Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Solinco MACH-10
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
International launch is tomorrow. Not sure when they will get it in stock
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
is mach 10 shaped poly ?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
if its shaped poly, i am buying 10 sets tomorrow am
joaovitorss
Rookie
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
this sounds like its the best poly ever made ,, likely blow away Luxilon alu out of the water ? i just ordered 10 sets from TW. and its so cheap compared to to babolat and luxilon polys
"Engineered with the help of elite coaches and pros, Mach 10 offers a comfortably firm feel and above average power for a poly-based monofilament."
Yes. It has less of a violent pocket and reject the ball sensation but the result of M10 is just so excellent
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
????????? less of violent pocket,, rejecting ball sensation
It is a 5 or 6 sided string. Can’t tell 100% but definitely shaped
With alu power, the ball sinks deep into the string bed then gets pushed out with way more velocity than I expected. That’s what gives it it’s signature feel. That sensation is totally opposite of the M10, but the M10 has much less dwell time, but the resulting ball off my racket is in my opinion, the best I’ve ever used.
5 sided for sure- I counted with a pen and dots
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
from my experience with many many poly testing,, Ball pocketing is what gave me that Control off the string bed and spin as well, this is just me. so should i expect less control from M10 than alu power although i think alu power probably has more power than M10 ? alu power is probably the most powerful poly i have ever used
No, I did have any issues with control with M10. IMO ALU was less consistent that M10/HGR, but that may be due to the tension loss issues that I had with ALU. I thought that M10/HGR was much more spinny and comfortable than ALU. I can't comment too much on ALU's power, but I thought that the power level was perfect with this hybrid at 48lbs. ALU definitely had more pocketing, but I wouldn't say that the lack of pocketing was an issue, nor did I think it led to any loss of control. I played my best tennis with it yesterday after it already had over 10 hours on it, so I can only say positive things about this hybrid.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
what is HGR part ? from what you are saying, this M10 blows away confidential which i thought was a great poly, best ever from solinco but i always wished it had bit more power. but from what you are saying, this M10 has that little extra pop. which would make this poly basically a Perfect poly.......LOL
TwinCinema
Professional
HAHA I love that man but we do disagree sometimes. Great contributor tho.
I crossed the M10 with Hyper G round. All impressions are based on this setup. If you look towards the rest of this thread, I elaborate much more on my thoughts. Currently working on typing up my full review.what is HGR part ? from what you are saying, this M10 blows away confidential which i thought was a great poly, best ever from solinco but i always wished it had bit more power. but from what you are saying, this M10 has that little extra pop. which would make this poly basically a Perfect poly.......LOL
StringStrungStrang
Professional
@jj4545 Solinco Mach-10 is more lively than Lynx Tour, spin is comparable, LT is stiffer, M10 is more comfortable, M10 has better feel. M10 better ball pocketing and preferable launch angle. Keep in mind my comments are based off of the M10 Hybrid with HGR. All in all M10 is a better string for my game. Like the blue color better too ! If you like a much stiffer stringbed you will probably like LT, but if you like some forgiveness you'll enjoy the M10 Hybrid.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Obviously HGR hybrid is working out great for you. why did you choose HGR to hybrid with ? would multi hybrid like NRG or X-1 hybrid with M10 work well too ?
Those that were chosen for the Playtest were sent a set of Mach 10 and HGR and give the option to string it up as a full set of Mach 10 or do a hybrid with the HGR
StringStrungStrang
Professional
@Nostradamus we had to use full-bed or Hybrid with Hyper- G Round only for the playtest.
I've said this before but HGR is a great cross.
Previously I loved the Hyper-G / Hyper-G Round Hybrid in 1.20. However, this hybrid (Mach-10 / Hyper-G Round in 1.25) plays every bit as well if not better !! A touch easier power ( but not too much) spin + or better, control =, and even better touch / feel/ comfort. I was not expecting this due to the thicker gauge and I even strung them a couple pounds tighter.
Solinco's Mach-10 / Hyper-G Round is a great Hybrid that poly lovers everywhere will want to try!! It is a combo I could easily be happy playing from now on. It is that good.
