String Playtests USRSA RANKINGS to look at the strings that have scored the highest in overall average, as well as in each of the nine playing catego- Pulling the Right ries, since USRSA playtesting began. In the USRSA’s Overall Average Rank- ings chart, we’ve listed the strings Strings in the top 50 spots (note, there are a number of ties in the rankings). With playtests on more than We’ve also provided the top 20 strings in each of the nine playing 200 strings in its database, the USRSA categories that are averaged to deter- mine the Overall Ranking: Playability, compiles its Top 50 performers. Durability, Power, Control, Touch/ Feel, Comfort, Spin Potential, Holding By David Bone, President, USRSA Tension and Resistance to Movement. Keep in mind that these nine ratings are just a small part of the review for each string. The Overall Average Rankings chart also lists the gauge of the string tested and the month and year the original playtest was published. The U.S. Racquet Stringers Asso- at the time they were introduced to (Note: When the USRSA first start- ciation has been conducting blind the market. ed playtesting tennis strings, we rated playtests of select tennis strings since When manufacturers ask the them in only six playing categories. late 1992. In 28 years of playtesting, USRSA to playtest a new string, they You’ll note that some of the strings in we’ve published reviews of more than send us 50 unmarked samples of the our Overall Average Rankings chart do 200 strings in the official publication string in unmarked packaging, which not have ratings in Feel, Comfort and/ of the USRSA (first The Stringer’s we then distribute to our team of or Spin Potential, which were added to Assistant magazine and now Racquet playtesters. Our dozens of USRSA the playtester questionnaires in 1998.) Sports Industry). playtesters then string their frames If you’d like to see the rest of the When you consider that the USRSA according to the manufacturer’s story for any of these strings, you String Selector tool includes lab test instructions and play with the string can look through back issues of RSI, data for about 1,100 strings currently for five to six weeks before complet- Tennis Industry, RacquetTech and The available on the market, and that the ing a comprehensive questionnaire, Stringer’s Assistant. But if you’re a USRSA String Specifications tool which includes ratings for the string in USRSA member, you can find links to includes test data for well over 2,000 nine different playing categories. The all the published playtest reviews on strings, the 200 strings we’ve play- results of those playtester question- one page, at www.racquettech.com/ tested and reviewed may not seem like naires are tabulated by the USRSA members/playtests/tennis.php. a large number. But these 200 strings and published in RSI. The most recent We’re sure you’ll find some old are, arguably, the cream of the crop— USRSA string playtest published was favorites on these lists, and we hope they were specifically selected for the Prince Diablo Prism 17 in the you’ll find these rankings helpful as testing by their manufacturers as the January 2020 issue. you look to stock your shop with the strings they were most excited about We thought it would be interesting best strings for your customer base. SHUTTERSTOCK 30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY April 2020 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com USRSA Overall Average Rankings Resistance Overall Touch/ Spin Holding to Average Rank Make Model Gauge Pub Date Playability Durability Power Control Feel Comfort Potential Tension Movement Ranking 1 Wilson Natural 16 Jun-06 4.33 3.25 3.99 4.05 4.29 4.25 4.03 3.75 3.43 3.93 2 Ytex Quadro Twist 16L Feb-12 3.51 4.36 3.69 3.85 3.03 3.21 4.28 3.82 4.23 3.78 3 Head Sonic Pro Edge 16 Feb-13 3.58 4.36 3.58 3.97 3.31 3.33 4.11 3.61 4.03 3.76 T4 Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 17 Sep-19 3.53 4.47 3.43 3.90 3.27 3.37 4.27 3.40 4.13 3.75 T4 Tourna Big Hitter Blue Rough 17 Feb-11 3.65 4.15 3.59 3.88 3.12 3.26 4.15 3.68 4.24 3.75 6 Klip Screamer (gut mains) 17/17 Jun-05 3.99 3.40 3.97 3.87 3.89 3.89 3.46 3.60 3.49 3.73 T7 Tecnifibre HDX Tour 17 Sep-14 4.01 3.29 3.70 3.75 3.87 4.12 3.36 3.63 3.59 3.70 T7 Klip X-Plosive (gut mains) 17/17 Nov-04 3.81 3.71 3.98 3.81 3.74 3.66 3.48 3.48 3.64 3.70 T9 Genesis Black Magic 17 Aug-11 3.53 4.42 3.45 3.79 3.11 3.29 3.87 3.61 4.11 3.69 T9 Victory Acelon Seven 16L Mar-14 3.57 4.10 3.53 3.70 3.10 3.23 4.27 3.57 4.10 3.69 T11 Prince Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex 17 Mar-93 4.00 3.80 3.50 3.80 -- -- -- 3.80 3.20 3.68 T11 Prince Premier LT 17 Mar-09 4.05 3.05 3.67 3.97 4.03 3.97 3.64 3.51 3.21 3.68 T13 Tourna Hybrid Poly Gut (poly mains) 16/16 Jul-05 3.81 4.10 3.62 3.82 3.21 3.43 3.46 3.54 4.04 3.67 T13 Wilson NXT OS 16 Jun-04 4.08 3.76 3.58 3.81 3.54 3.65 3.46 3.51 3.60 3.67 T15 Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 17 May-12 3.58 3.85 3.58 3.67 3.24 3.24 4.36 3.45 3.97 3.66 T15 Dunlop Max Comfort 16 Feb-97 3.60 3.90 3.40 3.60 3.70 -- -- 3.70 3.70 3.66 T15 Head Sonic Pro/Natural Gut 16/17 Aug-09 3.86 3.81 3.81 3.86 3.44 3.56 3.50 3.39 3.67 3.66 18 Klip X-Plosive (poly mains) 17/17 Nov-04 3.82 3.94 3.89 3.67 3.47 3.48 3.47 3.32 3.77 3.65 T19 Tecnifibre Razor Code 16 Apr-13 3.41 4.38 3.53 3.94 2.97 3.13 3.47 3.66 4.28 3.64 T19 Gamma Zo Verve 17 Sep-11 3.49 4.40 3.58 3.88 2.95 2.98 3.86 3.60 4.00 3.64 T19 Prince Diablo Prism 17 Feb-20 3.59 4.31 3.41 3.78 3.16 3.25 3.50 3.53 4.19 3.64 22 Luxilon M2 Pro 1.25 May-09 3.49 4.49 3.57 3.78 2.92 3.03 3.76 3.59 4.00 3.63 T23 Luxilon M2 Plus 1.3 Jan-10 3.59 4.26 3.72 3.69 3.15 3.21 3.49 3.58 3.92 3.62 T23 Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 Jul-04 3.94 3.38 3.84 3.79 3.65 4.03 3.50 3.21 3.26 3.62 25 Solinco Tour Bite 18 Jul-10 3.51 4.21 3.56 3.54 3.03 3.21 3.72 3.66 4.03 3.61 T26 Tourna Big Hitter Blue 17 Jan-08 3.49 4.45 3.47 3.57 3.00 3.18 3.66 3.55 4.05 3.60 T26 Gamma TNT2 Touch 16 Jun-10 3.82 3.50 3.67 3.72 3.64 3.83 3.53 3.47 3.22 3.60 T26 Gosen Polylon SP 17 Sep-05 3.54 4.20 3.53 3.61 3.16 3.24 3.29 3.81 4.01 3.60 T29 Tecnifibre Black Code 16 Jul-09 3.50 4.28 3.39 3.75 2.89 3.19 3.61 3.42 4.28 3.59 T29 Kirschbaum Pro Line II Rough 1.25 Jul-16 3.38 4.21 3.15 3.82 3.06 3.26 4.09 3.50 3.82 3.59 T29 Tecnifibre TGV 16 Jul-08 3.68 3.62 3.38 3.84 3.54 3.92 3.43 3.57 3.30 3.59 T29 Tourna Quasi Gut 16 Apr-10 3.94 3.39 3.67 3.64 3.75 3.83 3.39 3.44 3.22 3.59 T33 Klip Screamer (nylon mains) 17/17 Jun-05 3.88 2.82 3.68 3.76 3.67 3.83 3.65 3.59 3.36 3.58 T33 Tecnifibre Ruff Code 16 Apr-12 3.24 4.35 3.53 3.74 2.94 2.94 3.85 3.59 4.06 3.58 T33 Gamma RZR Rx 16 Aug-13 3.61 4.03 3.48 3.82 3.21 3.42 3.67 3.52 3.42 3.58 T36 Tourna