Tennis Warehouse playtest: Solinco Hyper-G / Hyper-G Round

The Solinco Hyper-G / Hyper-G Round Hybrid Playtest

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Q: Can a tennis string make you a better player?
A: Below

Tennis background: 4.0 looking for 4.5 NTRP all-court attacking style. Love to come in whenever possible. Can play from the baseline, but prefer to be inside of it especially on returns and will play the occasional serve and volley. I like to think there is no such thing as “no man’s land” so I rely on string with great touch / feel when taking balls out of the air. RE strings I’m always experimenting and trying new combos in search of the Holy Grail.

Regular string set up: Generally a Poly / Poly Hybrid. Shaped Poly Mains / round poly crosses. Mains Ytex Quadro Twist 17, Hyper-G 17, or Volkl Cyclone 16 and Round polys like Kirschbaum Flash, PP Vendetta and the occasional synthetic gut or multi.
Racquet Used: Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19 P17 weighted.
Hours played: 14-15
String in Mains: Hyper-G Regular / Round in the Crosses
Tension(s) used: 44 m / 46 cr. lbs

Power/Control of Hyper-G Combo
Power: Surprisingly good, but not overpowering. I have played Solinco’s Hyper-G 17g off and on for years in a full bed and in hybrid setups with other round polys, with synthetic gut and it has never provided this much (controllable) power. Not too much mind you, but not this kind of pop. Serving usually lets me know if a string is too low powered – this is not! Goldilocks territory.

Control: Excellent. Usually when a string (hybrid) has power you are giving something up, but not in this case for me. Solinco’s Hyper-G Hybrid was point and shoot. Shape, slice or flat shots were no problem. HGH has a medium (right where I like it) launch angle which gave me excellent directional and depth control. It was responsive and really did whatever I asked of it. Consistent and predictable.

Feel: Feel (as undefinable as it may be) is critical to my game. Great feel gives me a connection to the racquet and ball which inspires me to approach all shots more confidently (with only myself to blame for mistakes). Not stiff, not mushy but a very pleasing balance that is a touch muted (not dead) that gives you a satisfying thud when hit it right.

Spin: Yes, please. Great! Spin was there and easy to access. Slices sliced and drop shots bit, topspin lobs bounced high, groundstrokes dipped in and serves sliced and kicked. I like spin, but not too much just enough to add shape when you want it. Spin was there and aided control in just the right amount – bringing the ball back in the court and allowing you to back opponents up.

Durability & playability duration?
Excellent. I have played nearly 15 hours with it and while it is not optimal now, it is still acceptable and holding up better than many other combos at 6 hours. The great thing is the stringbed characteristic have not changed dramatically. Of course they have changed over the course of this playtest. I’d say initially hours 0- 2 it played a touch stiffer a little more spin, hours 3-6/7 it loosened up a bit better ball pocketing a touch more power still nice spin and control. From hour 8 on it is a touch softer still, with a bit more power and a little less control. Spin is still better than most and balls still dip and slice. FWIW I was serving with a freshly strung set up of Mayami hex pro and everything was going long, so I brought out the Hyper-G Combo and magically everything was going in -identical racquets, identical tensions. ROS was similar too!

Tension Recommendations: I strung at 44 / 46 and my experience was exceptional. I could play at this tension anytime and be happy. When (not if) I play this combo again I’ll bump it up a pound or two, (even 3-4 lbs) especially now that the temps are up. I think this combo is comfortable enough to give it a try without losing all the positives of this setup. I’m not an overpowering hitter and I think bigger hitters could comfortably dial it up even more.

Additional thoughts
So finding the right string for me is tough. I want everything: control, power, spin and a certain feel – and it has to be in the right quantities. Too much of one or not enough of the other upsets the balance of “the force”. I don’t want an overly soft string and I don’t want to turn my racket into a board or rocket launcher either. As mentioned, I’ve played Hyper-G regularly over the years but it never felt as good to me as this Hyper-G Hybrid. How did Solinco do it? Is it the Hyper-G Round? Whatever it is I want to try it with Tour Bite or Confidential or Hyper-G soft etc. with the Hyper-G Round. Perhaps there is a Confidential Round coming? Not sure but whatever they've done - I hope they keep doing it!
To me this Hyper-G Hybrid has completely revitalized my interest in Hyper-G...like a Hyper-G 2.0 !

As a stringer, I think the Hyper-G Combo can work for a lot of others too especially those that enjoy what poly has to offer. I have a hunch that choosing the right tension for your needs and player profile you’ll have an enjoyable experience with this combo.

Honestly, I have enjoyed the Hyper-G Combo so much that I hesitate to tell friends more than “I think you might like it.” because if I tell them what I really think they’ll think I have stock in Solinco!

A: Yes. The synergy ( power, control, spin, feel) this combo brings to bear on my game gives me the confidence to play anyway I want or need to.

Thanks Solinco and TW for making this playtest happen !! I'd like to congratulate my team and your team and all you've accomplished this season !!
 
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Tennis background/skill level/playing style: 4.0-4.5 Counterpuncher
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Head Lynx Tour 1.25mm 48lbs
What racquet did you use for this playtest? Head Speed MP 2024

How many hours did you play with the test string? <10 hours
Which string did you use for the mains? Shaped
Tension(s) used for playtest? 52 lbs

Power/Control of test string?
I would say there is not a lot of free power with this string set up. But there is really good pop if you hit the sweet spot. The sweet spot though felt smaller than any other poly I've used in the past. Meaning anything off centered was quite short and punishing. Compared to my Lynx tour, depth was very and height was very easy to achieve with Lynx tour even on slight off centered shots. The string would almost correct for me on off-center hits, not Hyper-G.
Control was very good when freshly strung. I could not miss long with the spin and low power nature of the strings. Shots were going where I wanted and was even able to hit some very sharp angles because of it.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
When freshly strung, the string is quite crisp. You can feel the stiffness of the strings but it was not quite uncomfortable compared to my Lynx Tour. The string gives you really good feedback when you are not hitting center and should communicate to adjust if you want to hit cleaner.
I have a very sensitive arm, recovered from tennis elbow recently, but have been dealing with nagging shoulder pain. Lynx tour full bed at 48lbs triggers my shoulder pain and at times can flare up my tennis elbow too. I did not initially have this issue with Hyper-G for the first 6 hours or so. I am not saying this is a soft string neither, I personally do not recommend this string for anyone with sensitive arms like me.

I actually removed my dampener to get slightly better feel from the strings which slightly helped me with the smaller sweet spot issue I was feeling.

Spin?
Plenty of spin. I was bouncing between my backup racket that had Head Hawk Power in it at 48lbs. And my hitting partner right away stated there is much more spin with the hyper-G. This is also something you can actually hear with the snap back you get too. Probably my biggest highlight of this string playtest. My kick serves had good jump and like I said very good pop. I was hitting some of my best serves with this string. Forehands were also a delight when struck properly. Lots of spin, heavy balls, good angles. Launch angle I would say not as high as Lynx tour which took a little getting used to. Higher than Hawk power though.

Durability & playability duration?
This is probably my second biggest gripe and why I personally won't switch along with the small sweet spot. After 5 hours, tension dropped to about 45lbs and snapback was very dead. Strings were sticking out of place and then the shoulder pain was starting to be more noticeable. Shots were becoming a lot harder to control too. Everything was landing just long when I wanted to swing freely. I could not trust my shots, they just got too launchy and not enough spin to bring it back down. I had to really focus on just brushing the ball at that point.


Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
I immediately regretted my 52lbs tension decision when I first went on court with the strings. I would string this lower and honestly probably would fix a lot of my initial complaints about the string. I would go 48lbs or lower. I think this would open up the sweet spot and give a little more of that free power. Stings are shaped enough it should still bite down to land within the baseline. Should also improve comfort.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Compared to Lynx tour, I think there is slightly more spin with this set up but at a cost of a less controlled launch angle. There were times my shots felt unpredictable because of it.
Compared to Solinco tourbite, Hyper G is definitely crisper.
Only other time I used Hyper G full bed shaped was in a 19gauge, 1.10mm in a 96sqin angell racket so not a really fair apples to apples. But I personally could not tell a significant difference between the two string options. Maybe better initial snap back. I definitely could hear that "schlick" sound
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style: Senior player (60+) at 4.5 level, former college player. Left-handed with an all-court game, although with playing almost exclusively on Har-Tru these days, I don't head to the net as much as I used to (and the fact that I'm getting slower). Groundies include moderate topspin forehand, and both topspin & slice on the backhand side (one-hander). Serve varies with flat, slice and kicker. Still hit with decent pace for an old guy, and still serve and volley on almost every serve in doubs. I’ve been a chronic string-breaker, until my current 18x20 frame. I’ve gone to thinner gauge strings, so still break them, just not as much.

The timing of this playtest was perfect. I had just strung up one of my frames with Hyper-G Soft 16Lg/Hyper-G Round 18g @36# to try this same hybrid set-up (although different gauges). I followed the Hyper-G Round Playtest, and based on that, I wanted to try it in the crosses. I played with regular Hyper-G for years, so am very familiar with its characteristics. With that, I will try and provide some comparisons between the two hybrid set-ups and a full bed of Hyper-G where appropriate.

Current string set up(s) and preferred tension(s): Solinco Hyper-G Soft 16L/17 or Solinco Tour Bite 17 Soft - 35#-37# typical tension for poly

What racquet did you use for this playtest: Volkl V8 Pro (18x20)

How many hours did you play with the test string: I played with it for about 8½ hours before breaking.

Which string did you use for the mains: Hyper-G regular

Tension(s) used for playtest: 36#

Power/Control of test string: Power was more than adequate. I’d say more power than a full bed of Hyper-G (or Soft). Control was very good as would be expected from any Hyper-G string. There were a few times early on that I felt the balls fly on me just a bit, but nothing I couldn’t live with, and the longer I played with it, the less I felt that way. I think this had to do with the tension – it felt a bit tighter than normal right off the stringer, so I was probably over-compensating and trying to hit harder, thus a few flyers.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): This hybrid felt stiffer than my typical set-up which is to be expected since I’ve gone to the Soft versions of Hyper-G and Tour Bite. I would say it is no stiffer than a full bed of Hyper-G though. I think it’s more crisp and less muted than a full bed of Hyper-G. And comfort with this hybrid is about the same as a full bed of Hyper-G. To me, I feel a full bed of Hyper-G pockets the ball better, especially in the early hours of use, but the hybrid felt really good for pocketing from about the 2-hour mark onwards.

Spin: Spin is pretty much as abundant with this hybrid as with a full bed of Hyper-G. I never felt I couldn’t shape the ball the way I wanted during the playtest. I do think the launch angle is slightly lower with this hybrid than with a full bed of Hyper-G (comparing same gauge set-ups). Something else interesting – I feel that a full bed of Hyper-G has better snapback for the first few hours, but the hybrid seemed to be superior as the hours mounted, and never really subsided. No way I ever got 8+ hours of playability/snapback/consistent pocketing from a full bed of Hyper-G.

Durability & Playability Duration: In my opinion, this hybrid set-up is definitely as durable as a regular Hyper-G set-up. Where I think it outperforms a full bed is in the playability duration – this hybrid set-up seems to play really well for a considerably longer duration. I was really impressed with how well it was playing up until I broke it. In fact, I would say it played/felt better after the first couple of hours or so, and then was pretty much the same after that until breaking it.

Tension Recommendations (Would you string it differently next time? Explain why): I would string this hybrid 1-2# lower next time. It felt just a tad too stiff/tight right off the stringer. And based on its playability duration, I’d probably still get some good hours on it before it breaking or becoming too soft/loose.

