Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Solinco MACH-10

I’ve finally finished hitting with Mach 10 after 9 hours, and I’m in love with it. I’m making the switch, it’s just such a great string. Here’s my review, and thank you @TW Staff for giving me the opportunity to try Mach 10!

Tennis experience/background

Been playing tennis for about 15 years, advanced tournament level player.


Skill level & playing style.

I am an advanced player, I would say all court player. I try and use power and placement from the baseline to get an opportunity to put away at net, and rely on controlled power and spin.



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


Been using Poly Tour Rev/Poly Tour Pro hybrid at 56 pounds in my Ezone 100 2022. This string was good but after the honeymoon period I realized this setup did not give me the control I was craving, and the spin was lackluster. Mach 10 excited me as control was something I’ve been desperately needing. Was needing a string that gave the control and spin I was needing to avoid UE’s and go for spots that I didn’t feel confident to go for usually.

What racquet did you use for this playtest

Yonex Ezone 100 2022.

Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses

Went full bed at 56 pounds to see how it played at the same tension as my regular setup.

Tension(s) used for playtest?

56 pounds.

Power/Control of test string?

The control of Mach 10 is perfect for me. It’s just the right amount of control where I don’t worry about overhitting. My playstyle uses a lot of early hitting and on the rise shots, which I heavily struggled with on my usual setup. With Mach 10, I was able to swing through and put pace on the ball without over hitting.

The power was just enough to not feel like I’m fighting hard like confidential, which was just a tiny bit too much control. Control was something I was desiring from my usual setup as Rev didn’t give enough spin to control the ball and wasn’t as controlled as I was needing in the ezone. Control was top tier, a little less than confidential but more than hyper g.


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

The feel of this string was very unique. Solinco markets it as their comfort string which I would agree with for their lineup. It’s more comfortable than confidential and hyper g, but a tiny bit less comfortable than hyper g soft. The feel was crisp but did not have the same harsh feedback on mishits like hyper g and especially confidential. I could feel where I hit the ball on the stringbed very well, even in the ezone 100.

I had a good connection to the ball and did not feel discomfort on mishits and bad shots. The feel was very good for Solinco as they have a reputation as the “weedwhacker” string, and this string felt very nice and not at all like a weedwhacker string such as hyper g. It felt similar to volkl cyclone, but a tiny bit more comfortable and I felt much more connected to the ball. The string was more comfortable than the average Solinco string, but didn’t feel mushy which was nice as I was worried it would get mushy.

For an advanced poly in the same category as rpm blast, alu power, volkl cyclone, hyper g, confidential, etc. it had the same crisp and connected feeling but did not have the same harsh feedback on off center hits. When I shanked or hit outside the sweet spot I didn’t get a bad feeling in my arm and it felt like the string was still comfortable. This was something I loved about Mach 10 as hyper g and especially confidential can feel quite stiff if you mishit, and Mach 10 solved this issue.

Spin?

Spin was excellent, as per usual with Solinco. Mach 10 kept having great spin well into the end of the playtest and the bite was incredible. I will forever remember this one shot I hit where the ball took a bounce and I had to hit a Nadal buggy whip. It randomly grabbed the ball super tightly and hit with a huge amount of spin, something I only got with hyper g and confidential.

Spin was incredible, and stayed great through the playtest. The string did start to move around quickly but spin was still great and I could create a heavy ball after 9 hours of playing.


Something I adored about this string was the consistent launch angle. Hyper g and confidential to a lesser extent had a little bit of inconsistency and could sometimes launch when trying to flatten out, or hit the ball loopier than intended. Mach 10 didn’t have this issue, from start to end it never wouldn’t hit the way I wanted and could flatten out, loop high, and hit heavy exactly when I wanted. It never had a moment where I flattened out or hit on the rise and it decided to hit 4 feet higher than what I wanted. Another great fix from Solinco.



Playability duration?

The playability duration was good, I would put it between hyper g and confidential. Confidential holds tension amazingly and lasts a long time, hyper g not as long, and Mach 10 kept its characteristics for a time I’d put between the 2 strings. The control stayed great through the playtest along with spin, and I’d assume the breaking point would be around 14 hours for me.

The other concern I had was mushiness after settling in but as of now of 9 hours and soon to hit again it hasn’t gone mushy, just more so settled. Power has increased a little as time has gone on but the characteristics at first have stuck around until now.

Durability was not an issue as I’m not a string breaker. It did not notch after 4 hours and strings began sticking out of place but spin wasn’t affected much at all, nor was control. 1.25 worked great for me even in the open Ezone 100, and I don’t feel the need to move up the 1.30 to get more durability and control. The thinner gauge over 1.30 also meant the feel and comfort shined through more, which is the selling point of this string as the next evolution of hyper g and tour bite.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.


I would put this tension at 48-52 for 98 16/19’s, 54 and up for 100 16/19’s, and 43-48 for 18/20’s. This string has great control for being marketed as a comfort poly, and therefore doesn’t need ultra high tensions. The tension maintenance is good, on par with hyper g and holds its characteristics for a good length of time. At 56 pounds I got plenty of control and kept a great amount of spin.

In a 98 16/19 such as a pure strike this string would be perfect as it had just a tiny bit of extra power compared to confidential that it would even our frames like that, and 48-52 would be perfect. In 18/20s I also think this string would be great, as the spin is incredible and at low tensions I can only imagine the bite it would get. It’s also not uncomfortable for being an advanced poly so in power frames like the ezone 100 or pure aero it would be able to be strung high while not causing arm pain.

The variety of tensions and frames this string can fit is incredible. I really think it can fit almost any racquet, from stiff pure drives to prestige pros.


List any additional thoughts (optional)

this string is going to be my next string of choice. It has given me everything I was missing in my ezone, and the control allows me to play how I am used to, flattening the ball out and going for precise placement to get a weak ball. It gives me great spin to wear down opponents and play with margin, but also go for my spots when the opportunity shows itself.

For an advanced poly it didn’t give the same harsh response rpm blast, confidential, tour bite, etc. can give on off center hits and mishits which is a great improvement. It is certainly an advanced poly, as it’s quite controlled and spin friendly and stiff. The point I love about this string is it doesn’t feel like a soft poly akin to lynx touch, but feels like an advanced poly which won’t hurt my arm.

The spin is incredible as per usual with Solinco, they’ve got some sort of dark magic which gives all their strings insane spin and bite. After 9 hours it still grips and slings incredibly well, isn’t mushy, still feels controlled and not launchy, and is hanging in there. In a controlled frame like a pure strike or blade this would be amazing, giving that extra power over confidential that these frames need but still having that signature Solinco spin and control. This string is an absolute winner, Solinco does it again!

I also tried hyper g round which was really surprising. I missed the hype of HGR as I was really enjoying the string I used at the time and wasn’t reading the playtest threads. HGR had surprisingly amazing spin and feel, and really surprised me. The feel was clear and a little soft but good. Spin was amazing for a round string but more linear response than standard hyper g. I would consider trying it for a more in depth review but Mach 10 blew me away.

Thank you once again @TW Staff for giving me the opportunity to be on this playtest and give Mach 10 a try! It is a really great string from Solinco which solves the comfort problem of their mainline strings while keeping the great control and spin they are known for, along with the sometimes inconsistent launch angles of their shaped strings.

Also it’s blue, so it looks good in 99% of racquets! That was my complaint with hyper g was it was just not my favorite color, meanwhile blue looks great in everything, especially my ezone 100!
 
SinneGOAT said:
I’ve finally finished hitting with Mach 10 after 9 hours, and I’m in love with it. I’m making the switch, it’s just such a great string. Here’s my review, and thank you @TW Staff for giving me the opportunity to try Mach 10!

Tennis experience/background

Been playing tennis for about 15 years, advanced tournament level player.


Skill level & playing style.

I am an advanced player, I would say all court player. I try and use power and placement from the baseline to get an opportunity to put away at net, and rely on controlled power and spin.



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


Been using Poly Tour Rev/Poly Tour Pro hybrid at 56 pounds in my Ezone 100 2022. This string was good but after the honeymoon period I realized this setup did not give me the control I was craving, and the spin was lackluster. Mach 10 excited me as control was something I’ve been desperately needing. Was needing a string that gave the control and spin I was needing to avoid UE’s and go for spots that I didn’t feel confident to go for usually.

What racquet did you use for this playtest

Yonex Ezone 100 2022.

Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses

Went full bed at 56 pounds to see how it played at the same tension as my regular setup.

Tension(s) used for playtest?

56 pounds.

Power/Control of test string?

The control of Mach 10 is perfect for me. It’s just the right amount of control where I don’t worry about overhitting. My playstyle uses a lot of early hitting and on the rise shots, which I heavily struggled with on my usual setup. With Mach 10, I was able to swing through and put pace on the ball without over hitting.

The power was just enough to not feel like I’m fighting hard like confidential, which was just a tiny bit too much control. Control was something I was desiring from my usual setup as Rev didn’t give enough spin to control the ball and wasn’t as controlled as I was needing in the ezone. Control was top tier, a little less than confidential but more than hyper g.


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

The feel of this string was very unique. Solinco markets it as their comfort string which I would agree with for their lineup. It’s more comfortable than confidential and hyper g, but a tiny bit less comfortable than hyper g soft. The feel was crisp but did not have the same harsh feedback on mishits like hyper g and especially confidential. I could feel where I hit the ball on the stringbed very well, even in the ezone 100.

I had a good connection to the ball and did not feel discomfort on mishits and bad shots. The feel was very good for Solinco as they have a reputation as the “weedwhacker” string, and this string felt very nice and not at all like a weedwhacker string such as hyper g. It felt similar to volkl cyclone, but a tiny bit more comfortable and I felt much more connected to the ball. The string was more comfortable than the average Solinco string, but didn’t feel mushy which was nice as I was worried it would get mushy.

