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Yonex Poly Tour Pro Blue 1.15 Playtest
Which gauge did you test?
I play tested two separate samples of the 1.15 gauge.
Tension(s) used for playtest:
My normal stringing method uses 51 pounds for the center eight mains, decreasing to 38 pounds for the outer mains, and 45 pounds for the center five crosses, decreasing to 32 pounds for the top and bottom cross.
On the second set of Poly Tour Pro, I decreased the tension to 48 pounds for the center eight mains and 35 pounds for the outer mains, and 43 pounds for the center five crosses and 30 pounds for the top and bottom cross.
Regular string set up & tension:
My go-to string is Tourna Silver 7 Tour, 17 gauge, string as described above.
Racquet used for test:
My racquet is the v6 Wilson Blade SW104, which has about 20 grams added to the handle and two grams at 3 and 9 o'clock on the hoop. Total static weight is 353 grams, 11 points headlight, 345 swingweight. The stringbed is an 18x19 pattern.
Power/Control of test string:
Poly Tour Pro, even in the 1.15 gauge, is a lower powered, control-oriented string. The feeling of pop and liveliness is fairly minimal. While the power levels are lower than average, the consistency and predictability of ball speed generation is excellent as is the consistency of launch angle. PTP gave a feeling of being able to accurately judge where the ball was going to land and after playing with it for a while, I felt confident aiming at tighter targets, especially in the distance of shot.
The playtest period spanned a two month period of minimal court availability due to Covid-19. During that time I played relatively infrequently and would try to collaboratively rally in the most friendly manner possible. PTP 1.15 excels at moderate speed, controlled hitting. It is relatively insensitive to incoming spin and so regardless of what spin my hitting partner put on the ball, I was able to consistent land the ball mid-way between the service line and baseline. This would be an excellent string for a teaching pro.
I found that stringing it about 5% lower in tension with the second set of PTP 1.15 did not noticeably increase power levels nor decrease control except at the very top end of my swing speed capabilities, when it felt a little bit mushy and imprecise. This only happened on my hard, flat serve and flat putaway forehands, and was not something I noticed with my initial tighter stringing.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
PTP 1.15 has a cushioned and comfortable impact feel. The pocketing sensation is good and PTP is about average in crispness of impact. Despite the thin gauge, PTP was not mushy feeling except with my hardest swings on the second test set which was strung about 5% lower than my typical tensions. The first set strung at my normal tensions was very linear in performance throughout my range of swing speed capabilities.
Harshness levels on mis-hits was low, and these shots had a better than average tendency to go in the direction I was aiming.
Spin:
Spin generation was better than the other round strings I've tested but not at the same level as a shaped poly. Sensitivity to incoming spin is relatively low. Where PTP 1.15 shines is in consistency and predictability of spin generation and launch angle. Even though the bite on the ball was modest, I was still able to confidently hit higher looping topspin shots due to the confidence that the ball would come off the stringbed in almost the exact manner I was intending. Stringing the second test set at a lower tension did not noticeably increase spin capability or launch angle.
There were times that I swung very fast at a ball and got significant topspin but that type of swing is not sustainable for me. Other players with more racquet head speed or better technique could find PTP to be more than adequate for spin generation. The very good balance of string attributes along with better-than-average round string spin capability is what makes it suitable for many professional level players. For an older recreational player like me, I need the extra help offered by a shaped string and will accept the downsides of that string compared to PTP.
Durability:
Poly Tour Pro 1.15 is on the lower end of the durability scale. My first set notched through and broke before the five hour mark. This included time when I was playing consistently indoors and so was swinging fairly hard along with trying to generate spin, along with a transition to outdoor tennis where I flattened out my swingpath in an attempt to make more consistent contact due to the wind and a more irregular surface.
The second set of PTP 1.15 lasted longer because I used it during my infrequent play during the Covid-19 court lockdowns. Strung roughly 5% lower in tension, it lasted about eight hours before notching through and breaking, during which I was not hitting as consistently hard as I normally would, and also with a flatter swingpath.
Playability Duration:
PTP 1.15 played consistently well until the moment it broke. In both instances, the notching was significant and the mains had stopped moving back into position. However, the stringbed response was only minimally affected. Tension loss was average but also only minimally affected playability. As the two sets lasted me five and eight hours, it's expected the strings would not have become dead or have lost elasticity, which is likely why their performance was consistent until breakage.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Explain answer):
My experience with the two sets of PTP 1.15 was that the response is relatively insensitive to string tension, both at the initial reference tension and as the stringbed lost tension during play and over time. My first stringing, using the tensions that I ordinarily use, was more controlled during the hardest of my swings. When strung about 5% looser, there was a bit of mushiness and a trampoline-like feeling that made hard flat serves and putaway groundstrokes less confidence inspiring and accurate.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
The two samples I tested were 40 feet long. I cut a one foot section and pulled 50 pounds tension and let it sit for a minute. Repulling tension required an extra 4-5 mm. PTP was fairly elastic when pulling tension, but was very easy to string with minimal coil memory and very low inter-string friction that made weaving crosses a breeze. I did a light pre-stretch prior to stringing the racquets using one-piece.
