I went to a racket factory in San Francisco, my regular stringer, with both of my rackets badly in need of new strings. One broke the strings, the other hooked the thinnest threads, if a more violent gust of wind should break them. So it’s definitely time to do both.
I usually string my racquets with Wilson NXT 17g. But Marla Reid, proprietor and shop stringer, mentioned that it was surprising to me that the strings were on the shelf with Wilson NXT. At first I thought it was a depreciation (just kidding Marla). Then I noticed a surprise: the black version of the NXT 17g strings!
A quick note on NXT 17g strings: they are great strings that give you the best feel and ball control. The main downside is that they don’t last long, especially when tied to higher tensions AND if you hit a lot of topspin.
Hitting with my normal amount of topspin, I can pop a set of strings in about 4-5 weeks if my racket is loaded at 60lbs (the range for my racket is 57 +/- 5 lbs). It will last 4 weeks or less if the 62 (at the top end of my string) will last, and in fact less time than if the shot mishits me or “sails”.
Furthermore, I don’t mind the shorter life of these strings because of the added confidence they give me in terms of topspin and ball control. I wish I could say the same about this new “black” version.
The black color in the new NXT version is due to the membrane that allows the strings to last longer than the previous models I gave. That’s pretty good considering the cost of stringing and putting in the racket can set you back 35 bucks a pop. Or at least it sounded kind of good until I gave it a try.
I don’t want to say that I made a huge mistake trying these strings. It seemed like a good version to have a longer string that I really like. But these strings were pretty much the picture from the first shot!
The black version of the NXT 17g is significantly stiffer than the “natural” version. Any “feel” that I had previously felt with the NXT 17g was completely gone. The black coat also makes the strings feel slippery. They don’t catch the ball as necessary for topspin shots, and you can often feel the ball slip off the string before the swing is complete.
No matter how low I feel I can’t “lift” the ball to chip shots at my opponents. And generally the ball is either at the bottom of the net if it is mistimed, or it flies well beyond the base, as the ball slipping off the strings cannot achieve enough topspin shots with the pace.
Here’s a review of the NXT 17g “black” strings from last week’s launch;
- Serve: I lost significant “feel” and my web service, and also a significant amount of control that I previously had to put it in the service box that I needed to be competitive at 4.0. This loss is significant because my minister is the cornerstone of my hunting.
- Present: I’ve lost a significant ability to land powerful blows, either across or inside, which allow me to attack the weaknesses of my opponents. A lack of topspin causes the ball to sail long or a mishit into the net. If I hit a flattering shot with a lighter step, I am much more vulnerable to the defense in the match.
- Backhand: This shot is the worst in terms of loss of “feel”. If I don’t hit the ball properly (a shot that is no longer one of my strengths), it’s a “dead shot in the water” that leaves me completely vulnerable to attack and losing the match.
- Besides, my lack of confidence in my ability to attack is reason enough to end the temptation in these strings before they break. This assessment might seem harsh, but not since I can’t find any aspect of the game that benefits from these chords.
My frustration rising, I tried to buy a board with strings; gently rubbing across the surface to see if I could remove enough of the coating to get some of the damned “bite” and “feel” back into the ball. He strives to be mercifully lucky. After yet another frustrating hit, I cut these strings within a week.
To summarize my experience with the new black NXT 17g strings: I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone who hits heavy topspin, or who likes a soft string. These strings will give you neither. BUT they will last. Even after the test, there were no flare-ups. I can easily see these strands for 6-7 weeks without any issues of breakage when it has a natural color. the battle has already started after 2-3 hits.
I find this to be the best string for someone who wants to hit the ball flat at a moderate level, and prefers a strong yet thinner gauge string. Wherefore? My experiments were called black strings.
I’m sorry Marla.
