Tennis Warehouse Playtest Results: Luxilon Element!

TW Staff

TW Staff

Administrator
Attention Talk Tennis Members:

The application period for the Luxilon prototype playtest has ended. All playtesters have been notified by email.

To ensure continued participation in our playtest program you must post your findings in this thread by the Friday September 11.


Include the following in your review:
Tension(s) used for playtest
Regular string set up
Racquet brand and model used for test
Power of test string
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Spin
Comfort
Durability
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Compare to the string you use most often
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?)
List any additional thoughts (optional)

**We do not yet have stiffness value for this string. So we can not provide tension recommendations.
 
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If I left a short message about loving to test this string, will I have not be chosen? I sent my email before reading to not give any extraneous comments. Thank you and sorry.
 
Pretty sure this is Element.

I tried the 17g version and was very impressed. Great spin potential and good control but also not harsh and with good touch. I would describe it as muted feel and on the lower end of the power spectrum.

It seemed very predictable to me. Around net with lower swing speeds feel was good and the ball came off soft and didn't sit up. With higher swing speeds it dropped down in to the court with heavy spin allowing me to swing out. It lost a little "Magic" after the first hit when it lost some tension but after that stayed pretty stable until it broke. I Think adding a little tension would solve this problem though as the difference was not dramatic. For my 99s I would go 57lbs on a constant pull.

The string broke on the 4th hit playing singles. This is comparable to other 17g polys for me. I felt like spin and control were better than my usual setup of revolve/sensation. For a full poly it was surprisingly soft and comfortable. It did not aggravate my shoulder, which bothers me from time to time.

Overall I would highly recommend it, and am considering switching to it my self.
 
tvizz said:
Pretty sure this is Element.

I tried the 17g version and was very impressed. Great spin potential and good control but also not harsh and with good touch. I would describe it as muted feel and on the lower end of the power spectrum.

It seemed very predictable to me. Around net with lower swing speeds feel was good and the ball came off soft and didn't sit up. With higher swing speeds it dropped down in to the court with heavy spin allowing me to swing out. It lost a little "Magic" after the first hit when it lost some tension but after that stayed pretty stable until it broke. I Think adding a little tension would solve this problem though as the difference was not dramatic. For my 99s I would go 57lbs on a constant pull.

The string broke on the 4th hit playing singles. This is comparable to other 17g polys for me. I felt like spin and control were better than my usual setup of revolve/sensation. For a full poly it was surprisingly soft and comfortable. It did not aggravate my shoulder, which bothers me from time to time.

Overall I would highly recommend it, and am considering switching to it my self.
Click to expand...

What string does it play like? Muted feel as in what other string?
 
EasternRocks said:
What string does it play like? Muted feel as in what other string?
Click to expand...

We don't have all the information from Wilson yet, nor do we have any lab data, but I think it's a variation of M2 Pro, which was Luxilon's attempt to create something softer and more accessible than their standard pro tour staples. Hopefully the playtest will yield some useful insights.

Jon
 
TW Staff said:
We don't have all the information from Wilson yet, nor do we have any lab data, but I think it's a variation of M2 Pro, which was Luxilon's attempt to create something softer and more accessible than their standard pro tour staples. Hopefully the playtest will yield some useful insights.

Jon
Click to expand...

Does Wilson create the ideas behind Luxilon strings now that they own their company? Or are Wilson and Luxilon strings thought of and created by two separate teams of string developers?
 
I used to love M2 Pro! I played with it for about six months. Loved the feel right off the stringer: crisp but not stiff. Outstanding pop, feel and spin potential. But it turned into a rocket launcher after about 3 - 4 hours. Hopefully they've solved the tension maintenance issue. This is exciting.
 
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MisterP said:
I used to love M2 Pro! I played with it for about six months. Loved the feel right off the stringer: crisp but not stiff. Outstanding pop, feel and spin potential. But it turned into a rocket launcher after about 3 - 4 hours. Hopefully they've solved the tension maintenance issue. This is exciting.
Click to expand...

The M2 was a very unique offering and indeed was wonderful for a few hours. I agree that it became very unstable after a short period of time. If you are a pro player ..it does not really matter. For the non-professional it is a deal breaker and the string is not cheap so its use for a non-professional was limited. Not a great price /performer.. :eek:
 
EasternRocks said:
Does Wilson create the ideas behind Luxilon strings now that they own their company? Or are Wilson and Luxilon strings thought of and created by two separate teams of string developers?
Click to expand...

