Tennis Warehouse Playtest - Pick HEAD's Next Co-poly!!

[Fighting phoenix]

In this case, it's interesting if these are relatives to Lynx Tour. To me, it's the Goldilocks of shaped strings.

Agreed that the shape is very subtle, similar to LT. Maybe an Eco Lynx Tour ;-)

 

[fritzhimself]

They come from two different factories, one in Asia and the other in Europe, so I can't really see how they're related.

 

[Fighting phoenix]

They come from two different factories, one in Asia and the other in Europe, so I can't really see how they're related.

Just speculating on naming conventions. Hawk Power is make in Tennessee I believe, other Hawks not.

 

[TheBoom]

Really interesting it has 7 edges. It's much more subtle than most any shaped poly I've played with. That would explain my experience with the V2 in particular.

 

[dandruffkb]

Planning to write my review in the next few days, I am going to be a bit more one-sided and blunt this review as I feel that this play test is a tad different... The community isn't going to be able to try the version that gets rejected, so I am going to pick a winner and state that there is a RIGHT and a WRONG answer, haha. I'll be really disappointed in the rest of you if the other one goes through... could be fun to have a relatively blunt and critical review as it's unreleased vs unreleased.

 

[ngoster]

V2 is done. Comparison to follow...

 

[TheBoom]

Planning to write my review in the next few days, I am going to be a bit more one-sided and blunt this review as I feel that this play test is a tad different... The community isn't going to be able to try the version that gets rejected, so I am going to pick a winner and state that there is a RIGHT and a WRONG answer, haha. I'll be really disappointed in the rest of you if the other one goes through... could be fun to have a relatively blunt and critical review as it's unreleased vs unreleased.

Hope you’re on team V2

 

[Dunlop300g]

Hope you’re on team V2

@TheBoom and @ngoster may be on team v2 but one thing's for sure from that photo ... @ngoster is on Team Dunlop!! That's kind of an odd break though in the photo. @ngoster What shot caused the break? Is this a normal place in your hitting experiences with this frame?

 

[TheBoom]

@TheBoom and @ngoster may be on team v2 but one thing's for sure from that photo ... @ngoster is on Team Dunlop!! That's kind of an odd break though in the photo. @ngoster What shot caused the break? Is this a normal place in your hitting experiences with this frame?

As a former Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour user, it does make me happy to see the brand getting more love now.

It looks like both versions on their rackets broke in the upper hoop which is interesting

 

[ngoster]

@TheBoom and @ngoster may be on team v2 but one thing's for sure from that photo ... @ngoster is on Team Dunlop!! That's kind of an odd break though in the photo. @ngoster What shot caused the break? Is this a normal place in your hitting experiences with this frame?

Wait...how did you guys know that I voted for v2?

I'm definitely team Dunlop. The shear (break) location is strange but consistent for me. I don't hit the cleanest ball but the break 99.9999% of the time happens on a BH mishit.

 

[Dunlop300g]

Wait...how did you guys know that I voted for v2?

I'm definitely team Dunlop. The shear (break) location is strange but consistent for me. I don't hit the cleanest ball but the break 99.9999% of the time happens on a BH mishit.

Ok maybe check that grommet or the headguard up there to see if the string is getting worn out by rubbing on the court in some way. I see the close up on page 2 on the v1 string break that although it's quite fuzzy on some of the strings it seems like there is notching almost to the breaking point; so may be you just hit really high in the string bed for some reason. You probably also hit quite hard. Oh, I didn't know for sure that you voted for 2. I'm so much on the fence right now after hitting with them again last night. I think its going to be a coin flip. I have to check tensions again and then do my write up. Really love both of these strings.

 

[TheBoom]

Wait...how did you guys know that I voted for v2?

I'm definitely team Dunlop. The shear (break) location is strange but consistent for me. I don't hit the cleanest ball but the break 99.9999% of the time happens on a BH mishit.

I'd be surprised if many people strongly prefer V1.

I think V1 is a good string, but not one I'd consider switching to. It almost feels like what poly's did before Solinco or even RPM really arrived on scene.

V2 feels like the evolution of V1 and would be extremely competitive in the market, particularly considering the modern game and player preferences as of late. I feel like all I see at courts now is bright green Hyper G

 

[ngoster]

Ok maybe check that grommet or the headguard up there to see if the string is getting worn out by rubbing on the court in some way. I see the close up on page 2 on the v1 string break that although it's quite fuzzy on some of the strings it seems like there is notching almost to the breaking point; so may be you just hit really high in the string bed for some reason. You probably also hit quite hard. Oh, I didn't know for sure that you voted for 2. I'm so much on the fence right now after hitting with them again last night. I think its going to be a coin flip. I have to check tensions again and then do my write up. Really love both of these strings.

I got 16 hours from v1 and 5 hours from v2. Notching was about 50% on v1 and only slight on v2. I have a flat swing with most of my contact being between the 2 and 3 and 9 and 10 o'clock. I don't break strings unless they shear at the top (1 or 2 hole) from BH mishits. It happens all of my racquets. I don't think they're from grommet issues. These aren't the best pictures but is a good representation of my string bed/grommet condition (although I'll need to replace this set or use tubing as #4 is cracked/broken).

 

[ngoster]

I'd be surprised if many people strongly prefer V1.

I think V1 is a good string, but not one I'd consider switching to. It almost feels like what poly's did before Solinco or even RPM really arrived on scene.

V2 feels like the evolution of V1 and would be extremely competitive in the market, particularly considering the modern game and player preferences as of late. I feel like all I see at courts now is bright green Hyper G

Both strings were very close in comparison. I just felt more connected with v2.

 

[fritzhimself]

This can happen with any string. The cross section of the string is slightly crushed in the grommet as it deflects.
On a missed shot, strong vibrations are released in the frame, causing a string to be overstressed and possibly break.

 

[ngoster]

Looking at my log, all but 1 set of strings were shear breaks (denoted by "(s)")

 

[dandruffkb]

Context: 4.0 (been playing up against 4.5s this last month for practice). Aggressive baseline so either great day for ripping balls or 99 unforced errors

I’ll just start with my choice. V2 on all fronts. I’ve chosen my side, and at least if you’re not with me on this test, I’m disappointed in you!

Tension(s) used for each string:
Mains 52 pounds
Crosses: 50 pounds

Regular string set-up & tension:
Head Lynx Tour or Yonex Poly Tour Pro both at 54 or 52

Racquet(s) used for playtest: Head Gravity MP (was rocking all Head on the court)

Compare control/power of each string
V1 was powerful. I’m talking more powerful than even the softest of polys I’ve used. More powerful than Triax (with 100% confidence, I can say Triax at 54 has more control than what I experienced (haven't used Head Multis)). If your full swing is super compact and you just want to spin the ball back, the string will do its job and keep it deep, but driving the ball or even serving with this, felt like I had to over-focus to keep certain shots shorter than I normally do. Playing back-to-back with the two versions, night and day in this category.
But again, strings are soooo subjective so I guess it’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re really looking for that, but idk… in a way, I feel like the market isn’t going to respond to a poly that has less control than some multis or more powerful than a soft poly (spoiler ahead) with not even the best comfort (will explain below).
V2 felt like what a good poly should feel like. I think I saw some reviews saying they’re like “close” but if I had to give numbers, power-wise:
But I felt more directional and depth control with this string. Launch angle was a smidge lower but the spin was more noticeable for me on kick serves or even ground strokes than V1.
If I had to comment for V1’s sake, if I had 100% first flat serves, I’ll pick this string. Felt like a rocket launcher. Insane ball pocketing, and then just launched it (for a poly).
V1: 11/10 (power (for a poly)) and 4/10 (control)
V2: 6/10 (power) and 8.5 (control)

Compare feel of each string
This is another knock on I guess both strings? I have VERY sensitive and weak wrists. I usually feel the pain/agitation pretty quickly.
V2: Stiffer than V1 for sure, but still crisp. Overall, it still felt good to hit, felt like I had good feel and control of my shots and swinging through felt great. Not as arm friendly as my go-to strings, but it didn’t kill me to play with it.
V1: Main advantage: ball pocketing. If someone were to ask me what “ball-pocketing” feels like, I’ll just tell them to try this string. However, since I have a sensitive arm and V1 is softer, I should prefer V1 right…?
Kinda… so I feel like both of these strings have a CLEAR break-in period. Right off the stringer, these strings both felt stiff. After 1-2 hitting sessions, they both were in a comfortable spot where I can play, but in my opinion, despite the discomfort, V2 still did everything I wanted it to do and fit in a niche and market that can appeal to plenty. V1… sure, it eventually got soft and I could play with it, but I think there are plenty of other strings that provide more comfort and play more like what many would expect from a poly (control/spin/etc.)
Both 7/10 (V1 eventually reaches a more comfortable feel, but V2 just felt right at contact)


Compare spin potential of each string
Wasn’t even close. I commented on this-ish already, but V1 felt like a trampoline. Ball sits in the string, dwells there for 10 years, and blasts it out. For full flat shots and hitting down, I guess this gets the W, but spin? I wanted more. It wasn’t non-existent, but I read the thread and supposedly this is 7 sided? I can easily name round strings that perform better in this category. And if you want to shape the ball with V1, now you’ll constantly think about the depth rather than just trusting the string.
V2 provided much more spin on everything. My kick serves felt good, my slices sliced, and my groundstrokes (according to hitting partners) felt like they kicked off the court AND penetrated more. Overall, I also think the tameness of V2 gave confidence to swing out much more than V1.
V1: 4/10
V2: 8/10 (not an insane spin monster, Lynx Tour does a better job (or the typical confidential/hyper), but still great)

Compare playability duration of each string
Again… V2 wins again… Both strings had a break-in period. Durability was about the same in being able to break them, but measured tension on them. After about 6-ish hours of hitting, V2 measured at 44 pounds but still played well, V1 measured at 42 but felt like ball spraying and even slices started sailing towards the end of its play life. For V2, it’s just in one of my rackets now to remember this fun play test, I think I can break it in my next session, but V1 snapped at around 12 hours in (not bad), but I am sure the actual string durability to break them is the same.
V1: 6/10
V2: 6.5/10 just to spite V1 lovers

Tension findings
Tension-wise, I was super happy with my tension at V2. I’d be okay with adjusting it +/- 2 pounds either way, and I would still feel comfortable using that string. It genuinely did what I wanted it to do consistently, and if I messed up a shot, I knew exactly what went wrong to fix on my next shot. Responded well and one of the better polys I’ve used.

