Tennis Industry magazine

 

String Selector Map 2006

Our exclusive tests of every string on the market will help you choose the right product for your customers.

By Crawford Lindsey

Strings can make all the difference in the world for your customers. To help them, you need to know their current string, racquet, style of play, and what they’d like to achieve by changing to a different string. But how do you find the right string to fit the resulting profile? That’s where we come in.

string hammer

We’ve tested virtually every string on the U.S. market today (478* from 31 manufacturers) for stiffness and tension loss and present the results here in the 2006 String Selector Map and on the web (for USRSA members only) in the new String Selector Tool that allows you to plug in specific criteria to find exactly the string you need, in seconds!

This data can be invaluable to your image of professionalism and to your customer’s satisfaction and return business.

Here’s a brief look at how we generated the numbers and what they mean.

Anatomy of a String Test

We collect a large amount of data on every string through our testing procedure. Each string is hit with a hammer (photo above), which impacts with a force equal to that experienced by a string during a 120 mph serve. The event is measured with precise electronic equipment and the results are fed onto a computer oscilloscope.

Measurements from the oscilloscope and a separate controller provide all the raw data for the formulas that calculate the results reported here and on the new String Selector Tool at www.racquettech.com. Each string has a different oscilloscope fingerprint, but all strings of a given material bear a strong family resemblance.

The graph below shows a typical oscilloscope tracing of an impact. Notice the hammer continuously decelerating (the 2 millimeters from peak to peak on the red tracing take longer and longer), coming to a stop, and then accelerating to take-off. The outgoing speed of the hammer is typically 2 percent to 3 percent slower than the incoming speed, no matter the string. Tennis string is a very efficient energy storage and return device.

But ultimately, it is the string’s stiffness that counts. Stiffer strings take in less energy (more goes into deforming the ball), and thus give back less, even though they are always giving back all but a couple of percent of what they took in. The strings remain as efficient as ever, but the interaction with the ball is what matters.

Softer strings will have less shock and more innate power; stiffer strings will have more shock and less innate power, but you can therefore swing a bit faster to add more spin and player-generated power.

It’s all a tradeoff and a combination of likes, dislikes, and styles.

*Note: hybrids are not specifically indicated, though the separate mains and crosses composing them are.


oscilloscope graph

A: Starting tension = 22.55 kg (49.6 lbs)

B: End tension = 22.23 (48.9 lbs) (impact loss of .22 kg or 0.48 lbs)

C: Maximum tension during impact = 40 kg (88 lbs).

D: Tension rise during impact = 17.77 kg (39.1 lbs)

E to F: String deflection during impact = 28.2 mm; Duration of deflection = 15.83 ms

F to G: String return = 28.2 mm; Duration of ejection = 16.02 ms (outgoing speed = 98.8% speed of incoming)

E to G: Total impact duration = 32.06 ms


Try Racquettech.com’s New String Selector Tool

The exclusive, new String Selector Tool (for USRSA members only) at racquettech.com allows you to choose your current string from a list of nearly 500 strings. Then it prompts you to indicate what you would like different in a new string, and then shows you every string on the market that meets your criteria. You can sort your results by any combination of two variables, and you can choose from as many as five subgroups of results data.


Test Procedure

We tensioned each string to 62 pounds and allowed it to sit for 200 seconds. Then the string was hit five times with a force equivalent to hitting a 120 mph serve. The tension loss represents the total amount of the relaxation over both time and impact. The stiffness value is a calculation derived from the amount of force created at impact to stretch the string. Lower values represent softer strings and lower impact forces. Higher values represent stiffer strings and higher impact forces.


The Geography of ‘Feel’

Finding Your ‘Feel Good’ Location

all strings

Hybrids: to look up a hybrid combination, you must look up each string separately. If it is a pre-packaged hybrid, most packaging indicates the name of each string.

Nylon, Zyex, & Polyolefin (Sorted by Stiffness)

