Tennis Warehouse Playtest Results: Luxilon Element!

Tension(s) used for playtest: 60/58 lbs mains/crosses
Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone Pink 17 (like a boss) 58~62lbs main/cross (varies day to day)
Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson PS97 (not modified)
Power of test string: a bit more powerful than some poly i've played with, but not too much so. Somewhere between a typical poly and multi
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): stiff, but well within normal guidelines with poly. definitely not overtly stiff.
Spin: not as much as i was expecting for a poly. i seem to get more out of my normal cyclones
Comfort: Medium. Not overly stiff, but definitely not soft compared to multi for instance.
Durability: i'm not a string breaker, and i probably have around 5~6 hours of play on this string so far. still going strong. notching doesn't seem terrible yet. Should be able to get at least another 3~4 sessions of 1.5~2.5 hours of play before feeling like it's too dead.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Play seems consistent after about 5~6 hours. Didn't notice much drop in performance though some loss in movement is noticeable.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Predictable stringbed, no erratic reactions to strokes. depth control was good, reacted to RHS and stroke types. Slice didn't seem as lively, but did get some heavy spin on my serve. could easily be attributed to my inconsistent technique.
Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to cyclone, don't seem to get as much spin overall. cyclone is probably a bit more stiff though, so there are some trade offs.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I think i would drop the tension a bit from what i normally get and see if that helps with the spin. i think it could feel even better than it already does and perform better on the spin side.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Overall, a good solid string. Wouldn't hesitate to use it if it wasn't overly expensive.
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest: 45 lbs on Constant Pull Alpha Ghost
Regular string set up: Tour Bite Soft 17 @ 45 lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test: Solinco Protocol 300

Power of test string: About the same as TBS

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Felt a little stiffer than Tour Bite Soft, but not as stiff as Tour Bite
Spin: About the same as TBS. I didn't notice any more or less, neither did my hitting partner. I noticed crispness fell by the wayside after about 8 hours of hitting.

Comfort: A little less comfortable than TBS my usual setup. Didn't notice any arm pain or anything, but wasn't a "super soft" poly that some other companies have.

Durability: I'm not a poly string breaker, so it has lasted just fine after 10 hours of 9.0 doubles


Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) Felt great the first 8 hours like most polys do, but then playability dropped with the tension loss. Racquet tune says it lost 8 lbs in one week---that is 4 hours of hitting. Not surprising.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) I loved the control I got from this Luxilon bronze. I thought hitting volleys with it was better than TBS as it had a touch more feel to it.

Compare to the string you use most often: I think it is inline with Tour Bite Soft or other type poly that aren't stiff like TB or Pro Hurricane. I would probably use it again if it were in the $10-12 range like TBS. At $18.95? No way.


Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I would probably up the tension 3 lbs or so than my usual 45 as I think it had more power than TBS


List any additional thoughts (optional): Thanks so much for letting me playtest!!!
 
Strung my racket up yesterday and hit with it for 2 hours last night. First impressions were good!! Very comfortable for a poly power was OK and spin was good. I'll give a full accounting in about a week or so. I definitely want to hit with it more.
 
I see that @jbot uses Cyclone 17 normally. Any other Cyclone users hit with this string yet? I'm about to string mine up today and I want to know how it feels in comparison. Trying to figure out what tension to go with. Normally I do Cyclone 17g at 51/49 in my Ai 98. Was thinking of going up 2 or 3 pounds since the feedback so far is that Element is softer. But would like to be sure.
 
MisterP said:
I see that @jbot uses Cyclone 17 normally. Any other Cyclone users hit with this string yet? I'm about to string mine up today and I want to know how it feels in comparison. Trying to figure out what tension to go with. Normally I do Cyclone 17g at 51/49 in my Ai 98. Was thinking of going up 2 or 3 pounds since the feedback so far is that Element is softer. But would like to be sure.
Click to expand...

I just noticed that i made a mistake and put 48-50lbs on playtest. it's actually 58-60 so i did use similar tension. edited my post.


if you like the stiffer feel, i can't imagine going up a few lbs will hurt terribly
 
jbot said:
I just noticed that i made a mistake and put 48-50lbs on playtest. it's actually 58-60 so i did use similar tension. edited my post.


if you like the stiffer feel, i can't imagine going up a few lbs will hurt terribly
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That definitely makes more sense. I'm thinking about leaving it the same as my usual setup just so I can do a better comparison.
 
@MisterP I use Cyclone 17g and I would recommend to leave it at the same tension. Cyclone is springier, pockets better, the Luxilon has less give to it so its a bit firmer. Power is a bit less and like others say its not a spin monster but has enough spin to keep things under control. On the up side the ball will penetrate better and overall has better control compared to other strings.
 
MisterP said:
I see that @jbot uses Cyclone 17 normally. Any other Cyclone users hit with this string yet? I'm about to string mine up today and I want to know how it feels in comparison. Trying to figure out what tension to go with. Normally I do Cyclone 17g at 51/49 in my Ai 98. Was thinking of going up 2 or 3 pounds since the feedback so far is that Element is softer. But would like to be sure.
Click to expand...

Thatshot said:
@MisterP I use Cyclone 17g and I would recommend to leave it at the same tension. Cyclone is springier, pockets better, the Luxilon has less give to it so its a bit firmer. Power is a bit less and like others say its not a spin monster but has enough spin to keep things under control. On the up side the ball will penetrate better and overall has better control compared to other strings.
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MrP, i agree w/ Thatshot...go w/ the same tension. i actually increased the tension by 2#s and it's too brassy and low powered compared to regular cyclone 17g at 2#s lower. i chose to up the tension 2#s because Lux Bronze felt softer and wasn't nearly as wiry when stringing. also i didn't notice this while i was stringing but i think this Bronze is a square profiled string so it came off the stringer at a higher tension than a round poly at the same tension. i definitely wish i would have stuck w/ my normal tension.
 
mad dog1 said:
MrP, i agree w/ Thatshot...go w/ the same tension. i actually increased the tension by 2#s and it's too brassy and low powered compared to regular cyclone 17g at 2#s lower. i chose to up the tension 2#s because Lux Bronze felt softer and wasn't nearly as wiry when stringing. also i didn't notice this while i was stringing but i think this Bronze is a square profiled string so it came off the stringer at a higher tension than a round poly at the same tension. i definitely wish i would have stuck w/ my normal tension.
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Hit with it for two hours today. Very glad I didn't up the tension. It's got a soft feel on the stringer, like you said, but it's undoubtedly a control string. No free power or spin. I'd go down 2 pounds if I used it again. This string is suited for big hitters who want a more comfortable feel than something like ALU Power.
 
MisterP said:
Hit with it for two hours today. Very glad I didn't up the tension. It's got a soft feel on the stringer, like you said, but it's undoubtedly a control string. No free power or spin. I'd go down 2 pounds if I used it again. This string is suited for big hitters who want a more comfortable feel than something like ALU Power.
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cool. glad i was able to steer you the right direction. :) it's a strange string in that it's bends easily like a softer poly in your fingers so if leads one to believe it's a soft poly, but when it's strung up in the racquet, it doesn't play like a soft poly.

can you tell if it's a shaped poly? i think it's a square string by feel, but i'm not positive.
 
mad dog1 said:
cool. glad i was able to steer you the right direction. :) it's a strange string in that it's bends easily like a softer poly in your fingers so if leads one to believe it's a soft poly, but when it's strung up in the racquet, it doesn't play like a soft poly.

can you tell if it's a shaped poly? i think it's a square string by feel, but i'm not positive.
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Yes, thanks for the heads up. Going higher than my usual setup with this string would have been a disaster.

It looks and feels round to me, but it has some longitudinal streaks that give it the appearance of a shaped string.
 
Maybe mine is different, but it is round and smooth. Possibly they sent out a rough version and a smooth version. I just double checked, and it is definitely round and smooth, no scoring. Mine seems like it is nearing the end of it's life though...it will be missed. It played great for me.
 
I was very excited to try this string as I have been a long time user of Luxilon ALU Power and like the crisp feeling and control that it provides. Out of the the package, the Bronze is not as stiff as ALU Power and does not bend or kink as easily. I think stringing the Bronze was easier than ALU Power for those reasons and I did not have to cut the first couple of inches of the string off as I got closer to the bottom of the frame for the crosses. The leading edge of the ALU Power string can start to bend and distort as it is being pulled, and becomes too wiry, and I don't like that.

Once installed, you can tell that Bronze is round not shaped or textured.

I will update as I get more playing time but my initial reaction is really positive, I like this string.

