Tennis Warehouse Playtest - Yonex REXIS & SPEED

[jugheadfla]

Yonex Rexis Speed Review
​

What string and gauge did you receive?: Rexis Speed 1.30/16 guage

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid? Full Bed

Tension(s) used for playtest: 57 lbs

Regular string set up & tension: Alu Power Spin 127 @ 52 lbs

Racquet used for test: G360+ Prestige Pro

Power/Control of test string: Definitely felt firmer than most Multi’s I have played with recently which lent the power for this string to be slightly less than what I am used to, but the power level was still moderate for sure. Because of the string movement, the control was rather intermittent. After a couple hours of hitting the control started going downhill quickly because of the more than usual string movement. While power and control started off acceptable it quickly diminished after just a few hours.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Like I mentioned above, this string is firmer for a multi which lends itself to feeling a tad stiffer but definitely not to the extent of a poly. This wasn’t the most comfortable multi I have used either. Although I didn’t experience and arm or shoulder pain during the testing, it just didn’t have that full on multi muted feeling that I’m used to. Similar to the power and control, I lost the feel from this string rather quickly and by the 3rd session it was gone completely.

Spin: The spin this string provided was rather adequate and I would say above average for a multi while the string was in its peak playability phase. Just like the other characteristics though it fell off a cliff after just a few hours.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?) Like others have mentioned this may be worst characteristic of this string. After just an hour of hitting the strings were being displaced far more than I have every seen with any other multi I have played. This led to the inconsistent string bed that I mentioned early and became rather frustrating. My fingertips were worn out by the end of my first hitting session and it didn’t get any better after that.

Durability & Playability Duration: The string broke after 8 hours of hitting which in general is about average for multi’s that I use, although the notching seemed to occur sooner than most. The time that the good characteristics of the sting were present was far less I would have expected from this firmer multi. I definitely noticed at the beginning of my second hitting session that the playability of the string had changed dramatically.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): Its hard to say whether I would change the tension the next go around because I’m not sure increasing or decreasing the tension would have much affect on the playability length of this string. I would say if anything I would go down a pound or two to see if I could get a bit more power out of it.

Compare to string used most often: Technifibre Triax and Volkl Power Fiber II came to mind when hitting with this string, although the playability with those 2 strings is far better than Rexis.

List any additional thoughts (optional): In my opinion this string was made to compete with Triax as it has some of the same characteristics as that string and in certain ways it felt somewhat similar to begin with. I think if they work on increasing the playability to maybe last another 3 or 4 hours it would be put in the same category as some of the other higher quality multi’s out there. I just don’t see the value with this string in its current state unless you are a beginner or someone who does not hit the ball with authority.

I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for allowing me to play test these strings and look forward to providing more detailed reviews and reactions in the future. Thanks!

 

[ttgrinder]

Yonex Rexis Speed 1.30/16GA Review

• What string and gauge did you receive?
  • Rexis Speed / 1.30mm / 16GA
• Did you install it as a full set or hybrid?
  • Hybrid
• If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)?
  • I did two experiments one with Rexis on mains and other with Rexis on Crosses. Both hybrids.
  • Mains:Rexis Speed 16/1.30 & Crosses:Luxilon Big Banger Original 16/1.30 (I will refer to this as hybrid-1 below)
  • Mains:Luxilon Big Banger Original 16/1.30 & Crosses:Rexis Speed 16/1.30 (I will refer to this as hybrid-2 below)
• Tension(s) used for playtest
  • 54lb (both mains and crosses)
• Regular string set up
  • Volkl Cyclone17 54lb mains x 52lb crosses
  • In the last few months I had been playing with a lot of different strings, lot of experiments.
• Racquet used for test
  • ProStaff RF97 Autograph (Red) : Hybrid-1
    ProStaff RF97 Autograph (Black) : Hybrid-2
• Control/Power of test string
  • Definitely felt more towards power. It was very obvious when using hybrid-1 that it provided easy depth and tons of power. If you are used to using low power strings on mains, hybrid-1 may feel lacking some control, and may need an adjustment period. Hybrid-2 did not feel lacking control, but still provided a lively stringbed.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
  • Comfortable and Soft. Slightly mushy feel after the break-in period. Hybrid-1 was more softer and mushier. Hybrid-2 also provided a really soft overall stringbed.
• Spin
  • Both Hybrid-1 and Hybrid-2 provided excellent spin right out of the stringing machine. But I am still a bit skeptical about the spin potential of the Rexis Speed alone, or if it was in a full bed. But the good thing is that it does not hinder with the spin capabilities of the string you hybrid with. I was very happy with its performance as a cross in Hybrid-2 especially, and letting the mains do its job, and still providing a really soft overall string bed. I assume anyone who uses a soft cross string with a stiff main string is looking for exactly that. Unlike some other soft multifilament crosses Rexis Speed did not fray that fast, and was more durable than expected as a cross. As mains, the spin was comparatively less than the Hybrid-1, but still did not feel much of an issue in generating spin. The launch angle was definitely lower in Hybrid-1 compared to Hybrid-2 though, and so the ball trajectory was lower in Hybrid-1.
• String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?)
  • Both Hybrid-1 and Hybrid-2 had some string displacement towards the end of its life
• Durability & Playability Duration
  • Durability: Below average in Hybrid-1. Good in Hybrid-2. It is probably not much of a surprise that the stiff mains saw through the soft Rexis Speed crosses pretty quickly in Hybrid-1. I broke this in 3hrs of hitting and I don’t consider myself to be a big string breaker. Compare this to 12hrs to break Hybrid-2. So Hybrid-1 scenario (Rexis Speed mains with a stiff poly cross) is almost unusable for a regular recreational user, who hits with good spin and racket speed of 4.0ish. But Hybrid-2 is pretty good for folks looking to soften their stringbed a bit. I am sure a full poly setup would provide you more durability. But if you are one of those guys looking for some more lively stringbed, and more comfort, definitely worth looking into Rexis Speed as a cross. Now I never got chance to check Rexis Speed in full bed. But I assume if you had a softer cross, breaking Rexis-Speed mains may not be as fast, and I assume a full bed of Rexis Speed may last a lot longer than my Hybrid-1.
  • Playability Duration: Above Average in both Hybrid-1 and Hybrid-2. Rexis speed did retain much of its playability and characteristics throughout the life of it in the stringbed. Both Hybrid-1 and Hybrid-2 appeared to have lost some tension, but nothing alarming, Hybrid-1 seem to lose tension more rapidly, but considering the actual life of the string in Hybrid-1, it is never an issue. I assume playability duration could come to be an issue in full bed if the mains does not break as fast, since Rexis-Speed mains seem to lose tension quickly. But I cannot confirm/comment this since I did not use full bed of Rexis-Speed.
• Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?)
  • I think the string tensions I used were optimal. If I experiment, I probably would experiment with reducing the tension of the stiffer string I used in both Hybrid-1 and Hybrid-2 and would have kept the tension of Rexis Speed same as before (54lbs).
• Compare to string used most often
  • When compared to my usual strings, Rexis Speed is definitely a lot more lively string, and is a lot more comfortable. I feel like this is definitely more fun to play with, but does come with a cost, which is consistency. Probably it maybe an adjustment period, and I would definitely look into such options if I ever feel the need to go to a more comfortable string bed setup.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
  • I had tried many hybrid setups before, and I find that Rexis-Speed has a really great potential to be used as a cross for anyone looking to soften their string bed without too much change from their regular setup. Compared to other softer multifilaments which does stick/fray too early and hinder with the spin and properties of your favourite mains, Rexis Speed does a really good job of staying out of the way, and just let the mains do its thing. Plus it still takes care of an overall softness of the string bed.
  • But I don’t think Rexis speed has much use as a main in a hybrid setup with stiffer crosses. Anyone who may want to use a bit of softer cross in hybrid may very well use a full bed of Rexis and so there is no point of hybriding. I personally did not check Rexis Speed in full bed, and I do think there would be a good amount of players who may like it in full bed. I would be very skeptical about its spin potential on full bed though.

