Tennis Warehouse: white co-poly playtest (Gamma Prototype)

TW Staff

TW Staff

Administrator
Attention Talk Tennis Members:

This thread is for the white Gamma co-poly.

Your review is due by Wednesday October 20.

Include the following in your review:

Name of prototype (see string label for style)
Tension(s) used for playtest
Regular string set up
Racquet brand and model used for test
Power of test string
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Spin
Comfort
Durability
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Compare to the string you use most often
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
List any additional thoughts (optional)

We do not have any technical data on the strings and cannot provide tension recommendations.
 
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Attention Playtesters: your samples shipped on Thursday 9/17. Please email discuss admin if you don't receive your sample by Friday 9/25. Subject: Playtest string not received.

We won't be able to send a replacement, but we will need to know for our records.

Thanks,
TW Staff
 
my initial 2 cents
*firm, low powered, low feed back

Granted this was in an 18x20 MP

I think this might do well in the very open patterned racquets. Full review to come

Thanks TW and Gamma!
 
I just got this string called Octagonal Co-Polyester I 16.
The color is white and the string feels stiff.
I will use this string with my Prince Tour 100 16x18 @53lbs due to its stiffness.
 
On the stringer the Gamma felt stiff and wiry but after hitting with it, it felt soft and a bit springy. It had pretty decent power and spin was impressive for a 16g. If I could do it again I would go up a couple pounds. Comfort level is very high.
 
Thatshot said:
On the stringer the Gamma felt stiff and wiry but after hitting with it, it felt soft and a bit springy. It had pretty decent power and spin was impressive for a 16g. If I could do it again I would go up a couple pounds. Comfort level is very high.
Click to expand...

First couple hits gave me a bad taste.
-firm to boardy
-unpleasant feel and feedback

After about 10 minutes on the baseline I either got used to it or the bed was settling to just be firm and slightly better feel and feedback

Again...Pro Kennex Redondo 98 at 45# CP. Dense string bed but I've played some stiff strings in this set up and it didn't feel like this. Also I play 17/18g in my 18x20 racquets.
 
got the string. feels kind of plasticky and not particularly slick. I will string it up thursday and hopefully hit with it then
 
this wasn't exactly fun to string. very stiff and ridgy. Also seems to be "plasticky." Will post full review after a few hours of hitting.

it reminds me of that triangular white head string they sell in the hybrid
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style)
[/QUOTE]

I forgot to take note of the name of the string on the package...SMH

Think it was Octagonal test string.

What names do other play testers have listed on the package?
 
Strung this up and had a brief hit with my Yonex Ezone XI98
IMG_0048_zpsfilq1o5x.jpg

The good news: This string offers exceptional feel and spin. I was dialed in with my groundies, and this rivals the feel offered by NGDY.
The bad news: The 16 gauge is too thick even for my tight 16x19 pattern. This could be just my first impression, but I had trouble grabbing the ball to change direction on the forehand.
 
swfh said:
Strung this up and had a brief hit with my Yonex Ezone XI98
The good news: This string offers exceptional feel and spin. I was dialed in with my groundies, and this rivals the feel offered by NGDY.
The bad news: The 16 gauge is too thick even for my tight 16x19 pattern. This could be just my first impression, but I had trouble grabbing the ball to change direction on the forehand.
Click to expand...

what is NGDY?

Glad the feel was good for you. It was really boardy for me in a sub 60 RA frame. Spin was very good on ground strokes for me as well.
 
djNEiGht said:
what is NGDY?

Glad the feel was good for you. It was really boardy for me in a sub 60 RA frame. Spin was very good on ground strokes for me as well.
Click to expand...
It is the new solinco string. Now its called hyper g.

I had another hit with this again today and it confirmed for me that it is too thick for my frame. I had trouble lifting the ball from a defensive position. Spin and feel still good though.
 
Strung this up on a Gamma Progression ELS. The coil memory of this string was insane. It really wanted to kink up throughout the strining process and I really had to be mindful of this. Hit with the string for about 8-10 sets before it broke on me in a spin effect frame.

