Tennis Warehouse Playtest - Dunlop EXPLOSIVE SPIN 1.25

[Injured Again]

Got a match in today - was working more on the touch/defensive shot part of my game but after losing the first set reverted to closer to my normal style. At about six hours of total time with somewhere over four hours of normal hitting. Strings are notched half way through and the stringbed has noticeably lost power and launch angle.

My guess is it is 50/50 if it's going to last another 90 minutes without breaking and I will probably cut it out if I'm not too lazy to restring.

 

[Tennisist]

Dunlop Explosive Spin Review -- 1.25mm / Yellow ( actually lime-yellow == tennis ball color )

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 49/47
  
• Regular string set up & tension: 49/47
  
• Racquet used for test: Donnay X Yellow ( 99", 16x19 )

• Power/Control of test string
  
  Power: medium
  
  On a poly scale, the power is medium. It is not as powerful as, say, Poly Plasma, Polyfibre Cobra, or Big Ace Micro, but is definitely NOT a low-powered poly.
  
  Control: perfect
  
  I did not have any issues with control, neither when fresh, nor after a week of hitting. This makes it different from Poly Plasma and Big Ace Micro, and other polys known as "powerful". They typically only last me 2-3 outings, and then they begin to spray the balls, and generally become "wild". This string did not exhibit any of that. Not slippery. Decent grab on the ball. Response was very predictable.
  

• Feel: good.
  
  This string is not stiff, not crisp. Not mushy, or too soft either. Somewhere right in the middle. No plasticky feel. There is a little stretch and a little give. Not over the top -- just perfect. The comfort will be right in the middle. Compared to Poly Plasma, it is stiffer. Compared to Kirschbaum, it is softer/stretchier. One interesting note: on soft hitting / touch shots, it seems really soft and with a good give. On hard shots, it presented itself quite stiff. In both cases, the ball flew where intended and how intended. No surprises.
  
  There were no unpleasant reverberations, sounds, afterfeels, etc. I played it without a dampener, and it felt and sounded just fine.

• Spin: average.
  
  Compared to some super-grabby strings currently on the market, this string is about 1 tier down. It is definitely not the bottom half, but not the top quarter either. Something like RPM Blast or Yonex Poly Spin definitely rip into the ball stronger, but your arm pays the price for it...

• Playability Duration: excellent
  
  Immediately after stringing, the DT was 33. After 1 outing next day, it dropped to 31. Over the next week dropped to 29 ( 3 more outings ), and seems to have stabilized there. This is a typical behavior. What i liked about it, is that (1) it is predictable to me, and I can properly adjust (i.e. I can string for "tomorrow" or I can string " for the next week "); (2) I quite liked the way it aged -- it did not become suddenly stiff or suddenly wild, like many strings do. The response remained predictable. I had no issues playing with it for 2+ weeks now. There is, surprisingly, still no string movement after all this time.

• Tension Recommendations
  
  If you string "for tomorrow", I would recommend 47/45 lbs -- go get some more power fresh out of the chocks.
  If you string "for the next week" or so, I would recommend 50/48. It looses up over time. This will help sliding onto the wild side.

• Additional thoughts
  
  This review does not seem like much: medium this, average that, but this string is actually a very successful combination. Sure, Poly Plasma is softer, and so are so many other strings ... but I cannot play with them except for 1-2 outings. They become wild and start causing "fly-outs" and other issues.
  Sure, Poly Tour Spin or RPM Blast will "grab" the ball better and up the spin quite a bit ... but I cannot play with them: too uncomfortable and unpleasant, and very low power... So, for a player like me, this middle ground is about ideal. Especially if the string remains stable and does not change much over the next 3-4 weeks, I cannot ask for more.
  
  I would sum it up like this: if you made a tour of "softies" and decided they do not cut it, for various reasons, and if you made a tour of "luxilons" and decided that they are too much for your arm to bear, then Dunlop Spin is the next logical choice. It might have your name on it....

 

[Tennisist]

It's curios that the picture of the black string shows a pentagonal profile. Mine was yellow, round and smooth.

 

[joah310]

It's curios that the picture of the black string shows a pentagonal profile. Mine was yellow, round and smooth.

Thats odd, Mine was yellow and was shaped. i think its hexagonl rather than pentagonal though

 

[Faris]

Thats odd, Mine was yellow and was shaped. i think its hexagonl rather than pentagonal though

Yep, mine was most definitely shaped as well.

 

[colan5934]

Alright, here goes. Thanks to TW and Dunlop for the opportunity to playtest!

Tension(s) used for playtest: 53 pounds (I got the yellow color FWIW)

Regular string set up & tension: Solinco Confidential 1.25 or Luxilon ALU Power 125 at 53 or 55 pounds; ALU lately and it's what I broke before I installed this stuff.

Racquet used for test: Wilson KBlade 18x20

Power/Control of test string: Decent pop of the stringbed for me. Seemingly similar level of energy return to ALU but with a bit higher launch angle, so I had a brief adjustment keeping the ball in the court. Once I adjusted, I was rewarded with easy pace for a poly--I wouldn't put a poly in the racquet when seeking power, but this one had enough. Not as much as something like a polystar energy (does that still exist?) or Luxilon Element but more than Tour Bite, Hyper G, ALU, 4G. More than I like but still playable. I was expecting a little more difficulty with control, but it was an easy transition.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): A little muted but not too much. I don't play with Hyper G or RPM Blast because I prefer a crisper feel, but I could play with this in a pinch. It's got just enough crispness to feel the response from the hit, even at slightly higher tensions, and the sweetspot feels big enough...certainly not small like some firmer strings do

Spin: Not amazing but not lacking. I find ALU, BBO, and Element to spin the daylights out of the ball, even though they're round polys. Stiffer shaped strings like Tour Bite and Confidential come in just behind for me. I'd put this stuff below tour bite and even with or just below confidential. I had enough bite to keep the ball in the court, and I wasn't ever left wanting once I adjusted from ALU. For something softer and slightly shaped, I didn't experience an absurdly high launch angle, so I think it could do much better at lower tensions in the 40s.

