Tennis Warehouse playtest: Hyper-G Round 1.25
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Think it depends on the string pattern and spacing of the racquet and the player’s style of play. For frames with very open string spacing, shaped strings can generate launch angles that are too high at the expense of penetration through the court. In this case, a round string might work better. For frames with tighter string spacing, a round string may not offer a high enough launch angle and a shaped string would work better.
Is HGR better than Alu Power? For some, it might be better. For others, it may not be. So far for me, HGR is much better because Alu Power’s usable life is too short. Mains stop snapping back within the first hour and exhibits a lot of notching within the first two hours.
jimdontcare
Semi-Pro
This is pretty much the only question I want answered before trying HG Round. I almost wonder if they are trying to replace Outlast altogether rather than trying to provide a different round string to go alongside it. HG Round would have better name recognition and they can charge $5 more per pack compared to Outlast. So I'm curious to hear a comparison from those who have used both before (has @mad dog1 played full bed Outlast before, or just hybrid?).
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Outlast is softer which is why I use it as a cross with TB mains. For me, Outlast is a very good string but it doesn’t wind the ball up the way HGR does. I haven’t been this impressed with a new string in a very long time.
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Lol, you and me both. It's suppose to snow tonight and tomorrow, then rain, possibly snow for the next week straight.
ryohazuki222
Hall of Fame
I won’t get to get out with mine for another week due to weather as well and then running into travel.
I’m going to try it as a hybrid first. Either as a main to replace rev in my set up. Or as a cross to replace rpm rough in my setup. (Rev/rpm rough is the control setup).
Then that’ll give me a sense for how stiff or soft it is so I can guess better at tension for the full bed after.
I’m going to try it as a hybrid first. Either as a main to replace rev in my set up. Or as a cross to replace rpm rough in my setup. (Rev/rpm rough is the control setup).
Then that’ll give me a sense for how stiff or soft it is so I can guess better at tension for the full bed after.
In retrospect, that's what I should have done. I like to get to know a string through a full bed experience first, but your method gives you a better idea on tension before you use up a full set.
Gripped and ready to be ripped
Full bed at 47lbs
HyperGRound mains/Xalt cross at 47lbs
I really wanted to get a sense of how hyper GRound played so went with a neutral-ish cross but....
Once the full bed dies, I intend to take the remaining half set and do HyperG main/HyperGRound cross as a bonus bonus bonus comparison.
Is the surface slick like hyper g or hyper g Soft?
Gripped and ready to be ripped
Full bed at 47lbs
HyperGRound mains/Xalt cross at 47lbs
I really wanted to get a sense of how hyper GRound played so went with a neutral-ish cross but....
Once the full bed dies, I intend to take the remaining half set and do HyperG main/HyperGRound cross as a bonus bonus bonus comparison.
Yes, basically identical to normal hyper-g just round instead of shaped.
First two hours on the clock, doubles match (we won)
1.25hrs with the full bed and 0.5hrs on the hybrid.
Had a hiccup with the overgrip so had to quit using the hybrid racquet. I don't blame the Solinco OG, I think I had too little overlap near the butt.
One criticism though, the finishing tape is not terrific, little cheap. Most OG's you can unwrap once and reuse the tape but this one got pretty mangled; we'll see if it holds.
The string, impressive so far. It was a frigid (50-ish), for FL, morning but the string felt pretty good in the full bed. Pretty predictable response and a little pop, but not too much.
The hybrid, I really didn't get enough time. My initial impression is maybe that it didn't feel super noticeably different, little less spin. BUT the OG got messed up pretty quick and I switched back so I wouldn't be distracted by it.
1.25hrs with the full bed and 0.5hrs on the hybrid.
Had a hiccup with the overgrip so had to quit using the hybrid racquet. I don't blame the Solinco OG, I think I had too little overlap near the butt.
One criticism though, the finishing tape is not terrific, little cheap. Most OG's you can unwrap once and reuse the tape but this one got pretty mangled; we'll see if it holds.
The string, impressive so far. It was a frigid (50-ish), for FL, morning but the string felt pretty good in the full bed. Pretty predictable response and a little pop, but not too much.
The hybrid, I really didn't get enough time. My initial impression is maybe that it didn't feel super noticeably different, little less spin. BUT the OG got messed up pretty quick and I switched back so I wouldn't be distracted by it.
First time out with hyper g round. Really quite nice. I dont like or dislike regular hyper g. Like I could use it if I had to, but I won’t choose to. Round has a clean feel without being too muted, it still has some crispness. Nice balance of pop and forgiveness. Plenty of spin available. My arm was bugging me with it though, and that went away when switching to a more-used ALU stringjob. The twinge of arm pain is likely due to an increase in volume the past couple weeks more than anything. Looking forward to putting this through its paces.
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
I don’t know, I felt a few little twinges in the wrist playing with Hyper G Round for the first time tonight. Not one of the more comfortable polys from what I can gather.
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This string would be fine for me if this muscle wasn’t already ornery. It’s in one of my forearm extensors that’s been a little tight lately. Just went from not playing at all to hitting 2-3x per week. Same thing happened with fresh bed ALU for about 15 minutes the other day. It’s just that the string was fresh and hadn’t dropped tension from hitting yet, and that was enough for me to feel it a little compared to ALU 130 that’s been used 2 times and is close to breaking. Though, if you typically have a tender arm, hyper g is already on the stiffer side and doesn’t drop a ton of tension for poly. String it low, hybrid, or avoid that’s you.
ttgrinder
Semi-Pro
Joining the party a bit late this time.
Got the strings last week, but strung it up only yesterday, and so did not spent enough time with it yet. But initial feeling is that, it is very similar to regular (edged) Hyper-G in feel. Probably a slightly lower launch angle. Didn't feel any difference in spin.
I am also participating in the Hybrid test. So going to strung that up tonight and planning to do a side by side compare with full bed this week.
By the way the neon-green looks really good on my RF97 all black.
Got the strings last week, but strung it up only yesterday, and so did not spent enough time with it yet. But initial feeling is that, it is very similar to regular (edged) Hyper-G in feel. Probably a slightly lower launch angle. Didn't feel any difference in spin.
I am also participating in the Hybrid test. So going to strung that up tonight and planning to do a side by side compare with full bed this week.
By the way the neon-green looks really good on my RF97 all black.
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
Strung up a full bed of Hyper-G Round in my Pure Aero, gonna get some serious hitting with it tomorrow night!
ttgrinder
Semi-Pro
Yes
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
This is exactly why HGR is much better for me than regular HG. I get much better court penetration with HGR using a 16x18 Phantom.
