Tennis Warehouse: Wilson Revolve 17 Playtest

[TW Staff]

Wilson Revolve 17 Playtest

Playtest samples shipped on Friday November 20. Playtesters have been notified by email.

Deadline for reviews: Monday December 22

Include the following in your review:

String received:
Tension(s) used for playtest
Racquet used for playtest
Regular string set up
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)

String as full set.

 

[rabidturtle]

Test Info
Racket Strung on 11/25/2014 and recorded notes over five hitting sessions

Tension(s): 52 lbs (Middle Tension)

Racquet used for playtest: Head Graphene Prestige Pro

Regular string set up: Technifibre Pro Red Code 17g 57 / 54 lbs

Power of test string: Low powered poly

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): On the first outing, the string was noticeably stiff and crisp. Afterwards, the strings settled and had a nice crisp quality.

Comfort: On the first hitting session the stiffness made playing uncomfortable. I felt excessive vibration in my wrist, outer forearm, and elbow. On subsequent hitting sessions, the strings relaxed in tension and are currently very comfortable to hit with.

Durability: The strings are as durable as any other poly. Please note that I hit my groundies flatter than the average player and have never had an issue with breaking strings. I did notice that the strings have started to notch after a week.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): The playability of the string has been consistent over the past week. It had a harshness/crisp feel to begin with, then transitioned to only a crisp feel. The spin potential hasn’t deteriorated over the past week. I’m getting extra spin on my roller cross court and kick serves

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): This string is very consistent, I’m able to control the depth, spin, and trajectory on fast swinging groundies. I did notice the strings had a springier quality on slower racket head speeds. The string feedback on touch shots has a muted feel resulting in less accuracy.

Compare to the string you used most often: Compared to my usual setup, I get more spin on my cross court roller forehand, cross court forehand groundies, and topspin kick serve. On high cross court backhands, the ball would launch off the string bed.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would keep the same mid tension for my racket. With a 98 sq inch head size I would recommend stringing at mid or lower tension due to the low power level and stiffness of the string.

List any additional thoughts (optional) I spoke with the Wilson representative at my local club and he said Wilson Revolve is the re-branded name of Wilson Ripspin. Regardless, it’s a competitive poly and I would seriously consider switching to this string depending on price/performance.

 

[Triskadekaphilia]

I do not see any data about Wilson revolve in the TW university.

Is this on the stiffer or softer side for a poly?

 

[TW Staff]

We haven't had a chance to test it yet, but it's on the professor's list.

TW Staff

 

[Triskadekaphilia]

I just wanted a ballpark figure. I have a set coming soon for the test and would like to get the tension right.

Any idea if it plays more like tour bite or more like v star?

Thanks

 

[dicktracey]

Just finished stringing, round string, very soft and stretchy for a poly. Never tried a poly this soft, feels like synthetic gut or multi. I normally string a thick-stiff poly @ 40/30, went 50/40 for this one, initial bounce test is nice, interested to see how it plays.

[/IMG]

 

[MixedMaster]

This is my first playtest and I was wondering, can we use the string in a hybrid?

 

[PGlock]

Just received my set this afternoon and decided to install it now since my current strings were close to expired. This string is round, non-textured and feels very slick and soft for a poly. There were no kinks or bends in this string when I uncoiled it as well. Stringing was hassle free as the string was very pliable and did not kink at all.

The color, however, is orange and clashes with the red and white scheme in my 2014 Six.One 95. Just looks odd to me.

 

[McLovin]

This is my first playtest and I was wondering, can we use the string in a hybrid?

I was just thinking the same thing. Usually if it is allowed, they say so explicitly.

The color, however, is orange and clashes with the red and white scheme in my 2014 Six.One 95. Just looks odd to me.

And by contrast, I was just thinking how the orange is going to look great in my X Force Pro BX2.

 

[travlerajm]

I'm pumped up for this play test after reading the description in the photo. I've been wondering how long it would take for a string co to finally give us a cross linked smooth and elastic string.

I'm tempted to be a rebel and test it as cross with Kevlar main. This is the first string I've seen that looks from the description to be a contender for the title of best string for crosses - monogut zx is currently holding the belt.

 

[corners]

I'm pumped up for this play test after reading the description in the photo. I've been wondering how long it would take for a string co to finally give us a cross linked smooth and elastic string.

I'm tempted to be a rebel and test it as cross with Kevlar main. This is the first string I've seen that looks from the description to be a contender for the title of best string for crosses - monogut zx is currently holding the belt.

Trav, what's the significance of cross-linking?

This is the third string on the market - Ripspin and Tour XC/XS being the other two - that features an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene coating. Same stuff used as the articular surfaces of artificial joints. Nearly as slippery as teflon but far, far harder.

 

[dicktracey]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50lbs main/40lbs cross

Racquet used for playtest: Head MicroGEL Radical Oversize

Regular string set up: PP Strategem 8 16g/1.30mm @ 40lbs main/30lbs cross

Power of test string: topsin shots very slow, flat hits are okay

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): feels like a stiff synthetic gut

Spin: very bad compared to a poly, spins like synthetic gut

Comfort: Soft, no ball pocketing. I couldn't play with this. Felt unstable and weak. I should have strung it higher or much lower.

Durability: Similar to a coated synthetic gut or soft poly.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Did not change over time, but I couldn't play with it, from beginning to end.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I like to topspin everything, so for me it was very hard to control, wild and unstable. Flat hitting and drives are good, like synthetic gut.

Compare to the string you use most often: Revolve 17, flat hits better than
Strategem 8. It's like comparing synthetic gut to poly.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) If I had a second chance, I would string it like a synthetic gut. 60/60lbs. This string is too soft/weak for low tension or tension variation.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
All in all, it plays like a coated synthetic gut. If you like synthetic gut, you might like this. Stiff full bed poly lovers, stay away. If you like luxilon 4g, rpm blast, strategem 8, and ytex square x, stay away from this string. I think this string might work well in a hybrid as a cross string.

 

[PBODY99]

Just received my set this afternoon and decided to install it now since my current strings were close to expired. This string is round, non-textured and feels very slick and soft for a poly. There were no kinks or bends in this string when I uncoiled it as well. Stringing was hassle free as the string was very pliable and did not kink at all.

The color, however, is orange and clashes with the red and white scheme in my 2014 Six.One 95. Just looks odd to me.

I see the color as a good match for the 2015 Burn frames, based on the picture of Kei in Japan.

 

[SpinToWin]

I see the color as a good match for the 2015 Burn frames, based on the picture of Kei in Japan.

The normal burns look much much much worse. The racquet you saw was the Burn 95 limited which will only be sold in Japan from what I've heard.