String received: Luxilon Bronze
Tension(s) used for playtest: 49lbs on Babolat Sensor
Racquet used for playtest: Wilson Pro Staff RF97
Regular string set up: Babolat VS 16 55lbs and Wilson Revolve 17 49lbs
Power: Luxilon Bronze is what I consider to be medium powered for a poly string. It has more power than ALU and 4G in my opinion.
Feel: The feel was more muted and not as crisp as ALU but it is not a soft or mushy string. The string bed also had a more consistent feel to it on a variety of shots, both soft and hard.
Spin: Spin was in the middle of the pack for polys. More than 4G but a little less than ALU.
Comfort: This string did not generate a lot of harsh shock or vibration in the racquet and is very comfortable.
Durability: This string is fairly durable and did not start to notch until after 5 hours of play and it is not too severe so the strings are very playable.
Playability Duration: I would say it is higher than average in comparison to most polys and has not gone dead yet. I would be ready to cut ALU and 4G out at this point but the Bronze seems to have more life left in it.
Control: This is a strong point for this string as well. You can hit a hard shot and not fear that it is going long and the ball will still have weight behind it. Volleys can be punched or feathered with good effect and overheads smashed with good placement.
Compare to the string you use most often: I still like ALU but I think Bronze is playing better for me in almost all departments right now. ALU still generates more spin but the power, feel, comfort and durability of Bronze is better.
Tension recommendations: I would increase tension by one or two pounds for just a little more control in hot weather. We had some very hot days when I was playing with Bronze and like all polys it plays softer in hot weather.
Additional thoughts: I would like to try this as a cross in a gut hybrid set up as I think the playability duration would last longer than many polys, definitely more than all versions of ALU Power. The cost of this string will also be a factor and I hope this string is not priced as high as ALU Power or 4G and more in line with Wilson Revolve.

Thanks to TW and Wilson/Luxilon.

Edit: I think this string has more in common with Wilson Revolve now that I have played with this string longer and thought about it again. Maybe this is the Luxilon version.
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest- 50 lbs on a CP
Regular string set up- Luxilon ALU Power Feel @50lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test- Weighted Blade 93
Power of test string- Just above ALU. It's pretty middle of the road for polys as far as power goes. Good power, but not to the point that it get uncontrollable at all.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)- It felt like muted but still crisp. It felt almost like a blend of 4G and ALU. It had that super solid 4G muted cushy feel, but some of that crispness that ALU has. It got more muted and less crisp as the playtest went on.
Spin- The spin was solid. Above average for a poly I would say, but not quite as much as ALU.
Comfort- Very comfortable. Never had any issues with its comfort even on off center shots.
Durability- It notched a little quicker and was less durable than ALU. I broke it after 10 hours.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)- I thought it got more muted and less crisp as the test went on. It also lost some tension, but not as much as ALU. It was pretty good in this regard. Well above average for a poly.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)- Very good control. Could place the ball very well, but it wasn't so control oriented that I felt I had to slug the ball to get it moving.
Compare to the string you use most often- It is very similar to ALU. It is more muted, holds tension better and is more comfortable. It doesn't have as much of a crisp feel, as much spin, or quite as much control.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?)- It felt great at the tension I put it at. Wouldn't change it next time around.
List any additional thoughts (optional)- Great string! It's really a must try if you like ALU but want something more comfortable and a touch more powerful, or if 4G is too dead for you.
 
Tension: 54lbs
Regular string setup: I don't have a regular setup but my last one was-Tour Bite 19ga. mains @ 54lbs. OG Sheep 18 crosses @ 54lbs. The Tour Bite/OG setup is great.
Racquet used: ProKennex Core 1 #6
Power: Medium
Feel: Muted
Spin: Average
Comfort: Really good.
Durability: Good
Playability Duration: It is a strange string in this category. It played different from hour to hour from the very beginning of play. One day it would feel very nice and the next just okay. In fact I got that feeling from hour to hour. I actually think it played best for me within the first week of play during the hottest parts of the day. Of course that feel could be all me and not the string. It's had a lot of use and still is playing fine.
Control: Good. No issues at all for me.
Compare to string I use: I can't really compare it to strings I use because I try so many different strings. I will comment in the end about this.
Tension recommendations: This is not in my opinion a string that you will want to string way lower in your range. It should be fine at you normal tension or maybe a few lbs. higher.

Additional thoughts: In a way this string reminds me of Ashway Monogut. I like Monogut some of the time but ultimately it just didn't work for me, for the cost. This string really felt very similar to play with. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it and certainly not if the price is steep. I would try it and recommend it to certain people if the price is right. I think it's a good string and maybe a perfect string for someone who wants a poly feel, decent spin and durability without arm pain.

Now time to go back and read the other reviews. Thanks TW and Luxilon for allowing me the chance to try this string.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest- 47 lbs.
Regular string set up- Wilson Nat. gut 64 lbs.
Racquet brand and model used for test- Head Radical
Power of test string- Decent power with control, although my nat. gut set up has more power. 3.5/5
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)- somewhere between muted and stiff, as really not either 3.5/5.
Spin- Although I am old school flat style hitter, spin was there when needed 4/5.
Comfort- comfortable string especially for a poly. I have arm problems and there was no issues hitting with this string 4.5/5.
Durability- Notching after 6 hours singles and 4 hours doubles, broke another hour later so hit for 11 hours, fairly decent 3.5/5 .
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)-seemed like good tension maintenance for a poly once strings settled in, as it hit well for the 11 hours it lasted 4/5
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)- good control string, was able to hit away for baseline shots with great control,and great control with serves, seems like a control string 4.5/5.
Compare to the string you use most often- My nat. gut string has more power comfort and feel, but that a nat. gut string, as this string has enough power, along with decent control.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?)- I enjoyed hitting with this string at 47lbs. as control was good at this tension
 
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Tension for Playtest: 58 mains 56 crosses
Regular String: Nat. Gut mains/Gamma iO crosses
Racket Brand and Model: Babolat Pure Strike 100
Power of Test String: I thought the power of the string was pretty good. Did not quite have the punch of my usual set-up
Feel: I could feel the ball on the string pretty good for a Poly but even after 8 or more hours it was still stiffer than I'm used to
Spin: Spin was good, but again, not as good as my usual set-up.
Comfort: I felt the string was very comfortable for a poly. I've hit for about 14 hours with it and no arm problems at all.
Durability: I hit fairly hard and only have minimal notching. After 14 hours it's starting to become a little harder to control.
Playability duration: I didn't start to notice a change in the way the string was hitting until about 11 or 12 hours of hitting and then it was very slight.
Control: I thought the control of the string was very good right from the beginning. Only within the last 3 hours of play has there been noticeable difference. I didn't
quite the depth I'm used too and had to hit a little harder to produce a more punishing shot.
Compare to the string you most often use: I normally use a hybrid, gut/poly, and seem to play best with that combo. This Lux string seemed to be to be the best of the three I've tested so far. It does not quite measure up in the areas of feel and power that I'm used to, but it was a very good hitting string.
Tension Recommendations: I've never hit with poly at a real low string tension like some of the testers have. I will have to try it out next time. I felt very comfortable with the tension I used, 58/56. Having "grown up" in an era of high string tensions, it seems hard to break.
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest: 55 lbs (I strung a 2nd racket with 4G 1.25 at 55lbs to test side by side with the Prototype)
Regular string set up: Babolat Hurricane Pro / Luxilon ALU Rough (55/52) on a Wilson RF97A
Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson H22 16x19
Power of test string: The power level is right where I like it. It gave me enough power where I can hit a winner on an easy ball, but not overhit on a rally ball. Side by side, it felt a little more powerful than the 4G.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The string felt very crisp. I like how the ball jumped right off the stringbed. Compared to the 4G, the ball dwelled on the strings a little longer, resulting in some missed precision.
Spin: Both the Prototype and 4G showed similar amounts of spin. Neither particularly more than the other. Not as much spin as a Babolat RPM Blast.
Comfort: For a poly string, it definitely feels comfortable. Much softer than my regular setup.
Durability: After my first 5 min session with the Prototype, I could already see some light fraying off the strings. Getting some slight notching about 2 hrs in. Whereas the 4G in the same amount of time, did not show the same signs of wear.
Playability Duration: (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Playability is pretty consistent after 2 hitting sessions. Strings have started to move slightly after 2 sessions and 3 doubles sets.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Definitely benefits the faster rackethead speed. Very easy to control on short cuts, and allows for line licking shots on the full swing. My backhand definitely reacted very well to these strings.
Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to my regular strings, the Prototype definitely is a plus in the power, feel, and spin department. These strings are softer than my regular setup, but I actually do like that bit of stiffness to feel the ball a little more.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I think a starting tension of 55 on a 98 sq in. worked well for me. It wasn’t too low or too high. I could play myself into a comfort zone at this tension.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Having strung these strings for a player at Indian Wells, I was very intrigued at trying them out. First off, I love the color. Having now actually hit with them, this string feels really great. I definitely like it more than the 4G that I was using side by side. It was also easier to string than 4G (I always have trouble stringing 4G). I’m not sure how much of a difference it will make in my regular setup if I swap out my ALU Rough for the Prototype, but it will be worth a try. Or maybe, I can possible just go full bed Prototype strings instead. Thank you so much TW for giving me a chance at testing this string.
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 pounds

