pico
Hall of Fame
How is tension maintenance with those two? That and price point were the two top criteria for me.
Ultimate string of choice !
- Thread starter galapagos
- Start date
megamind
Legend
BK’s tension maintenance was ok, not anything VCT-like
Haven’t hit long enough with tour hex yet
pico
Hall of Fame
I am assuming you have used BHS7T and Kirschbaum Max Power? How does the tension maintenance of VCT compare to those? I used Cyclone Tour a long time ago but only briefly.
@galapagos, have you given Firestorm a try yet? I've been playing with it the past few weeks and really enjoy it. It's got a nice/unique gold color and def plays like a soft version of ALU. Nice mix of feel and comfort. Durability is ok so far (not the best, not the worst).
galapagos
Hall of Fame
I love the color , i had a short testing time but not enough to review it here as i am focused on 6sided strings at the moment.
I was very positively surprised. Based on reviews around it i think that its suited more towards smaller headsizes to open the sweet spot without creating trampoline effect. I feel very classy using it. When we discuss feel this string should always pop up.
I’ve heard that its very similar to Tecnifibre Razor Code yet slightly worse (but cheaper) . That was the review from my friend. Obviously I will have to check it on my own. Very good starting point ! @Backhanded Compliment - this might be for you I think
1.30 gauge and pretend to be Berrettini
galapagos
Hall of Fame
irulan
Rookie
Looks like you can get it for $85USD a reel, which is a pretty darn good deal if you like the string.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
They increase the price on reel up to 104 USD. Still nice. Not many strings on my list can go that low.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
it seems you like triangle shaped strings. Add Mayami Big spin to your list. Its quite addicting.
Confidential is very Cool as well but tension drops even faster than with hyper g (my experience)
irulan
Rookie
It's in the basket! Folks seem to love it with Magic Twist crosses, do you think I should try Big Spin full-bed or as a big-twist hybrid? Sadly I only have one set on hand.
Your thread on strings is super inspiring, I'll probably chronicle my own journey in parallel as soon as I think of a witty title
Your thread on strings is super inspiring, I'll probably chronicle my own journey in parallel as soon as I think of a witty title
galapagos
Hall of Fame
I would hybrid it with your typical mix or go full-bed. Magic twist hybrid can make the launch Maybe more predictable but the comfort will be slightly decreased. It seems you are fine with 3-sided strings so i think there is No need for you to „tame” their characteristics.It's in the basket! Folks seem to love it with Magic Twist crosses, do you think I should try Big Spin full-bed or as a big-twist hybrid? Sadly I only have one set on hand.
Your thread on strings is super inspiring, I'll probably chronicle my own journey in parallel as soon as I think of a witty title
Thanks for the kind words! Good luck with the title
irulan
Rookie
@galapagos On a slightly different note, what brought you to switch from a 18x20 to 16x19 pattern? I'm wanting a little more linear plow through + control so I'm pondering / holic-ing a switch depending on how these demos turn out
My racquet journey so far
2006 - O3 Tours, fun times in middle school
2010 - Hyper Pro Staff + Alu power (rip arm+ shoulder)
2020 - 93P 18x20, wanted more spin / power and a little more forgiving racquet. Returned it as used.
2021 Jan - EZ98+ (after demoing Radical MP, Gravity Tour, 2019PA, 2019PD, PS16x19 G3)
2021 Feb - Picked up a 93P 14x18 as a less forgiving warmup stick, I've been liking it for dialing in my form.
My brother is loving my ezones, so this kinda gives me an excuse to contemplate a switch.
My racquet journey so far
2006 - O3 Tours, fun times in middle school
2010 - Hyper Pro Staff + Alu power (rip arm+ shoulder)
2020 - 93P 18x20, wanted more spin / power and a little more forgiving racquet. Returned it as used.
2021 Jan - EZ98+ (after demoing Radical MP, Gravity Tour, 2019PA, 2019PD, PS16x19 G3)
2021 Feb - Picked up a 93P 14x18 as a less forgiving warmup stick, I've been liking it for dialing in my form.
My brother is loving my ezones, so this kinda gives me an excuse to contemplate a switch.
Happi
Hall of Fame
@irulan I also tried the Prince 93 18x20 for a while, comming from TT95 and TT100P and could not gel with that racquet. Now the Angell TC95 is such a sweet and amazing racquet, and really does everything well. I have both the 16x19 and 18x20 version, and at the moment I prefer the 18x20.
My prefered string is good old Cyberflash for a round string, and Tier One BK for a shaped one. I am about to try out Lux Element ad Signum Firestorm as both would look great in the Angell V3 Copper version, just hope they will play well and be soft for the arm.
My prefered string is good old Cyberflash for a round string, and Tier One BK for a shaped one. I am about to try out Lux Element ad Signum Firestorm as both would look great in the Angell V3 Copper version, just hope they will play well and be soft for the arm.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
Maybe try firestorm 1.25 in 18x20 and 1.30 in 16x19 and report back
However i have this feeling 1.30 firestorm will work fine in 18x20 tc95 angell as well!Luxilon Adrenaline seems to me a better choice on paper than Element. Rublev was using it in 95” before he switched to gravity pro . But i think he is still using adrenaline... also i think there is more reviews on adrenaline. After having tested so many strings i do started to care about the color. There is so many options out there . Its impossible to not find the string you like + at least 1 alternative.
