Tennis Warehouse Playtest - Head Hawk Power 1.25!!

mhkeuns said:
Just strung up my TF40 18x20 with Head Hawk Power. The grayish teal colored string looks awesome and easy to string, Since it is a “power” string, I strung it about two pounds higher than my normal 48lbs.

This string feels awesome. I was worried that it might feel harsher than the Lynx Tour, but it wasn’t the case at all. If anything, it feels closer to my current favorite string, which is RPM Blast, than the Lynx Tour,

Can’t wait to play a few sets with this string and write up the summary.
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-its a bit crisper than lynx.tour, IMO
-a bit more notably livelier than b.rpm
-notise the extra pop you get!
-i think youll loose some spin, but not a ton
-but i also think because its round, dense and slippery, the durability will last a bit more
 
for those that have strung it up and played it what on the market plays most similar to hawk power in the 40s tension.
 
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Hello all! Just strung up my Graphene 360+ Speed Pro over the weekend and luckily got to hit with it yesterday even though it rained in the morning.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50 lbs

Regular string set up: Been floating between Hyper G and Confidential at same tension

Racquet used for test: Head Graphene 360+ Speed pro stock.

Control/Power of test string: To me, comparing this to Head lynx and some of the other strings ive been messing around with, it gave me full confidence in my strokes. I went to hit with some of my friends yesterday and while I usually use a 2hbh, I wanted to mess around with my one hander and i was getting really good pop and control. Though I had to adjust my swingpath for more spin, it was a small adjustment and I felt right at home with the Hawk Power.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): To me, it feels muted but comfortable. I tried it with and without my dampener and I saw no change in play. I just prefer hitting with a dampener though. I do want to string up my 2022 head speed pro and compare it to lynx tour again but no complaints here, it is way more comfortable than the hyper g thats on my 2022 speed pro. Think of it as a more comfortable Alu Power, but thats just my opinion.

Spin: For the spin department like i mentioned earlier, i had to adjust my swing since I was used to shaped polys. But overall I felt dialed in and was able to hit some good spin even though it was cold and windy yesterday. I noticed my kick serve werent kicking as much but I was able to dial in the slice serves.

Playability Duration (did you notice changes in playability/feel during the test?): Maybe it was the cold weather and wind just affecting my body and I did sit out a set, but the string played really good despite the weather. I didnt feel any changes during the sets ive played and I hope to test it later on this week to see if i see any tension drop or change. If it maintains tension, i think this would be a real winner as I already feel my hyper g's drop and forcing me to adjust on my 2022 speed pro.

Tension findings (would you use the same tension on the second try?): With my tension set up, I typically float between 48-50 pounds, but I think id go up a little more to like 52, but since its been cold in the Bay Area I think i might just stick at 50 for now. I do wanna try and see if I do a hybrid with lynx tour to see how that would be

List any additional thoughts (optional): I was honestly impressed by this string though I didnt get as much spin as my current set up, we can see why when its a round poly compared to a shaped poly. My hitting partner uses the Speed MP 2022 with tour bite at 52 pounds, and when he asked to try my set up, he was just as impressed on how comfort, power, and control was even when transitioning between a 16x19 to 18x20. He said he would consider buying a reel and throwing into his set up. IMO, I can honestly see myself switching to this string once I test how it feels a few days apart after stringing it up.
 
mhkeuns said:
Just strung up my TF40 18x20 with Head Hawk Power. The grayish teal colored string looks awesome and easy to string, Since it is a “power” string, I strung it about two pounds higher than my normal 48lbs.

This string feels awesome. I was worried that it might feel harsher than the Lynx Tour, but it wasn’t the case at all. If anything, it feels closer to my current favorite string, which is RPM Blast, than the Lynx Tour,

Can’t wait to play a few sets with this string and write up the summary.
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Good call. If I was to string this again, I would go up 2-3#. Mine played great in the first hour on the first day. By the next day, I put in a string dampener to firm up the string bed because it had started to trampoline a little.
 
mhkeuns said:
Just strung up my TF40 18x20 with Head Hawk Power. The grayish teal colored string looks awesome and easy to string, Since it is a “power” string, I strung it about two pounds higher than my normal 48lbs.

This string feels awesome. I was worried that it might feel harsher than the Lynx Tour, but it wasn’t the case at all. If anything, it feels closer to my current favorite string, which is RPM Blast, than the Lynx Tour,

Can’t wait to play a few sets with this string and write up the summary.
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Strung mine up and played a couple hours over the weekend! Agree with @mhkeuns - the greyish teal looks awesome! Would look great as a hybrid with those florescent colors (Hyper-G or Orange).
Stringing was straightforward. The string is slick / smooth so it slide through grommets easily, weaving was nice an no problems tying off. Relatively flexible for a poly.