Thanks a lot, Yonex and TW, for giving me the opportunity to be part of this excellent playtest. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.

 

[sheaunien]

What string and gauge did you receive? Yonex Rexis Comfort 16L.

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid? Hybrid.

If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)? Rexis/Cream

Tension(s) used for playtest: 53/50 Prince Neos 1000

Regular string set up: Cream/SG, SG, HDMX/Cream.

Racquet used for test: Pure Strike Ctrl Tour (Pure Control Tour w/1st Gen. Pure Strike pj)

Control/Power of test string: Powerful, first outing, balls were flying out. Had to hold back to keep ball in, but once got into the groove, balls were staying in position.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) Comfortable no arm discomfort.

Spin: Yes, if you work it (Get in position and finish strong) As I often have a lazy foot work, lazy stroke and I hit pretty flat.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?) The cross are out of place, the main stayed straight and in position. Both string are slippery, but Rexis has the slippery advantage or just the way I play.

Durability & Playability Duration: Not a string breaker here, string still looks good. It should last me a while.

Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?) Same tension for me as always, I would not change yet.

Compare to string used most often: Rexis feels more powerful and comfy, but would like to try it as a cross with an edge poly main. Something like Volk Cyclone in main with Rexis in cross to tame some discomfort.

List any additional thoughts (optional) Rexis string feels slippery and thinner than the gauge indicated. When stringing, my tension head was slipping and did not want to lock. Had to adjust the tension head, this was a first for me. Testing were done with one outing with hitting partner and two outing with ball machine. Each outing about 1.5 hrs.

Big thank you to Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for allowing me to test these string. Hope I can be included on more future product testing.

 

[nimm]

What string and gauge did you receive?
Yonex Rexis Comfort 1.25mm/16LGA

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid?
Full set

If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)?
N/A

Tension(s) used for playtest
54 pounds

Regular string set up
Technifibre X-One Biphase 1.30mm/16 at 54 pounds

Racquet used for test
Head Radical MP

Control/Power of test string
Very good power. Medium control. Ball does bounce off the racket rather quickly compared to my usual strings and had some issues of ball flying long. I don’t hit with much spin and that made it a bit more difficult for me to control the power provided.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Comfortable and stretchy. Ball did fly off the string bed too quickly to my liking. But very comfortable string.

Spin
I usually hit very flat ground strokes (almost no topspin). But does slice on my backhand. Slices felt really good and sharp. So no issues in generating the required backspin to create a low skidding ball.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?)
Not much. Towards the end of the play test the strings lost a lot of tension and so naturally needed some adjustment. But nothing out of the ordinary.

Durability & Playability Duration
I don’t break strings much anyway, and the durability of the string is good for me. I played a total of 8 hittings with it, and strings seems to have more life left. At this point I decided to cut the strings off and get my regular strings back on the racket. Towards the end of the string test, I felt like the strings had too much trampolin effect and was hitting too many shots long.

Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?)
Yes. I would string it 2 pounds tighter if I use the same strings again. I believe this might have provided me the control needed.

Compare to string used most often
I am sticking with my regular string Technifibre X-One Biphase, since I like how those feel on my racket. I am sure I could probably adjust myself to the Yonex Rexis Comfort and learn to like it if I want to. Rexis Comfort is a really good, soft and powerful multifilament string. But if it is similar price to other premium multifilament strings, there are a lot of good options.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Most of my friends who use multifilament strings are mostly flat hitters. There is almost no point in trying to increase spin generation on a multifilament string. But having a range of power on these strings is a really good value for most of us.