V1? 100 pounds, take it or leave it



Overall:
V2 is better, V1 is worse, if V1 wins, I am protesting. If you think V1 is better, still vote V2. Head made great strings, but one is evidently better. If you want V1, you’re wrong and reconsider.
Many moments, I just felt like V1 was the worse brother of V2. Every single thing that I hated about V1, I picked up V2 and it fixed it.

Thanks TW and Head for making this playtest happen! If V1 wins by votes, pick V2.

On a more serious note, the market is looking more for something like V2. I think to even fit in the niche of V1, it would take a really particular player. So yes, I like the string more, but even at a business standpoint, V2 should and would perform better than V1. Would consider a switch, so that's at least 1 guaranteed customer.

Vote:
All of that to say, I voted for V1.
Lol imagine, V2 got my vote.

P.S. Again, sorry for the extra critical and biased review, felt like only people on this test can experience it, so I had to pick a side and full sent!

 

[SlowTiger]

I think I'm leaning to V2 on this one. I'll try to get 1 more hitting session this weekend and add my writeup this weekend

 

[Chairman3]

I'm conflicted because the string I like, is likely not the one that is getting my vote.

But I have to vote objectively about the, overall, better string even if it doesn't suit my preferences.

It'll make more sense in the write-up, two sessions left and then I'll vote and write-up on Monday.
One of the strings is actually basically done, loss of control, springy, but trying to give each adequate time.

 

[Torps]

Team V1

 

[Dunlop300g]

Pick HEAD's next co-poly string
V1 vs V2
REVIEW DUE: May 1

Include the f Picollowing in your review:
Tension(s) used for each string
Regular string set-up & tension
Racquet(s) used for playtest
Compare control/power of each string
Compare feel of each string
Compare spin potential of each string
Compare playability duration of each string
Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? Explain answer


Head TVP 22-001 V1 vs TVP 22-001 V2 Playtest​

What Tension(s) did you use? 50 lbs. On Prince Neos 1000

Regular string set-up & tension -
Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 50lbs
Solinco Hyper G Round 50lbs.

Racquet used: Dunlop 300g x 2 matched

Power / Control –
V1- power was readily available to hit consistently deep into the court with excellent directional control. As time went on and the string bed loosened up more access power became even easier on all ground strokes and serves; I did not find a huge drop off in control. I felt this string was a very good match for the 300g when it comes to power.

V2- felt like this string has power but much less so than V1; whereas V2 seems to have slightly more control; maybe the power is more measured, access to it is there but I didn’t find the ball penetrating the courts as much with V2. Control is very good on all groundstrokes and serves. I hit a 1HBH and felt both V1 and V2 to be superb for topspin and slice.

Feel: Muted / Crisp.
V1 - I wouldn’t call this string muted per se. It’s definitely not as crisp as V2. Seems like there is a nice amount of dwell time especially noticeable fresh off the stringer after a short break in. Really liked the feel this string provided.

V2 – noticeably differs from V1 in feel. Much crisper, with a super nice “ping” coming from the string bed. If you’re used to say Solinco Confidential or Dunlop Black Widow; that’s kind of what it reminded me of albeit perhaps a little less crisp that either of them. Crisp almost perfectly so.

Spin Potential –

V1 – not huge on spin i’d probably say 6.5/10; had no problem getting topspin on either FH / 1HBH / or slice. Very adequate. No issues either generating slice or kick on serves. Goes hand-in-hand with control. No adverse issues whatsoever.

V2 – I’d rate this about the same as V1. No major issue and I couldn’t tell much of a difference. Never had a problem generating spin with V2 it was perfectly fine.

Playability / Durability –

V1 – this one is harder to put a finger on. I leaning towards saying that V1 playability through the testing was great. I felt like it did not maintain tension quite as well as V2. It seemed to increase in power as the string bed started to loosen up. I finished testing it around 43 pounds. Still a great string at the tension; quite playable. Just have to watch out a bit as I started to notice some balls starting to go long.

V2 – this string seems to keep holding tension quite well. I’m finishing up around 45 lbs with this one. I feel like there is a lot of life still left in it. Concerning playability. It’s good but I did notice balls dropping shorter than I expected. So this is sort of the conundrum with these two strings and it all comes down the power/control as both of them aged.

Tension Recommendations – I would like to try stringing both of them again around 50 but maybe next time experiment with what some of the other testers did by stringing the mains at say 52 and the crosses at 50. The idea would be to try an increase some more spin potential for some duration of time.

Additional thoughts – Thanks so much to Head and Tennis Warehouse and Jon and everyone involved in making this possible. IMHO this is probably the most interesting and difficult string test thus far. It’s like picking between two excellent beers from Sierra Nevada. You really can’t go wrong either way. My decision. Honestly. It’s not a cop out. It’s a coin flip. I’ll let Head know via the survey. I would recommend either of these strings and will surely purchase whichever one gets the nod. Well done Head ... addendum: I will edit this showing my pick after the May 1st deadline. Until then ... edit: 5/1/24 May Day ... ok picked V1 on a coin flip but it makes slightly more sense to me in this frame because I need the extra power it provides.

 

[Alcawrath]

• Tension(s) used for each string
  • 52 lbs. for both V1 & V2
• Regular string set-up & tension
  • My regular string setup for this racquet is Solinco tour bite 17g @ 52 lbs.
• Racquet(s) used for playtest
  • For this playtest I strung up my Pure Strike VS racquets to get a side-by-side V1 to V2 comparison with similar setups.
• Compare control/ power of each string
  • V1 > V2. When comparing power, I found V1 to feel more lively than V2. While I wouldn’t describe V2 as dead, I did find that similar swings and racquet head speeds produced more pace and depth from V1 than V2.
• Compare feel of each string
  • V2 > V1. In this category, I preferred V2 and felt the difference to be significant. V1 had good feel and connection to the ball, but every time I switched racquets I felt as though I immediately had better feel on slices, drop-shots, and depth control off my groundstrokes from the stringbed. As others have pointed out, I would expect the stiffness of V2 to be higher and it felt far more crisp than V1. V1 had a softer feeling to it that created more pocketing on the ball.
• Compare spin potential of each string
  • V2 > V1. I would not describe either of these strings as strings that are focused on spin. If I were guessing, I would expect TWU would eventually rate these strings somewhere between 4-5.5 on the spin coefficient category. When comparing the two, I never felt as though I was lacking the ability to produce decent spin with V1, yet I was able to notice an increased ability to produce spin with V2. While I couldn't exactly tell if they are round or shaped, they would have very subtle edges if they're shaped.
• Compare playability duration of each string
  • V2>V1. I have to say that after 8-10 hours of hitting with each, I did not notice any significant difference between the two. While I would rate the playability a little higher with V2, it’s because I think V2 is stiffer than V1 and I always feel like softer strings tend to bag out a little quicker. I did not experience a significant difference in notching between the two, or have one set break before the other (in fact, I have yet to cut them out although I probably will soon).
• Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? Explain answer
  • I was generally happy with the tension I strung them at. I would recommend low 50s, but I personally think frames have so much to do with what tension works with a particular string that I’m not sure I feel comfortable recommending a tension without considering the frame that it will be in. That said, 48-54 seems like a good starting point. Both strings were solid strings and I would consider purchasing V2 if it went on sale!
• Thank you Tennis Warehouse and Head for including me in this playtest, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Head ends up doing with this new string launch!!

 

[Torps]

Did anyone else notice that V2 picked up way more ball ink than V1? And felt more gummy stringing in general?

 

[TheBoom]

Did anyone else notice that V2 picked up way more ball ink than V1? And felt more gummy stringing in general?

Both picked up a surprising amount I didn’t pay too much attention to whether one was worse than the other. But now I wish I would have!

 

[SlowTiger]

Pick HEAD's next co-poly string
V1 vs V2


Tension(s) used for each string: 48
Regular string set-up & tension: Head Lynx Tour
Racquet(s) used for playtest: 2 unmatched Dunlop cv 3.0. Same balance but SW feels different
Compare control/power of each string: V1 had more power and V2 had more control. I'd give the V1 an 8 in power and 6.5 in control. Flip it for V2 where I'd say 8 for control and 6.5 in power.
Compare feel of each string: V1 was softer and a little gummy. V2 was stiffer and crisper. I normally like softer strings but as of recently I started like to like a more connection feel of crisper strings. Neither were muted though and they're both nice strings. If you asked me 2 yrs ago, I might have picked V1 instead. Also, after gamma sapphire, I was tired round soft polys that were shooting off like cannon fire
Compare spin potential of each string: Same for both. Good spin. Plays like a shaped strings but I didn't notice any texture when stringing but I think I'm bad with that. I sometimes don't even feel the edges on lynx tour unless I'm really paying attention
Compare playability duration of each string: I got about 6-8 hrs with both. They both die off differently. V1 gets launchy and V2 stiffens up. V2 keeps better playability as I can still play more of my style and hit harder instead of imparting more spin. The issue with that is my tennis elbow flairs up more with V2. So more wrist issues with V1 and more TE with V2 but that's just me personally
Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? Explain answer. Wouldn't change tension unless I were to put in hybrid. I feel like I'd also like v2 better in a hybrid

 

[indyfob2008]

https://imgur.com/a/gJEufqr

Quick intro: somewhere between 4.0 & 4.5 player. Pretty flat groundstrokes. Played high school. Now playing mostly doubles USTA leagues.

Tension(s) used for each string

42 LBS (both racquets)


Regular string set-up & tension

Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17, 51 LBS


Racquet used for playtest

Babolat AeroPro Drive


Compare control/power of each string

All else being equal, the V1 definitely felt more powerful and lively. V2 is the more dead, control-oriented string. When I was hitting flat serves, the V1 felt really nice and responsive. The V2 wasn’t as powerful, but I still enjoyed the stiff and crisp feel of this string. From the baseline, I definitely prefer the control of V2.


Compare feel of each string

V1 feels softer, livelier, and I felt the ball-pocketing immediately. The V2 feels heavier, stiffer, crisper. I’m guessing players with slower swing speed will like the V1, and those with faster swing speeds will like the V2. I personally like the V2, especially after I was warmed up and really swinging away. I felt comfortable really going for heavy, powerful shots w/o any worry about the shot going long.