List any additional thoughts (optional): As I mentioned, I also had a frame strung with a Hyper-G Soft 16Lg/Hyper-G Round 18g hybrid, so I’ll share a few thoughts on the differences/similarities…. the Hyper-G Soft hybrid felt more comfortable from the get-go (no surprise) and snapback & pocketing also felt better right away – I just felt more connected to the ball with the Soft hybrid (the thinner gauge Round probably also helped). Power didn’t seem much different with the Soft hybrid, but it did feel like I could generate more spin and had slightly better directional control with the Soft version. I would also probably go 1# lower in tension on the Soft version. Overall, I could live with either version of the hybrid, but ultimately, I’d go with a Soft Hyper-G in the mains, and an 18g Round in the crosses. In fact, I liked this playtest so much, that my next string job will be Hyper-G Soft 17g/Hyper-G Round 18g. I think that may be my new regular set-up if playability remains as consistent and lengthy as this Hyper-G/Hyper-G Round hybrid playtest was.

Finally, thank you to Solinco and to TW for the opportunity to be included in this playtest – these strings are right up my alley (pardon the blatant tennis pun), so, for me, it was a good learning experience for future possibilities.

…and thanks for the Heaven Overgrip – I used it for part of the playtest as well. It performed incredibly well in the Florida heat and humidity. It still looks good – no tearing or shredding even after being waterlogged several times. It is a bit shorter than some overgrips (like Yonex SuperGrap), but fine for me, although for a two-hander it may be slightly short if you overlap more than a little. It is also on the thinner side of overgrips (about the same as the Yonex, but thinner than a Volkl V-Dry), but still comfortable enough. I’ll definitely try some more of these - thumbs up if you're looking for a Tourna-type alternative.
 
Went 4-0 today with a tie break win in singles, and 3 sets of dubs. Though I had no aces I had several return winners - drop returns, angled returns, deep returns that seemed to be going out but landed in with the rotation of the ball. That yellow round thing was BIG today lol...A partner in the last set and I harvested a bagel set. It was glorious... :)

These strings really inspire confidence. While a string like Weiss cannon ultra cable offers more spin, this Hyper G hybrid offers enough spin to satisfy me.

Also, I was hitting like a ball machine yesterday, hitting angled and piercing shots that were mostly unreturned. Also had no trouble hitting one handed backhands with this 95 sized cx 200 tour frame. I think I've finally crossed over the 4.75 rubicon and am closer to 5.0 now. I hope to play more challenging competition in the next few weeks. Strings still perform well.
 
First loss of the week on Saturday playing dubs 4-6 (only played one set). Used the solinco stringed cx 200 tour. Played another 60 minutes with this string. Then today had the upper hand in dubs 6-4, but lost a shortened set (which I didn't agree to) 5-6. Played with a cx 200 tour 18x20 with weiss cannon ultra cable/max power. This string bed tension has dropped a bit giving it superior spin to the solinco strings and gave me the green light to hit loopy deep balls that drop hard into the court. I strung this hybrid a few lbs. tighter as ultra cable loses tension like an average poly does but it is not bad as ALU Power has similar tension retaining characterists and this string is used on tour.

If anyone is looking for more spin try Weiss cannon ultra cable 1.23mm. I am going to wrap up my play test this week sometime. I think Aug. 5 is the deadline.
 
I've been kind of quiet in this thread. I'm trying not to let other opinions impact mine, so I've been skipping over the official review posts.

I had a match tonight, but only added an hour or so of play time on these strings. Lost the first set 1-6, but was up 4-1 in the second set when the rain came.

My serve was on fire! I had one or two shots that I hit flat instead of with topspin. Those were rockets. Other than that, I had good touch shots and great topspin. Did I mention that my serve was on fire? It was controlled and had good power and loads of spin. Outside of some bad shots that were totally me just making mental errors, I felt like I couldn't miss. Up to this point, I haven't been sold on these strings; but the way they played tonight is definitely swaying my opinion.
 
AmericanTwist said:
First loss of the week on Saturday playing dubs 4-6 (only played one set). Used the solinco stringed cx 200 tour. Played another 60 minutes with this string. Then today had the upper hand in dubs 6-4, but lost a shortened set (which I didn't agree to) 5-6. Played with a cx 200 tour 18x20 with weiss cannon ultra cable/max power. This string bed tension has dropped a bit giving it superior spin to the solinco strings and gave me the green light to hit loopy deep balls that drop hard into the court. I strung this hybrid a few lbs. tighter as ultra cable loses tension like an average poly does but it is not bad as ALU Power has similar tension retaining characterists and this string is used on tour.

If anyone is looking for more spin try Weiss cannon ultra cable 1.23mm. I am going to wrap up my play test this week sometime. I think Aug. 5 is the deadline.
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So @AmericanTwist how was the power and feel compared to the Hyper-G Hybrid? As most of you know I am a big fan of the Hyper-G Hybrid, so I was inspired to try another Hyper-G main round poly hybrid, but nothing has impressed me as much as Solinco's Combo since I played Head's LynxSpin2 - another shaped poly / round poly hybrid. Hyper-G has the advantage in spin generation, but LynxSpin2 felt equally good (sometimes better) in all other areas.

What I have loved about Solinco's Combo is the controllable power, feel and consistency I am getting from everywhere on the court. It has allowed me to focus on playing rather than equipment and my game has been benefitting greatly. It's making tennis fun again!!
 
Cowboy said:
Up to this point, I haven't been sold on these strings; but the way they played tonight is definitely swaying my opinion.
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I'll be interested to read your review! Do you think the tension settled into a much better range for your setup and that's why they seemed to gel for you with your last hit?
 
Alcawrath said:
I'll be interested to read your review! Do you think the tension settled into a much better range for your setup and that's why they seemed to gel for you with your last hit?
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Yes. They seem to have loosened up a bit, which is odd because I went with a lower tension that what I would typically use with poly. It could also be that I've adjusted to the strings. Another thing that is worthy of mention is the duration between matches. We've had a lot of rain lately, so all of my matches have had to be rescheduled. Instead of coming off a full bed multi and then playing with poly, I've essentially had several weeks off. I'm sure that has aided in my adjustment to the strings.

All of that said, there was an excellent blend of good ball pocketing with low-to-moderate dwell time. I was able to execute a wide range of shots that just kept my opponent guessing. They had good touch at the net, I was able to execute hard deep penetrating topspin forehands to the baseline, and I was able to hit very high loopy topspin shots over the net player (who I'd estimate between 6'2" and 6'4" in height).

It sucks that we had to postpone the completion of the match because my game was on last night. I attribute a lot of that to the strings. Momentum was definitely on our side, so you hate to kill that.
 
@StringStrungStrang - Both set-ups are very good. Solinco hybrid feels more crisp and gives pretty good spin. Ultra cable/max power on the crosses gives a softer feel, doesn't hold tension as well (I string both mains and crosses few lbs tighter to compensate for longevity), but gives much more spin. Additionally, if you play with a dampener you may like the latter more as the solinco hybrid vibrates more. For me I don't care either way as I don't use dampeners anymore. I have confidence in both these set-ups.
 
Thanks TW for this opportunity! Below is my review.

Tennis background/skill level/playing style:
I started tennis at age 13, now 37. Currently playing as a higher 4.5 singles player (rated USTA 5.0 before kids) with some doubles sprinkled. Aggressive all courter looking to finish points at the net. Typically I hit deeper medium pace shots looking for weak replies to attack, but generally placement over power. I prefer shorter points, so if it looks like you're in a defensive position, I'm coming in looking to end the point.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
Volkl Cyclone 1.20mm at 52 lbs.


What racquet did you use for this playtest?
2022 Head Speed Pro

How many hours did you play with the test string?
Around 12 hours, all singles. 6 matches with extra hitting for warm up and cool down. Each session is about 2 hours.

Which string did you use for the mains?
I used the shaped Hyper G for the mains. In my case, I was looking for more spin since I moved from a 16x19 to a 18x20 a couple months ago.

Tension(s) used for playtest?
47lbs.

I've dabbled in 2 full sets of HyperG Round in the last couple of months because that's all were available at the Tennis Warehouse booth at Indian Wells. There was a buy 2 get 1 free special at IW so all the normal HyperG were gone, so Round it was. I've tried my typical tension of 52 lbs, which felt too low powered on HyperG Round. Then tried 49lbs, which was better, but the first session felt a little underpowered still. That's my reasoning for trying 47lbs, to remove the break in period. I like to string the racket the night before and have it ready for an important match without requiring a break in session like I do on the Cyclone.

Power/Control of test string?
It's a lower powered string compared to Cyclone so it would require doing the tension about 3-5lbs on a crank stringing machine to get similar power levels. That's exactly what I did for this playtest and the string power felt comparable.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The feel is more muted than Cyclone, and not that different from a full set of Hyper G Round. I've found no discomfort with this string. There is much better ball pocketing than pretty all other strings I've tried. I don't like trampoline feel, but this pocketing felt good.

Spin?
I honestly couldn't tell much difference from a set of Hyper G Round in the spin department. But spin potential is definite good and in the ballpark with the Volkl cyclone.

Durability & playability duration?
I rarely ever break poly strings and cut them out when they are dead and reduced snapback considerably hurts my performance. Around the 8hr mark, the spin potential and control has plummeted for me to the point where I wouldn't trust the string in a tournament or USTA league match. I continued to 12hrs for practices, but didn't like it after 8hrs at this tension.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
I would string it tighter next time (49 lbs) and live with the break in period to get longer life out of it. I got closer to 12 hrs with full Hyper G Round at 49lbs before wanting to cut it out.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I can probably go with any combination of HyperG and be pretty happy with it. Whether it's shaped, round, or hybrid, I don't think it'll change my opinion on it. I was on the verge of switching over to HyperG before this playtest, and I think I will be doing it now. The durability over Volkl Cyclone is welcomed and ball pocketing is much nicer. I will definitely stick with the higher tension of 49 lbs over the 47 to get a little life out of it.
 
Solinco Hyper-G / Hyper-G Round Playtest:

Tennis background/skill level/playing style: Got back into tennis in late 20s after playing as a kid, been at it for 5 years now. Playing 4.0 singles and doubles. Style is all court counterpuncher that tries to use his lefty serve to his advantage. Doubles I try to set points up to put away at net, unless playing beasts.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Solinco Whiteout 18x20, Solinco Revolution 17 at 50/47lbs

What racquet did you use for this playtest?: Solinco Whiteout 18x20
Hyper G - Mains 50pds
Hyper G Round - Crosses 47pds

How many hours did you play with the test string? 10 hours

Which string did you use for the mains? I used Hyper G for the mains and round for the crosses.

Tension(s) used for playtest? 50/47

Power – 9/10 Right off the bat I could hit with pace and depth. No problems with power and very little break in period.

Control – 6/10 The style of this string accentuated the Whiteout’s pocketing and mutedness, leading to a lack of control. If everything went right in my setup and stroke, I could hit a very nice deep ball with topspin, however it was very easy to launch with the extended pocketing.

Feel – A kind word to describe this feel would be plush, however with me preferring a crisp response, I would describe the feeling as mushy or gummy. It sank into the pocket quite a bit, leading me to not be able to properly adjust depth. If I hit off center, I could spin the ball in, however, in the sweet spot, my technique had to be excellent to achieve the desired outcome, and not sail things a little too deep.

Spin – 8/10 Certainly had good access to spin. Nothing crazy, but with a low to high stroke and high racquet head speed, you can achieve really nice spin effect and get the ball to dip. Flattening out is where I had the issues.

