Tennis Warehouse: Wilson Multifilament String Playtest (Optimus)

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

The sign-up period for this playtest has ended.

We will be shipping the Solinco and Wilson multifilament strings over the next few days. Each playtester will only receive one of these strings.

This thread is for those of you who receive the Wilson Multifilament (Optimus)

You must post your review by July 23.

If you do not post a review, or if your review is clearly lacking effort, you will be excluded from future playtests.

No hybrids.

Include the following in your review:

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)

 

[loosegroove]

Just got mine in the mail earlier today. Package looked like it had been dragged here behind a truck all the way from SLO, but the strings were a-okay. Hope to have a hit with them this weekend.

 

[PBODY99]

Tension(s) used for play-test 27 kg, one piece on an electronic constant pull machine

Regular string set up ~1.20mm Poly/1.27mm ZX mono @ 20 kg..hard courts... 1.27mmZX mono @ 25mm for clay

Racquet used for test Prince Speedport Gold 110< a variant of the Blue with slots in the shaft

Power of test string: medium for a multi
Feel: muted
Spin; average for a multi
Comfort: High
Durability : ACCEPTABLE FOR A MULTI
Playability Duration strings show signs of notching after 6 hours on cl & 5 sets of H/C doubles
Control
Compare to the string you use most often. More comfort, less spin than my hybrid
Tension recommendations Normal for a multi, I would not change
List any additional thoughts Very little coil memory, strung up easily. The multicolored fibers give the sting bed a distinctiveness look.
Thank you Wilson & TW for this opportunity.

 

[NorCalStringer]

Part One, 8 hours of court time

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50 Mains / 52 Crosses
Regular string set up: Poly Hybrid - TourBite 17/TourBite SOFT 17
Frame used for testing: Dunlop M3.0 16x19

Power of test string It is a lower powered multi
Feel Soft and pockets the ball nicely, but not too much dwell. Actually feels crisp for a multi at this tension.
Spin The first hour it has nice spin, I believe the strings snapped back more. After a couple hours the spin has dramatically decreased and the strings began binding.
Comfort Very, very, very comfortable.
Durability No premature ghosting, notching or out of the ordinary wear.
Playability Duration The first hour played very well, minus the topspin to get the ball down earlier in the court. Hour over hour it is taking a downward trend. The mains are all over the place.
Control The control is one of the best playing characteristics for this string, second only to comfort.
Compare to the string you use most often The TB/TBS poly hybrid I play has a nice balance of spin, comfort, power and durability. This string is so different, it is almost unfair to compare.
Tension recommendations I would recommend a higher tension with a thinner diameter version of this string. I feel this tension(50/52) is good for the amount of power and spin the string offers.
List any additional thoughts Almost nonexistent coil memory or kinking. I string a fair amount of poly, so this is fast and easy on the fingers. The string tip was too soft to feed without the help of an awl on a semi-blocked hole. Knots are easy!

If you hit hard with heavy topspin, this string would not work well. I think slow to medium swing speed and flatter groundies would enjoy this string.

The string movement after 8 hours of play is almost unbearable! They move considerably during heavy exchanges and then heavily bind out of place, making the straightening often and difficult due to the heavy friction of the soft outer wrap.

More to come in part TWO...

 

[colan5934]

Tension(s) used for playtest: 62 pounds

Regular string set up: Solinco Tour Bite 16L at 56 pounds

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat Pure Storm Tour Plus GT

Power of test string: I found good pop out of this string. Definitely a bit more than the poly I typically use. Even at a high tension, I had a little bit of difficulty keeping the ball in the court. The extra juice was welcome on serves, though.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Definitely a crisp string. I feel like it could have gotten a little mushy if it stayed in my racquet longer, but while it lasted it was crisp.

Spin: The biggest downfall of the string for me. The thicker gauge didn't lend to any extra spin. It wasn't like I couldn't get spin, but I definitely didn't find any extra help. I really had to focus on keeping my swing fast and generating topspin.

Comfort: I experienced no discomfort with this string after two 3-hour days of practice and drilling.

Durability: I broke it in approximately 5 hours. Pretty good for a multi. I break most polys in about 10 hours. The coating was fairly thick, almost like a synthetic gut, and I experienced no fraying throughout the playtest. They just sawed into each other and snapped.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): In the 5 hours I had with this string, I noticed no change in playability apart from a short ~20 minute break-in period.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I had no trouble controlling the direction of the ball. The feel was great, especially around the net. The lack of spin did make keeping the ball in the court on aggressive shots a bit difficult, but when I went only for placement, I had no troubles. Dropshots were much nicer than my usual full poly setup too.

