The Best 6 Tennis String Brands That You Can’t Ignore

The Best 6 Tennis String Brands That You Can't Ignore

Have you ever been frustrated in a tennis game when your racquet was not delivering the kind of shots you wanted? You might have one of the best brands of racquet frame but your shots seem not to profile in the way it’s supposed to be. You may have all the drills and the agility but when this one component – tennis string is in bad shape, you’ll underperform.

In this article, I will assist you with the best brand of tennis strings available for your selection if you ever want to change your tennis string. The options are numerous that make it hectic sometimes when choosing. Some people choose low cost at the expense of quality, others make the wrong choice because they get their hands on the wrong information before making a purchase. The Best 6 Tennis String Brands That You Can't Ignore

So, if you’re reading this, just hang in there as I take you through the pool of options at your disposal but ultimately guide you through the best string brands available for your consideration. I believe that at this point you know the various brands of tennis racquet? If not, then you might want to check this out.

Most of the companies that manufacture tennis racquet also produce these strings. You don’t have to worry yourself about all the brands. There are brands that are most popular in the market and are of good quality. That’s what I shall be helping you with.

Most Popular Tennis String Brands, The Best on the Market


Among the several, the most popular brands consistent in quality in the line of tennis string production are:

  • Babolat
  • Luxilon
  • Wilson
  • Prince
  • Tecnifibre
  • Solinco

These brands are of good quality materials. They are endorsed by most professional players of ATP and WTP. However, they come in families of several versions just like the tennis racquet. Do not be disturbed by that. You will easily make out your choice by the time you’re done riding with me through this post.

Other Brands of The String – It’s Good To Know


Not to bore you with information overload, I think it’s necessary to know the two sides of the coin. Just a quick list of them and I will zoom in to the best 6 brands. Here are they:

Alien                              Alpha                               Ashaway                       Boris Becker

Diadem                        Double AR                       Dunlop                          Forten

Gamma                       Gosen                               Head                               Iso-Speed

Kirschbaum               Klip                                   L-Tec                               Laserfibre

MSV                            Pacific                              Polyfibre                         RS Robin Sӧderling

Signum Pro               Toalson                            Topspin                           TOURNA

Volkl                          Weiss CANNON              Yonex                                Ytex

It’s a lot, right? Anyway, let see what the popular brands can offer.

BabolatBabolat Tennis String


This brand has contributed immensely to the evolution of tennis racquet strings in the history of tennis. Back in 1875, it created the world’s first revolutionary set of tennis strings and continues to provide more advanced ones with its experience.

It has 3 major families which can be divided into several categories based on design purpose. They are:

Babolat Tennis StringBabolat RPM string

It’s for big hitters who want to add more power to their strokes. Players who seek this string usually have an aggressive play style. It’s manufactured from a polymeric material.

Versions found in this family are: RPM Blast Rough 1.35/15L String, RPM Blast Rough 1.30/16 String, RPM Blast Rough 1.25/17 String, RPM Blast 15L String, RPM Blast 16 String, RPM Blast 17 String, RPM Blast 18 String, RPM Team 16 String and RPM Team 17 String.

Babolat Tennis StringBabolat Xcel String

This family is generally the softest with a friendly feel. It’s very comfortable to use but has the downside of generating less spin. As compared with those made with polyester materials, it’s less durable. It doesn’t help much with more power generation and players who long for more spin would have to put in much effort to get that.

The available versions for one to choose from are: Xcel 16, 17 String Blue, Xcel 17 String Natural, Xcel French Open Black 16 & 17 String.

Babolat Tennis StringBabolat Hurricane String

The features of this family go with its name “Hurricane”. It’s mostly produced from polyester which can be attributed to its firm and durable nature. It’s also good for big hitters. Players who love more power and control in their game usually go for this type.

You will find the following versions under this family for your selection: Pro Hurricane 16, 17 & 18 Strings, Pro Hurricane Tour 16 & 17 Strings.

In addition to these families are specially designed natural gut set of strings, engineered with Thermogut technology to provide an exceptional combination of feel, comfort and power. It’s highly recommended to players with arm problems and also provides outstanding playability. They are Babolat VS Touch, VS Team and Tonic Plus – all are natural gut strings that are made from cow’s intestines.

 

LuxilonLuxilon Tennis String


It’s also one of the popular brand used by the ATP players. It’s generally known for its durability, feel, control and great spin. It has about 5 categories of family namely ALU Power, ALU Power Soft, 4G, 4G Soft and Element.

Luxilon Tennis StringLuxilon ALU Power

It’s one of the iconic families of this brand and has earned a reputation through its consistent improvement. It’s durable and provides good feel when using. It’s not recommended for beginners because it’s potential is above their exploitation.

The versions under this family are ALU Power 16L (1.25) 20th Anniv. String, ALU Power 16L String, ALU Power Rough 16L String, ALU Power Spin 16 String, ALU Power 15 String, ALU Power Feel 18 (1.20) String and ALU Power Fluoro 17 String.

Luxilon Tennis StringLuxilon ALU Power Soft

This is similar to the ALU Power except for its power. It’s lower as compared to the ALU Power. Contrary to its name, it’s not that soft and is also a good selection for big hitters.

It has only one version namely ALU Power Soft 16L String.

Luxilon Tennis StringLuxilon 4G

It’s purposely designed to retain tension and provide better control for players. Like the soft ALU Power, it has less power generation ability and that, it would require extra effort by players to create heavy shots.