Regular string set up: Poly Tour Pro 125 Black or ALU Power Feel 52-53 pounds

Racquet brand and model used for test: Yonex EZone AI 98

Power of test string: Above average in comparison to the entire range of polyesters in the market

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): A mix between muted and crisp. Would not call it crisp like ALU but not completely muted like PTP 125 Yellow

Spin: Average. Less than almost every shaped poly and comparable to many round ones. You get spin if you really try to add it. No free spin like a Tour Bite or Sonic Pro Edge

Comfort: Above average. This is a key for me because I have always been a hybrid user and prefer softer string beds. This string feels very comfortable and I do not find it overly stiff. It's also not overly soft which I dislike in strings like TBS, BHB7, CT, etc.

Durability: Can't comment on it yet. Only have an hour of hitting with it.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): See above

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Very predictable. Depth control comes easily and I feel like I am able to put the ball where I want to. It will be interesting to see how the string does in this department as I continue to hit with it. Strings in the 1.20 mm gauge that I have been enjoying recently, such as PTP 120 and Lux ALU Feel 120, often lose the predictability very quickly due to notching and tension loss.

Compare to the string you use most often: I would say comfortability is something it shares with the polyester strings I like. Power wise perhaps its a little less juicy but it is definitely not underpowered. Spin and control are also up there with PTP and ALU Feel. The ALU Feel for me can sometimes feel too crisp and the string does not allow the ball to dwell enough on the stringbed. Another big thing that the ALU Feel lacks is control. Sometimes depth control is hard to achieve and I am hopeful that the Bronze string can address that. Compared to the PTP's, the Bronze plays a bit crisper than the 120 and similar to the black 125. The 120 PTP is a little soft and it loses tension so fast that the spin potential and snapback also goes down hill very quickly. I find that because it is so soft I cannot chase after my serve as efficiently and that it is more difficult to place my serve on a dime. Lastly, the black 125 has a great snapback feel and I get amazing control. The one thing I can complain about is that it is slightly uncomfortable. The black is stiffer and firmer than the yellow and I sometimes do not get the comfort that I would like out of it. Hopefully the Bronze string can blend my preferences in the above 3 strings.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I would stick to my tension.
List any additional thoughts (optional): For me, Luxilon has always been a brand that I've wanted to use. Pro's use it, high level juniors and college players use it, so why not use it for myself? I have tried all the strings in the line and have always found them to be a little too jarring and underpowered. I never understood how people could love ALU Power so much. I then tried Rough and the other ALU's and each one did not gel with my game. I tried hybrids and other countless combinations to see if I could find a magical combo. I wound up realizing after many tests that Luxilon simply did not have an arm friendly, softer feeling, polyester. I did hear about M2 Pro but after seeing that its tension maintenance is its weakness I never bought a set. Now that they have come out with this string, I am very glad that Luxilon found that this is a type of string they never had in their line. For me, the concept behind this string blends perfectly with my preferences and I hope to continue to see good results on the court with this string. Count me a fan!
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest: 52# strung on a Babolat Sensor; i bumped up tension 2# because it felt like a softer poly in my hands. it was not stiff and wiry.
Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone 17g pink @ 50#
Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Storm Team GT tail weighted
Power of test string: low; i wish i would have strung this at my usual tension of 50#s or even 2#s lower @ 48#s.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Firm & brassy feeling string bed upon first hit. Evolved after 3 hours of hitting to firm and crisp.
Spin: regular levels of spin typical of most polys; less spin than Cyclone for sure.
Comfort: not good; feel was brassy and firm initially. after 3 hours, the brassiness subsided, but still not comfortable. it left my forearm and shoulder sore every time after 2 hours. it got so bad that i stopped playing with this racquet. after switching to another racquet with different strings, my forearm and shoulder pain disappeared.
Durability: unfortunately i can't comment much on durability as i was only able to get 4-5 hours on this string bed before i realized the string was causing my shoulder pain at which time i stopped using it. but after 5 hrs, there's definitely some notching in the mains.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): unfortunately i can't comment much on playability duration either as i was only able to get 4-5 hours on this string bed before i realized the string was causing my shoulder pain at which time i stopped using it. by the end of the last time i played with this string, the mains had just begun to stop snapping back.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): depth and directional control was good, but i felt the tension was too tight so my groundstrokes were landing shorter than usual.
Compare to the string you use most often: the fact that my shoulder and forearm were sore after a few 1 hour sessions with this string concerns me. while i do have an old shoulder injury, i've never experienced any soreness & pain in my forearm before. my shoulder had been pretty much pain free for the past year until i tried this string. it's possible lower tension would help alot, but i'm not sure i'd be willing to give it another go.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): i would drop tension 2-4#s if i were to try it again for the reasons already mentioned above.
List any additional thoughts (optional): i'm still trying to figure out if this is a round or square string. this string appears to be a cluster of 4 monofilament polys bundled together.

Thanks TW & Luxilon for giving me a chance to playtest this string!

edit: i've continued playing with my forearm and shoulder pain but have not used the Bronze prototype string laced racquet and the pain has pretty much gone away so i'm pretty confident that this string was the culprit.
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest: 51lbs mains 49lbs crosses

Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone 17g 51/49

Racquet brand and model used for test: Yonex Ezone Ai98

Power of test string: This is unquestionably a low-powered control-oriented co-poly. Great string to tame powerful modern racquets.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): This string has a softer, muted feel. It continued to soften up throughout the playtest and started to become a little mushy, but was still predictable and consistent.

Spin: This is more of a control string, so not a ton of spin, necessarily. But because of the low power level, I could swing faster to generate more RPMs.

Comfort: I believe that comfort is the defining characteristic of Luxilon Bronze. At the tension I used, I felt the comfort was superb. It is the softest feeling poly I’ve ever hit with.

Durability: The softer quality of this string is does allow notching at a faster rate than other strings I’ve hit with. I can’t say for sure, because I’m not a string breaker, but I would venture that it is on-par with most other soft, modern co-poly strings in this department.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I hit with this string for two solid weeks and only towards the end did I begin to have issues with the playability. During that time period, it was a gradual decrease in tension and control and I was probably making adjustments subconsciously until the very end when the ball started flying long on me, especially on flatter shots. But, still pretty good tension maintenance.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Along with comfort, control is the second defining characteristic of this string. It gave me ultimate confidence from all areas of the court. I really felt like I was dialed in and able to move my opponent around and hit smaller targets.

Compare to the string you use most often: My go-to string is Volkl Cyclone 17g, which has more power and bite on the ball than Luxilon Bronze, but is much stiffer(less comfortable) and loses out on Playability Duration as well. Cyclone wins for me just because of the incredible value and the fact that my game is centered around hitting big topsin.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I almost made the mistake of going up in tension with this string because I’d heard how soft it was. But, another poster warned me not to do that, and it was definitely good advice. Despite the softer feel, this is still a very low-powered, dead feeling control string. At higher tensions it would certainly have a boardy or brassy feel and would not perform as well. If anything, I might drop tension another pound just to try to find a bit more power.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This string has a nice, silky feel to it and was a pleasure both to string and hit with. Bottom line for me is that this is a control string designed for big hitters who want a more comfortable response than something like ALU Power while maintaining the ultimate control of a modern co-poly. And in that regard, it excels. I think it would pair well with a powerful racquet like the Pure Drive Tour, Pure Aero Tour or the RF97.

All in all, this was a fun playtest. As always, thanks to TW and Luxilon for the opportunity to try something new.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 50lbs lockout machine

Regular string set up: Msc cofocus 17g @ 50lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: babolat aeropro drive original 16x19

Power of test string: medium, at 50lbs on this racket, it is to my like. not too much power yet I can hit the ball deep without much effort.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Firm, feels good on net play. on ground stroke, very solid feel.
Spin: average, not a spin monster but can produce decent spin.

Comfort: very comfortable. at 50lbs, it is very comfortable and never felt any soreness or discomfort after the game.

