Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Solinco Hyper Mach-BD 1.20

Icsa said:
You want a shaped string (Mach 10) in mains to grab the ball, and a smooth string in the crosses to allow the mains to slide easier on them.
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So, I tried Mach-10 twice, in a hybrid with HRG regular and with Vanquish. I've thus far found Mach-10 to be softer and mushier, and more on the side of power and less on spin than other poly's that I typically use. That's the reason I ask, is because I feel like it might be better in the crosses since to me it feels much softer, and I'd rather put the poly with better spin potential in the mains.
 
Looks like the HALF sets are 23 feet each which is nice!

I normally play a similar shaped/round hybrid Tour Bite 1.20 x Cyberflash 1.20 (50 x 48) or Confidential 1.25 x Cyberflash 1.20 (48 x 48)

Since I play with LOW LAUNCH RACKETS (currently 22 Ezone 98) these shaped/round hybrids was almost an initial requirement for me.
Yields me 3-4 massive advantages (especially when a stiff string is used in the mains)
1) Flat/Kill shot get just enough margin with a little extra spin
2) Heavy Balls just become heavier
3) Slices and Slices that carve off a little extra - groundstrokes and serves
4) 25-35% more lifespan

Will be an interesting experiment since the mains and crosses are about same or close stiffness I suppose - 48 x 48 probably but might go 50 x 48
 
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Big_Dangerous said:
So, I tried Mach-10 twice, in a hybrid with HRG regular and with Vanquish. I've thus far found Mach-10 to be softer and mushier, and more on the side of power and less on spin than other poly's that I typically use. That's the reason I ask, is because I feel like it might be better in the crosses since to me it feels much softer, and I'd rather put the poly with better spin potential in the mains.
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Being softer is not a problem. You can string M10 2-3pounds higher than the crosses if you prefer.
Many pro players use gut (a very soft string) in mains with a poly in crosses - and they do this especially for spin potential.
 
OK, now I know what to do with my old string when I cut it out..... $12.00? really? I could maybe see a girl wearing , like, 12 of them in different colors as part of a "hippie" look.... but that would be $144.00....

But then again, I'm a stodgy old guy, what do I know?
 
Icsa said:
Being softer is not a problem. You can string M10 2-3pounds higher than the crosses if you prefer.
Many pro players use gut (a very soft string) in mains with a poly in crosses - and they do this especially for spin potential.
Click to expand...
I think it's pretty big reach to compare Mach-10 to Natural Gut, but having played with M10 in the mains and HGR in the crosses, I think I'll flip it for this playtest to see the difference. On the back of the pack it even says use HGR in the mains for a deeper more pentrating ball, or use it in the crosses for a heavier ball. Since I play flatter anyway, I think I'd rather my shots be more penetrating through the court.
 
I loved playing this set up (MACH-10 Hyper-G Round) in 16L and thought it was just right. Comfortable, with plenty of power (for Solinco) excellent feel, spin and control. Very interested to hear what you think of the control, spin and power in a thinner gauge. I think getting the tension right will be critical! Enjoy !!
 
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Hit the setup today at lunchtime; just got back from the courts; really like it a lot. In the Solinco Whiteout V2; the strings have been in about a week and this is the second hitting session; this time around with the ball machine. I really like the ratio of control and power these strings have. This one is strung up at 52 with Mach 10 in the mains. Getting good spin off both sides and especially good is the bh slice. It's all just right for this frame. Looking forward to getting in some doubles with this setup. I think this setup is just about perfect.

Edit update: 5/29/25 Thursday - got out again at lunchtime today to hit. Practice was volleys, BH down the line, and add court doubles returns (all with the ball machine); so hitting target areas. I have to say with the Solinco Whiteout V2 directional control with this string is quite good. With these groundies I'm hitting flat, topspin and slice (backspin) and in all areas it's confirming that this setup is optimal. I am getting used to feel of the thinner gauge string and it seems to be fine now.

Edit update2: 6/2/25 Monday - had another couple of sessions since last update; got a chance to rally for while this morning with one of the better club players yesterday and then with another one this morning; I'm amazed at the control this string combo provides and consistency. Then after the rally session I played a set with another friend and basically it went super well. I'm becoming convinced already that this is the perfect string combo for this Solinco Whiteout V2 Camo 305; I liking the 1.20 setup even more than I did the 1.25 version. The control to power ratio is great, the spin is always available; I'm hitting great kickers and I'm getting rewarded for "hitting out" and "being committed" to my spin shots even with this control oriented frame; it's a wonderful combo. Also backhand slice shots (which I do rely on) are superb with this setup.
 