You might only know the answer to that one if you are at the higher levels of Wilson and Luxilon. I would think that would be a bit of information that "Marketing" would not share unless it made sense to do so. When companies are bought out all sorts of interesting things happen with overlapping teams... duplicated staffs and marketing and production issues. Even if you could get an answer from Wilson.. I would not take the answer to the bank..;)
 
Yeah, I checked my email everyday since this was announced :) I guess I can stop now, as it is Friday. From the mini review above, it sounds like a string I would like. Plus it has a cool name....Element. Thrash you opponents with the ELEMENT of surprise!!!! .....Marketing is not one of my strong suits :P
 
I forgot the time difference!!! I just checked my email, and I have been selected!!! :) :) Can't wait to try it out!! I just lost an important league match :( and this news has raised my spirits!!! I would have been bumped to first place if I won, and I have beaten this dude several times before. Thank you TW for saving my evening!!
 
AC Tennis said:
Sigh, not chosen again. 5th playtest in a row. I must have offended someone at TW. Oh well, I'll keep trying.
Click to expand...
Hi...in most cases it is just timing. Most of the Play Test Threads are posted in the early afternoon EST. If you are someone is on this BB a ton you can get in. Just have to keep checking and respond ASAP. Unless you did not complete a previous Play Test or did one not up to the standards of TW then you should get in. I have been in the last 5 or 6. I live in the North East and will try to as many as possible in our outside season. I tend to not try to get in on the ones posted in our long winters. When I do get to play indoors (not cheap), I do not feel the need to play test. Leave those play tests for you warm weather guys and gals!! :)
 
I am in Hawaii so don't always get in asap. But I used to regularly get in on the string tests and even made one racket playtest a number of years ago. But no luck on the last three racket playtests and last 4 string playtests. Oh well, just keep trying.
 
Just got mine!!
IMG_4141_zpsbxjy07vz.jpg
IMG_4152_zpsw7zhl1ea.jpg
 
Inital thoughts
-Stiff in hand
-coil memory not that bad
-easy to string for the most part
***string end started to get flimsy half way through the crosses
-decent feel/power
-good control
-notches easily through x3 doubles matches
 
TW allowed hybrid stringing with the Solinco multifilament string last year so I didn't think it would hurt to ask.
 
I just finished stringing up my Prince Textreme Tour 100T. I strung it at 50lbs mains and 50lbs crosses. It looks great in the racquet. Stringing notes, in my opinion were:
When I opened the package I thought coil memory was going to be horrible, but it ended up not bad at all. It strung up easily, and the only problem/complaint I ran into was at the end. The end I was threading through the crosses eventually got stiff and I almost cut off an inch or two. The string itself felt pliable except for the end piece that ended up getting stiff towards the end of stringing the crosses (it almost seemed like it was developing small bends, and took a little extra effort to thread the last 4 crosses). But stringing went well, and I can't wait to take it out on court tomorrow! I usually use Prince Premier Touch 16 in this frame, so this will probably be a strong contrast in string.
 
djNEiGht said:
Inital thoughts
-Stiff in hand
-coil memory not that bad
-easy to string for the most part
***string end started to get flimsy half way through the crosses
-decent feel/power
-good control
-notches easily through x3 doubles matches
Click to expand...

Comparative string?
 
I got mine and strung it up last night as well. It is cool seeing that I had the same exact experiences as djNEiGht and JohnBPittsburgh. I kept thinking of how i would describe the feeling of the string while stringing. It seemed smooth as far as weaving the crosses, but it did have some kind of stiffness to it. This came into play on the tail end for the last few crosses and a little bit while tying off. It was like the string wanted to go a certain way. The bronze color looks awesome in my POG because it almost exactly matches the writing on the throat and the stripe around the hoop. I'll play with it tonight.

One other thought...this string is round, but under light it almost looked like it had some sort of depth to it. Hard to describe, but maybe the outer layer is translucent and i was seeing the inner fibers. Maybe it is just my bad eyesight though.
 
therecanbeonlyone said:
I got mine and strung it up last night as well. It is cool seeing that I had the same exact experiences as djNEiGht and JohnBPittsburgh. I kept thinking of how i would describe the feeling of the string while stringing. It seemed smooth as far as weaving the crosses, but it did have some kind of stiffness to it. This came into play on the tail end for the last few crosses and a little bit while tying off. It was like the string wanted to go a certain way. The bronze color looks awesome in my POG because it almost exactly matches the writing on the throat and the stripe around the hoop. I'll play with it tonight.

One other thought...this string is round, but under light it almost looked like it had some sort of depth to it. Hard to describe, but maybe the outer layer is translucent and i was seeing the inner fibers. Maybe it is just my bad eyesight though.
Click to expand...
Perhaps it has rounded edges similar to RPM (or various other babolat polys) or perhaps even luxilon's own savage, which I believe is hexagonally shaped with rounded edges. Can't wait to see this for myself.
 
therecanbeonlyone said:
I got mine and strung it up last night as well. It is cool seeing that I had the same exact experiences as djNEiGht and JohnBPittsburgh. I kept thinking of how i would describe the feeling of the string while stringing. It seemed smooth as far as weaving the crosses, but it did have some kind of stiffness to it. This came into play on the tail end for the last few crosses and a little bit while tying off. It was like the string wanted to go a certain way. The bronze color looks awesome in my POG because it almost exactly matches the writing on the throat and the stripe around the hoop. I'll play with it tonight.

