String Descriptions
Babolat Pro Hurricane 16 Gauge
Construction: Technology XFP (Xtrem Futur Polymer), Monofilament
Pro Hurricane is a polyester based durability string designed to meet the needs of top tournament players. For Pro Hurricane, Babolat has introduced a new construction process called Technology XFP which utilizes Babolat's latest string material Xtrem Futur Polymer. This string is popular on the pro tours (Roddick) usually as a hybrid, but it can be used by itself. This string offers good power for a polyester string, spin potential is also fairly high. Worth comparing to other polyesters, and a good value in a mid-priced polyester string.
Babolat VS Team or Touch Team 17 Gauge Touch 16 Gauge
Construction: Natural Gut
Top of the line natural gut string. The 17 gauge version has more power and spin potential, but lower durability. This is the gold standard all other strings are measured against. This is used by probably as much as 50% of the pros on tour. Unsurpassed feel and touch, along with excellent spin and being the most powerful type of string available make it hard to go wrong with natural gut. Durability is not extremely high, but tension and elasticity do not decrease until the string breaks. Used as a hybrid for those looking for extra durability, but wanting to keep the feel of natural gut. The softness of this string can be very comfortable to use for persons with sore or injured arms. It is pricey, but most people that play with gut feel it is worth every cent.
Babolat Tonic + Ball feel 16 Gauge
Construction: Natural Gut
Babolat’s second line of natural gut strings. Babolat has very exact standards for their top of the line VS gut. Some of the string they make may have a cosmetic blemish, or not meet the exact gauge requirement (as little as 1 mm variation can be too much) They sell this string that is otherwise perfectly good as their tonic line. Almost all of the shortcomings it has are purely cosmetic. The playability of the string is impossible to tell apart from the VS line. Babolat will not sell any inferior string so please do not consider this stuff second rate. In my experience this string offers everything that VS does, at a much lower price. I have played this string for over a year and have found it to be excellent. All of the playing properties are the same as the VS line 16 gauge version.
Gamma Marathon DPC 16 Gauge
Composition: Resilyalon Co-Polymer Core / Resilyalon Monofilament Wraps / Diamond Pearl Coating
Marathon DPC 16 offers exceptional durability in a 16 gauge non-hybrid string offering control for hard hitters. This string offers good durability and may be a good choice for a player looking for more durability that is not ready to try polyester or Kevlar. This string is not as soft as some of the multifilaments that are available, but that is considered to be the tradeoff for the increased durability.
Gamma Synthetic Gut 16 or 17 Gauge
Composition: Nylon 6 core / Nylon monofilament wraps / Nylon coating
An all-around performance string that offers a balance of playability and durability for all playing levels and playing styles. This is a basic synthetic gut. Low cost makes it a good value. It is one of the best synthetic guts with traditional core and single wrap construction available.
Head Intellitour 17 Gauge
Head IntelliTour 17 is a thinner hybrid that combines two different versions of HEAD's Ribbon Improved Performance (RIP) strings: RIP Tour mains, with a thin center core and a slightly textured surface, and RIP Feel crosses, with coreless ribbon construction. The result is a string that provides exceptional spin control and feel for players who generate their own power. If you are a chronic string breaker this string will probably not last very long for you, but it will work out great for players who do not regularly break strings.
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power 16L Gauge
Composition: Polyester Monofilament Co-polymer (nylon) + Fluocarbon resin + aluminum fibers
This is the newest most popular string on the market. This is the string you hear talked about when watching pro events. It is the first polyester string to not suffer from tension loss or reduced power. Many others have tried to duplicate its performance, but this one remains the top choice. This string can be considered the gold standard of polyester, durability strings. This offers much more than just durability though. The power is very good, and the spin can be amazing. Players switching to this string love the control they get from it. This string can definitely be used on its own, although it should be noted it is pretty stiff. The string has aluminum fibers in it and you can tell as it definitely has a metallic wiry feel to it. This can be an incredible combination used as a hybrid string. Using it with a high quality multifilament, or natural gut will increase the stringbeds feel and touch. One warning though, it has extreme vibrations that can wreak havoc on your arm. If you have a history of arm pain and injuries it would probably be best to not try this string.
