament. In short, great trade-off as I was getting more free power with only slightly less control than I would get from a full bed of poly. More controlled than other multi-filaments I've played with, such as Bi-phase and Gamma Professional. Similar control to Velocity MLT, but more power than that string.
• Feel - crisp and comfortable would be the way I'd describe it. It felt like a combination of a crisp poly and some of the crisper multi's and syn guts I've used in the past. I absolutely loved the feel of this string in a full bed, and I would also add that touch and general feel for the ball was excellent.
• Spin - as expected, not as spin friendly as my usual full bed of poly, especially on my second serve (always a kick serve) and a first serve I use trying to kick out wide on the deuce side (I'm a lefty). Definitely more spin friendly than a typical multi-filament however, and if I wanted to switch to a multi, I would for sure put this on the top of my list since I do value spin given my style of play. No issues generating the top spin and slices I need, just a notch below what I'd get from a poly string.
• Durability - after two sessions, notching did begin to occur, but not as extreme as I've experienced with other multis and syn guts and fairly easy to simply straighten out. After 8 hours of play, they are fairly notched but have not broken - I typically would break multis and syn guts after about 10 hours, but I only played with this string for 8, and my hunch is that it would have lasted longer than what would usually happen.
• Playability Duration - playability remained great throughout the 8 hours - tension maintenance was fantastic (only lost a few pounds over the 8 hours, according to my handy ERT device), and notching did worsen but I didn't notice a real drop off in playability or spin.
• Tension Recommendations - I thought 53 lbs was perfect, and could even have gone down a couple pounds given the cold weather and the relative stiffness of the string compared to other multi-filaments.
• Summary: GREAT multi-filament option for those who want more comfort and power than they would get from a poly. I love the crisp feel, acceptable level of spin generation, and extra pop I was getting. My favorite non-poly to date!!

HYBRID:

• String in mains/crosses: Xalt in the mains @ 53 lbs, RPM Blast Rough in the crosses @ 50 lbs.
• Racquet used for playtest: Head Auxetic Extreme Tour
• As someone who's experimented often with hybrids in the past, I highly recommend keeping the multis in the mains, as it provides the benefit of the power/feel you get from the multi with much better snapback/spin as the multi mains slide better across a poly cross vs. the reverse, where the poly mains quickly dig into the softer multi crosses and lock up (and it's much better to not use a shaped poly with a multi/poly hybrid). In this regard, this set-up worked great, as even after multiple hitting sessions, the Xalt mains were still sliding nicely across the RPM crosses and spin generation wasn't a problem.
• I was surprised by how stiff this hybrid set up played - although it was more powerful and somewhat more comfortable than a full poly set up, it still felt much stiffer than I expected. If I were to want a more comfortable hybrid, I'd probably choose a multi that was softer than Xalt, or maybe it would have worked if I used a very soft poly cross like MSV Swift (although this Rough version of RPM Blast is softer than a typical poly).
• I absolutely preferred Xalt in a full bed - similar level of spin and comfort from the hybrid, but more power and feel as a full bed. I didn't find that the hybrid provided any of the benefits that I would expect to get from having more poly added to the mix.

Thank you TW and Babalot for this opportunity! I think Xalt is a winner, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a non-poly option (and I think there are too many that play with polys when they shouldn't, for arm health reasons and because it isn't helping their game!)

 

[dandruffkb]

Include the following in your review:

• Tension(s) used for playtest:
  • 54 lbs
• Regular string set-up & tension:
  • Yonex PolyTour Pro @ 52 or 54 lbs depending on racket
• Racquet used for test:
  • Yonex VCore 100
• Power/Control:
  • Subjective portion! I would say that it is high power if coming from a very stiff poly, but I usually play with soft poly, and it is very comparable in terms of both power and control. If soft polys exist, this string fits in the similar aspect... is hard multi a thing...? To me, this is Babolat's version of Tecnifibre Triax except it's fully multi, quite impressive!
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
  • I have TERRIBLE wrist issues, and despite the string bed feeling stiffer when moving the strings and such, it was comfortable to play with. I mean when tugging on the strings, it felt stiff on the stringbed, but actually playing? Not at all! Does the job like any multi in terms of comfort! In terms of feel... it is definitely on the crisper side for me!
• Spin
  • Again, relating to thing I typed above, full multi that plays like Triax. Impressive spin, impressive control, overall just impressive full multi string without needing the poly reliance that Triax has. If I need to give a more definitive response, 6/10 when comparing it to a poly, and 9.5/10 for a multi (idk what can make it a 10, I just feel weird giving a 10 to a multi in spin)
• Durability
  • For a multi... it had greatdurability! Really nice not having to worry about tension maintenance of a poly on top of the multi not breaking easily. Lasted me 14 hours of hitting-ish? (2-ish of those were doubles).
• Playability Duration
  • went well till it snapped! I mean with the fraying and getting strings in place, it was pretty typical, playability (minus durability) is much better than most polys
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why:
  • For matches, I'd string it up a tighter at like 58 pounds, but for just rallying and practice. Obviously I should have went up but I wanted to compare it to a soft poly at the same tension! Just to reel a tad of the multi power back and have it play really close to what I am used to.
• List any additional thoughts (optional):
  • For a full multi, I found it quite impressive. A game changer for intermediates who refuse to use multi thinking poly is the only way to get control. I may revisit it soon and try to get myself a direct comparison between this and Triax.

HYBRID Section

• Which string/tension was in mains/crosses?
  • RPM Rough Mains @ 52lbs // XALT Crosses @ 56 lbs
• Racquet used for test:
  • Yonex VCore 100
• Mini Review: Power/Control/Spin:
  • Overall, it is still a hybrid, so higher control was given; however... I genuinely did not see a noticeable increase in spin... which to me does not make sense. Maybe it was an off week...? Felt like my ball kicked the same and again, I just expected more poly aspect out of this setup. Now, mentioned earlier, I have TERRIBLE wrist issues, and I felt this one almost immediately. I sacrifice health for performance because I am not the brightest, but this time, I was sacrificing health for nothing. Felt like the full bed did nearly everything better except control BUT NOT BECAUSE OF SPIN, but because it was just overall... low powered of a poly. I've mentioned before that I view control of strings in 2 aspects, spin vs low powered (respectively hyper g vs razor soft). This was the latter.
  • I will say that the ball pocketing felt great on this set up though. It was pretty satisfying if you trust your shot, the feel makes it genuinely pretty fun to hit with, but performance-wise, I felt like this hybrid setup was lacking a lot. Messing with hybrid setups is always exhilarating and exciting but this might be the first time I prefer the poly part of the hybrid to just vanish and let me play with the full bed. IT WAS NOT AN UNPLAYABLE set up, it was just not giving the poly characteristics I expected it to.
• Extra comments:
  • Obviously, based on the review, I prefer the full bed XALT. But this is either a testament to...
    • RPM Rough being a let down of a poly
    • OR...Xalt being amazing for a multi!
      • Since I love babolat as a brand... let's say it is the second half

 

[SlowTiger]

Babolat Xalt Playtest

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 55
• Regular string set-up & tension: OEHMS Matador Strike or Genesis Hexagonic @45. Normally got 60 with multis like Xcel but went lower based on racquet choice
• Racquet used for test: Babolat Pure Strike VS
• Power/Control: I found the power lower for a multi but it wasn't as low as poly levels. The power here is actually helpful in the pure strike VS as the racquet is low powered and already a control oriented racquet. The strings also didn't feel as controlled as say a poly but overall the combo works well in this racquet. People compared the power to velocity. Been a while since I used velocity but I can see why people say that. Thing is, when I had 2 identical racquets, one string with velocity mains and poly crosses at 55/52, it was still way more powerful then the other racquet with full bed of poly at 45.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): crisp but comfortable. Strings had good feel and even though a lil stiff, prefer the feel and connection over then synthetic gut. I do prefer my multis a lil softer if I'm purposely using multis. Still don't know why people compare this to a poly.
• Spin: Average for a multi sooo...Not good. Strings are great when going full hrs but when you slow down the racquet head speed, I find the balls float or just spray long. Strings don't generate any free spin to keep the ball in like a poly would. Polys really are like cheating when compared to multis.
• Durability: So far so good. I normally play multis till they break and about I'm about 6 hours in, I see some notching but not much. I normally break 16g multi in my Dunlop cv 3.0 in 10 hrs. This may last a lil longer because of the smaller he and string pattern or spacing. It's holding tension well so I'll keep using it through the winter season.
• Playability Duration: As mentioned, the tension is holding well between sessions which is great and the weather is preventing me for playing more. The string also just notched enough where I think I like it. I might sound weird on this but I like my multis notched. I find them more predictable and easier to rip flat shots when multis notch
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I would keep the same.
• List any additional thoughts (optional): They way they described the string reminds me of the rexis line. This is the rexis feel and excel would be the rexis comfort. The rexis feel might supposed to be softer then the comfort but the comfort loses playability and turns mushy after about 4 hrs to excel. Xalt looks like Xcel but with a glass bead layer and seems to hold it's firmness better. My preference goes to rexis feel but it breaks too fast so I would use rexis is money wasn't an issue. As for playability and durability, I'd go with xalt

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

• Which string was in mains/crosses? RPM M / Xalt C
• Racquet used for playtest Dunlop CV 3.0
• Tension(s) used for playtest 48m/52c
• Provide a mini-review of the hybrid, touching upon the control, power, spin, feel and any other details you'd like to share. Of particular interest are the frictional properties, specifically whether manual straightening of the mains is required. Please also feel free to comment on whether you prefer Xalt in a full bed or hybrid, and briefly state your reasons. 100% choose Xalt as a cross over FB. The Xalt holds tension well and held its shape. Didn't turn to mush so it allows me to play with the set up longer and doesn't spray balls everywhere. The string also has a smooth coating or shell that holds together so the string doesn't fray the same way nrg does. I really liked it as a cross, only thing is, does it justify more then twice the price of prince premium control? But regardless it makes a great cross. As any poly/multi hybrid there was some string straighten. This started around the 6 hour mark which is pretty good but still very playable and the cross made the bed not soft but comfortable. I think the coating or layers slow down the shaving as a cross and isn't as beneficial in a full bed as the mains still notched in the full bed. I was on 10 hrs of this before I switched to the full bed of xalt and I can see playing this till it breaks which is prob about another 10.

