800 shots today on my Blade version 7 @ 48#. I ate through my hybrid set ups too quick so thought this softer full bed of poly would give me similar performance but double the durability. I'm getting a lower launch angle which was a little confusing but once I got used to it I won the 2nd and 3rd set after dropping the 1st. I like it. Good power and spin. The only thing I'd change is I might go a bit higher in tension to 50# like the play testers did. Great string and I'll be using it for the next month or 2 if it holds up! Grip it and Rip it!
@@Badickerson1990 No it's the 17x19 however if I could do it over I'd have gotten the 18x20. I'm in a tourney this weekend and went back to my Dunlop srixon 2.0 18x20. The blade is certainly more comfortable but the tighter pattern has that control that gives me more confidence under pressure in tourney's. Blade 17x19 turned out to be a tad too powerful. Sure is fun but when under pressure (when it counts) I probably be playing it in tonight's match if it were the tighter string bed. I'm a 4.0 baseliner, have won a few 4.5 matches, single backhand. I play doubles as well. VERY comfortable racquet and have no complaints, just picked the wrong pattern for me. Good luck.
My experience was that it is a lot more powerful and less controllable power. I'd string it up higher like Troy mentioned but I am going to RPM blast hybrid. It was a bit too much for me
Just wanna address one of the points out of fairness. Stringing it at 47 or 50 pounds is pretty low, even by today's standards, so I'm not shocked the ball was flying. Maybe strung at 56 is a sweet spot for these more lively strings. Very nice strokes by the way from the guy in the yellow.
Compare it to the Alu Power Rough which is epic for comfort and spin and dare I say it Power too!!! Given up on the rpm blast for now because of the 'dead' feel. Really loving the POWER response from the Alu Power on my Babolat Pure Drive!!! 😱 stringing it tighter for better control. Ask me in a month if the love is still there!!
I found it a lot stiffer than the normal rpm blast when I hit it a bit flat... it has more power and less controllable than the normal.. much prefer the normal rpm blast
Hi Andy. Rpm blast was my favorit string but now I love this string more(1.25). I like great power, spin and soft feel of this string. But only problem is playability duration. Can you recommed the oter strings which is similar but better playability duration? Thanks.
Hello, how do these strings ( rpm blast rough) compare to the rpm blast and rpm rpm rough? I have this kind of string (rpm blast rough) but nowadays it not really that available
Andy. I loved Tour Bite in my Pure Aero at 55 lbs but am playing with RPM Blast at 52 lbs. I want to recreate the feeling that Tour Bite gave me at 55 lbs using RPM Blast. What tension would you recommend stringing RPM Blast to recreate the feeling. Thanks Andy.
Tennis Warehouse Hi, I am UTR 9 and play with full bed of rpm blast, I tried rpm blast rough but could really play with it. Could you use a hybrid between the two? Thanks
Hello, how do these strings ( rpm blast rough) compare to the rpm blast and rpm rpm rough? I have this kind of string (rpm blast rough) but nowadays it not really that available
This is the same string as RPM Rough, they just basically simplified the name. Compared to RPM Blast, the rough version feels more elastic, having more ball pocketing, and feels more lively or more energy return. RPM Blast feels more control oriented, and deader or lower energy return. Both very spin friendly. Troy, TW
The more lively the string the more energy return, or more launch from the string bed. The opposite term we often use is dead, in reference to the string having low energy return, not much help in terms of adding some pop to the racquet. Troy, TW
How come this string is rated at 66 out of 100 and the rpm blast regular at 87 out of 100 in term of confort , knowing that all the playtester seems to find the rpm blast rough more confortable than the rpm blast ? 🤔
@Oliver Bado, Our ratings are very subjective and based on each playtester's opinion, hence the discrepancies. If you are looking just at data, RPM Blast is stiffer than Rough in the lab. twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/comparestrings.php Michelle, TW
I've been looking for an all poly setup that my sensitive elbow can tolerate. Tried out the Rough in 17g strung at 52lbs. My first impression was that the feeling was kinda harsh and "crisp", but not to the point that my elbow couldn't put up with it. I knew it's supposed to be slightly softer than the RPM Blast but surprisingly it had decent power. After hitting with it a couple sessions my arm eventually got used to it. I couldn't really notice any increase in spin or control, though. The strings lasted at least 3 full weeks (I play about 4 times a week) before they were done and started feeling dead. I'm going to try them again with my regular hybrid setup with Xcel tomorrow and see how it goes.
Hey Team TW: I have heard that the different colors of this string play slightly differently. The YELLOW version is supposedly the softest and the RED is supposedly the stiffer - the BLACK is in between. Do you find this to be the case? What is your preference of the three?
Usually we find the brighter colors to play with a little livelier feel (like a little more pocketing and energy return). The darker colors of a given string tend to feel a bit deader or less lively, or less energy return. That said, this has always been a based on the feeling of the string on contact, and we don't have any concrete data that would say one color of the same string will give you more ball speed on your shots. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thanks for the info. I ask as my local Babolat Rep told me that the prevailing opinion at Babolat was that Yellow played the softest and Red the firmest with Black in the middle. I was interested to know if you at TW thought that was the case - and if so, how much firmer.
The tension that feels best for the player using it. But seriously though, it has a lot to do with personal preference and then other factors like what racquet is being used. I usually play with a 97 or 98 headsize and 16x19 pattern, and I would probably string it around 50 pounds or so, however some of our testers would string higher and some lower. How about some more information, like what string and tension and racquet do you typically play with? Troy, TW
Hey Tennis Warehouse, I currently use Babolat RPM Blast 16 string, 60 Mains, 58 cross on a Head Graphene Radical Pro. I find this combination to be much too dead and to lack some power. I need a combination or full bed string that would feel easier on the arm, provide me with power, feel, comfort, stability and spin. What would you best recommend?
