Gamma TNT Fat Core 16 String Review

Reprinted with permission of the
United States Racquet Stringer's Association

Gamma's TNT Fat Core is designed to be a more durable, comfortable synthetic. It features a large center core made of "oversized"; Elastalon fibers. This larger core is surrounded by an outer wrap of much smaller Elastalon fibers. According to Gamma, it offers the optimum combination of playability, durability and control. Available in 16 and 17 gauge in natural color only.

BENCH TESTING

The two coils both measured 42'6";. The diameter ranged from 1.30 mm to 1.31 mm prior to stringing and 1.22 mm to 1.23 mm after stringing. A stringbed stiffness of 74 RDC units was recorded immediately after stringing at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant pull machine. After 24 hours (no playing), stringbed stiffness measured 66 RDC units, representing a 11% tension loss. Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immediately after stringing and 71 RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9% tension loss. Gamma TNT Fat Core 16 added 13.7 grams to the unstrung frame.

THE TESTERS

Tested for five weeks by 35 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings from 3.5 to 6.0. This is a blind test. The playtesters are sent unmarked strings in unmarked packages. This means they know nothing about the string before they string it and play with it. As a result, no preconceived ideas regarding manufacturer, type of construction, or materials used are able to effect their impressions of the string. Average number of hours playtested was 15.3.

STRINGING

TNT Fat Core is about as easy to install a string as you can get. In fact almost all of our playtesters rated it as easy or easier to install than other strings. We were concerned that the oversized core might make it wiry like Polyester monofilaments. However, it was very soft and easy to work with. We experienced no problems with kinking.

It had no glossy coating to get your hands greasy, and yet, the surface was so smooth that friction did not cause any trouble during cross string installation. The tips stayed sharp, causing no problems with blocked or shared holes. The length of more than 42 feet was long enough to handle the largest racquets on the market today. Knots cinched up nicely and we experienced no notching during installation.

PLAYTESTING

Playtesters obviously enjoyed playing with TNT Fat Core. Their enjoyment is evident in the high scores they gave it in almost every category and the positive comments they made after using it. Even though Fat Core didn't set any records in any single category, you have to be impressed with the above average scores it received in almost every category.

The only category that did not score above average was resistance to movement. This is not too surprising because of the string's smooth finish. This finish allowed for easy cross string installation without the need for a glossy coating and is probably part of the reason that the string lasts so long. With no texture to the string, it is less likely to saw through itself as quickly.

Of course the great durability must have a lot to do with the larger center core. A lot of stringers don't understand that lots of thin fibers (like in a multifilament) require a lot of resin to bond the fibers together. This resin can take up a lot of the volume of a string (meaning there is less string material to cut through). But, with a larger center core, there is less resin needed and more of the string's volume is made up of string. So, a larger core makes the string take longer to cut through itself. This is how the "Fat"; core can have such a big effect on the string's durability. Only 8 playtesters broke Gamma TNT Fat Core 16, one each after 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 8, 16, and 28 hours.

Durability isn't the only feature of this string that scored well. It also received scores that were well above average in Playability, Control, Touch/Feel, Comfort, and Tension Maintenance. We expected to see pretty high ratings in Tension Maintenance, Touch/Feel and Control. Mono-core strings tend to score pretty well in these categories because they tend to be less elastic. But, the high Playability and Comfort ratings did surprise us. Most strings usually give these features up to get the higher durability, control, and tension maintenance.

CONCLUSION

Fat Core 16 proved to be a great all around string. It received high marks from our playtesters in almost every category and it couldn't be easier to install. Playability, Control, Touch/Feel, Comfort, and Tension Maintenance all rated well above average as well. In fact, the only average rating this string received was for resistance to movement. But, despite the extra string movement and the fact that 8 people did break the string, it's durability rating was still its strongest score. Gamma sent all US members a set of this string in May. If you haven't tried it yet, we strongly recommend you put it in a frame and try it for yourself.

TESTER STATS

Results from 35 playtesters

EASE OF STRINGING

COMMENTS

(The string most commonly used is in parentheses.)

"I like this string a lot. The first half hour or so, it felt stiff, but then settled into a soft responsive feel without losing tension. Tension retention was outstanding. This string played very close to my regular Babolat VS Gut & Tecnifibre 515." 3.5 male all court player using a Prince Triple Threat Hornet OS 110 strung at 64 pounds (Babolat VS Power/Tecnifibre 515)

"Very good string. Appears very durable. It held tension well. Very easy on my arm. I like it so much I will probably start using it as my regular string." 5.5 male serve and volley player using a Prince Triple Threat Hornet 110 strung at 63 pounds (18 gauge Kevlar hybrid)

"An absolute breeze to string once you realize it is very soft and stretchy. It is a great playing synthetic string. Very soft and stretchy during installation, but it seemed to stiffen up after several hours of play. I can't believe I didn't break it." 6.5 all court male player using a Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 98 strung at 58 pounds (Wilson Sensation NXT 16)

"This is the best string I have tested for both durability and playability combination and I'm currently using Bow Brand Natural Gut to help with an elbow problem. This string compared favorably to Natural Gut. I will use this string myself and recommend it to my customers." 4.0 male baseliner with moderate or no spin using a Head Ti.Fire Midplus strung at 58 pounds (Bow Brand Natural Gut 16)