 

[jim e]

• Tension(s) used for playtest
• 57 lbs, mains and cross strings on electronic cp machine.
• 
  
• Regular string set-up & tension
• Klip natural gut uncoated, 16g. 61 lbs
• 
  
• Racquet used for test
• Head Radical mp zebra
• 
  
• Power/Control
• Power was sufficient, although lower than my normal natural gut, but that was to be expected. But had decent power compared to any poly string I have hit with. Control was very good, more so than my regular set up of gut. Was able to hit the baseline shots with more wide open swing and still had very good control. Made me feel more confident on baseline bashing. E
• 
  
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
• Feel was definitely crisp. A good feel, as compared to my normal gut set up that is more muted, this is a crisp feel. Did not take to long to get use to the feel, and after a few sessions hitting felt rather good, especially on volleys.
• 
  
• Spin
• My normal strokes is old school Eastern forehand flat strokes, but I do place spin as needed. This string provided ample spin for my type of hitting, but so does my natural gut set up. Very similar as far as spin with either string set up.
• 
  
• Durability
• So far after about 12 hours singles hitting, string is holding up well, and still very playable. Most likely the string will hit well for much longer. Had to switch to hybrid string set up to give enough time for that review.
• 
  
• Playability Duration
• Like I stated above, after 12 hours of singles , string still playing well. Very little wearing noticed, then again I am not much of a string breaker.
• 
  
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
• Most likely I would keep the tension the same at 57 lbs. The feel and control was working well for me at this tension.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
• With the comfort and feel with this string, it can easily be a decent string to replace my natural gut when humidity is high or damp weather, other than a little lower powered, this string can be substituted for the gut for me with no issues.

HYBRID SECTION

• Which string was in mains/crosses?
• XALT/RPM
• 
  
• Racquet used for playtest
• HEAD Radical mp zebra
• 
  
• Tension(s) used for playtest
• 57/54
• Provide a mini-review of the hybrid,
• Control : Control was fantastic! This is where the strings played so well for me. Great control from baseline, as well as serves. Power was lower , but the control more than made up for that. It's an amazing set up for me.

• Spin: Although I hit a relatively flat style hitting, this setup was great with the spin when I needed it.My second serve, for kick serve was great with this set up with way much more kick to it. That feature alone makes it a great set up. No doubt I will be playing more time with this set up, although the feel is more crisp compared to the full set up of the XALT , the control, makes it a very playable string for my game. I have about 8 -9 hours singles hitting so far, and when it breaks or no longer playable, I will be stringing another racquet the same as this one with the hybrid, as the control along with my second kick serve doing so well with this set up, I will be using it for a while.

 

[Molk]

Babolat Xalt Playtest

Regular Setup: ProKennex Black Ace 105-ISOSPEED Professional Classic 17/1.20 String
@ 52 lbs (drop weight stringer)

Playtest Setup: ProKennex Black Ace 105-Babolat Xalt 16/ (1.30)
@ 52 lbs (drop weight stringer)

• Power: 7.5/10 Xalt was slightly lower powered compared to the ISOSPEED Professional Classic I currently use, and about the same power level of NXT or Xcel. There is plenty of power. Gut does have more power than Xalt.
• Control: 8.5/10 Xalt control was very consistent and predictable for a multifilament category of string. From drop shots to lobs, the control is very good.
• Feel: 9/10 Xalt is much more comfortable than poly and the feel on every shot is almost as predictable as poly. The feel also did not change over the duration of play, from day to day even after being in the trunk of my car during cold weather.
• Spin: 6.5/10 Spin was not good compared to a poly but good compared to other multis. Xalt Spin was superior to NXT or Xcel. My belief from my experience and observation was that the snap back was good for about 3 or 4 hours. After 3 or 4 hours of play, spin is more challenging.
• Durability: 9/10 The coating is “the secret sauce” of Xalt. Xalt has good snapback with minimal notching. Please note that I am a senior tennis player and do not break strings like some of the other play testers, so I did not experience fraying and still have the full bed of Xalt in my racquet after 7 hours of play. I do string racquets for other players and usually recommend string savers because their expectation is the string, a premium multi should last for 2 to 3 months for some players.
• Playability Durability: 9/10 Exalt plays consistently until you start to lose some of the snap back. The loss of snap back makes spin a little more challenging to consistently hit. Tension loss was very minimal compared to all strings.
• Tension Recommendation: 52 lbs is a good initial starting point. It would be interesting to see how low you could go to get a little more power. Maybe 46 lbs?
• Additional Thoughts: Xalt is absolutely a top line multi. As I mentioned the coating is very good and I experienced no kinking when stringing. Even though it is a multi you will think you are hitting with a very comfortable poly until the snap back goes away.

HYBRID Review
Playtest Setup 1: ProKennex Black Ace 105- Babolat RPM Rough (1.25) mains x Babolat Xalt (1.30) crosses @ 52/55 (drop weight stringer) 6+ hours.
Playtest Setup 2: ProKennex Black Ace 105-Babolat RPM Rough (1.25) crosses x Babolat Xalt (1.30) mains @ 52/55 (drop weight stringer) 6+ hours.
Mini review: Setup 2 was my favorite. I have never been able to use a multi in the mains because of frying and breaking. The superior coating provided minimal notching and more snapback. It would be an interesting setup to have Xalt mains and smooth poly crosses for comfort and pocketing. Setup 1 was stiff, and I would be concerned about my elbow and shoulder with lots of play.

Frictional Properties: For a consistent review I did not use lotion on the strings. I have experimented with lotion to minimize notching and maximize snapback and wear on polys and multis before. Given the great coating that Xalt has, I think lotion would have greatly increased snapback and spin. Or I may have tried string savers. The outer coating of Xalt is the best that I have seen for a multi string.
Additional Thoughts: Considering the wear of hybrids Xalt is your top of the list best choice for a multi that I have experienced. Using it as a main I may use string savers or lotion for more play. Great job Babolat!
Many Thanks Tennis Warehouse and Babolat!

 

[stapletonj]

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

Same info as original full bed review on racket, usual strings, etc.

Which string was in mains/crosses? I went with the provided rough in the crosses and put the Xalt in the mains.

Racquet used for playtest same as original (2018 Yonex vcore 100)

Tension(s) used for playtest - stayed at 58 on the mains and went down to 53 on the crosses.

Provide a mini-review of the hybrid, touching upon the control, power, spin, feel and any other details you'd like to share. Of particular interest are the frictional properties, specifically whether manual straightening of the mains is required. Please also feel free to comment on whether you prefer Xalt in a full bed or hybrid, and briefly state your reasons.

This is the most positive review I have ever given for a multi/poly hybrid setup. This is my new "go to" for anytime I feel that my usual gut/ploy combo is inadvisable (weather extremes, etc.)

My earlier review was positive for the full bed, but like gut in a full bed, I felt a little "mushiness". The hybrid has taken care of that. Still very arm friendly. The poly in the crosses did allow for some more spin than the full bed. I felt a slight increase in power, probably due to the poly moving more readily over the string bed, even though it is billed as "rough", allowing the mains to bend a little more. (Could be psychosomatic)

In a hybrid, I'm calling this combo 90% as good as a good gut/poly combo for 55% of the price. (price differential on the crosses is nil, compared to a full bed of gut vs full bed Xalt)

 

[stapletonj]

Frictional Properties: For a consistent review I did not use lotion on the strings

It puts the lotion on it's strings, or it gets the hose again? ohhhhh, I am sick sick sick

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Babolat XALT Review (s) Hybrid and Fullbed (to come in the next post)

Which string was in mains/crosses? Babolat RPM Rough 17 Mains, Xalt 16 Crosses

Racquet used for playtest: Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19 , weighted to 11.9 oz. / 338 grams strung, with over grip & vibration dampener

Tension(s) used for playtest: RPM Rough 17 @ 47 lbs Mains / Xalt 16 53 lbs crosses

I think Babolat has redefined the multi experience with Xalt. It plays and feels somewhat closer to a poly than a multi. Those looking for a firm multi will have found a string they very much like, while those looking for a soft multi may be disappointed. That is a key point with Xalt because I think it plays differently than what most expect out of a multi. This is both good and surprising depending on what you want from your strings.

Control 6/10: Control was good, but initially I struggled and just wasn't connecting. For me that was due primarily to the low launch angle. Thankfully, after a couple hours the strings opened up a little and I started getting more used to them. The launch angle (or lack of ) was much much lower than what I have been accustomed to in my previous poly / multi hybrids.

Power 6/10: Somewhat crisp, not dead, but not a lively setup. Power was muted so perfect for those with big swings looking to generate their own. I expected more power (since I’d just been playing a similar setup with Volkl Cyclone 16 ) so I mistakenly stung this a couple pounds tighter to keep everything under control. That was my mistake, not understanding that Xalt plays closer to a soft poly.

Spin 6/10: . Spin was not bad at all, but from a textured poly I was expecting more. As the string loosened up after the first couple hours I felt spin increased too. Again for those generating spin by crushing the ball I think this setup may suit you beautifully. In fact the hard I swung the better in played, but I never really developed enough confidence in this set up.

Feel: 5/10: Similar to my take on spin, I didn’t get the feel I was hoping for from a multi. Since Xalt is new I wasn’t aware that it would play and feel stiffer than a traditional multi. It does. IMO there are a ton of players that could and should take advantage of this type of string – rather than harsh stiff poly strings. In this setup, I was left wanting more.

Other thoughts/ details:

Initially this was not a combo at the tensions I chose that suited my expectations, so I struggled to adjust. I strung it too tight and if I had it to do over again I would string it much lower on both the mains and crosses. Knowing what I know now, somewhere near 44 / 47 would suit this racquet and my game much better. I generally like textured/ shaped poly mains with softer crosses, so I was looking forward to this playtest and the chance to try out the new Xalt multi from Babolat.

What I did not expect was how much stiffer Xalt plays than most multis (compared to Babolat Xcel or Yonex Rexis ). In this regard, Babolat (with the glass bead coating) did a great job developing a multi that shares the stiffness of a soft poly while giving better playability than many polys.

As I mentioned Xalt is a new breed of Multi, much firmer than most multis and I think it helps to bridge the gap between Multis and Polys. It wasn’t a string that moved much, so for those who cannot stand straightening strings – you will like this point. I always think it takes about 3 string jobs to dial in the tension for a new set up and in the case Xalt (seeing that it has a different make up than most multis) that is definitely true. I think the next time, thanks to this experience, I could come much closer to what I’d like.

Durability: In Xalts favor the string did not fray, move or change too much before it broke. I played about 10/11 hours or so in this hybrid before the Xalt broke. FWIW I am not a big string breaker and usually play polys so I cut them out long before they would break. Poly characteristics change quite a bit after 8-10 hours so if you are restringing then you won’t find much of difference. If you are expecting to play longer – you will likely feel disappointed.

Key point: As mentioned above, the launch angle was so low, especially in the beginning, so I had to over compensate and that negatively impacted my consistency. I never really felt connected the way I like. Still I don't think this is the fault of the strings, rather my misconception that Xalt would play like a typical multi - which it definitely does not! IMO Babolat has given us a great new take on what Multi can be and do - now it is up to us to figure out how to use it effectively!

Thanks to Babolat and Tennis Warehouse for making this playtest possible !!