 

[ShahofTennis]

Yonex Rexis Speed 1.25 (16L). I installed the string as a hybrid in 2 frames, both times as mains. Once in a Wilson ProStaff Six.One 95 with Prince Tour XR 17 crosses at 52/52. 2nd frame strung was a Wilson BLX Blade 93 with IsoSpeed Black Fire crosses at 50/50. My regular sting setup is a full bed of poly, most recently Yonex Poly Tour Spin 16L, in my BLX Blade 93’s, typically between 53 to 50lbs with no variance between the mains and crosses.

Control/Power: Coming from poly, I found Yonex Rexis Speed to be a little unpredictable and erratic. Rexis Speed has a very high launch angle, which is not a bad thing in my BLX Blade 93 which sort of needed a little boost in getting me some extra net clearance. Power was more than plentiful, and I found that flat shots and slices had easy access to power. Where I found the string most erratic was on my ProStaff Six.One 95. Rexis Speed, I think, has the tendency to spray. I found this to be a large factor when returning flat serves and keeping a shaped ball in play over time. Despite Rexis Speed’s bottomless power potential being an issue, I can’t say I didn’t like slamming the gas and channeling my inner Juan Martin del Potro. I loved the string when I got to employ a large backswing. However, as I stated previously, the string was really fun in all aspects in my BLX Blade 93. Coupling Rexis Speed with a smooth cross like Black Fire turned the Blade 93 up to 11, but unfortunately my mains(Rexis Speed) broke in the middle after about 9 hours in my BLX Blade 93. The experience was short but very sweet.

Feel: I found the feel to be a little on the border between mushy and muted. I can’t say it was crisp. The string was very comfortable, but coming from a background of medium firm to firm polys in flexy frames, I don’t think its my cup of tea. I enjoyed the feel of the string when I upped my swing speed, Rexis Speed stiffened up on faster swings.

Spin: Multi’s aren’t the prime option for spin, and in the interest of getting as much spin as possible I opted for smooth poly crosses. Rexis mains gave me good spin potential with a smooth poly cross, but I feel as though I should have upped the tension in the ProStaff, going after spin in my setup I think I got diminishing returns. I definitely got the formula right with my BLX Blade 93 though, and right up until it broke, my experience was comparable to a full poly bed or high quality gut/poly hybrids. I didn’t get as much topspin as the aforementioned stiffer options on shots where I used a shortened backswing.

String Displacement: In both setups where I used Rexis Speed 1.25 in the mains, I found the string to snap back into a straight line consistently. The string was rather soft though, and I started to notice a less consistent snapback and the string started to get sticky on the crosses(particularly on Tour XR 17 crosses on the PS 6.1 95 after about 10 hours. The BLX Blade 93 showed no signs of slowing down though, and Rexis Speed felt intact(not gummy) up until it broke.

Tension Findings: I think I would add about 3lbs(55lbs) on open-pattern mid-plus frames, but keep the tension the same on closed pattern midsize frames.

Durability & Playability Duration: I think these strings are close to what I want playability wise, but the feel is different. The playability does not last as long because multi isn’t as firm and has a shorter durability than poly in general. Rexis broke on me in my BLX Blade 93, but it lived in my PS 6.1 95 until I cut it out, about 2 weeks after install. By that time it had lost about 80% of its playability, was showing signs of fraying, and snapback has slowed to a halt. I think the reason Rexis broke in my BLX Blade 93 was because I used a much stiffer poly cross.

Comparison to Current Strings: With my game the way it is now, I place the priority on medium firm strings that have a slick coating or shaped profile. I also string them towards the higher end of the spectrum. My current setup is Yonex Poly Tour Spin 16L in the mains and a smooth poly cross at 51/51. I like it because the combo is relatively cheap but works really well as an all-round shaped poly/smooth poly hybrid that isn’t to stiff.

Additional Thoughts: I don’t necessarily think it’d be fair to go out on a limb and compare my installed hybrids to a gut poly setup, but I felt as though that the setups were comparable in the early hours of the string bed’s life. This was actually the first time I had used a multi/poly hybrid in quite a while, I think the last time I used a multi/poly hybrid was NXT 16/Cyclone 17 back in 2014/2015. Rexis performed beyond NXT, which is mushy and far more erratic across its available options.

 

[dtkim]

I play-tested 16 gauge (1.30 mm) Yonex Rexis Comfort as the cross strings for Yonex Polytour Rev 17GA (1.20 mm) and Head Lynx Tour 17GA (1.25 mm) as the main strings on my Head Prestige Liquidmetal Mid (18x20, 93 sq in) racquets. I rotated two Prestige LM Mids around every 15 minutes of usages during all my practices and the few friendly matches with my regular tennis buddies.

My hybrid setups lasted over 11 hours of a decent playtest time for each racquets. And overall, I was satisfied with my setups performances. To generalize, these hybrid setups sacrificed some of the control/spin and durability when compare to a full poly setup; however, provided an additional comfort and power. Here are my playtest review based on comparing to my usual full poly setup.

What string and gauge did you receive? Yonex Rexis Comfort, 12m/39ft string, 16GA (1.30 mm).

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid? Cut the 12m string in halves, and made setups for two hybrids.

If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)?
Config A: Yonex Polytour Rev, 17GA / Yonex Rexis Comfort, 16GA (main/cross)
Config B: Head Lynx Tour, 17GA / Yonex Rexis Comfort, 16GA (main/cross)

Tension(s) used for playtest:
Config A: 53/53 lbs (main/cross)
Config B: 53/53 lbs (main/cross)

Regular string set up: I have been using Ashaway Kevlar 16 main (55 lbs) and Prince Tour XC 15L cross (53 lbs) setup for a while. I am experimenting with 16/15L shaped poly main (~53 lbs) and 17/16 round poly cross (~51 lbs) whenever an opportunity arises. I have used Kirschbaum, Volkl, Weiss Cannon, Head, Prince, Ashaway, Gamma, Babolat, Isospeed, Klip, Tourna, Yonex, Luxilon, Wilson, Tecnifibre, Solinco, and Tier One brand strings. My current setup is Tier One Black Knight, 16GA (1.28mm), 53 lbs main / Head Lynx Tour, 17GA (1.25 mm), 51 lbs cross.

