Babolat adds to its string arsenal with Xalt

It started with natural gut. Back in 1875, when tennis was in its infancy, Babolat was a specialist in turning the raw material into such things as surgical thread and musical instruments. The Lyon-based family business decided to apply that expertise to racquet sports, creating the game’s first strings. It has since gone on to become a complete head-to-toe equipment manufacturer, but racquet strings have always been at the heart of its brand.

The originator was the VS string. Created in 1925, it was a refined version of the initial gut model to better meet the demands of professional players. Champions have gone on to win more than 100 Grand Slam tournaments with the string in their racquets. Given it’s long service in tennis, and all the modernization in the category, some players have the misconception that natural gut is no longer relevant. An expensive relic from the wooden racquet era.

The truth is there’s still no string that can match the combination of power, feel, touch, comfort and tension maintenance of VS Touch. Elbow and wrist pain sufferers rely on its soft, elastic response to protect their achy joints. And it’s still extensively used on the pro tours, blended with a monofilament in a hybrid setup to increase its durability while cushioning the impact of its firmer counterpart. Yes, it’s pricey, but the playability is worth every penny.

Still, some players need a more affordable string with similar playing properties. Babolat’s Xcf family of multifilaments is constructed of hundreds of synthetic fibers to try to mimic the performance of natural gut, but at a lower price point. They’re more arm-friendly than a stiffer monofilament, and provide an improved feel over a basic synthetic gut. They also work quite well in a hybrid. Xcel is the premium offering in this category, as it has the closest feel to natural gut in a synthetic. Addixion isn’t quite as plush as Xcel, but is more durable and a great entry-level multifilament.

Always looking to innovate to meet the needs of players, Xalt is an entirely new and exciting addition to the line. Composed of special polyamide filaments combined with glass beads, it’s designed to bridge the gap between the comfort of a multifilament and the responsiveness and control of a firmer monofilament. It’s still arm-friendly with good power, but brings a more predictable response. Junior players not quite ready for the rigors of a monofilament, or seasoned vets who need to transition to something softer but dependable will appreciate what Xalt brings to the court.

And for those players seeking the utmost spin and control, there’s RPM. The models in this group of monofilament polyester strings are firm and lower-powered, allowing players to take bigger cuts at the ball with less fear of hitting long. The reduced friction of the string creates a snap-back effect at contact which converts all that swing speed into extra spin on the ball. It doesn’t absorb shock like a softer multifilament, has low tension maintenance, and is intended for advanced players who regularly find the sweet spot and require a string that’s reliable and tough to break.

The benchmark in the lineup is RPM Blast. Rafael Nadal’s string of choice is also one of the most popular on tour. The octagonal shape and silicone coating accentuates the string snap-back to make forehands heavy and hard to handle. In addition, there are five other RPM models with tweaks to the matrix—different shape, coatings, texture—to manipulate playing characteristics such as greater power (RPM Soft), spin (RPM Rough), and durability (RPM Hurricane).

The strings are often called the engine of the racquet. No brand appreciates and respects this more than Babolat. With the addition of Xalt to its string offerings, it continues to refine the category to appeal to just about every player and style. Whether natural gut, polyester or anything in between, Babolat can drive your game.