Compare to the string you use most often: It's difficult comparing a multi to a poly. I'd say the typical differences were present: softer stringbed, more feel, less spin, more power, more comfort, less durability.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I liked it at the high tension. Somebody who wants a little more comfort and control could string lower, especially if you're a flatter hitter who doesn't pound the living daylights out of the ball every shot. A counterpuncher looking for comfort and a little extra pop could find a good option with this one.

 

[AC Tennis]

Why no longer a sticky?

Is there a reason this thread is no longer a sticky?

 

[loosegroove]

Is there a reason this thread is no longer a sticky?

I was thinking the same thing. They probably went to unsticky the Technifiber playtest, and did this one too by accident.

 

[loosegroove]

Tension: 52 lbs which is higher than I normally do in my hybrid setup.

Regular string set up: Pro's Pro Blackout mains and syn gut crosses.

Racquet brand and model used: Prince EXO3 Tour 16x18

Power of test string: The string had some nice power, about average for a multi I would say. For some reason I wasn't getting as much on my serve as I expected, but really great for hitting driving top spin forehands. Also good for punching volleys at net, or hitting short reaction shots.

Feel: I thought it felt kind of muted. Not overly lively or crisp.

Spin/Control: Offered solid spin for a multi. When taking a full cut the balls seemed to explode off the string bed at a flatter trajectory, with good penetration and excellent directional control. I could also hit deeper, high bouncing spinny groundstrokes. However, the strings didn't seem to offer a ton of dwell time. When taking a slower swing and trying to massage back a short spinny shot with less pace, I didn't feel like the ball was staying on the racket long enough, and I would dump it short.

Comfort: Nice comfort, can't complain here at all.

Durability: The strings definitely move around and have to be readjusted, just like 99% of all other multis out there. The crosses started fraying quite early, so I don't think these would last long if hybrid with a poly. Thought the crosses were actually going to break first, but a main snapped at around 5 hrs or so, most of which was doubles. All singles, I could see breaking this in 2-3 hours. Not very durable.

Playability Duration: I thought it played better after settling in after an hour of playing. Didn't last long enough to really test how long it's playability lasted.

Compare to the string you use most often: When going back to an identical racket with my usual setup, I noticed how much more free power the Wilson Optimus string had for flatter put-aways. I really preferred it for this. Thought I was able to get a little more dwell time on my usual setup when hitting a short loopy topspin ball, though this might have also had to do with different tensions. And the Optimus didn't have quite as much inherent spin, but still pretty good for a multi. Also the Optimus is clearly more comfortable than my hybrid setup.

Tension recommendations: I guess I'd stay the same. I would almost want to lower tension to see if I could increase the dwell time. Yet when going for it on my forehand, I really thought it was just about perfect at the tension I strung it. I like to string much lower than most players, so I wouldn't go by my numbers, though 52 lbs is my standard for multis so I'd recommend whatever you would usually string a multi at.

List any additional thoughts: I think I could play with this string for sure, except it doesn't last nearly long enough.

 

[bertrevert]

Yeah I'd like this to be stickied up top for the duration of the test so I can keep track of the feedback...

TW review already in and did everyone get this same 16 gauge or other?


Also, I like the colour - hey it's a regular disco at my court, esp when I'm on it :neutral:

 

[tennisinoc]

Tension used for playtest: 58 lbs.
Regular multifilament string set up: Technifibre NRG2
Racquet used for test: Gamma T-7
Power of test string: Lower powered than the typical multifilament.
Feel: Being a multifilament, it has a very comfortable feel. Decent ball pocketing. It is firmer but still comfy. More muted than crisp.
Spin: Average spin for a multi. Nothing spectacular compared to other multis.
Comfort: Good comfort as expected from a multi. String is very soft and had minimal coil memory when stringing.
Durability: Fraying started to show after 4 hrs of play. It is still holding on after 2 more hours. I am expecting it to break within the next 2 outings. So compared to other multis, it is very comparible. I usually break multis between 6-8 hours.
Playability Duration: Tension loss is average compared to other multis. After initial tension loss, string is playing consistent so far. Strings move out of place like the typical synthetic string. So constant readjustment is needed.
Control: Being a lower powered multi, the control is better. I can swing harder and the ball won't rocket off the stringbed as much as other multis. This is the greatest benefit of this string.
Compare to the string you use most often: This is lower powered than NRG2. Plays firmer and muted compared to the softer and crisper feel of NRG2. Ball pocketing is better with NRG2. Compared to other multis, the control is the best attribute. It feels and plays like a lower powered Xcel. It also has a comparible feel to Prince Premier Attack but with better feel and control.
Tension recommendations: I might try dropping the tension a couple lbs and see if I could get more power out of the string but keep control.
List any additional thoughts: I appreciate the string companies trying to hybrid the comfort of a multi with the control of a poly. The only issue I am having with these types of hybrid strings is the minimal snap back they have. I believe this attribute is what limits increasing spin potential. And they still have the problem of having a tacky surface after a few hours of play and the strings start moving and staying out of place needing constant readjustment. I would love to try it as a hybrid for fun to see how this string performs with a poly main. Thanks TW and Wilson for this playtest. (BTW Wilson, I am liking your Ripspin)