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
only hit it once so far but side by side with hyper g. It’s about what would be expected from shaped vs round. A little more direct than hyper g. Crisp is a feeling, and the definition varies depending on who you ask. But hgr is a smoother, less springy ride for me than hyper g. Maybe crisper if that fits your definition. It does for me.
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Like you, I feel HGR is smoother and less springy than HG. HGR also doesn’t have the plastic feel. Feels clean and crisp.
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OG did better on the second outing after re-wrapping.
Also got alot of time in with the hybrid.
A little surprised that there is noticeably less spin with my HGR/Xalt hybrid. Xalt had decent spin on its own and I thought this might translate to good spin in a hybrid.
Maybe the Xalt is too slick, my logic for this is the crosses were moving alot. Maybe HGR is too stiff for Xalt, don't know. I'd have thought the thinner HGR would glide right over the Xalt.
Power was better on the hybrid as was the comfort and feel. The stringbed just feels a bit more plush, although I do not find HGR to be particular stiff. Crisp is an accurate description.
And my take on HGR vs HG in terms of feel is that it's mostly attributable to the difference of how shaped vs round strings feel. @mad dog1 said it well, HGR just feels cleaner and I predict will have a more consistent feel throughout its life compared to its shaped counterpart.
Also got alot of time in with the hybrid.
A little surprised that there is noticeably less spin with my HGR/Xalt hybrid. Xalt had decent spin on its own and I thought this might translate to good spin in a hybrid.
Maybe the Xalt is too slick, my logic for this is the crosses were moving alot. Maybe HGR is too stiff for Xalt, don't know. I'd have thought the thinner HGR would glide right over the Xalt.
Power was better on the hybrid as was the comfort and feel. The stringbed just feels a bit more plush, although I do not find HGR to be particular stiff. Crisp is an accurate description.
And my take on HGR vs HG in terms of feel is that it's mostly attributable to the difference of how shaped vs round strings feel. @mad dog1 said it well, HGR just feels cleaner and I predict will have a more consistent feel throughout its life compared to its shaped counterpart.
Dunlop300g
Semi-Pro
Solinco Hyper-G Round Full-Bed review
Tension used for playtest Solinco Hyper-G Round 1.25 - Full Bed Test @ 50lbs.
Regular string setup and tension Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 17 1.25 (full bed) at 50 lbs.
Racquet used for testing is Dunlop 300g (similar to the current Dunlop CX 200) 16x19 custom weighted and balanced.
Power / Control - for this very control oriented player’s frame, so this string did add some power to it. Even as tension dropped and power increased; the string maintained adequate control.
Feel – this string is much less crisp that say Solinco Confidential. For this time of year I’m definitely fine with this. I feel like this string is much more comfortable to play with in colder conditions like right now in January and February outdoors in Northern California. I would consider this a soft co-poly but not as soft as say Head Sonic Pro 17 (165). It’s about the same as what I’m using right now though; Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 17 1.25 (211) vs Hyper-G 16L 1.25 (218).
I would not call this string mushy either. So softer more muted. But not mushy. So with this string I’m feeling quite nice ball pocketing; so I feel connected to the shots and this give me confidence to hit out as needed.
Spin - thus far I find spin to be adequate both on serves and ground strokes. I consider myself more of a spin player so I haven’t had any problems generating topspin off either side. And I would add that slice (biting backspin) is also very good with this string. So kick serves or slice serves seem to be working fine; I’m not sure this string is better than Super Smash Orange on serve spin, but it doesn’t seem to lacking anything either. Spin being an integral part of control; no issues at all.
Durability – concerning notching this sting hasn’t really started to lock up or notch at all; this is after 9 sets of doubles and about four ball machine lunch-hour hitting sessions. I’d say that’s pretty darn good. Yes there is tension loss but notching isn’t an issue and lockup hasn’t happened; this may be due to the round string and whatever it’s made of or coated with because it’s pretty slick.
Playability Duration – I did notice some tension loss over the course of the playtest which does affect playability to some degree. With the tension loss I noticed, not surprisingly, more power a bit less control. I notice this after the first couple of hitting sessions. Our weather has been quite normal with a lot of intermittent days of rain so this has dragged out the playtesting more than expected; the string is still quite playable if you’re willing to adapt a bit to it. Personally I don’t mind a lower tension this time of year due to the colder weather. I do notice and test with Racquet Tune about a 10 to 20 percent drop off in tension so far.
Tension recommendations - so far I’m completely happy at 50 lbs. Going into the winter season in California so this softer co-poly string is perfect.
Additional thoughts – launch angle on this frame is pretty low but I feel like this string with it’s spin potential is giving me adequate court penetration on ground strokes. And I would say that access to power is quite good as the tension has dropped to around 40 lbs at this point in the string test. Some testers may not like this tension drop but I’m living with it comfortably at this time. Would I string it higher at say 55 lbs next time? Probably not. Is this string a good value. Yes. I think it is. I would say it’s a little more expensive than Kirschbaum Super Smash but it does have some edge in playability and according to the database the tension drop off is much better. I don’t notice this as much this time of year because the air is much cooler and more dense; so it’s kind of a plus.
Much thanks to TW and to Solinco for giving us the opportunity to test this excellent string. This is my first time using Hyper-G Round; or any Hyper-G offering, so I’m getting to see first hand why this string is so popular. I think the Round version makes a lot of sense; it may be best in a hybrid setup, but I’m only testing the full bed. I would definitely recommend this string in the full bed configuration; it has a lot to offer.
Tension used for playtest Solinco Hyper-G Round 1.25 - Full Bed Test @ 50lbs.
Regular string setup and tension Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 17 1.25 (full bed) at 50 lbs.
Racquet used for testing is Dunlop 300g (similar to the current Dunlop CX 200) 16x19 custom weighted and balanced.
Power / Control - for this very control oriented player’s frame, so this string did add some power to it. Even as tension dropped and power increased; the string maintained adequate control.
Feel – this string is much less crisp that say Solinco Confidential. For this time of year I’m definitely fine with this. I feel like this string is much more comfortable to play with in colder conditions like right now in January and February outdoors in Northern California. I would consider this a soft co-poly but not as soft as say Head Sonic Pro 17 (165). It’s about the same as what I’m using right now though; Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 17 1.25 (211) vs Hyper-G 16L 1.25 (218).
I would not call this string mushy either. So softer more muted. But not mushy. So with this string I’m feeling quite nice ball pocketing; so I feel connected to the shots and this give me confidence to hit out as needed.
