United States Racquet String Association

United States Racquet String Association

In August 1996, 1,000 survey forms were sent to randomly selected USRA members. The survey was mailed with a list of all strings on the market at the time. The USRA received 373 responses. Respondents were asked to list each string they had used in quantities greater than 20 coils in the last year and to rate those strings on a scale of 1 to 10 in playability, durability and overall performance. The responses were tabulated by the USRA , resulting in an average score for each string in each category.

PLAYABILITY, DURABILITY, OVERALL, OTHER.

Note : The Black text in the tables below is what the the Tennis Warhouse carries.

* G = Gut, H = Hybrid, M = Multifilament, MC+W = Multicore w/Wraps, S+1 = Solid Core+1 Wrap, S+2 = Solid Core+2 Wraps, T = Textured, Z = Zyex

PLAYABILITY

GRADE STRING & GAUGE SCORE CONSTR - UCTIOIN AVE. RETAIL $

A

 Babolat VS Power 16 (1.30)
Gamma TNT 18 (1.17)
Gamma TNT Pro Plus 17L
Babolt VS Orig. 16 (1.30)
Gamma Pro 17L (1.22)		 9.49
9.24
9.24
9.23
9.05		 G
S+1
S+2
G
S+2		 49.00
24.00
27.00
47.00
25.00

B+

 Gamma TNT 17 (1.27)
Gamma Gut III 17(1.25)
Gamma TNT 16 (1.32)
Wilson Sensation 17 (1.25)
Prince Syn Gut w/DF 18 (1.15)
Gamma TNT RX 16 (1.32)
Wilson Hammertec 17 (1.24)
Wilson Sensation 16 (1.30)		 8.74
8.29
8.27
8.24
8.18
8.07
8.02
8.02		 S+1
S+1
S+1
M
S+2
S+2
S+1
M		 24.00
23.00
24.00
24.00
19.00
28.00
23.00
23.00

B

 Gamma XL 16 (1.30)
Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17 (1.22)
Prince Syn Gut Original 17 (1.24)
Gamma TNT 15L (1.40)
Prince Premiere 16 (1.32)
Tecnifibre 515 SPL 16 (1.32)
Gamma Syn Gut 17 (1.25)
Gamma Gut II 16 (1.32)
Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16 (1.29)
Prince Syn Gut w/DF 17 (1.22)
Alpha Gut 2000 16 (1.30)
Forten Sweet 17 (1.20)
Wilson Syn Gut Extreme 17 (1.22)
Prince Syn Gut 16 (1.29)
Wilson Performance Plus 17 (1.25)
Babolat Super Fine Play 17 (1.25)
Gosen Jim Courier Custom 16 1.29)
TOA Silencer 16 (1.28)
Prince Durathin 18 w/DF (1.15)
Gamma Ruff 16 (1.32)
Wilson Hammertec 16 (1.30)
Prince TopSpin Plus 16 (1.30)
Prince Syn Gut Original 16 (1.30)
Babolt VF Titanium Pro 16 (1.30)
Velociti 16 (1.29)
Gamma DuraSpin 16 (1.35)
Gamma Syn Gut 16 (1.32)
Prince Responce 16 (1.32)
Wilson Syn Gut Extreme 15L (1.35)
Dunlop Syn Gut 17 (1.20)		 7.94
7.88
7.83
7.81
7.81
7.80
7.76
7.75
7.72
7.72
7.70
7.62
7.62
7.61
7.59
7.55
7.55
7.55
7.43
7.30
7.28
7.23
7.18
7.16
7.13
7.09
7.07
7.03
7.02
7.00		 S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
Z
M
S+1
S+2
S+1
S+2
MC+W
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+2
T
S+1
T
S+1
S+2
S+1
T
S+1
Z
S+1
S+1		 22.00
18.00
20.00
24.00
25.00
26.00
19.00
20.00
18.00
19.00
20.00
17.00
20.00
20.00
20.00
19.00
21.00
18.00
22.00
21.00
22.00
20.00
19.00
21.00
18.00
21.00
18.00
22.00
20.00
20.00