Compare spin potential of each string

I felt some spin disparity between the two. When I was hitting slice serves out wide (on the deuce court), I did feel like V2 was giving my slider a little bit more slice out wide. On topspin forehands/backhands, I also felt the V2 was giving me a little bit more spin. But both strings can provide plenty of spin potential for heavy hitters and big swingers.


Compare playability duration of each string

I usually do not break strings quickly, especially polys. I think I could get a good 7-10 doubles matches before deciding to cut them out (or in the rare case, breaking them).


Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? Explain answer

I would definitely consider buying V2, and using it as my main string, with a synthetic gut or multifilament in the cross. I thought 42 pounds was a couple lbs too loose. If V2 wins and is available, then next time, I would string it at 44.


Final verdict: Even though I would be risking elbow and wrist pain, I chose V2 for my survey winner, as it would be my choice for the future (in a hybrid setup).

 

[Chairman3]

The vote is in....

Now the review, stay tuned

 

[ngoster]

About me: 4.0 with an eastern to semi-western grip FH. I hit pretty flat. I have a weak OHBH and will mostly slice the ball on that wing. I do not break strings unless it's sheared from a mishit.

Tension(s) used for each string: 46#/44#

Regular string set-up & tension: My regular setup has been poly mains (Lately, they've been MSV Focus Hex Soft 17 and Kirschbaum Orange 17.) and Gosen OG Micro 17 crosses. Depending on the poly, I've been fluctuating between 42 and 46 lbs.

Racquet(s) used for playtest: 2021 Dunlop CX 200 Tour 16*19

Compare control/power of each string: Both strings were pretty close in power, V1 was slightly more powerful. What was more noticeable for me, although subtle, was the control. V2 gets the win here. I can't really pinpoint why V1 had less control. I didn't notice that much more power nor less spin. Neither seem out of the ordinary to me.

Compare feel of each string: Again, both strings felt good to me. They were both on the firm side when compared to my last playtest with the Gamma Sapphire 16. No arm discomfort was experienced though. The also felt like they had more mass, perhaps similar to Lynx Tour? The winner for me in this category was V2. I just felt more connected with it.

Compare spin potential of each string: Again, nothing stood out for me here between the two. Both performed well. I didn't feel like either one lacked spin from both serves and groundstrokes. Kickers were nice and slices stayed low.

Compare playability duration of each string: Note that I sheared V1 around the 16 hour mark and V2 around the 5 hour mark. Playability with both strings was very consistent throughout their respective lives. Given how everything has been with both strings, I'm extrapolating that V2's playability would be the same up to the 16 hour mark. If there was degradation, I didn't experience balls becoming launchy. The only thing I did notice was that, over time, the sound that V1 made became plasticy.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? Explain answer: I felt that I had the tensions dialed in for this round of playtests. I was very pleased with how both strings performed.

Parting notes: I truly enjoyed playing with both strings. Both are high quality strings. I felt that, if there were differences between the two, they were very marginal. I don't think Head will go wrong with either. Because I have to vote, I had to go with V2 for the more connected feel.

Thanks again to TW and Head for allowing me to be a part of this playtest!

 

[dtkim]

Selecting HEAD's Next Co-poly String V1 vs V2 Playtest Review
I received my Head Next Co-poly TVP 22-001 V1 and V2 playtest strings on Wednesday (4/10/2024). Both V1 and V2 strings had identical appearances and no markings with the string thickness of 16 gauge. To avoid mix up, I made one mark for V1 and two marks for V2 at both ends of strings using the permanent marker. The playtest sets were cut into two pieces of 22 ft for main and 18 ft for cross strings since I use two-piece stringing method for all my racquets. I strung my two matched PT280 MPs using the Egnas FLEX 740 drop-weight stringing machine on 4/10/2024 without any issue.

My playtest started on Friday (4/12) after allowing few days for the strings tension to settle. For a total of over 24 hours the playtest duration, two racquets were rotated every 15 minutes of playtest time on the courts. Both V1 and V2 provided very impressive string performance throughout the playtest period and that the strings are made from the recycled materials made it more interesting and enjoyable to playtest on the courts. Here are my V1 and V2 full-bed playtests report based on my personal preferences.


Tension(s) used for each string:
Applied two-piece stringing method using a drop weight stringing machine.

Full-bed HEAD co-poly V1: Mains at 53 lbs / Crosses at 53 lbs on Racquet 1.
Full-bed HEAD co-poly V2: Mains at 53 lbs / Crosses at 53 lbs on Racquet 2.

Regular string set-up & tension:
My regular string setups consist of hybrid of 16 gauge Tier One Black Night (1.28 mm) or Kirschbaum Max Power Rough (1.30 mm) as the mains at 52 ± 1 lbs, and 17 gauge Head Lynx Tour (1.25 mm) or Tecnifibre Razor Soft (1.25 mm) as the crosses at 52 ± 1 lbs on my Head Prestige Mids and Pro Tour Mid Plus racquets.

Racquet(s) used for playtest:
Below are my unstrung playtest racquet specifications.

Racquet 1 – Head Pro Tour 280 MP, 18 x 20, customized at 380 g static weight and 8-point HL.
Racquet 2 – Head Pro Tour 280 MP, 18 x 20, customized at 380 g static weight and 8-point HL.

Compare control/power of each string:
Full-bed V1 and V2 provided powerful shots with the good ball controls when compared with my regular string setups. These playtest setups enhanced power and snapbacks when the outer coating was fresh. Both setups delivered the good power and provided decent controls during the serves, baseline shots, and volleys when needed. V1 setup provided little bit better power than V2, and V2 setup provided the somewhat better control.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: V1/V1 - Control (9/10) and Power (9.5/10)
Racquet 2: V2/V2 - Control (9.5/10) and Power (9/10)

Compare feel of each string:
Both playtest setups provided me with a comfortable firm feel during the ball impacts when compared to my regular setups. Although very similar, V2 provided with a slightly firmer feel.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: V1/V1 - Feel (9/10)
Racquet 2: V2/V2 - Feel (9/10)

Compare spin potential of each string:
Full-bed V1 and V2 playtest setups provided the excellent snapbacks and controllable spin generation when needed. The spins generated from the baseline and lobs worked excellent for me with both setups when compared my regulars. Between the playtest setups, V2 provided better spin shots when a good technique was applied.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: V1/V1 - Spin (8.5/10)
Racquet 2: V2/V2 - Spin (9/10)

Compare playability duration of each string:
My impression on full-bed V1 and V2 setups are that both provide playing characteristics that are similar to the other good co-poly tennis strings that I am familiar with, even though, V1 and V2 are made from the recycled materials.
My regular setups using the monofilament poly or co-poly strings, the center regions of the string bed mains get notched, and crosses get elongated without any notching. The notches on mains gradually increase to a point where the playability declines due to the crosses getting locked on the mains notches and restricts the crosses to move vertically. Full-bed V1 and V2 playtest setups showed similar results as well, however, V2 mains presented tad bit less notching when compared to V1 mains. When compared the elongation on crosses, they were comparable between V1 and V2.

Over 12 hours of playtest for each setup, both provided consistent playability with no sudden drop off in power, control, feel, and spin. V2 provided a little bit better playability than V1 due to less notching on mains.

My comparison ratings:
Racquet 1: V1/V1 - Playability Duration (8.5/10)
Racquet 2: V2/V2 - Playability Duration (9/10)

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try?
V1 and V2 full-bed playtest setups strung at 53 lbs mains and 53 lbs crosses provided a sufficient feel and power, in addition to, awesome control throughout the playtest and they worked out great for me.
I may vary the tension within 49 to 54 lbs for mains and crosses depending on the outdoor temperature environment.

I have selected V2 as my preferred string using the Head survey link. However, I would love to tryout more when V1 or/and V2 is/are available from the market. Thank you, Head Company and @TW Staff, for this playtest opportunity!

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Delivered the same 2 sets, I guess, from Head today. I won't read any part of this thread, until I have played them both. Of course, I will use the same racket - most probably the Diadem Elevate V2 FS 98 - and same tension and come with my feedback.

 

[Crimsonchen]

Pick HEAD's next co-poly string
V1 vs V2


Tension(s) used for each string: 48 lbs for both V1 and V2
Regular string set-up & tension: Quadro Twist mains @ 56 lbs/Tecnifibre Multifeel crosses @ 59 lbs
Racquet(s) used for playtest: Head Speed Auxetic 1.0
Compare control/power of each string: I greatly enjoyed hitting with both the V1 and V2. They were both very similar, but it seems that V1 had an edge on power whereas V2 leaned more towards control. With both strings I felt that they were biting the ball very well and a lot of my groundstrokes were dropping in on the baseline. V2 was a tad bit more stiffer which contributed more towards a control string. I definitely enjoyed being able to strike through the ball knowing that the ball wasn't going to fly out. The control on the V1 was also great but not as good as the V2.
Compare feel of each string: As I mentioned earlier, V1 seemed to be a bit more comfortable than V2. However, both strings gave me pretty significant elbow pain (I've got minor issues with golfer's elbow that pops up every now and then). I had no issues on the previous playtest of Gamma Sapphire, but both of these strings seemed to aggravate my elbow and I had to limit my playing time with them during each hitting session.
Compare spin potential of each string: Both strings had great spin potential. The snapback on both strings was pretty significant for me and I was getting a lot more spin with both strings compared to round polys like Poly Tour Rev. I think the spin on these strings elevated the control aspect of these strings and I could really get in a grove with my groundstrokes because my shots would drop in well into the baseline.
Compare playability duration of each string: The V2 seemed to have the edge in terms of durability/playability duration. After about 12-15 hours of each string, neither had a big drop off in playability as they were both pretty gradual. The notching in the V1 seemed a little bit more than V2 but not by much. I enjoyed both strings tremendously and could probably get another 5 hours in each if it didn't cause me so much elbow pain after long sessions.
Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? I strung these at 48 lbs because they felt stiff out of the pack and I was worried that they would trigger arm pain. At 48 lbs, I felt that I had a lot of control and spin with both strings and the launch angle was relatively pretty low for both. I think for the sake of saving my elbow, I could have gone lower to about 40-42 lbs and would have still had really good control.


