Tennis Warehouse: Volkl V-Pro Blue (16,17,18) Playtest

TW Staff

TW Staff

Administrator
Attention Talk Tennis Members:

We have a limited number of Volkl V-Pro Blue co-poly strings for a playtest. This playtest is for USA TTW members only

IMPORTANT: We have 3 gauges (16,17,18) but we are not taking gauge requests. If this is a problem, please do not apply.

The application period is over. We will notify selected playtesters by the end of the week, and ship the playtest samples early next week.

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 remain in good standing for all upcoming playtests you must post your findings in this thread by Monday June 19

Include the following in your review:

Okay to Hybrid
  • What gauge did you receive?
  • Tension(s) used for playtest
  • If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string.
  • Regular string set up
  • Racquet used for test
  • Power of test string
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?)
  • Spin
  • Comfort
  • Durability
  • Playability Duration
  • Control
  • Compare to string used most often
  • List any additional thoughts (optional).

We will remove “Email sent” posts, but encourage/want/value any/all discussion (predictions/hopes) about the actual string.
 
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Was a little late so could not apply. Good luck to all selected. Would love to see some pictures and close ups of the string. As a Cyclone user, I'm very curious of this offering from Volkl.
 
Thank you to TW for the opportunity again! Will be an interesting process, because I have never used Volkl strings before.... (I know, right? heavy Solinco user). Very Excited to try this! Also, will we receive 2 sets like the RPM Blast Rough, or only one?
 
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Hi:

Just got my email from TW staff and I am also looking to test this one. I was a user of the V-Pro Silver 18G that was just discontinued. I found it to be low powered and stiff for a 18G. Any one in the know tell me if this is a re-formulation? I am hoping it has a bit more free power and somewhat less stiff. Thanks... That would give me an idea what to use as a baseline tension...
 
Ok, I'll be the first to ask:
@TW Staff , is it OK to hybrid this? Just curious as gut/poly is my 'normal' setup, although I do go to full poly during the clay season.​
 
McLovin,

Hybrids are okay. I will update the review questions. It's a little harder to do an apples to apples comparison but this is a case where we just want people to discuss the string in whatever form.

Jon
 
TW Staff said:
McLovin,

Hybrids are okay. I will update the review questions. It's a little harder to do an apples to apples comparison but this is a case where we just want people to discuss the string in whatever form.

Jon
Click to expand...

Hi Jon:

Any idea string stiffness? Thanks...
 
16 gauge

9cadb5f045186ddb7d8d446761a5af88.jpg
 
I got mine (17g) yesterday.
This string feels stiff so I will go for a hybrid setup with syn gut.
 
SJSA said:
I got mine (17g) yesterday.
This string feels stiff so I will go for a hybrid setup with syn gut.
Click to expand...

Can you compare to another string? I strung my 17g up yesterday and it felt soft-ish. Feels similar to Wilson revolve.

I strung mine up with luxilon gut at 56/53 and got to hit for about 30 mins. Will post some thoughts when I get to a computer.
 
Donuts & Deadlifts said:
Can you compare to another string? I strung my 17g up yesterday and it felt soft-ish. Feels similar to Wilson revolve.

I strung mine up with luxilon gut at 56/53 and got to hit for about 30 mins. Will post some thoughts when I get to a computer.
Click to expand...
I will string mine up tomorrow with Gosen OGSM 17g @53/56.
 
I got the "Volkl V-Pro Blue 16". My pro-stringer friend had a "Volkl V-Pro Silver 17", and I got that from him as well, so that I can compare them. Ready to string two Racquets and test them side by side

ajurzs.jpg


In the hand both colors feel the same, except for the color/looks and slight difference in thickness (due to gauge difference).
 
The interesting thing about the v-pro strings is that the stiffness on the 16g and the 18g are high and the 17G is much softer than both. I was lucky to get the 17G to test..

I will be very interested to see the results of the three gauges... I have the 17G for this test.. very happy for sure. Also not sure if this string is a different formulation for the silver.
 
I just took the string out for its first outing tonight and played about a set with it.
I received the 16G and strung it up in my Prince Tour Pro 100 ESP at 58lb. Been trying to find a go-to string, that tames the power for this stick. I have been using Tier One Firewire 16L around 48lb or YTex Pro Tour 16L around 57lb. I have been a longtime fan of Volkl V-Pro Silver 17 and 18, used it a lot in hybrid with multis, both as Mains and crosses, also have used plenty of Cyclone.

The blue looks nice, kind of a darkish, semi-translucent look. Now, I haven't tested any Volkl strings yet in this racquet, but I have tested enough strings to be able to get a good feel for a string. Initial thoughts are that it feels very similar to the V-Pro Silver of the past, however it felt a little crisper (not as muted) with maybe a little more power. This could have something to do with the color, but with Cyclone I felt the brighter colors played crisper with a little more power, as well. To me, this "new" V-Pro had very similar control, spin, firmness and pocketing compared to the old Silver stuff. It feels like a slightly more comfortable cyclone with a little more pop and a little less bite. It gets fantastic spin from snap-back. I can't speak for durabililty yet, but overall this string feels like a slightly improved V-Pro with a little more bite and power. I always felt like V-Pro offered nice feedback, and this is no exception. It's definitely not a soft string, but I would say it's medium firm, but has just enough power to say it's not a "dead" string.
 
Strung my sample as a full bed in my Yonex SV95 at 59/58. Noticing the similarities in how the two behave while being strung: I suddenly have this unshakable feeling I have just strung RPM Blast's german cousin at 59lbs.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
 
  • What gauge did you receive? 17g
  • Tension(s) used for playtest Luxilon gut/Volkl V-Pro Blue 56/53
  • Regular string set up Been playing with Babolat Synthetic gut (had a reel laying around), before that Solinco Hyper G
  • Racquet used for test Yonex DR 98+
  • Power of test string Low-Medium
  • Feel For the rest see below.
  • Spin
  • Comfort
  • Durability
  • Playability Duration
  • Control
  • Compare to string used most often
  • List any additional thoughts (optional).

