loosegroove
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@colan5934 what level are you that you’re snapping Alu Power in 2 hours?
I'm not what I used to be anymore lol. Plus, ALU is really not that durable...the only Lux string I've found that is would be Original. I played in college and was a full time teaching pro for a few years. Now I'm in the permanent loop of bump to 5.0, appeal down, attempt to sandbag (because beer league doubles is more fun and I can't play at 9:30-10pm start for 5.0 in my area, and it's the same 25 guys every season), strike out, not play for awhile, repeat. Lynx tour 17 I get 3.5ish hours and 16 gets me close to 5, for reference. Also plays more linearly over time which I like when I'm coaching but not playing much. Usually playing an 18x20 blade also. 16x19 snaps faster. So this Hyper G Round would be closer to 3 hours, maybe a bit more, in the 18x20.@colan5934 what level are you that you’re snapping Alu Power in 2 hours?
He’s a very good player. Even for me, Alu Power is about 40% notched after 2-3 hours. If it hasn’t broken yet, I just cut it out and restring before the next time I play since it’s likely to break at any point anyways.@colan5934 what level are you that you’re snapping Alu Power in 2 hours?
You flatter me. I’m more than a bit washed up now. But yeah, ALU just isn’t that durable if you hit the same spot on the strings over and over against anybody providing decent pace.He’s a very good player. Even for me, Alu Power is about 40% notched after 2-3 hours. If it hasn’t broken yet, I just cut it out and restring before the next time I play since it’s likely to break at any point anyways.
Wait for my review, next day or twoAny more comparisons between HGR and YPTP? I’m curious how they compare in both a full bed and in hybrids.
That was my initial plan, HyperG mains and HyperG round crosses, but changed last minute.i haven’t read anything about this new hyper g round nor am I well versed in hyper g in general. Would it be counter productive to hybrid HG (regular or soft)/HGR? Seeing as poly poly hybrids are pretty popular nowadays, I was curious.
HGR is firmer and stiffer than YPTPAny more comparisons between HGR and YPTP? I’m curious how they compare in both a full bed and in hybrids.
Disagree with allHGR is firmer and stiffer than YPTP
HGR holds tension better than YPTP
YPTP feels more dampened than HGR
HGR has more spin capability than YPTP
Agree with allHGR is firmer and stiffer than YPTP
HGR holds tension better than YPTP
YPTP feels more dampened than HGR
HGR has more spin capability than YPTP
Disagree with all
Energetic and lively discussion highly encouraged!Agree with all
I disagree with some and agree with some.HGR is firmer and stiffer than YPTP
HGR holds tension better than YPTP
YPTP feels more dampened than HGR
HGR has more spin capability than YPTP
Yeah, spin is questionableI disagree with some and agree with some.
Also think some can be influenced by what racquet/string pattern they were used.
+1. Many of the comments are similar to what I am finding too. I will do a writeup soon, as the deadline is approaching. Unfortunately, a ton of rain on the weekends has made it harder to play and log the number of hours I would like to with the strings. I started with the full bed, and am now hitting with a hybrid. Will be back a review soon!^ solid review. interesting how similar our impressions are.
Wait.... What? Cyclone is one of the most lowest powered polys on the market.The string has very good power. It gave me great pop, spin, and control on my serve. It reminds me of Barb Wire and Cyclone in its power levels.
So YPTP is a better string overall?Disagree with all
YPTP is stiffer and has more control and less power. YPTP has better tension maintenance, but HGR is still good in that aspect. YPTP is less dampened so has less feel. I think the spin is probably the same. I prefer YPTP because I like more control. Other people will like HGR because it has more power and is softer with more touch/feel. I will be writing a review soon, I need to play one more time with it before I finish my review write up.So YPTP is a better string overall?
It's pretty even, depends your preference on string feel.So YPTP is a better string overall?
Agree with all here. Of course, those familiar with YPTP probably have more confidence and/or it fits their game better than HGR, so some things that are more on the user like spin generation could differ person to person.HGR is firmer and stiffer than YPTP
HGR holds tension better than YPTP
YPTP feels more dampened than HGR
HGR has more spin capability than YPTP
very accurate descriptionAgree with all here. Of course, those familiar with YPTP probably have more confidence and/or it fits their game better than HGR, so some things that are more on the user like spin generation could differ person to person.