 

[Cowboy]

IMO Babolat has given us a great new take on what Multi can be and do - now it is up to us to figure out how to use it effectively!

I will second this.

I've written my review for the most part, but I plan to play tomorrow night, so I'm waiting to put the finishing touches and post. That said, I fully agree with this statement.

 

[Chairman3]

The Chairman3's review of full-bed Xalt and RPM.Rough/Xalt hybrid.....

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 50lbs

• Regular string set-up & tension: A lot of different polys at 48lbs, some go-to's are BBO and PT Strike

• Racquet used for test: Wilson Ultra Pro 16x19, customized

• Power/Control: The fact I only had to go up two pounds over my normal poly tension really says something; I'll touch on this more in Tension Recs. Suffice to say, this is a lower powered multi. Poly users would find a response similar to a soft or "powerful" poly but the feel is different, more on that later. The power level was very controllable which was nice. Control was average to good. Not exceptional, but I do think you can really dial that in with tension without sacrificing comfort. I felt a bit more confident with the hybrid but that had more to do with generating spin, directionally there were no real issues. The lower powered response is very predictable.

• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): The feel was pretty direct and comfortable. It is firmer for a multi but maintains that "not made of plastic" feel. In other words, it feels like a multi not a poly but, again, a lower powered feel/response. It isn't so springy like some multis. Never had any comfort issues and I think poly players could get along with it.

• Spin: Spin was pretty good for a multi. I commented in an update, most multis and syngut lose whatever slick coating they have to generate spin, this did not. I know it has some glass bead something or other, so it is almost as if the coating is baked in and doesn't wear off. Was spin on the poly level, no, was it pretty decent, yes. Spin also pretty much maintained until the string broke, another positive and improvement over most other multis/syngut. I felt far more confident in the hybrid despite the "decent for a multi" performance.

• Durability: So mine broke right about 10 hours. The last full-bed multi I used was 5-6, so nearly twice the durability. Is this enough compared to poly and in consideration of the price, no. I have a few polys I get more time out of bevause I don't break poly. I also had a few very windy sessions early on causing inconsistent contact on the stringbed. While nominal, I do think it elongated my time before breakage slightly. Also if I were only to play singles it would probably break quicker as well. Durability was good for a multi and it speaks to its ability to work in a hybrid too.

• Playability Duration: I touched on a lot on Durability but will add a bit more on playability. Playability duration was very good. The whole 10 hours right up to breaking, I didn't have a noticeable change in how it played. No significant drops in tension, maybe a marginal loss of spin potential but very marginal. This is a vast improvement over other multis/synguts. Typically they start moving and get loose as they near breaking, this one did not. It did have alot of movement from very early on, but I never felt it was launching the ball or uncontrollable.

• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I only went 2lbs over my normal poly tension, which is pretty good. It illustrates the lower powered nature of Xalt. I liked the performance at 50lbs, I would probably try 48 just for fun though. So unlike a lot of more powerful multis, you don't really need to tension up that much to control it.

• List any additional thoughts (optional): Bar none, this is a great string. I really enjoyed using it and it is in the top 5 of strings I've tried in 2023. I don't know how unique the composition of the stirng is, but it works well. My normal caveat, however, price. I am first and foremost a bargain shopper [cheap] and I admit it. So for the price and what I get out of it, I'm not really a buyer. But if you can't handle poly, want something less springy than Triax, or don't care about price, this is probably for you. It performed really well across the board.


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

• Which string was in mains/crosses? I went traditional (for rec players); RPM Rough mains and Xalt crosses

• Racquet used for playtest: Same as above, Ultra Pro 16M customized

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 48lbs, my normal full-bed poly tension

Mini Review...

• Power/Control: Power actually felt almost the same as full-bed Xalt which is likely attributable to the 2lbs lower tension. The hybrid had a very nice blend of power and control. I don't think it gave me better linear/directional control, it was more control in the sense of controlling with spin. I did feel as though control declined as time wore on, likely from tension loss. It has not remained as predictable as the full-bed Xalt did.

• Spin/feel: Spin was definitely on tap. Rough mains provided excellent spin. Nice tight dipping spin and excellent kick on serves; shoulder/head high bounce every time with the kick serve. It was great. As with control, I do feel that spin started to diminish after 6-7hrs, not sure if it was losing its snapback or the Xalt was getting worn down, but I perceived less spin. Feel was pretty good, with one exception. On a colder evening, the stringbed did feel more similar to all poly in cold weather. That dead kind of semi-harsh feel, not as wirey as all poly but not as comfortable as I thought. Aside from that, comfort was great and it had the right amount of liveliness without being trampoline-ish. For the most sensitive of elbows/arms, there are likely softer better options out there. But for some who doesn't quite want full poly feel but does want full poly control and spin, this fits that bill.

• Playability duration/durability/tension: I used for about the same as full-bed, about 10hrs. It is no where near breaking, no fraying or anything. I do feel tension loss, a bit less spin, and less predictability. I will probably use a bit longer to see what happens, but it is definitely not at its peak anymore. As with Xalt, the strings were moving pretty quick after hitting with it the first time. This doesn't really bother me. One other note, the crosses may have "flattened." I've heard others mention this, never experienced it much myself until I started looking at these strings. They look a little flat, assumingly from friction, but it could also be an optical illusion as the poly mains did cause black streaks on the Xalt crosses. I don't know the ramifications of "flattened crosses" assumingly some change in feel and string movement, but just putting it out there. Normal poly tension seemed about right for me. If you use a full-bed of super stiff and dead poly, you might need to tension up a bit. But with poly mains, you get all the poly benefits with added comfort of multi crosses.

• Additional: This was a really nice hybrid. It reignited my love for hybrids. Down the road, I intend to test the reverse of xalt mains and poly crosses. I really don't think it'll beat this though. I think Xalt is a great candidate for hybridization as a cross string. Nice durability and not overly powerful. It allows you to [mostly] keep your normal tension too. With a poly that holds tension better, you'd be looking at very long playability. For me, the hybrid beats full-bed Xalt simply because Xalt broke and the hybrid didn't. In addition, the spin potential is much greater and the comfort was only very slightly less. The positives of the hybrid far outway the negatives.

As always, a huge thank you to @TW Staff. I am always grateful to be on these playtests and Babolat really brought out a winner in Xalt. I hope string companies continue to revolutionize non-poly strings.

 

[Coxsg]

Babolat Xalt Review


-Tension used for playtest: 58/58
-I normally play with Alu Power 1.25 at 55lbs
-I play with Yonex Vcore 98 2023

Power/Control

Xalt has plenty of power. Even at 58 pounds, I had trouble consistently keeping the ball in the court. I had to flatten out my shots more than I like to keep the ball in which led to more balls in the net and inconsistent depth. I felt more control/feel/touch on serves and volleys than my usual setup of poly, but the lack of spin and higher power decreased the control on baseline rally shots.

Feel

Xalt reminds me of Isospead cream or Technifibre Triax. Not as muted as the multifilimants I’ve played with like NTX and Velocity. Not as crisp as any of the polyesters I like such as Alu Power or Yonex PTP. The string was very comfortable. I didn’t have any pain in my wrist or elbow even on off-center hits.

Spin

I didn’t think this string provided any more spin than a traditional multi and less than poly. I was looking for more spin to control the ball and I had trouble creating the RHS to get enough spin without launching the ball out which forced a flatter trajectory, a slower RHS, and less spin.

Durability

The sting broke after 2 hours of practice and 1 ½ sets. This is about what I get out of Triax and a little less than poly. It was also very cold out (mid-50 F) which seems to make strings break a lot faster. The play was consistent for the entire duration of the string's life.

Tenson Recommendations

I don’t usually go much higher than 58lbs but I wondered if cranking it a few more pounds would have helped with some of the control I was lacking.

Additional Thoughts:

I’m always looking for the comfort of a multi with the lower powered control and spin of a polyester string. This string obviously isn’t that, but it does seem more controlled than a typical multi. It is very comfortable. I can see myself keeping a few sets around if my arm starts to give me some trouble. I would consider it for doubles where the benefits of extra touch and power would outweigh the loss of baseline rally control.



Hybrid Set Up

• RPM Blast Rough in the mains and Xalt in the crosses
• Racquet Yonex Vcore 98 2023
• Tension 55/58lbs

Review:

I hear people talk about trying to blend the properties of two strings in a hybrid to get the best of both worlds. In my experience, you tend to get the worst of both worlds. This case was no different. I had the discomfort of RPM blast and the reduced spin of Xalt. The setup wasn’t horrible I just don’t see the point. If I’m going to have a string set up that is somewhat uncomfortable, I at least want the performance characteristics of a poly and if I get reduced spin and control, I want the comfort. The hybrid hit similarly to full bed RPM with similar control and deadness but with less spin. I didn’t notice any increased comfort over a full bed of RPM. The stings did seem to get stuck out of place and require manual straightening. I have about 1 hour in and no change in performance some notching but hasn’t broken yet. I would prefer a full bed of Xalt for the increased comfort or a full bed of RPM for the control and spin.


Thanks to TT for my first playtest. It was a lot of fun.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Babolat XALT Fullbed Playtest Review

Tension(s): 48 mains / 50 crosses
Regular string set-up: Shaped Poly 45 / round poly 47, lately Hyper-G 17 / Nano Vendetta 16L.
Racquet(s) used: Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19, Project One weighted to 337 grams

Hybrid or Fullbed?: I generally play and like hybrids better than fullbed string jobs, but in this case I preferred Babolat XALT fullbed vs the hybrid with RPM Rough. I liked the overall experience better and since XALT is new I got a chance to see its specific characteristics rather than blended with another string. I never really got going/felt confident in the hybrid, but XALT in a fullbed felt good from the get go. Funny that even though XALT fullbed (likely due to my poor choice of tensions) I feel pretty sure hybriding this string as a cross will be the best use this string for me ... whenver I figure out the right tension and partner string.

Power 8/10 : Where the hybrid was low-powered, XALT by itself has plenty of easy, controlled power. Low powered for a multi, but still enough pop. This made a great difference on all my shots: serve, return, FH and BH. More power than a typical poly / poly hybrid. Serve popped more and I could put my opponents in danger more easily. With great power comes great responsibility – so you need to be able to control yourself too! Volleys and overheads were awesome and there is nothing more satisfying than the solid thud of a ball well struck with a multi or gut.

Control 8/10 : There are many parts that make up my feeling of control and consistency is a big one. This string is consistent, which make playing it easier and confidence inspiring. XALT has better control (less power) and a crisper feel than typical multis. In my Pure Strike 98 it felt right at home. It is a tweener string, which may serve as a bridge to polys for some or as a compliment some harsh low-powered polys. It does not absorb the big hits on returns like some polys, but it’s not a detriment either. In fact, since it is a bit livelier you make find yourself trying to exploit weak second serves or attacking just bit more!