@ Dilena Kulasinghe, That's a very high tension to use with RPM Blast, so it's no surprise that it feels dead and too low-powered. Before you switch your string choice, I'd try stringing it at a lower tension and see if that gives you the feel you're looking for. Try it at 54 lbs and see how it feels. Andy, TW
Hey Andy! It's Dilena again :) Just wanting to let you know that I tried out your suggestion of 54lbs with RPM Blast but I'm still looking for something with better power, feel, comfort and spin. What would you recommend?
Dilena Kulasinghe it's hard to find a string with better spin than this. You could try black code 4s, it's a little bit more powerfull and comfortable but the spin potential is about the same.
@Violette Wijnen, The preferred tension has a lot to do with player preference, and the racquet you are putting the string in. Most of our playtesters, would string it somewhere between 48 to 55 pounds. Troy, TW
Hi, I'm thinking about to buy this string 16 g for babolat pure aero 2019 for more arm-friendly. What tension should I string? I'm around 5.0, 38 yrs. I'm using regular babolat RPM blast 16g with 56 lbs but my wrist is sore very often. Thanks.
This one feels a bit more elastic and powerful than regular RPM Blast. That said if you want a more comfortable feel, I might go down a couple of pounds, to about 54 or 53 pounds. I might also consider strings like Volkl Cyclone Tour, or Kirschbaum Xplosive Speed, a couple of our favorite softer feeling, spin friendly polys. I might also consider adding a bit of weight tape at the 3 and 9 o'clock locations of the hoop (near the contact point). This will help to stabilize the frame, and help to plow through the ball a bit more, but you don't want to add too much as it might feel too sluggish. Just a thought. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thanks. That's very helpful. I'll try RPM Blast rough 16. Is the tension still 54lbs with Babolat pure aero 2016? Is 2019 more arm friendly than 2016?
What is a good alternative for something a step or two below this one? I am using Prince Syn Gut 16 w/ duraflex on my Prince racquets, but now I'm moving to the Pure Strike 100. thank you.
Not for certain by what you mean a step or two below this one? But maybe something similar for a bit cheaper price. If so, I would go with something like Tourna Big Hitter Blue Rough, Volkl Cyclone Tour, ISOSPEED Cream, and MSV Focus Hex +38 are fairly comfortable for polys, and all are pretty good values. Hope that helps. Troy TW
@ Joshua B, RPM Blast Rough will be softer and livelier than Cyclone. It won't have as much control or tension maintenance but it will have a bit more comfort and power. Andy, TW
Hi, I am UTR 9 and play with full bed of rpm blast, I tried rpm blast rough but couldn’t really play with it. Could you use a hybrid between the two? Thanks
@@gravinboginagis6568, It all about experimentation, but I would probably try the Rough in the mains, and RPM Blast in the crosses, because the RPM Blast is so slick. Troy, TW
The preference on the tension will vary depending in the player, that said we usually would string it somewhere around 53 pounds as somewhat of a middle ground for our playtesters. We usually would go with the 1.25 gauge in an 18x20 pattern, however the 16 will add a bit more control. Troy, TW
Hi there! Great review as per usual! Could you compare the different colours please? Usually dark dyes play deader than more flashy colours, is it the case here? From what i have seen there are 3 different colours (yellow, red and black). Thanks!
@ Jeremie Coffin, That's exactly the case here. The black color is a little crisper feeling and more dead while the brighter colors are softer and livelier. Andy, TW
So is this string the current leader in coefficient drag in strings? What would happen if I put this in my cross strings and used Weiss cannon ultra cable 17 in my mains?
@Yeshua Man, Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable 17 is still our highest rated in spin potential ratio.If you mixed the two strings, I'm sure it would play just fine. The RPM Blast rough has a softer, and more elastic feel, whereas Ultra Cable plays more firm, and control oriented. Troy, TW
Hi TW. I’ve been using pro hurricane tour for years. Not a huge fan of RPM Blast cuz it’s more muted. How does the rough version compare to pro hurricane tour? Thanks!
@Weiran Jiang, The RPM Blast Rough is much more elastic, and I found it to feel "springy" compared to other co-poly strings, especially Pro Hurricane Tour which is firm and crisp. The spin potential is high with this RPM Blast Rough, but it is much livelier, and less predictable compared to the Pro Hurricane Tour. Troy, TW
@Weiran Jiang, The PHT has a bit more control, or low-powered feel. The Solinco Tour Bite provides a bit more of a lively feel, and some added spin potential. Troy, TW
do you recomend a 4 or 2 knots ? ad if 4, what difference in tension between the mains and the crosses? best regards and thank you in advance; Pellegrin Matteo
@teo, I will typically only do 4 knots (aka two-piece stringing), if the mains end/tie-off towards the throat of the racquet. If mains end/tie-off at the top of the racquet, I will typically string with 2 knots (aka one-piece stringing). It is a matter of preference to a certain extent, as some players prefer 4 knots no matter what. Some players like to go two to three pounds lower on the cross strings, to help the main strings slide and snap back a bit easier. We typically string the same tension for both mains and crosses, considering it is all the same string we are using (non-hybrid). Troy, TW
Hey , why don't you carry 17G gauge of the RPM blast rough? I tried solinco hyper G18 and had some issues with string snap back, do you think it is a better option in terms of string durability (snap back stays longer)? I don t want to fix string after every shot.
hi, Never used a full bed of poly before, currently use a poly mains (hurricane) synthetic gut crosses (gamma) set up around 55lbs in my 2016 pure strike 100. I am thinking of trying a full bed of rpm blast as an introduction to the full poly world. hoping to add a bit more control. do you think this is the right string for this and if so around what tension? what other poly strings would you recommend for an introduction to the full poly world. thanks as always for the help.