I strung it up little lower than usual @ 44 / 46 in my test mule Babolat Pure Strike 98 16 x19.

First Impressions On the Court - solid, controlled, good spin, low-powered, comfortable and consistent.

Groundstrokes - Inspires confidence. I could do pretty much whatever I wanted as the response was solid, predictable and encouraged you go for a little bit more - which I did - and I was rewarded for it! Balls do not jump off the string bed the go where you are aiming them. A very direct measured response.

Spin - Very good and as a round poly quite good. Not a crazy spin string with 3 or 4 sides, but I expect the spin to be more consistent throughout the strings life - not wear out after a couple hours as the shape wears. During warm up ( mini tennis) I could see the rotation of the balls spinning easily and this continued with my groundstrokes as we moved back.
Launch is not high or exaggerated, again predictable and controllable. I had so much input into the ball trajectory and flight, good or bad was all on me. Easy to flatten shots or arc them deep, which was really clear on lobs.

Volleys - as you would expect solid. Not tons of pop but consistent, predictable and controlled. Not a dead poly, but not a lively one either, somewhere in the middle of that continuim. Bring your own power.

Return Of Serve - This is where this string shines. Stop me if you've heard this before - consistent, predictable allowing you to absorb and redirect pace ( as with the volleys) cleanly and easily if you can get your racquet on the serves!!

Serve - Didn't serve much with it due to an overgrip malfunction, but will update this and do a complete write up after a couple more sessions.
All in all very solid string with a lot going for it. Spin generation surprised me on the plus side, comfort too.

If you are looking for a low-powered, comfortable, control oriented string - that looks great - this could be what you are looking for.
 
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2ndServe said:
for those that have strung it up and played it what on the market plays most similar to hawk power in the 40s tension.
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-if i recall correctly, it also felt like tourna.big.hitter.BLUE
-its a poly, no doubts there, but a comfortable poly
-i can see it causing issues if you go too high, like 5 or 8lbs over your normal
-it is a head.HAWK lineage poly afterall
-but it is on its own a comfortable playable round slick poly
 
Just bought 2 more. I really like this string‘s feel and playability. Not jarring at all being at 50lbs. Very comfortable and predictable.
 
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1HBHfanatic said:
-if i recall correctly, it also felt like tourna.big.hitter.BLUE
-its a poly, no doubts there, but a comfortable poly
-i can see it causing issues if you go too high, like 5 or 8lbs over your normal
-it is a head.HAWK lineage poly afterall
-but it is on its own a comfortable playable round slick poly
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That doesn't sound good. I jumped on the $2 deal too without trying the string but Tourna blue is like half the price of head's hawk line
 
SlowTiger said:
That doesn't sound good. I jumped on the $2 deal too without trying the string but Tourna blue is like half the price of head's hawk line
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-thats a good way to play test a string, $2 deal cant beat it
-h.hawk line has always been more expensive, it is a new line after all
-tourna has been around for a while!!
-i could be way off from the feel perspective of these 2 strings similarities, so dont take my word on it
-test it out and see what you think
 
mad dog1 said:
Good call. If I was to string this again, I would go up 2-3#. Mine played great in the first hour on the first day. By the next day, I put in a string dampener to firm up the string bed because it had started to trampoline a little.
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Unrelated question - Do string savers also firm up a string bed? Ive done that with old racquets I bought but I dont know if its just the feel that changes or the actual string bed gets stiffer.
 
gold325 said:
Unrelated question - Do string savers also firm up a string bed? Ive done that with old racquets I bought but I dont know if its just the feel that changes or the actual string bed gets stiffer.
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It does. I’ve used them for this purpose in the past.
 
gold325 said:
Unrelated question - Do string savers also firm up a string bed? Ive done that with old racquets I bought but I dont know if its just the feel that changes or the actual string bed gets stiffer.
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definitely, it's related to how many you put on all. I've been through stretches where I hated stringing and put like 100 of them on the racket played like a brick. Like mad dog1 says you could add some as you feel the strings getting too loose. I put 100 or more on a new string job thinking I'd never have to string again and though that was true it wasn't playable.

I wonder if anyone strings it really low, puts 100 on and doesn't restring for years.
 
2ndServe said:
Like mad dog1 says you could add some as you feel the strings getting too loose. I put 100 or more on a new string job thinking I'd never have to string again and though that was true it wasn't playable.
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I only used it on Syngut beds 1-4 equally spaced rows to add some tension back in the middle mains 8-10 strings mostly on ultra old racquets. Feel wasn't effected much.
 