For an advanced poly in the same category as rpm blast, alu power, volkl cyclone, hyper g, confidential, etc. it had the same crisp and connected feeling but did not have the same harsh feedback on off center hits. When I shanked or hit outside the sweet spot I didn’t get a bad feeling in my arm and it felt like the string was still comfortable. This was something I loved about Mach 10 as hyper g and especially confidential can feel quite stiff if you mishit, and Mach 10 solved this issue.

Spin?

Spin was excellent, as per usual with Solinco. Mach 10 kept having great spin well into the end of the playtest and the bite was incredible. I will forever remember this one shot I hit where the ball took a bounce and I had to hit a Nadal buggy whip. It randomly grabbed the ball super tightly and hit with a huge amount of spin, something I only got with hyper g and confidential.

Spin was incredible, and stayed great through the playtest. The string did start to move around quickly but spin was still great and I could create a heavy ball after 9 hours of playing.


Something I adored about this string was the consistent launch angle. Hyper g and confidential to a lesser extent had a little bit of inconsistency and could sometimes launch when trying to flatten out, or hit the ball loopier than intended. Mach 10 didn’t have this issue, from start to end it never wouldn’t hit the way I wanted and could flatten out, loop high, and hit heavy exactly when I wanted. It never had a moment where I flattened out or hit on the rise and it decided to hit 4 feet higher than what I wanted. Another great fix from Solinco.



Playability duration?

The playability duration was good, I would put it between hyper g and confidential. Confidential holds tension amazingly and lasts a long time, hyper g not as long, and Mach 10 kept its characteristics for a time I’d put between the 2 strings. The control stayed great through the playtest along with spin, and I’d assume the breaking point would be around 14 hours for me.

The other concern I had was mushiness after settling in but as of now of 9 hours and soon to hit again it hasn’t gone mushy, just more so settled. Power has increased a little as time has gone on but the characteristics at first have stuck around until now.

Durability was not an issue as I’m not a string breaker. It did not notch after 4 hours and strings began sticking out of place but spin wasn’t affected much at all, nor was control. 1.25 worked great for me even in the open Ezone 100, and I don’t feel the need to move up the 1.30 to get more durability and control. The thinner gauge over 1.30 also meant the feel and comfort shined through more, which is the selling point of this string as the next evolution of hyper g and tour bite.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.


I would put this tension at 48-52 for 98 16/19’s, 54 and up for 100 16/19’s, and 43-48 for 18/20’s. This string has great control for being marketed as a comfort poly, and therefore doesn’t need ultra high tensions. The tension maintenance is good, on par with hyper g and holds its characteristics for a good length of time. At 56 pounds I got plenty of control and kept a great amount of spin.

In a 98 16/19 such as a pure strike this string would be perfect as it had just a tiny bit of extra power compared to confidential that it would even our frames like that, and 48-52 would be perfect. In 18/20s I also think this string would be great, as the spin is incredible and at low tensions I can only imagine the bite it would get. It’s also not uncomfortable for being an advanced poly so in power frames like the ezone 100 or pure aero it would be able to be strung high while not causing arm pain.

The variety of tensions and frames this string can fit is incredible. I really think it can fit almost any racquet, from stiff pure drives to prestige pros.


List any additional thoughts (optional)

this string is going to be my next string of choice. It has given me everything I was missing in my ezone, and the control allows me to play how I am used to, flattening the ball out and going for precise placement to get a weak ball. It gives me great spin to wear down opponents and play with margin, but also go for my spots when the opportunity shows itself.

For an advanced poly it didn’t give the same harsh response rpm blast, confidential, tour bite, etc. can give on off center hits and mishits which is a great improvement. It is certainly an advanced poly, as it’s quite controlled and spin friendly and stiff. The point I love about this string is it doesn’t feel like a soft poly akin to lynx touch, but feels like an advanced poly which won’t hurt my arm.

The spin is incredible as per usual with Solinco, they’ve got some sort of dark magic which gives all their strings insane spin and bite. After 9 hours it still grips and slings incredibly well, isn’t mushy, still feels controlled and not launchy, and is hanging in there. In a controlled frame like a pure strike or blade this would be amazing, giving that extra power over confidential that these frames need but still having that signature Solinco spin and control. This string is an absolute winner, Solinco does it again!

I also tried hyper g round which was really surprising. I missed the hype of HGR as I was really enjoying the string I used at the time and wasn’t reading the playtest threads. HGR had surprisingly amazing spin and feel, and really surprised me. The feel was clear and a little soft but good. Spin was amazing for a round string but more linear response than standard hyper g. I would consider trying it for a more in depth review but Mach 10 blew me away.

Thank you once again @TW Staff for giving me the opportunity to be on this playtest and give Mach 10 a try! It is a really great string from Solinco which solves the comfort problem of their mainline strings while keeping the great control and spin they are known for, along with the sometimes inconsistent launch angles of their shaped strings.

Also it’s blue, so it looks good in 99% of racquets! That was my complaint with hyper g was it was just not my favorite color, meanwhile blue looks great in everything, especially my ezone 100!
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One of the best reviews I've ever read anywhere
 
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Solinco Mach-10 Playtest


Tennis experience/background: 18 years of experience. Current 4.5 usta
Skill level & playing style: 4.5, 2HBH, Flat forehand, Baseliner
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Kirschbaum Max Power Rough Mains (56 lbs), Wilson NXT Cross (58 lbs)
What racquet did you use for this playtest? Head Speed Pro Legend
Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses: Full Bed of Mach 10
Tension(s) used for playtest? 48 lbs
Power/Control of test string?
After hitting with this string for several hours, I'd say this string is a low-medium powered string. It really shined with the control aspect whether it's with serves, groundstrokes, and volleys. Even at 48 lbs (which is low compared to my usual setups), I still felt like I had a very low launch angle with shots staying low throughout the playtest. I was expecting balls to eventually fly out but I never experienced that with this string. I truly felt like I could hit the ball where I wanted, as cliche as that sounds. In doubles, I could comfortably rip backhands down the alley or slap them cross court. My weaker shot, the forehand, is my less consistent shot generally. With Mach 10, I felt a lot more consistent and I really enjoyed the high level of control that this string provides. Serves felt so good with this string as well. I was able to get a lot of pop on flat serves and with this string, I feel that I am getting 70-80% of my first serves in and have doubled maybe once a set in singles. I really loved the kick I was able to get on second serves as well. I didn't feel like Mach 10 did much for my net game (which is already the weakest part of my game). I could put volleys where I wanted them, but seemed to struggle to get some ooomph on them.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
I'll start off with saying that I have a sensitive elbow due to golfer's elbow and have generally stayed away from full beds of poly in order to save my elbow. This string isn't the softest poly on the market, especially compared to hyper g soft, but I actually felt that this poly was a bit softer than other polys like tour bite and confidential, as well as hyper G. In most cases of testing full beds of polys, my arm would feel aches and pains during my playing session. However, this string seems to create soreness afterwards and doesn't bother me when I'm actually playing. So for me, it's almost soft enough for me to continually play with it which is great as I really enjoyed this string. As some other play testers have said, I feel like the string softens up a bit after a few hours.

Spin?
For me, the spin provided from Mach 10 is top tier. I don't think it's as good as maybe hyper G or tourbite, but it is definitely significantly more spinny compared to my usually hybrid set up. One thing that I liked about this string is that I felt that I could flatten out my forehand when needed, or I could really get nice spin on the ball when hitting a topspin forehand. Even with my flat shots, the ball would drop in right near the baseline. As mentioned earlier, I could really get a high kick on my kick serve and I think serving was my favorite part of the playtest because of how easy it was to hit high quality serves.

Playability duration?
I noticed notching within a couple hours of doubles but the string played great for me throughout 20 hours with minimal drop off in quality. I think there was maybe a very small gradual drop off but I felt like I got a lot of playability from this string. I really enjoyed this one.
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
I strung this playtest at 48 lbs. I felt like I could go as low as 40-42 lbs and still have a lot of control. I'd really like to try a thinner gauge and see how my arm handles it but overall, I really enjoyed this string and could see myself switching to it if I can fine tune the gauge/tension.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Thank you Tennis Warehouse and Solinco for this playtest. It's always a pleasure and a treat to participate in these tests and I look forward to many more in the future. I think I honestly will buy a few reels for myself and my customers to try.
 
VanDerVaart23 said:
One of the best reviews I ever read anywhere
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I love Mach 10, the biggest point for me is the comfort aspect, where it responds in the sweet spot and plays like an advanced poly but just doesn’t feel harsh outside the sweet spot. It is a great string, I’m glad there’s a string now that has the great control but doesn’t have the painful feeling those other polys have. Like hyper g soft even hurt my arm outside the sweet spot and Mach 10 doesn’t, it just doesn’t feel harsh on mishits. Also thank you!
 
Mach 10 Playtest Summary

Tennis experience/background - regular 4.5 USTA league player (singles and doubles - better at singles) / 7.5 UTR, grew up playing junior tennis and D1 college (low level D1 back in the early 90s), took a lot of time off over the years with kids/work, playing regularly now finally over the last three years, hoping to still get better now that I'm in my early 50s, but trying to hold off father time with a little more help from my racquets and strings.

Skill level & playing style: see above, but also an all court player (grew up serving and volleying, but now spend more time on the baseline), lefty kick serve and general craftiness, a mix of counter-punching and attacking

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): testing a lot of racquets and strings over the last couple of years, currently maining the Vcore 98 w/ primarily Lynx Tour and Confidential 1.25; preferred tension is around 50 mains/48 crosses

What racquet did you use for this playtest? Vcore 98

Set up: Full bed of Mach-10

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50 mains / 48 crosses

Power/Control of test string: definitely on the more powerful side for a poly, but the beautiful thing is that the string bed is also amazingly consistent. Relative to confidential, definitely a little more juice, but similar consistency/control that I enjoy from Confidential.