nylon strings

Company String Material Gauge Stiffness (lb/in.) Tension loss (lbs)
Head IntelliString17 cross (RIP Feel) Polyolefin 1.28 136 15.14
Head IntelliTour 17 cross (RIP Feel) Polyolefin 1.28 136 15.14
Isospeed Platinum 16 (cross) Polyolefin 1.27 138 16.62
Head Protector 16 cross (RIP Comfort) Polyolefin 1.31 140 15.77
Head IntelliTour 16 cross (RIP Feel) Polyolefin 1.33 143 14.77
Gamma Live Wire Professional 18 Nylon / Zyex 1.22 144 15.15
Ashaway Dynamite 17 Zyex / Nylon 1.24 147 13.72
Isospeed Professional 17 Polyolefin 1.27 152 15.06
Head Protector 16 main (RIP Protect) Polyolefin / Nylon 1.32 163 11.57
Ashaway Dynamite WB 16 Zyex / Nylon 1.37 165 13.21
Isospeed Platinum 16 (main) Polyolefin / Nylon 1.32 165 12.46
Wilson Reaction 18 Nylon 1.20 165 12.81
Gamma Live Wire Professional 17 Nylon / Zyex 1.29 168 12.37
Forten Ti-Blend Cross 16 Nylon 1.32 171 13.56
Gamma Live Wire Professional 16 Nylon / Zyex 1.33 174 13.28
Alpha Axiom 16 Nylon 1.32 175 12.67
Gamma Prodigy 17 Nylon 1.25 175 11.16
Pacific Power Twist 16L Nylon 1.29 175 13.01
Prince Premier w/softflex 17 Nylon 1.25 175 11.97
Wilson Reaction 17 Nylon 1.27 175 12
Head Synthetic Gut PPS 18 Nylon 1.16 176 11.93
Prince Premier w/Softflex 16 Nylon 1.31 176 11.97
Fischer Comfort 16 Nylon 1.33 177 17.44
Head IntelliTour 17 main (RIP Tour) Nylon / Polyolefin 1.30 177 10.87
Head IntelliString 16L main (RIP Power) Nylon / Polyolefin 1.32 178 10.91
Head RIP Control 17 Nylon / Polyolefin 1.28 178 10.25
Pacific Power Twist 16 Nylon 1.35 179 11.78
Head FiberGel Power 17 Nylon 1.26 180 12.28
Head Perfect Power 16 Nylon 1.35 180 11.84
Isospeed Energetic Plus 16 Nylon / Polyolefin 1.32 180 10.41
Gamma Prodigy 16 Nylon 1.30 181 11.67
Head FXP Power 17 Nylon 1.25 181 13.37
Head IntelliTour 16 main (RIP Tour) Nylon / Polyolefin 1.37 181 11.51
Tecnifibre NRG2 18 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.17 181 9.86
Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 1.18 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.19 181 8.96
Wilson Reaction 16 Nylon 1.30 181 11
Babolat Xcel Premium 17 Nylon 1.25 182 10.01
Gamma ESP 17 Nylon 1.28 182 12.68
Prince Sweet Perfection 17 Nylon 1.25 182 14
Tecnifibre 515 17 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.27 182 13.05
Blue Star Laser 130 16 Nylon 1.31 183 10.94
Klip Venom 17 Nylon 1.26 183 12.46
Velociti Plus 16 Nylon 1.31 183 12.65
Velociti Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.21 183 13.21
Alpha Firecable 16 Nylon / Polyester 1.31 184 14.73
Forten Tiegut 16 Nylon 1.32 184 12.08
Head RIP Control 16 Nylon / Polyolefin 1.38 184 11.02
Pacific PMX 16 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.33 184 10.8
Head Perfect Control 16 Nylon 1.38 185 10.7
Head RIP Ti.Fiber 16 Nylon 1.33 185 11.23
Velociti Plus 17 Nylon 1.26 185 13.63
Yonex Tough Brid 125 Nylon / Vectran 1.35 185 12.02
Babolat Attraction Power 17 Nylon 1.26 186 9.84
Babolat Syntronic Brio 17 Nylon 1.25 186 10.41
Blue Star Fibergut XL 15L Nylon 1.39 186 11.71
Blue Star Stargut 16 Nylon 1.36 186 12.94
Gamma ESP 16 Nylon 1.32 186 12.64
Gamma Revelation 17 Nylon 1.26 186 13.08
Volkl Power-Fiber II 17 Nylon 1.25 186 12.2
Wilson Stamina Spin 16 Nylon 1.29 186 12.68
Alpha Gut 2000 Nylon 1.33 187 11.23
Babolat Xcel Premium 16 Nylon 1.31 187 10.12
Gamma Gut 2 16 Nylon 1.34 187 12
Prince Sweet Perfection 16 Nylon 1.31 187 13.05
Gamma Live Wire 17 Nylon / Zyex 1.24 188 13.74
Prince Lightning XX w/ Powerfoil 16 Nylon / Polyester 1.32 188 10.96
Silent Partner Filament Frenzy 16 Nylon 1.31 188 11.55
Yonex Tour Super 880 Ti Soft 16L Nylon 1.28 188 9.77
