HEAD recently released a new polyester string that has been in the works for a long time. Here is my HEAD Lynx Tour string review.
The new champagne-colored string HEAD Lynx Tour was previously called HEAD Experimental Tour. It is supposed to fill in the gap between the softer HEAD Lynx string and the stiffer HEAD Hawk. It comes in two gauges, 1.25 and 1.30. I would say the playability and tension maintenance is quite similar to Solinco Hyper-G and HEAD’s Dennis Fabian even alludes to that string being an inspiration for HEAD in his interview below.
I tried this string in many different racquets and in both hybrids and full beds and in various tensions. In a tighter string pattern – let’s say a 95-97 sq inch racquet with an 18×20 pattern, I prefer it as a hybrid with a softer string like natural gut, a synthetic gut or a quality multifilament string like HEAD Velocity MLT
. Here are some of the racquets I have tried this string in: HEAD Gravity Pro, HEAD Prestige Tour, HEAD Speed Pro, Wilson Pro Staff RF97A Custom, Prince Phantom 97P, Yonex Ezone 98 XL, HEAD Gravity MP Lite XL, Babolat Pure Aero VS XL, Prince Phantom 100X O XL, my customized Babolat Soft Drive and a few more that I am probably forgetting.
HEAD Lynx Tour String Characteristics
As you can see in the above image, HEAD Lynx Tour is a medium-stiff poly, with good spin potential and tension maintenance. It works for a wide group of players as it is not harsh on the arm, but still gives you the typical control properties of a quality polyester/monofilament string.
But if you have arm issues, I think the best advice is to stay away from polyester strings until you’re feeling better.
The string got some extra publicity when Dominic Thiem used it in a hybrid with HEAD Hawk when he won Indian Wells in 2019, but he has since switched to Babolat RPM Power. Perhaps out of brand loyalty or just that he enjoys that string more.
The string is currently used by top junior Jonas Forejtek and is also being tested by many other pro players. We will see who ends up committing to this string on a full-time basis when pro tennis resumes.
HEAD Lynx Tour String Review and Interview
I interview one of the guys behind the string, HEAD’s Dennis Fabian, in the podcast below. Dennis talks about the work with the string and other things he is responsible for, like HEAD’s 3-in-1 machine and the stringing machine. Dennis has a lot of experience in the industry and as a stringer and the interview is well worth a listen (I am perhaps biased, but anyway).
Below you can also find my video review of the HEAD Lynx Tour string. After testing it for months, it has become one of my go-to strings. I really enjoy its playability and feel and it also looks great in many different racquets.
Have you tried the HEAD Lynx Tour strings? What do you think about it?
22 comments
Very much looking forward to trying this string. I was wondering how you’d compre it to the Hyper-G, as I know that it’s the competitor Head had in mind when they developed this! Which one do you prefer in the end?
Also, very solid hitting with that Mantis in the end…
I was fortunate enough to get a couple of sets from a HEAD rep (thank you!). The string is “soft” and it feels good/decent. It didn’t last as long as I’d like from a set of strings, but the way I play nothing really lasts long besides my usual strings. I won’t be switching to it, but I’ll give it a “good grade”.
I play with a lot of topspin off of both wings and have been playing with GOSEN POLYLON for the past 10 years.(love the durability of these gosen strings)
Thanks for all your reviews TennisNerd :-)
Thanks!
Thanks for commenting, Leonardo.
It plays very similar to Hyper-G. I think the Lynx Tour might be a bit less spin-friendly, but more comfortable. But the differences are slight!
How many hours have you been getting out of them?
How does the shaped Lynx Tour affect durability or snapback for a gut hybrid?
It can saw into the gut a bit, so I would say it does affect it. I would go for a round poly with gut.
Would you say 1.25 or 1.30 is better? What’s the playing difference?
I like thinner gauges generally, otherwise, it tends to get too stiff.
You can compare whit the Ice Code?
Thanks.
Ice Code is a bit softer and less spin-friendly.
Hi. I know it s a round vs a shape poly but how would you compare this head lynx tour to poly tour strike ? (Confort, tension maintenance… Spin i Guess the head wins grands down)
Thanks you
Yeah, I prefer the HEAD string here, comfort similar, tension maintenance and spin is a win for Lynx Tour.
Ok. On my Ezone 100, I play with Yonex PTP which has a good confort but was looking for some extra spin. Unfortunately, the strike even with its good control, doesn’t pocket as well as the dwell time is really short. So Maybe I have to try this head lynx tour or revolve spin to have find again a good pocketing/dwell time and more control/spin and still have some confort as the PTP… (Maybe Cyclone could be cool too, in blak version to tame the power). What would you say at first reading ? Thank you. B.
I’ve hit Lynx Tour in the Blade v8 16×19 at 44 lbs for the past week. I really like it quite a bit — but want just a little more softness without going all Mannarino out here. While it is comfy, I have a wrist injury that I’m trying to avoid tempting to come back (no issues so far, though). Would you recommend hybriding with Element, or is there a full-bed candidate that has similar characteristics? Thanks Jonas!
What do you think about hybrid with lynx tour and luxilon 4g? Luxilon in the main or crosses?
Sounds stiff! I’d put Lynx tour in the crosses
After years of playing with polys this string (at 52lb) is giving me shoulder problems.
Maybe time for a hybrid?
Yeah, or a softer poly or lower tension. Lynx Tour is great but rather firm.
How much is the recommended tension?
I would go a few lbs lower than your regular tension