Construction: Co-Polyester monofilament 

Colors: Red and Anthracite

Gauge: 16G (1.30 mm), 17G (1.25 mm), 18G (1.20 mm)

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

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

Intro

Volkl takes the beloved Cyclone string recipe and adds in a dose of power and comfort with its latest variation, Cyclone Tour. This gear shaped co poly is now also axially twisted for even more ball bite. A softer composition gives it more explosive power and a more comfortable feel on impact. Players looking for a comfortable, spin friendly poly at a great value are squarely in Volkl’s sights with this string. Here’s an on court look at the performance of Volkl Cyclone Tour.

Power/Spin/Control

Cyclone Tour was noticeably higher powered than original Cyclone. It packed a much greater punch off the ground for me. Early on, I found the power level more difficult to reign in and sent more balls sailing past the baseline than I usually do. As I adjusted my stroke, I was able to start reeling the ball back into the court. In the future I would likely raise my tension a few pounds to better manage the higher power level of the string. Cyclone Tour offered more power on shorter, compact strokes and will be a better transition poly for players with developing mechanics. Once I felt more dialed in, I found solid accuracy with Cyclone Tour. I was able to target sidelines effectively and rely on spin to help me keep balls in at the baseline. Much like the original version, the spin production on Cyclone Tour was solid but I gave the edge in overall spin to regular Cyclone. Having the gear shaped string also be twisted in the Tour version made it feel like there was a bit too much string to string friction to get the kind of string movement I was expecting. The grip was effective on slices, but I felt the string couldn’t move freely enough to generate the same type of topspin that original Cyclone produced. Overall, Cyclone Tour still packed more spin than typical round poly strings and had more than enough for players seeking a bit of extra help from their string.

Feel/Comfort

Cyclone Tour had a substantially softer feel on contact than the original version. It had more flex on contact and a more pronounced trampoline effect that slingshot the ball back off the string bed. The feel of this string will likely come down to personal preference. I generally play with firmer, deader feeling string so I had some difficulty adjusting to the springier nature of this version. The upshot of the softer construction was that Cyclone Tour played with excellent comfort. It had a uniform, soft feel around the string bed with no increase in off center harshness. The increased comfort should make the string easy to use for players with more sensitive arms.

Durability/Playability

Overall durability and playability were where I noticed the biggest gap between Cyclone Tour and the original version. The extra twist on the string created additional friction and the string started to eat into itself at a quicker pace. I broke the string after about 6-7 court hours, which was about half of the total time I got with the same gauge in regular Cyclone. The tension loss also seemed a bit more exaggerated compared to firmer strings. Before it broke, the string bed had turned quite soft and the trampoline effect was becoming harder to control during rallies. Increasing the tension to compensate for string softness probably would have resulted in a bit longer playability for me. The response and performance in the initial hours were great but harder hitting players with bigger swings are likely going to wear this string out at a brisk pace.

Overall

Volkl takes the key attribute of original Cyclone and ramps up the power and softness to go along with it. The string offers solid spin capabilities, easy power generation and a softer, more arm friendly feel. While big hitters may need to raise their tension and re-string more often, Volkl Cyclone Tour is a good fit for anyone looking for a softer poly that can dictate points with power and spin.

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.