Name of prototype (see string label for style): Octagonal Co-Polyester I 16
Tension(s) used for playtest: 46 lbs/ 44 lbs
Regular string set up: Cyclone 16 46/46
Racquet brand and model used for test: 2013 leaded up Blade 98s
Power of test string: This was a dead, lower powered polyester. Definitely felt I had more power out of my normal set-up, but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I like to string it low, and I thought this tension was perfect. The power was very controllable and allowed me to take huge hacks at the ball from the baseline. Was also nice on defensive squash shots. Although the power was low, I was still able to generate some pace off my serves when I needed it.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I thought this string had a very unique feel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm a fan of dead, stiff strings and this one definitely played nice and stiff. The stiffness was noted right out of the package. Not quite as crisp as Cyclone, but really liked the feel this string provided. Really enjoyed hitting with it from the baseline, and still maintained adequate feel at the net.
Spin: I thought this string really shined in this department. Spin was excellent. Was noting more spin than I usually get with Cyclone. It may have been because of the dead feel, but I was really hitting out on the ball and getting excellent dip from the back of the baseline. The octagonal profile of the string wasn't noticeable out of the package, but could definitely feel the string biting into the ball. I loved the spin I was getting and as able to drive the ball through the court.
Comfort: This string is stiff, but I did not notice any wrist or elbow problems. Thought comfort was adequate and I can't speak to anytime where the string bothered me. I don't have arm problems though...
Durability: String played well over the duration. Broke it at 8 sets which is about typical for me. Noticed some tension loss, but nothing atypical for a poly.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) Thought the playability was very predictable over time. Like I said, broke at about eight sets, but really enjoyed it throughout it's lifetime.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Loved the lower power of the string. Was able to really hit out on the ball with excellent depth. I am mostly a baseline player and really loved hitting the forehand with this string. Felt like I couldn't hit the ball long, I kept hitting bigger and bigger and everything landed in. I could hit some excellent angles cross court and could also move my opponent corner to corner.
Compare to the string you use most often: I thought this string played like a slightly deader, slightly more spin friendly of the already spinny volkl cyclone. Power level kind of reminded my of MSV focus hex, but with way more spin and feel.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) This is my usual tension and I thought it worked really well with this string. I had a nice blend of power and control and the spin was really impressive.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
I really enjoyed this playtest. I think Gamma may have found a winner and would most likely use this as my string of choice if they could price this competitively with Cyclone. I would hop all over it if it were priced at $100/reel. Knowing other string prices for Gamma, not sure it will happen. I thought this was a very nice string, but it was not significantly better than Cyclone. I liked the feel and the spin, but it will be hard to beat the price/performance ratio of cyclone.

