Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Laserfibre JB Tour 100 1.25

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

We have notified selected playtesters by email.

Your reviews are due no later than June 15.

(In order to remain eligible for all the racquet/shoe/string playtests coming up, you must post a review by the deadline)

Include the following in your review:

• Tension used for playtest
• Regular string set up
• Racquet used for test
• Power/Control of test string
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?)
• Spin
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain)
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain
• List any additional thoughts (optional)

This is the second of Laserfibre's Made in the USA polys. Please feel free to start discussing the brand and string.

 

[samprasbackhand]

I was part of the last play test for the first Laserfibre Made in USA poly and enjoyed it. I would love to apply for this one but will have to pass. Due to a wrist and elbow injury I'm going to not play with poly for a while to see if it helps. Good luck to everybody else applying though!

 

[Doubles]

I've been seeing posts on instagram about this string from a few different pages, but not a lot of info about how it plays. This thread will be very informative, I hope.

 

[El_Yotamo]

Interesting name for this string, what qualities is it bringing to the table?

 

[TW Staff]

Interesting name for this string, what qualities is it bringing to the table?

It has a 211 stiffness, which puts it in the neighborhood of Pro Line II 1.30 and ALU Power 1.25mm - but the real test will be on court, so we're looking forward to the playtester feedback. Factoid: Laserfibre is also working with with Blake - hence the name of the string.

Jon/TW

 

[McLovin]

I would love to apply for this one but will have to pass. Due to a wrist and elbow injury I'm going to not play with poly for a while to see if it helps. Good luck to everybody else applying though!

Yeah, I was about to apply, then I thought 'wait...you just got a cortisone shot last week from your failed 4G Rough experiment 3 months ago. What are you thinking?!?!'. I'll have to pass...

 

[nadalex]

Excited for this, hope I'm chosen. Just ordered a bunch of different strings, going on a new hunt. Someone was mentioning this string to me recently, and had been enjoying it.

 

[fullwesternforehand]

Should be a fun playtest, wonder if our forehands will now look like this

 

[SteveI]

Enjoy the Play-Test... I am loving the Team LF products.

 

[SteveI]

Should be a fun playtest, wonder if our forehands will now look like this

I hope so!!!

 

[TW Staff]

Playtesters have been notified by email. Your samples are shipping over the next few days. Review due by 6/15.

Jon/TW

 

[JOSHL]

Thanks again TW and Laserfibre!

 

[El_Yotamo]

Sweet I'm in, should be a fun test...

 

[haqq777]

I didn't apply because I am nursing an ankle injury. Good luck to all those selected. Looking forward to the reviews. I really liked the Native Tour so expect good things from Laserfibre.

 

[Doubles]

Very excited to have been selected. I had a few strings I had wanted to test, but they will be placed on hold. I’ll string this up as soon as I get it.

 

[CopolyX]

Laserfibre is one of the very few string companys will a soul.
Not only are they doing the right things, listening, care and are making high quality "USA" strings.
But with no overcharging and no over-hyping!
Been a loyalist for quite while now.
Strings as we know are so subjective.
But I also prefer to vote with my wallet.

 

[JOSHL]

First impression....this string looks and feels like 16g but it’s supposed to be 17g. Very slick and kinks easily. Wasn’t too bad to string up though.

 

[mogo]

Just got my string in the mail. 17G, NICE!!!!!!. Can't wait to string up and see how it plays.
Thx, TW and Laserfibre

 

[Doubles]

I agree, it seems to run a little on the thick side, maybe more like 1.27 mm? It has a kind of outer coating which, in hand, felt like a kind of hybrid between the waxy feel of Pro Red Code (the original version) and the firmer pearl coating of Pro Hurricane. It strung up pretty easily, but I also string poly 85% of the time.

 

[M Pillai]

I am ready to start my weekend

 

[mogo]

Here is my official review, Unfortunately I popped today. Strings had 2 days of hitting or about 4 and a half hours total.
Again, thank you to TW and Laserfibre for the opportunity to review this string!!!!

I can clearly see why James Blake would love this string, it is made to be aggressive….period!

• Tension used for playtest

Strung @ 53pds.

• Regular string set up

Solinco Hyper G 17G at 53pds

• Racquet used for test

Babolat Pure Drive Tour (2018)

• Power/Control of test string

Power was very good. After about 2 hrs I noticed some string bed movement and lost a bit of control, but nothing too bad.

• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?)

Feel was good. String was stiff to me, I’m used to a softer string. Overall was stiff and muted.
Today before I popped the strings felt a little softer but overall the same muted response.

• Spin

Spin was fair, but the plus side was that I could hit flat and not worry about the ball sailing.
I was rolling the ball and didn’t get a super heavy ball, but when I flattened out the ball the depth and pace was great.
If you have a very aggressive and flat game this is the string for you. I really liked it for attacking short balls.

• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain)

I hit the first day for 2 hours and I felt like I would pop soon as the string is cutting in and starting to move.
I felt that the response did not change I could keep being aggressive without worry all the way till the end.
I would compare the durability to Alu Power Spin, I pop in about the same time frame.

• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain

I would try it @ 51lbs as the response was stiffer than I expected but I wanted to give it a try at my tension and compare it to what I normally use.

• List any additional thoughts (optional)

Stringing was easy, I string one piece and I had no trouble.
The string can kink but did not cling together as some string can when you try to straighten out of the packaging.
Weaving crosses was a breeze.