I have been told before that I do have a fear of commitment, but I have seen the light !! This has been the best 4.5 hours of my tennis life !!
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
would the hybrid work just as well if you used Hyper G regular ? i have some of the regular hyper G 17 Gauge sitting around not being used.
Honestly, probably not. The round string helped to tame the launch angle and it added back in some durability.
Solinco Mach 10 Review
Tennis experience/background/Skill level and playing style
Started playing tennis just to knock the ball around 3 years ago, 1.5 years ago I decided to get serious and I started playing every day. Declined several D3 offers, gearing up for high school season. Today I would say that I am a solid 7ish UTR who hits with just about everyone- I was competitive vs. a 9 UTR this week, and can beat up on 5 UTRs pretty easily. Overall, I have pretty big strokes but need to improve on consistency. Definitely lean towards an all-court style of play, and I love moving to the net. My coach says I have one of the biggest serves in the club and some of the strongest touch shots he’s seen, so I always look to complement those strengths. This is my first playtest, and I hope this review is sufficient!
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s).
Hyper G 1.15/Hyper G round 1.15 (both at 51lbs). No complaints with this setup, pretty happy with it overall.
Current racket?
2024 Ezone Aqua Night Black, 326g strung, 319 SW strung
Tension/Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses.
I used Mach 10 mains, Hyper G round crosses. 48lbs for both (wanted to compensate for the thicker gauge with a lower tension)
Power/Control of test string?
I was very impressed with the power and control that this setup provided. The power was most notable when swinging out- it seemed to add an extra few MPH to my bigger shots. Control was excellent, and it felt very “point and shoot”. I could place the ball wherever I wanted to. Redirecting pace was easy, and directional and depth control was very good. Power exactly what I expected, a bit above average, more powerful than Hyper G and much more powerful that Confidential, but it was far less than a syn gut or multifilament. Unlike some other powerful, softer strings, this never felt “bouncy” or unpredictable.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The feel was comfortable, and very connected. It is important to note that even though it is comfortable, this is not a soft string. People without developed strokes, arm issues, or otherwise do not get tons of RHS will not enjoy this hybrid, and some may find it harsh, especially if they found Hyper G to be too harsh or stiff. The harder I hit the more it rewarded me, and the better it felt. The aggressive shape led to the string biting into the ball for a lot of dwell time, even if there was much less pocketing than something like Hyper G. I did find more control with this setup than I did with Hyper G, however. The first 2 hours were pretty crisp, close to Confidential but then it fell into a blend of Confidential and Hyper G, where it was connected, crisp, and a bit muted. I didn’t think it was overly stiff during play, although stringing it up it had quite a bit of coil memory and felt somewhat stiff.
Spin?
Spin was one of the most impressive features of this string. I felt like it had more spin than my reference setup, which is thinner, and I was shocked at how well M10/HGR spun the ball. The launch angle wasn’t particularly high, and the ball penetrated through the court quite well. Even more advanced players had trouble returning many of my shots due to spin. Almost every shot landed near the baseline, and I could keep neutral rallies with ease, or create a big forehand on-demand.
Playability duration?
Currently have 13 hours of pretty hard hitting on this string. Hours 10-11 were some of the best tennis I've ever played. Was going toe-to-toe with a guy who based on the numbers should have blown me out of the water. Only thing I thought about was “Wow, this string is solid”. Notching is pretty minimal because of the round cross. Thoroughly impressed with the durability of this string. I’ll update this when I feel like the string dies, but I think it will be a bit before that happens. Just finished up hour 13. 40% of the way notched, no noticeable drop in spin, power, or control.
Final Update- I think it's dead after about 16-17 hours of hitting. I feel like I lost all control. I'll try it one more time, but I think it's done.