Thanks TW and Gamma for the playtest!
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style): iO 19 (1.10mm)
Tension(s) used for playtest: 55/55, Constant Pull machine, fixed clamps, one-piece stringing.
Regular string set up: 17g synthetic guts
Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson ProStaff 6.0 Original 95
Power of test string: This string was remarkably low powered, which is surprising given that it is a 19g. Given the other exceptional characteristics of this string (see below), I can live with the low power and, perhaps, recover some with a decrease in tension.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I loved the feel of this string. I have had golfer's elbow in the past so I generally don't play with polys. This string was as comfortable as any synthetic gut I've ever played with--probably given its 1.10 gauge.
Spin: This string gave easy access to spin production. My kick serves were noticeably improved; my slices were just plain nasty and required little effort to ensure they stayed low and out of my opponent's strike zone. Finally, I was able consistently keep the ball deeper in my opponent's court using a more vertical trajectory than I normally do.
Comfort: This string was very comfortable. As noted above, I have had elbow problems in the past with polys. With this string, it felt like I was playing with synthetic gut (albeit a very low powered one) except I has a LOT more control.
Durability: This string snapped after about 9.5 hours. It didn't start to notch until about 6 hours.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): The string was playable through it's entire life. I noticed a very slight change in playability around hour 5 and thought it might be going dead as many polys normally expire about this point; the string remained very playable until it broke.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I felt more control with this string than any string I've ever played with, and that's saying a lot! Granted, I had never used a 19g string before, and so I had reservations. My serves were pinpoint, my crosscourt forehand was much sharper and allowed me to pull my opponent out wide much easier. I was able to generate easy topspin on my one-handed backhand and consistently keep the ball deep. Volleys seemed to come off the string bed at a slightly different angle and were much improved with this strings.
Compare to the string you use most often: Comfort with the 19g poly seemed the same as my 17g syngut, but control was off-the-charts! I will say the string was incredibly low-powered but not a problem for me. If I needed more power, I wouldn't play with an original Pro Staff 6.0!
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I will definitely be playing with this string once (if?) it's released. I was VERY happy with the way this string performed at 55# but will try it once at 50# just to see if power can be increased without a noticeable loss of control.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I LOVED this string and it will become my new everyday string when it is available. I wish more 1.10mm smooth round polys were available, now, to hold me over until this string hits the market! Thank you to TW for allowing me to participate and to Gamma for producing a string that has taken my game up another level!
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style): Octagonal Co-Polyester I 16
Tension(s) used for playtest: 53lbs
Regular string set up: Isospeed Baseline 16L 54x52 lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test: Head PT280
Power of test string: I found this string to be a boardy, dead low powered string. Good for someone who like to swing out on every groundstroke. Power could be had with a fast enough swing speed. I felt the string become dead after a period of time. I found easy power on serves though.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): This string had a different feel from most stiff string. It was stiff but didn't move a whole lot in the stringbed. The octagonal shape makes it almost rough. However, it wasn't hard on the arm or elbow for me, but I am accustomed to using poly.
Spin: Spin is where this string really came through. Big cuts at the ball dipped in, and it felt as though the octagonal profile gripped the ball pretty well. Dwelled on the stringbed pretty long which felt nice.
Comfort: As I mentioned before, the string was fairly comfortable. Comparable to cyclone i feel. If you're not used to poly's the stiffness may give you some problems, but overall, gets my seal of approval.
Durability: Lasted about 10 hours in my 18x20 racket. Not a whole lot of serious hitting though. On par with most 16l strings.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) I thought the string played well for bout 8 hours, then lost some pop and string movement towards the end of that time period. I felt the tension was very good. I even left the racker in hold/cold conditions and it hardly los tension.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): The combination of dwell time, spin, and low power make this an excellent control string. I was able to hit sharp angles, especially on slice shots and serves.
Compare to the string you use most often: Less pop than Isospeed, and def more rigid and stiff. Overall i think this string outperformed in the area control and had pretty nice feel.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I wouldn't recommend going above 55lbs just because the string is very stiff and low powered.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
I've never used a Gamma poly besides polylon like once. I think this could be a pretty good option as a budget poly from Gamma. Big hitters will like this string, especially those who like stiffer string beds. I should mentioned this string had crazy coil memory and was a bit of a pain to string but not awful. It really did not stretch at all when stringing either.

Thanks TW and Gamma for the playtest opportunity!
 
Name of prototype: Gamma Octagonal co-poly 16
Tension(s) used for playtest: 58lbs
Regular string set up: volkl v-star 18g at 58lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test: Dunlop 4D 300 Tour
Power of test string: This string has low power but allowed me to swing fast and not worry about the ball sailing out.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) I really like how this string felt. I played in 45 degree weather and it felt comfortable and had good ball pocketing. Off center hits didnt send any harsh vibrations to my wrist or elbow.
Spin: Before playing I ran my hand across the string bed and you can tell that this string was going to provide excellent spin and it does. Combined with the low power and the easy spin generation you can place the ball with out any worries.
Comfort: For a co-poly i would say that this string would rate a 8 out of 10. I thought it was very comfortable and i have been having some wrist irritation in the past trying different string and I feel no irritation with this string.
Durability: I hit a total of 3 hours and noticed no tension loss or notching.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) Playability stayed the same during my 3 hours of hitting.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) I found good control on all shots. Ball was landing a little shorter in the court than usual but I didnt mind it. Stroke speeds really just affected how much spin was generated. Dwell time was nice.
Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to volkl v-star 18g this string had better dwell time, feel and slightly more spin. Other than that v-star has more power and does everything else the gamma string does but a tad worse.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) If i were playing in warmer weather I might string it 2-3 pounds tighter. For the conditions I played in the tension was perfect.
List any additional thoughts (optional) I see that some people had a trouble stringing this string but I didnt think it was that bad at all. Coil memory was not really any worse that any other poly and weaving ahead one row helped. Since my current string can be bought in clear poly bags for cheap I wouldnt switch to this string unless it was in the $10 range.
 
