I am not on the test but I have had access to Hyper-G soft for 6 months now. I am a long time Hyper-G user who uses Hyper-g 18 and formerly Hyper-G 16L. My initial reaction of the string was good it definitely felt softer (about 20%). But after like 30 minutes I picked up a stick with normal Hyper-G and realized how much more pop it had to it. Hyper-G soft just felt like a dead version of Hyper-g. Hyper-g is the best poly on the market imo but the soft just took away all the things I loved abt Hyper-g and dimmed them down. Hyper-g is already a soft string for me so I don't need to go to the soft version but if it is too stiff for some of you to use in a full bed hyper-g soft is still a good softer option and still a top tier poly.
Tennis Warehouse playtest: Solinco Hyper-G Soft!
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
g4driver
Legend
@davidsaye
You went from 1.25mm to 1.15mm HG. Did you switch to a denser pattern also? e.g., 16x19 to an 18x20 frame. That seems like a big change considering you had used 1.25mm HG for three years. Just curious why the switch. A denser pattern would be my first guess. My next few guesses would be you are 5.0 or 5.5 USTA rated player and/or a teaching pro, or an Elite Level Junior with a UTR of 10+ and not a 4.0 middle-aged hack.
. I think HGS is for the hacks, not the 5.0s and elite juniors. 
No reason for a player of your level to use Hyper G Soft, but there are plenty of tennis players who can't hit with Hyper G due to it's stiffness. There is a big difference between a 15-year-old to 35-year-old hitting with Hyper G, and a guy in his mid to late-forties who never played tennis until his kids were in college hitting with it.
You went from 1.25mm to 1.15mm HG. Did you switch to a denser pattern also? e.g., 16x19 to an 18x20 frame. That seems like a big change considering you had used 1.25mm HG for three years. Just curious why the switch. A denser pattern would be my first guess. My next few guesses would be you are 5.0 or 5.5 USTA rated player and/or a teaching pro, or an Elite Level Junior with a UTR of 10+ and not a 4.0 middle-aged hack.
. I think HGS is for the hacks, not the 5.0s and elite juniors. No reason for a player of your level to use Hyper G Soft, but there are plenty of tennis players who can't hit with Hyper G due to it's stiffness. There is a big difference between a 15-year-old to 35-year-old hitting with Hyper G, and a guy in his mid to late-forties who never played tennis until his kids were in college hitting with it.
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Boom_6
New User
@Boom_6 Thanks for the kind words. Fear not, as you aren't the only player who can't use HG, TB, or Confidential. I can't use Hyper G, or Confidential either. I was on the Confidential playtest and I made it known, I don't have the RHS to use Confidential, which I find even more demanding than HG. I have personally never been a fan of Tour Bite and don't even stock it, but I do actually like one of their older strings, Revolution, which plays similar to TierOne Firewire to me. Of all Solinco's offerings, Hyper G Soft is my favorite Solinco string. I like the 1.25mm (16L) gauge for my PA+ frames.
I played last night with three buddies, all 4.0 men, and now have 12+ hours on the 1.25mm HGS strings. I was wearing a Solinco hat trying to be like a bit like Troy of @TW Staff, who wears matching clothes when he playtest a frame or string. The next time you watch him in a playtest, notice his clothes. He matches the attire to the playtest. Pretty cool and he is subtle about it. And yes, wish I had Troy's skill level.
And HGS strings easily with no issues whatsoever. I think Solinco will be able to sell HGS to a lot of players who don't like HG, TB or Confidential and they hit a home run with HGS.
That’s great and thank you. HGS is the final frontier for me and Solinco. Going to try it. If it’s too stiff, done with Solinco permanently.
g4driver
Legend
If you don't like HGS, Tier One's Boost (FireWire mains and Ghostwire crosses ) is a great alternative.
Boom_6
New User
Right on! I’ll check that out. Thanks for the recco!
@davidsaye
You went from 1.25mm to 1.15mm HG. Did you switch to a denser pattern also? e.g., 16x19 to an 18x20 frame. That seems like a big change considering you had used 1.25mm HG for three years. Just curious why the switch. A denser pattern would be my first guess. My next few guesses would be you are 5.0 or 5.5 USTA rated player and/or a teaching pro, or an Elite Level Junior with a UTR of 10+ and not a 4.0 middle-aged hack.
No reason for a player of your level to use Hyper G Soft, but there are plenty of tennis players who can't hit with Hyper G due to it's stiffness. There is a big difference between a 15-year-old to 35-year-old hitting with Hyper G, and a guy in his mid to late-forties who never played tennis until his kids were in college hitting with it.
Yes, I am a high level junior player. I made the switch to the thinner gauge because I have now accumulated 12+ Babolat Pure Strike VS tours so I can afford to break strings a lot. I also started to string my own racquets so I can restring often. The 18 gauge has way better feel and spin.
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
My initial thoughts were the same. Once it broke in it became much much better.
g4driver
Legend
@davidsaye Congrats on getting to such a high level. It's nice to see the high-level junior tournaments and watch younger players advance to the collegiate level. Your parents much appreciate the fact you have learned to string and string your own frames. That's a skill like your tennis game, that will follow you for the rest of your life. Best wishes as you continue to get better and better! If you enter a tournament in Charleston, SC be sure to let us know. Several posters on this forum watch local tournaments besides the Volvo Car Open. I have several friends who have good kids who are now playing Division 1 Tennis and it was great to watch them as they moved from 14 to 16 to 18-year old groups.
g4driver
Legend
HGS took a while for it to break in for me also. Then again, I can't hit with 1.25mm Hyper G. It's too stiff for my hack level, but I like HGS and whatever Solinco did to make it softer than HG, well it works at my level.
tennisgurl
Semi-Pro
Solinco Hyper-G Soft String Playtest
Review by tennisgurl
Gauge Received:Review by tennisgurl
16L
Tension used for playtest:
52 lbs
Regular string set up & tension:
Solinco Hyper-G 17 strung at 52 lbs
Racquet used for test:
Head Graphene 360+ Speed MP
Control/Power of test string:
Hyper-G Soft is a comfortable string which offers great point and shoot sort of control for me. I am a 4.0 female that punches above her weight at times. I have somewhat flatter ground game and slice serve as my go-to weapon so I need control in my strings where I can feel ball being grabbed by stringbed. I felt my groundstrokes were deep and had enough net clearance on them as I like for my control. The serves were hitting targets well too.
Power level was similar to my usual, Solinco Hyper G. Perhaps even a little bit more. I have every polyester string strung up at same tension to keep things consistent and I wasn't hitting long and felt good power with this setup.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Very soft and arm friendly. It is a very comfortable polyester offering. I always felt connected to my strokes. Mishits weren't uncomfortable for me and even off center hits were not hurting my arm or sending vibrations.
Spin:
I am a more of a flat hitter normally although I do use spin sometimes. I got good spin out of these strings when I took full swings at the ball with low to high swing motion. Compared to regular Hyper-G it was a pretty even match. I was getting spin I get from my normal strokes. Serves too were accurate and had similar zing on fast slice serves.
Durability:
Durability is something I never worry about as I am not a string breaker. So for me durability was good all throughout the playtest. For me, this stringbed will last a few weeks. I see very normal signs of wear on strings, nothing excessive.
Playability Duration:
I know that I might not be as big a hitter as some here. For that reason the playability duration was impressive for me. The stringbed plays just like it did at the beginning of the playtest. I also don't feel like strings have lost any tension after the initial stringing drop. With consistent strokes I am finding that stringbed is not erratic or dead etc.
Tension Recommendations (would you string differently next time? Why):
I would keep it at the same tension. I got the stringbed to play the way I wanted and I am used to this tension. For those who hit bigger and want more control I will say go up a few pounds. It is a soft string and won't hurt your arm.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
My stringer at my pro shop told me that it was easy to string and it was elastic and stretchy for a polyester string.
Other than that I really liked this playtest and enjoyed the softer version of Hyper-G.
I will end this playtest feedback by saying a big thank you to @TW Staff and Solinco.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Since I last posted, I had the, uhh, fun of playing with Hyper-G Soft against a high 4.5 rated age grouper an age group category below me. My first opportunity to play against this gentleman, and after a few games it settled into a pattern of me being on offense and him playing defense, and attacking hard if I coughed up a weak shot. We played a two hour 7-5 7-5 match which I lost, and it was not as close as the score indicates. I'd guess he won 55% of the points, and I had to work hard on every one of my service games. He worked me over with consistent depth into my backhand corner, usually with a slice that he hit from his backhand corner in response to a heavy topspin shot that I tried to hit with my forehand as often as possible. I think I played about as well as I could have and I learned a lot from the match. Unfortunately I have a strong feeling it will not be this close if we were to play again. Afterwards, my toes were bleeding and my wrist was sore - what a fantastic match!
That match shredded the Hyper-G Soft. It more than doubled the notching that was present and there was fraying at the square edges. I was hurting enough afterwards that all I did was to measure the tension with RacquetTune, which read 41.4-41.6 pounds. After the match, I had around six total hours on the string. I really appreciated the spin capability of HGS. The amount of spin I was able to hit really kept my opponent deep and unwilling/unable to attack, and the lower power level was helpful in getting his low underspin shots up and down into the court. The consistent response of the stringbed gave me the confidence to aim for smaller targets deep in the court and I was pretty successful in hitting them. There were times I wished for a bit more power - I wasn't all that successful in hitting putaway groundstrokes but more power might have taken away from the control that let me stay in the long points without making an error. On the slower of our indoor courts and against that opponent, HGS was the string that let me play this opponent the closest I possibly could have on this day.