Feel: not as crisp as Lynx Tour / Confidential / TB, but not as muted as Hyper G, which I like. Comfortable for a poly, but still firm feeling; has a thuddy solid feel to it. I would not categorize it as a "soft" poly, but it is more comfortable than most while still staying firm (similar question w/r to power whilst still feeling consistent - how did they combine all these excellent qualities into one string?).

Spin: spin is good - nothing crazy or sharp, similar to Lynx Tour, maybe slightly below confidential but it's marginal; the Vcore already lends itself to being a "spinny" frame, and I hit with a ton of spin (slice one handed backhand, kick serves, etc.), so this isn't something I'm looking to get out of a string in the first place.

Playability duration: excellent tension maintenance - I know some have made comments about the tension maintenance not being great, but based on what I felt, and actually measured with my DT device, tension started at ~48 strung, and after 6 hours I measured it again, and it was at 44, which is pretty great imo. Currently at 10 hours and it is still very playable, which generally wouldn't be the case for me.

Tension Recommendations: 50/48 was great, not sure I'd want to go much lower given the power level of the string, but if you were playing with a racquet with less power than my Vcore, then I could easily see going with something around mid 40s (actually, I would see this as a great option for Blade or Radical users who want to compliment a more controlled frame with a bit more punch....mid 40s in a blade wouldn't diminish control/consistency at all)

List any additional thoughts: I'm not trying to be overly enthusiastic, but I've been testing a ton of strings over the last couple of years (a benefit of stringing my own frames), and this is one of the best strings I've ever tried. As comfortable as Toroline for example, but not rubbery like Toroline can be; firm and consistent like Lynx Tour and Conf., but a little more power and comfort. This is one of the only strings I've tried that really does combine the best of all things I look for in a string. Next step for me is to test the 1.20, and then get myself a reel and start using this as my main. Thank you TW for this opportunity, and great work Solinco!
 
Looks like all the years of testing were worth the wait! Very cool to see the consistency and similarity of the results, some of these are spot on to my own opinions and yeah Solinco is in full gear with all these awesome releases
 
Not part of the playtest but bought a set of the 1.25 to try. 5.0 player. Currently using solinco confidential in head gravity pro. I also like hyper G but prefer confidential.

When I strung it up, Mach 10 felt like it was in-between confidential and hyper g in terms of stiffness. It had a slicker coating than either of them. However, I did not like the feel when playing with it. I didnt find it as crisp as either of my preferred strings, and I found the string bed to be somewhat erratic. I couldn't get a good sense as to whether or not I hit a good ball. Spin was okay, but not as good as hyper g or confidential. Unfortunate because I was really optimistic about this
 
My Mach-10 17g Review (Thanks TW & Solinco)

Tennis experience/background:
Been around tennis my whole life, my dad and younger brother were the one who played and I would hit with them occasionally. 5 years ago started to really learn to "play" tennis and do so at least twice a week ever since.

I like to think I have learned sound technique and proper strokes, but footwork and preparation is of a recreational player.

Skill level & playing style.
Soon to be 40 and unranked (never joined USTA leagues) play only recreational matches and a lot of old men doubles with my dad (he is now 75)

I would call my game all court, I don't try to grind everything from the back and in fact like to move into the forecourt and try to finish at the net as much as possible (without calling it S&V or C&C) I play with a 2HBH but use the slice often and do enjoy to go for touch shots and drops when the oponent is far back or on the move.

My game is based more on being able to consistently hit off both wings and repeat certain patterns to open up court space, not trying to blow off anyone off the court or extreme spin.


Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s). Proline Evolution 17g x Ghostwire 19g @ 22 kilos

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
ProKennex 5G

Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses.
Full set

Tension(s) used for playtest?
22 Kilos

Power/Control of test string?
More control than power, while it is lively it is a string that allows you to swing faster and still get the ball in. There was a few times on the hitting sessions where it looked (from my side) like my shots were flying longer but still coming in.


Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Firm yet comfortable, it felt like it had very little dwell time and the response is immediate.

Spin?
Above average, it made a difference on the shape and height of my shots and particularly on serves it caused more action on the bounce.

Several times during the test and against different opponents, the ball looked (for both of us) like it was going long but at the end was dipping in due to spin and would caught them by surprise after giving up the point. I even called my own balls out long during cooperative rallies and my partner would correct me with calling it in.

Playability duration?
So far, more than 12 hours, several sets of doubles and couple of hitting sessions, the string is alive and well. I think I will leave them in the racquet for a while to see how it plays thru weeks from the test.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
I liked the refference tension, I think the recommended range is spot on, stay under 50lbs.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Important: You can test the prototype as a full set or hybrid w/HG.Round (no other hybrids allowed).

I would recommend this string to players with a full swing and that already generate generous spin on their shots, this string would add an extra gear to your shots.

While the string is comfortable, it is firm with a very direct response, for those that like something that is not soft or elastic but at the same time dynamic with more energy back into the ball.
 
Tennis experience/background: Played HS tennis. Took tennis more serious after HS. Competed in 4.0/4.5 USTA leagues. Now, just hitting and coaching due to injuries.
Skill level & playing style: 4.0-4.5 level, all court game. OHBH
Current string set-up(s) band preferred tension(s): Head Lynx Tour/Head Hawk 1.25 45/42 lbs
What racquet did you use for this playtest? Wilson RF 01 Pro
Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses. Full set
Tension(s) used for playtest? 45/42 lbs DT 32

Power/Control of test string? The power level felt very similar to other polys that I play. It’s not too high, but allows for you to make a big cut at the ball without sacrificing the control. I think where the string shines is the control. The stringbed is very predictable. I never felt the ball would wildly fly off the strings. All my shots felt controlled, exactly to where I want it to be.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) In my 1st session with the string, it unfortunately felt too mushy for me. It was overly pocketing and felt like the ball just sat on the strings way too long. I was discussing with my buddy who also has test the string, thinking maybe I strung it too long. Fast forward to the next day, the stringbed settled in, and then it was just the right amount of pocketing. Overall, the biggest attribute that I love about the string is the comfort. While strings like HyperG play a little to muted for me, and Tour Bite is a little too stiff, I felt Mach-10 was just the right amount of crispness while maintaining a soft comfortable feel.

Spin? Similar to other Solinco brand strings, like Hyper G, Tour Bite or Confidential, this Mach-10 string does not lack in spin. The sharpness and shape of the string allowed me to feel the stringbed pull the ball up on my shots. Not much else to say on the spin front, other than I definitely doesn’t lack in any.

Playability duration? I got to hit with it for 7 sessions, with a total of 14 hours. My biggest surprise, no string movement for me at all. Granted I was not hitting with full spin during all the sessions, depending on the people I was hitting with. Over that timespan, I did not feel any big playability drop. I did see the cross strings start to flatten out, but string notching was very minimal, no more than 1/3 of the way through. For the amount of time that I got to play with it, there was some tension loss, which resulted in more balls flying long in the later sessions. Part of the reason for the reduced string movement, could be the dense pattern of the RF01Pro, but for comparison, when I hit with Gut/Poly, I get string movement midway through the 1st sessions.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why. I felt the tension of 45/42 was spot on for my liking. Over the entire playtest period, the string and stringbed felt very consistent, not too stiff, allowed for good spin and power.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I am lucky enough to get a chance at testing many different strings over the years. Many new strings on the market are very similar to exisiting strings or are just not that great. Of those playtested strings, only a few I would recommend to people, like Luxilon Element, and more recently Head Lynx Tour. The Solinco Mach-10 would definitely be a string I would recommend to people to try.

Thank you to @TW Staff and Solinco allowing me to participate in this playtest. Also, big thanks to the Solinco crew at Indian Wells for chatting with me and talking tennis. Thanks for the cool Mach-10 string bracelet as well!


 
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My son tried Boo in 17 only and liked it but did not switch given head to head vs OG Confidential 17, I suspect Bloo would have fared better in 16L or 16 with him, but the OG is like his security blanket.
 
Solinco Mach-10

REVIEW DUE: 3-20-25
Include the following in your review:
Tennis experience/background.
Skill level & playing style.
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s).
What racquet did you use for this playtest?
Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses.
Tension(s) used for playtest?
Power/Control of test string?
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Spin?
Playability duration?
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
Important: You can test the prototype as a full set or hybrid w/HG.Round (no other hybrids allowed).

​

Tennis experience/background: Playing tennis off and on for 50+ years. Started at 10 in 1972. Played Jr. High, High School tennis teams. Played USTA singles, doubles, mixed. Currently USTA 4.0. Love the game. I am a stringer for friends, club players and the local high school team.

Playing style: all court, I play with spin; semi-western forehand, slice and topspin 1hbh. Always looking to move forward when possible and finish at the net.

Racquet used: Dunlop 300 SX (2021) Tension used in playtest 50 lbs. Full bed Mach 10. This string really complimented this spin friendly frame.

Previous string setup in this frame was Yonex Poly Tour Drive at 50 lbs. Mach 10 played with all the comfort of YPTD; with a little better durability and more control, more ball shape. Power was on par.

Power 8.5/10 – power is very good; plenty of ball pocketing and launch; you’ll get plenty of power flattening out the shot. You’ll find plenty of power on serve as well.

Control 7.5/10 – hitting flat can be a mistake at times; this string really is asking me to commit to topspin for control off both sides. Slice was excellent. Serve placement was good. If you like to hit out committed to spin this string will reward you.

Feel 8.5/10 – performed well on touch shots around the net and with volleys

Spin 8/10 – committing to hitting with heavy topspin is rewarded; it almost demands it but it really isn’t an overly demanding string. Hope that makes sense.

Playability Duration 7/10 – started notching fairly quickly, there was a slight break-in period, maybe an hour, you can feel some playabiltiy drop off after the first few hours but nothing dramatic or noteworthy just noticeable. There are no arm issues whatsoever.

