I've been playing tennis since I was 6 years old. Tennis has been a big part of my life and although I never thought of going pro or anything, I still enjoy heated exchanges and rallies as much as the next guy. Recently, I have come to realize that tennis gear has a big influence on a player's game and I am here to help you navigate the jungle which is the world of tennis equipment. I am also a USPTA certified pro and coached for 8 years. I specialize in doubles so my videos and perspectives are largely shaped from a doubles player's perspective.
I have also recently started playing pickleball and I'm having a blast so I will post videos of my matches from time to time.
For more detailed opinions about tennis gear, visit my blog. www.opencourtsports.com Follow me on Instagram: @open_court808
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I found Wasabi to be pretty good when fresh. However, after 10 hours or so, it loses tension very rapidly. I measured the string tension using RacquetTune app, and it is one of the fastest tension drop of many polys I've played with. The string also became very stiff and uncomfortable to play with, and even more erratic. Definitely not a string I would try again.
I'm yet to try it myself, but if reviews are to be believed the hybrid setups from Toroline seem to work better than most of their full beds. So throw Caviar or Wasabi X (soft round strings) in the crosses and match with one of their firmer shaped strings. Could be interesting to hybrid the Caviar with your favourite HEAD Lynx tour ?
I tried this hybrid on my Pro Staff 97 v13 a couple of years ago and didn't like it too much. It provided enough power but not enough spin/bite on the ball. It might have been because, at the time, I was used to gut/rough poly hybrids. Now, I play with gut/Iso Speed Cream, which is round, and it's one of the best feeling hybrids I've played with. I might have to give this a try again and play through the break-in period lol.
I feel you might like round poly or mild shaped poly better. Hyper G and Wasabi are both square shaped, bites can be inconsistent with long and full swing. Hexagonal or Octagonal strings tend to be more consistent. Tour Bite is stiff which may reduce the inconsistenty of sharp edges.
Toro Toro, Caviar, and Enso Pro all provide more of a consistent string bed than Wasabi, you might like those better. Toro Toro / Super Toro are the firmest of the bunch.
Hey, was wondering if you’ve ever tried the Volkl V-Pro string? I’ve not seen any reviews of it on RU-vid despite it being released for some time now. Was wondering what your feedback on the string would be! Love the vids!
Try this string out in Aeropro drive 51/49 lb also due to Dominic Thiem. More spin potential than Luxilon 4G soft (despite it is quite round in shape). Moderate power. Relatively comfort (if you get used to play super durable co-poly brand like LUXILON and solenco and using full swing in every shot). An all-round good performance string overall to me but the price tag and string movement is really a downside.
Respect. Practically no one reviews nylon strings. Unlike poly, they never loose their elasticity, making them the best option for the 95% of players who don't hit hard enough take advantage of poly's superior spin. And what a pair you chose!! A premium multi like Velocity MLT vs. a top syn gut like Lightening is an inspired head to head. And your descriptions so beautifully showcase the differences-- YES! especially in feel-- between multis and syn guts.
How do you compare these two multis with Wilson NXT? I’m playing with NXT and I love it, the only downside is it’s being so pricy. I’d love to know if the Head and Price are as good as NXT so that I could have more budget options. Thanks!
I haven't used NXT in a long time and frankly, I don't remember how it feels. But Prince Lightning Pro has a crisp feel for a multi. Both the Head and Prince are pretty budget friendly
@@opencourt808 Thanks for your reply. I am going to test Velocity MLT first, then Lightning Pro later. BTW is Lightning Pro multifilament, or synthetic gut as some other suggested in the comment?
Generally it means it's stiffer because it has a more solid response with a pop sensation when you strike the stringbed. Softer strings tend to feel a bit mushy
Pro Hurricane Tour 16 is not much differnt from RPM Blast 16. Its a notch less stiff (3-5 %) but has more spin potiential bc low string to string COF. Otherwise the same energy return and tension loss.
Lighter colours (white) plays softer, not crisper.... Crisper means stiffer..... also these words crisp and lively means something different for different players around the world. i would avoid using those word (crisp/lively) better to talk about if the ball comes out quick or slow from stringbed. or if it has ball pocketing or not. Lively actually means ball comes fast out the stringbed aka the string is stiff and not much ball pocketing. Many people misunderstand this.