 

[tyu1314]

Tension(s) used for playtest:55

Regular string set up: volkl cyclone 17g @48lb
Racquet brand and model used for test: wilson blade 98 18x20

Power of test string:The power of this string is low comparing to some other multis and syn gut that i'ved tried.But it is still higher than my regualr set up, even at a higher tension.The extra pop on my shots is very noticable comparing to the shots i hit with poly.

Feel : The feel is stiff in my oppinion in term of multi. I was expecting it to be soft, if i want stiffer feel, i will just use a poly. Regardless of the stiffer feel, it is still a bit softer compare to my poly.

Spin: Nothing impressive, i think the spin is mediocre. With this string , i need to alter the trajectore of the shots a bit inorder to get it over the net.

Comfort: This is probably my favorite characteristics of this string. The comfort is better than most strings i've tried, except natural gut. I dont have any discomfort or soreness while playing with this string.

Durability: The durability is poor, just like most multi. It lasted me about 3-4hours before it pop.

Playability Duration :The playability durability is pretty good, it didnt lose
much playability till it pop.

Control: The control is greate as i expected. The low power characteristic of the string enhance the control.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compare to cyclone at 5lb lower, it has better feel, a bit more power and a better comfort. Cylone being a poly of course has a much higher spin potential, control, and durability.

Tension recommendations :I am happy with my tension choice,55lb.

additional thoughts : I think this is a mediocre string, nothing impressive. There are many other strings on Tenniswarehouse that are better than this.

Thank you TW for letting me be a part of this great playtest.

 

[kvan]

Tension(s) used for play test: 55/53

Regular string set up: volkl cyclone/ gosen ogms

Racquet brand and model used for test: Prince Spectrum Comp 90 Ltd.

Power of test string: Good pop right off the bat, similar to gamma tnt 2 from the strings I've tried. Haven't hit with a bunch of multis however.

Feel : Nothing extraordinary. Nothing like the pocketing of some of the gut hybrids I've used, but nice and crisp. Not much dwell time but I found the response to be solid.

Spin: Definitely lacking, especially in this frame with a 16/18 pattern. Even in a 93 inch frame, I can usually put tons of spin on the ball with poly, so this didn't work for me. Especially found it to lack on approach shots and serve where I really need some work to be effective. However, my flatter hitting partner used it and seemed fine for him.

Comfort: No discomfort, which is expected from a multi. The comfortable yet crisp feel of the stringed was the highlight of this string.

Durability: Still hitting with it after around 3-4 hours. It has lost it's shininess (which was pretty cool) and notching has started. Probably won't last too much longer.

Playability Duration : Not much loss in playability other than the slight drop in string movement after the shiny coating wore a bit. All in all pretty good.

Control: Good control for a power-comfort string. Directing my shots was pretty easy, but managing depth was harder than usual because of the loss of spin potential compared to other set ups. Flatter hitters who like to move people around may love this though.

Compare to the string you use most often: It's crisper, livelier, and has less spin. Comfort isn't really an issue for me, but this should be comfortable enough for anyone suffering from arm issues. Also a nice cosmetic change from my hybrid, this string really shines (literally).

Tension recommendations: I usually go a couple pounds lower on the crosses, so 55/53 worked for me. Any lower and the pop may be too much, but I'll have to try to know for sure. I used a smaller racquet though, so for people using 98-100, go a couple lbs higher to compensate.

additional thoughts : For the price point, I think there are better strings on the market. As a cross string, however, it may be a great option for those who want to add more comfort and crispness to a dead-feeling poly main.

As always, thanks to TW, and Wilson for the opportunity to test this string out.