Racquet used for test: Two matched Head Prestige Liquid metal Mids (18x20, 93 sq in).

Control/Power of test string: Two mains selected are shaped strings that are close to rounded shape. When compared to my current setup, the playtest setups provided little more power and bit less controls for me. Baseline play was little bit harder to control to produce repeatable deeper penetrating shots, but my control at the net were little better with the hybrid setups. Producing the powerful serves were possible, but the percentage was low for me with my skills to be meaningful.

Although both hybrids played similar, I prefer Config B over Config A.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Playtest setups provided more muted and comfortable feel during the ball impacts at the net, baseline, and serves when compared to my current setups.

Config A provided more comfortable feel than Config B.

Spin: Spin was there as needed. However, it was less than my current setup. If I do not readjust the strings to have the proper spaces, I felt that I was getting less spin/control as the crosses were getting frayed more.

Config B delivered more spin than Config A.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?): For both configurations, the fraying on crosses started to get noticeable around 2 hours of play, and I started to check/readjust strings after every few plays.

The magnitude of the string displacements were very similar for both playtest configurations.

Durability & Playability Duration: I have only a limited experiences with the multifilament strings. I have not tried much because it breaks way too quick for me (much less than 10 hours). Based on others reviews, I did not expect to play more than 10 hours with my hybrid setups. To my surprise, both of my playtest setups lasted more than 11 hours of the moderate to heavy hitting.
Config A: Cut-off after over 12 hours of playtest.
Config B: Cross broke after over 11 hours of playtest.

Both playtest setups provided about 10 hours of a good playability for me.

Both playtest configurations provided very similar durability and playability durations.

Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?): Playtest setups at 53 lbs main/53 lbs Cross worked out well for me. I usually string 2 lbs less on cross because I string full poly setup. I may vary the tension within +/- 2 lbs on my 18x20 mid size racquets.

Compare to string used most often:
See my “Regular string set up:” above. Playtest setups proved a little better power/comfort, but little less control/spin/duration.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I had no problem string the Yonex Rexis Comfort as a cross. I took an extra time during the cross stringing to not damage the string. The multifilament strings can damage easily during stringing compared to the poly strings, and much more effort and time are must.

If you are having a shoulder, arm, or wrist issue(s), I would recommend trying Yonex Rexis Comfort.

Lastly, special thank you to @TW Staff and Yonex Company for the Yonex Rexis Comfort string playtest opportunity and another very enjoyable experience.

 

[Firepandas]

What string and gauge did you receive?

I received Rexis Comfort in 1.30mm (16G)

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid?

I installed it as a hybrid. I use strung the racquet myself using a Gamma Progression II ELS

If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)/Racquet Used

I ran Head Lynx 1.25mm in Green at 52 lbs in the mains with Rexis Comfort 1.30mm at 55 lbs as the cross in a 2015 Blade 18x20 with a leather basegrip and Wilson Pro Overgrip.

I strung up an identical racquet with Head Lynx 1.25mm in Green at 52 lbs in the mains crossed with Head Velocity MLT Black 1.30mm at 55 lbs immediately after stringing with my test set-up. This way I could compare the test set up against a string set up I considered a baseline concurrently.

Regular string set up

My regular string set up is Luxilon Power ALU Lime 1.25mm at 52 lbs in the mains with Head Velocity Black 1.30mm at 55 lbs as the cross.

Control/Power of test string

Rexis Comfort has a medium-large amount of power, but had relatively good lateral control. I noticed as soon as I started warming up with this string the first time that I didn't have to work for power, even in a hybrid set-up. While this definitely felt helpful when rallying from far behind the baseline, I felt like I had to be much more cognizant of the force I was applying to the ball when stepping inside to approach. Picking my spots laterally on the court felt accurate most of the times, but there were instances where I felt like the string lacked precision when I would attempt to break down my opponent's backhand with a series of inside-out forehands. Similar findings with power and precision were felt on volleys.

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

Rexis Comfort sure lives up to it's name. Very soft string that made me feel like I was playing with a full bed of multis rather than a hybrid. While this meant that hitting with it is was quite comfortable, the strings also felt bit mushy. I could feel the ball dwelling in the stringbed, but not quite where on the string bed. It is personally not a feeling I enjoyed.

Spin

Spin seemed about average/middle of the pack. Didn't quite feel like I was getting a large amount of kick off my topspin drives or kick serves, but I can't complain about getting too little. Not much to say in this department.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?)

If you are very picky about making sure your strings always snap back, don't get these strings. These strings are always out of place even within the first 5 minutes of play. It gets worse as time goes on. Not a fan of constantly having to adjust my strings between points, even after 1 shot. Usually my crosses start staying out of place at the end of my string's life and I will have to adjust a string between points, but it seemed like the whole stringbed was all over the place after a rally.

Durability & Playability Duration

Durability is not this string's strong suit. I use an 18x20 98 sq in racquet and hit relatively flat through the ball. My typical setup of Lux Power ALU crossed with Head Velocity lasts me about 15-20 hours before breaking. This test setup with Rexis comfort was severely frayed after 8 hours and completely toast at 10-12 hours. I had noticed severe wear in the string after my first 2 hour session. Not something I am used to.

Playability life isn't quite there either. First 4 hours felt fine and then started rapidly declining in my opinion. Stringbed became more unpredictable and felt less spinny. I didn't want to play with this set up past the 6-7 hour mark.

Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?)

I would personally probably up my tension to see if I could rein in the power a little bit (bump up both mains and crosses by a pound or two), but I would recommend my tension setup to someone who wanted to try the string. There was nothing offensive nor outstanding about the tension I used during the playtest.

Compare to string used most often

Comparing it directly to the typical cross of Head Velocity Black 1.30mm that I use, Rexis Comfort is much softer, less controlled, more powerful, and more mushy than Velocity. I am someone who enjoys firm stringbeds and usually uses hybrids as a cost saving measure rather than a way to get more power and comfort out of polys. So for those reason, I wouldn't personally switch to Rexis Comfort because it's much less durable than Velocity and lacks the consistency of playability over time.