Name of prototype: Gamma Octagonal Co-Polyester I 16

Tension(s) used for playtest: 53 lbs

Regular string set up: Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro @57lbs/Gosen Micro Sheep 16 @60 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Tour 100 16x18

Power of test string: Low. This string has low power for a co-poly string. It does not generate a lot of free power so it is ideal for big hitters.

Feel: Stiff. I noticed this string is very stiff when it is out of the package. However the stiffness is on the string bed is much softer than my initial thought.

Spin: Exceptional. I can generate spin easily with this string. It might be due to the octagonal shape.

Comfort: Low. Comfort is just like ordinary poly strings, STIFF.

Durability: Good. There are no notches for over 10 hours on this string.

Playability Duration: Average. I noticed some initial tension loss after a couple of sets but not particular for a poly string.

Control: Excellent. It is easy to control depth, placement and direction.

Compare to the string you use most often: It is not fair to compare my setup and this string. My MonoGut hybrid set up is for comfort and playability. This octagonal string is for control and spin for big hitters.

Tension recommendations: It might be a good option to string under 50 lbs due to its stiffness and low power.

List any additional thoughts: This string would be a good option for big hitters who like to play with textured poly strings such as Cyclone if its price is reasonable. More string colors other than white should be offered. White string looks cheaper.

I appreciate TW & Gamma for the opportunity to playtest this string.
 
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Name of prototype (see string label for style): Octagonal Co-Polyester 16 in white
Tension(s) used for playtest: 48lbs
Regular string set up: Prince Beast (summer) Full bed strung at 50lb.
Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Control Team (non-swirly)
Power of test string: Definitely a low powered string, I would almost compare it to the Alien Black Diamond Poly
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): It was more on the stiff and dead side. Definitely felt like a board when I hit the ball.
Spin: I did not generate as much as spin as I would hope with these strings. I got more spin from Solinco tour bites. The spin on these strings would be would be consistent with the Alien Black Diamond Poly. Spin is noticable for about a hour, then you stop noticing it.
Comfort: It is not a plush string, as you can feel some negative feedback if you hit off center. Normally thats not an issue with my racket with other strings, but it is a bit noticeable with these.
Durability: The strings are still intact, been playing with it for 20+ hours. Not expecting these strings to break anytime soon though.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) I would give these strings roughly a one hour life period for playability. I did not feel that it benefited my game. Everything seemed to drop after a hour of play. However, I been playing in windy conditions, so it is possible that is affecting my game more so than the string.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Definitely a control string, I felt I can place the ball in any direction. The problem was depth, as I wanted a sharp angle which I got, but the ball did not explode off the courts which meant I had to hit more balls to get a winner.
Compare to the string you use most often: It is between the Alien Black Diamond Poly and Iso baseline speed.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would string it at 45-50lbs, just so I can get a small bit of pop.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
First time using gamma string, and I would consider this string more for hybrid purposes since gamma strings are moderately priced. Maybe for big hitters, these strings would be better used in the summer when you need more control to keep the ball in place. Thanks TW for the string test. I appreciate it!
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style): Octagonal Co-Polyester 16 in white
Tension(s) used for playtest: 54lbs
Regular string set up: Babolat RPM Blast 17 @54 lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Aeropro Drive
Power of test string: This poly is a very low powered string. I was able to take huge cuts at the ball.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): It was stiff but it was not the stiffest string I have used.
Spin: I did not generate as much as spin as I expected with these strings. I got more spin from my regular set up.
Comfort: The string is stiff. I have no arm problems to report.
Durability: The strings are still in my racket which is unusual for me. I've had them in for about 15 hours.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): The strings, I felt did not last as long as expected. After a few hours playability dropped very sharply.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): This string is definitely for someone who wants a lot of control. Power is definitely lacking and it took me a few extra shots to hit a winner. You have to swing fast with this string or else the ball will land short.
Compare to the string you use most often: It is much lower powered then RPM Blast. RPM generates a lot more spin also.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would string it at 45-50lbs.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
Thanks for the playtest Gamma and TW!!
 