 

[mad dog1]

mad dog1's Wilson Revolve 17 playtest

String received: Wilson Revolve 17
Tension(s) used for playtest: 54/52# strung on an electronic CP machine. even though the string did not feel especially soft in my hand, i decided to string it a few #s higher based on the description on the packaging. It strung up like a moderately stiff poly. There was more stretch and elongation than a stiff poly but did not stretch anywhere as much as a syn gut.
Racquet used for playtest: Babolat Pure Storm GT Team modded to 11.9 oz and 31.7 cm balance
Regular string set up: Discho Iontec 17 @ 51/51# strung on an electronic CP machine
Power of test string: Moderate power for a poly
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Not too crisp and moderately stiff; not mushy or muted at all.
Spin: average spin for a round poly
Comfort: Even though the feel of the string bed was on the crisper side, comfort was excellent from the start. Comfort only improved over time.
Durability: We've been getting rained out here in SoCal the past few weeks so I've only put about 6 hours on the string bed so far; but so far, I've found the string fairly resistant to notching.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): No change after the 1st hour. Playability improves over time as the string settles in. At 6+ hours, the mains are still snapping back.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Good control. It was easy for me to control trajectory, depth and direction due to excellent feel for the ball even beyond 6 hours. As the string bed lost tension over time, depth was a bit harder to control as the spin level which was average dropped.
Compare to the string you use most often: Stiffer and crisper than Iontec without sacrificing any comfort. Revolve offers similar levels of control, a bit less spin and more power.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): Glad I went a few pounds higher because 54/52# feels spot on.
List any additional thoughts (optional): I like this string. Good blend of power and control. Response is very predictable but spin potential drops over time. String surface not quite as hard as Ashaway Monogut but still pretty resistant to notching. Durability and playability as I spend more time with it. I think this could be a nice cross string because it has a hard slippery surface that would allow the mains to easily glide across and snap back. I wouldn't mind trying this with a gut main. In a full bed setup, there are strings that offer better all around performance in terms of spin, power and control. The one stand out characteristic was comfort. Revolve is very comfortable for a poly string.

As always, thanks TeeDub and Wilson for the opportunity to playtest!

 

[MixedMaster]

Just received mine in the mail today. Will get it strung up in the next day or so and try and hit with it this weekend.
Still don't know if we can use it in a hybrid!!!???

 

[TW Staff]

Please playtest with a full bed of the string.

Brittany, TW

 

[TW Staff]

I just wanted a ballpark figure. I have a set coming soon for the test and would like to get the tension right.

Any idea if it plays more like tour bite or more like v star?

Thanks

We haven't hit it yet, so we don't know.

Jon

 

[MixedMaster]

Please playtest with a full bed of the string.

Brittany, TW

O.K. Brittany, thanks!!!!

 

[travlerajm]

Please playtest with a full bed of the string.

Brittany, TW

But if you let us hybrid, you would get two reviews of the string for the price of one!

I'd really like to try this one with out with kevlar mains, as from the label it might have all the properties I look for in a cross. But if it's a definite no-no, then I'll oblige and review a full bed. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this.

 

[Triskadekaphilia]

Wilson Revolve 17

Tension(s) used for play test: 56 lbs, drop weight, moderate prestretch. Very easy to string up.

Racquet used for play test: head microgel radical midplus. Strung = 12.5 oz, 12 points HL

Regular string set up: gut/poly

Power of test string: Moderate for a poly

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Crisp. Slightly plasticky. Feels somewhat stiff after settling. More than I was expecting. I store racquets inside and play inside, but the club is a little chilly this time of year, 30s outside and 60s inside.

Spin: Average for a poly

Comfort: During first hit it felt comfortable. After settling it felt stiffer, more than I was expecting. Perhaps it's the colder weather. I have a sensitive wrist and generally don't play with many full poly stringbeds except occasionally for fun. This string will probably be fine for the average player but to me it felt stiffer than I expected.

Durability: I am not a good judge as I never break polys. I hit hard for a 3.5 but fairly flat with a eastern/SW grip and use tight string patterns.

Playability Duration: I have used it for 5 hours of singles and rally practice. The stiff feel has limited my play with it. It has had no loss of performance in this time.

Control: Definitely a controllable string. Flat groundies are good, topspin is good, slice is good. It is a good all around poly string.

Compare to the string you use most often: I am not changing my gut/poly, which gives me great comfort, feel, and consistent playability. I have played co-polys with more spin (like MSV hex) and more power (volkl v-star) in this frame.

Tension recommendations: If I were to use it again I would start to lower the tension by 2 lbs until I reached a tension that was more comfortable but kept similar control.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Seems like a decent all around so poly that does not excel in any category. I found it too stiff for my taste but a lower tension could help with that.

Thanks to Wilson and/or TW for allowing me to review this string. I hope this is helpful for other players.

 

[TW Staff]

travlerajm,

We ask that you do not hybrid the playtest string.

Brittany, TW

 

[MixedMaster]

I strung my Pure Strike 100 at 55/51 and went to hit this morning. Unfortunately, it was so cold that I didn't hit with the stick with the Revolve in it but for about 15 minuets. In the cold, it seemed much too stiff. I normally hit with a gut/poly combo and the full poly was just too hard in the cold. It's supposed to warm up this week and I'll give it a much better run over a few days of hitting...

 

[sp1derman]

First Impression: Decent power for a poly, easy to string and weave because of its softness.

 

[kickit]

I strung my racket last weekend and put it through about an hour of hitting during a tournament. I'll post my full review after this weekend, but my initial thoughts are:

It was very easy to string for a poly and it was very easy on my arm. Spin was average at best and I could feel the ball pocketing a bit. Both would probably increase if I were to drop the tension down quite a bit. There was minimal wear after 1 hour of hitting.

Will update and complete my thoughts after I put it through a more extensive play test.

 

[dicktracey]

Update: This past week and a half, I've been playing with strategem 8 @ 50/40 instead of 40/30. I absolutely love it, will be sticking with that tension. The snap back, spin, and control, amazing. Revolve, has no snap back what so ever. Even though it advertises that, maybe because I strung it at the wrong tension. The string is so soft, maybe it's meant to be strung at the same tension or close for maximum snap back. Small possibility this this is a spin monster at 60/60 or 70/70lbs, but I have my doubts, the string properties don't make sense for top spin production. I think Revolve is truely a flat hitters string.