C+

 Prince Syn Gut w/DF 16 (1.30)
Gamma Power Play 18 (1.10)
Babolat Super Fine Play 16 (1.30)
Wilson Performance Plus 16 (1.30)
Forten Thin Blend 18/17 (1.10/1.20)
Forten Sweet 16 (1.25)
Dunlop Syn Gut 16 (1.30)
Gamma Marathon 15L (1.40)
Gamma Syn Gut 15L (1.38)
TOA Leoina 66 15L (1.40)
Prince TopSpin w/DF 15L (1.35)
Prince Endurance 15L (1.38)		 6.98
9.95
6.94
6.89
6.88
6.78
6.61
6.52
6.32
6.10
6.06
6.04		 S+2
S+2
S+1
S+1
H
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+2
T
S+2		 19.00
24.00
19.00
20.00
22.00
18.00
18.00
22.00
19.00
15.00
21.00
22.00

C

 Wilson HammerLast 16 (1.32/1.22)
Gamma Infinity 15L (1.40/1.40)
Wilson Champ Nylon 15L (1.35)
Ashaway Crossfire II 16 (1.30/1.30)
Prince ProBlend w/DF 16 (1.30)
Prince Tourn. Nylon 15L (1.35)		 5.97
5.88
5.52
5.50
5.38
5.06		 H
H
S+1
H
H
S+1		 24.00
24.00
16.00
21.00
24.00
15.00

PLAYABILITY, OVERALL, OTHER.

Note : The Black text in the tables below is what the the Tennis Warhouse carries.

* G = Gut, H = Hybrid, M = Multifilament, MC+W = Multicore w/Wraps, S+1 = Solid Core+1 Wrap, S+2 = Solid Core+2 Wraps, T = Textured, Z = Zyex

DURABILITY

GRADE  STRING & GAUGE  SCORE  CONSTR - UCTIOIN   AVE. RETAIL $

A

 Prince ProBlend w/DF 16
Gamma Infinity 15L		 9.01
9.00		 H
H		 24.00
24.00

B+

 Gamma Marathon 15L
Ashaway Crossfire II 16
Wilson HammerLast 16
Prince Endurance 15L
Gamma TNT 15L		 8.82
8.45
8.43
8.18
8.05		 S+1
H
H
S+2
S+1		 22.00
21.00
24.00
22.00
24.00

B

 Gamma Power Play 18
Babolat VF Titanium Pro 16
Gamma XL 16
Gamma TNT RX 16
Gamma TNT 16
Gosen Jim Courier Custom 16
TOA Leoina 66 15L
Gamma Ruff 16 16
Gamma Syn Gut 15L
TOA Silencer 16
Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16
Gamma DuraSpin 16
Prince TopSpin w/DF 15L
Wilson Champ Nylon 15L
Prince Premiere 16
Alpha Gut 2000 16
Babolat VS Power 16
Forten Thin Blend 18/17		 7.86
7.60
7.50
7.48
7.39
7.32
7.28
7.26
7.23
7.23
7.22
7.20
7.20
7.19
7.07
7.03
7.00
7.00		 S+2
S+2
S+1
S+2
S+1
S+1
S+2
T
S+1
S+1
S+1
T
T
S+1
Z
MC+W
G
H		 24.00
21.00
22.00
28.00
24.00
21.00
15.00
21.00
19.00
18.00
18.00
21.00
21.00
16.00
25.00
20.00
49.00
22.00

C+

 Prince Syn Gut w/DF 16
Tecnifibre 515 SPL 16
Velociti 16
Babolat VS Original 16
Wilson Hammertec 16
Gamma Gut II 16
Gamma Syn Gut 16
Gamma TNT Pro Plus 17L
Prince Tournament Nylon 15L
Gamma TNT 17
Prince Response 16
Prince TopSpin Plus 16
Dunlop Syn Gut 16
Prince Syn Gut Original 16
Wilson Syn Gut Extreme 15L
Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17
Gamma Gut III 17
Prince Syn Gut Soft 16
Gamma Syn Gut 17
Wilson Sensation 16
Forten Sweet 16
Wilson Performance Plus 16
Babolat Super Fine Play 16
Prince Syn Gut w/DF 17
Prince Durathin w/DF 18
Wilson Hammertec 17
Forten Sweet 17
Prince Syn Gut Original 17
Dunlop Syn Gut 17
Gamma Pro 17L		 6.99
6.93
6.91
6.90
6.90
6.88
6.88
6.88
6.72
6.71
6.71
6.68
6.61
6.60
6.60
6.58
6.42
6.35
6.33
6.29
6.24
6.24
6.23
6.22
6.21
6.20
6.15
6.13
6.11
6.09		 S+2
M
S+1
G
S+1
S+2
S+1
S+2
S+1
S+1
Z
T
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
M
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+2
S+2
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+2		 19.00
26.00
18.00
47.00
22.00
20.00
18.00
27.00
15.00
24.00
22.00
20.00
18.00
19.00
20.00
18.00
23.00
20.00
19.00
23.00
18.00
20.00
19.00
19.00
22.00
23.00
17.00
20.00
20.00
25.00

C

 Gamma TNT 18
Wilson Syn Gut Extreme 17
Wilson Sensation 17
Wilson Performance Plus 17
Babolat Super Fine Play 17
Prince Syn Gut w/DF 18		 5.85
5.67
5.57
5.48
5.34
5.28		 S+1
S+1
M
S+1
S+1
S+2		 24.00
20.00
24.00
20.00
19.00
19.00

PLAYABILITY, DURABILITY, OTHER.

Note : The Black text in the tables below is what the the Tennis Warhouse carries.

* VS Original & VS Power are very similar slightly different coating. VS Original is no longer available. VS Power 16 is the new name for VS All Season 16.

OVERALL

 GRADE STRING & GAUGE  SCORE  CONSTR - UCTIOIN  AVE. RETAIL $

B+

 Babolat VS Original 16 *
Babolat VS Power 16 *
Gamma TNT Pro Plus 17L
Gamma TNT 17
Gamma TNT 16
Gamma Pro 17L
Gamma TNT 15L		 8.71
8.66
8.52
8.16
8.13
8.00
8.00		 G
G
S+2
S+1
S+1
S+2
S+1		 47.00
49.00
27.00
24.00
24.00
25.00
24.00

B

 Gamma TNT RX 16
Gamma TNT 18
Gamma XL 16
Gosen Jim Courier Custom 16
Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16
Gamma Gut III 17
Gamma Gut II 16
Alpha Gut 2000 16
Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17
Wilson Hammertec 17
Prince Premiere 16
Gamma Marathon 15L
Tecnifiber 515 SPL 16
TOA Silencer 16
Babolat VF Titanium Pro 16
Wilson Sensation 16
Prince Syn Gut Original 17
Gamma Ruff 16
Gamma Syn Gut 17
Gamma DuraSpin 16
Prince syn Gut w/DF 17
Wilson Hammertec 16
Gamma Power Play 18
Gamma Syn Gut 16
Prince Durathin w/DF 18
Prince Syn Gut Soft 16
Velociti 16		 7.96
7.93
7.77
7.62
7.54
7.53
7.50
7.46
7.44
7.44
7.41
7.35
7.34
7.32
7.28
7.25
7.22
7.20
7.20
7.17
7.12
7.11
7.10
7.07
7.07
7.07
7.00		 S+2
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+2
MC+W
S+1
S+1
Z
S+1
M
S+1
S+2
M
S+1
T
S+1
T
S+2
S+1
S+2
S+1
S+2
S+1
S+1		 28.00
24.00
22.00
21.00
18.00
23.00
20.00
20.00
18.00
23.00
25.00
22.00
26.00
18.00
21.00
23.00
20.00
21.00
19.00
21.00
19.00
22.00
24.00
18.00
22.00
20.00
18.00