Playability Duration (How did it play over time?): Slight break-in of about 20 minutes before I started feeling the ball sink into the strings rather than just fly off, but all good from there. No noticeable difference between the break-in and breakage at about 3 hours of singles play and practice. That's pretty good durability for me--less than Tour Bite/Confidential but better than ALU. I didn't measure tension loss, but it seemed to hold steady over the 3 sessions I got out of it. ALU is usually down a noticeable amount if I don't play it on consecutive days or use it for doubles and get it to last longer.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I would like to experiment with a slightly lower tension here. It was softer than what I typically use--could probably go tighter effectively too--without being overpowered. I would've preferred more spin, though, so maybe a slight tension drop to open it up a little more. I'd be curious how it could play at super low tensions too.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Honestly pretty impressed by this Dunlop offering--I really disliked explosive red and could never get black widow to last more than 90 minutes, so my hopes were exceeded here. Is it something that I would choose to use? No. There are better options for my game. But, I can see how a player who prefers a softer poly that still has good spin access and control would be pleased with this. It's soft and gives you a little extra spin and pop without being crazy powerful or drastically changing over its lifespan. Good on ya, Dunlop!

 

[dak95_00]

Here goes my review:
I got the yellow and strung it at 50lbs in my Head Gravity S which is a 16x20 pattern in a 104 sq in racquet. I'm not string sensitive and have three other racquets strung with Head Hawk Touch 17 at 48lbs and Wilson NXT 17 at 53lbs and Prince Synthetic Gut w/ Duraflex 17 at 53lbs. I'm not string sensitive and can usually make anything work and play quite well. I'm a 4.0 player and win most of my USTA matches. It's usually my partner's fault when I lose

I didn't like the string. It is very hard for me to say that because I'm extremely grateful to TW and Dunlop for this experience but it was not for me. I love my racquet due to the amazing control and just the right amount of power I get from it. I also like that I can change the strings and tension and play equally as well regardless of changes. With the Dunlop Explosive Spin 17 Yellow string I couldn't find the right feel. I was just inconsistent and felt the string's feedback to me was the cause. Some shots went right as I expected and some just flew out of control either awkwardly long or into the bottom of the net. This was unusual for me and I wanted to stop playing them soon after I started but continued for the review's sake and to see if my impression would/could change. It didn't and I felt my confidence lacking with many swings; especially, if I didn't take just a large cut. I simply couldn't find the touch and feel. The strings felt crisp and harsh compared to my normal setup. The spin was just okay and normal for me but I'm not a big spin player. If I were given another set I'd try going down to 45/46 and see if that made it less harsh but fear I'd be spraying even worse. I like to swing easy and roll over balls for control and drive flatter shots for winners. I just couldn't get the feel with this string. I usually play strings until they break but I'll cut these out and replace them with something more comfortable. Overall it was a frustrating experience.

Thanks again TW and Dunlop for the opportunity!

 

[Tennisist]

Here goes my review:
I got the yellow and strung it at 50lbs in my Head Gravity S which is a 16x20 pattern in a 104 sq in racquet. I'm not string sensitive and have three other racquets strung with Head Hawk Touch 17 at 48lbs and Wilson NXT 17 at 53lbs and Prince Synthetic Gut w/ Duraflex 17 at 53lbs. I'm not string sensitive and can usually make anything work and play quite well. I'm a 4.0 player and win most of my USTA matches. It's usually my partner's fault when I lose

I didn't like the string.

Your observations make perfect sense. All strings you mentioned are much softer than Dunlop Spin. No wonder you could not find feel or confidence with this new string.

 

[dak95_00]

Your observations make perfect sense. All strings you mentioned are much softer than Dunlop Spin. No wonder you could not find feel or confidence with this new string.

Thanks. I was trying to decide the tension and read that Head Hawk Touch was a lower powered string whereas the Dunlop wouldn’t be. I’d try it again at a lower tension but that’s the difficulty of only having one set.

If firm is a player’s ideal feel, the Dunlop would be a good choice.

 

[LocNetMonster]

Dunlop Explosive Spin Review --

Thank you TW and Dunlop for the opportunity to try out this string and offer up my review.


1.25mm / Yellow /

• Tension(s) used for playtest

Mains: 55 pounds / Crosses 49 pounds

• Regular string set up & tension

#1 - Mayami Big Spin Mains 45 pounds / Mayami Magic Twist Crosses 39 pounds
#2 - Tier One Firewire Mains 55 pounds / Tier One Strike Force RIP 49 pounds

• Racquet used for test

Babolat Pure Control Team ( modified static weight - 366g )

• Power

The version I received delivered an ample amount of power. After the break in period the strings seemed to generate even more pace with even less effort on my part. Really started to appreciate the raw power tonight when I hit flat serves.

• Control of test string

I felt like I needed to aim for bigger areas of the court. At no time did I feel like I could make precision shots.

• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)

The feel started out as stiff and boardy until about three hour mark. I didn't feel connected and that affected my control. Now five hours into the string it feels great.

• Spin

In my opinion, the spin was underwhelming compared to using triangle shaped strings like Big Twist and Firewire. Even with the 6 pound differential, the launch angle was minimal during the first couple of hours. I tried like the Dickens to get the same dramatic ball movement on my slice serve like with my two go-to set ups. Could not do it. That said, I think this would be a little more spinny in a more open pattern than a 16x20 stick or something with a bit larger head size than a 98 sq incher.

• Playability Duration (How did it play over time?)

As I said above, now more five hours in, it feels great. The control is about the same and generating pace is effortless to the point that easy, casual swings are all that's needed.

• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)

If I had a second set and based on where my balls were landing with a regular swing, I would string it 5 pounds higher in a full bed. However, more than likely because of the slick coating and generous amount of pace it generates, I want to try it as a cross string with either Big Spin or Firewire.

• List any additional thoughts (optional)

The packaging list "Spin and Control" as the strings main attributes. For me it was "Power and Comfort". I would buy this string to use as a cross string. I think the longer it sits, the more mellow it gets. After a week of inactivity, there was a definite difference in performance fresh off the stringer vs after waiting period and a few hitting session.

 

[nwatts]

Tension used for playtest:

40 lbs. on a drop weight stringer

Regular string set up and tension:

Luxilon natural gut on mains at 60 lbs, and MSV Cofocus crosses at 52 lbs.

Racquet used for playtest:

Head Liqiudmetal Radical MP (18X20)

Power: 55/100

I am able to take huge cuts on serve returns and keep the ball in play due to medium/low power response. I would say this string has a little less power than BHS7T, but has ample put away power. I think the power levels were perfect for me to swing away with confidence from the baseline. I never felt the power was lacking at any point during the test

Control of string: (93/100)

Control is outstanding with this string. I am able to hit my spots, control depth, and place the ball where I wanted (even at 40 lbs tension). This is one of the best strings I have used for serve returns, and overall this string gives me a lot of confidence to take big cuts at the ball. It also gives great control on volleys/touch shots, and is not affected as much by incoming spin as some shaped stings are.

Feel:

Feels somewhat muted, but I still had a good sense of where the ball was going. This string firms up when hitting hard, and remains softer and forgiving on touch shots and volleys. I really appreciated this attribute, as this sting volleys extremely well for a poly, and gave me confidence to move towards the net.

Spin (95/100)

I was able hit with a lot of spin with this string. The launch angle was perfect (lower than hyper g, but higher than many hybrid set ups). The shape of this string is not very sharp, and has the perfect amount of bite. I find some shaped strings bite a little too hard making the launch angle somewhat inconsistent at times. I loved watching my service returns dive hard near the baseline. I was also able to hit really nice short angle topsin shots with this string.

Playablility duration:

I have used this string for 5 hours so far without any change in playability. Tension maintenance seems to be very good so far. Will update if this changes.

Tension recommendations:

I think 40 lbs. was the perfect tension for me. Power, launch angle, and control were all excellent. Comfort was acceptable (a litlle more stiff than BHS7T), I would fear going up in tension would cause my arm some discomfort.

List any additional thoughts:

I am very impressed with this string, and feel it is one of the best overall polys I have used. I find this string to play similar to the Tourna BHS7 tour string, and I could easily switch back and forth between the two strings. If tension maintenance continues to hold up, this string along with tourna BHS7T will be my go to strings when playing a full bed of poly. Thank you TW for the opportunity to participate in this playtest! I

 

[nwatts]

I received the yellow color version of strings for the playtest.

 

[Injured Again]

Dunlop Explosive Spin Review - 1.25 mm Black

Tension(s) used for playtest:
I strung up Explosive Spin at 51 pounds in the center eight mains, decreasing to 38 pounds at the outer mains, and at 45 pounds in the center five crosses, decreasing to 32 pounds for the top and bottom cross.

Regular string set up & tension:
Tourna Silver 7 Tour 17 gauge, strung at the same tension and in the same manner as Explosive Spin

Racquet used for test:
Wilson Blade SW104, handle weighted to 354 grams static weight and 12 points HL

Power/Control of test string:
The power level of Explosive Spin is a bit above average for a poly string. The response is very linear in that the ball speed varies directly in proportion to how fast the racquet is swung. This made it easy to feel confident I could put the exact amount of speed on the ball that I wanted. Directional control was very consistent, and combined with a relatively low sensitivity to incoming spin made me feel like I could aim for tighter targets, especially on volleys and touch shots. Putaway power was nice and high - it felt like Explosive Spin had a lot more capacity for high racquet head speeds than I could generate. Flat first serves were rewarding to hit with Explosive Spin.

Compared to other strings, it is very similar to but slightly above the power levels of Solinco Confidential or Hyper-G, and slightly lower than that of Tourna Silver 7 Tour. It has less sensitivity to incoming spin than these three strings, and also a slightly lower launch angle.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Explosive Spin is a fairly crisp feeling string with good pocketing sensation. It generates a high pitched and sharp "thwack" sound on impact and also gives more feedback through the racquet, though it isn't necessarily any less comfortable than a more muted string like Solinco Confidential or Hyper-G which tend to hit with more of a drawn out "thud". The feedback generated by Explosive Spin isn't harsh and clearly lets me know how well I've made contact, which combined with the crispness and good pocketing make it a very friendly string that quickly lets me build a high level of confidence. Impact harshness on mis-hits is average to a bit better than average for poly strings, and is more comfortable than Solinco Confidential or Hyper-G.

