The newest member of Solinco’s Heaven String line, Hyper-G was initially produced for just the pros, players and coaches closely associated with the company. But reaction to the co-poly was so strong, Solinco decided to release it to the public. It has the power and spin associated with its popular Tour Bite offerings, but with increased playability.
Power: 6.5
When discussing polyester strings, power is always a relative trait. Players using the strings are generally doing so for the heightened control and spin potential. Finding them to be underpowered is expected, and generally preferred. The Hyper-G fits this criteria, but has some respectable pop given its category. Most our testers found enough of it to be offensive when warranted, but not so much that they had to temper their swings for added control.
Spin: 7.7
Like Solinco’s popular Tour Bite, our testers produced plenty of spin with Hyper-G. Opinions were mixed over which line does it better, but the strings were clearly comparable. Ground strokes were heavy and kick serves had lots of jump. A few felt the string didn’t improve on what they already could do, and wished for a little more bite and the late-breaking, diving shots they enjoy with their usual polyester. But overall, spin was a definite asset.
Feel: 6.1
This is another category in which polyester strings typically suffer. And not surprisingly our testers didn’t deem feel to be the Hyper-G’s best attribute. But again, given the limitations of a co-poly, it wasn’t that detrimental, either. It’s crisp and firm, but not to the point that volleys are difficult to manipulate, or touch and finesse shots impossible to generate.
Control: 7.9
Dependability was the feeling our testers had when using the Hyper-G. They felt a high level of confidence that they could swing out and the strings would reward them with excellent command over their shots. Some felt their current string set-up was either more powerful or more control-oriented, but most were impressed at the combination of both aspects found in the Hyper-G.
Comfort: 7.6
For a string not touted as soft, testers found a nice level of comfort in the Hyper-G. It won’t make you forget about your cushy multifilament, but for a co-poly it has some decent give. One tester would be a Tour Bite user if not for wrist pain it caused him in the past. He was certain Hyper-G would cause a similar problem, but after extended play he suffered no discomfort.
Durability: 8
Depending on level and style of play, Hyper-G lasted our testers at least 8-to-12 solid hours of rigorous play before there was a deterioration in performance. Some testers felt they’ve used sturdier strings in the past, but liked the fact that Hyper-G would actually snap not long after their playability took a dip. They preferred that approach over trying to determine when it was time to cut them out.
Tension Maintenance: 6.2
This was one area where the Hyper-G garnered mostly ordinary results. It wasn’t an obvious problem, but nobody raved about it, either. Some felt the strings shifted too much, too soon and control suffered. On the upshot, the string became particularly comfortable—and very spin-friendly—at lower tensions. The downside, though, is the feel can be overly spongy.
Overall Playability: 7.5
The supporters of the string and Solinco fans found Hyper-G to be a great addition to the company’s arsenal. It has the crisp, firm feel of Tour Bite, but with the comfort and pop of a more powerful string. Those not quite as enamored felt the string didn’t do anything unique enough to warrant a switch to it; a capable performer, but there was nothing extraordinary that stood out. Still, if you’re looking for an all-around, playable poly, most felt the Hyper-G is worth a try.