Initial thoughts after taking the string out of the package - feels about like wilson revolve, round, smooth poly. The string was easier to string up with gut mains than a full bed of Hyper G. Had no issues with weaving crosses.
First hit with this setup was about 30 mins of light hitting. Luxilon gut to me always has a settle in period to where the feel is completely different the first time out. It was no different this time. Lower powered for gut, but still pretty good spin.
2nd outing with this setup was about an hour of harder hitting, some volleys, and a few serves. After the gut settled in, I noticed the power, spin, and control were right were I expected them to be. Plenty of spin on shots that I went for, nice depth control, and a very predictable stringbed. Volleys were easy to place, angles were easy to hit, and the stringbed had enough "pop" off of it to hit winners.
3rd outing was a 4.5 match on clay. Strings have finally settled in to where I believe they will stay for a good while. I noticed the spin potential of this setup was amazing. I definitely had some nice kick serves and slices out wide on the duece court. On forehands and backhands I was able to roll, drive or drop whenever I needed to. Again, volleys were easy to drop, angle, or punch as needed.
Comfort has been on par with a gut/poly hybrid, but after stringing it up, I could string this up in a full bed around 52-53lbs and have no problems with comfort whatsoever. I have noticed some fraying on the gut, but that may be due to the 17g vs the 16g of wilson revolve I have played with in the past. Unless something weird happens and the tension just drops out of nowhere, I can see this string lasting as long as the gut will.
Control via spin is pretty amazing with this setup. I can go for shots and not wonder if they will land in. I haven't noticed any hot spots or dead spots in this setup.
Compared to Babolat synthetic gut - This setup has a longer life, more spin potential, and a more "user friendly" feel to it. Would much rather use this setup for multiple outings than stringing up the synthetic gut every few days.
Compared to Hyper G - More predictable stringbed, I volley better with this setup than I do with a full bed of Hyper G, and I would say the spin is about the same, if not more.

I've enjoyed this setup in my DR98+ and will probably switch to it as long as the strings last to justify the cost of gut.

If you're thinking this is the "magical" string that is going to completely change your game.... probably not, but I have enjoyed the play test so far.

I am playing in a tournament this weekend and will update afterwards on the durability and playability duration.
 
I played with this string for 2 hours last night and found it is much softer than my thought.
 
I got a full workout in with the 17G (mains) in a hybrid with Forten Sweet 17G (crosses) strung at 48/46 in a modified Volkl Scorcher. I also had another frame strung with 18G v-pro Silver with again 17G sweet in the crosses... the other frame was strung at 50/48. Not even close... The 17G Blue test frame played like a dream. Perfect blend of power control and spin. Comfort was excellent. Either this is a new formulation, or the 17G is a soft as the TWU testing data indicates.

The 18G Silver set-up is stiff, low powered and just feels dead. The 18G was the old stock that TW was selling... Anyway.. love the 17G blue. I will get some
additional drill time and some match play before I write the review. The color is also great.. :-)
 
I'd like to thank the fine folks at Tennis Warehouse for giving me the opportunity to sample this latest version of Volkl V-Pro. Unfortunately my play test has ended abruptly because I've popped a main string after only 7 collective hours.

Gauge Recieved: I received a 16 gauge(1.28mm) sample.
Tension Used: I strung the mains at 59 pounds, and the crosses at 58 pounds.
Regular String Setup: IsoSpeed Black Fire 17g @ 59/58 pounds.
Racquet Used: Yonex VCore SV95 (346g, 333SW, 9pts HL)
Power: Compared to my regular setup of BlackFire 17g @ 59/58, this string is much more under powered. I really felt an exorbitant need to dig into my back-swing and time everything off the bounce in order for my shot to feel as though the ball had any interest on it. I would imagine that this would pair phenomenally with a Natural Gut main, but even if left to ones own devices in a full bed this can be a particularly rewarding string as it turned out.
Feel: This string has a higher stiffness than what I am used to with Black Fire, granted its 17 gauge. But that is not to say I didn't enjoy the stiffness at 59 pounds. There were moments when I groaned and shook my arm out. I suppose it boils down to what I can take, lower stiffness poly's like Black Fire are better for me with tension in the high 50's. Feel on groundies, volleys, and serves was not bad. I perceived a sufficient amount of pocketing from the string-bed, as well as a fairly muted yet comfortable response on volleys.
Spin: I was not surprised to see how well this string took to different types of contact and spins I imparted on the ball. Though I string at high tensions, I found that this string can really respond to my ratcheting up on RHS. My second serve is possibly the weakest recipient to spin, so I didn't quite gel to well with the string in that regard, but overall I think that I didn't miss out on any spin coming from a softer, less stiff string.
Comfort: I did find myself shaking out my right arm from time to time, mostly while playing defensively, but I suppose it comes with the territory of high tensions. Guess I've just gotta use something less stiff.
Durability: About 4 hours into the play test; I found that the navy blue string became discolored particularly along the length of the mains. The mains showed notching early in the 3rd hour and, as mentioned previously, broke in the 7th hour.
Playability Duration: I would like to think this string remained playable all 7 hours. Snapback remained the same all throughout.
Control: I didn't find this string to impede my ability to control the ball. The characteristics of this string really allowed me to juice the ball before my arm began to chime in that it needed a good shaking.

The string I use most often is currently IsoSpeed Black Fire. I like Black Fire for its of softness, slick coating, and dead response. V-Pro Blue, I find, is a more lively poly. Between these two strings I will stick with Black Fire as I find that it offers more all around benefits from a big swing. It offers a a slightly softer yet deader response, and has far more spin potential and feel in a less stiff package.

V-Pro is a stiff poly like RPM Blast, but I do not think that it possesses a slick coating through which that stiffness could shine through, and the best use of a stiff string could be made, i.e. spin potential. I attribute this lack of a coating to the burning and thus the eventual break. I also did not care for the sound as much as say something 30-40 points stiffer on the TWU string comparison tool.
 
Gauge: 18.
Tension used: Mains 53, Crosses 54
Regular strings: Kirschbaum Pro Line II or Kirschbaum Black shark 17 usually around 52lb
Racket used: Babolat Pure Drive (latest version)
Power: Seems like more power than the Kirschbaum. There is good pocketing and rebound on reflex shots.
Feel: Great feel. I was afraid at that tension it might be too stiff but I think the thinner gauge really helped with the feel.
Spin: Moderate. Maybe more than Pro Line II but less than the shark. But with the right technique spin was readily accessible.
Comfort: Great comfort. No soreness or aching after even after 8 hours of playing(three of the times I hit with it I played for 2 hours straight).
Durability: I am not a string breaker but I have played 8 hours so far and the string is holding up well.
Playability Duration: Holding up after 8 hours of singles and doubles.
Control: Excellent. As I would expect for a polyester string.

Comparing to ProLine II strings: I like these better than the ProLine II. They have similar characteristics as far as control and spin but this string has better feel.

