ISOSPEED Cream String Review

Power - Score: 65 / Control - Score: 87

The biggest downside of soft co-polys is that they can sometimes launch the ball too powerfully and/or unpredictably, especially for players with long, fast strokes. According to our two playtesters, Cream manages to avoid this problem. Andy explained, "Cream offered a lively feel compared to most other co-poly strings, but what made it pretty special was that it still maintained a good level of control, even with that liveliness. Often times the softer, livelier co-polys can get a bit erratic for me, especially after they've been in my racquet for a couple of weeks, but that wasn't the case with Cream. It provided a consistent, predictable response off the stringbed. I did adjust my tension 2 lbs higher to account for the livelier feel."

"The performance of Cream really surprised me," said Chris, who was impressed by this string's unlikely blend of comfort and control. "It felt soft for a co-poly. Usually, softer co-polys have a very lively response, and I was definitely getting the higher launch angle off the stringbed typical of a soft co-poly. However, what separated this string from the pack was its added control. I found plenty of control, and my shots were dropping nicely inside the lines. I typically stay away from soft co-polys because I tend to hit too deep with them. With this string I didn't have any issues. For my playing style the blend of power and control was pretty much perfect, and I felt confident taking a full cut at the ball."

Spin - Score: 84

Although Cream isn't built with sharp, spin-friendly edges, Chris had zero problems bringing the ball down. He explained, "I loved the spin I got from Cream. The soft response allowed for ball pocketing, while the high level of control allowed for fast swing speeds. Together, these two factors helped me generate about as much spin as I'm capable of getting with my strokes. I was seeing some great action on my forehand. Not only was my ball jumping off the court nicely, but I was also seeing some left to right or right to left action when I got around the side of the ball at impact. I found a little more hook on my down the line passing shots, which enabled me to hit wider past the net player yet still get the ball to curve in. On my inside out forehand I was getting a little more left to right kick to pull my opponent wider off the court."

Andy found decent spin with Cream, but he still isn't ready to trade in his favorite shaped polys. He said, "Cream had comparable spin potential to other round co-polys out there (like Luxilon ALU Power or Kirschbaum Pro Line II). I couldn't get the ball to dip and dive like I can with the shaped polys that I typically use, but there was plenty of spin potential to help me keep my shots within the lines."

Comfort - Score: 77

Cream's comfort level was outstanding. Like Tourna Big Hitter Black 7 and Double AR Twice Shark, this is easily one of the most comfortable co-polys in production. More than a little impressed, Andy said, "This was one area where this string really excelled! The comfort of this string, compared to other co-polys, was phenomenal. Even after stringing it a couple of pounds tighter than I normally do, it still felt soft, plush and comfortable on the arm. This playtest was a nice reprieve from some of the stiffer co-polys we've been hitting recently. Although it may not be as comfortable as most multifilaments or synthetic gut strings, Cream is certainly one of the most comfortable polys I've ever hit with."

Cream was just what the doctor ordered for Chris. He said, "Cream had a softer feel to it which translated into much better than average comfort for a co-poly. I liked the way it pocketed the ball. Cream definitely softened the response of my racquet, and I never had any comfort issues. I was playing while recovering from a wrist injury during this test, and that really put Cream's comfort to the test. It passed with flying colors."

Feel - Score: 82

A big downside of soft co-polys is that they can feel too mushy, especially with the passage of time. This not only makes it harder for the player to gauge where the ball is hitting the stringbed, but it can also result in an erratic trajectory -- a fact that can lead to tentative mechanics as the player hunts for the correct stroke speed and angle of attack (see control problems). Cream avoided this problem. Chris explained, "Cream offered a soft and plush response, but it still had me feeling connected to my shots. I can lose the ball in the stringbed with some soft co-polys and their mushy response. However, with Cream I had a solid sense of how much pace and spin my shots had as they left the stringbed. My touch shots were working well, and I was finding my targets on drop shots and delicate volleys."

Like Chris, Andy had no problem measuring his shots. He said, "The feel was somewhat soft, springy and pretty unique for a co-poly. It didn't really feel all that muted like some other softer co-polys, and it kept me feeling pretty connected to the ball as it left the strings. When I was going for touch shots that require more finesse I felt pretty confident in getting the ball to go where I wanted. I enjoyed the feel of this string."

Playability Duration - Score: 79

To minimize tension loss and extend the duration of playability, ISOSPEED pre-stretches Cream. If our team has it right, ISOSPEED's efforts have not been in vain. Andy got some impressive milage from his second set. He said, "My first set of this string lasted me only two hours, but I'm going to attribute that maybe to stringer's (me) error, because my second set lasted much longer. I've had the second set in my racquet for about two weeks now, and the playability and tension has remained consistent that entire time."

"I had absolutely no issues with how long Cream lasted," said Chris. "The response started off feeling soft and controlled, and that feel stayed at a decent level for a solid two to three weeks. I usually don't break co-polys and I didn't break this one. As with some of the better co-polys I use, I'd be going to a fresh set of Cream after about the three-week mark."

Overall - Score: 86