Feel 8/10 : Crisper than a typical multi, more muted than a soft poly. I felt connected and mostly in control of my shots. If you are looking for a string that takes a step closer to poly without using a poly, try Xalt! It’s got a more direct feel rather than overly soft. This makes XALT relatively comfortable while firmer/crisper than let’s say Babolat XCEL Did I mention comfort? Compared to full poly this is a dream, which should come as no surprise to anyone. Compared to most multis is crisp and controlled. I know discussion of feel by many is overlooked, misunderstood or not valued, but excellent feel is what gives me confidence in my shot to take advantage of the power or spin etc.

Spin 6/10 : Not bad for a multi but not outstanding compared to polys either. This is why hybriding this string makes the most sense to me, because it will benefit greatly from a spin oriented main. Full poly (shaped / textures) easily wins in spin / bite on the ball – but this is no surprise. XALT does do well to impart spin and suits a slower racket head speed more than a stiff poly; so perfect for those who don’t generate enormous RHS due to injury, age or lack of technique, which probably includes a large segment of the playing population. I felt spin on slices, serves and dropshots was better than most multis.

Durability 7/10 : The string held up well for 12-14 hours, so longer than in the hybrid. During that time it played well and maintained its consistency. After a few hours you could see some light notching and then they were more pronounced around 6-7 hours, but not much fraying to complain about. I think Babolat glass bead coating contributes quite a bit to this.

Playability Duration 8/10 : While XALT lasted 12-14 in a fullbed, it was playable to the very end before it broke.

Tension Recommendations: I strung it like I would a very soft poly, a little higher than my regular tensions of 46/48. XALT seems to have a lot of flexibility in tension ranges and seems to work at lower tensions as well as higher tensions making it a string that can work for a wide range of players in a fullbed and as a cross.

Additional thoughts: While I’ve personally played fullbed polys for quite some time, usually a poly / poly hybrid, I can see now more than ever how relevant traditional and new age multis (like Xalt ) and even synthetic gut can positively impact my game. Each style of string has attributes that can be selected and blended to enhance your game. It makes perfectly good sense that as your game evolves - shouldn’t your string setup? As I mentioned in my hybrid review, Xalt is a string that is redefining what we think about multifilament strings. And because it is unique, players and stringers have to figure out how best to take advantage of this “tweener” string. We can see the trend of strings and tensions becoming softer for polys and Babolat’s XALT is letting us know that multis are still here and very relevant.


Thanks to Babolat and TW !! XALT has opened my eyes to the latest new and interesting developments in the area multifilament strings. So many times string and racquet manufacturers claim that they've developed something new and exciting and as we all know usually the product doesn't live up to the hype. Well in this case Babolat's XALT is new and different and I think it will surprise a lot of people if they try it.

PS If TW (Michelle ) does another Babolat interview podcast please ask about how XALT was developed and what player segment they saw XALT fitting into.

 

[dtkim]

Babolat Xalt Full Bed and Xalt/RPM Rough Hybrids Playtest Review

Once I got a selected email notice from Tennis Warehouse, I prepared my three matched Head Pro Tour 280 MP racquets for this playtest. I received two 40 ft sets of Babolat Xalt 1.30 mm/16 gauge (white) and one 40 ft set of Babolat RPM Rough 1.25 mm/17 gauge (grey) playtest strings on Wednesday (11/1/2023). I cut all three 40 ft playtest sets into two pieces of 22 ft (for mains) and 18 ft (for crosses) lengths since I decided to playtest two different hybrid Xalt/RPM Rough setups, one for the mains and the other for the crosses. I strung all three PT280s using the Egnas FLEX 740 drop-weight string machine on Thursday (11/2) without any issue. I took an extra time stringing each racquet to minimize any stringing induced string bed erratic behavior. On average, it takes me about couple of hours to complete stringing a racquet.

From Saturday (11/4) to Tuesday (12/12), I played tennis exclusively with these three dedicated playtest racquets. My impression on Babolat Xalt full bed setup is that it provides a multi like feel and comfort with co-poly like playabilities. The durability of Xalt is impressive for multi string, and it was fun playtesting this in a full bed. For Xalt (mains)/RPM Rough (crosses) and RPM Rough (mains)/Xalt (crosses) hybrid setups, both provided an improved feel and comfort level while maintaining co-poly playabilities. There is subtle difference between these two hybrids playabilities, however, I enjoyed playing with both playtest setups.

Here are my Babolat Xalt full bed, Xalt/RPM Rough hybrid, and RPM Rough/Xalt hybrid playtest report based on my opinion.

Tensions used for playtest:
Used Egnas FLEX 740 drop-weight string machine to string all three playtest setups. Held the set drop-weight tension about couple of minutes for every string before moving on to the next tensioning string. Because Xalt is 16 gauge with the durable outer wrap and RPM Rough is 17 gauge, I choose a smaller tension differential between the mains and crosses.

Racquet 1 Strings (Tensions): Xalt 16 (mains at 53 lbs) / Xalt 16 (crosses at 53 lbs)
Racquet 2 Strings (Tensions): Xalt 16 (mains at 53 lbs) / RPM Rough 17 (crosses at 52 lbs)
Racquet 3 Strings (Tensions): RPM Rough 17 (mains at 52 lbs) / Xalt 16 (crosses at 53 lbs)

Regular string set-up & tension:
My regular string setups are Kirschbaum Max Power Rough, Tier One Black Night, or Ashaway Kevlar 16 gauge as mains at 52±1 lbs, and Head Lynx Tour 17 or Tecnifibre Razor Soft 17 as the cross at 52±1 lbs on my Head Prestige Mid (18x20) and Head Midplus (18x20) racquets.

Racquets used for playtest:
I had thoughts about using Head i.Prestige MP (18x20) for the Babolat Xalt full bed playtest, but I had three PT280 available for this playtest and I was curious about how the Xalt full bed performs on PT280. So,…

Racquet 1: PT280 MP, 18x20, customized at 380 g static weight and 8-point HL (unstrung).
Strings (Tensions): X16/X16 (53 lbs/53 lbs)
Racquet 2: PT280 MP, 18x20, customized at 380 g static weight and 8-point HL (unstrung).
Strings (Tensions): X16/RPMR17 (53 lbs/52 lbs)
Racquet 3: PT280 MP, 18x20, customized at 380 g static weight and 8-point HL (unstrung).
Strings (Tensions): RPMR17/X16 (52 lbs/53 lbs)

Power/Control:
Babolat Xalt provides powerful shots with the good ball controls. The ball seems to go faster when compared with my regular string setups. I believe that the multifilament construction helps to aid powerful shots and the outer wrap provides co-poly like ball controls. Including Xalt on all three playtest setups enhanced power and snapbacks when the outer coating is in a healthy state. All setups delivered the good power and provided decent controls during the serves, baseline shots, and volleys when needed. X16/X16 full bed setup provided the best power, and RPMR17/X16 hybrid setup provided the best control. However, I played much better with X16/RPMR17 hybrid setup on some days.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: X16/X16 - Power (9.5/10) and Control (8.5/10)
Racquet 2: X16/RPMR17 - Power (9.5/10) and Control (9/10)
Racquet 3: RPMR17/X16 - Power (9/10) and Control (9.5/10)

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Playtest string tension is within in my normal setup (mains @ 52 ± 1 lbs / Crosses @ 52 ± 1 lbs). Including Xalt on all three playtest setups enhanced the feel from the string bed. All playtest setups provided me with a comfortable mute feel during the ball impacts when compared to my regular setups. X16/RPMR17 and RPMR17/X16 hybrid setups provided comfortable firm feel. X16/X16 full bed setup provided the best feel.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: X16/X16 - Feel (9.5/10)
Racquet 2: X16/RPMR17 - Feel (9/10)
Racquet 3: RPMR17/X16 - Feel (9/10)

Spin:
All playtest setups provided the controllable spin generation when needed. X16/X16 full bed setup generated a great amount of spin when a good technique was applied. Xalt provided excellent snapbacks when the outer coating stayed healthy, thus enhanced spin. The setups with RPM Rough hybrid generated a more spin due to the grippy string surface. RPMR17/X16 hybrid setup provided the best spin.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: X16/X16 - Spin (8.5/10)
Racquet 2: X16/RPMR17 - Spin (9/10)
Racquet 3: RPMR17/X16 - Spin (9.5/10)

Durability:
I logged 24 playtest days since 4 November. Each day when I was at the tennis court, I rotated all three racquets and played at least 30 minutes with each setup.
No string has broken on any of the three setups after over 12 hours of playtest. However, Xalt on all three setups are in bad shapes due to the deep notching and fraying, but still holding together. Xalt durability is impressive for multifilament string.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: X16/X16 (Over 12 hours of playtest) - Durability (8.5/10)
Racquet 2: X16/RPMR17 (Over 12 hours of playtest) - Durability (8.5/10)
Racquet 3: RPMR17/X16 (Over 12 hours of playtest) - Durability (8.5/10)

Playability Duration:
My usual cases with all my monofilament poly or co-poly strings, my mains get notched, and crosses get elongated without any notching. The notches on mains gradually increase to a point where the playability declines due to the crosses getting locked on the mains notches and restricts the crosses to move vertically. My three playtest setups showed similar results as well, however, RPMR17/X16 hybrid presented less notching on mains, and displayed more wear and fraying on crosses. The durable outer wrap on Xalt does provide what is needed to improve the playability duration. Over 12 hours of playtest for each setup, all three playtest setups provided consistent playability with no sudden drop off in power, control, feel, and spin.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: X16/X16 - Playability Duration (9/10)
Racquet 2: X16/RPMR17 - Playability Duration (9/10)
Racquet 3: RPMR17/X16 - Playability Duration (9/10)

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time – why?):
All three playtest tension setups worked out well for me on PT280 MP (18x20) racquets. String beds were muter and more comfortable while providing the playabilities like my regular setups. In addition, no string was broken throughout the playtest period. I may vary the tension within +/- 2 lbs based on the different racquet head sizes and string gauges selected.

List of Any Additional Thoughts (Optional):
The Babolat Xalt 16 full bed setup on PT280 MP (18x20) provided a nice blend of feel and comfort with co-poly like playabilities throughout the playtest period. Any noticeable notching appeared after 4 hours of playtest. It took an additional 6 hours to observe the notches that were deep enough to see the fraying on the center mains. The snapback and durability were impressive for the multifilament construction string. Minor string adjustments were made toward the end of playtest period due to the deep notching and fraying. A total of over 12 playtest hours logged for Xalt full bed setup without a string breakage is notable.
Hybrid the string bed with the co-poly and Babolat Xalt on either mains or crosses enhances feel and comfort without degrading the co-poly playabilities. I really enjoyed playing with all three playtest setups. The player looking for something in-between multifilament and co-poly strings, I recommend trying out Babolat Xalt.

