Any updates on the consolidated list? The comparison is very useful. Many of us are using this as a guide.
Any chance you might add this to the list and compare them to the rest of the cast of strings? I'm using aerosonic and enjoy it, and I'm getting some 66UM, but I'd love to see a comparison of them to other strings. I don't really like the color options for AS (only white, pink, purple).
Update: String ratings, uhhhh, such a pain now. Why? There can be a HUGE difference between freshly strung and once the string sets in. The best example is BG80Power. It's so good freshly strung. After 3-4 hours of play it starts to get dull. After 10 hours, it's actually bad. It feels flat and soft. So it's no longer a string I use. BG66 Force: is in the same boat as BG80Power but not as dramatic. It's very good initially but after 4-5 hours of use, it starts to feel flat. So this is another string I pass on. If you like a softer, more spongy feel, then BG80Power and 66Force will be ideal after the string settles. BG66UM: crisper, better and the feel holds better than 66Force. Aerosonic on the other hand, it's great initially and after many weeks, even months, it's still relatively crisp, taut and responsive. It is the best overall performing string Panda has tried when all things are considered. The only negative is the durability. NBG98: not as good as Aerosonic but probably my second favorite overall string. It's really good, it's just not as good as Aero. LN1: is excellent overall. Not as good as Aerosonic and NBG98 but for its relative durability, among the best strings this Panda has tried. Initially excellent and after even 20 hours of play, still is decently crisp and still has pop. ZM Fire 62/66/69: all very similar, very good overall; durable for its relative thickness but is a softer, more forgiving string and easy on the elbow, minimal stress. If you like this type of feel, you may want to give Fire a try. The below ratings are current, they may change with time. They are my best approximation trying my best to keep all other things being equal such as playing conditions, relative/comparable string tension, same shuttles used (Yonex AS50), etc... *Assumes the best string in each category scores 100/100 and the corresponding strings receive scores relative to that. If 100% based on performance*: 1) Aerosonic in White (100/100) 2) NBG98 in Silver Gray (95/100 3) LN1 in White (92/100) 4) BG80 in White (91/100) 5) Ashaway ZM65 (88/100) 100% based on Durability: 1) BG80 (100/100) 2) LN1 (95/100) 3) Ashaway ZM65 (85/100) 4) NBG98 (75/100) 5) Aerosonic (65/100) 75% Performance, 25% Durability: 1) NBG98 (100/100) 2) BG80 (95/100) 3) LN1 (94/100) 4) Aerosonic (92/100) 5) Ashaway ZM65 (88/100)
Good to hear you might get into reviewing some of their strings. Hopefully you can do so on their Virtuoso Pro series, inclusive of the 66, 68 & 70
Sorry, have been so busy with life, haven't been able to do anything. I'll check out those Apacs strings...
Overall a good string. Medium feeling. Initially after stringing, very repulsive but poor control. After a couple of sessions the strings bed in and both control and repulsion are good. It stays like that for a while but then the strings notch against each other and it's only a matter of time until tension loss or breakage kills them. I've nearly finished a reel I purchased and would probably buy it again if I can find it at a good enough price.
All strings tested at 32 lbs+ which is insane for non-professional players. Even for professional players with good techniques and physique, 32 lbs is high. Reviews are too heavily influenced by personal preference. While entertaining, I find it's impossible to relate to. Still, thank you for the time and effort!
Can't please everybody; had the tension been 24, people who use 32 would have complained. If it's strings being compared to each other it only matters if the tension is consistent.
Hey DinkAlot, just wondering what your thoughts are on Li Ning #5 , #7 and BG-65 Ti? Specifically put, I recently spent $300 on restrings so I am in search for the ultimate durability (primary req) and repulsion (secondary req) string. To give you some idea of my experiences so far, BG80-Power is my goto string; I usually go with string tension setups of 31-34 lbs but lately have been forced down to 26-28 lbs for the sake of cost and durability. Big fan of your colossal and thoroughly comprehensive table reviews, cheers for those!!!