Spin - thus far I find spin to be adequate both on serves and ground strokes. I consider myself more of a spin player so I haven’t had any problems generating topspin off either side. And I would add that slice (biting backspin) is also very good with this string. So kick serves or slice serves seem to be working fine; I’m not sure this string is better than Super Smash Orange on serve spin, but it doesn’t seem to lacking anything either. Spin being an integral part of control; no issues at all.
Durability – concerning notching this sting hasn’t really started to lock up or notch at all; this is after 9 sets of doubles and about four ball machine lunch-hour hitting sessions. I’d say that’s pretty darn good. Yes there is tension loss but notching isn’t an issue and lockup hasn’t happened; this may be due to the round string and whatever it’s made of or coated with because it’s pretty slick.
Playability Duration – I did notice some tension loss over the course of the playtest which does affect playability to some degree. With the tension loss I noticed, not surprisingly, more power a bit less control. I notice this after the first couple of hitting sessions. Our weather has been quite normal with a lot of intermittent days of rain so this has dragged out the playtesting more than expected; the string is still quite playable if you’re willing to adapt a bit to it. Personally I don’t mind a lower tension this time of year due to the colder weather. I do notice and test with Racquet Tune about a 10 to 20 percent drop off in tension so far.
Tension recommendations - so far I’m completely happy at 50 lbs. Going into the winter season in California so this softer co-poly string is perfect.
Additional thoughts – launch angle on this frame is pretty low but I feel like this string with it’s spin potential is giving me adequate court penetration on ground strokes. And I would say that access to power is quite good as the tension has dropped to around 40 lbs at this point in the string test. Some testers may not like this tension drop but I’m living with it comfortably at this time. Would I string it higher at say 55 lbs next time? Probably not. Is this string a good value. Yes. I think it is. I would say it’s a little more expensive than Kirschbaum Super Smash but it does have some edge in playability and according to the database the tension drop off is much better. I don’t notice this as much this time of year because the air is much cooler and more dense; so it’s kind of a plus.
Much thanks to TW and to Solinco for giving us the opportunity to test this excellent string. This is my first time using Hyper-G Round; or any Hyper-G offering, so I’m getting to see first hand why this string is so popular. I think the Round version makes a lot of sense; it may be best in a hybrid setup, but I’m only testing the full bed. I would definitely recommend this string in the full bed configuration; it has a lot to offer.
konstantinos kalfountzos
Hall of Fame
I received the 1.30 gauge round and soft variation of Hyper G last year directly from. Solinco USA to test, along with their other unreleased string, the 1.30 Confidential Round.
I attach a link to my feedback from back then. Keep I mind, the feedback was from a lower level player than I am today, but I think any feedback can be useful as soon as it's as honest as it can be.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/my-tennis-string-review-database.736090/post-17205013
Now, that I've played more strings with the same racket, my feedback I think would be more or less the same.
Hyper G Round and Soft 1.30 key features:
+ Good Comfort
+ Good access to top-spin
+ Good results on flat hitting, very rare to hit long
- some lack of connection with the string bed, but there are not a few players that like such a feel
- not as spin friendly as the Hyper G we know as expected
I attach a link to my feedback from back then. Keep I mind, the feedback was from a lower level player than I am today, but I think any feedback can be useful as soon as it's as honest as it can be.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/my-tennis-string-review-database.736090/post-17205013
Now, that I've played more strings with the same racket, my feedback I think would be more or less the same.
Hyper G Round and Soft 1.30 key features:
+ Good Comfort
+ Good access to top-spin
+ Good results on flat hitting, very rare to hit long
- some lack of connection with the string bed, but there are not a few players that like such a feel
- not as spin friendly as the Hyper G we know as expected
evermilion
Rookie
Finally got around to stringing this up. Felt pretty thick on stringing. Does anyone know the stiffness/comfort?
Fighting phoenix
Hall of Fame
My review of the Hyper-G Round string (full-bed only):
Tension(s) used for playtest: 52lbs in the mains, 50lbs in the crosses
Regular string setup & tension: this is my normal reference tension (52m/50c), while my usual strings are Toroline Caviar 1.20 and Head Lynx Tour 1.25
Racquet used for test: Babolat Pure Aero 23
Power/Control: in the first 30-45 minutes, the strings felt very low powered w/out much pocketing. After that break-in period, pocketing and power improved. I found the string bed to be more predictable than the regular Hyper-G, and control very good and probably better than the average poly, consistent with what I'd expect from a good round poly. Power for a poly is average after the break in period, but slightly less power than the Caviar and Lynx Tour strings that I typically use.
Feel: similar to regular Hyper-G - somewhat muted, firm-ish but comfortable. I have to say that I'm not a fan of muted strings, which is why I prefer Solinco Tour Bite to Hyper-G and am not a fan of Poly Tour Pro, so this more muted feel was something I expected from Hyper-G but don't like.
Spin: Good spin - not as much bite as regular Hyper-G or other shaped polys, but definitely good for a round poly - comparing it Poly Tour Pro, I would say Hyper-G round has slightly better spin potential and tension maintenance.
Playability Duration - I would say above average for a poly - I've played with it now for over 6 hours, and tension is down to around 43lbs, which is slightly above what I'd expect given that I've been playing either singles match play or intense drilling. There is some notching, but it's minimal and the mains are still snapping back fairly well.
Tension Recommendations - I liked this string at my reference tension, and could even string it slightly lower to help with the break in period challenge I had. I think this is a string that would play well at lower tensions (similar to Lynx Tour, but not w/r to Caviar which really needs to be strung at 50lbs or higher)
Other comments: Given the huge popularity of Hyper-G, and of course the many who like to hybrid polys with multi-filaments, this is a great option to have for players who like Hyper-G but want to hybrid it with something more comfortable w/out the challenges that shaped polys create when paired with a multi-filament. As a full bed round poly option, it fills a gap in Solinco's big 3 line-up (Hyper-G/Tour Bite/Confidential), and players who already like Hyper-G but maybe want a slightly lower launch angle and string-bed consistency will really like this option. Ultimately, it's not a string for me as I like something on the crisper/shaped side of things, but it did play well in a racquet like the Pure Aero which already has plenty of spin on tap and a high launch angle.
Thank you Solinco and TW!!
