Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Head Hybrid Spin

TW Staff

TW Staff

Administrator
Head Hybrid Spin Playtest
Application period closed.
All selected playtesters have been notified.

REVIEW IS DUE JULY 14

Installation instructions: polyester = mains.

Include the following in your review:
Tennis experience/background:
Current string preference(s):
What racquet did you use for this playtest?
Tension(s) used for playtest?
Power/Control of test string?
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Spin?
Playability duration? (-feel free to comment on friction here, e.g., does this setup require manual straightening?)
Tension & installation Recommendations. Would you tension it differently next time? Explain.
List any additional thoughts (optional)​
 
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Interested to try this one. I used to do a poly main hybrid back in high school, but recently the only hybrid with poly mains I tried didn't work so well. It was Prince Premier Control 16 crosses with Confidential 1.25 mains -- not sure if that was just a terrible pairing or what?
 
any idea what the main string is? doesn't seem like Lynx Tour since that's 6-sided and this one is 5.
 
I thought most hybrid sets generally start with thicker mains than crosses. This set has it the other way around, 17g mains and 16g crosses. Interesting...
 
I just applied. String play tests are an excellent opportunity to see what is available beyond your usual set ups. I was just on the Yonex Regis Activate/Poly Tour Drive play test and I am absolutely sold on that hybrid.
 
Chairman3 said:
you'll be happy to know I'm sitting this one
Click to expand...
Why would that make me happy? :laughing:

I think you should share your thoughts anyway. You should always want the opinions of someone who has tried a large variety of strings because you have so many reference points
 
PhxRacket said:
I just applied. String play tests are an excellent opportunity to see what is available beyond your usual set ups. I was just on the Yonex Regis Activate/Poly Tour Drive play test and I am absolutely sold on that hybrid.
Click to expand...
Totally agree with this one. Another big benefit with string test...like the Yonex one...it inspired me to try a string setup that I never really tried before, because I didn't think it would work based off prior experiences with other multis, but surprisingly I liked the multi main/poly cross better.

I have really enjoyed some of the newer offerings from Head, both strings and rackets. Got a few of my players sold on Hawk Power.
 
Going to apply. I just strung up Lynx Tour with the Yonex Rexis Activate from the last playtest. Good opportunity to compare the two set-ups.
 
BenC said:
any idea what the main string is? doesn't seem like Lynx Tour since that's 6-sided and this one is 5.
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Good eye! It looks to be the same string shape as the main in the Lynx Spin2 rPET, which is also interesting because I assumed that it was the same shaped string in the non-rPET Lynx Spin2, which was Lynx Tour. I don't know why Head keeps it so hush hush and not indicate what the strings are.
 
Head Hybrids have been very very good to me !!
I loved LynxSpin2 and LynxSpin2 Pet if this is half as good it will be a winner for me. I hybrid most of my strings so this is a perfect opportunity to try out another! A soft shaped string and an even softer multi !!
I do doubt Taylor is using it though.

rs.php
 
ngoster said:
I'm liking deader strings in my 2022.
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I've been doing a test in my SX Tour 2022 the past couple of years ... lol. I'm trying out a number of yellow poly's. Right now I've got MSV Focux Hex 1.20 in there. I'm finding the yellow strings typically to be a bit more lively and a bit softer. In the 2025 SX 300 Tour as I mentioned it has the seed set of Lynx Power and that one is pretty good after two hits; it seems like it needed one hit for a break in and then I got a lot of ball pocketing after it lost a few pounds of initial tension. In the FX 500 Tour 2023 I have in P6 in that one right now 1.28 and it's quite a good match for it. I also really like Tru Pro Firewire Boost (FW mains with Ghostwire crosses) and it makes a red/white/blue (racquet) so it's a great look and plays really well. P6 is rocking right now though. I probably will go with FW Boost around the 4th of July though ... lol! Have to.
 