Spin:
Spin capability is good. It is a lightly shaped string that is relatively thick for the denser string pattern of my SW104, which seems to limit how much grab on the ball the string provides when hitting a skimming, loopy topspin shot. The six-sided Explosive Spin has more rounded edges compared to the sharply defined seven-sided Tourna Silver 7 Tour, which in the thinner gauge that I normally use provides a higher launch angle and more forward ball velocity on skimming topspin groundstrokes.

Spin capability and bite on the ball did decrease over the life of the string, first as the edges wore smooth and it essentially became a round string, and then as it notched and the stringbed started to lock up. Initial spin capability is not quite as good as Solinco Hyper-G or Confidential, but as good or better than any round poly string that I have had experience with. Second serves had less movement and bounce compared with the best of the highly shaped poly strings but the response was consistent and direction control was very good.

Playability Duration (How did it play over time?):
I used Explosive Spin for a total of about eight hours, with six hours of normal hitting on clean indoor courts. Notching was noticeable by two hours of play time even though the mains were still moving back into position. At six hours the string was notched more than half way through with the mains getting stuck out of position. As it was on the verge of breaking, I cut the strings out at that time. After about three hours, the spin capability and launch angle gradually decreased as the string wore smooth, essentially becoming a round string at that point, and the stringbed started to lock up. At six hours, power levels were still good and the ball still felt like it popped off the stringbed with some liveliness on flatter shots, and comfort had not declined. When I cut the strings out, drawback was minimal indicating loss of elasticity. Tension maintenance over the life of the string was average. There was a noticeable amount of initial tension loss which did not seem to affect string performance, and it seemed that changes to the impact response was more due to the shape wearing smooth and the strings notching against each other.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why):
The tensions I used for Explosive Spin felt just about perfect. It feels like a string that would work similarly and consistently over a fairly wide range of tensions. I personally would not string it with less tension because I really enjoyed the sharper sensations of feedback, and that it performed as I expected over my entire range of racquet head speed capability.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
I strung up Explosive Spin, and found the process to be relatively easy. It has a shiny, plastic feel with low inter-string friction that made weaving the crosses a quick process. The set was 38'8" long and I cut a one foot section and pulled 51 pounds of tension on it and let it sit for a minute. Elongation pulling tension was medium-low for a poly string, and it only stretched minimally sitting with tension for that one minute. This gave the impression that it would be a fairly stiff, crisp string which it did turn out to be. Coil memory was average and the rounded edges did not hurt my fingers during stringing. The last few crosses were a bit more difficult as Explosive Spin did not like to be bent sharply without developing a kink.

The performance stability of Explosive Spin during the initial couple of playing sessions gives the impression that by altering string tension, it can be made more or less powerful, with more or less launch angle, while still retaining many of its good playing characteristics.

Compared to my go-to string of Tourna Silver 7 Tour, Explosive Spin has less spin capability, slightly lower power levels, and a lower launch angle, but a more consistent and linear response to racquet head speed changes, lower sensitivity to incoming spin, and a better ability to pinpoint shots.

Overall, Dunlop Explosive Spin is a very good new string that offers a crisp, consistent response with good pocketing feel and excellent control. It is similar to the other newly release "pro" strings in that ultimate spin capability has been lowered and balanced with higher power levels, less sensitivity to incoming spin, and a very consistent response. For players with high racquet head speed capabilities, Explosive Spin will probably provide all of the spin capability they need along with the ability to generate very high ball speeds. For recreational level players who rely on spin but may not have ultra high levels of racquet head speed, a more and sharply shaped string will provide more capability than Explosive Spin.

Thanks to Dunlop and Tennis Warehouse for the opportunity to test Explosive Spin.

 

[nwatts]

Excellent review!

 

[mogo]

Dunlop EXPLOSIVE SPIN 1.25 Official Review

· Tension(s) used for playtest:
46pds, I usually string at 48 but since it’s a 98 head size I went lower. (Black sting)

· Regular string set up & tension:
Solinco Hyper G 1.25 @ 48pds

· Racquet used for test:
Babolat Pure Strike Tour 3rd GEN(control frame)


· Power/Control of test string: Power 6 / Control 9
Power is not Dunlop explosive spins forte; it is low powered I was hitting a lot of balls short in the beginning. I am playing with a not so powerful stick as well. I just had to lengthen out my stroke to get depth, not a big deal but defineilty an adjustment. Control is a huge plus on this playtest. I did not have to worry about over hitting and could go after shots. If you hit with a semi western grip you will love the control with extra spin added. After a couple weeks the tension did go lower and I started to just swing for the fences, and I liked the results since it is low powered you can literally go for broke and not worry about sailing a ball and if you ramp up the spin well this string will dip and dive. Overall it has low power but fantastic control!


· Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Feel 9
String is very flexible and plush; you can feel the ball trampoline into the stringbed. Feels soft which also makes it not as powerful but control it there. A couple times I didn’t think the ball would clear the net and was really surprised when it did. Feel was great as you get great dwell time. You can feel the ball absorb into the string bed and really enjoyed it when playtesting.


· Spin: Spin 10
Oh yeah, it has spin. I usually hit with an eastern grip, but this stick really preformed with a semi-western grip. The spin factor went up and you can get great height and control. I like to slice on my backhand and this string only helped me grab the ball. Drop shots are awesome and just ripping the ball can be an advantage if you use this string. I could not do this with Hyper G my usual string as I would be sending balls into the fence.


