Construction: Co-polymer Monofilament w/ Multi-Mono Technology

Color: Bronze

Gauge: 16G (1.30mm) or 16L (1.25mm)

Length: 40' and 660'

Test Racquet / Tension
Head Graphene XT Speed MPA 16x19 @ 54lbs

Intro

Luxilon has long been the string of choice on the professional tour, famed for its power and spin capabilities. Off tour however, many of their offerings are too low powered and firm to be playable every day for recreational players. Seeking to broaden their appeal even further, Luxilon has introduced Element. Building off their experience with M2 Pro and M2 Plus, Element uses a multi-mono construction to deliver unparalleled power and spin while enhancing comfort and ball pocketing. I hit the court recently some freshly strung Element and got to take a firsthand look at its on court performance.

Power/Spin/Control

It was immediately evident that Element was inherently more powerful than most typical Luxilon strings. I was hitting huge off the ground and my first serve was booming. For polyester, I’d say this was one of the more powerful offerings I’ve tried recently. The substantial power increase made me glad I had increased the tension over my usual mid 40s setup. Strung in the mid 50s, the directional control with Element was also very solid. I had no trouble hitting deep in the court but it never had me spraying balls too long. With other low power polys, you have to work a lot to keep the ball deep. I found Element to be pretty effortless when it came to generating appropriate depth. The enhanced feel on contact greatly improved pocketing, which made for excellent accuracy on touch shots. Spin was solid as well. While it lacked the bite of a shaped string, Element was still smooth and slick enough to put good action on the ball. I was able to generate plenty of margin at will without fear of over spinning the ball and leaving it too short.

Feel / Comfort

The boost in feel was where Element really shined. It has an impressive, flexible feel to it for a string with polyester construction. The multi-mono design, comprised of 10 micro strands fused together, allowed the string to absorb impact and really hold the ball before launching it off the string bed. I had complete confidence hitting drop shots and volleys with this string, something I can’t say about every poly string I’ve tested. Comfort was another key “element” (See what I did there?) of this string. Its ability to absorb impact and flex made it exceptionally comfortable. It also kept from getting that buzzy feel that poly can sometimes get as it weakens. Players who have shied away from more traditional Luxilon offerings for comfort concerns should have no problems hitting the court with Element.

Durability/Playability

I fear durability was the weak point of playing with this new string. While it should be just fine for doubles players and intermediate level singles, it’s going to struggle to last in advanced, extended singles play. I installed multiple sets of the string for testing and none of them made it past the 4 hour mark. At just 2 hrs of singles, they were heavily notched and had dropped a fair amount of tension, and they then broke shortly after. At an upper end price point, this lack of durability would give me pause about making this my go to string. Playability was fine throughout its life. Even when I could feel the tension loosening up, the string did not turn uncontrollable. Whether or not that trend would have continued if the string had lasted longer before breaking, I can’t say. Until it breaks, Element offers a consistently playable experience that could easily adapt to many play styles and ability levels.

Overall

Players who have feared the low powered, firm nature of typical Luxilon strings should not miss out on giving the new Element string a test hit. It boasts impressive power and spin potential while playing with exceptional comfort and feel. Its ability to pocket the ball while still sending it back with a high level of energy makes it a pretty unique polyester based offering. While it may not be the most durable string on the market, the unique blend of characteristics makes Element a string that can suit a variety of players, styles and levels.

About the Reviewer: Matt Locke currently serves as the Junior Programs & Development Coordinator for USTA-Idaho and is an active USTA League and Tournament player.