@ James McLennan, RPM Blast is a great string but it's pretty stiff, so just be sure to string it at a low enough tension to get enough comfort out of your stringbed. Try it at 50 lbs and see what you think. Andy, TW
hi @Tennis Warehouse /Andy thanks for the advice, what gauge should I be looking at? being given option for 1.25 1.30 and 1.35. I'm thinking the fact that I'm unlikely to break these poly's means I may as well take the thinest available gauge for extra playability? thanks!
Hello TW, I want to try this string in my Babolat Pure Aero Tour, but I am using Rpm Blast at the moment ( 16 gauge ) and I have it strung up right at 55 pounds, but which string gauge should I use with the Rpm Blast Rough, and what tension would you recommend this string to get the best performance out of it? Thanks TW
@Violette Wijnen, If you like the way RPM Blast 16 plays at 55 pounds, then I would go with the RPM Blast Rough 16 at a tension of about 57 or 58 pounds. The RPM Blast Rough plays softer and more elastic compared to RPM Blast. Troy, TW
Hello, TW. Great review of this string! I play with my pure strike 18*20 racquet and I broke my rpm blast string, if I buy blast rough will I have much less control than blast one if I play on the baseline?
It is definitely a noticeable difference, but I mean pro players like Felix Auger-Aliassime use the string and are big hitters. If you try it I would probably go up about two pounds. Troy, TW
@ Ishan Modi, RPM Blast Rough will be softer and livelier than both Tour Bite and ALU Power, but it won't offer the same level of control and tension maintenance. Andy, TW
@Darren Yap, Both are great choices, but I would give the slight edge to ALU Power Rough for control and feel. The RPM Blast Rough is likely the more spin-friendly of the two. Troy, TW
I’m firing rocket launchers with this string at 57lbs in my Wilson Blade CV and it feels extremely stiff. I felt a lot more controlled with the Hyper G which was in the low 50’s. Is that normal? And how do these two strings compare?
As we mention in this review, the RPM Rough plays pretty lively, or "springy" for a poly, so I could see your issue. I would probably just go back to Hyper-G, as it is one of our favorite strings, and offers more control, and tension maintenance. Troy, TW
Hi. Can you say if this string is comparable to Solinco Tour Bite-Rough? I use the Solinco and I am pretty happy with it. It´s also less expensive. I was just wondering if it makes sense to try the Babolat or even the Luxilon Rough Version. Do you have experience with the Solinco aswell?
@ acmetal22, This will feel somewhat similar to Tour Bite Diamond Rough, but it will be a little softer and more powerful. If that's the feel you are looking for out of your strings then it may be worth a try, but you are already using a very good string. If you like it, I see no reason to switch. Andy, TW
@Ziga Pejak, RPM Blast Rough is softer, and provides a bit more of a “springy” feel on the ball. We found the spin potential to be higher with the RPM Blast Rough, finding that it has more of the “snap-back” effect between mains and crosses. The MSV Focus Hex also has really good spin potential, but has a slightly firmer feel, and a bit better control. Troy, TW
@Kevin Rattray, This string will have more durability, control, and spin. Babolat Addiction has better comfort, power, and tension maintenance.Troy, TW
Thanks for the feed back Troy. Its time to restring so i was considering trying out the blast rough or a hybrid setup Babolat Hybrid RPM Blast 17+ VS 16 String. Which would you choose?
@Kevin Rattray, If cost isn’t a factor, there’s nothing that feels better than a natural gut hybrid. Hence the reason many top professionals use them. I actually prefer the Babolat Hybrid Pro Hurricane Tour 17+ VS 16 String. Im not a huge fan of the black colored VS, which comes in the hybrid with RPM Blast. Troy, TW
Do you think the Babolat Pure Strike 100 is good for a 11 years old player. If not, what is the best racquet in the Pure Strike line for 11 years old players. By the way, I love your channel and I think you should review the Babolat Pure Strike 100.