 

[sp1derman]

String received: Wilson Revolve (orange color string)
Tension(s) used for playtest:56lb mains, 52lb crosses
Racquet used for playtest: Wilson BLX PS 6.1.95
Regular string set up: Natural gut mains (Bab. Tonic, Klip legend uncoated)/ Smooth poly cross
Power of test string: More powerful than the average poly. Not as powerful as a multi. or nat. gut, but definitely a lively poly and I even strung it a little higher than most do with a poly.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) I felt above average ball pocketing in this poly. Decent feel for a poly that I attribute to its softness. I had a couple nice drop shots!
Spin: Average, not as much as you can initially experience with a textured or shaped string, but what you would expect from a round poly.
Comfort: I never play with a full bed because it used to give me elbow tendonitis. This string in a full bed has not caused me any arm problems in 2 one hour hitting sessions.
Durability:I have been playing on har-tru so in my opinion the clay picked up by the ball causes some extra wear on the strings. I notice the cross strings pick up and hold more felt fuzz than when playing on hard courts. Notching has stayed very minimal, maybe some flattening on the mains, but no notching after about 1 1/2 weeks.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): This string has played consistently the entire time. I never experienced any "flyers" where I launch a ball long.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): The trajectory (height) over the net was consistent. I was however consistently landing the ball around the service line. I had to adjust my stroke to get a deeper ball. I only know one swing speed, balls to the wall! However, i have to employ drop shots periodically or else guy will play me at the fence. These were easier to execute than most polys.
Not as much free power and balls had a tendency to hit around the service line. It was easier to hit short angles with this set up. Kick and slice serves were great. Flat or power serves lacked traditional set-ups speed.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)I would consider lowering the tension a pound or two to help add more power and depth.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Aside from the color I really liked this string b/c of its comfort level, ball pocketing and feel. If you want the benefits of a full poly without the arm issues this may work for you. I think you'll be able to play with the tensions in order to achieve the depth your looking for. I believe this will make an excellent cross string or main string in a hybrid set-up because of its low friction coefficient. Good Luck and thanks TW! Did anyone string lower than me and have ball launching long problems?

 

[McLovin]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17 (orange)

Tension used for playtest: 45lbs with a 10% prestretch (see RacquetTune images below)

Racquet used for playtest: Pacific X Force Pro BX2

Regular string set up: Pacific 17g Tough Gut mains @54lbs / Pacific Poly Force 17g crosses @ 52lbs

Power of test string:

Average. It wasn't overly powerful, but I also didn't feel like I had to "swing for the fences" to get anything on the ball. First serves popped nicely, as did some forehands. Everything else felt about average for a 17g polyester.​

Feel:

I liked the feel of this from the start, but really started to enjoy it after the first couple hits. Did not feel stiff at all, but crisp, not dead or mushy. In doubles, I had some nice touch volleys, and was able to really feel the ball on the racquet.​

Spin:

Low-average. This might be the string's weak spot. As a full poly setup, I didn't seem to get as much spin as others I've tried. Granted, I don't hit with extreme grips, but my normal setup (gut/poly) really can generate some good spin. Similar shots sailed a bit with this setup in the beginning, but did improve as the string settled in.​

Comfort:

Above average for a full poly. Again, not as comfortable as my gut/poly setup, but I could definitely play with this all day and have no problems. However, to be fair, I don't usually have any elbow/wrist problems. But the string did feel comfortable.​

Durability:

Indoors, I don't break gut/poly, so I'm never going to break full poly. I will be on clay the week of Christmas, so I will get a better idea then, but the playtest time will have ended so not sure if I will update afterward.​

Playability Duration:

I felt this got better with age. The first outing was 'ok', but as time went on I felt it softened up a bit and became more lively. Maybe stringing looser would have started it out that way, but not sure how it would have played after settling in.​

Control:

Very good control. Again, once it settled in and I was used to 'lesser spin', I got some good height over the net and good depth. I did have issues with my 2nd serve falling short, but not sure if that was the string or just me.​

Compare to the string you use most often:

Gut/poly is the setup for me. However, this summer I experimented with low tension full poly setups on clay and found them better suited to that surface & style of play. Compared to gut/poly, Revolve has less power, less spin, and less feel, but that can be said of pretty much any other setup in comparison. For a full poly setup, it is average power, below average spin, and above average feel.​

Tension recommendations:

Tension loss seems to be on par with other full poly setups I've demoed recently. Going from left to right, the images are (1) fresh off the machine, (2) after the 1st hit, and (3) after 10 days:

I might experiment with 42lbs to see how it starts, and then plays as it settles in, but i would be fine knowing it would need a 'break in period' if 42 was too low.​

List any additional thoughts:

I really enjoyed this string. It will be interesting to see what the price-point is on it as compared to other soft, round polys. If not cost-prohibitive, I would definitely consider this as a cross to my gut, as well as a cross string in my full poly setup (I use shaped poly mains in full setup).

As mentioned before, I'll be hitting on clay over Christmas, and unlike other playtests where I cut the string out after testing, this will be making the trip to Florida.​

 

[mikeler]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17 (orange)

Tension used for playtest: 45lbs with a 10% prestretch (see RacquetTune images below)

Racquet used for playtest: Pacific X Force Pro BX2

Regular string set up: Pacific 17g Tough Gut mains @54lbs / Pacific Poly Force 17g crosses @ 52lbs

Power of test string:

Average. It wasn't overly powerful, but I also didn't feel like I had to "swing for the fences" to get anything on the ball. First serves popped nicely, as did some forehands. Everything else felt about average for a 17g polyester.​

Feel:

I liked the feel of this from the start, but really started to enjoy it after the first couple hits. Did not feel stiff at all, but crisp, not dead or mushy. In doubles, I had some nice touch volleys, and was able to really feel the ball on the racquet.​

Spin:

Low-average. This might be the string's weak spot. As a full poly setup, I didn't seem to get as much spin as others I've tried. Granted, I don't hit with extreme grips, but my normal setup (gut/poly) really can generate some good spin. Similar shots sailed a bit with this setup in the beginning, but did improve as the string settled in.​

Comfort:

Above average for a full poly. Again, not as comfortable as my gut/poly setup, but I could definitely play with this all day and have no problems. However, to be fair, I don't usually have any elbow/wrist problems. But the string did feel comfortable.​

Durability:

Indoors, I don't break gut/poly, so I'm never going to break full poly. I will be on clay the week of Christmas, so I will get a better idea then, but the playtest time will have ended so not sure if I will update afterward.​

Playability Duration:

I felt this got better with age. The first outing was 'ok', but as time went on I felt it softened up a bit and became more lively. Maybe stringing looser would have started it out that way, but not sure how it would have played after settling in.​

Control:

Very good control. Again, once it settled in and I was used to 'lesser spin', I got some good height over the net and good depth. I did have issues with my 2nd serve falling short, but not sure if that was the string or just me.​

Compare to the string you use most often:

Gut/poly is the setup for me. However, this summer I experimented with low tension full poly setups on clay and found them better suited to that surface & style of play. Compared to gut/poly, Revolve has less power, less spin, and less feel, but that can be said of pretty much any other setup in comparison. For a full poly setup, it is average power, below average spin, and above average feel.​

Tension recommendations:

Tension loss seems to be on par with other full poly setups I've demoed recently. Going from left to right, the images are (1) fresh off the machine, (2) after the 1st hit, and (3) after 10 days:

I might experiment with 42lbs to see how it starts, and then plays as it settles in, but i would be fine knowing it would need a 'break in period' if 42 was too low.​

List any additional thoughts:

I really enjoyed this string. It will be interesting to see what the price-point is on it as compared to other soft, round polys. If not cost-prohibitive, I would definitely consider this as a cross to my gut, as well as a cross string in my full poly setup (I use shaped poly mains in full setup).