Hi Pepe, I haven't tried LN # 5, # 7 yet. BG-65Ti, relatively speaking (as always) is good at higher tension (30+). At 20-26lbs. it feels soft, and spongy but forgiving. It also drops tension faster than normal string. In say 2 weeks, it will drop significantly. If you like that kind of feel, go for it. 65Ti is durable, so is Ashaway ZM69 Fire. Based on your information, cost and durability, another two to try are BG65 and BG70Pro. Both are great at higher tension for a thick string.
NBG95 perhaps? If the string should still be playable That's my current reel of thick string, for people who are embarrassed to sport anything with "65" printed on it! But as Dink says, those strings change character when you stretch them hard, so it depend on your preferred tension. Cheers, FB
Cheers for the replies guys! @DinkAlot If DinkAlot had a choice between Yonex and Li Ning strings, which would you pick and why? LN#1 and BG-80 are my current guesses @FeatherBlaster Tried NBG95 a couple of times @34lbs and @28lbs, durability feels ok but the string has issues with feel and feedback; it conveys very dull information through the handle while hitting. Repulsion seems a bit odd too, it comes and goes, then returns in phases in relation to string life. I wish Yonex made BG66 Force in 0.7mm or BG-80 Power in 0.75mm, that would seem like a decent intermediary solution. That aside I have been considering Ashaway Microlegend (0.75 - 0.8mm) but have not been able to source these online from a reputable source and don't know if their performance is on par with the current generation of strings out there.
Nope, Aerosonic my first choice; it is the best performing string I have ever tried but I know you need more durability... In your case, try ZM69Fire and BG70Pro and see what you think.
65 and 65Ti are worth considering when you are at those tensions. My suggestion was more if you were at the lower tensions, where I feel that the 65 string is no good... Thicker Zymax strings I feel are OK also. They are very durable, but I feel that's primarily because they are thicker than their specs say... Cheers, FB
@FeatherBlaster , @DinkAlot Apologies for the lapse in memory but what was the performance threshold again for Yonex strings at lower tensions? My muscle memory and experience tells me that performance on these Yonex strings declines at 29*31 (avg 30lbs) but I might be mistaken. I'm currently getting two of my racquets restrung at 29*31 (BG65 Ti) and 26 * 28.5 (LN#1, hope I haven't gone with the wrong choice. A recent incident really had me baffled where my strings snapped 2 sessions after being restrung; post inspection revealed that a cross tie off knot came undone on the top, followed by the mains breaking (not sure about the exact sequence of events but they were within close proximity). This was BG80-Power at 32lbs * 32lbs. I suspect that even stringing might be the culprit to blame for this one as I usually go +2lbs on the crosses; previous stringjobs had the same string at 31*33lbs for quite a while and would normally last 2months on average. This has not been a good year for me, I have spent $300 on restringing this year; maybe its time to buy a budget 6point drop weight table machine lol . Right now I am reduced to playing with an ancient Ashaway racquet from the 90s, it has a non mainstream brand string on it called "Whipper Titanium" - seems to be holding up for now despite severe notching but fingers crossed, its my last strung racquet. @DinkAlot Thanks again for the recommendations, will try those out. Do you see Aerosonics lasting tournament use? I currently have some LN#5 and LN#7 en-route. I recently saw the LN website advertising these strings as titanium hydride coated so I went for a dive
My Yonex string performance threshold at high tension (the comfortable limit): Aerosonic: 31lbs. BG66UM: 33lbs. BG66-Force: 34lbs. NBG98: 34lbs. NBG95: 35lbs. BG80: 34lbs. BG80-Power: 35lbs.* BG65/BG65Ti/BG70Pro: 35lbs.* *Can go higher (say 36-37) for more performance but didn't want to put anymore additional stress on the rackets/grommets.