Under this family one can find 4G 16 (1.30) String, 4G 16L (1.25) String, 4G S 15g (1.41) String and 4G Rough 16L (1.25) String.

Luxilon Tennis StringLuxilon 4G Soft

It’s softer than the 4G slightly and offers better control to big hitters. It’s recommended for strong players who want to add more control to their spins.

It has one version which is 4G Soft 16 (1.25) String

Luxilon Tennis StringLuxilon Element

Like all the Luxilon strings, the only distinctive feature about this family is its flexibility. It’s also too firm and underpowered for beginner’s use.

It comes with the following versions: Element 16L (1.25) String, Element 16 (1.30) String and Element Rough 16 (1.30) String.

 

WilsonWilson Tennis String


As popularly known because of tennis legend Roger Federer, it provides quality strings ranging from synthetic gut to natural gut. It produces different types of strings for all class of players.

Its design generally adds more feel to the racquet. It has about 5 families, each with distinctive features. They are NXT, NXT DuraMax, NXT Power, Sensation and Revolve.

Wilson Tennis StringWilson NXT

It’s a classic nylon multifilament string that serves well in terms of comfort and feel. It’s less durable as compared to its other family strings but offers outstanding power to big hitters.

This all-around playability string has the following versions: NXT 16 & 17 String Black, NXT 16 & 17 String Natural, NXT Control 16 String, NXT DuraMax 15L String, NXT OS 16L String, Sensation 15, 16 & 17 Strings and Sensation Control 16 String.

Wilson Tennis StringWilson NXT DuraMax

In addition to the features of the NXT model, it’s more durable and offers more control for players who like hitting deep into the court. It also has good shock absorbing ability which makes it more forgiving to the arm.

It has two versions namely NXT DuraMax 15 String and NXT DuraMax 16 String.

Wilson Tennis StringWilson NXT Power

Like the NXT version, it has more power potential and offers better dampening effect due to more shock absorbing fibres. However, it doesn’t generate much spin.

There are 3 versions – NXT Power 16, 17 & 18 Strings.

Wilson Tennis StringWilson Sensation

It’s one of the oldest families of this brand which bears many similarities with the NXT but provides more comfortability. It also helps to reduce vibrations significantly which makes it very friendly to the arm.

Versions: Sensation 15, 16 & 17 Strings and Sensation Control 16 String

Wilson Tennis StringWilson Revolve

It’s an improved co-polyester string. The special additives enhance its tension control ability thereby making it easy to snap back after heavy spin. This also adds to its control ability and feel making it a good option for intermediate and advanced players.

Its versions are Revolve 15, 16 & 17 Strings.

 

PrincePrince Tennis String


Prince, as special as it sounds, produces strings ranging from monofilament synthetic gut to multifilament types. It also comes in different colours.

Families: Classics (Value), Tour XC, XR & XP (Control/Spin), Premier (Comfort & Power)

Prince Tennis StringPrince Classics

Most of the versions in this family are less durable but offer valuable strings in terms of power and comfort.

The versions are Lightning Pro 16 & 17 Strings, Synthetic Gut 16 & 17 Duraflex String, Original Synthetic Gut 17 String, ProBlend Duraflex 16 String, Topspin 15L String, Lightning XX 16 & 17 Strings.

Prince Tennis StringPrince Tour XC, XR & XP

This family is specially designed for outstanding control and sharper spins. It’s suitable for big hitters who want to add more style to their play.

Versions: Tour XP 15L String, Tour XP 16 & 17 Strings, Tour XC 15 String, Tour XC 15L, 16L & 17L Strings, Tour XR 15L, 16L & 17L Strings.

Prince Tennis StringPrince Premier

It’s more tuned for better dampening of vibrations generated on bigger strokes. This attribute makes it more comfortable to use and one can hit balls with high power. It’s a good choice for players with some level of experience.

Versions: Touch 16 String, Power 16 String, Control 16 & 17 Strings, Control 17 String, Touch 17 Clear 330′ String Reel, Touch 16 Clear 330′ String Reel.

TecnifibreTecnifibre Tennis String


This brand produces string ranging from mono to multifilament polyester with additives and are available for all class of players. Its design is mostly centred on control, spin and durability.

There are 5 families namely X-One Biphase, NRG2, Black Code, Pro Red Code and Razor Code

Tecnifibre Tennis StringTecnifibre X-One Biphase

It’s a multifilament family manufactured through extreme variations in temperature to give an exceptional power and feel of racquets. Players who want comfort without offering up power are good to go in for them.

Versions: X-One Biphase 16, 17 & 18 Strings, X-One Biphase 16, 17 & 18 String Red.

Tecnifibre Tennis StringTecnifibre NRG2

It’s also a multifilament synthetic string whose playability in terms of comfort, power and feel is comparable to the natural gut. It’s averagely durable.

Versions: NRG2 16, 17 & 18 Strings, NRG2 16 & 17 String Black.

Tecnifibre Tennis StringTecnifibre Black Code

It’s a soft co-polyester string whose feel feature is engineered from heating and cooling phases in its manufacturing process. It’s a good choice for players at intermediate and advanced levels whose keen interest is attacking the ball at powerful strokes.

Versions: Black Code 16 & 17 String Lime, Black Code 16 & 17 String Fire, Black Code 15L String, Black Code 16, 17 & 18 Strings, Black Code 4S 16, 17 & 18 Strings.

