This is an excellent video! Great job. A few things that make is so good: * You created great setups on very different racquets, * You had specific goals with the string setups, * in the end I really liked the comparison you gave of 2 players coming from different experiences and playing the same string with different opinions. Great job!
Execelent video. Very precise when saying right from the beginning that there is not such a thing as the best string for everybody.. Probably one of the best videos regarding strings I ever saw
I play the Ezone 98. The pros are that it's powerful (stiff), great for control, forgiving (for a 98), and not very prone to breaking strings; the cons are that it's not naturally spin-enhancing and it's not super on feel. So, taking Beckett's principles (which I very much agree with), you don't need more power or control but you do want to enhance spin and feel. IMHO the solution is a full bed of a soft, feel-centric poly in a light gauge at a moderate tension: Yonex PolyTour Pro 18 or Solinco Outlast 18, at a tension in the mains that's between 52 and 55 lbs, with the crosses 2 lbs lower (mains higher than cross tension increases spin due to the mains moving more easily). Alternatively, hybrid it: put gut or a syngut in the mains at higher tension, with a very slick poly cross. For example, Prince Synthetic Gut 16 in the mains at 58lbs, Toroline Enso Pro 1.24 in the crosses at 54 lbs or Solinco Outlast 18 in the crosses at 53 lbs. The all-poly combo will be easier to control, the hybrid will be a power-domination bomb but you need to keep your racket head speed high to control it with spin. What doesn't work as well is a full bed of stiff poly such as 4G or Confidential, unless what you want is to lean into the flat-hitting ability of the racket and smack flat lasers all day (definitely not my style but for those who can do it, very effective).
I totally agree with you concerning the Vcore 95. I own this racket and I immediately liked stringing it with Solinco Confidential 17G at 48 lbs (22Kg). I love this setup. For more stability I added 5 grams at 12 o'clock. I'm so afraid that this model will be replaced soon that I bought 5 rackets that I customized in the same way. Thanks for your content, It’s always interesting and fun.
Been using the Vcore 98 Tour for just over a year and I swear its the exact same. Tried many strings but I just keep going back to Confidential for the same points from the video on the VC95
Considering how well received was replacement of VDM with ServoFilter in Percept, I'm guessing that new Vcore 95 is going to be a hit. I'm trying to be patient and wait for that one, but not sure I can do it. Especially if I get my hands on the one with beige color
will always be grateful for the paradox pro coverage. Hard swapped. So consistent with my 2023 radical pro. the right strings with the right racket can end a bad trip down the rabit hole 🙏
Holy moly what a setup! Must be the most raw combo of new strings and racquets on the market today! BTW a new version of Tour Mako is on the horizon with more of an ALU feel. Just got word today.
Highly suggest the string service Beckett provides. I am loving Grapplesnake Alpha in my Speed Pros. The string gives great spin and pop. Thanks again Beckett!🎉
Amazing video! i love my PA 98, have tried it with lots of strings, wasabi, wasabi x, a hybrid of both, hyper G but i always go back to the rpm blast. I think i just play better with black strings, would love a black toroline string!
Cheers! VCore frames with Confidential mains! I've been recommending this set-up for months! Settle with Confidential 18G and Hawk Touch 17G in my VC98 now (Too hard to buy Toroline and ReString in China) I feel like the crosses should be a bit soft but gives little trampoline effect to fit in maybe I picked Hawk Touch among a couple of close choices for its red color (matched perfectly with VC to me)
You are right about confidential and the vcore 95! I switched to the percept 100 form the vcore and the hardest change for me was the sound downgrade. I like confidential in the percept 100 too.
