In this regard, polyester tennis strings are excellent low-powered options that make them an ideal fit for players seeking control. Theres no doubt that Wilson NXT is a long-standing leader in the multifilament space with a solid following and a proven track record. Stiffer strings offer less power, more control, and less shock absorption. Babolat RPM Blast 17, String. Learn more. For example, some players will combine two different gauges of the same string for added durability, improved feel, or enhanced topspin. And its lower price tag makes it a great option for beginners and recreational players. Its also the most common approach when stringing a hybrid with gut and polyester. Finally, if you want to enhance the durability of any strings, give string savers a try. An inexpensive string with a good blend of comfort, control, power, and spin. The last comment and 20 other comment(s) need to be approved. TennisJrDad said: @eyalw88 My suggestions would be to try the following in the order listed: Full Bed of Luxilon Natural Gut in 1.30 57/55 LBd if healthy, if not 52/50. Furthermore, its a stiffer poly and nowhere near what players will find with gut or multifilaments from a comfort standpoint. For example, if your racquets tension range is 50-60 pounds, ask your stinger to string your racquet at 55 pounds. With its square shape, this co-poly offers massive spin potential. Lets look at some of the features that make Luxilon ALU Power so popular, especially among intermediate to advanced tennis players. If youre a beginner to intermediate player, youll probably want to opt for softer (less stiff) strings that prioritize comfort and power over durability. You can then adjust your requirement appropriately to even tighter or looser (towards the upper or lower end of the range). 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. If youd like, you can click any of the following links to skip to that section of this article. Like some of the other polys on offer from Solinco, Confidential is a 4-sided string, which offers a bit of extra added bite. Hybrid stringing with natural gut and polyester is a double-edged sword. The gauge of string you choose should be based on your playing style and the level of competition you are playing in. An exciting development for this time-tested polyester is a slew of new colors available for purchase, including blue, green, red, and lime. Hands down, natural gut is the most powerful string on the market, and Babolats VS Touch stands at the head of its class. Heavy spin players will feel limited. Many players will wait until their strings break before replacing them. Read our full review of the Solinco Hyper-G tennis string. Unfortunately, ALU power is no exception to these rules. As a result, most players will find the extra power a welcome feature that aids depth of shot without being overbearing. These strings are thinner than the corresponding number, but . Frays a little too easily when hitting hard. Instead, check out Tecnifibres NRG2 and Babolats Origin, which will deliver plenty of power with the added benefit of more control. 4 Top 5 Best Tennis Strings Review. A control-oriented string might be a great option if you want to tone down your racquets power or reduce the likelihood of overhitting with added topspin that gives you more margin for error to keep the ball in play. However, there are plenty of other tennis strings worth checking out. Thankfully, to the delight of many players, Solinco delivered. unstrung; Head Size: 98 square inches; Length: 27 inches; Balance: 320 mm; String Pattern: 16 x 20; The Elevate Tour is 11.1 oz. I would normally wait, but these strings are going to get in either the day before or the day of a national tournament, so that's no good. Your email address will not be published. To the surprise of many players, manufacturers create natural gut tennis strings by weaving together several strands of cow intestine. The Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex is maybe the ideal starter string. Its perfect for players who want a good mix of comfort, control, spin, and power, but dont need exceptional quality in any one category. There are many fantastic polyester strings, but they sometimes have lower durability than expected. For reference, I play with a Head MGPP, strung with NRG2 16. 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. In 1875, Pierre Babolat developed the first tennis string made of sheep gut, and the evolved, more refined Babolat natural gut theyve worked to perfect has remained the premiere natural gut tennis string ever since. Heres a recap of some of our recommendations. For starters, the look is revamped with an anodized infrared finish and embossed Clash logo. Both are multifilaments with similar playing characteristics to X-One Biphase. 3) Performance. Kirschbaum Super Smash 17 String. Some players may even need to tweak the tension upward to find the sweet spot between balance and control. Some tennis strings are better at absorbing and reducing shock and vibration, resulting in more comfort, while others feel harsh. The types of string that you will want to consider are Polyester, natural gut, synthetic gut, multifilament, and hybrid. While powerful, Tecnifibre gets the ingredients right with a string that delivers excellent feel and touch. One of the challenges that players have faced over the years is that strings come with distinct pros and cons. HEAD Hawk Tennis String. Together, these attributes give me a strong sense of control, which allows me to dictate points and move players from side to side. Another one of my favorite multifilament tennis strings for its exceptional price combined with all-around performance is Head Velocity MLT. The most common materials are synthetic gut, multifilament, and monofilament. Many players make the mistake of not revisiting their string choice as their skills develop, which is one of the many reasons Im an advocate for helping players learn as much as possible about their gear. Color: Silver or Blue. When it comes to Luxilon ALU Power alternatives, one of my favorite places to look is among the line of Luxilon strings. Here are the most common gauges and who we'd recommend each for: 15/1.40mm: Thickest gauge; best for advanced players looking for maximum durability and control. This 'softening' effect is more pronounced than what can be obtained by using a nylon based solid-core string in the crosses. Its one of the most durable strings out there. For 2023, Ive awarded Babolat VS Touch as the best natural gut tennis string. Check Price On Amazon. 