Tecnifibre Tennis StringTecnifibre Pro Red Code

It’s a durable string made from co-polyester monofilament which offers very good spins. It’s a good choice to enhance the play style of aggressive players.

Versions: Pro Red Code Wax 16, 17 & 18 Strings, Pro Red Code 16, 17 & 18 Strings.

Tecnifibre Tennis StringTecnifibre Razor Code

It’s also manufactured from co-polyester monofilament with special additives to improve on both comfortability and power. It’s a good choice for strong intermediate and advanced players who want more responsive control string.

Versions: ATP Razor Code 16, 17 & 18 String Blue, ATP Razor Code 16, 17 & 18 String Carbon.

 

Solinco Solinco Tennis String


It’s a polyester string with varieties in the number of filaments. It’s categorized into Tour Bite, Tour Bite Soft, Revolution, Outlast and Hyper-G.

Solinco Tennis StringSolinco Tour Bite

It’s a monofilament polyester string optimized to give an excellent control and remarkable spin properties.

Versions: Tour Bite 16 (1.30) String, Tour Bite 16L (1.25) String, Tour Bite 17 (1.20) String, Tour Bite 18 (1.15) String, Tour Bite 19 (1.10) String, Tour Bite 20 (1.05) String, Tour Bite Diamond Rough 16 (1.30) String, Tour Bite Diamond Rough 17 (1.20) String.

Solinco Tennis StringSolinco Tour Bite Soft

It’s a co-polyester monofilament string which works perfectly for advanced players as well as big swing intermediate players. It’s a softer version of the Tour Bite.

Versions: Tour Bite Soft 16 (1.30) String, Tour Bite Soft 16L (1.25) String, Tour Bite Soft 17 (1.20) String and Tour Bite Soft 18 (1.15) String

Solinco Tennis StringSolinco Revolution

A co-polyester string of hexagonal shape with a good blend of spin and control. It’s too firm for players at the beginner’s level.

Versions: Revolution 16 (1.30) String, Revolution 16L (1.25) String, Revolution 17 (1.20) String, Revolution 18 (1.15) String

Solinco Tennis StringSolinco Outlast

It provides a good feel of the racquet but lacks in power. It’s for players seeking more control over their games.

Versions: Outlast 16 (1.30) String, Outlast 16L (1.25) String, Outlast 17 (1.20) String and Outlast 18 (1.15) String

Solinco Tennis StringHyper-G

It’s a bright green, square-shaped co-polyester string. With its good tension maintenance to control, spin and incredible feel, it’s too firm for beginner players.

Versions: Hyper-G 16, 17 & 18 Strings, Hyper-G 16L String, Hyper-G 19 & 20 Strings.

 

Have You Found Your Brand?


You have done a great job keeping up with me to this point. It’s quite a long way but a worthy course to get this information to you. Having known the best brands of tennis strings out of the pool of options available out there, it should be easier now to make a good choice without any doubts.

However, if you’re still undecided about the right one to grab then trying out this will be more helpful. It’s a detailed information about the best-selling strings on the market. Get your hands on any one of them and rock.

I will be glad to address your questions if any and do well to drop a comment if this article was helpful. If you still want to read more on what goes into choosing a string, then follow this link: the strategy in choosing a string that fit your play style.

The 9 Top Rated Tennis String That Sharpens Your Racquet: 2018 Review

The 9 Top Rated Tennis String That Sharpens Your Racquet

Becoming a pro in a tennis comes with making the right choice for your tennis kits. And your tennis kits especially your racquet do the talking when you have an exceptional string that fits it. The string has that full potential to either step you up or round you up to a starting point.

To help you find that best string to step up your game, I have come up with these 9 top rated tennis strings with the capacity to improve your performance. The information here is based on research I did and my experience with some of them. I hope you find what you’re looking for by the time you get to the bottom of this article.

The 9 Top Rated Tennis String That Sharpens Your Racquet

The Selected Strings and Why They are the Best

The strings I’ve reviewed made it to this list based on my experience, information gathered from product source and feedback comments from people that have used them. So, you have a comprehensive information to help decide on what type of tennis string to go for.

Your best tennis strings available to your selection are:

  • Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut 16 string
  • Babolat RPM Blast 17
  • Luxilon ALU Power 16L String
  • Luxilon 4G 16 String
  • Solinco Hyper-G
  • Solinco-Tour Bite Tennis String
  • Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex
  • Wilson NXT Power String
  • Tecnifibre NRG2 16 String

 

Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut 16 string, The Stuff of Legend

Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut 16 stringCheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price Range: $ 42.95 – 44.95

My Overall Ranking: 9.7 out of 10

Overview of the Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut 16

It’s one of the iconic strings from Babolat which came into limelight in 1925 and has contributed immensely to the performance of most tennis Pros. It’s also graced some legendary games of some great players in the history of tennis.

This string is endorsed by most ATP and WTP Pros who enjoy power without sacrificing comfortability. It’s a top-rated tennis string good for top-level players as well as beginners who would want to enjoy their game without worrying about arm pains.

It’s made from natural fibres and offers an outstanding combination of power, comfort and irresistible feel. As described by Babolat, the technologies – Thermogut and BT7 technologies backing this string are unmatched in durability and playability.

I love this string although it’s a bit expensive (common to all natural guts) compared to other synthetic guts but I think it’s a good one because you can’t settle for something less and welcome arm pains anytime you play.