The string bed does dull out a bit after hitting as it looks glossy when strung up for the first time.
Just a cosmetic thing, but did not affect play.

Also, it does well in the sun, I live in Texas and hit today at 92 degrees.
I didn’t measure the temp on court but it’s HOT!!! I felt that the string did not lose too much tension for me.

Pics of the popped string if anyone was interested.

https://i.imgur.com/5lyCFdM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FdUR4zP.jpg

 

[Devil_dog]

Here is my official review, Unfortunately I popped today. Strings had 2 days of hitting or about 4 and a half hours total.
Again, thank you to TW and Laserfibre for the opportunity to review this string!!!!

I can clearly see why James Blake would love this string, it is made to be aggressive….period!

• Tension used for playtest

Strung @ 53pds.

• Regular string set up

Solinco Hyper G 17G at 53pds

• Racquet used for test

Babolat Pure Drive Tour (2018)

• Power/Control of test string

Power was very good. After about 2 hrs I noticed some string bed movement and lost a bit of control, but nothing too bad.

• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?)

Feel was good. String was stiff to me, I’m used to a softer string. Overall was stiff and muted.
Today before I popped the strings felt a little softer but overall the same muted response.

• Spin

Spin was fair, but the plus side was that I could hit flat and not worry about the ball sailing.
I was rolling the ball and didn’t get a super heavy ball, but when I flattened out the ball the depth and pace was great.
If you have a very aggressive and flat game this is the string for you. I really liked it for attacking short balls.

• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain)

I hit the first day for 2 hours and I felt like I would pop soon as the string is cutting in and starting to move.
I felt that the response did not change I could keep being aggressive without worry all the way till the end.
I would compare the durability to Alu Power Spin, I pop in about the same time frame.

• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain

I would try it @ 51lbs as the response was stiffer than I expected but I wanted to give it a try at my tension and compare it to what I normally use.

• List any additional thoughts (optional)

Stringing was easy, I string one piece and I had no trouble.
The string can kink but did not cling together as some string can when you try to straighten out of the packaging.
Weaving crosses was a breeze.

The string bed does dull out a bit after hitting as it looks glossy when strung up for the first time.
Just a cosmetic thing, but did not affect play.

Also, it does well in the sun, I live in Texas and hit today at 92 degrees.
I didn’t measure the temp on court but it’s HOT!!! I felt that the string did not lose too much tension for me.

Pics of the popped string if anyone was interested.
https://i.imgur.com/5lyCFdM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FdUR4zP.jpg

I was lucky enough to try a set of this as well and agree on a lot of your points. I also tried Native Tour and thought the JB100 was slightly softer than Native. Both had excellent ball pocketing characteristics and definitely plenty of power with control too.

I'm not a big string breaker so I eventually had to cut these strings out of my frames but definitely would recommend LaserFibre to anyone who wants a great feeling copoly on their frames.

 

[therecanbeonlyone]

I strung up my set of JB Tour 100 this weekend and pretty much took it right to the court. First impressions after just one hitting session and one set are that this string is a pretty well rounded string that is going to get above average marks in lots of areas. Right off the bat, it was pretty comfortable (strung at 50 lbs on a lockout, strung in an Angell TC97 18x20). I had good depth control and no noticeable alteration of normal launch angle. I know that the shots I was missing were my fault, with some credit to my opponent as well. Sometimes with a new string in a match-play setting, I lack confidence to know what the string is going to give me. Here I didn't have issues and was able to play like normal. Looking forward to the rest of the playtest.

 

[Doubles]

Minimal play so far, but I have to be the voice of opposition here. Through about 2 hours of play, this is a string I wouldn’t spend money on, regardless of the price. I have yet to feel a comfortable groove on with the string.

 

[MRfStop]

I received my pack of the string a couple days ago. It has been raining every day for the past 3 weeks but the sun came out I got a 45 min hit section in. Here is what I think of it so far:

-Playtest tension: 52 lbs.

-Regular string set up: I go between Volkl Cyclone 18g 52 lbs and Solinco Hyper G 17G at 52 lbs

-Racquet used: Babolat Pure Control Zylon 360

-Power/Control: Decent power and decent control. I felt that I could hit out on the ball and still keep the ball in the court.

-Feel/Comfort: Feel was very good. Didn't feel overly stiff but it does feel like it will start to feel mushy over time.

-Spin: There was exceptional about of spin. I felt like I could hit out on the ball and the ball drop in

-Playability: I only played with the string for 45mins to an hour and this was drill rallys. I will be going out and hitting again once it starts to dry up.

I don't know if I would buy this string on the regular since I generally hit with shaped strings. I could see this being a good string to hybrid with.

Thank you TW and Laserfibre for giving me the opportunity to participate.

 

[djNEiGht]

nice and warm in SoCal this weekend...great time to test out the JB Tour 100

 

[scotto777]

Thanks again TW for the opportunity to playtest! For reference, I am a USTA 4.5 league and tournament player in Texas.

Tension used for playtest: I received the 17 guage version and strung at 47 Pounds on lockout crank machine

Regular string set up: Yonex Poly Tour Spin Blue at 47 Pounds

Racquet used for test: Yonex DR98

Power/Control of test string: Compared to my normal setup, this string felt similar in terms of power and control. However, control perhaps suffered a bit in that there was definitely less spin given this is a round string vs. my normal shaped string. I have a fairly flat forehand, so losing a bit of spin was quite noticeable for me.

Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?): I haven't tried endless amounts of poly strings to compare, but have experienced arm pain from too stiff of string or high tension. I thought that JB Tour was just as comfortable as YPTS and did not experience any arm pain. However, it had a more muted feel and less crisp feel than YPTS. Not a bad thing, just different.

Spin: Spin was definitely lacking compared to YPTS. I noticed it on both my fairly flat forehands where I tend to add a little spin, as well as on slices.

Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain) I used this setup for about 6 hours and didn't notice much of a change in tension, playability or softness. The string felt consistently similar during the duration that I was using it.

Would you install it at a different tension next time? Nope, I typically string my racquets in the high 40's and thought that it was appropriate here as well.

List any additional thoughts: Put simply, I thought LaserFibre JB Tour was just as comfortable as Yonex Poly Tour Spin. However, it was a bit more muted as opposed to the crisper feel of YPTS. It also lacked the spin potential. Overall, I think it is a nice poly, I am just very happy with my current setup and prefer the spin potential and crispness I currently have.

 

[SteveI]

• Tension used for play-test: 52 / 50 (mains/crosses). Strung on a constant pull machine. Easy to string up. No unexpected issues with coil memory. This a firm string and strung up as such. Knots cinched up well.

• Regular string set up: Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17G (52 /50)
• 
  
• Racquet used for test: Wilson Blade BLX 98 18 x 20
• 
  
• Power/Control of test string: This string is not going to provide a ton of free power compared to some of the softer, entry level co-polys out there. This string was designed for the needs of the modern, hard hitting player.. ie... James Blake. This string should be considered along with ALU Power 1.25mm. This a "Big Boys" string.. (or Ladies). Players with bigger swings and players looking to create their own power output will love this string. If you string it on the lower side of course you will obtain more free power. Big rips and the ball should still inside the lines for the advanced player.
• 
  
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?): I found the string to have a nice Crisp /Firm feel and not a ton of vibration coming on off center hits. Comfort is good for a firm, advanced string in this category. Have 10 hours or so on this set-up... no arm, wrist or shoulder issues to report as of now.
• Spin: I am guessing if you are using a shaped / twisted poly.. you found the string lacking in the spin department. For a round poly offering.. I would like say the spin production is above average. Not going to be a Tourna Big Hitter 7 17G or a Cyclone 19G. This string to me says.. hit the ball with a lower launch angle and through the court.
• 
  
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain): Loving how long this string is playing. The Playability Duration is very linear. This might be the one of the best features of this string. Much better that ALU Power 1.25 and my Tourna Big Hitter 17G.
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? 52/50 is working for me.. I might go a few lbs less in the winter and just to get a bit more free power. I am an older player with modern strokes and still take pretty good rips at the ball.. I am better suited to LF Native Tour 17G which I have played and tested. The Native Tour 17G is much better suited to older player with slower swings. This JB offering is not for that market. This string is very much for a big hitting junior... DIV1 players and Pros..
• 
  
• List any additional thoughts (optional): Great offering if it your game is big hitting and creating ball speed. I am loving the firm feel and great control.. Thanks Team LF and TW!!

 

[Liam Grennon]

Hello all!
I just wanted to thank TW for this opportunity! Unfortunately, my State Singles and Doubles tournament is starting this Sunday and I'm not looking to change strings right before, but I will string it up ASAP and get my review in!

 

[Doubles]

Full review to come, and it’s not as bad as I had originally thought, but I’m just not adjusting to this string. Strung at the same tension as my normal ALU/ALU Rough, I feel like I get noticeably less spin and a similar amount of power. I could see how this might play well in a gut/poly hybrid though. It has a slicker surface to it and seems to hold tension well, I just don’t feel confident with it.

 

[djNEiGht]

Full review to come, and it’s not as bad as I had originally thought, but I’m just not adjusting to this string. Strung at the same tension as my normal ALU/ALU Rough, I feel like I get noticeably less spin and a similar amount of power. I could see how this might play well in a gut/poly hybrid though. It has a slicker surface to it and seems to hold tension well, I just don’t feel confident with it.

Are you using ALU/ALU Rough in a hybrid or full bed? Curious because I have been using textured mains/smooth cross on occasion. I haven't played with ALU (either) in a full bed other than borrowing a racquet. I have however used them in a hybrid. My former stringing client says he was all about ALU Rough before but he would either break it too fast or it would go dead (like most polys in his game) and at the price he was spending it wasn't favorable.

 

[Doubles]

Are you using ALU/ALU Rough in a hybrid or full bed? Curious because I have been using textured mains/smooth cross on occasion. I haven't played with ALU (either) in a full bed other than borrowing a racquet. I have however used them in a hybrid. My former stringing client says he was all about ALU Rough before but he would either break it too fast or it would go dead (like most polys in his game) and at the price he was spending it wasn't favorable.

Full bed. I’m not too picky between the two of them as ALU Rough eventually smooths out and plays like regular after a few hours. In recent time I’ve been breaking ALU within 7 days of stringing it. JB Tour 100 looks like it’ll last longer, but there’s just something about the string that isn’t quite right for me.

 

[djNEiGht]

Full bed. I’m not too picky between the two of them as ALU Rough eventually smooths out and plays like regular after a few hours. In recent time I’ve been breaking ALU within 7 days of stringing it. JB Tour 100 looks like it’ll last longer, but there’s just something about the string that isn’t quite right for me.

cool. thanks for the info

 

[Doubles]

Alright, I broke my set of JB Tour a day ago, so here are my thoughts.