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1HBHfanatic said:
-thats a good way to play test a string, $2 deal cant beat it
-h.hawk line has always been more expensive, it is a new line after all
-tourna has been around for a while!!
-i could be way off from the feel perspective of these 2 strings similarities, so dont take my word on it
-test it out and see what you think
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True, I would have bought w/e that max limit was to offset the shipping but it's still an amazing deal. I've never tried Tourna blue but look forward to your full review
 
Unfortunately my playtest came to a crashing halt after an errant serve return just 20 minutes in. Wasn’t a particularly bad shank, but it broke right at the tie off. Hopefully this was just an anomaly, and it doesn’t suffer similarly to Tourna Silver 7 Tour which had such reported issues. Head Hawk Power does seem very promising though, particularly for those who like moderately firm/crisp round polys. Looking forward to trying it out in the future for a much more extended period of time.
 
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Tension: 50 lbs
Regular string set up: Head Lynx Tour Champagne at 52lbs in warmer weather, 50 lbs in colder weather
Racquet used for test: Yonex VCore Pro 97D
Control/Power of test string: Less control and more power compared to Lynx Tour. I usually prefer shaped poly's to gain control from spin, but I wasn't yearning for more control with Hawk Power. Inspired confidence in my shots, and felt a little easier to generate power in my 97D than with Lynx Tour. I hit a flatter shot with the 97D and I felt like my balls landed deeper with Hawk Power. While Lynx Tour might produce a heavier shot due to slightly more spin (according to my hitting partner), Hawk power allowed me to hit more winners due to the increase in power over Lynx Tour.
Feel: AMAZING. Like Alu Power and Grapplesnake Tour M8 combined as a round poly. Crisp but comfortable with plenty of feel despite that Alu Power muted characteristic. Definitely feels like Head's version of Alu Power. I'd like to string up a Prestige YT IG with Hawk Power and play doubles with it, as I'd imagine the feel and precision would be killer.
Spin: pretty slick feeling strings, so there was probably enough snap back to produce spin as a round poly. Plenty of spin to make me feel like I could swing out without my shots sailing long. Less spin than my favorite Lynx Tour but very easy to transition between the two without adjusting strokes much, if at all.
Playability Duration (did you notice changes in playability/feel during the test?). Strung it up the same day the strings arrived. Total playtime of 6 hours in 50-60 degree F* weather. Doubles, singles, and one clinic. I noticed very slight notching and subjectively 1 or 2 lbs in tension loss, none of which affect playability.
Tension findings: I'd imagine I'd go up to 52 lbs in the summer and spring, but felt that 50 lbs felt perfect.
List any additional thoughts: I would say Hawk Power is like a combination of the positive playability characteristics of Alu Power and Grapplesnake Tour M8. Hawk Power felt crisp but muted, not plasticky like Yonex Poly Tour Pro, but more of that amazing Alu Power feel that many of us love.

Thank you TW and Head for the opportunity to test Hawk Power out. Would love to order more and try it in a hybrid with a shaped poly to get a bit more spin, otherwise this string feels like an updated, step up from Alu Power with a crisper feel and its own unique magical feel.
 
n80aoag said:
Tension: 50 lbs
Regular string set up: Head Lynx Tour Champagne at 52lbs in warmer weather, 50 lbs in colder weather
Racquet used for test: Yonex VCore Pro 97D
Control/Power of test string: Less control and more power compared to Lynx Tour. I usually prefer shaped poly's to gain control from spin, but I wasn't yearning for more control with Hawk Power. Inspired confidence in my shots, and felt a little easier to generate power in my 97D than with Lynx Tour. I hit a flatter shot with the 97D and I felt like my balls landed deeper with Hawk Power. While Lynx Tour might produce a heavier shot due to slightly more spin (according to my hitting partner), Hawk power allowed me to hit more winners due to the increase in power over Lynx Tour.
Feel: AMAZING. Like Alu Power and Grapplesnake Tour M8 combined as a round poly. Crisp but comfortable with plenty of feel despite that Alu Power muted characteristic. Definitely feels like Head's version of Alu Power. I'd like to string up a Prestige YT IG with Hawk Power and play doubles with it, as I'd imagine the feel and precision would be killer.
Spin: pretty slick feeling strings, so there was probably enough snap back to produce spin as a round poly. Plenty of spin to make me feel like I could swing out without my shots sailing long. Less spin than my favorite Lynx Tour but very easy to transition between the two without adjusting strokes much, if at all.
Playability Duration (did you notice changes in playability/feel during the test?). Strung it up the same day the strings arrived. Total playtime of 6 hours in 50-60 degree F* weather. Doubles, singles, and one clinic. I noticed very slight notching and subjectively 1 or 2 lbs in tension loss, none of which affect playability.
Tension findings: I'd imagine I'd go up to 52 lbs in the summer and spring, but felt that 50 lbs felt perfect.
List any additional thoughts: I would say Hawk Power is like a combination of the positive playability characteristics of Alu Power and Grapplesnake Tour M8. Hawk Power felt crisp but muted, not plasticky like Yonex Poly Tour Pro, but more of that amazing Alu Power feel that many of us love.