One other thought...this string is round, but under light it almost looked like it had some sort of depth to it. Hard to describe, but maybe the outer layer is translucent and i was seeing the inner fibers. Maybe it is just my bad eyesight though.
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience as well, I will also try to hit with it tonight. The string looks shaped to me though, maybe with rounded edges as mentioned above.
 
JohnBPittsburgh said:
The end I was threading through the crosses eventually got stiff and I almost cut off an inch or two. The string itself felt pliable except for the end piece that ended up getting stiff towards the end of stringing the crosses (it almost seemed like it was developing small bends, and took a little extra effort to thread the last 4 crosses).
Click to expand...

As different as my experience sounded, it might be the same. The end would bend and then just be a mess when going through holes near the support posts and blocked holes.
 
EasternRocks said:
Comparative string?
Click to expand...

At this time it's difficult to say. Maybe like a firm synthetic feel during play comfort and touch wise. I was getting good spin on ground strokes as long as I put in the effort. Haven't figured out what this string is like compared to others in turns of spin and other polys. This is a string that gives back to you what you put in.
 
DJNeiGht, I agree, I was trying to describe it as best I could, and I agree, it almost was developing small kinks at the very end. It was hard to describe, it almost felt like copper wire. I am taking it out to my lesson this morning, and then playing doubles with it today. I am very excited to hit with it!
 
John:

What you are describing is not unique. I have strung many polys that seem to do that. When you to the end of the crosses, the poly gets very hard to work with. Seems just as you have stated that the string is all twisted and begins to have small twists and kinks. That would indicate to me that this string will have great control but will not offer a ton of free power... Just from my experiences.
 
Stevel,
I think you are right. I played a doubles match last night with this string. It felt soft and left my arm feeling fine. There was not a lot of free power. My depth control actually was spot on. I strung it at 51 on a lockout for my POG mid, which is on the high end of normal poly tension for me. Just sharing that part to help people decide on a tension.
 
Yeah, as far as poly strings go, I am rather inexperienced. I have strung Beast 17, Klippermate Spin max, and Klippermate Power Burst Rough. I played well during my lesson, but all I can really comment on is the comfort of the string (I was trying to pay attention to the lesson!) I will end up creating a giant post according to the TW test format, but I wanted to at least offer my experiences while they were fresh in my mind. I fear if I wait until it breaks to write a review I will not be able to accurately describe the string, and may miss small but important details. So, as far as comfort goes, at 50 lbs, it felt like a multi or syn gut. I served with great accuracy, and was swinging all out. I thought I would feel some type of pain, but that is not the case at all. If someone would have handed me the racquet and not told me it was a poly, I wouldn't have known at all. So, if I were someone thinking of trying out poly strings, this would be one I would definitely try. I was not returning serves though, but as far as groundstrokes, volleys, serves, and passing shots, I thought it was extremely comfortable. Tension maintenance seems good. I hope to play a league match today, if I have time. But I have a lot going on today. So far, I like the string a lot, and if it is reasonably priced, I might switch to it ($12 and under).
 
Well I lost the match (not to the fault of the string!) in regards to topspin, it doesn't seem to give any free spin, meaning you have to work for it. Still very comfortable, and my shots seemed to be dropping in. It was deathly hot, and my strokes started breaking down, and I let frustration get the better of me today. I served some wicked serves, and when I went long, it was due to my mistakes. It seemed to provide good control, I was slicing and they were going less than an inch over the net and had that low skid to them. I put too much pressure on myself when I play a league match. If it would have been a friendly game, I am more relaxed, and play a lot better. I have to say, this string will keep you honest, it isn't some insane spin string, and I would like to see how I fare with a thinner gauge. I probably could have upped the tension to 55 and not had any problems. The tension is holding up rather well, and I am excited to play again with it. I probably won't comment much more until the playtest is complete on my end. Thank you TW for this opportunity to try out this string!
 