As mentioned before, I'll be hitting on clay over Christmas, and unlike other playtests where I cut the string out after testing, this will be making the trip to Florida.​

Looking forward to hearing the thoughts of a real 5.0 regarding this string.

 

[ShahofTennis]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17g, Orange

Tension(s) used for playtest: 52lbs. Initially I wanted to string this at a middle of the road tension for a MP, but I decided to give the setup some juice.

Racquet used for playtest: Wilson ProStaff Six.One 95 BLX (Modded ? 2012)

Regular string set up: (In the above racquet)Generic Gut@55/Solinco Outlast@50

Power of test string: Rating this string on a scale from 1-10, I?d give it a 4.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): Soft and Muted.

Spin: Spin potential was a little below average from what I?d expect from a 17g poly. At one point further increases of RHS didn?t seem to generate more spin. I suspect notching was the culprit behind it.

Comfort: Exceptionally comfortable. The string bed had an exceptionally soft and muted response.

Durability: Approximately 26 Hours of play/training without breakage over the course of a warm winter week and the weekends before and after.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Somewhere in the ball park of Pro Line II. Tension maintenance passed a 10lb threshold by hour 7. Spin Potential was absolutely gone due to notching after hour 13.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Being a poly in general, this string offered good control from all areas of the court. Tension maintenance and notching eventually leveled each other out and I was left with something I would estimate to be a little over 40lbs in my last session this afternoon. Trajectory remained consistent until tension dropped off significantly, and then it became a little erratic if I was ever late, or missed the center.

Compare to the string you use most often: My generic Gut/Outlast hybrid setup compares favorably to this setup. Positive aspects to Revolve 17 include the fact that it has enough pop where if I switched I wouldn?t miss the gut in that respect. In respect of Control; I would also give the edge to Revolve 17 because it?s a poly when comparing to the gut/poly hybrid.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): To get more control on the pop, and lengthen the life of the string bed; I would recommend this string be strung at 55-57 in MP?s.

Thanks for the Playtest TW!

 

[mpournaras]

It should come in at ~$10

 

[kickit]

String received: Wilson Revolve 16
Tension(s) used for playtest: 53/53 Lbs
Racquet used for playtest: Head IG Prestige Pro
Regular string set up: Tour Bite 17 @ 53/53
Power of test string: I found Revolve to have slightly above average power for a round poly after an hour of two of hitting with the strings.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I found Revolve 17 to be one of the most comfortable poly's that I have hit with. I usually prefer stiffer polys, but I enjoyed the fact that even while being so soft, the string did not at all feel mushy.
Spin: I was a bit disappointed in how mediocre the spin was for this string. It was average at best for a round poly.
Comfort: Very comfortable all throughout the playtest.
Durability: I usually experience notching within 3-4 hours of playing with a poly. Even at 5 and 7 hours of play I was only beginning to notch the strings. Above average durability for my play style.
Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): After an hour or two of hitting the tension of the string had dropped enough in tension to stabilize. After that period I found increased ball pocketing which I really enjoyed.
Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): I found this string to have solid control. Throughout the whole play test the string gave me a predictable response. I was really able to take advantage of that on returns. I was able to shorten up my swing and place the ball safely cross court for doubles.
Compare to the string you use most often: I found Revolve to be more powerful, comfortable, and durable than tour bite. I still prefer the spin that TB offers so I will not be switching to Revolve.
Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) If I were to string Revolve again, I'd drop the tension again under 50 Lbs. As the play test went on I found that I really enjoyed the drop in tension.

 

[Lack]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17 (orange)

Tension(s) used for playtest - 55 lbs

Racquet used for playtest - Babolat Aeropro Drive Plus

Regular string set up - Luxilon Alu Power 16L at 55 lbs

Power of test string - Above average for a poly. Very similar to Alu Power.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?) - Crisp and soft. Felt great on groundstrokes and serves, but didn't like the touch on volleys.

Spin - Definitely not a string for players looking for a lot of spin. Spin potential dropped after notching.

Comfort - Very comfortable poly. No arm injuries throughout the playtest.

Durability - Very durable string for a 1.25g. Broke about 21 hours of playing.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time) - After the break in period, the tension was consistent for a long time. The string started notching after 3 sets.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?) - Great control on fast full swings to every angle. Short swings on the serve return was getting the ball deep into the court nicely. Serves and volleys were easily predictable.

Compare to the string you use most often - Luxilon Alu Power and Wilson Revolve have similar power potential and feel. Alu Power generates spin more and it is more durable than Wilson Revolve.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) - I would go higher for better control and crisper feel.

 

[MixedMaster]

String Received: Wilson Revolve 17g

Tensions used for the play test: 55 mains 51 crosses

Racquet Used: Babolat Strike 100

Regular String Set-up: Klip Legend Mains and Gamma iO crosses

Power of Test String: The first couple of times I went to hit with Revolve, it was cold and I didn't feel like it had much power. The weather warmed a little and I think the string broke in some and I found the power to be good.

Feel: The string was easy to string and after initial couple of hours of hitting the string played fairly crisp.

Spin: I hit with fairly good top spin, but never felt I was getting the spin I normally get. The spin was mid level in my estimation.

Comfort: I found the string to be fairly comfortable after the first couple of sessions. I'm not a full poly user so the comfort level to me was never quite where I like it. I believe full poly users will enjoy the softer feel of this string.

Durability: After 10-12 hours of play, I've only found very slight notching. I'm sure the string will last easily 20 or more hours without breaking for me.

Playability Duration: The string started out stiff then shifted to a more manageable feel after the first couple of sessions. I think this is one of the strings that need some break-in time to be really enjoyed

Control: I didn't have much problem with my shots going long but did feel that I had to hit with more spin to get the depth I normally get with my regular set-up. There was good pop on the serve and volleys and my slice back-hand seemed to be fairly affective.