· Playability Duration (How did it play over time?) Playability 8
At first there was an adjustment period, but I felt it stayed solid overall. I thought as it dropped in tension and notched it played better and increased pocketing. Been a couple weeks and I am still happy hitting with the string and no complaints. Not my usual string, but I do like the results I am getting.


· Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
I think that I would actually increase tension to my usual 48pds as I didn’t think it would be as low powered as I expected. But I have no complaints with my 46pd start off point.


· List any additional thoughts (optional)
Dunlop string is great for players who can provide their own power or if you have a racquet that they need to tame down. SPIN and CONTROL are two big factors this string provides along with DWELL TIME or feel. If you are a precision player with full strokes this may be for you. Overall, I really liked the plush feel of the string and I was able to play a very big bang aggressive style. With explosive spin I had control but I could also ramp up the rpms without fear of missing. A great playtest with a different feel than I am accustomed to. In comparison with Hyper G I have free power and spin. With Dunlop Explosive Spin it gave me the confidence to just rip, but I also needed to swing bigger due to the lower power. I liked the pocketing feel I was getting. I am not a super aggressive hitter so I don’t know if I would use this string long term. But I will be grabbing a couple sets and trying them on some high powered sticks to see how it feels. I really liked Dunlop Explosive Spin for the control and spin. Also very easy to string as it is soft and easy to weave. Thank you to Dunlop and TW for the opportunity.

 

[badmice2]

Dunlop Explosive Spin Review - 1.25 mm Yellow

Tension(s) used for playtest:
51.5 lbs all around, 0% prestretch

Regular string set up & tension:
MSV Focus Hex Black 1.18 @ 51.5 lbs

Racquet used for test:
Yonex VCore Pro 310 (blue)

Power/Control of test string:
Power appears to be mid range, average player will need to swing with decent racket head speed to get depth on their shots. Launch angle seems to be decent, with slightly above average clearance for many of the balls I was striking. Given the lower power rating, it does provide great control for shot placements. One should worries little with over swinging, and I felt confident being able to place many of the put-away shots with precision.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Strings initially felt stiff, with very little to no ball pocket feel for my taste. The firmness persisted for me even after the tension drop I experience; however ball dwell time in the string bed definitely improved, with the trampoline feel on stiff strings. I typically like to play with a deafening string bed, and this string bed plays noisy for my liking even after I put in the Gamma Worm.

Spin:
As stated in my earlier post, spin generation is relatively good this co-poly. There were considerable dips with heavy top spin shots, and balls stay low with skits from slices. Overall this is probably the best feature for this string.

Playability Duration (How did it play over time?)
Tension lost was definitely an issue for me as I experience a steep decline ~15% within 1 week. This was a bit of surprise for me. Not sure if I was the only one that saw this type of drop off. Otherwise, the tension has remained stable through the course of my playtest.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
Given the stiffness, I would lower initial tension 2-3 lbs, mainly to see if it will provide more give on the string bed.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I would like to try this string with a thinner gauge @ lowered tension. Fortunately I'm on the SX 300 playtest and have an opportunity to play with the 17 gauge. With that playtest I did go down 2 lbs and the string seems to be more arm friendly at initial start of play. Spin potential for the 17 gauge is much better than the 16 IMO.

 

[MRfStop]

I received the yellow version of the string.

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 lbs
• Regular string set up & tension: Lux ALU Power @ 51 lbs
• Racquet used for test: Wilson Ultra Tour
• Power/Control of test string: Decent amount of power, control seemed lacking towards the end of my first hit. I hit with it again a few days later and everything it did good when first strung up went out the window.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) Decent feel, not really stiff, more mushy than not mushy, not crisp, and comfort is about what you can get from a poly
• Spin: Decent amount of spin for a shaped poly. It isn't really overwhelming, and the shape of the string definitely helps with the spin potential
• Playability Duration (How did it play over time?): Out of the package it played great, playability dropped off a cliff 2 hrs into it
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why) For a closed pattern racquet I would stick to the high 40s or lower.
• List any additional thoughts (optional: Looks and feels a lot like Signum Pro Yellow Jacket. The yellow is almost the same. Makes you wonder if it is the same string with different packaging.

 

[nwatts]

I agree it is very Similar to yellow jacket.

 

[Uncoil]

Dunlop Explosive Spin 1.25 Black

Tension(s) used for playtest: 48/46.5 lbs

Regular string set up & tension: Solinco Confidential 16L 48/46.5 lbs (previous set up)

Racquet used for test: Prince Textreme Beast 98

Power: Low-medium power with decent pop when needed for a poly string. I originally thought the strings would provide more power since it plays on the softer side but it's very control oriented.

Control: I was able to achieve good control from Xplosive Spin. I had no issues placing the ball where I wanted it to go. Launch angle was slightly higher than my previous set up.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Feel was on the softer, mushy side for a black poly string. Good ball pocketing and dwell time.

Spin: Spin is very good with Explosive Spin. I was able to generate a lot of spin with this string. Balls looked like they were dipping down quickly.

Playability Duration (How did it play over time?): First two hours of hitting, strings would move around and not go back to its original location. I was constantly readjusting and straightening strings. I did not enjoy how the strings played for the first couple of hours but playability was much better once the strings settled in. I have about 9 hours (mostly doubles) on the strings and have played pretty good tennis.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why?): No change in tension.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Explosive Spin's top features are softer feel, ball pocketing, spin and control.

