Babolat RPM Blast and Volkl Cyclone Comparison

If you set out to construct the perfect tennis string for the explosive mechanics of the modern tennis era, no jury would convict you for wanting to copy the formula of either Babolat RPM Blast or Volkl Cyclone. With their stiff and low-powered constructions, these co-polyester strings supply players with the needed control for taking huge, fearless cuts at the ball. They also have slick and durable surfaces, which means they not only endure the violent sliding action of topspin shots, but they can also facilitate it. Finally, their grippy shapes help them grab hold of a tennis ball, which further enhances their spin potential. Ultimately, these strings are separated by inches, not miles. However, inches matter in a sport where the outcome of a match can turn on a shot that sails just long. In order to drill down to exactly what separates these strings our team conducted an exhaustive 6 round playtest, comparing each in the area of power, control, comfort, spin, feel and playability duration. Here are the results.

Gauge. Composition. Construction. These features factor importantly into string performance. Even color has consequence. But there is a better tool for getting at the fault lines that separate one string from another, and it lies in the stiffness number. The stiffness of a string not only impacts how fast, high and far a ball will fly when struck (think power and control), but it also influences the type of feedback and the amount of shock sent to your hand (think feel and comfort).

In our Tennis Warehouse University string lab, Cyclone posted an 18 percent lower stiffness score than RPM Blast. Although this is a real difference, Andy helps us understand why it's hard to separate these two co-polys. "This is tough because they're both exceptional control strings made for the same type of player. The overall performance is quite similar, which is partly why I could switch between them without missing a beat." However, as the playtest progressed and the strokes piled up, some daylight emerged. Andy explained, "Despite their obvious similarities, I definitely noticed some subtle differences. RPM Blast felt a tad firmer, whereas Cyclone was a bit softer and livelier. RPM Blast's extra stiffness gave me more control and allowed me to swing out on my shots a bit more without fear that the ball would go sailing long. This gave me plenty of confidence when trying to work the ball into tight spaces. Conversely, Cyclone was more comfortable and more powerful, letting me do more with the ball with less of a swing. An important upside of Cyclone was that the extra power didn't come with any significant loss of control."

Like Andy, Chris found these co-polys to be very similar in overall performance. He said, "Both of these strings are very much control oriented offerings. They're pretty far from the livelier polys on the market and are much better suited to players looking for control over power. While both played with a deader response, I wouldn't call either overly stiff or harsh." Despite their many similarities, Chris ultimately discovered some differences. He continued, "RPM Blast felt the slightly stiffer of the two, but it was also the more muted string. While RPM Blast played very controlled, I could feel my level of control more with Cyclone. I got fantastic control from both strings, but I felt more connected to the ball with Cyclone, so it just edges out RPM Blast on the control front."

RPM Blast and Volkl Cyclone are two of the most spin-friendly strings we've ever hit. Everything about these strings, from their ability to accommodate maximum stroke speed to their bite and slippery surfaces, spells spin potential. Needless to say, Chris was impressed by both strings. He said, "For me, these strings are all about spin and that went hand in hand with control. The low-powered response of both combined with excellent spin generation of both to help me control my shots. Both strings allowed me to take full cuts at the ball without overhitting, as I was able to generate lots of spin to get my shots to drop inside the lines. I had both strings strung at 46 lbs, and I felt that tension allowed me to benefit from the snap back effect of their polyester construction. I thought both strings offered a lot of grab on the ball, and my spin production was solid. If I had to give one string the edge, it would be Cyclone because it offered me a little more spin and control of the ball."

Andy also picked a winner for spin, but the margin of victory was slim. He said, "Both strings are extremely spin-friendly! I could get my shots dipping, diving and slicing through the court with ease, no matter which string I was using. Both strings are shaped (not round), which gives you extra ball grab and gives you the sensation that the ball is really sinking into the stringbed. RPM was a bit lower powered so I was able to swing out a bit more with it, giving it the very slight edge in spin potential for me. Ultimately, though, I would have no problem recommending either string to any player looking for spin."

Unlike stiffness or gauge, there is no easy way to measure a string's feel, especially because it depends on something subjective, namely the way a player experiences and interprets the force of ball impact. Having said that, the category of feel is hard to ignore because it is often crucial to why a player prefers one string over another.