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Chairman3 said:
It was more a joke because in the Rexis Activate thread you asked why I always try all the strings.
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Can you or anyone else here tell me what to expect, look forward to, or be weary of? Or should I go into it blindly for maximum reduction of bias?
 
d-quik said:
Can you or anyone else here tell me what to expect, look forward to, or be weary of? Or should I go into it blindly for maximum reduction of bias?
Click to expand...
All I'll say is I strung mine too low and it ruined the experience. Very launchy and unpredictable but that's because I strung it the same as full poly.
I had the poly in the main and multi in the cross.
I have another set I may add 2lbs tension and try again and post a review
 
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I have done gut or multi in the mains and poly in the crosses for years, but have never tried it the other way.

I may string up 2 identical rackets with this and then a diff. multi main / poly cross combo so I am comparing string set to string set.
 
d-quik said:
Can you or anyone else here tell me what to expect, look forward to, or be weary of? Or should I go into it blindly for maximum reduction of bias?
Click to expand...

Chairman3 said:
All I'll say is I strung mine too low and it ruined the experience. Very launchy and unpredictable but that's because I strung it the same as full poly.
I had the poly in the main and multi in thr cross.
I have another set I may add 2lbs tension and try again and post a review
Click to expand...

You want to go in blindly. I also try to avoid anything that looks like a review prior to posting mine. In said playtest, even your seemingly innocent comment about variation in power got in my head and I had to try to not let that influence my review. That said, it did bring light to something I was already trying to figure out.

If you're asking for recommendations on how to string, I normally start hybrids with poly main at 48 and multi cross at 53. I normally play a full bed of poly at 45 and a full multi at 55. Hope that gives a frame of reference.

stapletonj said:
I have done gut or multi in the mains and poly in the crosses for years, but have never tried it the other way.

I may string up 2 identical rackets with this and then a diff. multi main / poly cross combo so I am comparing string set to string set.
Click to expand...

I've tried the gut main hybrid once based on recommendation from other forum members. I didn't like it as much as poly mains. It's possible that I just haven't dialed in the tension, but I found the gut main to be too launchy and lacking in control.

I know that the thought is multi/gut main will give you the feel of multi/gut, but the poly cross will allow the mains to slide easier which in turn creates more spin. However, I do have my tension pretty dialed in with poly main and I feel like that combo is hard to beat. You get the spin/power combo of poly with a little softer bed because of the multi. Maybe I just need to try the poly cross again with cheaper string until I get the tension right. Then move up to a more expensive combo. Regardless, you'll probably like the poly main hybrid.
 
I am excited to playtest Head’s new Hybrid Spin offering. I received UPS notice that my package will arrive on 6/9/2026 (Tuesday). Thank you @TW Staff and Head for providing the playtest opportunity.

@Cowboy, I am thinking of hybrid setup with poly main @ 52 lbs x multi cross @ 56 lbs. However, I might deviate little once I know how the strings feel when I open the package.
 
Update: I'm in and it looks like the strings are arriving today! Woo hoo! Thanks @TW Staff for the opportunity to test this Head Hybrid Spin out! Just got off the courts a few mins ago. Played one set with the 2025 SX 300 Tour with Head Lynx Spin 6-1 and one set with the CX 200 Limited Edition 2023 with PolyTour Drive / Rexis Activate 6-2 against my buddy Tim. Seems like the PTD/Rexis Activate is starting to launch in this hotter weather here in Nor Cal. So this frame may be a good candidate for this Hybrid; haven't decided yet but if it brings some degree of power then it would be a good fit for the CX 200 which definitely needs some power / feel combo to make it work for me these days. Anyways looking forward to seeing how all you are going to setup with this test and look forward to your reviews as always ...