Tension(s) used for playtest: 52lbs in the mains, 50lbs in the crosses
Regular string setup & tension: this is my normal reference tension (52m/50c), while my usual strings are Toroline Caviar 1.20 and Head Lynx Tour 1.25
Racquet used for test: Babolat Pure Aero 23
Power/Control: in the first 30-45 minutes, the strings felt very low powered w/out much pocketing. After that break-in period, pocketing and power improved. I found the string bed to be more predictable than the regular Hyper-G, and control very good and probably better than the average poly, consistent with what I'd expect from a good round poly. Power for a poly is average after the break in period, but slightly less power than the Caviar and Lynx Tour strings that I typically use.
Feel: similar to regular Hyper-G - somewhat muted, firm-ish but comfortable. I have to say that I'm not a fan of muted strings, which is why I prefer Solinco Tour Bite to Hyper-G and am not a fan of Poly Tour Pro, so this more muted feel was something I expected from Hyper-G but don't like.
Spin: Good spin - not as much bite as regular Hyper-G or other shaped polys, but definitely good for a round poly - comparing it Poly Tour Pro, I would say Hyper-G round has slightly better spin potential and tension maintenance.
Playability Duration - I would say above average for a poly - I've played with it now for over 6 hours, and tension is down to around 43lbs, which is slightly above what I'd expect given that I've been playing either singles match play or intense drilling. There is some notching, but it's minimal and the mains are still snapping back fairly well.
Tension Recommendations - I liked this string at my reference tension, and could even string it slightly lower to help with the break in period challenge I had. I think this is a string that would play well at lower tensions (similar to Lynx Tour, but not w/r to Caviar which really needs to be strung at 50lbs or higher)
Other comments: Given the huge popularity of Hyper-G, and of course the many who like to hybrid polys with multi-filaments, this is a great option to have for players who like Hyper-G but want to hybrid it with something more comfortable w/out the challenges that shaped polys create when paired with a multi-filament. As a full bed round poly option, it fills a gap in Solinco's big 3 line-up (Hyper-G/Tour Bite/Confidential), and players who already like Hyper-G but maybe want a slightly lower launch angle and string-bed consistency will really like this option. Ultimately, it's not a string for me as I like something on the crisper/shaped side of things, but it did play well in a racquet like the Pure Aero which already has plenty of spin on tap and a high launch angle.
Thank you Solinco and TW!!
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
Tension used for playtest: 43lbs
Regular string setup & tension: Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25mm 45lbs
Racquet used for test: Prince Phantom 100X 305
Power/Control of test string: In my open pattern, low flex Phantom I’m generally not a fan of muted shaped strings like Hyper G and Cyclone. Unless I’m really hitting out, I feel like it’s difficult to hit with much court penetration and power. I found Hyper G Round (HGR) to play with easier drive compared to its shaped counterpart. The trajectory was lower, but not too low, and it was easier to flatten out and hit with outright pace. HGR had decent power on tap for a poly, particularly when compared to the YPTP in my other racket.
The control of HGR was really good, among the best of all the strings I’ve used in the past year, as I’ve tried a multitude of polys (mainly round). Directional control was great and targeting felt pinpoint. Launch angle was predictable, and I could modulate between flatter topspin drive and high and heavy. I felt very confident going all out on my forehand, and felt if I made good contact and accelerated through the ball, my shot would land in. I was particularly pleased with the confidence it instilled on approach shots and short balls.
Feel: This is the part of the test where HGR lost me a little. The feel is firm and I believe cripser than regular Hyper G, not quite as muted. Fresh off the stringing machine, shots outside the sweetspot felt unforgiving and volleys off center felt a little harsh. I actually began to feel a twinge in my wrist the first night playing with it, and my wrist stayed a little sore throughout the playtest. However after the first session and some tension drop, it felt considerably better on my joints and more comfortable. The ball feels like it’s in and out the the string bed fairly quickly, and it doesn’t offer an immediate sense of dwell time until you ramp up the pace and racket head speed, and then it pockets the ball in what feels like the perfect amount.
Spin: Spin for a round poly is really good, I’d say top notch for a round poly. It’s not ripping the cover off the ball like some shaped strings, but that’s fine by me. It was easy to shape the ball, create short angles, and I was getting good action. I could take big cuts and count on the topspin to drop the ball inside the lines, responding to incoming pace with confident swings. Slices were also great and didn’t float on me.
Playability Duration: Hyper G Round maintained its tension well for a poly after the initial tension drop, and felt pretty consistent throughout the playtest. It didn’t bag out or go dead early. No complaints here.
Tension Recommendations: I would drop the tension a bit to see if that helped with the comfort level. This is especially a viable option since control was so good and I wasn’t having any issues with the ball sailing on me.
Other comments: Hyper G offered the performance I was looking for in a round poly. I was hitting bigger and more confidently than I have in a while, but I just found the comfort a little lacking, and ultimately my wrist rejected it. Generally I play with softer polys, so take that into account. Other than that, I rate it among my favorite round polys such as Prince Tour XP and Kirschbaum Evolution. Maybe there will be a Hyper G Round Soft on the horizon?
Regular string setup & tension: Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25mm 45lbs
Racquet used for test: Prince Phantom 100X 305
Power/Control of test string: In my open pattern, low flex Phantom I’m generally not a fan of muted shaped strings like Hyper G and Cyclone. Unless I’m really hitting out, I feel like it’s difficult to hit with much court penetration and power. I found Hyper G Round (HGR) to play with easier drive compared to its shaped counterpart. The trajectory was lower, but not too low, and it was easier to flatten out and hit with outright pace. HGR had decent power on tap for a poly, particularly when compared to the YPTP in my other racket.
The control of HGR was really good, among the best of all the strings I’ve used in the past year, as I’ve tried a multitude of polys (mainly round). Directional control was great and targeting felt pinpoint. Launch angle was predictable, and I could modulate between flatter topspin drive and high and heavy. I felt very confident going all out on my forehand, and felt if I made good contact and accelerated through the ball, my shot would land in. I was particularly pleased with the confidence it instilled on approach shots and short balls.
Feel: This is the part of the test where HGR lost me a little. The feel is firm and I believe cripser than regular Hyper G, not quite as muted. Fresh off the stringing machine, shots outside the sweetspot felt unforgiving and volleys off center felt a little harsh. I actually began to feel a twinge in my wrist the first night playing with it, and my wrist stayed a little sore throughout the playtest. However after the first session and some tension drop, it felt considerably better on my joints and more comfortable. The ball feels like it’s in and out the the string bed fairly quickly, and it doesn’t offer an immediate sense of dwell time until you ramp up the pace and racket head speed, and then it pockets the ball in what feels like the perfect amount.
