The most slippery round strings on the market in 2019

Croc coach

New User
May i ask what racquet are you playing with? And what do you think about "spin" patterns (like the blade 98s or the prostaff 97s, for example)? Though they were meant for spin, I'm not so sure they are helpfull. I think the strings are more important.
 

liftordie

Hall of Fame
May i ask what racquet are you playing with? And what do you think about "spin" patterns (like the blade 98s or the prostaff 97s, for example)? Though they were meant for spin, I'm not so sure they are helpfull. I think the strings are more important.
16x19 pattern is way better for spin than 18x20.
If you want a spin machine, try Pure Aero with Hyper-G. :happydevil:
 

ron schaap

Hall of Fame
Hi, I really like your evil enthusiasm for spin :love:
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I wouldnt know where pc
Man, I will finally try PRCW (1.20) as a cross with my Grapplesnake CES Neon Dust main (1.25)!!!
CES is a wonderful square string as UC.
I can't wait to see how slick is PRCW and how good the snapback will be!!!

EVIL SPIN is coming!!!!!!!!!! :happydevil:
I wouldnt know where prcw stands for? However Neon dust is supossed to be extra sharp and hard, so the crosses have to be harder to withstand cutting. Has someone thought about that? And what about fullbed Neon dust, wouldnt that be an option?
 

JOSHL

Hall of Fame
Ok since this thread is back, I tried Head Hawk touch and man is that string slippery. Probably the slickest I have tried.
 

myth

Professional
This!!!

Loving the Wilson Revolve as a cross with Head Velocity MLT mains...and this coming from 10+ years of a poly main/syn cross hybrid.

Softer feel with great spin, touch, feel, control, and power!

TripleB

How long does it last?
 

Tennis69

New User
16x19 pattern is way better for spin than 18x20.
If you want a spin machine, try Pure Aero with Hyper-G. :happydevil:
how does the hyper g compare to grapplesnake neon dust hybrid, in terms of spin potential and tension maintenance? any other strings worth mentioning for heavy spin game?
 

g4driver

Legend
Ok since this thread is back, I tried Head Hawk touch and man is that string slippery. Probably the slickest I have tried.

Head Hawk, Hawk Touch for slippery polys. Revolve is my third choice.

Head Velocity is the slipperest multi I have strung in 10+ years of strings.

Babalot Excel is the gummiest multi I have found in anyone likes a sticky "gummy bear" like multi
 

aaron_h27

Hall of Fame
I'm really liking pro red code wax, too bad they discontinued it. Works great with gut mains, after my reel is done ill try poly tour fire or max power.
 

liftordie

Hall of Fame
how does the hyper g compare to grapplesnake neon dust hybrid, in terms of spin potential and tension maintenance? any other strings worth mentioning for heavy spin game?
Little bit less spin with Hyper-G because CES Neon Dust is REALLY sharp (maybe too much) and grab the ball insanely...
But MUCH BETTER control and tension maintenance with Hyper-G. Touch is also better.
 

AceyMan

Professional
thinner gauges should result in less friction

<calling any engineers in the house>

This looks intuitively true, but I'm doubtful it can be generalized.

With a smaller contact area, the loading (force per area) is increased, which means one string will depress further into the other.

Consider putting a 16-ounce can of ale on a foam cushion. Now put a 16-ounce beach ball on the same cushion. The can (being smaller) exerts more pressure (not more force) and so sinks deeper.

Or thinking about track spikes — a very small contact area — very BIG "friction". Or sharply knobbied motocross tyres. Etc. etc.

IOW, I'd argue that thicker gauges are going to have less friction due to the reduction in pressure at the tangent (contact) points, especially taking wear/notching into account.

/Acey
 

Aretium

Hall of Fame
<calling any engineers in the house>

This looks intuitively true, but I'm doubtful it can be generalized.

With a smaller contact area, the loading (force per area) is increased, which means one string will depress further into the other.

Consider putting a 16-ounce can of ale on a foam cushion. Now put a 16-ounce beach ball on the same cushion. The can (being smaller) exerts more pressure (not more force) and so sinks deeper.

Or thinking about track spikes — a very small contact area — very BIG "friction". Or sharply knobbied motocross tyres. Etc. etc.

IOW, I'd argue that thicker gauges are going to have less friction due to the reduction in pressure at the tangent (contact) points, especially taking wear/notching into account.