Alpha Element 16 Nylon 1.32 189 10.89
Babolat Attraction 16 Nylon 1.30 189 10.03
Head FiberGel Power 16 Nylon 1.31 189 11.62
Head RIP Ti.Fiber 17 Nylon / Polyolefin 1.23 189 10.56
Pacific Futura TXT 16L Nylon 1.29 189 11.16
Tecnifibre Multifeel 16 Nylon / Polyurethane 189 9.81
Volkl Power-Fiber II 18 Nylon 1.19 189 10.39
Wilson Reaction 15L Nylon 1.35 189 10.94
Ashaway Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.26 190 14.93
Gamma Live Wire 16 Nylon / Zyex 1.31 190 12.87
Gamma Live Wire XP 16 Nylon / Zyex 1.32 190 12.04
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 18 Nylon 1.19 190 12.28
Head Synthetic Gut PPS 17 Nylon 1.22 190 11.38
Kirschbaum Touch Multifibre 1.25 Nylon 1.25 190 11.2
Klip Kicker 17 Nylon 1.24 190 11.68
Tecnifibre NRG2 17 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.24 190 9.55
Unique Tournafiber Irradiated 17 Nylon 1.27 190 11.62
Yonex Tour Super 850 16 Nylon 1.31 190 10.89
Gamma Live Wire XP 17 Nylon / Zyex 1.25 191 12.35
Gamma TNT Fat Core 17 Nylon 1.27 191 13.36
Gamma TNT2 Rx 17 Nylon 1.26 191 10.96
Gamma TNT2 Pro Plus 17L Nylon 1.25 192 12.74
Kirschbaum Touch MultiFibre 1.30 Nylon 1.31 192 14.07
PowerAngle Duo-Color TNT 17 Nylon 1.20 192 12.01
Prince Lightning XX w/ Powerfoil 17 Nylon / Polyester 1.24 192 10.94
Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 1.24 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.28 192 10.12
Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 1.30 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.31 192 10.08
Forten Omni Spin 15L Nylon 1.37 193 12.44
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro Super 17 Nylon 1.24 193 11.51
Tecnifibre Multifeel 17 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.27 193 9.92
Tecnifibre TRC 17 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.25 193 11.2
Wilson NXT 17 Nylon 1.24 193 12.99
Wilson W Reflection16 Nylon 1.31 193 12.7
Alpha Claycourt Plus 16 Nylon 1.32 194 13.8
Ashaway Liberty 16 Nylon 1.33 194 12.9
Babolat FiberTour 16 Nylon 1.32 194 10.45
Forten Sweet 17 Nylon 1.27 194 12.62
Gamma TNT Fat Core 16 Nylon 1.31 194 12.77
Head FXP 17 Nylon / Polyester 1.25 194 10.59
Klip Venom 16 Nylon 1.32 194 9.96
Prince Lightning Power w/ Powerfoil 17 Nylon / Polyester 1.25 194 11.4
Prince Lightning XX 16 Nylon 1.29 194 10.76
Silent Partner Ultimatum 18 Nylon 1.19 194 12.04
Tecnifibre Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.27 194 13.96
Volkl Power-Fiber II 16 Nylon 1.30 194 11.2
Yonex Tournament 80 Spin 15L Nylon / Vectran 1.35 194 11.33
Gamma TNT2 Ruff 16 Nylon 1.52 195 11.95
Klip Excellerator 16 Nylon 1.30 195 11.44
Klip Excellerator 17 Nylon 1.30 195 11.66
Unique Tournafiber SpinPlus 16 Nylon 1.32 195 11.14
Volkl Power-Fiber 18 Nylon 1.19 195 9.57
Alpha Prodigy 16 Nylon 1.32 196 11.95
Ashaway Liberty L15 Nylon 1.41 196 16.25
Gamma TNT2 Pro Plus 16 Nylon 1.32 196 11.16
Gosen Super Tec AK Speed 17 Nylon 1.24 196 10.87
Head Synthetic Gut PPS 16 Nylon 1.31 196 11.69
Pacific Space Power TX 16L Nylon 1.31 196 12.26
Yonex Tour Super 850 Pro 16 Nylon 1.34 196 11.13
Babolat Syntronic Brio 16 Nylon 1.34 197 10.52
Dunlop M-Fil Tour 16 Nylon 1.33 197 11.87
Forten Spin Gear 15 Nylon 1.43 197 11.22
Gamma Revelation 16 Nylon / Zyex 1.32 197 11.88
Tecnifibre NRG2 16 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.31 197 8.05
Wilson Sensation 17 Nylon 1.25 197 11.91
Ashaway Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.34 198 12.12
Blue Star Original 15L Nylon 1.43 198 13.92
Forten Dynamix 18 Nylon 1.21 198 13.01
Head FiberGel 16 Nylon 1.34 198 11.97