Compared to String Most Often Used: I normally use a gut/poly set-up and I feel like the Revolve didn't quite have the control, pop, or spin that I normally get. The level of comfort although not bad, was not nearly as good as I usually have with gut/poly.

Tension Recommendations: I would probably string a couple of pounds looser then I did for the play test and I think it would give more feel, pop, and spin.

Additional Thoughts: I think at some time I'm going to try this string in my crosses with the gut mains. I have the feeling it would really work well with that kind of combo. For those who use the Strikes, the color is really good with the stick....

 

[PGlock]

String received: Wilson Revolve 16g

Tension(s) used for playtest: 50lbs

Racquet used for playtest: Wilson Six.One 95 18x20

Regular string set up: ALU Power 16L at 50lbs

Power: This string is what I consider to be low to mid powered.

Feel: The string felt like it had a medium stiffness to me but did not feel as crisp as ALU Power in my racquet. It did have some nice ball pocketing with good touch control on softer shots.

Spin: It felt like spin was about average or normal for a round poly, certainly not a spin monster. I thought I was able to get a little more on slice backhands and serves with this string but topspin production on forehands was average overall. I was surprised by this because the string is very slick and I thought it would have produced more spin.

Comfort: This string is very comfortable. It is not harsh and you do not get any unwanted shock or vibration with it.

Durability: Revolve seems to be more durable with much less initial notching than I expected. Still plays well at the 8 hour mark.

Playability Duration: There is a loss of tension after about 2 hours but then the string seems to settle in and continues to play well.

Control: I felt that I had good control and could place shots deep in the court without hitting long. Hitting hard with a full swing increased the spin but still had good control. Volley and touch shots took a little time to adapt to for placement.

Compare to the string you use most often: ALU Power is a little thinner, plays more crisp and generates more spin than Revolve. But Revolve is a more forgiving and comfortable string with better ball pocketing than ALU Power.

Tension recommendations: I would drop tension to 48lbs in an 18x20 to increase ball pocketing and power just a bit. In a more open string pattern, I would probably increase tension by two or three pounds just for control.

Additional thoughts: Revolve is easy to string, as it does not kink or bend much and the smoothness makes weaving crosses a breeze. The one thing I did not like was the color. I am not a fan of the orange color and think black would look much better.

Thanks for the opportunity to try something new!

 

[Chace]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17g

Tension(s) used for playtest: 51lbs

Racquet used for playtest: head youtek IG prestige pro

Regular string set up: Genesis black magic 17g 51 lbs

Power of test string: Power was about average for a poly. My usual set up has a little more pop.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): For a poly the feel was nice. It was on the crisp side but not stiff.

Spin: for a poly the spin was below average

Comfort : for a poly comfort was above average. My usual setup I feel is comfortable but this string was even more so

Durability: durability seemed fine. I usually get about 7-8 hours of play out of black magic before it breaks. I had around 5-6 hours of play on the revolve before it broke on a shanked overhead

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): the playability got better after about an hour of play, the string settled in at that point. It felt a little softer

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): the string bed was honest, great control. I had confidence to swing out.

Compare to the string you use most often: my current setup is better in all areas with the exception of comfort. I feel black magic has more pop and spin. The revolve has slightly better feel.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?): I would try dropping the tension a few pounds, maybe down to 47-48 in hopes of getting some added pop.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Thank you TW and Wilson for the play test.

 

[miraq]

Orange

String received: Wilson Revolve 17 g

Tension(s) used for playtest: 56/54

Racquet used for playtest: Wilson ProStaff Classic 6.1 95

Regular string set up: Tecnifibre NRG2, 58/56

Power: moderate to slightly above moderate powered.

Feel: The string had pretty good touch, especially when compared to most polys on the market. I was able to execute several drop shots surprisingly well with this string.

Spin: To me spin potential was the weakest attribute of Revolve. I would rate at moderate at best. My usual, soft NRG2, is better at spinning the ball.

Comfort: This string is very comfortable, surprisingly so, especially for a poly! No arm or shoulder pain whatsoever.

Durability: Revolve seems to me to be quite durable. I have about 18 hours on the string, about 90% of those hours were drilling and rallying, so a lot more hits than 18 hours of pure match play. I am just starting to see the strings flatten and start to notch. Playability has remained very consistent.

Playability Duration: No issues as yet, after the usual initial tension drop, still playing well.

Control: I believe that this quality is where this string shines, baseline shots were very consistent and predictable, when the balls landed past the baseline, they were usually only a few inches long. Volleys were solid and effortless.

Compare to the string you use most often: Revolve plays more crisply and consistently than my usual setup with NRG2. The degradation in spin potential with Revolve when compared to NRG2 really was not that big of a negative to me, since I hit a pretty flat ball. Based on performance alone, I would choose Revolve over my normal string.

Tension recommendations: I would stay with the 56/54 or maybe go back to my usual 58/56.

Additional thoughts: Revolve is easy to string. As I stated above, based solely on performance, I would buy this string. However, because of the loud, screaming, hey look at me, orange color, there is no chance of me ever buying this string. If it was offered in a neutral color I certainly would consider buying it. I think a better name for this string could have been "Evolve" or maybe "Evolution", since it seems to be a very well balanced step in the evolution of polyester string. It's not really outstanding in any single characteristic, nor is it bad at anything, but simply a very solid, consistent, balanced string!

Thanks to TW and Wilson for the opportunity to play test Revolve.

 

[tennis_nut]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17 orange

Tension(s) used for playtest: 55 lbs on Alpha Revo 4000 with Wise tension head

Racquet used for playtest: Head Graphene Speed XT MPA (16x16)

Regular string set up: Head Hawk 17 at 55 lbs

Power of test string: medium powered, I was getting good pop for a poly

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): soft and muted

Spin: the spin was about normal for a round poly

Comfort: very comfortable, one of the most comfortable polys that I've tried, I would put it in a group with Yonex PTP and Volkl V Star

Durability: I figured this string would be pretty durable because of its hard outer coating. It feels just like Ripspin in hand. It proved to be pretty durable in my spin frame. I was noticing notching after roughly 5 hours of play, which is better than most polys in this frame.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I have a total of 8 hours on the strings now and tension seems to be holding fine.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Control was ok with this string. It has a little more juice than other polys so I cant swing with reckless abandon as I do with the deader polys. But as long as I swung smoothly and freely, the string had good control. Spin was easy to control and so was depth, once I got accustomed to the power. My first serves had good pop on them but my second serves didn't have as much kick as with my regular string. It also has pretty good feel for a poly. My net play was better than usual. I'm guessing this is a result of the softness of the string

Compare to the string you use most often: Revolve feels to me like toned down Head Hawk. Hawk has more spin and control but Revolve has better feel and power

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) After hitting with Revolve, I would recommend to string 2-3 lbs above your normal tension. It has pretty good pop for a poly.