Thank you to @TW Staff and Babolat Company for the awesome Babolat Xalt and RPM Rough strings playtest opportunity, and another very positive strings playtest experience with a lots of workouts.

 

[M Pillai]

Babolat Xalt playtest​

Full bed of Babolat Xalt

• Tension(s) used for playtest
  • 54lb all around (both mains and crosses)
• Regular string set-up & tension
  • Volkl Cyclone17. 54lb mains & crosses
• Racquet used for test
  • Wilson RF97 Autograph v13
• Power/Control
  • While stringing itself it was clear that this string is somewhere in between a typical multifilament string and a co-poly string. During the playtest I found this to be true. The power is slightly less than a true multifilament string, but a lot more than a poly string. But I found that with not enough stiffness and with early loss of tension, it was definitely hard to control. It is not too surprising that Xalt provided less overall control than a typical poly string like RPM blast. But I was really surprised to experience that Xalt provided less control than a typical multifilament string like Babolat Xcel, at the same tension. I even had a side by side comparison done between a full bed of Xalt and a full bed of Xcel, just to be sure. I believeI completely lost any touch/feel on Xalt, and possibly it will take more time for me to get used to it.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
  • Mushy & Comfortable. The positive is that Xalt was extremely comfortable on arms and there were absolutely no issues to arm even on mishit shots. But there was no real “feel” or feedback, and I was unable to execute with confidence any touch shots or drop shots. Overall I find that I personally prefer a bit more Crisp feel.
• Spin
  • I was not having high expectations regarding spin for this string. But I would say this did provide satisfactory spin for its class. Of course it was not getting the spin of a poly, and within an hour of hitting strings started to stick, and lost all of its snap-back. But there was enough ball pocketing, and possibly slightly more spin than a typical multi.
• Durability
  • Average. Xalt broke on the 9nth hour mark for me. But this was not a clean break, and I broke it on a mishit serve. I assume I could have gotten another 3 hrs or so on the strings, based on the condition I see from inspecting the broken string bed.
• Playability Duration
  • I felt like Xalt performed best, fresh right out of the stringer. But quickly deteriorated its snapback characteristics (within 3 hrs). I would say the performance held for another 5hrs, and beyond that it was not giving me enough confidence during hitting. The string movement (due to stickiness and loss of tension) high by the 8th hour mark. So for me personally 8hours is the typical playability duration using Xalt in full bed, which is below average.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
  • Yes. Definitely I would go for 2lbs-4lbs higher tension (56lbs-58lbs). I believe this may provide a bit more control. Also since the string is anyway going to be sticky, it should be OK to have a locked string bed (even at the cost of snapback/spin).
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
  • Just scanning through my review notes above, it seems I was too critical of Xalt. But I believe there is a clear market for a string like Xalt, for folks who want a slightly lower powered string than a typical multi, but do not really get any benefit from co-poly strings. Also I do acknowledge the innovative idea, and all the research and hard-work went into finding the right materials and combinations to create such a string. Now that being said, I personally feel that if the outer layers of the string are made to last better snap-back for longer periods, it may have a bigger impact on the overall playability of the string.

Since there was enough packs of string, and I string my own racquets, I decided to do two Hybrid setups for side by side comparison.

HYBRID Section #1

• Which string was in mains/crosses?
  • Mains: Babolat Xalt 16
  • Crosses: Babolat RPM Rough 17
• Racquet used for playtest
  • Wilson RF97 Autograph v13
• Tension(s) used for playtest
  • 58lb mains (Xalt)
  • 54lb crosses (RPM Rough)
• Provide a mini-review of the hybrid
  • I am so glad that TW and Babolat provided a chance for me to try different combinations. What a huge difference just by increasing the snap-back of the string bed. I personally felt this to be a much more enjoyable setup, than a full bed of Xalt. The overall feel was still a lot more softer than a full bed of Poly, but at the same time, I did not feel any issues with control. The launch angle was slightly lower than a full bed of Poly which I typically use, but the spin was still there, and gave me enough confidence to hit through the shots. What really surprised me is that, the RPM rough on the crosses, somehow enhanced the feel of the Xalt in mains. I was able to hit the touch shots and drop shots with a lot more confidence than a full bed of Xalt. I still would prefer a full bed of Xcel for touch/feel shots, but this was still a big improvement over a full bed of Xalt. Serves were particularly noticeable in terms of its action after bounce. And yes because of the snapback I did not have to adjust the strings often, especially in the early half of the play test. Towards the 8hr mark I noticed reduced snapback and loss of tension and properties. Overall this was a very enjoyable playtest, and I am pretty sure I can get used to this setup, and possibly even use it in matches. But I think durability is still a factor, since the notching was too high at around 10hr mark, and by then the movement of the mains were not giving enough confidence.

HYBRID Section #2

• Which string was in mains/crosses?
  • Mains: Babolat RPM Rough 17
  • Crosses: Babolat Xalt 16
• Racquet used for playtest
  • Wilson RF97 Autograph v13
• Tension(s) used for playtest
  • 54lb mains (RPM Rough)
  • 58lb crosses (Xalt)
• Provide a mini-review of the hybrid
  • I decided to try this hybrid for a side by side comparison with the Hybrid#1. I can clearly say that in this hybrid the mains (RPM Rough) dominated the properties. I was very tempted to get another pack of RPM Rough and try it along with this setup side-by-side to see if I can notice any difference. Either way, this setup was in no-way comparable to the Hybrid#1. The properties were a lot different. Manual straightening of mains were not required for the usable period of the playtest. There was good snapback and excellent spin as well as control. Touch/Feel shots were average, but was not much different than my typical full bed of Volkl cyclone. Aggressive baseline rallies were very consistent, and felt good confidence on depth control. Overall I felt the Hybrid#2 was pretty enjoyable, but I would still question what would be a real motivation to go with this hybrid, instead of a full bed of RPM Rough. I would expect this Hybrid to be slightly more comfortable than a full bed of Poly (RPM Rough), but I am not sure whether there is enough difference.

Overall I feel like this is a good step in terms of string innovation. But I believe, the properties probably had to be refined further, to define its class. Even though both hybrid setups were very enjoyable for me, recent string advances spoiled us to expect more. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to be part of this playtest, and also for providing enough flexibility to try different combinations of strings in this playtest.

 

[jwocky]

Thank you to TW (@TW Staff) and Babolat (@Babolat Official) for a great combination of strings for this play test.

STRINGS: Two sets of Babolat XALT 1.30 mm and Babolat RPM Rough 1.25 mm

PLAYER:
All Court Player with variety, will add spin or flatten as needed, one handed backhand (mostly).
Played on the high school team, university intra-murals with Dunlops (Maxply Fort - wood, McEnroe Autograph - graphite)

TEST SETUP:
Time for this test was split between singles and doubles for a total of just under 20 hours per racquet over the last six weeks. This averages to four (4) hours singles and six (6) hours doubles. Average temperature at evening playtime in the first half of November mid-50Fs, upper 40Fs in more recent weeks with breezy conditions.

375 g | 68.58 cm | 31.0 cm | 343 kg cm² | 21.19 | 177.625 kg cm² | 0.474 | 538 kg cm²
All are 18x20 and listed as 95 sq in frames
CX 200 Tour (2021) - Red - 25 kg (55 lb) full bed XALT
Aerogel 4D 200 - White damp- 25 kg XALT / 23.7kg (~52 lb) RPM Rough
Aerogel 4D 200 - Green damp - 23.7 kg RPM Rough / 25 kg XALT

REGULAR SETUP: Racquets as specified above with Yonex Poly Tour Rev 1.30 mm (Orange).

EXEC SUMMARY: Full bed Babolat XALT - plays like a comfortable, soft co-poly as a full bed and it is a premium multi that should give Tecnifibre X1 BiPhase (of which I string a lot ) a run for its money. As a hybrid, I preferred RPM Rough mains, XALT crosses over XALT mains, RPM Rough crosses primarily for control at the selected play test tensions. All three were competitive set ups, but I felt most a home with RPM Rpugh mains/ XALT crosses in the test conditions. At the culmination of the test period, personally, I would increase the XALT tension marginally by 0.5 kg for the winter and 1.5 kg for the summer (for my set of racquets). This applies to full bed and hybrid.

FULL BED XALT: [ CX 200 Tour (2021) - Red - 25 kg (55 lb) full bed XALT ]

• Power/Control - This was the most powerful of the three set ups and, while the control was adequate given the 18x20/95 sq in the racquet used, I would have preferred a slightly higher tension for the full bed. The play experience itself was quite pleasing.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - This really felt like a soft co-poly like Razor Code Soft and in the cold playing conditions felt crisp/stiff yet comfortable. There was definitely more perception of ball pocketing than in the hybrids.
• Spin - I do not have problems generating spin so no issue here. Clearly, a round multi is *not* going to have the bite of a Tourna Silver 7 Tour, which I still use on occasion.
• Durability - There is still life in the full bed , although balls are starting to launch long. However, I think the 1.30 mm XALT defintely has better lifespan than Tecnifibre X1 1.30 mm (in my racquet).
• Playability Duration - Playability duration is fine, and would be longer if I had strung the full bed a bit higher.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why) - As noted above, at the culmination of the test period, personally, I would increase the XALT tension marginally by 0.5 kg for the winter and 1.5 kg for the summer (for my set of racquets). This applies to full bed and hybrid.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) - I believe this a great competitor to Tecnifibre X1 at the price point and definitely an innovation b=y Babolat.

HYBRID XALT/RPM ROUGH: [ Aerogel 4D 200 - White damp- 25 kg XALT / 23.7kg (~52 lb) RPM Rough ]

• Power/Control - This was second most powerful of the three set ups, but still controllable.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) -
• Spin - I do not have problems generating spin so no issue here
• Durability - I did not have any issues with durability
• Playability Duration - There is still life in the string bed after the time spent and I do not intend to cut it out yet.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why) - As noted above, at the culmination of the test period, personally, I would increase the XALT tension marginally by 0.5 kg for the winter and 1.5 kg for the summer (for my set of racquets). Why? For better control.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) -None

HYBRID RPM ROUGH/XALT: [ Aerogel 4D 200 - Green damp - 23.7 kg RPM Rough / 25 kg XALT ]

• Power/Control - I had the best power/control combination from this set up.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - While this set up felt the stiffest of the three compared, it was still comfortably crisp.
• Spin - I had the best spin production from this set up.
• Durability - I did not have any issues with durability
• Playability Duration - There is still life in the string bed after the time spent and I do not intend to cut it out yet.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why) - As noted above, at the culmination of the test period, personally, I would increase the XALT tension marginally by 0.5 kg for the winter and 1.5 kg for the summer (for my set of racquets). Why? For better control.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) - None

 

[Cowboy]

Include the following in your review:


Full Bed

Tension(s) used for playtest: 55 lbs.
Regular string set-up & tension: Luxilon 4G / NXT Control Hybrid (aka Wilson Duo Control)
Racquet used for test: Wilson Blade 100L v8

Many have said "Love at first strike." I was sort of on the fence after first strike. I considered starting at a lower tension, but I start all my full bed multi string jobs at 55, so I stuck there for consistency.