Durability: I am not a string break and this one holds well for me.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): during my play testing, the string performed well and don't feel the playability change much.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): This is the best of this string for me. I like the control it provide. The depth and trajectory is easy to control and very predictable. served well with some pop and I liked the firm feel of the net play and ground stroke.

Compare to the string you use most often: compare to msv cofocus, it felt firm and bit more stiff. but I do like the extra spin and the playbility of this string.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I had good experience at 50lbs and I won't change if I use this string regularly. It gives me right power, great control and good spin. it also felt comfortable.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This is a great string. Even though it does not have great spin compare to some other poly, it performed very well in every other area for me. this will be a great string choice for players hits flat.

Thanks TW for the play testing.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest
55 pounds on both mains and crosses.

Regular string set up
Topspin Cyberflash 17 mains, Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16 crosses, both at 55 pounds.

Racquet brand and model used for test
Prince Warrior OS.

Power of test string
About average for a modern poly. Perhaps this is a happy medium between ALU and 4G. It has more power than the 4G, but not as much as some of the springier newer polys. I found this to be a pretty good power level – not too dead, but not out-of-control.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Somewhat stiff and muted. I prefer a crisp stringbed, but this was a bit softer than what I usually use. It’s a bit more comfortable feel, not as muted as 4G, but not really what I’d call a crisp string. Not mushy, though, so still pretty easy to control.

Spin
OK spin for a poly, although nobody’s going to call this a “spin” string. You have to think about producing spin more with this string, rather than just getting the sort of automatic spin you can get with some of the more textured polys. This string may be a better choice for flat hitters. I hit a lot of spin on most shots, so this wasn’t the best type of string for me.

Comfort
Definitely seems intended to be a more “comfort” poly. I don’t generally have comfort issues with crisper strings, so no problem here for me with this softer string.

Durability
After about 10 hours, the tension is still holding pretty well, but I’m seeing some notching, and the strings are locking in instead of sliding on my spin shots. So, not as long-lived as 4G, but about average for most other polys.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
There are a few polys that fall off a cliff in a few hours, but this is thankfully not one of those. The falloff is pretty gradual, and I actually liked this string a bit better after a few hours of play then when it was right off the stringer, but towards the end it became a bit tougher to really crank up the spin. Spin is important to me to control depth, so that’s where this test ends for me. A pretty decent performance compared to most other polys, though.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Really nice side to side control. Depth control could have been better, as I depend on spin to control depth, and these are just OK for spin control. As I said before, these may be better suited for flat hitters, but for spin monkeys like me, there are better choices.

Compare to the string you use most often
This string has better comfort and feel than Cyber Flash. Spin is pretty similar, but I give the nod to CF on spin as I think it notches less and holds its spin longer. Tension maintenance is about the same. Control is about the same at first, but CF stays spinny longer, which I need to control depth. I suppose that this is going to cost more than CF, so it’s pretty dependent on the player whether the improvement in comfort and feel is worth the difference in price.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?)
55 pounds worked OK for me, and that’s my usual starting tension for poly strings. New users should try this out at whatever they normally string poly at.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
This seems like a compromise string to me, between crisp/spinny ALU and muted/long-lasting 4G. That could be a great middle-of-the-road starting point for someone new to poly and Luxilon. After getting used to this string, you could eventually move to ALU or 4G, depending on what characteristics you wanted to improve on.

As always, thanks to Luxilon and Tennis Warehouse for giving us the opportunity to try out these new strings.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 (mains) / 50 Crosses
Regular string set up: Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17G / Forten Sweet 16G (52/50)
Racquet brand and model used for test: Dunlop M-fil 400 100 sq inches, 16 x 1 9 (modified 11.2 and 6 points HL)
Power of test string: Average... right down the middle for a round poly
Feel: Very happy with the feel, nice connection to string bed. Not too springy.. better than my normal set-up
Spin: Average again... my normal set-up is better. Technique in.. spin out. No free spin like Tourna Big Hitter Black 7
Comfort: Very good...of course I never have arm issues so hard to make a firm statement on this one.
Durability: Wonderful...Lux did a great job here!!
Playability Duration: Very linear loss of playability. I could get 15-20 hours out of this string
Control: Enjoyed the ball pocketing and control. Ball seemed to stay on the frame for that extra fraction of a second..
Compare to the string you use most often; Plays like a much better version of IsoSpeed Baseline Speed (16L)
Tension recommendations: Happy with what I picked... might go lower on indoor courts to get a bit more free power and spin.
List any additional thoughts: Good stuff... if Lux can get this to market for a decent price I could see it being a solid option. This is a very
middle of the road offering and would appeal to many.. Thanks Lux and TW!!!
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 54 full bed
Regular string set up: Solinco Tour Bite Soft (TBS) - 54 full bed - for about 3 months. Before that Head Hawk Touch (also 54).
Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson RF97A
Power of test string: Very impressed with the power. Quite a bit more than I get with TBS. Flat first serves were hitting 2 feet higher on the back wall. Easy power off the forehand. Very solid volleys.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Very soft; great feel volleying.
Spin: This is where the string fails; almost no spin whatsoever - finally started getting some at after about 8 hours of play. Forehands were sailing long. 2nd serve kicker had no sideways movement. Wasn't completely surprised; the string has a very smooth feel out of the pack.
Comfort: Very good. Absolutely no arm joint discomfort. And I have shoulder issues so I would have known.
Durability: On par with TBS; after 10 hours only slight signs of wear so I suspect I would get 16-18 hours from it (same as I get from TBS)
Playability Duration Held up very well. No significant change in play (other than the appearance of some spin).
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Again, because of the complete lack of spin for the 1st 8 hours, it was difficult, bordering on impossible to control groundstrokes, especially forehands. The trajectory was fine; just not enough spin.
Compare to the string you use most often: Not a bad string. The power on 1st serves was very nice. But the lack of spin is a non-starter. At 4.5-5.0 level hitting speed on hardcourts, one has to have enough topspin to get the balls to drop in and kick up. This string does not provide that.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I would recommend starting at least 4 pounds lower.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 51 mains/53 crosses
Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone 17g @ 51/53
Racquet brand and model used for test: K-Six.One.Tour
Power of test string: Low powered poly, but compared to other similar polies it is higher on power which great.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): It felt muted compared to ALU or Volkl. The muted feel had less response to shots than I wanted. I really like the feedback from more crisp strings.
Spin: The spin was above average but wasn’t like Volkl Cyclone where you get excessive amounts of spin.
Comfort: This string is far more comfortable than Cyclone or ALU which is great for long hitting sessions and overall health.
Durability: Really strong durability. I have hit with this string for two weeks and eight hitting sessions and it has held up just like ALU and 4G. Really surprised at how Luxilon can create such a diverse amount of strings with such variation.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I had to acclimate a bit to the strings in the beginning but they felt good once they settled in (1/2 hr). I believe the playability held firm similar to how 4G holds its tension.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)

The shots were predictable. I really got the hang of my topspin forehand and could direct my shots assuming that I reached them in time. The serves w/ the added power were great but I found myself needing to impart more spin unless I was up significantly. I think if I add a few more pounds I could getting better performance on serve but lose out on the rallies a bit. Volleys were solid and I could get some good depth on the shots.


Compare to the string you use most often: I really enjoyed this string and would trade it for my current offering at the right price. However, I doubt Luxilon will be selling these for less than $5 a set. The performance and qualities are significant but is it worth the premium? Maybe, if I were playing tournaments then I would consider changing.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?)

I would of liked to play with increased tensions probably 2-3 more llb to reign in the power of this string. I think my serve accuracy would have improved and reduce the pace of my rallies. I think the placement of shorter volleys would be better.


List any additional thoughts (optional)
 
Finally got around to testing and reviewing this string!

Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 lbs.

Regular string set up: RPM Blast 17g 52lbs.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour

Power of test string: Obviously low powered in comparison to all strings but for polys I found it to be medium powered.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): It was a muted feel at first and got softer and softer as the playtest went on.

Spin: The string didn't seem to be shaped or a rough texture. I would rate it as less spin than my usual setup. There was no free access to spin but it didn't hold me back from creating much spin either.

Comfort: I really liked the comfort of this string. No arm problems to report during this playtest and I felt it to be on par with the softness of Tour Bite soft.

Durability: Durability wasn't great. I broke this string within a week. Mostly feeding balls bu about 5 hours of hard hitting.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Became a bit mushier over time. Nothing terrible, I though the comfort and feel of this string was its best characteristic.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Had the obvious factors of a poly. I could swing fast and hard and the ball would stay deep most times. I also liked it on the serve, I was getting lots of controlled power, hitting my marks very consistently. Slices also had decent bite.