Since switching to a denser string pattern racquet about a year and a half ago, I've been using a full bed of shaped poly strings to get back some of the spin capability and launch angle that I had lost. This was my first time using a very thin gauge round string to see if it would give me the spin capability of those thicker gauge shaped strings. In short, the answer is "no" and while PTP 1.15 is among the best at spin generation of the round strings I've used, a shaped poly string is much more spin capable.
For almost the entire duration of the first string set, I was playing frequently and with my normal style. During that time, I found more significant differences between the playing characteristics of PTP versus my normal Silver 7 Tour. As playing opportunities decreased due to Covid-19 and all of my play was outdoors, I swung more conservatively both in swing speed and in using a flatter swing trajectory and that decreased the influence a shaped string could have on the ball. It was at that point that the qualities of PTP, that being a string with very consistent response and no weak areas, gave me a much greater appreciation for having it in my racquet. During the shutdown, I vastly preferred to use PTP as it was soft on my joints and hand, forgiving on mis-hits, and in hitting with people playing even less frequently than me, allowed me to take a relatively hefty swing yet not generate so much spin that it was an unfriendly rally ball.
PTP would be an excellent choice for recreational players who hit relatively flatter balls, and this lets the best attributes of the string come through. PTP feels immediately friendly and gives confidence the ball will go exactly where it should depending on how it is hit. PTP would also be a very good choice for a player with high racquet head speed capabilities who needs consistency and control to go along with their inherent power, or for someone like a teaching pro who spends hours a day with a racquet in their hand and values comfort and ability to feed consistently. The softness, comfort, and availability in a thin gauge make PTP a good choice for entry into poly strings. These widely varying player types show how versatile PTP is.
As one of the few very thin gauge round poly strings, PTP 1.15 can be used to remove four to six swingweight units from a racquet over a typical 1.25 gauge poly string. Using PTP 1.15 can allow weight to be put back on the frame at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions to increase twistweight without affecting overall weight, balance, and swingweight. PTP 1.15 can be used as a cross in a poly/poly hybrid where the thinner gauge and more cushioned feel can allow enhanced string movement and provide a softened response.
In summary, Poly Tour Pro 1.15 is a very versatile round poly string that provides immediate confidence through a solid combination of positive attributes that instill a sense of confidence and control. The main downside of PTP 1.15 is a lack of durability for string breakers. Otherwise, a wide variety of playing styles can find PTP to be a very satisfying string to play.
Thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for allowing me to test Poly Tour Pro 1.15.
Which gauge did you test?
I play tested two separate samples of the 1.15 gauge.
Tension(s) used for playtest:
My normal stringing method uses 51 pounds for the center eight mains, decreasing to 38 pounds for the outer mains, and 45 pounds for the center five crosses, decreasing to 32 pounds for the top and bottom cross.
On the second set of Poly Tour Pro, I decreased the tension to 48 pounds for the center eight mains and 35 pounds for the outer mains, and 43 pounds for the center five crosses and 30 pounds for the top and bottom cross.
Regular string set up & tension:
My go-to string is Tourna Silver 7 Tour, 17 gauge, string as described above.
Racquet used for test:
My racquet is the v6 Wilson Blade SW104, which has about 20 grams added to the handle and two grams at 3 and 9 o'clock on the hoop. Total static weight is 353 grams, 11 points headlight, 345 swingweight. The stringbed is an 18x19 pattern.
Power/Control of test string:
Poly Tour Pro, even in the 1.15 gauge, is a lower powered, control-oriented string. The feeling of pop and liveliness is fairly minimal. While the power levels are lower than average, the consistency and predictability of ball speed generation is excellent as is the consistency of launch angle. PTP gave a feeling of being able to accurately judge where the ball was going to land and after playing with it for a while, I felt confident aiming at tighter targets, especially in the distance of shot.
The playtest period spanned a two month period of minimal court availability due to Covid-19. During that time I played relatively infrequently and would try to collaboratively rally in the most friendly manner possible. PTP 1.15 excels at moderate speed, controlled hitting. It is relatively insensitive to incoming spin and so regardless of what spin my hitting partner put on the ball, I was able to consistent land the ball mid-way between the service line and baseline. This would be an excellent string for a teaching pro.
I found that stringing it about 5% lower in tension with the second set of PTP 1.15 did not noticeably increase power levels nor decrease control except at the very top end of my swing speed capabilities, when it felt a little bit mushy and imprecise. This only happened on my hard, flat serve and flat putaway forehands, and was not something I noticed with my initial tighter stringing.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?):
PTP 1.15 has a cushioned and comfortable impact feel. The pocketing sensation is good and PTP is about average in crispness of impact. Despite the thin gauge, PTP was not mushy feeling except with my hardest swings on the second test set which was strung about 5% lower than my typical tensions. The first set strung at my normal tensions was very linear in performance throughout my range of swing speed capabilities.
Harshness levels on mis-hits was low, and these shots had a better than average tendency to go in the direction I was aiming.