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
I would keep the 1.25 crossed with the HGR at 48lbs- good power and control, plenty of spin, no issues there. Excellent bite. I would not string anything differently next time.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
Pros-
Great mix of power and control, excellent spin, the “goldilocks” feel. Best durability of any string I’ve used. See all other comments above. Amazing serves- probably added quite a bit of pace compared to my reference strings. Touch shots and volleys were exceptional. This string also has a crazy amount of bite and “free” spin. When hitting hard there is lots of dwell time, even if there isn’t as much pocketing. It got better as I played better. Overall, this is still a pretty easy string to use if you like poly, and it’s quite forgiving, even if the sweetspot isn’t massive like it is with other string, as the response outside of the sweetspot is still better than most other strings when it is in the sweetspot!
Minor drawbacks/commentary-
A little lower powered than expected for the first hour or so, I have heard that in a full bed, it is much more prone to notching than with a round cross. The sweetspot did seem a little small, though it is very well-defined. Crisp, connected, but slightly smaller than with Hyper G. I personally didn’t have an issue with it, as I could hit all of the shots I wanted to, but some people may. Even outside of the sweetspot it still responded pretty well, so I can safely say that there are no significant drawbacks. I found it comfortable, but not overly so, and my arm liked it most when I was taking fast, full strokes and had good footwork.
Who for?
I think that this hybrid is for the intermediate to advanced level player who play flat or with spin, as long as they aren’t trying to be the next Rafa. I think that it is pretty usable for most players rated 3.5 NTRP and up. It complements more muted and forgiving rackets very well, but I wouldn't recommend it for people with arm issues or non-poly users, especially if they struggle to generate pace. I also think that this hybrid has a greater “ceiling” to its use than the FB Mach 10, but that is just based off of what I’ve read so far. I would recommend it to just about all of my practice partners, and I think that this hybrid is a must-try for any one who likes Hyper G or Confidential. A few people have asked to borrow my racket, and they all love it as well. Can’t wait to use this in season!
Last comment-
I’m switching to this setup- just want to demo the other gauges first! Tension will probably range between 48 and 51lbs depending on if I go for the 16L or 18 gauge. I’ll stay here on the forum updating this and answering questions, so feel free to reach out!
Tennis experience/background/Skill level and playing style
Started playing tennis just to knock the ball around 3 years ago, 1.5 years ago I decided to get serious and I started playing every day. Declined several D3 offers, gearing up for high school season. Today I would say that I am a solid 7ish UTR who hits with just about everyone- I was competitive vs. a 9 UTR this week, and can beat up on 5 UTRs pretty easily. Overall, I have pretty big strokes but need to improve on consistency. Definitely lean towards an all-court style of play, and I love moving to the net. My coach says I have one of the biggest serves in the club and some of the strongest touch shots he’s seen, so I always look to complement those strengths. This is my first playtest, and I hope this review is sufficient!
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s).
Hyper G 1.15/Hyper G round 1.15 (both at 51lbs). No complaints with this setup, pretty happy with it overall.
Current racket?
2024 Ezone Aqua Night Black, 326g strung, 319 SW strung
Tension/Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses.
I used Mach 10 mains, Hyper G round crosses. 48lbs for both (wanted to compensate for the thicker gauge with a lower tension)
Power/Control of test string?
I was very impressed with the power and control that this setup provided. The power was most notable when swinging out- it seemed to add an extra few MPH to my bigger shots. Control was excellent, and it felt very “point and shoot”. I could place the ball wherever I wanted to. Redirecting pace was easy, and directional and depth control was very good. Power exactly what I expected, a bit above average, more powerful than Hyper G and much more powerful that Confidential, but it was far less than a syn gut or multifilament. Unlike some other powerful, softer strings, this never felt “bouncy” or unpredictable.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
The feel was comfortable, and very connected. It is important to note that even though it is comfortable, this is not a soft string. People without developed strokes, arm issues, or otherwise do not get tons of RHS will not enjoy this hybrid, and some may find it harsh, especially if they found Hyper G to be too harsh or stiff. The harder I hit the more it rewarded me, and the better it felt. The aggressive shape led to the string biting into the ball for a lot of dwell time, even if there was much less pocketing than something like Hyper G. I did find more control with this setup than I did with Hyper G, however. The first 2 hours were pretty crisp, close to Confidential but then it fell into a blend of Confidential and Hyper G, where it was connected, crisp, and a bit muted. I didn’t think it was overly stiff during play, although stringing it up it had quite a bit of coil memory and felt somewhat stiff.
