Solinco Hyper-G vs. Volkl Cyclone String Comparison Review

Designed with virtually every feature a poly player could ever want or need, Volkl Cyclone and Solinco Hyper-G are two co-polyester tennis strings that have risen through the ranks to become some of the most popular choices on the market. With their surgical precision on full swings, these two strings practically beg you to swing powerfully and select ambitious targets. Picking a winner between these best sellers seems like an impossible task, but our TW playtesters attempt to do just that. We have set up a comparison across multiple categories, hoping to discover if there is any daylight between these two kings of the polyester universe. Here are the results.

*Stiffness measured by the Tennis Warehouse University

Power/Control

To fully grasp how a string will perform and feel, it's essential to understand its stiffness level. This variable not only affects how far and high a ball will travel upon impact (control/power), but also how much vibration and shock gets transmitted to your arm (comfort/feel). Although Hyper-G and Cyclone are both control-oriented monofilaments, Hyper-G is stiffer than Cyclone. Chris helps us understand what this difference means on court. He explained, "I love playing with a fresh set of either of these strings. Cyclone is the slightly softer of the two and offers me a little more launch and easier depth. I get a little more pop on my shots with Cyclone and get a little more control on my shots with Hyper-G. However, the strings are not worlds apart in terms of playability, and I'm very happy with the balance of power and control I get from both. I have zero excuses with either of these two strings in one of my favorite racquets. I feel confident that I'm going to hit my targets and find solid pace with either choice."

As a fan of stiffer, more control-oriented co-polys, Michelle appreciates the extra control Hyper-G offers. She said, "I think I love Hyper-G so much mainly because of the control. The higher stiffness rating and deader feel lends itself to loads of control, which gives me confidence on my biggest swings. I also like using Hyper-G to add control to a powerful frame, which is a winning combo for me 10 times out of 10. On the flip side, I would say Cyclone is also a control-oriented string, but it seems to be a little more powerful and it seems to drop tension a bit quicker. I would say players looking for power over control should try Cyclone, but anyone prioritizing control over power should go with Hyper-G."

A longtime user of both strings, Brittany gravitates toward the extra power of Cyclone. She described, "Having played many years with both Solinco Hyper-G and Volkl Cyclone, I was more than excited for this comparison playtest. As expected, both strings offer more control than power. When I was able to playtest them side by side and switch between them during a practice in my racquet of choice, the Yonex EZONE 100, I noticed just a couple of small differences. I would say Hyper-G offers slightly more control, whereas Cyclone had a little bit more launch and power (especially the longer the string sat in the racquet). I have always liked getting a little bit of extra pop from my strings, so I preferred Cyclone's playability in this category."

Although he appreciated the subtle differences of each string, Troy ultimately favored the superior control and playability duration of Hyper-G. He said, "When it comes to the control and power of these two strings, it is pretty clear cut for me. Cyclone tends to pocket the ball more, has a more elastic feel to it, and shoots the ball back out of the stringbed with a bit more power. Hyper-G feels slightly firmer and offers more of a controlled response. Just to make it clear, both of these co-poly strings offer a lot of control, and I would say it's a subtle difference when both strings are fresh off the stringing machine. Both of them loosen up and become a bit livelier as time goes on, and that is where I notice the difference in power level more. As time went on, Cyclone felt a bit springy for my taste, and Hyper-G got slightly more consistent for controlling the ball. For this category, I select Hyper-G as the winner; it's a bit more predictable, consistent and controlled."

Spin

With their shaped profiles, low-friction surfaces and ability to accommodate explosive upward cuts, both Hyper-G and Cyclone belong in the “heavy spin” category. Needless to say, picking a winner in this category proved difficult for our crew. However, for Troy, the extra pocketing and sharper bite of Cyclone made the difference. He described, "I believe I mentioned it in the video review as well, but I don't think you can go wrong with either of these two strings when it comes to spin potential. That said, I wouldn't quite call it a tie, because even though both are great for spin, I give the slight edge to Volkl Cyclone. Its sharp little edges give me that extra bite on the ball, especially when it’s fresh. Also, that extra ball pocketing sensation I had with Cyclone made me feel like I was holding the ball on the strings and sending it out with loads of topspin. (The TW Professor might say that’s crazy talk, but maybe some slight percentage?) I can sort of mimic that feeling with Hyper-G by dropping the tension a bit, but I would say Cyclone still has the edge (no pun intended) when it comes to digging into the felt and gripping the ball for added spin."