Tension recommendations Strung at 50 maybe next time 52 (looking for a little more control) tension did drop but not in an inordinate amount over the playtest

Additional thoughts This string seems to wear fairly quickly in a full bed. Next time around I would definitely hybrid this in the mains with Hyper-G Round in the crosses for two reasons: durability / longevity and also to see if there is additional spin and consistency.

Fell in love with this string at first. I think it has a unique blend of power and control. I still want to test it in they hybrid though. I will probably buy another set to do just that with my next order. This string is the most intriguing one to come along in long time; if you haven’t tried it; you should; it’s got a wow factor in it. Long term I may be switching to Mach 10 in this frame. Thanks so much to TW and Solinco for the opportunity to test this wonderful new string!
 
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Tennis experience/background: x amount of years prior to high school, 4 years of high school varsity, 4 years of club tennis in SoCal. Been playing ever since into my early 30's with aching joints.
Skill level & playing style: 4.0-4.5, doubles mainly. Strong return and net game. Communicative playmaker from the back court.
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): Toroline Otoro Spin 48/45
What racquet did you use for this playtest?: Tecnifibre 305s
Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses: Mach 10 full bed
Tension(s) used for playtest? 47/45
Power/Control of test string?: Power of the string was medium when I think about it. It wasn't ultra low powered nor was it ultra high powered. I liken it to a 6/10 in terms of power for a copoly. I never feared that I was going to hit the back fence when I would go for my shots. Control was nice though as I felt confident enough with the string to swing out with high racquet head speed for groundstrokes. Control, just like most solinco copolys, is there in big helpings. I'd rate control as a solid 8/10 as I feel that confidential has better control. Your mileage may vary of course.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): It was a nice hit all around and I think it was comfortable for the most part. It was crisp yet comfortable if that makes sense. It had a satisfying feel with every hit but didn't attack my elbow or shoulder. Albeit that may be because at the time of testing I was in the middle of a racquet switch from a '22 speed mp that is muted as hell to a Tfight 305s which has much more feel.
Spin?: Yeah it's a typical solinco string, lots of topspin as long as you can get behind the ball. It's not the most i've ever experienced but definitely a shaped spin string. As one of the testers above me said, you've gotta commit to topspin to find success with this in my opinion.
Playability duration? So I strung this about 2 hours before hitting. There was an initial tension drop and I felt after that the string played pretty consistently for the next few hours or so. I make it a point to cut out polys after 2 weeks or 6 hitting sessions (1.5-3 hours each). Whichever comes first, in order to save my joints. I found notching happening fairly quickly after the first session but didn't find that to effect play all that much.
Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why: I would go a bit lower just to get some more power and I would also lower the tension 1 more pound on the crosses as I've gotten into hitting with a 3 pound difference in tension between mains and crosses lately. Extra comfort, extra power, why not. Id also string with a hyper g round hybrid next time as these strings notched super quick and I suspect I could have broken them had I gone much longer with them in. I've seen some raving about the hybrid with HGR.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Thank you TW and Solinco for the opportunity to test "the BLOO" as many have penned it. I think it's good, it's fun, I just wish the price was the same as the confidentials, hyper gs, and tour bites of the solinco world. Yeah 1 buck isn't much of a difference but it's still a difference. And to me, if I had to choose between BLOO or confidential, I'd be more partial to confidential. Based off that, I think it's a bit annoying to have to dish out another dollar for this. But that's just me. Every one has an opinion, yours may be different.
 
JK208 said:
For some reason, I like 16g better than 18g so far, even thought I only use 18g Hyper G/Hyper G round.
Click to expand...
I ordered a couple sets of it, so will give a shot. I broke all 3 sets of 18 fairly quick. 2/3 broke on cross strings which is rarity for me.
 
what would performance look like if you hybrid this with top of the line multi string like X-1 or even natural gut string like wilson natural gut ?
 
DropWideShot said:
What did you think of the full beds of Solinco polys? do you think they need more spin?
Click to expand...
full bed confidential,, spin was definitely not a problem. i got great spin from that. Power was bit low. i had issues with unpredictable string bed in hot summer time. otherwise no issues with spin
 

Solinco Mach-10 playtest​

  • Tennis experience/background
    • Picked up tennis over the last 12 years or so.
    • Recreational tennis hacker, who is so addicted to tennis equipment/racquets/strings etc. Spends illogical amounts of time researching random technicalities of tennis equipment.
  • Skill level & playing style:
    • NTRP 4.5. Counter puncher who prefers to set-up points from baseline, but can play all court if needed.
  • Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
    • Wilson RF97 strung with Kirschbaum Proline Evolution 1.25 at 48 lbs
  • What racquet did you use for this playtest?
    • Wilson RF97
  • Setup
    • Full-bed of Solinco Mach-10
  • Tension(s) used for playtest
    • 48 lb (both mains and crosses)
  • Power/Control of test string?
    • I had played with pretty much every Solinco string out there, including the recent Solinco HyperG round. I have to say that Mach-10 is the highest power rated of all the Solinco poly strings out there. There was definitely an adjustment period for me, and I was launching the balls a bit straight out of the stringer. But I was able to settle in pretty quickly and by the second outing with it, I had pretty good control. The launch angle is also high, and probably pretty close to a HyperG. So deep loopy spinny shots were the most fun to hit with these. I would not categorize Mach-10 as a control oriented string, for example for targeting a flat shot with accuracy. But it gives good feedback and confidence for general depth accuracy, and consistency. So in that regard there was no issue with control.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
    • Comfortable. Slightly mushy in a good way, providing you with good ball pocketing. Probably I need to find a new terminology to describe the feel. But it does not feel stiff/crisp or muted. Just a good comfortable confident feel.
  • Spin
    • Excellent. I believe this string is made for recreational hackers like me. Excellent spin with a good margin even when not finding the middle of the racquet. The favourite shot was that moon-ball topspin lob over 6.5 feet tall opponent landing 2 feet from baseline. The launch angle is naturally higher and that does add extra bounce on the ball as well.
  • Playability duration?
    • Originally I was expecting the string to lose tension quickly because of the softness characteristics. But it looks like Solinco found the magic recipe to keep the tension maintenance higher even with its softness. Definitely there is some tension drop, but it is gradual and does not affect the playability. There was a good amount of notching by around 18 hours of play. But again I did not feel a need to cut the strings, since the playability was still good. I just had to move on to testing some other strings, and so I cut the strings at 18 hours. I will probably buy another set sometime in future and play till it breaks.
  • Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
    • I think I would probably string it a bit more tighter next time. I will probably go for 52lb (4lb tighter) since the string has plenty of power to offer anyway. Also I think it will make the flat shots a bit more confident. I also think I would try the hybriding option next time when I use Mach-10. The Round hyperG in crosses would possibly reduce the notching and enhance the snap-back characteristics. I thought about it originally, but wanted to get a feel of full bed first.
  • List any additional thoughts (optional)
    • This is an excellent string for the usual recreational tennis hackers like me, who actually like to use a full bed of poly, but probably still have some questionable technique. It brings all the good qualities of a usual soft poly, without trading the tension maintenance or control. Kudos to the Solinco R&D team for finding ways to keep improving. I actually want to see a round poly using the same material as the Mach-10 eventually (Mach-10 seems like a shaped poly, possibly 5 sided). That will open up some interesting possibilities for hybriding.
 
I played with the 18g hybrid today- it almost felt gut-like in it's response. Very powerful, even at 51 lbs, great spin, and quite comfortable as well. I did not like it overall- I thought it was too powerful and the feel was not where I wanted it to be. I'll order some more 16L tho- that hybrid is amazing. Just goes to show the difference that the right gauge and tension makes.
 
Finished my playtest. And dang I really enjoyed this string!!!

Tennis experience/background: I started playing tennis, self taught since February of 2023. I play roughly 4-5x a week 2 hours a session.

Skill level & playing style: NTRP 4.0 with a UTR of 5.52. I love to play a mix between aggressive baselining and counter-punching. But I also loveeee ripping approach shots and coming to the net when needed. All-court would be too much to say for me as my game style though.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s): My preferred string of choice is Hyper G Soft on the mains at 50lbs and Restring Sync on the Crosses at 50lbs as well.

What racquet did you use for this playtest?: Japan Prince Beast 100 (2023)

Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses: I used the Mach 10 as a full bed
Tension(s) used for playtest?: 50lbs

Power/Control of test string?:
Right from the start, I noticed that the Mach-10 strings offer a lively feel, providing a nice boost in power without sacrificing control—well, at least most of the time. Power is definitely abundant, and when hitting flat shots, I did feel like control took a small hit. But once I started adding spin, my precision improved significantly. I could easily place shots deep in the court without overhitting, and the ball pocketing was very noticeable—it felt fantastic. There’s this sensation of the ball sinking into the strings and then catapulting off with pace, which gave me great confidence on approach shots. Even when I had to dig up a lower ball, I could add spin and still place it deep in the court without much effort. Approach shots in general were really fun to hit, and I found that I could attack the net aggressively without fear of sending the ball long. One thing I did notice was that the launch angle was slightly higher than I expected. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it did take me about 30 minutes of rallying to fully adjust. Once I did, though, I actually started to appreciate the extra net clearance, especially on heavy spin shots. Also, playing with the Prince Beast 100 (2023) 16x19 probably contributed to the extra power and slight loss of control, but I think it also helped enhance the feel and touch of the ball.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
One of the best things about the Mach-10 is that there didn’t seem to be a break-in period at all. It played consistently right from the first hit, which isn’t always the case with some polys. I also didn’t feel the need to use a dampener—the feel was comfortable but crisp, and the sound was really satisfying. There’s a noticeable “pop” when striking the ball cleanly, which added to the overall feedback. Drop shots, especially backhand slice drop shots, were much easier to execute because of the string’s responsiveness. I felt like I had more touch and could manipulate the ball placement with better accuracy. Although it may not be the softest poly on the market—and definitely not as soft as Hyper-G Soft—it’s not a stiff poly either. It offers a good balance between firmness and comfort, and I didn’t find it harsh on the elbow. Whether I was at the baseline ripping shots or at the net hitting touch volleys, the feel was incredibly well-balanced.