 

[jwocky]

Thank you to the @TW Staff and Dunlop/Srixon for this opportunity to playtest the Dunlop Explosive Spin (1.25mm in yellow) string.

Dunlop Explosive Spin (1.25mm, Yellow)

Tension(s) used for playtest
23.5M/23.5X in kg

Regular string set up
All 1.25mm in the 22kg +/-1 (48lb) range with Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution, Tourna Black Zone.

Also testing ADV Slash and ADV Matrix in weighted up Becker DC London (16x19).

Racquet used for test
Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour (16x18) weighted to 365gm (12.9oz), balance 305mm (12 HL)

Overall Rating of test string
7

Power/Control of test string
7
Dunlop Explosive Spin allowed me to hit with a good balance of power and control (see spin section) for the first several hours. After six hours, in the third outing and beyond, a level of unreliability crept in. I had to be more measured in swing path and stroke selection to keep the ball. I did not feel like swinging with abandon. I would increase tension a tad IF I were to restring.

Feel (Comfortable? Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? etc.,)
8
After a settling in period of about 30 minutes of rally balls, the string felt comfortable. It is more muted than crisp and I thought it was comparable to the Head Experimental / Head Lynx Tour feel.

Spin
5
It may be harsh to write this, but I was disappointed by the level of spin from a product marketed with “Explosive Spin” on its packaging. The spin level dropped fairly (too) quickly and became inconsistent. Although it was good while it lasted, I was looking for a bit more and for it be consistent for quite a bit longer. Perhaps this string was intended to be cut out within six or so hours.

Durability
7
As a non-string breaker, I was surprised to see evidence of light notching, which is not normal for me. My co-poly string beds show dents in the sweet spot and not cuts. This string outlasted its surprisingly short (for me) playability (see below).

Playability Duration
6
I was disappointed by the inconsistency in playability and mostly because of its spin potential change after only six hours. The Explosive Spin (yellow) barely made it to twelve and that was because I wanted to give it a fair run. I usually target several sessions of singles and doubles play with one set of strings. The comfort level was very good.

Tension findings (if you installed this string again, would you select the same tension? Explain answer.)
I would have to play around with tension a bit, but most likely increase it by a kilogram.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I would like to try the black version of Explosive Spin and the yellow string in 1.30mm.

Overall, Dunlop Explosive Spin was an average shaped string offering with disappointing spin given its name. Priced at $200+/reel - I think there are better offerings out there.

 

[nwatts]

Update: this string does seem to notch faster than other poly strings for me, and playability did drop after the 5 hour mark.

 

[djkahn86]

playability dropped around 6 for me. I had to bring the hammer for serves just to get the usual pop. I did really like it though. I would buy it again. Very predictable response from the string bed.

 

[Nuke]

Tension(s) used for playtest
55 lbs all around.

Regular string set up & tension
CyberFlash or Big Hitter Silver 17 mains with Gosen OG Sheep Micro crosses.

Racquet used for test
Prince Warrior OS

Power/Control of test string
Medium powered for a poly. That’s OK, as traditional polys are generally low-powered, allowing for bigger swings with control. So this one is maybe not as powerful as some of the newer, softer polys, but that’s not what I look for in a poly string. If you bring your own power, these have a decent amount of control. No complaint here.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
After some initial break-in, it settled down to a fairly comfortable feel for a poly. Not overly crisp, but not mushy either. Pretty middle-of the road in most respects.

Spin
Somewhat disappointing for a string called “explosive spin.” I think I do better with round-profile polys that have a lot of snap-back, rather than texture-shaped profiles like this, that may offer a bit more grab on slower shots. Yeah, you can produce spin, but I didn’t find it too explosive.

Playability Duration (How did it play over time?)
A quick drop off in tension at the start, but it felt better after leveling off. Notching noticeable after six hours and I’m ready to cut it out at ten. Just so-so for a poly.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
Probably OK at 55 lbs, although I might try it a bit higher to see if I could get a crisper feel out of it.

List any additional thoughts (optional
It’s a fairly middle-of-the-road poly that will appeal to a lot of users. While the spin and durability could be improved a bit, I was mostly satisfied with this string. I suppose price is always a consideration for me (see my cheapo regular setup), and this string is priced a bit on the high side for what it is. Thanks to Dunlop and Tennis Warehouse for offerering the chance to try it out.

 

[cd3768]

Before my review, I’d like to thank Tennis Warehouse and Dunlop for letting me try this string.

1.25mm / Yellow

Tension(s) used for playtest
Mains: 48 pounds / Crosses 46 pounds

Regular string set up & tension
Prior to the playtest, I was using Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour at 50lbs in my racquet I used for this playtest. And in my backup racquet (G360 Speed MP), Head Hawk Touch at 53/51 lbs. Before those strings, I used full beds and combos of RS Lyon and RS Paris.

Racquet used for test
Head Graphene 360 Speed Pro (18x20) with Babolat Custom Damp

Power
This string had an above average amount of power. For the first two weeks, it was at a Goldilocks stage. Over time, it started to become a little less powerful. If I wasn’t feeling good that day, it wasn’t going to perform at it’s best. What you give is what you get with this string.

Control of string
For the first two weeks of the playtest, control stood out the most for me. I could redirect balls easily and it wasn’t really sensitive to incoming spin. I could go for shots without too much fear of it going long.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The feel started out as kind of stiff and it’s pretty firm. I didn’t like it at first but as the string settled in, it became more comfortable and it wasn’t too jarring outside of the sweet spot. I would say it wasn’t crisp and a bit more on the muted side. While hitting, my arm was fine, but after and the day after, I would feel some nerve pain in my elbow. It lasted for a week and it was quite annoying.