Spin: Spin for a round poly is really good, I’d say top notch for a round poly. It’s not ripping the cover off the ball like some shaped strings, but that’s fine by me. It was easy to shape the ball, create short angles, and I was getting good action. I could take big cuts and count on the topspin to drop the ball inside the lines, responding to incoming pace with confident swings. Slices were also great and didn’t float on me.
Playability Duration: Hyper G Round maintained its tension well for a poly after the initial tension drop, and felt pretty consistent throughout the playtest. It didn’t bag out or go dead early. No complaints here.
Tension Recommendations: I would drop the tension a bit to see if that helped with the comfort level. This is especially a viable option since control was so good and I wasn’t having any issues with the ball sailing on me.
Other comments: Hyper G offered the performance I was looking for in a round poly. I was hitting bigger and more confidently than I have in a while, but I just found the comfort a little lacking, and ultimately my wrist rejected it. Generally I play with softer polys, so take that into account. Other than that, I rate it among my favorite round polys such as Prince Tour XP and Kirschbaum Evolution. Maybe there will be a Hyper G Round Soft on the horizon?
How does it compare to evolution and XP in tension maintenance, power, control,spin?
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
I won’t comment on Prince Tour XP since I haven’t had that in my racket for like a year. But I very recently had some Evolution 1.25 strung up. Levels of control were similar, but I give Hyper G Round the nod in the spin and power department, hitting a heavier ball. Not sure of tension maintenance, seem comparable, but wasn’t tracking that very closely. Evolution definitely is less durable, but more comfortable.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
HGR has better tension maintenance than XP. XP doesn't hold tension well.
Prince Tour XP is softer feeling than HGR.
Both offer similar control. I've always found Tour XP to be very predictable.
I'd give HGR the edge when it comes to power.
HGR has more spin and the mojo it puts on the ball is much nastier.
Prince Tour XP is an excellent string which is why I have a couple of reels of it, but for me HGR is special and I plan to purchase a reel and switch to it when it is released in February.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Solinco Hyper G Round 1.25 FULL BED review
Tension(s) used for playtest: 43/42# strung on an Alpha Ghost 2 (I went with a lower tension due to the temperature being in the low 40s to low 50s)
Regular string setup & tension: TruPro Black Knight 1.23/Ghost Wire 1.22 or Solinco Tour Bite 1.25/Outlast 1.25 or Tour Bite 1.25/Prince Tour XP 1.30 all at 45/43#
Racquet used for test: 2012 Pure Drive (Static weight: 11.8oz w/ OG, Balance: 32cm. Swingweight: 322)
Power/Control of test string: I found the power level to be typical for poly. More power than Black Knight which is very low powered but similar in power to Tour Bite 1.25 or Lynx Tour 1.25. Control was excellent. I found it very easy to shape and modulate the ball. As a result, I found directional and depth control to be excellent. Very predictable response and feedback on topspin and slices.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Hyper G Round offers better feel than regular Hyper G. It lacks the plastic, wiry feel and offers a clean, crisp, meaty and slightly dampened feel. It was neither stiff or mushy. I found it to provide good pocketing and excellent feedback. I found HGR to be comfortable.
Spin: The feedback I was receiving from my hitting partners told me the spin story about Hyper G Round. Hyper G Round didn’t feel noticeably different to me. It felt similar to my other string setups but my hitting partners were telling me my HGR ball was giving them trouble due to the way the ball would dive bomb into the court and the way the ball would explode forward post bounce. I noticed the launch angle was a little lower compared to string beds with shaped mains. On serves, the way the ball exploded off the bounce was very noticeable.
Playability Duration: Due to the wet weather, I have not been able to play much but I’ve got approximately 5 hours so far. 2.5 hours of groundstrokes and volleys. 0.5 hours of point play with me serving. 2 hours giving a lesson to one of my 4.0C students which included baseline and volley drills, live ball, and serves. It required no break in period. Played great from the get go. Now that the crosses are showing signs of thinning/flattening out around the sweet spot, it doesn’t feel as crisp as it did when new. This is pretty good given the high performance of the string. Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 performs great but within the first 2 hours, the mains are heavily notched already and it has already lost its magic. Even at the 5 hour mark, I was still seeing a lot of action on the ball with my serves. I was able to use this string bed to coach for another 7 hours.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): In warmer temperatures, I would revert back to my regular tension of 45/43. For colder temps, I would stay with 43/42.
Other comments (optional): Without feedback from my hitting partners, I would have just thought HGR was an excellent string on par with my other go to setups. Other than the neon green color, there was nothing more to differentiate it from what I was already using. But my hitting partners have told me I need to switch to HGR because what it does to the ball is very different than any other strings that I normally use so I plan to purchase a reel as soon as Solinco Hyper G Round 1.25 is available. Big thanks to TW and Solinco for making HGR available for this playtest.
Solinco Hyper G Round 1.25 hybrid review
Which string for mains/crosses: Solinco Tour Bite 1.20/Solinco Hyper G Round 1.25
Tension(s) used for playtest: 45/43# strung on an Alpha Ghost 2; decided to try my regular tension because it had started to get warmer during the Hyper G Round playtest, but then the rains came and the temperature dipped into the low 40s. As a result, the string bed response was tighter than I prefer and it took awhile for the tension to drop down.
Regular string setup & tension: TruPro Black Knight 1.23/Ghost Wire 1.22 or Solinco Tour Bite 1.25/Outlast 1.25 or Tour Bite 1.25/Prince Tour XP 1.30 all at 45/43#
Racquet used for test: 2012 Pure Drive (Static weight: 11.8oz w/ OG, Balance: 32cm. Strung swingweight: 322)
Power/Control of test string: Power level was lower than the full bed of HGR. Control was excellent. I had no trouble with directional and depth control.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Stiffer and more crisp than the full bed of HGR which wasn’t surprising since TB offers a tiffer response than HGR.
Spin: Spin was excellent but the trade off was less penetration. I felt the string bed grabbing the ball too much. The feedback from my hitting partners was the ball didn’t lack in spin, but it just didn’t have the same effect that the full bed of HGR had.
Playability Duration: Playability and tension maintenance has been very good so far. After 4 hours, the mains are exhibiting some notching, but the mains are still snapping back. Crosses are showing some signs of flattening out. Going with a higher tension with the hybrid setup in colder temps might be contributing to the longer playability.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): If the temps continue to hover between 40-50 in the mornings, I would like to try this hybrid setup again at 43/42# so as to experience a more true comparison to the full bed of HGR.
