Diadem Solstice Power String Review

Control - Score: 80 / Power - Score: 67

Although you can't tell from its name, Solstice Power was definitely no slouch when it came to control. Aided in part by this string's phenomenal spin potential, Marco had no problem bringing the ball down on target. He said, "This string really provided me with good control; it pocketed the ball nicely on impact and allowed me to go for big swings. I was confident that it would provide control when I was going for my shots, and I noticed that the string had a gripping feel to it, meaning the harder I swung the more spin I was rewarded with."

Chris had good control at the beginning of the playtest but soon discovered the power side of Solstice Power. He said, "Right off the stringer I thought this string was very high on control while still feeling comfortable. After a few hitting sessions I noticed this string really opening up and becoming livelier. The tension dropped out a little faster than the average poly based string. To allow for that drop in tension I'd string this one tighter by 2-3 pounds or pre-stretch it in the future. Obviously, power became more impressive as the tension dropped, but it was at the expense of some control."

Spin - Score: 95

Judging from its shaped construction, exceptional pocketing and lively snapback, Solstice Power was clearly built for spin. This helps explain why Chris gave it such a high score in this department. He said, "I was very impressed with the amount of spin this string offered. It seemed to grab the ball very well. I was reminded of both Polyfibre TCS and Double AR Twice Shark. Like Solstice Power, both of those strings pocket the ball very well and spit it out with a ton of spin. Both my topspin and slice shots got a noticeable bump in spin compared to many other co-poly strings I've hit. The excellent access to spin helped me retain some control as the tension dropped out and the stringbed became more powerful."

"The unique star-shape of this string really does make a difference," said Marco, who clearly appreciated how effectively this co-poly grabbed the ball. "I noticed the string had more grip and grab on the ball, resulting in more RPMs on my shots. I didn't notice my shots sailing too much, and there was always a decent amount of spin them. I enjoyed this aspect."

Comfort - Score: 77

Made primarily from firm polyester, Solstice Power isn't supposed to be comfortable, especially compared to a multifilament or natural gut. However, when compared to other co-polys, we found this string to have more than adequate comfort. Marco had zero complaints, saying, "I played with the 16 gauge predominantly and didn't notice any adverse effects on my arm or body. It was definitely more comfortable than many of the stiffer co-polys I've hit recently."

Chris also found this co-poly to be quite comfortable. He said, "This string plays softer than a lot of other co-polys. I could feel the ball sink into the stringbed, and that pocketing feel came with a softer response. While this string is not as forgiving as just about any multifilament offering, I thought it provided ample comfort for a poly-based string."

Feel - Score: 81

To create a softer, livelier, more user-friendly feel, Solstice Power was constructed with special additives and softening agents. For Chris, a big fan of stiffer, 'old school' polys, the softer feel turned out to be a mixed blessing. He said, "The feel was soft right off the stringer. As the test wore on this string softened further and also felt livelier. At first I could feel the string pocketing the ball, but the response was more controlled and lower powered. In the second week of this test the string felt much springier. I'm not a fan of a trampoline-like feel, so I'd string this one tighter or pre-stretch it in the future to find a deader, firmer feel."

Marco also reported a softer feel, but it wasn't at the expense of control. He said, "I noticed a softer feel with this string. Even with a stiffness rating in the low 200s this string felt and played softer than polys that are in the high 100s (according to our TW University lab data). I think you could get away with lowering your tension for even more comfort, as it provides a forgiving feel without sacrificing spin and control."

Playability Duration - Score: 60

Our team had differing opinions regarding the tension maintenance and playability duration of Solstice Power. Marco was ultimately satisfied with this string's overall lifespan despite noticing some changes at the very end of the test. He said, "Considering its high level of playability, Solstice Power lasted for an acceptable duration. The tension didn't show any major drops initially, but it definitely loosened up toward the end of the test. The drop in tension became very noticeable within about the last hour or so of its life."

"This string dropped tension quickly," said Chris, who found Solstice Power a little too lively by the end of the playtest. "I was more a fan of how it played before the drop, and I don't like my polys to be too lively. For me, that meant the string had a very short lifespan. However, pre-stretching or stringing at a higher tension should help."

Overall - Score: 84