Name of prototype Octagonal Co-Polyester I 16L
Tension(s) used for playtest 47 Lbs on a drop weight Gamma machine
Regular string set up Tourna Big Hitter Black 7
Racquet brand and model used for test Babolat Pure Drive Plus ('13 version)
Power of test string Low
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) Stiff
Spin Very good
Comfort Average for a Poly
Durability N/A
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) Very good control, lower power, excellent spin/grip on the ball
Compare to the string you use most often Good spin, lower power than BHB7. I think the BHB7 has more spin/pocketing and is more powerful
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I would definitely string this one lower than the BHB7 that I normally play. This could be a good candidate for a low tension string bed due to the stiffness of the string.
List any additional thoughts (optional) I will post more as I get some more hitting time with this string as regards to time for string to go off
 
A little additional feedback, I played this next to Gut/Poly Hybrid and a full bed of Yonex Pro Tour 125, much better control than the gut/poly bed, less power. Yonex Pro Tour setup is similar, a little more pop from the Yonex setup, and I feel a little more spin too from the Yonex. I would say the Yonex is also a little more comfortable.
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style)
Octagonal Co-Polyester 16 in white

Tension(s) used for playtest
45# CP with 10% pre-stretch with Wise 2086

Regular string set up
Nothing regular at the moment but default / go-to strings are Volkl Cyclone / Cyclone Tour 1.25

Racquet brand and model used for test
Pro Kennex Redondo 98 Type C

Power of test string
Low Powered

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Stiff, boardy, muted

Spin
Very good considering it is a 16g and strung up in a 18x20 racquet

Comfort
Comfort was not one of it's strong suites. Off centered shots like with many set ups provided a jarring feedback. This set up seemed significantly more. Sweet spot was comfortable enough to put in decent time in this play test

Durability
Very good and notching was minimal

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
First hour was very boardy and pocketing didn't provide good feedback. Play performance stayed consistent from start to finish of my play test. The change in playability was that some pop/power started to show up after about 2 hours of hitting

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Launch angle seemed very high in this dense pattern racquet. Most of the time the shots where predictable with moderate swing speeds as well as trying to hit monster winners. The larger gauge as well as stiffness of the string seemed to contribute to top spin shots as well as flat shots. Serves performed well for both 1st/flat and 2nd/kick serves.

Compare to the string you use most often
Lower in power, comfort
slightly lower in spin
Less feel/feedback
Better durability
Playability is par

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I might go 3-5#s lower to help get more comfort, spin, and power

List any additional thoughts (optional)
I think this string will shine in the very open pattern racquets. It has good snap back and durability. I have heard that open pattern racquets are higher in power and sometimes harder to control direction change. This string I believe will perform well in those type of racquets because of the low power and stiffness to help with pin point accuracy shots. In a thinner gauge (17/18) this might also work well in a dense players racquet just as the Redondo. I have tried Tier One Durafluxx and Tour Bite in this racquet at low tension (43-45) and it played very well for me. I have hit my best heavy kickers with that set up.
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style) - Gamma Octagonal Co-Poly 16g White
Tension(s) used for playtest - 55lbs
Regular string set up - Volkl Cyclone 55lbs
Racquet brand and model used for test - Wilson Pro Staff 95 (2014)

Power of test string - Had my first hit with this string tonight and I have to say this is definitely not a low powered string. I have this strung on a 2014 Pro Staff 95 which is know for being low powered with tons of control and the Gamma was able to provide some decent pop in an evening hit with low temperature. I would say this is a medium powered string for now.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - String started out slightly firm but once it settled, it softened up quickly and has good pocketing. I would say the Gamma is quite a bit softer than the Volkl Cyclone but tries to retain a little of that crisp feel.

