The Head Lynx tennis string promises a unique playing experience, departing from the typical feel of other poly strings. This review delves into the performance of this round poly, exploring its comfort, spin potential, and overall playability across various shots. We'll examine its strengths, particularly its exceptional comfort levels and surprisingly good spin generation for a round string, comparable to some shaped polys. Furthermore, we'll assess its effectiveness in baseline rallies, serve performance, and volleys, focusing on its control and power.However, this in-depth review also addresses the Head Lynx's significant drawback: its relatively short lifespan and considerable tension loss. We'll analyze how this premature breakage and tension drop impacted playability over time, ultimately influencing its overall value proposition. This assessment considers the trade-off between the exceptional feel and performance during its initial hours of use, weighed against the considerable limitations imposed by its lack of durability. The conclusion will offer a balanced perspective on whether the Head Lynx lives up to the hype and who might find it most suitable.
Pros And Cons
- One of the most comfortable polys tested
- Excellent for baseline drop shots (90% winners or easy setups)
- Predictable launch angle and power
- Spin-friendly, rivaling shaped polys
- Great control and potential for both forehands and backhands
- Top marks at the net; comfort, power, and precision carried over from baseline
- Excellent for half-volley and drop-shot volleys
- Great for all parts of the serve (flat bombs, slicers, kick serves)
- Broke too quickly (around 7 hours)
- Significant and noticeable tension drop after about 3 hours, impacting shot consistency and causing long shots
Read more: Best 5 Spin Tennis Strings for Powerful Serves
Feel and Tension
Unlike the Head Lynx Tour, the Head Lynx offers a unique feel. It's noticeably different, almost resembling the RPM Blast but without the octagonal shape. It also presents a softer feel compared to the Power Tool Strike, a previous string that had received mixed reviews.
Testing the string's tension using an ERT 300 device yielded a dynamic tension (DT) of 35, translating to approximately 51 pounds. This is very close to my preferred 50-pound tension on my Yonex EZONE 98 DR racket.
Baseline Performance
The Head Lynx delivered exceptional comfort during baseline play. It ranks among the top three most comfortable polys I've tested, alongside the Onyx and Poly Tour Pro. The shot dwell time was excellent, ensuring consistent power and launch angles from various string bed areas, even on mishits.
Remarkably, the Head Lynx provided surprisingly good spin, rivaling some shaped polys. This is especially impressive for a round poly. The control and potential for topspin were excellent on both forehands and backhands.
Drop Shots and Volleys
The Head Lynx proved to be exceptionally effective for drop shots, boasting a remarkable 90% success rate in either direct winners or easy setups for volleys. This string truly shines in this area, setting it apart from other options.
Net play also showcased the string's strengths, continuing the comfort, power, and precision seen in baseline play. Half-volley and drop-shot volleys were among the best I've experienced with a poly string.
Serve Performance
The Head Lynx performed admirably during serves. Flat serves were accurate and powerful, while slicers provided a sharp trajectory for the opponent. Even the kick serves demonstrated better kick potential than some shaped polys.
The topspin generated on serves further enhanced its effectiveness, especially noticeable during a match where I was able to dominate by directing spin-heavy serves to my opponent's backhand.
Durability and Tension Loss
Despite its overall impressive performance, the Head Lynx's durability falls short. The string broke around the seven-hour mark, which is less than what's expected for a poly string. A significant and noticeable tension drop occurred around the three-hour mark, impacting the consistency and control of the shots.
This tension loss significantly affected the playability after three hours. The shots became less consistent, and flat shots in particular became problematic, resulting in frequent long shots. The string's initial ability to easily reach all parts of the service box was drastically reduced.
Conclusion
The Head Lynx is an exceptional string for comfort, spin, and overall feel, particularly on baseline shots and drop shots. Its performance on serves and volleys is equally impressive. However, its relatively short lifespan and significant tension drop are major drawbacks.
While it excels in many aspects, the premature breakage and noticeable tension loss hinder its overall rating. Players who prioritize long-lasting performance and consistent tension might want to consider other options. Though very comfortable and providing good spin, its short lifespan detracts from its overall appeal.