For me personally - black color is outdated and too many cheap black strings flooded the market causing harm to the overall image of black strings.
nuclearmedicineman
Rookie
Galapagos, how would you compare and contrast a full Big Spin with full bed Tour Hex?
Thanks for doing all of this work for the rest of us, by the way.
Thanks for doing all of this work for the rest of us, by the way.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
Thank you for asking
i am here for you guys ! Big spin has less capping effect on contact. Its more straight forward i would say. Tour hex keeps the ball longer on strings kinda. Its more muted yet still direct. Tour hex has more control and less power and less spin yet the direction is more linear.
big spin i felt very strong from baseline but i didnt like it on volleys.
Tour hex imo is better all around because i can do pretty much everything with it while big spin is more fun and addictive from the baseline. Depends on your tactics and playstyle. Baseline play (big spin) or all around (tour hex)
I feel like big spin is slightly more forgiving.
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galapagos
Hall of Fame
In my racquet its soft. Kinda cyclone region i think but its been a while since i last used it. but big spin is softer for sure, definitely not mushy. Keep in mind
spin: big spin > tour hex
Control: big spin = tour hex (depends on situation on court - baseline or volley)
Feel: big spin <tour hex
Comfort: for me both are comfy like all mayami strings but Maybe big spin > tour hex
Launch angle : Big spin higher than tour hex
Forgiveness : big spin > tour hex
Volleys big spin < tour hex
Serve : big spin < tour hex
Slice : big spin > tour hex
with big spin its harder to hit the shot too long. The spin is that great
nuclearmedicineman
Rookie
Great information! I love it. I was going to ask you about the launch angle of the two setups. It's good to see that control is about equal.In my racquet its soft. Kinda cyclone region i think but its been a while since i last used it. but big spin is softer for sure, definitely not mushy. Keep in mind
spin: big spin > tour hex
Control: big spin = tour hex (depends on situation on court - baseline or volley)
Feel: big spin <tour hex
Comfort: for me both are comfy like all mayami strings but Maybe big spin > tour hex
Launch angle : Big spin higher than tour hex
Forgiveness : big spin > tour hex
Volleys big spin < tour hex
Serve : big spin < tour hex
Slice : big spin > tour hex
with big spin its harder to hit the shot too long. The spin is that great
Yea, right now I am using the "Big Twist" hybrid and Tour Hex in my two frames and seeing how they play. I love the feel of the TH, but I want to do a full bed of Big Spin next and compare it to how the TH plays. I'm more of a baseliner anyway, so maybe Big Spin would suit me well; although I do not shy away from the occasional opportunity to come to net. I trying to find a string to help me develop big, deep, loopy groundies that drive my opponent back and run him around to open the court. I actually got some great deep topspin shots last night with the "Big Twist", so I can only imagine that a full bed of Big Spin would only give me a bigger helping of the same.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
from you description Big Spin sounds like a good choice. I prefer 1.30 in my open string pattern raquet but also tested 1.25 gauge in Radical MP which has tighter pattern and it performed very well. So depends on the racquet I guess and your expectations. Tour Hex is perfect if you want to add some tactics and variety to your strokes. I think Big Spin has bigger "wow" effect while Tour Hex is more crafty
galapagos
Hall of Fame
Ok,
time for the Tour Hex review !
That one is very tricky. I've been testing it for 2 weeks now. Tension stability is great. It still plays very well. The control is pretty much on the same lvl of some 1.30 strings so this is quite interesting. It is the most control oriented 1.23 string I have ever played with...What is even more important - it still feels very comfortable so I have no idea how they made it so control oriented and comfortable in such thin gauge...
The initial feel of the string suits the description of Head PT57A frames people are using here The string is hugging the ball and releasing it with love
The string is more comfortable than Lynx Tour but of course the launch angle is still higher. I could execute pretty much all the shots from my book except the flat backhand attack on the rise (my favourite shot). That is probably because I am so used to 1.30 gauges that it was hard for me to flatten the trajectory when I had to. Instead I had to work more with angles and spin. This is more of a "tactician" string but of course if you want to , you can still rip the ball Just put some spin on it.
Mayami Tour Hex was shining most on my serves. 1st flat bombs - yes ! 2nd spin monster - yes ! That's probably because 1.23 is lighter and more responsive than 1.30 strings and it really unlocked the potential here. I usually have good 1st serve with any racquet and any string but 2nd serve is a mistery. Tour Hex understood my intentions perfectly.
It kinda feels like a mix of Solinco Tour Bite and Solinco Confidential when it becames soft but with the control of Tourna Silver 7 tour (but without that added omph trampoline from tourna that sometimes appears) ? Not sure where to put it. Probably closer to Solinco Confidential.
Volleys and touch shots are great. By the way ! It is around 1 gram lighter than Head Lynx Tour 1.25
Slices were also great. Maybe not as precise as I have with 1.30 strings but in general I can't find a place where I could say that I don't like the string. Maybe this flatter hits on the rise....but maybe its just adjusting period ?
So I was entering my league match with great confidence. However ! The results weren't as expected. I still feel like this is more my fault than strings because traning sessions were very positive but when the pressure hit me I just couldn't rely on my backhand as often as I usually do with 1.30 gauges. And my backhand is usually opening the game for me so...kinda key shot for my win %. This had impact on my confidence and rest of my strokes. I had to find other solutions , other gameplay, other tactics.