Other comments (optional): This is an excellent string setup, but hasn’t elicited the same “wow” feedback from my partners like the full bed of HGR. They commented that the ball comes in closer to my regular string set ups. As of right now, I prefer Hyper G Round 1.25 in a full bed over the hybrid. I feel they are both excellent but the full bed puts some extra hot sauce on the ball. I have already purchased many sets of Hyper G Round 1.25 since it has been released to use going forward.
Solinco Prototype Overgrip review
Comments: I prefer this prototype OG over the Solinco Wonder OG. The prototype holds the wrap more securely than Wonder which has a tendency to unravel at the bottom when it encounters moisture and the OG isn’t installed with a larger overlap. Durability of the prototype OG is on par with the Wonder OG and Tecnifibre Contact Pro tacky white OG which I also use. If the pricing was similar to the Wonder grip, I would switch to the prototype without hesitation.
Thank you TW and Solinco for offering this playtest!
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UnderArmServeOP
Semi-Pro
It differs. The snap-back of a strings is the best indicator for spin potential imo. Although, this is highly debatable.
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
This pretty much falls in line with how I would have compared them (other than I would have been uncertain about power level). I just didn’t want to put out possibly skewed information since it’s been a while.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Power wise they seem similar to me but when HGR hits a heavier, more penetrating ball with filthier action, there's clearly more energy being transferred into the ball which is why i gave HGR the edge for power. i can't go off of my feelings only. I believe what the partners on the other side of the net are telling me is more meaningful.
Cowboy
Semi-Pro
This right here. I could have skipped the rest of your review and just read this line. That definitive statement speaks volumes.
ttgrinder
Semi-Pro
For me personally I don't see much of a difference in spin, based on the feedback I received from my opponents. I got chance to hit with HyperG Round side by side with HyperG Shaped since a friend of mine had a regular HyperG Shaped strung in his racquet. The main difference is seems to be in the "feel" on contact. The launch angle was different as well (for similar racquet trajectories). Also my opponent says I hit a heavier shot with HyperG Round in general (when compared with Shaped). So I am not sure how to expain that, since I was naturally expecting the opposite.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
vndesu
Hall of Fame
Tension used for playtest: 48lbs
Regular string setup & tension: Toroline Kpro at 54lbs
Racquet used for test: Dunlop CX 200
Power/Control of test string:
In terms of power, I'm actually really glad I dropped the tension on this review. Been wanting to test out lower tensions. For my opinion, the power felt about the same as the shaped but if anything more predictable. Nothing too crazy but I believe that with Hyper G round, I wouldnt have liked it at my regular tension which is hovering between 52-54. I think if anything once you have the strings break in it will feel a lot better but more on that later.
The control was good, again nothing to special once you adjust your form and swing path going from a shaped string set up to round. At times I did feel like I had to swing throgh a bit more to maintain control since I dont get any additional bite from the regular shaped set up, but pretty much on target due to the predictability of a round string.
Feel:
It wasn't the best feeling string right after stringing. Felt the jarring of the string on off center hits. It felt firm especially with the colder weather we have been having. I don't know if it helps but I did set the racket down and stepped on the strings a bit for my initial hit, but did notice it felt just a tad bit better after the strings were broken in and tension drop. For all the OG posters, this really felt like the old Babolat Revenges back in the day, stiff and low powered.
Spin:
Nothing to special to report here, very predictable given it was a round poly, but I do believe I benefited more of this string strung at a lower tension. Again very point and shoot and if anything just needed to adjust swing path given it isn't shaped.
Playability Duration:
I am not a string breaker so I usually cut strings once deemed unplayable. Notching wise didn't look like it dug in too quick. So as far as durability, it is holding up fine.
Tension Recommendations:
Due to the stiffness and feel of this string, I would recommend dropping the tension. I believe that with my usually tension set up, it would have been to jarring to me despite a decent frame flex set up.
Other comments:
If Solinco were to come out with a soft version I would definately come back and revisit it. I also rarely go for a hybrid set up, but I wonder if given the chance to try a hybrid for this if the string would shine through a bit more. Overall, was glad to try this out but for now if given the choice between round vs shaped, I would go for the Hyper G Soft shaped.
Regular string setup & tension: Toroline Kpro at 54lbs
Racquet used for test: Dunlop CX 200
Power/Control of test string:
In terms of power, I'm actually really glad I dropped the tension on this review. Been wanting to test out lower tensions. For my opinion, the power felt about the same as the shaped but if anything more predictable. Nothing too crazy but I believe that with Hyper G round, I wouldnt have liked it at my regular tension which is hovering between 52-54. I think if anything once you have the strings break in it will feel a lot better but more on that later.
The control was good, again nothing to special once you adjust your form and swing path going from a shaped string set up to round. At times I did feel like I had to swing throgh a bit more to maintain control since I dont get any additional bite from the regular shaped set up, but pretty much on target due to the predictability of a round string.
Feel:
It wasn't the best feeling string right after stringing. Felt the jarring of the string on off center hits. It felt firm especially with the colder weather we have been having. I don't know if it helps but I did set the racket down and stepped on the strings a bit for my initial hit, but did notice it felt just a tad bit better after the strings were broken in and tension drop. For all the OG posters, this really felt like the old Babolat Revenges back in the day, stiff and low powered.
Spin:
Nothing to special to report here, very predictable given it was a round poly, but I do believe I benefited more of this string strung at a lower tension. Again very point and shoot and if anything just needed to adjust swing path given it isn't shaped.
Playability Duration:
I am not a string breaker so I usually cut strings once deemed unplayable. Notching wise didn't look like it dug in too quick. So as far as durability, it is holding up fine.
Tension Recommendations:
Due to the stiffness and feel of this string, I would recommend dropping the tension. I believe that with my usually tension set up, it would have been to jarring to me despite a decent frame flex set up.
Other comments:
If Solinco were to come out with a soft version I would definately come back and revisit it. I also rarely go for a hybrid set up, but I wonder if given the chance to try a hybrid for this if the string would shine through a bit more. Overall, was glad to try this out but for now if given the choice between round vs shaped, I would go for the Hyper G Soft shaped.
SlowTiger
Professional
I'm going to give my impressions of the HGR in hybrid first as that's what I tested. I have yet to string it up in a full bed as we get random days where it's warm enough to play but not warm enough for full poly.
I did HGR M/ V C at 45/50 in my Dunlop CV 3.0.
My normal set up for this weather would be OEHMS Matador Strike at 45/ multis at 50 so not far off.