 

[mrmike]

Tension(s) used for playtest: 60 Lbs.
Regular string set up: RIP Control 17 or X1 biphase 16
Racquet brand and model used for test: Volkl C10 Pro 2010 (98 square inch head - 16x19)
Power of test string: Medium
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Soft, but still with a crisp feel
Spin: Medium
Comfort: Excellent, no arm issues whatsoever
Durability: Medium, some fraying after 5 hours, but no breakage. I am not normally a big string breaker.
Playability Duration: Good playability through my play testing to date - ~12 hours.
Control: Very good control, noticeably lower in power than X1, which in my case was a plus, especially in the hotter weather. I did some direct comparisons on serve accuracy and this string wins out over X1 for control. Very good depth control and decent touch.
Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to RIP control 17 this string has less spin, a little more predictable power, and better touch and feel. Compared to X1, this string has less power, more control, and a little less touch and feel.
Tension recommendations: For my racquet and playing style I believe my selected tension of 60lbs was perfect. I would adjust downward for 18x20 patterns and smaller head sizes however.
List any additional thoughts: During initial stringing I noticed quite a bit of elongation and thought this would be a mushy playing string. To my surprise, it played rather crisp which was a pleasant surprise. The pearl rainbow coating had some tendency to wear off at the clamping points, but not a big deal. This was a fun play test for me since I am normally a multi player and am not comparing to polys. If you are a poly player, you are probably going to give 2 strikes against this string to start with. In my case, I believe this is a very playable string and a good addition to Wilson's string lineup. It has a lower powered playability for a multi which matches well with my requirements.

 

[NetMuncher]

Tension(s) used for playtest: 60

Regular string set up: Gosen OG Micro 17 Main @ 55 / Kirschbaum Pro Line II 18 Cross @ 53

Racquet brand and model used for test: Pro Kennex Type C Redondo Mid 93

Power of test string: I was expecting the full bed of multi to have a lot of power that’s the reason I strung it a 60. There was enough power when needed and I was initially able to control the ball without having to make any adjustments to my swing.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The strings felt slightly stiff at this tension, actually more crisp than stiff.

Spin: I was initially able to generate a fair amount of spin but that deteriorated after the first session. After hitting with it for some time, I was unable to produce as much spin as when the strings were fresh, especially on the serve.

Comfort: Good comfortable string but wasn't any more comfortable than my normal hybrid setup. This could be due to the fact that I strung it a little tighter than normal.

Durability: The durability was poor. The strings started to lose some playability after the first session and then snapped after 6 hours.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I actually enjoyed playing with the strings for the first set but I started to lose the ability to impart as much spin as I would like. But what was even worse was that the strings started moving even more as time went on - and it was already moving quite a bit after the first hit.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Again, control at the beginning was good but after the first session, control started to go away - some of this could be due to the fact that I stopped straightening the strings after every point.

Compare to the string you use most often: Good touch on volleys and finesse shots around the net but difficult to count on it’s playability over time.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): May try upping the tension by a couple of pounds if I were to try it again. This may increase its playability and decrease string movement…

List any additional thoughts (optional): May try this in a hybrid setup, possibly in the cross.

Thanks for the play test TW.

 

[ten11]

Wilson Multifilament String Playtest (Optimus)

Tension(s) used for playtest: 62 main/65 cross on lockout machine.

Regular string set up: Luxilon 4G 52lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: wilson spin 99s 16x15

Power of test string: medium. about right for me. Not powerful, nor under power. Feels great in my forehand shot. It enables me to hit all out to create most of the pace I can hit with. On the back hand, I would like to have a bit more power when rushed. Overall, I am happy about it.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Stiff due to high tension used in stringing. I do not like the string movement in this spin racket, so I went few lbs more on this multi. Hit some great touch volley on the net.

Spin: about average for a multi string. I will not compliant about the spin production.

Comfort: very comfortable, even though I have strung in high tension. I have no discomfort after playing with it 3 hours a day.

Durability: The string start notching quickly in first few hours of play. Because I am not a string break, it still last me quite long time with the notching.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Overall I am very happy with the playability duration. I do not feel much of the change after the first few hours.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): very happy with the control of the string. even thought I cannot bring up the same trajectory as the poly string, but I am still happy with the predictable trajectory based on the shots I make. same to the depth control. Change direction is very easy and I can pinpoint place the shot when not rushed with this setup.
In addition, I am also very happy I can control the shots well in my topspin ground stroke, backhand slice shots in both cross court and down the line, as well as to flat out the shot when needed.

