Over the years, Racquet Man has personally evaluated several manufacturer brands / models of tennis string and has come up with his current line of offerings based on his personal considerations for quality, performance and value for money. During this time, some strings he sampled earlier in his life changed in order to improve some weakness, such as lack of durability, the materials themselves / manufacturing process were changed / improved affecting stiffness and rebound, or new pigments were developed to provide assorted colours. Inevitably, a number of brands/models disappeared entirely with the arrival of newer products.
For your benefit, we've created tables with the performance characteristics of our current lineup for you to compare. These tables show performance as a function of string tension (medium - 51 lbs or high - 62 lbs) at different swing speeds (medium of fast).
Players on the professional tour tend to use specific tennis strings primarily because they are being sponsored by those big name companies. Because of the player endorsements and advertisement efforts by the manufacturers, several of these products have achieved a reputation of being "best in class".
In the case of polyester, we include some "best in class" products in the tables, which may cost 2 to 3 times more than those we carry. It is entirely possible that you have been overpaying for a "best in class" string (shown shaded grey); a less expensive "2nd tier" string that we offer will often have a comparable or even better rating in some performance characteristics.
To help you determine the performance of your favourite string, visit the Tennis Warehouse Learning Center.
PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF TENNIS STRING CARRIED BY RACQUET MAN
GENERAL INFORMATION: We draw your attention to the column with static tension loss. Most synthetic gut strings will settle with a loss of 5 to 8 lbs of static tension with play. Polyesters, depending on brand / model, will settle with a static tension loss ranging from 3 to 10 lbs.
By knowing these characteristics, you can make a better decision as to what tension you should choose for the string that you have selected. Also it will help guide you as to how often you may wish to restring your racquet.
No wonder some players on the professional tour who have their racquets strung to very precise values using "top tier" string, play a limited number of games before switching racquets and have their racquets restrung daily!
Synthetic Gut Strings
Mono-filament
OG Sheep Micro - 16G (1.30 mm) / 17G (1.25 mm) [White / Natural / Black]
Great all-around playability / great balance of power and control
Crisp response with decent spin generation
Very comfortable
Good durability and tension maintenance
An often overlooked and underrated string
Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex - 16G (1.30 mm) / 17G (1.25 mm)
[White / Pink / Green/ Rainbow / Black]
Considered by many to be the standard against which other strings are compared
Decent comfort, spin, power and control, though not excellent in any one category
String has lower end of power of syn-guts, though more than polyesters
Good spin and durability, with marginal tension maintenance
Middle of the road string for everyone
Available in several colour options
Forten Sweet - 16G (1.30 mm) / 17G (1.25 mm) [White]
Recommended particularly for tennis elbow sufferers – plays soft and comfortable
Good combination of power, feel and control
Good durability and decent tension maintenance
Multi-filament
Golden Set Satin - 16G (1.30 mm) [Natural]
Reduced shock and vibration
Great for those who suffer from tennis elbow
Offers excellent snap-back and enhanced durability
CONSTRUCTION: Multi-filament core, double multi-filament wrap, low friction coating
Medium Swing Speed
Fast Swing Speed
Polyester Strings
ECONOMICAL
Gosen Polylon - 16G (1.29 mm) / 17G (1.22mm)) [Black]
Good old fashion low powered polyester string
Firm string with remarkable control
Great spin potential, especially at high swing speeds
Ideal for Big Hitters on a budget
PREMIUM
Signum Pro Polyplasma - 16L (1.23 mm) [Orange]
*** Racquet Man’s personal favourite ***
Good for people generating their own pace
Not too lively / not too dead - predictable controlled response and level of spin
Reliable workhorse – does everything well, though not exceptional
Has the power, control and spin with better feel and comfort than most other polyesters
May be prone to break during powerful miss-hits and off-centre shots
Takes an hour or so of hitting to settle in – good tension maintenance thereafter
Comes in a distinctive orange colour
Weiss Cannon Silverstring - 16G (1.25 mm) / 17G (1.20 mm) [Silver]
One of the best all-around polyester strings
Excellent control and spin potential with good tension maintenance
The 16G being slightly thicker, it is recommended for frequent Polyplasma string breakers that want similar performance, with better durability