List any additional thoughts (optional): Since I feel like Revolve is a toned down version of Hawk, I could see myself switching to it during winter months. The softness and power of Revolve is nice when it's really cold out and the balls are like rocks! I hope it is available in another color because the bright orange is too flashy for me.

Thanks TW for this playtest opportunity!

 

[topspinlob]

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

Regular string set up: Pro’s Pro Red Devil 1.23 55 Lbs (string previously used on test racket…always trying different strings)

Racquet brand and model used for test: Wilson Blade 16x19 customized to about 11.8 ( leather grip,over grip and 2g lead total at 3&9)

Power of test string: I had strung this racket a little tighter than usual. I usually string full bed of polys at 50s to avoid arm issues. This string had power when I needed it usually when I was stretched wide or blocking the ball back. When I was able to hit my groundstrokes with good footwork and time, the power of the string was overwhelming. I think the string is medium powered and if I string it in low 50’s there would probably be more pop.

Feel: The string felt a little muted but it had good ball pocketing. It had good feel on touch shots.

Spin: Spin was not overwhelming even though there is good ball pocketing. I really had to have high RHS on groundies and kick serves. The spin is there provided you have right technique and RHS.

Comfort: The string is very comfortable. I haven’t really had any arm pain.

Durability: I am not a string breaker. Durability was good. I have had the string in my racket for about 3 weeks but only playing twice a week. There is no notching right now.

Playability Duration: After three weeks the string is still playable. The strings are still snapping back and are not loose after every hit.

Control: The control was good. I didn’t have any issues with the ball flying off the strings or the ball going long. The full bed of this string was able to reign in the power of racket.

Compare to the string you use most often: This string is very similar to Pro’s Pro Red Devil 1.23. I think the only difference was there was a little more spin since its 17G versus 16L and Revolve is Orange while Red Devil is Red (duh!)

Tension recommendations: Since I strung it mid range of the racket (mid 50’s), I think you may run into control problems in lower 50’s. Mid 50’s seem to be just right.

List any additional thoughts : I’m not a big fan of orange strings but I would recommend it to players who do not want a stiff dead strings. If this strings enters into the $12-15 price range I think there are less expensive alternatives. Big Thanks to TW for allowing me to do this playtest!

 

[T-bolt]

Wilson Revolve 17 Playtest

String received: 17ga color: Orange

Tension(s) used for playtest:
Mains :30 lbs . Crosses :27lbs

Racquet used for playtest::
Prince Graphite Longbody 100

Regular string set up:
Solinco Tour bite 17

Power of test string:
Surprisingly powerful for how stiff it seemed when stringing.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):
On a 1-10 feel was about a 7 .Very firm but not stiff ,plenty of feedback.

Spin:
1-10 , I would give it a 6. But a 9 in power (for a poly)

Comfort:
Comfort was about average ,slightly stiff but not in a bad way.

Durability:
Seems to be a very durable string. Played with it for about 15 hrs ,not much notching and no change in playability.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):
It played much better after about 4 hrs break-in.There was no loss in power and gained some control as time went on.I have about 20 hrs on it now and still plays great.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?):
Very good control considering how much power it has.I would say it would play well in a more open string bed as it seems to be a very durable string.

Compare to the string you use most often:
Compared to Solinco Tour Bite :It is more powerful,has less spin,control about the same ,much more durable.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):
I would recommend this string racquets with more open string-beds at about 38 to 45 lbs.It has plenty of power so going on the higher end of tension would be my suggestion

List any additional thoughts (optional):
Good solid string ,Very bright orange in color, Plays thicker than its actual gauge.There is plenty of power could be a good candidate as a cross in a Gut/Poly Hybrid. I have been using it for some time and will play with it until it breaks ,It plays so well I have no reason to cut it out. Keep in mind I am at 30lbs. At low tension strings play more consistent for a much longer time.
Thanks Guys for the opportunity, hope this info helps.

 

[phishbiscuits]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17

Tension(s) used for playtest: 56 x 53

[B Racquet used for playtest:[/B] Head Prestige Classic 600

Regular string set up: Signum Poly Pro Plasma OR Flex Infinity CP+ @ 52 x 50

Power of test string: On a poly scale of 1-10 (1 being a "dead" and 10 being "rocket launcher") = 6

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): The string has the feel of a softer poly, but the coating makes it less "mushy" than, say, Tour Bite Soft 17. My Flex Infinity setup is VERY stiff, so this sense of softness is relative to that string experience.

Spin: Again, the coating seems to be more than just a "gimmick," as I felt it enhanced the spin potential on topspin forehands and slice/kick serves. I felt the string "snapped back" more than adequately. I typical switch between a textured poly and smooth poly setup. Lately, I have been preferring smooth polys over textured as I naturally hit flatter.

Comfort: As mentioned, my typical string setup is VERY stiff, and have even been playing with 15L polys. Thus, this string is perfectly comfortable for me.

Durability: It broke after four matches, which is more than acceptable for a 17-gauge poly.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I preferred the string after the second hour, but I did experience notching and a degradation of the coating after a few sets.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?):

The power level was a degree higher than SPPP, so I did need to shorten strokes and swing a bit slower. It was not a terrible adjustment period, but I do prefer less powerful strings. If I really focused on adding considerable topspin on both wings, it was a pleasant string to use. I did find flat serves going long often, which necessitated more wrist snap.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to my normal smooth poly (SPPP), this string proved more powerful and comfortable. I enjoyed the feeling of the string, but it would be challenging for me to make this my go-to setup.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):

It felt softer to the touch, so I bumped up the tension. I was happy with this decision. I might even go up a pound on both mains and crosses if I play with this string again.

List any additional thoughts (optional): This may seem silly, but I loved the orange color. It is vibrant, like nuclear waste. I am accustomed to seeing orange in my string bed, but this was visibly brighter.

 

[Nuke]

String received:
Wilson Revolve 17

Tension(s) used for playtest
55 pounds for both mains and crosses.

Racquet used for playtest
Prince Warrior OS.

Regular string set up
Topspin Cyber Flash 17 mains with Gosen OGSM crosses, both at 55 pounds.

Power of test string
About average for poly, which is to say a bit low powered compared to natural gut, multifilaments and synthetic gut. This is usually a good thing, as it lets you swing out without overhitting. No complaint here.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?)
A very nice compromise between stiff/crisp vs. soft/muted. It was firm enough for dependable control, but it was also good for softer touch and spin shots. This is relatively speaking for a poly – like most polys, it is not at all as soft as some multis and gut, but a better feel than most older polys.