String Technical Specification

The distinctive feature of this string is summarized below:

Gauge: 16 / 1.30 mm

Length: 40 ft / 12 m

Composition: Natural Gut (with Thermogut & BT7 Technology)

Colour: Natural

You can also find some with black colour. The technologies of the string are to improve the deficiencies found in most natural guts.

Thermogut Technology: it’s a finishing touch that boosts the string to resist moisture translating to its durability.

BT7 Technology: it’s a layer structure designed to improve on the durability of the string.

Why Would You Buy Babolat VS touch Natural Gut 16?

Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut 16 string customer rating
Check it out!

Pros

  • It has an unmatched combination of power, comfort and feel.
  • If you have issues with elbow, shoulder or general arm problems, then this is the best choice for you.
  • It has good vibration mechanisms to neutralize effects on the arm.

Cons

  • It’s comparatively expensive to the synthetic guts which are common with natural guts.
  • It has inadequate spin and control as compared to polyester strings. This can be solved by using higher tensions or stringing it in a hybrid.

Price

The Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut 16 String is sold at $ 42.95 at Amazon (free shipping) and Tennis Warehouse. It’s comparatively expensive though, but its usage saves you from arm pains.

You will make a right choice by going for this if you’re in search of the above qualities discussed. In addition to this, assessment by tennis warehouse and customers authenticates the value it can offer you.

Pros Endorsing This Item

With the unique qualities shared above, it’s of no doubts that Alexander Zverev, Bryan Brothers and Marin Cilic are great fans of this string.

Finally, if you’re looking for a string with this 3 maximums – maximum power, maximum comfort and maximum tension maintenance, then I think Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut will serve you well.

 

Babolat RPM Blast 17

Babolat RPM Blast 17Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price: $ 17.95

My Overall Ranking: 8.9 out of 10

Overview of the Babolat RPM Blast 17, Unbeatable String in the World of Tennis

Another iconic string from Babolat. It’s a co-polyester monofilament string with an exceptional spin. The fame of this string went viral when Rafael Nadal first used it at the Australian Open in 2010. It has long attracted customers not only because Rafael Nadal used it, but its exceptional features to most traditional strings.

Like most polyester strings which are stiffer, the Babolat RPM Blast 17 is a little thinner than 16 and has a softer feel than the traditional polyester strings. Its octagonal shape gives it an amazing touch for one to create more spin without losing control over the ball.

The Babolat RPM Blast 17 is durable and less elastic but very difficult to break during playing. You don’t have to also worry about rearranging your strings very often when playing with this string. It’s a good choice for players who wield heavy racquets and would love to generate greater spin as well as a better control without compromising on durability.

String Technical Specification

  • Gauge: 17/1.25mm
  • Length: 40ft/12m
  • Composition: Co-polyester Monofilament
  • Shape: 8-Sided
  • Colour: Black

Why Would You Spend Money on RPM Blast 17?

Babolat RPM Blast 17 customer rating
Check it out!

Pros

  • It’s the best choice when it comes to creating more topspin and having better control at the same time.
  • It’s very durable and gives you value for your money as it lasts long too.
  • It also performs well when used in hybrids with natural guts.
  • It’s averagely inexpensive.

Cons

  • Beginner and intermediate players with shorter strokes may not exploit the full potentials of this string.

Price

You can find Babolat RPM Blast 17 at Amazon at $ 17.95 and it’s the cheapest price you can get. This is not cheap and not a too expensive string, considering the quality it comes with.

I would recommend it to any player who would want to generate more topspin.

Pros Endorsing this String

As stated earlier, Rafael Nadal is the iconic player using this string with other Pros such as Julia Goerges and Heather Watson.

Finally, if you want to feel the blast in your spins with better control, then you might want to grab yours.

 

Luxilon ALU Power 16L String

Luxilon ALU Power 16LCheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price: $ 17.95

My Overall Ranking: 9.6 out of 10

Overview of the Luxilon ALU Power 16L

It’s one of the most popular strings found among the professional players on the ATP tour and has contributed massively to the polyester string revolution. With the great blend of fibres and polymers, it’s no surprise of the exceptional combination of spin, control and durability without trading off the amazing feeling it comes with.

It’s said to be a gold standard on the professional tour and hasn’t failed in any way in its quality. Intermediate and advanced players who would love more of control in their game are good to go in for it.

String Technical Specification

  • Gauge: 16L/1.25mm
  • Length: 40ft/12.2m
  • Composition: Co-polymer (nylon) + Fluocarbon resin + aluminum fibers
  • Colour: Silver, Ice
Luxilon ALU Power 16L String customer rating
View it here!

Pros

  • It is very durable and enables one to generate amazing spins without losing control.
  • It provides players with a good feel for the racquet when playing.
  • It’s a premium string and thus fits the price.

Cons

  • It’s averagely expensive.
  • It’s might be too firm for beginners.

Pros Endorsing this String

On the ATP tour, the professionals you will come across with this string are Jeremy Chardy, Marin Cilic and Borna Coric.

If it’s good for these professional players, then you’re not making a mistake if you should buy it. Grab yours here.

 

Luxilon 4G 16 String, The Tension Holder

Luxilon 4G 16 StringCheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price Range: $ 16.80 – $ 43.00

My Overall Ranking: 8.7 out of 10

Overview of the Luxilon 4G 16

It’s a co-polyester string designed to specifically prolong its tension maintenance ability. Unlike most strings which lose their shock absorption in a short time, this has an extended high-tension property making it a great choice for players with aggressive play style to enjoy longer playability.