Spin - The spin on this string is above average. Although not a spin moster, it certainly had the spin potential to allow players to be creative in their shot selection and carve out different trajectories if need be. I'd give it a B in this category.

Comfort - On the stringer the Gamma felt stiff and wiry but after hitting with it, it felt soft and a bit springy. It had pretty decent power and spin for a 16g. If I could do it again I would go up a couple pounds. Comfort level is very high. I cannot imagine players having arm issues with this string.

Durability - Durability for the Gamma is impressive. Normally the more playable a string is, the less durable it will be but the Gamma is holding up very nicely. After a few intense hit sessions, notches are minimal. Durability of the Gamma is on par with some the more durable polys on the market.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - The Gamma started out a bit boardy, then settled in quickly. Once settled, it stayed there for a while then lost a bit more tension and played quite soft, so I'd say the characteristics of the string stayed very similar, just suffered through some tension lost as in other polys.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) For me the control was one of the strengths of the Gamma, the precision was there, touch was there, predictability was excellent, it did not produce shots that I did not make, I had a lot of confidence hitting with this string.

Compare to the string you use most often - Compared to Cyclone, the Gamma plays softer, has a bit more pop, spin is about even, control goes to Cyclone, durability Gamma has the edge, durability duration I'd say its even, comfort goes to Gamma.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) - This Gamma string plays very soft and has a certain springiness in it so for players that likes it a bit firmer I would go up 3lbs.

List any additional thoughts (optional) - I like this string quite a bit, it just so happened that I was transitioning to a different racquet and didn't get the chance to put the Gamma in my Pure Drive and play a match with it, it would be fun to see what this can do hitting bombs from the baseline.
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style): Octagonal Co-Polyester I 1.25
Tension(s) used for playtest: 55/53 on a dropweight stringer
Regular string set up: Volkl Cyclone 17 @ anywhere from 53-57 M/51-55 C
Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Premier 105 ESP
Power of test string: Quite low, I felt that most of my shots were landing around the service area, and if I really took a big rip at it, I might be able to blast it to the baseline. Honestly not a string for me, but I can definitely see strong baseliners using this string very effectively, as I really felt that I couldn't make the ball go out.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I play without a dampener because I like a livelier feeling string that lets you feel the vibrations. (And yes, I did have a bout of TE a while back, but I realized that it was because of my horrendous serving form. 2 days later, I didn't have a problem, and haven't had one since.) I personally thought this string was a bit muted, but it gave me enough feedback to know where I was hitting the ball if I wasn't looking at the stringbed.
Spin: Really, really good spin. I honestly don't know whether the Cyclone or this string had more spin, but if I had to pick, I would probably have to give the edge to Cyclone. Very good spin, however, I thought you could really feel the bite of the string.
Comfort: I liked the comfort of this string. It was about as soft as my Cyclone (except with a much different feel), and I think most people without severe TE could probably play with this for a good while.
Durability: This had really good durability for me, although all strings (except for synthetic gut...) have good durability for me. I don't often break polys, and this wasn't an exception. I cut it out after 3 weeks because I thought I had enough information on how it played.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I honestly didn't feel much tension loss (yes, I know playability duration =/= tension loss, but they're usually linked in some way or another). The very first day, I thought it was boardy, but after about 2 days I either got into my groove or the tension dropped appreciably, because it played really well for me then. After that, it stabilized, and I thought it played pretty much the same after that.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): This string was definitely a control-oriented string with a lot of spin - it was very low-powered (almost too low powered at some points), so depth control was a bit hard for me (you really had to swing out to even get it past the service line), but where this string shined was changing the direction. When you needed to go for a short cross-court winner, this string is going to be there for you.
Compare to the string you use most often: Less vibrations than Cyclone, and thought it had a bit less spin (only if you held a gun to my head, though - I really think this string had great spin). About the same level of control, and definitely less pop than Cyclone.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would lower the tension to ~48 just to get some pop out of this stringbed, since it already has great control.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I really liked this string. If you're a really powerful baseliner that's hitting the ball out with other polys, then this string will suit you perfectly. I didn't get to play with it much at net, but I'd imagine it would be decent for touch shots. Thanks TW and Gamma for letting me be a part of this playtest!
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style)
Octagonal Co-Polyester | 16L

Tension(s) used for playtest
55 pounds all around.