Power/Control: I found this to be a pretty low powered multi. I was taking what felt like pretty solid cuts and they weren't flying long. I did have a few fliers, but not many. Control is where it needs to be. I didn't have any errant shots....or if I did, it wasn't because of the strings. I had some touch shots that were absolutely surgical....dropping on a dime just over the net. The "killshot" as I started calling it (which is really just a short dropshot). On the flip side to that, as some matches went long, I had a few that I just couldn't place where I wanted.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Others have said it felt crisp to them. I didn't get that. I can definitely agree that it feels like a soft poly when striking the ball. It definitely isn't mushy, but I would say it was a bit more muted than other multi strings that I've used. Off-center shots were not harsh, but you could definitely feel a very rewarding sensation when you hit the sweetspot.

Spin: This is one of the best spinning multis that I've used. There's one other that seems to generate more when it is new, but I generally try to avoid direct comparisons in reviews. There are just too many strings available to expect that info to be useful for all. So with that being said, I found spin to be excellent for a multi. Yes, I added the "for a multi" qualifier. Even without the qualifier, it still does a good job at assisting with spin generation.

Durability: I'm not a string breaker, so I'm going to be limited in how I can speak to durability. That said, I have a little notching, but the outer coating is still in tact. As others have said, the outer coating seems to be the special sauce. I would say that this is a very durable string...it might not even need the "for a multi" qualifier.

Playability Duration: As with most multifilament strings, they play good until they break....or at least I'm assuming that is the case, as I'm not a string breaker. They might have a slight break-in period. They were a little on the stiff side when I first strung them up, but I haven't really perceived any change in play characteristics. Given the expectation of a multi playing good until breakage, and these seemingly more durable than the competition, I expect a long playability life.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I will probably drop it down a little. Maybe 53lbs. I don't have a real fast swing, so a little extra power from the strings helps my game. I do like to spin, so I'd be curious to see how the spin and control change with a slightly lower tension.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
I had more movement in the mains after just 1 hour than I've had on any other string that I've played with. I assume that is a result of the outer coating. It wasn't terrible. I didn't feel the need to straighten them out more than once, but I found it odd that there was much movement at all.

This feels kind of weird to say, but I feel like these are an advanced string. What I mean by that, is these seem like a string for a more advanced player. I would highly recommend this to someone who is a seasoned player, and probably not someone who is just starting out. This string seems to have all the characteristics to be an absolute weapon for someone at a 3.5 or higher level. I would probably not recommend this to someone in the 3.0 or lower range. I'm a 3.0 player and trying to break into the 3.5 (or 3.5-) level. I had some points where it just played beautifully. I'm pretty sure there were times where my opponent thought I should be playing at a higher level. However, I also had a few points where I felt like I didn't know how to play tennis. Those came late in my match where fatigue started to set in and my form was probably suffering. So in short, if you know what you are doing, these can be a VERY REWARDING string. However, they are not the most forgiving, so take that for what it's worth.

I expect to return to these as my game improves. I'm also going to try them in 17 gauge. I plan to keep these in until they break, so I'll update here as appropriate.


HYBRID Section
Which string was in mains/crosses? RPM Rough 17 Main / Babolat Xalt 16 Cross
Racquet used for playtest: Wilson Blade 100L v8
Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 M / 53 C
Provide a mini-review of the hybrid, touching upon the control, power, spin, feel and any other details you'd like to share. Of particular interest are the frictional properties, specifically whether manual straightening of the mains is required. Please also feel free to comment on whether you prefer Xalt in a full bed or hybrid, and briefly state your reasons.

My normal set-up being a hybrid, I was most excited to try this in a hybrid configuration. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! Seriously...loved it. Was it perfect? No. Was it better than my normal setup? Yes and No. I'll elaborate.

I'm a give it to me straight kind of guy, so let's start with the areas where it fell short of my normal setup. Spin and Tension Maintenance. I can put massive spin on the ball with the Duo Control strings. Spin with the Babolat hybrid was just average. Truly "middle of the road" of all the strings that I've tried. Spin with these strings is going to be more about technique, as they don't provide much assistance in generating spin. I cut these out after 8 hours of match play and several practice sessions. Energy stored in the mains was present, but not shocking.

Let's talk about the positives and end on a high note. I felt like I was playing my best tennis with these. Ball pocketing was excellent, and so was control. I was able to put the ball closer to the corner with more confidence that the ball was going to go where I wanted. I never had any arm pain. Touch shots weren't spectacular, but they were still pretty good. I would say power was "good" to "pretty good." They weren't overly powerful, but they didn't leave me wanting either. So I'd say power was "right on" for the most part. My opponent for my last match commented on a long ball deep in the second set "wow. I think that's the first ball you've hit past the baseline all night!"

I think that's a big difference in these and my regular set-up. With the Duo Control, I was launching balls long regularly as time went on. The trampoline effect was real....granted, I traditionally have played with them in the racquet longer. The Babolat hybrid never got "launchy." There was no trampoline effect whatsoever. Sending a ball long was, unbeknownst to me until that comment, rare. It's funny how I didn't notice it on my own, but my eyes were opened after that comment. That likely has something to do with the energy stored in the mains. The 4G had a lot of recoil when cut, whereas the RPM did not. The 4G became trampoline, and the RPM did not.

Since the playtest request specifically calls out straightening of mains, I didn't have to straighten them the first time. I don't play with a ton of topspin, but I play with enough that s-gut strings get pulled pretty far to the side. I could hear the mains move with topspin shots, but they always returned to center. They gave a very satisfying audible click noise when I connected with good topspin. The downside to that is it might have been a warning to my opponent of how the ball would bounce/feel when they returned it...assuming they could also hear it. I did notice that the grey color of the mains looked to rub off on the Xalt crosses. The Xalt developed some divots in the coating where the mains met, but this didn't seem to impact main movement...i.e. the mains never felt locked into place.

In summary, I had more fun playing tennis with these strings than I've had in a while. I only lost one set the entire time they were in the racquet, and that one was lost in the tiebreaker. While I'd like a little more spin, these may be my new go-to string combination. In fact, I've already purchased more RPM Rough (this time in yellow) and Xalt (in both 16 and 17 gauge). I plan to try these again with Xalt in the mains and RPM in the crosses just to see how it compares, but this setup is a winner in my book.

Thank you @TW Staff and @Babolat Official !

 

[Cowboy]

Something to add to my review about the hybrid. Even with a good amount of hours playing with them, they stayed controlled and forgiving. I mentioned that I only lost one set and that was in the tie-breaker. That match went 3 sets and was a little over 3 hours. It seemed like every game went to deuce. I'm sure that my form suffered during that match, but the racquet/strings stayed playing well and kept me in the game.

 

[kevonian]

4.0 / 6 UTR Player
Tension(s) used for playtest: For this playtest, I experimented at 52lbs

Regular string set-up & tension: My regular string setup involves a hybrid of Diadem Impluse in the mains and a polyester string in the crosses, strung at 52 lbs.

Racquet used for test: I used a Diadem Elevate 98 v3 racquet during the playtest.

Power/Control: Xalt string offered an excellent balance between power and control. At 52 lbs, I noticed slightly more power, making it easier to generate depth on shots. But this full bed gave a low launch angle.
Power 9/10
Control 9/10

Feel: The string provided a comfortable and plush feel on impact, steering clear of stiffness. It was neither mushy nor overly muted but had a pleasant crispness that added to the feel without compromising comfort. While plush after being broken in, I would say off the stringer it was a tad stiff on the arm. I have had a some arm problems with stiff polys this would be very low - medium on the stiffness. I would rate Impluse a low stiffness
Feel 8.5/10
Stiffness 4/10

Spin: While not as spin-friendly as some textured polys, Xalt offered a respectable amount of spin potential. The ball gripped well, allowing for good spin production, especially with proper technique.
Spin 8/10

Durability: Being a multifilament string, durability isn't its strongest suit, especially for aggressive players. I noticed some strings looking translucent after about 12-15 hours of play. However, for a multifilament, it held up relatively well. As with most of the other reviews this string does not fray before popping but I noticed it the string looking lighter in color.
Durability 10/10

Playability Duration: The playability remained consistent for around 15-20 hours of hitting. Beyond that, I noticed a gradual decrease in tension maintenance and playability.

Tension Recommendations: For my game style, I'd likely stick with 52 lbs next time. It provided the best balance of power, control, and comfort for my strokes. If seeking more control, I'd consider going higher, but sacrificing some power.

Additional Thoughts: Overall, the Babolat Xalt multifilament string is a fantastic option for players prioritizing comfort without sacrificing too much control or power. It's well-suited for players dealing with arm issues or seeking a softer string bed. However, aggressive hitters might find its durability lacking over extended play. One thing is that even for aggresive hitters there should be less string movement than the traditional syn gut or multi.

It's always important to consider personal preferences and playing styles when selecting strings, but the Xalt's blend of comfort, playability, and decent spin potential make it a strong contender among multifilament strings on the market.


Xalt multifilament string paired with the RPM Blast polyester. Here's a detailed breakdown of my experience with this hybrid setup:

Tension(s) used for playtest: I commenced the playtest journey with the multifilament at 50 lbs for the mains and the polyester at 52 lbs for the crosses, aiming to gauge the nuances of this unique blend.

Regular string set-up & tension: My customary string setup involves a Impulse multifilament in the mains and a roundpolyester in the crosses, both strung at 50 lbs and 52 lbs, respectively.