Thank you TW and Head for the opportunity to test Hawk Power out. Would love to order more and try it in a hybrid with a shaped poly to get a bit more spin, otherwise this string feels like an updated, step up from Alu Power with a crisper feel and its own unique magical feel.
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How did the durability compare to Lynx Tour? LT is my go-to, but I'm curious to try Hawk Power. I just don't want a huge drop in durability - I like Hawk Touch, but it lasts about half as long as LT, and that's a problem :P
 
Chezbeeno said:
How did the durability compare to Lynx Tour? LT is my go-to, but I'm curious to try Hawk Power. I just don't want a huge drop in durability - I like Hawk Touch, but it lasts about half as long as LT, and that's a problem :P
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Only played 6 hours so far due to rain. Will have to update you after a few more sessions, but there isn’t a significant drop so no concern at this time
 
So far I have found it to be an extremely durable string which holds tension quite well.

Chezbeeno said:
How did the durability compare to Lynx Tour? LT is my go-to, but I'm curious to try Hawk Power. I just don't want a huge drop in durability - I like Hawk Touch, but it lasts about half as long as LT, and that's a problem :p
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I strung hawk power up in the ol’ shaker at 47lbs. It’s a really nice looking string! It’s round and slick and felt medium stiffness when stringing (a little stiffer than proline II).

So far it has had great grip on the ball considering it’s round and slick. I found a surprising amount of spin all things considered. It plays a little dead until you get on it and then it peps up and puts some pop into the ball.

So far for me it feels somewhere between proline II and lynx tour.
 
TennisJrDad said:
So far I have found it to be an extremely durable string which holds tension quite well.
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-yeah, i think the "dense" and/or "heavy string" feel ive been notising from this string helps with the durability
-lynx.tour as well as hawk.power both seem to be similar in that regard, IMO/IME
 
First Impressions
I just received my set of Head Hawk Power and put it in my racquet. My first impression observations were that I loved the color, and it was a little kinky when I strung it. I have been stringing racquets for myself and others for over 40 years on a drop weight stringing machine. The string had some stretch, and I knew it would have good ball pocketing before I hit with it. I strung it at 50 lbs.
I just hit with it. It had "an arm friendly, non-muted, responsive feel with good ball pocketing." Comparing it to Prince TourXR17 which was the prior string the launch angle was noticeably higher, and the feel was much better, and the higher power level was noticeable.
 
I'm going to be completely honest here. For me, the string color was very pleasing to the eye. However, the string feels a bit stiff and boardy for my taste. And I use Tour Bite.

Something isn't right here might have to consult the tennis gods.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 46/44

Regular string set up: Ytex Quadro Twist Blk 48/46

Racquet used for test: Yonex DR 98 310

Control/Power of test string: I personally found a great level of control here with this string. As stated in my early feedback, this string instills confidence in me and really allowed me to swing out and go for my shots with success. Power was something I could speak well to as coming from notoriously powerful Quadro twist, I found less power even with a lower tension. I wouldn’t say it was underpowered but it was a little higher than average. Control I’ll give a 4.5/5 and power a 3.5/5.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Not stiff, not mushy, I’d say crisp yet comfortable. I was using Quadro twist because it’s softer and doesn’t give me arm pain. Hawk power was the same in that sense. It’s not as soft as Quadro twist but definitely wasn’t at all painful after hours of use. QT being a 5/5 for comfort, this gets a 4.5/5. BUT this string, my goodness I could really get a feeling for the ball as I played pretty much exclusively doubles for the playtest. I’ll give hawk power a 4/5 for this multi factor encompassing category of “feel”.

Spin: Average at best, it didn’t give much spin as it’s round. But the strings slide back into place pretty well after hitting without my fingers adjusting the strings. It feels run of the mill spin wise for a round poly, a 3/5. But for me that’s ok as I can supply my own spin.

Playability Duration (did you notice changes in playability/feel during the test?): I had about ten hours or so on the string before I broke a main pretty high up on a frame serve. Up to that point there wasn’t much drop off. It was slightly noticeable but I was still able to swing out comfortably with full trust in the string. A 4.5/5 for me in regards to playability duration.