Great video and so timely for me lol. I've been hitting with a 2021 Pure Drive 100 that I bought used and it came strung with a fresh(ish) bed of babolat pro last 16....and I didn't hate it while I expected to not like it at all. I didn't really care for it when I strung it with some synth gut and head rip control, a set up I LOVE on my six one 95. Playing with some friends this past weekend and needing to use the six one again after months of just using the PD really highlighted how that set up really works on the six one but not on the PD, at least for me, so much so I'm willing to try to hit with better opponents again with the six one, even when I still benefit for a more forgiving size frame. I bought a brand new PD also on sale and will start to tinker with finding something better. Waiting for the 2 sticks to return, one PD with ghostwire and the other one with alu power, that I liked on another racquet of mine a long long time ago, happy that ghostwire did show up as recommended for the PA and the Gravity...hope to see how it feels, though I am noticing that I like firm feeling strings...that said I'm also 42 and want to play without having to need some surgery lol.
Great video, thx! Would love a video comparing various hybrids with slippery strings in the mains vs crosses. Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable, Hyper G Round, Revolution, Revolver. Pros and Cons of slippery mains vs slippery crosses.
Poly tour rev also goes great in the VCORE 95 imo. Crisp and gives decent spin. Poly tour strike for me is too skewed towards hitting flat. There's a noticeable decrease in spin compared to PTP or PTR.
What works incredibly well for my pure aero 98 is a hybrid set up (wilson nxt and alu power @54 pound) top notch control and power , i recommend anyone to try it 👍🏻
I'm a high 4.0C pushing into 4.5s and I've been running Wilson Blade v6 (no CV) with Hyper-G 16s at 54 lbs., and while it's a pretty comfortable set up for me that I've gotten really used to over the last year or so, I'm wondering if it's holding me back and if there is something way better for me out there. Budget is definitely a consideration! I got both my Blades brand-new on super sale. My playstyle is probably like an aggressive baseliner. I really love blasting the ball and pushing my opponent around with varying spins and flat shots. I also like to hit returns pretty hard when I can. I have a decent serve I rely on usually somewhere around 110 mph. All in all, I just want to hit the ball hard and with a lot of spin when I need it. I have a creeping feeling my current setup is actually awful and holding me back from what I want to do, but I don't have much more than basic knowledge in racquets and strings. I've tried RPM Blast and while it felt fine, I didn't like how much I was breaking them for their price point compared to Hyper-G, which I'm kinda okay with breaking every couple weeks. I play a lot of doubles for League, too. Any bit of guiding in the right direction would be great if someone sees this. Thank you!
Interesting review Beckett, especially on the VC95 2023 as I’m trying to work out what’s best and at what tension. My go to string is Lynx Tour 17(natural) and has been for a while as I play with the VC95 2021 as my main stick. I’m trying Lynx Tour again at 52/51(m/c) as I seem to like that setup. I’m trying to reduce flyers in the 2023, so using a 16g string in the mains might be a good idea. I might try this on my next restring 🤞
I string a little lower than you: 49/46lbs. In this specific example since I had a stiffer 16g mains and a softer thinner cross I just went 49lbs all around but I like to split tension on the Yonex frames
Ironically, I love the o-toro on my vc95 2023. Ive had past issues with my elbow and the mushy feel you mentioned was exactly what i was looking for. I love the flexible and bungie feeling the combo gives. However, ive been considering experimenting with something that gives me a bit more spin/bite.
Hey. I have been playing O-torro for a while now and many matches. Its weird string - doesnt have the “best” feel or feels different than any other string - BUT - I havent played better with any other string. My consistency with this string is insane and when I take big cuts its amazing. I would play with my other racket and string setup and then switch to the O-torro during matches and I just start crushing it. The string was developed by a pro so I think its not for beginners or “lazy strokes” it demands alot - if you play hard its amazing.
Thanks for watching! I general don't try natural gut setups because polys are more accessible to me and I generally prefer them for me own game. I imagine that setup would play great through!
Listened to you rave about PureStrike VS, tried one and playing with it ever since. So far, I was pretty conservative with Blast/PolyTour Pro hybrid, but I'm open to new ideas.