Compare to the string you use most often: Luxilon 4G definitely provides more spin than this setup. Because I lowered 10 lbs in luxilon 4G and also the quick lose of tension of 4G, it gives more power but less control compare to the test string. Another thing to point out is this multi has less string movement in my spin racket due to high tension used. This is only possible because of the arm friendly of this string. This is another upside of this string.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I feel it is about right tension for me. I will not string any higher because I do not see any benefit of doing that. I might consider to lower for 2 lbs if I have another set. Then it might give a little bit more power to my backhand shot, which is my weaker shot.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Overall, a good multi string to play test. Not as good as the TF multi play tested last month in spin production, but the control and comfort of this string is very good. I think this will make a great cross string in hybrid with poly.

Thanks TW for the play testing.

 

[ynot101]

Review!

Tension(s) used for playtest: 56lbs
Regular string set up: Genesis Thunderblast @52
Racquet brand and model used for test: Pacific X-Force
Power of test string: This string had a good amount of overall power and pop. Not the most, as I do feel there are more multis out there that offer more of an "explosive" power. Where as this one felt more like a "muted" power.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I would classify this as a muted multi. I had a lot of trouble really connecting with the ball and feel was just lacking for me. That could be something that I might adapt to if I had some more sets of string to really get used to the muted feeling.
Spin: This was a great multi for spin! Something about the coating seemed to really bite the ball and put ample spin without that much effort. Very impressive for a multi! Almost poly like.
Comfort: Comfort on this string was great! Off center hits felt like nothing, which I really like in a multi. I think it would be a great match up with a stiff frame. I would totally recommend this to anyone with arm problems.
Durability: This was a very durable multi. Again something about the coating resisted notching, it had a great smooth feeling. This would also be a great possibility for someone who wants a durable cross for a poly hybrid.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Tension Maintenance was this best feature of this string. Rock Solid! It's probably the best of any multis I've tried. Only after 15 hours did I notice a slight drop on tension and slightly more of a trampoline effect. But the overall test was great very little over a lengthy amount of time.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Control was pretty good. I did feel like overall I could put the ball where I wanted. I do believe Thunderblast seems to offer more pinpoint control. Good Control for a multi overall.
Compare to the string you use most often: Over all I think Optimus was a very muted feeling string. It was totally different then what I was expecting. Thunderblast has more feel and durability is better. But the tension maintenance of Optimus was just astonishing!
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I personally didn't really find a need to alter tension at all. If your a poly user maybe adjusting up only a couple pounds might be the only thing you need to do.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
Overall it was a good string.. Would I use it again? Oh Yeah!
Thanks TW!

 

[vhalakos]

Tension(s) used for playtest: 58 lbs.

Regular string set up: Babolat RPM 17/Prince Synthetic Gut 16 @ 51/54 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Babolat E-Sense Comp

Power of test string: Definetly low powered compared to most multifilaments, which I liked. However, it was more powerful then my regular string setup.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): From the first hit, this string felt crisp. Although it was strung at 58 lbs, it had some decent ball pocketing as well as great comfort.

Spin: Spin was lacking for sure. For a poly/syn-gut user like myself, I was so accustomed to having that excellent bite on the ball and grip of the stringbed, but this string didn't exactly have that feel to it. However, as a multi, the spin was certainly decent, just not enough grip on the ball for me.

Comfort: Very comfortable which was expected from a multi, even at a tension like 58 lbs. Seemed to be more comfortable than other multi's I've tried out, while offering a crisp feel as well.

Durability: Fraying began after about 5 hours, as expected, seems to be holding up better than other multi's, such as Gamma's TNT. I think I may get another 4-5 hours out of it. (I tend to tear through strings a good bit.)

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Barely could notice any tension loss after about a week of hard hitting, so overall it did a great job in this aspect.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Good control for a multi, but the lack of spin that I rely on left me hitting a few balls past the baseline. I couldn't really grab the ball on attempted drop shots like I usually am able to. On the other hand, the power was definitely controllable which was great for me personally.

Compare to the string you use most often: My setup really grips the ball and offers more control, sacrificing some power. My regular strings also have a bit of a mushy feel to them. Optimus offered a much more crisp feeling, as well as some extra power and great comfort that I don't see in my current strings.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I really enjoyed the string at 58 lbs. It was very crisp while maintaining plenty of comfort as well as some pocketing. I would probably consider going up into the low 60's just to possibly add just a bit more control.

List any additional thoughts (optional): The string looks really cool, it shines and has some sort of rainbow affect to it. This may be a good multi for those who are having trouble with poly/copoly because of the string's relatively low, controllable power. For players looking for a more gut-like multifilament, I would look elsewhere.

Thanks TW and Wilson for the great opportunity to try the string out!