Overall, I really enjoyed both strings outside of the stiffness of both of them. I'd really like to try them in a hybrid as I think they'd be great when paired with a multifilament. I ultimately voted for V1 as it was more comfortable for me compared to the V2. Both strings played quite similar so regardless of which string they release, I'd be happy with either. I'd like to give Tennis Warehouse and Head a big thank you for this playtest opportunity and can't wait to see this string on the market.

 

[Fighting phoenix]

My review of Head's next co-poly(s), finally!

Tension used for each string: 50 lbs mains and crosses

Regular string set-up & tension: ~50 lbs, Lynx Tour is my reference string and my current fave, but have also dabbled a bunch with Toroline, TF polys, others

Racquet(s) used for playtest: Pure Strike Gen 4 100 16x20 - I had both strung up at the same time, and switched between them after sets or in the middle of hitting sessions

Compare control/power of each string: both had a decent level of control that I would expect from a full bed of poly. V1 felt more plush, springier, and generally more powerful, whereas V2 felt slightly tighter and more controlled. Both felt slightly more powerful than Lynx Tour to me.

Compare feel of each string: both of them felt somewhat more muted and comfortable than my typical go-to poly (Lynx Tour) - I would characterize both of them as relatively softer, more comfortable polys, especially V1. V2 is more in line with what I prefer and would expect from a slightly firmer poly, and was also crisper/less plush and muted than V1. I started this playtest hitting with V1, and when I switched to V2 after about 30 minutes, I immediately noticed the difference and wanted to keep playing with V2 as it's more in line with what I'd want and expect from a modern, spin friendly poly. In terms of touch and subjective "feel", I felt both were excellent and above average in that department.

Compare spin potential of each string: stringing them, it was hard to tell that they were shaped, but as soon as I had them out on the court you could see based on the reflection of the sunlight that they were shaped. I would say both were about average in the spin department for a poly - slightly more spin friendly than round polys, slightly below average than a typical shaped poly. This was not a problem for me, as I prefer this more subtle amount of shape on a string (or even prefer round, depending on the string). Being "old school" in that I grew up with synthetic gut and just started using polys a few years ago, polys in general have plenty of spin potential, and I value the control I get from polys and I rely on the natural spin I impart based on my technique and play style. It would be hard for me to judge which of the two was more spin friendly, but in general I thought they were both just fine.

Compare playability duration of each string: durability was good for both - normal notching, and somewhat better than average tension maintenance over the 8 hours or so I was able to play with these strings.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? For V1, given how plush and soft it felt, I might go a little bit higher in tension, but not by much. ~50 lbs is my reference tension for polys for a reason, and these strings played just fine at that tension.

My assessment is that both of these strings are a solid, arm friendly option for a poly user. I'm a big fan of Lynx Tour and Hawk Power, and those are crisper and firmer (which I prefer), so I don't think I'd use these strings over those two. However, it would be interesting to hybrid these with a stiffer round cross (poly/poly hybrid) to soften up a full bed of poly (ie, I do this with LT and Hawk Touch to wonderful effect sometimes). V2 felt way more natural to me and I voted it as my favorite of the two, but Head couldn't go wrong releasing either of these. If these are also the rumored eco-friendly recycled strings I think they are, then I would say these will be a winner in the marketplace for Head, as I liked them more than Luxilon's Eco Power and Eco Rough options.

Thank you Head and TW for this opportunity!!

 

[M Pillai]

HEAD's next co-poly string V1 vs V2​

• Tension(s) used for each string
  • 54lb all around (both mains and crosses), for both v1 and v2
• Regular string set-up & tension
  • Volkl Cyclone17. 54lb mains & crosses
• Racquet(s) used for test
  • 2 x Wilson RF97 v13 (professionally matched).
• Comparison

In general both v1 and v2 strings are pretty similar. I can vouch that I won’t be able to tell that they are different strings, if I was not using them side by side and just using them in different time periods. But when using them side by side, you can pick up on some specific details, and can favor one vs other. But in general, I find that they are all purely personal preferences. Since I had a 3rd RF97 racquet, I also tried to compare some of the properties with a Lynx Tour, which is what I had on this 3rd RF97.

Topic	V1	V2
Control		Winner
Power	Winner
Feel		Winner
Spin Potential		Winner
Playability Duration	Tie	Tie
Tension Maintenance	Tie	Tie
Trust for a match		Winner

• Compare control/power of each string
  • Both strings are pretty similar in almost all categories, so I am not going to repeat this fact, and will just try to pick up on what I can find as differences, and focus on it. I felt like v1 is slightly more on the softer and powerful side, compared to v2. So naturally v2 provided more control for me. When I can be aggressive, I feel more confident with v2. Personally for me control is a lot more important than any free power to me since I can generate good enough power if I am confident on the strokes. Now when compared to a Lynx Tour both v1 and v2 seemed like more softer and powerful.
• Compare feel of each string
  • This is a really tough call for me. I personally am not a big touch player, and when trying to take my input on this topic, please keep that in mind. It maybe because I already had better confidence with v2 from baseline, I felt slightly more connected with v2 in almost all shots. So naturally touch shots, half volleys and drop shots felt slightly better (more connected) with v2. Both v1 and v2 are pretty comfortable and crisp on contact.
• Compare spin potential of each string
  • Again I felt more connected with v2, and felt like I can generate more topspin with v2. I also asked my hitting partner (without him knowing which string is on the racquet) about what he is feeling in his side on the incoming shots from me, and he also pointed out that my forehands were more heavier with racquet#2 (with v2). My backhands are pretty flat. Maybe because of that he did not see much difference in spin between backhands. So if you don’t naturally generate enough topspin, you may not notice much difference. But v2 seems to be a clear winner for me in this category. By the way, both v2 and v1 seem to have the same profile on the string. Both are slightly shaped/edged strings. Also the trajectory or natural launch angle out of the stringbed seems to be pretty close.
• Compare playability duration of each string
  • I am not usually a poly string breaker. But I did end up breaking v2 and v1 is still on my racquet as of now. But I don’t think it is an indication of durability since after the initial playtest and comparison, I kept using the v2 for my regular hitting most of the time. So I ended up putting a lot more hours on v2. When it is all said and done, I broke v2 at 18 hour mark and v1 is still at 10 hour mark. I will continue using v1 and see if that breaks as well once it reaches the same hours. I did compare notches while playtesting them and I know that they were pretty similar for the same durations of play. Now, if I am using it for competitive play, I may not use either of them beyond 15 hr mark (v1 has not reached this yet, but I don’t personally see any difference in the way they are degrading, v1 was the less confident of them for me from the beginning, and so if I cut v1 ahead of v2, it is probably just because of that, and not because of higher degradation). So in summary, I will call it a tie for v1 & v2. And both provide good enough playability duration for a copoly string. Both strings, personally for me, would outlast its good use period, before breaking, and so durability is not a concern.
• Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try?
  • I found the string tensions I used (54lb) to be perfect for my preference for both strings. That being said, my curious mind now want to see what happens if I try v2 at 2lbs lower, and v1 at 2lb higher..

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this playtest. I felt important since I have a role in the decision making process for which string is going to be available in the market for the masses. At the same time it was also a pretty tough playtest since I had to really dig deep and focus to find these minor differences in strings, and in the end I was feeling pressure to make sure that it is not my emotions doing the talking. Of course as tennis players we all know that on the days you win, you feel great about the string you played with. So I forced myself to make the initial part of the playtest in completely non-competitive hitting sessions. And left the competitive match play for the later part. I also made sure that I am using two matched RF97 for the test. I also tried to not label the racquets and track them by only using their serial numbers to be as much blind as possible. But of course, the blind test attempt kind of failed, since I knew my racquets, and which was which the moment I picked up the racquet. I also documented my comparison of v2 with Lynx tour, which was one of my other favorite copoly string. In general, v2 is a slightly more rounder and responsive version of Lynx tour.

 

[Chairman3]

The Chairman3's review and vote for the next Head string.

Tension(s) used for each string: 48lbs
Regular string set-up & tension: Hawk Power, Poly Tour Strike 1.20, and A LOT of different polys.
Racquet(s) used for playtest: Solinco Whiteout 18x20, matched pair, light mods

Compare control/power of each string: Both strings started out very controlled. After about 2 hrs they loosened up and V1 became more powerful while V2 mostly remained the same. After another 2hrs or so, V1 started losing directional control but gained power. V2 mostly kept the same amount of power and control, that is to say low-power and good control. At basically 3-4hrs, V1 had dropped tension pretty dramatically and its power/control mostly remained the same through the remaining time used. It never really got erratic but the loss of control was noticeable and a pretty big detractor from its performance. V2 held tension well and there was only a slight loss of control after the almost 10hrs that I used it. Power never really changed, my main complaint is I struggled with depth control a little with V2. Not sure if it has to do with the low-power, muted feel, or something else but power was definitely low.

Compare feel of each string: For the first about 2 hrs, they were remarkably similar. They both started out stiff off the stringer, it took 1-2hrs hitting and then them sitting for a few days to loosen up some. After another 2hrs or so, the feel started to diverge. V1 softened up and got a little more pocketing and as time continued got springy. It never got full on slingshot/trampoline but was fairly springy. I actually prefered the feel of V1 as I enjoy softer strings with more pocketing and even a bit of trampoline/springy-ness, but not necessarily at the expense of control. V2 was essentially the opposite. It started out stiff, and mostly remained very firm very closely bordering stiff. It reminded me a bit of Lynx Tour except maybe almost stiffer and more muted. I was not a huge fan of the feel of V2, just too firm for me for all the time. Maybe in a really soft racquet, but the stiff/dead response is not my favorite and I'm not sure lower tension would solve it either. Both strings I found to be relatively muted with V2 maybe having slightly less feedback. This sensation could've just been a result of less pocketing due to its stiffer nature but I think it was more just a muted feel. Overall, the feel of V1 is more in line with what I want from a string.

Compare spin potential of each string: This, again, started out similar and then began to diverge. V1 lost its snapback pretty quickly, about the same when it lost tension. This was evident when moving strings to check notching too; the strings didn't really snapback. V2 maintained its spin levels and snapback throughout the time used, which is in line with its tension maintenance. Now that's not to say either of these are spin strings, they really aren't. Even V2 did not provide as much spin as some other round strings that I use. Spin for both was on the lower side of average.