Tension findings (would you use the same tension on the second try?): I contrary to the seeming majority would actually go down 1-2 pounds more. I initially went down as I was coming from Quadro twist which i felt was a good call. The string worked so well for me that I would consider going down even more to say 45/43 or 44/42. I’m tempted to say that it would still perform well, but it might become a launcher. I’ve decided, 44/42 next. I have to find out.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I really really like it, I’ve decided I’m buying a reel when it arrives. Two words that apply to me with hawk power, instills confidence. And that’s a big thing I want from a string. It’s comfortable, there’s a lot of control, slightly above average power, nice tension maintenance. Yeah I could use more spin from the string as I’m lazy, but it’s not a deal breaker. Oh and the color is siiiiiiiiiick in a blue DR 98. Thank you TW and Head for allowing me to participate. Y’all have a winner in this one.

If anyone has specific questions about my experience with the string, by all means please ask.
 
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My initial impression is this poly has some power. (Oxymoron right?)
I have it strung at 48lbs, the string I used prior to this was Gamma Marathon 15L strung at 50lbs
This feels so much more powerful, and higher launch/more launch.
Admittedly, I was not playing great tennis yesterday, but that doesn't change how it felt.
Spin was good though, those little half-swing defensive shots were pretty much all dipping in.
Can't wait for the next hit as I liked the power and spin.
A little better performance from me should yield a little better performance from the string.
 
I play with the speed MP and usually string with Luxilon Element at 48 lbs.
I strung Hawk power at 44 lbs expecting it to be stiffer than element, but definitely would string it at least at 48 next time if not higher.

The most notable difference for me was the sound/feel. Has a zingy feel/sound like you get from a more trampoliny frame, but feel like that is a little misleading as I felt like the power level was likely similar to element.

I've only hit with it twice for about 20 minutes both times and will reassess after a longer session and also try it at 48 or higher.
 
Head Hawk Power 17g playtest

Tension(s) used for playtest: 45/43# using a modified JayCee method strung on an electronic constant pull machine.
Regular string set up Tier One Black Knight 1.23 mains/Tier One Ghost Wire 1.27 crosses, Solinco Tour Bite 1.25 mains/Solinco Outlast 1.25 crosses, Solinco Tour Bite 1.25 mains/Prince Tour XP 1.30 red crosses all at 45/43#
Racquet used for test: Babolat 2012 Pure Drive GT customized with lead, 290 unstrung swingweight; strung swingweight between 320-323 depending on string setup
Control/Power of test string: First one hour hit after I strung it up the night before, Hawk Power played very good. Very good control, good power. Depth and directional control were both very easy and predictable. Feedback from my hitting partners was that I was hitting a good quality ball not unlike the one I hit with my regular strings but that it didn’t come in with any additional action to cause the ball to jump up more than they expected. However by the next hit the morning after, the tension had dropped enough where the string was pocketing the ball too much and started feeling a bit too trampoliney sending the ball a little long when I tried to take a big cut at the ball. Groundstrokes at 40-80% were fine, but the ball would shoot a little longer that I intended when hitting at >80% effort. By the third hit, the tension had dropped even more so I put a dampener in to firm up the response.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Feel was muted, crisp and comfortable. Good ball feedback. Definitely not what I would consider a stiff string.
Spin: Compared to my regular string setups, Hawk Power generated less spin which wasn’t surprising since my regular setups use a shaped main. Spin was very good still for a round poly.
Playability Duration (did you notice changes in playability/feel during the test?): Playability was very consistent throughout the playtest. Other than the string pocketing a little bit too much when it started to lose some tension by the second hit, the performance was consistent throughout the first 3 hours. After the second hour the mains had stopped snapping back. By the end of the third hour, the crosses had started to show significant wear beginning to resemble fettucine. The mains were showing slight notching. This certainly isn't the most durable string.
Tension findings (would you use the same tension on the second try?): Hawk Power showed signs of tension loss throughout the first 3 hours and started to pocket the ball too much as tension dropped so I would bump up the tension by 2-3# for next time since I found the string to offer plenty of comfort.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Hawk Power was very easy to string up. Doesn’t grab and kink like 4G, nor is not sharp where it can slice your fingers. The greyish blue color is funky, cool-looking and matches the 2012 PD paint scheme well. This is a very good poly that I would not hesitate to use if I had 2 extra sets for $2. ;)

I have a feeling Hawk Power would be great in a racquet like the Wilson Ultra Tour, Head PT2.0, Head MG Prestige MP, 2015 Blade 18m (all tighter 18/20 patterns).