These strings are really nice. Depending on the price these would be my go to string for full poly string job. I have never tried 18ga. strings before and these have opened up my eyes to the benefits of thinner polyester strings.
​
 
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  • What gauge did you receive? 16g
  • Tension(s) used for playtest: 52 lbs / 50 lbs full bed
  • Regular string set up: Tier one Black Knight 18g 56/54 lbs
  • Racquet used for test: Head Graphene xt speed pro 18/20
  • Power of test string: found it to be pretty low powered but not as much as my usual set up. Middle of the road power for a poly really.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?): definitely crisp but it had a kind of rubbery feel to it. Felt very connected to the ball. Surprised by the great amount of pocketting the string had. In the beginning it was very crisp and firm, but as the playtest went on, it felt more muted.
  • Spin: decent spin and snapback for a round and very thick poly. I enjoy shaped strings more because of the bite. Good pocketting improved spin.
  • Comfort: good comfort for 16g but I don't get arm pain usually.
  • Durability: have only played for 5 hours but the string is very thick, even for 16g. In my speed pro I doubt it'll break for a while. I didn't enjoy the string enough to find out.
  • Playability Duration: has played pretty consistent over the past hours. Doesn't seem like dying soon really.
  • Control: great control, felt like I could place shots well.
  • Compare to string used most often: not as much spin as blacknight but it had very good pocketting. Although it was thick, didn't have any arm pain and felt pretty good. Plays more consistently but it is a 16g
  • List any additional thoughts (optional): Honestly better for those who hit a bit flatter or want a consistent string bed. Enjoyed the feel
 
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  • What gauge did you receive? I received the 17 g, 1.23 m
  • Tension(s) used for playtest 54 lb
  • If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string. Used the full bed of v-pro
  • Regular string set up Solinco Hyper G mains, RPM Blast crosses, at 54/52 lb.
  • Racquet used for test Pure Aero, modded to 338 grams
  • Power of test string This string was pretty low powered. Kinda felt like a full bed of RPM, but a bit more powerful. Had nice feedback on shots. It made a "POW" when you really tried, and I love it.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?) It felt pretty stiff at first, but softened up after a few hours. It was a crisp, and strong string, and felt great on contact. However, when you hit off-centered shots, the string seems to make the racquet vibrate more, and essentially shrinks the sweet spot...
  • Spin Pretty adequate for a round poly. I couldn't feel the bite on the ball like Hyper G does, but I could get good amounts of spin on groundstrokes and second serves. The strings started notching after 2 hours of play, and this was kinda of disappointing. The string isn't as slick as other polys, and the mains don't snap back as well.
  • Comfort As I said earlier, the strings are kind of stiff, and a little bit stiffer than RPM. It just doesn't have the "RPM Blast" feel, if you know what I'm saying. However, I was satisfied with the comfort level. No pain or anything in the wrist or elbow.
  • Durability Probably not as durable as others, as the string is already notching. After 10 hours of play, there isn't a significant drop in playability, but it started to drop after 18.
  • Playability Duration Played with this string for 20 hours total.
  • Control Since this is a lower powered string, I felt that it was very adequate in control. Loved the feedback from the string, and felt connected to the ball. Although comfort wasn't the best, the string gave me controlled spin and power.
  • Compare to string used most often Comparable to RPM Blast. Although this is a non-shaped string, it's low power level and control remind me of RPM.
Just a shout out @TW_Staff, thank you once again for the opportunity to test new products. You always give to the TT community, and we always appreciate it. It was an awesome first string job with Volkl!
 
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  • What gauge did you receive? - 17
  • Tension(s) used for playtest - 53 lbs
  • Regular string set up - Babolat Pro Hurricane 16 at 53 lbs
  • Racquet used for test - Wilson Blade 98S Countervail customized to 341.2 g
  • Power of test string - Low powered compared to my usual setup. Great control oriented string for players with fast and full swings.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?) - Right off the bat the string felt crisp and firm for 1.5 hour of hard hitting. Next day after warm up, played 3 sets, total of 2.5 hours, and felt crisp/muted. Next session, for about 1 hour of hitting, it felt more towards muted. Last day, 20 min before the string broke felt muted. It was never boardy off the center.
  • Spin - Spin potential seemed about the same, maybe a bit more than Pro Hurricane. It started dying out after the first session.
  • Comfort - Not as comfortable as my usual setup, but I wouldn't say it is an uncomfortable string. No arm injuries throughout the playtest.
  • Durability - A 1.23g string on 18 x 16 string pattern lasting for about 5.5 hours, I would say it is quite durable. My usual setup 1.30g lasts about 8.5 - 9 hours.
  • Playability Duration - Worse tension maintenance than Pro Hurricance, but better than RPM Blast. Still a controllable string even after the tension drop and strings notching after the first session.
  • Control - Very impressive control. Felt confident with hitting full groundstrokes at the baseline right from the start. I had to do a bit more work on getting the balls deeper to the baseline, but wasn't that much of a problem. Easy directional control with volleys, and went nice and low even against the hard hitters.
  • Compare to string used most often - Both Volkl V-Pro Blue and Babolat Pro Hurricane are control oriented strings with medium - high spin potential. They are both great strings for players with fast full swing.
  • List any additional thoughts (optional) - Very nice string color. I'm going to give 16g a try with 2 lbs lower tension and see how that plays out.
Thank you TW and Volkl for this great opportunity to playtest Volkl V-Pro Blue!
 
  • What gauge did you receive - 17G
  • Tension(s) used for playtest - 48 /46 lbs - Strung on Constant Pull
  • If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string. - 17G Volkl V-Pro Blue (48 lbs) - Mains - 17G Forten Sweet White (46 lbs)
  • Regular string set up - Tourna Big Hitter 17G (52 lbs) Mains - 17G Forten Sweet White (50 lbs)
  • Racquet used for test; Volkl Quantum Scorcher (Modified) - 16 x 19 100 Head Size
  • Power of test string - Low to Medium. I strung my test set-up lower than my normal set-up since I have had experience with V-Pro 18G Silver. I found this string to have more free power than the 18G V-Pro. I was testing this string set-up along side a 18G V-Pro Hybrid (same cross) strung just 2 lbs tighter in an identical frame. The power was at least 10-15 % higher with the 17G Blue. Neither string set-up 17G or 18G V-Pro had the few power of my regular set-up.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?) I was very happy with the feel of the test set-up. There was some nice feel around the net and pocketing. Connection is very nice. Not so with the 18G V-Pro Silver. Feel of the test set-up was very close to my regular set-up. Off center hits did not reduce power that much... overall very nice ride.
  • Spin - Excellent... very impressive. Better than my normal set-up and way.. way better than the 18G V-Pro.
  • Comfort - Playing with this string setup at 48/46 and using a very soft and slick cross provided a great comfort level. Played 8 hours on this set-up and never felt a bit of pain. Better than my regular set-up. The 18G V-Pro Hybrid plays boardy and my arm was sore after using it for an hour.
  • Durability - Very happy with this set-up. Some string movement but it is still playing nicely and I am not expecting to break it for a while. I am not a string breaker.
  • Playability Duration - Very good over all strokes in the 8 hour test window. I am impressed on how well the tension seems to be holding. I am sure once I get over the 10 hour mark.. it will be on the down side. Holding tension and playability quite well,,, Impressive
  • Control - Control is a strong-point of this string to be sure. Lower powered, control string to be sure. Tension holding of course is great.. therefore control. Out of the 3 set-ups.. this one rocks
  • Compare to string used most often. Pretty much done that... :)
  • List any additional thoughts (optional). I am going to string the other half of set and cut out that 18G hybrid in my other frame ASAP.. While I did not like the 18G Silver.. I love the 17G Blue. Not sure if Volkl re-formulated the V-Pro Blue.. I do know from the TWU data on the old V-Pro.. the 17G is the softest. The price is also right for this 17G Blue.. $7.99 a set.
 