Pacific Premium Power X 16L Nylon 1.29 198 12.74
Velociti Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.30 198 12.88
Wilson NXT 16 Nylon 1.30 198 10.69
Yonex Tournament 50 16L Nylon 1.29 198 11.53
Dunlop Max Comfort 17 Nylon 1.23 199 11.78
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 17 Nylon 1.24 199 12.35
Prince Tournament Nylon 15L Nylon 1.40 199 13.19
Pro Kennex IQ-Elite 16 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.29 199 11.42
Tecnifibre 515 16 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.35 199 10.58
Wilson NXT OS 16L Nylon 1.32 199 10.43
Yonex Tough Brid 130 Nylon / Vectran 1.40 199 11.9
Babolat Xcel Premium 15L Nylon 1.39 200 10.17
Bow Brand Micro Tournament 17 Nylon 1.24 200 12.5
Dunlop Max Comfort 16 Nylon 1.32 200 11.07
Pacific Power Line 1 17 Nylon 1.33 200 11.54
Pacific Power Line 16 Nylon 1.34 200 11.38
Wilson Stamina 18 Nylon 1.22 200 9.81
Blue Star Focus 130 16 Nylon 1.33 201 10.76
Bow Brand t2000 15L Nylon 1.37 201 11.38
Forten Dynamix 15L Nylon 1.33 201 11.82
Forten Ti-Blend Main 16 Nylon 1.34 201 12.57
Silent Partner Ultimatum 17 Nylon 1.28 201 12.66
Wilson Staminia Spin 15L Nylon 1.38 201 12.15
Alpha Sensor Fibre 16 Nylon 1.35 202 11.02
Gamma Challenger 17 Nylon 1.27 202 11.33
Gamma Gut 3 17 Nylon 1.25 202 10.09
Klip Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.25 202 12.87
Pacific Premium Power X 16 Nylon 1.33 202 13.67
Pro Kennex IQ-Qualifier 16 Nylon 1.31 202 12.96
Gamma Synthetic Gut 17 w/Wearguard Nylon 1.26 203 9.15
Gamma Synthetic Gut w/Wearguard 18 Nylon 1.21 203 9.68
Gamma TNT2 Rx 16 Nylon 1.36 203 9.81
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 16 Nylon 1.29 203 12.96
Kirschbaum Touch Classic 1.25 Nylon 1.24 203 11.23
Kirschbaum Touch Classic 1.30 Nylon 1.30 203 10.94
Klip Screamer Titanium 16 Nylon / Titanium 1.30 203 12.54
Prince Lightning Power w/ Powerfoil 16 Nylon / Polyester 1.31 203 9.95
Prince Synthetic Gut 18 w/Duraflex Nylon 1.20 203 11.51
Wilson NXT Tour 17 Nylon 1.27 203 12.46
Forten Sweet 15 Nylon 1.36 204 11.55
Gamma Dura Spin 15L Nylon 1.37 204 9.63
Gamma Synthetic Gut 16 w/Wearguard Nylon 1.31 204 10.03
Gamma Zo Plus 16L Nylon 1.32 204 13.56
Gosen OG Sheep Micro Super 16 Nylon 1.30 204 11.29
Klip Excellerator 15L Nylon 1.34 204 12.68
Pacific Syntec 16L Nylon 1.32 204 12.37
Silent Partner Head Spin 15L Nylon 1.38 204 13.18
Silent Partner Titanium 16 Nylon 1.32 204 13.19
Unique Tournafiber Irradiated 16 Nylon 1.33 204 11.44
Unique Tournafiber Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.22 204 11.31
Dunlop Tour Performance 16 Nylon 1.34 205 10.85
Fischer Tournament Pro 16 Nylon 1.36 205 13.54
Forten Dynamix 17 Nylon 1.26 205 11.14
Gosen Micro 16 Nylon 1.31 205 10.94
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro Spin 15L Nylon 1.35 205 10.25
Head Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.29 205 11.27
Pacific Power Spin 16 Nylon 1.38 205 12.48
Wilson Extreme Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.28 205 10.3
Wilson Supreme 17 Nylon 1.29 205 11.07
Bow Brand Ballistic 15L Nylon 1.35 206 10.59
Klip Scorcher 17 Nylon 1.27 206 13.51
Silent Partner Ultimatum 16 Nylon 1.33 206 12.81
Tecnifibre TRC 16 Nylon / Polyurethane 1.31 206 10.5
Velociti Synthetic Gut 15L Nylon 1.35 206 10.83
Pacific Futura TXT 16 Nylon 1.39 207 11.51
Prince Lightning XX 17 Nylon 1.26 207 9.68
Silent Partner Original Syn 16 Nylon 1.33 207 13.89
Babolat Superfine Play 17 Nylon 1.25 208 11.49
Bow Brand Synthetic Gut XT 16 Nylon 1.33 208 10.85
Forten Dynamix 16 Nylon 1.34 208 10.95
Kirschbaum Touch Titanium 1.30 Nylon / Titanium 1.30 208 12.11