Racquet used for test: Diadem Elevate 98 v3

Power/Control: This hybrid configuration delivered a compelling mix of power and control. The multifilament in the mains gave a good dose of power into my shots, allowing for depth and ease in generating pace. Conversely, the polyester in the crosses gave good results in the control department, taming power just enough to have good precision and accuracy on each stroke.
Power 7/10
Control 9/10

Feel: String feel is where this hybrid setup truly shone. The multifilament in the mains imparted a plush and comfortable sensation on impact, ensuring a forgiving response and dampening vibrations effectively. Meanwhile, the polyester crosses contributed a subtle crispness and feedback, adding a touch of precision without compromising on comfort. The overall feel was an exceptional blend of comfort and control, appealing to those who crave both attributes in their string bed.
Feel 8/10

Spin: The multifilament's ability to pocket the ball and the polyester's snap-back effect gave great spin. With the right technique, spin enthusiasts will find this hybrid setup more than capable of facilitating impressive ball rotation. The spin lasted throughout the life of the durability
Spin9/10

Durability: As anticipated, the polyester crosses significantly decreased the durability of the string bed. The multifilament, while inherently less durable, did manage to exceed my expectations. The Xalt popped around the 6-7hr mark. Normally, my normal strings of Impulse 1.25 / Poly would last maybe 3 hours so a 100% increase in durability is exceptional.
Durability 11/10 exceeded expectations

Playability Duration: The magic of this hybrid setup endured admirably, showcasing consistent playability until it popped. Tension felt good throughout the 7 hours and some string movement happened. Again no fraying before it popped just the translucency of the string showed more then it popped. So you will know when it is on its last few balls of life
9/10

Tension Recommendations: Based on my experience, I'd maintain the tension differentials between the multifilament and polyester, as it a perfect balance between power, control, and feel.

https://imgur.com/a/ntKv4m3

 

[chauvi88]

Babolat Xalt (Full Bed) Playtest:

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 55 lbs

• Regular string set-up & tension: Full bed poly - Tour Bite 16L, Grapplesnake Tour M8 1.25mm, all strung at 51/48.

• Racquet used for test: Yones Vcore Pro 100 (2021)

• Power/Control: I have play tested this string for roughly 8 hours on 3 sessions. Throughout the play test, I can generate good power on my strokes without much overhit balls. As the play test goes on, the string bed keeps open up and I am able to generate better depth on my ground strokes with more ease. Control-wise, I can direct all hits to where I want with good precision.

• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): This is the first time in a long while that I’ve hit with a multi filament string, therefore the first feel I have is the racquet being much head lighter than usual. It took me roughly 5~10 mins to adjust. The string bed has a firm feel to begin with but never felt stiff or uncomfortable. Whenever my shots hit the sweet spot it gives me that exceptional feedback that basically remains me why it's called sweet spot... And on off center shots the feel is dampened. If my string terminology is correct, this should qualify the string as muted feel? I am not good with these terms so I will keep my explanation just that. But one thing for sure is this string is so comfortable to play with. No arm pain to report!

• Spin: You should have access to really nice spin shots using this string as long as you apply proper technique.

• Durability: I have hit with this string for approx. 8+ hours. The first 5.5~6 hours I have experienced very slight tension drop and the string remains very playable. But during hour 6 thru 8 (last Thursday was a rainy day in the Bay area), I have sort of messed up the string by playing on a wet court surface after rain in the evening. My hitting partner and I were only doing light hitting, but the string would fray severely after the 8th hour. The string remains intact though. Given how comfortable this string is, I may keep playing with it when hitting light strokes until it snaps.

• Playability Duration: 8+ hours and counting. Could remain very playable for another hour or two had I not messed up the string but who knows. I will likely buy another set or two to try again.

• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): 55 lbs is perfect.

Love this string! Thanks TW and Babolat for having me in this play test!

 

[Seth]

Here are my thoughts. As I have done in the past, I avoided reading this thread until I had a couple of sessions with Xalt.

• Tension(s) used for playtest | 55 lbs.
• Regular string set-up & tension | I love hitting full-bed synthetic guts and multis in a dense 18x20. Regular set-up in the Pro Tour 2.0 is PSGD17 at 55 lbs.
• Racquet used for test | Head Pro Tour 2.0
• Power/Control | In my experience, this was a more control-oriented multi. While multis often provide good power, I'd say Xalt is a LOW to LOW-MEDIUM powered string. That said, I was using it in the PT2.0, which isn't exactly a rocket-launcher to begin with. I prefer low/medium power strings anyway. I have long arms and long strokes, and don't need my set-up to give me power. I took big cuts and didn't have any fear of hitting the fence, but I also didn't feel like I had to swing out of my shoes just to get the ball past the service line.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) | When I picked up my racquet from the stringer, I hit the stringbed against my palm a few times and was surprised at how firm it felt. This carried over to my practice session that evening. The sound off the stringbed was high and harsh - not what I expected at all from a multi at 55 lbs. The feel, to me, was crisp and firm, almost stiff. I didn't find the feel to be exactly uncomfortable (like with a stiff poly), but I wasn't a huge fan. I'm actually questioning the accuracy of the tension from the guy who strung my frame. Long story short: I'd like to try the string again at 50 lbs.
• Spin | As John Prime said, "pretty good, not bad. I can't complain." Nothing special from the string department, but I wouldn't expect that from a multi. For spin, it played like a typical multi.
• Durability | I played a couple of practice sessions and two doubles matches with Xalt. All in all, about 8-9 hours. In that time, the strings don't look much different than when I started. There is some notching and some movement, though not nearly as much movement as I would expect. Maybe this is due to the firmer/stiffer nature of this multi?
• Playability Duration | The strings at the end of my playtest period was dang near where they were at the beginning. They settled in/notched of course, but I did not notice any real drop-off in playability. Not like I do with polys, at any rate.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why) | I would absolutely string this lower. I usually don't go lower than 55 lbs. on synthetic guts or multis, but I'd be interested to see how Xalt feels at 48-50 lbs.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) | Thank you TW and Babolat for the opportunity to test this string. While it wasn't my favorite, it's cool to see that Babolat offers true variety among their multis. One final note would be: If I'm going to play a full-bed of syngut or multi, I want a softer response. For the feel of Xalt, I would rather have a soft poly.

 

[fullwesternforehand]

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 55 pounds
• Regular string set-up & tension: Babolat pure aero rafa (pink one)
• Racquet used for test: Babolat aeropro drive 2013
• Power/Control: I wouldn't call this a powerful multi. It definitely leans closer to the control side rather than power. It reminds me of a lower powered gut, where the harder you swing the better control you get. Compared to babolat xcel or wilson multis, this was definitely lower powered.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): This is a wierd part for me to answer but I would say it was like if a soft poly and multi were mashed together. It is sorta crisp, but that quickly goes away and you get thus mutedness which is very soft and not harsh at all. I feel like the string responded well to more strength/faster strokes. The more you put into the swing, the better the string felt.
• Spin: String had decent bit on ball for being a multi, but it was average. I would not buy this string for spin alone, but rather for the other features listed above
• Durability: Durability was average for a multi. I broke it at around the 9 hour mark, and this is with consistently hitting heavy topspin groundstrokes. Maybe if you are more of an eastern grip/flat hitter, it would last longer, but for the modern game, I say it is what you would expect out of a multi
• Playability Duration: Playability definitely changed after the initial hour. The first hour was this wierd, hybrid of a poly and multi feel. Once the string settled in, it felt like a control-orientated gut. From hour 2-9, it felt consistent
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I strung it at 55 to offset the "softness" of it. After the playtest, I feel like you could go higher and not lose any comfort.
• List any additional thoughts (optional): I don't have any other real comments, other than this is a more control orientated multi. I wouldn't use it for the expectation of more spin or power, but as a neutral string that will not change your game. I don't mean this in a bad way, but the string is just very neutral and soft, so it is good for someone looking for something that will not change their game.

As always thanks TW for the chance to playtest products, and for the rest of you, have a merry xmas and happy holidays!!

 

[Lack]

Full bed

• Tension(s) used for playtest - 55 lbs prestretched 20%
• Regular string set-up & tension - Diadem Solstice Black 15L at 55 lbs prestretched 20%
• Racquet used for test - Prince ATS Textreme Tour 95
• Power/Control - Well balanced string of power and control. Medium launch angle. Low powered response compared to other multis. Provides just enough control to full swing confidently.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - Slightly crisp, soft and muted feel. Comfortable even outside the sweetspot. Pure response on ball impact when volleying. Doesn't seem to pocket the ball as much as other multis.
• Spin - This string offers some good bite and snapback compared to other multis.
• Durability - Decent durability. The coating started wearing off after about an hour and half of hitting.
• Playability Duration - The strings started notching and getting stuck in place after about an hour and half of hitting. Tension held consistently well with minimal drop throughout the playtest.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why) - Yes, I would tension it a bit higher for better control.

Hybrid

• Which string was in mains/crosses? - RPM Rough / Xalt and Xalt / RPM Rough
• Racquet used for playtest - Prince ATS Textreme Tour 95
• Tension(s) used for playtest - 55 lbs prestretched 20%
• Provide a mini-review of the hybrid, touching upon the control, power, spin, feel and any other details you'd like to share. Of particular interest are the frictional properties, specifically whether manual straightening of the mains is required. Please also feel free to comment on whether you prefer Xalt in a full bed or hybrid, and briefly state your reasons.

This is where I really enjoyed the playtesting. Stringing wise, I was surprised the Xalt string didn't fray even a tiny bit against the rough poly. I played one of my best tennis with Xalt on the main and a few grams of lead tape at the tip of the frame. Low - medium launch angle. Sharp ball bite with heavy dip on groundstrokes. Lively response on volleys and absorbs the ball well on drop shots. The pace of the flat serve is faster than my usual setup. Also added kick and extra movement on 2nd serves. I am seriously considering to keep this as my main setup. The downsides are the durability of 2 days and manual straightening of the main string is required. Hopefully Babolat makes 1.35g.

Thank you TW and Babolat for this opportunity of playtesting!

 

[Cowboy]

I've recently gone down the rabbit hole of adding weight to the racquet. The Blade 100L has a stiffness rating in the 69 range, but my 1hbh was getting punished. I had to switch to a 2hbh for stability. In practice, with weight, I was able to return to a 1hbh with great results.

The ALTA Winter Mixed season opened yesterday. A little weight in the head and handle does wonders...at least in my case. The spin I was getting with the full bed Xalt yesterday was impressive. So was the power. I was placing hard serves with relatively good accuracy and consistency. This prevented my opponent from cheating up toward the net. After a few hard serves, I could come in with a softer spin serve that was just aggravating to the returner. I think it is safe to remove the "for a multi" qualifier from my original review. The spin generation was great yesterday. It was also below 40 degrees and fairly windy....so miserable conditions to play in. I didn't start to get warm until the second set.

My only complaint from the match yesterday was the sweet spot. I had a few hits where the sweet spot was too sweet. Shots that I didn't feel like I hit any differently went sailing to the back fence. I'm leaning toward this being more a result of the added weight to the racquet, but something worth noting. I had about a half dozen shots that just were just rockets. I don't know what was different about my stroke on those, but I could feel it off the racquet. Again, this wasn't many shots. For the most part, they played very consistently, and these are moving up the list of my favorite multi strings.

 

[Dunlop300g]

I've recently gone down the rabbit hole of adding weight to the racquet. The Blade 100L has a stiffness rating in the 69 range, but my 1hbh was getting punished. I had to switch to a 2hbh for stability. In practice, with weight, I was able to return to a 1hbh with great results.