@ isaac ming, I would suggest going with the lighter Pure Strike Team for something that's a little easier to swing. As you build strength and your game continues to develop, then you can move into the Pure Strike 100 in a couple of years. Andy, TW
Hey TW, can you please help me decide what string to go with on my new Wilson steam 99 blx 16*18. I love Rafa's style , i am an ex professional table tennis player who loves topspin. My arms and shoulders are average not that strong. I'm a 19 year old guy. I have slight shoulder and elbow pains occasionally after long sessions but I'm not sure if i should take that into consideration. I can afford to restring every 2 months(probably every month if it's reasonable) and i play everyday. What can you recommend RPM blast (or the rough), Alu power , head lynx , tour bite , hyper G. I used to String at around 58 tension earlier when i was using a very flexy racquet now i believe this is a stiff racquet so i an very confused about what string and tension to use. I know you guys go so low but i am confused cause once i strung RPM(regular) at 53 and it felt super bouncy and uncontrollable . I've tried only head lynx , Alu power and RPM blast(regular) and solinco out last. Out of all, i didn't feel any spin(bite) from Alu power and Outlast, head lynx felt durable and had decent bite and RPM had good bite but the tension loss over a week made it difficult to get that bite. Can you please recommend something
@You Tube, Of the strings you mentioned, I would likely go with Babolat RPM Blast Rough, or Head Lynx, based on comfort reasons. If you already had a good experience with Head Lynx, that may be the right string for you. Babolat RPM Blast Rough provides great bite, and a softer feel, but tension maintenance isn't great. Based on the stiffness of the Steam 99, I would be inclined to have you drop the tension, somewhere closer to 55 pounds. We really enjoy the feel, and play-ability of Solinco Hyper-G. It holds tension very well, although it will play a bit more firm compared to Lynx and RPM Rough. With Hyper-G, you could likely get away with stringing around 53 pounds, and still have plenty of control. I would also recommend using a dampener, if you don't already. It typically helps to make the strings feel less springy, or at least it sounds that way on contact. Troy, TW
@You Tube, I would give the edge in spin and durability to the Hyper-G. We really like playing with this string. I would just recommend to string it a couple of pounds lower to help with comfort. Troy, TW
This one feels much softer, and more elastic. We found this one to provide a livelier feel, and a lot of spin potential. 4G 1.30 is very stiff, control oriented, and holds tension better than the RPM Rough. Troy, TW
@ Ian Lastname, RPM Blast Rough will be slightly crisper, livelier and more spin-friendly while PTP will be softer, more muted and more control-oriented. Either one would work well in your racquet - it just depends on your personal preference in performance and feel. Andy, TW
Hm, I know I was lacking a bit of spin with that tight 18x20 pattern, but I had some arm trouble with a full bed of RPM rough when I used it in my pro staff 97 (non-countervail). Would you recommend a hybrid of RPM rough in the mains and PTP in the crosses? Or vice versa?
@ Ian Lastname, I would probably suggest just going with a full bed of whatever string you choose, as I don't know if there would be a benefit to combining the two in a hybrid. Give the RPM Rough a try at 2 lbs looser tension than you were stringing the regular RPM Blast with and see what you think. Andy TW
Hi TW! How would this string compare to Dunlop Black Widow? What tension would you recommend for this string? I just bought a Babolat Pure Strike 100 (2014 version) and had it strung up with Dunlop Black Widow 18g at 50 lbs. First time trying full bed poly btw. I might try RPM Blast Rough on my next re-string. Thank you!
@John Ronald Juevesano, I would see how you like the Black Widow 18 at 50 pounds, and then decide if you feel like you need to adjust the string/tension. This RPM Blast Rough in the 17 gauge will play pretty similar in stiffness to the Black Widow 18 gauge. The 50 pound tension is a good starting point. Troy, TW
@ Nav Arya, RPM Blast Rough offers a softer, livelier and more muted feel while Cyclone offers better control, spin, tension maintenance and responsiveness. Overall, we prefer Cyclone. Andy, TW
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My brother uses this string on the crosses and natural gut In the mains and Luvs it..no more experimenting it's now his permanent setup
What standard is he and what game style?
Natural gut damn. Must go fast
The yellow string w/ the yellow Pure Aero is like a 2010s version of Rafa's old Pro Hurricane/Aero Pro Drive combo. Very eye-catching!
800 shots today on my Blade version 7 @ 48#. I ate through my hybrid set ups too quick so thought this softer full bed of poly would give me similar performance but double the durability. I'm getting a lower launch angle which was a little confusing but once I got used to it I won the 2nd and 3rd set after dropping the 1st. I like it. Good power and spin. The only thing I'd change is I might go a bit higher in tension to 50# like the play testers did. Great string and I'll be using it for the next month or 2 if it holds up! Grip it and Rip it!
Thanks for the comment! I’m planning to use this string in my Blade V7 as well since I really liked it in my Pure Aero :)
Is this the v7 18x20? I'm thinking about trying this in my bladed as well?
@@kururugi8221 let me know how you like it in your blades!
@@Badickerson1990 No it's the 17x19 however if I could do it over I'd have gotten the 18x20. I'm in a tourney this weekend and went back to my Dunlop srixon 2.0 18x20. The blade is certainly more comfortable but the tighter pattern has that control that gives me more confidence under pressure in tourney's. Blade 17x19 turned out to be a tad too powerful. Sure is fun but when under pressure (when it counts) I probably be playing it in tonight's match if it were the tighter string bed. I'm a 4.0 baseliner, have won a few 4.5 matches, single backhand. I play doubles as well. VERY comfortable racquet and have no complaints, just picked the wrong pattern for me. Good luck.
@@iamwhatiam6075 What string are you using in your Dunlop? Also, did you like the RPM rough string?
My experience was that it is a lot more powerful and less controllable power. I'd string it up higher like Troy mentioned but I am going to RPM blast hybrid. It was a bit too much for me
RPM Blast was too stiff for my preferences. If you guys say this one is more arm-friendly, I guess I'll look into it!
Just wanna address one of the points out of fairness. Stringing it at 47 or 50 pounds is pretty low, even by today's standards, so I'm not shocked the ball was flying. Maybe strung at 56 is a sweet spot for these more lively strings. Very nice strokes by the way from the guy in the yellow.
Compare it to the Alu Power Rough which is epic for comfort and spin and dare I say it Power too!!!
Given up on the rpm blast for now because of the 'dead' feel. Really loving the POWER response from the Alu Power on my Babolat Pure Drive!!! 😱
stringing it tighter for better control. Ask me in a month if the love is still there!!
How was the string
Looks cool on the Pure Aero! The Pro Hurricane Tour is too yellow and doesn't quite blend well.
I found it a lot stiffer than the normal rpm blast when I hit it a bit flat... it has more power and less controllable than the normal..
much prefer the normal rpm blast
Incredible spin and more comfortable than Luxilon ALU, not to mention beautiful when paired with a yellow accented Babolat racquet.
