What string and gauge did you receive? Rexis Speed 16L 1.25
Did you install it as a full set or hybrid? Full Set
If hybrid, what was the configuration (mains/crosses)?
Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 lbs
Regular string set up: Head Lynx Tour 17 at 52 lbs
Racquet used for test: Wilson RF97 Autograph v13
Control/Power of test string: My initial thoughts when first hitting with the string is the control was good but it lacked quite a bit of power considering it is a multifilament. I soon realized the firmness of the string was causing the lack of power for me. As the tension dropped I started to lose more and more of the control, but it was still manageable in the 4th session.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): On my first initial hit I was surprised by how soft and comfortable the strings were. The more and more I hit with them, and as I started to swing a little bit harder, the softness in which I initially felt became more of a firmness. They had a nicer crisp sound and were still very comfortable especially on volleys. I did not feel any kind of arm pain while using them.
Spin: When the strings were fresh, I felt like I was getting comparable spin to poly strings. But as I got into the 2nd session, the spin quickly died down. I was still able to give the ball height over the net, but after the ball bounce, it would kick up no higher than to my hitting partners waist. And no matter how I tried to adjust my stroke, I could not it the ball to kick up.
String Displacement (Did the strings get stuck out of position?): Yes. Halfway through the 1st session, the strings started moving around and getting stuck. I will say, the coating that was on the strings, allowed for the strings to pop back more often and easier when I had to move them with my fingers.
Durability & Playability Duration: Currently I am 4 hitting sessions in, about 6 hours. I can see a significant wear in the middle of the stringbed. 2 of the strings have shredded more than halfway, and I anticipate them breaking in my next session. These strings definitely played the best during the first hour of hitting with them. As time progressed, I lost the ability to spin, less control, and the strings felt more firm.
Tension findings (did you like your tension, would you use a different tension next time?): As it stands, I do not think a tension change would help in making the strings play better for me in any way.
Compare to string used most often: I currently use Head Lynx Tour 1.25 17. The only upsides Rexis Speed had for me was the comfortability and feel. Everything else did not match up to the Lynx Tour. The Lynx Tour had more spin potential, comparable control and power, much better durability.
List any additional thoughts (optional): These strings are very very slick and have a god coating on them, so when I strung these strings, I had to tighten all my clamps quite a bit. The other thing I noticed was the strings are quite light. I noticed a significant swingweight drop with these strings compared to other strings that im used to using. Which meant I had to swing a little harder to generate some power. Overall for me, it has been love/hate with these strings. My 1st session, the initial hits were, I loved these strings. Everything about it felt good. Very soft, no arm pain, great feel, good control, decent power. But there was something in the back of my mind, and I just couldn’t fully get on board with these. As I started to hit more and more with them, I started to see the bigger flaws and why it would not work for my game. The lack of spin is the biggest no for me. I think a player that likes to hit flatter balls and get up to the net to volley, this would be a good choice for them. And maybe if its 16 gauge.
Update: 5 minutes after taking this photo, I was warming up and the strings snapped.
