LiamMiguel
Semi-Pro
Currently looking for a replacement of Volkl Cyclone as my main string. My college coach usually doesn’t buy reels for people that are the only people using the string so just in case, I want to know what to use. :/
Volkl Cyclone replacement
- Thread starter LiamMiguel
- Start date
LiamMiguel
Semi-Pro
I understand but the reason I’m asking is because my college has an account with both Wilson and Solinco so my coach can grab those strings for me instead and I don’t have to pay out of my own pocket.
The first thought I had was that Tour Bite would be a good switch to or something similar. I had used obviously Cyclone, as well as RPM Blast and Hyper-G in the past but Cyclone was my favorite one. Tour Bite, according to TWU, is I think a very comparable string.
Also, the funny thing is I am my school’s stringer haha.
SlowTiger
Professional
Welp if you're restricted to 2 brands that's also kind of something you should have added to your post. Doesn't help if people give you 5 different options for different brands if you can't use them. Try solinco revolution. It's the closest one to cyclone and rpm blast.
LiamMiguel
Semi-Pro
Yeah that’s my bad, major brain fart oops. I’ll see if I can get my hands on a set of that then.
jugheadfla
Semi-Pro
In my experience, the closest thing to Cyclone from Solinco would be Confidential. Tour Bite is more crisp/lowered powered and Hyper-G is more lively where Confidential is more in the middle, dead and muted. On the Wilson side I'm not sure. I would probably say Revolve Spin, but wouldn't recommend it. Does the Wilson contract also include Luxilon? If it did there are a lot more options.
LiamMiguel
Semi-Pro
I did use Confidential when it was first tested out, but that was a couple of years ago, so maybe I'll try it out.
Regarding Luxilon, you would think it would be with the Wilson contract no? Well, I was told by my coach that it wasn't unfortunately. About half of our men's team and a chunk of the women's team actually used ALU Power, Savage, and 4G but all those strings are currently being phased out of our stringing as the team can't afford to get those reels on a consistent basis. We ran out of ALU and 4G a while ago and we're down to our last Savage reel :/
I used to use cyclone exclusively and have also played with confidential a lot. I think if you like cyclone, confidential is going to feel a little dead / stiff to you. If you try it, maybe string it a few pounds looser than you string the cyclone. After a while of using confidential full bed, I switched to using a hybrid of confidential mains and hyper G soft in the crosses and that softened up the feel nicely. I also think you might want to try the hyper G soft in a full bed - maybe a few pounds tighter than you string the cyclone.
For full-bed poly, stick with Solinco (Wilson's in-house stuff is mediocre, at best, especially compared to Solinco).
That said, Cyclone kind of sits between Confidential, Hyper-G and Revolution for certain characteristics. I would try a full bed of each at equal gauge and tension to get a feel for the distinct characteristics, then once you pick your favorite, dial it in with gauge and tension, and/or a poly/poly hybrid with one of the other two that re-adds any missing aspects. For example: Confidential mains and Revolution crosses would create something more low-powered but still elastic, or Hyper-G mains and Revo crosses would still be elastic, but more lively/crisp. Regardless of what you end up with, you'll be playing some of the better co-poly out there, so I'm sure you'll find a combo you like at least as well as Cyclone, if not better.
That said, Cyclone kind of sits between Confidential, Hyper-G and Revolution for certain characteristics. I would try a full bed of each at equal gauge and tension to get a feel for the distinct characteristics, then once you pick your favorite, dial it in with gauge and tension, and/or a poly/poly hybrid with one of the other two that re-adds any missing aspects. For example: Confidential mains and Revolution crosses would create something more low-powered but still elastic, or Hyper-G mains and Revo crosses would still be elastic, but more lively/crisp. Regardless of what you end up with, you'll be playing some of the better co-poly out there, so I'm sure you'll find a combo you like at least as well as Cyclone, if not better.
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StringStrungStrang
Professional
I second the idea of Solinco Confidential or TB Soft, full bed or with a round SG if you want it even softer and more pop.
Injured Again
Hall of Fame
Agree with @SlowTiger Revolution is going to be the closest string to Cyclone.
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
I string for people that have used both the black and the yellow Cyclone. They have said they play quite a bit different, that the black is softer. So, you might want to try one of the other colors than what you're playing with currently.
Karma Tennis
Legend
IME, when comparing the same gauge at the same DT, Volkl Cyclone (Anthracite) (ie Black) is stiffer than any of the other colours. The higher the DT, the stiffer it is.
For what it's worth, I think that a hybrid of some sort, Say Hyper-G mains and a stiff round Solinco cross string would come close to a full bed of Volkl cyclone. You would just have to experiment a bit with the tension differentials between the mains and crosses.
BPlain
Semi-Pro
I played with Cyclone and Cyclone Tour for a long time. I find Hyper G Soft - I use 1.20g - plays similar with better tension maintenance. I’m also about to try Gosen G-Spin 3 1.23g which apparently a lot of people like as a Cyclone replacement too. Will let you know how it plays once I hit it but a good value at under $10 a set.
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