Compare to the string you use most often: Not as much pop as RPM and less effortless spin potential. The string probably wasn't for me, but I can see a market for it.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): Maybe a few pounds tighter to negate some of the mushy/soft feeling even more.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 51 lbs on a lockout machine
Regular string set up: I have been trying many different polys over the last several months. My most used one/overall favorite right now is Volkl Cyclone 17 in a full bed at 50 lbs.
Racquet brand and model used for test: POG mid (Tour version)
Power of test string: On the low side of average. I found myself wanting a little more pop on serves and on groundstrokes where i wasn't in a position to transfer my weight into the shot. No shots sailed on me, and winners were certainly possible, so i am kind of nitpicking here.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): This one was overall pretty muted. I typically like a crisper string and i felt like i lost a little feel for how the ball was coming off the string bed with this string.
Spin: Below average for a poly. Honestly i didn't see much more spin than you might expect from something like RIP Control 17. I usually play a thinner gauge string and have enjoyed shaped polys, so take my experience with a grain of salt. Spin was possible, but it had to be the major goal of the particular stroke in order to get it.
Comfort: I played with this string for 3 weeks and didn't have the slightest feeling of discomfort in the wrist/forearm until the very end. Even then, it wasn't bad enough for me to need to cut it out yet. I have two torn ligaments in my playing shoulder from a [flag] football injury 7 years ago and had no shoulder pain. Good marks for comfort.
Durability: I am not a string breaker (even in the POG and especially not with a 16 gauge string) and found this string to survive just fine. String remained straight through 3 weeks of mainly doubles. There is some denting, but not to the level of notching yet.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I played my best returning match ever my first time out with this string, so my first impression was very positive. Even though my play didn't stay at that level, it was not the string's fault. I felt a very gradual decay of playability and certainly no drop-off with this string.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Depth control right off the stringer was dead on. Directional control was great too with this string. Serve control was pretty good. I use a good deal of spin, which wasn't awesome with this string, but placement was still fine. Volleys actually felt really solid. Overall the launch angle was pretty flat/low, i think. The relative lack of extra spin keeps it from receiving the highest of marks here, but overall it still is very good.
Compare to the string you use most often: Cyclone 17 is obviously going to be more powerful and spinnier than this 16 gauge string. That said, you probably get a more consistent response from this Luxilon string for a longer time period. Comfort is a nice feature as well.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I would be tempted to try dropping a couple of pounds from your regular tension. This might give the power and more access to spin that i was looking for.
List any additional thoughts (optional): The color of this string was pretty unique and will probably look cool on just about any racquet. If you are not a string breaker, you can get good life out of this string due to its comfort level and ability to hang on to the playability characteristics for a longer time than your typical poly. Those seem to be the best attributes of this string and what will set it apart from the pack. Thanks for the opportunity to test out this Luxilon string.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest - 55 lbs
Regular string set up - Volkl Cyclon 55lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test - Babolat Pure Drive

Power of test string - Power seems to be medium to low, I was playing against a guy that had a huge serve and I did not feel the racquet was out of control while returning so that's a big plus in my book. On serves, this string had some decent bite to it when I was spinning my serves in, hitting flat serves had good accuracy but not as much pop.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - This Luxilon is not a textured string and feels rather smooth. It pockets the ball slightly, not deep pocketing like the Cyclone thus it feel like there's better control over your shots. It does not feel mushy and its not crisp, it has a slightly dampened feel to it. From a liveliness standpoint, I'd give it a low to medium leaning toward low.

Spin - The spin is good but not overwhelming, it allows you to hit shots that will penetrate the court but when needed, it has the ability to bite and put some nice spin on it as well. The spin from this string feels like is coming from snap back more than anything else.

Comfort - On the stringer it did stretch a bit so I knew off hand this is not a super stiff co-poly. First hits with it confirmed that this had a nice soft feel to it. If Luxilon is targeting this to a larger demographic that like softer strings, they have hit their mark nicely.

Durability - After a few hits with it I'm starting to see some very obvious notching and I haven't gotten to the heavy hitting with big hitters yet so for the moment I would have to say durability is about average to slightly below average.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - So far so good in this category, had a few hits with it and I have yet to experience a major tension drop. I'm sure it did but it was very slight and plays much better after it settles. Tension stability is fairly stable up until the end.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - After a few more hits with it the control aspect is starting to shine, it doesn't give you anything you did not put into it so no free power, it will give you exactly what you have dictated with your swing. I would say this string is made for players that have a full stroke.

Compare to the string you use most often - Compared to Cyclone this has less power, spin is slightly less but it has enough to control your shots, definitely has more control, comfort level is about equal but they feel slightly different, the Luxlilon plays firmer.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?) I was hesitating about stringing this at my normal tension since Luxilon is synonymous for being really stiff. I took a chance and strung this at my normal tension and it turned out great! Comfort level is really good here so no danger of tennis elbow with this string.

List any additional thoughts (optional) I would say this string is made for intermediate to advanced players looking for more comfort in Luxilon strings. It has an excellent balance between playability and control. Players without full swings will find this string under powered and dead.
 
Tension used for play test: 48 lbs full bed.
Regular string: X-one biphase 16 gauge at 58 lbs full bed.
Racquet brand: Volkl Quantum Powerboost

Power of string: somewhere between low and medium. I wanted a little more power. Really had to work it to get that heavy pace.

Feel: the string was kind of muted. It wasn't mushy but differently not crisp either. I fould I could hit my spots but had to really work at it though.

Spin: first off this string is very smooth. Not what I was expecting from a poly. It reminded me of the new Gamma Glide. But much softer than the Gamma. It had a bit of pocketing which allowed some spin from the spring back. I typically use a lot of wrist on my forehand (yes old school) so I was able to impart a decent amout of spin. But once again had to really work it to get it.

Comfort: I must say I was very surprised by the comfort with this sting. Once again the poly's I have hit with in the past were very stiff and hard on the arm. This sting was totally different. It played much more like a multifilament. Very comfortable string. Never once bothered my arm or shoulder.

Durabilty: I actually have about 20 hours of singles on the stings. There is some notching but it has held up very well against some big hitters.

Playabity Duration: I found the sting to hold up well. There was a slight tension drop after a few hours. Nothing drastic. All in all I thought it held up very well. Even after 20 hours it still plays well.

Control: the string gives you what you put into it. You can hit your spot but you have to really focus on doing so. It all depends on your swing. There will be no extra top spin or pace. It has to come from you. So it's not a string for a lazy player.

Compare to string normally used: my string of choice is the X-One Biphase. The test string didn't have as much power. The X-One also offers a little bit more spin. Both are very arm friendly. But a very decent string.

Tension Recomendations: I strung at 48 lbs. I think this is about right. Maybe a little higher to give it a bit more control. If I had known this was such a soft string I would have strung it higher. But the lower tension gave it more top spin. So an even trade off.

Additional Thoughts: this is a good string for someone looking for comfort. Very surprising in that aspect. If your not a super big hitter I feel you can get a long play life out of the strings since they didn't lose much tension. But you also need some long strokes to get the stings to do what you want.

Once again thank you Tennis Warehouse.
 
Here is my review of the Luxilon Prototype playtest.

I strung this up myself using my Klippermate drop-weight machine.

First impression upon taking it out was the string was soft for a polyester type string. It was so soft that I scratched my head a little as I don't remember every feeling such a soft poly type string. When stringing I had to be careful with my clamps as I noticed they really indented the string.
String had a wax coating on it but not a heavy one and it also had pretty decent coil memory.
Due to it being soft I found it easy to weave the crosses with but hard to poke through shared holes.
I did not notice any severe stretching of the string.

On to the review:

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50lbs

Regular string set-up: RPM blast 50lbs full bed

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babloat Pure Aero

Power of test string: 7.5/10 I found this string to be on the average power side for a polyester type string. I could swing hard without fear of sending the ball long. I did find my backhands (one handed) to land a little shorter than normal. My serves had good pop on them when I could hit the sweet spot. This string has a lower overall power potential than the RPM blast I was using.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Soft. This string was incredibly soft without feeling muted. In my opinion its so soft you could almost mistake it for a synthetic gut. It is almost as if the strings pocketed the ball for an extra split second. This really helped on my volleys as I felt like I had more time to direct the ball when it made contact with the string bed. I really enjoyed the feel of this string.

Spin: 8/10 I found the spin to be good but nothing special with this string. As any poly I have played with I felt I could get good spin from this string. It does not produce anywhere near the spin of some of the shaped strings I have played with nor the RPM blast I was using before this.