Regular string set up
Topspin Cyber Flash 17 mains with Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16 crosses, both at 55 pounds.

Racquet brand and model used for test
Prince Warrior OS

Power of test string
Fairly low-powered compared to some of the newer shaped polys. That is not necessarily a bad thing, as you can ramp up your swing speed without launching the ball too long. This is perhaps not a good string for players with slow swing speeds who need the string to give them some extra pop, but if you bring your own speed, these strings are pretty good.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
Stiff and muted. A good solid feel on fast swings, and not too terrible on off-center hits. Somewhat boardy on touch shots, though.

Spin
Good, reliable spin. Because this mostly dead string rewards faster swing speed, that plays into greater spin. Not sure if it was the texture or snapback, but both topspin and backspin were easy to generate.

Comfort
Stiff strings like this are never what I would call comfortable, but I did not notice any arm problems during the test.

Durability
Alas, several rainy weekends during the trial period meant I only got to play these strings for a total of 8 hours. The strings are still in pretty good shape, with a bit of notching, but feel like they still have some life in them. I'm not ready to cut them out yet, but it's deadline time for these reviews.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Like most polys, there is a dropoff in tension after an hour or two, but it leveled off to a pretty comfortable tension after that, and any loss after that was gradual enough that I didn’t notice much change. The ability to generate spin also dopped off a bit after a few hours, but it was still pretty controllable throughout the test.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Good side-to-side control. I use spin to control depth, and this string did very well generating the spin I need to bring the ball down inside the baseline. Perhaps a bit less control on softer shots and touch volleys because of the somewhat boardy feel, but if you punch through your volleys, the control was there.

Compare to the string you use most often
This string is stiffer and more dead-feeling than Cyber Flash. I’d say it also has a bit better spin potential than CF. It has less power than the CF. Control and durability are pretty similar in both strings.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I would drop it five pounds to 50 pounds in a full job. My usual setup is 55 pounds, so that’s what I used here, but that’s with synthetic gut crosses, which softens up a poly’s feel.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
As this string has a fairly stiff feel, I would probably experiment with some softer cross string to improve the feel. I’m curious about what price point this string will come in at. This could be a nice alternative if not too pricey compared to Cyber Flash.

As always, thanks to Gamma and Tennis Warehouse for letting us give this string a tryout.
 
Name of prototype (see string label for style)
Octagonal Co-Polyester 16L

Tension(s) used for playtest
55 lbs.

Regular string set up
Luxilon ALU Power @ 55 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test
Babolat Pure Drive 2015

Power of test string
Right after the first hit, I felt as if this was a lower power string. PD has a large amount of inherent power, and I definitely felt this string helped dial it down a bit.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
I thought this string was a crisp and stiff string. Felt stiff in hand, stiff to string as well. Gave a lot of feedback from ball contact.

Spin
Spin was adequate with this string, I did not notice any immediate difference to my usual setup (or really most poly these days). About average for your usual poly. Edges did not seem to yield any additional benefit.

Comfort
I usually do not have comfort issues with poly, but this was certainly on the stiffer side of polys I've played with. It did not cause any problems for me, but I could see it being an issue for others.

Durability
After 2+ weeks of playing and teaching, it has still held up. Notches are there, but no breakage yet.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
Playability was really no different from most polys, tension dropoff within hour 5-6 of play. The string still remained fairly playable after that point. I personally felt like the string settled in for me at this point, slightly more comfortable, without a drastic loss in control.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Control is the highlight of this string. It offers great feedback, and I was able to place my shots where I wanted to with relative ease. Never felt like I was hitting out of control with this string (I would attribute that feeling to the PD more).