Spin?
The spin potential on the Mach-10 is insane. I could swing as hard as I wanted, and as long as I added spin, I’d get a deep yet powerful shot almost every single time. In fact, I’d say it’s right up there with Prince Vortex, which is my favorite spin-oriented string—maybe even better in some ways. The snapback is immaculate, and I think that’s what helps generate such crazy spin. Slices, in particular, had a noticeable improvement. The ball curved more, stayed low, and skidded on the court much more than with other strings I’ve used. I found that I could really use this to mix up play, whether I needed to play defensively or change the pace of the rally. Having that extra bite on the ball was a game-changer, especially against opponents who struggled with low balls.

Playability duration?
Durability-wise, I was really impressed. Around the 7-8 hour mark, I started noticing some deep notching, but despite that, the snapback remained excellent—even up to 15 hours of match and rally play. That’s way longer than I expected for such a spin-friendly string. I played with the Mach-10 for a total of 20 hours before I noticed a very significant drop in snapback. At that point, spin generation started to decline, and control wasn’t as sharp, though power remained fairly consistent. Even now, at around 25 hours, it’s still playable, but I’ll probably switch it out soon. I’m not a string breaker, so I never had any fear of actually snapping the strings during play. And honestly, considering how deep the notching was by the end, I was impressed at how long it lasted while still performing well. It’s rare for a shaped poly to hold up this well in both durability and playability, making it a great option for players who want a long-lasting string without sacrificing too much spin and control.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
After testing the Mach-10, I think 50 to 54 lbs is the ideal range for 100 sq in rackets with a 16x19 pattern. It gives you a great balance of power, control, and spin without feeling too lively or too dead. If you’re using a 98 sq in frame with an 18x20 pattern, I’d probably drop the tension to around 46-48 lbs to open up the string bed a little and get more depth and spin. My current setup was perfect for me, and I didn’t feel the need to adjust anything after my initial session. The string plays well at these tensions, maintaining its pocketing and snapback while still giving enough control to trust full swings.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I think Mach-10 could pair really well in a hybrid setup as the mains with Hyper-G Round in the crosses. The added roundness might give it even more snapback and help tame the power just a little. I also want to try Mach-10 in the mains with Restring Sync to see if I can flatten out my shots more while keeping the power under control. One minor thing, I wish they made it in a different color. The baby blue looks nice, but it’s really similar in shade to Restring Zero, and I feel like it would be cool if they did something like a deep purple or even a dark blood orange—something that stands out more. But that’s just personal preference, and it’s not a big deal. Big thanks to Tennis Warehouse for the opportunity to test this string! It’s always exciting to try something new, and I think Mach-10 is a solid addition to Solinco’s lineup.
 
M Pillai said:

Solinco Mach-10 playtest​

  • Tennis experience/background
    • Picked up tennis over the last 12 years or so.
    • Recreational tennis hacker, who is so addicted to tennis equipment/racquets/strings etc. Spends illogical amounts of time researching random technicalities of tennis equipment.
  • Skill level & playing style:
    • NTRP 4.5. Counter puncher who prefers to set-up points from baseline, but can play all court if needed.
  • Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
    • Wilson RF97 strung with Kirschbaum Proline Evolution 1.25 at 48 lbs
  • What racquet did you use for this playtest?
    • Wilson RF97
  • Setup
    • Full-bed of Solinco Mach-10
  • Tension(s) used for playtest
    • 48 lb (both mains and crosses)
  • Power/Control of test string?
    • I had played with pretty much every Solinco string out there, including the recent Solinco HyperG round. I have to say that Mach-10 is the highest power rated of all the Solinco poly strings out there. There was definitely an adjustment period for me, and I was launching the balls a bit straight out of the stringer. But I was able to settle in pretty quickly and by the second outing with it, I had pretty good control. The launch angle is also high, and probably pretty close to a HyperG. So deep loopy spinny shots were the most fun to hit with these. I would not categorize Mach-10 as a control oriented string, for example for targeting a flat shot with accuracy. But it gives good feedback and confidence for general depth accuracy, and consistency. So in that regard there was no issue with control.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
    • Comfortable. Slightly mushy in a good way, providing you with good ball pocketing. Probably I need to find a new terminology to describe the feel. But it does not feel stiff/crisp or muted. Just a good comfortable confident feel.
  • Spin
    • Excellent. I believe this string is made for recreational hackers like me. Excellent spin with a good margin even when not finding the middle of the racquet. The favourite shot was that moon-ball topspin lob over 6.5 feet tall opponent landing 2 feet from baseline. The launch angle is naturally higher and that does add extra bounce on the ball as well.
  • Playability duration?
    • Originally I was expecting the string to lose tension quickly because of the softness characteristics. But it looks like Solinco found the magic recipe to keep the tension maintenance higher even with its softness. Definitely there is some tension drop, but it is gradual and does not affect the playability. There was a good amount of notching by around 18 hours of play. But again I did not feel a need to cut the strings, since the playability was still good. I just had to move on to testing some other strings, and so I cut the strings at 18 hours. I will probably buy another set sometime in future and play till it breaks.
  • Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why
    • I think I would probably string it a bit more tighter next time. I will probably go for 52lb (4lb tighter) since the string has plenty of power to offer anyway. Also I think it will make the flat shots a bit more confident. I also think I would try the hybriding option next time when I use Mach-10. The Round hyperG in crosses would possibly reduce the notching and enhance the snap-back characteristics. I thought about it originally, but wanted to get a feel of full bed first.
  • List any additional thoughts (optional)
    • This is an excellent string for the usual recreational tennis hackers like me, who actually like to use a full bed of poly, but probably still have some questionable technique. It brings all the good qualities of a usual soft poly, without trading the tension maintenance or control. Kudos to the Solinco R&D team for finding ways to keep improving. I actually want to see a round poly using the same material as the Mach-10 eventually (Mach-10 seems like a shaped poly, possibly 5 sided). That will open up some interesting possibilities for hybriding.
Click to expand...
what about the ball feel ? one of the youtuber said,, he had this disconnected feel with string bed and the ball... That kind of surprised me because i didn't have that with confidential in the past. is that Youtuber telling the truth ?
 
JK208 said:
I played with the 18g hybrid today- it almost felt gut-like in it's response. Very powerful, even at 51 lbs, great spin, and quite comfortable as well. I did not like it overall- I thought it was too powerful and the feel was not where I wanted it to be. I'll order some more 16L tho- that hybrid is amazing. Just goes to show the difference that the right gauge and tension makes.
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That’s exactly how I felt with the 18. Yet to try the 16 or 17 but have a couple sets waiting.
 
Nostradamus said:
what about the ball feel ? one of the youtuber said,, he had this disconnected feel with string bed and the ball... That kind of surprised me because i didn't have that with confidential in the past. is that Youtuber telling the truth ?
Click to expand...
He isn’t lying, that’s for sure. We all have our own opinion on string- I play with a racket that is muted but definitely still feels “raw”, and I crossed it with HGR, so I felt connected using that setup. In a full bed in a different racket, someone may have a totally different experience.

I will comment and say that saying “is that youtuber telling the truth?” is very confrontational and unfair, so for the purposes of the tt forum, I think it would be better to say “Does anyone else have this experience?” or “Can someone else comment on this?”- I highly doubt anyone is trying to lie to you, especially not a fairly well known youtuber with relatively little incentive to do so.

I also assume you’re talking about Beckett, so I’ll tag him here @dr. godmode if he would like to further elaborate.
 
JK208 said:
He isn’t lying, that’s for sure. We all have our own opinion on string- I play with a racket that is muted but definitely still feels “raw”, and I crossed it with HGR, so I felt connected using that setup. In a full bed in a different racket, someone may have a totally different experience.

I will comment and say that saying “is that youtuber telling the truth?” is very confrontational and unfair, so for the purposes of the tt forum, I think it would be better to say “Does anyone else have this experience?” or “Can someone else comment on this?”- I highly doubt anyone is trying to lie to you, especially not a fairly well known youtuber with relatively little incentive to do so.

I also assume you’re talking about Beckett, so I’ll tag him here @dr. godmode if he would like to further elaborate.
Click to expand...
YouTubers never tell the truth to Nostradamus
 
JK208 said:
He isn’t lying, that’s for sure. We all have our own opinion on string- I play with a racket that is muted but definitely still feels “raw”, and I crossed it with HGR, so I felt connected using that setup. In a full bed in a different racket, someone may have a totally different experience.

I will comment and say that saying “is that youtuber telling the truth?” is very confrontational and unfair, so for the purposes of the tt forum, I think it would be better to say “Does anyone else have this experience?” or “Can someone else comment on this?”- I highly doubt anyone is trying to lie to you, especially not a fairly well known youtuber with relatively little incentive to do so.

I also assume you’re talking about Beckett, so I’ll tag him here @dr. godmode if he would like to further elaborate.
Click to expand...
No it wasn't Beckett, fyi. i am not saying other dude was lying, but just odd opinion. people lie all the time on youtube videos so that in itself is not unusual element
 
Nostradamus said:
No it wasn't Beckett, fyi. i am not saying other dude was lying, but just odd opinion. people lie all the time on youtube videos so that in itself is not unusual element
Click to expand...
Interesting- I never felt like any one had outright lied in their video. Some people say stuff I don’t necessarily agree with, but it’s nothing beyond the realm of plausibility.
 