Thank you, TW and Head for giving me a chance to playtest Hawk Power! :cool:
 
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Head Hawk Power Playtest


Tension used for playtest: 45 pounds

Regular string set up: my go to is Diadem Solstice Power, but mainly been using OEHMS Matador Strike 1.24 for the last few months

Racquet used for test: Diadem Elevate Tour (1st gen, no mods or weight added)

Control/Power of test string: I found the overall control good. If you can't tell from my regular string setup, I prefer softer polys that doesn't always equate to control. Everything comes 2nd after arm friendliness!!! I didn't find more directional control with this as that's always going to be determined by the swing but I did find more pace and depth control. Worked well with my serves as I prefer flat serves...50% chance I'll do it on a 2nd too. Lol. The string also allowed me to have more confidence in my groundstrokes so I can take bigger cuts at the ball. Don't ask about my volley game. It'll come back 1 day -_-

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): I'd say it was crisp, slightly muted and comfortable. It isn't a stiff string but it's a tad stiffer than I prefer. Can't compare it to alu as It's been too long and too expensive since my last use but it's easier on my arm then tour bite. String reminds me of a beefed up genesis spin x silver, but with a bit more of everything. A bit more control and weight that comes with the string. I like strings with a few extra grams as I always feel like I can drive the ball better. It's like free evenly distributed lead tape through the hoop and really helps when flattening out shots. The extra pop and tension maintenance was overall good. It didn't suddenly die off like a stiffer poly and I can't actually can't tell if it's better tension maintenance, the extra weight or the fact I can hit better through the ball now a days then when I used to use silver strings but the playability seems a better to me compared to spin x, tour bite and other silver strings. This is further proof that ALU is starting to lose its place as king.

Spin: I say spin was average... Maybe a bit above? Hard to guage how much extra spin a round poly adds, but easy to tell how much it lacks. Something is always going to have to give when choosing strings. Do you want the spin from shaped strings or the consistency of the round. I didn't feel like the ball slipped on the strings or failed to catch like Lynx Spin2 but you have to keep the racquet head speed up for spin with this string. That actually helped complement how my elevate plays.

Playability Duration (did you notice changes in playability/feel during the test?): I'm at around 8-9 hrs with the string. I might cut it out after the 1-2 more session. Could probably go longer than that but I don't want to risk it, esp with the colder temps creeping in.

Tension findings (would you use the same tension on the second try?): Stay the same for now. May need to up it to 48 pounds if it was summer months. I compared the tension to few strings above.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I can't think of anything to dislike about this string but also nothing screams out at me about it either. I like the string and think it will work well in both open and closed string patterns but I feel like this is more aimed at tournament players over recreational. I'll give it a 4/5.
 
I think the string is falsely advertised.

I just measured it with electronic caliper and the measurement came out as 1.18mm~1.20mm
 
Mjolnir said:
It’s presumptuous to claim “falsely advertised.”

Did you measure unstrung or strung? My set unstrung measured at ~1.25mm in different spots with good calipers.
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Nike Zoom Cage 3 size 9.5s fit smaller than Adidas SoleCourt Boost size 9.5s therefore Nike or Adidas have "falsely advertised" their size 9.5. ;)
 
HEAD HAWK POWER - THE PLAYTEST
Special thanks to TW and HEAD for making this playtest possible!!

Tension(s): 44 mains / 46 crosses
Regular string set up: Hybrid: Shaped poly mains @ 46 / round smooth poly crosses @ 48. Lately Hyper-G Mains @ 46 / Nano Vendetta Crosses @ 48
Racquet Used: Babolat Pure Strike 98 (2nd Gen.) 16x19 weighted to 340 gr.

Control/Power
Control: Excellent. I found that this was a point and shoot. Good pocketing at this tension and very accurate. Balls went were directed - consistently. No harsh vibrations. Able to absorb pace easily and redirect. Love this for my ground game as I could swing out more from both wings with confidence. I played some singles and doubles and passing the net(man) was so much fun. Great on lobs too - not erratic in the slightest. Volleys benefitted greatly from the feel and control - nobody likes to see volleys sprayed all over the court. This was point and shoot. The control was evident when digging out shots at your feet. This string inspires confidence and that, as we know, is critical to play well in tense moments. On return of serves the control was my best friend and just as good on touch shots. I felt like this string gave me control of a wider range of shots than many others and that gave me options to try shots that required a bit more precision /control.

Power: Low-Powered String. Is that possible with a string named Power ? Yes, it is as power is relative. I generally like livelier polys, but HHP does have a touch more power than some famously "dead" polys. A little more powerful than RPM Blast or Alu. P. IMO. There is enough power on groundies, but I have to work a little more for it - which is fine with me. On serves however I missed some of the easier power, but after after an hour or so I did get just a bit more power from the stringbed as it loosened up. Still a tad underpowered for my liking, but for this type of string no complaints.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) : Excellent. It has a reassuring feel and sound coming off the strings. A nice mellow thud. It is comfortable without being mushy. Crisp without being harsh - really just about in my sweet spot. Reminds me a little of Yonex Poly Tour Pro - but better for me in most ways. I strung it relatively low, so the feel and comfort was good for me; higher would have been a bit too stiff, but sure to suit many.

