Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution String Review
Upsides
- Control
- Spin
- Durability
- Playability Duration
Downsides
- Too firm and underpowered for beginners
Summary
Pro Line Evolution is a monofilament co-polyester tennis string from Kirschbaum. Like other members of the Pro Line family, Evolution is softer and more forgiving than Kirschbaum's "first generation" polys (like Super Smash). For our playtest team, the defining characteristic of Evolution lay not in any single feature but in its outstanding combination of control, spin potential and durability. Like the best polys we've tested, Evolution enabled us to execute our biggest, most powerful strokes without fear of overhitting. This fact not only led to ambitious targeting, but it also made it easy for us to swing more aggressively when adding spin to the ball. Like all Kirschbaum polys, Evolution is pre-stretched at the factory, giving it a slightly firmer feel off the stringing machine and a more consistent response over the length of its playing life. Although the firm feel makes it ill-suited to beginners or players with shorter strokes, our crew had zero issues with discomfort. In fact, one of our playtesters used the words "very comfortable" to describe it. Ultimately, Evolution performed like a very reliable work horse. Although it didn't break any scoring records, it performed remarkably well in nearly every category - hence the impressive overall score. The fact that it lasted longer than many of its peers makes it an awfully attractive option for big hitters.
Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution String Scores
| Power | 61 |
| Spin | 92 |
| Comfort | 68 |
| Control | 92 |
| Feel | 92 |
| Playability Duration | 80 |
| Durability | 93 |
| Overall | 90 |
Power - Score: 61 / Control - Score: 92
Our team found that Pro Line Evolution provided exceptional control without ever feeling underpowered. Mark summed it up nicely, saying, "I play with a pretty lively frame type (the Babolat Pure Aero Tour), and the Pro Line Evolution tames the inherent liveliness of that frame, allowing me to accurately predict where my shots are landing. That said, what power the Pro Line Evolution did provide was nearly perfect for me. I could go from taking the pace out of a passing shot to cracking a down the line forehand with lots of pace. I never felt like power was lacking when I needed it. Suffice it to say, the Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution is a versatile string, and it also performed very well in hybrid form."
"I loved the controlled response of this string," said Chris, who also found great control with Pro Line Evolution. "The level of control was similar to that of my go-to string, Volkl Cyclone. I felt confident taking big cuts at the ball, even with my powerful Babolat Pure Drive Plus. As the string settled in I liked it even more. I had enough power to get the ball away, but it was the high level of control that gave me the confidence to swing fast."
Spin - Score: 92
Pro Line Evolution doesn't have a shaped profile, nor is it infused with top secret chemicals to facilitate snapback. These facts didn't bother our team, who got great spin from this string. Chris explained, "I liked the way this string grabbed the ball. I was driving my backhand slice with it very well. My topspin shots were dropping nicely within the lines, and I had a good sense for the amount of spin I was getting. I was able to get enough spin to get my lobs to drop quickly, and that allowed me to hit them aggressively. Likewise, I was able to float a defensive slice to buy time to get back into the point."
With Evolution, Mark had no problem bending and shaping the ball's trajectory with spin. He said, "From the first swing (approximately 15 hours of play ago) until today, I have been able to hit with extreme levels of spin with the Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution, and I've been able to keep the ball high and away from my opponents. Three to four feet of ball clearance over the net was getting my shots close to the baseline with a head high bounce; I love this string!"
Comfort - Score: 68
The all too familiar trade-off with stiff poly-based strings is that they can feel uncomfortable, especially on off-center impact. According to Mark, Pro Line Evolution not only avoided this problem, but it actually felt quite comfortable. He said, "I mostly play with a hybrid setup, which is more of a performance based preference and not an arm pain related decision. That said, I have played through several sets of the Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution before this test, and I feel it is a very comfortable string in any configuration: full bed or a hybrid, applied in either direction."
As a fan of firmer polyester strings, Chris predictably had no problems with discomfort. He said, "Pro Line Evolution offered a firm response, but I had no comfort issues. The string seemed to pocket the ball decently, and I think that helped take the edge off its firmness. I had it strung at 55 lbs in my Pure Drive Plus and at no point did it feel too jarring, which was impressive considering the beam of the racquet is also firm."