Funny thing is that I played vs same guy I met during my playtest of Solinco Confidential and later also Dyreex Hexablast. Is he my reference opponent ?
The match duration - 2h. Score: loosing 7:6 (7/5) 3:1 and had to finish it earlier because nobody expected such a long match lol. Will I turn over the score?
Like I said...I don't feel like it's strings fault... MAYBE it's because I am so used to 1.30 gauges and their lower launch. My backhand is more of a weapon then. But maybe I had a slightly worse day. Anyway there is so many string options.....My intention of this journey is to find a string that will bring me more win % . Even if its a lucky strike . Its a strike that stays in my head and keep me going with a positive attitude. Training situation is a happyland where everything is positive and possible That's why I always try strings also under pressure , in match situations.
One thing that is worth mentioning : the price and value and the potential performance in a comfortable package are so great that I think this is a serious string for a tournament players that have to restring their racquets very often but don't want to pay too much. For this reason Mayami Tour Hex is EVEN better option than Volkl Cyclone !!!
So time for a tricky part....rating... I have no idea how to rate it. Why ? Because Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 for me is better than Lynx Tour 1.25 and Solinco Confidential 1.30 ... However I'm not sure if its better for me than Head Lynx Tour 1.30 or Tourna Silver 7 tour 1.30. The potential and match results were somewhere around what I had with Big Spin 1.30...Big Spin 1.30 had better groundstrokes while Tour Hex better serves and volleys.... I had better match results with Tourna Silver 7 tour.
Tour Hex has much better tension stability than Confidential and is more comfortable than Silver 7 tour, Lynx Tour, Tour Bite... and was offering the best 2nd serve out of the strings I tested so far....If only I had won this first set hah ? New rating system perhaps ? : lucky / unlucky
So I think it's somewhere in between 7.2 and 7.3 for a 1.23 gauge..... I try to rate the best gauge for my game and string so for now I will give it a 7.2 and I might update the review after I test the 1.28 version of Mayami Tour Hex.
Expectations with 1.28 Tour Hex - flatter aggresive shots on the rise - especially backhand side while keeping my serves the same or similar/better My experience is telling me that thicker gauge should offer me exactly what I am asking for ! This would make the final rating between 7.3 - 8
1.28 gauge review (click)
say hello on IG ! @dandan.tennis
go to strings list (click)
time for the Tour Hex review !
That one is very tricky. I've been testing it for 2 weeks now. Tension stability is great. It still plays very well. The control is pretty much on the same lvl of some 1.30 strings so this is quite interesting. It is the most control oriented 1.23 string I have ever played with...What is even more important - it still feels very comfortable so I have no idea how they made it so control oriented and comfortable in such thin gauge...
The initial feel of the string suits the description of Head PT57A frames people are using here
The string is hugging the ball and releasing it with love The string is more comfortable than Lynx Tour but of course the launch angle is still higher. I could execute pretty much all the shots from my book except the flat backhand attack on the rise (my favourite shot). That is probably because I am so used to 1.30 gauges that it was hard for me to flatten the trajectory when I had to. Instead I had to work more with angles and spin. This is more of a "tactician" string but of course if you want to , you can still rip the ball
Just put some spin on it.Mayami Tour Hex was shining most on my serves. 1st flat bombs - yes ! 2nd spin monster - yes ! That's probably because 1.23 is lighter and more responsive than 1.30 strings and it really unlocked the potential here. I usually have good 1st serve with any racquet and any string but 2nd serve is a mistery. Tour Hex understood my intentions perfectly.
It kinda feels like a mix of Solinco Tour Bite and Solinco Confidential when it becames soft but with the control of Tourna Silver 7 tour (but without that added omph trampoline from tourna that sometimes appears) ? Not sure where to put it. Probably closer to Solinco Confidential.
Volleys and touch shots are great. By the way ! It is around 1 gram lighter than Head Lynx Tour 1.25
Slices were also great. Maybe not as precise as I have with 1.30 strings but in general I can't find a place where I could say that I don't like the string. Maybe this flatter hits on the rise....but maybe its just adjusting period ?
So I was entering my league match with great confidence. However ! The results weren't as expected. I still feel like this is more my fault than strings because traning sessions were very positive but when the pressure hit me I just couldn't rely on my backhand as often as I usually do with 1.30 gauges. And my backhand is usually opening the game for me so...kinda key shot for my win %. This had impact on my confidence and rest of my strokes. I had to find other solutions , other gameplay, other tactics.
Funny thing is that I played vs same guy I met during my playtest of Solinco Confidential and later also Dyreex Hexablast. Is he my reference opponent ?
The match duration - 2h. Score: loosing 7:6 (7/5) 3:1 and had to finish it earlier because nobody expected such a long match lol. Will I turn over the score?
Like I said...I don't feel like it's strings fault... MAYBE it's because I am so used to 1.30 gauges and their lower launch. My backhand is more of a weapon then. But maybe I had a slightly worse day. Anyway there is so many string options.....My intention of this journey is to find a string that will bring me more win % . Even if its a lucky strike . Its a strike that stays in my head and keep me going with a positive attitude. Training situation is a happyland where everything is positive and possible
That's why I always try strings also under pressure , in match situations.One thing that is worth mentioning : the price and value and the potential performance in a comfortable package are so great that I think this is a serious string for a tournament players that have to restring their racquets very often but don't want to pay too much. For this reason Mayami Tour Hex is EVEN better option than Volkl Cyclone !!!