Spin
Although it’s called Explosive Spin, the spin wasn’t explosive. It was like it was a round poly. Silver 7 Tour had much more spin than this string if you took the same swing at the ball. However, both strings sometimes would give an unpredictable response. I wasn’t confident in some shots because I didn’t know how much the strings would grab the ball. S7T would sometimes grab the ball more than I thought and Explosive Spin, the opposite. Explosive Spin to me was a little slippery and didn’t bite into the ball.
After about three weeks, the mains stopped snapping back into place.

Playability Duration (How did it play over time?)
After a couple of hours, the string played great. I still have it in my racquet as of now and it did drop in playability. Noticeably less spin and control. Just have to be conscious of going low to high and aiming for bigger targets.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
I think I could drop it 2-3lbs on the mains and crosses to open it up, get some more spin and comfort. The tension to me didn’t drop too much but over time the string lost some spin potential.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
In my opinion, the string is still playable after a month. If it was cheaper from what I’ve seen and softer, I would definitely consider switching to it. Although there wasn’t explosive spin, there was excellent control. Control was definitely a highlight (haha the color too) of this string.
Also, a dampener was a definite must for me. Without it, it sounded pingy, felt hollow, and I would feel a lot of vibrations.

 

[djkahn86]

Thank you to the @TW Staff and Dunlop/Srixon for this opportunity to playtest the Dunlop Explosive Spin (1.25mm in yellow) string.

Dunlop Explosive Spin (1.25mm, Yellow)

Tension(s) used for playtest
53.5 Mains/ 52.5 Crosses (10% Pre stretch)

Regular string set up
Solinco Confidential 17 G 54.5/ 53 (10% Prestrech)

Racquet used for test
Babolat Pure Aero VS (16x20)
leather grip/overgrip
no dampener

Overall Rating of test string
8 - I would recommend the string. It had good balanced pillar performance. I found excellent control and was able to rip shots with confidence. I would BUY again when it goes on sale. Price point too high.

Power/Control of test string
8/8 - I noticed power with serving flat and putting away sitters. Considering how much control this string had it surprised me. I am guessing the edges of the string reigned in the power with spin. I was able to make the ball dive at my opponent's feet about 6 feet sooner than my usual string. My balls kept finding my opponent's feet. This is why I like this string so much. The more I got after it with spin, the more the ball nose-dived at my opponents.

Feel (Comfortable? Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? etc.,)
7- This string is no ALU power. It was between barely crisp to slightly muted. No pain or shock. Good balance. I am not sure you could make this crisp and keep the above true. I can deal with less feel if I get power and spin/control out of it.

Spin
8.5 -good stuff here. I found this string to be the perfect amount of controllable spin. This string grabs the hell out of the ball. Great BITE!

Playability Duration
6 - This is where I have my grip. The strings DIED on my after 6 hours. Most string lasts 10 hours and then I cut it out. Only ALU dies like this for me but that string is heaven for me and I can live with that. This string needs to last more than 3 outings. I died to the point where I was trying to kill myself to get power on my serve. Had to put the stick down before my arm was going to fall off.

Tension findings (if you installed this string again, would you select the same tension? Explain answer.)
I would raise the tension 1lb up. Plenty of pop in these strings. 1lb would keep the control flowing right off the bat. I felt a little loose when it was first strung. Once the initial drop occurred it paired with some loss of playability and it played great.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

Lower the price point. No one is buying Dunlop strings for $14.99. $11.95-12.50 is more reasonable.
I liked the color as well.


Thanks for letting me try this string. Can't wait to get it on sale. This one is reel worthy at the right price.

 

[bigserving]

DUNLOP EXPLOSIVE SPIN. Yellow 17g (1.25 mm) - Full Bed

TENSION USED FOR PLAYTEST - 55 lbs. for both the mains as well as crosses, strung on a lockout machine.

REGULAR STRING SETUP and TENSION - The regular setup of Dunlop Black Widow 17 gauge, 55 lbs x 55 lbs also strung on a lockout machine.

RACQUET BRAND AND MODEL USED FOR TEST - Dunlop CX 200 Tour 16 X 19.

POWER / CONTROL Of Explosive Spin - The power level of this would fall into the above average range for a poly. For a poly player, there is plenty of power available. Of course, being a co-poly, the power is very useable. There is enough pop to employ an aggressive, power style of play, but not so much that the ball flies off the string bed. They provide plenty of useable power. The hope would be that a lower string tension would provide even more power to a player without significant sacrifice in spin or control. Explosive Spin also offers outstanding control. This set of strings had the usual great control that comes with poly and co-poly strings. The spin that these strings produce allow a player to have great control and shot choices hitting to and from every position hitting every angle possible on the court.

FEEL, COMFORT OF EXPLOSIVE SPIN - In a word, outstanding. Explosive Spin has outstanding feel and touch. It has a comfortable, useable amount of touch on every type of shot, as well as some ball pocketing feel. The string has a soft feel but was not at all dull or muted. Definitely on the softer side for a co-poly. The co-poly composition in addition to the ball bite that the shaped surface, provides for a great amount of ball spin. The spin combined with the useable power and nice feel, makes it a very nice string to play with and gives a player plenty of shotmaking options. There is plenty of useable spin on both topspin and slice groundstrokes. There was a also a good amount of jumping action on kick serves.