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 16L Gauge
Composition: Polyester Monofilament Co-polymer (nylon) + Fluocarbon resin + aluminum fibers Textured
This is essentially the same string as Big Banger Alu Power. The only big difference is the texture on the surface of the string. This texture is designed to increase the bite on the ball and to impart more spin. This can give the string a different feel, but all the other playing characteristics are the same as the Luxilon Bib Banger Alu Power 16L Gauge listed above.
Luxilon Big Banger Original 16 Gauge
Composition: Polyester monofilament Co-polymer (nylon) + Fluocarbon resin
A solid feeling string with good power and control. Excellent durability due to polyester construction, but soft enough to maintain some touch and feel. Not as stiff as most polyester strings, but still not as soft as a multifilament synthetic gut.
Luxilon Big Banger TiMo 17 Gauge
Composition: Polyester monofilament Co-polymer (nylon) + Fluocarbon resin + Titanium and Molybdenum fibers
Due to its characteristics and its high level of "feel", TI-MO Banger 17 maintains good control without compromising too much in durability. According to Luxilon, the addition of Titanium and Molybden, two kinds of steel used in aeronautics, gives this string unique characteristics. The string has excellent control and feel, and is very resilient. Durability is good for a 17 gauge due to polyester construction. This is the softest, most resilient polyester string that I stock.
Prince ProBlend 16 Gauge
Composition: Hybrid Kevlar main strings Synthetic gut cross strings
A maximum-durability hybrid string for unmatched tensile strength and a very firm feel. Recommended for frequent string breakers. The stiffest string I stock. If you are not a frequent string breaker, or have arm problems this string is not for you. If you do break strings frequently this string has long been regarded as the solution of choice due to the durability of its Kevlar main strings.
Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex 16 Gauge
Composition: Nylon composite with Duraflex wraps
A standard synthetic gut string. Good playability, low cost, and an all around string. Prince claims that the duraflex fibers add to the durability of this string.
Prince Topspin 15L Gauge
Composition: Contoured nylon composite with Duraflex for maximum ball grip. Textured Core with wraps construction style
This very popular textured string is known best for providing high levels of spin and control. This string is almost unrivaled in spin, and offers good durability as well due to its thicker gauge and duraflex coating. This string does not offer a lot of feel to someone who may be used to a softer string.
Tecnifibre NRG2 17 Gauge
Composition: Multifilament Construction - 1120 fibers.
Softest, closest to gut, multifilament I have available. Good power, spin, and excellent feel. Not highly durable and will fray, but it's a trade-off for the feel and touch.
Wilson NXT 16 or 17 Gauge
Composition: Multifilament Xycro Micro fibers bonded with polyurethane
Wilson NXT 16 combines Dupont Xycro Micro fibers with polyurethane resin and coating for optimal feel, comfort and playability. This string is fairly soft and elastic. This means excellent power and feel for you. This is one of the more popular strings that offer “gut-like” playability, but at a synthetic price. Durability is average, but this is to be expected with most multifilament constructions
Wilson NXT Tour 16 Gauge
Construction: Multifilament Xycro Micro fibers bonded with polyurethane.
This is a higher end version of regular NXT. It is a little softer and even more elastic. The tour version has the same general characteristics of regular, but by changing something in the composition of the string it is closer in feel to gut than regular. Wilson's premiere multifilament synthetic gut, NXT Tour is designed to offer both power and comfort with its gut like feel. Wilson gives this string its maximum playability rating and also scores NXT Tour high for durability.
Wilson Sensation 16 or 17 Gauge
Composition: Dupont Zycro Micro fiber core surrounded by a multifilament outer wrap
Dual wrap Xycro Micro Fibers with nylon composite coating provides reduced vibration as compared to traditional Synthetic Gut, excellent feel with added control, all around comfort and playability, the original high performance multifilament string. This string is a great choice for players wanting to try a string that offers a little more than a standard synthetic gut, without moving up to a high end multifilament. Spin potential and feel are good. Durability is about average. These strings can lose a little of their elasticity before they break. This can lead to a kind of dead feeling when the strings are essentially worn out, but have not yet broken.
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