Hi Andy.
Rpm blast was my favorit string but now I love this string more(1.25). I like great power, spin and soft feel of this string. But only problem is playability duration. Can you recommed the oter strings which is similar but better playability duration? Thanks.
Hello,
How do these strings (rpm blast rough) compare to the rpm blast? I’m currently playing with the blast at 55 lbs.
@Mario Diaz,
RPM Blast Rough is softer, and more powerful compared to RPM Blast.
Troy, TW
Hello, how do these strings ( rpm blast rough) compare to the rpm blast and rpm rpm rough? I have this kind of string (rpm blast rough) but nowadays it not really that available
Andy. I loved Tour Bite in my Pure Aero at 55 lbs but am playing with RPM Blast at 52 lbs. I want to recreate the feeling that Tour Bite gave me at 55 lbs using RPM Blast. What tension would you recommend stringing RPM Blast to recreate the feeling. Thanks Andy.
@ Abhinav k,
I'd try it at the same tension and see what you think.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Hi, I am UTR 9 and play with full bed of rpm blast, I tried rpm blast rough but could really play with it. Could you use a hybrid between the two? Thanks
Hello, how do these strings ( rpm blast rough) compare to the rpm blast and rpm rpm rough? I have this kind of string (rpm blast rough) but nowadays it not really that available
This is the same string as RPM Rough, they just basically simplified the name. Compared to RPM Blast, the rough version feels more elastic, having more ball pocketing, and feels more lively or more energy return. RPM Blast feels more control oriented, and deader or lower energy return. Both very spin friendly. Troy, TW
Can someone explain what they mean by 'livelier', my view is more elastic feel and tends to have less control
The more lively the string the more energy return, or more launch from the string bed. The opposite term we often use is dead, in reference to the string having low energy return, not much help in terms of adding some pop to the racquet. Troy, TW
How come this string is rated at 66 out of 100 and the rpm blast regular at 87 out of 100 in term of confort , knowing that all the playtester seems to find the rpm blast rough more confortable than the rpm blast ? 🤔
@Oliver Bado,
Our ratings are very subjective and based on each playtester's opinion, hence the discrepancies. If you are looking just at data, RPM Blast is stiffer than Rough in the lab. twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/comparestrings.php
Michelle, TW
Which strings can you compare RPM Blast Rough against? more a yonex polytour, volkl cyclone?
@ phillip391984,
They feel similar to Luxilon ALU Rough and Volkl Cyclone Tour.
Andy, TW
I've been looking for an all poly setup that my sensitive elbow can tolerate. Tried out the Rough in 17g strung at 52lbs. My first impression was that the feeling was kinda harsh and "crisp", but not to the point that my elbow couldn't put up with it. I knew it's supposed to be slightly softer than the RPM Blast but surprisingly it had decent power. After hitting with it a couple sessions my arm eventually got used to it. I couldn't really notice any increase in spin or control, though. The strings lasted at least 3 full weeks (I play about 4 times a week) before they were done and started feeling dead. I'm going to try them again with my regular hybrid setup with Xcel tomorrow and see how it goes.
Hey Team TW: I have heard that the different colors of this string play slightly differently. The YELLOW version is supposedly the softest and the RED is supposedly the stiffer - the BLACK is in between. Do you find this to be the case? What is your preference of the three?
Usually we find the brighter colors to play with a little livelier feel (like a little more pocketing and energy return). The darker colors of a given string tend to feel a bit deader or less lively, or less energy return. That said, this has always been a based on the feeling of the string on contact, and we don't have any concrete data that would say one color of the same string will give you more ball speed on your shots. Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thanks for the info. I ask as my local Babolat Rep told me that the prevailing opinion at Babolat was that Yellow played the softest and Red the firmest with Black in the middle. I was interested to know if you at TW thought that was the case - and if so, how much firmer.
Which tension is the best for the babolat rpm blast rough?
The tension that feels best for the player using it. But seriously though, it has a lot to do with personal preference and then other factors like what racquet is being used. I usually play with a 97 or 98 headsize and 16x19 pattern, and I would probably string it around 50 pounds or so, however some of our testers would string higher and some lower. How about some more information, like what string and tension and racquet do you typically play with? Troy, TW
Hey Tennis Warehouse, I currently use Babolat RPM Blast 16 string, 60 Mains, 58 cross on a Head Graphene Radical Pro. I find this combination to be much too dead and to lack some power. I need a combination or full bed string that would feel easier on the arm, provide me with power, feel, comfort, stability and spin. What would you best recommend?
@ Dilena Kulasinghe,
That's a very high tension to use with RPM Blast, so it's no surprise that it feels dead and too low-powered. Before you switch your string choice, I'd try stringing it at a lower tension and see if that gives you the feel you're looking for. Try it at 54 lbs and see how it feels.
Andy, TW
Hey Andy!
It's Dilena again :)
Just wanting to let you know that I tried out your suggestion of 54lbs with RPM Blast but I'm still looking for something with better power, feel, comfort and spin. What would you recommend?
Dilena Kulasinghe it's hard to find a string with better spin than this. You could try black code 4s, it's a little bit more powerfull and comfortable but the spin potential is about the same.
At what tension would you string it to get the best performance out of the string??
@Violette Wijnen,
The preferred tension has a lot to do with player preference, and the racquet you are putting the string in. Most of our playtesters, would string it somewhere between 48 to 55 pounds.
Troy, TW
Hi,
I'm thinking about to buy this string 16 g for babolat pure aero 2019 for more arm-friendly.
What tension should I string?