For Brittany, choosing between these strings in the spin category proved impossible. She said, "While most of my game is not based around spin (I love hitting flat groundstrokes), I do utilize it for my serve, or when hitting a short, angled groundstroke. I like for my strings to enhance my spin without having to change my stroke and game style. Both of these strings do just that. I was able to access all the spin I needed with little effort. While spin isn't a big part of my game, I had a really hard time choosing which string gave me better spin, so I have to go with a tie in this category."

Although she had no problems generating spin with Hyper-G, Michelle ultimately gave the nod to Cyclone. She said, "From the first hit of these two strings, Cyclone seemed like it had more bite than Hyper-G. For me, spin has always been more about my technique than a quality I crave from my strings based on my more linear stroke style. With that being said, Cyclone did offer a higher launch angle than Hyper-G, and I felt like it could have better spin potential. But don't get me wrong, the difference in spin potential is very small, and I never felt limited with Hyper-G in my racquet. Again, when I need spin to reset, get back into a point or create an angle, I can usually add more arc to my stroke path to create a loopier ball."

"I find both Cyclone and Hyper-G to be very spin-friendly," added Chris, who clearly appreciated the spin potential of both strings. "Both strings offer excellent grip on the ball and also provide snapback for a little extra kick. I love the shape I can put on the ball with both strings. I find it easier to flick angles, lobs and hit heavy spin-loaded shots when I have these strings in my racquet. When the strings are fresh, I find the level of spin is very even between the two. Cyclone loses more tension after hitting for two weeks (about eight hours for me), and Hyper-G tends to win for spin. I can confidently swing faster at that point with Hyper-G, thanks to it still having more control, and convert that into a faster spinning ball."

Feel

Although both Hyper-G and Cyclone are co-polyester monofilaments with overlapping features, they have different stiffness levels, with Cyclone being the softer of the two. For Brittany, this difference in feel is key to separating these two strings. She explained, "Hyper-G and Cyclone have a lot of similarities, which is why I like both of them so much. However, this is the category that separates the two strings, and to me it’s one of, if not the most, important. Hyper-G offers a crisp, firm feel, and It feels like the ball is in and out of the stringbed quickly. While it’s firm, I haven’t experience any comfort issues. However, I will note that I have never had any arm issues in the past, and I normally don't find discomfort in strings (I string at 53 pounds). The feel Cyclone offers is a bit softer and plusher. For me, it is a little more responsive on slower strokes and more comfortable. It complements my racquet well (as well as almost every other racquet I get to playtest), and that is why I choose Cyclone as the winner."

For Troy, the firmer feel of Hyper-G won the day. He said, "I will preface my statements by noting that co-poly monofilament strings aren't typically known for their feel. That said, I guess feel has a lot to do with what feels best to each player. I have played with both of these strings quite a bit over the last decade or so, but I will say that Hyper-G has the feel I have become accustomed to over the years and throughout this playtest. The comfort level of both strings is pretty close for me, with Volkl Cyclone maybe feeling a bit softer, as the TW University Lab numbers would indicate. However, when it comes to feel, Hyper-G just gives me that firm feel that I am used to, but with a slightly dampened response. Also, the consistent, reliable response plays a part, and I know I can trust how the string is going to respond throughout its lifespan."

"I feel like I get slightly deeper ball pocketing from Cyclone, which wins the feel category for me," added Chris. "It's not a super plush poly by far, but I find it to walk the line perfectly between too soft and mushy and too firm and brassy. Hyper-G is a tad stiffer and offers a slightly more controlled feel, but it is still adequately comfortable for me. Hyper-G also keeps its feel for longer, which we'll get into in a minute."

Not surprisingly, as a fan of stiffer polys, Michelle prefers the feel of Hyper-G. She said, "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I love the stiffer feel of Hyper-G. It gave me that extra bit of control I need to swing all out. I can appreciate the slightly softer feel of Cyclone, but I prefer a stiffer, deader feel at contact, whether the strings were installed that day or two weeks earlier. Hyper-G also allows me to feel exactly where the ball is on the stringbed, and the feel doesn't change much over time. Cyclone, on the other hand, tends to get a little 'bouncy,' which I really don't enjoy."

