String Review: Solinco Hyper-G Round

Price: $13/set; $170/reel

Gauges: 16, 16L, 17, 18

Website: solincosports.com

Description

Solinco rolled out Hyper-G in 2014, and over the next decade, the versatile co-polyester has captured a wide audience thanks to its impressive spin-pontential and dependable control. The edged, neon green string has been released in different varietals—gauge, softness, texture—and now it arrives in a new shape. Hyper-G Round’s smooth composition provides a consistent and uniform stringbed that maximizes court penetration, power and directional control. It also enhances durability and performance in a hybrid setup.

Stringing Process

As far as polyester strings go, Hyper-G has always been a relatively painless install. There can be the occasional kinking, but it’s not nearly as frequent or troublesome as many of its competitors. And with the round’s shape, it’s arguably easier to string than the standard model. The smoother surface is kinder to the fingers, and it slides with less effort when weaving the crosses.

What Works

For the uninitiated, Hyper-G is a low-powered, medium-firm co-polyester string with a shaped profile capable of putting lots of work on the ball. It has found a home with aggressive baseliners who play a spin-friendly style and appreciate the added arc the string puts on their shots. It’s also fairly comfortable for a poly, with deeper ball-pocketing than many of its competitors.

Hyper-G Round has much of the same feel—and signature color—of the original, but produces a slightly more linear ball flight. It’s more rip than dip; more drive than dive. Players with flatter, more classic strokes will appreciate the increased court penetration and depth of shot. Yet, there’s still the control to swing out and aim for smaller targets.

That’s not to say spin production is greatly compromised. The round profile actually encourages a smoother string snapback at contact versus a shaped model. Players with the proper technique won’t have difficulty rolling an angle or creating the height and bend for a winning topspin lob. There’s plenty of spin to be had, it’s just not the cheat code that some strings bring to the court.

Another asset of the round profile is increased durability. It doesn’t grind through itself as quickly as an edged string. This also makes it a willing partner in a hybrid setup. It slides more easily and won’t tear right through a soft multifilament or natural gut, adding more spin and control to the stringbed. Or it can be blended in a poly-poly combination—an increasingly popular method—to enhance longevity and adjust the playability.

The adaptability and performance of Hyper-G Round also fills a gap in the Solinco lineup. The brand prides itself on catering to the widest range of players and styles. Even though it has numerous string choices, this one joins Outlast as its only round offerings. So players not as consumed with maximum spin will have an option that better penetrates the court to pressure opponents.

What Needs Work

As with most polyester strings, Hyper-G Round is best-suited for skilled players. It’s primarily a control string, and puts the onus of power production on user mechanics. It takes a fast, competent swing and consistently clean contact to be effective. Off-center hits routinely bring poor results and an unpleasant feel.

Players coming from original Hyper-G, or other multi-sided polyester strings, may find the spin output of the round profile to be a little lacking. As mentioned earlier, it’s not difficult putting work on the ball. But kick serves don’t have quite the same jump, and ground strokes don’t have the last-second dive into the court. It will depend on the player whether those losses are worth the added command.

Who’s It For

Hyper-G Round produces a very consistent and dependable ball with a firm, yet comfortable feel. It would be a good fit for attacking all-courters and seasoned doubles players who want extra precision and a lower ball flight that exits quickly through the court. String tinkerers will also like experimenting with it to find the perfect pairing.