It’s durable and quite stiff but provides a great feel for players to be comfortable with. So, if you’re looking for a long-lasting string of high tension maintenance which can provide you with great spin as well as control, then this string can do that job.

String Technical Specification

  • Gauge: 16L/1.25mm & 16/1.30 mm
  • Length: 40ft/12.2m
  • Composition: Co-polymer Monofilament
  • Colour: Gold

Why Buy This String?

Luxilon 4G 16 String customer rating
Check it here!

Pros

  • It has an exceptional tension maintenance.
  • You can create more spin and still have a control over it.
  • It’s very comfortable to use.

Cons

  • Generating more power would cost you an extra effort.

Price

It ranges from $ 16.80 to $ 43.00 on Amazon so it provides you with that flexibility. You can get it at tennis warehouse too at $ 17.79 for the 16L/1.25, so I think your best deal will be Amazon.

Although, averagely it’s a little expensive but a cool price for what it can offer you.

Pros Using It

You can find Grigor Dimitrov, Alexandr Dolgopolov and Gilles Muller in the ATP tour using this string. With these great players embracing it, you’re assured of its potential.

In brief, if you want to have a longer playing time without losing the tension of your string in a short time, then you don’t have to blink in buying this.

 

Solinco Hyper-G

Solinco Hyper-GCheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price Range: $ 11.95 – $ 15.99

My Overall Ranking: 9.2 out of 10

Overview of the Solinco Hyper-G

It’s a square-shaped string designed from a copolyester material. It’s found to have been developed for top 50 players of the ATP tour and has risen in the market for its quality. It’s moderately firm which gives a muted and softer feel making it more forgiving to the arm.

It’s not much of power but can generate outstanding spins with excellent tension maintenance. It’s a great string for topspin players who project the ball sharply into the court without having to worry about overhitting.

String Technical Specification

  • Gauge: 16L – 20
  • Length: 40ft/12.2 m
  • Composition: Co-polyester Monofilament
  • Colour: Green

It has about 5 gauges with different diameters providing you with a good option of cost.

Why Buy This String?

Solinco Hyper-G customer rating
See for yourself!

Pros

  • It has high tension maintenance.
  • It’s a good option for players with arm pain.
  • It’s provides muted and softer feel than most polyester string.
  • It’s very durable and hence longer playability.

Cons

  • Its power generation might be less for beginners.

Price

The Solinco Hyper-G comes in different diameters giving rise to the price range $ 11.95 – $ 15.99 and you can get it at Amazon (cheapest) and tennis warehouse.

I think the price is manageable compared to other strings which cannot even match it in terms of quality.

Pros Endorsing This String

If you want to find professionals using this string, then you would check out Bryan Brothers, Sam Querrey and Donald Young. Again, this string was designed with the help of a prominent ATP touring professional so you have got all the goodies in it.

For arm friendly string with great topspin, this should be your last stop.

 

Solinco-Tour Bite Tennis String

Solinco-Tour BiteCheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price Range: $ 7.45 – $ 15.99

My Overall Ranking: 8.3 out of 10

Overview of the Solinco-Tour Bite

It’s a co-polyester string designed to fit advanced players who seek a complete blend of control, durability and spin. It has a growing popularity at the collegiate level because of the great profiles created with the topspins.

It’s not a string for massive power shots but in the right hands, it can produce very heavy balls through the spin at precise angles. I will say it’s an accessory for players who would want to place the ball deep into the court with faster strokes.

String Technical Specification

  • Length: 40ft/12.2m
  • Composition: Co-polyester Monofilament
  • Colour: Silver

The gauge varies for the version you would choose and it ranges from 1.10 mm to 1.35 mm.

Why Buy This String?

Solinco-Tour Bite Tennis String customer rating
Check it out!

Pros

  • It provides a perfect combination of spin, control and durability.
  • It’s ideal for aggressive players who like to smash the ball
  • It’s last quite long in playing.

Cons

  • It’s underpowered for players at beginner level.
  • It’s a little stiff to some people.

Price

You can have the best deal of this string at Amazon ranging from $ 7.45 to $ 15.99, which is a cool price on the average.

It comes with free shipping, so you might want to secure your cut to enjoy your game.

Pros

So far in the professional tennis game, you will come across Sloane Stephens using this string.

For big hitters seeking great loads on head speed, a copy of this string will make your game shine. You can get it here.

 

Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex

Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price Range: $ 4.75 – $ 10.00

My Overall Ranking: 7.9 out of 10

Overview of the Prince Synthetic Gut

It’s one of the cheapest strings that are in high purchase throughout the year. It’s not that soft but a little easier on the elbow and its solid core synthetic fibre provide all round playability. It’s not only an ideal choice for budget-minded players who seek all-round performance but it makes a great hybrid with other strings too.

Its design is of decent combination in spin, power, comfort and control but not of exceptional performance in one area. Compared to its original, it’s durable and offers great value to its followers who find no reason to switch to other strings since the time they started using.

String Technical Specification

  • Gauge: 16 /1.30mm
  • Length: 40ft/12.2m
  • Composition: Solid Core Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex
  • Colour: Black, Blue, Gold, Red, Purple, Silver, White, Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink

Provides a good range of colours for a perfect racquet colour combination.

Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex customer rating
View it here!

Pros

  • It’s very cheap compared to most of the strings
  • It’s a little easier on the arm with its soft feel.
  • It’s also durable and offers a decent power.

