Well, it's highly unscientific; but, of the 3 strings that I stock for my customers, for durability I rate the BG-65 as the most durable, BG-85 next and the B-696 last. Assuming the same tension setting. How long would the B-696 last at 22 lbs., that's hard to say because it depends on many factors (e.g., stringing job quality, mishit frequency, etc.). As for its playing feel, I think it's very similar to the BG-65. FWIW. HTH.
Thank you; Wow, B-696 is less durable than a BG-85 !! It was good know that; I was gonna buy the reel in replacement for the BG-65 but now I think I should not;
Well, I think it's only fair to Hi-Qua that I remind you that that's my opinion and mine only. I wouldn't want to be accused of depriving HQ of potential revenue. FWIW, these days I use it to string HS players' racquets, usually at 20/22, and so far when they break it's always due to factors other than normal wear (e.g., nicks and cuts from scraping shuttles off the floor, hitting projectiles other than shuttles, etc.).
That's true; but here is the predicamant; if someone gives you a racket to string it but doesn't specify what string to use, would you use the B-696 instead of BG-65 knowing that it might break easily ??
Here's what I usually do: 1. I ask them. If they don't know, I tell them what strings I've in stock at the moment and they can choose. 2a. If they just drop their racquets off without any instructions, I'll try to look up my notes to see if I've strung for them before. If so, then I'll just use the same setting. 2b. If I don't have them in my notes---in which case why they drop off their racquets without instructions is beyond me, but that's another story---then I'll try to match the previous string. 2c. If they've cut off and removed the previous string, and dropped off an empty frame without instructions, then you can bid on it on eBay the next day. Just kidding. In that case, I'll give them BG-65, my mid-range string.
The B696 string plays well but is not durable at all. My doubles partner and I broke 4 sets of string in 2 days. No mishits. We string at a bit higher tension, 25/28 or 26/29.
same here...(except for teh ebay part ) I've got bg80, 65-ti, 65 and micropower from ashaway (though i suspect it to be a rotten real...) the bg80 is used on me and my dads rackets. teh 65-ti si collectign dust. and teh bt-65 is pretty much 99% of the "request" if i get any...
B-696 Hi I am new to this forum, but have been stringing racquets for the past five years. I have been using the Hi-Qua B-696 for about a year. How I get 2 strings in a shared grommet is( before stringing the racquet I push a awl into the grommet very carefully to enlarge the hole) so that the two stings can go in, but this must be done very gentle so as not to damage the grommet. I just hope this will help Jurong.
Thanks, Jurong. These days I just keep a length of scrap BG-70Pro, which is a fairly stiff string, that I use as a plastic awl sort of thing. And, most of the time, I only need it when I work with soft strings like the B-696 and Ashaway PG-65.
Okay, I've been using the HQ 696 for about 8 months now, on 4 different rackets, ranging in tension from 24 to 27 lbs. Performance is similar to BG65, quite surprsing for such a cheap string. Definitely a big difference is you're used to high end strings, but perfectly useable for intermediates. Durabililty has not been a problem yet. I used it on my main racket at 26 lbs for 4 months without it breaking. I cut it because it was getting too loose and I got new packs of BG85 to try. The other 3 rackets are still playing. I don't think it's so much that the string is strong, but just that it's extra thickness makes it more hard-wearing. I tried BG66 recently, and although I love the way it performs, after two 5-hour sessions, there were little nicks all over the sweet spot and it snapped the next day.
Hmmmm, maybe I got two bad reels or something because BG66 lasts me a few days while the B-696 broke in less than one hour each time, many times.
I don't think so. I break the HQ quickly on a regular basis, too, and I can't even break a cheap champagne flute glass with my hardest smash. It's too bad, really. If the string's just a little more durable, it'd be a fantastic deal.
Try the expensive champagne flute, trust me, they are a lot easier. Especially after you are drunk!!!
This is an old thread I know, but I bought a reel of b696 yellow, and I have it strung on my racket at 28 lbs. The stringer complained that the string is so soft, so it was difficult to string, but the string is holding up fine. And I am currently preferring it over my bg-65 at 28 lbs, although this is probably because this string is newer and I probably got used to it. (The rackets are the same, Apacs Virtuoso Performance).
I used this string when i first learned how to string rackets due to its low cost. Your stringer is correct that it is a very soft string that will be difficult to string with only when threading through shared holes. There are ways to workaround that. It's an ok string. I find it loses tension extremely fast. It's a rather stretchy string which i resulted me trying to fully use constant pull (when i had a drop weight) for about 5 seconds per pull to get all the stretch out.
