Luxilon Element String Review

Control - Score: 83 / Power - Score: 64

For our team, Element proved a tad livelier than the majority of Luxilon strings we've hit. Chris, who typically plays with stiffer, less powerful polys, appreciated the extra pop. He said, "This string offered a tad more power than the kind of poly based strings I typically gravitate toward. I tend to prefer firmer, lower powered offerings, but as the test wore on I began to really enjoy the added power of Element. At first I was tempted to up the tension to add control and firm up the response, but I'm glad I stayed with a low tension (52 lbs). I was getting some added jump through the court. I liked the power of the string, and it turned out to be an easy adjustment to still find the control I crave."

Finding a nice blend of power and control, Marco said, "This string gave me exceptional control, but at the same time I had no problem generating power. Although Element was more on the control side of the spectrum, it was definitely not as stiff and dead as some of the more traditional polyesters out there. I liked the fact that I never had to worry about adjusting my stroke speed. This string performed well on both fast and slow swings."

Spin - Score: 85

Unlike some of the best "spin strings" on the market, Element is not shaped for extra bite, nor is it built with a high-tech silicone coating to facilitate snapback. These facts didn't bother our team, who found exceptional spin with Element. Marco was impressed, saying, "Within the first few minutes of hitting this string I felt a real grip and grab on the ball. It really allowed me to get ample amounts of spin, which is one of the aspects I really enjoyed during this playtest. I was more confident going for short-angled shots and dipping the ball down at opponents' feet because I felt in control over the amount of spin I was generating."

"I got great spin from this string," said Chris, who was able to generate all the spin he needed. "Keeping it strung low turned out to be a good call. It allowed the string to move more and snap back for some added spin. I also got the sense that the string was pocketing the ball well, and it gave me good feel for the amount of spin I was generating. I felt very dialed in and was able to judge the depth of topspin lobs and angle shots well. I also liked the hop I was getting on my slice serve. I was able to get the ball to swing away from my opponent nicely and follow it in for a put away volley. My backhand slice was also getting good bite and I felt confident driving through the ball."

Comfort - Score: 73

Although Element is definitely not as soft and comfortable as a traditional multifilament or natural gut, it was quite comfortable for a poly-based string. Chris found it very forgiving compared to the majority of Luxilon strings he's hit. He said, "I favor much firmer poly strings, so Element felt plenty comfortable to me. I could feel some added ball pocketing and a softer and slightly livelier response. Element has to be one of the most comfortable Luxilon strings; most of the others feel firmer and crisper -- such as ALU Power and 4G."

Marco, who plays with an ultra thick (firm) version of ALU Power, found Element to be extremely comfortable. He said, "This string was one of the most comfortable polys I've played with. It had a really soft feel, which made the string play plush and kept it from giving off much shock or vibration."

Feel - Score: 89

The highest score of this playtest was awarded for feel, which is more proof that the polyester universe has come a very long way from its stiff and brassy beginnings. Despite his preference for firmer, more "heavy-duty" polys, Marco had no problem with the softer feel of Element. He said, "Although my typical string is firmer, I didn't have a problem with the softer response of this string. I still felt very connected to the ball and in control of my shots. The soft feel made Element play comfortably on all shots, and there seemed to be plenty of give on off-center impact."

Although Chris is a big fan of Luxilon's firmer (and deader) polys, he appreciated Element's softer feel. He said, "I found the feel to be pleasingly lively and softer than expected for a Luxilon string. My first instinct was to focus on how the ball jumped off the stringbed, but as I became more accustomed to the string's playability I started to hone in on its deeper characteristics. I found lots of feel from this string and became more and more connected to my shots as the test wore on. I could judge the pace, depth, spin and direction of my shots well. All of that combined to give me plenty of trust in the string's response. By the second week of the test I was swinging with maximum confidence and was getting as much spin, control and power as my technique could muster. I wouldn't have had the confidence to do that without bonding with the feel of Element."

Playability Duration - Score: 75

All tennis strings -- especially co-polys -- lose tension and become worn over time. This can lead to subtle (and not so subtle) changes in a string's feel and trajectory response. According to Chris, Element is no exception to this problem. "I noticed the surface of this string started to scuff up and lose its slickness after about 5-7 hours. By the 10-hour mark I was ready for a fresh set. Toward the end of the string's life I noticed a slight drop-off in spin and the response became less predictable."

Unlike Chris, Marco didn't notice any significant changes in Element's playability. This is likely because he snapped it before tension loss became a problem. He said, "The playability held fairly constant, although the string didn't last long in my racquet, especially when compared to my typical string, ALU Power 1.38. String breakers should probably stick to the thickest gauge of this string."

Overall - Score: 85