Durability & playability duration: Durability is average, no real complaints. I am finding strings in this racquet to start going around the 4-5 hour mark, and this one was no different. With it not being the stiffest string, I think the playability suffered later on in the lifespan, similar to many other moderately stiff polys.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why: I would likely string it a few points higher, 53/50 perhaps. With not feeling any discomfort, and the lack of control I found, I think that would tweak things towards my liking a bit more.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

I think this hybrid will work for some players at higher tensions. Or people playing with racquets that don’t have as much muting/pocketing built in. I wish I could say I was considering this for my regular rotation, but it is sadly not for me. I will remember the sensation of pocketing the ball and sending it deep with power, and maybe as I develop my strokes further, I can come back to this string.

Thanks @TW Staff and Solinco. I’m a big fan of this brand, their Whiteout frames and their strings (Revolution and Tour Bite). I hope to be on another playtest again, this was fun!
 
I had another match last night. My serve was okay, but not great. This was more of a mental thing than anything to do with the strings. The strings performed admirably. I particularly like the bite on the ball when doing a high loopy topspin. I've started doing this instead of trying to lob over the net players head. I had very few balls that trampolined off the strings. I had two balls sail, but again....mental errors that aren't the strings fault. Won 6-0, 6-2.

Upon inspection today, I have some notching; but the stringbed has not locked up.
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style:
I am a 4.0 level player. I started playing at age 7 during the summers and mostly everyday starting in high school. Stopped playing almost altogether through college and grad school. Picked it back up again in 2019. I consider my style a combination between aggressive baseliner and counter puncher. I adjust my playstyle to my opponent. I consider myself speedy on the court for my age and will try to track down most balls. My volley game is below average for my level and my strongest shots are my forehand and serve (when its consistent).

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
I am a bit of a stringholic and enjoy testing new strings. Most recently I have been very impressed by a poly/poly hybrid of Tru Pro's Pure Rush in the mains and Toroline's Wasabi X in the crosses. I have used this combo for the last month in competition settings. I am settled on 54/51 tension for the summer heat and humidity in Texas.

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
I strung this up in a Wilson Blade 100 v9 modded to my usual specs of 342g/31.9cm balance/331 swingweight

How many hours did you play with the test string?
I tried to push this string past what I would normally use a poly. 12 hours.

Which string did you use for the mains?
I used the shaped hyper-g for the mains and hyper-g round in the crosses

Tension(s) used:
53 in the mains/51 in the crosses strung on a dropweight Klippermate

Power/Control of test string?
I found the hybrid to be a good combination of both power and control. I have tried regular hyper g in the past as well as the soft and round variants in a full bed, and this hybrid is my favorite combination from Solinco to date. It is not overly powerful and has enough give to keep it from feeling dead and lifeless. I think the combination also gives it some higher levels of perceived control from the shape that the string provides on ground strokes. This decreases as the stringbed ages and the strings become less slick, but the power level stays fairly consistent and doesn't catapult which is very nice. I've found some strings stretch too much over their lifespan and eventually start sailing some random balls (particularly in more open stringbeds), but the power level here doesn't do that. I would venture to say that the power level decreases a bit as the strings lose slickness.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
I was surprised at how comfortable this hybrid was. It is not too mushy like Hyper-g soft and not as muted as a full bed of hyper-g round. It didn't feel still and harsh. For the first 4 hours, I would describe the string as comfortably crisp. This is really the sweet spot of this strings lifespan. After the initial 4 hours, the feel changed a bit. Not a giant drop off and definitely still serviceable for me, but I preferred the comfortable crispness of the first 4 hours. After this timeframe, the string became more muted and gave less feedback. It wasn't quite mushy, but I definitely lost the impact point of the ball at times. That being said the hybrid maintained is comfort level throughout. I have had minor bouts with arm/shoulder issues due to some strings in the past and this string did not give me any discomfort.

Spin?
I have my fair share of experience testing poly/poly hybrids specifically with round crosses, and that is generally my go-to set up for either testing or competing. So, I expected this hybrid to provide ample spin given the round crosses/shaped mains combo as well as the history of hyper g as a spin string. This did not disappoint. While not the spiniest set up out there, it is very predictable. Like previously mentioned, this setup has great shape in the first 4 hours. Not overly high, but not flat either. The shape does get less pronounced and launch angle lower after 4 hours. The opponents I played against mentioned that they noticed that the ball was biting more than they were used to. This caused some rushed shots on their end and points won on my end. After 4 hours though, the ball sits up more for my opponents rather than biting off the court.

Durability & playability duration?
I usually like to cut out poly around 8-10 hours, but kept this one in to 12 hours to see if there was any giant dropoff in playability. To me, this hybrid played best in the first four hours giving that comfortable crisp feeling. As the string lost slickness and became more muted the feeling changed and the shape as well. It stayed this way for the remainder of the playtest, but I couldn't forget how much I loved the feeling in the first 4 hours and kept searching for it and missing it. It is great that it stayed comfortable as I expected some harshness to start creeping in but it did not. The string was notching about halfway by the time I cut it out, but I would guess it would last another 3 or so hours before either snapping or getting fully locked up.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
I like where I set my tension. I think any lower would have had me miss that goldilocks 4 hour window. If I had strung higher it would have felt a bit more boardy and dead.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
This was a great chance for me to test out a hybrid I was curious about. I think it will work for many, especially for lifelong Hyper-g users. I think it is the best Solinco combo I have used and only makes a staple of the string industry even stronger. If I had an electronic stringing machine, I would consider a switch to this string on a more full-time basis because that initial playtime was truly great. I do think that many will enjoy the string combo throughout its lifespan for up to 15 hours.

Lastly, I want to take a moment to thank Tennis Warehouse and Solinco for the opportunity to participate in a fun playtest. I had been off the Solinco wagon for a bit, but this release makes me curious about what is to come from Solinco. Great release!
 
Hyper-G/Hyper-G Round Playtest
(This playtest is for the 1.20 version)


Include the following in your review:
Tennis background/skill level/playing style: played in HS and college club. About a 4.0 baseliner
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): lynx tour orange 16g 45 pounds
What racquet did you use for this playtest? Prince synergy 98

How many hours did you play with the test string?10
Which string did you use for the mains? Original mains/Round crosses
Tension(s) used for playtest? 50m/48c
Power/Control of test string? Strings had more pop then I was expecting, or wasn't expecting. I string it higher then I normally do because of gauge and the high temps out but it still had good pop and power. Good control too considering the string gauge. Ball went where I wanted to. When it didn't, was me, not the string, especially after break in. It lost a bit of pop but became more predictable.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) Was a bit stiff and muted for me. I could feel the ball sink into the strings but still kind of got lost in there. Despite the stiffness, it doesn't bother the arm.
Spin? The spin was good. A lot of shots I thought it was going out stayed in. It was different then lynx spin as lynx spin doesn't grip the ball well but has good snapback. Hyper G hybrid bit the ball but the snapback died off really fast. The strings already slightly started staying out of place after the first session but still had spin from the shaped sides biting the ball
Durability & playability duration? Durability was good. Don't think it will last much longer but the playability stayed roughly unchanged after break in
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why I'd prob go down a few pounds and do 48/45. I string higher because of high heats and worried about control but my balls lost a lot of depth as I was getting burned out from the heat.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I like itm recommend to anybody who used the original hyper g
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style: Played in High School/4.5/Baseliner

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Yonex Ezone 100 with Poly strung around 45lbs.

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Yonex Ezone 100


How many hours did you play with the test string? 12 hours

Which string did you use for the mains? I had the hyper-g round in the cross and I used shaped hyper-g for the main.

Tension(s) used for playtest? 45

Power/Control of test string? The power on the string was fine. It was nothing notable to me. The control on these strings was a plus. I felt I could get all my shots in due to the additional spin I get off this hybrid. I have a bit of tennis elbow, and it did not seem to affect my arm which is another positive.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) It was comfortable string to me. As I mentioned I have a bit of tennis elbow and I should not play tennis and rest, but I like hanging out at the tennis courts. The strings also felt crisp, and in terms of playability it held up for around 8 hours. It drops off a little bit but nothing dramatic in my opinion.

Spin? Spin was better in these strings than the current strings I am using (Volkl Cylone). It does feel like I could get a bit more spin with less effort with the strings. I felt like I could drive my forehand more to put pressure on the opponents.

Durability & playability duration? String has held relatively well for me since the strings have not snapped after 12 hours of play. Some playability dropped after 8 hours, but I still enjoy hitting with these strings and might consider making the switch.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why. I would recommend stringing this a bit lower since they are polys. I might try 40lbs to see if I can get a bit more pop the next go around.
 
Played another 4 hours today in 96F heat. Luckily, it dropped to around 90F by the time we finished. Was not seeing the ball great today with all the sweat. I went 0-4 in dubs rotation. My returns, normally pretty good, were downright poor this eve. I am fatigued. I will write up my review after 21 hours of test play. I still have the confidence in this string, but I do prefer my ultra cable/max power set up just by a slim margin.
 
Again, thank you TW for selecting me to review this Solinco hybrid string!

Tennis background/skill level/playing style: NTRP 4.5 - 5.0. Played in high school. Crossed over to ultimate in the ensuing years. Back to tennis since Covid. Now playing the best tennis of my life though on some days I am too tired to perform at my best. All-court playing style. Will try to get to net at every opportunity. Fine with playing junk balls - slices, lobs, running opponents forward and backwards. Hit with one and two hands depending on the ball I get. Been playing with lots of different frames, but largely playing with Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20, Ultra tour/pro 18x20, and Blade v8 18x20.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): I have been experimenting a lot. Full syn gut, natural gut mains/poly crosses, syn gut mains/poly crosses, poly mains/syn gut crosses, and now full poly - shaped on mains, round on crosses. Top two set-ups are now shaped poly like ultra cable mains/syn gut with kevlar wrap crosses. Other is shaped poly mains like ultra cable and max power regular round on crosses. I string to ambient temps. 52 lbs in 90F plus heat down to 38 lbs at 32F for the Dunlop. A few lbs higher for the other two frames.

What racquet did you use for this playtest? 2021 Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20

How many hours did you play with the test string? 21 hours

Which string did you use for the mains? Hyper G shaped

Tension(s) used for playtest? 50 lbs. Given that I prefered ultra cable (which loses tension quicker than hyper G) mains and max power crosses at 52 lbs, I would string Hyper G less than 50 lbs. but maybe 47 lbs next time.

Power/Control of test string? Excellent control. Power was pretty good even at 50 lbs. Given that I preferred Ultra cable/max power I would string lower next time. This implies I am missing out on some pocketing action and feel.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) This string is medium stiff. Holds tension well. Predictable which is a big factor. I play with no dampener. The Dunlop dampens vibrations very well but not overly so. Every hit is so solid no matter the string. The hyper G string is lively for a poly but not as lively as solid core syn gut, natural gut, or multifibre syn gut. Natural gut full bed feel exceptional but does need to be strung high for control.

Spin? Spin is excellent considering the shaped string is a hexagon shape. Ultra cable which is square provides bonkers spin. I really like having a shaped poly on the mains and either a round poly or syn gut for the crosses. Haven't quite determined which is optimal for me yet. The Hyper G combo gives me all the confidence I need to swing out every time on my strokes....if I am not late! (but that is not a function of any string!)

Durability & playability duration? 21 hours and still controllable so I'll keep playing with this string. 18x20 patterns really provide string longevity.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why I would try 47 lbs next time to see how much more pocketing and feel this tension would provide. The dunlop seems to respond to higher tension (but this also encourages me to swing out). 50 lbs as strung was fine for match play in 90F plus ambient temps for my skill level.