/Acey
By this logic, wouldn't the angle of the main string increase too? With a thicker gauge. What effect would this have?
 

FIRETennis

Professional
<calling any engineers in the house>

This looks intuitively true, but I'm doubtful it can be generalized.

With a smaller contact area, the loading (force per area) is increased, which means one string will depress further into the other.

Consider putting a 16-ounce can of ale on a foam cushion. Now put a 16-ounce beach ball on the same cushion. The can (being smaller) exerts more pressure (not more force) and so sinks deeper.

Or thinking about track spikes — a very small contact area — very BIG "friction". Or sharply knobbied motocross tyres. Etc. etc.

IOW, I'd argue that thicker gauges are going to have less friction due to the reduction in pressure at the tangent (contact) points, especially taking wear/notching into account.

/Acey

Which strings do you get more spin with, thick or thin strings?
I always got more spin out of thin strings and lower tension. It's just easier to make them move any any racquet head speed. After all, the only reason why we care about friction is for spin.
It's a "slippery slope" to explain it but the smaller the contact area the lower the friction, however, if the contact area is too small and it begins to dig into the surface (ie notching), then the coefficient of friction increases.
 

liftordie

Hall of Fame
Which strings do you get more spin with, thick or thin strings?
I always got more spin out of thin strings and lower tension. It's just easier to make them move any any racquet head speed. After all, the only reason why we care about friction is for spin.
It's a "slippery slope" to explain it but the smaller the contact area the lower the friction, however, if the contact area is too small and it begins to dig into the surface (ie notching), then the coefficient of friction increases.
I get better spin with 16g square string at 53/55lbs. Because thick string grab more surface on the ball and I can swing a lot harder with higher tension (more control).
 
That string posseses low inter string friction but also a bit lower string to ball friction so not the best spin potential i found.
I think I agree with this. Played with Tourna Black Zone for the first time tonight. Felt soft( for poly) and slick but didn’t notice the string to grip the ball too well. I may hybrid with Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 as a main. Has anyone tried this set up?
 

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
I think I agree with this. Played with Tourna Black Zone for the first time tonight. Felt soft( for poly) and slick but didn’t notice the string to grip the ball too well. I may hybrid with Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 as a main. Has anyone tried this set up?

Did you play with it full bed or in the crosses only?

It's not good for spin fb, only as a cross. Try something like Cyclone mains and BZ crosses if you want some killer grip/spin.
 

blai212

Hall of Fame
jus strung up YPTP 1.20 blue as cross with my go to VCT 16g main. I have previously used VCT 16g / YPTP 1.20 flash yellow and loved the feel but the blue version feels way more slick...seems as if yonex used some of the PTFire material on the blue version of YPTP
 

JOSHL

Hall of Fame
jus strung up YPTP 1.20 blue as cross with my go to VCT 16g main. I have previously used VCT 16g / YPTP 1.20 flash yellow and loved the feel but the blue version feels way more slick...seems as if yonex used some of the PTFire material on the blue version of YPTP
Haven’t used the yellow ptp but was on the playtest for the blue and it was very slick but wore off pretty quickly.
 
Yeah it's not ideal for spin fb. Pair it with an edged poly in the mains, itll be a whole different world.
Paired Tourna Black Zone with Rpm Blast in the mains. Played two sets and really enjoyed it. Much better grip on the ball. Felt confident swinging away with that the added spin would keep the ball in. I enjoyed it more than a full bed of RPM. Black zone added much more comfort and will cut the cost a little. I’ll be checking to see how it holds up.
 

RF_PRO_STAFF

Professional
VCT 16g for ultimate ball pocketing sensation. If you want more of a spinny poly, perhaps tourna silver 7 tour or hyperG soft mains but not as much power/comfort
I have a reel of VCT 18 gauge so that could work. Tension loss of VCT 18 is quite significant though. Hyper G Soft, Tour Bite Soft and Confidential also available. Which one would work best with YPTP do you think?
 

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
Paired Tourna Black Zone with Rpm Blast in the mains. Played two sets and really enjoyed it. Much better grip on the ball. Felt confident swinging away with that the added spin would keep the ball in. I enjoyed it more than a full bed of RPM. Black zone added much more comfort and will cut the cost a little. I’ll be checking to see how it holds up.
That's great. Volkl Cyclone mains and black zone crosses has been a favorite of mine for about 35 years. Love an edged poly with smooth cross.

