Head Lynx Tour Review – peRFect Tennis

Lynx Tour is a part of HEAD’s household of co-polyester strings sitting alongside the usual Lynx and the opposite offshoot variants: Lynx Edge and Lynx Contact.,

Lynx Tour is marketed because the stiffest of the three and was pre-launched as “Experimental Tour” a few years in the past with a number of execs together with Andrey Rublev testing it out earlier than it formally made it onto the cabinets. 

Its largest declare to fame nevertheless, is that Dominic Thiem used it in a hybrid configuration when he beat Federer in the 2019 Indian Wells final.

Head Lynx Tour is offered in three colors (orange, gray and champagne) and two gauges, 1.25mm and 1.30mm. A 1.20mm can also be rumoured to be out there quickly.

Like all polys bearing the moniker “Tour”, it’s mentioned to supply nice spin and management for hard-hitting gamers, however how did it play for me?

Discover out on this full Head Lynx Tour playtest and evaluation.

Head Lynx Tour Specification

CHECK HEAD LYNX TOUR PRICE

Designed for the tougher hitting intermediate to superior stage participant the distinctive 6-edge design of this co-polyester will present the last word mix of management and spin. A monofilament made out of a brand new co-polymer combination which additionally will increase the sturdiness, while being nonetheless comfy to play. How Head pitch Lynx Tour

String Specs

Racket Setup for Testing

I’ve used Head Lynx Tour a few occasions in a Wilson Blade 98, however I paired it with the Head Boom MP for this playtest, which I used to be reviewing.

The pack I had was gray color in at 1.25mm. I used the transportable MiStringer to string it as a two-piece job at 45lbs.

By way of the six-sided hexagonal form, the sides should not so pronounced and pre stringing; it nearly appears to be like spherical till you have a look at it extra carefully.

Stringing was akin to all polyesters. The coil reminiscence wasn’t vital, and it was fairly smooth to deal with.

It has a chunky/weighty really feel, however this is not an issue. The Increase MP can also be a simple racket to string, so it was a simple job.

Head Lynx Tour Playtest

I’ve used Head Lynx Tour on a number of totally different surfaces, however I examined it on indoor exhausting courts earlier than penning this evaluation.

Preliminary Ideas and How It Felt

Once I first used Head Lynx, given the string has fairly a excessive dynamic stiffness and visually appears to be like fairly chunky, I used to be anticipating a considerably muted and stiff response.

Nonetheless, the string has a softer really feel, giving a stage of feeling that belies its precise stiffness ranking. It’s nonetheless stiff, nevertheless it errs extra in direction of polyester’s ‘comfy’ aspect.

I do not know whether or not that is as a result of coating on the strings or their composition, however there isn’t any harshness on off-centre hits, and it is above common within the consolation division for a poly.

Based mostly on that, Lynx Tour jogs my memory of Solinco Confidential and the not too long ago reviewed Mayami Tour Hex, that are each strings I charge extremely.

How It Performed

Energy

For a polyester, the ability potential of Lynx Tour is above common. It isn’t free energy as a result of the string won’t reward gamers with zero swing, however Lynx Tour definitely has some added pop for those who take an honest lower on the ball.

Management

Management for me pertains to how constant the stringbed response is, and Lynx Tour supplies a really constant one.

The launch angle was constant (comparatively low), and regardless of the string having a little bit of pop, I by no means felt like I used to be sacrificing management.

Once I was on high within the rallies, I might land the ball the place I wished, and the strings gripped properly on my slice backhand.

Lynx Tour was additionally nicely behaved through the response kind pictures. I performed on a quick indoor court docket the place typically you solely have one shot at your disposal, and the stringbed was in a position to reply how I wished it to and hold the ball alive in faster-paced scrambling kind rallies.

Consolation / Really feel

Head Lynx Tour matches firmly within the center floor for really feel; it is agency with out being stiff however not mushy or muted. 

By way of pocketing, there’s some, however I by no means received the sensation the ball was sinking into the string mattress as I did with Mayami Tour Hex.