The strings were predictable and overall comfortable. I haven't used regular HG but it's softer then tour bite. Felt a bit dead which I guess added to the predictability. I can't think of a string it plays similar to but closest I can currently think of is Lux eco power at the 3-4 hr mark of lux eco power but deader. Eco power has better snap back when fresh in the first 2 hrs but loses it fast. This is where it kind of sits, it has snap back but not a lot. You have to impart your own spin. Eco power was softer and has more pop but the solinco HGR has played more consistently so far. Was able to hit nice penetrating balls with the string.
The string plays well but hasn't wowed me in any way. Wouldn't be my go to when I can get just as much playability for cheaper strings. I also wouldn't mind using this in the summer as I feel the higher temps would open up the string bed a bit more without flying but we'll see. I still got half sets so I guess I can wait till then. I'm going to try the full set in my Diadem Elevate Tour V1 soon as I think the round shape will help tame the launch in the open string pattern. Hoping the temps warm up for my elbows sake when playing full poly
I did HGR M/ V C at 45/50 in my Dunlop CV 3.0.
My normal set up for this weather would be OEHMS Matador Strike at 45/ multis at 50 so not far off.
The strings were predictable and overall comfortable. I haven't used regular HG but it's softer then tour bite. Felt a bit dead which I guess added to the predictability. I can't think of a string it plays similar to but closest I can currently think of is Lux eco power at the 3-4 hr mark of lux eco power but deader. Eco power has better snap back when fresh in the first 2 hrs but loses it fast. This is where it kind of sits, it has snap back but not a lot. You have to impart your own spin. Eco power was softer and has more pop but the solinco HGR has played more consistently so far. Was able to hit nice penetrating balls with the string.
The string plays well but hasn't wowed me in any way. Wouldn't be my go to when I can get just as much playability for cheaper strings. I also wouldn't mind using this in the summer as I feel the higher temps would open up the string bed a bit more without flying but we'll see. I still got half sets so I guess I can wait till then. I'm going to try the full set in my Diadem Elevate Tour V1 soon as I think the round shape will help tame the launch in the open string pattern. Hoping the temps warm up for my elbows sake when playing full poly
To carry on....
I think the grip may have been rubbing/snagging a bit on the other grips in my bag, however, that is normal wear.
Plus, my normal OG is on my other racquet and also in there and does not look the same.
This is surprising as the grip seemed very durable, initially. It feels thicker than my normal OG and showed very little wear. What's displayed above seemed to come on quickly.
My normal OG is the dunlop viper dry and typically lasts 7-8 or more hours before showing similar wear.
Very surprising to me
The other thing, I dripped a little water on my hand at a change over and then got it on the grip, and it turned very slick. So this may not be good for heavy sweaters. This is a limited observation, but something to consider.
I think the grip may have been rubbing/snagging a bit on the other grips in my bag, however, that is normal wear.
Plus, my normal OG is on my other racquet and also in there and does not look the same.
This is surprising as the grip seemed very durable, initially. It feels thicker than my normal OG and showed very little wear. What's displayed above seemed to come on quickly.
My normal OG is the dunlop viper dry and typically lasts 7-8 or more hours before showing similar wear.
Very surprising to me
The other thing, I dripped a little water on my hand at a change over and then got it on the grip, and it turned very slick. So this may not be good for heavy sweaters. This is a limited observation, but something to consider.
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Ok, full bed review here. Hybrid review to follow in a separate post.
Tension(s) used for playtest: 50 pounds
Regular string setup & tension: Luxilon ALU 125 or 125 rough at 50 pounds
Racquet used for test: Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v6 reissue
Power/Control of test string - 9/10 for power, 7.5/10 for control.
Pretty impressive pop off of this stuff for a poly. The ball goes fast and heavy, similar to ALU power with a bit more pop and a little less spin. I get a bit more height off of the stringbed from Hyper G Round (HGR). I've always preferred deader, more control-based strings like ALU power, Lynx Tour, Tour Bite, Confidential, etc. and HGR would require more testing before deciding if I would play with it regularly. It was a little springier than I typically like, but that translated into pace that was easier to tap into. I sailed a few balls initially, but I adjusted and quickly was able to keep the ball within the lines. I still felt slightly hesitant on some balls, afraid they'd spray where ALU and others don't. It's likely that I have to play with HGR more or string a couple of pounds higher. It a standout in control? No. But I do think most players will find it sufficient. Power is fantastic for a polyester that still leans toward the control side of things. Overall, super fun to use because of the lively ball speed it provides. Usable for my preferences? Not sure yet...
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - I don't love giving feel a rating simply because it's so subjective...let's say it's a bit of a "goldilocks:" not too soft, not too stiff; not too muted, not so crisp it loses forgiveness
I'll start by saying I don't like regular Hyper G simply because it feels plasticky and imprecise. I like what it does for my ball, but I don't like how it feels which keeps me away from it. HGR, however, comes a bit crisper and more direct while still maintaining some softness. Not so plasticky either. It's not ALU or Tour Bite crisp, but it feels less vague in response than shaped Hyper G. So, I could play with it without complaining about the feel. Touch shots responded well, and I never had any sort of "what the heck?" moments where the feedback from the stringbed didn't match with the resulting shot.
To summarize: Stiff? No. Mushy? Also no. Muted? Slightly, but not as much as Hyper G. Crisp? Crisp enough. Comfortable? Sure, for a poly.
On comfort, I had a slight twinge of pain my first 20 minutes out with this. Never happened again. Likely due to recently increasing my volume of play and weights significantly in a short time period and just not quite being recovered at that point in time. I'd be curious how the feel changes, if at all, when going up a few pounds to tame the power.
Spin - 8.5/10
Great spin for a round string. Really quite nice. The ball jumped well off of the court, and it dipped when I wanted it to dip. Basically if I told the ball to spin, it spun as much as I asked it to. Combine responsive spin with the extra zip off the strings and the ball comes quite heavy. It's not a spin monster like some shaped counterparts, but it provides more than enough at faster swing speeds as long as your technique is good enough. I'm interested to see what this does in a hybrid with ALU or a stiffer, shaped main like Lynx Tour.
Playability Duration - 9/10
About average for a poly. 2.5ish hours of hitting and the tension bagged out noticeably. Kind of all at once between hits. Was it still playable enough? Yeah, I could have adjusted, but balls were spraying. I then taught with it for another 20 minutes of easy rallying at that point. Two forehands in on my next real hitting session, it snapped in the center. Not terrible, as I usually snap ALU 125 by the end of hour 2. I find ALU significantly easier to use when it's dead and notched because the power output stays low...and I'm used to it. HGR it for sure didn't decrease in power, and the launch angle increased...I'm not sure if actual "power" increased. The change in playability was sudden, though, occurring shortly before the strings broke. I find this to happen with most strings. For the first 80% or so of its lifespan, its performance was linear which is good enough for me.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
I think this is a string I could really learn to like, especially now that I'm not playing 5-6 times per week anymore. I'd have to experiment with tensions, as I found it a bit too powerful for my tastes, especially played side by side with ALU 125 and 130 in the same frame. If it maintains similar feel, responsiveness, and playability at a slightly higher tension, it might be a winner!