Tension(s) used for playtest Mains-50, Crosses-50
Regular string set up Prince Premier Touch 55lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test Prince Textreme Tour 100T
Power of test string I would say near perfect! 7.5/10 Not too powerful, and not severely under powered. Allowed me to play my game.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) Muted, but not mushy. It felt like a synthetic or multi comfort string IMO
Spin 7.5/10 I'd say it promoted spin, but was not blowing my opponents off the court with spin. Spin friendly, not a spin monster.
Comfort I never felt discomfort the entire playtest, Very comfortable. 10/10 Good for someone wanting to try poly.
Durability I am not a string breaker, but it doesn't show any signs that it will break at 8 hours. Notching is present at 8 hours
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) Played consistently the whole time, good tension maintenance
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) 9/10 Responds better to higher swing speeds
Compare to the string you use most often Comfort about equal, more spin, same touch, more durable, little less power
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?) I would like to experiment and raise it a couple pounds
List any additional thoughts (optional) This string surprised me, I thought it would be harsher, but it wasn't. When I committed to my strokes and hit out, I got a lot more spin. It was fairly easy to string except for the least few crosses. Power and control seemed to be perfect for my game. Depending on the cost of this string, I would actually strongly consider switching to it. I will edit this post a little later, but so far, the string performed very well. When I made a mistake, I knew it wasn't due to the strings qualities. I was able to focus on playing tennis, and not worry about my strings (which is very nice). Don't expect this string to create spin if you don't have the strokes, it only puts out, what you put in. Thank you TW for this opportunity to playtest this string.

Just some extra observations... I am loving this string!!! I have now put 12 hours on them (I am not a string breaker) and they have been consistently awesome. Tension maintenance seems great, notching a little deeper, but I still have good control. I have now adjusted to them and have been getting compliments on my shots. I would love to get my hands on a reel of this, as I believe I have found a string that compliments my game. Here's hoping that a reel will be less than $180 (highly doubtful! but one can dream...)
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest: 50/48 lbs mains/crosses
Regular string set up: Isospeed Baseline 1.25mm
Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Original Graphite Mid Tour (372 grams, 9pts HL)
Power of test string: More powerful than many of luxilon's other strings (ALU, 4G, etc). I found the string quite lively
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Muted, not crisp like ALU. Had very nice ball pocketing and good string movement at this tension.
Spin: You get back what you put in. This is not a spin heavy poly like Volkl cyclone, Wilson revolve, etc.
Comfort: Very comfortable! Soft on the arm for a poly, especially in a full bed.
Durability: Since the string is fairly soft, the notched very quickly for me, and broke in less than 3 hours of play. However, the POG is a 14x18 string pattern and a string like luxilon ALU Power only lasts about 3 hours as well. So, in comparison, this string wasn't quite as durable as a stiffer poly.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I loved this stuff fresh, and even throughout the playtest the performance stayed quite level. I break strings before tension maintenance and lose of playability usually become an issue.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Predictable stringbed, with no erratic stringbed shots. Benefits on faster strings as most poly's do.
Compare to the string you use most often: I've used Luxilon Alu Power for the past 5 years, just recently switching to Isopseed b/c of price. It is fairly more lively than alu power, and much softer. It is easier to string and for those looking for a crisp response, this string might not be for you. This string has good qualities of power and touch/feel/control.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I would up the tension a bit for those coming from a deader poly for increased control.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I am quite a fan of this string as a full bed. It is softer than many of the Luxilon strings and I think it will be a big hit with poly users looking for some more free power without sacrificing good feel and control. I will be interested to see how this is priced compared to the seemingly high prices of other Lux strings.

Thanks TTW for the opportunity.

For more opinions of this string : http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/luxilon-bronze-prototype-review.528637/
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 50lbs

Regular string set up: Head Hawk Touch 17g

Racquet brand and model used for test: 2015 Wilson Blade 98 18x20 12oz 8pts HL

Power of test string: More powerful than any other Luxilon string including Alu Power and 4G

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Muted and plush, not crisp like ALU. String is very soft for a poly and have that.

Spin: Not a spin monster but if you have good technique, this string can produce good amount of topspin.

Comfort: Very comfortable! Soft on the arm for a poly.

Durability: Only hit with it for an hour so will update later when I have more information

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Time will tell but the first hour of hitting, the strings felt really good. I enjoyed hitting with this string and couldn't belive it was a Luxilon w

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Tension probably needs to be increase for this string due to it having a bit more trampoline effect.

Compare to the string you use most often: I've used Head Hawk Touch 17g which offers less power but more control and great tension maintenance. If these strings offer similar tension maintenace as Head Hawk Touch, then this will be my new string. Time will tell thought and I will update when I have more hours hitting with this string.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I would up the tension to probably 52lbs for a bit more control. The string has a trampoline effect and this is using a more denser 18x20 string pattern.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Finally Luxilon comes out with a softer and more powerful string than 4G. I didn't particular like 4G so this to me is an upgrade to Alu Power which is crisp but is a bit harsh on the arm. Stringing the last few crosses on this string was a bit tough as it became stiff and not as pliable to weave the crosses. Slices had a good amount of bite with the increase dwell time of the string.

Thanks TTW for the opportunity.
 
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