The $5 poly budget
- Thread starter Booger
- Start date
1HBHfanatic
Legend
i personally like topspin cyberflash
kirschbaum is a softer poly
signum pro is also a nother good one
msv is a harder poly, with lots of spin
kirschbaum is a softer poly
signum pro is also a nother good one
msv is a harder poly, with lots of spin
I would vote for golden set Power Cord but its not on the list.
Which is your favorite in a full bed? I've only ever tried one of the Isospeed baseline strings and thought it was actually pretty good. Here's a list of poly strings that go for <$5/set.
cknobman
Legend
I guess I need to try cyber flash based off the feedback I am seeing.
Right now I have been using the reel of ISOSpeed baseline control I got for $40.
I use it only as a cross string in my hybrid setup and for that purpose it works well.
Pros:
Very soft
Very slick
Does not break
Easy to string with as it is not super stiff (due to how slick it is you have to make sure you keep your clamps and gripper well cleaned or they will slip when stringing)
Cons:
Loses tension a little quicker than expensive strings (but when used as the cross in a hybrid this actually is better for me)
So the tension loss will suck if you do a full bed or put it in the mains but as a cross I actually like the tension loss.
Why?
Well it gives my string bed more pop, allows more movement and snap-back of my mains which helps with spin.
Right now I have been using the reel of ISOSpeed baseline control I got for $40.
I use it only as a cross string in my hybrid setup and for that purpose it works well.
Pros:
Very soft
Very slick
Does not break
Easy to string with as it is not super stiff (due to how slick it is you have to make sure you keep your clamps and gripper well cleaned or they will slip when stringing)
Cons:
Loses tension a little quicker than expensive strings (but when used as the cross in a hybrid this actually is better for me)
So the tension loss will suck if you do a full bed or put it in the mains but as a cross I actually like the tension loss.
Why?
Well it gives my string bed more pop, allows more movement and snap-back of my mains which helps with spin.
D
Deleted member 740774
Guest
Gosen Polylon, very stiff, old fashioned poly, plays fairly dead so doesn't lose much playibility
Cyber Flash does everything Alu does and in some cases better. Crisp and pockets the ball well (beautiful combo). Lasts 3 outings (alu lasts 1).
I like both topspin cyberflash and cyber blue by topspin. They are good/ decent all around polyester strings. I use them when someone asks me for a good soft poly and doesn't have a specific string or brand in mind. Yes, some of the premium strings have a bit more control or spin, but not drastically.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Dunlop Ice is awesome. Old School poly but tons of spin. Main issue is comfort. It is very stiff.
mikeler
Moderator
Man we had polar opposite experiences. That string was really comfy for me and moved around like a multi. I wonder if one of us got a package that said Dunlop Ice with a different string.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Well what frame was it in for you? In a spin frame I could see that. I had it in an 18x20.
DrumWizOHBD
Semi-Pro
I had a similar experience to Mikeler with DUNLOP ICE. I strung it in Yonex VCore Tour 89 fairly tight 16x20.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Well I still have a reel of the stuff so ill give another go. It's a damn good string for the price.
DrumWizOHBD
Semi-Pro
I strung it in the 40's. It lost it's crispness and started having the trampoline effect for me after about 4 hours. But was really surprising to me, I didn't get tons of spin but the control was what i would expect from 1st generation stiff poly, but felt much much softer to me....not soft like multi by any means. I think I preferred the Dunlop Hexy Fiber (multi) strung tighter though over the ICE. I got more spin with the HEXY, but lower launch angle and less feel. If you shop around the net, the Hexy fibre goes for 4 or 5 bucks sometimes on other sites and TW will match it ;-)
Dunlop Hexy Fibre and ICE are both worth trying IMHO if your looking for a cheap low-power spin string and aren't too worried about durability. *Dunlop ICE is one of the coolest looking strings around, expecially with a stencil thrown on, because it lloks like it's just floating in the middle of the stringbed!
mikeler
Moderator
Yes it was in the 16x16 but many of the other polys I tested were in that frames as well.
Anton
Legend
I've had poor experience with Cyber Flash at mid-low tension. It was ok first few days but after some tension loss stopped snapping back. It seems to be stiffer and have less spring-back compared to BB ALU power at low tensions.