@@tamagonbagel6569 So what is your definition of "crisp"? bc it seems to be different from person to person. Lively do mean stiff, if you ask any coach, as the ball leaves the racket faster with very little ball pocketing. so if you use the frase crisp and lively in one sentence descriping the same string you most mean stiff. And if you see the lab test of the strings he mention you can conclude he loves the strings more stiff. SO its quite clear that when he say crisp and lively he means stiff string.
Im about to demo this racket(the 18x20). Im primarily a doubles player but also a very aggressive serve and volley player. Anyone have suggestions for rackets to try? Im currently using the Phantom 93 but it is too challenging for me in doubles.
After I demo'd the 2023 Head Prestige Pro, watched your racquet review for that, and demo'd it again........I bought it. Fantastic racquet! In stock form! I put Yonex Poly Fire (18 gauge) in it at 52 lbs. Plays amazing! Arguably plays just as good as my customized Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13. I will try a gut/poly hybrid set-up in it, next.
Most good players like the leather because you can feel the edges of the grip more even with an over grip which most of us use over the leather grip anyway
Please help. I'm about to order this racket but I've seen some videos saying that it's a heavy racket. I am using right now the head TIS6 which is super light is this gonna be way too heavy? The reason I wanted to get this is because of the new technology And because the beam is only 20 mm. The one on the TIS6 is way too thick and gets in the way of my backhand slices. Should I still order it? Is there anything I can do about the heaviness maybe give a little weight towards the back? Or is there a different racket similar to this one that is lighter? Thanx so much!!!
I don't know how heavy the TIS6 is but the new Gravity isn't too heavy. You can open up the buttcap and put some tungsten putty there to make it more head light but you won't make the racket lighter overall. You're just shifting the balance point. It would probably be better to go with a racket with a lighter static weight and customize from there. If you really want the 20mm beam, the Prince Phantom 100X 290g could be another option. As always, I recommend you demo the rackets before committing to a purchase. I hope this helps
I actually prefer this string over the Quadro Twist. Felt it gave me more pop on my shots with similar control. Lately love Hex X in mains at 54 lbs and Square X in crosses 52 lbs.
Thanks for the content. Massive fan of Gen 3 16x19 98. I know it’s a polarising frane but for me the stability, easy power and consistent response still make it my stick choice. I pair it with HyperG Soft 17G at b/w 45-50lbs.
I believe there's a typo in your video. The specs for the stiffness and swingweight should be flipped around. Also, you probably should be specific in regards to the weight of the racquet (strung versus unstrung weight).
Great video! Subbed. How would you compare the Lynx Tour to Solinco Tour Bite and Tour Bite Soft? I know they aren't exactly the same but I know you've had experience with all 3.
Tour Bite soft isn't too much softer than the original but it is still softer. The Lynx Tour has the same crisp feel but has better pocketing so I like it better overall. It also has a bit more pop than tour bite.
@@opencourt808 Thanks for the insight! I actually bought both strings but decided to try the Lynx Tour first. Dropped off my racket yesterday to have it strung. It's actually my first time stringing so decided to go with 48lbs. String will be going in a Head Speed MP. Looking forward to hitting with it. Keep up the good work!
so do you generally string your 18x20 at lower tensions to increase speed / power ? i did gut 60 and alu power at 57 .. felt like i had to hit the ball hard to get some great shots.
I bet this would help me a lot on imparting more kick to my serves in my Dunlop CX Tour 16x19 since it’s 95 square inches put the strings closer together than a 98 or 100
RPM Blast playability duration is horrible. It drops tension fast and also the slick coating wears off fast. When fresh strung, RPM Blast is one of the best few strings outta there, but its playability duration is just horrible.
You may want to try tourna black zone. Hybrid with this one, or a fullbed would do. Oh, and for the natural gut comparison, could you please try the tourna quasi gut armor?
Haven't tried it with the Volkl Cyclone but I have done something similar with Hyper-G Soft 1.15 and put it in my Percept 100D. As noted the thinner strings are great for punching volleys with and the 100D's balance helps with defensive shots against bigger hitters at the baseline. I generally don't break strings so I would like to cycle through Solinco's more controlled strings at a thinner gauge - Tour Bite and Confidential to see how they react
Great review as always. I love the format of your reviews and your presentation style is first class. Seems to me that if this string is good for serves, volleys and aggressive baseline play then for the majority of players that is more important than the trade off of not being so good for drop shots. Being so cheap means the drop off in tension is not such a negative because you justify replacing the string more often. I'd like a comparison with the tourbite 19 gauge which I've tried and enjoyed.