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Installed @ 45 x 43 in a Ultra Tour w/ 5 lbs increase on last mains and final cross.
Reasons selecting the Ultra Tour over my Ezone 98 for the play test
1) I have 2 years of experience with this frame - only moved to the Ezone 6-7 months ago.
2) The Ultra Tour is considerably less string sensitive than the Ezone 98
3) Low Launch rackets are a great test for how well a shaped x round string bed works
4) Low Power rackets are a great test bed for judging string power
5) 1.20 might be a little thin for my EZ98 since I am used to Confidential 16L mains
6) The Ultra Tour is VERY gentle on strings so I can used it for a longer time
7) The tight 18x20 is a good test of spin generation from a string bed
8) It is my favorite racket of all time - feels like home and will always hold a special place in my heart.

PXL-20250521-205145407-MP.jpg
 
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thenewbig3 said:
Installed @ 45 x 43 in a Ultra Tour w/ 5 lbs increase on last mains and final cross.
Reasons selecting the Ultra Tour over my Ezone 98 for the play test
1) I have 2 years of experience with this frame - only moved to the Ezone 6-7 months ago.
2) The Ultra Tour is considerably less string sensitive than the Ezone 98
3) Low Launch rackets are a great test for how well a shaped x round string bed works
4) Low Power rackets are a great test bed for judging string power
5) 1.20 might be a little thin for my EZ98 since I am used to Confidential 16L mains
6) The Ultra Tour is VERY gentle on strings so I can used it for a longer time
7) The tight 18x20 is a good test of spin generation from a string bed
8) It is my favorite racket of all time - feels like home and will always hold a special place in my heart.

PXL-20250521-205145407-MP.jpg
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The M10 string color goes really well with that racket. Like both in that sky blue color. :cool:
 
thenewbig3 said:
PXL-20250521-205145407-MP.jpg
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First hitting session with ball machine
  • The first few shots felt weird, also readjusting to the racket after a short time off
  • No break-in period was required
  • Dampened and solid stringbed (doesnt feel plasticy or cheap)
  • Able to start placing where in the bed I was hitting the ball despite not being as crispy as I normally like things
  • Semi Metallic Bang on kill shots (at-least on this racket)
  • Crunchy on short crosses (string movement forced)
  • Didn't "feel or hear" like I was getting as much spin as normal (on heavy balls) as string is not as crispy as either Tour Bite or Confidential BUT the action was quite massive as reported by my son on the other side trying to return my balls and how much he was struggling to get them back.. so the spin must have basically the same or more. Also wasn't really missing any balls long.
  • Initially on the Confidential hybrid it feels like string edges are grabbing on the ball and sound is crisper....
  • With Mach-10 mains the whole string bed feels like ropes just digging into the ball and sound is a little more thuddier...
  • However the actually pocketing experienced in hand and power/spin is about the same (maybe +/-5% at most)
  • After 100+ balls I felt just as confident on all ground strokes as my normal setups.. no technical adjustments were needed. Just small mental adjustments and finding the string tension (which in my case just worked out)
  • I truly believe that Mach-10 is doing just as much as Hy-G, Tour-Bite and Confidential BUT people who believe they are unable to get enough spin with Mach-10 are just not taking the time to adjust to the slightly different ball bite and sound. Familiarity is the most critical component of being able to actually judge a string and that can only be developed with repetitions and focus on technique and developing feel and adjusting to sound (I guess).
Will report more in the coming days.
 
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Anyone else in FL and not have their strings yet?

More generally, did most receive a UPS notification? I don't even see anything in my UPS account.
 