Great Video, Beckett! I was wondering, what strings would you recommend on a radical mp? As i recall, you played with it for a couple of month. Been thinking of trying it with a full bed of grapple snake M8. Thank you very much, love from Brazil
Thanks! My fav setup in the Rad MP was Grapplesnake Alpha. There's a video on the channel about it somewhere called "Can This String Fix the Radical?" or something like that
Hey Beckett! Awesome video! Will send this to my PA 98 friends since they all changed to this racket in the past year. Question for you, I'm using a Yonex VCore 98 2023 with a full bed of O-Toro at 48/46lbs. Tried Super Toro full bed but it was a bit too flat for my game. What Toroline string would benefit this as a main or cross? I was thinking either Wasabi or Wasabi X or Enso Pro? Looking for just a tad bit more control generally
Great video!! I am a 5.0 that switched recently to the blade pro 98 16x19. Still looking to fine tune strings. Hoping to find something that adds to spin and power categories. Will try your gravity and vcore 95 string suggestions in this video, but any other thoughts on combos? Thank you!!!!
Aloha Beckett, Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the various hybrid setups. 👍 Have you ever experimented with a poly/poly setup with two different string gauges? The thicker is on the mains, and the thinner is on the crosses. I've had good success combining the two and would like your opinion on this.
Aloha! I have yes. Nothing majorly interesting tbh. I'm not that sensitive to gauges, or maybe I haven't been deliberate enough in testing the various gauges. Right now I'm using 1.23mm in the mains and 1.25mm in the crosses, though I've heard Sync 17 runs a bit larger than 1.25mm. I only do this because O-Toro is only avail in 1.23mm right now. Conceptually, I think there might be something to be said for a thicker crosses than mains. I notice that the strings notch quite quickly from 0-20% and the rate of notching slows down until you cross the 50% barrier where most strings are thickest. IMO it's optimal to cut strings in the 20-30% notching range, so the key would be to slow down the notching from 0-20%. Going to a thicker cross string should slow the initial notching if you can get a wider contact patch early on at the cost of snapback. But maybe not since most people are using round crosses anyway. Toughts?
@@TennCom Here are my thoughts and food for thought. 🤔 Sorry for the long answer. First, here's an interesting video if you have yet to see this video that was produced by Tennis Warehouse University and Crawford Lindsey. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5Lg7dStIRdU.htmlsi=cP-LaxK4ENzikqAX Here's a question I asked Lindsey Crawford. CASE: Stringing a hybrid setup with two polyester strings of different gauges. For example, the mains with 16g and the crosses with 17g. BENEFIT: Since the mains are the "working strings," you get the durability from the 16g, and power from the 17g crosses the "supporting strings." This setup would be more powerful than a full 16g setup and more durable than a full 17g setup. THEORY: Another benefit is more spin potential. 1) The thicker mains are "popping out" of the string bed more than the thinner crosses, therefore yielding higher string-to-ball friction. 2) The thinner crosses have less surface area, yielding less string-to-string friction, therefore allowing the mains to snap back more efficiently. QUESTION: In this case, would it be true that this setup would have more spin potential compared to a full 17g setup? Here was his answer. In theory, yes, the hybrid gauge of the same string may have a bit more durability than a straight 17 setup. But the power will depend. Thinner gauge does not always mean more power. Theoretically it may deflect more and store more energy, but it also may get stiffer as it stretches because more stress is being put on a decreasing cross-section. It all depends on the string, how far it stretches, and at what impact tension it begins to disproportionately increase stiffness vs storing energy and not crushing the ball (which loses the most energy). In the end, the only thing that matters is the final stringbed stiffness at the hitting location. As to spin, any added ball-to-string friction won't matter because at all impacts less than 50 degrees, the ball bites the string and friction reaches its maximum and even starts to reverse, as explained in the video. At impacts above 50 degrees, the ball might slide throughout impact, so added ball-to-string friction will help in that case. Surface area in contact between strings is not a reliable indicator of friction. If "all other variables" are equal, including same string model, perhaps. But the thinner string may also notch the thicker main more and cause more surface area (bottom and sides). On hybrids, the best you can do is look at the coefficient of friction (COF) of the two strings and guess. We don't do COF on two different strings sliding on each other (way to many combinations to test).
Great video as always Beckett! I play the new Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20's and have been using a full bed of Tour Sniper which has been great but I'm aware I'm using a control oriented racquet with a control oriented string. I'm a serve and volley player with a flatter forehand and one handed backhand, what other string would you pair with Tour Sniper in this setup?