Spin
Disappointing, for a string advertised as a spin string on the packaging. I hit most shots with a lot of spin, and usually prefer round strings to most shaped and twisted types, so I was hoping this was going to be a good one, but it was just average for a poly. Not terrible, but there are better options out there, if spin is what you’re looking for. This is not a bad string, but Wilson probably shouldn’t push this as a “spin” string.

Comfort
This was a high point for the string. It was very comfortable for a poly. This might be a very good entry level poly for players who want to try out a poly, but don’t like the stiff feel and jarring vibrations from some of the other polys out there.

Durability
With my spinny strokes, I saw through multis and syngut pretty quickly, but I rarely break polys. This one is holding up well, with only a little notching after 12 hours, and I’ll leave it in the frame for a few more matches.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time)
After an initial drop in tension, the string smoothed out to a very gradual tension loss, for a good period of dependable play. It was better than most for resisting notching, so it remained playable for a good amount of time. It still has some life left in it, but we're getting to the review deadline and I can't play again tomorrow.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
Really good directional control at all speeds. I bit less depth control, as I use a lot of topspin and slice on my groundies to control depth, and this string was just so-so for spin production. This string was better than most polys on controlling drop and touch shots.

Compare to the string you use most often
Good power level and reliable stable tension maintenance, very comparable to Cyber Flash in those respects. This is a bit more comfortable than Cyber Flash, although a bit less crisp. I think its spin potential is just a bit less than Cyber Flash, and that’s a big deal for my game.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I thought it was OK at 55 pounds. It’s been relatively cold these past few weeks (playing outdoors), so I might go up a few pounds in the summertime.

List any additional thoughts (optional)
Someone mentioned above that this might come in around $10. At that price, I’m not likely to switch from Cyber Flash, which is pretty cheap when bought in a reel. I wouldn’t mind experimenting with some hybrids with this string, perhaps as a cross string to slightly soften up a very stiff string like Lux 4G and keep the total price of a job down. As for the sting color -- I do like it. Reminds me of the Staten Island Ferry, which I rode for many years in my younger days.

As always, thanks to Wilson and Tennis Warehouse for allowing us to try out this string.

 

[Ennismt]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17

Tension(s) used for playtest: 53 lbs

Racquet used for playtest: Babolat Pure Strike 98 16x19

Regular string set up: Lux ALU Power Rough @ 54 lbs

Power of test string: Average for a poly

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

Spin: Average for a poly

Comfort: Average for a poly

Durability: I don’t break poly so I am not a good judge.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): Excellent for a poly. Played well throughout the play test (11 hrs).

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?): Above average for a poly.

Compare to the string you use most often: Compared to ALU Rough, this string was stiffer, less powerful and less responsive. Touch shots took some time to figure out since the string was more dead than what I used to. Control was much higher without a big drop in power. I found Revolve to be less comfortable. Revolve had a longer, predictable playability duration and did not have the “bag out” period around 10 hrs like I get with ALU Rough.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?) I like where I had it.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I rated this string with a lot of averages but with a very good playability duration. This is a good thing in my mind. A string that has a predictable playability each time you use it and does everything pretty well. That’s worth something. Many strings that get exceptional ratings at something (e.g., spin) don’t keep that characteristic very long. Depends on what you want, but there is a place for an average playing poly that is predictable for an extended period.


RacquetTune readings*: Nov 30, off stringer: 51 lbs.
Dec 2, after 1.5 hr dubs: 46 lbs.
Dec 10, after 2 hr dubs: 45 lbs.
Dec 12, after 1.5 hr dubs: 45 lbs.
Dec 13, after 1.5 hr dubs: 44 lbs.
Dec 14, after 1.5 hr singles: 44 lbs.
Dec 17, after 1.5 hr dubs: 44 lbs
Dec 19, after 1.5 hr singles: 44 lbs.

 

[travlerajm]

String received:

Wilson Resolve Orange 17g

Racquet used for playtest:

Wilson BLX Blade 98, shortened to 26.75”, and heavily leaded up to specs of about 360 SW, about 13.37 oz., 12.55” balance.

Regular string setup:

I have been experimenting for a while with using extreme tension differential between mains and crosses.
The idea is to get a stringbed that is very firm in the normal direction, but allows much freedom for the mains to stretch and snapback with low friction.
The advantage to doing this is that you do not have to compromise between the benefits of a tight stringbed (better control of rebound angle and better directional accuracy) and the benefits of a loose stringbed (better comfort and better spin).
The extreme tension differential between mains and crosses gives you the best of both worlds. You get great directional accuracy of a tight stringbed without giving up the spin and comfort of a loose stringbed. I refer to this style of stringing as “ESP” (short for Extraordinary Spin Potential)
I have mainly been using the combination of Kevlar mains with Monogut ZX crosses for this, but sometimes use Kevlar mains with poly crosses. It is generally advantageous to use a stiffer main string and a softer cross string, to accentuate the ESP effect.

My current regular setup, which I use on the same racquet used for the playtest, is Ashaway Kevlar 16g mains / Ashaway Monogut ZX 16 crosses at a tension of 90 /40 lbs (not a typo).

Tension used for playtest:

65 lbs mains / 40 lbs crosses (25 lb differential), with both mains and crosses thoroughly prestretched.

I used the manual lean method to prestretch. Each 20-ft segment permanently elongated by 6-7”. As with most poly strings, the elasticity (energy return) of the string was noticeably improved after prestretching than before.

Power of test string:

Power was pretty high for a poly. Serves were slightly more powerful than with my regular setup.

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

I would say the feel was springy yet muted.

Spin:

Spin was quite good. The stringbed had no trouble grabbing the ball well, with no slippage. Snapback was terrific in the first hour. And still pretty good after that.

Comfort:

This was really comfy in the first hour. The comfort was not bad after that, but not as good as during the first hour. Since I use a shortened and heavily leaded frame with high swingweight, comfort is rarely an issue for me.

Durability:

I have played several hours, and I still like this string setup very much.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on in / how the playability changed over time):

When I first pulled the racquet off the stringer, the frame was squashed only about 2mm. After a couple of hitting sessions, the frame was no longer squashed at all. But even after this tension relaxation of the mains, I could tell that the mains were at a higher tension than the crosses.

Snapback and ball control continued to be decent. Their was a little bit of a dropoff in the comfort after the first hour, probably because the crosses started to become dented by the mains. The denting of the crosses created more friction and more force required to dislodge the mains from the their neutral position.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? Performance on different strokes and swing speeds):

Control was excellent on most shots. The rebound angle did not change much whether I was going for heavy topspin shots or flat spanks. I especially enjoyed the control on groundstrokes. Volleys were good, but not quite as precsise as I prefer. The control seemed to be best on higher swingspeed shots.