So time for a tricky part....rating... I have no idea how to rate it. Why ? Because Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 for me is better than Lynx Tour 1.25 and Solinco Confidential 1.30 ... However I'm not sure if its better for me than Head Lynx Tour 1.30 or Tourna Silver 7 tour 1.30. The potential and match results were somewhere around what I had with Big Spin 1.30...Big Spin 1.30 had better groundstrokes while Tour Hex better serves and volleys.... I had better match results with Tourna Silver 7 tour.
Tour Hex has much better tension stability than Confidential and is more comfortable than Silver 7 tour, Lynx Tour, Tour Bite... and was offering the best 2nd serve out of the strings I tested so far....If only I had won this first set hah ? New rating system perhaps ? : lucky / unlucky
So I think it's somewhere in between 7.2 and 7.3 for a 1.23 gauge..... I try to rate the best gauge for my game and string so for now I will give it a 7.2 and I might update the review after I test the 1.28 version of Mayami Tour Hex.
Expectations with 1.28 Tour Hex - flatter aggresive shots on the rise - especially backhand side while keeping my serves the same or similar/better
My experience is telling me that thicker gauge should offer me exactly what I am asking for ! This would make the final rating between 7.3 - 8 1.28 gauge review (click)
say hello on IG !
@dandan.tennisgo to strings list (click)
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nuclearmedicineman
Rookie
Great review - 7.2 rating - that is an excellent score! This string is so user friendly, and controlled, it's wonderful. It kind of makes me wonder if I should even bother demoing other strings like Confidential, Hyper-G, Cyclone etc that I have not tried yet ...Ok,
time for the Tour Hex review !
That one is very tricky. I've been testing it for 2 weeks now. Tension stability is great. It still plays very well. The control is pretty much on the same lvl of some 1.30 strings so this is quite interesting. It is the most control oriented 1.23 string I have ever played with...What is even more important - it still feels very comfortable so I have no idea how they made it so control oriented and comfortable in such thin gauge...
The initial feel of the string suits the description of Head PT57A frames people are using here
The string is more comfortable than Lynx Tour but of course the launch angle is still higher. I could execute pretty much all the shots from my book except the flat backhand attack on the rise (my favourite shot). That is probably because I am so used to 1.30 gauges that it was hard for me to flatten the trajectory when I had to. Instead I had to work more with angles and spin. This is more of a "tactician" string but of course if you want to , you can still rip the ball
Mayami Tour Hex was shining most on my serves. 1st flat bombs - yes ! 2nd spin monster - yes ! That's probably because 1.23 is lighter and more responsive than 1.30 strings and it really unlocked the potential here. I usually have good 1st serve with any racquet and any string but 2nd serve is a mistery. Tour Hex understood my intentions perfectly.
It kinda feels like a mix of Solinco Tour Bite and Solinco Confidential when it becames soft but with the control of Tourna Silver 7 tour (but without that added omph trampoline from tourna that sometimes appears) ? Not sure where to put it. Probably closer to Solinco Confidential.
Volleys and touch shots are great. By the way ! It is around 1 gram lighter than Head Lynx Tour 1.25
Slices were also great. Maybe not as precise as I have with 1.30 strings but in general I can't find a place where I could say that I don't like the string. Maybe this flatter hits on the rise....but maybe its just adjusting period ?
So I was entering my league match with great confidence. However ! The results weren't as expected. I still feel like this is more my fault than strings because traning sessions were very positive but when the pressure hit me I just couldn't rely on my backhand as often as I usually do with 1.30 gauges. And my backhand is usually opening the game for me so...kinda key shot for my win %. This had impact on my confidence and rest of my strokes. I had to find other solutions , other gameplay, other tactics.
Funny thing is that I played vs same guy I met during my playtest of Solinco Confidential and later also Dyreex Hexablast. Is he my reference opponent ?
The match duration - 2h. Score: loosing 7:6 (7/5) 3:1 and had to finish it earlier because nobody expected such a long match lol. Will I turn over the score?
Like I said...I don't feel like it's strings fault... MAYBE it's because I am so used to 1.30 gauges and their lower launch. My backhand is more of a weapon then. But maybe I had a slightly worse day. Anyway there is so many string options.....My intention of this journey is to find a string that will bring me more win % . Even if its a lucky strike . Its a strike that stays in my head and keep me going with a positive attitude. Training situation is a happyland where everything is positive and possible
One thing that is worth mentioning : the price and value and the potential performance in a comfortable package are so great that I think this is a serious string for a tournament players that have to restring their racquets very often but don't want to pay too much. For this reason Mayami Tour Hex is EVEN better option than Volkl Cyclone !!!
So time for a tricky part....rating... I have no idea how to rate it. Why ? Because Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 for me is better than Lynx Tour 1.25 and Solinco Confidential 1.30 ... However I'm not sure if its better for me than Head Lynx Tour 1.30 or Tourna Silver 7 tour 1.30. The potential and match results were somewhere around what I had with Big Spin 1.30...Big Spin 1.30 had better groundstrokes while Tour Hex better serves and volleys.... I had better match results with Tourna Silver 7 tour.
Tour Hex has much better tension stability than Confidential and is more comfortable than Silver 7 tour, Lynx Tour, Tour Bite... and was offering the best 2nd serve out of the strings I tested so far....If only I had won this first set hah ? New rating system perhaps ? : lucky / unlucky
So I think it's somewhere in between 7.2 and 7.3 for a 1.23 gauge..... I try to rate the best gauge for my game and string so for now I will give it a 7.2 and I might update the review after I test the 1.28 version of Mayami Tour Hex.