Although Cyclone and RPM Blast are both firm strings with similar performance characteristics, our crew found some very real differences in feel. Andy explained, "The biggest difference to me, other than the stiffness, was in feel. I thought Cyclone felt a bit crisper and offered a bit better connection to the ball when it was on my strings. On the other hand, RPM Blast has a more muted, dampened feel. It gives you the sensation that it's the softer string although in actuality it is a bit stiffer. That dampened feeling made the ball feel a bit more distant to me at impact, not giving me the same level of responsiveness as Cyclone. I'd give the edge to Cyclone here."

Chris also discovered some key differences in feel, and he ultimately gravitated to the string that made him feel more connected to the ball and more plugged into his shots. He explained, "As I mentioned in the comfort section, RPM Blast felt more muted compared to Cyclone. I think because of that it felt the deader playing of the two, but in reality I think power was pretty even between the two. Cyclone had me feeling more connected to the ball. I felt like I hit my touch shots well with both strings, but I just felt more connected to them with Cyclone."

There is no way around it. All tennis strings lose tension, especially co-polyester strings like RPM Blast and Cyclone. Ultimately, though, a string's tension loss cannot be viewed in isolation. Our team had to ask some additional questions, namely, how long did the playability of each string last? Did one handle tension loss better than the other?

For Chris, despite the inevitable tension loss, both these strings retained their most crucial playing characteristics (spin and control) for the duration of the playtest, and both met his expectations for how long a co-polyester should last. He explained, "I managed to enjoy both strings for three weeks. At the very end of the test I was ready to cut both strings out and replace them with a fresh set, but for three weeks both strings played with ample control. If anything, Cyclone got slightly livelier as the tension dropped, whereas RPM Blast felt like it dropped more tension but still felt very controlled. I really have no complaints, as I never struggled to find control from either string. Control and spin are the qualities that attract me to strings like these, and two weeks of performance is my preferred requirement for playability duration. Since both strings played well through two weeks I have to call this section a tie for playability, while Cyclone wins for holding tension just a tad better."

For Andy, the overall tension maintenance of these strings was pretty close. He explained, "Over the course of the playtest I thought Volkl Cyclone held its tension a tad better, but they're in the same ballpark." The real dividing line for Andy was the way each string handled tension loss. He continued, "The crucial difference for me was in how their playability changed over time. With its stiffer response, the playability of RPM Blast didn't suffer as much. Cyclone got a bit too lively and uncontrollable at the end of the test, but RPM Blast opened up nicely, softened up and still gave me plenty of control."

Judging from the comments of our playtest team, nobody could blame us for declaring this playtest a tie. Both RPM Blast and Cyclone have "best of class" levels of spin and control, and both could be recommended as substitutes for the other. Needless to say, Andy would be happy using either one. He explained, "As is the case with the other string comparisons we have recently done, these are two exceptional strings — two of my favorites — either of which I'd have no problem taking into a tournament." With that said, Andy helps us realize that these strings are not identical. He continued, "Fresh off the stringer I'd have to give the slight edge to Cyclone due to its crisper feedback that left me feeling more connected to the ball (this proved to be its biggest advantage over RPM Blast). As the test went on my preference in playability started shifting toward RPM Blast as it softened up and got a bit livelier." Ultimately, though, Andy was able to select a winner. "If I were stringing up my racquets fresh for a tournament, I'd probably have to go with Cyclone for its more responsive feel."

It should be clear by now that Chris was very impressed by both strings. How impressed? Let's just say he wouldn't kick a fresh set of Cyclone or RPM Blast out of his stringbed. He explained, "I loved the way both strings played in my racquets. I could easily use either one as my go-to string." But ultimately, for Chris, the heart wants what it wants. He continued, "There is one string I preferred over the other during this test. The racquet I kept gravitating to was the one strung with Cyclone. I just felt more connected to my shots with Cyclone. I felt power was pretty much dead even. Cyclone offered a tad more spin, but I'm splitting hairs as both are very spin-friendly strings." Ultimately, for Chris, the biggest difference between these strings came down to cost effectiveness. He explained, "I also have to take price into account, and that seals the deal. Cyclone is half the price and is also my preferred choice in several categories. The savings of using Cyclone over RPM Blast makes it a clear, clear winner for me."

Article date: March 2017. If you found this article interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.