Summary
A fun playtest! I was pleasantly surprised by Hyper G Round, as I neither love nor hate the regular Hyper G. I found a lively response with good power off the stringbed, plenty of spin if you know how to use it, and a middle-of-the-road feel that was neither too dull nor too firm (crisper than Hyper G but not Tour Bite or Confidential levels of "crisp"). All of that added up to an enjoyable playing experience. If you're looking for a little more pop than your usual firm poly without losing much of the responsiveness and control as a trade-off, start here!
Tension(s) used for playtest: 50 pounds
Regular string setup & tension: Luxilon ALU 125 or 125 rough at 50 pounds
Racquet used for test: Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v6 reissue
Power/Control of test string - 9/10 for power, 7.5/10 for control.
Pretty impressive pop off of this stuff for a poly. The ball goes fast and heavy, similar to ALU power with a bit more pop and a little less spin. I get a bit more height off of the stringbed from Hyper G Round (HGR). I've always preferred deader, more control-based strings like ALU power, Lynx Tour, Tour Bite, Confidential, etc. and HGR would require more testing before deciding if I would play with it regularly. It was a little springier than I typically like, but that translated into pace that was easier to tap into. I sailed a few balls initially, but I adjusted and quickly was able to keep the ball within the lines. I still felt slightly hesitant on some balls, afraid they'd spray where ALU and others don't. It's likely that I have to play with HGR more or string a couple of pounds higher. It a standout in control? No. But I do think most players will find it sufficient. Power is fantastic for a polyester that still leans toward the control side of things. Overall, super fun to use because of the lively ball speed it provides. Usable for my preferences? Not sure yet...
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - I don't love giving feel a rating simply because it's so subjective...let's say it's a bit of a "goldilocks:" not too soft, not too stiff; not too muted, not so crisp it loses forgiveness
I'll start by saying I don't like regular Hyper G simply because it feels plasticky and imprecise. I like what it does for my ball, but I don't like how it feels which keeps me away from it. HGR, however, comes a bit crisper and more direct while still maintaining some softness. Not so plasticky either. It's not ALU or Tour Bite crisp, but it feels less vague in response than shaped Hyper G. So, I could play with it without complaining about the feel. Touch shots responded well, and I never had any sort of "what the heck?" moments where the feedback from the stringbed didn't match with the resulting shot.
To summarize: Stiff? No. Mushy? Also no. Muted? Slightly, but not as much as Hyper G. Crisp? Crisp enough. Comfortable? Sure, for a poly.
On comfort, I had a slight twinge of pain my first 20 minutes out with this. Never happened again. Likely due to recently increasing my volume of play and weights significantly in a short time period and just not quite being recovered at that point in time. I'd be curious how the feel changes, if at all, when going up a few pounds to tame the power.
Spin - 8.5/10
Great spin for a round string. Really quite nice. The ball jumped well off of the court, and it dipped when I wanted it to dip. Basically if I told the ball to spin, it spun as much as I asked it to. Combine responsive spin with the extra zip off the strings and the ball comes quite heavy. It's not a spin monster like some shaped counterparts, but it provides more than enough at faster swing speeds as long as your technique is good enough. I'm interested to see what this does in a hybrid with ALU or a stiffer, shaped main like Lynx Tour.
Playability Duration - 9/10
About average for a poly. 2.5ish hours of hitting and the tension bagged out noticeably. Kind of all at once between hits. Was it still playable enough? Yeah, I could have adjusted, but balls were spraying. I then taught with it for another 20 minutes of easy rallying at that point. Two forehands in on my next real hitting session, it snapped in the center. Not terrible, as I usually snap ALU 125 by the end of hour 2. I find ALU significantly easier to use when it's dead and notched because the power output stays low...and I'm used to it. HGR it for sure didn't decrease in power, and the launch angle increased...I'm not sure if actual "power" increased. The change in playability was sudden, though, occurring shortly before the strings broke. I find this to happen with most strings. For the first 80% or so of its lifespan, its performance was linear which is good enough for me.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
I think this is a string I could really learn to like, especially now that I'm not playing 5-6 times per week anymore. I'd have to experiment with tensions, as I found it a bit too powerful for my tastes, especially played side by side with ALU 125 and 130 in the same frame. If it maintains similar feel, responsiveness, and playability at a slightly higher tension, it might be a winner!
Summary
A fun playtest! I was pleasantly surprised by Hyper G Round, as I neither love nor hate the regular Hyper G. I found a lively response with good power off the stringbed, plenty of spin if you know how to use it, and a middle-of-the-road feel that was neither too dull nor too firm (crisper than Hyper G but not Tour Bite or Confidential levels of "crisp"). All of that added up to an enjoyable playing experience. If you're looking for a little more pop than your usual firm poly without losing much of the responsiveness and control as a trade-off, start here!
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mhkeuns
Hall of Fame
It looks like I won’t be able to play until the weekend due to weather, so here are my initial impressions:
Full-bed of poly: Strung at 48lbs in CX 200 Tour 18x20 - Nice feel (*not harsh), comparable spin to the regular Hyoer G, predictable responses. Perhaps due to the softness of the racket, but the string felt nice with good ball pocketing. I actually prefer the feel of the HGR compared to the regular version.
Hyoer G Round mains @ 48lbs with Vanquish crosses @ 52lbs: Strung it in CX200 18x20 LTD. Definitely felt plusher compared to full bed of Hyoer G Round. By playing side by side with full bed, the lauch angle was sligtly lower. Still offered nice spin & control, but I preferred full poly’s the overall performance. The cross string started to get a little out of place starting around 3rd hour mark, but the poly mains with multi crosses seem to work well. Hyoer G Round is definitely a good string if anyone likes the hybrid set up.
Vanquish mains @ 55lbs & Hyoer G Round crosses @ 50lbs: Strung it in CX 200 Limited. It felt really plush and offered very good power. Control and spin was all there as expected. That said, the main string began to move out of place less than one hour into hitting some hard rallies. It felt great, but I don’t think this set up will last very long. Unlike having poly mains and multi crosses, the multi mains didn’t hold up very well.
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