Expectations with 1.28 Tour Hex - flatter aggresive shots on the rise - especially backhand side while keeping my serves the same or similar/better
To be continued....
The only thing that I would ask from the 1.28 TH is a bit more solidness on groundies, bc the 1.23 TH being so thin gives it a hint of "elasticity" or "instability" for me.
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galapagos
Hall of Fame
But you are comparing 1.23 tour hex to 1.28 black knight ?
gauges have big impact on control. If I had access to 1.28 tour hex I would have tested it instead of 1.23. I think They introduced thicker gauge after my thread appeared . But 1.23 is still a gem. What do you think about blue colors string ? Any Chelsea fans here ? ;p tour hex Galapagos edition ;p
solstice power has a lot of spin but wasn’t comfortable enough for me (very sensitive arm) and tension maintenance may not be the greatest, also didnt feel like it had much power (ironic how max power, solstice power have very little power, go figure) 16g tension maintenance was better but also quite stiff. For reference, I also find solinco strings a bit too stiff and tourna s7t too jarring on mishits.
megamind
Legend
I tried 1.23 BK and 1.23 Tour HexBut you are comparing 1.23 tour hex to 1.28 black knight ?
tour hex Galapagos edition ;p
PURETENNISsense
Professional
Only problem with solstice is that once the texture wears down its a round string at that point and plays differently.
PURETENNISsense
Professional
I'm also a 5.0+ player. I had been using Tecnifibre Black Code for a long time.... but it was popping frequently.
I tried the diadem flash and used a full bed of that for a bit and really liked it.
I eventually settled on the mains with Diadem Flash and crosses with tecnifibre black code. Both 16g
I tried the diadem flash and used a full bed of that for a bit and really liked it.
I eventually settled on the mains with Diadem Flash and crosses with tecnifibre black code. Both 16g
megamind
Legend
Random question, but when is the alleged EssentialTennis fam x TennisTroll fam tournament happening?
PURETENNISsense
Professional
Haha I have no idea to be honest.
Troll and I have been trying to setup more matches for his Channel but I'm unsure about the ET vs TT.
I did play MEP in a match play day last week so maybe something about that related to your question .
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
I tested Solstice Black in this thread. It was a decent feeling string, with improved tension maintenance over Solstice Power, but changed playing characteristics as it wore smooth and lost tension. It lasted somewhere over six hours, maybe around four of that fairly good hours, in an 18x19 racquet.
irulan
Rookie
Oof, that's somewhere between $3-5 burn rate per hour. Almost in RPM Blast / Alu Power cost territory :/
Sometimes poly isn't so economical after all
PURETENNISsense
Professional
I've been using Diadem strings for a while now (since Summer of 2019). I like the Flash and just purchased the Evolution for some of my clients to use as a cross for the textured strings (like Solstice, BlackCode 4s, RPM, etc.)
The Solstice wears down which is not great since it turns to a different feeling. Flash lasts foreverrr!!!! but the tension drops significantly so when I used a full bed of it, I would typically just cut it when I thought it was too loose.
Use it now with a hybrid setting.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Brief introduction:
I am a self-rated 5.0 / 5.5 lvl guy. I would like to push my tennis further or at least stabilize it at its peak. I’ve came to conclusion that in order to do this I need to settle my gear of choice, clear my head and just focus on my game.
I did similar path with my racquet of choice. My previous main gears were Yonex Ezone Dr 98, Head Graphene Speed Pro, Wilson Blade 2015 18x20, Angell TC95 18x20 .
My main stick now is Angell TC95 16x19 ( 2 years already !) I do test some racquets from time to time but nothing was worth the risk of switching. I flipped around 30 different racquets over those years hah. Sticking to the same setup really helped my game.
honorable mentions to other best racquets in 2021 (random order): Head Prestige 360+ MP , Wilson Blade v7 , Head Gravity Pro
---------
Game style/mindset: Grinder ? Counter-puncher ? I get best match results when I focus on CONSISTENCY and ACCURACY. Think Djokovic or Murray…. So I need a string with great depth/height control and very consistent response. Sometimes I unlock my inner Verdasco (love this guy!) and Rublev (skinny but oh boy his pure power on forehand) .
DISCLAIMER : I will most likely never rate any string 10/10 because i think it's a player's job to make a gear perform like 10/10. I am just looking for the best string for myself and my game and how i understand it. Ratings within the groups includes not only performance / potential / match situations but also pricing. The common threshold on this forum is Luxilon Alu Power where most ppl love it but not enough to buy it xDDD
Strings I will be testing / tested already: (total number of strings: 37 )
Group A (round profile):
1. Tecnifibre Ice Code 1.30 (ranking TBD)
2. Luxilon Original 1.30 (ranking TBD)
3. Luxilon Alu Power Rough 1.30 (ranking TBD)
4. Luxilon Alu Power 1.30 (and 1.25) (ranking TBD)
5. Mayami Hit Pro 1.30 (and 1.25) (ranking TBD)
6. Dyreex Super Tour 1.30 (ranking TBD)
7. Yonex Poly Tour pro 1.25 (ranking TBD)
8. Tecnifibre Red Code 1.30 (ranking TBD)
9. Luxilon Adrenaline 1.30 (ranking TBD)
10. Signum Pro Firestorm 1.30 (ranking TBD)
Group B (3 and 4-sided profile):
1. Solinco Confidential 1.30 : stiffness 222 - energy return 89% - spin potential 6.4 (rating: 7.1 / 10)
2. Solinco Tour Bite 1.25 : stiffness: 238 - energy return: 88% - spin potential: 5.9 (rating: 7.0 / 10)
3. Dyreex Cube Max 1.25 (rating: 7.1/ 10)
Ultimate string of choice !