Sync in the crosses added a noticeable increase in general forgiveness and also spin when I tested in back to back in my WO. Could also go for a full bed of Alpha for a little extra zip.
Good question! Yes, depending on exactly which frame, I'm generally at 52 with 100s, 50 with 98s and 48 with 95s. But something like the Gravity Pro in this vid I strung at 45lbs and I string the Strike and Aero 98 at 52lbs because they are more powerful.
Aside from the strings, how does it feel adjusting to multiple racquets with different swingweights and balances in a relatively short period of time? Does it feel weird, or do you quickly adjust to those differences?
I am getting pretty used to it by now but I also added weight at 12 to all of them to be around 333SW. Its way harder trying to bounce between large SW gaps, as you hinted.
Any recommendations for a string that feels similar to tour bite with a tad more free power? I love the firm/crisp response but it can be demanding in low powered frames I prefer playing with. Another great video btw!
The best and worst thing I did to try find my perfect setup was to buy my own stringing machine😅Got me going crazy thinking about strings like never before🤯😅…And it all started when I subscribed to your channel🤣🤣🤣The machine paid itself off in less than a year though😂
@@gregmccain1 I got the Spinfire Blaze, basically I wanted a machine on a stand with a crank and optional to get the electric wise head if I wanted later but I find the crank easy and accurate once I’d watched a few videos of pro stringers using cranks so I don’t feel the need to spend the extra
Many questions here - I will respect your time. I do have this question. I have a Speed pro 18x20. What is better to test to get a bit more power - stringing a power string on higher tensions or stringing a control string on lower tension? I played zero/sync at 55lbs and then did full bed zero at 52lbs. I had more power but lot more balls sailing long. In NY string labor is $23-25. So asking adcice before I make a bad experiment choice which I often have made ( I could have bought a basic string machine by now. Just not sure if those entry level machines are so accurate.lol)
Good question. I tend to prefer stringing a control string lower. Usually more powerful strings have worse tension maintenance or are softer so the durability is worse. Stringing a control string looser generally results in better longevity. Also, the cheaper machines are accurate, specifically the drop weight ones. Dropweight machines can be as accurate as the most expensive electronic machines if the user is precise. The reason they went out of style is because you can string faster on a crank, and even faster on an electronic machine.
Hi Beckett, I've been watching your videos since when your video quality isn't this good! I love your content man ❤ • I'm using Yonex Percept 97D right now. Can you suggest a good string that go well with this racket pls 🙏🏼 Right now I have x one biphase in the mains at 56 pounds and razor code in my crosses at 54 pounds and found it too be too soft and too mushy 😢
Thanks for bearing with me through the growing pains! I really enjoyed a full bed of Caviar in the 100D. I imagine it would carry over to the 97 as well. Great tension maintenance and superb depth control. Even though it's shaped, I find it performs best on flatter strokes.
Hi. I love your content. I feel the importance of strings are often overlooked in racket reviews. I have a question, if you have time. What would you suggest for shift99 (300g)? I am reasonably fast learning beginner, fit but tend to have elbow sore now and again with other rackets. Until now with the shift I have been using the hybrid combo of solinco (tourbite and vanquish) at 22kg but I feel it’s trampolin…ing a bit? Ii have not had arms issues with this setup and I am afraid to up the tension and make it too stiff. Different combo? Thanks in advance!
Might just be time to restring the frame? That kind of setup will start to age after about 10 hits depending on a variety of factors. If you like the hybrid setup, I would recommend trying Vanquish in the mains and a round poly in the crosses.
Regardless of skill level, I would highly recommend hybrids with a multifilament in the mains. Some multis offer a crisp feel while still being comfortable, and there hasn't been an 18x20 pattern I've tried that doesn't benefit from this setup once the tension is dialed in. Have you experimented using a hybrid with a shaped poly with a multifilament? If so, does that affect the snap-back too much compared to a round poly? For example, would I have to move the strings back into position often if I used Lynx Tour with something like Velocity MLT? I'm not too concerned with the durability, since it's better to break the string early because of the potential warping of the frame.