JK208 said:
Interesting- I never felt like any one had outright lied in their video. Some people say stuff I don’t necessarily agree with, but it’s nothing beyond the realm of plausibility.
Click to expand...
just curious,, why would anyone think i said this youtuber lie ?? did i say that exactly anywhere ?? i am totally confused.

my Exact words were "is this youtuber telling the truth ?" Nothing in there that states this youtuber lied on purpose. its just a Question,, is he telling the truth ? meaning,, is he saying about ball feel True ?? that is the question. Nowhere in there lie anywhere i can see. lol :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Nostradamus said:
what about the ball feel ? one of the youtuber said,, he had this disconnected feel with string bed and the ball... That kind of surprised me because i didn't have that with confidential in the past. is that Youtuber telling the truth ?
Click to expand...
If you're really "Nostradamus" you would already know the answer to your own question and you wouldn't have to ask others ... lol. All kidding aside, the ball feel is fine with Mach 10, imho.
 
I felt Mach 10 was connected, obviously not Alu levels of connected but for being a cushier poly i could feel the ball and got a good response on fast swings. Obviously if feel is your #1 priority going to confidential or tour bite would be a safer choice.
 
Tennis Experience/Background:
Starting with group lessons at the age of 11-12 for about a year or so, followed by high school tennis, and been playing consistently since May 2022.

Skill Level & Playing Style:
I play with 4.0-4.5 level players, mainly on clay. I’d describe my style as 70/30 split between aggressive baseliner and all-court.

Current String Set-up(s) and Preferred Tension(s):
Golden Set Snake Bite 1.25 at 46 lbs.

Racquet Used for Playtest:
Tecnifibre Tfight Iso 315 16x19.

Set-up (Full Set or Hybrid):
Hybrid with Mach 10 on the mains and Hyper-G Round on the crosses. Dampener ON!

Tension(s) Used for Playtest:
45/43 lbs.

​
Power/Control:
This setup felt quite powerful, especially with the lower tension in a racquet that is already powerful. After the initial break-in period, I noticed improved ball pocketing and an increase in power from the string bed. Mach 10 clearly excels in the power department, but control didn’t feel compromised — likely due to Solinco's CloudFORM technology.

Power: 8/10
Control: 7.5/10

​
Feel:
The string felt very comfortable, thanks again to the CloudFORM technology. It gave me the impression of a softer version of Confidential, with added power. There was a slight muted quality to the feel, but the impact was still satisfying — even for someone like me who typically prefers a crisper response.

Feel: 7.5/10

​
Spin:
Being a 5-sided string, Mach 10 delivered a great amount of spin, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While not quite at the level of Hyper-G (too much for me) in terms of spin potential, it provided a healthy amount that remained consistent even after 8-9 hours of play. I also appreciated the reliable and predictable launch angle — something that can occasionally feel inconsistent with regular Hyper-G. The Hyper-G Round on the crosses seemed to complement Mach 10’s snapback effect, enhancing the spin even further.

Spin: 7.5/10

​
Playability Duration:
I'm currently over 10 hours in, and the setup still feels very playable. Given that this is a poly/poly hybrid, the playability duration has been impressive. I anticipate some decline around the 12-13 hour mark, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it lasts a bit longer.

Playability Duration: 8/10

​
Tension Recommendations & Additional Thoughts:
For my next string job, I would increase the tension by 2-3 lbs to add a bit more control, especially for my Tfight 315.

I opted for a hybrid setup with Hyper-G Round to complement Mach 10’s spin potential, and the pairing worked amazingly well. The added snapback from the round cross string really enhanced the spin and comfortable feel of the setup.

In my opinion, this string is best suited for high-intermediate to advanced players looking for a blend of power, spin, and comfort. I say this mainly because this setup responded directly to my technique, delivering exactly what I put into each shot.

When I found out about the name, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that , but after this playtest, it absolutely lives up to the name — delivering a slingshot effect with excellent ball pocketing.

Also, the color of the string is stunning — a small detail, but one that adds to the overall appeal.

Kudos to Solinco, as they’re definitely on the right track with their string development.

​
A huge thank you to Tennis Warehouse @TW Staff and Solinco for this playtest opportunity. It’s always a pleasure to participate in these playtests, and I look forward to joining more playtests in the future!
 
Going to update this review at the due date.. Ordered a set of 1.30 M10 to get a better comparison to my current setup.

Tennis experience/background:
Played tennis in juniors then high school, and then off and on recreationally. Picked it back up in 2021 and never looked back.
Skill level & playing style:
4.0 all court game.. always looking to move to the net. Still trying to play tennis like it’s the 90’s.
Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
1.30/1.25 Confidential mains and PT Strike black crosses @ 19/18kg. Just switched back to Confidential mains a few months ago so still testing different crosses. Used full bed Confidential for most of 2022.
What racquet did you use for this playtest?:
Yonex Ezone 98 ‘25
Setup:
Full bed
Power/Control of test string?:
Power: 9/10
Control: 8/10
This is kind of a toss up. I felt M10 had a good comprise of responsiveness, power and control. It’s not an overly powerful string, but I wouldn’t consider it control oriented like Confidential.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
M10 is between Confidential and PT Strike black stiffness wise. Stringing it up it still feels pretty firm like Confidential especially compared to Strike, Rev or Hawk Touch(last crosses I’ve tested). I think it’s a smidge stiffer than PT Strike. It’s muted compared to Confidential, but not overly muted like PT Rev. Felt a bit light, airy, or hollow. I wish weighed the set I got. I used this reference prior with a review of PT Strike, but it feels somewhat like hitting with a bag of chips. Stiff, but I guess muted or comfy in a way. Hard to review comfort honestly as the new Ezone is super comfy which is why I could switch back to Confidential lol.

Spin?:
8/10. The edges on M10 feel less sharp than Confidential while stringing. TBH not sure I could tell a huge difference on court since I play a fairly flat game.

Playability duration?:
Played about 8 hours before it started to feel brassy. Probably could’ve kept playing with it as I didn’t notice a big drop off in performance, just in how it felt. I’d probably cut it out at that point anyway.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
I’d string it the same tension maybe a kilo more when the temp warms up.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
Interesting new string from Solinco. Not sure it’ll kick Confidential out yet, but will see after I test the set of 1.30 I got with different crosses. I think M10 will be a more approachable string for intermediates compared to Solinco’s stiffer offerings with negligible drop off in control and spin.
Thanks TW and Solinco for the opportunity. Hoping to get to test Confidential pink soon! Wink wink.

Update:
After testing Mach 10 in 1.30 with 1.25 rev then strike crosses, I’m going back to my original setup with 1.30 Confidential and 1.25 strike crosses. Will probably try to pick up a reel of Rev to continue trying it as a cross, but Confidential and strike just works in my 25 Ezone. The response, and launch angle are more linear and consistent which leads to more confidence when I’m hitting out. Mach 10 also just dies off too quickly for me and feels brassy and dead. Think I got about 5-6 hours then all of a sudden in the second hour of a hit it feels like crap. Confidential ime has a much slower and consistent loss of elasticity and tension.
 
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Nostradamus said:
what about the ball feel ? one of the youtuber said,, he had this disconnected feel with string bed and the ball... That kind of surprised me because i didn't have that with confidential in the past. is that Youtuber telling the truth ?
Click to expand...
I think this has a lot to do with the natural preference. For example, I feel more connected when the ball stays a bit more in the stringbed (more ball pocketing), but I personally know that some of my friends actually feel connected when the stringbed is more crisp (ball shoots out without much dig/delay). So for example, Confidential does not feel as connected to me as HyperG, but I bet you feel more connected with Confidential than HyperG. Mach-10 is not as crisp as Confidential, and pockets the ball very well. So some may prefer it and some may not.
 
I will be doing two reviews, one strung at 54 lbs in a PA 2016 and another strung at 50 lbs in a PD 2021. This is the PA review.

Tennis experience/background - Started young, played in HS, made D1 college team but didn't join, played on an Army Extramural Team, Played Open Tournaments and USTA leagues until injuries ended my competitive tennis in my 40’s. Now I play/drill 2 to 4 hours a day 6 days a week since I retired.

Skill level - Former Open Level/5.0, trying to hang on at 4.5 due to age (68) and injuries, both old and new

Playing style - Aggressive all-courter with big serve and FH. Looking to finish off points at the net.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s) - TB 1.20 @54 lbs

What racquet did you use for this playtest? - PA 2016 (backup racquet I use for windy days and against huge hitters. It has a lower SW and a giant sweet spot compared to my PD’s)

Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses - Mach 10 mains/HGR crosses

Tension(s) used for playtest - 54 lbs

Power/Control of test string - The first session was stiff and boardy, being solid but definitely a bit firm. There was no pocketing or give. I was surprised it had average power despite being so tight. It felt like Max Power with better spin. Blocked balls went deep, medium swings had slightly above average power for a poly, and hard drives had plenty of power and were easy to control.

Control was very good, a standout feature. The launch angle was a bit low for a shaped poly but this made it very predictable. I did have trouble locking in slice BH’s until the strings loosened up. They didn’t have their usual bite. Flat serves were fast and heavy - lots of unreturned serves. Spin serves didn’t quite have their usual movement but the extra pace still generated a lot of weak returns and mishits. Volleys were solid and controllable but the feel I like wasn’t really there on touch/drop volleys.

After Mach 10 loosened up, the power increased a little without any loss of control. The power is between HG and TB for me, closer to HG but with much more consistency. After breaking in, this was definitely an easy mode string if you enjoy unloading on every shot (which I do). The control inspires confidence.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - The feel at @54 was stiff, slightly uncomfortable at first, transitioning into just really solid after the first session. It feels slightly stiffer than TB or HG at this tension for me. It’s muted compared to Solinco’s other strings, more solid but also deader. It’s a very different feel compared to their other offerings. I did miss the typical Solinco crispness. Mach 10 is stiff when strung tight, so I would avoid doing that if you have any arm issues.