Cons

  • It doesn’t offer an outright excellence in one area of string performance.

Price

The lowest price you can get is $ 4.75 and the highest price is $ 10.00 at Amazon. This is indeed a great value of string for players who don’t want to spend beyond their budgets.

Finally, if you’re looking for a decent blend of spin, power, control and good feel of the string without overshooting your budget, then get your cut here.

 

Wilson NXT Power String

Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price Range: $ 19.80 – $ 19.95

My Overall Ranking: 7.7 out of 10

Overview of the Wilson NXT Power

You have to note that this string was formerly named Wilson NXT Tour. It’s one of the iconic strings this brand produces. It’s the softest among this brand and was developed for an exceptional feature of power and reduced vibrations for great arm comfort.

Its polyurethane bonding enhances the durability of the string and adds to the feel of string contact providing a similar feel with the natural gut. Its great power delivery and awesome comfort make it an ideal choice for all class of players.

String Technical Specification

  • Gauge: 17/1.26mm
  • Length: 40ft/12.2m
  • Composition: Multifilament (Xycro Micro fibres bonded with polyurethane)
  • Colour: Natural
Wilson NXT Power String customer rating
Check it out!

Pros

It’s good for players who seek outright excellence in power and comfort.

Its great feeling makes it very forgiving to the arm and thus a good choice for players with arm pains.

It’s 80 % less in vibrations than traditional synthetic guts.

Cons

  • It requires extra effort for one to generate much spin and have better control as well.

Price

The price ranges from $ 19.80 – $ 19.95 on Amazon. It’s a bit pricey but it’s worth a premier string of the brand and thus makes it a cool price for such a popular string.

In short, if you’re a player who wants to produce shots with explosive power without offsetting comfort in your game, then grab your copy here.

 

Tecnifibre NRG2 16 String

Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Price Range: $ 17.95

My Overall Ranking: 8.5 out of 10

Overview of the Tecnifibre NRG2, Awfully Hard to Beat

It’s a premium quality string made from synthetic fibres and comes close to natural guts in terms of playability. With it’s Silicon Pyrogene Lubritec (SPL) technology, you can be assured of durability and exceptional comfort of play without trading off the power.

Not only does it have a large following for its ultra-comfort, touch and power when strung in full bed but makes a perfect combination with other strings in a hybrid. It’s a good choice for all levels of players who are more concerned with the elbow or arm pains but seek the explosive power of their shots.

String Technical Specification

  • Gauge: 16/1.32mm
  • Length: 40ft/12.2m
  • Composition: Multifilament (100% Elastic Fibers, SPL – Silicon Pyrogene Lubritec additive)
  • Colour: Natural

The unique property of the SPL additive is to control elongation of the strings which adds to its durability by 40%.

Tecnifibre NRG2 16 customer rating
Verify it here!

Pros

  • It’s relatively soft compared with most synthetic strings and provides great relief for players with wrist, elbow and arm injuries.
  • It has longer playing time.
  • It’s ultra-comfortable to use without compromising on power.

Cons

  • Its control and spin properties might not be enough for big hitters.

Price

It goes for a cool price of $ 17.95 at Amazon. The price is worth for a premium quality like this and you will hardly get it below that amount anywhere. In my opinion, its superb feel is worth the money and should be a good reason to grab your copy if you seek that.

If you’re seeking great power as well as amazing comfort in your play then you don’t have to ignore this string. Get yours here.

Conclusion – Have You Found Your Choice?

I believe by now you have found the right string to end your frustrations. Producing the right shots with great momentum to throw off your opponent is what keeps up going in the tennis game so having the appropriate surface is very essential. So, let me know by dropping a comment to know if this article was helpful to you in any way and I will be glad to get back to you.

You can also share your experience by leaving a comment below if you have used or after trying any of the strings reviewed above. Feel the strings as you enjoy your game!

Best Rated Tennis Racquets – The Best Brands of Tennis Racquets

Best Rated Tennis Racquets – The Best Brands of Tennis Racquets

Irrespective of your level in the tennis game, choosing the right and good tennis racquet is the beginning of exploiting your strength. There are several brands with numerous designs that sometimes make it confusing for one to select from. You will know what I am talking about if you have ever come to a point to make a decision in buying a particular design of a racquet brand where you have several options. If you are at a point of making that decision too, don’t worry we are going to figure it out together through this post to make the right choice.

There comes the question; what is the best brand of tennis racquet or what is the best-rated tennis racquet? A popular question mostly asked when one have to make a choice but what I believe will do justice to this question is what goes in to make the design of the brand worthy of choice. Frankly speaking, one with interest in tennis will have to check a number of features presented by the design of that brand to make a wise choice.

This is what I will try as much as possible to deliver so that you make a right decision in selection. To be on the same page let briefly look at the overview of the tennis racquet and what the International Tennis Federation (ITF) specifies about racquets in a professional tennis game.

Overview of Tennis Racquet


The racquet is a frame consisting of a handle, head and throat. The head which is connected to the handle forms a hitting surface with strings crossing each other to form a pattern. These strings crossing each other are interlaced alternatively or bonded together.

As regulated by the ITF, the pattern of the hitting surface must be uniform and of identical characteristics on both surfaces with no irregularities. So, a good racquet would have to possess all these features with other characteristics yet to be discussed.

