Head RIP Control 16 String Review

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

Head RIP (Ribbon Improved Performance) Control features a multifilament polyamid fiber core, unique ribbon twisted construction, polyolefine material, and a "spin" textured surface. According to Head, these features provide extraordinary feel, soft touch, excellent control and spin enhancement, superior elasticity, resiliency, durability, high resistance to movement, and excellent tension maintenance. Head is recommending this string for their Control Series racquets. Available in 16 gauge (1.30 mm), natural only, 38' coils.

BENCH TESTING

Both coils measured 39'. The diameter ranged from 1.30 mm to 1.35 mm prior to stringing and 1.25 mm to 1.30 mm after stringing. This variance is likely due to RIP Control's wavy textured surface. A stringbed stiffness of 79 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 73 RDC units, representing a 7.6% 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.

THE TESTERS

Tested for five weeks by 30 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. They know nothing about the string before they string and play with it. As a result, no preconceived ideas regarding manufacturers, type of construction, or materials used are able to affect their impressions of the string.

PLAYTESTING

Rip Control is a playable string which should be recommended for string breakers before going to a polyester or Kevlar hybrid. It started out a little stiff, but within an hour, it softened up. Almost everyone agreed that it held its tension well. We didn't need to cut it out until it was time to playtest another string.

Other than the impressive durability, the most noticeable feature was its resistance to movement. The playtest team rated it higher in this category than any other string playtested in years.

The string's textured surface is designed to enhance spin, but we didn't experience as much spin as we expected from this texture. The power was average, but the comfort, control, and touch/feel ratings were unusually high for a string that is so durable. After 10 hours of play, we did experience slight notching. Only one tester reported fraying. This is quite remarkable considering the multifilament core. Only 5 testers reported breakage one each after 7, 8, 10, 13, and 15 hours.

STRINGING

RIP Control 16 reminded us of stringing polyester. It had a strong coil memory which was reduced, but not eliminated, by prestretching. It had a tendency to kink even after prestretching. Several playtesters used the word 'wiry' in their descriptions and several thought it was a polyester string. Its glossy coating alleviates friction burn but makes it a little more difficult to pull knots snug. Two stringers reported the string breaking or cracking while tying knots.

The multifilament core caused the string tip to get fuzzy and soft, making it more difficult to pass through blocked holes. The string length of 39 feet is a little short for many oversized and super-oversized racquets with dense patterns.

But, don't let all these stringing comments scare you off. While almost everyone agreed it was less easy to string than their usual strings, only three felt it was much less easy. Most of us agreed that the playability and durability of the string made it worth a little more effort while stringing.

CONCLUSION

RIP Control is a unique string. It has features of a multifilament and a polyester in one. It eventually develops the slightly softer feel of a multifilament, and it kinks and develops fuzzy ends like a multifilament during installation. But it has increased coil memory and impressive durability like a polyester string. We would highly recommend this string to players who are breaking strings too often, but do not want to go to a polyester or a Kevlar hybrid. Head made a wise decision recommending this string for their Control Series racquets because players targeted for these frames will tend to break strings more often.

TESTER STATS

Results from 30 playtesters

EASE OF STRINGING

COMMENTS

(The string most commonly used is in parentheses.)

"Except for gut, this is the best string I have played. Lasts long, holds tension, appears to add control and zip to the ball, and after 30 hours of play, it still feels lively. It even sounds fresh. Great string. I highly recommend it." 5.0 all-court player with lots of spin using a Prince Titanium Thunderstrike 110 strung at 66 pounds (Gosen Super Tec Gut 16)."

"This string ran circles around Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex. Outstanding feel and all-around string. I'm ready to switch." 4.5 baseline player with moderate or no spin using a Head Pure XL 102 strung at 58 pounds (Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex 16)."

"Best tension holding string I've seen in a long time. Durability is also very good." 4.0 all-court player using a Prince Precision Equipe 110 strung at 62 pounds (Gamma TNT Pro Plus 17L)."

