Tennis Warehouse: Tourna co-polyester PLAYTEST!

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

We have a limited number of Tourna Deuce and Silver 7 Tour co-polyester strings for a playtest - both 1.25mm. This playtest is for USA TTW members only

THE APPLICATION PERIOD IS CLOSED - WE WILL NOTIFY ANY REMAINING PLAYTESTERS SHORTLY
We have a very limited quantity of strings to playtest. We select playtesters based on a number of factors, including past performance on playtests as well as contributions to the String Forum in general.

In order to participate and remain in good standing for all upcoming playtests you must post your findings in this thread by the due date.

Due Date - July 11

Include the following in your review:

• What string did you receive?
• Tension(s) used for playtest
• Regular string set up
• Racquet used for test
• Power/Control of test string
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
• Spin
• Durability
• Playability Duration
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
• List any additional thoughts (optional)

Check Tourna landing page to see the strings.


We encourage and value any/all discussion about Tourna strings.

 

[M Pillai]

So.... want to try them out.... but looks like I don't have enough time in hand for another proper string play test. So skipping this opportunity. Folks who brought Big Hitter to us won't disappoint.

 

[McLovin]

Anyone get their string yet? Was hoping it would be in today’s mail, but no dice.

 

[JOSHL]

Anyone get their string yet? Was hoping it would be in today’s mail, but no dice.

Got mine today!

 

[JOSHL]

@TW Staff can we do hybrids or do you prefer we do full bed?

 

[Daddy's]

Still no sign yet. I usually do pretty good cause I'm in OC. I thought they said they would try to get them out in 10 days so any day now

 

[McLovin]

Still no sign yet. I usually do pretty good cause I'm in OC. I thought they said they would try to get them out in 10 days so any day now

I'm in VA, and mine arrived last night. I got Silver 7 Tour. I will likely string it up tonight and hit this weekend.

 

[SOY78]

I am in FL and got the Deuce 17. Should be an interesting playtest.

 

[SteveI]

I am in FL and got the Deuce 17. Should be an interesting playtest.

I got the Deuce 17 and have already strung it. The color is very cool and matches my red frame great.

Some notes... This string is quite soft when stringing. There was a decent amount of play in the string. If you like a firm string bed and / or high tension.. You might consider a higher tension or setting your machine for a pre-stretch. If you are using a lock-out machine.. you might find you are not getting the correct feel.

Tourna rates this string high for power.

Just some observations while stringing.

 

[Daddy's]

I guess my mailman hates me. Looking for more power out of the MG radical and softness for the 18x20 pattern. This sounds like just the ticket.

 

[SteveI]

I guess my mailman hates me. Looking for more power out of the MG radical and softness for the 18x20 pattern. This sounds like just the ticket.

should be a winner..

 

[TW Staff]

To answer JOSHL's question, yes you can hybrid the string.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

 

[PBODY99]

Tourna Deuce 17G
Early notes.
Arrived on 5 June.
Low coil memory, soft feel while stringing and weaving
Strung 42 /40 in my Prince Speedport Gold
In my black frame the string bed just seem to blend in.
Hit for 90 minutes on red clay,80 degree.
Very comfortable for a poly.

 

[Injured Again]

Tourna strings came in today.

Just in time as my bed of Solinco Tour Bite 1.20 needed to be cut out today, after about 7 hours of play. There was tension loss and the mains were moving all over the place, resulting in the ball flying on me and losing grip when I tried to put heavy spin on it.

Low'ish coil memory, and fairly easy to string. Average to may just slightly less than average elasticity. I did feel a bit more friction when weaving the crosses than I expected, and there was also a bit of extra friction pulling through the grommet holes as well. Considering how thin the string is, very similar to Tour Bite 1.20, this was surprising. Anyhow, got it done. Strung it at 51 in the center mains, 46 in the center crosses. One pound lower in the center crosses for the Tourna BH Silver 7 Tour than for Tour Bite, with the same tension in the mains.

About half a gram heavier than the Tour Bite 1.20 that was in there before. It looks almost identical to Tour Bite, and by touch the edges are more pronounced on the Silver 7 Tour than Tour Bite which feels basically round. This is the best zoomed picture my cell phone camera could take of the two:

That's Tour Bite 1.20 on the left, and Tourna BH Silver 7 Tour on the right.

Will be hitting tomorrow afternoon, indoors, as a storm is blowing through right now.

 

[SteveI]

I got the Deuce 17 and have already strung it. The color is very cool and matches my red frame great.

Some notes... This string is quite soft when stringing. There was a decent amount of play in the string. If you like a firm string bed and / or high tension.. You might consider a higher tension or setting your machine for a pre-stretch. If you are using a lock-out machine.. you might find you are not getting the correct feel.

Tourna rates this string high for power.

Just some observations while stringing.

Got my 1st hit with this string. 2 hours of drilling and serving. The TW and Tourna description is pretty much right on.

Introducing Tourna Big Hitter Deuce! This co-poly not only has an awesome blue-red cosmetic, but it provides above average comfort and feel for a poly-based monofilament, making it easier to execute touch shots around the net. From the baseline, the high level of control will enable you to attack the ball without having to worry about overhitting. As a result, you'll have the confidence to swing bigger when going for extra pace or spin. Made from stiff and soft resins, this co-poly has a slippery, low-friction surface, giving it impressive snapback (think spin). In addition to playing great as a full set, Big Hitter Deuce works very well in a hybrid, where the slippery surface enables the strings to slide more effectively. Ultimately, this is a great option for the player who wants a comfortable control string with impressive durability and spin-potential.


Power - High
Comfort - High
Spin - Ave.
Control - Not the best

If you are big hitter and using a low powered frame you should get a nice power boost from this offering. If you expecting the spin to help you with control.. you better have a heavy spin stroke.