The Standard Dimension Specification of Racquet by ITF


The various designs of the racquets come in different sizes but the dimensions are governed by the ITF. The maximum dimensions which are not to be exceeded are as follows:

  • overall length – 73.7 cm (28.0 inches)
  • overall width – 31.7 cm (12.5 inches)
  • the overall length of hitting surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle – 39.4 cm (15.5 inches)
  • the overall width of hitting surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle – 29.2 cm (11.5 inches)

All the various brands follow these regulations but different designs not exceeding the above are produced. One’s choice is dependent on a number of factors elaborated below.

What are the Best Brands Then?


Among the several brands available for one to choose, the best brands used by the top-rated players are listed below:

  • Babolat
  • Wilson
  • Head
  • Yonex
  • Volkl
  • Prince

Apart from these major brands, other emerging brands in the game of tennis are;

  • Gamma
  • Tecnifibre
  • ProKennex
  • Dunlop

Out of the six major brands listed above the most used ones are the first four. But among the six major brands are families of designs which offer unique characteristics that a player would select from. So, I will be narrowing it down to the various families of designs to present you with the odds for easy selection.

Babolat – Rafael Nadal’s Favourite Brand


This is one of the most popular brands used currently by the world’s number one ATP ranking, Rafael Nadal. It’s best known as modern player racquets. One can experience speed, power and spin from a range of this racquet brand suitable to a beginner, intermediate and advanced players.

In the line of this brand are three main families which come in different versions such as standard, models with respect to the weight, the overall length of the racquet and size of the head. In any case, their uniqueness is unchanged with the family. So, finding a family of a particular property that fits your taste is a go area for your selection.

Let’s delve straight into the families to see what we can find.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsBabolat Pure Aero – Is one of the most used racquets of this brand that allows you to load your shots with great power. This is designed to complement the aggressive mechanics of the modern game. Its name was derived from the aerodynamic beam shape and stable feel. It enables players to hit balls at higher speed. It was previously known as Aero Pro Drive and it comes in different lengths, weights and sizes providing options for players at all levels to choose.

Previously, there were racquets of this family which were part of Aero Pure Storm and are now distinguished with VS. This family has a lot of potentials that would be of good value to consider. Anyway, let look at what the others too can offer.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsBabolat Pure Drive – It’s another most popular racquet series optimized for speed, power and spin. It has a lighter and easy to use frames and is highly recommended to players with aggressive play style. This family bears so much resemblance to the Pure Aero family but has a different feeling. Mostly, it’s advisable for a demo session before buying. It’s available to all levels of players.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsBabolat Pure Strike – is a user-friendly modern tennis racquet which provides control, feel, power and spin. It’s a thinner racquet with a flexible beam that offers better feedback and control. This family of the racquet is recommended to intermediate and advanced players who want to add control as well as feel to power and spin in their game.

The potential of these families makes me feel like I’m on a tennis court. They have awesome features that one might be tempted to have all of them. As stated, Pure Strike is for intermediate and advanced players whiles Pure Aero which is not much different from Pure Drive except the feel, is for all range of players. So, if you are interested in this brand and with your level, it should be clear the one to go for.

This brand is used by about 26 great tennis players both in ATP and WTP. About 2 and 3 of them are in the first 10 of the ATP and WTP rankings respectively. The male mentioned earlier as Rafael Nadal ranked first and the female named Caroline Wozniacki ranked second. Without jumping to a conclusion, let see what the other brands have to offer.

Wilson – Racquets for Some of The Most Iconic Players Ever Seen in Tennis


This is a favourite brand for one of the greatest tennis players, Roger Federer. It provides distinctive classic racquets of control and speed as well as modern ones of power and spin for all range of players from beginner through advanced. Along the tennis game improvement, this American brand has four main families.

In each family comes to the various versions from standard Wilson through the models. Each like the Babolat has unique features that make them distinctive.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsWilson Pro Staff – this is known for its remarkable precision, control and classic feel. It has a more flexible beam. It is one of the most iconic families in this brand line of production. The predominant feature of this is controlling and thus has a head size at 97 or smaller of variable weights. This is a good selection for an advanced player of good mechanics and is also suitable for beginners and intermediate players as well.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsWilson Ultra – It is engineered for a wide variety of playing styles and suits the modern power game of pace and spin. It has a thick beam making the racquet stiffer and more explosive than the blade and the pro staff racquets. It is available for all categories of players from beginner to the advanced level. It also provides easy access to power and spin.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsWilson Blade – It’s a family of racquets loaded with precision, feel, control and spin and is available to all class of players. It is engineered for more response and easy access to spin. It also provides a more arm-friendly stroke but is less powerful than Ultra and Burn racquets.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsWilson Burn – It’s for modern and hard-charging tennis players looking for aggressive tennis game loaded with speed, power and spin. It’s a good selection for players of this nature. It has thick and firm beam punctuated by a crisp and lively response for players who want to add more rpm to their game. It is ideal for several spin generation and thus a good choice for seasonal spin players. This series is also available to all class of players.

In summary, the Ultra, Blade and Burn are good for all players from beginner to advanced whiles the Pro Staff is a good choice for intermediate and advanced players.

In the ATP and WTP games, about 27 great players led by Roger Federer, Simona Halep of rank 1, the Williams and other players use this brand of tennis racquets. It now getting tougher for one to choose looking at the profiles each are offering. Let keep digging.

Head – Largest and Terrific Tennis Brand


This brand has existed in the history of tennis spanning over half a century and is available to players from beginners seeking comfort and power to advanced players searching for control and feel.