List any additional thoughts (optional) I think it is great for a start-up/young company to design strings and frames for the tennis market. When consumers have more choices we win. Solinco has brought an excellent string to market. I will try some MSV focus hex next for further comparison.

Also, thank you for providing us with a Solinco overgrip. It seems to be a combo of a Tournagrip Original, a Prince Duratred, and a Prince Resitex - comfortable, absorbent, textured, and somewhat tacky. Feels pretty good!
 
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Solinco Hyper-G / HG Round Hybrid Review

Tennis background/skill level/playing style: 3.5 all court
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): 17g Rough Poly Main (RPM Rough or 4G Rough) with 16 multi crosses (Xalt or NXT Control)
What racquet did you use for this playtest? Wilson Blade v8 100 (16x19)

20240803-135725.jpg

(Nevermind the dog slobber on the handle. He decided to inspect the racquet when I set it down to take the pic)

How many hours did you play with the test string? 10
Which string did you use for the mains? Hyper-G Mains, Hyper-G Round Crosses
Tension(s) used for playtest? 45 M/C

Power/Control of test string?
I tend to think of power and control as mutually exclusive. As you move toward more power, the control goes down and vice versa. These strings had an excellent blend of power and control. I never felt that they lost control. The power did seem to increase around the 5 hour mark, and drop back off around the 8/9 hour mark.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The first four hours felt boardy. Since that isn't one of the suggested feel descriptors, I'd have to lean toward a muted stiffness. Comfort was okay. As the playtest progressed, they got a lot softer and comfort went up. They never felt mushy, and by hour 5 they had a nice blend of not-too-much ball pocketing and what I would consider to be a very good dwell time. Hours 5-8, at least for me, was the sweet spot where everything came together and these strings were PHENOMENAL. Spin was great, power and control were great, and touch shots were very good. After that, they played well enough, but not like they did in that window. The touch shots are what really dropped off.

Spin?
These strings can be absolute spin monsters; however, I didn't feel that they really gave me any additional spin most of the time. I had a few topspin shots that would nose-dive on the line (where my opponent thought they would go long), but I really had to focus on making a proper swing to make that happen. I didn't feel that these aided in spin production at the beginning of the playtest, but it improved. I was really impressed with how much they grabbed the ball on high loopy topspin shots. Backspin was okay, but didn't leave my mind blown.

Durability & playability duration?
Through the first four hours, I had no discernable change in string performance characteristics. Normally, I would say that poly changes significantly between the 1-3 hour mark; so these seem to be more durable than expected. These were right on the money from hour 5-8. I'm not willing to push poly much beyond 10 hours as I fear arm injury. That said, these are absolutely good through 10 hours. Durability seems better than many of the other poly strings that I've used.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
I thought I would go higher during the first 4 hours, but then they really settled into a good spot around hour 5. I went lower than normal with the expectation that these would be stiff. My normal tension for poly is probably closer to 48lbs. The 10 hour minimum playtime requirement got in my head. I went with 45lbs for comfort reasons, as I had elbow issues the last time I went 10 hours on poly at 48lbs. I think I would probably either string them even lower, or have two racquets with them ready to go....one to break in at practice and the other match ready. I don't want to have to use them for 5 hours before I feel that they are ready for match play.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
It's incredible how your perception can change of the course of the playtest. Reading my initial notes, it's like I got two totally different strings out of the same string job. At first, they weren't for me. I figured they would be "the cat's pajamas" for higher level players, but that I didn't get much benefit. I don't know if I got dialed into the setup better, or if they just loosened up after about 5 hours, but I felt like I started playing "lights out" toward the end.

At the end of the day, I think these are great strings. I'm going to have to come back to these, as I'm really curious to see how they do at different tensions. I'm curious how these rounds pairded with Hyper-G soft would perform.

Thank you, @TW Staff and Solinco for putting on this playtest!
 
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Now for the fun part. Going back and reading everyone else's review to see how my experience compared. I'll probably get to do that Monday.
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style:
aggressive baseliner. Looking to dictate with the topspin on the forehand wing and being able to acess a variety of topspin and low deep slice for change of pace on the bh wing.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
prefer a shaped string w/medium firmness
ohms alu pearl rough 1.23 45#
lynx tour 17 45#

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
6.1 95 16m

How many hours did you play with the test string?
~20h until breakage

Which string did you use for the mains?
regular, round on crosses

Tension(s) used for playtest?
45#

Power/Control of test string?
Power level was on par, maybe a touch higher than what I'd expect from similar shaped strings. Was able to shape the ball in rallies and flatten it out when needed for short balls. Towards the end of the play test, the tension seemed to get a little unpredictable and then the string felt too lively for me but when the string was fresh it felt good both in terms of power and control.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Felt softer than the alu pearl and lynx tour. Ground strokes were good and felt connected on both fh and bh wings. Slice was good and I could effectively place them with depth and direction without it getting too floaty or having it drop too short/mid court. Pocketing was better yet volleys still felt crisp. Serves had a nice pop especially for flat serves at the mid 40s tension. Overall very comfortable feeling and lively from the first hit.

Spin?
Compared to the gear shape of alu pearl and hexagon shape of LT, the spin was quite good. In my previous experiences with hyper g regular, the access to spin was equally good but not better than the strings I'm used to but with the round string in the crosses I did feel some additional benefits. Most noticably was off the backhand slice which had extra side spin in addition to being able to knife it and keep it bouncing low. The other shot would be kick serve which had more shape and even my regular hitting partner commented on it kicking up more on the ad side. Forehand felt good and was able to produce a good amount of shape but didn't feel different than what I'm able to access with my current strings.

Durability & playability duration?
I played with it for roughly 3 weeks before breaking a main string. I didn't notice any deep notching or lock out of the string bed prior to breaking so was not expecting it to break when it did. So far I would say this was the only downside to the string. Compared to the LT and Alu pearl the response off the string bed is more consistent and tension loss seems more gradual and predictable throughout the strings life whereas the hyper g had a more noticeable drop off in tension and then would get unwieldy.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
I would string it 2-3# higher to offset the tension loss and see how it compares in control.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Great string. Has the playability, spin, power, and comfort in addition to being easy to string up. Thanks TW for the play test!
 
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Tennis background/skill level/playing style: I have been playing for about 13 years now, and would put myself in the 4.0-4.3 UTR range. I am definitely not a singles player. I grew up playing way more doubles since I was always impatient and out of shape. I would say I am more of a counterpuncher, and hit with a full western grip forehand so spin is something I'm always looking to use.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Babolat Pure Aero 2023 model. I switch between regular hyper G 16Gl at 50 pounds, and luxilon 4g 16gl also at 50 pounds.

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Babolat Pure Aero 2023 model
How many hours did you play with the test string? 20 hours give or take, with most of the hours being used to play sets. I played 6 doubles sets throughout the playtest, and spent the remainder of the time casually hittting/rallying.

Which string did you use for the mains? Regular HG in the mains, round HG in the crosses.

Tension(s) used for playtest? 50 pounds for both mains and crosses

Power/Control of test string? This hybrid did have more power than the regular full bed of HG that I am used to, and has the same amount of control. As it is, regular HG has controlable amount of power, which lets you really crank up swing speed without fear of missing long. This hybrid, I feel, adds onto that by adding a bit more spin, which i'll touch upon later.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): The feel was a comfortable crispiness. It is not really that stiff compared to other polys, but I would not call it soft either. If you're an intermediate player that can hit with some pace, then you'll appreciate the crispiness of the hybrid, but without the liveliness that many poly users complain about. As far as muted, I would say that it is less muted than the traditional HG, but still a muted string none-the-less. It is not a natural gut or multi, and you will feel it in your elbow or wrist if strung too tight.

Spin? Before I start, i'd like to say that spin for polys probably falls in one of two categories: either you have spin because of cross section/shape, or because of snapback and slickness. This is where I feel like Solinco was trying to aim for with this hybrid. The regular HG has good spin because it is shaped, but this hybrid adds onto it by having a shaped main and a slick/round cross. Because of that combo, the string has more snapback and you do not really get as much bite as compared to the regular HG. However, I feel like it did soften up the bed which gave it better pocketing, and in turn, more RPMs.

Durability & playability duration? The playability was average for a poly, which is not really a good thing. After 10 hours or so, that is when it changed feel and tension dropped. Notching was also more prevalent since it is a shaped main with a round cross. The string also does get more lively as time goes on, but that is expected with most polys.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why: I would go even looser next time to see how well the slickback-ness of the string plays. I feel like the trend is to go lower and lower in tension with polys, but even more so with a control/muted string like HG.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
Overall, I tried to compare it to HG original as much as I could, since that is what I'm sure most people have used at some point, and is the closest point of reference. I also think the hybrid is made for those wanting to get just a bit more slick-ness and spin from polys, without having to really switch setups and tensions altogether. Casper Ruud and Ben Shelton seem to be putting poly/poly hybrids on the map, and hopefully we see more companies come out with both shaped and round versions of the same string. It is definitely an apples to apples comparison and makes for great experiments!

As always, thank you TW and Solinco for giving us the common-folk a chance to playtest some products!
 

Solinco Hyper-G/HyperG-Round Hybrid playtest​


hyperghybrid.jpg

  • Tennis background/skill level/playing style:
    • Picked up tennis over the last 12 years or so. NTRP 4.5. Counter puncher who prefers to set-up points from baseline, but can play all court if needed.
  • Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
    • Wilson RF97 strung with Volkl Cyclone17 at 54lbs
  • What racquet did you use for this playtest?
    • Wilson nCode 6.1 18x20
  • How many hours did you play with the test string?
    • 25hrs+
  • Which string did you use for the mains?
    • HyperG 17 (shaped)
  • Tension(s) used for playtest?
    • 52lbs
  • Power/Control of test string?
    • I had been testing different HyperG combos recently after TW introduced me to HyperG round. So I found myself to be right at home with this Hybrid setup, and was able to get the correct combination of Power and Control from day1. The spin was excellent and was the same with the pop, especially on serves. As expected, the main difference from a full bed of HyperG to this hybrid with Shaped HyperG in mains was the slightly increased launch angle. I also tested this side by side with a full bed of HyperG17 (shaped), which I had laying around, and I felt like the launch angle was pretty similar to a full bed of HyperG shaped. So I would say the spin is probably enhanced with this hybrid, which was probably the main intent. That being said, I still somehow like the precision feel of a full bed of HyperG Round, which is a bit addicting. In my playing style, when I get that opportunity to “counter” attack with precision, and flatten the ball, a full bed of HyperG-Round gives me that extra confidence.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
    • Crisp and comfortable. But not as crisp as a full bed of HyperG Round.
  • Spin
    • Excellent. I believe this hybrid setup enhances the spin potential, when compared to either full bed of HyperG or HyperGRound. That being said, personally, spin is not as much of a concern for me, since I can generate enough spin, and usually precision on demand is probably what I need more help with from a string. So even though I can see this hybrid setup to be preferred for the majority, I may just go with a full bed of HyperGRound if I switch. I definitely like that option to go with a hybrid if needed at times (weather or specific kind of opponents), without much difference in feel.
  • Durability & playability duration?
    • Durability was not really an issue for me with any of the HyperG setups. I usually end up cutting the strings before it breaks. But overall I feel like the notches were less with round crosses when compared to a full bed of HyperG. In summary I think till around the 15hr mark the notches were not bad, and snapback was sufficient. Beyond that it was definitely playable, but I may not have the confidence to take it to a competitive match. I continued playing with this for another 10hrs just to see if it breaks for me, and it did not. So in summary, durability is not an issue for me and playability duration is above average for a poly.
  • Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
    • I am pretty happy with the tensions I used. Infact I had experimented with different HyperG setups for sometime, and I already had some idea of where I like the tensions when using different racquets with HyperG. I would say stick with your normal poly tensions for HyperG. I would say it will perform good even if you go a few pounds less. The tradeoff would be easy depth vs feel of precision. I prefer 52lb on my 18x20 nCode, and 54lb on my 16x19 RF97, when using HyperG, and I find that there is no reason to change those tensions even with this hybrid.
  • List any additional thoughts (optional)
    • It is definitely great to have the option to have hybriding with similar stiffness strings. I personally had tried a lot of poly/poly hybrids, and I even though sometimes it is fun to have a lower stiffness cross, there are some tradeoffs. I find that even though a lower stiffness cross provide overall softer string bed, and possibly more spin, the short angles and aggressive change of directions does get affected. Because of my playing style, I definitely need to have the confidence on those, and this was one the reasons for me to always go back to fullbed (because they provide more consistent stiffness on different directional shots). I did not feel the same issue with this hybrid setup, and I believe it has to do with the similar stiffness of both HyperG and HyperGRound. Plus the hybrid does not look out of place with the same colors. I hope other manufacturers follow this trend and come up with Hybrid options with similar stiffness strings.
    • Overall this was a fun playtest for me, and HyperG is always in my favorite list if I switch. I can very well switch to this setup. That being said, I may still go with a full bed of HyperG Round as my default setup (if I switch). I may keep one racquet with HyperG/HyperGRound hybrid as a backup.
 