Spin:
Spin generation was better than the other round strings I've tested but not at the same level as a shaped poly. Sensitivity to incoming spin is relatively low. Where PTP 1.15 shines is in consistency and predictability of spin generation and launch angle. Even though the bite on the ball was modest, I was still able to confidently hit higher looping topspin shots due to the confidence that the ball would come off the stringbed in almost the exact manner I was intending. Stringing the second test set at a lower tension did not noticeably increase spin capability or launch angle.
There were times that I swung very fast at a ball and got significant topspin but that type of swing is not sustainable for me. Other players with more racquet head speed or better technique could find PTP to be more than adequate for spin generation. The very good balance of string attributes along with better-than-average round string spin capability is what makes it suitable for many professional level players. For an older recreational player like me, I need the extra help offered by a shaped string and will accept the downsides of that string compared to PTP.
Durability:
Poly Tour Pro 1.15 is on the lower end of the durability scale. My first set notched through and broke before the five hour mark. This included time when I was playing consistently indoors and so was swinging fairly hard along with trying to generate spin, along with a transition to outdoor tennis where I flattened out my swingpath in an attempt to make more consistent contact due to the wind and a more irregular surface.
The second set of PTP 1.15 lasted longer because I used it during my infrequent play during the Covid-19 court lockdowns. Strung roughly 5% lower in tension, it lasted about eight hours before notching through and breaking, during which I was not hitting as consistently hard as I normally would, and also with a flatter swingpath.
Playability Duration:
PTP 1.15 played consistently well until the moment it broke. In both instances, the notching was significant and the mains had stopped moving back into position. However, the stringbed response was only minimally affected. Tension loss was average but also only minimally affected playability. As the two sets lasted me five and eight hours, it's expected the strings would not have become dead or have lost elasticity, which is likely why their performance was consistent until breakage.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? Explain answer):
My experience with the two sets of PTP 1.15 was that the response is relatively insensitive to string tension, both at the initial reference tension and as the stringbed lost tension during play and over time. My first stringing, using the tensions that I ordinarily use, was more controlled during the hardest of my swings. When strung about 5% looser, there was a bit of mushiness and a trampoline-like feeling that made hard flat serves and putaway groundstrokes less confidence inspiring and accurate.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
The two samples I tested were 40 feet long. I cut a one foot section and pulled 50 pounds tension and let it sit for a minute. Repulling tension required an extra 4-5 mm. PTP was fairly elastic when pulling tension, but was very easy to string with minimal coil memory and very low inter-string friction that made weaving crosses a breeze. I did a light pre-stretch prior to stringing the racquets using one-piece.
Since switching to a denser string pattern racquet about a year and a half ago, I've been using a full bed of shaped poly strings to get back some of the spin capability and launch angle that I had lost. This was my first time using a very thin gauge round string to see if it would give me the spin capability of those thicker gauge shaped strings. In short, the answer is "no" and while PTP 1.15 is among the best at spin generation of the round strings I've used, a shaped poly string is much more spin capable.
For almost the entire duration of the first string set, I was playing frequently and with my normal style. During that time, I found more significant differences between the playing characteristics of PTP versus my normal Silver 7 Tour. As playing opportunities decreased due to Covid-19 and all of my play was outdoors, I swung more conservatively both in swing speed and in using a flatter swing trajectory and that decreased the influence a shaped string could have on the ball. It was at that point that the qualities of PTP, that being a string with very consistent response and no weak areas, gave me a much greater appreciation for having it in my racquet. During the shutdown, I vastly preferred to use PTP as it was soft on my joints and hand, forgiving on mis-hits, and in hitting with people playing even less frequently than me, allowed me to take a relatively hefty swing yet not generate so much spin that it was an unfriendly rally ball.
PTP would be an excellent choice for recreational players who hit relatively flatter balls, and this lets the best attributes of the string come through. PTP feels immediately friendly and gives confidence the ball will go exactly where it should depending on how it is hit. PTP would also be a very good choice for a player with high racquet head speed capabilities who needs consistency and control to go along with their inherent power, or for someone like a teaching pro who spends hours a day with a racquet in their hand and values comfort and ability to feed consistently. The softness, comfort, and availability in a thin gauge make PTP a good choice for entry into poly strings. These widely varying player types show how versatile PTP is.
As one of the few very thin gauge round poly strings, PTP 1.15 can be used to remove four to six swingweight units from a racquet over a typical 1.25 gauge poly string. Using PTP 1.15 can allow weight to be put back on the frame at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions to increase twistweight without affecting overall weight, balance, and swingweight. PTP 1.15 can be used as a cross in a poly/poly hybrid where the thinner gauge and more cushioned feel can allow enhanced string movement and provide a softened response.
In summary, Poly Tour Pro 1.15 is a very versatile round poly string that provides immediate confidence through a solid combination of positive attributes that instill a sense of confidence and control. The main downside of PTP 1.15 is a lack of durability for string breakers. Otherwise, a wide variety of playing styles can find PTP to be a very satisfying string to play.
Thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for allowing me to test Poly Tour Pro 1.15.