In the line of tennis development, this brand has 6 families of varying versions from standard to models of variable weight and head size.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsHead Radical – This family is suitable for players who desire racquets optimized for speed, power, spin, control and feel. Head Radical tend to have moderate flex ratings making it slightly flexible than the average modern power racquets. Majority of this family is weighted for players at the intermediate and advanced level. There are other modified versions for beginners as well.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsHead Prestige – It’s characterized by precision, control, stability and feel. This is an improved version and is specialized for more muted feel by dampening vibrations at the impact of the tennis ball. It’s a good choice for intermediate to advanced players looking for racquets of these characteristics.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsHead Speed – Players looking for racquets that can offer good control, feel and spin will be served right to select this. It offers the speed and spin required of modern player racquets. The majority of its production line features thinner and more flexible beams giving them great control and feel. In addition, it provides customization option of adaptive tuning of string pattern as well as power options for beginners and anyone seeking a preferred setting. It’s available for beginners, intermediate and advanced players looking for quick swinging styles and control.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsHead Extreme – It’s recommended for big swing modern players seeking power, speed and spin to their game. It has thick and lively beams giving modern players impressive stability. It also enables effective loading of shots at a regular pace and getting the ball bouncing. It has only two weights available for beginners to advanced players who want to generate more power and variety of spins in their game.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsHead Instinct – It’s engineered specifically to deliver more power and spin. It’s a user-friendly modern racquet that comes with open 16 by 19 string pattern to maximize spin potential. It also comes with an adaptive feature that one can tune to suit one’s need. It’s ability to accommodate light and heavy options make it flexible to customize it to features that fit beginners and intermediate players.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsHeader MXG – It’s the newest family to this brand and is specially weighted for players in the beginning and intermediate level. It’s designed for its outstanding speed, power and spin. It features Magnesium throat bridge serving as a stability enhancement and accommodates longer main strings for extra comfort and power. It’s a good option for improving beginners and intermediate players.

In summary, the prestige is for intermediate and advanced players whiles instinct and MXG are weighted for beginner and intermediate players. The rest of the three are designed for all class of players.

There are about 18 great players in professional tennis that use this brand of tennis. Just to mention a few such as Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Andy Murray, Sloane Stephens, Ashleigh Barty and the likes feature this brand of the tennis racquet.

Yonex – Isometric Shape Racquets


The shape of this brand offers a large hitting surface suitable for delivering shots of more power as well as control in a tennis game. It has four different families which I will briefly touch on.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsYonex EZONE – Provides a good measure of speed, power, control and spin. It’s also more flexible and arm-friendly. It fit players ranging from beginner to advanced level who seek controllable power racquets with an amazing feel.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsYonex EZONE DR – offers racquets of remarkable control, spin and feel. It’s available to players from beginner level all the way to advanced and has average stability for the ranges of weights and lengths.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsYonex VCore Spin Vortex (SV) – It provides a combination of power and precision to players. Its extended length version is a good deal for modern aggressive baseliners who want to be in control of their game and are for all class of players.

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsYonex VCore Duel G – It provides players with extra control of the game and an amazing feel with a slightly traditional spec profile. It has thinner beam compared to Ezone and Vcore families. Its heaviest models are great for advanced players looking for control, feel and shot cut-through in their games. The lighter ones provide a good deal for intermediate players.

Overall, the VCore SV and Duel G will be a good choice for intermediate and advanced players whiles the rest is for all class of players. About 18 professional players use this brand and prominent among them are Angelique Kerber, Belinda Bencic, Hyeon Chung, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Steve Johnson and the likes.

Volkl – Option for Ball Attackers


This brand is not commonly used but has a good option for modern players seeking power and speed. There are about five families of this brand which are as a result of variations in power, precision, spin, control, feel and speed. The families are:

  1. Volkl V-Feel
  2. Volkl VSENSE
  3. 2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsVolkl Super G
  4. Volkl Organix
  5. Volkl Pro & Classic

Most families of this brand are used for all class of players but the V-Feel and VSENSE are more geared towards intermediate and advanced players. Professional players who use this brand are Nicolas Almagro and Laura Siegemund.

Prince – Provides Good Feel


Another brand at bracket with the Volkl brand. It has about 7 families making it the largest family among the various brands. They are;

  1. Prince Tour
  2. 2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsPrince Beast
  3. Prince Phantom
  4. Prince Warrior
  5. Prince Classic
  6. Prince Lightning
  7. Prince Premier

These names look like they were carefully taken to suit the name “Prince”. It’s also less popular and is seen among professional players like John Isner and Lucas Pouille

Conclusion – Declaring Best Brands and Making a Choice

2018 Best Rated Tennis RacquetsAs discussed above there is a wide range of options for one to choose from but the brands I will recommend are Babolat, Wilson, Head and Yonex. That still seems like a lot of confusion because these brands come with families and versions.

Based on best-selling data gathered, pinning it down to the best options available for each brand, I will recommend Pure Aero, Pure Drive and Pure Strike 98 for the brand of Babolat. For one seeking Wilson brand, Pro staff RF97 and Blade 98 are highly recommended.

Radical versions of the Head brand will be good for one to take a look at and EZONE DR 98, VCore Duel G 97 is also a good choice for one to consider.

I hope this will be of good assistance in making your choice of racquet. I will consider myself as a Babolat fan since I enjoy playing with this brand.

Without considering my recommendation, what do you think will be the best brand and family to choose for a tennis game? I will be glad to get back to you if you can share your view in the comment box below.