Compare playability duration of each string: I used V1 for about 7hrs and V2 for about 9hrs. I, more or less, quit using V1 which is why it has less time used than V2. After 4-5hrs V1 wasn't really worth using much longer. I did use it some more just to make sure I had enough time to really hone in on my observations. Notching was maybe 30-40 percent, noticeable but not near breaking. V2 is actually still playable, but I am cutting it (other strings to test and it isn't my favorite). V2 has above average playability and tension maintenance with minimal notching. It does seem like the feel has gotten a little harsher but I don't consistently notice it. Given how stiff it is, I would expect this level of tension maintenance. Notching was minimal, also an indicator of how stiff the string is.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? V1 was pretty spot on, it did start off stiff but 48lbs was good. V2 I would probably drop 2-3lbs because it was really stiff and very controlled.

Other comments: Despite its stiffness, I did not have any arm pain from V2. This seemed worth mentioning because I did remark how stiff it feels. But, as said, you don't notice the stiffness as it is somewhat dampened like Hawk Power but not so much like some Yonex strings. It's probably in line with some Solinco strings where they are muted but provide enough feedback.

Voting: Also, since I put some teasers, I ultimately voted for the string I don't really like....V2. This was an objective comparison of which string is better, ultimately V2 is better, just not for me. But objectively, it has better control, better tension maintenance, and better spin, just because I like the feel of V1 doesn't mean I can recommend it.
Will I use V2 again? Maybe, it depends.
Would I switch to it? No, assuming the final product is 99% the same as what we tested.

I really enjoyed the blind testing and providing this feedback. Thank you so much to @TW Staff for selecting me and providing the strings and thank you to Head for letting us amateurs provide some free market research. Excited to see the final product on internet shelves soon and maybe even test it (if they run a special )

 

[Djinn]

Pick HEAD’s next co-poly string

Tennis experience/background:
I started playing tennis in high school and was immediately hooked. My competitive nature forced me to improve and I ended up playing intercollegiate tennis in university. I’ve continued to play tennis since then and have always paid meticulous attention to my gear. Over the years I’ve learned to string and customize my own gear and am usually running one test or another at all times.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I like to play an all-court attacking style of tennis. I enjoy dictating play with my serve and forehand to finish points at the net when possible.

Tension(s) used for each string:
45 lbs on both, strung on a Prince 3000

Regular string set-up & tension:
I don’t really have a regular string set-up. Strings I most often use are ALU Power, RPM Blast, and Yonex PTP.

Racquet(s) used for playtest:
2x matched Babolat Pure Aero 98

Compare control/power of each string

V1: Between the two, V1 felt to have the edge in power even though it is not the most powerful co-poly string I’ve ever tried. I would say its slightly above average in power compared to other strings in its class. Of course, being more powerful than V2 means that it was slightly less controllable as I had some balls fly long. Even though this did not occur very often, it notably occurred more than with V2.
V2: Felt very slightly lower powered than V1. As a result, I had less balls flying long on my groundstrokes. The power level was still enough for me as I did not feel that I was lacking any sort of power on my groundstrokes. V2 comparable to other co-polys with average power. When I note these differences between the V1 and V2, please keep in mind they are very small in comparison, albeit not negligible.

Compare feel of each string
For me, feel was where I could substantially differentiate the two strings.

V1: Initially, V1 felt softer and more plush than V2. It had nice ball pocketing, which I like very much. Especially since I am currently using the Pure Aero 98, so any reduction in “harshness” is quite welcome.
V2: The feel of V2 was definitely more firm. It initially did not pocket the ball as well as V1 as I felt the ball was leaving the stringbed quickly. The firmer feel by no means was harmful to my arm in any way. Even though the string did not cause discomfort, I initially found myself liking V1 better between the two strings.

Compare spin potential of each string

V1 and V2: To be honest, I did not detect any discernible difference in the spine potential of each string. Neither did my hitting partners report any differences in my groundstrokes between the two strings. Therefore, I must conclude that any spin potential differences are negligible, at least for me.

Compare playability duration of each string

V1: I wrote that initially V1 felt better due to better ball pocketing and softer feel. This awesome feel became diluted and gummy after 4-5 hours of playtime. I could feel the playability starting to go as soon as the strings were properly broken in.
V2: While V1 felt better initially, V2 became the real winner of the playtest for me after being broken in. The feel still remained firm, but slightly less so over time. I would say that after being broken in, V2 kept that nice feel for ~8 hours for me. After about ~2 hours of play, I was already preferring to hit with V2 over V1 because it did not have that V1 gummy feel to it after being played with for a while.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? Explain answer

V1: I think V1 could possibly benefit from stringing it a bit higher. The initial tension being high might help to combat that gummy feel the strings fall into after a couple of hours. Since I strung at 45 lbs for this test, I’d probably jump up to 50 lbs to make sure the increase is large enough to feel a real difference and see what happens.
V2: On the contrary, I’d want to string V2 5 lbs lower than the 45 lbs tension I strung it at initially. This would test whether the initial firm feel can be softened up a bit so that the string does not require a break-in period for optimal performance.

Summary:

• Not much difference between the two. Only real difference is feel; V1 softer, V2 firmer.
• Go with V1 if you like ball pocketing more, V2 if you like a direct response more.
• Would like to test V1 at 50 lbs and V2 at 40 lbs to see if the feel properties can be improved.
• I initially preferred V1 due to it having a softer feel, but its playability dropped more over time. V2 came into its own after a short break-in period and I ended up liking it more.

Vote: V2

Thank you TW and HEAD for providing this awesome playtest.

 

[M Pillai]

HEAD's next co-poly string V1 vs V2

By the way as some of you might have guessed from my comparison, I voted for v2 in the survey.

 

[stapletonj]

Pick HEAD's next co-poly string
V1 vs V2


Tension(s) used for playtest:

_53_/48__# strung on a Gamma electronic 6900 (10% prestretch)

strung up nice and smooth,

Regular string set up:

Main: 16 gauge gut at 62lbs Crosses: 55 lbs. Yonex blue PTP

Racquet used for test:

2018 Yonex 100 (16 X 19) 2 of them

Control/Power of test string: Rating -

V2 was __9___/10 for control
__7__/10 for power

V1 was the exact opposite

Simply put, the V1 gave me extra power, but less control. The V2 gave me no extra power at all, but it went directly to where I hit it.

I play a little golf (rarely and poorly, takes away too much time from tennis), but I do know that when I hit with my brother in law’s super flexy shafted big head driver, the ball goes a LOT farther, like 50 yards farther. About one out of 3 times, that 50 yards farther is into a lake or out of bounds. Then I take out my old stiff shaft persimmon regular size head Ping driver, and hit it straight down the middle 18 times in a row.

Now golf is different in that you don’t have to hit the ball hard enough and deep enough to keep your opponent at bay, but it does illustrate the difference between these 2 strings.

Observations

Feel - To me, V1 felt definitely softer, almost as soft as a multifilament. V2 was firm and crisp, I could feel exactly where my contact point on the racket was. (That was fantastic if I hit it in the sweet spot, not so much on off center hits)

Spin:

I hit fairly flat. When I applied a more topspin swingpath or a slice swingpath on a groundstroke, V1 was very helpful with added spin significantly above what a stiff poly would have given me. V2 gave me what I put into it, but not significantly more

Playability Duration
Rating - I only was able to get about 6 hours each in on these 2 strings. Neither “fell of the cliff” (like alu) but I could feel a little tension and power loss on both. If pressed, I would say V1 dropped off a little more quickly.

Comments -

Tension findings (what tension would you use if you strung it again? Why?):

I would likely keep the same tension (53/48) as I had no arm problems to speak of.

On the V2 string, a little lower tension would not have hurt, but the tension used was well in my wheelhouse and no arm pain at all.

Observations

List any additional thoughts (optional): These 2 strings are nominally similar. They are, in my mind, however designed for 2 different players.

V1 is more forgiving, gives you a little boost in power and some added spin.
V2 is less forgiving, BUT MORE PRECISE. It will give you no added power, BUT WONT LAUNCH A BALL LONG.

V2 is not going to give you any added spin, BUT WON’T OVERSPIN a ball so it lands short and sits up for your opponent.

IMHO, NTRP 4.0 is probably the tipping point for these 2 strings. Under 4.0? You will prefer V1. Over 4.0? You will prefer V2. If you are smack in the middle of 4.0, you will drive yourself crazy trying to decide which you like better!

And yes I voted and no I’m not going to tell you which one, haha!


A big additional thank you to TW and Head for allowing me to test these strings.

 

[SOY78]

Tension(s) used for each string
50 pounds for both

Regular string set-up & tension
Rough poly mains and smooth poly crosses at 50#
Or a synthetic gut mains and poly crosses at 50#

Racquet(s) used for playtest
Head Gravity Pro Auxetic

Compare control/power of each string
V1 - Power 8/10; Control 6/10
Power of this string is where it shined. Compared to V2 this string was a little more powerful and with less control than the V2.
Control/power at the net was great for put away volleys and touch volleys.
Groundstrokes were good as long as I had to topspin the ball as flat shots were harder to execute than V2.
Spin and flat serves were ok.

V2 - Power 6/10, Control 9/10
Power of this string was much less than V1. Compared to V1 this string was a little less powerfull with a lot more control than the V1.
Control/power at the net was ok.
Spin and flat serves were very nice when compared to V1. I could place the serves anywhere in the service box with ease and spin was adequate.

Compare feel of each string
V1 - 9/10
Feel was a very nice coming from this V1 string. This string left more lively than V2. I knew where the ball would go as soon as I felt the ball on the strings.
Volleying was a nice treat with this string as I played a lot of doubles with this. Felt a little elbow twinge during the playtest.

V2 - 6/10
Feel was ok after some break-in period. It was stiff and muted at first but after a couple of hours of hitting it was very similar in feel as V1.
Volleying was a little more disconnected when compared to V1. This string is great on groundies. Felt a little elbow twinge during the playtest.

Compare spin potential of each string
V1 - 6/10
Spin was ok for what it felt like a smooth roung poly. Had to work a little harder to get the spin when compared to V2.

V2 - 8/10
Spin was good and much easier to spin when compared to V1. A lot of my opponents commented on how the goundies would just dip in at the last second.

Compare playability duration of each string
V1 - 6/10
V1 felt like it played the same for about 4 hours, then after that I felt that I couldn't control the power any more.

V2 - 6/10
After initial break in of 2 hours, then played the same for about 4-5 hours then it started to loose control a little.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? Explain answer
V1 - 6/10
I felt that 50# was a litte too loose and one would benefit with a little tighter tension to counter act the livelyness/power of this string.
If I were to string again I would go with 55#.