  • I purchased 18g
  • Tension(s) used for playtest : 48 lbs
  • Installed 2 piece after a light per-stretch to remove coil memory. Installed normally for a poly
  • Regular string set up Volkl V Pro Silver 18 g
  • Racquet used for test: Prince Speedport Gold 110; 305g strung
  • 2ND Matched Speedport strung 48 lbs with Silver so the comparison will be closer.
  • Power of test string Off of the machine the string beds were similar, with the Blue having a little more jump
  • Feel: Blue is softer
  • Spin : Equal. I hit with moderate spin
  • Comfort : Blue feels softer
  • Durability : I do not break polys, so it is when the spin drops off I cut it out. After 10 hours on each they are ready to be retired. A little notching on the Blue, but not the silver
  • Playability Duration on going @ 10 hours
  • Control : EQUAL
  • Compare to string used most often; A little softer than Cyclone & much softer than Prince Beast. The price to performance makes it a string I can use in my rotation.
  • Additional thoughts **** I strung a pair of frames one Silver one Blue as the silver is a string I use quite often.
 
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17G Volkl V-Pro Blue

Just passed the 12 hour mark with this test set-up. Hybrid with Forten Sweet 17G. 48/46. Still holding up well. Tension is dropping a bit but that is supplying a bit
more free power and touch/feel. Very happy with this set-up. Hated the old 18G Silver... loving this new stuff. Looks like a winner $7.99 /set.. -)
 
Volkl V-Pro Blue (16) String Review
  • What gauge did you receive?
    • 16
  • Tension(s) used for playtest
    • 54 lb mains / 50 lb crosses
  • If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string.
    • I did not hybrid
  • Regular string setup
    • My regular setup: Ashaway Kevlar 16 mains @ 56lbs & Topspin Concept Pure 17 crosses @ 48lbs
    • Most recent full poly setup used: Prince Tour XC 16 @ 54lb mains & 50lb crosses
  • Racquet used for test
    • Wilson BLX Six One 95 18x20
  • Power of test string
    • Relatively powerful & lively poly when compared to Prince Tour XC
    • The extra power does not seem to be a bad thing, since the spin seems to keep the balls in the court.
    • The best way I can describe it is “lot of action” on the ball.
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?)
    • Lively and Stiff in the first 8 hours, then felt a bit more Mushy. Even though felt more powerful than Prince Tour XC, I do feel the string bed to be a bit more stiffer, when used in same racket (BLX Six One) where I used Prince Tour XC before. I would say, this is probably not a “first timer” poly, for folks who want to try a poly string for the first time. But for folks who like to hit with a lot of “action” in the ball, this would definitely be worth a try.
  • Spin
    • Excellent spin. If you are coming from a more control oriented or dead string setup, please expect a tune in period. Once you build your confidence on shots, and start hitting clean, the spin generation was excellent. The combination of Spin and Liveliness caused me to explain this string as a string with lot of “action” on the ball, and fun to hit with.
  • Comfort
    • Initially the stringbed felt a bit stiff. But once it settled in (in about an hour), it was pretty comfortable to hit with. I still won't describe it as “soft”, but comfortable for anyone who is used to hitting with poly strings.
  • Durability
    • I have not broken my strings even after 16hrs of solid hitting. This includes some sessions experimental extreme topspin hitting sessions, which puts a lot of stress on the strings. There are definitely some notches on the mains, and I feel like if I keep the strings till it breaks, it may still last another 6 hours. So from pure string durability stand point, it will last a long time.
  • Playability Duration
    • Hour 1 is settling time
    • Hours 2-8 is the peak performance time
    • Hours 8-14 was still a lot of life, and action (pretty usable, even though not peak performance)
    • After Hour 14, it is starting to show signs of “changeme”.
    • In summary, I can see a tournament player changing the string at Hour 6, but majority of 4.5ish recreational players would keep it till Hour 15.
  • Control
    • Even though pretty stiff, I would not categorize this string as a control oriented poly. Obviously, if you are coming from a “multifilament” or “synthetic gut” world, you may feel a lot more control. But I had been using a lot more control oriented strings in the recent past, and so I find VPro as a lot more livelier, and fun to hit with than a “control/consistency” oriented string.
  • Compare to string used most often
I will provide two different comparisons one with a full bed of Prince Tour XC which I used very recently, one with my regular setup of Ashaway/ConceptPure. ​
  • I had used Prince Tour XC 16 in this same racket, and VPro definitely seems to provide a stiffer string bed compared to XC. Please note that the racquet itself is an 18x20 and is a relatively stiff frame, which added to the stiff feel. It is also more powerful and lively than XC, and so may get a bit of time to get used to. But once you tune in the spin and confidence, you will love the liveliness from the string. XC was a bit more consistent (boringly consistent :) ). Overall compared to XC, VPro was a lot more fun to hit with, but on a serious match, I would take the boring string (XC), at least till I get used to VPro-ish liveliness. I do think VPro generates a bit more spin rpm than XC (with no basis of measurement, but from feedback from opponents). It also produced a lot more “wow” shots than XC, when hit well.
  • It is probably not fair to compare a full bed of VPro to my regular setup (Kevlar/Poly). Ashaway Kevlar is a lot different than VPro. Ashaway is a lot boardier, dead and depends a lot on string-to-ball friction to generate its excellent spin. On the other hand VPro is lively, and depends more on its slickness and snapback to generate the excellent spin. So totally different, and if you switch back and forth you will immediately notice the difference in launch angles. From a spin rotations viewpoint, I think both do generate the same amount of spin, once you adjust your strokes for each setup.
  • Even though Volkl Cyclone is not fresh in my memory, I think VPro is deceivingly different string than Cyclone. My memory says Cyclone was a lot more crispier, and softer. At first looks out of the packaging, VPro pretty much looked same as Cyclone, but once you put it in your racket, it does perform a lot different.
  • List any additional thoughts (optional).
    • If you like a lot of action on the ball, this is a very good string to try
    • If you think Cyclone is soft, and want to get a bit more stiff string bed with a lot similar spin and other properties, VPro is the one to try.
    • I also tried a 17 gauge VPro silver, but found to be a bit different. I am not sure whether it is because of the color or gauge. VPro17Silver felt a bit more Crispy and found to get a bit more feel on the racquet when it bites the ball on a good shot. But I have not played with the silver for long enough.
 