I think Big Hitter Silver is a better option - I can't tell much difference between that and ALU Power
You can get 660' reel for $69
I think Big Hitter Silver is a better option - I can't tell much difference between that and ALU Power
You can get 660' reel for $69
Pmasterfunk
Hall of Fame
Most GoldenSet polys are quite cheap and decent too. The original poly they had was kinda meh, but Hex and SnakeBite are good. I like Power Cord, and at 85$ CAN per roll it's hard to beat.
I got a reel of Signum Pro Hyperion for about 100$ CAN, which would be about 80-85$ US, which drops the per-racquet price just below 5$. It plays pretty similar to Power Cord.
I managed to score a couple cheap reels of poly, but the best deal by far was a reel of Tourna Big Hitter Blue for about 20$ CAN.
prestigeww
Rookie
i've been using the isospeed baseline 16L in my racket and am pretty impressed. I break it before it loses any playability though
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Well I can tell a big difference between ALU power and Big Hitter Silver. ALU power is the best poly I have ever used in terms of ball feel, spin, control and basically everything. If it lasted longer it would probably be everyone's go to string. But Big Hitter Silver is not bad. I personally consider it a few tiers below ALU and would put Silverstring a tier a above it - Silverstring is a very good poly, but a little more than $5.
Main problem with $5 polys is that you have to restring a lot. If you up the budget to $8 you can use Volkl Cyclone which lasts longer, has good comfort for a poly and a very high level of spin. Plus you string less and time = money.
Main problem with $5 polys is that you have to restring a lot. If you up the budget to $8 you can use Volkl Cyclone which lasts longer, has good comfort for a poly and a very high level of spin. Plus you string less and time = money.
SteveI
Legend
I have played the Volkl Cyclone a bunch this summer and I am not sure why folks like this string. Does not do anything that well and dies fast. Plays crisp for a while then just dies. Did not find the spin all that great either. Better spin from Big Hitter Silver IMHO.. plus much better comfort and feel. The feel factor of Cyclone is very limited. I am comparing the NEW Tourna Big Hitter 17G Silver not the older version.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Not my experience at all with the Cyclone. The spin level is fantastic for me and it lasts longer than most polys especially cheap ones.
I have not played the new big hitter silver though so I have no idea what has changed there.
Doc Hollidae
Hall of Fame
Not listed, but my vote would go for Tourna Big Hitter Blue.
Booger
Hall of Fame
Yeah I didn't include that or any Pro's pro stuff. What does powercord play like? I usually like shaped polys, so I'm thinking about trying Pros Pro hexaspin.
Winners or Errors
Legend
For me...
Kirschbaum Super Smash Spiky 17 has a nicer feel and more power, but surprisingly not as much spin as the company's Proline X 17. I vacillate between the two at the moment depending on how I'm swinging the racquet.
I played a lot with Cyberflash 17 a few years ago, and I don't really think you can go wrong with those strings, but I like both Kirschbaum strings more. Cyberflash had, for me, a "mushier" feel. That's why I stopped using it.
MSV Focus Hex 1.17 has a "plasticky" feel for me, but I prefer it over Cyberflash. I might play with it but for the fact that for a string with that firm feel I prefer Kirschbaum Proline X.
I hope that helps. It depends on what you're looking for. All of the strings I mentioned are someone's "go to cheap poly."
Kirschbaum Super Smash Spiky 17 has a nicer feel and more power, but surprisingly not as much spin as the company's Proline X 17. I vacillate between the two at the moment depending on how I'm swinging the racquet.
I played a lot with Cyberflash 17 a few years ago, and I don't really think you can go wrong with those strings, but I like both Kirschbaum strings more. Cyberflash had, for me, a "mushier" feel. That's why I stopped using it.
MSV Focus Hex 1.17 has a "plasticky" feel for me, but I prefer it over Cyberflash. I might play with it but for the fact that for a string with that firm feel I prefer Kirschbaum Proline X.
I hope that helps. It depends on what you're looking for. All of the strings I mentioned are someone's "go to cheap poly."
Pmasterfunk
Hall of Fame
I think it's similar to Signum Pro Hyperion. I have played both but not side by side, I did not feel like there was a huge difference between the two. Durability might vary, but they string similarly.
eelhc
Hall of Fame
$70 reel of Volkl Cyclone... If you don't mind pink.
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Volkl_Cyclone_String_Reel_Pink_/descpageACVOLKL-VC16PKR.html
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Volkl_Cyclone_String_Reel_Pink_/descpageACVOLKL-VC16PKR.html
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Damn thats a good deal.