Played again today and pulled out the HGS to start. The wrist was still a bit sore but I at least wanted to start hitting with it. About the third hard shot I hit with it, it broke.
It looks like it sheared starting at a notch. There was pretty good pullback after the break so the string still had decent elasticity. The crosses had thinned somewhat but didn't look all that bad.
I pulled out the racquet with regular Hyper-G in it and hit to get a comparison. The response wasn't really that different considering it has minimal play compared to the HGS that was at its end of life. Launch angle, power, and spin were very similar. The edge in crispness that HGS had when new was pretty much gone and both played with that typical Hyper-G mutedness. The most significant area of difference I noted was that the Hyper-G was still more jarring on mis-hits.
I'll post up a full review tomorrow.
That match shredded the Hyper-G Soft. It more than doubled the notching that was present and there was fraying at the square edges. I was hurting enough afterwards that all I did was to measure the tension with RacquetTune, which read 41.4-41.6 pounds. After the match, I had around six total hours on the string. I really appreciated the spin capability of HGS. The amount of spin I was able to hit really kept my opponent deep and unwilling/unable to attack, and the lower power level was helpful in getting his low underspin shots up and down into the court. The consistent response of the stringbed gave me the confidence to aim for smaller targets deep in the court and I was pretty successful in hitting them. There were times I wished for a bit more power - I wasn't all that successful in hitting putaway groundstrokes but more power might have taken away from the control that let me stay in the long points without making an error. On the slower of our indoor courts and against that opponent, HGS was the string that let me play this opponent the closest I possibly could have on this day.
Played again today and pulled out the HGS to start. The wrist was still a bit sore but I at least wanted to start hitting with it. About the third hard shot I hit with it, it broke.
It looks like it sheared starting at a notch. There was pretty good pullback after the break so the string still had decent elasticity. The crosses had thinned somewhat but didn't look all that bad.
I pulled out the racquet with regular Hyper-G in it and hit to get a comparison. The response wasn't really that different considering it has minimal play compared to the HGS that was at its end of life. Launch angle, power, and spin were very similar. The edge in crispness that HGS had when new was pretty much gone and both played with that typical Hyper-G mutedness. The most significant area of difference I noted was that the Hyper-G was still more jarring on mis-hits.
I'll post up a full review tomorrow.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
Jangotango's Solinco Hyper-G Soft Review
Gauge received - 17g (1.20mm)
Tension used for playtest - 47lbs. mains, 45lbs. crosses
Regular string set up & tension - Prior to this test I was primarily using Isospeed Grey Fire 1.30, 48lbs.
Racquet used for test - Wilson Six.One Team 18x20, leather grip+overgrip
Power/Control of test string
Hyper-G Soft has noticeably more pop than Isospeed Grey Fire. Compared to regular Hyper-G, there is a touch more springiness that is noticeable when the stringbed is fresh. As I logged more hours onto this string, the power kicked down a notch and was very similar, almost discernible from regular Hyper-G, but not as dead as Grey Fire. This is not a high power poly, by any means.
Control wise, this string ticked all of the boxes. Groundstrokes were easily kept deep and through the court. The extra degree of spin helped dip balls in and let me display more audacity during matchplay. Volleys were no issue, actually quite pleasant since Hyper-G soft is more comfortable than Grey Fire. I was hitting better second serves with this string, nice and un-attackable. The only knack in the control department would be on the slice, where I felt I wasn't able to drive through as much and more often than note had a slice that sat up a bit.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The feel of Hyper-G Soft is much better than regular Hyper-G. I didn't experience any of the usual harsh plastic/weedwhacker feeling that I got with standard Hyper-G. Hyper-G Soft started off with a nice, crisp, comfortable pocketing feel, but not to the degree of a string like Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour. As the stringbed broke in more, it became more muted and didn't pocket quite as much, but still better than regular Hyper-G. I did not experience any discomfort, and the muted, soft feel did not affect how I felt connected to the ball.
Spin
This is a reformulated Hyper-G, and doesn't perform any different in the spin department. I hit pretty flat, and this string definitely gave a higher launch angle while grabbing the ball enough to dip it down nicely. I like to say this string gave me a more "vertical spin" rather than a more "linear/driving spin." Second serves had a nice slice and spin that helped me greatly.
Durability
I am not a string breaker by any means, and accordingly did not break this string during my playtest. After 8 hours on this string, I did notice the edges were starting to wear smooth, and the crosses were thinning out, especially in the sweetspot. I believe the "soft" aspect of this string will affect durability, as regular Hyper-G had more robust edges and durability.
Playability Duration (did you notice changes to the feel & response over time?)
Hyper-G Soft is a very consistent string, much like regular Hyper-G. After the initial break-in period of three hours or so, the playability did not change by a large degree. It started out crisp and with noticeable pocketing, and then firmed up a tad bit and became a bit more muted. Spin did lessen as time wore on, as did power levels. I playtested this string for 18 hours (give or take a few) and feel like this could have lasted me a few more matches or practices.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Why?)
This was the perfect tension for my racquet. I would maybe go down a pound if the weather became cooler, however.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
In summary, Hyper-G Soft is a more refined version of Hyper-G. I didn't experience any of the plasticky weedwhacker harsh feeling that I did with regular Hyper-G. Spin is about the same, power levels about the same, and playability about the same. The feel is really the only noticeable improvement, at least in my experience.
Thank you to Tennis Warehouse and Solinco for the playtest opportunity! I have purchased a reel of 17g, and feel that my clients, teammates, and myself will be very happy with the performance of Hyper-G Soft.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Injured Again's Hyper-G Soft Review, Part 1:
Gauge received:
1.20 mm/17 gauge
Tension used for playtest:
I used a form of proportional stringing, with 51 pounds in the center eight mains decreasing to 37 pounds for the outer mains, and 45 pounds for the center five crosses decreasing to 32 pounds for the top and bottom cross. I did a light manual prestretch to reduce coil memory, and did a double pull on a lockout stringer (Gamma X-ST). I also have sets of regular Hyper-G 1.20/17 gauge and strung up a matching racquet for a comparison test.
Regular string setup and tension:
Over the last year and up until about a month ago, I used 17 gauge Tourna Silver 7 Tour as my go-to string. Initially, I used the same tensions as described above, but over time came to decrease tension by two pounds on every string. In the last month, I switched to 1.20 mm/18 gauge Cyclone Tour and have used 53 pounds in the center eight mains and 47 pounds in the center five crosses.
Racquet used for test:
I have two matching v6 Blade SW104 racquets. They are handle weighted for a strung weight of 350-351 grams, with a swingweight of approximately 345 kg/cm^2. They are 11 points HL when strung, and have an 18x19 pattern.
Power/Control of test string:
I started off by hitting with regular Hyper-G, and it felt as I remembered. It is medium powered, pretty muted on contact, and a bit more comfortable than average. Spin capability is very high, and the stringbed is consistent so that there is immediate familiarity with the high amount of control that Hyper-G offers. The launch angle is medium-high and linear in how it changes depending on the amount of spin put on the ball. This adds to the sense of control in that the angle of the ball leaving the stringbed is predictable, making it easy to control length of shot by the amount of spin placed on the ball.
Hyper-G Soft had a slightly higher power level and also a slightly higher launch angle. Spin capability, sensitivity to incoming spin, and control were all relatively the same as regular Hyper-G.
Compared to the other Solinco strings, in order of highest to lowest power, I would rate them in this order: Revolution, Hyper-G Soft, Hyper-G, Confidential, Tour Bite. Hyper-G Soft is not as powerful as Silver 7 Tour but has a more linear power delivery over the range of swing speeds. Hyper-G Soft is significantly less powerful than Cyclone Tour.
Control is almost in the reverse order of power. Rating them from best to worst control, the order would be Tour Bite, Confidential, Hyper-G Soft, Hyper-G, and Revolution. I'd rate control higher for Hyper-G Soft because there is more feedback in terms of crispness of the impact, which gives a psychological edge in feeling confident that a clean contact will direct the ball more accurately at a target. Control for Hyper-G Soft is better than both Silver 7 Tour and Cyclone Tour as those two strings are more powerful and smaller changes in swing velocity result in larger differences in shot length.
There were times when I missed the putaway power of Cyclone Tour versus Hyper-G Soft. It took more work to get the ball away from my opponent.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Hyper-G Soft feels slightly less stiff than regular Hyper-G, which seems to match the slightly higher power level. Both Hyper-G Soft and Hyper-G have a muted stiffness that is almost rubbery feeling. Hyper-G Soft has a crisper response and produces a higher pitched impact noise that is not present with regular Hyper-G. The added crispness of response is offset by a slightly more elastic feel that firms up when swinging harder, but overall results in a slightly more comfortable stringbed both hitting and missing the sweetspot.
In terms of stiffness, I would rate the Solinco strings from most stiff to least stiff: Tour Bite, Confidential, Hyper-G, Hyper-G Soft, Revolution.