Spin - It had slightly less spin compared to most other shaped polys I have tried, lacking the pocketing of HG or the grab of TB. In a spin frame like the PA, this turned out to be a plus. I have tried round polys in this frame several times hoping for more control. While they worked, I felt the racquet lost too much of the power/spin combo that made it special. With Mach 10 I got the best of both worlds, the control and consistency of a round poly with the spin of a shaped string. The slightly lower and much more predictable launch angle gave me the control I’ve wanted without sacrificing the PA power or spin.

Playability duration - I have over 12 hours on the Mach 10 hybrid and it really didn’t change much between hours 3 to 11. It loosened up some in hour 12 and then the tension dropped a lot in hour 13 and the ball was really flying. Tension locked in around 48 for much of the test, dropped to 46 in hour 12 and 41 in hour 13. It was unplayable for me that loose. This very well could have been the HG crosses dying as the string bed still felt firm but played very loose.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why - 54 was too tight at first I’ll try Mach 10 FB at 52 lbs and adjust from there. I’ll also try 1.20 gauge in this frame.

List any additional thoughts - While this may not be the best string for those looking for max spin, it’s a must-try for those wanting to hit a heavy penetrating ball with a combo of power, control, and spin.

Just a note - The PA 2016 was my main frame for 1 1/2 years but I gave up on it because of lack of control. Mach 10’s lower launch angle resulted in a very heavy ball that I could place whenever I wanted. In fact, the power/control/spin combo was so sublime in this racquet that I will try it FB to see if I can get a little more duration with similar playability. If so, this could become my main frame again.
 
Tennis experience/background - See review above

Skill level & playing style - See review above

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s) - Tour Bite 1.20 or TB 1.20 m TB 1.10 x if I need to lighten the strings (my PD’s are over spec)

What racquet did you use for this playtest? - Pure Drive 2021

Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses. - Mach 10 m HGR x

Tension(s) used for playtest? - 50 lbs

Power/Control of test string? - At 50 lbs, there was little break in. The power level was medium but not as consistent or powerful as when strung significantly tighter in the PA. It was like the extra give at the lower tension absorbed some power and the lack of trampolining didn’t allow for added power. The sweet spot was smallish and shots not hit in the center lost power. Some blocks/lobs would come up short, some would fly. Power was on par with Solinco’s other main strings, perhaps seeming a bit less because of the lower launch angle. Control was a struggle at first because I’m used to being able to shape the ball more. I had to flatten out my swing a bit which meant more UE’s. I couldn’t hit the heavy spin-laden shots that explode through the court that I can with Solinco’s other shaped polys.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - The feel was firm but not stiff, somewhat muted, not crisp like TB/HG. It was like a less responsive, more muted Confidential. It’s odd because you can feel the whole string bed flex but without any sense of pocketing. It’s kind of the opposite of Black Knight, which feels very stiff but yet really pockets the ball. This hybrid did tweak my elbow a bit, which is unusual in my 2021 PD. It could have been the HG and not Mach 10, but I’ve used HG crosses in this frame before with no problems.

Spin? - Spin was definitely less than other Solinco shaped strings. Without the pocketing of HG or the bite of TB, spin was harder to generate and launch angle was lower. It played more like a round poly with really good spin rather than a shaped string.

Playability duration? - I’m at hour 10 and the strings haven’t really changed since the first 15 minutes. Notching was not significant. Mach 10 seems to be a fairly slick string that doesn’t generate much string to string friction.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why. - I think I would string it a bit tighter next time, even though 50 lbs is the highest recommended tension. While feeling firm, the ball seems to get lost in the strings a bit when looser because of the muted nature of the strings.

List any additional thoughts (optional) - The 1.25 gauge in the PD didn’t work for my game. I will try it in thinner gauges to see if I can get the spin and feel I was missing. I would recommend this string to those that like the playability of round polys but would like more spin.

Many thanks to TW and Solinco for this opportunity. Even though not ideal for me in my PD, I may have found a new go to string for my PA.
 
I am not part of the play test. Tried it on whiteout v2 and my blade v9. My go to strings are razor soft white, pure rush and 4G.

After fierce competition from smaller brands like toroline/restring/grapplesnake and tru pro that try to achieve what solinco did with hyper G I had high hopes that solinco would deliver once again. Sorry for spoiling the party but after having tested all the strings from those small brands, Mach 10 felt at best average. My favourite solinco string remains tour byte soft.

-It played ok with whiteout v2 in hot conditions….. sucked in cold weather. On my blade v9 it sucked both ways.
-It feels like a string that tries to be good at everything but fails to be special at sth.
-Felt soft and plush on my first session. On the second one it felt more harsh, more byte came alive but feel became more plastic…. it felt like a typical solinco after 8-9 hours where they loose most of their characteristics. I don’t see that thing to have longevity.
-It has the launchy response of razor soft but ball sinks less so it’s even worse to tame it and control it. You must hit thought to make it work. It needs lots of effort to perform.
-Power level felt in the middle
-Spin potential non existent… less byte than any other solinco string.
-Feel is kinda on the muted side.
-When you have wasabi x, sync, caviar, ghostwire that offer great connected feel and so many other strings I don’t see a reason to use it even for a hybrid setup.
-Pretty average slice depth and also launchy if you are not careful…. pure rush destroys it in that area.
-I enjoyed it mostly on serves. It was overall very consistent and specially on the kick serve.

Btw whiteout v2 is one of the best racquets i ve ever tested. They finally fixed the harshness of v1.
 
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Solinco MACH-10 Playtest

Regular Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Solinco Hyper-G Round (1.25) @ 48/46 (lockout stringer)
Playtest Setup: Yonex Vcore 95 2023 | Solinco MACH-10 (1.25) @ 48/46 (lockout stringer)

Tennis experience/background: Started playing in middle school. No college experience. Adult recreational player in early 30s.
Skill level & playing style: 8 UTR in singles/doubles. 2HBH. Counter-puncher.

During this playtest, I played singles and doubles against high 4.5 and low 5.0 players at both indoor and outdoor courts. As my first impression, MACH-10 (M10) felt rather firm but with a plasticky softness that somewhat reminded me of recycled strings like Luxilon ECO line. This feel slowly went away after about an hour and settled into a pretty average all-rounder string that I’m still not sure what its strength are. My string preference lean towards round polyester for better predictable response and for polys with medium-high power with decent spin potential from low string-string friction. M10 is a solid string that feels very different from other Solinco offerings but with a bit of quirk in the control aspect. I plan to try a few more sets to get a better understanding of this string.

Power/Control: In comparison to HGR full-bed, M10 felt less powerful, especially when I tried to hit through the court. There is a noticeable lack of trampoline effect with M10, so I felt the power was quite linear in terms of swing speed. Control felt a bit lacking as well in comparison to HGR. Launch angle is definitely lower than HGR full-bed, which makes directional control a bit more difficult to execute. Similarly, depth control was a bit frustrating personally, as I noticed a variable launch angle depending on my swing speed. If I swung too slow, especially against a slower incoming ball, the ball would launch a bit higher than I expected. Overall, I would consider M10 as average in terms of power and below average for control.

Feel: The initial hour felt very plasticky, where the string has firmness but also softness at the same time. To be completely honest, I’m not exactly sure whether this string is soft or stiff. It has a weird mix of firmness and softness. As one practical aspect, I noticed a distinct lack of ball-sinking feel or the trampoline effect, especially on the backhand side where I tend to drive the ball through the court more. Overall, M10 is relatively muted but provides sufficient feel of where you connected on the bed. In terms of comfort, I would need further extended use, but I would expect to not have any issues.

Spin: Spin with M10 is solid but I think it comes more from the snap back, so spin feels lacking when you don’t consistently provide high swing speed. Compared to the round HGR, I expected to get more spin, but after the first hour when M10 felt settled down for me, I honestly did not notice much spin difference. At some lower swing speed, I felt like M10 randomly grabbed the ball a bit more and resulted in higher launch angle. Overall, M10 feels pretty average for spin, maybe below average considering it’s shaped profile.

Playability/Durability: After the initial hour of what I felt was “plasticky”, the bed settled in nicely for a predictable response. At around 3 hours, mains no longer snapped back but surprisingly notching was quite small. From here on, the bed was playable but I noticed a variable response to ball’s launch angle depending on my swing speed. When I lowered my swing speed on a shorter ball to hit an angled approach shot, if the swing speed was too slow, the launch angle jumped up and I tended to miss long. By 6-7 hours, I felt that spin level and launch angle was too variable for a competitive match. Overall, playability and durability of M10 was expected for a shaped polyester.

Tension Recommendation: I’m not sure if changing tension would change any of my impressions. However, if I had to optimize, I would consider lowering the tension a bit more for potentially higher launch angle, which is what I personally like. Although, at lower tension, I might not like the control aspect even more.

Summary (Additional Thoughts): Overall, my preference for strings that give spin through good snap back aligned pretty well with M10. However, I felt the directional and depth control were both inconsistent compared to HGR. I think for younger players with high swing speed, M10 might be good entry polyester string. M10 doesn’t seem to have a striking advantage over others, at least for my playstyle. The first impression of M10 still remains a bit confusing to me. While I was not particularly impressed, I actually am planning to buy a few more sets to test it out. I wrote as much as I could, but I still feel that my review of M10 is a bit preliminary. I played both indoor and outdoor, both singles and doubles, and actually flew on a plane to SD for the Tri-level Nationals, so there is a bit too many variables that affected me during this playtest. Overall, M10 is a pretty unique feeling string from Solinco, that definitely differentiates from their other offerings.

I’ve been avoiding reading others’ reviews as usual, so I’m looking forward to finally reading what people think about this string. Thank you again to TW and Solinco for this playtest.
 