"I liked it about the same as Wilson Sensation, and it lasted a really long time." 5.8 male all court player using a Prince Thunderlite Oversize 107 strung at 60 pounds (Wilson Sensation 17)

"This string had good all-around qualities. It held tension well, had good feel, comfort and playability. It started to show string movement after 5 hours of play." 4.0 male all court player using a Yonex SRQ 400 Long 110 strung at 55/52 (Gosen Tec Gut Pro 16)

"I would recommend this string. It was great for teaching." 4.0 female serve and volley player using a Head Ti.Laser XL strung at 59 pounds

"A nice comfortable feel, plays a little softer than some strings, but still has good control. OK for both playing and teaching. Good all around string." 5.0 male all court player using a Wilson Hyper Pro Staff 5.0 95 strung at 58 pounds (Tecnifibre 515 Gold Prestretched 17)

"This string offers a great combination of playability, durability, and amazing power with super control. This is an exceptional string for everyone." 4.5 male baseliner with moderate or no spin using a Gamma Diamond Fiber M-6.5 98 strung at 62 pounds (Gamma Live Wire XP 17)

"I'm so used to polyesters that any synthetic feels more comfortable. I found comfort and touch in this string. It is one of the few synthetics I actually liked. This string is elastic enough to use as a cross in a poly-hybrid." 6.0 male baseliner with heavy spin using a Head Ti.Radical Oversize 107 strung at 68 pounds (Tecnifibre Polyspin 16)

"This string played crisp yet fairly lively. Durability was above average. Depending on cost, it may be worth having in the store." 6.0 male all court player using a Gamma Tradition 18 95 strung at 62 pounds (Gamma TNT 16)

"I liked the way this string played and how it strung. The touch, power, comfort, control and feel were all really good. My problem was string movement. Whenever I hit a kick serve or a topspin shot, I had to straighten the strings before I could continue the next point. Otherwise, it was a great string." 4.5 male all court player using a Wilson Hyper Pro Staff Stretch 95 strung at 63 pounds (Babolat Synthetic Gut 16)

"No coil memory made this string very easy to handle. It is probably a multifilament because of the teeth marks left by my clamps. Playability seemed to be average. I probably have a string like this in my store already." 5.0 male baseliner with moderate or no spin using a Head Ti.S8 120 strung at 62 pounds

"I would like to know what this string is. I liked it very much." 4.0 male all court player using a Prince ThunderExtreme 115 strung at 65 pounds (Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex 16)

"Surprisingly good comfort, especially on late shots. Would recommend this string for intermediate players." 4.5 male all court player using a Wilson Titanium Stretch 105 strung at 60 pounds (Wilson Sensation NXT 16)

"This string was very easy to work with during stringing and appears to be quite durable. It seemed a little stiff for the first few hours of play, but became softer and more comfortable after that." 4.0 female baseliner with moderate or no spin using a Wilson Hyper Pro Staff 6.5 95 strung at 56 pounds (Wilson Sensation NXT 17)

"This string is very durable, but I have to swing a ton to get any power from it. It simply requires too much work for too little reward." Male all court player using a Head Radical OS strung at 70 pounds (Gamma TNT 17)

"A very strange string. It was very comfortable for teaching. But when I played one set of singles, I couldn't control my shots - horrible trouble generating controlling topspin. I played one set of doubles - played great for the lower flatter shots used in that game, but the string broke early in second set of doubles." 5.5 male all court player using a Gosen Secret Carbon 100 strung at 62 pounds (Gamma TNT Rx 16)

"I found the test string to be somewhat easier to string than many of the ones I use now, but this may be where my compliments end. The first hour or so, the string played fairly well. It seemed to have some power as well as feel, but that didn't last very long. The strings actually seemed to have

"dried-out" during the rest of my test. The power was gone and I could not feel the ball for any of my touch shots. The main strings moved quite a bit, but in all fairness, I was using Head's new i.S10 and there are only 14 mains, but I still think there was too much movement. These strings broke sooner than my usual ones and frayed much sooner too. I would not recommend this string to my customers, but I would hope my opponents consider it." 4.5 male all court player using a Head i.S10 115 strung at 63 pounds (Gamma Live Wire 16)

"The string movement began very early (within 20 minutes) and was significant within 2 hours. I am surprised the string lasted the entire time because of this. The string played

"stiffer" than my usual brand, but was satisfactory. It lost a little in the touch department as a result." 5.0 male all court player using a Wilson Pro Staff Classic Stretch 95 strung at 60 pounds (Gamma TNT 16)

"Felt great the first time I hit with it, but steadily went down hill from there." 5.5 male all court player using a Volkl V-1 Classic 102 strung at 60 pounds (Gosen Super Tec Gut 17)

"To me, there were no redeeming features for this string. I did not like anything about it. I'd sooner use polyester before the test string." 4.5 all court male player using a Volkl C-10 Pro Tour 93 strung at 67 pounds (Babolat Syntronic 700 130/16)

"The string was below average. Its playabilty was suspect from the beginning. Its defining characteristic was its poor performance. It lacked feel and response, lacked power, and played worse the longer it was in the racquet." 5.5 male all court player using a Volkl V-1 Classic 102 strung at 60 pounds (Gosen Super Tec Gut 17)