From most muted to least muted: Hyper-G, Confidential, Hyper-G Soft, Revolution, Tour Bite.
Most crisp to least crisp: Tour Bite, Revolution, Hyper-G Soft, Confidential, Hyper-G
Most comfortable to least comfortable: Revolution, Hyper-G Soft, Hyper-G, Confidential, Tour Bite
Comparing Silver 7 Tour to Hyper-G Soft: S7T is stiffer, less muted, more crisp, and less comfortable.
Comparing Cyclone Tour to Hyper-G Soft: CT is less stiff, less muted, more crisp, and more comfortable.
Spin:
The spin capability of Hyper-G Soft is basically identical to Hyper-G and is very high. Hyper-G Soft has a consistent ability to grab the ball whether swinging soft or hard, and whether hitting through the ball or hitting it with a skimming trajectory. The moderate power levels combined with high spin capability allowed me to frequently get the ball to at or above shoulder height of my opponent on the slower of our hard courts. Second serves felt more sure and even those that landed short in the service box had good action and a high bounce. I almost never experienced shots that felt like the ball slid off the strings.
Sensitivity to incoming spin was slightly more than average. Since I normally use shaped strings, there was minimal adjustment when testing Hyper-G Soft. The only instances where I was surprised by the ball reaction was on some underspin backhand shots where my timing wasn't good and I didn't make a firm swing. On those shots, where it seemed like the incoming spin rate was much faster than my downward swing, the ball came off the stringbed at an unexpectedly high angle. These occasions were pretty rare and almost certainly due to a poor swing.
The only strings I've tested that have greater spin capability were very sharply edged and moderately low powered. Those would be V-Square, V-Torque, Ultra Cable, and Cube, but each of them had some issue which made me not consider using them as a go-to string. Hyper-G Soft is in the category right below these four strings.
Comparing Hyper-G Soft to the other Solinco strings, I find no difference in spin capability between it and regular Hyper-G. In order from most spin capable to least spin capable, I would rate them: Hyper-G Soft/Hyper-G, Confidential, Revolution, Tour Bite.
Hyper-G Soft is more spin capable by a small amount over Silver 7 Tour, and by a slightly greater amount than Cyclone Tour. The higher power level of those two strings require a steeper swing trajectory so as to not hit the ball too long, and the lower contact pressure combined with less ball/string friction makes high, looping topspin shots harder to consistently generate.
Durability:
My wrist was slightly injured during this string test and so I didn't swing as normally would over the entire duration. The first four hours produced minimal notching. I then played all out during a two hour match in which I tried to hit maximal topspin shots as often and as strongly as I am capable. Notching increased from about 20% to more than 50%, and the string broke very soon into the next outing, at six hours of play. A section of string sheared from the corner of a deep notch and broke in the sweetspot area.
The six hours is relatively short duration. Revolution also notched quickly and broke, but Confidential, Tour Bite, and Hyper-G seemed to have greater durability. Silver 7 Tour was a notch-resistant string and would last me approximately twelve hours. Cyclone Tour lasts approximately eight to ten hours.
Gauge received:
1.20 mm/17 gauge
Tension used for playtest:
I used a form of proportional stringing, with 51 pounds in the center eight mains decreasing to 37 pounds for the outer mains, and 45 pounds for the center five crosses decreasing to 32 pounds for the top and bottom cross. I did a light manual prestretch to reduce coil memory, and did a double pull on a lockout stringer (Gamma X-ST). I also have sets of regular Hyper-G 1.20/17 gauge and strung up a matching racquet for a comparison test.
Regular string setup and tension:
Over the last year and up until about a month ago, I used 17 gauge Tourna Silver 7 Tour as my go-to string. Initially, I used the same tensions as described above, but over time came to decrease tension by two pounds on every string. In the last month, I switched to 1.20 mm/18 gauge Cyclone Tour and have used 53 pounds in the center eight mains and 47 pounds in the center five crosses.
Racquet used for test:
I have two matching v6 Blade SW104 racquets. They are handle weighted for a strung weight of 350-351 grams, with a swingweight of approximately 345 kg/cm^2. They are 11 points HL when strung, and have an 18x19 pattern.
Power/Control of test string:
I started off by hitting with regular Hyper-G, and it felt as I remembered. It is medium powered, pretty muted on contact, and a bit more comfortable than average. Spin capability is very high, and the stringbed is consistent so that there is immediate familiarity with the high amount of control that Hyper-G offers. The launch angle is medium-high and linear in how it changes depending on the amount of spin put on the ball. This adds to the sense of control in that the angle of the ball leaving the stringbed is predictable, making it easy to control length of shot by the amount of spin placed on the ball.
Hyper-G Soft had a slightly higher power level and also a slightly higher launch angle. Spin capability, sensitivity to incoming spin, and control were all relatively the same as regular Hyper-G.
Compared to the other Solinco strings, in order of highest to lowest power, I would rate them in this order: Revolution, Hyper-G Soft, Hyper-G, Confidential, Tour Bite. Hyper-G Soft is not as powerful as Silver 7 Tour but has a more linear power delivery over the range of swing speeds. Hyper-G Soft is significantly less powerful than Cyclone Tour.
Control is almost in the reverse order of power. Rating them from best to worst control, the order would be Tour Bite, Confidential, Hyper-G Soft, Hyper-G, and Revolution. I'd rate control higher for Hyper-G Soft because there is more feedback in terms of crispness of the impact, which gives a psychological edge in feeling confident that a clean contact will direct the ball more accurately at a target. Control for Hyper-G Soft is better than both Silver 7 Tour and Cyclone Tour as those two strings are more powerful and smaller changes in swing velocity result in larger differences in shot length.
There were times when I missed the putaway power of Cyclone Tour versus Hyper-G Soft. It took more work to get the ball away from my opponent.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Hyper-G Soft feels slightly less stiff than regular Hyper-G, which seems to match the slightly higher power level. Both Hyper-G Soft and Hyper-G have a muted stiffness that is almost rubbery feeling. Hyper-G Soft has a crisper response and produces a higher pitched impact noise that is not present with regular Hyper-G. The added crispness of response is offset by a slightly more elastic feel that firms up when swinging harder, but overall results in a slightly more comfortable stringbed both hitting and missing the sweetspot.
In terms of stiffness, I would rate the Solinco strings from most stiff to least stiff: Tour Bite, Confidential, Hyper-G, Hyper-G Soft, Revolution.
From most muted to least muted: Hyper-G, Confidential, Hyper-G Soft, Revolution, Tour Bite.
Most crisp to least crisp: Tour Bite, Revolution, Hyper-G Soft, Confidential, Hyper-G
Most comfortable to least comfortable: Revolution, Hyper-G Soft, Hyper-G, Confidential, Tour Bite
Comparing Silver 7 Tour to Hyper-G Soft: S7T is stiffer, less muted, more crisp, and less comfortable.
Comparing Cyclone Tour to Hyper-G Soft: CT is less stiff, less muted, more crisp, and more comfortable.
Spin:
The spin capability of Hyper-G Soft is basically identical to Hyper-G and is very high. Hyper-G Soft has a consistent ability to grab the ball whether swinging soft or hard, and whether hitting through the ball or hitting it with a skimming trajectory. The moderate power levels combined with high spin capability allowed me to frequently get the ball to at or above shoulder height of my opponent on the slower of our hard courts. Second serves felt more sure and even those that landed short in the service box had good action and a high bounce. I almost never experienced shots that felt like the ball slid off the strings.
Sensitivity to incoming spin was slightly more than average. Since I normally use shaped strings, there was minimal adjustment when testing Hyper-G Soft. The only instances where I was surprised by the ball reaction was on some underspin backhand shots where my timing wasn't good and I didn't make a firm swing. On those shots, where it seemed like the incoming spin rate was much faster than my downward swing, the ball came off the stringbed at an unexpectedly high angle. These occasions were pretty rare and almost certainly due to a poor swing.
The only strings I've tested that have greater spin capability were very sharply edged and moderately low powered. Those would be V-Square, V-Torque, Ultra Cable, and Cube, but each of them had some issue which made me not consider using them as a go-to string. Hyper-G Soft is in the category right below these four strings.
Comparing Hyper-G Soft to the other Solinco strings, I find no difference in spin capability between it and regular Hyper-G. In order from most spin capable to least spin capable, I would rate them: Hyper-G Soft/Hyper-G, Confidential, Revolution, Tour Bite.
Hyper-G Soft is more spin capable by a small amount over Silver 7 Tour, and by a slightly greater amount than Cyclone Tour. The higher power level of those two strings require a steeper swing trajectory so as to not hit the ball too long, and the lower contact pressure combined with less ball/string friction makes high, looping topspin shots harder to consistently generate.
Durability:
My wrist was slightly injured during this string test and so I didn't swing as normally would over the entire duration. The first four hours produced minimal notching. I then played all out during a two hour match in which I tried to hit maximal topspin shots as often and as strongly as I am capable. Notching increased from about 20% to more than 50%, and the string broke very soon into the next outing, at six hours of play. A section of string sheared from the corner of a deep notch and broke in the sweetspot area.