Spin: Very Good - especially for a round poly. Of course it does not have the spin of shaped polys (Hyper-G, Volkl Cyclone, Confidential, Black Knight etc.). It CAN generate more than enough though and it does so in a consistent way. Many shaped strings lose a lot of bite as the shape wears down. HHP didn't ! It plays more like when I strung it up than many others; it's stable and consistent in regards to spin and overall. That is something I value from a string and it inspires confidence knowing you will get a similar response from your strings. In identical racquets PS 98 16x19 the HHP had a slightly lower launch than my normal set up, less spin and less power with control being similar.

Playability Duration: Very good. I have played about 9-10 hours and the response has been stable and consistent. To this point it hasn't fallen off a cliff. It might but I doubt it. Not a poly that dies in 2-3 hours. Not dead, not a trampoline - still playing well. Will update as it reaches its end of life.

Tension findings: If I were to string a few more sets of HHP I would try it 2-3 lower to see if it maintains its control and gives a touch more power. I'd like to try it in a hybrid too, as both a main and a cross, mixing it with a softer livelier string; poly, gut, syn gut to see if I could get a bit more ball pocketing, power and spin. I think this could be a great string to hybrid because it has such nice feel, control and is relatively comfortable. If I had to guess it would probably be a fantastic cross with gut mains or shaped lively poly. I think I could find a great combo with just bit of experimentation !! This seems to be a string that can fit wide range of games; strung a bit tighter it could reign in some big hitters or powerful frames. Strung a bit loser or in a hybrid and it could provide controlled power to denser string beds or players looking for a little more pop. Likely will try it as a cross next with a more powerful poly in the mains, probably @ 43 m / 45 cr. which should give me just enough power and keep the control.

Additional thoughts: Solid, comfortable control oriented string, but not too much power. It feels good and plays well, and best of all it inspires confidence in your game. I like that. I would like just a tad more power (perhaps even a shaped extrusion) and I would be buying reels. As it is now its very good, but not great. Aesthetically - a great looking string. The color is unique and goes well with most racquets and other strings if you were to hybrid it.
 
2ndServe said:
I got mine yesterday and strung it today and played doubles with my team that played in the finals at 4.5 Nationals. My partner probably hit 30 winners so it kind of made my job easy and I had so few unforced errors. I wish I had recorded this match

TLDR this is the best poly I've used ever, we'll see how long it lasts. I can see why JJ Wolf and others switched to it.


  • Tension(s) used for playtest - 40 lbs main/39 lbs cross
  • Regular string set up - 42 / 40 Yonex pro Poly tour, Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange or Pros Pro Red Devil or black force or whatever is on sale
  • Racquet used for test: Wilson Blade SW104 18x19
  • Control/Power of test string- At 40lbs it had great power as with most polys but it also had really good control. The ball didn't come off too hot as it sometimes does at 40lbs
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) At 40lbs nothing feels stiff, very comfy, not muted, pretty crisp
  • Spin - Great spin I hit like 80% first serves in, topspin lobs were amazing
  • Playability Duration (did you notice changes in playability/feel during the test?) - Played 3 sets still felt great in the 3rd set, will find out more this weekend and after
  • Tension findings (would you use the same tension on the second try?) - 40/39lbs felt great
  • List any additional thoughts (optional) - I never hit so many first serve % in, and my topspin lobs were never better, just an amazing string and I hope it's offered soon or goes on sale, wish I had recorded this match. If I bought a reel I might go up 1 or 2 lbs but 40 feels really good.
Click to expand...

Got a few more sets of Head Hawk Power and am trying them at lower tensions 30-38. I've strung two more at 38/37 35/34 and will hybrid some I've tried a lot polys at lower tensions, but a lot of them come off too hot sometimes at this tension. This is probably the only poly I've had that I felt had really good control at in the mid high 30 lb range.

I found this string to be really amazing for slicing backhands, drop shots, volleys, even slice forehands. Got a few drop shots and slices on video.


I have 3 rackets strung with Head Hawk Power now and the first one has had ~12+ hours on it and still plays amazing. Will definitely get a reel when available

Edit: Low 40s was great but imo 45ish played even better.
 
Last edited:
2ndServe said:
Got a few more sets of Head Hawk Power and am trying them at lower tensions 30-38. I've strung two more at 38/37 35/34 and will hybrid some I've tried a lot polys at lower tensions, but a lot of them come off too hot sometimes at this tension. This is probably the only poly I've had that I felt had really good control at in the mid high 30 lb range.