Head 2 Head Battle

GREY TITANS (just strung up)
Tour Bite 17 x Cyberflash 17L @ 45/43
(15+ year old strings + crisp "prison wire" mains and slightly vague semi crisp crosses)

Versus

BRAIN DEAD
Mach 10 x HyGR 17 @ 45/43
(Both recent introductions with a solid feel - dont be distracted by the frilly colors...both mains and crosses outlast the GREY TITANS individually)

PXL-20250523-121147609-copy-600x797.jpg
 
thenewbig3 said:
Very interested to know you opinion because of the following
1) Recent College Player credentials
2) 1.20 strings in this openish frame 16x19 frame
3) Opinion of the frame in general as well...
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Hitting more in a little bit, but initial impressions:

Racket needs more tip weight for a 1.20 string.

Combo adds a bit more consistency compared to a full bed of Mach-10

Loads of spin generation so far.

Already notching at about 3 hours of play, but doesn’t feel like it’s dropped off in feeling
 
bobeeto said:
Hitting more in a little bit, but initial impressions:

Racket needs more tip weight for a 1.20 string.

Combo adds a bit more consistency compared to a full bed of Mach-10

Loads of spin generation so far.

Already notching at about 3 hours of play, but doesn’t feel like it’s dropped off in feeling
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Played a set and hand fed to 21, more thoughts:

really would like this combo in a 1.25 or 1.30 gauge.

Really really good spin in the SX tour. Right amount of liveliness but consistency.

Volleys are exceptional! Enough feel but plays solid even against a heavy ball
 
bobeeto said:
Played a set and hand fed to 21, more thoughts:

really would like this combo in a 1.25 or 1.30 gauge.

Really really good spin in the SX tour. Right amount of liveliness but consistency.

Volleys are exceptional! Enough feel but plays solid even against a heavy ball
Click to expand...

Anymore thoughts on this hybrid vs full bed m10?
 
Played one set today with this setup (Solinco Whiteout V2 Camo with Solinco Hyper Mach 10 BD) and won but it took some getting used to coming off of using my spin frame (Yellow Dunlop SX 300 with Volkl V-Squared which is an ultra spin friendly four-sided string). So kind of going to a different setup where I wasn't playing with so much spin but perhaps a bit more control. This more "control oriented frame" along with the thinner gauge at 1.20 mm was pretty good. I felt like my serves and returns with this string were a big plus. I also felt like I could hit out on groundies especially off the FH side. This frame isn't as "whippy" as the SX 300 so it that's probably what took the most getting used to. And I also played one warmup set of doubles. I'm going to put in some more serious hours this week on testing the setup out more. I did see a small amount of string movement i.e. had to straighten out a cross string at one point which I thought was somewhat unusual. All in all the stringbed felt great; had no arm issues and the setup was completely stable; it's a good all court setup. I have played this setup once before when testing this frame for the first time with the thicker 1.25 and so I think at this point I do prefer the thicker gauge. But this is only after the first hit and I also added 5 grams to the buttcap so that may have something to do with it; two changes so it's going to take some time to sort it out. More to come.

Update 6/4/25 - got another set of doubles in with this string setup in the Solinco Whiteout V2 Camo 305 (with 5g butt cap weight added as the only mod) it was hot; somewhere around 100 F at 4:30 pm (yeah I know its crazy). Strings held up very well. Tension after playing was down to around 44 lbs. Control was pretty good considering the hot conditions. Again the strings were responsive but also controlled; spin was above average and I was able to hit a couple of down the line winners into the alley which I usually don't try that often but had to on a couple of occasions. I like the control, accuracy, and spin that I got on my kick serves too. Returns were very good once again with this setup. I had a couple of topspin lobs that worked and a couple that were just an inch or so out (no problem there). I'm rating this setup so far as above average to excellent. Wear seems completely ordinary. Testing this one is just a lot of fun.
 
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Tennis experience/background:
  • 10 years of tennis experience. Dabbled in UTR and USTA leagues.

Current string preference(s):
  • o-toro currently holds the #1 spot for strings in a full bed.

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
  • Wilson blade noir

Playtest setup: what string did you use for mains/crosses?
  • Mach 10 for the mains and Hyper-G round for the cross

Tension(s) used for playtest?
  • When i visited Indian wells this year, I’ve got to meet with the Solinco rep at the TW camp. He mentioned that Mach-10 was intended for comfort and asked for my thoughts. I told him that i strung Mach-10 at 48 lbs in a full bed and found it too stiff/firm to be comfortable but the control was there. He recommended next time to go lower in the 40-45 range so I’ve decided to step outside my comfort zone from the 50-55lbs range and strung this hybrid at 40lbs.