List any additional thoughts (optional)

Although I personally will not switch to this Rexis Comfort, it is definitely a string I would recommend to those players who may suffer from arm problems and would want a string to soften up polys in a hybrid. The lack of a consistent stringbed and low durability is something to keep in mind, so I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is trying to maximize the duration between re-stringing. I would think this is a great string to put in a cross for someone who is just starting to explore the poly/multi hybrid field as the power potential and comfort will make transitioning away from a full-bed synthetic gut or multi a little less drastic.

I don't want to opine too much on what this would be like in a full-bed because it has been a while since I have used a full-bed of multis, but this seems like a good choice for a player who suffers from chronic arm issues and is trying to find a string to allow them to play tennis while they are fixing their technique.

Thank you for the playtest opportunity and I hope you found my review helpful

 

[boulderchips]

Yonex Rexis Comfort 1.30 Review​

What string and gauge did you receive?: Yonex Rexis Comfort 1.30

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid? Hybrid

If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)? Mains: Yonex Poly Tour Strike 1.25; Crosses: Yonex Rexis Comfort 1.30

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50/54

Regular string set up & tension: Gut/poly (usually Yonex Poly Tour Fire) at ~56/53

Racquet used for test: Completed the all-Yonex vibe with my 2018 Yonex Vcore 95

Preliminary/Stringing Notes: I strung this hybrid up on my Alpha DC Pioneer+. Rexis Comfort is soft, pliable, and easy to handle. It felt like it had a coating that made it slightly slippery.

Power/Control of test string: This string setup had some good things going for it, with power foremost among them. Rexis Comfort added some lovely pop to Strike without taking away too much control. Power-wise, this hybrid is about on par with the gut/poly I usually play. I felt that I had a good sense of how the stringbed would behave, and it remained relatively consistent through its useful life. The one major caveat in the control department is spin — but we'll get to that.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): This hybrid feels like you'd expect — partway between the crisp PTStrike and the soft Rexis Comfort. I've played (and enjoyed) a full bed of Strike in this frame, and Rexis softens up the feel without making it mushy or vague. This was one of the highlights of the playtest for me. By my standards, comfort was excellent. I don't have any major arm issues, but I felt that this hybrid had a much lower impact than full poly. I felt connected to the ball, and I was happy to go for touch shots. Given how soft Rexis Comfort is, I'm not sure I'd want to go too much softer with the poly main.

Spin: For me, this was the Achilles heel of this string setup. I couldn't get enough shape on the ball to play the game I wanted to play. Spin wasn't as poor as some full-multi setups I've tried in the past, but it definitely wasn't anywhere near gut/poly or full poly. After the first ~30 minutes of play, the Rexis was heavily notched and impeded any movement of the mains. I could still impart spin with some effort, but balls had a tendency to sail long if I wasn't careful. I was forced to adopt a flatter game style, which suited the string setup well. Hitting flat, I felt I had decent control, but I did miss the ability to get creative with trajectories. Some of this problem may have been exacerbated by the relatively dense 16x20 in my stick.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?): Quite the opposite — after Rexis notched, the strings were stuck in position. It took a lot of effort to move the Strike out of the notches. I think this is largely responsible for the spin issues.

Durability & Playability Duration: Tension maintenance was decent, but not exceptional. Frequency readings showed around a 6 pound drop after the first hit and a gradual decline afterward. PTStrike has good tension maintenance in my experience, so I think Rexis Comfort was a major contributor. That said, I didn't feel that the setup lost too much of its playability over the course of its life. The Rexis broke somewhere in the 5-6 hour range. It's possible that I hastened notching and breakage by using Strike 16L. 16 might be a better choice for maximum longevity.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I liked this tension, which I based on what I like for Strike. I think going up a pound or two would be reasonable depending on the player and/or frame, but I was happy at 50/54.

Compare to string used most often: Compared to my favorite gut/poly setup, the Rexis Comfort hybrid compared reasonably well in all ways except one: spin. I'm not a massive topspin player, but the difference was big enough that I got frustrated playing with the Strike/Rexis. I did appreciate the power and comfort — in those areas, I think this hybrid is excellent.

List any additional thoughts (optional): The locked stringbed and poor spin mean that I won't be switching to this setup anytime soon. For a flat hitter, or a player looking to soften up a poly main, it might be a good fit. Rexis Comfort did live up to its name, and I think comfort is probably its biggest selling point even in a hybrid like this. The only other multis I've hit recently are Head Velocity and Prince Premier Control. I'd say Rexis Comfort is softer than both.

Huge thanks to TW and Yonex for my first playtest. Even though this isn't my go-to string setup, I really enjoyed testing it.

Pics of the stringbed partway through the playtest, with a closeup of notching:

 

[GrilledBurgers]

What string and gauge did you receive?
Yonex Rexis Comfort 16L

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid?
Full set.

If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)?
N/A

Tension(s) used for playtest:
52/50

Regular string set up:
Babolat RPM 17 @ 52/50

Racquet Used:
Yonex Vcore Pro HD 18x20

Control/Power of test string:
The control of the string was great in the beginning, however, after a couple hitting sessions, the power increased and controlled decreased as the tension was lost. I would probably string this at a higher tension. Compared to the RPM I normally use, the control was lacking, however, I did not feel this was a major problem and I did have to attribute more of my stroke to hitting more spin which did help the control aspect.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Very comfortable. Did not have any arm pain whatsoever. It snapped around 7-8 hours of play, so it did not feel mushy during its playability. This string was exceptional for Volleys and Touch Shots.

Spin:
Spin potential was definitely decreased coming from a poly string. I felt like I had to work more for spin and adjust some of my rally balls to compensate. The strings did not have much snap back and I think that was the main reason behind the lack of spin potential. However, with the additional power given, I did not feel that I had to swing any faster to generate a similar spin to my normal ball though.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?)
Strings started to move towards the last hitting session that I played with it. I would not say this is an issue since it did not bother me while the strings were still not broken.