I'm around 5.0, 38 yrs. I'm using regular babolat RPM blast 16g with 56 lbs but my wrist is sore very often.
Thanks.
This one feels a bit more elastic and powerful than regular RPM Blast. That said if you want a more comfortable feel, I might go down a couple of pounds, to about 54 or 53 pounds. I might also consider strings like Volkl Cyclone Tour, or Kirschbaum Xplosive Speed, a couple of our favorite softer feeling, spin friendly polys. I might also consider adding a bit of weight tape at the 3 and 9 o'clock locations of the hoop (near the contact point). This will help to stabilize the frame, and help to plow through the ball a bit more, but you don't want to add too much as it might feel too sluggish. Just a thought.
Troy, TW
@@tenniswarehouse Thanks. That's very helpful. I'll try RPM Blast rough 16. Is the tension still 54lbs with Babolat pure aero 2016? Is 2019 more arm friendly than 2016?
What is a good alternative for something a step or two below this one? I am using Prince Syn Gut 16 w/ duraflex on my Prince racquets, but now I'm moving to the Pure Strike 100. thank you.
Not for certain by what you mean a step or two below this one? But maybe something similar for a bit cheaper price. If so, I would go with something like Tourna Big Hitter Blue Rough, Volkl Cyclone Tour, ISOSPEED Cream, and MSV Focus Hex +38 are fairly comfortable for polys, and all are pretty good values. Hope that helps. Troy TW
How does this compare to Volkl Cyclone? I went from RPM Blast to Volkl Cyclone to add a little more softness to my stringbed.
@ Joshua B,
RPM Blast Rough will be softer and livelier than Cyclone. It won't have as much control or tension maintenance but it will have a bit more comfort and power.
Andy, TW
Thanks for the speedy reply! I think I'll stick to my Cyclone.
Hi, I am UTR 9 and play with full bed of rpm blast, I tried rpm blast rough but couldn’t really play with it. Could you use a hybrid between the two? Thanks
Sure, give it a try and see how it plays for you. Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse thanks, which would you suggest in mains and which in crosses?
@@gravinboginagis6568, It all about experimentation, but I would probably try the Rough in the mains, and RPM Blast in the crosses, because the RPM Blast is so slick. Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse thanks Troy
How would you string this up in a Blade v7 18x20 in 16g? What's a good tension?
The preference on the tension will vary depending in the player, that said we usually would string it somewhere around 53 pounds as somewhat of a middle ground for our playtesters. We usually would go with the 1.25 gauge in an 18x20 pattern, however the 16 will add a bit more control. Troy, TW
Hi there! Great review as per usual! Could you compare the different colours please? Usually dark dyes play deader than more flashy colours, is it the case here? From what i have seen there are 3 different colours (yellow, red and black). Thanks!
@ Jeremie Coffin,
That's exactly the case here. The black color is a little crisper feeling and more dead while the brighter colors are softer and livelier.
Andy, TW
It feels very mushy but I get more depth so it was weird. I didn’t feel connected like Andy said.
So is this string the current leader in coefficient drag in strings? What would happen if I put this in my cross strings and used Weiss cannon ultra cable 17 in my mains?
@Yeshua Man,
Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable 17 is still our highest rated in spin potential ratio.If you mixed the two strings, I'm sure it would play just fine. The RPM Blast rough has a softer, and more elastic feel, whereas Ultra Cable plays more firm, and control oriented.
Troy, TW
Hi TW. I’ve been using pro hurricane tour for years. Not a huge fan of RPM Blast cuz it’s more muted. How does the rough version compare to pro hurricane tour? Thanks!
@Weiran Jiang,
The RPM Blast Rough is much more elastic, and I found it to feel "springy" compared to other co-poly strings, especially Pro Hurricane Tour which is firm and crisp. The spin potential is high with this RPM Blast Rough, but it is much livelier, and less predictable compared to the Pro Hurricane Tour.
Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse thank you Troy! One more question, how does the PHT compare to Tour Bite?
@Weiran Jiang,
The PHT has a bit more control, or low-powered feel. The Solinco Tour Bite provides a bit more of a lively feel, and some added spin potential.
Troy, TW
do you recomend a 4 or 2 knots ? ad if 4, what difference in tension between the mains and the crosses? best regards and thank you in advance;
Pellegrin Matteo
@teo,
I will typically only do 4 knots (aka two-piece stringing), if the mains end/tie-off towards the throat of the racquet. If mains end/tie-off at the top of the racquet, I will typically string with 2 knots (aka one-piece stringing). It is a matter of preference to a certain extent, as some players prefer 4 knots no matter what. Some players like to go two to three pounds lower on the cross strings, to help the main strings slide and snap back a bit easier. We typically string the same tension for both mains and crosses, considering it is all the same string we are using (non-hybrid).
Troy, TW
thanks a lot troy!
Hey , why don't you carry 17G gauge of the RPM blast rough? I tried solinco hyper G18 and had some issues with string snap back, do you think it is a better option in terms of string durability (snap back stays longer)? I don t want to fix string after every shot.
@ Berdie Din,
We do carry the 17 gauge. It's currently backordered until early next month. And yes, it will snap back better than Hyper G.
Andy, TW
Andy.... THOSE BACKHANDS!!!!!!!!!! you bad!
Mary Arwood If only I could hit backhands like his
hi,
Never used a full bed of poly before, currently use a poly mains (hurricane) synthetic gut crosses (gamma) set up around 55lbs in my 2016 pure strike 100.
I am thinking of trying a full bed of rpm blast as an introduction to the full poly world. hoping to add a bit more control.
do you think this is the right string for this and if so around what tension? what other poly strings would you recommend for an introduction to the full poly world.
thanks as always for the help.