I have not read through all the reviews yet. But did anyone use the HyperG-shaped as crosses, in this hybrid setup? If yes, what was the logical reasoning for it?
 
M Pillai said:
I have not read through all the reviews yet. But did anyone use the HyperG-shaped as crosses, in this hybrid setup? If yes, what was the logical reasoning for it?
Click to expand...
I believe my review is in the second or third page but I used the round mains and shaped crosses for 3 reasons.

1. I prefer the consistent response and feel of round over shaped mains.

2. I knew most people were going to use the round as the crosses and since the hybrids are marketed as interchangeable I wanted to provide some variation to the playtest.

3. I had played around with round mains and shaped poly/poly hybrids years ago and I wanted to revisit the concept.
 
SirCraigoryy said:
I believe my review is in the second or third page but I used the round mains and shaped crosses for 3 reasons.

1. I prefer the consistent response and feel of round over shaped mains.

2. I knew most people were going to use the round as the crosses and since the hybrids are marketed as interchangeable I wanted to provide some variation to the playtest.

3. I had played around with round mains and shaped poly/poly hybrids years ago and I wanted to revisit the concept.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I just read your review. Yes it make sense, that you prefer the round poly feel on mains, since you had been using proline-ii.

I am not new to shaped polys, and it is a lot of fun, but I still lack some confidence on pressure points on a match, when using extreme shaped polys. This is why I mentioned in my review that, I prefer a full bed of Hyperg-Round, which I had tested.

I believe you may prefer a full bed of HyperG-Round as well. Give that a try when you get chance.
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style: Late 20s. 10.5 UTR. All around player. Eastern grip forehand, two handed backhand.
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Diadem Solstice Black 15L at 55lbs
What racquet did you use for this playtest? Prince Phantom 18x20

How many hours did you play with the test string? Around 13 hours
Which string did you use for the mains? Round
Tension(s) used for playtest? 55lbs

Power/Control of test string? Great control, not a lot of power. Mid-high launch angle but the ball lands slightly shorter than expected.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - Firm and Muted.
Spin - Just enough spin potential to flat out if I want to. Not as much ball bite as the full bed shaped HG.
Durability & playability duration? - Very durable poly string. Strings snapback into its place well. Currently on 13 hours mark and the strings are noticeably notched.
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why - Yes I would string it at 54 lbs for extra depth.
This hybrid version feels and plays very similar to the rounded HG, maybe due to the main string being the rounded HG. The only noticeable difference is slightly higher launch angle.

Thank you TW and Solinco for this opportunity to playtesting!
 
As a retired high school teacher, I can tell you that students who toyed with deadlines drove me crazy and here I am posting on the last day possible.
I waited this long to post my review because these strings are that good. They deserved to be played and reviewed based on the most thorough playtest. And thank you to TW for giving us a long period in which to test the strings.

Tennis background/skill level/playing style: I have played tennis since I was 5, with a few breaks, some longer than others, and am now 57. I was a ranked junior in the 1970s/1980s when I was wielding a Bancroft Bjorn Borg and then Donnay Allwood. I played in college for a couple of years and got caught up in the Prince OS craze where I used the 110” Pro. Now, I use Blades as my everyday-16x19 v9. I would describe my play style as an all court with a strong desire to set up a big forehand followed by a volley winner.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): I currently play with a few different setups in my Blades. But the string most often in the mix as a full bed or hybrid is ALU Power and ALU Power Rough. Add in Element and gut and away I go. I prefer lower tensions and larger gauges. If stringing a full bed of ALU Power, we are talking about 47#, 18 gauge. If going to a gut/poly we are looking at 52/47 and usually 17 gauge. I recently used HG Soft in an old Clash 98 and it was a thrill, so when this playtest opened, I really wanted to give it a try. TBH, I would have bought sets if I hadn’t been selected.
What racquet did you use for this playtest?

How many hours did you play with the test string? I played a mix of singles and doubles. My coaching responsibilities are on a hiatus atm. I played with the HG Hybrid for 16 hours.

Which string did you use for the mains? I used HG round on the mains as that was the manufacturer’s recommendation for players that hit flatter…that is me!

Tension(s) used for playtest? I had my racquet strung at 48/46 to split the difference of my usual tension.

Power/Control of test string? I was thrilled with the first use. Sometimes a firmish poly requires a little break in. Not so here. It was plug and play from minute 1. I have a history of TE and my elbow will scream at the slightest discomfort, thus the tension I use is lower than some of my friends. I found the power to be just perfect for my game. In the first 8 hours, I was getting amazing depth on rally balls, great length on volleys, and big pop on flat serves down the T. It wasn’t easy power mind you. But the HG pocketed in a way that worked symbiotically with the Blade to give me the kind of power I have wanted from the stick. The control was spot on. I was hitting dimes. The first 12 hours were amazing. My hitting partners were godsmacked that I was hitting lines, corners and rarely missing long or wide. As the play test wore on, this began to change and the final hours were average-but still, average after 15 hours is pretty good. Compared to my experience with ALU Power, a little less power, similar control but WAY BETTER FEELING!!

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?). The hybrid NEVER felt stiff to me. I’m sure others may experience something different. But I think my experience and the feel I was getting were due to the tension. I think crisp is a better adjective. In that, the Hyper G is not mushy…it is responsive. Hit outside the sweet spot and you will know, but not like some other polys. The crispness may be modulated a little by the HG round. This was a very comfortable setup for me for the entire play test. I cut it out this evening as it was time. It never left my elbow tender or sore-even when freshly strung. And it never felt sloppy like some softer polys. It was definitely the Goldilocks of strings…just right.

Spin? Truth be told, I am not a spinny player. My preferred grip and strokes lend themselves to a flatter ball. Which is not to say I don’t play with spin, but when I think of spinny players, I think about extreme grips and windshield wiper forehands. As far as spin is considered, I was getting as much action from the HG hybrid in my Blade as I was getting from HG soft in my Clash. I could generate great shape on groundstrokes with ease. Slices were devastating whether floating to the baseline or cutting through the forecourt. Slicing serves into the returner was easy. And I could get decent action on kick serves. I feel like the combination of an edged string with a slick round one made the spin more accelerated.

Durability & playability duration? As I mentioned earlier, I am not a string breaker and usually cut strings out when they lose their feel/comfort/control. I usually get a couple of weeks from a full bed of ALU Power, a little longer from a gut/ALU Power hybrid. The HG hybrid lasted 16 hours and I think I could have made a few adjustments to my strokes and used it a few more times. For my use, the durability was fantastic.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why. I would not string it differently next time. And there will definitely be a next time. I liked 48/46. It was perfect for me. Not too tight. Not too loose. I would like to switch it up and try the round as a cross and see what that is like.

List any additional thoughts (optional). I want to thank TW and Solinco for giving us this opportunity to play test another great product for tennis players from Solinco. The added overgrips was a nice touch as I keep things like that to use when I am coaching.
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style:

4.0 all court player, started playing around 7-8yo but not really seriously until 12-13yo. Played HS tennis.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):

Technifibre Razor Soft 17g, 50lbs

What racquet did you use for this playtest?

Babolat Pure Aero 98

How many hours did you play with the test string?

14

Which string did you use for the mains?
Tension(s) used for playtest?

HyperG mains,
HyperG Round crosses

Power/Control of test string?

Control when first hitting was awesome, really grips the ball. You can brush the ball and feel the ‘friction’. This allowed me to impart loads of underspin, side spin, and topspin which was really fun. It took much less effort to impart spin, I just had to meet the racket face at the correct angle and got excellent grip on the ball. I felt I could get the ball to just dip in especially on balls that would otherwise land just long.

Power was noticeable, just perfect at first. As the string started to lose grip on the ball around hours 8-10, the power also seemed to ramp up. I had to concentrate a bit more to reign in the power which meant a bit of a different game plan.

I needed to use swing path more to ensure margin on my strokes but with extra power I could blast balls and draw errors. This took a bit more effort on my part to avoid getting too excited and launching some balls.

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

Nice, grippy at first, later on, more comfortable and powerful but could get a bit more wild. Maybe a tiny twinge of discomfort for hours 1-2, but after that, I never thought about discomfort at all. It had a good blend of letting the ball sink in but also giving me good feedback to know where the ball was and where it was headed.

Spin?

Great spin for hours 1-6. Then it seems to taper off and play a bit more powerful and sometimes balls could launch. That’s probably more user error but it’s so grippy at first that my strokes did have to change a bit over the hours of playing. I could get away with a bit more in the beginning but had to focus more on proper technique and footwork to make things work at the end.

Durability & playability duration?

I felt like the durability was a tiny bit below average. It may be how much the characteristics changed for me over the playtest. The spin seemed to taper off a bit more quickly than I recall from hyper G full bed. It was still playable in the end, it just felt a bit like a different string (power) than how it started (spin and grip).

Tension Recommendations.

I would say 50lbs works for me. Maybe a bit higher if I was forced to change.

Would you string it differently next time? Explain why

I would string it the same next time. 50lbs feels like a good fit for me. If I was playing indoors during winter maybe a pound lower.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

Thank you TennisWarehouse and Solinco for the opportunity to try the HyperG and HyperG Round Hybrid!
 