Quasi Gut Armor 16 Nov-13 3.86 3.26 3.71 3.71 3.94 4.17 3.06 3.40 3.06 3.57 T36 Solinco Tour Bite 17 Jul-10 3.42 4.19 3.64 3.67 2.92 2.75 4.11 3.44 4.00 3.57 T36 Pacific Power Hybrid (poly mains) 16L/16L Nov-08 3.37 4.17 3.40 3.83 3.09 3.14 3.60 3.66 3.86 3.57 T39 Wilson K Gut 16 Mar-08 3.68 3.53 3.43 3.65 3.59 3.78 3.19 3.51 3.68 3.56 T39 Luxilon Alu Power Fluoro 1.23 Apr-08 3.43 4.51 3.31 3.77 2.83 2.91 3.37 3.74 4.17 3.56 T39 Tecnifibre X-Code 16 Jan-11 3.58 3.86 3.39 3.67 3.42 3.53 3.22 3.64 3.72 3.56 T39 Isospeed Black Fire 17 Sep-13 3.50 4.07 3.50 3.73 2.93 3.27 3.43 3.50 4.10 3.56 T39 Ashaway Gutfire 16 Feb-95 3.20 4.00 3.30 3.80 3.10 -- -- 3.60 3.90 3.56 T39 Prince Synthetic Gut Soft 16 Mar-96 3.70 3.30 3.50 3.90 3.50 -- -- 3.70 3.30 3.56 T39 Prince Synthetic Gut Multifilament 16 Jan-07 3.79 3.67 3.34 3.85 3.48 3.67 3.30 3.45 3.45 3.56 T46 Gamma Zo Sweet 17 Nov-05 3.50 4.27 3.45 3.61 3.12 3.18 3.55 3.61 3.70 3.55 T46 Isospeed Professional 17 Jun-07 3.61 3.72 3.50 3.75 3.33 3.61 3.50 3.36 3.58 3.55 T46 Pacific Poly Power Pro 16 Mar-10 3.33 4.51 3.44 3.70 2.69 2.86 3.41 3.70 4.31 3.55 T46 Gamma Moto 16 May-13 3.38 4.16 3.22 3.70 2.78 3.11 4.08 3.38 4.14 3.55 T50 Wilson Sensation NXT 16 Feb-98 3.70 3.40 3.50 3.70 3.60 3.70 3.40 3.50 3.40 3.54 T50 Tecnifibre Duramix HD 16 Jul-11 3.78 3.42 3.58 3.58 3.78 3.83 3.25 3.22 3.44 3.54 T50 Head Gravity 17/18 Feb-15 3.38 3.85 3.46 3.54 3.15 3.09 3.96 3.55 3.84 3.54 USRSA Playability Rankings USRSA Durability Rankings Rank Make Model Gauge Pub Date Playability Rank Make Model Gauge Pub Date Durability 1 Wilson Natural 16 Jun-06 4.33 1 Ashaway Crossfire Vectran 16 Dec-99 4.60 2 Wilson NXT OS 16 Jun-04 4.08 2 Tourna Poly Big Hitter 16 May-04 4.56 3 Prince Premier LT 17 Mar-09 4.05 T3 Luxilon Alu Power Fluoro 1.23 Apr-08 4.51 4 Tecnifibre HDX Tour 17 Sep-14 4.01 T3 Pacific Poly Power Pro 16 Mar-10 4.51 5 Prince Synthetic Gut w/Duraflex 17 Mar-93 4.00 5 Luxilon M2 Pro 1.25 May-09 4.49 6 Klip Screamer (gut mains) 17/17 Jun-05 3.99 6 Signum Pro Yellow Jacket 16 Feb-19 4.48 7 Tecnifibre XR3 17 Apr-15 3.95 T7 Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 17 Sep-19 4.47 8 Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 Jul-04 3.94 T7 Toalson Cyber Blade Tour Thermaxe 1.23 Mar-05 4.47 9 Tourna Quasi Gut 16 Apr-10 3.94 T9 Tourna Big Hitter Blue 17 Jan-08 4.45 10 Tecnifibre Multifeel 16 Mar-16 3.89 T9 Volkl V-Rex 16L Apr-05 4.45 11 Klip Screamer (nylon mains) 17/17 Jun-05 3.88 11 Ashaway MonoGut ZX Pro 17 Mar-13 4.44 T12 Head Sonic Pro/Natural Gut 16/17 Aug-09 3.86 12 Pro Supex Big Ace 1.22 Apr-07 4.43 T12 Tourna Quasi Gut Armor 16 Nov-13 3.86 13 Genesis Black Magic 17 Aug-11 4.42 T14 Klip X-Plosive (poly mains) 17/17 Nov-04 3.82 T14 Gamma Zo Verve 17 Sep-11 4.40 T14 Gamma TNT2 Touch 16 Jun-10 3.82 T14 Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 Jul-03 4.40 T16 Klip X-Plosive (gut mains) 17/17 Nov-04 3.81 16 Gamma Zo Dart 17 Nov-12 4.39 T16 Tourna Hybrid Poly Gut (poly mains) 16/16 Jul-05 3.81 17 Tecnifibre Razor Code 16 Apr-13 4.38 T18 Prince Synthetic Gut Multifilament 16 Jan-07 3.79 T18 Ytex Quadro Twist 16L Feb-12 4.36 T18 Head FXP Power/FXP 17/17 Feb-10 3.79 T18 Head Sonic Pro Edge 16 Feb-13 4.36 20 Tecnifibre Duramix HD 16 Jul-11 3.78 20 Tecnifibre Ruff Code 16 Apr-12 4.35 USRSA STRING RANKINGS ARE BASED ON RATINGS FROM MORE THAN 200 STRING PLAYTESTS SINCE 1992.