So far... I think this string is a poor mans Babolat Origin.

More of a next gen poly / multi mix as far control and feel. You hurt you arm or elbow with this offering I would be surprised.

If you are S & V player you are gonna live the feel and touch.

I did not string my frame high enough. Going to go through the play test and log my results. Enjoy fellow play - testers.

 

[samprasbackhand]

Still no sign yet. I usually do pretty good cause I'm in OC. I thought they said they would try to get them out in 10 days so any day now

Same here, also in Orange County but haven't received my set yet.

 

[Injured Again]

Hit with the Tourna BH Silver 7 Tour for approximately 90 minutes, about 60 minutes pretty casually and about 30 minutes pretty seriously.

The power levels of BHS7T are surprisingly high considering that it was not very elastic during stringing. A lot more pop on every shot, and especially so when flattening out the ball. The putaway power feels as great as any poly string I've used, and the most powerful of those would be among the very soft and elastic ones like Volkl V-Square. It's too powerful overall for me up at the net, where a volley off a hard, low shot would fly on me. I typically volley pretty flat with just a little bit of underspin so anything fast and below the level of the net made me feel like I couldn't be aggressive on the volley. Anything net high or above was very easy to put away. I hit a few serves and was able to really get a lot of speed on flat ones down the T. It felt like I had gained more than a couple of MPH. The balls were definitely bouncing high and hitting the back wall higher than I am used to. I was able to even get a couple of second serves to reach the back wall (21 feet behind the baseline) on one bounce, which usually never happens. Slice serves and kickers had much more than average movement and bounce.

Spin capability is very high, much more so than Tour Bite 1.20 that I had in this racquet immediately before. Along with a higher launch angle than Tour Bite, groundies where I tried to put a bit more than my usual amount of topspin had more clearance yet still dropped in. Loopy shots grabbed the ball securely and the impact feel on those shots gave me a lot of confidence the ball would not slide off the stringbed. I'd rate the spin capability as just below the best strings I've tested, which are V-Square/V-Torque and Cube.

BHS7T is also a more comfortable poly than average. Hitting on the sweetspot doesn't give a great sensation of pocketing the ball. It's more a springy feel like Cyclone. Contact outside of the sweetspot was muted and not as jarring as most other strings, and the ball had enough rebound to have a good chance of getting back into the court.

Control was below average. The high power level of the string made judging shot distance difficult, and the springy nature and a bit of a lack of pocketing feel didn't give a lot of confidence in directional accuracy. Incoming spin sensitivity wasn't that great, especially when considering how spin capable BHS7T is.

After this relatively light hitting session, there's no notching of the strings. They are dented a bit, but the strings all have remained in place. String tension doesn't seem to have noticeably gone down, though I have no way to accurately measure that.

I have a suspicion this string may be a bit too powerful and suffering from a lack of control due to the string tension differentials I use from the center strings to those towards the edges. I'm going to purchase another set and use more even tensions across all the strings to see if it makes a difference. Unfortunately, I'm now going to be traveling for the next week so won't be able to hit again until the following Sunday.

 

[JOSHL]

Hmmm. Was going to string this at 46....now I may do 48.

 

[Injured Again]

Hmmm. Was going to string this at 46....now I may do 48.

Depends on how you feel about a springy feeling stringbed like you get from Cyclone. My son prefers that, so he'd probably be fine with the way the Tourna feels in my racquet. I typically like the stringbed to feel pretty firm and to get the sensation of squishing the ball so a few pounds more tension would be ideal for me.

 

[JOSHL]

Went with 48lbs. I’ve been doing shaped main round hybrids lately so decided to keep that going. V-Star 17g crosses. The silver 7 tour has no elasticity while stringing. Almost feels pre stretched. Super sharp edges. I have used the black 7 by Tourna as well but it was a while ago, the edges were very sharp on that one as well. I’ll hit with it tomorrow morning for some doubles.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Injured Again]

For me, the elasticity was on par with many of the other stiffer strings I've tried like Tour Bite, which us why the high power level was so surprising. It will be interesting to hear your impressions.

 

[TennisHound]

Aaaarrggghh, I keep missing these. I enjoy these string tests.

 

[JOSHL]

Ok so first impressions after some mediocre doubles today-I would not say that this string is overpowered, but the launch angle is very very high. The string grabs the ball a ton and sometimes shots sail. Also I’m just going back to my Pro Staffs after a two month love affair with the Clash so I need to dial it in more.

 

[tennisnoob1949]

Played about 3 hours for now, and here are my initial thoughts. I will update this once I get more hours on this string.

• What string did you receive? - Tourna Deuce 17
• Tension(s) used for playtest - 50/48 Mains/Crosses
• Regular string set up - Kirschbaum Max Power / Lux ALU Fluoro at 50/48
• Racquet used for test - Prestige Tour 600
• Power/Control of test string - String felt more powerful than my regular strings, somewhat springy but with better than average spin. Control was about average, but there were occassions when my shots were sailing a little bit.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) - When fresh, the string was crisp yet very comfortable. However, 3 hours in, the string has turned somewhat mushy now (though it continues to be very comfortable). Hits outside the sweet spot were not jarring to begin with, but now, with the string bed softening, I can no longer tell where on the string bed I'm making contact.
• Spin - slightly better than average, but does not compare to the strings I usually use.
• Durability - No issues so far, but will update after putting a few more hours on the strings.
• Playability Duration - has turned somewhat mushy in 3 hours, but tension does not feel like it's far lower. Will update after putting a few more hours on the strings.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why) - may string it ~2 lbs higher to account for increased power.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)

 

[Daddy's]

Porfin! My BX Silver 7 Tour finally arrived. I'll string of up tonight at 53 in MG Radical. Really sharp edges ,should bite well.