Absolutely love your videos man. I'm not even *that* good but recently got the Ultra v4 with purple Sig pro 1.24mm at 24kg. But want to also string my Rafa Boost. What would the best string be for a lighter racket? RPM Blast at 1.30mm?
Thanks man! Since you've got the Ultra I would probably just retire the Boost. The graphite isn't the same quality with the Boost line as you'd get in a flagship so you are leaving energy return on the table (power, spin, stability).
1st . Know your racquet 2nd. Know yourself 3rd. Know your needs 4th Research on TW University and analyze Options . 5th. Trials from top tier options .
Beckett.. are you okay? The video didn't cut off at the end this time.. That aside, great video. I've been tinkering with Kirschbaum Super Smash and I wish it lasted longer. After 2-3 hours it starts to notch. Was thinking to try crossing with Wasabi X but not sure if it'll ruin the feel. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Somehow I had the will power to make it to the end this time hahaha. You might just be too good now. Best bet would be to find something stiff for more durability but hard to beat the price.
What do you think about vs touch 16 mains and rpm blast 17 crosses in an aero 98? Ive found that it offers great spin while giving a better feel and contact than with a full bed of poly which i really like. However im open to suggestions for other steings i can use.
What do you think might be a good string for the percept 97? I'm playing well with the yonex tour rev and I love it, but I wanted to try the solynco hyper g, how does it sound?
Do you think the best round poly for the crosses is Restring Sync or is something else worth trying? I haven't tried any hybrid setups but do like the feel of Wasabi at 47lbs on my Speed Pro 2022 and am up for seeing if a hybrid is better. I know stiff strings don't go well with my game (4.5/5.0 aggressive baseliner) and with this racket and I enjoy the spin and control Wasabi gives me. Thanks in advance.
For me, Sync has been the best, but its not exactly soft. My fav soft poly is Tru Pro Ghostwire. Not quite as slick as something like Wasabi X, but the feel is more connected and I think the depth control is better.
Thank you so much. I'll try finding Ghost Wire in the UK and give it a try. I might try Wasabi X as well. Keep up the amazing work creating entertaining and useful content!
In your opinion, if money is no object, does it ever make sense to switch racquets to match a string you love? Grapplesnake Alpha is addicting for me, there are other strings that I think objectively work better for my powerful-ish racquets but I've been tempted to get into denser string patterns since I can rely on Alpha for pocketing, liveliness, and comfort.
I mean I guess so. I've always been a racquets > strings kind of guy but Alpha is such a good all arounder that I can't see it not working. Like some strings that are more extreme would be more finicky but Alpha is so well rounded that it should work in almost anything.
I find at low tensions around 42lbs lynx tour can have pretty good pocketing but also keep good feel and spin. How forgiving is the gravity pro with its tear-drop head shape?
I don't think the Gravity Pro is very forgiving at all. You've got to swing big to get anything on the ball. If it was a little more powerful I'd use it way more often.
@TennCom I've been using an rf97 for 4 years but I'm getting older and slower so I'm thinking of changing. I hit through the ball and like to attack, use slice and hit big serves. Going to demo the gravity tour and radical tour next week.
What setup do you recommend for vcore 98 2023? I have My favorite setup rpm blast 16(main) tour m8(cross). But Im interested to hear what you would put on that frame
thanks for the great string info! i'm a pure aero player (100", 300g) and have basically always used RPM blast for no reason other than it was the string that i tried first, but i recently played the first racquet i preferred over my PA... a very unlikely tecnifibre TF40 305 popped up barely used for $100 on tennis warehouse so i thought "why not" and bought it... and put RPM blast in it... i know this is a weird one, but i found the TF40 to feel so insanely stable and meaty, removing a bunch of stupid wristy hitches that would creep into my strokes, sure, but also i was generating much more controlled spin with it. directional control was brilliant. so... if a racquet so different than what i thought i wanted could make me so happy, i guess i'm asking... any idea of what kind of strings i should try with this thing?