Spin?
Spin was one of the most impressive features of this string. I felt like it had more spin than my reference setup, which is thinner, and I was shocked at how well M10/HGR spun the ball. The launch angle wasn’t particularly high, and the ball penetrated through the court quite well. Even more advanced players had trouble returning many of my shots due to spin. Almost every shot landed near the baseline, and I could keep neutral rallies with ease, or create a big forehand on-demand.
Playability duration?
Currently have 13 hours of pretty hard hitting on this string. Hours 10-11 were some of the best tennis I've ever played. Was going toe-to-toe with a guy who based on the numbers should have blown me out of the water. Only thing I thought about was “Wow, this string is solid”. Notching is pretty minimal because of the round cross. Thoroughly impressed with the durability of this string. I’ll update this when I feel like the string dies, but I think it will be a bit before that happens. Just finished up hour 13. 40% of the way notched, no noticeable drop in spin, power, or control.
Final Update- I think it's dead after about 16-17 hours of hitting. I feel like I lost all control. I'll try it one more time, but I think it's done.
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
I would keep the 1.25 crossed with the HGR at 48lbs- good power and control, plenty of spin, no issues there. Excellent bite. I would not string anything differently next time.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
Pros-
Great mix of power and control, excellent spin, the “goldilocks” feel. Best durability of any string I’ve used. See all other comments above. Amazing serves- probably added quite a bit of pace compared to my reference strings. Touch shots and volleys were exceptional. This string also has a crazy amount of bite and “free” spin. When hitting hard there is lots of dwell time, even if there isn’t as much pocketing. It got better as I played better. Overall, this is still a pretty easy string to use if you like poly, and it’s quite forgiving, even if the sweetspot isn’t massive like it is with other string, as the response outside of the sweetspot is still better than most other strings when it is in the sweetspot!
Minor drawbacks/commentary-
A little lower powered than expected for the first hour or so, I have heard that in a full bed, it is much more prone to notching than with a round cross. The sweetspot did seem a little small, though it is very well-defined. Crisp, connected, but slightly smaller than with Hyper G. I personally didn’t have an issue with it, as I could hit all of the shots I wanted to, but some people may. Even outside of the sweetspot it still responded pretty well, so I can safely say that there are no significant drawbacks. I found it comfortable, but not overly so, and my arm liked it most when I was taking fast, full strokes and had good footwork.
Who for?
I think that this hybrid is for the intermediate to advanced level player who play flat or with spin, as long as they aren’t trying to be the next Rafa. I think that it is pretty usable for most players rated 3.5 NTRP and up. It complements more muted and forgiving rackets very well, but I wouldn't recommend it for people with arm issues or non-poly users, especially if they struggle to generate pace. I also think that this hybrid has a greater “ceiling” to its use than the FB Mach 10, but that is just based off of what I’ve read so far. I would recommend it to just about all of my practice partners, and I think that this hybrid is a must-try for any one who likes Hyper G or Confidential. A few people have asked to borrow my racket, and they all love it as well. Can’t wait to use this in season!
Last comment-
I’m switching to this setup- just want to demo the other gauges first! Tension will probably range between 48 and 51lbs depending on if I go for the 16L or 18 gauge. I’ll stay here on the forum updating this and answering questions, so feel free to reach out!
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Started moving and sticking for me after the first 60-90 mins, but it didn’t affect the performance.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
So alu is too lively and elastic for you.
Not sure I’d say that- I really like the feel of ALU, and I play fine with it, but I do have a preference for Mach 10. I enjoyed ALU, but it died so quickly that I couldn’t give it a fair review. Spin was definitely easier to achieve on the Mach 10 though, but the pocketing of ALU allowed for some great spin at when I was really hitting out. I don’t remember it enough to elaborate further, as I got less than an hour and a half of good play with it.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Very confused by what this means? I’ve never experienced and don’t know what a violent string pocket or reject the ball sensation is.