"Definitely a power string. Felt like the ball flew off of my racquet, but without a discernible loss of control. During installation I found the string to be very wiry. It tended to coil on itself making it a little more difficult to install than the average string. I would add this string to my inventory." 4.0 baseline player with moderate or no spin using a Yonex Superlong RQ 500 105 strung at 56 pounds (Prince Synthetic Gut 18)."

"I really loved this string. Very nice touch, but very firm when I needed it. Didn't seem to lose tension." 3.5 all-court player using a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 Stretch strung at 65 pounds (Gamma Synthetic Gut 15L)."

"Hitting with it was a surprise because it felt so stiff. I use a Kevlar blend and it was quite a bit stiffer. The string is as tough as nails but stretches much more than Kevlar. I would love to try it in a blend with synthetic gut. It should play softer than my current set up. This is one of the most durable strings I've used." 4.5 all-court player using a Wilson Hammer 6.2 stretch 95 strung at 63 pounds (Ashaway Kevlar 17/Synthetic Gut 16 Blend)."

"Good for players who need power and comfort. String has good pop but lacks control and tension maintenance. Strings absorb shock well." 5.5 all-court player using a Prince Precision 730 Longbody 97 strung at 58 pounds (Forten Poly Blast 17)."

"The only down side with this string was how greasy it felt while stringing. The overall playability surprised me." 4.5 all-court player using a Volkl C7 98 strung at 59 pounds."

"Good string. I liked the durability and it maintained tension." 5.0 all-court player using a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 strung at 64 pounds (Gamma TNT 16)."

"This string was surprisingly comfortable. For a thick string it has power and durability. Good for string breakers." 5.0 all-court player using a Dunlop Tour Pro +1.00 95 strung at 53 pounds (VS Synthetic Gut 17)."

"This string felt stiff during stringing, but played quite lively. It reminded me of Zyex." 4.0 all-court player using a Head Ti. S5 strung at 60 pounds (Prince Synthetic Gut 17 with Duraflex)."

"In the coil and during stringing it felt quite stiff, though not brittle. At first, I didn't like it at all. It felt boardy and didn't bite into the ball. The ball felt like it was sliding around on the string face, particularly on slices. However, after about 2 hours of play, the strings seated, lost some of their extreme surface smoothness and started to pocket the ball very well. I was very surprised that such a stiff string could produce considerable resiliency. Since I am used to playing with Wilson Sensation NXT 17 and natural gut, I never expected to like this string so much." 4.0 all-court player using a Wilson Sledgehammer 3.8 95 strung at 60 pounds (Sensation NXT 17)."

"Didn't move much but I also don't think it gripped the ball that well for spin either. I would carry this string for durability without resorting to Kevlar. It held up real well as far as tension is concerned." 4.5 baseline with heavy spin player using a Prince Thunderbolt 100 strung at 63/60 (Gamma TNT 17)."

"The string had a strong coil memory which made stringing a bit more difficult. The string felt stiff; it was good for power on ground strokes, but seemed to have very little feel or touch. I did not seem to have a good feel, touch, or control on volleys. The string did hold tension well, and appeared to be very durable. It might play better in a more flexible frame." 4.5 all-court player using a Pro Kennex Kinetic 15g 110 strung at 63 pounds (Tecnifibre TR Pro 16)"

"Good feel at first, but went dead after a while. It was also quite a pain to string." 4.0 all-court player using a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 strung at 62 pounds (Prince Synthetic Gut 16 with Duraflex)."

"I don't have many people who need a string this durable and frankly, this string does not play well enough to carry." 6.0 all-court player with heavy spin using a Prince Precision Equipe Longbody 95 strung at 70 pounds (Prince Synthetic Gut 16 Original)."

"Started feeling spongy in less than 30 minutes. Control was lacking. Couldn't get much spin with this string." 4.0 all-court player using a Volkl C10 original 93 strung at 58 pounds (Laserfiber Supreme 17)."

"It had a stiff board-like feel. I would not carry this string because there are many other durable brands that play/feel better." 5.0 all-court player using a Head Radical 260 97 strung at 56 pounds (Prince Synthetic Gut 17)."