 

[Daddy's]

This is a great little string! I've gotten about 3 hrs. on it and it seems to have great pop and spin. It's comfortable without being mushy. I haven't noticed the springiness others have mentioned, that might be the 18x20 pattern in soft racquet. It doesn't stretch much in stringing I was a little casual in measuring my 21ft for the mains and just made it. I'll need some more time for full evaluation but it's off to a great start

 

[Wonie88]

Finally able to play a few hours this weekend! I was very excited to test this string. Seemed right up my alley. It didn’t disappoint! I will post and then update on the later life as I get there!

String has a relatively rubbery feel when I strung it. Not much coil memory at all. The color is kinda crazy. One main will look red and the next blue. The third main will be both colors. It’s cool I guess.

What string did you receive?
Tourna Deuce 17

Tension(s) used for playtest
58lbs. I normally would go 55 with a full bed poly. From the early returns on this string I decided to go up. It was the right call.

Regular string set up
Hyper G 17. I also often go to hybrids like Alu Power/Xcel. Hyper G has been so good for me lately.

Racquet used for test
2012 Aeropro Drive

Power/Control of test string
Free and easy power. It surprised me with when I was warming up. A lot of pop. It did settle in a bit within an hour of hard hitting. Control was good enough. Maybe just a little less than Hyper G. It’s in the same category for sure.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
Two hours in and it’s definitely muted but not mushy yet. As comfortable as any poly I’ve ever hit.

Spin
Not the most spin I have ever gotten but it’s no slouch either. It’s ok here

Durability
I’ll update on this as I get closer to 10 hours of hitting. No drop off at two hours though.

Playability Duration
I’ll update here too!

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
IMO- this has to be strung a few pounds higher than typical full bed polys. I went from 55 to 58lbs.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I was very pleased with this string. It has a very FUN mix of power and comfort! It’s really a joy to hit with. The two-tone color is kinda funky but it’s fine. I would definitely buy this again. Might be too powerful to be ideal for hybrids.

I would like to test this head to head against Luxilon Smart. That played somewhat similarly.

Thanks TTW for the opportunity!

 

[PBODY99]

• String received Tourna Deuce 17
• Tension(s) used for playtest 44 lbs
• Regular s tring set up : Bear Claw 1.20 mm
• Racquet used for test : Prince O3 Speedport Gold 110
• Power/Control of test string Power is on the high side / Control is average
• Feel : Comfortable !!!!
• Spin Average
• Durability Little notching after 9 hours on red clay, 6 hours on hard court
• Playabilty Duration 15 hours and counting : I'll give it another outing on Tuesday as the temperature is due to hit Ninety !!
• Tension recommendation I would go up 2 to 4 pounds as the weather gets warmer.
• Additional thoughts I see Deuce as a great poly for the fall / indoor season as some polys feel harsh when playing in cooler temperatures

This string continues Tourna's history releasing polys that are a good value for the money.

 

[SteveI]

• What string did you receive? : Tourna Deuce 17
• 
  
• Tension(s) used for play-test: 52 / 50
• 
  
• Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone 19G
• 
  
• Racquet used for test: Yonex Muscle Power 2 (modified) 11.5 6 points HL
• 
  
• Power/Control of test string: I know I did not string with offering high enough. I wanted to use my normal tension. I was wrong to do so. This string has the most power of any poly I have tested. So... power is high. I can see this being a great string in 18 x 20 lower powered frame. Older Head Radical... Prestige. I matched it with a frame with an open pattern that has a decent power level to begin with. I had to work extra hard to impart enough spin to keep the play in play. Had to go for big targets. When you hit the sweet spot.. great power and good control. Outside the sweet spot.. I was unsure where the ball was on the string-bed and control did suffer. I was not connected to the string bed and my confidence was not good.
• 
  
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) : Deuce 17 is super Comfortable but too muted for my taste. I need some of that raw poly feeling for my game. If you have arm issues and still want to play a poly this is your string.
• 
  
• Spin: Spin was ave for a round poly... nothing compared to Volkl Cyclone 19G. I did make good use the spin to help me control the ball.
• 
  
• Durability: Very little wear on this string bed after 10 hours. Strings are beginning to move quite a bit. I am not a string breaker. A big hitter might break this stuff fast since it plays so soft.
• 
  
• Playability Duration: The tension seem to hold up quite well over the ten hours. I strung his too low.. so hard to make a real strong case either way.
• 
  
• Tension Recommendations: I would go 4-6 lbs tighter or use a frame with less power and a tighter string pattern.
• 
  
• List any additional thoughts: This a nice string in many ways. By selecting a tension too low.. I did not get the best data for the play test. I am big fan of the Tourna line of strings. Thanks TW and Tourna...

 

[McLovin]

Tourna Silver 7 Tour playtest

What string did you receive?

Tourna Silver 7 Tour, 17g​

​

Tension(s) used for playtest:

48lbs on a Wise tension head using a 10% prestretch. It was fairly easy to string, with no issues tangling/kinking and minimal coil memory.​

Regular string set up:

Yonex Poly Tour Pro, 1.25mm​

Racquet used for test:

Yonex VCORE 98 Galaxy Black (extended to 27.5")​

​

Power/Control of test string:

My first hit was singles on clay. During warm-up, it seemed as if the ball was leaving the racquet with more pace, yet landing shorter in the court. So, I started swinging a little harder, and to my surprise, the ball continued to land in. I couldn't tell if the string was low powered, or if there was extra spin bringing my shots down into the court. More on that later...​

​

Directional control is excellent, mainly because I had the confidence that the added spin would bring the ball down in the court. On multiple occasions I felt like I cut it a little too close, only to see the ball drop at the last second. The more I hit, the more confidence I gained.​