I don't have much experience with the TF40s. I hit it a friend's 315 18x20 once and it had Tour Sniper in it. Felt nice but I like Sniper in pretty much everything. Lots of people TF fans seem to enjoy Razor Soft, so that could be interesting.
@@TennCom thank you! i just ordered one strung in o-toro @ 52/50, which is the same tension as the one i'm playing w/RPM blast... basically because when i hit with it i felt like it had some weird similarities with the PA98, and that's what you rec;d for that. it's several steps up from a shot in the dark. i'm really stunned by this racquet, to be honest.
Recently I switched to Ezone 100 and I am loving it! I am using Confidential at 50lbs. Can you suggest something better than confidential or different tension?
tbh that sounds like a setup I would really like. If you want a more connected and softer feel with similar control/power/spin, Grapplesnake Tour Sniper plays awesome.
@@TheJstaples tbh I have been playing more than 50 hours now and I didn’t feel any discomfort so far. If you feel uncomfortable with confidential I would suggest Confidential main and Head Velocity cross 44-48. It also has a good feeling and less pressure to the arm
@@TennCom I've been hitting VC95 with a multi/poly hybrid to compensate for sensitive arm. Been loving it w/ (TF NRG2 1.32) in the mains and either (WasabiX 1.23) or (Cavier 1.23) in the crosses @54/52. Been toying with the idea of Gut/Confidential hybrid combo... At similar tension to above. Any thoughts on (a) how the VC95 handles gut mains? And (b) how Cavier and WasabiX compare to Confidential? Do you think a Gut/Caviar or Gut/WasabiX hit similarly to the Confidential? BTW, not a string breaker so that's a thing 😂
What is your recommendation for a radical pro? I have 1 with a full luxilon savage black bed and 1 hybrid with gut in the mains and alupower in the crosses. I feel the savage gives a higher launch angle and more spin. I really like the hybrid setup, but it's rather expensive.. What are your thoughts? I'm an advanced player btw. I could easily train with you and have nice rally's.
I you want something that sits sort of in between the Savage and the Champions choice set I would definitely look at Grapplesnake. You'll get the tour-level playability that you've become used to from Luxilon but the tension maintenance is way better. Grapplesnake Alpha or Tour M8 are the ones I'd look for if you want a softer, more powerful feel (less power than the hybrid still). Both are shaped like Savage which is nice for spin, but the shapes are mild so the control is still top tier.
Any suggestions for the pro staff 97 v14? I used to play with gamma moto and I'm now trying hyper G. Unfortunately I don't have access to restring or toroline here in Brazil. I might be able to find the m8 or tour sniper tho. Besides those two i'm considering confidential next
My fav setup when I used those sticks was Grapplesnake Tour Sniper. I haven't hit it for a while but I bet Pure Rush or O-Toro would be great in it as well.
If you like PTP but want more spin and tension maintenance, Toroline Caviar is a must try. It's my fav string in the Percept 100D which almost made the list.
Yeah I hit one about 18 months ago and we tried a few setups including ReString Zero if I recall but I just didn't like the racquet really. Not a great fit for my game so hard to really analyze for me.
@@TennCom sorry to ask another question, I know you used to main this exact racket 2 years ago! 1. How many pounds/kilos should I string it at? Tried m8 at 20kg on my old junior racket and liked it but not sure if people recommend to string the sniper at suck low tension as well. 2. Thinking of adding a leather grip, should add 7-10g at the bottom. Should I also add lead tape? If so, how much and where? Maybe to bring the swing weight to 325 or around there. Should I 3 and 9 or 12?
I absolutely HATED the RPM Rough in the Aero, balls flying everywhere, no control whatsoever if you don‘t hit with maximum spin, wears out way too fast, and if that was not enough already, it gave me massive tennis elbow. Never experienced arm issues with any string before. Now, that could be because my Aero came insanely overspecd, like almost 20 grams too heavy, maybe that also plays its part. My favourite strings in my Aero by far are RPM Blast and Solinco Confidential. ReString Zero quite enjoyable as well, but not on the level of RPM Blast and Confidential.