I am a self-rated highly competitive 5.0 / 5.5 lvl guy who participates in many local tournaments. My main stick now is Angell TC95 16x19. racquet reviews thread: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/ultimate-racquet-of-choice-tournament-players-and-or-coaches.705277/ :X3: Game...tt.tennis-warehouse.com
4. Mayami Big Spin 1.30 (and 1.25) (rating: 7.2 / 10)
Ultimate string of choice !
I am a self-rated highly competitive 5.0 / 5.5 lvl guy who participates in many local tournaments. My main stick now is Angell TC95 16x19. racquet reviews thread: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/ultimate-racquet-of-choice-tournament-players-and-or-coaches.705277/ :X3: Game...
5. Solinco Hyper G 1.30 (and 1.25 and 1.20) : stiffness: 219 - energy return: 89% - spin potential: 7.0 (rating: 6.3 / 10)
6. Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable 1.23 : stiffness: 175 - energy return: 83% - spin potential: 11.9 (rating: 5.8 / 10)
Group C (6-sided profile):
1. Head Lynx Tour 1.30 (and 1.25) : stiffness 229 - energy return 88% - spin potential 6.1 (rating: 7.2 / 10)
2. MSV Focus Hex 1.27 : stiffness 186 - energy return 85% - spin potential 8.6 (rating 6.2 / 10)
3. Dyreex Super Tour Edge 1.30 (ranking TBD)
4. Dyreex Hexablast 1.30 (rating 6.9 / 10)
5. Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 (and 1.28-still have to try it) (rating: 7.2 / 10)
Group D (7+ sided profile):
1. Volkl Cyclone 1.30 : stiffness 197 - energy return 84% - spin potential 6.2 (rating: 7.0 / 10)
2. Tourna Silver 7 Tour 1.30 stiffness 238 - energy return 90% - spin potential NA (rating: 7.3 / 10)
Ultimate string of choice !
I am a self-rated highly competitive 5.0 / 5.5 lvl guy who participates in many local tournaments. My main stick now is Angell TC95 16x19. racquet reviews thread: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/ultimate-racquet-of-choice-tournament-players-and-or-coaches.705277/ :X3: Game...
3. MSV Hepta Twist 1.30 (and 1.25) : stiffness 189 - energy return 84% - spin potential NA (rating: 6.0 / 10)
4. Babolat RPM Blast Rough 1.30 : Stiffness 210 - energy return 90% - spin potential 8.2 (rating 6.2 / 10)
5. Mayami Magic Twist 1.30 (and 1.25) (rating 6.2 / 10)
6. Signum Pro Tornado 1.27 (and 1.23) : Stiffness 215 - energy return 86% - spin potential 5.1 (rating 6.2 /10)
Let’s see If I gravitate towards some specific group of strings. I am also interested in your reviews ! Let's help each other !
Any predictions ? Or is there any string that should be added to the list ? What would be your ranking and why ?
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Champions Group (minimum 7/0 rating and now comparing to each other) :
1. Tourna Silver 7 Tour 1.30
2. Mayami Big Spin 1.30
2. Head Lynx Tour 1.30
2. Mayami Tour Hex 1.23
3. Solinco Confidential 1.30
4. Dyreex Cube Max 1.25
5. Volkl Cyclone 1.30
6. Solinco Tour Bite 1.25
7.
8.
9.
10.
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FINAL 4 - ULTIMATE STRING OF CHOICE :
1. ...........
2. ...........
3. ...........
4. ...........
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Recommendations and personal choices that made it to my maybe list:
thank you guys
- Tier One Black Knight ( not sure if it can offer me something more than cyclone as i kinda see it as a cyclone opponent)
- Dunlop Black Widow (not enough reviews from other ppl to encourage me)
- Luxilon 4g (probably not good enough to justify the price)
- Head Hawk ( a bit pricey and not so many positive reviews around but when the recommendation comes from @dr325i i just have to reconsider this, tennisnerd rated it as stiffer than Lynx Tour which is already on my limit so..kinda worried about the comfort as well)
- Head Hawk Touch (a bit pricey and not sure if this can offer me something more than the strings i already have on my list but hey! Sinner ?! Zverev ?! Barty ?! )
- Head Hawk Rough (not so many reviews)
- Tecnifibre Razor Code (maybe too stiff ? I have Ice Code so will work from there)
- Luxilon Original Rough (not available in my country lol)
- Luxilon Adrenaline Rough (not available in my country lol)
- Babolat RPM Power (Thiem !!!)
- RS Lyon
I was told RPM power is the worst poly in the world today. anyway, how does RPM blast and RPM spin compare to your best shaped polys like confidential and Dyreex or Mayami ?? if you only cared about pure playability in first 2 hours.
irulan
Rookie
What do you hybrid it with that can make up for the tension drops?
PURETENNISsense
Professional
I use Flash in the mains and Tecnifibre Black Code in the cross. Both 16g and at 53lbs.