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

For me, this was an extremely comfortable string. I had a bout of Tennis Elbow last winter after trying some 4G Rough, and as a result, my normally non-sensitive arm is suddenly very sensitive. Absolutely no issues. In fact, I find it more comfortable than YPTP. There was no annoying 'ping' that some polys generate, and it had great pocketing, which probably added to the comfortable feel.​

​

I also found it an easy string to volley with. Good pop, but also good touch shots when needed.​

Spin:

Tons of it. I'm not a heavy topspin hitter (Eastern forehand, Continental 2-handed), but I definitely noticed more spin on my strokes. It really gave me confidence to accelerate through the shot, especially on the backhand where I have a tendency to slow down & 'pull up' on the shot. I hit some of my best backhands with this string, especially against a grinder who gives me no pace to work with.​

​

On the 'power' question...I truly believe there is more inherent power in this string as compared to YPTP, but the spin helps tame that power. I noticed this during my first hit when, after playing 2 sets with the Tourna, I went back to my base string of YPTP. My serves started landing 1-2ft long, and a few ground strokes would sail as well. However, it didn't feel as if there was more pace on the ball, and it also didn't seem to jump as much when it landed.​

Durability:

I'm not the person to ask. I rarely break gut/poly these days, so there's no way I'll break full poly.​

Playability Duration:

After 8.5 hours of play (7 of it on clay), its hanging in there nicely. I was actually gelling with this string so much that I used in a doubles tournament this past weekend. The images below represent (from left to right): (1) Tension immediately off the machine, (2) After the 1st hit, (3) at the 5 hour mark, (4) at the 8.5 hour mark​

​

​

*Note that I did not have a valid 'string factor' for this string, so I used Big Hitter Silver regular.​

​

I plan on using this setup until it no longer becomes playable, at which point I'll take a final tension reading and post it here.​

​

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why):

I liked the 48lbs choice. The feel was perfect for me, not too tight, not too lose. Its only dropped a little over 10%, which isn't bad for a poly, but if I buy another set (which I likely will do), I might try to bump it up 2lbs just to see what the difference is.​

​

List any additional thoughts (optional):

From the first swing I really connected with this string. So much that, as I said earlier, I used it in a doubles tournament this past weekend. And I can be a mental case when it comes to my equipment (3 frames, all strung the same, same weight/balance/grip/dampener, etc.), so for me to use it in a tournament after just 5 hours of hitting says a lot.​

​

NOTE: I didn't win the tournament, but that wasn't the string's fault...​

​

For anyone who uses Tour Bite, and is looking for something with more feel, I'd definitely say Tourna Silver 7 Tour is worth a test drive. Although to be fair, I'm biased in that I've never liked Tour Bite...​

​

Nothing but kudos from me on this string. Thanks to Tourna and TW for the opportunity to try this string out.​

 

[Injured Again]

Since coming back from a week without tennis, I've put in another three hours with the Silver 7 Tour. Tension maintenance has been very good, and playability feels unchanged. There is minimal notching. Spin capability is high and unchanged. Control is a bit below average, but just due to the high power levels, which also have not changed.

The free power from the Silver 7 Tour is addictive, especially since it hasn't come with any downsides other than a bit of loss of control which I think can be fixed by another couple of pounds of tension. It gives me the spin and higher launch angle that I've been searching for, yet without high incoming ball spin sensitivity. I don't see a reason why this might not become my string of choice, and at a great price point.

I'm going to order a couple more sets of Silver 7 Tour to fine tune the tension, and also string up my other racquet with Solinco Revolution and Volkl V-Torque for direct side by side comparisons. These two other strings were contenders for my go-to string but I think I like the overall package of characteristics of Tourna Silver 7 Tour better. It is a fantastic deal at $100 per 660 foot reel versus $140 for Revolution and $160 for V-Square.

 

[GripItNRipIt]

• What string did you receive?
  Tourna Deuce 17
• Tension(s) used for playtest
  50lb mains, 46lb crosses on an Alpha Pioneer. I had hand-stretched briefly, but felt like there was still a lot of stretch once I put it on the drop-weight. I will say it was very easy to weave, especially getting into the last grommet holes which are always blocked and a royal pain with a lot of other strings. This sucker just pushed right through.
• Regular string set up
  Normally play Hyper G 17 at 48/46 on one racquet, and Firewire Boost on the other at same tensions
• Racquet used for test
  ProStaff 97, 2016 version. My regular racquets are the black PS97 Countervail, but my son needed new strings so I put the Deuce in his racquet. Good idea, as events proved.
• Power/Control of test string
  I know everybody's different, every racquet is different, every string job is different, so I say with those caveats that both me and my son had initial difficulty clearing the net. Which is funny because I've seen a lot of previous reports about the high ball flight. We both adjusted to it, him more than me as he started being able to crack that stinkin' inside-out forehand of his and sending it deep in the ad corner. I never did gel completely with it; wouldn't say it's low-powered, I just couldn't seem to get the launch angle and depth as consistently as I wanted.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
  This is where I had to quit. Between us there's about 4 hours on the stringbed now, but I quit after the first hour. I could already feel the twinging in the elbow so I wisely switched back to my sticks. My son loved it however (18 yr old vs 54. I would say it FELT okay, somewhat crisp, but I could tell after not much time that it wasn't going to be kind to my arm, and I'm not risking another bout of TE. The kid likes it, however, and it doesn't bother him, so I chose wisely when picking a racquet to string. I'm pretty sure it's not just me; I play Hyper G full bed and no issues. Take it for what it's worth...
• Spin
  This is what surprised me. It had a subtle but effective spin that looked floaty at first, but then the ball would drop right inside the baseline. I wouldn't say high spin potential, but it's rewarding. I didn't feel like I would be confident going for a short hard angle with it, though.
• Durability
  Still doing good after 4 hours
• Playability Duration
  Still plays about the same
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
  I'm going to be contrarian and say I'd string it lower, maybe match the 48/46 in my other racquets. I'd like to see if I could get a little more "trampoline" feel because I just felt like my normal swing didn't give it any pop. As I say that I realize it sounds crazy after reading all the other reviews that talk about reining the power in with more tension.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
  I wish I'd liked the string, especially since being chosen for playtest (thanks TW.) Just don't want to risk the arm when there's (for me) more comfortable and better spinning strings available.