 

[JetFlyr]

Tension(s) used for playtest: 63/61 strung 1-piece, ATW
Regular string set up: PSGD 16/Gosen OG Micro 16g 60/60
Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson BLX Six.One 95
Power of test string: Initially power was unavailable, probably because I strung it too tight. I strung at 63# because multis are normally too mushy, but not this one. On the third hitting session, the power of this string was just right.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Immediately after stringing, the stringbed felt like a board, but then it loosened up very nicely over the next two hitting sessions and I had great feel on all strokes, especially volleys.
Spin: This string had good spin for a 16g multifilament; certainly not to the degree of a poly but good for a multi.
Comfort: This string was very comfortable. I moved away from polys because of a case of golfer's elbow that persisted for six months. Only recently have I become pain free and this string--despite the high tension I strung it--did not aggravate the elbow in the least. I was able to comfortably take full cuts at the ball.
Durability: I have only hit with this string for about 5 hours. The mains are just starting to move, but the movement is certainly in-line with what I expect from a multi, if not a little better. The lack of movement could have to do with the tension I strung.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): This string became much more playable after five hours.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I could place the ball wherever I wanted to using topspin or slice. I really think the string excelled with placing my serve and with volleys.
Compare to the string you use most often: I use synthetic guts mostly. This string has better feel and more power. Durability seems to be about the same as the synthetics I use.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would definitely string this string lower. I would start at 59# and work down from there. This string was unlike any multifilament I've hit with before (crisp and holds tension), and I really enjoyed it.
List any additional thoughts (optional): After my bout with golfer's elbow, I found myself in limbo regarding what type of string to play with. I knew polys were out, and I didn't have faith in multi's due to their below average durability. This string has proven that it can hold up to hard hitting and maintain its tension, and not aggravate my elbow. I will DEFINITELY be trying this string again at a lower tension.

Thanks TW for allowing me to participate!

 

[jim e]

posted in wrong section, I moved it to Solinco Multifilament String Playtest where it belonged. Sorry, stupid mistake on my part.

 

[AC Tennis]

Review

Tension(s) used for playtest: 55# on a drop weight stringer

Regular string set up: Beast XP 17g at 52 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson BLX Six.One 95 (red and black version)

Power of test string: As others have stated, it was very low powered, especially at first. I expected much more power from a multi and strung accordingly. But after about 5-6 hours, the strings loosened up and the power increased at bit till it was alright, but still low for a multi

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Felt pretty bad initially, but got better as it loosened up. After break in it felt pretty good. Stiffer than most multis but still with some give and dwell time for control

Spin: I felt the spin was poor for a multi. I usually use a soft poly so of course it can't compare to that. But even for a multi I didn't think spin was a bright spot for this string

Comfort: This string was very comfortable. Especially after the break in, they felt pretty good. No elbow or wrist pain at all

Durability: I'm not a string breaker, but it seems to be holding up pretty well after about 10 hours so far. After the inital break in, the strings do start to move quite a bit and stick, so they are starting to wear on each other. But pretty good for a multi

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Again, after the initial break in, the string played fairly consistently. Tension maintenance was good as was feel

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I didn't care for the contol on groundstrokes, but I think this is because I'm used to poly so my strokes are geared to the spin and snap back of poly. With this, I found myselt spraying balls when I would try to hit with topspin. Slices were good. Volleys were good, as were overheads and drop shots. I found that it the shot was flat to underspin, I could control it well. But whenever I tried to impart topspin, on groundstrokes or serves, I couldn't pull the ball down.

Compare to the string you use most often: Beast XP has more spin and surprisingly, more power than this. the Optimus has better dwell time and more feel than the Beast.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would drop the tenstion to about 52 lbs or below for more power.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Not a bad string if you are looking for a stiffer, lower powered multi. But not for me as when I want a multi, I'm looking for more power and a softer feel.

Thanks TW and Wilson for the chance to playtest this!

 

[AC Tennis]

One last thought

Oh, and I loved the look of the string. The pearl inlays were very nice.

 

[moonballs]

I receive the 16g Wilson string in a plastic bag. Stringing is easy.

"Tension(s) used for playtest" 57 / 57 lbs

"Regular string set up" ZX 16g main 55/ syn gut crosses 55 (previously I used full bed syngut, full bed poly and poly/SG hybrid)

"Racquet brand and model used for test" Head YT Extreme pro 2.0

"Power of test string" the string bed had decent power at 57lbs. After 3 sessions the power is more than my usual ZX hybrid but balls aren't flying.

"Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)" Soft, good ball pocketing. Easy to control the depth and height of dropshots.