Power/Control of test string?
  • Power was excellent with this hybrid. Fresh off the stringer, the strings were a bit lively but the comfort and touch/feel were great. Warming up with mini-tennis, my shots had a crazy lift but surprising still landed near the service line for a consistent warm up rally. Once I got to the baseline, the strings were put to the real test. The first session of hitting, my shots were going a bit longer than i would’ve liked but this was my first time trying a fresh bed of 40lbs in 8 years so it was still getting tuned. By the time the stringbed settled in, I was able to produced shots with the quality control to standard. With this hybrid, I was punishing first serves with my forehand return and play super offensive doubles net game. Power @40lbs (8.5/10)
  • Control was decent. I think the 40lbs string tension was a bit lively to really get a control response but at this tension the pocketing really showed up and the bite of the Mach 10 contributed to gripping the ball. Overall, the control was surprising exceptional being strung at 40lbs. Control @40lbs (7.8/10)


Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
  • Comfortable & Firm. As mentioned, the hybrid was quite lively at 40lbs but the mach 10 had just enough firmness to really tamed a full accelerated ground stroke. Feel @40lbs (8/10)

Spin?
  • Spin was decent as well. I had expected crazy spin at 40lbs but I was wrong. Rather the string simply pocketed the ball more. You can probably get crazy spin if you used a spin-oriented racket. That said, if you have a polished technique, you can really get the ball spinning & kicking with a kick serve. Slices were decent. Spin @40lbs (8/10)


Playability duration?
  • One week of hitting/ ~7 hours of hitting. I would have to say playability duration is still strong but it lost that freshness around the 2/3rd hours of playtime. Feel is still going strong with slight notching.


Tension & installation Recommendations. Would you tension it differently next time? Would you switch up mains/crosses? Explain.
  • Im genuinely surprised with the performance at 40lbs…..kinda want to try Mach 10 again at 30lbs haha. On a serious note, I would like to try this at my preferred tension range around 50-55lbs. Would I switch up the mains/crosses….I was never really impressed with hyper-g or HG-R. With the Mach 10 mains, i was still able to play my style of hitting through the ball with plow and using drive-spin to attack.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
  • I think Mach 10 is a good replacement for Solinco’s #1 string they offer. My first experience was lackluster compared to this playtest but it definitely reignited my interest. I already been thinking about buying a reel to experiment with other combinations. So far on my list: M10/ rpm power (m/x) ; M10/ o-toro (m/x) ; M10/ head hawk touch (m/x) ; M10/enso pro (m/x).
  • I want to include that my first impression from the first 10 mins was that this hybrid was comfortable, feel was good, and the ball pocketing was exceptional.
 
bobeeto said:
I haven’t used a full bed of m10 1.20, but from my use of 1.25, the hybrid feels a bit more defined, maybe a little more consistent.
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As mentioned before when I played the 1.25 version of MACH-10 and Hyper-G Round I thought it was just about right. Power for me was at the upper limits even though I strung in higher by a couple pounds as compared to when I play tested Hyper-G / Hyper-G Round combo. They were both awesome, and happy to play either, but with slightly character. For me, I preferred the Hyper-G/ Hyper-G Round, due to it's outstanding feel. Still, I expect this Solinco BD1.20 combo to hit some users the exact same way, even if for traditional Solinco users it may be missing some "Solinco - ness" .
FWIW the addition of Hyper-G Round to anything makes it a good hybrid. I DO love the latest Hybrids Solinco has been dropping. Depending on your racquet, playing style and preferences it seems like they are covering quite a few bases. Somehow I can't help but wonder how a Tour Bite 1.20 and Hyper-G Round plays and fits in!! Hope to get around to that setup sooner than later!
 
And because I can't resist comparisons...

ij83Xi.jpg

I dreamed up what I thought could be an equivalent hybrid.
PT Rev mains/PT Pro crosses, both 1.20.
I know Rev isn't five sided but it's a "modern" state-of-the-art poly like Mach-10.. I wanted to use Rev's redheaded cousion PT Fire, as the cross, but the shop didn't have it in 1.20.
 
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Got this string up today and look forward to giving it a go tomorrow morning.