Durability & Playability Duration:
Lasted me about 7-8 hours. I am a 4.5 NTRP with a good amount of spin on all my shots. I would say this string is above average for a non-poly string.

Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?)
I would definitely bump it up 3-4 lbs to start out with. Probably around 54/52 or even 56/54 just to dial back on the power and get some additional control. I would also think about using this in a hybrid setting.

Compare to string used most often:
Definitely more feel, power and comfort compared to RPM. Did miss the control and spin potential of the RPM. I would say that if I switched to less baseline points, this string is a good contender.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I hit about 7-8 hours with this string. Overall, I think its a great string for a hybrid or even anyone who does not hit too much spin on the baseline. Highly recommend to serve and volley players, highly aggressive flatter hitters, and the lower level recreational players.

Definitely enjoyed this playtest and thank you to TW for including me. Looking forward to future playtests!

 

[therecanbeonlyone]

This is my review of the Yonex Rexis Comfort 16L string. I am a 4.0 player who mostly plays serve and volley doubles. I hit an eastern forehand and eastern one-handed backhand. My racquet of choice these days has an 18x18 string pattern, which I play with full beds of multi.

What string and gauge did you receive?: Yonex Rexis Comfort 16L (1.25)

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid? Full Bed

Tension(s) used for playtest: 55/55 lbs

Regular string set up & tension: Either Technnifibre Multifeel 17 at 55/55 (also 1.25mm) or Technifbre Triax 16 at 52/52).

Racquet used for test: Prince Synergy 98

Power/Control of test string: Power was slightly more than I am used to with my two regular strings. Not to the point where it changed my swing or thought process when hitting the ball, though. Control was also probably slightly less than my two regular strings, mostly because of slightly less spin and because of the stings getting stuck out of place during rallies. That being said, I wouldn't dock the string much if any points for power or control compared to my other strings...just a very slight difference that could be mostly remedied with a couple pounds of extra tension.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): I am used to playing a full bed of multi. This feeling was what I am used to. I would definitely say comfort is a standout characteristic, it also was not quite mushy, but pretty soft feeling.

Spin: I wouldn't say spin is a highlight of this string. I can hear certain strings moving when I swing this Prince Synergy racquet, but I couldn't hear this swish type of sound with Rexis Comfort. The strings got stuck out of place as well, so that likely kept the spin down for the remainder of the rally. I was able to control and dip the ball and also get good height on groundstrokes and bite on slices and droppers. So, the spin is there, but your expectations have to be in order, as this is not a spin string.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?) Yes, the strings got stuck out of place regularly. This happened pretty early in the playtest as well, so I couldn't even pinpoint an hour mark where it started happening. I had to train myself to go back to the strings between points, because several times I would go into my service motion and catch a glimpse of the string spacing during my motion and distract myself. [Placeholder for photo once I get my issue with Tapatalk straightened out]

Durability & Playability Duration: I put 17+ hours on the string, including 5 doubles matches and 3 singles training/ball machine sessions. It looks like strings are notched about half way right now. I don't break strings very often (the Multifeel frays and shows me exactly where I hit most shots, and I am apt to play with that frayed pattern for a loooong time). My guess is that I'll break these strings in the next week or two. I am awful at feeling when certain multis lose playability, and I actually prefer the feel of the frayed Multifeel as it ages. In this case, I haven't felt much of a change during the past month with Rexis Comfort.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): I would go up a couple of pounds to probably 57/57 next time. This would give me slightly less power and maybe a more crisp feeling. Comfort is a standout trait of this string, so I would have no worries going up in tension.

Compare to string used most often: Technifibre Triax and and Multifeel both give me slightly less power, with slightly more spin. I string Triax a little lower because of its makeup (52/52). I think Rexis Comfort is more comfortable than Triax, but they all are comfortable strings (and I have a wrist that will tell me if that is an issue).

List any additional thoughts (optional): They named this string correctly. It is comfortable and soft. I think most people would like the power level too. I don't have anything I didn't like with this string, but if I am nitpicking I would want a little slicker outer coating to fix that string displacement issue. I let a buddy use my racquet with fresh Rexis Comfort in it. He was in love, and actually ordered the racquet later that day. I string his Prince Phantoms with Triax as well, so that's where he was coming from, and his control was fantastic that day. His balky elbow gave him no problems either, even when using my slightly stiffer racquet. I didn't have any trouble stringing this string. It came out looking great without any problems.

I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for allowing me to play test this string. Thanks!

 

[mromato64]

Yonex Rexis Speed 1.30 Review
​

• What string and gauge did you receive? Yonex Rexis Speed 1.30mm (16 Gauge)
• Did you install it as a full set or hybrid? Full set
• Tension(s) used for playtest: 53 lbs on crank machine
• Regular string set up: No regular string set up at the moment, but most recently used Yonex Poly Tour Rev at 48 lbs., and Gosen OG Sheep Micro (mains) at 53lbs. with Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour (crosses) at 48 lbs.
• Racquet used for test: Yonex VCore Pro 97HD 18x20
• Control/Power of test string: Control was ok for the first 4 hours until it took a nosedive. Plenty of power throughout most of the playtest. I had to slow my swing speed a little bit to keep shots from going long.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Rexis Speed is definitely on the firmer side of a multifilament. It was not uncomfortable, but it definitely felt crisp. Ball pocketing was decent, but it didn't feel plush or have the connectedness I would have expected from a multi.
• Spin: Spin was average to below average. I felt confident generating topspin midway through the test, but it got more difficult to generate spin as the strings were fraying and getting out of place. I got a good amount of spin on my slices, and they generally felt better to hit.
• String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?): Strings were starting to move a lot after the 3 hours mark. This was also around the time the coating wore off, which I think helped with some snapback in the beginning of using Rexis Speed.
• Durability & Playability Duration: The string broke after about 8 hours. At that point, it was very difficult to play with. Rexis Speed didn't take too long to settle in after it was strung, but the best playability lasted around 3 hours.
• Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?): Maybe I would increase the tension by 2 lbs., but I don't think that would relieve the issue of the tension loss that I experienced during the tail end of the string's lifespan.
• Compare to string used most often: I've been on a carousel of using different strings recently, but I have mostly been playing with muted co-polys. Not surprisingly, there is a big difference in power and control, but I was surprised by how little Rexis Speed maintained its playability.
• List any additional thoughts (optional): I had to be a bit careful when stringing Rexis Speed. I initially saw the string was slightly slipping from the clamps, but after I tightened the clamps, there was noticeable ghosting on the strings. I thought I could play with full bed multis again, but the lack of spin and short playability means that I will probably stick to hybrids or a full bed of co-poly. This should play better as a cross on a hybrid setup, but with other multis or syn guts that are priced lower and offer durability and overall performance, I will most likely not come back to this string. I let my hitting partner try it out and he enjoyed the string more than I did, so it may just be my personal preference.