Mach 10 Review​
  • Tennis experience/background - Played competitively and recreationally for ~20 years. 2 years of mid-level D2 tennis 2010-2012
  • Skill level & playing style - Current NTRP 4.5. Semi-Western Forehand, 2H backhand all-court counter-puncher. I enjoy absorbing and redirecting opponents’ pace, but have been working on playing more front foot, aggressive tennis lately.
  • Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s) - Solinco Tour Bite 17g (1.20) @52lbs is my reference setup for any racquet
  • What racquet did you use for this playtest - Head Gravity Pro Aux 2.0
  • What Set-up did you test - full bed
  • Tension(s) used for playtest - 50lbs
  • Power/Control - I felt like this string offered plenty of power without being launchy or out of control. My reference being Tour Bite 1.20, I felt like the Mach-10 was just as powerful, or a tad more powerful, even in the 1.25 gauge tested. That being said, control wasn’t an issue for me, especially strung in a racquet like a Gravity Pro. Even toward the end of testing (9-10 hours), I never felt like the string was out of control. I could see how it might need a higher tension or thicker gauge in an open 16x19 like a Pure Drive or something similar.
  • Feel - (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) This is noticeably softer than tour bite, however, I was pleasantly surprised that the string never felt mushy or disconnected in my frame. I thought it felt crisp but definitely not overly harsh or stiff. The string allowed me to stay confident in swinging out without fear of over hitting or missing spots like most softer polys I've tried. Interestingly, it almost seemed like the string played firmer or crispier the harder/faster I was swinging.
  • Spin - In typical Solinco fashion, this string was excellent in the spin department, even in the 18x20 Gravity Pro. This was my biggest concern going into the playtest with a 1.25 gauge, but the strings maintained excellent snap back and plenty of spin on all strokes. I wasn’t missing any shape or spin on my forehand, backhand slice was excellent, and I was able to get very nice shape on my slice and kick serves
  • Playability duration - Again, excellent. I didn’t notice any undue string sticking or displacement until the very end of the use (~10 hours). I’m not a string breaker, especially in an 18x20, but was very impressed with the playability throughout this test. I would say that the durability/playability it is slightly better than tour bite that I’m used to.
  • Tension Recommendations - If I did it again in the 1.25 gauge, I would go ~48x46lbs for just a touch more free depth and power, but I was very pleased with how this plays at the top end of the recommended tension (I think Solinco recommends 40-50)
  • Additional thoughts - I held off on submitting my final review until I was able to try this out in my usual gauge (17g/1.20) and in 18g 1.15 since my current Gravity Pro is a pretty dense pattern and relatively lower powered frame. While I enjoyed the 16L, if I was going to use this string long term, it would be in the 17g/1.20. This is down to personal preference and the slight boost in launch, spin, and feel. Especially since I’m not a string breaker, the 17g offers me a few more “pros” than the 16L did. I would also say the 17g needed less of a break in period and felt easier to use from the first ball.
Thanks again to TW for allowing me to participate in this playtest!
 
Tennis background/skill level/playing style:
I started in the mid 80s. Rural WV, no instruction, no exposure, nothing. I have since been to camps run by Bollettieri, Van der Meer and Harry Hopman. I have read books on tennis, videos, been to Roland Garros and US Open and Cincinnati several times. I still play a lot of local tournaments and can handle most of the players at my age/level. I turned 68 last June.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
At my best, I was a certified 5.0 doubles player and 4.5 singles player. Now, I consider myself a high 3.5/low 4.0. (Age is creeping up on me, but I am fighting it with everything I have). Haven't played singles in years, but can still play a pretty good lefty slicing and OHBH game. Coming in at every opportunity. Forehand is my big weapon. I am still working on my forehand volley (improving), but my backhand volley is pretty slick.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
gut in the mains at 62 lbs., poly in the crosses at 55 lbs.

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
I decided to use the “spin monster” a Head Extreme MP 100. The screaming neon yellow Head product.
Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses. Tension(s) used for playtest?
I used the provided strings in a hybrid, as permission was granted for this.
Mach X in the mains at 55. Hyper G round in the crosses at 50.

Power/Control of test string? It was tempting to compare this string to my usual gut/poly setup, but I specifically tried to switch to other poly setups I have and compare to them. I also solicited advice from other players, esp., those who swear by Hyper G in general. Control overall was excellent. Power? Not so much. That is a good thing at 4.0 and above, but having some extra oomph would have helped. It won’t HURT your power, but it doesn’t help it.
My big (6'7") hitting partner tried it at 55/50 in a new Pure Drive (He strings Hyper G at 57 lbs.!) He did not care for it. The pure drive gave me some extra power over the Head, and that made up for the mediocre power inherent in the string. So you power racket hitters will like this better.


Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) It doesn’t have the crispness of Hyper G. I wouldn’t say mushy, more like plush. It is MUCH more arm friendly than many polys, ESPECIALLY regular Hyper G, even more arm friendly that Hyper G Soft. This is a major strength of the string.

Spin? Not really poor or outstanding, but the effort put into a slice or topspin swing is rewarded.

Playability duration? I have about 10 hours in and do not notice any notching at all. Hyper G round in the crosses allowed the X to move and snap back well, but even though the Hyper G round was significantly “harder” it has not yet “dug into” the X.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time?
I would have liked to try it at a higher tension to see if any crispness came out, or at a lower tension, to see if any extra power came out. Probably the latter.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
This should not matter, but the ocean blue mains/neon green crosses when combined with the neon yellow racket and white overgrip created quite the stunning racket. It was Spring personified.
I would be VERY interested in trying this as a cross with multi or gut in the mains. The plushness of this string and durability would go a long way towards taming the wildness of gut.
 
Tennis experience/background:
A friend taught me to play in college back in the late 80's. From there, everything else was self-taught from mimicking the best like Sampras, Agassi, Edberg, Courier and Graf, to name a few. I hit flat from both wings with above average (at 4.0) pace and spin. Eastern to semi-wester FH and OHBH favoring the slice more as a crutch but gaining more confidence to go over the top during matches. I can hit all serve types having more success with kicks versus flat.

Skill level & playing style:
I'm a computer rated 4.0 playing men's and mixed dubs. I love singles but am much better at doubles. I would consider myself an all-courter and like to find opportunities to finish points at the net.

Current string set-up(s) and preferred tension(s):
My gamer is a leaded up 2021 Dunlop CX200 Tour 16*19. String setups have been a shaped poly in the main with either a synthetic gut or round poly cross. The current flavor strings have been MSV Focus Hex Soft 17 (yellow) as the mains and Wilson Power Syn Gut 17 (blue) and Isospeed Baseline Spin 17. Tensions are mains at 46# and crosses for polys and syn gut at 46# and 51#, respectively.

What racquet did you use for this playtest?
I used my gamer (2021 CX200T 16M).

Set-up, e.g., full set or hybrid w/HG.Round. If hybrid, list mains & crosses:
I went with hybrid Mach-10 mains and Hyper-G Round crosses since I've been playing around with the shaped/round poly setups lately (Hyper-G/Hyper-G Round and Tru Pro Pure Rush/Ghost Wire).

Tension(s) used for playtest?
46# M&C

Power/Control of test string?
Both power and control were excellent and on par (no noticeable differences) with HG/HGR and PR/GW. HG/HGR had less power and more spin of the 3. On the ground, I had no problems generating power. I didn't feel like I had put additional effort from my normal swing. With the combination of available spin and predictable (lower) launch angle, control was excellent...pretty much point and shoot. Performance at net was similar, very predictable with blocks, redirects and overheads. Serves were excellent also. Power was there for flatter serves while spin was abundant for kicks and slices. From memory, I think the HG/HGR had a slight edge on control as I missed fewer flat first serves. Maybe it was a combination of slightly less power and more spin?

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
In terms of comfort, I'd describe the feel of this setup as firm but comfortable (to me). After the 1st 2 hours of play, the string bed soften up and played that way throughout the playtest. HG/HGR was the least comfortable between M10/HGR, HG/HGR and PR/GW. I felt a wee bit of elbow discomfort from. Interestingly, HG/HGR also felt the most plush with noticeably more dwell time. If I had to choose between crisp and muted, I'd say that this setup was more on the muted side. You can definitely feel (or not) the sweetspot when you hit it. When hitting outside of the sweetspot, it still felt comfortable and not jarring. Feedback was also good relative in letting you know where in the stringbed the ball was struck. I can't really speak for touch as I have stone hands but dropshots were ok...haha.

Spin?
Relative to the amount of spin that I generate with my groundstrokes and serves, spin was very excellent in my book. It was same as PR/GW but less than HG/HGR. Coupled with the predictable launch angle, I was very confident with my groundstrokes dipping inside the lines. Kick and slice serves were pretty nasty too.

Playability duration?
Here's the thing. I don't break strings and it isn't uncommon for me to get 20+ hours from a set of poly/poly hybrid. With that out of the way, I've logged about 21 hours with this setup and it played really well through 19 hours. I had a men's double league match yesterday and playability felt "ok". I was probably just me not hitting a good ball. Everything, groundies and serves, felt a little off. I'm hitting again today so we'll see. Other than that, these have performed beautifully. The strings are still straight and the mains are still less than 50% notched.

Tension Recommendations. Would you string it differently next time? Explain why.
For the playtest, I felt I was dead-on with tension. Post break-in period, everything played beautifully.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
I can't speak for Mach-10 alone but I think Solinco definitely has a winner with the Mach-10/Hyper-G Round hybrid. If I wasn't a cheapskate, these could easily be my go-to setup. However, the Tru Pro Pure Rush/Ghost Wire hybrid that I tried prior to this playtest performed identically (to me) and at almost half the price (during a sale), I'd have to stick with the Tru Pro setup.

As always, huge thanks to TW and Solinco for allowing me to participate in this playtest. I always enjoy the opportunity to try new things.
 
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