What gauge did you receive? 18g

Tension(s) used for playtest 42 M / 40 C

Regular string set up: Recently, Gamma OSG 17 at 46/44

Racquet used for test: Yonex Ai98

Power of test string: Powerful but under control, note the fairly low tension I use

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?) Felt a bit boardy at first but first poly I'd used in 3 months.

Spin: I hit a pretty flat ball so spin was about average. I am not a good test subject for spin given my stroke and a 16x19 pattern.

Comfort: On the comfortable side, reminded me a bit of WeissCannon Silver String. Not enough comfort to make me consider going back to poly strings or even a hybrid

Durability: No signs of breakage really after about 10 hours of use. Some notching but imagine they'd last another 5-10 hours

Playability Duration: Playability was still there after 10 hours. However, I might have prefered it and felt more "playable" to me because it softened up.

Control: Lots of control, the only thing I really miss about Polys!

Compare to string used most often: It reminded me of WeissCannon SilverString which was a poly I used a lot before I recently switched to just syn guts

List any additional thoughts (optional): About 3 months ago, I committed to using a full bed of syn gut as I just didnt like the stiffness of poly even in a flexy racuqet like the Ai98. I was hoping that the Vpro Blue would be softer, and while it reminded me of other "soft" polys, I still noticed some of the stiffness that has ultimately driven me away from Polys for arm and shoulder reasons. Thanks again TW for the playtest!
 
TW Staff said:
Attention Talk Tennis Members:

We have a limited number of Volkl V-Pro Blue co-poly strings for a playtest. This playtest is for USA TTW members only

IMPORTANT: We have 3 gauges (16,17,18) but we are not taking gauge requests. If this is a problem, please do not apply.

The application period is over. We will notify selected playtesters by the end of the week, and ship the playtest samples early next week.

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 remain in good standing for all upcoming playtests you must post your findings in this thread by Monday June 19

Include the following in your review:

Okay to Hybrid
  • What gauge did you receive?
  • Tension(s) used for playtest
  • If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string.
  • Regular string set up
  • Racquet used for test
  • Power of test string
  • Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?)
  • Spin
  • Comfort
  • Durability
  • Playability Duration
  • Control
  • Compare to string used most often
  • List any additional thoughts (optional).

We will remove “Email sent” posts, but encourage/want/value any/all discussion (predictions/hopes) about the actual string.
Click to expand...

Would it be possible to start including player level and style as part of the review criteria for strings and rackets? I think it would help put some of the reviews into better context.
 
Doc Hollidae said:
Would it be possible to start including player level and style as part of the review criteria for strings and rackets? I think it would help put some of the reviews into better context.
Click to expand...

That would be great... but that would assume folks would supply an accurate profile. In my experience, tennis players think they are much better than they are...hit with more spin... racket head speed.. etc. This has been asked more than once, TW.. for some reason does not want the info. In general, if you read the reviews most play testers include that info... in some detail..
 
PBODY99 said:
  • I purchased 18g
  • Tension(s) used for playtest : 48 lbs
  • Installed 2 piece after a light per-stretch to remove coil memory. Installed normally for a poly
  • Regular string set up Volkl V Pro Silver 18 g
  • Racquet used for test: Prince Speedport Gold 110; 305g strung
  • 2ND Matched Speedport strung 48 lbs with Silver so the comparison will be closer.
  • Power of test string Off of the machine the string beds were similar, with the Blue having a little more jump
  • Feel: Blue is softer
  • Spin : Equal. I hit with moderate spin
  • Comfort : Blue feels softer
  • Durability : I do not break polys, so it is when the spin drops off I cut it out. After 10 hours on each they are ready to be retired. A little notching on the Blue, but not the silver
  • Playability Duration on going @ 10 hours
  • Control : EQUAL
  • Compare to string used most often;
  • Additional thoughts **** I strung a pair of frames one Silver one Blue as the silver is a string I use quite often.
Click to expand...

I also tested the 18G silver vs the 17G Blue... the 17G Blue is softer for sure...and has more jump !!! Also the 17G blue notched much more than the 18G...

I am guessing the stiffness of the 17G Blue to be about 185
 
SteveI said:
That would be great... but that would assume folks would supply an accurate profile. In my experience, tennis players think they are much better than they are...hit with more spin... racket head speed.. etc. This has been asked more than once, TW.. for some reason does not want the info. In general, if you read the reviews most play testers include that info... in some detail..
Click to expand...
@Stevel,@Doc Hollidae
Player level, barely after 50 years of playing. Long med - slow strokes.
 
What gauge did you receive?
  • 16, Blue
Tension(s) used for playtest
  • 54 mains, 52 crosses
Regular string set up
  • I use alternating setups: (1) full bed Lux 4G Soft, (2) full bed ALU Power Rough, (3) ALU Pwr Rgh/4G Soft hybrid, and sometimes (4) Klip Legend 16 for the mains and 4G Soft for the crosses. My go-to setup lately is #1.
Racquet used for test
  • Wilson RF97
Power of test string
  • This string is certainly powerful, even at the relatively high tensions, I did not feel I was lacking power with my ground strokes, serves or volleys. Comparing it to Lux 4G Soft, the power is easier to access and combined with easily generated spin (top or under) it is easy to keep the ball in and target close to the baseline.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?)
  • The string is on the softer side of poly strings, comparable to the Luxilon ALU Power and I would not classify it as crisp. ALU Power is a crispier string I think and feeling the ball was much tougher for me with the V-Pro than ALU Power. The first hour, I just could not tell how I was making contact with the ball, although I was not making errors, it was difficult how to position the racquet for different shots; such as volleys in general and drop shots. I did not have this issue with ALU Power or 4G Soft when I first played with those strings. I had more trouble adjusting to V-Pro than the other two polly strings I play with.
Spin
  • It appears this string is made for spin, under or top. Creating topspin shots are so easy, as well as beautiful floating and sharp slices. With that much spin availability, compared to ALU Power or 4G Soft, hitting high-angle shots that push opponents off the court has been easier than ever for me. As long as racquet head speed is there, so is the spin.

  • Although it felt addictive initially, it turned out that I rely equally on my flat shots as my weapons. In this regard, V-Pro did not shine. I had trouble hitting my flat shots and could not adjust the launch angle to suite this string. Overtime, I am sure I can make the adjustment, I am positive there is a simple way to access flat shots, I just could not get there in time.

  • I have several stringing customers, whom I think this string would be perfect for them. They lack the technique to generate enough top spin with other polyesters, but have short take-back on their shots and don't necessarily adjust their grips. I'd imagine/guess, with spin being so available with V-Pro, it may just add significant margin to their shots.
Comfort
  • Initially I felt some mild discomfort with my forearm muscles, not any of my joints. This subsided after another of play and the string felt very comfortable to hard hitting one after another. I suspect, my arm was not accustomed to the new vibrations, but adjusted quickly afterwards.