COMFORT - It felt and played on the very soft for a co-poly. Not at all spongy soft, but quite comfortable whole continuing to remain playable. There was normally very little, no excessive shock, and never an uncomfortable level of shock or vibration coming from of the string bed.

SPIN - This is definitely a "spin" string For a spin hitter like me, the combination of all of the string attributes come together to produce a very high level of control without any sacrifice in power when compared to most other co-poly strings. A player will definitely be able to feel the extra bite provided by the hexagonal shape. In addition to the high amount of topspin and kick-serve spin, these strings give me extra action on the slice from my backhand side.

PLAYABILITY DURATION (HOW DID IT PLAY OVER TIME) - Explosive Spin started nice, then the power and feel seemed to drop some, then settle in initially. There was the normal polyester drop in tension during the first hour or so, then the drop slowed and continued to be quite playable for the next eight hours of the test. Playability was especially good for a shaped poly. The hexagonal shape of Explosive Spin compared to the heptagonal share of Black Widow may make Explosive Spin remain more consistent, and remain playable a bit longer than Black Widow. I am definitely planning to find that out for sure.

TENSION RECOMMENDATIONS - The 55 lb. test tension seemed to be a very good starting tension starting point for the test even in this low powered racquet. I will experiment with a few lower tensions to attempt to get a little more power while remaining playable.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS - Very good work by Dunlop! What a nice string. I think that most every type of player will be able to make this string work for them. It provides lots of everything, and lacks nothing. This string is continuing the trend of more balanced, and well-rounded playability characteristics in the co=poly market. Strings are being produced that incorporate more of each spin, power, comfort, control, and feel, all in the same string. They are incorporating some of the positive playability attributes of each polyester, nylon, and natural gut into the same string. Good job Dunlop. Explosive Spin string is extremely similar in most areas of performance, shape, color, and even playability. To my regular string, Dunlop Black Widow. For any given comparison, one string may perform better than the other at a given tension.

 

[!<-_->!]

Dunlop Explosive Spin 17g Black

• Tension(s) used for playtest: 48lbs
• Regular string set up & tension: Babolat RPM Blast 17, 48lbs
• Racquet used for test: Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD
• Power/Control of test string: I found this string to be quite powerful, more so than that of RPM Blast. As a result of the extra power, found control to be lacking. Also found the extra power led to a higher launch angle. Can't say I was a fan of this, but made it work by brushing the ball more than normal.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): The feel of this string felt muted and bordered on mushy imo. It was comparable to RPM Blast in the feel department, but even softer/mushier. It wasn't overly mushy where I didn't like it or find it unplayable, but I would've preferred something a bit firmer. Looking back, it reminded me a bit of Dunlop Black Widow, but with less spin.
• Spin: Spin seemed pretty good. I wouldn't say I saw the ball jumping off the court any more than I did with my usual setup. The one difference that gave the appearance of more spin is the higher launch angle. People I were hitting against didn't comment about the ball feeling any heavier. Also, the possibility of more spin might be as result of the extra power level - had to try to brush the ball more than normal. Overall, I'd rate this as a decently solid offering for spin.
• Playability Duration (How did it play over time?): It played pretty consistent throughout its lifespan. I felt after the initial drop off post-stringing, there wasn't a steep drop throughout the playtest. One caveat to this statement is that I did snap the string at about the 12 hour mark off a shank unfortunately. For those 12 hours I thought it played well without any noticeable decrease in spin potential or control.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I would string this higher since the power level was more than I expected. Also, given the feel was muted/mushy, I don't think it would have made the string play overly stiff had I strung higher.
• List any additional thoughts (optional): All in all, not a bad playtest. It didn't wow me in any one area that would make me want to switch away from my current setup. If it's priced right, it would be a nice alternative however and I would recommend it to those who don't want to break the bank with some of the more expensive offerings.

 

[time_fly]

My quick take here: I am giving the yellow 17 gauge version a whirl in my SX 300. I had previously strung it with Tour Bite 17, and I used the same tension. Compared to Tour Bite, I would say the Dunlop string is more “explosive” than “spin.” I‘m getting a lot of pop — granted, it’s a powerful racquet — and not quite as much grip on the ball. I would definitely raise my tension a bit if using this string again. The feel is pretty good and comfortable for a poly, and the color suits the racquet well. When stringing, it it notably slicker than the Solinco so it strings easily and the strings feel like they have a bit more movement.

 

[cd3768]

My quick take here: I am giving the yellow 17 gauge version a whirl in my SX 300. I had previously strung it with Tour Bite 17, and I used the same tension. Compared to Tour Bite, I would say the Dunlop string is more “explosive” than “spin.” I‘m getting a lot of pop — granted, it’s a powerful racquet — and not quite as much grip on the ball. I would definitely raise my tension a bit if using this string again. The feel is pretty good and comfortable for a poly, and the color suits the racquet well. When stringing, it it notably slicker than the Solinco so it strings easily and the strings feel like they have a bit more movement.

I agree, more explosive than spin and pretty slick/not too much grip

 

[LocNetMonster]

... Dunlop string is more “explosive” than “spin.” I‘m getting a lot of pop — granted, it’s a powerful racquet — and not quite as much grip on the ball. I would definitely raise my tension a bit if using this string again. The feel is pretty good and comfortable for a poly, ...

Yep. Pretty much mirrors my experience. The easy power and comfort was nice, the spin underwhelming.