M Pillai said:

Solinco Hyper-G/HyperG-Round Hybrid playtest​


hyperghybrid.jpg

  • Tennis background/skill level/playing style:
    • Picked up tennis over the last 12 years or so. NTRP 4.5. Counter puncher who prefers to set-up points from baseline, but can play all court if needed.
  • Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
    • Wilson RF97 strung with Volkl Cyclone17 at 54lbs
  • What racquet did you use for this playtest?
    • Wilson nCode 6.1 18x20
  • How many hours did you play with the test string?
    • 25hrs+
  • Which string did you use for the mains?
    • HyperG 17 (shaped)
  • Tension(s) used for playtest?
    • 52lbs
  • Power/Control of test string?
    • I had been testing different HyperG combos recently after TW introduced me to HyperG round. So I found myself to be right at home with this Hybrid setup, and was able to get the correct combination of Power and Control from day1. The spin was excellent and was the same with the pop, especially on serves. As expected, the main difference from a full bed of HyperG to this hybrid with Shaped HyperG in mains was the slightly increased launch angle. I also tested this side by side with a full bed of HyperG17 (shaped), which I had laying around, and I felt like the launch angle was pretty similar to a full bed of HyperG shaped. So I would say the spin is probably enhanced with this hybrid, which was probably the main intent. That being said, I still somehow like the precision feel of a full bed of HyperG Round, which is a bit addicting. In my playing style, when I get that opportunity to “counter” attack with precision, and flatten the ball, a full bed of HyperG-Round gives me that extra confidence.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
    • Crisp and comfortable. But not as crisp as a full bed of HyperG Round.
  • Spin
    • Excellent. I believe this hybrid setup enhances the spin potential, when compared to either full bed of HyperG or HyperGRound. That being said, personally, spin is not as much of a concern for me, since I can generate enough spin, and usually precision on demand is probably what I need more help with from a string. So even though I can see this hybrid setup to be preferred for the majority, I may just go with a full bed of HyperGRound if I switch. I definitely like that option to go with a hybrid if needed at times (weather or specific kind of opponents), without much difference in feel.
  • Durability & playability duration?
    • Durability was not really an issue for me with any of the HyperG setups. I usually end up cutting the strings before it breaks. But overall I feel like the notches were less with round crosses when compared to a full bed of HyperG. In summary I think till around the 15hr mark the notches were not bad, and snapback was sufficient. Beyond that it was definitely playable, but I may not have the confidence to take it to a competitive match. I continued playing with this for another 10hrs just to see if it breaks for me, and it did not. So in summary, durability is not an issue for me and playability duration is above average for a poly.
  • Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
    • I am pretty happy with the tensions I used. Infact I had experimented with different HyperG setups for sometime, and I already had some idea of where I like the tensions when using different racquets with HyperG. I would say stick with your normal poly tensions for HyperG. I would say it will perform good even if you go a few pounds less. The tradeoff would be easy depth vs feel of precision. I prefer 52lb on my 18x20 nCode, and 54lb on my 16x19 RF97, when using HyperG, and I find that there is no reason to change those tensions even with this hybrid.
  • List any additional thoughts (optional)
    • It is definitely great to have the option to have hybriding with similar stiffness strings. I personally had tried a lot of poly/poly hybrids, and I even though sometimes it is fun to have a lower stiffness cross, there are some tradeoffs. I find that even though a lower stiffness cross provide overall softer string bed, and possibly more spin, the short angles and aggressive change of directions does get affected. Because of my playing style, I definitely need to have the confidence on those, and this was one the reasons for me to always go back to fullbed (because they provide more consistent stiffness on different directional shots). I did not feel the same issue with this hybrid setup, and I believe it has to do with the similar stiffness of both HyperG and HyperGRound. Plus the hybrid does not look out of place with the same colors. I hope other manufacturers follow this trend and come up with Hybrid options with similar stiffness strings.
    • Overall this was a fun playtest for me, and HyperG is always in my favorite list if I switch. I can very well switch to this setup. That being said, I may still go with a full bed of HyperG Round as my default setup (if I switch). I may keep one racquet with HyperG/HyperGRound hybrid as a backup.
Click to expand...
I love HG round that’s why when i ll test the hybrid i ll put regular HG on the crosses.
 

Solinco Hyper-G/Hyper-G Round Hybrid playtest​

Thank you, Solinco and Tennis Warehouse for letting me participate in this playtest. It's always a treat to try out new Solinco goodies :D

Tennis background/skill level/playing style: Started playing around 12 or 13 years old. Played high school tennis and a bit of USTA league play. 4.0 counterpuncher that likes to absorb pace and hit flat, but comfortable playing up at net.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Mostly use Babolat RPM Soft/Luxilon Element at 51/48lbs.

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Babolat Pure Aero 98

How many hours did you play with the test string? At least 18-20 hours

Which string did you use for the mains? Hyper-G Round

Tension(s) used for playtest? 50 lbs on a hand crank

Power/Control of test string?
I really enjoyed the easy depth I got from this setup. Sometimes it would feel a bit launchy, but overall I didn't have to swing very fast to get nice net clearance. I could generate a good amount of pace if I swung faster, but I didn't have to do that too often. I got dialed in with the strings between the 4-10 hour mark, so that's where I got the most control. I could redirect pace and spin pretty well without the ball landing short or long. I was able to hit big targets confidently, but rarely got the feeling of hitting the spots I wanted closer to the line.
Power: 8/10
Control: 7/10

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Hyper-G pairs up so well for crisp and firm racquets like the Pure Aero 98. I've always found Hyper-G to play softer than crisper, deader strings like Tour Bite, and this was no different. I still felt a nice connection with the stringbed without feeling pain in my arm. I've also found Hyper-G to have that mushy feeling with above average pocketing for a poly, but it did not feel muted on the Pure Aero 98. I really enjoyed the feedback I got out of the stringbed upon contact, and I could adjust my strokes as needed as the playtest went on.
Feel: 8.5/10

Spin?
Generating spin with this setup was not very difficult even with Hyper-G round as the mains. I went for Hyper-G round on the mains, as I prefer to hit more flat, and I felt that I didn't need more spin on the Pure Aero 98. I could get the ball to kick up quite a bit for groundstrokes and serves, and slices stayed low for the most part. I still feel like I can get a decent amount of spin, even though the string is near the end of its life.
Spin: 9/10

Durability & playability duration? Ok, so here's the weird part of this playtest. During the first 4-6 hours of playing, the strings were moving around like crazy. The strings weren't staying in place for some reason. I could attribute it to playing with the strings right after I strung it, but this has never happened to me before. After that, the strings finally stayed in place, and it's been great to play with since then. The mains started to move around the 16-18 hour mark, but they still feel pretty good. The drop in playability has been more of a slow burn, so it's in line with my experience of Hyper-G still playing ok for longer stretches. Now, that may not be good when determining when to replace the strings, but I've found that Hyper-G doesn't feel super boardy or stiff at the tail end of it's lifecycle.
Durability: 9/10

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why:
I would bump up the tension by 2lbs. to lower the launch angle I get from my groundstrokes. I would like a bit more control and less power so I could swing out a bit more freely. I normally don't play with 17 gauge strings, so if I get these in 16L, this may not be the case.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Other than the first 4 hours where the strings couldn't stay in place, this Hyper-G hybrid played very similar to regular Hyper-G. I believe the round Hyper-G helps maintain the characteristics of spin on Hyper-G without having a big drop off in playability towards the end. This is a strong front runner for my go to string setup.

Thanks again to Solinco and Tennis Warehouse for giving me a chance to try out these great strings!
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style:
I have been playing tennis about 16 years, and I am a 3.5 – 4.0 all-court attacking player. Normally, I follow up a well-placed serve with volley, and convert a good baseline shot to set up at the net.

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

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
I used Head i.Prestige Mid (18 x 20) for this playtest. My i.Prestige Mid is customized at 385 g static weight and 8-point HL (unstrung specification).
I replaced existing Gamma Supreme Perforated over-grip on i.Prestige Mid to test Solinco provided sample over-grip.

How many hours did you play with the test string?
I have play-tested a total of well over 15 hours, and I really enjoyed this Solinco Hyper-G hybrid system strings.

Which string did you use for the mains?
I used Hyper-G (shaped) for the mains.

Tension(s) used for playtest?
Solinco Hyper-G & Hyper-G Round hybrid system package comes with the 22.3 feet shaped and 22.3 feet round strings. Hyper-G 1.20 mm (17 gauge) strung at 50 lbs on mains and Hyper-G Round 1.20 mm (17 gauge) strung at 50 lbs on crosses using a drop weight stringing machine.

Power/Control of test string?
Hyper-G mains and Hyper-G Round crosses playtest setup provided both adequate power for a co-poly and excellent control throughout the playtest period. Overall, the string bed responded well to generate control and/or power shots for the serve, baseline, and at the net. It was nice to generate the controlled put-away power shots, as well as delicate drop and touch shots.

Playtest setup provided a bit more power and control when compared with my regular hybrid string setups.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
I liked the thinner string feel of my Hyper-G playtest setup. I felt connected with the string bed throughout the playtest. It felt somewhere between somewhat muted to slightly crisp. Playtest setup continuously provided me with a happy medium and comfortable feel.

The pocketing and comfort were tad bit better when compared with my regular hybrid string setups. The put-away and touch shots felt connected and produced little better results. The undesirable off-center string bed shots near the frame felt somewhat better as well.

Spin?
The Hyper-G playtest setup promoted consistent controllable spin generation when needed. It was manageable to produced effective cut, lob, drop and touch shots. The spin potential of the string bed maintained throughout the playtest.

The playtest setup exhibits a similar spin potential as my regular setups.

Durability & playability duration?
Hyper-G mains and Hyper-G Round crosses playtest setup exhibited an excellent durability by not breaking over 15 hours of playtest.
My playtest setup provided very consistent playability throughout the playtest even with the normal notching on the center area of mains. The mains got notched and the crosses got some flattening/elongation as the playtest progressed. No readjusting the string bed was needed, and the snapback was there throughout the playtest.

Hyper-G mains and Hyper-G Round crosses playtest setup exhibited an excellent playability duration (over 15 hours of playtest). I will continue to play until the playability diminishes. My regular hybrid string setups have the playability duration of over 30 hours.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why:
The recommended tension provided on the playtest string package is 40 lbs to 50 lbs. My setup of Hyper-G 17 gauge strung at 50 lbs mains and Hyper-G Round 17 gauge strung at 50 lbs crosses provided a good feel with sufficient control and power throughout the playtest. I may change string tension up to +2 lbs to increase the control or up to -2 lbs to increase the feel.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
There was no issue string the 17 gauge (1.20 mm) Hyper-G & Hyper-G Round hybrid system using a drop weight stringing machine. After stringing, I installed a sample Solinco over-grip to test as well.
Solinco Hyper-G hybrid system provided an excellent control and playability duration with a good feel throughout the playtest. The string bed performed quite consistently without the string breakage over 15 hours of playtest. I was surprised on how well this thinner Hyper-G hybrid system 17 gauges (1.20 mm) performed compared with my regular co-poly/co-poly (1.30/1.25 mm) hybrid setups. Hyper-G 17 gauge mains exhibited very good all-around qualities and I would like to try out more in the future. I am curious to playtest hybrid setup using Hyper-G Round 17 gauge on mains to see if I can enhance my game.
A sample Solinco over-grip worked well in a humid Florida environment. It provided a good feel and dry grip throughout the playtest period.

As always, special thank you to @TW Staff and Solinco Company for proving Hyper-G & Hyper-G Round hybrid system 17 gauge (1.20 mm) string and a sample Solinco over-grip playtest opportunity.
 
M Pillai said:
Thanks. I just read your review. Yes it make sense, that you prefer the round poly feel on mains, since you had been using proline-ii.

I am not new to shaped polys, and it is a lot of fun, but I still lack some confidence on pressure points on a match, when using extreme shaped polys. This is why I mentioned in my review that, I prefer a full bed of Hyperg-Round, which I had tested.

I believe you may prefer a full bed of HyperG-Round as well. Give that a try when you get chance.
Click to expand...
A full bed of Hyper G-Round is definitely on my list of polys to try. I still like testing shaped but I would probably never take one into a tournament or match where the results matter.

I totally understand what you mean. I used to love shaped polys (I mained RPM Blast and Cyclone) but if I tensed up and didn't take a full swing or accentuated the upward swing and not go through the ball I would either shank it, pop it up, or hit it incredibly short for my opponent to hit a winner. After switching to a full round bed quite a few years ago my playstyle and consistency has improved considerably and I haven't looked back since.
 