@ James McLennan,
RPM Blast is a great string but it's pretty stiff, so just be sure to string it at a low enough tension to get enough comfort out of your stringbed. Try it at 50 lbs and see what you think.
Andy, TW
hi @Tennis Warehouse /Andy
thanks for the advice, what gauge should I be looking at? being given option for 1.25 1.30 and 1.35. I'm thinking the fact that I'm unlikely to break these poly's means I may as well take the thinest available gauge for extra playability?
thanks!
Is the VS Natural Gut a good string to put into with this string for a hybrid?
@Winston Gu,
Yes, VS Natural Gut is a great in a hybrid with a co-poly.
Troy, TW
What is better Rpm blast rough or Rpm blast overall
@Noah Movosowitz,
We prefer RPM Blast.
Michelle, TW
Hello TW,
I want to try this string in my Babolat Pure Aero Tour, but I am using Rpm Blast at the moment ( 16 gauge ) and I have it strung up right at 55 pounds, but which string gauge should I use with the Rpm Blast Rough, and what tension would you recommend this string to get the best performance out of it?
Thanks TW
@Violette Wijnen,
If you like the way RPM Blast 16 plays at 55 pounds, then I would go with the RPM Blast Rough 16 at a tension of about 57 or 58 pounds. The RPM Blast Rough plays softer and more elastic compared to RPM Blast.
Troy, TW
Hello, TW. Great review of this string! I play with my pure strike 18*20 racquet and I broke my rpm blast string, if I buy blast rough will I have much less control than blast one if I play on the baseline?
It is definitely a noticeable difference, but I mean pro players like Felix Auger-Aliassime use the string and are big hitters. If you try it I would probably go up about two pounds. Troy, TW
How would this string compare to tour bite and Alu power?
@ Ishan Modi,
RPM Blast Rough will be softer and livelier than both Tour Bite and ALU Power, but it won't offer the same level of control and tension maintenance.
Andy, TW
How does this compare to the rpm dual??? Thanks
@CamycaR700,
This one is softer, and more lively.
Troy, TW
+Tennis Warehouse thanks Troy for the rapid response.
Luxilon ALU Power rough or rpm blast rough is a preferred choice?
@Darren Yap,
Both are great choices, but I would give the slight edge to ALU Power Rough for control and feel. The RPM Blast Rough is likely the more spin-friendly of the two.
Troy, TW
I’m firing rocket launchers with this string at 57lbs in my Wilson Blade CV and it feels extremely stiff. I felt a lot more controlled with the Hyper G which was in the low 50’s. Is that normal? And how do these two strings compare?
As we mention in this review, the RPM Rough plays pretty lively, or "springy" for a poly, so I could see your issue. I would probably just go back to Hyper-G, as it is one of our favorite strings, and offers more control, and tension maintenance. Troy, TW
Hi. Can you say if this string is comparable to Solinco Tour Bite-Rough?
I use the Solinco and I am pretty happy with it. It´s also less expensive. I was just wondering if it makes sense to try the Babolat or even the Luxilon Rough Version.
Do you have experience with the Solinco aswell?
@ acmetal22,
This will feel somewhat similar to Tour Bite Diamond Rough, but it will be a little softer and more powerful. If that's the feel you are looking for out of your strings then it may be worth a try, but you are already using a very good string. If you like it, I see no reason to switch.
Andy, TW
How does this compare to Luxilon Savage?
@Chuong Do,
This one is softer, and more lively. The Luxilon Savage is firmer, and more control oriented.
Troy, TW
is rpm blast rough the most spin friendly rough string? and how about duration?
Yes, most spin friendly rough string. Tension maintenance is decent, not bad, not great. Troy, TW
How does this compare to the diadem elite xt?
@ Matthew Chang,
RPM Blast Rough will be softer and livelier than Elite XT.
Andy, TW
Hi Andy can you compare RPM blast rough and MSV focus hex. Thanks.
@Ziga Pejak,
RPM Blast Rough is softer, and provides a bit more of a “springy” feel on the ball. We found the spin potential to be higher with the RPM Blast Rough, finding that it has more of the “snap-back” effect between mains and crosses. The MSV Focus Hex also has really good spin potential, but has a slightly firmer feel, and a bit better control.
Troy, TW
How would you compare this string to babolat addiction?
@Kevin Rattray,
This string will have more durability, control, and spin. Babolat Addiction has better comfort, power, and tension maintenance.Troy, TW
Thanks for the feed back Troy. Its time to restring so i was considering trying out the blast rough or a hybrid setup Babolat Hybrid RPM Blast 17+ VS 16 String. Which would you choose?
@Kevin Rattray,
If cost isn’t a factor, there’s nothing that feels better than a natural gut hybrid. Hence the reason many top professionals use them. I actually prefer the Babolat Hybrid Pro Hurricane Tour 17+ VS 16 String. Im not a huge fan of the black colored VS, which comes in the hybrid with RPM Blast.
Troy, TW
Ok cool. Ill give your setup a try. One last question, Am i using the hurricane as the main in this setup?
Do you think the Babolat Pure Strike 100 is good for a 11 years old player. If not, what is the best racquet in the Pure Strike line for 11 years old players. By the way, I love your channel and I think you should review the Babolat Pure Strike 100.
@ isaac ming,
I would suggest going with the lighter Pure Strike Team for something that's a little easier to swing. As you build strength and your game continues to develop, then you can move into the Pure Strike 100 in a couple of years.
Andy, TW
Hey TW, can you please help me decide what string to go with on my new Wilson steam 99 blx 16*18.