I found this string to be really amazing for slicing backhands, drop shots, volleys, even slice forehands. Got a few drop shots and slices on video.


I have 3 rackets strung with Head Hawk Power now and the first one has had ~12+ hours on it and still plays amazing. Will definitely get a reel when available
Click to expand...
Glad to see this - good job! I thought it would play well strung lower too. Glad to see another Blade 104 user. My feeling is that it would suit this frame perfectly, due to it low RA. Did the power increase much when you dropped tension? Seems like the control was still there !
 
StringStrungStrang said:
Glad to see this - good job! I thought it would play well strung lower too. Glad to see another Blade 104 user. My feeling is that it would suit this frame perfectly, due to it low RA. Did the power increase much when you dropped tension? Seems like the control was still there !
Click to expand...

Currently on a Blade sw104 18x19, yes power did increase quite a bit at 35lbs, obviously lost a little control but not a ton. Going back up to 38 or 39 might dial it in.

have some 2015 blade 98 18x20 that Bosworth customized I'm going to try when my friend gets me more sets, will also try on my countervail blade 98 16x19

I'm definitely got to get a review of Hawk Power on my Dunlop Cx200 16x19 and Prince 100G LB 16x18. I really liked the dunlop racket but the stringbed was too inconsistent with 35 - 40 lbs tension, I think this string might fix that.

I know nobody reviews a string for lobs but I love this string for lobs best string for depth control on lobs I've used.
 
Last edited:
  • Tension(s) used for playtest
    • 50 lbs mains and crosses.
  • Regular string set up
    • Yonex Poly Tour Pro (Black 1.25mm) at 50lbs.
  • Racquet used for test
    • Yonex Ezone 98 2022
  • Control/Power of test string
    • Power was relatively low but the control was it's strongest attribute especially freshly strung.
    • I could take very full cuts with this string and had no fear of missing deep. Placing shots felt relatively confident on where I wanted the ball to go.
    • Power is nothing amazing. Definitely have to have full strokes even though the string is called "Hawk Power" I would say it is a very lower powered poly compared to other polys I've used.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
    • Feel is on the stiffer side for me. But wasn't completely jarring. I have a somewhat sensitive arm if the string is too stiff I will feel the soreness after a hard hitting session. This string definitely caused soreness for me and unfortunately was my biggest con. If I were to play with this string long term I would very likely run into more severe arm pain, TE and GE.
    • To me the feel was kind of a more blunt feel, not crisp not mushy. Dead? is that the word?
  • Spin
    • Spin was below average for this string. It has enough snap back and for a poly it can spin the ball. But it is a string that will not provide extra bite or more spin potential. The launch angle is pretty low but very predictable. Think this adds to the control and predictability of the string.
    • You will need to have good technique to provide your own spin or you will hopefully have a relatively flat style game to use this string.
  • Playability Duration (did you notice changes in playability/feel during the test?)
    • Tension held up great with this string. According to my string meter it was still around 50lbs after 6 hours of hitting.
    • Playability though I felt the snapback start to fade on me. I was starting to hit my balls out and lost that magic, "I can't miss anything" moment like I had when freshly strung.
    • This string seemed to be very notch resistant when I cut it out. Only parts that had some deeper notches was on the strike area, everywhere else just had a dent where the strings cross but no notching.
    • It was at this point where the honeymoon phase kind of ended. With low spin potential and now that control fading these strings really just did not impress me much afterwards.
  • Tension findings (would you use the same tension on the second try? Explain why/why not)
    • Tension wise, I would maybe consider going lower just to try to get more power, spin, and comfort. The control is so good already and the tension maintenance held up well. Maybe 45-48lbs I would try next time.
  • List any additional thoughts (optional)
    • In conclusion, this string is great freshly strung and you are a high level striker that is primarily looking for control and predictability. You can provide your own spin and power and just want a string that gives you what you put into it. Think this is why this string will be targeted towards high level players and why they are trying to market it as a Luxilon competitor.
    • I personally will not be switching to this string because of the comfort which is my biggest concern as a person who plays 4 days a week I need to preserve my arm as best as I can.
    • Hawk power in combination with my Ezone 98 felt like I was swinging with my old blade V7 control and spin wise, minus the comfort of a blade. So if you are looking for a string to tame a racket to play more like a control racket or reduce launch angle of a racket this could be something to try.
    • The color is sick! Looks so good in my Ezone that metallic blue.
I am a 33 years old 4.5 NTRP counterpuncher if that is any worth.


Thanks TW for letting me part of this review.
 
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