 

[DrpShot!]

Injured Again

What is your normal setup, racket and string?

 

[SteveI]

• What string did you receive?
  Tourna Deuce 17
• Tension(s) used for playtest
  50lb mains, 46lb crosses on an Alpha Pioneer. I had hand-stretched briefly, but felt like there was still a lot of stretch once I put it on the drop-weight. I will say it was very easy to weave, especially getting into the last grommet holes which are always blocked and a royal pain with a lot of other strings. This sucker just pushed right through.
• Regular string set up
  Normally play Hyper G 17 at 48/46 on one racquet, and Firewire Boost on the other at same tensions
• Racquet used for test
  ProStaff 97, 2016 version. My regular racquets are the black PS97 Countervail, but my son needed new strings so I put the Deuce in his racquet. Good idea, as events proved.
• Power/Control of test string
  I know everybody's different, every racquet is different, every string job is different, so I say with those caveats that both me and my son had initial difficulty clearing the net. Which is funny because I've seen a lot of previous reports about the high ball flight. We both adjusted to it, him more than me as he started being able to crack that stinkin' inside-out forehand of his and sending it deep in the ad corner. I never did gel completely with it; wouldn't say it's low-powered, I just couldn't seem to get the launch angle and depth as consistently as I wanted.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
  This is where I had to quit. Between us there's about 4 hours on the stringbed now, but I quit after the first hour. I could already feel the twinging in the elbow so I wisely switched back to my sticks. My son loved it however (18 yr old vs 54. I would say it FELT okay, somewhat crisp, but I could tell after not much time that it wasn't going to be kind to my arm, and I'm not risking another bout of TE. The kid likes it, however, and it doesn't bother him, so I chose wisely when picking a racquet to string. I'm pretty sure it's not just me; I play Hyper G full bed and no issues. Take it for what it's worth...
• Spin
  This is what surprised me. It had a subtle but effective spin that looked floaty at first, but then the ball would drop right inside the baseline. I wouldn't say high spin potential, but it's rewarding. I didn't feel like I would be confident going for a short hard angle with it, though.
• Durability
  Still doing good after 4 hours
• Playability Duration
  Still plays about the same
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
  I'm going to be contrarian and say I'd string it lower, maybe match the 48/46 in my other racquets. I'd like to see if I could get a little more "trampoline" feel because I just felt like my normal swing didn't give it any pop. As I say that I realize it sounds crazy after reading all the other reviews that talk about reining the power in with more tension.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
  I wish I'd liked the string, especially since being chosen for playtest (thanks TW.) Just don't want to risk the arm when there's (for me) more comfortable and better spinning strings available.

I also strung my frame on a Alpha Pioneer. The frame I used for the test is indeed a tweener and designed for power. It is modified to be very close to the stock specs of your frame. The Yonex is a power baseliner's frame, where as your frame is a players frame or all court. Beam is 24 mm and the head is 102. I think I would have been fine if I had went up a few pounds. This string was not a great match for frame. The string did die a bit... so the control is a bit better now... but it is outside for 15 hours for me now,,, It is a great setup for feeding balls now. Nice review by you!! ... It did not work out for either of us. Mine was a brain-fart when stringing. After seeing the 1st few pulls I should have released the clamps and started over about 3-4 lbs higher. Thank god it was not for a customer... .

Here is a link to the frame:

https://web.archive.org/web/20050207143119/http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCYONEX-YMP2.html

My frame is 11.5 oz and 6 points HL. The frame is not 27.5 inches long. Measures 27.25 max.

 

[GripItNRipIt]

I also strung my frame on a Alpha Pioneer. The frame I used for the test is indeed a tweener and designed for power. It is modified to be very close to the stock specs of your frame. The Yonex is a power baseliner's frame, where as your frame is a players frame or all court. Beam is 24 mm and the head is 102. I think I would have been fine if I had went up a few pounds. This string was not a great match for frame. The string did die a bit... so the control is a bit better now... but it is outside for 15 hours for me now,,, It is a great setup for feeding balls now. Nice review by you!! ... It did not work out for either of us. Mine was a brain-fart when stringing. After seeing the 1st few pulls I should have released the clamps and started over about 3-4 lbs higher. Thank god it was not for a customer... .

Here is a link to the frame:

https://web.archive.org/web/20050207143119/http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCYONEX-YMP2.html

My frame is 11.5 oz and 6 points HL. The frame is not 27.5 inches long. Measures 27.25 max.

Thanks for the kind words, I was wondering if tighter might have worked better. I did let it settle on the weight quite a bit while stringing, so pretty confident the tension was accurate, but I bet you're correct that it would require a lot of experimentation. Luckily I didn't put it on my ProStaff, because I'm sure I would have cut it out right away. Mine is significantly heavier than stock, I'm happy with what I've got on it right now.

 

[Injured Again]

Injured Again

What is your normal setup, racket and string?

SW104 with the grip size increased to a size 6 (4 3/4) via two layers of heat shrink tubing over the bottom five inches of the grip, plus a thick Gamma replacement grip. About six grams of lead at 3 and 9 o'clock. Static weight 357 grams, with a swingweight in the 345-350 range.