V2 - 7/10
50# was good for this string I felt. I wouldn't change anything for a 2nd try.

Comments
Thank you Head and TW for playtesting these strings. I would choose V2 over V1 due to the control and spin department.
V1 seemed livelier and felt like a smooth poly and V2 seemed more stiff and maybe had some kind of non-circular shape.

 

[TheBoom]

IMHO, NTRP 4.0 is probably the tipping point for these 2 strings. Under 4.0? You will prefer V1. Over 4.0? You will prefer V2. If you are smack in the middle of 4.0, you will drive yourself crazy trying to decide which you like better!

Really interesting way of thinking about it, and I think you’re spot on with this. If someone’s technique isn’t at at least a 4.0 level (in terms of generating power) I definitely see this being the case

 

[dtkim]

II really enjoyed playtesting both Head’s new V1 and V2 strings on full-bed setup, and I would love to see both strings get released to the market. I am thinking that hybrid setups using V1 and V2 would be an excellent choice. I would prefer V2 on mains and V1 on crosses to enhance feel and power, while providing control of V2. However, others may prefer the other way.

 

[FoldingChair]

V1 & v2
Tension(s) used for each string: i started with v1 strung at 50 all around and had v2 strung at 50 all around.
Regular string set-up & tension: my signature is current. Always some combo of Grapplesnake tour sniper and paradox whether hybrid or alone at 51/49 plus or minus 2 pounds either way
Racquet(s) used for playtest: Head Speed MP 2022
Compare control/power of each string: V1 had more power for sure and v2 more control. Numerically speaking I’d say v1 had 7.5/10 power and 7.5 control. V2 had 5/10 power and 9/10 control.
Compare feel of each string: v1 was much softer and v2 was more crisp and stiff. V1 I didn’t like as much around the net for touchy feely net shots/drop shots. V2 performed well, lots of directional control and I was more adventurous with drop shots.
Compare spin potential of each string: I felt like v1 wasn’t far behind v2 but I felt some edges on v2(?) not sure if the general consensus felt the same as me. It was average for v1 and slightly above average for v2.
Compare playability duration of each string: i felt like v2 held tension better than v1. I felt like the profile/characteristics of v2 helped it long term over v1.
Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try
Explain answer: I’d go lower with both next time, I got a bit of arm pain with v2. I also felt a lower tension would help with the power disparity between 1 & 2.

Side notes/observations: I felt subtle edges on v2 which makes me think this is possibly a “hawk tour” or “___ tour”. It reminded me of lynx tour when hitting with it. V1 was alright but felt like Lynx in that there was power and softer. I didn’t pay much attention to the thread as I didn’t want my own judgment to be clouded or swayed. I did see early on that this may be an “eco” string? Am I wrong in remembering that? V2 gets my vote, I’d just string lower next time. Thanks to TW and Head.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

HEAD V1 - V2 Feedback - Thanks to HEAD and TW for another interesting playtest !!

Tension(s): 44 mains / 46 crosses

Racquets used: A pair of Babolat Pure Strike 98 (3rd Gen), strung a day apart and played side by side.

Regular String Set-up: Normally shaped poly / round poly hybrid, lately
Hyper-G 17 / Nano Vendetta 16L in the tension range of 44-6 m / 46-48 cr.

Introduction: I have had the opportunity to play several Head Strings; Lynx Tour, LynxSpin2, Hawk, and Hawk Power among others and IMO Head strings have all been rather competent products and these test strings didn’t disappoint either. Depend on a players needs, style, and level I’d feel comfortable recommending these or any HEAD strings.

Control:
V1 7 / 10
V2 8 / 10
These are not what you would consider a traditional control string, they play almost lively, especially V1, but you are able to control either of them easily. V2 played more direct and crisp, with better directional control from the beginning. I had more confidence in V2 on all my shots. While I really liked V1, it was less consistent, especially on volleys. This was even more pronounced for me when I faced bigger hitters, which where V2 came in to its own for me. Against players that hit easier I enjoyed V1, but when the intensity and power ramped up – I could trust V2 more. I just felt I could control my shot elevation, shape and placement better with V2. V2 stood out in return of serve where you are often forced to control/ absorb and return more power. V2 felt more controlled and gave me confidence to challenge serves.

Power:
V1 8 / 10
V2 7.5 / 10
I would say these are moderately powered strings. They are not dead polys, but not rocket launchers either. I felt they delivered a pretty good mid-range power, which makes them easily accessible to a wide range of players and something I generally tend to like. I don’t enjoy board-like control strings for myself and these fit the bill for me in that middle ground. From the start V1 was a bit more powerful, had a bit higher launch and was a bit less precise.

Feel:
V1 7.5 / 10
V2 8 / 10
This is where it gets interesting for me. Feel is one of those things that drives some people crazy – for me it is a good kinesthetic connection to the stringbed. Both were pretty good, but initially, V1 was softer (not mushy) and I enjoyed it much more. V2 was good ( and plenty good enough) , but I was finding myself liking V1 better. After the first 2-3 hours that changed and I found myself gravitating more and more to V2 and it stayed that way for the rest of the playtest ( about 9-10 hours each). V1 felt softer while V2 felt more direct (but still not harsh) which is just about right for me.

Spin:
V1 7 / 10
V2 8 / 10
Surprisingly good for both, especially considering they are round polys. I generated enough spin that ground strokes were consistently dipping in. Generating movement on serves also was not an issue, either for slices or kick serve. I did like V2 better in spin as well. I felt I could take bigger cuts and therefore generate more spin, with more control. This was also true on return of serves, where I could step in and direct the ball better with V2. When I strung it V2, it took more effort to go through the grommets, and weave crosses and it was a touch stiffer, but without measuring I’d say the tiniest bit thicker too. I felt this in tying off the knots too. I felt V2 had better bite on the ball and felt better when swinging harder.

Playability Duration:
V1 7 / 10
V2 8 / 10
As said initially, V1 played better but after a session or two V2 took over and stayed there. Better at everything, a bit firmer, more spin, a bit more control and precision and these characteristics remained. V1 had a softer feel and while towards the end V2 was playing fine, V1 was no longer as playable or enjoyable as it lost some control. V2 was more playable for longer and at a higher level; it held tension better than V1.

Tension Findings:
I strung at 44 / 46 for both. My feeling, due to the compliance / feel of both I think I would feel comfortable stringing them anywhere from a couple lbs. lower ~ to five or six lbs. higher. I like where I strung them, but would love to play a few more sets of these Vs so I could experiment with a couple lbs higher (especially for V1) to see if unlocks a bit more control and lets me play more aggressively. Given that V2 played stiffer and the V1 softer, I am intrigued to try them together as a hybrid. V2 reminded me of Hawk Power in its power (but more) and control, which has made pairing Hawk Power with a lively main something I really like. Perhaps, if I played a freshly strung racquet on every ball change I’d opt for V1 (for its great initial feel) strung a couple pounds higher, but for real world play I’d choose V2 without a doubt. It plays more consistently from beginning to end and gives me the confidence in my shots that I love.

BTW HEAD's survey is the easiest to complete - 1 question !!!

 

[dhdriver]

Tension(s) used for each string:
I strung both up at 47 lbs.

Regular string set-up & tension:
I usually go between Head Lynx Tour 17 or Head Hawk Power 17. But been vibing with Lynx Tour more recently.

Racquet(s) used for playtest:
Strung both sets on a pair of Head Speed MP 2022

Compare control/power of each string:
V1 felt like it had a touch more power than the V2. V2 felt more low powered and muted. Both had great control. Compared to Lynx Tour, I think V1 was more powerful but V2 was less powerful. But both had great control.

Compare feel of each string:
V1 felt a tad softer. V2 felt firmer. From my experience, it seem like V1 was somewhere between 16L and 17 gauge while V2 was thicker than V1. V2 felt muted and I tend to stay away from muted strings. V1 felt better to me from my experience.

Compare spin potential of each string
Both strings had okay spin potential. I am someone who prefers shaped/textured strings and most strings I like blow these two out of the water in terms of spin. But they had okay spin. Definitely not the characteristic of the strings that stood out.

Compare playability duration of each string:
Both strings had great playability duration. I want to give the edge to V2 since it did feel firmer and lost tension slower.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try?
I think I would have strung the V2 a little lower. I felt that it was too muted and could have been livelier with a lower tension. V1 felt great at 47 lbs.

Overall, if either strings came out to the market, I probably would not switch to them. I already love Lynx Tour and sometimes Hawk Power. Those are two of my favorite strings of all time and it is hard to gravitate away from them. But V1 and V2 were two great new offerings from Head.

Thanks TW and Head for the opportunity to do this playtest.

 

[mromato64]

Head V1/V2 Poly Playtest Review
Huge thank you to Head and Tennis Warehouse for allowing me to play a factor in deciding the next Head string release!

Tension(s) used for each string:
50 lbs for both on a hand crank machine

Regular string set-up & tension:
No regular string setups at the moment. I've used Head Lynx Tour and was a part of the Head Lynx Spin playtest a while back. Most recent setups that I used was Babolat RPM Soft and Luxilon Element at 53/48 lbs.

Racquet(s) used for playtest: Babolat Pure Aero 98 was used side by side for both strings. V1 was strung a day before V2.

Compare control/power of each string:
V1: I got a good amount of pop and power on the V1 string. After the stringbed settled, there was plenty of pace on my shots and I got a good amount of depth swinging at a relaxed pace. V1 didn't take long to break-in, but I did find the stringbed to be a bit launchy for my taste. Control on the V1 was good for the first two hours. After that, it slowly got worse, but it didn't fall off a cliff.
Power: 8/10
Control: 6/10

V2: I didn't get as much power on the V2 as the V1, but it wasn't too distinct. I still got a decent amount of pop on my shots without swinging too hard, and some shots would fly on me. V2 had a more noticeable linear launch path on my shots compared to V1, and I felt more comfortable swinging out on the ball with V2. I definitely felt more dialed in hitting with V2.
Power: 6/10
Control: 8.5/10

Power winner: V1
Control winner: V2

Compare feel of each string:
V1 (6.5/10): I went out to play with the V1 a few hours after it was strung, and it felt stiff for the first hour or so. Then the stringbed softened while retaining that stiffness in the sweetspot. If I hit my shots off-center, I felt the V1 give a bit more, but that would cause the lack of control. V1 felt more comfortable than V2, but it wasn't the feeling that I was looking for.