In my experience, YPTP manages to be soft and dead at the same time, so I liken it to a wet noodle. Like, if you put it at a lower tension and/or want to generate everything yourself it’s great. But it’s too mushy and doesn’t add anything to my ball like hgr, ALU, and other polys on the firmer edge of things do. Nothing wrong with liking PTP though. People obviously do.
I feel like YPTP has enough power but I love the control aspect so I probably won't be trying HGR. Thanks!YPTP is stiffer and has more control and less power. YPTP has better tension maintenance, but HGR is still good in that aspect. YPTP is less dampened so has less feel. I think the spin is probably the same. I prefer YPTP because I like more control. Other people will like HGR because it has more power and is softer with more touch/feel. I will be writing a review soon, I need to play one more time with it before I finish my review write up.
I think this would be a logical move. Especially, like has been suggested above, use the round in the crosses and the HG regular (shaped) in the mains; idea being to get the snap back via the mains moving on the HG round.i haven’t read anything about this new hyper g round nor am I well versed in hyper g in general. Would it be counter productive to hybrid HG (regular or soft)/HGR? Seeing as poly poly hybrids are pretty popular nowadays, I was curious.
I think this would be a logical move. Especially, like has been suggested above, use the round in the crosses and the HG regular (shaped) in the mains; idea being to get the snap back via the mains moving on the HG round.
YPTP is stiffer and has better tension maintenance? You may think what you want but actually there is scientific data about it which claims otherwise.YPTP is stiffer and has more control and less power. YPTP has better tension maintenance, but HGR is still good in that aspect. YPTP is less dampened so has less feel. I think the spin is probably the same. I prefer YPTP because I like more control. Other people will like HGR because it has more power and is softer with more touch/feel. I will be writing a review soon, I need to play one more time with it before I finish my review write up.
some people in this thread agree with you. Some people in this thread agree with me. I haven't seen hyper g round in tw university or in stringpedia. Where did you see the scientific data? I would like to see it, I like looking those up. Another tool for me to use will be good.YPTP is stiffer and has better tension maintenance? You may think what you want but actually there is scientific data about it which claims otherwise.
I haven't seen the data for Hyper G Round, but here is the existing stiffness data for 16L (1.25) strings:YPTP is stiffer and has better tension maintenance? You may think what you want but actually there is scientific data about it which claims otherwise.
I assume fox wasn't assuming because he said it was scientific data. But he hasnt responded.I haven't seen the data for Hyper G Round, but here is the existing stiffness data for 16L (1.25) strings:
- Hyper G: 218
- Hyper G Soft: 172
- YPTP Yellow: 181
This mirrors my experience with those strings, and I've played extensively with all 3. Hyper G is a middle of the road poly for stiffness, whereas the Soft version and YPTP are really soft. The flipside is that tension maintenance is noticeably reduced. In an 18x20 or tight 16x19 pattern, I easily get 7 hours of consistent play with regular Hyper G before it starts getting a bit erratic vs. 4-5 hours with either Hyper G Soft or YPTP. I liked YPTP, it is a comfortable, consistent string, but I steered away from it as I found tension maintenance average at best for such an expensive string.
If Hyper G Round has been designed to emulate the characteristics of regular Hyper G, it's safe to assume it will play stiffer than YPTP, and have better tension maintenance.
We'll see soon enough when the TW test results are published.I assume fox wasn't assuming because he said it was scientific data. But he hasnt responded.
Many tennis youtubers say tour bite is stiff, hyper g is lively and confidential is in between. But stringpedia says tour bite is 1.12 kg/mm, hyper g is 1.1 and confidential is 1.0. I think confidential is the liveliest which matches the stiffness ratings, but most of the world that I've observed says something else.We'll see soon enough when the TW test results are published.
Do shaped poly strings really produce more spin? Or, do round poly strings produce just as much? I don’t seem to see a big difference.
One of my biggest grief with normal Hyper G is how the string bed locks out, so there's less string movement and thus making it play stiffer. I'm curious to see if the strings are going to play softer and livelier.
My first OG was the Wilson Walmart special. It was....meh, at best. It basically added thickness to the grip. That is all.
I string for a neighbor and asked what OG he uses because his racquet always had a plush and super tacky OG on it. He gifted me a white Wilson Pro to try. Since then, it's all I've used. I will agree that it loses the tackiness quickly. The neighbor said he replaces his for every match. I might replace it every 3 matches or so.