I've been trying about 15 strings to find my go-to for this racquet. I'm leaning towards a thinner gauge shaped poly, and prior to testing the Silver 7 Tour was leaning towards Solinco Revolution 1.20, strung at about 48-50 pounds in the center crosses and 46-48 pounds in the center mains.

 

[PBODY99]

End of Play test report

• String received Tourna Deuce 17
• Tension(s) used for play-test 44 lbs
• Current String set up Bear Claw 1.20 mm, I switch strings a lot
• Racquet used for test : Prince O3 Speedport Gold 110
• Power/Control of test string Power is on the high side / Control is average
• Feel : Comfortable !!!!
• Spin Average
• Durability Little notching after 12 hours on red clay, 6 hours on hard court
• Playabilty Duration 18 hours : The power seemed to increase in the 85 degree heat
• Tension recommendation I would go up 2 to 4 pounds as the weather gets warmer.
• Additional thoughts I see Deuce as a great poly for the fall / indoor season as some polys feel harsh when playing in cooler temperatures

This string continues Tourna's history releasing polys that are a good value for the money.

Thanks to Tourna & TW for this opportunity

 

[JOSHL]

What string did you receive?
Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour

Tension(s) used for playtest
48lbs. I did a hybrid with Volkl V Star 17g crosses at the same tension.

Regular string set up
I don't really have a regular setup, but I have been using shaped mains and smooth crosses for a while-all poly. Last one was Cyclone 19g and V Star 17g.

Racquet used for test
Wilson Pro Staff 97CV

Power/Control of test string
Power was middle of the road for me, not too powerful but not under powered at all. Control was very good but the launch angle took some getting used to.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
It is a comfortable string that is fairly crisp, not stiff or jarring at all.

Spin
Spin is probably the best attribute of this string, the edges are very sharp!

Durability
I am not a poly breaker so durability for me was great! Notching was about 30-40% after 7-8 hours

Playability Duration
Played pretty much the same after 7-8 hours of play, very good tension maintenance.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
I don't know if I'd string it different, I think I would keep it at 48lbs. I am going to use the other half with Ghost Wire crosses and see if it changes anything for me.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
This is a great string for spin lovers and seekers without breaking the bank. I have liked every tourna string I have tried and this is no exception. In fact it may be my favorite Tourna string yet. If you like the Big Hitter 7 but find it's too dead/muted you should try this for sure!


Thanks TTW and Tourna for allowing me to take part!

Cheers!

 

[Daddy's]

I decided it's died off so I cut it out and here's my review:

• What string did you receive?
• Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour
• Tension(s) used for playtest
• I strung it up at 53/52
• Regular string set up
• I'd say my go to is NG/Poly but just prior to this string I tried X-perience, Eruption and Hyper-G all good strings by the way.
• Racquet used for test
• I used my Head MG MP Radical weighted up to 11.4 oz 4 pt HL
• Power/Control of test string
• I really liked this string from the start. Serves flat down the T good pace and accuracy.Slices pulled you well off the court. Forehand hard and deep with enough spin to bring them down. Backhand slice flat and fast dug in and just skidded off the court probably my favorite shot with it. Great for short angles just emphasis on the up swing and it's over the net and down off the court. This would be a great string if you spend most of your time baseline bashing.
• Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
• It doesn't have the touch and feel of the green ones I had been trying let alone my NG/poly. I'd call it fairly stiff and crisp but still comfortable.
• Spin
• This really dug in for me. If I did my part it was ripping the felt off the ball.
• Durability
• I didn't break it in 12/14 hrs play.
• Playability Duration
• I got about 12/14 hrs out of it before it felt flat. You could still use it and the mains were still moving well but it felt stiff. Not as good on touch/feel shots.If you pushed your thumb into the string bed it didn't give. When I cut the the strings the crosses didn't separate nearly as much as the mains.
• Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
• I'd drop it 5% to about 50lb to see if I could get a little more feel without hurting it's positive features.
• List any additional thoughts (optional)
• I liked this string and would recommend it to textured poly users. Its inexpensive and that might help people not push their polys past where they should change them. I string myself and really enjoy a nice fresh string bed.
• Thanks to TW and Tourna for the chance to try out Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour.

 

[Tennis_Monk]

What string did you receive? Tourna Big Hitter Deuce 17
Tension(s) used for playtest 55
Regular string set up Alu Power Rough
Racquet used for test Babolat Pure Aero
Power/Control of test string High power
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?) Soft and Comfortable
Spin Average
Durability Average
Playability Duration 6-8 sets
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why) string it a bit high to get more control
List any additional thoughts (optional)

I loved the Red/Blue shade of this string. Very well packed. Because of the stretch of this string, it took slightly longer than my usual as I had to pull a couple extra times.
Strings look great on the racquet and the alternating Red/Blue hue is really cool.

I have played with this setup in two competitive matches and some practice sets. Here are my observations. It took me a bit to get used to the high launch angle of this string (and I am used to higher launch angles) and finding the range. This string is best when one takes full cut at the ball. The string is average in terms of its spin as compared to some of the other spin strings I use (Grapplesnake- Alpha, Ultracable, etc). Defensive shots sat up for my opponents and I felt that the strings weren't helping me when I am stretched. However when I took a full cut, the ball had lot of bit and action. The strings in that way forced me to be a bit aggressive and good things happened for me. The string seems to take spin on opponents shots and power well.

Touch shots worked well for me as I felt the string provided a decent feel. Flat serves were really flat and lacked penetration but kick serves did have good bit on the ball.

Durability wise, It took me about a set to get settled with this strings and were effective for about 6-8 sets which is my average. The strings still work though I am noticing a bit of discomfort.

In summary, Tourna Big hitter Deuce are cool looking strings with decent comfort , feel and power. These are well suited for players with rounded ground strokes. For others, these would be a good hybrid option. If the strings had more spin, control and predictable launch angle , I would have them as my regular strings.