Tension used for playtest: 50 lbs on a lockout, just like my usual setup.
Regular string set up: ALU Power Rough at 50 lbs.
Racquet used for test: Wilson Blade 98 18x20 CV
Power/Control of test string: Lower powered than the average synthetic, but this has some pop for a poly.
Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?): The feel was...plain. It was neither crisp nor soft. Imagine a string so average that you almost can't remember anything noteworthy about it.
Spin: Average at best. There is better spin potential than synthetic guy, but honestly disappointing for a poly. This played remarkably similar to BHS, but at double the price.
Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain): I'll give it this, it did perform consistently from one day to the next. While I didn't like the string overall, I at least knew what to expect from it.
Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain:
List any additional thoughts (optional): I think it's great or whatever that Laserfibre is making a string in the USA, but that's not a selling point for me. Overall, this was a below average performing string with a high price point. You certainly don't get a heavy ball the way ALU produces, that's for sure.

Maybe if I tried it again I'd string it 10 pounds lower just to see how the change in launch angle changes the spin potential, but there's no way I'm spending money on this string.

It feels weird writing this, because I've never had a bad experience on a TW playtest, but I guess it's impossible to like every string.

 

[styksnstryngs]

Almost done hitting with my set, review will probably be up tomorrow. The good, the bad and the ugly.

 

[Liam Grennon]

Almost done hitting with my set, review will probably be up tomorrow. The good, the bad and the ugly.

As will mine!

 

[MarioRich]

• Tension used for playtest 52lbs
• Regular string set up RS Lyon 1.25 52lbs
• Racquet used for test Wilson Blade 98L lead at 3 and 9 o’clock and leather grip 300g total weight.
• Power/Control of test string Power was lacking a bit but I was expecting this. This is a control oriented round poly with great directional control and placement.
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?) tad stiff compared to other gray round polys (which tend to play similar). Vibration on off center shots was minimal. Overall a stiff but responsive feel on full cut swings. Although it hits stiff I had no problems with arm or shoulders after heavy hitting.
• Spin Very Average but again this poly is set up to be a control oriented string.
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain) above average tension durability and tension maintenance. The response and feel did not change much throughout the play test. This string lasted more than 18 hours of hard hitting.
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain I would definitely go a couple of pounds lower than my usual string set up. I really liked this string but thought it was missing a little pop. I think if I go 2 lbs lower on my next set up this string could easily be my string of choice.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) I use RS Lyon as my go to poly so was really intrigued on what Laserfibre could offer. I really liked the quality of the string, durability and its firmness. I really wish I could have gone a couple of pounds lower on my string set up. I was getting great control and response from my racquet but at times needed a little more power to finish of my opponent. I can see this string having great acceptance from hard hitting players. You can really let loose on every stroke.

 

[MarioRich]

• Tension used for playtest 52lbs
• Regular string set up RS Lyon 1.25 52lbs
• Racquet used for test Wilson Blade 98L lead at 3 and 9 o’clock and leather grip 300g total weight.
• Power/Control of test string Power was lacking a bit but I was expecting this. This is a control oriented round poly with great directional control and placement.
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?) tad stiff compared to other gray round polys (which tend to play similar). Vibration on off center shots was minimal. Overall a stiff but responsive feel on full cut swings. Although it hits stiff I had no problems with arm or shoulders after heavy hitting.
• Spin Very Average but again this poly is set up to be a control oriented string.
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain) above average tension durability and tension maintenance. The response and feel did not change much throughout the play test. This string lasted more than 18 hours of hard hitting.
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain I would definitely go a couple of pounds lower than my usual string set up. I really liked this string but thought it was missing a little pop. I think if I go 2 lbs lower on my next set up this string could easily be my string of choice.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) I use RS Lyon as my go to poly so was really intrigued on what Laserfibre could offer. I really liked the quality of the string, durability and its firmness. I really wish I could have gone a couple of pounds lower on my string set up. I was getting great control and response from my racquet but at times needed a little more power to finish of my opponent. I can see this string having great acceptance from hard hitting players. You can really let loose on every stroke.

Left racquet is RS Lyon. Right racquet is Laserfibre JB Tour 100

 

[MarioRich]

I also read some playtesters felt the string was a tad thicker than the 17g we received. I saw no difference on the gauges and JB tour 100 was very easy to string.

 

[styksnstryngs]

Tension used for playtest:
51 pounds reference, full bed, on a dropweight machine.
Regular string set up:
Pro’s Pro Blackout 1.24 mains at 51 lbs, Isospeed Baseline Spin 1.20 crosses at 51 lbs.
Racquet used for test:
HEAD Graphene Radical MP with lead tape up to 11.5 oz (326g) and 32.2 cm balance.

Power/Control of test string:
This string’s forte was offering a bit more control compared to some livelier, softer strings like Laserfibre Smooth, HEAD Sonic Pro, etc. Power was still decent, but definitely not a string for most players under 4.0, I would say. This string would most benefit a player who has the ability to generate their own power and wants the control to be able to apply their own power efficiently. That being said, the stringbed was slightly irregular in terms of launch angle. /i had a little bit of trouble locking down my ball height until after the strings had settled in, about 1.5 hours of hitting. After this, I enjoyed being able to flatten out and attack the ball from inside the baseline without the ball going long, and even aiming for the lines.

Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?):
For a fairly low-powered and control-oriented string, the JB100 Tour was very comfortable. Stringing my frame up, I noticed the string was very soft and kinked easily, as well as denting easily and locking up overnight in my bag slightly, yet it did not stretch much more than, say, RPM Blast or Volkl Cyclone on the stringing machine. This perhaps explains why the string retained a fair amount of crisp feel while not feeling boardy or stiff. It wasn’t as crisp as a string like Pro Hurricane Tour, but it definitely wasn’t muted enough to warrant any loss in feel of the ball. I played without any dampener, like I usually do. Off-center shots were only slightly jarring and the string had enough give to help ignore it, but it let me know I was mishitting and where on the frame.

Spin:
Another thing I noticed as I strung this “17 gauge” string (similar in thickness to my 16 gauge Blackout rather than my 17G Isospeed) was the slickness. The silver strings have almost an oily surface texture, which made weaving crosses a breeze. This same low string-to-string friction coefficient showed on the courts. The access to spin was not as good as with most shaped polys, but it held its own comfortably. Spin was for sure above average for a round poly. I could feel the mains snapping back on every shot. Serves were a joy with this string, as all of my balls dived into the service box and up to shoulder or head height, or twisted in the air.

Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain):
The highlight of this string was the tension maintenance and durability. When I saw the strings already beginning to notch overnight, I was worried the string would live fast and die young, but my fears were short lived (unlike the string), because the steep drop-off in tension and performance with almost all polys isn’t there, only a gradual decline that is barely noticeable. I played this string for close to 14 hours before it broke, which is pretty average for me, but the string remained very playable to the end. String movement was almost nonexistent for most of that time.

Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain:
I could drop a pound or two, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of the string, which is to allow me to step into the shots and dictate play from on top of the baseline, not by looping balls from five feet behind it. The string was comfortable enough that I would be able to keep this tension and keep my fickle elbow happy.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
I loved stringing with this stuff. It’s slick, soft and knots like a dream. It took me one hitting session to gel with it, then I was able to use it to blast winners anytime I could get an opportunity. Defensively, this string lacks a little, and the lower launch angle and spin (both compared to a shaped poly) are probably why, as well as the lack of free power. This would make a great cross string if it was available in thinner gauges because of how slick and long-lasting it is. Laserfibre hit this one out of the park, and for many players, the control and playability duration alone would make this string worth the $15 per set price, but this broke high school senior can't justify it. I'll be putting some of my friends who can afford it onto it, however.

(Look at those beautiful Parnell knots and staring knot)

 

[JOSHL]

• Tension used for playtest-45lbs
• Regular string set up-don't really have one I'm a string-a-holic, but currently using Tier one durafluxx
• Racquet used for test-Wilson Pro Staff 97(2016)
• Power/Control of test string-I got pretty good power from this string compared to the tier one, could be the round shape vs gear shape but power was adequate
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?)-I felt the string kinda mushy to be honest. It plays softer than its stiffness would appear, I didn't notice any off center shock either.
• Spin-again I would say spin is average, not crazy.
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain)-the playability duration was an issue for me, it remained playable but after about 4-5 hours of play the slick coating of the string wore off and they were moving and getting stuck out of place like a syn gut would, not snapping back. Maybe if I increased the tension this would help.
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain-I usually string about 42-45lbs but due to the movement or lack thereof of this string I might go a tad higher like 48-50.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)-As I said in an earlier post this string seemed thicker than 17g and had a very slick coating, but that slick-ness wore off pretty quick. It was easy to string and the coil memory wasn't bad, kinked up easy too. It reminded me of Wilson Revolve but not as good and at $15 per set thats a tough sell.

Thank you to TW and Laserfibre for allowing me to take part in this test!!!!!

 

[SteveI]

Update: JB Tour 100 is still holding up great in my Wilson BLX Blade 98 (18 x 20). The 18 x 20 pattern might be a factor, but string movement and notching is not at a major issue at this point. I am about 14 hours into play testing. Still digging the firm, crisp feel and nice ball pocketing. This is pretty much a point and shoot string with what goes in comes out. One should not expect a ton of free power, as this string as stated above is really for big hitters... ALU Power users should enjoy this offering..

 

[El_Yotamo]

Tension used for playtest: 48.5/44 on a Pro's Pro Electronic SX01, CP.

Regular string set up: As usual, I must note I don't really have a regular go-to setup. I just have a bunch of string sets and a couple of reels and I try different things all the time. Safe to say I like double co-poly hybrids at around the tension above

Racquet used for test: Brought out my Dunlop AeroGel 4D 300 Tour for this one, customized to my spec of 360g, 32.4 cm, 360 kg cm^2.

Power/Control of test string: In the power department, it was very much your run-of-the-mill silver copoly. Nice and crisp, although it was quite muted on flatter strokes. No complaints in this department, although it didn't stand out in any way, which in this department isn't really a bad thing.

Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?): As I mentioned above the string was crisp on most shots, but felt muted and a little bit harsh on flatter shots. In terms of feel, this copoly didn't quite match up to ALU, Silverstring, or RS Lyon. I felt like these all had a lot of things in common with the test string, but they made me feel far more connected to the ball. This could be because this string seems slightly thicker than the advertised 1.25 mm. I was going to measure this with my digital micrometer right before stringing but forgot.

Spin: The string was nice and slick, yet it had rather mediocre spin potential. I've tried some other slick copolys recently that I suppose were slicker and also as crosses only not as a full bed. Honestly, I think that this might have had an effect on my experience with this string now that I think about it. It is very plausible that this string works well as a cross only and should be paired up with another copoly on the mains. Perhaps I'll give that a try someday soon, despite the somewhat daunting price. But overall, since this review is about the string on its own, spin potential is meh at best.

Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain): Surprisingly good given the string color and stiffness. Held tension better than all three silver copolys I mentioned above. It's no Max Power, but it has decent tension maintenance and playability duration is pretty good as a result of the slight slickness. As for play duration, the string broke after a respectable 7 hours or so of play, which is pretty average for me.

Would you install it at a different tension next time?: I doubt I would. However, I would install it in a different setup for sure. Probably a nice main string like Spiky Shark should due the trick, plus it'd be a gold/silver stringbed which is cool.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Thanks as always for the amazing chance to be on this playtest. It's unfortunate I didn't get the chance to take photos because I was very busy and forgot all about that aspect of the review. But anyways, this was a fun playtest which also served to help me understand some more concepts in life and in tennis string playtesting. Overall, this is a nice string but I would mostly put it on the crosses only while finding a grippier shaped copoly or a more feel-oriented copoly like ALU Ice in the mains.

 

[fullwesternforehand]

Tension used for playtest: 51 pounds

Regular string set up: Tier one Firewire 17g

Racquet used for test: Babolat Pure Aero

Power/Control of test string: This string was somewhat average with power. it isn't very powerful, but not very muted and dead either. This was definitely not a powerful string by any means as compared to say my usual Firewire. Where this string does shine is in control. It was very nice for flatter strokes and really cranking winners, as I felt comfortable swinging away knowing my shots will go in

Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?): The string wasn't exactly the most comfortable, and has average comfort compared to most stiffer, more control orientated strings. It isn't as soft as T1 firewire or an RPM Blast Rough, but isn't exactly as stiff as Solinco Tourbite. As far as feel, it isn't lively by any means but has a mildly crisp feeling to it. As far as off-center shots, it did "shine" in this department in a bad way. When hitting off center shots, it would be a bit jarring.

Spin: Because I play with mainly shaped polys, any regular round poly usually will not match up to the spin shaped polys get. This was not any different. The string isn't super slick so spin isn't where this string shines.

Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain): I did feel the playability starting to die down, roughly around the 7 hour mark. Might just be me, but the string didn't last very long and popped around 12 hours, which is slightly below average duration for me

Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain: I would have liked to try it at a low tension to sort of "offset" the control aspect of the string. Sort of how some players string up soft and powerful polys at a higher tension than usual, I would be curious as to how the opposite would feel; a low tension for a control string

List any additional thoughts (optional): As always, thanks TW for the chance to playtest another string! Always grateful whenever I get picked, and look foward to hopefully many more in the future!

 

[Doubles]

This string hasn't gotten that much discussion, but I had the chance to try it again in one of my friends frames. This post is currently a placeholder for the review I'll leave later today, but I will say that I was very much impressed by how this string played in a rather different racquet from my 18x20 Blade. I believe that Laserfibre really has produced a quality string, but one that I don't believe is suited for denser patterns.

 

[Liam Grennon]

Hello All!
Sorry, it has taken me so long to finish this playtest, but I wanted to make sure I had a good amount of time with this string in my frame.

Tension used for playtest - I strung this up @50 lb

Regular string set up - Normally I use Technifbre Black Code S @48 lb

Racquet used for test - I used the Technifbre Tfight Lmt 16x19 - The Newer Version

Power/Control of test string - The String offered way to much power for me. Maybe it was just my fault for not going more than 2lb higher than my normal string setup, but I had a lot of trouble keeping the ball in play and hitting my spots. I did enjoy hitting flat serves with this ball as well as forehand returns of flat balls because I could just smash them back in play, but other then that I thought it was too powerful for the tension I strung it at, and if I use it again I would definitely go to 55. The power was nice for turning defense to offense but I felt I could never control the points because a couldn't reliably hit my spots. This meant I had to move my targets into the court to make sure I was playing high percentage shots, and as a result, my opponents could step in and rip the ball if it landed even a foot short of my target. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it compensated with spin, but it didn't

Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?) This would be the best part of the string in my opinion. The feel was soft and muted but felt like when I hit the sweet spot it pocketed really well. Because of the soft feel, I had no arm problems. The only thing about the feel was that when you don't swing hard enough, you get a real board-like feel. You really need to generate some fast racket head speed to tap into that nice pocketed feel, and this was at a fairly low tension. Off center shots were not terrible but obviously not ideal.

Spin - This is my major frustration with this string. The power would be totally fine if the spin could keep the ball in play, but this might have been the least spin friendly poly I have ever played with. I could get nothing extra on any of my shots. I would try to compensate with my strokes but then I wouldn't drive the ball enough and I would get that board like feel that I talked about before. This hurt me the most on the serve, as I really on the kick serve when I serve and volley, I just couldn't seem to kick the ball like I normally can. It was so frustrating because I felt really good hitting my flat first serves but I had to resort to slice second serve almost every time because I couldn't kick my second into the there backhand. It took me a couple of games to realize this because I felt so good serving with the weight balance this string gave my frame, but it just sucked when I tried to kick the ball. I played a kid in my second round who could just really hit a great topspin ball and pull me off the court with his angles, and I had to stop playing with the frame because there was nothing I could do, I had no spin to hit an angled shot with, or at least no spin while still hitting a ball that had some pace on it.

Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain) - Strings get a little mushy after about 5-6 hours but nothing terrible. I broke them in around 9 hours though, which isn't terrible but I had a team tournament thing and played a bunch of 3 and 4-star recruits, and I was on the court for 6 hours on Sunday, so it felt like it went by fairly quick.

Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain - As I said above I would definitely up the tension, just to get some more control on the ball. Maybe around 55?

I'd like to thank TW and LaserFibre on the playtest!

 

[Thatshot]

• Tension used for playtest - 48lbs
  
  Regular string set up - Volkl Cyclone 17g at 55lbs
  
  Racquet used for test - Babolat Pure Drive
• 
  
• Power/Control of test string - First look at this string it reminded me of Alu power because they both had that silver color scheme. I dropped tension from my normal 55lbs to 48lbs to make sure it doesn't hurt my elbow. First hit with it I felt the JBT 100 is a medium powered co-poly. Some of the groundies penetrated through the court really nice it was a pleasure to watch. At the same time control was excellent, the ball went where your stroke sends it, there is no guess work. Everything stayed very much under control, the ball did not spray at all, the more I hit with it the more confidence I gain with this string.
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?) - I did not find this string mushy at all, it had a nice firm feel to it and just a touch of crispness. While stringing, I can tell this is no where near the stiffness of Alu power and first hit confirmed that. The string played firm which gave me tons of control but it is no where near where I had to be concerned about my arm. More hits with it confirms that comfort level for the JBT 100 is really good.
• Spin - I did not feel this string is a spin monster, instead it felt more like a string for the more advanced player where they have to generated their own spin. In my opinion this is a good trait since it will show what your stroke is really doing, there is nothing artificial about it. The JBT 100 is a round co-poly that grabs the ball nicely if you are hitting with a medium range racquet head speed. Those that have a slower swing may not be too fond of this string. If you are looking for something that have a low launch angle to penetrate through the court with and put your opponent on their heels, this will suit you nicely.
  
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain) - From what I could tell the playability duration is pretty good. Unfortunately my string broke on a shank at the 3rd practice session so its difficult for me to tell. During the time I played with it, the string remained relatively consistent, there is no big drop offs just a steady wear and tear on the strings which is a good thing.
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain - There are some really stiff co-polys out on the market and if you don't know what you are getting into it can really do some damage. I've started low with t his stirng 48lbs and it played well for me, on a hot sunny day things may change so with another racquet I may go up 3-5lbs for some extra control. This string handled low tension really well so I would not change anything the next time I use it.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) - While stringing it up the JBT 100 did not feel like a super stiff string, it had a little bit of give to it. The color scheme is similar to that of Alu Power which is very menacing. First hit with it was quite impressive, the ball penetrated through the court like a missile, everything looked very much under control. The more I hit with it the more I like it, as contact is made there is a nice pop sound to it. These strings grabs the ball at contact and sends it on its way in a very predictable manner, it doesn't artificially grabs the balls with pointed sides or rough edges which contribute to short playability. As I got more comfortable with it and really started to open up my swing, I shanked one and broke 4 strings on the top left edge of my racquet. I'd like to try this again sometime down the road since it has shown there is a lot of potential.

 

[M Pillai]

Laserfibre JB Tour 100 1.25 strings : Tennis Warehouse Playtest

===========================================================

Thanks to Laserfibre and Tennis Warehouse for giving me an opportunity to test this premium string.

• Tension(s) used for playtest
  • 54lb mains x 52lb crosses
• Regular string set up
  • Volkl Cyclone17 54lb mains / 52lb crosses
    (For the last 4 or 5 strinings)
• Racquet used for test
  • Boris Becker DC Melbourne 18x20
  
  
• Power/Control of test string
  • This is a very low powered and control oriented string. Big hitter can aim for fences without worry. As expected low power is complemented by very good depth and direction control. I did feel above average control when using spin to the advantage. But for target shooting flat shots, nothing exceptional, but still good control.
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?)
  • I would consider this to be a very stiff and muted string. Yes, you can adjust the string tensions to match your style. There are stiffer co-polys in the maket for sure. But in todays generation of co-poly standards this is a stiff string. But the big hitters would like the control and spin provided by this stiffness. It also has relatively muted feel.
    
    Not a sting made with comfort as a primary cretiria. This string did not create any arm soreness for me during the playtest. But I did let one of my partner who uses multi-filament strings on his racket and he could immediately tell the difference.
• Spin
  • Excellent. This string got a very slick surface and very good stiffness, both when combined does provide excellent spin as expected. If you already have spin generating shots and have enough power to generate depth, definitely try this sting out. But it is also not a string for everyone.
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain)
  • I did not break this string after 14 hours of hitting. I do think most users will cut this string before breaking due to its property changes over time. The notching on mains was very viscible by the end of my playtest, and I dont think I would have left it that long on my normal playing. The string properties changed over this time, and I would say 12hrs or so is a reasonable usable period of this string for me. For more sensitive users I would say the peak performance is between 1Hr-6Hr. And then gradual decrease in performance is observed.
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain
  • I think I would go for a bit more lower tension if I get to try it again. This is because the string actually felt more stiffer in my 18x20 racket than I felt it on my hand before stringing. Since the control was exceptional, taking some lbs down on the tension should not cause any trouble. Also this may probably elongate the peak performance life of the string.
• Compare to string used most often
  • What I can say is that I still like the feel of the kevlar on mains than the RPM Blast Rough. But if I switch back to a full poly set up, RPM Blast Rough would be on top of the list.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
  • It is good to see string companies come up with optimised strings targeted at specific players. I always thought it was not a good idea to go with “one size fits all” approach when it comes to strings. JB Tour 100 is not a string for everyone. It is optimized for specific playing styles, and not everyone will find this as a favourite. This string also somehow has a very premium feel to it. But when it comes to strings, I am very cost-aware, and I am not sure whether I will buy this string, if it is as expensive as the previous Laserfibre offerings.