Not sure I love the 1.20 gauge. Typically opt for 1.25, but let's see! Went a touch tighter than usual to compensate at 54/53 vs. 53/52
 
Short note: It rained earlier last night and we had to roll the courts. The air was VERY heavy and humid. Balls fluffing up. Tough conditions this early in the year....
I played with my head racket, now strung with multi/poly combo. OK, but not great due to the conditions.

Switched to my VCore 100 strung up with this string..... viola, the sting of my shots returned almost immediately. My serve went from "fluffy" to sharp, returns started penetrating, etc.

A very positive review is on the way...
 
Tennis experience/background:

  • 4.0 USTA, Match play/Hitting about 15 hours
Current string preference(s):

  • Shaped Polys: Tour bite, Poly Tour Rev, Razer Code white


What racquet did you use for this playtest?

  • Dunlop SX 300Tour


Playtest setup: what string did you use for mains/crosses?

  • Mach 10 Mains / Hyper-G round cross
Tension(s) used for playtest?

  • Strung 45 mains, 42 crosses


Power/Control of test string?

  • Power is ample, and compliments this frame nicely. The thin gauge lends itself to extra pop off serve, volleys and groundies. I had no issues with finding pace from the string bed, even off defensive balls.
  • Control is a highlight over the full bed Mach 10, I was surprised at how much directional control was consistent from the strings over a full bed Mach 10. The round maintained string movement to help with the spin and control.


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

  • Stringbed is crisp, not overly lively, but really strong feeling. I wouldn’t say this string is comfortable, but it isn’t jarring, and works well with the SX’s feel. I think it’s a great pairing to shore up Mach 10, and to brighten up Hyper G


Spin?

  • Spin was excellent. The thin gauge amped up the launch, and the combo keeps string movement on track to add RPMs. For a spin frame, I think this string is a great option for anyone looking to get more out of their strings.




Playability duration?

  • I think the thin gauge of this combo does burn tension and Snap too quickly, but I experienced a solid 6 hours of intense play before I felt the stringbed deaden a bit. Playability was decent after, but the feel did drop a bit once notching began.




Tension & installation Recommendations. Would you tension it differently next time? Would you switch up mains/crosses? Explain.

  • It performed well at a lower tension, something I usually don’t do, considering the string gauge. I would probably try to go a bit tighter on the mains if I try this again, for this frame.


List any additional thoughts (optional)

  • Great option from Solinco, feels like the best fit for hybrids from them. Exceptional branding and packaging, and really enjoyed being on this playtest. Wish they offered it at a thicker gauge!
 
bobeeto said:
Tennis experience/background:

  • 4.0 USTA, Match play/Hitting about 15 hours
Current string preference(s):

  • Shaped Polys: Tour bite, Poly Tour Rev, Razer Code white


What racquet did you use for this playtest?

  • Dunlop SX 300Tour


Playtest setup: what string did you use for mains/crosses?

  • Mach 10 Mains / Hyper-G round cross
Tension(s) used for playtest?

  • Strung 45 mains, 42 crosses


Power/Control of test string?

  • Power is ample, and compliments this frame nicely. The thin gauge lends itself to extra pop off serve, volleys and groundies. I had no issues with finding pace from the string bed, even off defensive balls.
  • Control is a highlight over the full bed Mach 10, I was surprised at how much directional control was consistent from the strings over a full bed Mach 10. The round maintained string movement to help with the spin and control.


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

  • Stringbed is crisp, not overly lively, but really strong feeling. I wouldn’t say this string is comfortable, but it isn’t jarring, and works well with the SX’s feel. I think it’s a great pairing to shore up Mach 10, and to brighten up Hyper G


Spin?

  • Spin was excellent. The thin gauge amped up the launch, and the combo keeps string movement on track to add RPMs. For a spin frame, I think this string is a great option for anyone looking to get more out of their strings.




Playability duration?

  • I think the thin gauge of this combo does burn tension and Snap too quickly, but I experienced a solid 6 hours of intense play before I felt the stringbed deaden a bit. Playability was decent after, but the feel did drop a bit once notching began.




Tension & installation Recommendations. Would you tension it differently next time? Would you switch up mains/crosses? Explain.

  • It performed well at a lower tension, something I usually don’t do, considering the string gauge. I would probably try to go a bit tighter on the mains if I try this again, for this frame.