OK, there is no description that suffices for the unique feel of ALU. In the words of Lou Holtz, “Those who know [ALU Power], no explanation’s necessary. Those who don’t, no explanation will suffice."
Best way I can put it is that it's like a marble in a rubber band, where it just sinks in, then pops back out with seemingly more energy than was put in. Super cool sensation, and I can see why the pros love it. As I've described earlier, it just wasn't worth it for me because it lost tension so quickly, but ALU Power is something that everyone should try at least once if they can afford it.
I don't think that M10 and PTP are comparable at all. IMO this is much more spin focused and less soft than PTP. They are both made for power, and M10 has far more power potential than PTP. I thought that PTP's power was only average, while this was above average. A lot of people are confusing this for a soft string, and PTP is a soft and plush string. M10 is by no means soft by any stretch of the imagination. It's just a softer version of one of the stiffest strings on the market. I can't ever comment on comfort, as I do not have existing arm issues, and I swing fast enough that I get tons to snapback on just about every shot, so nothing feels "harsh" to me (I'm pretty well known around my local club for playing barefoot in 5 pocket pants with a 67 RA racket strung with 4g at 58lbs after forgetting my bag). I much prefer M10 to PTP. Better spin, tension maintenance, power, and honestly, control as well. Feel was more connected with M10, but that's just personal preference. PTP isn't a bad string, and it's an alright all-arounder, I would probably recommend it for those who want a round, soft string.
I'd look at Hyper G Soft or Tour Bite Soft vs. PTP. PTP has a stiffness of 181.2, while M10 was at 222, but Tour Bite Soft was at 192.0 and Hyper G Soft was at 172ish iirc. Interestingly enough, Hyper G round may have a similar stiffness to PTP at thinner gauges... could be worth a try. This is all within solinco's lineup, but Grapplesnake Alpha is rumored to be based on PTP and is basically a "better" PTP, but I cannot comment as I have not tried it yet. It does get rave reviews on this forum thought.
Is there anything you like or dislike about PTP that you are looking for in a different string?
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mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Thanks. I’ve used Alu power many times. Have 2 reels of it.
Do you agree with my assessment at all? Am concerned that my experience is a one-offThanks. I’ve used Alu power many times. Have 2 reels of it.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
No, not very similar at all. PTP is a very good string for one session. Performs well for longer if prestretched. PTP notches pretty easily, turns into fettuccine pretty quickly as a cross, has pretty awful tension maintenance unless it’s prestretched.
adchris2
Rookie
first 2 hours with M10/HGR (47lbs in 2021 Pure Drive) are positive. M10 felt slightly firmer than original Hyper-G, with slightly less pocketing sensation. I had been using full bed HG prior, and I do think the M10 setup is more predictable. Power is about equal so far. It softened up a bit after 15 minutes, and never at any point did it feel harsh.
Dunlop300g
Semi-Pro
I noticed notching starting after playing 3 sets of mixed and one ball hitting session with the ball machine after that for about 1/2 hour. String still felt pretty good though. More testing to come this week and then I'll start with the review and write up. I especially want to test targeting with cones on my serves (some static testing to hit corners of the service box; and some angles with slice out wide in the deuce and kickers out wide in the add (right handed) to see what angles I can get. This was with a full bed in.
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LOBALOT
Legend
I saw that on the TW web site. So are they going to update Hyper G, etc.?
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
They heard you and have updated the product descriptions by removing all words such as 4 sided and square.
"Solinco Hyper-G is a shaped co-poly with an impressive combination of spin and precision. Developed for an ATP top 50 player, this medium firm string will allow big hitters to take massive cuts at the ball without having to worry about overhitting. Topspin players who like hitting balls that dive sharply and explode off the court should love this string."
"Solinco Tour Bite is a firm and durable monofilament that delivers an almost unbelievable combination of spin and precision. Popular at the highest levels of tennis, Tour Bite will enable you to attack the ball with your most powerful strokes. Did we mention the spin potential? "
"Introducing Solinco Confidential! Several years in the making, this co-poly has met the rigorous standards of elite ATP and WTA professionals. With its ultra precise response and shaped profile, this string has exceptional control and impressive spin-potential. According to our TW playtesters, Confidential not only rewards full swings with surgical targeting, it also has above average comfort for a poly-based monofilament. All in all, this is a very impressive addition to Solinco's polyester lineup."