I haven’t got any arm issues to report, however Head Lynx Tour felt extra comfy than another polys I’ve tried, placing it within the center floor, not the softest, not the firmest.

Spin

The spin potential of Lynx Tour is excessive, and the hexagonal form of the string mixed with the slick exterior coating reduces friction throughout influence, rising snapback and spin potential.

I’m extra of a flat hitter than a crazy topspin participant, and the launch angle with Lynx Tour mixed with the Increase MP works properly for my sport – flat however with sufficient spin so as to add some margin.

Relying on the racket’s head measurement and string sample, I believe gamers who just like the loopier dipping launch angle will desire different polys or will want Lynx Tour in a thinner 18 gauge to get that kind of loop.

So if you’re a participant who desires to clear the web by 2 metres and bounce the ball head excessive, there are higher string selections for that.

Sturdiness and Worth

The sturdiness of Head Lynx Tour is on a par with most polyesters, perhaps barely above, and gamers who put polyester strings by their paces will get 10-14 hours out of it.

Whereas I would not advocate conserving a polyester in for an prolonged interval like you possibly can with a multifilament, I used to be impressed with how lengthy Lynx Tour saved its traits. I believe you may get away with utilizing this string for longer with out it going lifeless or plasticisation occurring.

Each time I’ve strung a racket with it, I by no means felt I wished a contemporary set, or it out of the blue received tougher to maintain the ball in play after that 5-10 hour mark.

Often, with the softer poly, they play nice for a brief interval however then drop off a cliff. Nonetheless, the strain upkeep on Head Lynx Tour might be the perfect amongst all polyester strings I’ve ever examined, placing up there alongside the likes of Dunlop Explosive Pace, Solinco Hyper G, MSV Focus Hex Extremely, Mayami Tour Hex and Solinco Confidential.

Who Is This String For?

In reality, regardless of their widespread utilization, solely about 5% to 10% of the tennis-playing inhabitants can genuinely use stiffer polyester strings.

Nonetheless, with Head Lynx Tour, though it has ‘Tour’ within the title, I believe it is extra accessible to a broader group of gamers. 

Whereas it isn’t one thing you’d throw to an outright newbie, it has a little bit of softness and liveliness, which makes it extra of a flexible all-rounder when in comparison with different polyesters which can be usually harsh and muted.

Nonetheless, this string is finest suited to larger stage gamers who’ve the approach and conditioning that makes the necessity for poly like spin and management a pre-requisite to maintain the ball inside the traces.

On the leisure stage, for intermediates who’re utilizing polyesters however would profit from somewhat bit extra energy and a few extra arm friendliness, Head Lynx Tour is one to contemplate.

In the event you put it right into a hybrid with a monofilament like Head Velocity MLT or natural gut, it turns into an excellent more sensible choice for a variety of participant talents.

Notice: The gray colored string is the softest/liveliest of the three colors out there. So if you’d like the softer feeling Lynx Tour, go together with gray. Each the orange and champagne play firmer.

Related Strings

Remaining Ideas

HEAD Lynx Tour is one other first rate polyester so as to add to the market’s ever-growing lineup of tennis strings.

Revolutionary? No. Nevertheless it’s in all probability the perfect polyester string HEAD has made up to now (sure, I do know some would say this implies little or no as their earlier polyester forays aren’t extremely regarded), however general, I appreciated it.

The one space it excels is stress upkeep and enjoying longevity. If that is what you might be after, that is undoubtedly one for the shortlist.

It sits firmly in the course of the highway for the opposite properties. So for gamers who function at extremes, e.g., they want excessive spin or excessive really feel, this is not for them. However for those who like a mix of properties that do a couple of issues fairly nicely, I might advocate testing it out.

This string additionally works very nicely at a lowish stress within the Head Increase MP. The Increase MP is a racket that requires full, quick strokes to convey out its finest options, and that is additionally what Head Lynx Tour wants. 

Mix the 2, and also you convey out the perfect of each.

Professionals

Cons

Have you ever tried Head Lynx Tour? What did you consider it? Let me know within the feedback.