Comfort: 9/10 Without a doubt it is the most comfortable poly type string I have ever played with. No arm pain, no jarring effect on off center shots, no harshness. The RPM blast I was using I felt was comfortable yet this string blows that away in comfort.

Durability: 9/10 No significant wear was noticed during my playtest.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): The string only became more plush and comfortable as I used it. I noticed no major tension loss or change in character after hitting with it for a week.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): 9.5/10 Control was outstanding with this string. While this string was down on power it was up on control. I was able to get pinpoint accuracy with my backhands, serves, and volleys. Since it was low on the power side I needed to swing harder to keep the ball deep but horizontally I had no issues going close to the lines. On my serve I felt confident going for the corners of the box. Volleys were just amazing as I felt like I had complete control on directing the ball. The strings pocketed the ball so well it felt almost like I had my hand cupped around the ball.

Compare the performance characteristics to the string you use most often: Compared to the RPM blast string I had been using before this I would say:
  • Power - Lower
  • Spin - Lower
  • Control - Better
  • Feel/Comfort - softer and more comfortable, provides more ball pocketing
  • Durability - not enough difference to be noticable

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I was happy with the 50lbs I chose but I had no idea just how comfortable this string would be. Knowing that I would like to try this string again at 55lbs to see if it helps increase the power some while still being comfortable.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
This string was a real treat to play with. It is truly a unique poly type string that offers a level of comfort and feel I have not seen before from a poly.
If you are after control and comfort I'd say this string has it all.
While low on power and not the spinniest string, I feel like for my game I will benefit more from the extra control this string offers.
I hate volleying but this string actually made it fun to get up there and defend the net :)
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 52/50


By looking at the string, you know it is a premium type of string. By touching it, it feels somewhat softer than most of poly strings, like M2 Pro.

Regular string set up: Natural guts/ poly around 52/49

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Ozone Tour 16 *18, modified to 12.4 Oz

I am a solid 4.0, all court player, Currently playing double most of time, as my left knee is giving away…

Power of test string:


It is interesting to see how Luxilon is really leading R&D in the tennis string industry. While having played with Luxilon Original, M2 Pro, 4G, and 4G Soft, I felt like this string is extension of this line of product: Original was low power and stiff, this one is relatively low power but soft. Whereas M2 Pro plays great for the first 2 hours, then just die horribly, this string is more like 4G, the tension maintenance is quite good.


It seems to me that Luxilon is trying to replicate a feel of hybrid set up with one string, aiming for the big hitters though.


Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):

Muted? No vibration was felt. A little bit more powerful than 4G with similar feel.

Spin:

Better than 4G. As it is control oriented with low power, you could actually get some decent spin as you swing hard at ball with no holding back. Nonetheless, you can’t really descript the string as spin friendly.


Comfort:

More comfortable than 4G, which I like a lot. I have played with the string for more than 14 hours. It is getting somewhat uncontrollable and mushy. I was hoping to break it, but by looking at the notches, I think it may still have a couple of hours left.

I don’t feel irritation at wrist or my arm.

Durability:

Very good for a poly, similar to 4G. It could be a good string for hybrid with guts.


Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):

The playability is relatively long for a poly string. I began to think of cutting out by 10 hour mark. Well, it was still playable at that time. The precision may not be there after 10 hrs, but manageable.


Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?):

It has above average control. Once you play for half an hour, you will place the ball where you want. Good at volley too.


Compare to the string you use most often:

Well, gut hybrid is kind of hard to beat. The easy power from guts for passing shots is something I kind of miss from this string. Well, on the other hand,the number of shots landing long is a lot of less. Crispness is also something I miss from this string. My serve seem to have suffered a little. If you compare it with my old hybrid setup- poly/syn guts, I would say the feel, the control and comfort are similar, but only the power is relatively lower with this string. I don’t mind playing with it at all.


Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?):


It is hard to say as I kind of miss the crispness and the power with my gut hybrid setup. With higher tension, I will lose more power; lower tension, more mushy… I would stick to the tension I have.


It is always fun to playtest Luxilon strings as I am always interested in their innovations.


Thanks to TW and Luxilon for this opportunity.
 
Luxilon Prototype - Full Bed

TENSION USED FOR PLAYTEST - 50 lbs in both the mains and crosses strung on a lockout machine.

REGULAR STRING SETUP - The regular setup of Dunlop Black Widow 17 gauge, 50 lbs x 50 lbs also strung on a lockout machine.

RACQUET BRAND AND MODEL USED FOR TEST - Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour 95.

POWER OF TEST STRING - The power level of this would fall into the above average range for a poly. For a poly player, this string provides plenty of power. Also, like most co-polys, the power is very useable. There is enough pop to impose an aggressive, power style of play, but not so much that the ball flies off the string bed like what is possible with a multi or natural gut.

FEEL OF TEST STRING - For a Luxilon offering, this has a comfortable, useable amount of touch on every type of shot and has some very decent ball pocketing. The string has a soft feel but was not at all dull or muted. Definitely on the soft side for a Luxilon co-polyester string.

SPIN - The spin available is plentiful as is with most co-polys. However, for a Luxilon and other "spin" strings, the spin is definitely less than some of their more popular strings. The spin combined with the useable power and nice feel, makes it a very nice string to play with and will give players plenty of useable shotmaking options.

COMFORT - Very good in the comfort arena. It is not spongy or pillowy soft, but still quite comfortable. There was very little if any shock coming from of the string bed. There was no lingering discomfort at any time during, or after, the test.

DURABILITY - This particular test was for approximately six sets of singles of about six hours of time over a seven day period. The strings did not break during that time. There was some definite notching toward the end of the test.

PLAYABILITY DURATION (HOW PLAYABILITY CHANGED OVER TIME) - This Luxilon string started out nice, then a different feel seemed to settle in after a short period of time. It was a different, but still good playability feel. There was the normal polyester drop in tension during the first half an hour or so, then was smooth sailing with consistent playability.

CONTROL (PREDICTABLE TRAJECTORY) - This string offers outstanding control. The useable combination of power and spin produce a great level of control. This set of strings had the usual great control that comes with poly and co-poly strings. That combination allows a player to have great control and shot choices hitting to and from every position on the court.

COMPARE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF LUXILON TEST STRING TO DUNLOP BLACK WIDOW - For any given comparison, one string may perform better than the other at one tension, they may then grade just the opposite at a different tension. In general, Black Widow plays with more comfort, spin, and power but not by a lot. The Luxilon seemed to have a little more feel and. They both have very similar levels of control, and overall playability duration.

TENSION RECOMMENDATION - The 50 lb. test tension seemed to be a solid intro tension in this low-powered racquet. I might try, or recommend lowering the tension a pound or two in order to increase the power. At a bit of a lower tension, the control and feel should not be diminished and it will remain quite playable.

LIST ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS - This Luxilon string is a playable, control string with very useable power. I think that many types of players with different types of games will be able to make this string work for them. It is not weak in any particular area. Polyester and co-polyester string technology is continuing its evolution. This string is following the trend of more balanced, well-rounded playability characteristics. It is my observation that strings are being produced that incorporate a greater cross-section of each spin, power, comfort, control, and feel, into the same string. They are incorporating all of the positive playability attributes of each polyester, nylon, and natural gut into the same string. This string is produced along those lines.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest
48# constant pull w 10% prestretch

Regular string set up
Nothing regular at this time. Often 1.25 shaped/rough poly. I usually compare to Volkl Cyclone when doing string tests

Racquet brand and model used for test
Head YouTek Prestige Pro

Power of test string
First day seemed like a solid medium powered poly. 2nd day and till the end of the play test medium-low

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Muted

Spin
1st day the spin was very good. Almost like a rough/shaped poly. 2nd day it was on par with round polys

Comfort
Very good for me. Previous TE sufferer (due to bad technique). Off centered shots where a bit discomforting but could be the racquet and not the string

Durability
I don't break strings (especially poly) and will cut out. Seemed very durable and the notching didn't start to show up after a few days of play

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
After break in period, the string played very consistent. This was about a 3 week period of playing about 3 days a week about 75% doubles and the rest singles/drills. After this mark, the string started to lack in the spin department. Snap back started to be less but not by much

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
I find this to be a very good control string at various strokes and swing speeds. On fast RHS, the spin really showed up and helped get the ball to drop before the baseline. Change of direction was excellent as well

Compare to the string you use most often
Softer, lower power, less spin, more durable

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?)
I think this was a good tension for this racquet. If I wanted to get more power I might go a couple pounds lower

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I have not had very much experience with Luxilon strings. I felt that it played softer and lasted longer than 4G/4GR/4GS. It is a very nice string and will work for players who hit flat but just want a touch of spin. This might also be considered a poly for those suffering from TE. Nice ball pocketing, good control and feedback on volleys, and a very rewarding sound on nice heavy shots. The color of the string at first was BLAH. When it was strung up, it just looked great and even better when out in the sun

*****even more thoughts
I had some play money and picked up the SpinGen tool. I treated the 12 main strings after playing with the string in its standard form for 3 weeks. This was the point I felt the playability started to change where the snap back was noticeably less (just enough to notice). The spin seemed to come back again and I continued to play with this string bed up until yesterday (almost 4 weeks after stringing). The snap back was just non-existent and it looked like I was playing with synthetic gut. Notching appears to be 50% through the string. The control was still okay as well as the spin.