Klip Scorcher 16 Nylon 1.31 208 12.83
Wilson NXT Max 15L Nylon 1.35 208 9.88
Wilson Supreme 16 Nylon 1.32 208 10.34
Gamma Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.26 209 11.51
Gamma TNT2 17 Nylon 1.27 209 9.85
Head FXP 16 Nylon / Polyester 1.34 209 10.83
Klip Kicker 16 Nylon 1.32 209 12.55
Prince Synthetic Gut 15L w/Duraflex Nylon 1.35 209 11.13
Prince Topspin 15L Nylon 1.30 209 11.92
Prince Topspin Plus 16 Nylon 1.29 209 10.06
Wilson NXT Tour 18 Nylon 1.24 209 9.53
Wilson Sensation 16 Nylon 1.32 209 11.55
Wilson Stamina 17 Nylon 1.25 209 9.68
Babolat Superfine Play 16 Nylon 1.32 210 12.76
Bow Brand Tournament 16L Nylon 1.32 210 11.97
Gamma TNT2 16 Nylon 1.31 210 10.34
Head Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.24 210 11.27
Tecnifibre Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.34 210 12.7
Wilson Extreme Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.25 210 10.39
Babolat Powergy 16 Nylon 1.34 211 13.1
Forten Competition Nylon 15L Nylon 1.41 211 10.89
Gamma Marathon DPC 16 Nylon 1.32 211 11.51
Gosen Tecgut Super Tec AK Speed 16 Nylon 1.32 211 10.45
Unique Tournafiber Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.34 211 12.76
Wilson NXT Max 16 Nylon 1.34 211 9.71
Alpha Viper 16 Nylon 1.29 212 12.35
Forten Sweet 16 Nylon 1.33 212 10.78
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro Super JC 16 Nylon 1.3 212 11.05
Gosen Tecgut Super Tec Ak Pro 16 Nylon 1.34 212 11.64
Prince Synthetic Gut 17 w/Duraflex Nylon 1.26 212 10.69
Prince Synthetic Gut 16 w/Duraflex Nylon 1.30 213 12.04
RAB Endura Classic Nylon 16 Nylon 1.32 213 11.62
Babolat Razor Spin 16 Nylon 1.30 214 13.76
Gamma TNT2 18 Nylon 1.18 214 11.05
Klip Synthetic Gut 15L Nylon 1.37 214 13.76
Klip Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.33 214 10.98
Prince Synthetic Gut Original 17 Nylon 1.24 214 10.59
Dunlop Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.31 215 13.21
Gamma Ruff 16 Nylon 1.48 215 11.33
Gamma Synthetic Gut 15L w/Wearguard Nylon 1.38 215 11.18
Klip Twister 15L Nylon 1.43 215 12.53
Unique Tournafiber Nylon 16 Nylon 1.32 215 12.33
Alpha Sphere 16 Nylon 1.31 216 14.88
Pacific Dura Tech 16 Nylon / Aramid 1.32 216 12.85
Pacific Syntec 16 Nylon 1.37 216 12.15
Babolat Conquest 16 Nylon 1.33 217 14.99
Gamma Challenger 16 Nylon 1.32 217 10.95
Gamma Dura Spin w/ Wearguard 16 Nylon 1.37 217 8.95
Gosen Nanocubic 16 Nylon 1.32 217 10.81
Prince Synthetic Gut Original 16 Nylon 1.30 217 11.67
Babolat Conquest 17 Nylon 1.27 218 12.64
Babolat Conquest Ti 16 Nylon 1.33 218 16.23
Bow Brand Calibre 15L Nylon 1.36 218 12.28
Bow Brand Super Pro 15L Nylon 1.43 218 11.42
Gamma Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.30 218 9.86
Gosen OG-Sheep Proform Tuff 15L Nylon 1.38 218 11.16
Wilson Ultra Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.32 218 10.28
Dunlop Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.24 219 10.04
Gamma Marathon DPC 15L Nylon 1.44 219 10.8
Gamma XL 16 Nylon 1.29 219 11.4
Head Master 15L Nylon 1.39 219 11.58
Wilson NXT Tour 16 Nylon 1.31 219 8.98
Wilson Stamina 16 Nylon 1.32 219 10.1
Gamma Synthetic Gut 18 Nylon 1.22 221 10.14
Gosen Tecgut Power 16 Nylon 1.31 221 14.58
Head Master 16L Nylon 1.31 221 9.57
Bow Brand Superspin 1.33 Nylon 1.43 222 11.29
Gamma Dura Spin 16 Nylon 1.39 223 8.93
Fischer Pro Number One 16 Nylon 1.32 224 12.66
Gamma Synthetic Gut 15L Nylon 1.37 224 11.42
Gamma Advantage 15L Nylon 1.39 227 9.9
Gamma Marathon DPC 17 Nylon 1.27 228 9.42
Gamma Dura Spin 15L Nylon 1.41 230 10.23
Ashaway MonoGut 17 Nylon 1.22 233 20.2
Ashaway MonoGut 16L Nylon 1.27 242 19.4