V2(7/10): I let V2 sit out for a day after stringing, and it's mostly retained the stiff feeling throughout the playtest. After a couple of hours, V2 felt like V1 during the first two hours of hitting, and it's felt that way ever since.

I would say if someone wants that broken in feeling in the string bed right out of the gate, V1 is good at the expense of control. V2 will give that V1 feeling later on after break-in. Both strings felt lively throughout the playtest.

Feel winner: V2 after break-in
Compare spin potential of each string:
V1 (6/10): I got more loopiness and action on the V1. Serves were more noticeable in getting the dip in topspin than on groundstrokes.
V2 (5/10): Due to the linear launch, V2 felt more flat. I still got decent spin, but it wasn't an outstanding feature on this string.

Spin winner: V1

Compare playability duration of each string:
V1 (6/10): As mentioned earlier, V1 starts to lose tension as play goes on, but it doesn't drop off heavily. However, the loss of tension affected the control on my shots.

V2 (8/10): The stiffness and control have been maintained for the most part throughout the playtest for V2. I played with the V2 more times than the V1 at the end of the playtest.

Duration winner: V2

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try?
I am happy with the tension that I played at for both strings. It was a good mix of power and control.

Final comments/miscellaneous: Both strings were easy to install. In the beginning, I really liked V1. As time went on, V2 was hard to put down. I chose V2 in the survey. I would not mind using V2 if it is the winning string. I feel very privileged to be a part of this survey, so thanks again to Head and Tennis Warehouse for letting me participate!

 

[Torps]

Tension(s) used for each string:
V1: 42/40
V2: 42/40
Gamma eCP

Regular string set-up & tension:
Poly tour strike, Rev & Alu power ocean blue 42/40lbs. Testing otherwise with whatever niche hyped up brand of the week.

Racquet(s) used for playtest:
Percept 100D

Compare control/power of each string:
Power
V1: 9/10
V2: 8/10
Control
V1: 8/10
V2: 9/10
Pretty similar to what others experienced.

Compare feel of each string:
V1: 9/10
V2: 7/10
I loved the feel of V1. Soft, but not mushy and slightly crispy. I was play testing Tru Pro Atomos prior in the same frame. Funny enough they all share the same light silver color. V1 was what I was expecting from Atomos after reading through the thread, but it ended up playing like a worse feeling V2. Feel wise: V1>V2>Atomos. Not sure I could grow to love the pingy, plastic sound from V2. If they could improve that I’d be switching as soon as it got released. Still might switch to V1. Up there with Alu power for responsiveness.

Compare spin potential of each string:
V1: 8/10
V2: 8/10
I’m a round string fan so shaped strings aren’t a thing I normally go for. Both were close enough, but nothing radical with launch angles which I appreciated.

Compare playability duration of each string:

Similar enough that I don’t feel rating this makes a difference for me. I played both around 7-10 hours and didn’t notice a huge, appreciable difference in playability duration for either. Like everyone else, V2 seemed to play more controlled and consistent over the entire time span. Though, my arm was feeling it after the third session. V1 played fine where I didn’t have to make any large enough adjustments to care over time. I string weekly or less so 6-8 hours is fine for me.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try?

I’d bump up V1 a pound or two, but I think where I normally string is fine tbh. V2 fit as normal as well. After that hour or so break in it held tension pretty well imo.

In conclusion, V1 is probably the best string I’ve tried in awhile. V2 is kinda close, but I don’t think I could grow to like the feel which was the biggest difference. Reminded me of Confidential, but more powerful which isn’t the worst thing. So, I can see why so many are leaning V2. Whenever either string is released, I am for sure picking up more sets to give it more play testing. Head is really killing it with their new releases! Thanks to both TW and Head for the opportunity. Bonus points for Head if they can release this in a black colorway lol.

 

[PhxRacket]

Firstly, thank you TW and HEAD for the chance to pick HEAD’s next poly string! I felt like this was a unique opportunity to provide feedback that may help shape what is available in the future.

I strung both of my v7 Blade 98 18x20s with the provided string. I had each strung at my usual 45#. The racquets were matched at the time of purchase so there is that variable eliminated.
I usually use Element or ALU Power at 45# in my Blades, regardless of the weather. In Phoenix, it is hot and hotter for most of the year. I have dabbled in ECO Power recently and loved it, but the playability suffered.

CONTROL AND POWER
V1 CONTROL-I found this string to provide really nice control. I felt like the control was similar to what I get from 17 gauge Element. I really appreciated the response of the V1 to my long, sweeping strokes. Didn’t miss long too much, and when I did it was user error.
V1 POWER-I thought the power level of the V1 string was better than the V2. But not by much. I felt like the V1 pocketed, or cradled the ball better and the power was like a slingshot or a lacrosse ball leaving the pocket. It wasn’t big power. It wasn’t game changing power. It was manageable power. Th kind of power that can help you out when stuck in the corner and trying to scramble into a more neutral position. V1 wins here.
V2 CONTROL-I found this string to have slightly better control, but maybe that is because I think it is a little stiffer than the V1. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just a tad board…until it broke in. The V2 was more durable and after the first four hours, its control improved. V2 wins here.
V2 POWER-The V2, after the aforementioned break in, was a little more powerful than the V1. But not by a country mile. It would be reasonable to assume a slightly stiffer string is slightly more powerful.
V1 FEEL-The V1 is a softer string, no doubt about it. It was more comfortable. There was no break in period where my elbow was unhappy until the string bed softened up. I preferred the V1 over the V2 in feel. It was plush, but I didn’t find it mushy. Again, from my point of view, it was similar to Element in this way.
V2 FEEL-As I have stated, this is the firmer, stiffer string. If I didn’t have a touchy elbow, this is the string I would have preferred. But I need comfort ahead of all other things when it comes to strings. And the V1 is the winner here.
V1 SPIN POTENTIAL-Round string so, again the Element comparison, one might be apprehensive that there would be no bite and spin might be hard to come by. No way!! I could get really good shape on serves, groundstrokes and touch volleys. I think that the stringbed pocketing helps in this area. While this is not Tour Bite, it did make spin available. Now, full disclosure, I am not a big spin player so any spin I get is the result of technique.
V2 SPIN POTENTIAL-Same as the V1. Decent spin potential. Compared to other round strings I have used, it is usable and just fine. Winner here is V1
V1 PLAYABILITY-The V1 was more comfortable out of the gate and over the life of the string job…which wasn’t very long. It was far more playable than the V2, but for way fewer court hours. If I were a sponsored player, I would use this exclusively. If I had to pay regular price for the V1, playability is an issue.
V2 PLAYABILITY-Far less comfortable out of the box (bag). Took a few sets to break in and was not a lot of fun to play with during that time. My elbow was not happy with me. But I thought, do it for the clicks! So, into the fifth hour, the stringbed loosened up and the playability shot through the roof. Because, the string did not change from this point until the strings popped. This is where slightly stiffer strings are an advantage. The V2 is the winner in playability for its durability.
Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try? Explain answer
I would string the V2 a little higher, maybe 47#?? Or perhaps prestretch 5-10%? I would string the V2 a little lower, maybe 43#? Or try the V2 in a hybrid with Velocity??
I selected the V1 on HEADS survey. I think I could use that string in my Blades with a few adjustments and it would work out great. The short window of awesomeness of the V1 makes it the better string for me.

 

[pheonix6579]

Whelp...here we go...
Tension(s) used for each string
V1 and V2 in Blade 98 16x19 at 48lbs

Regular string set-up & tension
Blade 98 or Vcore 98 at 48ish lbs

Racquet(s) used for playtest
Blade 98 16x19 Gen 8

Compare control/power of each string
For the power category V1 takes the edge on power. Felt like the ball sunk into the string bed and had a nice launch to it. I felt the ball had more pop on serves and flat ground shots.
For control, V2 took the lead with this one. I think due to the stiffer feel it played in my head that I was lower powered so maybe my mind allowed me to swing a little more freely with this one. I was able to control the location of shots a bit better on this one. With my game being a bit more spin focused, I was about to use the increased spin I saw in V2 over V1 to control and keep balls in the court a bit more with the V2.

Compare feel of each string
Both strings felt very similar to me with minor adjustments either way. If I was super picky I would say that both feel comfortable to play with, but comfort goes to V1. V2 had a bit more of a stiffer feeling especially on off center hits. V1 takes the edge with comfort.
I also actually ordered the feel on touch shots in the V1 as well. Again, not the V2 was bad. I just appreciated the softer, even slightly more, feeling of V1 compared to V2.

Compare spin potential of each string
This is a win for the V2, noticeably more spin. While most of the playtest I had to really focus on subtle differences, spin was clear for me. Much more spin with V2, which allowed for better control on ground strokes and spin serves. Not monster spin like some of the other spin strings I have tried but a decent amount for a very subtle shaped string. V1 did pretty well with skin but I would say that it's a more power oriented string vs a spin oriented string as a defining characteristic.

Compare playability duration of each string
Playability was really good for both with good results on both over the 10 hour mark. Even then, not a huge drop off in performance but slightly noticeable.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try?
Pretty happy with the 48lbs I string them with. With V1 I'd like to see if going up a few pounds would hurt or help with the power/control aspect. If anything I'd like to see what both would look like on opposite ends of the spectrum as 30lbs vs 60lbs.

Overall I'd say between the 2, I'd give a slight edge to V1. Most characteristics were very similar between the two versions, but the slight edge in feel and power being what sold me. I usually say spin is the key that I look for but in this case feel and power win the day.

THanks again TW for the opportunity!

 

[bigserving]

TENSION USED FOR THE PLAYTEST -

50 lbs for each strings both the mains and crosses strung in both frames. Strung on a lockout machine.

REGULAR STRING SETUP -

Dunlop Black Widow 17 gauge, 50 lbs x 50 lbs strung on a lockout machine.

RACQUET BRAND AND MODEL USED FOR TEST - These days, and for this test, the most regular tool is a stock Dunlop CX 200 16 x 19

COMPARE CONTROL / POWER OF TEST STRING -

The higher power level of the V1 was noticeable. But it is only marginally more power than that of the V2.