Solinco Hyper-G / Hyper-G Round Playtest (1.20 version) Hybrid Review


Tennis background/skill level/playing style: 4.0 tennis player with an all-court game.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Currently using Kirschbaum synthetic strings at 60lb for mains and crosses.

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Babolat Pure Storm GT 16x20.

How many hours did you play with the test string? 20 hours

Which string did you use for the mains? Hyper G (non round)

Tension(s) used for playtest? Strung at 60lb for mains and crosses.

Power/Control of test string? The string has moderate power and above average control, relative to other full poly set ups. I was able to hit through the ball, but not as much compared to a string like Weiss CANNON Ultra cable.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) The string is stiff, and the comfort declined throughout the play test. When fresh, the first 5 hours it didn’t have any discomfort. Near the end the feel felt great but I do get some forearm pain that I normally don’t get with hybrids. Wrists feel ok surprisingly, since I do use a lot of wrist action. Shoulders are also ok which is great.

Spin? Topspin is great. I like how the ball comes off with a high launch angle during a rally and the serve. For rallies, the shots really penetrated the courts from all angles. Approach shots felt good to hit as well. For underspin, the slice did not feel as effective compared to a multi like Head Velocity Power 1.30.

Durability & playability duration? The playability duration is good. Strings are still holding up.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why. I wouldn’t because I liked the setup's performance in terms of the control and spin. If the tension was lower, I think the control would not be ideal for my play style.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I would try switching the set up between mains and crosses next time to see if I could get more power. Also to see how that would effect the slices.



Thank you for the playtest opportunity TW and Solinco.
 
String Review for Hyper-G/Hyper-G Round

Tennis background/skill level/playing style: 4.0 tennis player with an all-court game.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Kirschbaum Orange / Diadem Multi strings at 55lb for mains and crosses.

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Diadem Elevate v3 16x20.

How many hours did you play with the test string? 20 hours

Mains:
Shaped mains (Hyper-G)

Crosses:
Round crosses (Hyper-G Round)

Tension:
52 lbs

Power/Control:
The combination of Hyper-G for the mains and Hyper-G Round for the crosses provides an impressive balance of power and control. The shaped mains offer excellent bite on the ball, enhancing control, while the round crosses contribute to a smooth, consistent power output. Overall, the setup leans slightly more towards spin, making it ideal for aggressive baseline players who want to dictate points with precision and control.

Feel:
This string setup has a crisp yet comfortable feel. The Hyper-G mains give a lively, responsive sensation on impact, while the round Hyper-G crosses add a touch of softness, preventing the setup from feeling too stiff. The feel is not overly muted but offers enough feedback to give a good sense of ball placement and spin generation. I think if you want to deaden the liveliness you could do Hyper-G soft and Hyper-G round. That would probably lower the tension durability but give you a better feel. I only noticed some elbow paint after the 15+ hour mark when I was blasting forehands on the ball machine which was probably not the smartest idea. And once I felt it, I knew it was time to switch strings out.

Spin:
Spin potential is one of the standout features of this string combination. The shaped Hyper-G mains provide excellent grip on the ball, generating substantial topspin and slice. This makes it easier to hit heavy, spin-loaded shots that dip sharply and stay in the court. Players who rely on spin to control their shots will find this setup particularly beneficial.

Durability & Playability Duration:
Durability is solid with this setup. The shaped mains are robust and resist notching well, while the round crosses help maintain string integrity and prolong playability. The playability duration is also commendable; the strings hold tension well and maintain consistent performance over several sessions. Expect to get good mileage out of this combination before noticeable tension loss or breakage occurs. I noticed tension and snapback loss around the 10hr mark mainly due to the repetitive ball machine hitting I was doing. I did about 15 hours of hitting/matches and 5 hours of ball machine in a months time.

Tension Recommendations:
The 52 lbs tension worked well, providing a good balance between control and power. However, if you're seeking a bit more power, you might consider lowering the tension by a couple of pounds (50 lbs). Conversely, if you prefer even more control and spin, raising the tension slightly to 54 lbs could be beneficial.
 
Hyper-G/Hyper-G Round 1.25 Test (I was given 1.25 and told to review 1.25)

Tennis background/skill level/playing style: Hit against garage starting at 9 years old. Played with friends 5-6 times a week from 12-15 years old. Played high school team from 16-18 years old. Played once in a while from 19-42 years old. Played twice a week with tennis ladder people from 43-47 years old. Current age is 47, current rating 3.5. Was 4.0 in high school.

Playing Style: Baseliner, counterpuncher, like to mix in some drop shots, lobs, slices, extreme slice serves to make opponent uncomfortable. Like to slice a lot to frustrate people. Not good at net, almost never go to net.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Yonex Polytour Pro 1.25 yellow main 44 lbs, Head Velocity 1.30 natural cross 50 lbs

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Wilson Shift 99 300 prototype

How many hours did you play with the test string? 10 hours

Which string did you use for the mains? Hyper G

Tension(s) used for playtest? 40lbs for both mains and crosses

Power/Control of test string? This string setup is a little stiffer than I would like. The Hyper-G Round is softer than Hyper-G and provides a little more power versus a full bed of just Hyper-G. Both Hyper-G and Hyper-G Round have more liveliness/power than other strings with similar stiffness. But for me, I would prefer a more powerful string than Hyper-G/Hyper-G Round. I would say this string setup is the stiffest medium level stiffness string or the softest high level stiffness string. The control is very good, higher than average for full bed poly. It was nice controlling the ball with spin. I liked how the round crosses provided a smoother surface to provide snapback for a little more spin to control the ball.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) This setup is stiff. Like I said above, this string setup is the stiffest medium level stiffness string or the softest high level stiffness string. It’s not mushy, I think Hyper-G Soft is mushy. It’s not muted, it’s lively, but not very lively, it’s a little bit lively. It’s crisp and stiff. It’s not comfortable. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most comfortable poly, this string is a 4.

Spin? This is a great string for spin for me. There are sharper strings that will grab the ball and spin the ball more, but those strings grab too much for me and they hurt your fingers to string them. I think less sharp strings don’t provide enough spin. I think Hyper-G provides the exact amount of grabiness and spin that I like. Like I said above, I liked how the round crosses provided a smoother surface to provide snapback for a little more spin. And I like how the Hyper-G Round is a little softer than Hyper-G to provide a little more pocketing which helps with spin.

Durability & playability duration? I think this string is very durable. I think Solinco makes high quality string that lasts long and has good quality coatings to help the string last long. I use strings for 8-10 hours of play for good to high quality strings, and these strings play well for the entire 8-10 hours. Tension maintenance is very good also. And I like that these strings don’t have a break in period, they are good and consistent the entire 8-10 hours. I think the round poly helps with durability because it’s providing a smooth surface for the mains to move across.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why I would not change the tension the next time because I think poly shouldn’t be strung below 40 lbs, it’s just too low. And I wouldn’t string at a higher tension because the string is very stiff for me.

List any additional thoughts (optional) I highly recommend trying these strings. There’s a reason so many people use Hyper-G. It’s high quality, very durable, very controlled, has a little bit of liveliness, perfect amount of spin, good feel for a poly. I think having round crosses is good for durability and spin. I enjoyed this playtest. I haven’t tried the 1.20 version yet, but plan to. In my opinion, the 1.20 is better for me because I think it has the exact amount of stiffness that I like, which is a little less than this 1.25.
 
Solinco Hyper-G / Hyper-G Round (1.20 version) Hybrid Review:

Tennis background/skill level/playing style:
4.0+ male in my late late 40’s; FH my main weapon and OHBH. Began playing tennis at 13 years of age and played competitively throughout HS and into my first two years of college playing mainly singles, counter punching my way through matches. Those were probably my best tennis years. Took a long break to focus on school and early career, but played tennis recreationally every now and then. Took up tennis on the regular again in my early 30’s and played USTA leagues and tournaments (won a couple of singles events), and then took another break to focus on raising my neurodiverse child. Restarted tennis again in my 40’s and through local clinics I got to know a couple of people and became a practice and drill partner for my local community college’s tennis program. This is how I keep myself young playing against ITA ranked college kids. ;) Over the last four years I have transitioned to playing more of an attacking style game hoping to end points earlier at net, especially against younger opponents who would outlast me if we get into long rallies.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
Tecnifibre Razor Soft, 48 to 50 lbs.

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
Wilson Ultra Pro v4

How many hours did you play with the test string?
14 hours

Which string did you use for the mains?
Hyper-G Regular

Tension(s) used for playtest?
45lbs Hyper-G regular mains; 47lbs Hyper-G round crosses

Power/Control of test string?
I loved the pop the strings provided especially on my servers and volleys with good depth. On groundstokes I was able to rip balls down the line especially when on the first four hours of the playtest . The strings matches well on my Wilson UP/UT control racket.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The strings are comfortable for a poly. It gave good enough response that I did not feel a disconnection when striking the ball. I had a bout of tennis elbow last year, and it’s 95% healed. Playing with the Solinco Hybrid did not aggravate my TE. After each playtest session, and throughout the weeks I felt zero discomfort.

Spin?
Great, but nothing amazing. However, more spin than my normal round poly. I was able to produce nice topspin with height and depth with good control. Spin on the backhand slices were excellent…great backspin with a slight lift. I got great spin on my slice serves when pulling opponents out wide on the deuce side. I’m not an experienced kick server, but in practice I had so much fun seeing the ball action on the kick that I kept practicing and the next day my abs were sore.

Durability & playability duration?
The strings felt best when fresh, especially after about the first hour of play. The second day of play at about the 3 or 4th hour, that’s when I felt I got into a groove with the strings…plenty of pop and spin on groundstrokes and serves. After about 6 hours I felt that there was a slight loss in control but spin was still very good. Eight to nine hours and that’s when the thought of cutting the strings out because I wanted that same “fresh” feeling again, but I wanted to see how the strings can go. The last few hours before I called it over, I was able to generate good spin and decent power most likely from the loss of tension, but I felt I had to adjust too much to keep consistent play.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
The strings were comfortable when fresh and had good amount of power and control at 45lb regular mains / 47lb round crosses. I didn’t feel the strings needed any break-in period. To get a bit more control I feel like I could bump up the tension two to three pounds without sacrificing comfort.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Thank you Solinco and Tennis Warehouse for the opportunity to test and review this outstanding hybrid. This was my first shape/round poly hybrid setup. I loved the combination of performance and comfort. I’m seriously considering stringing my racket up with Solinco Hyper-G hybrid again.
 
Cowboy said:
At the end of the day, I think these are great strings. I'm going to have to come back to these, as I'm really curious to see how they do at different tensions. I'm curious how these rounds paired with Hyper-G soft would perform.
Click to expand...

@Cowboy … I touched on a Hyper-G Soft (mains) with Hyper-G Round (cross) hybrid in my additional comments (up near the top of this page 4).

To me, it was very similar to using the regular Hyper-G hybrid - similar control and spin (Soft a bit more/better in these areas), power, overall playability, playability duration, etc. I used different gauges - 16L/18 for the Soft vs. 17/17 for the playtest (regular), so there were some differences, but the overall experience & synergy was very similar.