Update 2: yeah they just arrived. I'm definitely going to put them into the CX 200 Limited Edition as it seems like the PTD mains in that one are bagged out.
https://imgur.com/a/fERz3VO
 
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Head Hybrid Spin !
The multi is the natural colored string and the grey is the pentagonal shaped string. You can definitely feel the edges, but the string does not feel stiff at all. Soft ( for a poly ) to the touch.
The multi is of course soft and pliable. Likely going into an Aero Pro Drive or Pure Drive or ?
Both labeled Head Hybrid Spin as you can see in @racketa 's close-up above !

Let the testing begin !!


Hybrid-Spin.jpg
 
"I've tried the gut main hybrid once based on recommendation from other forum members. I didn't like it as much as poly mains. It's possible that I just haven't dialed in the tension, but I found the gut main to be too launchy and lacking in control."

Dont know what you strung your gut mains at, but you are right, control is a real problem at lower tensions. I play mine (Yonex vcore 100 7th gen) at 62 lbs in the mains. If I have poly mains, I usually string them at 52 or 53 lbs.
 
d-quik said:
Oh damn! I am sorry.:laughing:

I wasn't trying to sabotage people there
Click to expand...

It's all good. Like I said, it helped me to put a finger on something I was already trying to figure out.

Rabbit said:
I think I can speak for the entire TTW community when I say, We expect top notch work from you on this!
Click to expand...

Secondeded

d-quik said:
But why though? Do people think I am super picky or something? :laughing:
Click to expand...

sweats.png


Perhaps "super picky" is not the proper term. I'd go with more of a "highly analytical with strong preferences and observation skills."

stapletonj said:
"I've tried the gut main hybrid once based on recommendation from other forum members. I didn't like it as much as poly mains. It's possible that I just haven't dialed in the tension, but I found the gut main to be too launchy and lacking in control."

Dont know what you strung your gut mains at, but you are right, control is a real problem at lower tensions. I play mine (Yonex vcore 100 7th gen) at 62 lbs in the mains. If I have poly mains, I usually string them at 52 or 53 lbs.
Click to expand...

It was the Volkl v-fuse gut hybrid with the gut in the mains at 57 and the poly cross at 54 in a Blade 100 v9. As stated above, my normal multi tension is 55, so I wouldn't think that 57 would be too low for my play style.
 
I received my Head Hybrid Spin Seeding playtest set on 6/9/2026 (Tuesday) as scheduled. The label on string package indicated “Made in Vietnam” and I was wondering if the strings are manufactured in Vietnam. The playtest set felt nice upon touch and strung my Head i.Prestige mid (18 x 20) racquet last night. I used a drop-weight stringing machine and there was no issue stringing hybrid (poly mains @ 52 lbs x multi crosses @ 56 lbs).
 
Cowboy said:
I'm still waiting on mine. They are supposed to be here today. I have a match this weekend. Hopefully I can get some hitting in before then.
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I'd caution against going right into a serious match with freshly strung Hybrid Spin. The launch angle changes a lot in the first 15-20 minutes as the strings wear in and start to stick more to each other.
 
Finally got this one restrung replacing the old Yonex PTD / Rexis Activate with the new Head Hybrid Spin Seeding Set; should be a nice comparison. Played last set with the older setup and it held up pretty well but was completely bagged out so it was definitely time for the new test to start. It's projected to reach somewhere around 104 degrees tomorrow; thankfully this test is going to start in the morning and we should be done with a couple of sets easily before noon!

Stringing this is such a breeze; it went in at 55 lbs. Very nice to string up the multi in the cross. Hope everyone has a great testing time and good hitting! Look forward to reading your comments!

https://imgur.com/a/ofuhyc4
 
Cowboy said:
Have we figured out the string combo yet? The multi has that Velocity Power smell :D
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the poly definitely isn't Lynx Tour. on my dropweight stringer it continues to stretch 3-5 seconds after applying tension, unlike Lynx Tour. it doesn't feel that different to hit with, but that could be due to the different cross string (multi vs syngut) and the muted nature of the Clash.
 
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