Now I'm using klip natural gut mains and a smooth poly cross which might be my new favorite. Awesome spin, touch, everything.
 
That's great. Volkl Cyclone mains and black zone crosses has been a favorite of mine for about 35 years. Love an edged poly with smooth cross.

Now I'm using klip natural gut mains and a smooth poly cross which might be my new favorite. Awesome spin, touch, everything.

How long is that set up lasting you? Does it make sense price wise compared to your cyclone/ BZ?
 

Aretium

Hall of Fame
I've ordered a few sets of Yonex poly tour tough. Reviews look good, but also interested about the silicone infusion. Hopefully it stays slick for longer?
 

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
How long is that set up lasting you? Does it make sense price wise compared to your cyclone/ BZ?

The gut/poly is lasting well. Great playability and it's been a month now I've been using it. Feel is really good, easy on the arm and spin is amazing. Really bites into the ball. Can see why Fed and Nole use gut/poly.

I use klip 1/2 set gut from TW (think it was about $17) and plain old isospeed baseline smooth poly crosses (40$ a reel!).

I think it's a great bargain compared to all poly. Would try it if you haven't!
 

liftordie

Hall of Fame
That's great. Volkl Cyclone mains and black zone crosses has been a favorite of mine for about 35 years. Love an edged poly with smooth cross.

Now I'm using klip natural gut mains and a smooth poly cross which might be my new favorite. Awesome spin, touch, everything.
35 years??? :oops:
 

Pete1972

New User
What are (for you) the most slippery round strings on the market in 2019 (for using as a cross)?
Thank you
I keep going back to Pro line II also like Revolve, but wished that made it in a thinner gauge. I put these two above the Alu’s and Blast’s or at least on par with them, but with the price difference Kirrschaum and a Wilson win.. i hybrid these with Multifilament cross strings, usually Sensation, but Bi Phase is just incredible!
 

tegg96

Semi-Pro
Ok since this thread is back, I tried Head Hawk touch and man is that string slippery. Probably the slickest I have tried.
Even better than Hawk Touch is Hawk.

Head Hawk, for me is the slipperiest poly I've used as a cross for natural gut. 16G seems to reduce notching effect to into the gut also.

So my vote for slipperiest poly cross for gut mains.

Head Hawk Round 16G white.
 

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
Hawk touch is more slippery than hawk power in my opinion.

which do you like better. I've never played Head strings but I did get a set of Hawk Power to try and was very impressed, probably one of the best poly's I've ever played but I got 1 set so it's hard to tell because I can't restring it, I might try different tensions when reels come out but at 40 lbs it was pretty controlled with good pop.

Which string is most similar to Hawk Power?
 

JOSHL

Hall of Fame
which do you like better. I've never played Head strings but I did get a set of Hawk Power to try and was very impressed, probably one of the best poly's I've ever played but I got 1 set so it's hard to tell because I can't restring it, I might try different tensions when reels come out but at 40 lbs it was pretty controlled with good pop.

Which string is most similar to Hawk Power?
It’s been a while since I’ve used hawk touch and it was probably in a different racquet so hard to say. I’m currently testing the Hawk power and to me it’s pretty stiff without much ball pocketing. This is in an ultra tour.
 

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
It’s been a while since I’ve used hawk touch and it was probably in a different racquet so hard to say. I’m currently testing the Hawk power and to me it’s pretty stiff without much ball pocketing. This is in an ultra tour.

I strung Hawk Power at 40 lbs so it wasn't stiff then
 

jonathane40

New User
I recently strung a Pro Staff 90 with Velocity MLT in the mains and Gamma Glide in the crosses. I have only played twice with the racquet and glide seems to be very good at allowing the MLT to slide and snap back. I believe Glide is a nylon string so I have been looking for a cheaper round poly alternative and when I started comparing the String to String Friction (COF) in Tennis Warehouse University, I was surprised to see that many round polls have a similar or even better value than Glide. So I have been wondering if this value that Tennis Warehouse University provides really tell the full story or not. Glide is kind of thick and it seems like it does not notch easily so my guess is that even though it might have a similar value to a round poly, it might allow for more movement if it indeed is more resistant to notching than typical round polys. I wonder if anyone has had any experience with this!
 
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