 

[djNEiGht]

Got to do a bit of head to head JB Tour testing with @topspinlob . @JOSHL also provided some nice rally shots even though i was a hot mess that time we all got together.

nice and warm in SoCal this weekend...great time to test out the JB Tour 100

• Tension used for playtest
  • 45# CP
• Regular string set up
  • Nothing steady at this time but my previous go-to string(s) are Volkl Cyclone, Tier One T1 Firewire, Diadem Solstice Power. Full bed or crossed with Isospeed Baseline or ProsPro Red Devil
• Racquet used for test
  • Angell TC95 16x19 63 RA
• Power/Control of test string
  • This racquet seems to be pretty powerful for a Mid+ with various strings I have used. I found the combo of the racquet and JB Tour 100 was in the low end of powerful for a poly string (in other words…medium high in power).
  • I was getting past the service line on majority of my rally shots with a moderate launch angle. It could also be considered that this string allowed you to swing away calling for high Racquet Head Speed (RHS)
  • Control was excellent when changing directions or aiming for corners/lines.
  • Going from topspin ground strokes to a flat shot also did very well.
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?)
  • The string wasn’t soft like a pillow but I will use the word pillow in my findings. It was muted and the pocketing was like a pillow at bed time. The comfort level of this string was very good at the tension I used as well as the characteristics of a 63 RA racquet
  • I found nice ball pocketing on most shots and the off-center shock was not too bad during most of the playtest. Please take it for what it is being the tension/racquet used
• Spin
  • For a round poly this had a very decent amount of spin.
  • Although I call it a med high power string it encouraged you to have high RHS which then in turn produced a nice amount of spin.
  • The racquet I was using normally adds a nice amount of spin compared to some other 16x19 racquets I have used.
  • For my game though it is not an extreme spin string and a textured poly that is listed in my regular string set up gives me more
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain)
  • This seemed to hold tension and the playability lasted a decent amount of time. I played about 3 hours of singles/rallying/drills and an additional 3 hours playing doubles.
  • There wasn’t a significant change during the first hit for the sessions listed
  • The snap back was very good even past the 6 hour mark when the bed started to feel different and towards it’s dying dayes
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain
  • I am happy with the tension I picked for this but would consider changing it lower to see if it would add any more spin.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
  • What I really like about this string is that it is an honest string but with some durability. I often start out with a new racquet playing synthetic gut. To me this lets me judge the racquet for what it is and helps gives me an idea on changes in string and tension. SG is an honest string but nothing spectacular. JB Tour 100 is like that but more durable and a shot of caffeine. You step on the gas and you get moving fast. You swing away and the ball goes (flat or spin shot). Also the sound of the string was very VERY rewarding.
  • I’m curious to try this if it was also in a rough/textured version.
  • I was told that the slick snap back action of the string was due to the way it was constructed. It is slick even as the notching occurs since it is not a coating but part of the construction inside and out.
  • At its current price point, JB Tour 100 would be a string to consider using for match day and use other strings for just weekend game play or ball feeding
  • When stringing, this felt soft and also kinked a couple times. My tension head was leaving some marks as if the string was scratched.
  • Thank you to Tennis Warehouse as well as to Laserfibre for helping us weekend warriors get some great strings to test.

 

[PhxRacket]

Thank you Laserfiber and Tennis Warehouse for putting this opportunity together. I really enjoy testing equipment.

• Tension(s) used for the playtest - 51#
• Regular string set up - Hybrid Hyper G 17g at 51# and Vanquish 16g at 49#
• Racquet used for test - HEAD Graphene Touch Prestige Mid
• Power/Control of test string - I found the string to be low powered. I had to work hard with my feet and force my attention on RHS to get good depth and control. I didn't feel any more or any less control than my usual setup. The low power was a deal breaker.
• Feel/Comfort (Stiff? Mushy? Springy? Muted? Crisp? Off-center shock?) - I felt that the way I had my Mid strung, this was way too stiff for me. I am happy that I don't use one of my DR100s. The only other fb poly experience I have had in the Mid was Volkl Cyclone Tour and the Laserfiber was way stiffer. My elbow and forearm did not like this string, even whe hitting in the sweetspot.
• Spin - Spin was pretty good. I think that technique has more impact on spin than the string choice.
• Playability Duration (did the feel/response change over time? Explain) - I used this string job for two dubs and two singles matches-about 9 hours and they didn't break, but I am not really a prolific string breaker. I had hoped they would really soften up, but that didn't happen. The pingy feedback lasted throughout.
• Would you install it at a different tension next time? Explain - I would not string with this again as a full bed. I would definitely try it out as a hybrid just to compare apples with apples.
• Compare to string used most often - I really like the Hyper G/Vanquish hybrid. I get really nice feel, no ping, great grip on the ball from the Hyper G and, most importantly, no arm pain or discomfort.
• List any additional thoughts (optional) - I hope that this can kick start more American made string options. One of my hitting partners was keen on my setup as he used LF as a collegiate player.

Again, thanks to LF and TW for making this possible.