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
Solinco Prototype OG review
By Chairman3
• Do you typically use an overgrip? (if yes, which one do you use?) Lately Dunlop Viper Dry, also used a lot of Supergrap.
• Was the test grip easy to install (any wrinkles during install, did the grip lay down nicely?) Grip was as easy as any other OG. I had an issue where I didn't overlap enough around the butt, initially, so it came out while playing. I re-wrapped and then had no issues. The finishing tape got a little mangled when I had to undo it. I was able to reuse it and It did hold, but usually you can unwrap an OG once and the finishing tape is ok.
• Comment on the level of sweat absorption and hand slippage (if you currently use an overgrip, please let us know if the test overgrip performed better, worse or the same in these areas) Unfortunately there was a bout of cold weather in FL so didn't have alot of sweat. Based on the feel, similar to Wilson Pro OG, I would envision similar absorption. This is a tackier OG, so won't do what tourna will do.
• Longevity of overgrip (did it hold up well over multiple sessions of play)? Surprisingly, it started shredding some at 4-5hrs which is worse than my normal OG. It was primarily around toward the buttcap area but once it started to go it accelerated. It is still usable now (about 6hrs) but more worn and there is a shredded spot about 3 inches up as well. I posted a pic when it initially started. For my dunlop OG, I usually get 8-10hrs before it starts shredding in multiple places. The longevity was a little disappointing.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) Initially, I was impressed. The OG had a nice feel, felt a little thicker than my dunlop, but felt good. It immediately reminded me of Wilson Pro OG except maybe thicker and didn't lose the tackiness as quickly. It also resisted dirt and oil pretty good. My problem with Wilson is it absorbs dirt/oil from your hands quickly and kind of loses its original feel and you can visibly see the white getting dirty. I also expected the Solinco OG to be very durable. Unfortunately, for me, durability was the Achilles heel. It started shredding surprisingly quick and I'd say more quickly than most other OGs I've used. The caveat here is, I would be willing to test it again. Sometimes anomalous things happen and I am willing to test it again. The thickness, while not extra thick, felt like it would lend itself to being more durable. Otherwise it was a solid performer and had some nice attributes as previously mentioned. I don't think it would ellipse my Dunlop OG unless I used it again and the durability was far superior. Price also would be a trump card for the Solinco OG, although the prices don't seem to vary much with OG's these days.
Is this in the wrong thread?
No. Playtesters also received a complimentary prototype over grip.
Review wasn't required, I'm an overachiever and want to stay in the kind graces of @TW StaffIs this in the wrong thread?
I see you’re selling this frame because you can’t get it to work for you. Could using this string in a racquet you don’t like have impacted your review?The Chairman3's review of Hyper-G Round and an HGR hybrid
Tension(s) used for playtest: 47lbs
Regular string setup & tension: Various poly (big banger, PT Strike 1.20)
Racquet used for test: Pure Strike VS '22
Power/Control of test string: Hyper-G Round (HGR) has a nice controllable power level. It doesn't feel dead but also isn't so powerful. I would call it medium for a poly. I never felt myself thinking it needed more power but I also never thought it was too powerful or I couldn't control the ball (until tension loss started setting in). Given that it wasn't so stiff or dead it had surprisingly good control. I felt very confident with the string and going for small targets. I thought the level of control was excellent especially given that it had better feel than typical stiff control polys. It has a really good blend of power and control, they hit a good spot with this.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): The feel was a little crisp but not stiff. It was also a tad muted but I think this can be influenced by the racquet, at least in part. The feel in the sweetspot wasn't magnificent, like some strings, although this is also racquet dependent but it is why I think the string was a bit muted. Overall though, I enjoyed the feel. It wasn't the softest or most comfortable but it wasn't harsh either. I'd compare it to Poly Tour Pro in some ways but maybe a bit less muted than that string. Good response, mostly consistent throughout and crisp but not harsh.
Spin: I would say this had good spin for a round string, above average. Of course, it won't compare to Hyper-G, it's not shaped, but it really isn't supposed to compete with itself. For the added feel and [maybe] a little more power, they did a good job maintaining its trademark characteristic. Balls kept dipping in even if you didn't quite get a full swing. I do think spin declined a bit as tension dropped, but honestly I think it was more attributable to a loss of control. The ball was launching a little more so required more action to not miss long. Overall, I was very happy with the spin.
