It wont rival the level of spin youll get with a quality set of polyester strings, and some players will find it too powerful. These strings are very durable and generate a lot of spin. With the Clash V2 100 Pro Tennis Racquet, Wilson improves on their most flexible performance frame. Tennis String Tension screenshorts. 3. However, its important to note that with each string Ive selected, there will often be tradeoffs in performance. Wilson NXT Comfort - Power, Comfort. 4) Value. A big part of what produces a string with a greater sense of control is a consistent response or knowing what to expect every time the ball leaves the stringbed, and Hyper-G checks the right boxes to make that happen. While every player is different, a good starting point can get people moving in the right direction. If youre looking to follow suit, then theres no doubt that polyester tennis strings are a fantastic choice. Combined with a great polyesters trademark ability to snap back into place and the lower power that allows you to increase your racquet head speed confidently, you end up with loads of topspin to help further dictate placement. Join a growing community of tennis enthusiasts and sign up for our monthly email. Luxilon ALU Power delivers outstanding control without sacrificing reliable touch and feel, often a drawback of other polyester tennis strings. Middle-of-the-road gauges (16-17) tend to offer the best mix of power and spin with durability. Theres no doubt that Wilson NXT is a long-standing leader in the multifilament space with a solid following and a proven track record. As a reminder, the main strings characteristics will dominate the racquets feel. As you might expect from a poly, the most significant tradeoff with Babolat RPM Blast is its lower power and comfort relative to other strings. Of course, if this isnt your first time stringing your racquet, you can use your previous tension as a baseline and adjust up, down, or keep it the same depending on how you felt it performed. In general, thinner string will provide more power and spin, while thicker strings provide more control and durability. With that in mind, here are a few quality alternatives to consider if youre looking for a string that meets these criteria. 138. Hyper-G is square-shaped, so it has four edges for embedding into and gripping the ball. Furthermore, it doesnt offer a high level of comfort, so players with arm issues need to keep that in mind. Tennis warehouse forums are definitely the best place for gear questions. One of Babolat RPM Blasts unique attributes is that its surprisingly comfortable to play with for a polyester tennis string, which makes it a terrific option for anyone looking to test the waters with a poly to help enhance their topspin and control. Deutsch . Babolat RPM Blasts defining feature is its ability to help maximize spin, which is immediately apparent when hitting groundstrokes. Cant decide which color to buy? So if you play four times a week, then restring you racquet four times a year. Although Solinco Hyper-G is a terrific option for control, several others deliver fantastic performance. The natural elastic fibers with Babolat VS Touch make for a string with unrivaled comfort. With that in mind, my top pick for the best soft polyester tennis string is Solinco Hyper-G Soft. However, with more than a handful of polyester strings on the market, one stands out as the best for topspin, and thats Babolat RPM Blast. Here are a few of my favorites. For the added durability Solinco Confidential provides, youll need to make some concessions. Colors: Black. Its also the most common approach when stringing a hybrid with gut and polyester. If youre looking for an alternative to Wilson NXT, the good news is youve got options. Contents [ hide] 1 Best Tennis Strings: Characteristics. Its also worth noting that a hybrid can consist of two gauges of the same string it doesnt have to be two entirely different types. My Absolute Favorite. Previously named Wilson Extreme Octane, this string is actually very similar to Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex (our top pick for the best value string). The gauge of string you choose should be based on your playing style and the level of competition you are playing in. A combination of low string-on-string friction and high ball-on-string friction allows for maximum spin potential. It also provides a crisp feel, and impressive precision for a long lasting string. Tennis strings are usually made up of one or more of these materials: Polyester, Nylon, and Natural Gut. Table of Contents. If you are a Beginner in the game of tennis, consider reducing tension a little to compensate for stiffness. However, you can mix any two types of strings as a hybrid. The Blade provides modern control for aggressive players. Used by the pros for its unrivaled performance, power, comfort, and feel. Stringing your racquet towards the lower end of your tension range will give your strings more power, spin, durability, feel, and comfort. Instead, check out Tecnifibres NRG2 and Babolats Origin, which will deliver plenty of power with the added benefit of more control. As far as tennis strings go,natural gut is some of the best (and priciest) on the market, and up until the 90s, most players considered it the gold standard, used by virtually all professionals. Another one of my favorite multifilament tennis strings for its exceptional price combined with all-around performance is Head Velocity MLT. AUTHORIZED DEALER for Adidas, Asics, Babolat, Wilson, Head, Yonex, Dunlop, Volkl, Donnay, K-Swiss, Luxilon, Gamma, Tecnifibre, Kirschbaum, Tourna, Solinco, Slingerbag and . #11. Just so you