  • I would put comfort at the same level as ALU Power, and not too far off synthetic guts/nylons. Still poly is poly for sure.
Durability
  • Better than 4G Soft or ALU Power; however, I had to cut it out at the 5-hr mark. I am overly sensitive to tension/feel changes, and sickness and weakness of mine. I use 4G for about 4 hours and ALU Power a little over 3; V-Pro lasted longer all the way to 5. The strings are far from braking, but they strings feel mushy and control is out the window for me.

  • After the initial stringing, the strings lost 3# overnight, which is a little more than 4G or ALU Power. After the first hitting session, which was a league match (I only played the first set with the V-Pro), total tension drop was 7#, however the feel improved overall. With subsequent matches tension drop lessened, and at the end of the 5th hour, total drop was 11#. Generally 4G and ALU Power tend to lose tension more rapidly past 4th hour, generally, ~12-14# after that much play for me.

  • The bigger issue for me with this string is the change in feel and crispness from match to match. Even though there is bigger tension drop with 4G and ALU Power, they stay more consistent and predictable over time in feel and playability.
Playability Duration
  • I had to cut strings out at the 5th hour. I think more experienced players with better technique and establish hitters can use this for many hours, but for me the 5th hour was really tough to play with the string. Although it is easy to control the ball with many different spins - and that did not change over time with V-Pro, controlling the ball left to right of the court were more troublesome.

  • The biggest issue for me were my serves. From the very beginning, I just had terrible time getting my first serves in. I have a relatively flat first serve that has just enough side spin to arch the ball. With V-Pro I was mostly long or would hit the net. During the matches, when this happened to impacted me on hold my serve, I'd switch to another racquet with 4G Soft, and would nail my first serves where I would want. With V-Pro I persisted to no avail.
Control
  • Due to spin generated, one can feel there is ample amount of control and it is true to some extend. Especially with topspin shots, the strings really create much margin and forgiveness when it comes to relatively straight shots. To create high-angles, I'd position my body directly in line with the angle I want to create and hit with great levels of topspin and make the shot. However, controlling the ball's angle from the middle of the court was more problematic, especially when I wanted to minimize indications of where I want to hit the ball, or when I could not position myself well in relation to the in-coming ball's trajectory. I have no issues with this with the 4G or ALU Power.

  • Adding to the above the problems I had with my flat shots, I would not necessarily call this a control-oriented string.
Compare to string used most often
  • My favorite remains full bed of 4G Soft at this time. It helps with spin generation to a lesser degree than V-Pro; however, it suits my game far more than the V-Pro. The combination of control and power is couple of notches above that of V-Pro. Additionally, 4G Soft allows me easy access to spin as well if I intentionally focus on racquet head speed, or gives me great options for hitting flat shots both on FH and BH, not to mention the variety I have with 4G when it comes to my serves.

  • Overall V-Pro outshines 4G Soft or ALU Power in the under- or over-spin departments, and cheaper price and longevity; however, I'd rather have the broader spectrum of shots 4G and ALU Power offer at this time.

  • It took me a while to figure out which tensions work best for me with 4G and ALU Power, so if I had several sets of V-Pro and time to experiment, I would probably find a combination that would work for me. For this test, 4G still comes on top for me.
List any additional thoughts (optional).
  • Stringing V-Pro was easier than 4G and on par with ALU Power. Coil memory wasn't difficult to deal with even without pre-stretching and waving crosses were much easier than 4G.
V-Pro Test
  • I generally don't care about string color, but this navy blue string stood nicely on the all-black racquet and Lux overgrip.

  • I measured the string stiffness factor for Racquet Tune app using both the weighing and pinging methods; with weighing method V-Pro came at 1.76 and with ping method it came at 1.77.
I appreciate and thank TW staff for providing me the chance to test this string, thank you.
 
What gauge did you receive?
16g (1.28mm)​

Tension(s) used for playtest
46lbs with a 10% machine prestretch​

If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string.
Mains: Babolat VS Team 17 @ 48lbs
Crosses: Volkl V-Pro @ 46lbs,​

Regular string set up:
Mains: 17g Natural Gut (Pacific or Babolat) @ 50lbs (10% machine prestretch)
Crosses: Yonex Poly Tour Pro (YPTP) 1.25mm @ 48lbs (10% machine prestretch)

Note: Since the test string was thicker, I dropped my tension a few lbs.​

Racquet used for test
Pacific X Tour 97​

Power of test string
I'd put this on the 'lower side of medium' in the power range. I didn't find any loss of control, but also didn't feel as if I was throwing my shoulder out trying to get something on the ball.
​
Feel
At first the string felt a bit stiff, but I believe that was more due to it being slightly thicker than I'm used to. After the first set it settled in acceptably. Still on the stiffer side as compared to YPTP, but nothing that would affect my arm.​

Spin
I didn't find anything spectacular about the spin, but also nothing detrimental. To be clear, my strokes are fairly flat, so even with the most spinniest string I won't be reaching Nadal-type spin. I wasn't spraying balls, but I also wasn't leaving things consistently short. 'Snap-back' was as you'd expect with any round poly: Never had to straighten my strings, even on clay.
​
Comfort
Other than the first set, no issues with comfort, and I'm chalking that up to it being slightly thicker than my normal cross string. Granted, it was in a hybrid with natural gut, so it's probably not the best measurement, but there have been a few that were unruly.​

Durability
Not really applicable as (1) it was used as a cross to Natural Gut, and (2) I very rarely ever break strings.​

Playability Duration
As a cross, on par with my YPTP. After ~ 10 hours of play, most of it on clay, it was still 'snapping back' fine (which is my gauge for when to cut out a poly). No loss of control or performance that I could tell.

Tension loss was 'on par' with what I normally find in gut/poly setups, with (1) fresh off the machine, (2) after 1st hit, (3) final measurement:
6542c38f-fff9-407d-a583-8a1a19030389_zpst8gtp2qr.png
26037919-29df-4858-b2fd-4c48957f5c69_zpsb4mfr6ar.png
31c35089-808c-40f2-9cce-a9dc09458e93_zpslcvi6zwr.png

​

Control
Since I found this on the lower side of medium, it would make sense that it had decent control, and it did. Felt I could hit my spots on the serve with no issues, as well as dip some good passing shots.​

Compare to string used most often
I want to say, as a cross to Natural Gut, its a good option, although I'd like to try the 17g version to get a better comparison. It feels like the 16g performs slightly below YPTP in every category. If my review sounds 'vanilla', its because that is exactly how I would describe this string as a cross to gut: B-

Essentially, when rating it as a cross to Natural Gut, its the 'Honda' of cross strings. Again, I'd like to give the 17g a go, just so I could compare apples-to-apples.​
 
What gauge did you receive? 16g (1.28mm)

Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 / 46 in Yonex DR100 Blue

If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string. Used a full bed.