Playability Duration: Sadly, I was left a little disappointed. Notching was minimal, even up to the almost 8 hours I used it, but major tension loss was between 4-5hrs. I understand some polys lose tension even quicker but I was expecting more. From my personal use, 4-5hrs is at or just below average. The string does remain playable, I used it up to about 8hrs and it never got stiff or harsh, it just became a bit launchy and unpredictable. It wasn't really worth keeping in the racquet any longer for actual match play.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I went with 47lbs which seemed about right for this frame. It was pretty crisp off the stringer but settled in nicely and felt good until the tension drop. I do think the string is on the firmer side, so a high tension could cause issues in the wrong racquet.
Other comments (optional): Out of the gate, I was impressed. It had very good control and nice spin for a round string. The feel wasn't too muted and gave enough feedback. It seemed like it was really going strong and then suddenly I felt a little launchiness and it continued. Once I adjusted, to the now lower tension, it wasn't bad but the predictability and control were diminished. The playability duration really left me wanting more but I would definitely use it again. A pretty solid offering and nice compliment to regular Hyper-G.
Other Other Comments: For those asking about this compared to PTP, yes it is pretty similar. I got better tension maintenance from PTP but PTP is more muted. Spin levels are pretty similar but HGR may have a tad more power. The difference mostly comes down to feel. PTP also seemed to firm up when you swung harder/faster, theoretically for more control, where HGR had the same response regardless of swing speed. Basically if you like a more muted feel, go with PTP. If you like the slightly crisper feel, go with HGR. Neither will disappoint.
HYBRID section
Which string was in mains/crosses?: HGR mains with Babolat Xalt crosses
Tension used for playtest: 47lbs, same as the full-bed HGR
Racquet used for playtest: same as above, Pure Strike VS '22
This was a disappointing hybrid. I intended to do a poly/poly hybrid but switched because I had just used Xalt as a cross and wanted to get a thorough feel for HGR, ergo use it as a main. The first issue was the crosses were moving like crazy. I've never had a hybrid where the crosses moved so much. My only conclusion is the HGR is stiffer and the Xalt has a good slick coating which caused it to move instead if the HGR. Either way, the net effect was not great spin potential. Additionally, power was there but not in a significantly more pronounced way. Likewise with feel, there was a bit more direct feel, but not significantly more. Was it more comfortable, uh a little. It just felt a little less crisp, but Xalt is on the firmer side of multis, so it wasn't like a more traditional multi where the stringbed really softened up. In short, I would not repeat this hybrid, it had no standouts. Thankfully I still have a halfset of HGR so will do the poly/poly hybrid. Unless you really love HGR, I can't see alot of reason to use it as a main. I guess with a really soft cross you'd get more power and comfort, but then I feel like there are other poly strings to use as a main that'd offer you more. HGR could make a good cross with a shaped poly main, but we'll see.
Thank you @TW Staff for continuing to allow me to participate and providing these opportunities. I always enjoy it.
A short review of the OG will follow, stay tuned...
I will probably stock a reel as well. It won’t replace ALU for me, but the extra zip on the ball is lovely. I switched from a racquet with fresh ALU Rough to a matched stick with hgr and sailed the first handful of balls long. Lots of easy lift and zip off the strings without being wild. Plenty of spin also. Tough to say if I get more or not, but for sure higher launch and easier access to depth and speed. Great for the player who wants that (me on my bad/tired days too)Since HGR has been released, I purchased a reel of 1.25 and restrung my PD12. With a fresh string bed, HGR just imparts extra filth on the ball. One of my hitting partners said, "Yeah, this string just works for you." I also strung up a Percept 100D with it and it made the ball go faster. I strung it up in a 2019 Pure Aero and while it does make the ball penetrate through the court more, I feel that the 16 gauge/1.30 variant would be better for this racquet with it's wide open string spacing. I found the ball to spray a little more because the string was a bit too lively in this frame. Normally in the PA19, I use TruPro Black Knight 16 (1.28) which is a super dead string and it works great. I also tried HGR 1.25 in the 2021 VCore 95 and while it's very good, I believe Head Lynx Tour 1.25 is a better match for this frame. Next up will be to try HGR in the new Vcore 98 as well as a v8 Blade 16/19. I can see HGR pairing incredibly well with the VCore 98.
Nope, I've used other strings in this frame so I have a reference point of how it plays, generally. Also never said I didn't like this racquet, actually the opposite.I see you’re selling this frame because you can’t get it to work for you. Could using this string in a racquet you don’t like have impacted your review?