As the strings in both frames loosened during the first hours or so, both had a slight, but expected noticeable increase in power. That initial surge in power was not huge in either, but the increase was evident. With the power surge there was not a significant drop-off in the amount of control in either.

Both sets to offer quite a good amount of control throughout the test. The available spin had much to do with the control. I was able to hit out and even over-swing and have plenty control.

I give the slight nod to the V2 in the control regard.

The winner of the power category is the V1.

COMPARE THE FEEL OF EACH TEST STRING -

Both sets of strings had a really decent feel to each of them. The V1 felt like a little softer string overall. The softer feel definitely made for much more comfort at the contact point. The softer feel also provided an increased dwell time at contact. My drop shots, slices, drop and touch volleys, all benefited from the softer feel and increased dwell time. If I were a better player and could take advantage of those thing in matches rather than only in drills, I may give the nod to the softer string. But I am not that player!

During this test, I just preferred the more stiffer feeling of these two strings in this fairly soft racquet. That was the V2. The combination between the two of these strings seemed to work better for me.

Liked them both, but overall, I preferred the stiffer feel of the V2.

COMPARE THE SPIN POTENTIAL OF EACH -

Though the feel was more firm in the V2, I feel as though I actually got more useable spin on my kick, second serve and spin off of groundstrokes with the V1. Neither string felt deficient in providing an ample amount of spin overall.

For me, the V1 provided a little more useable spin between the two. That was a little bit of an unexpected perception given that the V2 felt like a bit more stiff string. Perhaps the softer feel of the V1, along with the higher amount of power, allowed me to generate more racquet head speed, and more spin on groundstrokes.

The overall better spin for me, came from the V1.

PLAYABILITY DURATION (HOW PLAYABILITY CHANGED OVER TIME) -

The playability was predictable and as expected for poly strings. There was the normal polyester drop in tension during the first hour or two. Both sets started nice, then the power increased and a solid feel seemed to settle in after the initial tension drop. This particular test was for about eight sets of singles and doubles over almost eight hours of time during a ten day period.

The V1 was softer initially and stayed softer relative to the V2. After the initial drop, tension remained pretty steady for several hours before the playability turned to being just a little spongy in the V1.

The V2 started a little more stiff and stayed that way overall. It seemed as though the V2 began to turned to spongy and declining feel earlier and more rapidly than the V2.

Playability Longevity / Duration. V1.

TENSION FINDINGS - WOUD I STRING EITHER AT A DIFFERENT TENSION FOR A SECOND TEST?

The next tension, for me, a different tension for either set would be to drop the string tension to 48 lbs. The 50 lb. test tension baseline seemed like it might be just a bit on the high side of an optimal tension point for me. Depending on the the result of that, I might reduce tension a couple of pounds on either set, to get another perspective on how the actual feel, spin, and power might be affected. To further experiment with more additional sets, I might continue to drop tension in order to find the diminishing-return point between power and control.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS -

Head has made a pretty good string no matter which one of these they choose to bring to market. These strings will provide quality play to a myriad array of player types. There seemed to be differences, but very little difference between the two sets of strings. Overall, both were playable all-around and there were no glaring weakness in either. If I did not have both frames strung to use at the same time, it may not have been easy or possible to feel the differences between the two.

Good Job Head and much thanks Tennis Warehouse.

 

[evermilion]

HEAD TVP 22-001 V1 and V2 TW Playtest

Regular Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Solinco Hyper-G Round (HGR) 16L @ 48/46 (lockout stringer)
Playtest Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | TVP22-001 V1/V2 @ 48/46 (lockout stringer)

During this playtest, I played mainly doubles at USTA 4.5 level. I had about 2 hours of singles point plays with V1 and about an hour with V2. The rest of the playtest consisted of doubles matches.

• Power/Control: If I had to pick, I would say V1 had a bit more power than V2 and I would say V2 had a bit more control than V1. Although I struggled to adjust to V1, once I started playing a bit flatter and through the court, I felt V1 had just a touch more velocity than V2. However, I felt that both V1 and V2, especially so for V1, if I did not meet a certain racquet head speed, I just couldn't generate a penetrating ball without launching it off the facility. V2 definitely had more control characteristics, such as more consistent feel on the bed, ability to control direction and perhaps a bit easier access to spin. Overall, performance wise, I felt like neither V1 nor V2 was characteristically power or control orientated in comparison to other co-polys. Ultimately, I felt like neither string shined in power or control.
• Feel: The initial few hours of V1 felt very gooey and lacked snap back. This was somewhat what I expected from a recycled string. However, this period of gooey-ness lasted for a lot longer than I expected before the string bed settled in. At times, I felt like the ball was just dropping straight toward ground at the moment of contact, even though I felt like the string bed was loosening during that period. I struggled to adjust quite a bit with the feel of V1 and ultimately took about 3 hours before I figured out how to play with it. In contrast, V2 felt stiffer and provided more consistent response on the string bed. V2 consistency lasted a solid 4-5 hours before bagging out. So, overall I preferred the V2 feel on how the ball felt on contact as well as on how ball left the string bed. Compared to other co-polys which are known for exceptional ball pocketing, V1/V2 response was pretty linear and I would rate it solidly average.
• Spin: Out of all the features, I personally felt very disappointed in the spin department. I began the playtest with the V1 and I was not getting the grabbing feel of the ball on the string, especially when driving through on the low balls or on drive volleys. Compared to my regular HGR setup, the launch angle was a bit lower than expected, resulting in more balls into the net. After about 3 hours on V1, I realized that I really need to swing big (90% effort) to get the shape, control and penetration that I needed to work out a point. Obviously, consistency suffered as a result. In contrast, V2 had okay spin, which provided for the extra control. Although in hindsight, I’m not sure if the launch angle was any higher than V1 (perhaps marginally higher). However, especially compared to HGR, which has high spin capability even as a round string, both V1 and V2 simply did not provide enough spin, unless you met a certain racquet head spin. Overall, V1 and V2 had negligible differences in spin and I would rate it below average compared to other co-polys.
• Playability Durability: V1 broke after ~6 hours and V2 broke after about ~8 hours. I played a bit more singles with the V1 stick so that might be the reason why it snapped quicker than V2. Playability wise, V1 felt like the tension was constantly dropping the first 2 hours and I was struggling to adjust to the string bed. During the playtest, I just assumed that this was a nature of most recycled strings. The string felt very gooey with not much snap back until it settled in. However, even after what I felt was a settled in bed, I just couldn't get rid of the feeling that the string bed bagged out already. In contrast, I did not feel like V2 dropped as much tension as V1 in the first hour. V2 felt pretty consistent up until about the end of 4th hour. After that, V2 no longer provided control that it initially offered and, similar to V1, less snap back and more launching tendency. Overall, durability and playability was a bit less than average for a co-poly. But considering the nature of recycled materials, I feel like this is pretty good.
• Tension Recommendation: I think for both V1 and V2, I would likely string it higher at 50-52 range, just because I was not very happy with what I perceived as a big initial drop in tension in the first 2 hours. V1 might benefit more from the increased tension more so than V2. This is considering the fact that I felt more control from the V2 stick.
• Summary (Additional Thoughts): As a play style, I had more success playing flatter and through the court. This is likely due to not getting the spin/launch angle than I prefer and having to adjust to a more flatter trajectory. If I had describe these strings in one word, I would pick "demanding". I struggled tremendously the first few hours of each setup and the only solution that ended up working was to play bigger than I was generally comfortable with sacrificing consistency and then eventually settling on playing a more flatter game. V1's gooey feel was very incompatible with my swing and V2's perceived stiffness was a bit more than what I liked. Spin is available provided that you meet a certain racquet head speed, but I would look to other strings if looking specifically for spin. Unfortunately, for what I'm looking for neither felt like a better option than what I've personally been using (Tru Pro BK and now recent switch Solinco HGR). However, I think for those that prioritize consistency, I think V2 is a better choice.

Thank you so much to TW and HEAD for this playtest opportunity!

V1

V2

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

Tension(s) used for each string: 52/49lbs
Regular string set-up & tension: Head Lynx Tour 17 @ 52/49lbs
Racquet(s) used for playtest: Wilson RF97 Laver Cup Red

Compare control/power of each string
V1: The stringbed was firm and felt very control oriented string. I felt it was a mid level powered string. V1 had more control compared to V2.
V2: On my first ball with V2, the instant reaction was “Much softer” This string was very elastic and pocketed the ball much more than V1. With the extra pocketing, it created a slightly more powerful shot, but some of my shots would go wild. Even when I was feeding the ball to start a rally, I would get the occasional erratic feed.

Compare feel of each string
V1: The string had a nice crisp touch on contact. The ball came in and off the stringbed with a good amount of dwell time. I felt connected to the ball on all groundstrokes, slices, volleys and serves.
V2: This string was slightly more muted compared to V1, but not to the point that it was mushy. I also felt connected on all shots with this string. The ball had a slightly longer dwell time on the stringbed compared to V1.

Compare spin potential of each string
V1: This string gave a good amount of spin. It didn’t grab the ball like Lynx Tour or some of the other prominent sided strings. The ball does not create as much up down shape and speed as those sided strings.
V2: This string felt like it gave a slight bit more spin, due to the extra dwell time of the ball on the stringbed. But it also does not perform to the level of the prominent sided strings

Compare playability duration of each string
V1: As I played more on the strings, the sweetspot started to open up more, and access to spin got a little bit easier.
V2: As the tension dropped, the stringbed became more springy and I was getting more and more erratic uncontrolled shots.

Tension findings - would you string either of these strings differently on a second try?
Of the stringing machine, both stringbeds came with a 35DT. But on court, the ball pocketing of V2 was significantly greater right on the first shot. As 52/49 is my base tension whenever I test strings, I have a fairly good understanding of the type of firmness that tension will provide. I felt that firmness with the V1, but the V2 just felt off. It felt like the tension was 4-5 lbs lower. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing, if you are used to it. But for me, that would mean I would need to push then tension up higher just to get the same level of control as before.

Overall:
These strings reminded me of Head Hawk, from a feel and softness standpoint while stringing the racket, and also from the overall characteristics on the court. I do believe I get a slight higher spin profile compared to Hawk. And surprisingly, both strings have similar characteristics. The main difference I noticed is the significant ball pocketing of V2 compared to V1. My personal preference would be V1 going forward. It overall has better control.

Thank you to Head Tennis and @TW Staff for the opportunity to playtest these strings.