Compare to the string you use most often:

In general, this stringbed had a bit more pop but a bit less control than my usual setup. This is not quite a fair comparison though, since my Kevlar/ZX “ESP” setup at 90/40 lbs is more of a “gourmet” hybrid stringbed. The areas where the full poly Resolve was most noticeably worse was on volleys and blocked returns (less directional accuracy at lower-swingspeed shots). The feel was less crisp than the Kevlar hybrid too.

However, this stringbed played exceptionally well considering it was a full poly. In fact, this was the best performing full poly stringbed I have ever used. I could confidently use this string setup for tournament play. It may have been because I was using a higher tension differential than I have used for full poly before, but I have to give some credit to the string. This string seems to be more slippery than most poly, and also has a springier, more elastic response when prestretched than a typical poly.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):

I think I nailed the tension fairly well. If I were to use it again, I might bump up the tension in the mains another 5 lbs to give an even greater differential: Prestretched 70 / 40 lbs.

List and additional thoughts (optional):

This string is advertised as a copoly of crosslinked polyester and UHMW PE. The crosslinking would be expected to help with tension maintenance, and I do think this string is not too bad in that regard for a poly. The UHMW is probably added to give it more slick surface. The surface is definitely among the slickest strings I’ve used.

Overall, I really enjoyed this string.

 

[Quackadily Blip]

String received:
Wilson Revolve

Tensions used for playtest:
55 mains 53 crosses

Racquet used for playtest
Wilson Steam 99s

Regular string setup:
Kirschbaum black shark 16g at 53 pounds

Power of Test String:
A tad above average for polys which is where I like it to be.

Feel:
In between Crisp and springy. I enjoyed how it felt.

Spin:
Average, great spapback, below average bite. Wasn't getting as much spin as a lot of other polys.

Comfort:
Above average for a poly, but not super soft or comfortable. Arm friendly overall.

Durability:
Hasn't broke in around 12 hours of playing.

Playability Duration:
Good, although it is best when fresh. Tension loss was average for poly. They should be cut out when they lose their elasticity and too much tension.

Control:
Control was good. Had a predictable response. Balls weren't sailing long for no particular reason.

Compare to the string you use most often:
Not as much spin, more powerful, more comfortable, softer feel, a little less control.

Tension recommendation:
I would go down in tension and increase the differential between mains and crosses to really take advantage of the snapback. So probably something like 52/48.

List any additional thoughts:
Overall I enjoyed this string. It was above average in all areas but spin. I personally wouldn't use it again but if you're looking for a comfortable, medium power and predictable string I'd give it a try. Also this string could be quite good as a cross due to how slick it is.

Thanks for this opportunity TW and Wilson!

 

[ChadW]

String received: Wilson Revolve 17

Tension(s) used for playtest: 40 x 40

[B Racquet used for playtest:[/b] Head Speed MP Youtek 16 x 19

Regular string set up: Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 full bed @ 40 x 40

Power of test string: Less powerful than my usual set up. Consistently controlled though.

Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?): I thought the feeling was great. This was firm enough on ground strokes, but offered a soft touch on drop volleys. I really liked the access to spin from the baseline and on serves.

Spin: Good access to spin for a non-textured polyester string. Got good depth and weight on my groundstrokes and a nice kick on my second serve. The spin wasn't quite as much as my BHB7 that I'm accustomed to, but very adequate.

Comfort: As can best be said for a polyester regarding comfort; there was no discomfort.

Durability: After three doubles matches there was a little notching on the mains. I think the durability is good for this gauge.

Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time): I didn't notice any significant playability over the first couple matches. I could tell that there was a little less pop during the third match.

Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?):

I loved the control of this set up. I was able to hit alleys with precision. On volleys, solid hits paid off well with expected depth and pace.

Compare to the string you use most often: A little less power and spin than my usual set up, but that was offset by more accurate control. Solid volley and serve performance as well.

Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?):

I always recommend lower tensioned polyesters. I think 40 pounds was just about right. I would like to try it a few pounds lower to see if the power came up at all.

List any additional thoughts (optional): I really liked this string. I think as a slick cross for a textured main string it would work really well. I understand that there's a move toward bright colored strings like these, but I think the more conservative among us aren't crazy about colors that contrast with so many frames.

All in all, a competent and satisfying string test. Thank you for the opportunity.

 

[NorCalStringer]

-String received:
Wilson Revolve17 ORANGE
-Tension(s) used for playtest:
50/48
-Racquet used for playtest:
Wilson BURN 100S
-Regular string set up:
Ytex QaudroTwist/SquareX 50/48
-Power of test string:
Medium Power leaning towards low for a 17 gauge poly in a SPIN pattern 100 Frame
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?):
The fresh bed was quite crisp, after about an hour it settled and the dwell increased but the power did not.
-Spin:
The spin was incredible as expected from a17 gauge poly in an 18x16 string pattern.
-Comfort:
Medium comfort, the initial hit was outside of my comfort range, but after it settled, it was just fine.
-Durability:
I feel the durability was above average. I was expecting the Burn 100S to eat up this 17, Revolve proved me wrong.
-Playability Duration (share thoughts on if/how the playability changed over time):
As I mentioned, the fresh bed was crisp and below average on comfort. I hit it 20 minutes after stringing, I think if it sat for 24 hours and experienced some static tension loss, I could avoid the first hour break-in. The playability loss never became drastic, it was something that I could easily adjust and compensate for. Hours 2-10 felt great, deep groundies, loads of top, deep floating defensive slices getting me back into the point. After 10 hours of play, the mains did not snap back with vigor, lost a little top.
-Control (predictable trajectory? Easy to control depth? performance on different strokes and swing speeds?)
I feel this string really excels in the control department! I enjoyed consistent depth off the baseline, confidence to hit the low % passing shot and sending your opponent off the court with short angles in the service box. I really like power level of Revolve.
-Compare to the string you use most often:
Revolve has less power and less spin. More durability, more control.
-Tension recommendations (after hitting it, would you recommend a different tension? Why?)
I think 50/48 in a BURN 100S is right on the number!

-List any additional thoughts (optional)
I would like to try this in the 16 as a cross. The low friction, round profile, med-low power and nice durability could be a tunable cross platform for some snappy textured mains.

Thank you TennisWarehouse and Wilson for the opportunity to participate in this playtest!

 

[kklin]

I just got a few packs of this string.

I have Wilson Steam 99LS with recommended tension 54-64 lb.

What tensions Main/Cross should I use for this new Wilson Revolve 17g? I have tennis elbow so I don't want too tight but I also want control.

Thanks for any advice