For me, when the tension drops too far, the Black Code will pop as it starts to wear thin. Ill get a good 6-9hrs of life out of the string bed.
galapagos
Hall of Fame
...hype ;p overall i have more trust in 18x20 frames. I think the market now is quite strong with this pattern. And 16x19 is a bit hit or miss for me.
I had to try angell 16x19 95 after all the reviews i have read + i was already a tc95 18x20 guy for some years. One day i Just bought 1x tc95 18x20 as a backup for my main and 1x 95 16x19 as a fun stick Just to try... well... i had to sell all my 18x20 then ;p
It was pure luck I would say. Probably lucky string of choice (cyclone is really good in angell 16x19 and slightly worse in 18x20) . Overall I had similar feel but easier access to spin which gave me more control. With 18x20 its sometimes harder and then you hit the ball too far. I think with some 18x20 patterns you Just have to focus on your racquet angle and RHS a bit more while with 16x19 you can kinda cheat and even if you are out of position you can still do something interesting with it. But at the same time keep in mind my 16x19 is in a small headsize so totally different feel. More „direct” .
There are also frames like radical MP with tighter 16x19 pattern, radical pro looks quite interesting , yonex ezone of course , Blade v7 16x19 ... Maybe extreme tour ?
but 18x20 looks stronger i think. Blade , dunlop cx 200 tour , prestige mp, tecnifibre TF40, gravity pro , speed pro, yonex Vcore HD 18x20. Maybe I missed something there ...
Testing is an ultimate truth
as a junior I transitioned from radical to pure drive then speed pro , prestige , ezone , pro staff 95, blade , angell. There is No pure pattern here ;p although I admit not all my choices were smart when i was younger. (I picked pure drive because i was Roddick fan) , then speed because of Djokovic.. then i realized how brands are playing with us... its disgusting but i kinda understand it.
final thought -
IMO if somebody feels like 18x20 player but is using 1.20 gauge (or thinner) then probably he is not really a 18x20 guy and should be using pattern with less strings and pick 1.25 gauge. What will you get?
similar bite , similar control , less muscle fatigue, better string durability, longer playability.
Of course we , normal people cant get customized frames and therefore i can understand why for example some prestige mp guys are using lets say 1.20 gauge string. They are using Prestige MP for that specific feel and control.Do they have alternative of their favourite frame with different string pattern? NO.
Prestige pro is totally different.
I respect Wilson blade line for that. No confusion. Simple. Just preference of a string pattern.
Gee
Hall of Fame
I don't understand this phrase exactly. Can you explain this more in detail?
ron schaap
Hall of Fame
i only know rpm blast and rough. wherein differs Spin exactly? The story behind rpm power is that Thiem and other advanced players demanded better contact sound from their strings and enough power. I ve not tried it myself because too expensive. Maybe this string is so different from your usual string that you think it must be worse, but maybe it isnt, ot it is only a good string for the very top players?
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
That could be said for any shaped/textured string
Gee
Hall of Fame
I see. That's why I switched from TC95 18m and UT to TC95 16m.
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PURETENNISsense
Professional
This is true!
well said! totally agree with all these comments. Pure strike 98 is also worth a look...a slightly more powerful blade that provides easier pop at the expense of some control. Sweetspot feels so much bigger than my previous vcp97 resulting in less mishits, less shank shock. Babolat finally listened to the people and made a flexier stick and got it right. Pure strike is a winner...hype ;p overall i have more trust in 18x20 frames. I think the market now is quite strong with this pattern. And 16x19 is a bit hit or miss for me.
I had to try angell 16x19 95 after all the reviews i have read + i was already a tc95 18x20 guy for some years. One day i Just bought 1x tc95 18x20 as a backup for my main and 1x 95 16x19 as a fun stick Just to try... well... i had to sell all my 18x20 then ;p
It was pure luck I would say. Probably lucky string of choice (cyclone is really good in angell 16x19 and slightly worse in 18x20) . Overall I had similar feel but easier access to spin which gave me more control. With 18x20 its sometimes harder and then you hit the ball too far. I think with some 18x20 patterns you Just have to focus on your racquet angle and RHS a bit more while with 16x19 you can kinda cheat and even if you are out of position you can still do something interesting with it. But at the same time keep in mind my 16x19 is in a small headsize so totally different feel. More „direct” .
There are also frames like radical MP with tighter 16x19 pattern, radical pro looks quite interesting , yonex ezone of course , Blade v7 16x19 ... Maybe extreme tour ?
but 18x20 looks stronger i think. Blade , dunlop cx 200 tour , prestige mp, tecnifibre TF40, gravity pro , speed pro, yonex Vcore HD 18x20. Maybe I missed something there ...
Testing is an ultimate truth
as a junior I transitioned from radical to pure drive then speed pro , prestige , ezone , pro staff 95, blade , angell. There is No pure pattern here ;p although I admit not all my choices were smart when i was younger. (I picked pure drive because i was Roddick fan) , then speed because of Djokovic.. then i realized how brands are playing with us... its disgusting but i kinda understand it.
final thought -
IMO if somebody feels like 18x20 player but is using 1.20 gauge (or thinner) then probably he is not really a 18x20 guy and should be using pattern with less strings and pick 1.25 gauge. What will you get?
similar bite , similar control , less muscle fatigue, better string durability, longer playability.