Compare to the string you use most often
It is definitely stiffer than most of the polys I've used: Lux ALU, most black polys. Perhaps on par with Solinco TB Topspin cyberflash.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I would drop down to about 52 to get some more free power and a little more comfort.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
A stiffer string by Gamma that offers exceptional control, average playability/durability. That would my thought in a single sentence. Thanks to TW and Gamma for the playtest!
 
Name of prototype: white co-poly playtest (Gamma Prototype)
Tension(s) used for playtest: 48 lbs.
Regular string set up: Luxilon 4G 16 @ 48 lbs,
Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Textreme Tour 100T
Power of test string: Low powered
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Stiff, but not uncomfortable
Spin: Exceptional
Comfort: For a stiff poly, it wasn't bad. I had no arm issues after hitting with it.
Durability: I've played with it for probably 8+ hours. It's started to notch a bit, but it's still very playable.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Tension dropped a bit after playing with it a couple of times, but it was still playable.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I loved the control I got with this string from the baseline. I could hit out without fear of the ball going long. I struggled a bit more, though, with the control at the net.
Compare to the string you use most often: Note: I don't generally use a shaped poly, so this comparison may not be super helpful. The test string gave me a good deal more spin then my usual Lux 4G setup. Once I got dialed in to hit it a bit higher over the net, I loved the results as the ball hit the back fence (fairly) consistently on one bounce. The feel was much different than Lux 4G, though, and I didn't feel like I had great control at the net. While I would not hesitate to use the test string in a singles match, I struggled with it playing doubles. I'm intrigued, though, by the additional spin that I can get with a shaped poly, so the test string has convinced me to get out of my comfort zone and give shaped polys more of a try. I've messed around with them in the past and liked them, but I've also gone back to Lux 4G when it came time to restring. This string has convinced me, though, to give them a longer test drive in the near future.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would string at the same tension next time

Thanks TW and Gamma!
 
Tension(s) used for playtest: I strung this at my go-to tension for 16 gauge strings, which I prefer to be 53/51 on a klippermate.

Regular string set up: I love my Solinco NGDY, or Hyper-G as they now call it. I string it at 55/53 and it is absolutely perfect.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Yonex Ezone XI98

Power of test string: I think that I strung this up just about right, maybe a pound or 2 looser would have been better. But the string had plenty of pop and it was controllable power because of the feel. Some of the serves that I hit came off the frame with that nice “pop” sound and I could tell that I was hitting a bit faster. I didn’t think it was particularly low powered, but rather controllable.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I made the mistake of forgetting to put on my dampener before I started hitting, and I’m glad that I did. The first ball that I hit sent a vibration through my arm that I don’t even feel with the NGDY. I felt as though it was an extension of my arm and I loved it. I could feel the ball move into my frame and out.

Spin: This was an interesting paradox for me. I liked the spin on the ground and on kick serves, but I couldn’t for the like of me control the spin when changing direction. I had no way of taking the ball early and flat for a winner.

Comfort: I don’t have arm problems, but the feel of this string looks promising for those who do.

Durability: again, not much of a string breaker and this was a 16 gauge string, so I didn’t have a problem.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Interestingly enough, I adjusted to the string after several hours of play. I didn’t notice a major drop like some other people did. I tend to really feel dead strings when I start to lose confidence, but the strings kept snapping back and played the same for the most part.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I touched on this a bit in the spin section. Just hitting back and forth, I had no problem controlling height and depth. But once I started playing points and needed to change direction, I lost a decent amount of control.

Compare to the string you use most often: I think that this is a little stiffer than NGDY, and it also has a bit less spin. I noticed this only when directly switching back and forth between the frames. Also I prefer the neon color of NGDY to the white.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): Although there is controllable power, I would have liked to have had a bit more free power for the sake of using it to finish points since I didn’t have the ability to flatten out.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Thanks TW and Gamma!
 
The name and availability of this string has currently not been announced. When Gamma does unveil the string, we will update this thread.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
 
At this point, it's a long shot, but I was wondering if anything game of this string? I really enjoyed this play test and would love to get my hands on it.
 
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