List any additional thoughts (optional)

  • Great option from Solinco, feels like the best fit for hybrids from them. Exceptional branding and packaging, and really enjoyed being on this playtest. Wish they offered it at a thicker gauge!
Click to expand...
Luckily you can just get individual sets of the thicker gauges!
 
I see why the package says put mach10 in the mains for spin.
So far the hybrid has a high launch angle for me at my usual tension.
Surprises me because mach10 1.25 was moderate and predictable.

The power is great but its the first time I felt like I needed to go up in tension to tamp down the launch.
I find myself hitting super flat for fear of over-launching. On the plus side, even flat balls come off with a good bit of spin.
So taking some adjustment on my part.

Otherwise it is a nice hybrid. Feels better from the get-go than fullbed mach10 which I'm sure is equal parts HGR as the cross and because it is thinner.
As of about 4hrs, I like fullbed 1.25 better. But the testing and comparing will go on...duh.
Also, unexpected results just drive my curiosity. So now I want to use fullbed mach10 1.20 and also HGR mains/Mach10 crosses 1.20.
 
Really getting into it now, multiple days in a row of singles and doubles...up to 6hrs of time now.

I still, up to now, prefer fullbed of Mach10 1.25 compared to this but I am adjusting. The ball comes off so hot, which is nice, but has a tendency to fly. A lot of this is my mechanics which are not as windshield wiper vertical as most but I'd definitely go up two lbs next time. Also be curious to try 1.25 Mach10 with HGR 1.20 and see if that helps.

I don't feel like I get as much spin which could be the guage or the power is so pronounced I'm not able to utilize the spin. But it is still pretty good.
The feel is definitely nice, Mach10 1.25 started out pretty firm for me but this was mlre comfortable and smooth right away.
Tension maintenance seems good so far, no noticeable dips and the power level has been pretty high from the get-go.

Compared to my Yonex homebrew, they are actually pretty similar feeling and playing. i get more control, a bit less power, and less spin with the RevPro hybrid. The power level is more just about how it comes off the stringbed, HyperMach has, what I guess is less dwell time, so the ball leaves in a hurry. RevPro stays on a bit longer and absorbs a little more of the energy. I prefer the latter because it feels more predictable and it a little more forgiving.

Really enjoying both so far and sometimes I like when strings are difficult to adjust to because it tests my ability as a player.
 
Don't really like this string tbh. About 2 hrs in M10 Mains HGR Crosses.

It's not bad, but don't feel like there's anything to write home about...

Feel like solinco strings get so much unnecessary hype on here. Very plasticky feeling IMO.
 
Finally got around to stringing this in my trusty old racket. Hopefully will have time to hit with it and give a good review of it while I'm studying for my boards. Always excited to try out a new hybrid from my favorite string brand, solinco.
Opted to bring back my OG racket that I played with for more than a decade. Thought that hyper-g round would be a bit better suited in this PD Roddick to ever so slightly make it more comfortable. My usual tour bite hybrid in this racket is a bit much in terms of discomfort as someone who doesn't really have arm issues. Strung at 55/53lb, which is a little higher than my normal tension setup, especially with this being a 100sq in and having had tried mach-10 in the past which I personally thought would be better to string a little higher in tension.

Looks pretty good!


cwZfIx7.jpeg
 
Seems like Mach 10 in the mains and Hyper G in the crosses is the preferred setup. I went that way based on what the package said was the benefit to each configuration. I want the heavier balls...not the deeper penetrating ones.

@TW Staff , can we get a poll added to see who all is doing each configuration?
 
After the hard hitting session a couple days ago and then played today....starting to feel a little "twangy"
Thats the sound it was making but felt a little off too.

In all fairness, the 10 mins I used the RevPro today, it felt similar but not as jarring. But I didn't use it as long either.

So I'm not sure if they got significantly more notched, the mains are staying out of place a bit, more so on RevPro, but a little on Hypermach too. But could also be tension loss.

Either way, based solely on feel, hypermach may be nearing the end at 8.5hrs.
I'll use it through the weekend and reassess then.
 