Kirschbaum Max Power - 16G (1.25 mm) / 17G (1.20 mm) [Grey]
“Max power” is a misnomer – this is a control string for those generating lots of their own power
High degree of control and predictability
Crisp, stiff, firm feel
Very low power – not a string for beginners or people seeking comfort (e.g. tennis elbow sufferers)
Golden Set Snake Bite - 17G (1.25 mm) [Black]
An advanced polyester string
Delivers excellent tension maintenance and durability
Its twisted heptagonal cross-section provides unprecedented spin generating bite
CONSTRUCTION: Co-polyester mono-filament with a twisted heptagonal cross-section
Solinco Confidential - 17G (1.20 mm) [Charcoal]
Recently marketed co-polyester that has been in development over the last decade
Four-sided profile provides exceptional spin potential and remarkable control
Features high power, with above average tension maintenance and durability
Very popular with many ATP and WTA professional players
Solinco Hyper G 17G (1.20 mm) [GREEN]
Square shape with four grippy edges
Phenomenal accuracy on full swings – excellent control and forgiving feel
Outstanding spin - easy to shape the trajectory and angle of our shots
Great feel and reduced shock - surprisingly forgiving for a heavy duty co-poly
Likely too stiff and powerless for beginners, but should work very well for the heavy hitting poly veteran who wants superior control without over-compromising the sweetspot
Excellent tension maintenance
Solinco Revolution - 16G (1.30 mm) [BLUE]
Hexagonally shaped co-polyester string that provides a phenomenal blend of spin and control
Recommended for big hitters looking for a firm co-poly with a user-friendly feel
A fairly stiff string with a surprisingly low level of vibration and off-center shock
Too firm for beginners
Weiss Cannon Fire Stroke - 16L (1.25 mm)) [ORANGE]
Arm friendly with good tension maintenance
Four sided profile provides awesome spin potential firm low powered co-polyester
Not prone to notching like most polyester strings with above average durability
Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable 16L (1.23 mm) [bright yellow]
Square shape with four sharp edges, giving it tremendous bite
Perfect for intermediate and advanced players with long, fast strokes
Low-powered response enables aggressive players to execute their biggest strokes without fear of overhitting.
Feel is quite firm but definitely not uncomfortable, especially when strung at the low end of the tension range
Outstanding spin-potential, making it perfect for any player looking to hit with more spin
Yonex Poly Tour Pro 18G (1.15 mm) [bright yellow]
A low powered softer playing poly string that is very, very spin-friendly and helps reduce fatigue
Power players will love the control and feel they get from all areas of the court
A solid, durable string that is a great choice for aggressive, big hitting players like Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe
Great durability in a slightly softer poly
Monofilament core but finished with high polymer polyester
Pre-stretched under controlled temperatures for better durability and tension maintenance
This thin gauge provides slightly more power and a softer feel with a slight sacrifice of the control and durability offered by thicker gauges
Yonex Poly Tour REV - 17G (1.20 mm) [ORANGE]
Shaped profile (for extra bite) along with a unique silicone infusion (to increase string snap-back during impact)
Outstanding spin and control allowing for powerful stroke speeds and aggressive shot selection
Durable string that delivers lots of control on full swings
Above-average comfort for a poly-based monofilament
Too underpowered for beginners
Feels more muted than the average poly, which might disappoint those who prefer more direct feedback
TOP TIER POLYESTER
(Most expensive string offerings by Racquet Man)
Babolat RPM Blast - 16G (1.30 mm) / 17G 1.25 mm) [BLACK]
Octagonal shaped co-polyester with slick surface enabling the main strings to slide, grab the ball and snap back for exceptional spin and pinpoint control
Solid on groundstrokes as well as crisp and sharp on volleys
String of choice by Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Jo Wilfred Tsonga
Above average durability and tension maintenance
Babolat RPM Power - 16G (1.30 mm) [BLUE]
Recommended for intermediate and advanced players with long, fast strokes
Durable monofilament with plenty of comfort for a poly-based string
Packs slightly more pop than RPM Blast
Great for those who like driving the ball through the court
Medium Swing Speed
Fast Swing Speed
For more information on selecting strings, click here to view our Complete Guide on How to Select Optimal Tennis String
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So, how does your favourite string compare?
If you have any suggestions or recommendations, please post them in our comment section.
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