Thank you to TW , Tourna and TW members for the opportunity to review.

 

[USPTARF97]

Would be great if guys could include some sort of comparison to long standing Tourna strings like Black Zone and Big Black Hitter 7. Power level, string tension maintenance, spin, stiffness etc.

 

[Tennis_Monk]

Would be great if guys could include some sort of comparison to long standing Tourna strings like Black Zone and Big Black Hitter 7. Power level, string tension maintenance, spin, stiffness etc.

I can provide comparisons with Many other brands /strings but I don't have much experience with other Tourna strings.

 

[samprasbackhand]

Thanks TW and Tourna for the opportunity! I received the Big Hitter SIlver 7.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 53 lbs

Regular string set up: I typically try out lots of different strings so I wouldn't say I normally have a go-to setup. Of most of the strings I've tried lately I'd say Head Lynx 17 has been my favorite so far.

Racquet used for test: Yonex EZONE 98 with lead tape added at 10 & 2

Power/Control of test string: Power felt pretty high to me. I had a lot of trouble controlling the launch angle of the string in the beginning but learned how to reel it in as the string settled. Given the high power of the string I definitely struggled in the beginning and the string always seemed to be out of place early in the playtest. Eventually I was able to dial it in and found a nice blend of control and power.

Feel: High comfort for a poly although I found the string to feel a bit mushy and muted feeling. The string would be good for people with arm issues that want to use poly although I definitely prefer a crisper and livelier feel from my string like a Volkl Cyclone would offer.

Spin: As with most poly's spin was very good. My stroke already produces a lot of spin so usually feel is the most important thing to me when testing out strings. To be honest I have never been a huge fan of shaped strings as I feel like the shape on the strings always seems to wear out pretty fast and I also prefer most shaped strings once the shape has worn off and I felt the same with this one.

Durability: Have played about 10 hours with the string and still seems to be in good condition

Playability Duration: For the most part, I don't mind playing with poly until it breaks and have still found this to be a very playable string after 10 hours in.

Tension Recommendations: I'd probably bump it up a few pounds since I had a hard time playing with this string right off the stringer.

List any additional thoughts: Overall, I thought this was a solid all around string at a pretty nice price point. That being said, I don't think I'd make this my go-to string. I typically don't like shaped strings until they settle in but that's also when they begin to lose their shape around the sweetspot. Once that happens I tend to like the feel of the string more but then the stringbed is more inconsistent since some of the stringbed has more shape then the rest.

Thanks again to TW and Tourna for the opportunity. I recorded a match I played while using this string, see below if you want to check out some match play with me using this string!

 

[SteveI]

Thanks TW and Tourna for the opportunity! I received the Big Hitter SIlver 7.

Tension(s) used for playtest: 53 lbs

Regular string set up: I typically try out lots of different strings so I wouldn't say I normally have a go-to setup. Of most of the strings I've tried lately I'd say Head Lynx 17 has been my favorite so far.

Racquet used for test: Yonex EZONE 98 with lead tape added at 10 & 2

Power/Control of test string: Power felt pretty high to me. I had a lot of trouble controlling the launch angle of the string in the beginning but learned how to reel it in as the string settled. Given the high power of the string I definitely struggled in the beginning and the string always seemed to be out of place early in the playtest. Eventually I was able to dial it in and found a nice blend of control and power.

Feel: High comfort for a poly although I found the string to feel a bit mushy and muted feeling. The string would be good for people with arm issues that want to use poly although I definitely prefer a crisper and livelier feel from my string like a Volkl Cyclone would offer.

Spin: As with most poly's spin was very good. My stroke already produces a lot of spin so usually feel is the most important thing to me when testing out strings. To be honest I have never been a huge fan of shaped strings as I feel like the shape on the strings always seems to wear out pretty fast and I also prefer most shaped strings once the shape has worn off and I felt the same with this one.

Durability: Have played about 10 hours with the string and still seems to be in good condition

Playability Duration: For the most part, I don't mind playing with poly until it breaks and have still found this to be a very playable string after 10 hours in.

Tension Recommendations: I'd probably bump it up a few pounds since I had a hard time playing with this string right off the stringer.

List any additional thoughts: Overall, I thought this was a solid all around string at a pretty nice price point. That being said, I don't think I'd make this my go-to string. I typically don't like shaped strings until they settle in but that's also when they begin to lose their shape around the sweetspot. Once that happens I tend to like the feel of the string more but then the stringbed is more inconsistent since some of the stringbed has more shape then the rest.

Thanks again to TW and Tourna for the opportunity. I recorded a match I played while using this string, see below if you want to check out some match play with me using this string!

Nice Video... Your OHBH is better than Pete's!! Nice game you have!

 

[SteveI]

Would be great if guys could include some sort of comparison to long standing Tourna strings like Black Zone and Big Black Hitter 7. Power level, string tension maintenance, spin, stiffness etc.

What would you like to know? I play tested the Deuce 17G. I have played... Big Hitter Silver 17G, Big Red 17G, BHB7 17G, Black Zone 17G, Big Hitter Blue 17G, Black Zone 17G. Rough Versions of the Silver and Blue. Did you play test one of these?

 

[leejayh]

What string did you receive?
Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 17

Tension(s) used for playtest
46x44lbs.

Regular string set up
Currently my standard setup is Babolat Tonic+ 57 Mains, and Luxilon ALU Power Soft 47 Crosses. It is a very comfortable and powerful setup. I also use Isospeed Cream 1.23 in a full bed when it is too humid or relatively wet out. 48 mains x46 crosses or Volkl Vstar 17, same tension.

Racquet used for test
Donnay Pentacore 16x19 weighted to 12.15oz, with 32 balance.