"Spin" the new string bed has decent spin but not as good as my usual ZX hybrid setup when fresh or after applying lubricant.

"Comfort" Very good, more comfortable than ZX. I am playing this string with a rubber band but the ZX needs a dampener.

"Durability" from the wear in the mains I can see the durability is better than Syn Gut.

"Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)" the center mains are moving after 5 hours. But playability is still good. I suspect I can play it till it breaks.

"Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)" The power is indeed more now than when I started. It helps with the put away shots at mid court but the baseline rallies are a little harder. As mentioned earlier chips and dropshots are easier. So altogether this string is probably not better than the ZX hybrid, but for games against the dreaded pusher types it is actually good.

"Compare to the string you use most often
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)". I will keep it at 57 in the summer.

"List any additional thoughts (optional)" the good things about this string is the control from the mid court in chips, dropshots and putaways. Thanks for the opportunity to try this string.

 

[SOY78]

Tension(s) used for playtest:
50#
Regular string set up:
30-35# Full bed of thin poly

Racquet brand and model used for test:
Head Pro Tour 280 MP

Power of test string:
Compared to my low tension poly this multi had a little less power than my usual setup.
It was very consistent in power whenever swing speeds changed. Very linear the more
swing speed you put in the more power it gives.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):
Felt very muted for a multi almost Head RIP Control muted.

Spin:
Spin was ok with this one. But I prefer a thinner string than this 16g

Comfort:
Very comfortable string. No elbow twinges after games and matches.

Durability:
So far so good. I've played with this string for about 10 hours now and it is notched but still going strong.
Movement is much worse after the 1st 2 hours of this string but it is a multi and I was expecting this.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):
Nice the 1st hit and after the break-in. Very consistent with no drop off the cliff type of tension loss.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?):
Very good control for a multi almost the same control as Head RIP control string.

Compare to the string you use most often:
Comparing multis to polys is like apples to oranges. But the Optimus is more comfortable and muted with much better
tension maintenance then my low tension poly. It might even last longer than the thin poly that I use most often.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):
I would string this looser next time if I get a chance to play with it and hybrid it with a poly cross to get some more spin.

List any additional thoughts (optional):
Thanks TW for the opportunity to playtest this string. Very unique color and feel.

 

[stringmaster]

Tension(s) used for play test: 57

Regular string set up: RPM Blast at 57

Racquet brand and model used for test: Aeropro Drive

Power of test string: The power of this string is high compared to most multifilament synthetic guts. Still it is less than my regular strings which forced me to swing harder.

Feel: In my opinion the feel of this string is stiff for multifilament. However, this is compared to excel the string I used to use. I was not expecting it to be as soft as excel, but not as stiff as it was. All in all, the stiffer feel allowed me to get more spin on the ball.

Spin: The spin here is great for a multifilament but only ok when I compare it to my usual setup. A player looking for a multifilament with good spin potential would love this string.

Comfort: Like most multis this was a very easy on my arm. It was very comfortable at 57lbs and is probably very comfortable at higher tensions also.

Durability: This string was not durable at all it lasted 2.5 hours. For me this is less than normal for a multi.

Playability Duration: The playability was good throughout the whole test I actually liked it more when it was about to pop.

Control: The control is greate as i expected. The low power characteristic of the string enhance the control.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to RPM at the same tension, it had less power and spin, but was more comfortable. As with all ploys RPM was more durable.

Tension recommendations: I would try two pounds higher.

Additional thoughts: Thanks TW for this fantastic playtest.

 

[bigserving]

TENSION USED FOR PLAYEST - 60 lbs mains and crosses strung on a lockout machine. Stringing was easy and fast. Being a multi, there was very little coil memory to address.

REGULAR STRING SETUP - The regular setup of Dunlop Black Widow 17 gauge, 50 lbs x 50 lbs strung on a lockout machine.

RACQUET BRAND AND MODEL USED FOR TEST - Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour 95.

POWER OF STRING TESTED - Coming from playing with poly, like so many other multis, I found these strings on the side of powerful. However compared to other multis, the power was easily in the above average range. It was the type of power that seemed to trampoline straight off the stringed on my fastball serves. I had to adjust that stroke to get some downward, topspin flight of first serves.

FEEL - For a multi, they had a very nice crisp feel. They do not feel stiff and crisp like a poly, but for a multifilament, they had quite a solid feel. At this tension, the feel was along the lines of the "thud" that comes from this Dunlop frame.

SPIN - Pretty decent here. For a multi, there was ample opportunity to to address and put good spin on the ball. Again, this is in comparisons to other multis. There is a huge difference in spin potential between these strings and spin specific strings or polyesters.