know, TennisCompanion may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page to help keep this site running. Babolat RPM Blast takes topspin to the max. If you are not a string breaker, we typically recommend 17 gauge, otherwise use 16 gauge for a little more durability. From serving to volleying and hitting groundstrokes, players will find the ball aggressively rebounds from their strings. Thinner strings bite into the ball, which will give the player a little bit more control. Therefore, I strongly recommend players consider this facet before trying it. However, the best are those that align with your needs and deliver the performance-enhancing characteristics you desire. Relative to traditional stiffer polyesters, Hyper-G Soft offers a subtle bump in power, which may turn off players looking for maximum control. Its an excellent string with a long-standing positive reputation in the tennis community. 3) Performance. Today's co-polyester monofilament strings also deliver increased power and comfort depending on the additives used. I playtested each string using the same racquet, rated every attribute on a scale of 1 to 10, and calculated the average score to arrive at the rating. The string used for the mains will dominate the overall feel, while the crosses play a supporting role and modify the racquets feel, giving players more options when stringing. Join the conversation with other members of the community. Heavy spin players will feel limited. Synthetic gut strings are made of nylon or other synthetic fibers. Below youll find my picks of the best tennis strings for 2023. Depending on your preferences, you can use tension in a variety of ways, though I do not generally recommend using tension in such a variety. A lower tension will provide more power, but also less feel and control. However, players who want to strike more balance should consider Prince Premier Touch as part of a hybrid string setup. While I give Wilson NXT a slight edge, Technifibres X-One Biphase and NRG2 are borderline equivalents, and Id encourage you to check out all three. $16.00. Create a free account and explore my latest videos below. Opinions vary, but many say they offer better quality and playability than traditional monofilament nylon strings. Besides the reasonable price, I especially appreciate the range of KLIP options available, making it an excellent starting point for players venturing into the world of gut. Id encourage you to steer clear of them as they can be detrimental early on, lacking comfort to protect a players arm as they adapt to new movements and the power to achieve sufficient depth of shot. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for tennis strings at the best online prices at eBay! Despite that, this feature is undoubtedly one of the strings standouts, especially when combined with the strings excellent spin. A very popular string offering incredible control and a ton of spin potential. Within the past 10-15 years,polyester tennis strings have become hugely popular, allowing players like Rafael Nadal to take massive cuts at the ball and redefine our expectations and whats possible with topspin. Volkl Psycho Hybrid. Plus, it comes in a wide array of colors, which is fun for younger players where string performance isnt a priority. When it comes to tennis strings, there are hundreds of options. The closer to the top of the range, the more control and less pop a player will experience. Polyester strings are a stiff string and tend to be harder on the arm. However, its not overbearing because Luxilon ALU Power Rough is a lower-powered string that balances it out. Before you choose a tennis string to play with, you should know which characteristics to look for, including the pros and cons of choosing one over another. If youre new to tennis, dont underestimate synthetic gut tennis strings. By pushing their limit Wilson hybrid string has come up with WILSON NXT Power 40-Feet String. We would recommend picking a tension 1 or 2 lbs more than mid as rackets lose tension fairly quickly. Luxilon is by far the most dominant brand in polyester tennis strings, and its popularity among professional and competitive tennis players worldwide speaks volumes regarding its performance. Conventional wisdom evolved to matching string replacement over the course of a year with the amount of times played in a week. Based on your experience, you can adjust up or down a few pounds if necessary. If youre a beginner or intermediate player, youll most likely just use the strings that came with their racquet. Some players prefer a stiffer, dead-feeling, low power string, which usually means more control. For example, if topspin is your main priority, Im confident that my string selection will deliver that characteristic. Best Seller. Although it doesnt quite stack up to Babolat RPM Blast in this category, its a strong contender and excellent from the back of the court. 