The six hours is relatively short duration. Revolution also notched quickly and broke, but Confidential, Tour Bite, and Hyper-G seemed to have greater durability. Silver 7 Tour was a notch-resistant string and would last me approximately twelve hours. Cyclone Tour lasts approximately eight to ten hours.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Injured Again's Hyper-G Soft Review, Part 2:
Playability duration:
Hyper-G Soft, like Hyper-G, retains much of its initial playability throughout its life. Initially, Hyper-G Soft had an edge in crispness, power, launch angle, and comfort that mostly but not entirely disappeared at the four hour mark compared to fresh Hyper-G. At that time, the performance and feel of Hyper-G Soft was very similar to a stringbed of Hyper-G that had less than one hour of play in it.
Even when the string was very near to breaking, playability was still good. Control was still adequate and ball/string friction still allowed playing of all the same shots as when Hyper-G Soft was new. The strings did start getting out of position within the last 30-45 minutes of its lifetime. The launch angle slowly dropped over time but that was only noticeable when switching to the fresh bed of Hyper-G.
I measured tension using the RacquetTune app. Right off the stringer, RacquetTune measured 49.4 pounds. Over the next sessions, tension was determined to be 45.9, 45.4, 44.7, and 42.9 pounds right before it broke. There was a larger initial tension loss that stabilized into a slight drop with each use. The racquet with regular Hyper-G showed almost identical tension loss with an equal amount of use and over time. From right off the string to just before breaking, total tension loss was 16% and did not greatly affect performance. When Hyper-G Soft broke, there was quite a bit of drawback, indicating that it still retained a fair amount of elasticity.
I have not measured Silver 7 Tour with RacquetTune but my impression is that it has better tension stability than Hyper-G Soft, which along with Hyper-G has better than average tension maintenance. Cyclone Tour has worse tension maintenance than Hyper-G Soft and playability changes more over its lifetime.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Why?):
I believe I got the string tension almost exactly correct for my preferences. Hyper-G Soft came off the stringer feeling lively and cushioned enough, and not lacking in control. As tension and elasticity dropped, they seemed to offset each other so power levels did not change much. In this respect, Hyper-G does not seem highly sensitive to tension changes.
List any additional thoughts:
I received a consumer package of Hyper-G Soft. It measured exactly 39 feet long before prestretch. I had another consumer package of Hyper-G and it also measured exactly 39 feet long. I cut a one foot section from each string and pulled 50 pounds of tension, letting it sit for one minute. Repulling of tension seemed to require 9 mm for Hyper-G Soft and 8 mm for Hyper-G. However, this might have been measurement error as in actual use, tension loss between the two stringbeds appears to be very similar if not identical.
Out of the package, Hyper-G Soft felt different than Hyper-G, having a kind of smoother, matte finish whereas Hyper-G feels more coarse, with possibly slightly sharper feeling edges.
Stringing Hyper-G was relatively easy, and a light prestretch took out most of the coil memory. It was not difficult to minimize twists in the string. Knots snugged up easily.
Solinco seems to have taken Hyper-G Soft in a step towards the feel of Revolution, which is my favorite Solinco string from a sensation perspective. Hyper-G Soft is not that different from Hyper-G and I wonder if there really is a market for two strings that are so close in terms of performance, tension maintenance, and color. Hyper-G Soft seems more like the successor to Hyper-G rather than an additional string in the lineup, and the difference in feel seems larger than any actual difference in performance.
Thanks to Solinco and Tennis Warehouse for allowing me to test Hyper-G Soft 1.20!
Playability duration:
Hyper-G Soft, like Hyper-G, retains much of its initial playability throughout its life. Initially, Hyper-G Soft had an edge in crispness, power, launch angle, and comfort that mostly but not entirely disappeared at the four hour mark compared to fresh Hyper-G. At that time, the performance and feel of Hyper-G Soft was very similar to a stringbed of Hyper-G that had less than one hour of play in it.
Even when the string was very near to breaking, playability was still good. Control was still adequate and ball/string friction still allowed playing of all the same shots as when Hyper-G Soft was new. The strings did start getting out of position within the last 30-45 minutes of its lifetime. The launch angle slowly dropped over time but that was only noticeable when switching to the fresh bed of Hyper-G.
I measured tension using the RacquetTune app. Right off the stringer, RacquetTune measured 49.4 pounds. Over the next sessions, tension was determined to be 45.9, 45.4, 44.7, and 42.9 pounds right before it broke. There was a larger initial tension loss that stabilized into a slight drop with each use. The racquet with regular Hyper-G showed almost identical tension loss with an equal amount of use and over time. From right off the string to just before breaking, total tension loss was 16% and did not greatly affect performance. When Hyper-G Soft broke, there was quite a bit of drawback, indicating that it still retained a fair amount of elasticity.
I have not measured Silver 7 Tour with RacquetTune but my impression is that it has better tension stability than Hyper-G Soft, which along with Hyper-G has better than average tension maintenance. Cyclone Tour has worse tension maintenance than Hyper-G Soft and playability changes more over its lifetime.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Why?):
I believe I got the string tension almost exactly correct for my preferences. Hyper-G Soft came off the stringer feeling lively and cushioned enough, and not lacking in control. As tension and elasticity dropped, they seemed to offset each other so power levels did not change much. In this respect, Hyper-G does not seem highly sensitive to tension changes.
List any additional thoughts:
I received a consumer package of Hyper-G Soft. It measured exactly 39 feet long before prestretch. I had another consumer package of Hyper-G and it also measured exactly 39 feet long. I cut a one foot section from each string and pulled 50 pounds of tension, letting it sit for one minute. Repulling of tension seemed to require 9 mm for Hyper-G Soft and 8 mm for Hyper-G. However, this might have been measurement error as in actual use, tension loss between the two stringbeds appears to be very similar if not identical.
Out of the package, Hyper-G Soft felt different than Hyper-G, having a kind of smoother, matte finish whereas Hyper-G feels more coarse, with possibly slightly sharper feeling edges.
Stringing Hyper-G was relatively easy, and a light prestretch took out most of the coil memory. It was not difficult to minimize twists in the string. Knots snugged up easily.
Solinco seems to have taken Hyper-G Soft in a step towards the feel of Revolution, which is my favorite Solinco string from a sensation perspective. Hyper-G Soft is not that different from Hyper-G and I wonder if there really is a market for two strings that are so close in terms of performance, tension maintenance, and color. Hyper-G Soft seems more like the successor to Hyper-G rather than an additional string in the lineup, and the difference in feel seems larger than any actual difference in performance.
Thanks to Solinco and Tennis Warehouse for allowing me to test Hyper-G Soft 1.20!
g4driver
Legend
Think you will switch from HG to HGS? For me, the HGS is a string I can hit with, unlike HG and Confidential which are both simply too stiff for my elbow. I placed an order for more HGS 1.25mm so I can continue hitting with it. I still have two frames with VCT 1.30mm, but HGS will get some more playing time after this playtest, and I am going to hybrid one frame with HGS/Ghostwire to compare to Tier One's Boost (Firewire/Ghostwire)
g4driver
Legend
Revolution has been around since 2012 at least and I am not sure why it doesn't get more love. I too preferred Revolution over all other Solinco strings (until HGS appeared) and still have it in 1.30 and 1.25mm reels. I might just have to put some Revolution/Ghostwire in a frame and compare it to HGS/GW
More comparisons to Tier One Boost. And my HGS playtest is still going at 18 hours of doubles so that about only about 8-9 hours of singles. I won't volunteer for more playtests this year unless the mythical and unicorn-like AeroPro Drive Playtest appears and the kind APD users on here let me know about the playtest.
Have been waiting almost two weeks for my packs of hyper g soft to come in. A softer hyper g that retains all the same characteristics will hopefully put my string search to an end. Sounds like people without arm issues will stick to the standard, and those of us who appreciate the softness will swap over. As for if there's a market, definitely. I'd imagine Tour bite vs Tour bite soft was more questionable. Those of us that want to play with softer strings don't have a good option for spin AND tension maintenance. I've been using Lynx recently while not using hyper g and though it plays incredible and soft for a while, it loses tension pretty quickly and goes dead pretty quickly as well.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Revolution has been around since 2012 at least and I am not sure why it doesn't get more love. I too preferred Revolution over all other Solinco strings (until HGS appeared) and still have it in 1.30 and 1.25mm reels. I might just have to put some Revolution/Ghostwire in a frame and compare it to HGS/GW
I won't volunteer for more playtests this year unless the mythical and unicorn-like AeroPro Drive Playtest appears and the kind APD users on here let me know about the playtest.
I'd possibly be using Revolution today except that the tension loss was average at best, and that it notched quickly and broke. I did get lots of comments when I was using it, because the colors in my Blade looked like I was representing our hometown Seattle Seahawks. To me, it struck the best compromise of crispness and stiffness in Solinco's lineup and HGS seems to moving that direction more than softening the string as Tour Bite Soft did compared to Tour Bite.
badmice2
Professional
Hyper G Soft Review...
Gauge received - 1.20mm
Tension used for playtest - 51 lbs
Regular string set up & tension - Volkl Cyclone 1.25mm @ 51 lbs
Racquet used for test - Head Gravity 360+ MP
Power/Control of test string
Great mix of power and control. The surprise firmness on the strings provided easy access to power, in return, controlling redirect was executed with ease. The liveliness was noticeable when I was playing doubles against harder hitting 5.0s where I needed more feel/control over half volleys and punch volleys, this is where the strings really shine through for me. From the ground game, its definitely made me think about the easy access to power that I may have missed from my current setup - guiding serve return was an after thought given the improve directional control. I ended up taking a lot of swing away from my strokes, which was nice. Both power and control with serves were predictable, ball came off the racket with nice pops, kicks and spins were biting really well.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Crisp, on the stiff side for my liking, but in a good way. Surprisingly plays firmer and crisper than Hyper G. Ball pocketing is less noticeable compared to my regular string setup at the same tension. My only complaint is comfort given the strings I normally use plays more dead. I would likely drop another 1-2 lbs in the next go.
Spin
Ample of spin from both wings of my ground stokes. I was confident enough to hit flatter off the ground, and the ball was still dropping well inside the line. Slices had a nice feel, and easy to control. As mentioned above, access to spin also came with ease with spin serves.
Durability / Playability Duration (did you notice changes to the feel & response over time?)
I've spent around 12 hrs; Mainly doubles. There are noticeable notches on the mains, but nothing unexpected. From feel, tension seems to be hold well. Overall feel and response to my shots are holding up well through the playtime.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Why?)
Given they play firmer tha Hyper G, I would consider going down 1-2 lbs, maybe it will loosen the strings up front a bit more.
List any additional thoughts (optional) - this would be a good winter string. I would also consider playing thinner gauge, maybe 1.15mm.
Gauge received - 1.20mm
Tension used for playtest - 51 lbs
Regular string set up & tension - Volkl Cyclone 1.25mm @ 51 lbs
Racquet used for test - Head Gravity 360+ MP
Power/Control of test string
Great mix of power and control. The surprise firmness on the strings provided easy access to power, in return, controlling redirect was executed with ease. The liveliness was noticeable when I was playing doubles against harder hitting 5.0s where I needed more feel/control over half volleys and punch volleys, this is where the strings really shine through for me. From the ground game, its definitely made me think about the easy access to power that I may have missed from my current setup - guiding serve return was an after thought given the improve directional control. I ended up taking a lot of swing away from my strokes, which was nice. Both power and control with serves were predictable, ball came off the racket with nice pops, kicks and spins were biting really well.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Crisp, on the stiff side for my liking, but in a good way. Surprisingly plays firmer and crisper than Hyper G. Ball pocketing is less noticeable compared to my regular string setup at the same tension. My only complaint is comfort given the strings I normally use plays more dead. I would likely drop another 1-2 lbs in the next go.
Spin
Ample of spin from both wings of my ground stokes. I was confident enough to hit flatter off the ground, and the ball was still dropping well inside the line. Slices had a nice feel, and easy to control. As mentioned above, access to spin also came with ease with spin serves.
Durability / Playability Duration (did you notice changes to the feel & response over time?)
I've spent around 12 hrs; Mainly doubles. There are noticeable notches on the mains, but nothing unexpected. From feel, tension seems to be hold well. Overall feel and response to my shots are holding up well through the playtime.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Why?)
Given they play firmer tha Hyper G, I would consider going down 1-2 lbs, maybe it will loosen the strings up front a bit more.
List any additional thoughts (optional) - this would be a good winter string. I would also consider playing thinner gauge, maybe 1.15mm.
jangotango
Semi-Pro
Woah, really? Did it get colder where you live? I thought it was at least some degree softer than Hyper G.
tennisgurl
Semi-Pro
I'm not sure to be honest. I'm not that high level player where I can take full advantage of it but it definitely makes a difference in my game and agree with you, feel softer snd more comfortable. You hybrids look very interesting to me but I haven't dived as much in the hybrid scene yet. Still so conflicted about HGS, lol.
Sweets3450
New User
Gauge Received:
16L
Tension used for playtest:
48 lbs
Regular string set up & tension:
Luxilon Alu 48 lbs
Racquet used for test:
Pro Staff 90
Control/Power of test string:
Feels very middle of the road of a typical poly. Low powered with high spin.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Again, very middle of the road. Feels like a poly should. Stiff, crisp, not comfortable. I haven't hit with regular Hyper G in a long time but it feels exactly the same as I remember when fresh, but when it lost tension it was a little mushier than I remember.
Spin:
Once again, very good spin. Typical for most edged poly strings like it.
Durability:
I did not break the string yet so no issues with durability.
Playability Duration:
On my 2nd hitting session (3 hours in) the strings were moving a lot and the tension clearly dropped. It became softer and more powerful. Typical for most poly strings.
Tension Recommendations (would you string differently next time? Why):
I can't imagine the string magically performing much better or worse at a different tension.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
I wouldn't call this a soft string. It feels very middle of the road. When I think "poly" I imagine something just like this string. Good spin, good durability, bad tension loss, stiff, crisp. I don't think calling it "soft" is the right label. It's much stiffer to me than other softer poly strings I've tried, though it certainly isn't on the other end of the stiffer poly strings. You can usually get a hint for how stiff the string will be during stringing. This string was not as easy to string as the softer polys, it felt like I was stringing a typical poly. I don't see this string replacing other poly strings in a similar category unless it's fairly cheap. It doesn't do anything special, neither does it do anything below average. It's not soft for those looking for a soft string. I'd be very curious what the regular Hyper G at a thinner gauge would perform like compared to this "soft" string which isn't especially soft.
16L
Tension used for playtest:
48 lbs
Regular string set up & tension:
Luxilon Alu 48 lbs
Racquet used for test:
Pro Staff 90
Control/Power of test string:
Feels very middle of the road of a typical poly. Low powered with high spin.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
Again, very middle of the road. Feels like a poly should. Stiff, crisp, not comfortable. I haven't hit with regular Hyper G in a long time but it feels exactly the same as I remember when fresh, but when it lost tension it was a little mushier than I remember.
Spin:
Once again, very good spin. Typical for most edged poly strings like it.
Durability:
I did not break the string yet so no issues with durability.
Playability Duration:
On my 2nd hitting session (3 hours in) the strings were moving a lot and the tension clearly dropped. It became softer and more powerful. Typical for most poly strings.
Tension Recommendations (would you string differently next time? Why):
I can't imagine the string magically performing much better or worse at a different tension.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
I wouldn't call this a soft string. It feels very middle of the road. When I think "poly" I imagine something just like this string. Good spin, good durability, bad tension loss, stiff, crisp. I don't think calling it "soft" is the right label. It's much stiffer to me than other softer poly strings I've tried, though it certainly isn't on the other end of the stiffer poly strings. You can usually get a hint for how stiff the string will be during stringing. This string was not as easy to string as the softer polys, it felt like I was stringing a typical poly. I don't see this string replacing other poly strings in a similar category unless it's fairly cheap. It doesn't do anything special, neither does it do anything below average. It's not soft for those looking for a soft string. I'd be very curious what the regular Hyper G at a thinner gauge would perform like compared to this "soft" string which isn't especially soft.
g4driver
Legend
I put 20 hours of 4.0 doubles in with HGS. I liked the string and bought more. I could hit with it, but at 20 hours, I can still play with VCT 1.30mm without losing control or hurting my elbow. HGS 1.25mm doesn't last as long as VCT 1.30mm and VCT is also cheaper. But I could see myself leaving a frame with HGS 1.25mm in my bag and marking the time with a sharpie on the bottom cross. One mark in silver for every 2 hours of doubles, one mark for every 2 hours of singles in black. I think HGS 1.25mm is a much better string for a lot of 4.0 to 4.5 men who don't like the stiffer original HG.
Looking forward to my HGS/GW vs Firewire/GW vs VCT/GW vs VCT battle royal. Going with this seeding 1) VCT vs 4)VCT/GW and 2) Firewire/GW vs 3 )HGS/GW
Ares2323
Rookie
I put 20 hours of 4.0 doubles in with HGS. I liked the string and bought more. I could hit with it, but at 20 hours, I can still play with VCT 1.30mm without losing control or hurting my elbow. HGS 1.25mm doesn't last as long as VCT 1.30mm and VCT is also cheaper. But I could see myself leaving a frame with HGS 1.25mm in my bag and marking the time with a sharpie on the bottom cross. One mark in silver for every 2 hours of doubles, one mark for every 2 hours of singles in black. I think HGS 1.25mm is a much better string for a lot of 4.0 to 4.5 men who don't like the stiffer original HG.
Looking forward to my HGS/GW vs Firewire/GW vs VCT/GW vs VCT battle royal. Going with this seeding 1) VCT vs 4)VCT/GW and 2) Firewire/GW vs 3 )HGS/GW
I was playing a HGS / GW hybrid. Super hybrid, very comfortable. The only thing I would change was HGS 1.25 because I was playing 1.20.
I put on HGS at 21 kg and 22 GH. Next time I pull HGS to 23 kg becouse i have a lot of power for me
SinneGOAT
Legend
Solinco Hyper-G Soft String Playtest
Review by SinneGOAT
Gauge Received:
16L
Tension used for playtest:
50 pounds
Regular string set up & tension:
Yonex poly tour pro 1.25 at 48 pounds
Racquet used for test:
Yonex ezone 98 2020
Control/Power of test string:
Power was quite low for this string, which was a little surprising. I was expecting this string, due to the softer rating, to have some more pop but I was surprised by the control. I felt confident in taking big swings at the ball and being able to bring it in with spin. I thought that when I needed to press the gas however I got a little more help than standard hyper g in getting the ball moving with less work, but still very much control oriented.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
The feel was a comfortable yet stiff, controlled feeling. I would say it was crisp, but no arm pain. Going down in tension would definitely improve comfort, as I am used to lower tension polyester in the mid 40’s. It actually felt very similar to cyclone tour, where it’s soft and doesn’t hurt your arm but not soft like a multi or low tension poly, very similar feel.