I would say the Soft version, for me, played better early on, while the regular took a bit of time to feel at its best (I would string it 1-2# lower). I‘ve been using Soft versions of Hyper-G and Tour Bite for a while now, so I’ll be trying additional Soft/Round hybrids moving forward for the added comfort over the regular versions.
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style: Late 40s. USTA 4.0 Singles & Doubles. Looking to come in & close-out points


Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Yonex PTP 1.15 49 lbs; Gut 55 lbs-Poly 50 lbs

What racquet did you use for this playtest? 2023 Head Prestige Pro 16x19

How many hours did you play with the test string? ~ 10 hrs (10-12 sets)

Which string did you use for the mains? Hyper G Round (to compare apples-to-apples against PTP)

Tension(s) used for playtest? 49 M / 47 X

Power/Control of test string? There is plenty of power packed in the Hyper G round as the main. It is not uncontrolled power. It’s a ton of pocketing compared to PTP. It is comparable to a Gut/Poly setup in pocketing. 8 hours in and I am starting to feel some trampolining, which I suspect is implicated by the lower cross tension settling (or breaking in) the stringbed from the jump.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) Comfortable compared to PTP (Stiff compared to gut). When I take a cut at the ball, I never feel I’m losing control. It’s got pop, which is remarkably different from the PTP (I can feel leaving the string bed much quicker). On serve returns, I felt that I would never miss.

Spin? This was comparable to the PTP on neutral rallies. When I deliberately tried to shape the ball, this Hyper G setup required less effort to introduce spin compared to the Yonex PTP. I felt that with Hyper G, I could flatten out and penetrate the ball better. I felt this had the most impact on kick serves.

Durability & playability duration? I do feel the trampoline effect 10 hrs in. The strings are not broken

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? For my racquet (RA58), the tension I used was comfortable enough to give my shots adequate pop.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This is a great setup. I would recommend it to most recreational players as a middle-of-the-road string for balanced performance.
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style: Just started playing a couple years ago. USTA 3.0, almost exclusively doubles, aggressive all court player.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): String my own racquets, been using hybrid set ups exclusively for about a year, currently stringing Toroline hybrids, Wasabi, Toro Toro, and snapper. Preferred tension around 53-54 in the mains and about a pound less in the crosses.

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Head Graphene 360+ Radical Pro. I removed Wasabi X hybrid setup and replaced with these.

How many hours did you play with the test string? Approximately 12 hours

Which string did you use for the mains? Hyper G in the mains, and the round in the crosses

Tension(s) used for playtest? 53/52

Power/Control of test string? Immediately felt an increase in power and a little less control than Wasabi hybrids. It took me about an hour to get used to it, but once I did I definitely noticed an increase in power and no loss of control as long as I swung properly.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Spin? Definitely felt softer than other strings I've used. At first I felt they were mushy, but I think I just needed to get used to them. Very comfortable strings, no arm issues at all. I was able to get more spin than usual with these strings. A number of times I thought the ball was going long and it dropped in right on the line.

Durability & playability duration? I felt really good with these strings for about 8 hours. After that, they felt a little soft and launchy. I had to really focus on my swing speed. As long as I kept my swing speed up, I was still hitting winners.

Tension Recommendations. I liked the tension where it was, about a lb less than I usually string in both the mains and crosses.

Additional thoughts: I really liked this string setup. I typically string with a shaped string in the mains and a low friction round string on the crosses. I Immediately felt an increase in power, and the strings felt a little too soft, but once I got used to them, I played some amazing tennis. Volleys were crisp and powerful. Serves had a little extra pop. Groundstrokes were powerful and landed deep in the court. I had a problem initially hitting long, and whenever I got the same issue throughout the playtest, I refocused on technique and swing speed and I was fine. After about 8 hours I needed to do that more often. I also noticed the strings not snapping back as readily at the same time. The last match I played with these I lost confidence in my ability to control the ball and switched to an identical racquet with a fresh Toroline hybrid to finish out the match and noticed an immediate gain in controllability.

I think this is a great hybrid setup for intermediate to advanced players, but maybe not for beginners. I got a great bump in performance for about 8 hours of play, but struggled with consistency after that. I was still able to hit great shots, but I had to focus more to stay consistent with routine shots. I think a more experienced player would reap the benefits for longer.
 
Solinco Hyper-G/Hyper-G Round 1.25 Playtest

Regular Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Solinco Hyper-G Round (1.25) @ 48/46 (lockout stringer)
Playtest Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Solinco Hyper-G (1.25) x Hyper-G Round (1.25) @ 48/46 (lockout stringer)

During this playtest, I played singles and doubles at 4.5/5/0 level leading up to the USTA 18+ 4.5 Sectionals this weekend. In singles, I play best as a counter-puncher, so I typically grind until I redirect a heavy ball or get a short ball. In doubles, I play a mix of serve and volley and ground-stroke points.

More or less, HG/HGR hybrid plays the same as the HGR full-bed. Major differences are HGR full-bed provides superior predictability, better durability and playability, and arguably more spin with my strokes. Please refer to my TW HGR playtest review for more details.
  • Power/Control: As mentioned in my previous playtest, HGR full-bed plays very powerful but still retains exceptional control in the form of predictability. The power level and average control level in the hybrid setup was very comparable and differences were hardly noticeable. However, with the hybrid setup, there is a slight discrepancy between the expected ball trajectory and the reality, which was not as apparent with HGR full-bed. This became worse after about 3-4 hour mark, where the hybrid setup lost tension maintenance and the mains were not snapping back. Obviously, this lesser predictability from HG is within what I would expect when comparing shaped to round strings. (Summary: hybrid = HGR in power, hybrid < HGR in control)
  • Feel: I actually recently started playing without a dampener, so it’s a bit difficult to recalibrate how my current setup feels to my previous experiences. However, HGR full-bed, as mentioned previously, provides sufficient response from both power and control perspectives. This remained very similar with the hybrid setup. By feel alone, the hybrid feels like it’s gripping the ball a bit more versus in the HGR full-bed, the ball has a bit more feeling of sinking in and snapping back out.
  • Spin: This is likely going to be pretty controversial as I’m still not sure if it’s real vs feel. In conclusion, HGR full-bed feels like it gives me more spin than the hybrid. This was super noticeable in the dipping trajectory of my ground strokes. In some instances, the hybrid provided more spin but that came at the cost of ball depth. Overall, I felt that, with the way I strike the ball, the perceived better snapback from HGR full-bed gave me more access to spin than the shaped nature of HG and its impact on spin.
  • Playability Durability: I have been getting about solid 6-8 hours of good snapback with the HGR full-bed setup. Perhaps too picky, the hybrid setup started to play a bit differently after about 3-4 hours. Less predictable balls in general. In comparison to HGR full-bed where snapback still remains around 6-8 hour mark, the hybrid lasted about 4 hours before mains got stuck. I ended up just getting to the 10-hour mark, before I cut it out.
  • Tension Recommendation: 48/46 is what I decided on during the indoor season. However, the temperature hit about 95 at peak and felt like I could up the tension a bit to get to the similar tension feel. I would likely do 50/48 in hotter outdoor conditions.
  • Summary (Additional Thoughts): The hybrid setup plays very similar to HGR full-bed. However, HGR full-bed provides better spin with even more predictability. I would personally be interested in the comparison between HG full-bed versus this hybrid.
Looking forward to finally reading others’ review on this. Thanks again to TW and Solinco for this playtest.
 
I like how many others I'm seeing that went with 45 lbs.

Way2Slow said:
@Cowboy … I touched on a Hyper-G Soft (mains) with Hyper-G Round (cross) hybrid in my additional comments (up near the top of this page 4).

To me, it was very similar to using the regular Hyper-G hybrid - similar control and spin (Soft a bit more/better in these areas), power, overall playability, playability duration, etc. I used different gauges - 16L/18 for the Soft vs. 17/17 for the playtest (regular), so there were some differences, but the overall experience & synergy was very similar.

I would say the Soft version, for me, played better early on, while the regular took a bit of time to feel at its best (I would string it 1-2# lower). I‘ve been using Soft versions of Hyper-G and Tour Bite for a while now, so I’ll be trying additional Soft/Round hybrids moving forward for the added comfort over the regular versions.
Click to expand...

I may copy you a little here.

Also, FWIW, the recoil of the main string when cutting it suggested that there was still some usable life left in the strings. Often, when I cut poly, the "snapback" (for lack of a better term) is less than the gap between strings. This one was slightly more than that.
 
Hi Everyone!

Tennis background/skill level/playing style: I've played tennis throughout high school and stopped in college. Started playing again 2015 and currently play 4.0 18+ USTA. Flat groundstrokes all round player that mainly plays doubles.
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Toroline Super Toro in the Main at 45#, Toroline Wasabi X in the Cross at 43#
What racquet did you use for this playtest? Wilson Prostaff 97 v14

How many hours did you play with the test string? 30 hours
Which string did you use for the mains? Solinco Hyper G 17g
Tension(s) used for playtest? 47 pounds
Power/Control of test string? Great control from this combo. This was one of my highly anticipated combos since I like playing with a round poly in the cross for the extra snapback. I typically don't use hyper g in a hybrid but the hyper g round paired very well. It's still a lower powered combo that I'd probably take down a couple pounds if I was to redo it. My shots were very predictable on my forehand and backhands. Volleys also felt very controlled. I would string it closer to 45 pounds to get a bit more power from the strings since control felt very spot on.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) Very comfortable string combo. I liked this hybrid more than the usual full bed of Hyper G 17g. This combo reminded me of a full bed of hyper g soft but without the drastic drop in tension. It's still a bit stiffer than playing with a completely soft co-poly but no discomfort in any of my shots.
Spin? I felt the spin was a bit less than a full bed of hyper g regular. More spin than the hyper g soft. The hybrid is the perfect in between of a hyper g and hyper g soft.
Durability & playability duration? Strings are still going strong after 30 hours. I'm not much of a string breaker so I'm not surprised. Playability is still great. Notice a bit of tension lost which worked out better for me since I felt like I strung it a bit tight. Typically I would cut out Hyper G after 20-25 hours of playtime, but I didn't feel the need to do it with this hybrid.
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? I think for a flat hitter, I would stick to the same setup where you have hyper g regular in the main and hyper g round in the cross. I would drop it down to 45 pounds since I did feel it was an underpowered string. I typically string regular hyper g at 45 pounds but decided to go a bit higher (47) because of the hybrid setup. I definitely would string the cross 2 pounds less than the mains to give a bit of extra snapback from the round slick poly in the cross.
List any additional thoughts: Really great string overall. I'd recommend it over hyper g soft and anyone looking for a less stiff option than regular hyper g.

Thanks TW for the opportunity to review this string!!
 
A little follow up.
I've since played with a couple other strings (including a poly-poly hybrid that will remain unnamed), and the more I think back favourably on this string.
I truly may go back to it sooner than later, and could really see it as a mainstay string.
I think it's dependable, durable, and has above average spin, touch, and comfort to say the least. Plus it looks great!
Good job Solinco - this is a winner.
 
dudu said:
A little follow up.
I've since played with a couple other strings (including a poly-poly hybrid that will remain unnamed), and the more I think back favourably on this string.
I truly may go back to it sooner than later, and could really see it as a mainstay string.
I think it's dependable, durable, and has above average spin, touch, and comfort to say the least. Plus it looks great!
Good job Solinco - this is a winner.
Click to expand...
Other Blades being strung at the moment with the hybrid I play tested. It is a very good setup.
 
I spoke with solinco about hyper G round vs shaped more than two years ago they did not know what I was talking about. Can someone please explain when the round hyper G came out? the hybrid I am assuming recently .
 
The Hyper-G Hybrid is a great set up !! For me it checks all the boxes; serves, volleys, ground strokes, feel, touch , power, spin, and control. For most people you can play these Solinco strings and be very content. Of course if you need more of a particular attribute ( control or spin ) there are specialized choices that meet those needs, but for most poly users I could write them a prescription for these and they would live happily ever after. They are relatively durable too. Don't me wrong these are not the only strings on the planet, but if they were I wouldn't complain - unless I didn't like green !!!
 
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