Gamma Ocho XP String Review

Power - Score: 86 / Control - Score: 73

Multifilament strings tend to be powerful, and Ocho XP is no exception. For Chris, this string's extra power, when paired with his powerful racquet, led to control problems. He explained, "I found this string too powerful in my Babolat Pure Drive Plus. It worked great for serve and volley tennis because it added power to my serves and made it easier to punch volleys away. However, when rallying from the baseline I found I was overhitting too often. I was randomly hitting long and had issues trusting Ocho XP in my Pure Drive Plus. Halfway through the test I switched to an old Kneissl Red Star. It's also a plus length racquet, but it has a flexible beam and an 18x20 string pattern. Ocho XP worked heaps better in the Red Star. I had more control from the baseline, yet I still had enough power to get the ball away."

A regular user of multifilaments, Tiffani had a much easier time controlling Ocho's power. She commented, "I was quite pleased with the mix of power and control right off the stringing machine. At 56 lbs in my Prince Textreme Tour 100P, the power level was good and not excessive when the stringbed was fresh. I was getting some nice spin to control the inherent power that came from this multifilament string. As the string aged the power began to outweigh the control, but not so much that my shots became erratic. Certainly I played it a little safer, but the adjustments on my part were minimal. I also felt that I could go a bit higher in tension because Ocho was so comfortable, and I could get even more control out of this string that way."

Spin - Score: 75

As the first eight-sided multifilament ever made, Ocho XP was designed with more bite than a traditional multi. In theory, this groundbreaking design should translate into increased spin potential. According to Tiffani, the theory works (for the most part). She said, "Initially, Ocho XP's edges were grabbing the ball pretty well and offered better than average spin from a multifilament string. After about three weeks of playing I noticed the spin potential dipped and the power level rose. However, I typically only have a multifilament string for a month before I need new strings anyway."

For Chris, the combination of a powerful string with a powerful racquet proved to be a bad recipe for spin. He explained, "I was hoping to get more spin out of Ocho XP considering it has eight edges. I just couldn't get enough spin on the ball to maintain consistency when I was hitting aggressively from the baseline. I love the way I can get the ball to drop quickly when hitting topspin groundstrokes with poly-based strings, and I just couldn't get that response from Ocho XP. When I switched to a much more control-oriented racquet I was able to get more spin simply because I was able to swing with more racquet head speed. Still, I found more spin from Head Reflex MLT, and I was a little disappointed in the lack of bite from Ocho XP."

Comfort - Score: 89

Given Ocho XP's pliable construction and soft composition, it's not surprising that the highest score for this playtest was awarded for comfort. Chris discovered a big sweetspot, especially after the initial break-in period. He said, "Ocho XP felt crisp yet comfortable off the stringer. After a few hitting sessions the string softened up considerably. Comfort improved throughout the test, and the stringbed felt very soft. I didn't experience any jarring on mis-hits, and this string definitely helped expand the sweetspot compared to the polys I usually play with."

Tiffani had no complaints when it came to this string's comfort level. She said, "One of the main attractions of multifilament strings for me is comfort, and Gamma Ocho XP was plenty comfortable."

Feel - Score: 78

Thanks to its durable pearlized coating, Ocho XP plays slightly crisper than the average multi. Tiffani appreciated the crisp response. She said, "The initial feel off the stringing machine was nice and crisp, which I prefer and enjoy. With a crisper response I feel more connected to my shots and directional control. I felt as the string settled in, the feel softened. After a couple of weeks the string softened to a more dampened, more powerful feel. I liked the fresh feel more, so I would start off at higher tension to preserve that crisper feel longer."

Chris also appreciated the crisp response, but he wanted it to last longer. He explained, "For the first couple of hits Ocho XP felt crisp and comfortably firm. A few more hitting sessions in and the tension felt like it had dropped a fair bit and the stringbed felt much, much softer and springier. The feel became too lively for my Pure Drive Plus but worked out just fine in the more controlled Red Star. This is pretty indicative of how I've found other Live Wire based strings to perform over time."

Playability Duration - Score: 74

As with every string we've playtested, Ocho XP lost tension over time. For Chris, this resulted in less control. He explained, "Ocho XP played with solid durability for me. The string notched rather than frayed. The biggest issue I had was with the tension maintenance. I liked the control I had when the string was fresh, but I found it had too much power once the string tension dropped after a couple of hits."

For Tiffani, Ocho XP's playability held up quite well over the duration of the playtest. She said, "I really liked that Ocho XP didn't require me to straighten the strings between every point. The string movement increased as it aged, but it wasn't as extreme as other multifilament strings that I've used. There was little to no fraying as well. Tension dropped after a few weeks, but the strings remained playable and predictable."

Overall - Score: 80