Polyester (Sorted by Stiffness)

poly strings

Company String Material Gauge Stiffness (lb/in.) Tension loss (lbs)
Babolat Pro Hurricane 18 Polyester 1.21 187 22.29
Tecnifibre Promix 1.25 Polyester 1.27 199 13.72
Pacific Poly Power 18 Polyester 1.09 201 21.17
Tecnifibre Promix 1.30 Polyester 1.29 204 14.99
Gosen Polylon Comfort 17 Polyester 1.26 215 19.91
Gosen Polylon SP 17 Polyester 1.25 215 20.7
Pro Kennex IQ Poly XT 17 Polyester 1.22 217 20.05
Kirschbaum Competition 1.20 Polyester 1.19 219 19.09
Signum Pro Poly-Duluxe 1.22 Polyester 1.20 220 19.11
Klip K-Boom 18 Polyester 1.19 223 18.88
Gamma Zo True 18 Polyester 1.13 224 17.55
Wilson Enduro Pro 18 Polyester 1.21 224 17.02
Babolat Pro Hurricane 17 Polyester 1.25 226 16.83
Toalson Thermaxe 123 Polyester 1.23 226 17.97
Kirschbaum P2 1.20 Polyester 1.18 227 18.1
Pro Kennex IQ Poly XT 16L Polyester 1.23 227 19.29
Signum Pro Poly Megaforce 1.19 Polyester 1.19 227 16.67
Kirschbaum Turbo Touch 1.25 Polyester 1.25 229 21.41
Silent Partner Roly Poly 17 Polyester 1.27 229 19.62
Pacific Poly Soft 16 Polyester 1.29 231 19.16
Unique Tourna Poly Big Hitter 17 Polyester 1.26 231 18.15
Luxilon Big Banger Ace 18 Polyester 1.16 232 17.05
Yonex Tough Brid 125 (main) Polyester 1.24 232 20.95
Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.23 Polyester 1.25 233 17.48
Signum Pro Poly-Deluxe 1.30 Polyester 1.24 233 18.31
Signum Pro Poly-Power 1.30 Polyester 1.32 233 19.58
Klip K-Boom 17 Polyester 1.23 234 17.99
Volkl V-Rex 16L Polyester 1.24 234 18.32
Gosen Polylon SP 16 Polyester 1.29 235 21.06
Kirschbaum Competition 1.25 Polyester 1.28 235 19.07
Kirschbaum Super Smash 1.20 Polyester 1.21 235 19.98
Signum Pro Poly-Special 1.25 Polyester 1.23 235 20.64
Tecnifibre Pro Red Cone 17 Polyester 1.26 235 16.27
Topspin Polypolar 1.30 Polyester 1.28 235 24.72
RAB Endura Classic Poly 1.27 Polyester 1.29 236 20.26
Signum Pro Poly-Fiber Titan 1.25 Polyester 1.26 236 24.1
Forten Pro Select 17 Polyester 1.20 238 18.92
Pacific Poly Dura 15L Polyester 1.34 238 22.32
Gamma Zo Power 16L Polyester 1.20 239 17.29
Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.18 Polyester 1.19 239 15.65
Wilson Enduro Pro 17 Polyester 1.25 239 15.77
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 16L Polyester 1.25 240 18.98
Luxilon Monotec Zolo Rough 16L Polyester 1.25 240 19.56
Topspin Cyber Flash 1.25 Polyester 1.23 240 15.54
Babolat Pro Hurricane 16 Polyester 1.31 241 13.61
Forten Poly-Blast 17 Polyester 1.23 241 18.41
Luxilon Big Banger TiMO 18 Polyester 1.15 241 16.91
Luxilon Monotec Zolo 18 Polyester 1.25 241 17.86
Pacific Poly Power 15L Polyester 1.33 241 24.83
Pacific Poly Spin 16L Polyester 1.25 241 19.12
Unique Tourna Poly Big Hitter 16 Polyester 1.29 241 17.62
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power 16L Polyester 1.23 242 17.13
Signum Pro Poly-Fiber Titan 1.30 Polyester 1.30 242 24.89
Kirschbaum Touch Turbo 1.30 Polyester 1.30 243 19.58
Klip Hardcore 17 Polyester 1.24 243 17.05
Luxilon Big Banger XP 16L Polyester 1.25 243 17.78
Luxilon Monotec Zolo 16L Polyester 1.24 243 17.64
Signum Pro Poly-Power 1.20 Polyester 1.20 243 19.5
Signum Pro Poly-Special 1.30 Polyester 1.28 243 20.33
Alpha Vengence 16L Polyester 1.29 244 22.05
Babolat Ballistic Polymono 17 Polyester 1.25 244 20.89
Signum Pro Poly-Speed Excl. 1.25 Polyester 1.27 244 19.56
Pacific PolySpin 16 Polyester 1.32 245 20.29
Prince Polygut 16 Polyester 1.31 246 20.09
Prince Polygut 17 Polyester 1.24 246 21.52
Signum Pro Plasma Hextreme 1.25 Polyester 1.25 246 16.23
Kirschbaum Competition 1.30 Polyester 1.30 247 18.5