Spin:
Spin was very good with this string. On groundstrokes it helped my backhand get some more height when I felt I was going to roll it into the net, and I could get some very good rollers and angles going when maximizing the spin available with this string.
Durability:
Durability was great with this string. No movement and I didn’t break it, as I generally take a long time to break polyester setups.
Playability Duration:
The strings kept their tension for a good amount of time. I took it out for a tournament and then played with it for a week(2 hours a day Monday through Friday) and by the end of the week I could tell it was a little more powerful, but it was fine for me. Once I hit the 10-12 hour mark I was beginning to think I should cut it out, because by then it would begin to dive deeper in tension and lose playability, but it remains in optimal condition for around 2 weeks. If you don’t hit 2 hours everyday 5 days a week, it should last you for about 2 weeks before possibly needing to be restrung.
Tension Recommendations (would you string differently next time? Why):
I would lower the tension and make it a 48/46 tension. I would do this only to reduce that crisp feeling off the stringer, but once it breaks in it will feel even better, as it took some time(around an hour) for the string to feel settled in and soft.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
I felt that stringing with this string was quite easy, well as easy as stringing poly can be. I think Solinco has created something that people who need a more comfortable setup but love the spin and control of standard hyper g will need to try out and see if it works for them. I will finish this review by thanking @TW Staff for giving me the opportunity to be on this playtest and Solinco for adding another great option to their line of performance polyester strings.
Review by SinneGOAT
Gauge Received:
16L
Tension used for playtest:
50 pounds
Regular string set up & tension:
Yonex poly tour pro 1.25 at 48 pounds
Racquet used for test:
Yonex ezone 98 2020
Control/Power of test string:
Power was quite low for this string, which was a little surprising. I was expecting this string, due to the softer rating, to have some more pop but I was surprised by the control. I felt confident in taking big swings at the ball and being able to bring it in with spin. I thought that when I needed to press the gas however I got a little more help than standard hyper g in getting the ball moving with less work, but still very much control oriented.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
The feel was a comfortable yet stiff, controlled feeling. I would say it was crisp, but no arm pain. Going down in tension would definitely improve comfort, as I am used to lower tension polyester in the mid 40’s. It actually felt very similar to cyclone tour, where it’s soft and doesn’t hurt your arm but not soft like a multi or low tension poly, very similar feel.
Spin:
Spin was very good with this string. On groundstrokes it helped my backhand get some more height when I felt I was going to roll it into the net, and I could get some very good rollers and angles going when maximizing the spin available with this string.
Durability:
Durability was great with this string. No movement and I didn’t break it, as I generally take a long time to break polyester setups.
Playability Duration:
The strings kept their tension for a good amount of time. I took it out for a tournament and then played with it for a week(2 hours a day Monday through Friday) and by the end of the week I could tell it was a little more powerful, but it was fine for me. Once I hit the 10-12 hour mark I was beginning to think I should cut it out, because by then it would begin to dive deeper in tension and lose playability, but it remains in optimal condition for around 2 weeks. If you don’t hit 2 hours everyday 5 days a week, it should last you for about 2 weeks before possibly needing to be restrung.
Tension Recommendations (would you string differently next time? Why):
I would lower the tension and make it a 48/46 tension. I would do this only to reduce that crisp feeling off the stringer, but once it breaks in it will feel even better, as it took some time(around an hour) for the string to feel settled in and soft.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
I felt that stringing with this string was quite easy, well as easy as stringing poly can be. I think Solinco has created something that people who need a more comfortable setup but love the spin and control of standard hyper g will need to try out and see if it works for them. I will finish this review by thanking @TW Staff for giving me the opportunity to be on this playtest and Solinco for adding another great option to their line of performance polyester strings.
Last edited:
what gauge did you get?
JOSHL
Hall of Fame
Gauge received-
1.20
Tension(s) used for playtest
50lbs, I usually do 48, but because this was "soft" i decided to go up a couple lbs- bad move it turns out.
Regular string set up
I don't really have a regular setup, but I have been using shaped mains and smooth crosses for a while-all poly. I will compare to Silver 7 Tour/PLX.
Racquet used for test
Wilson Pro Staff 95S
Power/Control of test string
Right off the stringer I would say this is a very low powered string. Control was exceptional. Power increased as time went along but not a ton. 7/10 Power, 8.5/10 Control.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
For me this is a very muted/dead string. S7T for example has a nice crisp feel that is very good at returning energy, this string has none of that especially when fresh. It took maybe a couple hours of play for me to like it and it kept feeling better as time went on. It wasn't uncomfortable at all however, but wouldn't call it soft or mushy. I could see this string working very well in a more crisp/stiff frame like a Pure Drive/Aero/Strike. 7/10
Spin
Spin was above average and for me pretty similar to S7T. I hit a pretty loopy FH and my shots were landing very short initially but when the strings got some time on them they were landing deeper on the baseline. My OHBH is a more flatter drive and I had no issues with it with HGS. 9/10
Durability
I don't break poly all that easily, but for me this may be the best attribute of this string. Durability was great. I have about 9 hours on the string and it maybe started getting stuck out of place at around the 6th-7th hour. Notching is about 75-80% in the sweet spot currently so I assume I can get another 2 or so hours out of it. 9/10
Playability Duration
Another strong aspect for this string, for me it played better the longer it was in. According to racquet tune(which I trust about as far as I can throw it, and its an app so I can't throw it) tension dropped 11.4% after 5 hours of hitting and 15.7% after 8 hours. It has almost as much playability as S7T for me. It's been a while since I played regular Hyper G, but the soft doesn't seem to fall of a cliff like regular does when it dies. 9/10
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
Because of how low powered/dead/muted it felt right off the stringer I would probably either pre stretch it or string it much lower like 42-45 lbs. If you like a dead string then 50lbs or above is great.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
It's been a while since I've used a poly that got better as it played, usually it's the other way around so it was quite refreshing. I think the name soft may be misleading for some people, especially those that have not used regular Hyper G, or haven't in a while-like myself. I really like the color though! If this was the same price as S7T it would be a no brainer to keep it in my string arsenal and mess around with tensions, hybrids etc, but I'm pretty cheap so.....
Thanks TTW and Solinco for allowing me to take part, I really appreciate doing these play tests!!!
Cheers!
1.20
Tension(s) used for playtest
50lbs, I usually do 48, but because this was "soft" i decided to go up a couple lbs- bad move it turns out.
Regular string set up
I don't really have a regular setup, but I have been using shaped mains and smooth crosses for a while-all poly. I will compare to Silver 7 Tour/PLX.
Racquet used for test
Wilson Pro Staff 95S
Power/Control of test string
Right off the stringer I would say this is a very low powered string. Control was exceptional. Power increased as time went along but not a ton. 7/10 Power, 8.5/10 Control.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
For me this is a very muted/dead string. S7T for example has a nice crisp feel that is very good at returning energy, this string has none of that especially when fresh. It took maybe a couple hours of play for me to like it and it kept feeling better as time went on. It wasn't uncomfortable at all however, but wouldn't call it soft or mushy. I could see this string working very well in a more crisp/stiff frame like a Pure Drive/Aero/Strike. 7/10
Spin
Spin was above average and for me pretty similar to S7T. I hit a pretty loopy FH and my shots were landing very short initially but when the strings got some time on them they were landing deeper on the baseline. My OHBH is a more flatter drive and I had no issues with it with HGS. 9/10
Durability
I don't break poly all that easily, but for me this may be the best attribute of this string. Durability was great. I have about 9 hours on the string and it maybe started getting stuck out of place at around the 6th-7th hour. Notching is about 75-80% in the sweet spot currently so I assume I can get another 2 or so hours out of it. 9/10
Playability Duration
Another strong aspect for this string, for me it played better the longer it was in. According to racquet tune(which I trust about as far as I can throw it, and its an app so I can't throw it) tension dropped 11.4% after 5 hours of hitting and 15.7% after 8 hours. It has almost as much playability as S7T for me. It's been a while since I played regular Hyper G, but the soft doesn't seem to fall of a cliff like regular does when it dies. 9/10
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
Because of how low powered/dead/muted it felt right off the stringer I would probably either pre stretch it or string it much lower like 42-45 lbs. If you like a dead string then 50lbs or above is great.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
It's been a while since I've used a poly that got better as it played, usually it's the other way around so it was quite refreshing. I think the name soft may be misleading for some people, especially those that have not used regular Hyper G, or haven't in a while-like myself. I really like the color though! If this was the same price as S7T it would be a no brainer to keep it in my string arsenal and mess around with tensions, hybrids etc, but I'm pretty cheap so.....
Thanks TTW and Solinco for allowing me to take part, I really appreciate doing these play tests!!!
Cheers!