Thank you Tennis Warehouse and to Luxilon for making these play tests available. Also thank you to Luxilon for the additional free set (I was picked as a winner on their Facebook page).

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Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 lbs CP

Regular string set up: Babolat RPM 17 @ 50 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Aero

Power of test string: medium powered for a poly

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): crisp but muted

Spin: OK spin for a poly, less than RPM

Comfort: very comfortable for a poly, one of the most comfortable polys I’ve tried this year

Durability: pretty durable, only some slight notching after 7 hours of play

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): string played consistent throughout the playtest, felt like the tension dropped after stringing but held the rest of the way

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): the trajectory was very predictable which made it easy to control the depth and spin on groundstrokes, serves were great because of the medium power, at the net was where this string shined, volleys felt great because of the crisp but soft feel

Compare to the string you use most often: this string was more comfortable and had more feel than RPM Blast but loses out to it in the spin department, it definitely held tension better than RPM

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I would keep the tension the same, string played great at this tension

List any additional thoughts (optional): I think Luxilon has a winner on their hands with this string. It plays like a softer version of 4G, which I like a lot. This string would be great for a serve and volleyer because of its good power and great feel

Thanks again T-Dub for allowing me to playtest this string. You guys rock!
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 53 lbs

Regular string set up: Solinco Tour Bite @ 54 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: AeroPro Drive 13

Power of test string: About average for me, nothing like the level of Tourna BHB7, more comparable to the levels of other Lux strings.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Soft string for me, good pocketing into the string bed for me.

Spin: The spin potential isn't anything out of this world, at least compared to tour bite, and it won't do you any favors, but it does the job for me. I prefer to get a little more bite out of my strings though, especially with more thinner/textured strings.

Comfort: Usually don't have comfort issues with poly, and this was no exception. One of the softer polys I've played with, so no problems.

Durability: I usually don't break strings, and i have to cut dead strings out before they break. I've got perhaps 10 hours on these and there's no sign of significant notching in the sweetspot.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): There's a slight tension drop over time, but nothing to the level that I've experienced with strings such as tour bite soft or RPM. Lux has done a good job making this comparable to 4G strings. Very satisfied with the playability even at 10 hrs.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): This was more of the redeeming aspect of the string for me. The string offered continued playability and control for me throughout the playtest, as I got controlled power on all shots. Didn't really have too many shots go erratic, very easy to have shots placed where I want them to. Able to conform to depth and angles without issue.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to Tour Bite, it is softer and more comfortable for me, plays with comparable power while sacrificing a bit of spin and that "firm" feel I get from Tour Bite.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I tend to never string polys above ~53 lbs, and this worked out just fine for me. If I had to nitpick, I would lower maybe down to 50 to get just a bit more free power.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Overall, a very good soft control poly. Tension maintenance is another redeeming feature, and I wouldn't hesitate to try this string out again.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 52

Regular string set up: Still fairly new to poly's and experimenting; mainly softer, cheaper poly's (Head Sonic Pro, various Volkl co-poly's) at 54 (went down based upon past experiences with Luxilon's stiffer offerings -- 4G, 4G Rough, ALU Power)

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Black EX03

Power of test string: Medium power overall, definitely more power relative to my previous Luxilon experiences; it took me a little while to dial this string in at first as they were sailing out the back initially

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): While marginally softer than other Lux products, still stiffer than the softer poly's I've been using

Spin: Fairly low compared to other polys with coatings or shaping that help generate extra spin

Comfort: Medium to low; off-center contacts and on volleys felt jarring at times; when I first started playing a couple of hits felt like my dampener came off

Durability: I'm not a (poly) string breaker but this strings appeared to hold up nicely

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): fairly consistent playability throughout, a potential strength of this string

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): High, once I dialed it in, I found good, consistent control with my groundstrokes

Compare to the string you use most often: I found it more jarring than Volkl Cyclone Tour with less spin so I don't see a compelling reason to switch

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): I would stick with low 50's for me to maintain some comfort

List any additional thoughts (optional): This string might be more of a possibility for me versus other Luxilon products but I can't say that anything really stood out for me either -- a good string but nothing special either plus I expect a premium price. Thanks for the opportunity Tennis Warehouse and Luxilon.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 48lb

Regular string set up: Luxilon ALU Power Spin/Luxilon ALU Power Feel @ 48lb

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Response 97

Power of test string: Relatively powerful for a poly. Plenty of pop, but still easy to control. I found it pretty much ideal.

Feel: Nicely muted: comfortable without feeling dead.

Spin: Plenty, in line with any performance poly. It has a nice slick surface that promotes healthy snap-back. I've played with strings that generate more spin, but the Bronze Prototype never left me wanting more.

Comfort: Surprisingly comfortable, and very soft for a poly with these performance characteristics.

Durability: These are notching more slowly than I'd expect, so durability looks good.

Playability Duration: This was where the string most surprised me. It maintained its playability very well. The stringbed behaved consistently throughout the playtest, even after hours of hard hitting.

Control: I found control to be outstanding. It was easy to measure the depth of shots, directional control was great, and I found it easy to hit with the right amount of spin for each shot.

Compare to the string you use most often: Definitely softer than ALU Power (not a surprise). I think the ALU probably has better peak performance, but the Bronze Prototype feels more accessible and makes things feel easier than I'm used to.

Tension recommendations: 48lb worked really well for me.

List any additional thoughts: Wilson's poly line seems to be missing a soft, powerful string that compares to Kirschbaum Pro Line or Yonex Poly Tour Pro. As Wilson hasn't previously offered an accessible poly for that audience, I'm especially excited about this one, and I'll be stocking Element for my stringing customers.
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest: 52/56
Regular string set up: not sure yet but either 4G, 4G soft or a hybrid of LTec premium 4S M/Kirschbaum Max power X.
Racquet brand and model used for test: pure Storm ltd
Power of test string: compared to what I like it was plenty powerful, coupled with lack of spin it was hard to control.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I think it played pretty crisp despite the fact that it's a comfort string but it was still very comfy.
Spin: Meh at best... I've tried 16 and even a couple 15L gauge strings that I've been able to get more spin out of. Coupled with the lack of control it was difficult to put my own spin so it ended up being very very bad in this department.
Comfort: perfectly comfortable but my arm did easily last through an entire month of full Kevlar.
Durability: durability was better than expected considering how the string played. Maybe not as durable as any of my goto setups but still not bad.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): this string lost everything after the first hit. That's al there is to it.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): as stated very little control and I was having trouble even putting decent pace or spin on the ball.
Compare to the string you use most often: much softer and livelier than the rest. Less spin and less control but more comfortable. By far worst tension maintenance.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?): despite most people saying to keep tension the same, I would have upped the tension even more (was planning at first to do 50/54) because I had trouble with the string's lack of control and tension maintenance.
List any additional thoughts (optional): will not switch for sure. Nice try lux.

 
Tension(s) used for playtest - 50 lbs

Regular string set up - Babolat RPM Blast 16 at 50 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test - Babolat AeroPro Drive

Power of test string - Impressive power while holding great control. I found this string to produce the most power in the Luxilon poly family.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - Muted feel throughout the playtest, very different from Alu Power which was crisp.

Spin - Medium spin compared to other polys. Nothing special on this category. My regular setup definitely generated more spin. Not recommended for players searching for heavy spin poly.

Comfort - Very comfortable string for me. Didn't have any arm or wrist issues during the playtest.

Durability - High durability for 17g like Alu Power. Started notching after about 7 hours of hitting. String broke after about a week and a half.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - Amazing tension maintenance like Luxilon 4G. Slightly drop on tension after the first hit, then it held consistently for 8 hours. After that, the string notched hard, lost control and touch, balls started going deep generating less spin.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - Great control with fast full groundstrokes. Easy to hit deep from the baseline. Solid volley with just a simple touch. Multiple serves went exactly where I predicted.