Signum Pro Poly-Power 1.25 Polyester 1.26 247 17.88
Yonex Tough Brid 130 (main) Polyester 1.30 247 22.42
RAB MonoFlex 16L Polyester 1.26 248 17.95
Gosen Polylon 17 Polyester 1.24 249 19.52
Luxilon Big Banger Original 16 Polyester 1.28 249 17.11
Prince Tour 17 Polyester 1.25 249 21.37
Tecnifibre Polyspin 1.275 Polyester 1.27 249 19.87
Luxilon Monotec Supersense 16L Polyester 1.26 250 19.21
Signum Pro Poly Speed Excl. 1.30 Polyester 1.30 250 19.63
Signum Pro Poly-Power 1.35 Polyester 1.35 250 19.38
Toalson Thermaxe 130 Polyester 1.29 250 22.21
Gamma Zo Life 16 Polyester 1.28 251 15.5
Kirschbaum Super Smash 1.325 Polyester 1.33 252 20.75
Signum Pro Poly-Deluxe 1.25 Polyester 1.32 252 17.4
Forten Flexion 16L Polyester 1.24 254 15.53
Gosen Polylon 16 Polyester 1.30 254 21.23
Head UltraTour 17 Polyester 1.22 255 19.29
Kirschbaum P2 1.275 Polyester 1.24 255 16.47
Klip K-Boom 16 Polyester 1.31 255 16.96
Yonex Poly Tour 125 16 Polyester 1.24 255 19.78
Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour 17 Polyester 1.25 256 17.58
Forten Flexion 16 Polyester 1.28 256 16.76
Forten Intimidator 16 Polyester 1.30 256 17.91
Gosen Polylon Comfort 16 Polyester 1.30 256 19.65
Kirschbaum Super Smash Spiky 1.25 Polyester 1.26 256 22.02
Prince Tour 16 Polyester 1.28 256 21.57
Signum Pro Plasma Hextreme 1.30 Polyester 1.29 256 16.63
Alpha Polycable 16 Polyester 1.33 257 23.44
Babolat Ballistic Polymono 16 Polyester 1.30 257 20.31
Kirschbaum P2 1.25 Polyester 1.25 257 15.48
Kirschbaum Super Smash 1.25 Polyester 1.25 257 19.55
Signum Pro Poly Megaforce 1.24 Polyester 1.24 257 14.91
Signum Pro Poly-Speed Excl. 1.35 Polyester 1.39 257 20
Kirschbaum Super Smash Spiky 1.275 Polyester 1.27 258 20.84
Klip Hardcore 16 Polyester 1.27 258 19.42
Signum Pro Poly Megaforce 1.29 Polyester 1.30 258 15.06
Tecnifibre Pro Red Cone 16 Polyester 1.28 258 14.9
Topspin Cyber Flash 1.30 Polyester 1.27 258 15.28
Wilson Enduro Gold 16 Polyester 1.32 258 17.6
Ashaway Monofire XL 17 Polyester 1.26 259 17.13
Gamma Zo Sweet 17 Polyester 1.22 259 15.75
Luxilon Big Banger LTS 16 Polyester 1.30 259 18.57
Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.28 Polyester 1.27 260 15.98
Wilson Enduro Pro 16 Polyester 1.30 260 14.33
Luxilon Big Banger TiMO 17 Polyester 1.23 261 16.29
Toalson Thermaxe 127 Polyester 1.27 261 18.99
Pacific Force 17 Polyester 1.25 262 13.47
Yonex Poly Tour 130 16 Polyester 1.32 262 19.65
Fischer Poly Pro 17 Polyester 1.27 263 21.06
Head UltraTour 16L Polyester 1.27 263 17.97
Kirschbaum Super Smash 1.35 Polyester 1.37 263 19.36
Gamma Dura Blast 17 Polyester 1.26 264 16.82
Pacific Poly Power 16 Polyester 1.29 265 17.16
Kirschbaum Super Smash 1.30 Polyester 1.29 266 19.58
Luxilon Big Banger Original Rough 16 Polyester 1.28 266 19.21
Gamma Zo True 17 Polyester 1.24 267 14.58
Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour 16 Polyester 1.28 270 16.61
Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.33 Polyester 1.34 270 14.26
Unique Tourna Poly Premium 18 Polyester 1.21 271 15.39
Kirschbaum P2 1.30 Polyester 1.30 273 15.74
Ashaway Monofire XL 16 Polyester 1.29 278 16.14
Signum Pro Poly Megaforce 1.34 Polyester 1.34 278 15.69
Kirschbaum Long Life 1.38 Polyester 1.40 281 20.71
Signum Pro Poly Speed Spin 1.28 Polyester 1.29 283 18
Luxilon Monotec Super Poly 16 Polyester 1.25 288 17.28
Signum Pro Poly Speed Spin 1.33 Polyester 1.32 289 18.34
Luxilon Big Banger 5-Star 15L Polyester 1.37 290 17.94
Pacific Poly Force 17 Polyester 1.24 294 13.41
Gamma Dura Blast 16 Polyester 1.30 303 12.68
Pacific Poly Force 16L Polyester 1.30 320 17.84

