Construction: Co-Polyester monofilament 

Colors: Black, Neon Yellow and Fluo Orange

Gauge: 15L (1.35 mm), 16G (1.30 mm), 17G (1.25 mm), 18G (1.20 mm), 18L (1.15 mm), 19G (1.10 mm)

Length: 40 feet (12.2 M) and 660 feet (200 M)

Test Racquet / Tension
Yonex EZone DR98/17G (1.25 mm) @ 50lbs

Intro

Spin is the name of the game in tennis string these days and Volkl looks to capitalize on that trend in a big way with its Volkl Cyclone offering. This gear shaped co poly focuses on offering massive spin potential with high levels of control and playability to go along with it. At a sub $10 price point Volkl has positioned this string to have strong bang for the buck in the racquet of any player that prefers the performance of polyester string. Here’s an on court look at the performance of Volkl Cyclone.

Power/Spin/Control

Volkl Cyclone was relatively low powered. While not as completely dead as some of the control-oriented polys on the market, it also wasn’t going to provide a ton of the firepower for me. This meant the string was well suited to longer, faster strokes where the power generation comes from the player. I was able to confidently hit out on the ball with minimal risk of sending the ball sailing past the baseline. Control with Cyclone was outstanding. Whether it was pushing the ball deep to the baseline or picking aggressive sideline targets, I was consistently able to put the ball where I wanted it during points. The spin production with Volkl Cyclone was also a major highlight. The gear shaped string gripped the ball and generated impressive levels of top spin. The ball leapt off the court on my forehand, causing serious problems for opponents. I also enjoyed the extra grip on my backhand slice as the string kept ball low and gave it a lot of skidding movement.

Feel/Comfort

The feel of Volkl Cyclone was crisp and clean for the most part. It was a firmly constructed string and played with minimal flex on contact. The string’s response was consistent across the string bed, but I felt it got a bit buzzier toward the end of its lifespan. Players looking for a crisp, connected ball feel will be right at home with Cyclone. I didn’t find any comfort issues with it, but arm sensitive players would be wise to experiment with thinner gauges and/or lower tensions given the firm nature of the string overall.

Durability/Playability

Both the durability and playability of Volkl Cyclone were impressive. The harder nature of the string meant that it had solid resistance to notching. I was able to get to double digit court hours which is usually a strong benchmark of string durability for me. I typically default to thinner gauges for better spin and feel so players can expect durability to increase the thicker the gauge being used is. I was impressed by the overall playability Cyclone exhibited from start to finish. The string was responsive right off the stringer and played consistently until breakage. It took the usual initial tension drop after the first hit (commonplace with poly) and then settled into a minimal tension loss each time out that kept it predictable and controlled until I eventually broke the string.

Overall

Volkl has a spin friendly winner on their hands with Cyclone. The string combines impressive spin production with controlled response and excellent durability. Big hitting players who can bring their own power but want spin and control will find a lot to love. Any player comfortable with polyester will find Volkl Cyclone is one of the best polys for your dollar in terms of spin, accuracy and overall playability.

About the Reviewer: Matt Locke formerly served for 3 years as the Junior Programs & Development Coordinator for USTA-Idaho. He is a PTR certified coach and is an active USTA 4.5+ League and Tournament player.