Wasn't on this play test but finally got around to hitting with hyper g soft in both a v7 18x20 blade and a Phantom 100 in 1.2 mm. This is my first string job in the Phantom so can't really make comments there.
I strung it at the same tension as usual for Hyper G in the blade at 46/44. I found the differences to be as expected by taking hyper g and making it slightly softer to put it simply. Some loss in other departments you'd expect but overall pretty similar. Still retains the "hour to open up" hyper g is known for but it's less dramatic of a "feeling" change.
I wish they had made it slightly softer. The difference between the two is noticeable if you play with Hyper G frequently, but if someone only has a vague memory of what hyper G is like, they could be interchanged without one knowing.
Overall I'm really happy there's a softer hyper g because I was missing some of the spin and control I was getting from Hyper G before I swapped to Lynx. I still got some pain in my arm from hyper g soft (with the blade), while Lynx I'm completely pain free despite a similar stiffness rating.
Can't speak to durability yet as I've only had two days of hitting and don't have any access to any true hard hitters. Tension retention has been very good though.
I strung it at the same tension as usual for Hyper G in the blade at 46/44. I found the differences to be as expected by taking hyper g and making it slightly softer to put it simply. Some loss in other departments you'd expect but overall pretty similar. Still retains the "hour to open up" hyper g is known for but it's less dramatic of a "feeling" change.
I wish they had made it slightly softer. The difference between the two is noticeable if you play with Hyper G frequently, but if someone only has a vague memory of what hyper G is like, they could be interchanged without one knowing.
Overall I'm really happy there's a softer hyper g because I was missing some of the spin and control I was getting from Hyper G before I swapped to Lynx. I still got some pain in my arm from hyper g soft (with the blade), while Lynx I'm completely pain free despite a similar stiffness rating.
Can't speak to durability yet as I've only had two days of hitting and don't have any access to any true hard hitters. Tension retention has been very good though.
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g4driver
Legend
My experience is vastly different from yours. I don't have a vague memory of Hyper G but rather a very clear memory of it, having tried it on two separate occasions. I have two reels of HG in both 1.30mm and 1.25mm, and my elbow can feel the difference between 1.25mm HG and HGS. I have strung several reels HG, and had to replace both 1.25mm and 1.30mm reels several times. I can feel the difference between HGS and HG with a 10"inch piece of straight string. I was 100% (five for five) picking the HGS from the HG when I had two equal lengths and both straight pieces of 1.25mm HG and 1.25mm HGS behind my back, with both strings marked identically with sharpies. Blue marks on one and red marks on the other. I did blind behind the back picking out HGS from HG at home and did it again in front of another forum member @MisterP on the court. HG and HGS feel different to some of us for sure.
I meant playing feel not texture in the hand. The two were different but not enough that slight tension differences, weather, gauge, etc wouldn't create similar characteristics to the other. The feel of the string is significantly more crisp than anything else I've played with at the same stiffness. Considering some people think Hyper G is already soft, they could have gone a bit softer for soft to greater differentiate the two. For these reasons I don't foresee many people switching to hyper g soft unless necessary. It still feels like hyper g with the same core strengths which is great from a performance/identity standpoint.
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Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Like @g4driver I can also tell the difference by feel but I also agree with you that the differences between the two are pretty slight. I compared them side by side, strung at the same time in matched racquets and I wrote in my review that I thought the difference in feel was greater than the actual difference in comfort/performance/power. But I actually wonder why anyone would use Hyper-G and not switch to Hyper-G Soft. Hyper-G is pretty muted in feedback and there's no effective way to increase it so when used in some of the new and pretty dampened racquets like the v7 Blade, I've heard many people say it feels too inert. I've never heard someone say that Hyper-G provides too much feedback so if you get the benefits of better comfort, equal spin capability, equal tension maintenance, and a bit more feedback, why continue to use Hyper-G?
Haha the difference in hand is there.
I'm thinking of dropping the tension to lower than what I use for Hyper G since power wasn't too much greater. Was experimenting before with Hyper G at 6lbs less than my usual tension and it felt more comfortable to me than soft at usual tension, and performed better. Didn't stick with that lower tension because it was only usable a few days before becoming too powerful. If I can find those same characteristics in soft at a higher tension (than the -6) when settled, it will be perfect.
As for why using only one and not the other? I'm not sure. Was hoping this would be my new string forever. Without more experimentation I'd be fine with whichever is on sale since they're so similar.
g4driver
Legend
I feel the difference in my hand and when hitting with HG vs HGS. My elbow feels HG when it is in my racquet. My point was if I can feel the difference in my fingers, my elbow will certainly feel the difference between HGS and HG and it does. I can't hit with 1.25mm HG with my elbow yelling "Stop". HGS 1.25mm doesn't yell at all.
Some players elbows feel strings my elbow doesn't feel. We are each unique in what we feel and can tolerate. I am stringing HGS/GW in one frame now and TierOne Firewire/Ghostwire in another. I know my elbow can take both setups as my elbow was completely comfortablee with HGS in a full bed and GW will soften HGS even more. I stock HG, but I am now stocking HGS. For some players, HGS will be an option when HG wasn't an option at all.
landcookie
Professional
How is everyone finding the launch angle of HGS? Does it send the ball into the stratosphere like HG?
Hotpockets
Rookie
Have never had any issues whatsoever with HG as far as launch angle is concerned. For me HGS was same as HG as far as launch angle is concerned.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
I didn't find any real difference in launch angle between the two, and there are strings with a higher launch angle than Hyper-G so I would consider HG and HGS about a medium high launch angle string.
djNEiGht
Legend
- Gauge received
- 1.20
- Tension used for playtest
- 48# on lock out machine
- I am in between stringing machines as I had just sold my Gamma 602 FC/Wise machine and am going to purchase a new machine as soon as it is in stock. I ended up using an Eagnas lock out. I have been using this lock out machine for a couple weeks prior to this play test but during the stringing of the HGS, there was a problem I encountered with one of the fixed clamp bases and I think it affected my overall tension.
- This encounter I feel affected my experience with this string
- I did a pre-stretch to remove some of the coil memory by wrapping it around a pole and pulling 2-3 times with a starting clamp in hand.
- Installation of this string seemed straight forward with no awkward kinks, slipping, or trouble weaving.
- Regular string set up & tension
- 45# +/- 3# depending on gauge and racquet head size
- No regular string currently but have been using the following the past couple months
- Head Lynx Tour
- Tourna BHS7T
- Racquet used for test
- Head Graphene XT Prestige Pro
- Leather grip
- 3g lead at 12 o’clock
- I have had a love/hate relationship with the racquet I am using and seem to have found a nice place with it by adding about 3g lead at 12 o’clock. I might add more in the hoop as I plan on adding silicone in the handle. I did not do that for this play test though
- Power/Control of test string
- Fresh off the stringer it was very lively and a bit powerful. My game had to adjust some to that
- After the string bed seemed to settle and I adjusted to the string, I was able to change direction of shots and come close to my targets
- Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
- Muted
- Comfortable
- Some vibration when hit outside of the sweet spot but that could also be my racquet.
- Spin
- 7.5/10 when fresh and a bit too lively
- 8.5/10 after the bed settled as well as my getting used to it
- Durability
- Good durability for 1.20
- Some slight notching but the snap back was still very good
- I’d expect this to last for me a couple of hours of singles rallying before the snapback might lessen or break.
- Playability Duration (did you notice changes to the feel & response over time?)
- There was an initial period that it felt boardy/dead which lasted about 1.5 hours of singles rallying
- From my previous experience with HG, it has 3 phases. Break in period, I’m here to play period, and I’m just a green string period
- Once HGS hit the “here to play” I was finding the playability very good and predictable. My playtest to this date seemed to be in that phase.
- Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Why?)
- I would go to 50-52# if I use the lock out stringer again
- I would hope to get more put away shot control
- List any additional thoughts (optional)
- Thank you, Tennis Warehouse, and Solinco for the play test
- I did a head to head with HG 1.25 in another Prestige Pro
- I strung HG on the same machine but did not have the base clamp issue while stringing
- HG was better on flatter shots
- Power – screwed the pooch on this one due to stringing mishap. I felt I had better put away power with HG but HGS the shots were landing a little further in the court
- Feel/Comfort – HGS
- Spin – HG but not by much
- Durability – wash as the gauges were not the same
- Playability – wash as I spent more time with HGS
- With having to adjust my game to the liveliness of HGS, I found my drop shots (both volleys and from baseline) sitting up a bit more. With my volleys, I tried to attack a bit more and found success. HGS was very good in those volleys where I had my racquet contacting around shoulder height. If I had to chase a dipping ground stroke with a low/pick up volley, the ball would often go long or sit up.
- I want to give this string another go once I get my replacement machine. I would also want to try this with Ghostwire crosses to see how comfortable this would be without getting mushy.
mhkeuns
Hall of Fame
Solinco Hyper G Soft Playtest:
- Gauge received - 1.20mm / 17G
- Tension used for playtest - 54lbs
- Regular string set up & tension - RPM Blast & Luxilon Alu Power 16G at 50lbs on most frames
- Racquet used for test - Head Gravity Pro
- Power/Control of test string - Nice blend of power and control, especially after the break-in period. Because it was labeled "Soft", I strung it a couple of pounds tighter than I normally would with the 17G poly string. The only thing I noticed compared to my favorite "go-to" strings was a slight lack of control on hard, flat shots.
- Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - I would describe the feel as comfortable. The break-in period was longer than I anticipated. It was somewhat unexpected due to my unfamiliarity with the Hyper G strings. Initially I thought it was a mistake in stringing it slightly tighter than I would, but once it broke in (Close to an hour, iirc.) it felt really comfortable and nice.
- Spin - Unbelievable spin potential! I was never a big believer in strings making differences (*poly strings) in producing spin. Most poly strings I've tried were excellent at creating spin, but I'd always put more emphasis on technique. Without having a proper technique to create spin, I thought no string would help in creating spin. Wrong! This string completely helped my topspin game. My kick serves never kicked up so high, and I was told by hitting partners that my topspin strokes on both sides felt heavier and tougher to deal with. I think this string covers a wide range of players from the players who's been having a hard time generating more spin, grinders to play the defensive ground game, attackers who use spin to control their shots/game, and the topspin/kick servers who need extra rpm in their shots to create more errors. If spin is your game, I'm not quite sure if there is a better string.
- Durability - After the initial break-in period, I put in about a total of thirteen hours. Not a string breaker, but it felt durable.
- Playability Duration (did you notice changes to the feel & response over time?) - The break-in period was strangely long. It felt boardy. After the initial break-in period, it played great for around 12 hours. Just the last hour it felt like it was losing control and the string started to move quite a bit. In my opinion, this string retains its playability longer than some of the premium poly strings that I love.
- Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Why?) - I would string it normal for the 17G poly strings, which is 52lbs, instead of tighter. Though the string is named "Soft", it was not a bouncy/springy as some of the softer strings I've tried. I could see this string retain most of its control even strung at much lower tension.
- List any additional thoughts (optional) - Quite surprised at the spin production. I'd be curious to find out how this string does in a spin racket, like the Pure Aero. I'd also be curious to see how it would help a low powered racket like the Phantom 93P in both power and spin. Certain strings like the RPM Blast and Luxilon Alu Power give me the awesome feel and control when I'm really playing an aggressive, attacking game. This string gave me a lot of fun hitting the heavy spin shots from the baseline. I could totally play the controlled spin game with this string. The only negative (*if I had to nitpick) would be somewhat of a dead feel when hitting soft rally shots while breaking in the string, but the feel became non-existent when it was loosened up and was really comfortable.
Just got done testing out the soft, I had only recently played with the regular Hyper G for the first time and really liked it. I was gonna come here and post almost exactly the same thing as what you wrote. Hyper G soft not a bad string and if I had arm issues (or if I was looking for a good soft string) I would switch to it, but the Hyper G was just more lively and already felt relatively soft.
SinneGOAT
Legend
Similar/same levels of spin, therefore similar/same launch angle.
landcookie
Professional
Great. That's all I needed to know. Thanks for the info.
Here is my review of Solinco Hyper G Soft.
Gauge received: 16L/1.25
Tension used for playtest: 46lbs
Regular string setup/tension: Solinco Barbwire 16L at 47lbs
Racquet used for playtest: Solinco Prototype Black 100 300g
Power/control of test strings: I have never really gelled with Hyper G because I felt it to be a tad stiff for me and didn’t have enough power for me. Hyper G Soft provided that little extra dose of power that I need.
The control was impressive, never felt that was lacking when trying to be more on short balls or returning second serves.
Feel(Stiff?Mushy?Muted?Crisp?Comfortable?): I felt HGS was much more comfortable than regular HG, no wrist or elbow discomfort at all during the duration of the playtest. HGS played a bit less muted than the original.
Spin: This is where Solinco didn’t stray to far from the original. Plenty of spin on groundies and kick serves seemed to have a bit more jump. Hyper G Soft is one of those strings where you can really feel the edges biting into the ball.
Durability: I am not a string breaker even a gauge like 1.25. I did begin to see some notching at about the 8/9 hour mark. This is a string that I will end up cutting out at about the 12-14 hour mark.
Playability Duration (Did you notice changes to feel and response over time?): Stringbed felt consistent for the entire playtest. Hyper G Soft seemed to hold tension very well and performed well until I cut it out.
Tension recommendations (Would you string differently next time ? Why?): For me I think I had it strung up right where it needed to be. Nice blend of power and control and comfort in a racquet that is a bit on the stiff side.
List any additional thoughts (Optional): Hyper G Soft would be great for players who may be a bit scared off by the stiffness of regular Hyper G.
Thank you to Solinco and TW for this playtest opportunity!!
Gauge received: 16L/1.25
Tension used for playtest: 46lbs
Regular string setup/tension: Solinco Barbwire 16L at 47lbs
Racquet used for playtest: Solinco Prototype Black 100 300g
Power/control of test strings: I have never really gelled with Hyper G because I felt it to be a tad stiff for me and didn’t have enough power for me. Hyper G Soft provided that little extra dose of power that I need.
The control was impressive, never felt that was lacking when trying to be more on short balls or returning second serves.
Feel(Stiff?Mushy?Muted?Crisp?Comfortable?): I felt HGS was much more comfortable than regular HG, no wrist or elbow discomfort at all during the duration of the playtest. HGS played a bit less muted than the original.
Spin: This is where Solinco didn’t stray to far from the original. Plenty of spin on groundies and kick serves seemed to have a bit more jump. Hyper G Soft is one of those strings where you can really feel the edges biting into the ball.
Durability: I am not a string breaker even a gauge like 1.25. I did begin to see some notching at about the 8/9 hour mark. This is a string that I will end up cutting out at about the 12-14 hour mark.
Playability Duration (Did you notice changes to feel and response over time?): Stringbed felt consistent for the entire playtest. Hyper G Soft seemed to hold tension very well and performed well until I cut it out.
Tension recommendations (Would you string differently next time ? Why?): For me I think I had it strung up right where it needed to be. Nice blend of power and control and comfort in a racquet that is a bit on the stiff side.
List any additional thoughts (Optional): Hyper G Soft would be great for players who may be a bit scared off by the stiffness of regular Hyper G.
Thank you to Solinco and TW for this playtest opportunity!!
SOY78
Professional
Gauge received
18/1.15
Tension used for playtest
50 lbs
Regular string setup/tension
Multi Mains/Poly Crosses around 55 lbs
Racquet used for playtest
Head PT57A
Power/control of test strings - 8/10
Once the strings settled/broken-in (1-2 hours of break-in period) the power and control were on point, only a few points I hit the ball out but they were mere inches from the lines. I was really impressed with this Hyper-G Soft (HGS).
Feel(Stiff?Mushy?Muted?Crisp?Comfortable?) - 7/10
During the break-in period the strings felt just muted, stiff and mushy, depending on how fast I swung the racquet of course. After the break-in period of 1-2 hours of hitting, the feel was still muted but much much more comfortable for a copoly. I was able to place all my volleys and shots where I was aiming.
Spin - 9/10
Since it is a shaped copoly string spin was really good on the serve and ground strokes. Even volleys had great spin on them, drop shots almost bounced back on my side of the court, almost
Durability - 9.5/10
The durability is excellent although I haven't broken a 1.15mm ever in my life. The strings are notched a little but it is still plays fine.
Playability Duration (Did you notice changes to feel and response over time?) - 9/10
The only thing that changed during the life of HGS is the feel and power. Got more comfortable and had more power as playing time increased. I can still control and spin with confidence with no pain in the arm/elbow.
Tension recommendations (Would you string differently next time ? Why?)
I would decrease this string to around 48 lbs probably just to get the dullness/muteness out from the 1st hit.
List any additional thoughts (Optional)
I would like to thank Tennis-Warehouse and Solinco for this playtesting event. Looking forward to others in the future.
18/1.15
Tension used for playtest
50 lbs
Regular string setup/tension
Multi Mains/Poly Crosses around 55 lbs
Racquet used for playtest
Head PT57A
Power/control of test strings - 8/10
Once the strings settled/broken-in (1-2 hours of break-in period) the power and control were on point, only a few points I hit the ball out but they were mere inches from the lines. I was really impressed with this Hyper-G Soft (HGS).
Feel(Stiff?Mushy?Muted?Crisp?Comfortable?) - 7/10
During the break-in period the strings felt just muted, stiff and mushy, depending on how fast I swung the racquet of course. After the break-in period of 1-2 hours of hitting, the feel was still muted but much much more comfortable for a copoly. I was able to place all my volleys and shots where I was aiming.
Spin - 9/10
Since it is a shaped copoly string spin was really good on the serve and ground strokes. Even volleys had great spin on them, drop shots almost bounced back on my side of the court, almost
Durability - 9.5/10
The durability is excellent although I haven't broken a 1.15mm ever in my life. The strings are notched a little but it is still plays fine.
Playability Duration (Did you notice changes to feel and response over time?) - 9/10
The only thing that changed during the life of HGS is the feel and power. Got more comfortable and had more power as playing time increased. I can still control and spin with confidence with no pain in the arm/elbow.
Tension recommendations (Would you string differently next time ? Why?)
I would decrease this string to around 48 lbs probably just to get the dullness/muteness out from the 1st hit.
List any additional thoughts (Optional)
I would like to thank Tennis-Warehouse and Solinco for this playtesting event. Looking forward to others in the future.