Gut (Sorted by Stiffness)

gut strings

Company String Material Gauge Stiffness (lb/in.) Tension loss (lbs)
Unique Tourna Gut 17 Natural Gut 1.22 84 8.75
Pacific Tough Gut 16 Natural Gut 1.26 88 6.75
Pacific Classic Gut 16L Natural Gut 1.28 92 6.39
Pacific Prime Gut 16L Natural Gut 1.30 92 6.86
Pacific Prime Gut 16 Natural Gut 1.28 97 5.75
Grand Slam Gut Grand Slam Gut 15L (coated) Natural Gut 1.36 100 8.58
Pacific Tough Gut 15 Natural Gut 1.37 100 7.37
Babolat VS Team 17 Natural Gut 1.26 102 8.45
Wilson Natural 16 Natural Gut 1.31 102 8.43
Wilson Natural 17 Natural Gut 1.26 103 8.13
Grand Slam Gut Grand Slam Gut 17 (uncoated) Natural Gut 1.28 105 7.87
Klip Armour Pro 16 Natural Gut 1.30 105 7.43
Klip Armour Pro 17 Natural Gut 1.28 105 7.7
Pacific Prime Gut 17 Natural Gut 1.22 105 8.45
Pacific Classic Gut 16 Natural Gut 1.30 106 11.01
Babolat VS Touch 16 Natural Gut 1.30 107 8.31
Wilson Natural 15L Natural Gut 1.34 110 9.28
Bow Brand Championship 16 Natural Gut 1.30 111 7.36
Grand Slam Gut Grand Slam Gut 16 (coated) Natural Gut 1.41 113 9.28
Klip Legend 1.30 Natural Gut 1.28 113 8.77
Klip Legend 17 Natural Gut 1.27 113 9.31
Babolat Tonic+ Ball Feel Natural Gut 1.35 114 8.84
Prince Natural Gut 16 Natural Gut 1.31 114 8.49
Bow Brand Championship 15L Natural Gut 1.34 116 8.53
Babolat VS Touch 15L Natural Gut 1.35 118 8.68
Babolat Tonic+ Longevity Natural Gut 1.38 119 9.26
Unique Tourna Gut 16 Natural Gut 1.30 119 9.06
Grand Slam Gut Grand Slam Gut 15L (uncoated) Natural Gut 1.48 129 11.22

Kevlar/Technora/Vectran (Sorted by Stiffness)

aramid strings

Company String Material Gauge Stiffness (lb/in.) Tension loss (lbs)
Ashaway Composite XL Pro 15 Kevlar 1.38 444 16.36
Ashaway Composite XT Pro 16 Vectran 1.30 470 14.34
Pacific PowerCraft 18 Kevlar / Nylon 1.10 508 14.67
Forten New Age 18 Kevlar / Nylon 1.13 511 18.43
Forten Aramid Composite 18 Kevlar / Nylon 1.11 516 15.04
Forten Ultra Thin Blend 18 Kevlar 1.12 545 15.12
Forten Thin Blend 18 Kevlar 1.15 557 14.33
Wilson Hyperlast Spin 19 Technora 1.21 562 13.72
Head RIP Blend 17 Kevlar 1.24 574 15.73
Dunlop Max Touch 17 Kevlar 1.22 586 15.08
Forten Aramid Composite 17 Kevlar / Nylon 1.17 597 11.27
Pacific Aramid 16 Kevlar 1.27 601 12.17
Forten Aramid Gear 16L Kevlar 1.42 610 10.43
Forten Aramid Composite 16 Kevlar / Nylon 1.28 619 9.55
Silent Partner Gutsy Aramid 17 Kevlar 1.15 623 11.38
Forten Aramid Gear 15 Kevlar 1.45 627 11.84
Forten Sweet Aramid 16L Kevlar 1.27 632 11.6
Gamma TNT2 Fusion Plus 19 Kevlar 1.23 640 17.33
Gamma Infinity 17 Kevlar 1.24 641 20.57
Gamma Infinity 18 Kevlar 1.17 641 17
Ashaway Crossfire 18 Kevlar 1.08 671 27.21
Gamma TNT2 Fusion Plus 16 Kevlar 1.28 674 16.36
Gosen Aramix Pro 18 Kevlar 1.09 697 17.03
Wilson Hyperlast 15 Technora 1.41 709 13.15
Prince Problend 17 Kevlar 1.24 720 16.39
Gamma Infinity 16 Kevlar 1.30 736 17.9
Ashaway Crossfire 17 Kevlar 1.22 757 28.37
Klip Atomic 16 Kevlar 1.29 758 28.36
Forten Sweet Aramid 15L Kevlar 1.36 761 13.01
Ashaway Crossfire II 16 Kevlar 1.29 764 26.68
Gosen Aramix Pro 16 Kevlar 1.28 795 19.14
Prince Pro Blend 16 Kevlar 1.30 981 15.88

See all articles by

About the Author

Crawford Lindsey  is co-author of The Physics and Technology of Tennis and Technical Tennis

 

Frasure-Footer-Ad-336x280-FINAL

TI magazine search

TI magazine categories


TI magazine archives


 
 

Movable Type Development by PRO IT Service