MSV Focus Hex String Review

Power - Score: 69

Our team found the power level of MSV Focus Hex to be decidedly medium for a co-poly. This worked quite well for Chris. He said, "I found the power level to be pretty middle of the road for a co-poly string. It was definitely not one of the most powerful co-polys, nor was it especially underpowered. What I liked the most about the power level was that it felt very consistent. I always knew what I was going to get from this string, and that is what I look for in a poly or co-poly."

Andy also found the moderate power level to be just right. He said, "Power in a poly string is, for me, about finding a perfect balance. There is a certain response that you expect from a stringbed. If a string is either too soft and powerful or too stiff and dead then you're not going to get the right feel. This string's average power struck the perfect balance for me because the ball did what I expected it to do off the strings."

Spin - Score: 80

With its shaped profile and thin gauge MSV Focus Hex gave our team decent bite, but it didn't quite make Andy's "A list." He said, "The hexagonal shape of the string allowed for good ball pocketing and good spin production. However, compared to other shaped strings (Volkl Cyclone, Solinco Tour Bite), it doesn't grab as much or generate as much spin. Maybe the surface of the string doesn't produce as much friction with the ball on impact, or it doesn't slide on itself as well. The spin potential was still good, but not up there with the best."

Chris also found spin to be adequate. He said, "Again, I found this string to be pretty middle of the road. I didn't get quite the spin I find with Luxilon 4G, Volkl Cyclone or the very spin-friendly Babolat RPM Blast even though I've hit those in thicker gauges. That being said, the spin I was finding was decent, and I was happy with the way I was hitting the ball. I found enough grip on the ball to put it exactly where I wanted, and the level of spin definitely helped me with control. I liked the bite I was getting on both topspin and slice shots, and I was getting enough spin to take a good crack at the ball."

Comfort - Score: 77

Unlike some of the stiffer polys we've tested, MSV Focus Hex passed the comfort test with flying colors. "I never once thought about any comfort issues with this string," said Chris, who appreciated the absence of harsh feedback. "The soft feel was adequate, and I never noticed any untoward jarring or shock. Off center shots felt predictably firmer, but not excessively so. While comfort is never going to be a strong point of any poly based string, this one is definitely an improvement over traditional polys and is right in the mix with most modern co-polys."

For Andy, the feel of MSV Focus Hex struck the right balance between stiff and soft. He said, "I found Focus Hex to be comfortable without feeling overly soft. If a string is too soft and comfortable it can feel mushy, and the ball can fly. If a string is too stiff then there won't be enough pop and it can hurts your arm. This string finds a happy medium."

Control - Score: 85

MSV Focus Hex gave our team exceptional control. Chris was able to swing big without worry. He said, "The highlight of the test for me was the level of control I had with this string. I really enjoyed its predictable response, and I was surprised to get this much control from a thin gauge string. I felt very confident going for my shots and found I could stay on the gas without fear of hitting the ball long. I liked the level of control it brought to the lively stringbed of my Volkl C10 Pro, and it gave me more confidence in the racquet. I've also hit it in more powerful racquets and think it adds superb control to racquets like the Babolat AeroPro Drive, etc."

Andy had no trouble hitting his mark. He said, "Because it has average stiffness, the control is pretty standard for a polyester string. On balance, I was able to be precise and put the ball where I wanted. The excellent bite also helped me generate enough spin to control the ball and put it where intended."

Playability Duration - Score: 78

Despite the expected tension loss, MSV Focus Hex performed well over time. In fact, Andy was able to keep it in his racquet longer than usual. He said, "I actually left this string in my racquet for quite a while, and when I went back a few weeks later to hit it again it still felt fine. It's playability duration has been excellent, right now about three weeks."

Chris noticed some minor changes in the response but remained quite satisfied with the overall playability. He said, "This string lasted me my requisite two weeks of hitting. I thought the tension drop was gradual, and that allowed me to easily adjust to the changes in the string and be happy with its performance for the entire two weeks."

Overall - Score: 79

Scores

(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)

Playtester String Setups

Review date: October 2012. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.

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