Regular string set up: Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25mm Yellow

Racquet used for test: Yonex DR100 Blue

Power of test string: While stringing it up, the string felt "firm" - so my gut thought it would be in the lower power range. It was actually more "medium" powered, but definitely more of a controlled feel.
Feel: The feel was decent - nothing crazy good or crazy terrible. The string has a really slick coating, and is fairly comfortable overall. Once I got dialed in, my shots felt very predictable.

Spin: I felt like the string lacked the spin that I'm used to using Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25. Maybe the 17g would be a better option and would help that out some - but I didn't feel like I got the same dip on the ball. I did adjust to this while hitting, but in actual point play, I just didn't trust the spin for some reason.
Comfort: I was expecting the string to be firm, based on stringing it up and feeling how the string felt in my hands - but honestly, it was fairly comfortable. I had zero arm issues during my hitting sessions.

Durability: I had no durability issues and I usually cut strings out around the 8 to 10 hour mark.

Playability Duration: The string seemed to play fine over the course of the 10+ hours I used the string. Not a huge drop in playability. Seemed fairly consistent over the life.

Control: The control was excellent on this string. Once I adjusted to it, I felt like I was hitting very predictable shots. I think I would've preferred the thinner 17g, but I could appreciate the predictable response from the 16g string.

Compare to string used most often: Compared to Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25, this Volkl string had less spin and less "magic" than my usual setup, but a more predictable response. This Volkl string might be better for flatter hitters, who don't rely on spin quite as much.

Overall, it was an enjoyable play test and I would love to try the thinner gauge of this string. Thanks TW!

55ac22bbd3ca281b76b7db0ae15ced80.jpg
 
What gauge did you receive - 17g

Tension(s) used for playtest - 55lbs

If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string

Regular string set up - Volkl Cyclone 17g

Racquet used for test - Babolat Pure Drive

Power of test string - The V Pro Blue feels like a low to medium powered co-poly, it definitely leans toward the control side of things, what you put into it is what you'll get out of it. It feels like a high quality string while stringing it up, have a nice feel to it.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?) - the string bed started out quite firm but softened up a bit once it settled in. It has a slightly muted feel to it but not much, off center hits are not as forgiving as some the other strings.

Spin - V Pro Blue is a round co-poly that has good bite on the ball but not a spin monster. It doesn't give you that initial boost in spin like some of the shaped poly does but it performs well throughout the playtest. Good spin potential and more than adequate in creating all different variety of shots.

Comfort - It does start off quite firm so comfort level is not the best, once it settles in, that initial stiffness goes away. It does not have that nice soft pocketing feel Cyclone has, for those that enjoy that level of comfort can lower the V Pro by a few pounds and you will enjoy it.

Durability - There were no durability issues with the V Pro Blue, it performed comparably to other co-poly out on the market. After a few hours of hitting, I do see notching like other strings but nothing that would concern me.

Playability Duration - V Pro Blue performed nicely through out this playtest, performance did not drop off much after the settling in period. It played quite balanced in the first 2/3 of its lifespan and did not have a huge drop off. As it nears its end, it fades like the rest of the co-poly does.

Control - I really liked the control I had with this string, I can swing freely and the ball goes where I intended for it to go. Trajectory was pretty consistent, I never had the feeling hitting shots and thinking to myself whoa what happened there. Good control with V Pro Blue.

Compare to string used most often - Compared to Cyclone, comfort level cyclone definitely have the edge, in performance they both did very well, V Pro is a firmer control oriented string while Cyclone may have better spin, pocketing and a higher trajectory ball.

List any additional thoughts (optional) - If you like a string with a firmer bed than Cyclone give V Pro Blue a try. It has good control and allows big hitters to swing freely. Overall this is a good quality string.
 
Last edited:
I am a strong 4.0 player, Like to push the opponents with deep top spin shots and finish off at net…

What gauge did you receive - 18g

Tension(s) used for playtest – 57/53lbs

If hybrid, please list tension of M's & X's as well as the partner string:

Main: Babolat V touch 57 with Volkl V- pro 53lbs

When I just received the string, I thought it was rather stiff, reminding me of SPPP 17. I would not string it as full bed, which would be too stiff for me at any tension. Given the relatively high temperature around my area at this time of the year, and its thin gauge, I decided to string it as normal tension. If it were 17g, I would have dropped the tension below 50lbs.

Regular string set up
Babolat V touch 54 with SPPP 17 at 51lbs, guts 56/Weiss CANNON Mosquito Bite 18 at 52, guts 57/Silverstring 17 at 54, guts 52/Scorpion 17L at 48

I always have a reel of each one of the strings above, and find that they kind of provide the similar feels to me at these tensions.

Racquet used for test – Prince Ozone Tour 16 * 18, lead up to 12.4oz

Power of test string:
After breaking in, I found the familiar power that I am used to when playing with Mosquito Bite 18. This is a good sign as I really like Mosquito Bite hybrid with guts. Given the thin gauge, I would say the power is a bit above average poly at this tension.


Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?) :

In general, I would say the feel is crisp. That initial firm string bed slowly softened up as I played. By 10 hour mark, it felt muter, but still provided good control. Off center shots had noticeable drop on power return… I never felt it was harsh and uncomfortable throughout the test.

Spin:
It provides adequate spin, a bit above the average. It might be more due to its gauge as the ball jumped off the string bed at a higher angle. Most of my shots would drop well within the baseline, forcing me to hit flatter shot for the preferred depth.

Comfort

It never caused any issue with me throughout the test. I would say it is a rather stiff string, and I would always play it with a hybrid set up…


Durability
As a cross string, I don’t expect it to break any time soon. It has reached its 14 hours mark. It still looks in a decent shape, a bit too mute for me at this point.


Playability Duration
V Pro Blue has decent playability duration. I would not mind switching between this and Mosquito Bite. I do find a lot of similarities between the two, and thought this string is actually firmer and crisper, which I like. It has been over its prime time and should be cut out by now…

Control
It has great control, no sudden death, and no spraying around like some of polys do toward the end of their lives. It does get a bit mushy as I continue playing. The sweet spot gets somewhat smaller due to its stiffness.


Compare to string used most often
Interestingly enough, this string seems to be right in the middle between my SPPP 17 and Mosquito Bite 18, but crisper in the beginning. It may not last as long as SPPP17, but it is definitely a good option for hybrid with guts.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Given that we know the price for a set is very reasonable for this string, I would not mind having a few laying around in my house. Among my rackets, I always keep one with a stiff cross string as a backup... Once in a while, I tend to overhit the balls, and I would pick out the one with stiff strings for better control… If I used it the next time, I may want to try to string it at 53/50 with guts as main.

Thanks to the TW staff and Volkl for this wonderful playtest.
 
SteveI said:
18g - 213
17g - 188
16g - 234
Click to expand...