Compare to the string you use most often - Luxilon Prototype and RPM Blast both have outstanding power and control.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?) - Yes, I would string it 5 lbs more than before for a bit better control to compensate for the loss of spin.

List any additional thoughts (optional) - I really enjoyed hitting with this string. I will be using them in the future. I highly recommend this string for players looking for maximum power, control, and tension maintenance.
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 50 lb

Regular string set-up: Volkl Cyclone 17

Racquet brand and model used for test: Head MG Radical MP

Power of test string: Medium, I felt it had more power and was livelier than other Luxilon strings I have tried.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The stringbed was very comfortable, soft and somewhat muted, but not mushy.

Spin: I felt the spin was a low point for this string. Less than what I'm used to from a co-poly. I would prefer more bite on the ball.

Comfort: No issues with comfort. I felt that comfort was the highest attribute for this string, very comfortable for a co-poly.

Durability: So far durability seems good, some notching but no major issues.

Playability Duration: There was some loss in playability after a few sessions, but not extreme.

Control: Initially the control was very good with a consistent stringbed. Faded some when the string aged.

Compare the performance characteristics to the string you use most often: Compared to Volkl Cyclone 17, this string had less bite and less spin. However, it was more comfortable.

Tension recommendations: I would stay about the same, but would consider a pre-stretch next time.

List any additional thoughts: I think this may be a good string for a flat hitter looking for a co-poly with comfort and control. Also, the color is very unique.
 
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Tension used: 52 lbs off my stringer, 2 pieced.

Regular string set up: Alu Power smooth, lately..mid 50's

Racquet brand and model used for test: Customised APD+

Power of test string: Medium for a poly, a little less than Alu.

Feel : Muted and Crisp. A little "deader" than Alu.

Spin : Not as "grabby" as Alu rough, but then what is? No issues with generating spin. I believe this is more technique than string driven.

Comfort : Good for poly, better than Alu, no harsh feelings at all.

Durability: N/A . Only have about 2-3 hrs on it with minimal notching. I usually don't break full poly and tend to cut 'em out at 5-6 hours of play, after they have notched and lost snap back.

Playability Duration: Really like this string. Strung it up and then proceeded to go out and play some of the best singles I have in a while. I was hitting all my shots. Serves had nasty spin, returns against a good server were great whether I blocked 'em or took a cut. Biting slice and dipping topspin ground strokes were all falling in. A great control string in my APD. The playability of the Bronze has not changed while it's been in my racket.

Compare to the string you use most often: I cut out some Babolat PHT to put the Bronze (Element?) in. I have used just about ALL of Luxilon's offerings with the exception of the new 'soft' ALu and 4G. This is entirely different to anything they have in their line up. IMO if Babolat PHT and Alu Power smooth were to have a love child this would be it.

Tension recommendations: Happy with what I strung it at. Mid 50's is very good.

List any additional thoughts: Will definitely be stocking up on some Bronze. Great job Luxilon. Thanks once again TW for the opportunity to test this out.
 
Tension used for playtest: 53 lbs.
Regular string set up: Isospeed Baseline Spin 17L or Babolat Pro Hurricane around 52-55 lbs.
Racquet brand and model used for test: Head Microgel Radical MP
Power of test string: The power seemed to be in line with Pro Hurricane. I was able to take big cuts and keep the ball in.
Feel: Felt a little strange off of the stringer, but it felt like a regular poly by the third session. It was a little muted.
Spin: Spin potential was similar to that which I get with Pro Hurricane of the same gauge.
Comfort: I found the string to be pretty comfortable. I didn’t have any issues or pain from using it.
Durability: I generally don’t break strings, so I didn’t notice much wear on this string.
Playability Duration: I didn’t get a lot of time in with this string, but the tension maintenance seemed good. The string felt predictable over my three sessions with it.
Control: I was able to place my groundstrokes and volleys where I wanted to.
Compare to the string you use most often: This string is a little less crisp than Pro Hurricane, but offers similar performance. Spin and power are pretty comparable. I’d need to try this Luxilon string and Pro Hurricane back to back for a more definitive comparison.
Tension recommendations: I felt that 53 lbs. was a good tension for this string.I was able to go for my shots without worrying about them going long.


Thank you TW for the playtest opportunity!
 

Tension(s) used for playtest - 46/42

Regular string set up - 46/42 Pros Pro Strategem 8 1.25

Racquet brand and model used for test - Yonex Ai 98

Power of test string - I found the power of the string to be a little bit less than what I am normally used to and I would say that the power is a little bit below average for polys.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - I found the feel to be a solid kind of a crisp, but mushy feel.

Spin - The spin was about average for a poly, maybe a little bit less.

Comfort - Even though the string felt pretty solid, it wasn't harsh on the arm and was comfortable for me, I didn't have any problems with it. Overall it feels soft.

Durability - I am not a string breaker so I can't really comment on this, but I would say it is about average for a poly based on notching.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)- It was pretty mushy at first and had no power at first, but after I broke it in, it felt much better and got more crisp and it had more power. The control stayed great throughout.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)- The control was great with this string and I could easily place the ball wherever I wanted to.

Compare to the string you use most often- This string had more control and less power, while strategem has more spin and it felt more crisp. This string felt more comfortable.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?)- I might go down 2-4 lbs in order to get some more power from this string and maybe spin.

List any additional thoughts (optional)- This string feels basically like 4g with more comfort and a little bit less spin.

 
Tension(s) used for playtest: 44 M / 42 X
Regular string set up: Volkl V-Torque, Luxilon ALU Power Spin, etc.
Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson Pro Staff 100LS heavily modified.
Power of test string: Ample yet controlled power on demand. I hit some really inside-out forehand winners and appreciated the beastly power.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Nicely muted, plush.
Spin: Great spin. Loved hitting drop shots with this setup. Allows for heavy topspin shots as well as delicate touch shots.
Comfort: Very comfortable.
Durability: Popped in 3 sessions of doubles. But that's quite normal for Luxilon, which I tend to snap quicker than other co-poly brands.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I string up the frame and let it sit for a day, so I might not feel as drastic a change in tension. Overall, the playability remained outstanding throughout the string's lifespan.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I found the trajectory normal and very predictable. I appreciated the fact that I could easily blast groundstrokes yet get enough feel and touch on more delicate shots. This is a great string for all-courters and S&V players.
Compare to the string you use most often: In the spin department, it is not quite as good as ALU Spin or V-Torque, but it's not far behind. I could transition between those strings and this Bronze prototype without skipping a beat.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?) The tension was great for me, but I think I could have gone much higher and still play great with it without feeling discomfort or lack of power.
 
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Tension(s) used for playtest 40 * 40 lbs
Regular string set up Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 40 * 40 lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test Head Youtek Speed MP 16 * 19
Power of test string At the low tension, the power was steady and manageable. Mis-hits would fly, but that wasn't the string's fault!
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) Felt very different on volleys versus groundstrokes. I liked the punch that my volleys had, but it felt a little stiff from the baseline.
Spin Compared to BHB7, it had no where near the spin development. But, I was able to generate fair spin in order to keep ground strokes in the court and nice and deep.
Comfort A very comfortable polyester for all strokes. No evidence of any discomfort in my arm.
Durability Very minimal notching after three matches and a number of practice hours.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) Didn't notice any substantial playability loss over the test period. Thought that the string maintained it's playability characteristics throughout the hours of play.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) As mentioned, when taking a big swing at ground strokes I would occasionally send a shot soaring into the fence, though I'm not entirely sure that's the fault of the strings. For volleys, the control was spot on.
Compare to the string you use most often Similar comfort, not near as much string, but firmer and more controllable on the volley.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? If yes, why?) I'd like to try this around 50 lbs to see if the spin generation increased at all. However, at 40 lbs, it plays quite well.
List any additional thoughts (optional) Would like to try this in a thinner gauge as durability wasn't an issue, and more bite could be expected from the smaller gauge generating more spin. I had a tough time serving with this set up as I rely on a good break on my kick serve to keep my opponent's off balance. Overall, a good offering from Lux. I like the comfort and would definitely recommend it to friends looking for a soft co-poly.
 
I already posted my review but wanted to put that I played my league match with it this weekend. The strings had been in the racquet for about 6 days.

There was some tension loss but it was not enough to ruin the playability. In fact it gave me some extra pop.

String just offers such nice feel and I feel very comfortable volleying with this string.
Hit some absolutely murderous forehands with this. Had my opponents literally shaking their head at them.

Great string and I really would like to know if this comes out to market and if so what it will be called.

EDIT
Last night I broke it :( The string did not make it quite 3 full matches.
 
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