Of course we , normal people cant get customized frames and therefore i can understand why for example some prestige mp guys are using lets say 1.20 gauge string. They are using Prestige MP for that specific feel and control.Do they have alternative of their favourite frame with different string pattern? NO.
Prestige pro is totally different.
I respect Wilson blade line for that. No confusion. Simple. Just preference of a string pattern.
Some strings maintain their shape longer. I’ve had good experiences with dunlop black widow 16g, tier one black knight, sppp hextreme, tourna s7t keeping their sharpness while other strings like volkl cyclone, cyclone tour, hyperG sharpness wear off quite fast. I’ve only used shaped mains because 1.) shaped strings are a b!tch to pull/string in crosses and 2.) shaped crosses somehow produce a harsher feeling string bed. Smooth/slick thin round cross much easier to string and much nicer feeling. Currently testing Tour hex 123/SPPP 118 to see how long sharpness lasts.
nuclearmedicineman
Rookie
Do you think the Big Spin and Tour Hex retain their sharp edges for a while without getting worn down?Ok,
time for the Tour Hex review !
That one is very tricky. I've been testing it for 2 weeks now. Tension stability is great. It still plays very well. The control is pretty much on the same lvl of some 1.30 strings so this is quite interesting. It is the most control oriented 1.23 string I have ever played with...What is even more important - it still feels very comfortable so I have no idea how they made it so control oriented and comfortable in such thin gauge...
The initial feel of the string suits the description of Head PT57A frames people are using here
The string is more comfortable than Lynx Tour but of course the launch angle is still higher. I could execute pretty much all the shots from my book except the flat backhand attack on the rise (my favourite shot). That is probably because I am so used to 1.30 gauges that it was hard for me to flatten the trajectory when I had to. Instead I had to work more with angles and spin. This is more of a "tactician" string but of course if you want to , you can still rip the ball
Mayami Tour Hex was shining most on my serves. 1st flat bombs - yes ! 2nd spin monster - yes ! That's probably because 1.23 is lighter and more responsive than 1.30 strings and it really unlocked the potential here. I usually have good 1st serve with any racquet and any string but 2nd serve is a mistery. Tour Hex understood my intentions perfectly.
It kinda feels like a mix of Solinco Tour Bite and Solinco Confidential when it becames soft but with the control of Tourna Silver 7 tour (but without that added omph trampoline from tourna that sometimes appears) ? Not sure where to put it. Probably closer to Solinco Confidential.
Volleys and touch shots are great. By the way ! It is around 1 gram lighter than Head Lynx Tour 1.25
Slices were also great. Maybe not as precise as I have with 1.30 strings but in general I can't find a place where I could say that I don't like the string. Maybe this flatter hits on the rise....but maybe its just adjusting period ?
So I was entering my league match with great confidence. However ! The results weren't as expected. I still feel like this is more my fault than strings because traning sessions were very positive but when the pressure hit me I just couldn't rely on my backhand as often as I usually do with 1.30 gauges. And my backhand is usually opening the game for me so...kinda key shot for my win %. This had impact on my confidence and rest of my strokes. I had to find other solutions , other gameplay, other tactics.
Funny thing is that I played vs same guy I met during my playtest of Solinco Confidential and later also Dyreex Hexablast. Is he my reference opponent ?
The match duration - 2h. Score: loosing 7:6 (7/5) 3:1 and had to finish it earlier because nobody expected such a long match lol. Will I turn over the score?
Like I said...I don't feel like it's strings fault... MAYBE it's because I am so used to 1.30 gauges and their lower launch. My backhand is more of a weapon then. But maybe I had a slightly worse day. Anyway there is so many string options.....My intention of this journey is to find a string that will bring me more win % . Even if its a lucky strike . Its a strike that stays in my head and keep me going with a positive attitude. Training situation is a happyland where everything is positive and possible
One thing that is worth mentioning : the price and value and the potential performance in a comfortable package are so great that I think this is a serious string for a tournament players that have to restring their racquets very often but don't want to pay too much. For this reason Mayami Tour Hex is EVEN better option than Volkl Cyclone !!!
So time for a tricky part....rating... I have no idea how to rate it. Why ? Because Mayami Tour Hex 1.23 for me is better than Lynx Tour 1.25 and Solinco Confidential 1.30 ... However I'm not sure if its better for me than Head Lynx Tour 1.30 or Tourna Silver 7 tour 1.30. The potential and match results were somewhere around what I had with Big Spin 1.30...Big Spin 1.30 had better groundstrokes while Tour Hex better serves and volleys.... I had better match results with Tourna Silver 7 tour.
Tour Hex has much better tension stability than Confidential and is more comfortable than Silver 7 tour, Lynx Tour, Tour Bite... and was offering the best 2nd serve out of the strings I tested so far....If only I had won this first set hah ? New rating system perhaps ? : lucky / unlucky
So I think it's somewhere in between 7.2 and 7.3 for a 1.23 gauge..... I try to rate the best gauge for my game and string so for now I will give it a 7.2 and I might update the review after I test the 1.28 version of Mayami Tour Hex.
Expectations with 1.28 Tour Hex - flatter aggresive shots on the rise - especially backhand side while keeping my serves the same or similar/better
To be continued....
nuclearmedicineman
Rookie
Personal preference, I don't mind giving up a bit of control from the 18X20 to go to a 16x19 or 16X18 to get some help with more spin/higher launch angle/more depth. Just my personal taste.