Feel - Score: 92
Although our playtesters gave Pro Line Evolution a passing grade for feel, Chris would have preferred a slightly crisper response. He said, "I didn't feel quite as connected to the ball with this string as I do with Cyclone. The feel was more muted, and that was really my only knock on this string's performance. However, the high level of control and the solid access to spin enabled me to place the ball very well. My level of play was not negatively impacted, but I didn't feel as optimally connected to the ball as I do with some other strings."
For Mark, Evolution's feel was plush. He said, "To me, feel is a general term used to describe the result of a few factors when it comes to tennis racquets or strings. I have played with the Pro Line Evolution in quite a few different racquets, and it provided a plush feel to every frame when compared to many other polys."
Playability Duration - Score: 80
Kirschbaum pre-stretches their co-polys in an effort to provide better tension maintenance and longer lasting playability. According to Mark, Kirschbaum has definitely succeeded in creating a longer lasting string. He said, "Most of the softer polyesters drop tension a little quicker than firmer poly strings. That didn't happen with Pro Line Evolution. Although the Pro Line Evolution is a softer poly, I applied around 56 lbs of tension to my full set and after 15 hours of play the string bed still feels firm."
Chris was also impressed by how long this string stayed fresh and playable. He said, "I was very impressed with how this string lasted. It proved to be durable, and the playability remained solid. Even after three weeks of hitting I was still really enjoying the response. My level of control never seemed to drop off and I was still getting lots of spin. I didn't have any comfort issues either, and that's not always the case with poly based strings."
Overall - Score: 90
Scores
(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)
| Chris' Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 6.1 | Feel | 9.4 |
| Spin | 9.3 | Playability Duration | 8 |
| Comfort | 7.5 | Durability | 9.5 |
| Control | 9.4 | ||
| Overall | 9 | ||
| Mark's Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 6 | Feel | 9 |
| Spin | 9 | Playability Duration | 8 |
| Comfort | 6 | Durability | 9 |
| Control | 9 | ||
| Overall | 9 | ||
Playtester String Setups
Chris:
Playtest Racquet: Babolat Pure Drive Plus
Playtest Tension: 55 lbs on constant pull
Typical String: Volkl Cyclone 16
Mark:
Playtest Racquet: Babolat Pure Aero Tour
Playtest Tension: 56 lbs on lock out
Typical String: Polyester 16g
Tension Diagnostic
Strung @ 55lbs on Tourna 600 ES Computerized Stringing Machine
Initial Stringbed Stiffness: 59 RDC Units
+24 hrs (unplayed) Stiffness: 54 RDC Units
What type of player would you recommend this to?
Chris - "Pro Line Evolution is a great option for seasoned poly players looking for lots of control, spin and lasting playability."
Mark - "Players who prefer polyester strings should not go their entire tennis life without playing with Pro Line Evolution. Anyone experimenting with polyester strings, whether they are seeking a comfortable poly alternative or simply modifying the performance of their stringbed, will likely benefit from the Pro Line Evolution's characteristics."
Likes
Chris - "I liked the spin, control, lasting playability and the color!"
Mark - "All the features of Pro Line Evolution are better than average, which makes it a versatile string choice. It is easier on the arm than most other monofilaments, very spin friendly in any configuration, maintains tension well for a poly and does not create an excessive level of friction against a hybrid string."
Dislikes
Chris - "Not quite as much feel as my go-to string."
Mark - "This isn't really a dislike, but bright blue strings sort of clash with the color scheme of my Pure Aero Tour. Although looking at my racquet set up this way, I have to admit, it is hard not to smile."
Comparing the string to others they've tried, our testers said:
Chris - "The playability of Pro Line Evolution was very close to Volkl Cyclone -- especially Cyclone in the Fluro Orange color. I prefer the feel of Cyclone Black, but I hit the ball just as well with this string. Another string to compare this to would be Solinco's new Hyper G. The blend of power and control is very similar."
Mark - "I feel there is some correlation between the color of ink used for a string and how it plays/ feels. In comparing the light blue colored polyesters in our system, including Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution, to other color mono-filaments we carry, I feel the light blue varieties are among the softer strings. Yonex Poly Tour Spin (gear shaped), Luxilon ALU Power Ice, and Tourna Big Hitter Blue are all comparable to Pro Line Evolution in terms of being softer monofilaments."