Nevertheless, I want to thank Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for giving me the opportunity to participate in this playtest.

 

[djNEiGht]

• What string and gauge did you receive?
  • Rexis Comfort 16L
• Did you install it as a full set or hybrid?
  • Hybrid
• If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)?
  • Hybrid
    • Rexis Comfort used in cross
• Tension(s) used for playtest
  • Yonex vCore 95 2021
    • Poly Tour Pro 43 / Rexis Comfort 45
  • Solinco 100 Prototype 2021
    • Poly Tour Spin 43 / Rexis Comfort 45
• Regular string set up
  • Nothing regular but most recent strings are Tourna S7 Silver Tour,
• Racquet used for test
  • Yonex vCore 95 2021 stock condition
  • Solinco 100 prototype 2021 w 3 grams of lead at 12 o’clock and 5 grams of silicone plugs under trap door
• Control/Power of test string
  • Medium power
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
  • Muted
• Spin
  • Adequate spin for both set up but nothing to write home about. Really had to ramp up the RHS and the low to high swing path
• String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?)
  • With the PTP racquet, strings slid back into position for a while but the PTS got stuck right away due to the sharp edges of the poly main
• Durability & Playability Duration
  • Low durability
  • Playability seemed predictable until the outer core was shredded (mostly on the PTS set up)
• Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?)
  • I thought the tension was good for my personal use. I would consider using the same tension if using the same set up
• Compare to string used most often
  • Comfort was what stood out to me.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
  • If I could go back to before stringing this up I would have done the Rexis in the mains with smooth in the cross. Using a sharp poly main did provide some nice spin but I really like having the snap back. Multi strings don’t really provide that and I would usually just use a synthetic gut cross that had a slick cover.
  • I am intrigued by this string to try in a full bed or switched with Rexis in the main. As mentioned, I made the personal mistake by putting it in a sharp poly hybrid. Maybe a dimpled or rough hybrid instead of such a shape edged string.
  • Two teaching pros I work with tried the Solinco racquet set up for a solid 2 days and they liked the comfort of the set up.
  • I think in a full bed, the durability may not be very good once the outer coating gets worn out. If durability is not an issue but comfort is, this is going to be a great string.
• Thank you to Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for providing so many opportunities to us tennis players.

 

[djNEiGht]

I want to add that when stringing it was notching/denting/showing some "trauma"

 

[jwocky]

What string and gauge did you receive?
Yonex Rexis Speed in1.30mm/16G

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid?
Full set

If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)?
n/a

Tension(s) used for play test
26.4/25.4kg (58.2/56.0lbs)
For comparison
My 1.30mm co-poly tensions have hovered in the range 23.0-24.4 kg (51-54 lbs)
My 1.30/1.35mm natural gut tensions range 28.6-29.6 kg (63-65 lbs), but I have not been playing NG in the last ten months or so.

Stringing
Rexis Speed like the regular Rexis that has been on the market for a while is slick, fairly supple but firmer than Rexis, just as easy to handle and string up. The 1.30mm string stretches as much as Tecnifibre X1B 1.30mm at similar refers tensions.

Regular string set up & tension
Recently: 1.30mm Tourna BH Silver 7 Tour Mains/ Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 1.28mm in my Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 (18x20, 365g, 31cm) at 23 kg M/X (~50.6 lbs)

Previously: 1.25mm in the 22.5-23.0kg range with Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution

Racquet used for test
Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour (16x18) weighted to 365gm (12.9oz), balance 305mm (12 HL).

Summary
8
I have become fond of Yonex strings - including the prior Rexis, but especially the Poly Tour Rev and Fire in 1.30mm.
The Rexis Speed is a firmer multi than the prior (regular) Rexis, but at Yonex price points I would stick with Rev for a co-poly or Tec X1B for a multi.

Control/Power of test string
9
There was plenty of power and a reference tension 1kg higher might be warranted for a slight increase in control.

There was adequate pace on demand on serves and in baseline shots. I could reliably inject or remove pace while hitting rally balls. On the other hand I was left wanting a little more bite on slices and drop shots relative to my regular set up, but comparing Rexis Speed to a shaped co-poly Tourna BHS7T is not entirely fair.

Cross court dipping shots into the service box/alley were reliably accessible.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
8
Rexis Speed felt fairly firm crisp yet comfortable.

Spin
7
The string bed provided consistent spin as the string is round and smooth. It did not have the slight erratic nature of a profiled string.one of the Given the string is essentially round this is not surprising, and the reward for controlled racquet head speed/swing path/racquet face angle of attack was deep balls with good power behind them that landed in uncomfortable positions for my opponents.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?)
7
I feel these are much less sticky than a normal synthetic gut, and have better snapback.