COMFORT - These are very comfortable strings. There was no shock or twinge coming through the racquet from string bed to my arm, on any stroke. This is what is expected of multifilament strings and Wilson Optimus did not disappoint. Very smooth, comfortable ride.

DURABILITY - The test period was three singles matches per week for two consecutive weeks. The strings did not break during the test but showed a significant amount of visible wear during the play period.

PLAYABILITY DURATION- There was a noticeable drop off in playability, however. After about five sets, the strings began to feel very different. The drop off in playability continued for the duration of the test. I would probably restrung after about eight hours. For tournaments, I would restring for each match.

CONTROL - Good for a multi. Even without having a huge amount of spin available, I would definitely classify this as a good control string given the amount of power that they do provide.

COMPARE TO 17 G DUNLOP BLACK WIDOW - Black Widow was the clear winner in spin creation. The feel and comfort winner would edge toward Wilson Optimus. I call it a tie in the playability duration category. Optimus would be the big winner in the power category.

Optimus was very comfortable to string with so very little coil memory.

TENSION RECOMMENDATION - The 60 lb. test tension seemed pretty good for the test in a low powered racquet. The initial playability of the strings seems to leave room to either increase or decrease tension to an individual player's taste and playing style, and begin somewhat playable. For me, I would increase tension a bit to attempt get more spin given the limited time of playability. Up to a few pound increase in tension for players with more powerful frames or for players that use strings and/or powerful frames to provide their power.

LIST ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS - The Wilson Optimus is a good quality multifilament string. It has very useable balance of string aspects. Different types of players will be able to make these strings work in their frames. They will work well for players of any level and style. A very nice combination of each of the components of a string. These strings will work for some in a full bed for non string-breaking players wanting additional power from their strings. It will work for others as a very soft, powerful cross behind a poly.

 

[Lack]

Tension(s) used for playtest - 58 lbs

Regular string set up - Prince Tour XC 15g at 53 lbs

Racquet brand and model used for test - Prince Original Graphite Mid

Power of test string - I liked the power of this string, since I was able to make a full swing at the ball and keep it in. I believe this string is low to average powered for a multi. With extra higher tension, it produced same power as my usual setup.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - It offered crisp feel for me. Definitely not soft nor mushy.

Spin - It has average spin for a multi, but it's not a spin friendly string. It generated very low spin compared with my usual setup. Heavy topspin players would not like this one.

Comfort - Very comfortable string like any other multis out there.

Durability - Not very durable. The string snapped after about 4 hours, probably because I'm a string breaker and the racquet has an open string pattern.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - The tension felt very stable throughout the whole 3 sets. After an hour, the strings started moving. It was annoying to fix strings after every rally. Fraying started after about 2 hours.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) -
Excellent control. The string had balanced power to control depth easily with fast full swing on the ball. It was also not difficult to get the ball to the corners consistently.

Compare to the string you use most often - Compared to Prince Tour XC, Wilson Optimus had great feel, control, and tension playability duration.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) - No, I liked the tension I used on this playtest. If I went lower tension, I believe it wouldn't have felt crisp and produced balanced power.

 

[YarikA99]

Tension used for playtest: 60 mains/57 crosses

Regular string set up: I use various polys but right now I am sticking with red devil 16l at 48 with jet stringing.

Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson Pro Staff 90

Power of test string: The string was about average power for a multi. I enjoyed this extra power (then my full bed of poly) which helped me put away sitters and on my serve.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The feel was definently crisp and a little bit stiff. Although it wasn't as crisp as some of the polys that I have used, it is more crisp than most multis. I liked this since I hate mushy and muted strings.

Spin: The spin was a bit low for me since I usually use poly, but it was about average for a multi.

Comfort: The comfort for this string was above average for a multi, which is surprising considering that I strung it in the high 50's / low 60.

Durability: I broke the string after 9 hours which is about average for how long a multi lasts for me.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): After the initial tension loss the string played consistently until it broke, although it did gain a little bit of power towards the end, which I enjoyed.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Once I got warmed up with this string and got used to the power, I was easily able to control depth. The control is above average for a multi, but it isn't quite as control friendly as a poly.

Compare to the string you use most often: It isn't really fair to compare this string to a poly, but this string had more power and comfort, but the poly had more spin, control, and durability.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would keep the tension the same, since I enjoyed the power I got from this string and I don't really need more control.

List any additional thoughts: I liked the shiny color of the string and I also liked how easy it was to string it compared to poly. Thank you TW for letting me do this playtest.