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. However, not all polyester delivers equal performance, so it pays to know your options. Prince Synthetic Gut offers moderate overall performance but lacks the most in durability, control, and feel. If youre looking for maximum durability, consider checking out Ashaways Crossfire Kevlar strings. Tecnifibre X-One BiPhase - Power, Comfort. Join a growing community of tennis enthusiasts and sign up for our monthly email. Opinions vary, but many say they offer better quality and playability than traditional monofilament nylon strings. If Solinco Hyper-G Soft doesnt meet your needs, or if youve already tried it and are looking for another option, theyre worth exploring further. It also provides a crisp feel, and impressive precision for a long lasting string. It means these types of tennis strings are best for experienced players, and not for beginners. Gamma Sports Live Wire Tennis Racket String Multifilament Series- Softer Cushioned Feel For Exceptional Power and Greater Control . If youre looking to buy a set of tennis strings as a gift, a little patience in listening to the individual youre buying for can go a long way. There are quite a few alternatives to Prince Synthetic Gut. Unfortunately, natural gut is often cost-prohibitive for most players, so its not usually my first recommendation. With its polyester makeup and 4-sided construction, Solinco Confidential delivers terrific access to spin. 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. Enquire about what strings theyre already using and how theyve performed for them, and then use that information to inform your purchase with the help of this guide. Tennis Warehouse Europe Tennis Warehouse Europe Tennis Warehouse Europe Tennis Warehouse Europe. Babolat VS Touch (16-1.30mm) Natural Gut String (Black, 16) Recommended tension range: 130/16 : 24 kg/53 lbs - 32 kg/70 lbs. 16/1.30mm: Medium-thick gauge; best for competitive players who break strings frequently. 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. For 2023, I've awarded Babolat VS Touch as the best natural gut tennis string. 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. Step 3: Drill Bolt Holes. There is little evidence to suggest string alignment impacts performance, but it often becomes a nuisance for players trying to keep them straight. After you selected a tennis string, you're almost across the finish line, but there are a few more things to keep in mind, starting with tension. Best for Control: Solinco Hyper-G. enhancing your game with the ideal tension, 16: black, gold, silver, blue, purple, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, white, 17: black, gold, red, pink, orange, green, white. First, here are our top picks. The Importance Of String Tension In Tennis. I keep populating the course with new content and added racquet suggestions for doubles players earlier this week. TW is backordered for NRG, so does anybody have any recommendations? Despite that, this feature is undoubtedly one of the strings standouts, especially when combined with the strings excellent spin. This includes my recommendations for both racquets and strings and covers all levels and styles of play. Learn with comprehensive resources to help you improve your game. If youre looking for an arm-friendly tennis string with excellent comfort and can afford the higher price tag, I recommend you check out a natural gut like Babolat VS Touch or Wilsons Natural Gut. However, the best are those that align with your needs and deliver the performance-enhancing characteristics you desire. When selecting a new set of tennis strings, Ive found most players are looking for a specific type of string or performance characteristic, so Ive organized this guide according to those needs. With that in mind, Ive made a point to highlight each strings tradeoffs in addition to its strong points. Best Budget: Wilson Synthetic Gut Power Tennis String. Before buying a new string, youll have to decide on the gauge or thickness youd like to use with two key factors to consider. If so, a string that naturally brings more power to your shots can be a great option, and Tecnifibre X-One Biphasedelivers precisely that as the best tennis string for power. I often find players swayed by what the pros are using or a teammate or friends advice with little or no consideration for their specific needs or attributes that make them unique as a player. The capacity for a set of strings to limit wear and tear from hitting, moisture, debris, and changes in temperature, which can lead to breakage or reduce the lifespan of a string, represents durability. As tennis has evolved with stronger players and more aggressive shot-making, controlling the ball has become increasingly important. Strings are widely available at 17 or 16 gauge, with 17 being a thinner string and 16 thicker. Dominic Thiem uses this racket on tour. Therefore, I strongly recommend players consider this facet before trying it. Out of curiosity, what turned you on to those strings? Try it at a lower tension like 45-51 lbs. we recommend that you . When you think of polyester tennis strings, feel might not be the first thing that comes to mind. One of Wilson NXTs standout features is its power, which it delivers through the combined effort of 1,600 individual microfibers. In particular, intermediate to advanced players will love that you can take big swings at the ball without sacrificing control, especially when combined with its ability to help generate spin. Solinco Confidential is a newer string released in 2020, but its quickly gained popularity as a strong contender for one of the best polys. Premium options If you want a super comfortable, high-performance tennis string thats fit for the pros, then check out Babolat VS Touch or Wilson Champions Choice Duo. Here is the short and summerized advice -. At the same time, youll find a softer feel and increased playability by using Wilsons natural gut in the mains. Like nearly all multifilaments, it doesnt have the natural ability to snap back into place, an attribute that aids in generating topspin. Of course, beyond name recognition, combining these two exceptional strings provides a unique balance to suit a wide range of players. 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. What sets it apart from the rest is that its firm and ultra-low powered, which allows you to take massive swings at the ball while maintaining added precision. Luxilon ALU Power delivers outstanding control without sacrificing reliable touch and feel, often a drawback of other polyester tennis strings.