LOBALOT
Legend
They heard you and have updated the product descriptions by removing all words such as 4 sided and square.
"Solinco Hyper-G is a shaped co-poly with an impressive combination of spin and precision. Developed for an ATP top 50 player, this medium firm string will allow big hitters to take massive cuts at the ball without having to worry about overhitting. Topspin players who like hitting balls that dive sharply and explode off the court should love this string."
"Solinco Tour Bite is a firm and durable monofilament that delivers an almost unbelievable combination of spin and precision. Popular at the highest levels of tennis, Tour Bite will enable you to attack the ball with your most powerful strokes. Did we mention the spin potential? "
"Introducing Solinco Confidential! Several years in the making, this co-poly has met the rigorous standards of elite ATP and WTA professionals. With its ultra precise response and shaped profile, this string has exceptional control and impressive spin-potential. According to our TW playtesters, Confidential not only rewards full swings with surgical targeting, it also has above average comfort for a poly-based monofilament. All in all, this is a very impressive addition to Solinco's polyester lineup."
I guess I am trying to understand why if they reference this new string as "5 sided" why they wouldn't do it for all their strings if as these folks say are 5 sided as I have not heard a good answer to that yet?
It really doesn't matter to me as while I string a lot of it I do not use the stuff myself.
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
I guess some are trying to understand why you must see the words, 5 sided, in the description of each of these strings when there is photo and video proof provided online?
It really doesn't matter to me since I string alot of it for myself.
Seriously? IDK why they don't, but i know it's 5 sided.
ngoster
Semi-Pro
This setup helped me break my 18 match losing streak going back to 2024! I played a men's doubles league match yesterday. I wasn't having a particularly good day on the ground against 2 super consistent no-pace hitting opponents. My footwork and ball tracking were lazy and sub-par. My FHs suffered the most with errant launches on high sitters. BH slices, volleys and overheads were solid. Serves (flat, kickers and slices) were on point!
Approximately 13 hours into play and the setup's overall performance is still excellent. Notching in the mains is about 20-25% in the main hitting zone. There's no fettucine crosses to report. The string bed looks as straight as it did off the stringer. Unless there's a fall of the cliff, I am not seeing any issues reaching 20 hours of playability. This is good stuff. Between this, HG/HGR and Tru Pro's PR/GW setups, there's no going wrong. It's just personal preference.
I have a hitting session with my buddy today but I think this concludes my playtest. I'll have my write-up this week.
Approximately 13 hours into play and the setup's overall performance is still excellent. Notching in the mains is about 20-25% in the main hitting zone. There's no fettucine crosses to report. The string bed looks as straight as it did off the stringer. Unless there's a fall of the cliff, I am not seeing any issues reaching 20 hours of playability. This is good stuff. Between this, HG/HGR and Tru Pro's PR/GW setups, there's no going wrong. It's just personal preference.
I have a hitting session with my buddy today but I think this concludes my playtest. I'll have my write-up this week.
ngoster
Semi-Pro
This is curious. Were they being challenged with the counts?I guess some are trying to understand why you must see the words, 5 sided, in the description of each of these strings when there is photo and video proof provided online?
It really doesn't matter to me since I string alot of it for myself.
Seriously? IDK why they don't, but i know it's 5 sided.
TheBoom
Hall of Fame
Mach 10 - Easy Mode
Background + Setup Info
Tennis experience/background + skill level & playing style.
- Former D3 tennis player, self taught, ~10 UTR in college, now about a 9 working my way back into things. I’m 6’7” and tend towards big serves and an aggressive baseline game with lots of topspin
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s).
- I currently hit with Solinco Confidential 16L at 50lbs. My typical range of tension is between 46-52 depending on the weather/racket
What racquet did you use for this playtest?
- Wilson Shift Pro, I also strung up a second one with a full bed of Confidential 16L at 50lbs for comparison
What Set-up did you test, e.g., full set prototype or hybrid w/HG.Round. If you test the hybrid, please list what was in the mains & crosses. Tension(s) used for playtest?
- I used a full bed of the test string with a tension of 50lbs
Review
Power/Control of test string?
- The string had slightly more pop than confidential, not enough to be a significant change, but enough to notice. In terms of control, the string is predictable and didn’t seem to create any dead/hot spots in the string bed. It didn’t launch the ball unpredictably and I could flatten the ball out as well as ever. However if you’re a fan of round or 8-sided string, I don’t think this will win you over.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
- The feel is more muted than my regular confidential set up, and I’d say the feel is more akin to newer strings like Toroline but without going too far from the attributes I like about Solinco string. I noticed the difference in feel most when hitting with spin. Confidential and tour bite (to a lesser extent Hyper G) feel like you’re almost ripping a piece of paper when hitting with spin. This doesn’t give the same sensation, but the result and ball that comes off the strings is the same. So it’s really just getting comfortable with a different feel.
- Beyond that, the string pocketed the ball pretty well and it was a very comfortable string to hit with, despite the somewhat high stiffness we see in the TWU. I find this to be the case with a lot of coated strings, where they feel softer in practice than they do when testing the stiffness of the string
Spin
- Spin was comparable to my confidential setup. In terms of results, I didn’t feel much of a difference and spin was excellent. It feels like it relies on a good mix/balance of snap back and the string shape, where it feels like tour bite or confidential rely more on the string shape to generate spin. The result is what I mentioned above in the feel section, a string that feels much softer than it tests
Playability duration?
- I’ve hit for 7.5 hours with it and it finally broke (pretty normal with a 1.25/1.30 poly for me). I noticed it took maybe 1/2-1 hr longer to notch than what I normally see with Confidential. The string softened up after the first hour and a half and then only gradual tension loss after so I think it has great playability life. It really came into its own after the first hour of hitting
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
- The highest I’d go with this is 56lbs, if you’re going higher than that I imagine you wouldn’t want a string that feels this muted/soft. I really thought the pocketing was great at 50 lbs, and would probably recommend something between 50-54lbs, but as low or high as 48-56lbs.
- I’d really like to try it with a stiffer coated string like a Toroline Caviar. I think that would firm up the response a bit without losing too much comfort from the stringbed
List any additional thoughts (optional)
- Mach 10 is great, and I feel like I could pretty naturally switch to it if I wanted to. I haven’t decided yet, may buy a few more sets before deciding on a reel, I actually think it would pair nicely with my new 2022 Ezone 98’s so I want to try it there as well
- Like the title says, this string is easy to play with and recommend! Will probably be my default string to recommend
adchris2
Rookie
Logged two more hours this evening with the M10/HGR setup. String bed pocketing, power, and feel all basically the same at this point (4 hours in) as at the 15 minute mark. Notching is very minimal, almost none at this point. No strings getting stuck out of place either. I hit relatively hard with a good amount of topspin on both wings, so the lack of notching so far is a nice finding. This setup feels really nice on volleys as well. It gives good feel and predictability.
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Not time for my review yet, but I did want to give my impressions so far for those trying to figure out if they want to try this string.
Set up - Hybrid M10 1.25 with HGR 1.25 @54 lbs in a PA 2016. My normal string in this is TB 1.20 @56.
I’m an aging 4.5, former 5.0/Open level player 25 years ago. Aggressive all courter, big forehand, big serve, 1 HBH.
First time out, I kept thinking this is a shaped KMP. I went back and forth between solid, firm, solid, firm…. I finally landed on solid. It was very dead feeling, not crisp. There is no trampolining with this string, meaning incredible consistency and depth control. Really, take KMP, subtract the shock on impact, add in much better spin and a bit more power, and it would be M10 first time out.
Spin - A bit less spin than the typical Solinco string. HG and Confidential get spin from pocketing, TB from string/ball friction (bite). This does neither of those well, with just a bit of bite and very little pocketing. Still, it does get decent spin, just nothing special. This gives it a very predictable and slightly lower launch angle compared to Solinco’s big 3. You don’t have to worry about over-spinning the ball and having it land short. This is also a better string for flatter hitters than the other Solinco strings.
Power - Was consistent - you get what you put into it, no more, no less. Consistency and control are perhaps this string’s best points. With TB/HG, I can hit a heavy ball that explodes off the court into the back fence. Because the spin wasn’t quite as easy, I couldn’t hit those as well with M10. Flat drives were easier, but not heavy enough to bother my regular hitting partner the way I can with TB.
Comfort - It is stiff, but there was no shock. I could see the firmness bothering someone that has arm problems.
Second time out, the string softened up a bit. It felt very similar to YPTP - no pocketing or trampolining but you could feel the whole string bed flex on contact. It was still very dead and solid, not crisp, just like YPTP. Power was a little more the second time out, but spin didn’t really pick up.
This is different than Solinco’s other offerings. I would lying if I said I didn’t miss the typical Solinco crispness. If I were a flatter hitter looking for a great control string that isn’t too low or high powered, I would consider this string. I will string the M10 hybrid looser in my next demo in the PD.
I am looking forward to trying M10 in a thinner gauge. I don’t think the 1.25 is best for my game, but I could see a thinner gauge working really well for me.
Set up - Hybrid M10 1.25 with HGR 1.25 @54 lbs in a PA 2016. My normal string in this is TB 1.20 @56.
I’m an aging 4.5, former 5.0/Open level player 25 years ago. Aggressive all courter, big forehand, big serve, 1 HBH.
First time out, I kept thinking this is a shaped KMP. I went back and forth between solid, firm, solid, firm…. I finally landed on solid. It was very dead feeling, not crisp. There is no trampolining with this string, meaning incredible consistency and depth control. Really, take KMP, subtract the shock on impact, add in much better spin and a bit more power, and it would be M10 first time out.
Spin - A bit less spin than the typical Solinco string. HG and Confidential get spin from pocketing, TB from string/ball friction (bite). This does neither of those well, with just a bit of bite and very little pocketing. Still, it does get decent spin, just nothing special. This gives it a very predictable and slightly lower launch angle compared to Solinco’s big 3. You don’t have to worry about over-spinning the ball and having it land short. This is also a better string for flatter hitters than the other Solinco strings.
Power - Was consistent - you get what you put into it, no more, no less. Consistency and control are perhaps this string’s best points. With TB/HG, I can hit a heavy ball that explodes off the court into the back fence. Because the spin wasn’t quite as easy, I couldn’t hit those as well with M10. Flat drives were easier, but not heavy enough to bother my regular hitting partner the way I can with TB.
Comfort - It is stiff, but there was no shock. I could see the firmness bothering someone that has arm problems.
Second time out, the string softened up a bit. It felt very similar to YPTP - no pocketing or trampolining but you could feel the whole string bed flex on contact. It was still very dead and solid, not crisp, just like YPTP. Power was a little more the second time out, but spin didn’t really pick up.
This is different than Solinco’s other offerings. I would lying if I said I didn’t miss the typical Solinco crispness. If I were a flatter hitter looking for a great control string that isn’t too low or high powered, I would consider this string. I will string the M10 hybrid looser in my next demo in the PD.
I am looking forward to trying M10 in a thinner gauge. I don’t think the 1.25 is best for my game, but I could see a thinner gauge working really well for me.
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hdjs94
Rookie
looks like not going to bother trying this one out. TB is also my goto.
Johnnyrocket
New User
Met with one of the Solinco reps in the TW camp at Indian Well today. He saw me taking pics of the new Mach 10 lol. I told him I’ve playtested the string and he was curious on how i felt about the comfort. Supposedly this string’s strengths are spin(+)comfort with tension maintenance in mind. Unfortunately, I’ve told him that I felt the strings had a rather harsh feedback even strung at 48#. Will have to demo this string again knowing what niche the sting was aimed at. Also, the Solinco rep mentioned that confidential soft will drop in pink lol. Cool guy, really delved into the backstory for their string development.
DropWideShot
Rookie
Looks like it went to space