SteveI
Legend
Which is your favorite in a full bed? I've only ever tried one of the Isospeed baseline strings and thought it was actually pretty good. Here's a list of poly strings that go for <$5/set.
Great List.... I can get 17 string jobs out of a reel of Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17g... That is $4.06 /set
Powercord is a smooth poly and plays quite soft. It works well for me as I am coming from multis. If you were going to try a shaped poly from Golden Set, Snakebite seems to get a lot of love. I have used it in the mains with power cord crosses. Definitely stiffer than Power Cord.
tennisBIEST
Professional
Pro's Pro Black Out 1.24 $39.70/18 =$2.20
SteveI
Legend
I do not have expertise with any of the Pros Pro strings.. but the reel prices are outstanding. The Black Out gets great reviews here!!
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SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Pro's Pro is very hard to beat in terms of value.
I personally would also go for Kirschbaum Super Smash Spiky though. Doesn't last too long, but I don't expect that from a poly that costs like 50€ per 200m reel either. Great spin, crisp and direct feel, awesome control and not exactly uncomfortable (for a poly) either. I'll probably give it a try again at some point (when I regain confidence in my elbow, though I'm not sure when that'll be haha).
With Pro's Pro strings it really depends on the racquet and your personal needs. I quite liked Black Force 1.14, but it killed my elbow in a Prestige Pro. Others love Stratagem 8, Ichiban Spin, Red Devil and a few love Blackout and even Black Force. I haven't heard the same feedback from two people for any of the strings really haha. Just goes to show that the most important factor is you - the player, cAuse the way you perceive the string will determine where he you like it or not.
I personally would also go for Kirschbaum Super Smash Spiky though. Doesn't last too long, but I don't expect that from a poly that costs like 50€ per 200m reel either. Great spin, crisp and direct feel, awesome control and not exactly uncomfortable (for a poly) either. I'll probably give it a try again at some point (when I regain confidence in my elbow, though I'm not sure when that'll be haha).
With Pro's Pro strings it really depends on the racquet and your personal needs. I quite liked Black Force 1.14, but it killed my elbow in a Prestige Pro. Others love Stratagem 8, Ichiban Spin, Red Devil and a few love Blackout and even Black Force. I haven't heard the same feedback from two people for any of the strings really haha. Just goes to show that the most important factor is you - the player, cAuse the way you perceive the string will determine where he you like it or not.
It would be cool if you can update your list with the string's friction rating from TW.
I find the MSV focus hex very good and slippery. Stiff but has a nice initial give to it.
The Topsin cyber flash is soft and mushy. Comfortable, just doesn't last as long and not slippery.
Kirschbaum super smash has a nice crisp feel but doesn't last very long.
Golden Set Snakebite is pretty good but is pretty stiff.
My favorite cheap poly setup right now is GS Snakebite 16 / MSV focus hex 18. Excellent spin with good comfort and durability.
Want to try a MSV focus hex 16 / MSV focus hex 18 combo next.
I find the MSV focus hex very good and slippery. Stiff but has a nice initial give to it.
The Topsin cyber flash is soft and mushy. Comfortable, just doesn't last as long and not slippery.
Kirschbaum super smash has a nice crisp feel but doesn't last very long.
Golden Set Snakebite is pretty good but is pretty stiff.
My favorite cheap poly setup right now is GS Snakebite 16 / MSV focus hex 18. Excellent spin with good comfort and durability.
Want to try a MSV focus hex 16 / MSV focus hex 18 combo next.
Muppet
Legend
STW, what tension did you string the Black Force 1.14 at? I strung my Biomimetic 200 with it today @53. The racquet flexes at 58. How careful do you think I should be with this string? Thanks.
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
In that racquet it shouldn't be too bad.... It just paired very badly with the Prestige Pro for some reason.
Muppet
Legend
Thanks. My guess about the Prestige Pro with the d30 combined with poly may have stiffened up too much on impacts.
Anton
Legend
Hnefi
Semi-Pro
Tourna Big Hitter Black 7... Noted as a softer and more comfortable shaped poly (although mine has lost its texture within the first 2h of play and is now smooth). SPPP I used the 1.18
Anton
Legend
Big hitter silver is most like Alu out of unique strings. probably want to try that one if are after cheaper alternative