I love Rafa's style , i am an ex professional table tennis player who loves topspin.
My arms and shoulders are average not that strong.
I'm a 19 year old guy.
I have slight shoulder and elbow pains occasionally after long sessions but I'm not sure if i should take that into consideration. I can afford to restring every 2 months(probably every month if it's reasonable) and i play everyday.
What can you recommend
RPM blast (or the rough), Alu power , head lynx , tour bite , hyper G.
I used to String at around 58 tension earlier when i was using a very flexy racquet now i believe this is a stiff racquet so i an very confused about what string and tension to use. I know you guys go so low but i am confused cause once i strung RPM(regular) at 53 and it felt super bouncy and uncontrollable .
I've tried only head lynx , Alu power and RPM blast(regular) and solinco out last.
Out of all, i didn't feel any spin(bite) from Alu power and Outlast, head lynx felt durable and had decent bite and RPM had good bite but the tension loss over a week made it difficult to get that bite.
Can you please recommend something
@You Tube,
Of the strings you mentioned, I would likely go with Babolat RPM Blast Rough, or Head Lynx, based on comfort reasons. If you already had a good experience with Head Lynx, that may be the right string for you. Babolat RPM Blast Rough provides great bite, and a softer feel, but tension maintenance isn't great. Based on the stiffness of the Steam 99, I would be inclined to have you drop the tension, somewhere closer to 55 pounds. We really enjoy the feel, and play-ability of Solinco Hyper-G. It holds tension very well, although it will play a bit more firm compared to Lynx and RPM Rough. With Hyper-G, you could likely get away with stringing around 53 pounds, and still have plenty of control. I would also recommend using a dampener, if you don't already. It typically helps to make the strings feel less springy, or at least it sounds that way on contact.
Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse , thanks Troy! Out of head lynx and hyper g which one do you think has better spin potential and durability?
Also hyper g is a bit cheaper here compared to lynx which costs same as rpm blast
@You Tube,
I would give the edge in spin and durability to the Hyper-G. We really like playing with this string. I would just recommend to string it a couple of pounds lower to help with comfort.
Troy, TW
Thanks for that reply !
Also could you suggest 3-4 others incase this isn't available here
Can you do a review of the babolat rpm blast 17g + vs natural gut?
@MockingJ,
We can add it to the list ;)
Michelle, TW
Yes please!!!
Does the string come in 17 gauge?
mrdinh1 yes
Hey guys,
How does this one compare to Luxilon 4G 1.3?
This one feels much softer, and more elastic. We found this one to provide a livelier feel, and a lot of spin potential. 4G 1.30 is very stiff, control oriented, and holds tension better than the RPM Rough. Troy, TW
how's the resiliency
16 gauge or 17 gauge???
@Violette Wijnen,
If you are not a frequent string breaker, then try the 17 gauge. If you want more durability try the 16 gauge.
Troy, TW
Hey Andy, did you and your partner beat Aidan and Keenan Mayo in the Yonex Cup?
@ Savan Khurana,
Yes we did.
Andy, TW
Nice backhand andy
How would this compare to yonex PTP in a head graphene touch speed pro? Which one would you recommend over the other in that racquet?
@ Ian Lastname,
RPM Blast Rough will be slightly crisper, livelier and more spin-friendly while PTP will be softer, more muted and more control-oriented. Either one would work well in your racquet - it just depends on your personal preference in performance and feel.
Andy, TW
Hm, I know I was lacking a bit of spin with that tight 18x20 pattern, but I had some arm trouble with a full bed of RPM rough when I used it in my pro staff 97 (non-countervail). Would you recommend a hybrid of RPM rough in the mains and PTP in the crosses? Or vice versa?
@ Ian Lastname,
I would probably suggest just going with a full bed of whatever string you choose, as I don't know if there would be a benefit to combining the two in a hybrid. Give the RPM Rough a try at 2 lbs looser tension than you were stringing the regular RPM Blast with and see what you think.
Andy TW
Hi TW! How would this string compare to Dunlop Black Widow? What tension would you recommend for this string? I just bought a Babolat Pure Strike 100 (2014 version) and had it strung up with Dunlop Black Widow 18g at 50 lbs. First time trying full bed poly btw. I might try RPM Blast Rough on my next re-string. Thank you!
@John Ronald Juevesano,
I would see how you like the Black Widow 18 at 50 pounds, and then decide if you feel like you need to adjust the string/tension. This RPM Blast Rough in the 17 gauge will play pretty similar in stiffness to the Black Widow 18 gauge. The 50 pound tension is a good starting point.
Troy, TW
Thanks Troy! Yup I guess I'll have to see how the Black Widow plays first. I also need some time to get used to the racket as well.
Would this string be great in the rf97 autograph and do the different colours (red) make a difference in playability?
@golem20173,
Yes, this string should play well in that racquet. We found the play-ability of the different colors to be similar.
Troy, TW
How is this compared to Volkl Cyclone
@ Nav Arya,
RPM Blast Rough offers a softer, livelier and more muted feel while Cyclone offers better control, spin, tension maintenance and responsiveness. Overall, we prefer Cyclone.
Andy, TW
Should I put these strings in my 16x19 puredrive
@ Crazy Rice,
These strings would play great in that racquet. Try it and see what you think.
Andy, TW
I don't like this string, i expected something more like the Luxilon alu power rough : crispy feeling and the sensation to grap the ball.
Will the string fits flat hitter?
@Pichapak Sirikul,
Yep! It definitely adds more bite to the ball, even if you hit flat.
Michelle, TW
i really wish they would string them the way they would with a hybrid not just all in one
First :-)