The weather has gone from a crisp coolness in the evenings to hot and humid lately. I believe this has had an effect on the coating of multi-filaments. The differential between mains and crosses extended the time before the mains needed coaxing, but the only time they really caught my attention was after a particularly wild attempt at returning a former D1 player’s serve.

I wipe the string bed after playing as a means of checking string wear

Durability & Playability Duration
8 and 8
The string bed settled in the first hour of play and was best between hours two and nine, There is still some life in the string bed, but as the mercury rises, the bed is feeling a bit soft.

For most typical rec players, this is good string that will last many weeks. For competitive players at 4.0 or above, I expect the 1.30mm will break in 15-18 hours in a co-poly hybrid.

Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?)
If I had to string up another set once the temperatures get into the mid-90s, I would increase tension by 1 kg.

Compare to string used most often
The Rexis Speed was a more comfortable string bed to hit with than my regular set up. This could be because I have a slight twinge when hitting with my regular set up arising from tackling some honey-do yard projects.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I think Rexis Speed is a suitable replacement for players who break the old Rexis or NXT in less than a week.

 

[g4driver]

@jwocky

The old packages have Rexis Feel listed as Soft (Hard+, Hard, Average, Soft, Soft+) Rexis Comfort is marked "Average" (Firm+, Firm, Average, Soft, Soft+).
a) Can you or anyone tell a difference between Rexis Feel (discontinued) and Rexis Comfort? if yes:
b) Is the old Rexis Feel noticeably softer than the new Rexis Comfort?

Got one client who "thinks" she needs new X-1 bi-phase every 8 -10 hours. Just trying to save her some $$$. Already using X1/Velocity to lower her costs and get an arm-friendly set up for her at a lower cost. She was using a full bed of NXT, then a full bed of X1. She is determined to change strings even though I can still read all the markings on her mains and crosses. The strings look perfect to me, but she is OCD about changing them. She is a good customer, so I want to save her money and keep her head on her game, not her strings.

The price is right on the Rexis Feel reels so I pulled the trigger. Probably should have asked all of my questions first, but your reviews and comments influenced me.

 

[jwocky]

@g4driver - I stand by my review comments of the Rexis Speed. Also, given Rexis Speed and Comfort are about the same price point of X, I would select X1.

For your OCD lady client, if she can be convinced although unlikely, the old Rexis (which you have purchased) is suitable. Even the Yonex Super 850 or Super 850 Pro (Pro is thicker bec of additional coating) are a good price point and performance alternative to Rexis (old) - they are not hugely different.

Note 1: I was not aware the old Rexis had been relabeled to Rexis Feel.

Note2: I will leave others to speculate on many reasons she may be returning every other week to have her racquet restrung.

 

[g4driver]

Per TW database 1.30mm Rexis (Feel) is softer than X1 and that will make her happy. Just trying to get her under $10 per set of strings and Rexis / Velocity does that. Roughly $8.07 per frame now.

 

[PMF]

Has anyone tried a hybrid of 1.30mm Rexis Speed in the mains with 1.20mm Poly Tour Pro Yellow in the crosses? Just wondering what you thought. I'm currently playing a full bed of 1.30mm Rexis Speed in the 2022 Ezone 98 and like it very much, but still experimenting.

 

[robycat]

Yonex Rexis Speed Review
​

What string and gauge did you receive?: Rexis Speed 1.30/16 guage

Did you install it as a full set or hybrid? Full Bed

Tension(s) used for playtest: 57 lbs

Regular string set up & tension: Alu Power Spin 127 @ 52 lbs

Racquet used for test: G360+ Prestige Pro

Power/Control of test string: Definitely felt firmer than most Multi’s I have played with recently which lent the power for this string to be slightly less than what I am used to, but the power level was still moderate for sure. Because of the string movement, the control was rather intermittent. After a couple hours of hitting the control started going downhill quickly because of the more than usual string movement. While power and control started off acceptable it quickly diminished after just a few hours.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Like I mentioned above, this string is firmer for a multi which lends itself to feeling a tad stiffer but definitely not to the extent of a poly. This wasn’t the most comfortable multi I have used either. Although I didn’t experience and arm or shoulder pain during the testing, it just didn’t have that full on multi muted feeling that I’m used to. Similar to the power and control, I lost the feel from this string rather quickly and by the 3rd session it was gone completely.

Spin: The spin this string provided was rather adequate and I would say above average for a multi while the string was in its peak playability phase. Just like the other characteristics though it fell off a cliff after just a few hours.

String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?) Like others have mentioned this may be worst characteristic of this string. After just an hour of hitting the strings were being displaced far more than I have every seen with any other multi I have played. This led to the inconsistent string bed that I mentioned early and became rather frustrating. My fingertips were worn out by the end of my first hitting session and it didn’t get any better after that.

Durability & Playability Duration: The string broke after 8 hours of hitting which in general is about average for multi’s that I use, although the notching seemed to occur sooner than most. The time that the good characteristics of the sting were present was far less I would have expected from this firmer multi. I definitely noticed at the beginning of my second hitting session that the playability of the string had changed dramatically.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time? - why?): Its hard to say whether I would change the tension the next go around because I’m not sure increasing or decreasing the tension would have much affect on the playability length of this string. I would say if anything I would go down a pound or two to see if I could get a bit more power out of it.

Compare to string used most often: Technifibre Triax and Volkl Power Fiber II came to mind when hitting with this string, although the playability with those 2 strings is far better than Rexis.

List any additional thoughts (optional): In my opinion this string was made to compete with Triax as it has some of the same characteristics as that string and in certain ways it felt somewhat similar to begin with. I think if they work on increasing the playability to maybe last another 3 or 4 hours it would be put in the same category as some of the other higher quality multi’s out there. I just don’t see the value with this string in its current state unless you are a beginner or someone who does not hit the ball with authority.

I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse and Yonex for allowing me to play test these strings and look forward to providing more detailed reviews and reactions in the future. Thanks!

I want to second this review. Rexis speed moves out of place and loses its snapback much faster than Triax.