Seeing data like this drives me nuts! 213 for an 18g sounds high, but in the right ball park. Same with 234 for 16g so maybe its just a stiff string.Then 188 for 17g blows that out of water. Its so out of line with the other two numbers I can't believe any of them. This happens too often.
 
General information about me
I'm a current college club 4.5 player with teaching/coaching experience at my local country club back home. Play extreme eastern forehand and eastern one-handed backhand. I play with flatter strokes with moderate to heavy spin. Using my height to my advantage, I'm inclined to use my serve to set up short points and am comfortable up at net.

What gauge did I receive
I received the 18 gauge variant of this string from TW to playtest. Familiar with Volkl Cyclone Black in gauges 16,17, and 19, I was interested to see how this string compared.

Tension(s) used for playtest
53M/55X lbs on a Gamma Drop-weight stringer. I used a hybrid with Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17 White in the crosses. I usually go 50/52 with my usual setup (below), but decided to up the tension a bit to tame the expected power of the 18 gauge mains.

Regular string set up
I typically use 16 gauge Solinco Hyper G in the mains and 17 gauge Gosen OG Sheep Micro (White) in the crosses. Also it's important to note that I typically use my RF97, but have been playing with a couple customized Technifibre TFight 315 LTD 16x19s. I have to admit I regret not stringing my RF97 with this string, since it would have both made my comparisons to my regular setup more meaningful and honestly I think the tested V-Pro would be pretty nice in the stick.

However, I have played poly main/nylon crosses on a variety of sticks in the past, including the C10 pro, which offers the closest feel that I've come across to the Technifibres.

Racquet used for test
Customized Technifibre 315 LTD 16x19s with 12 grams of lead in the hoop from 9, 12, and 3 o'clock positions.

Power of test string
This 18 gauge gave me a bit more pop that my usual setup, but not by much. As many previous posters have mentioned. The power alone didn't take too much of an adjustment, but with the higher launch angle, I found a bit of an adjustment. Combined with the high flex on my TFights, the string had a longer break-in period than other strings, but once dialed in, I enjoyed the little bit of extra pop, especially on serves.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Boardy off-center?)
The string retained its crisp feel for most of the playtest and it reminded me a bit of hyper-g in its general response, which I enjoyed. Feel started to get softer and mushy right before snapping.

Spin
Good spin, about on par compared to my usual Hyper G setup. The spin generation was a bit inconsistent, however, which may be thicker crosses creating more friction for the mains than usual. This can probably be avoided by stringing in a full bed. I found my returns struggling for a bit with the slight increase in spin, as I was catching the top of the tape of the net when taking rips at second serves. Second serves are also a good indicator of how much spin I can get out of a string, and I was happy with slice and kick I could get out of this setup. Good stuff.

Comfort
This string is crisp and offers feedback, but I have no arm issues and the 315 LTDs are pillows so I had no comfort issues at all. I have played much stiffer strings, and I wouldn't categorize this in the "harsh" category. Without significant arm issues, though, I always disclaim this category should be taken with a grain of salt from me.

Durability
This hybrid lasted about 8 hours of mixed intense hitting and match play. The crosses popped on me, as they usually do. This is on-par with my normal setup, so I'd say this string offers slightly above average durability for an 18 gauge.

Playability Duration
The crispness, power, and firmness remained for a large portion of the playtest, and I'm happy with the consistency after the break-in and adjustment periods out of the way. I got a good 5-6 hours of peak performance from this string, out of the total ~8 hours played.

Control
I had slight inconsistency issues with spin, but that is likely due to my main gauge difference from my typical setup. I really enjoyed the directional control with this string, and power wasn't too much more than my normal setup, but just enough to get a slightly deeper ball. On low approach shots, the spin and fast response allowed me to attack corners and pin opponents in their backhand corner with a sharp slice. The firmness of the string bed in contrast with the firm TFight response worked out pretty well for me, as I would be playing with wet noodle if I played a soft string in these frames. The firmness up at net worked nicely as well as the directional control for put away shots was really welcome.

Compare to string used most often
This string is slightly firmer than my Hyper-G setup, with a larger launch angle and similar spin. My biggest gripe (which is still pretty small) was the difference in response and unusual inconsistency with spin using this string. The firmness and crispness were nice, but Hyper-G offers a bit more pocketing and consistency to which I've grown quite attached. I also found the little break in period with this setup, while Hyper-G plays great right off the stringer, then levels off a bit after break-in. The setups are pretty similar though, and I enjoyed the playtest as a whole.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Cosmetically, I really like how my blue and white hybrid looked in my TFights (very 'Merica). As a big Volkl fan of their racquets and string, it's great to see another great offering from the company.

Thanks to TW and Volkl for the awesome opportunity! Love doing this stuff.
 
Wldarsp said:
Seeing data like this drives me nuts! 213 for an 18g sounds high, but in the right ball park. Same with 234 for 16g so maybe its just a stiff string.Then 188 for 17g blows that out of water. Its so out of line with the other two numbers I can't believe any of them. This happens too often.
Click to expand...


The number seem correct to me... I have tested both the 18G Silver and this 17G Blue.. and I really enjoyed the 17G Blue.. but the 18G Silver was too stiff and had no free power at all. I tested the string in the same frame.. Anyway... love the 17G Blue.. the 18G Silver was not my cup of tea. Maybe the 18G Blue is better???
 
What gauge did you receive?
16g (1.28mm)

Tension(s) used for playtest
54 lbs.

Dropped a few pounds due to thicker gauge, typically string at about 58 lbs.


Regular string set up:
Solinco Tour Bite 17


Racquet used for test
Babolat Pure Aero Plus

Power of test string
Power was was fairly low, nothing too dead. I'd say just slightly lower than Cyclone.
Feel
It definitely was stiff but not as carboardy and jarring like TB is. Stiffer than Cyclone for sure.

Spin
This is the category that I had high hopes for as the reason I use TB is for the ridiculous spin it can give me. I was slightly let down as the spin was fairly average for a poly and I even found it less spin friendly than Cyclone but it was still adequate.

Comfort
Although the string was stiff, I had no issues with comfort. On par with typical polys though I've never been one to have arm problems so take my opinion of comfort with a grain of salt.

Durability
Wasn't able to break the string before it died so durability was fairly good. Put in about 20 hours with it.

Playability Duration
I was pleasantly surprised as it held tension fairly well. Better than TB and Cyclone.

Control
Another reason I use TB is the great control I achieve with it and this string is no let down. The one department I feel that is an good improvement over Cyclone I could nail my targets easily.

Compare to string used most often
In the end, compared to TB, V-Pro did a better job of maintaining playability and providing a slightly better feel. At the end of the day though, Tour Bites spin potential and control are too great for me to make a switch to this string at the moment. Looking forward to trying a thinner gauge which may change my feelings about the spin.


Thanks TW for the opportunity to test this string!
 
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