C+

 Prince TopSpin Plus 16
Prince Syn gut w/DF 16
Gamma Infinity 15L
Prince Syn Gut Original 16
Wilson Syn Gut Extreme 17
Forten Thin Blend
Wilson HammerLast 16
Forten Sweet 17 Syn Gut
Wilson Syn Gut Extreme 15L
Prince Syn Gut w/DF 18
Prince Response 16
Prince TopSpin w/DF 15L
Gammma Syn Gut 15L
Prince Endurance 15L
Wilson Sensation 17
Babolat Super Fine Play 16
Ashaway Crossfire II 16
Babolat Super Fine Play 17
Dunlop Syn Gut 17
Dunlop Syn Gut 16
Prince ProBlend w/DF 16
Wilson Performance Plus 16
Wilson Performance Plus 17
Forten Sweet 16 Syn Gut
TOA Leoina 66 15L
Wilson Champ Nylon 15L		 6.99
6.96
6.95
6.95
6.95
6.94
6.94
6.92
6.91
6.82
6.81
6.77
6.73
6.70
6.70
6.58
6.55
6.55
6.54
6.54
6.54
6.54
6.52
6.46
6.31
6.19		 T
S+2
H
S+1
S+1
H
H
S+1
S+1
S+2
Z
T
S+1
S+2
M
S+1
H
S+1
S+1
S+1
H
S+1
S+1
S+1
S+2
S+1		 20.00
19.00
24.00
19.00
20.00
22.00
24.00
17.00
20.00
19.00
22.00
21.00
19.00
22.00
24.00
19.00
21.00
19.00
20.00
18.00
24.00
20.00
20.00
18.00
15.00
16.00

C

 Prince Tournament Nylon 15L 5.58 S+1 15.00

 

PLAYABILITY, DURABILITY, OVERALL.

Note: The percentages below were determined by dividing the total number of responses for the item by the total number of responses for all 61 strings in the survey (3,305).

OTHER

 MOST RESPONSES:
CONSTRUCTION
(%)		 MOST
RESPONSES:
BRAND (%)		  MOST
RESPONSES:
GAUGE (%)
Solid Core + 1 5  3.6
Solid Core + 2 2  1.2
Hybrid		  7.1
Textured	  8.7
Multifilament	  4.7
Natural Gut	  2.0
Zyex		  1.8
Multicore + W	   .9
 
Prince 	  34.0
Gamma 	  29.0
Wilson	  17.0
Babolat	   5.9
Forten 	   3.3
Gosen	   2.6
TOA	   2.5
Dunlop	   1.7
Alpha	    .9
Tecnifibre  .9
Volociti    .7
Ashaway	    .6
 
16	55.9
17	20.3
15L	16.4
18	 5.9
17L	 1.5

MOST RESPONSES STRING

STRING & GAUGE # OF
RESPONSES		 PLAY.
GRADE 		 DURA
GRADE		 AVE.
RETAIL
Prince Syn Gut w/DF 16
Gamma TNT 16
Gamma TNT 17
Prince Syn Gut w/DF 17
Prince Syn Gut Original 16
Prince TopSpin 15L w/DF
Gamma Syn Gut 16
Wilson Performance Plus 16
Prince ProBlend 16 w/DF
Wilson Sensation 16		 208
153
134
130
130
123
113
106
104
101		 C+
B+
B+
B
B
B
B
C+
C
B+		 C+
B
C+
C+
C+
C+
C+
C+
A
C+		 $19
$24
$24
$19
$19
$20
$18
$20
$24
$23