Power/Control of test string
For a poly string, this has medium to medium-high power. By comparison, Solinco Tour Bite 17 is low powered. Isospeed Cream and Vstar are Medium High. I also put Lux ALU power Soft in a full bed, as Medium.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
When you compare this to a Tonic/ALUP Soft, which has a ton of feedback, or Cream which has an almost metallic spring feel, you don't get that same feedback. But, it is more crisp than a lot of other polys which are more muted. As example Tourna Big Hitter Silver, which I know has no relation to this string, has less feedback, than this string. BHS7 is also not as crisp as ALU Soft but it is pretty close. It is very comfortable.

Spin
Generates a good amount of spin. Not as much as Solinco Tour Bite, but quite good and certainly far more comfortable with better feedback. I think a key to this string is to make sure to string in the lower tensions to get some pocketing from the ball. I feel that it performs well at the 46/44. It does not pocket as much as either of my typical gut or softer poly setups however.

Durability
I don’t break strings often, so can't comment on that. However, after about 6 hours with the string - the edges are as still sharp and tension is still good. So, I suspect that this will last longer than say TourBite Soft (which has just slightly less power and the edge lose sharpness by the 6 hr mark.)

Playability Duration
Very good tension maintenance. No quick tension loss here.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
I don't think that I would string it any differently next time. It works great at this tension

List any additional thoughts (optional)
This is a great all around spin string that has good feedback and higher than average power (compared to the TourBite's). It is not overly muted and compares well to TourBite Soft which has similar power. It is a toss up to me between this and Big Hitter Silver. Maybe this has a little more crispness. I am thinking about buying more of this and perhaps replacing my Big Hitter Silver if the performance stays consistent past the 10 hr mark.

Thank you Tennis Warehouse for the playtest.

 

[loosegroove]

What string did you receive: Tourna Deuce

Tension(s) used for playtest: 45lbs

Regular string set up: Various poly, mainly shaped

Racket used for test: Prince Phantom Pro 100

Power/Control of test string: From the first shot, I thought this string was on the more powerful side of things for a poly. It felt particularly that way on my two-handed backhanded which is flatter and more compact. Deuce is like the opposite of the GrappleSnake Alpha I recently tested, in the sense that Alpha played better the harder you pressed, but for me Deuce felt better when I was just warming up or casually rallying. When I began playing more aggressively, I started to spray balls and lose some predictability. Directional control was decent, but overall I didn’t feel super confident with my shot placement. It does however offer plush power.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Stringing Deuce up, it felt soft, malleable, rubbery, and slippery. When I played with it, it definitely felt soft and comfortable, maybe even a little too mushy at my usual low tension in my flexy frame.

Spin: Spin was more impressive when I was hitting casually. The string seemed to pocket the ball nicely and sent it off on a nice trajectory with decent dip. However, I was having a tough time generating enough topspin to harness the string’s power when I was going for my shots. I also found myself hitting my approach shots long.

Durability: So far so good, I’ll check back in with this.

Playability Duration: The strings are still moving freely, and not notched up and locking up on themselves. However, as play has continued, I find they’re becoming a bit mushy and control is waning.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I definitely recommend stringing these up a bit higher than your typical poly. I would have added at least another 5lbs if I were to do it over again. I think it would give a crisper response and add a little more control for me.

List any additional thoughts: Deuce is a nice comfortable poly with good power, but it lacks the control and consistency I seek from my strings. I think it would make a good gateway poly for those coming from synthetic gut or multis. And with its slick composition it may make for nice cross string to hybrid with a lower powered and stiffer shaped poly.

 

[SteveI]

What string did you receive: Tourna Deuce

Tension(s) used for playtest: 45lbs

Regular string set up: Various poly, mainly shaped

Racket used for test: Prince Phantom Pro 100

Power/Control of test string: From the first shot, I thought this string was on the more powerful side of things for a poly. It felt particularly that way on my two-handed backhanded which is flatter and more compact. Deuce is like the opposite of the GrappleSnake Alpha I recently tested, in the sense that Alpha played better the harder you pressed, but for me Deuce felt better when I was just warming up or casually rallying. When I began playing more aggressively, I started to spray balls and lose some predictability. Directional control was decent, but overall I didn’t feel super confident with my shot placement. It does however offer plush power.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Stringing Deuce up, it felt soft, malleable, rubbery, and slippery. When I played with it, it definitely felt soft and comfortable, maybe even a little too mushy at my usual low tension in my flexy frame.

Spin: Spin was more impressive when I was hitting casually. The string seemed to pocket the ball nicely and sent it off on a nice trajectory with decent dip. However, I was having a tough time generating enough topspin to harness the string’s power when I was going for my shots. I also found myself hitting my approach shots long.

Durability: So far so good, I’ll check back in with this.

Playability Duration: The strings are still moving freely, and not notched up and locking up on themselves. However, as play has continued, I find they’re becoming a bit mushy and control is waning.

Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I definitely recommend stringing these up a bit higher than your typical poly. I would have added at least another 5lbs if I were to do it over again. I think it would give a crisper response and add a little more control for me.

List any additional thoughts: Deuce is a nice comfortable poly with good power, but it lacks the control and consistency I seek from my strings. I think it would make a good gateway poly for those coming from synthetic gut or multis. And with its slick composition it may make for nice cross string to hybrid with a lower powered and stiffer shaped poly.

Great work... You nailed the review. Said somethings I could not express properly.

 

[loosegroove]

Great work... You nailed the review. Said somethings I could not express properly.

Thanks! Always nice to have my reviews validated so I don't feel like I'm talking out of my bum .

 

[SteveI]

Thanks! Always nice to have my reviews validated so I don't feel like I'm talking out of my bum .

I loved some of the attributes of this string.. but could not play it at the tension I picked for the test...