Tennis experience/background:
4.0 player who mainly plays from the baseline

Current string preference(s):
Lux Alu Power Rough at 50

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
Tfight 305s 18x19

Playtest setup: what string did you use for mains/crosses?
Mach 10 Mains / Hyper-G round cross

Tension(s) used for playtest?
52

Power/Control of test string?
As far as power, I felt like I was getting good pop and control with my tfight. It could be more of a me thing, but when using a shaped string I have a love/hate relationship since going back to Alu rough. I will say that I do enjoy a full bed of Mach 10 compared to Hyper G/Round, but I just needed a short adjustment to the strings with a higher tension. Though I didnt get "free power" I do see where this hybrid helps with getting control since hyper g round was in the crosses. I think that when comparing attacking and defending I felt a lot better on the defensive end working more angles or redirection, but again I think that is due to the higher tension on my 18x19. If I were to try again, I would drop the tension to get more free pop. So for the current set up power would be about 6 or 7 and control would be a good 9.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The string bed felt pretty crisp since I strung it highter but compared to a full bed of hyper g, this is a lot more comfortable IMO. Even with the tfight strung high it was pretty comfortable and not to jarring.

Spin?
Like I mentioned in a previous section, I did see good spin and snapback from the hybrid. I did have to use a bit more effort when stringing it higher than my usual spec, but I can see the spin potential. I would give this a solid 7 since I could take full cuts on the ball but would just have to adjust my swing. I would also like to compare this next time to a more open pattern and see if I would rate this higher as I feel like the spin potential is there but it came down to the racket pattern and tension.

Playability duration?
Im not really a string breaker, and as far as notching I felt like it was normal as usual. After about a week I did see more notching in and felt the tension drop. Overall, I feel like once the tension did loosen, I felt more at home and liked it better.

Tension & installation Recommendations. Would you tension it differently next time? Would you switch up mains/crosses? Explain.
As far as tension, I would actually go lower for my game and equipment with the same mains and crosses. I think people who like Mach 10 and want a bit more control will like this hybrid set up as it does reward you with good pop, spin, and durability. Overall for my 18x19, I would drop my tension between 48-50 to get easier power and spin since the pattern helps bring in control for the set up.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I think this was a really good playtest for this string. Some thoughts that came to mind was though I dont like shaped strings, it made me curious to see what would happen if we were able to do a mach 10/hyper g regular or confidential blend. I do think the hyper g round brings in more control with the string set up so maybe going with other solinco products will open up more potential for spin.
 
Tennis experience/background: 4.5 USTA ranking but probably closer to 4.0. I am more of a baseliner, and I can volley okay. My serve is horrible because I double fault a lot.

Current string preference(s): I prefer soft polys like Solinco Hyper Soft or Toroline O-Toro since I have a sensitive elbow. I generally string them in the mid 40s too.

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Yonex 98 E-Zone with Signum Pro Yellow Jacket 16 Gauge is my usual setup, but I alternate between this string and Solinco Hyper G.

Playtest setup: what string did you use for mains/crosses? I used the Hyper G for Main and the Mach 10 for the crosses. I thought it might suit my game a bit better.

Tension(s) used for playtest? I am using my typical tension setup which is 45. Sometimes, when it gets cold I will string up to 48.

Power/Control of test string? I would consider these strings more on the control side with decent pop. I would not say it has more pop than the Signum Pro Yellow Jacket strings in my other Yonex racket. Control-wise, I felt very comfortable with taking big swings with these strings. I have been struggling to keep the ball in the court on the backhand side with the Yellow Jacket, but these strings seem to help me keep more balls in play.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) The strings felt comfortable and crisp to me. I have been dealing with a sensitive elbow, and it did not cause any irritation for my elbow. Strings seem to snap back quickly from what I have seen.

Spin? I would say out of 10, that I would rank the spin at a 7. It offers better spin than my current set-up. The ball that I am hitting with top spin when I have time can get high and offers some penetration on the court.

Playability duration? I have been hitting with these for 10 hours, and I do not see any difference in playability. If anything I think these strings have held up well for my hitting session, but it is more practice/rally sessions than actual games.

Tension & installation Recommendations. Would you tension it differently next time? Would you switch up mains/crosses? Explain. I would try to string this at a bit lower tension 40-42. For the main and crosses, I prefer it as is, but I would be open to switching it up in the future. The bracelet that came with these strings can be a bit sharp, so I would be careful for wearing it too long.

Thanks TW for the playtest.
 
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