The ALTA Winter Mixed season opened yesterday. A little weight in the head and handle does wonders...at least in my case. The spin I was getting with the full bed Xalt yesterday was impressive. So was the power. I was placing hard serves with relatively good accuracy and consistency. This prevented my opponent from cheating up toward the net. After a few hard serves, I could come in with a softer spin serve that was just aggravating to the returner. I think it is safe to remove the "for a multi" qualifier from my original review. The spin generation was great yesterday. It was also below 40 degrees and fairly windy....so miserable conditions to play in. I didn't start to get warm until the second set.

My only complaint from the match yesterday was the sweet spot. I had a few hits where the sweet spot was too sweet. Shots that I didn't feel like I hit any differently went sailing to the back fence. I'm leaning toward this being more a result of the added weight to the racquet, but something worth noting. I had about a half dozen shots that just were just rockets. I don't know what was different about my stroke on those, but I could feel it off the racquet. Again, this wasn't many shots. For the most part, they played very consistently, and these are moving up the list of my favorite multi strings.

I'm right there with you on this one. I put about 4 grams at the top of this new Dunlop CX200 which I got from TW on a current "killer deal". Strung this one up with Babolat XALT; I love how that extra weight stabilized this frame and also helps get the needed plow thru. So now I'm consciously telling myself (especially as you noted on the one handed backhand) "shape the ball, shape the ball" as court penetration is not an issue. I love this Babolat XALT for a "California Winter" string; easy on the arm, ample power, nice spin, and this CX 200 has no issues with control. In both the Dunlop 300g and the CX200 the strings seem to be holding up quite well.

 

[Cowboy]

I'm right there with you on this one. I put about 4 grams at the top of this new Dunlop CX200 which I got from TW on a current "killer deal". Strung this one up with Babolat XALT; I love how that extra weight stabilized this frame and also helps get the needed plow thru. So now I'm consciously telling myself (especially as you noted on the one handed backhand) "shape the ball, shape the ball" as court penetration is not an issue. I love this Babolat XALT for a "California Winter" string; easy on the arm, ample power, nice spin, and this CX 200 has no issues with control. In both the Dunlop 300g and the CX200 the strings seem to be holding up quite well.

Same. I put 2g at 3 o'clock, and 2g at 9 o'clock for a total of 4g in the head. I ended up settling with about 5g in the top of the handle to keep the balance point relatively the same. That brings the static strung weight of my blade to an estimated 310g (I don't have a scale that I can use to measure, so taking the TW stated 301 + 4 + 5).

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Demoed a PS 100 16x20 from the local shop strung with fullbed Xalt at “mid-tension”. Whether that means a generic 55 or specific to the racquet’s suggested range giving 52.5, I dunno.

1) Xalt is a stiff multi. It does not have the power of a soft co-poly that’s dropped 15 lbs of tension after a day (think VCT). Despite the stiffness, it does have the comfort of a multi (better than Velocity imo). At the tension it was strung, outside the sweet-spot was lifeless and inside it only gave what you put in. I don’t understand the TWU 95% energy return; maybe at 40 lbs! I called the shop and said if they string it again to go lower than mid-tension, 50 max, at least in the 16x20. I couldn’t feel much of a pocket.

2) It moves, but nothing crazy. It’s closer to Multifeel or NRG2, which snap back perfectly. I HATE how much Sensation moves. XALT is fine.

3) But there is less spin. Despite the stiff, low powered nature of this string, I found myself hitting long because there’s just not enough drop. The trajectory is very linear. It does not live up to the TWU spin potential of 5.3. Sorry, 2.9 max.

Edit: 3) I’m going to need to revisit Xalt in my Aero. I couldn’t quite get my usual spin with the PS1620 strung with my usual hybrid either….so might be good for spin after all (at least when fresh).

4) Launch angle is low, but not terribly so. Just a few too many dead on collisions with the net cord.

5) Slices, while not wickedly spinny, are wickedly controlled.

6) Volleys are a ****ing dream. Playing dubs, I could imagine keeping one racquet with a fullbed and switching to it whenever my partner is serving. Near impossible to hit long but still in the multi power range. Again, wickedly controlled.

7) Serving produced good power. Aced down the T and slice wide, though more wide than slice.

8) Seems comfy enough despite the stiffness. No pain whatsoever and I’m indefinitely recovering from TE.

I want to hate this string because my best shots are groundstrokes and the spin just isn’t there.

I am very curious how it would play in a more open pattern racquet.

I am rocking natty Multifeel 16 mains, Element 16L crosses atm in a 2023 Pure Aero Rafa. Fullbed Xalt wouldn’t be much more expensive, but I’d have to overcome my distaste for Babolat’s excessive plastic packaging.

Control is its strongest quality. There are multis with less spin (LF 1200, RIP Control) but there are multis with more spin (NXT, NRG2, Multifeel, PPC). And all multis have more power, save for maybe Tec’s RPX.

 

[Dunlop300g]

Update related to Babolat XALT longevity in my Dunlop 300g. This frame is 16x19 with a pretty ordinary (not too open) string pattern. 98 sq. in. Maybe a bit less dense than the CX 200 especially in the middle strings (this not referring to the new recently released CX 200, but the one prior to 2024). Just to give you an idea. In other words, it's not a racquet designed specifically for spin like say the CX 300.

I just want to add an addendum now that this string is getting to its end of life (EOL). So I have this in two frames right now and I was hoping to finally break the one that I strung up on 11-21-23 in my Dunlop 300g. The other set is in last year's CX 200 (strung 12/30/23). Ok so on the Dunlop 300g used in the playtest, I've kept this sting in there hitting with it quite a bit hoping to see how long it would take to get it to fray and then break.

I'm not a string breaker per se but I figured by this time I would see a bit of fraying and probably have a break then. What I did see is quite a bit of string movement to where I'd have to straighten the mains quite often. And I did see quite a bit of notching. I felt the string bed was at a point where I was getting some noticeably inconsistent results. So I decided to put in some string savers to keep the strings from moving so much. The result of this was pretty much to confirm the inconsistent nature of the string bed; I can see the crosses have flattened (somewhat rough now) in the middle of the frame with slight discoloration along with notching and lockup on the mains.

Bottom line; seems like the coating is wearing off and as it does it's acting quite a bit more like when a poly bags out rather than when a multi frays and pops. I have seen evidence of this here from the photos of string testers though. So all I'm trying to get at is this ... in some cases it may make more sense, as I'm discovering, to just this one out and move on to a fresh stringbed. So I am impressed by the life span of this Babolat XALT.

So it's on to the Kirshbaum Flash (Black) test for this 300g frame. Keeping the XALT in the CX 200 to the end ... I swear!

https://imgur.com/a/L9ji8gn

https://imgur.com/oXiCHcD

 

[Cowboy]

Update related to Babolat XALT longevity in my Dunlop 300g. This frame is 16x19 with a pretty ordinary (not too open) string pattern. 98 sq. in. Maybe a bit less dense than the CX 200 especially in the middle strings (this not referring to the new recently released CX 200, but the one prior to 2024). Just to give you an idea. In other words, it's not a racquet designed specifically for spin like say the CX 300.

I just want to add an addendum now that this string is getting to its end of life (EOL). So I have this in two frames right now and I was hoping to finally break the one that I strung up on 11-21-23 in my Dunlop 300g. The other set is in last year's CX 200 (strung 12/30/23). Ok so on the Dunlop 300g used in the playtest, I've kept this sting in there hitting with it quite a bit hoping to see how long it would take to get it to fray and then break.

I'm not a string breaker per se but I figured by this time I would see a bit of fraying and probably have a break then. What I did see is quite a bit of string movement to where I'd have to straighten the mains quite often. And I did see quite a bit of notching. I felt the string bed was at a point where I was getting some noticeably inconsistent results. So I decided to put in some string savers to keep the strings from moving so much. The result of this was pretty much to confirm the inconsistent nature of the string bed; I can see the crosses have flattened (somewhat rough now) in the middle of the frame with slight discoloration along with notching and lockup on the mains.

Bottom line; seems like the coating is wearing off and as it does it's acting quite a bit more like when a poly bags out rather than when a multi frays and pops. I have seen evidence of this here from the photos of string testers though. So all I'm trying to get at is this ... in some cases it may make more sense, as I'm discovering, to just this one out and move on to a fresh stringbed. So I am impressed by the life span of this Babolat XALT.

So it's on to the Kirshbaum Flash (Black) test for this 300g frame. Keeping the XALT in the CX 200 to the end ... I swear!

https://imgur.com/a/L9ji8gn

https://imgur.com/oXiCHcD

I ended up cutting the Xalt out of my Blade 100L to do the K Flash playtest as well. It still seemed to have good life when I cut it out, but I also noticed the movement of the mains as you described.

I can't remember, but I think I mentioned earlier in this thread. I liked the Xalt so much that I bought 2 more packs. One in 16 and one in 17 gauge. My original intent was to use it in a hybrid, but I'm on the fence about whether to hybrid or go full bed.

I also enjoyed the K Flash playtest, but my elbow is feeling it. It has me thinking that I need to play with a multi for a bit. The spin potential that I got with the Xalt after adding weight to my racquet was excellent. This might be the answer.

 

[Dunlop300g]

I ended up cutting the Xalt out of my Blade 100L to do the K Flash playtest as well. It still seemed to have good life when I cut it out, but I also noticed the movement of the mains as you described.

I can't remember, but I think I mentioned earlier in this thread. I liked the Xalt so much that I bought 2 more packs. One in 16 and one in 17 gauge. My original intent was to use it in a hybrid, but I'm on the fence about whether to hybrid or go full bed.

I also enjoyed the K Flash playtest, but my elbow is feeling it. It has me thinking that I need to play with a multi for a bit. The spin potential that I got with the Xalt after adding weight to my racquet was excellent. This might be the answer.

Yep. I went back last night and looked at the notching under a magnifying glass. I was surprised to see it only about 1/3 of the way thru; I think this says a great deal about the superiority of the glass infused coating. I may hit with it one more time before I cut them out. Weather here in Northern California is finally clearing up. We had another miracle March with blizzard conditions in the Sierra and something like 10 feet of snow dumped up there. It's about an hour and half from us to the ski resorts. It rained off / on for about 5 straight days here near Sacramento.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Well, I’ve done a 180 on Xalt.

It makes a fantastic *cross* for full-bed multi users. As a cross, it tames the launch angle in my Aero, maintains excellent power, aids in the generation of spin approaching poly levels, and is comfortable. I put it above Velocity in all performance categories. Does it justify the price differential? Not sure yet, because I haven’t encountered a loss of playability yet. I currently have it with natural Multifeel in the mains, both 16g, 54/51 lbs.

Playing full-bed of Multifeel or Multifeel/Velocity, I shred the crosses first. But so far, Xalt is playing more like a poly: it’s flattening out while notching the Multifeel. Poly spin, multi power and comfort. It’s a no-brainer.