8 offers from $12.00. Instead, its a polyamide, belonging to the same family of synthetic materials as nylon and aramids. Ive played with Mantis Comfort Synthetic, but havent experienced Gosen Tour 3. As a result, theyre not as forgiving as a multifilament or natural gut, so if comfort is a top priority, soft polys will likely be too harsh for your needs. A higher touch rating will help a player execute with more precision and greater control over the ball. But even then, youll need to replace the strings if yours break, lose tension, or go dead. Here are the important things to keep in mind when choosing a string and restringing your racquet. The main factors that you will want to consider are power, spin, comfort, control, touch, string movement, playability duration, and . Without question, Luxilon ALU Power exemplifies what modern players expect from a poly in terms of control, spin, and durability. One of the challenges that players have faced over the years is that strings come with distinct pros and cons. How powerful your strings are is a matter of personal preference. If youve struggled with arm injuries and youre looking for a string that delivers control, youll likely want to steer clear of polyesters or, at a minimum, string it as a hybrid in the crosses. Traditionally monofilament strings offer benefits to control and durability. Best Arm Friendly String for Intermediate Players: Wilson NXT Soft. With that in mind, I recommend beginners and children string their racquets with a well-rounded yet inexpensive synthetic gut for balanced performance when first getting involved with the sport. Tourna PS-200-16 Tennis Strings. This type of string works well because it offers an ideal set of characteristics, including exceptional elasticity, long-lasting tension maintenance, and arm-friendly comfort. This string is made of a single filament (extrusion process). #10. Best for Control: Solinco Hyper-G. Upgraded with Parallel Drilling for a larger sweet spot and Braided Graphite + Basalt for even greater feel on every shot, the Blade 98 16x19 more open string pattern has a forgiving feel and crisp responsiveness. For many players, this is an ideal scenario. A good string gauge to start with as a beginner is 16. The best part about hybrid string setups is combining the best of two worlds in natural gut and polyester tennis strings. Best for Power: Tecnifibre X-One Biphase. However, this tends to come with the drawback that they arent as forgiving and can be harsh on your arm. In this regard, polyester tennis strings are excellent low-powered options that make them an ideal fit for players seeking control. Its worth noting that a players racquet and technique also influence comfort. Regarding performance, here are the most common characteristics that players seek out when researching new strings. For example, Babolat VS Touch and Luxilon ALU Power are also excellent. Have any questions or want to share your thoughts on any strings youve tried? There are also different types of string materials available. Together, these attributes give me a strong sense of control, which allows me to dictate points and move players from side to side. Theyre also perfect for recreational players that dont play frequently or occasionally play for exercise. The length of time a set of strings can maintain tension and quality play or performance is its playability duration. Stiffer strings offer less power, more control, and less shock absorption. When it comes to Luxilon ALU Power alternatives, one of my favorite places to look is among the line of Luxilon strings. My recommendation: The first two rackets should be strung at the same tension to provide a back-up if a string breaks. Its hard to beat this combination for players looking for excellent spin potential and comfort. While the low power is part of what makes this string fantastic, it does have the potential to leave some players frustrated with a lack of pace, especially if theyre using a lower-powered racquet. Short advice - Always string as low tension as you can. All racquet frames come with manufacturer's recommendations on string tension. My pick for the best polyester tennis string for 2023 is Luxilon ALU Power, which has developed a cult-like following and is wildly popular on the ATP and WTA tours. Thinner strings generally offer higher performance (more spin) but are not as durable thicker strings. That said, its properties intend to provide players with performance similar to a soft poly. Discussion Boards Many players will wait until their strings break before replacing them. Learn more. . Furthermore, the differences from one string to the next are harder to detect and appreciate when you first learn to play tennis, so theres no reason to overinvest your hard-earned money early on. Cons. If you like the idea of Babolat VS Touch but want to explore alternative natural gut options, start with Wilson Natural Gut. One of Wilson NXTs standout features is its power, which it delivers through the combined effort of 1,600 individual microfibers. Step 4: Identify an Appropriate Tension. Furthermore, Ive taken my recommendations a step further by providing you with a selection of high-quality alternatives to explore for each category to accommodate for factors like a strings price that may present a roadblock for you to start using it. The very soft multi-filament crosses effectively moderate the sometimes undesirable co-polyesters' stiffness. Required fields are marked *. So if youre looking for a little extra pop or spin from your strings, or if you want them to last longer and feel better on your arm, then try dropping the tension a few pounds to the lower end of your racquets recommended tension range. Best for Spin: Babolat RPM Blast. For intermediate players that suffer from tennis elbow, the Wilson NXT Soft is the perfect choice because of the good mixture of comfort and power. String tension is a measure of how tightly a stringer pulls your strings as they're attached to your racquet. Like some of the other polys on offer from Solinco, Confidential is a 4-sided string, which offers a bit of extra added bite. In particular, players used to full polyester string setups may find Wilson Champions Choice a bit too high-powered and lacking in the spin and control departments, so youll need to consider those facets when stringing with this hybrid. Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis.