Gosen Proform Tuff 15L. A basic nylon string for the economy minded player

$14

Leoina 66. Who says time doesn't stand still? This one has been around forever and still works. This is a very basic 15 ga nylon. Inexpensive, durable, with okay performance. Slightly textured.

$16

WILSON ENDURO GOLD 16 is a polyester string for the economy minded player. Low price and high durability make this an excellent choice for the chronic string breaker on a budget. Can be hybridized too.

$16

Babolat Super Fine Play. Softer and more elastic than most of the comparably priced synthetics. Being discontinued by Babolat but a few sets of 17 ga still in stock.

$17

Gamma Synthetic Gut. I am stocking this string in both 15L and 16 gauges. Gamma strings tend to be on the elastic side and this is no exception

$17

Head Synthetic Gut PPS 16. Very similar to Prince Synthetic Gut in design, a basic center core construction with a wear resistant layer for added durability. Crisp playability. In White or Gold.

$17

Toa Gold. Most folks are unfamilar with the name, but TOA is one of the largest manufacturers of synthetic strings in the world, if not THE largest, and they make strings for most of the name brands that you do know. Toa Gold is a really nice inexpensive synthetic gut and is available in both 15L and 16 gauges.

$17

Wilson Extreme Synthetic Gut. Wilson's synthetic gut is not as stiff as Prince's which some folks feel has a tendency to play a little on the harsh side especially in racquets with smaller heads. Available in clear in both 16 and 17 ga. Also in black in 16 ga.

$17

Babolat Conquest was previously known as VS Synthetic Gut. Similar in construction to other synthetic guts except that it has an unusual coating that allows the strings to move independently a bit more. In general a very smooth performer and available in both 16 and 17 gauge.

$18

Still the best selling string in the world. Prince Synthetic Gut in my opinion is the stiffest of the synthetic guts and not vastly different from Wilson's, Gamma's or Head's or anybody else's synthetic gut for that matter. Good playability, good durability, good price and in an array of colors. The vanilla of tennis strings.

$18

Prince Lightning XX 16. Hey! This stuff is pretty! It has shiny spirals in it! Prince calls them Powerfoils and the even better news is they actually work! This string has some real pop! In clear, hot pink, blue and yellow.

$19

Prince Topspin. The original 15L version with one enlarged outer filament to add texture. A basic nylon string with a dedicated following.

$19

Prince Topspin Plus 16 is similar to the original Topspin but is thinner in gauge and has two enlarged outer filaments for texture instead of just one.

$19

Forten Sweet Aramid used to be called Sweet Kevlar. This is a hybrid set for chronic string breakers. Nice and dead. Available in both 16L and 15L. Basically the same as Prince's Pro Blend, just a lot less expensive. Not a good choice for anyone with a sore elbow.

$20

Forten Thin Blend. This is a very thin version of a Kevlar hybrid. The main strings are 18 ga Kevlar composite and the crosses are 17 ga synthetic gut. For big hitters who are hooked on that dead Kevlar feel but are willing to sacrifice some durability for some added playability.

$20

Gamma Power Play 18 is an ultra thin composite of Kevlar, Zyex, and Nylon. When I played with the Wilson Hammer 2.7 95, a racquet with a dense string pattern and just a little too much power, this string helped me regain control of my shots. Pretty durable for an 18 ga too.

$20

Kirschbaum Super Smash Honey. One of the first in what has become a veritable sea of polyester strings from Europe. This one is German made and best selling point (besides price) is the large array of gauges. I am carrying 1.20mm, 1.25mm, 1.275mm and 1.30mm which are roughly 18 ga, 17ga, 16L and 16 ga respectively. Very durable and dead and recommended for string breakers.

$20

Ashaway Dynamite WB is a Zyex string from the only US manufacturer of racquet string. Zyex is known for its liveliness and excellent tension maintenance. Good choice for someone looking for a springier string bed.. This 16 ga string comes in a light purple color. The 17 ga version is silver in color.

$22

Head FXP 16. A recent addition to Head's Control String line. It's got it's roots in the synthetic gut world but there's polyester in there too, just enough so you'd know it.

$22

Head RIP Control. An unusually durable multifilament with excellent control. Somewhat dead. I usually like to have string breakers try this one first before we start into the polyesters. Available in 16 gauge.

$22

MSV Focus Hex is a recent arrival from Germany. As the name implies, the string is hex shaped for added spin potential. Excellent tension maintenance for a poly string and not bad in the comfort dept either. Available in 1.10, 1.18 and 1.23mm.

$22

Babolat Pro Hurricane. A polyester string that has become quite popular on the pro tour. An excellent choice for hard hitters and chronic string breakers. It is frequently hybridized (paired with a softer cross string) for added comfort. I am stocking this in 17 and 18 ga.

$23

Forten Aramid Gear. This is a Kevlar hybrid with textured main strings to enhance spin. The mains have a core of Kevlar surrounded by a nylon jacket that is cross sectionally shaped like a gear. The crosses are synthetic gut. For big hitters looking for added spin

$23

Same as Super Smash Honey except with added texture. So far, only in 1.25mm (17ga).

$23

Weiss Cannon Matchpower 1.25 is the softest co-poly I have tested to date. An excellent choice for those seeking the durability and control of polyester in a more comfortable package. In orange or cream color.

$23

Gamma TNT has become the mainstay of the Gamma line. A very smooth playing synthetic. The 17 gauge version is a particularly nice performer. Durability is fairly average.

$24

Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.18 and 1.23 Signum Pro has garnered quite a following in Europe but is only recently making a splash here in the States. Poly Plasma is a bright orange co-poly that has better than average tension maintenance for a poly based string and plays a bit softer than Luxilon.

$24

Weiss Cannon Scorpion 1.22. German co-polyester. The liveliest poly I've playtested. A good choice for juniors who are breaking strings and for players looking for a poly or poly hybrid for a smaller frame with a denser string pattern.

$24

Wilson Sensation. I nursed by arm back from a pretty bad case of tennis elbow with this string. Reasonably soft multifilament string at a good price. Available in both 16 and 17 gauges. Not a bad choice for a cross string in polyester hybrids either.

$24

Head Intellistring is a hybrid set in Head's line of "Power" strings, so it's intended to be on the lively side and was original equipment in several of the Intelligence series racquets. I carry this one by request.

$25

Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour. I am carrying both 16 and 17 ga. I was stringing at a Challenger Event last summer and this string was being used by so many players I decided to start carrying it. It's softer than the original Pro Hurricane, but it's definitely still a poly.

$26

Gamma Live Wire 16 has been around for several years, but until now I chose not to carry it. It's a lively multifilament that is easy on the arm and I expect it to fill the void left by the now discontinued tennis elbow string, Gamma RX.

$26

Gamma Prodigy 16 is a lively offering from the folks at Gamma featuring what they call coaxial construction in addition to their patented gamma irradiation process. The design is intended to provide the best of both worlds: the playability of a multifilament and the tension maintenance of a solid core string. Only in 16 gauge.

$27

Kirschbaum Pro Line No. II. This is the latest from the folks at Kirschbaum, a co-poly in a bright red color. Big improvement in comfort and tension maintenance, but still a poly. In both 17 and 18 gauge.

$27

Luxilon Big Banger Original. In recent years Luxilon has become the string of choice for touring professionals. If you are a hard hitting, string busting, world beating cyclone of a tennis player, this may be one you should look at. This is a 16 gauge polyester.

$27

Prince Premiere w/Softflex. Prince's entry into the already crowded multifilament category. It's in the same vein as Wilson NXT, Tecnifibre NRG and Babolat Xcel Premium. Good choice if you are looking for a softer string to tone down an overly stiff racquet perhaps.

$27

Signum Pro Hyperion 1.24. Another of the new Black Line strings from Signum, this is a polyester string that's designed to be more arm friendly.

$27

Tecnifibre NRG. French made multifilament. Available in both 16 and 17 gauge. One of the best synthetics out there. If you want performance, definitely worth a try.

$27

Gamma Live Wire XP is similar in construction to the original Live Wire but with the addition of Zyex fibers the playability is crisper and the string is also more durable. In 16 and 17 gauge.

$28

Big Banger Alu Power gets it's name from the addition of aluminum fibers during the extrusion process. It is a little thinner than Big Banger Original. Luxilon says it's a 16L. Whatever. This is probably the most popular string on the pro tour today. Is it right for you? Well, polyester strings are somewhat dead and lacking in feel. If you like to pummel the ball and your arm can take it, you might want to give it a shot.

$29

Same as Luxilon Alu Power but with added texture. Roger Federer uses this one in a hybrid set with natural gut main strings, in what I would call a "reverse" hybrid. The idea is to mute the power of the gut without having to use ultra high tensions that would shrink the size of the sweetspot.

$29

Babolat Xcel replaces what was previously called Xcel Premium. In this updated version Babolat uses a new bonding agent that is intended to maintain the soft feel of the original while improving durability. One of the softest strings out there, so not a bad choice for sore arms. I am carrying this string in both 16 and 17 gauges.

$30

Prince Recoil 16. Do you hate it when your strings move around? This string may be the answer to your prayers. A special coating from the folks at Gore-Tex allows the strings to maintain alignment hit after hit improving the consistency of your shots. At a special introductory price of $30.

$30

Signum Pro Tornado 1.23. This heptagonally shaped polyester is one of Signum's new Black Line of strings. Designed to produce big spin.

$30

Tecnifibre X-One Biphase: I am carrying this in both 16 and 17 ga. Not quite as powerful as NRG but still comfort oriented. Holds tension pretty well for a coreless multifilament.

$30

Originally known as Wilson Sensation NXT but now simply as NXT, this is a high quality multifilament that is bonded with polyurethane. Personally, I think the original Sensation feels better, but the NXT lasts longer. I might be alone on that score. Have heard that NXT and Tecnifibre NRG come out of the same factory. Dunno. They ARE similar in playability. In both 16 and 17 gauges.

$30

Babolat RPM Blast. New co-poly from Babolat that is softer than their earlier offerings and octagonally shaped for more spin. Currently being used by Nadal, Roddick and Tsonga. Available in both 16 and 17 ga.

$32

Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power 1.23 Fluoro. With Fluoro, Luxilon has introduced a more comfortable (softer) version of the phenomenonally popular Alu Power.

$32

Wilson NXT Tour 16. I am carrying this string by request. This is the top of the line in the NXT series, a collection of synthetics that Wilson says play like natural gut.

$34

Wilson K-Gut Pro 16. High performance multifilament from the folks at Wilson. Power, control, comfort, durability all in one package.

$35

Babolat Tonic Plus is VS Touch and VS Team (natural gut) that has failed to meet Babolat's stringent quality standards for gauge and cosmetic appearance. An especially good choice if you are looking to hybridize with a polyester.

$45

Bow Brand Professional 16. A fine natural gut manufactured in Great Britain. A touch more lively than Babolat.

$47

VS Touch 16 is Babolat's best natural gut and arguably the finest gut available on the planet. With the U.S. dollar getting clobbered by the Euro the price of this French made string has been moving up recently and I regrettably have had to follow suit.

$56