Playability Duration

Although these two best sellers excel in nearly every category, Hyper-G holds its tension and playing properties longer than Cyclone — a finding confirmed both diagnostically in our string lab and anecdotally on the court. This explains why it was the clear winner for Michelle in this category. She said, "No doubt, hands down, this award goes to Hyper-G! I think that is one of the main reasons why I love this string. I have a bad habit of letting strings sit in my racquets for a week or two too long, and Hyper-G is one of the few strings that remains playable even after a week of intense use. I don't break strings too often (OK, I never break strings!), but both of these strings offer me a consistent feel and playability from day one to day 15, and beyond. Cyclone has a tendency to bag out quickly for my personal preferences. It loses tension quite fast, and the feel off my stringbed gets elastic and bouncy. I prefer the firmer, more controlled feel from my stringbed, but I know there are other players who like the pocketing that Cyclone offers."

Like Michelle, Brittany also gave the nod to Hyper-G for playability duration, but her perspective reveals that a little extra tension loss is not necessarily a bad thing. She explained, "Playability duration is the trickiest category for me. We playtested these strings for three-plus weeks, and the strings flip-flopped for me, but not for the reasons one may think. Overall, Solinco Hyper-G holds tension better. From the start to the end of the playtest, I felt like the playability stayed consistent, and I actually preferred it at the start of the playtest. As the playtest wore on (and as I expected given my history with the strings), Cyclone did drop a little in tension but then settled into the stringbed nicely. I have said this many times in the past and will say it again, I love Cyclone after it has been in my stringbed for one to two weeks. It has a little bit of a trampoline effect that I really just love. I will admit it is not for everyone, and I may be the lone wolf in that opinion. However, for overall consistent playability, Solinco Hyper-G wins."

"This is another performance category that was pretty clear cut for me," said Troy, echoing the praise for Hyper-G. "When it comes to how the string holds up over time, and that trusty consistent response, Solinco Hyper-G is my pick. All polys tend to lose tension and playability at a faster rate and more significantly than softer string types like multifilaments or natural gut. With that in mind, Volkl Cyclone is great when it's fresh. I really like the performance and playability, but it seemed to taper off and decline throughout the playtest. I notice a bit of a settling-in period after a few hours of hitting with Hyper-G, but after that it plays pretty consistently for me for quite a while. So when it comes to trusting the string and having confidence in how my shots are coming off the stringbed, I have to go with Solinco Hyper-G. Even after 10 hours or so of hitting, the strings hold up pretty well in terms of playability. I obviously notice the inherent tension loss, but I can still trust swinging out."

While Hyper-G outlasts Cyclone in terms of playability duration, Chris reminds us that this is hardly a deal-breaker for those interested in Cyclone. He said, “I’m happy if I can get into a third week of hitting with a co-poly string and still find decent control and spin. Hyper-G strolls into the third week with no issues, while Cyclone is feeling bagged out and ready for a refresh at the three-week mark. Both strings are priced well, with Cyclone being an insanely good deal. While Hyper-G wins here for lasting better, the price of Cyclone makes it a non-issue to bang in a fresh set, especially if you string your own racquets."

Chris - "Both of these strings are great options for the intermediate through advanced player seeking tons of control and spin. Both are durable strings, so they work well for big hitters too."

Michelle - "I would recommend both these strings to advanced big hitters looking for control and easy access to spin to complement their fundamentals. I would suggest Hyper-G for tournament players looking for a consistent feel from first hit to several rounds into a tournament. I also love Hyper-G because Solinco has a bunch of versions of the string that are worth checking out, from round to soft in a number of different gauges. Cyclone seems to be a big win for advanced players looking for great grip, or a string to compete against a string like Babolat RPM Blast at a great value and price point. Plus, color and gauge options!"

Troy - "I would say strong intermediates up to the pro tour level can get along well with both these strings. My recommendation would be to keep the tensions down as much as possible if you're trying these strings out for the first time, but for the advanced-level players, I think both are great options. For really big ball strikers, Hyper-G is a great option for the control, feel and consistency, but for those players looking for a little more juice out of their poly, Volkl Cyclone is a great choice. I also like using Cyclone in racquets where I want a little more pop, like a midsize or tight pattern. Cyclone helps give the racquet a little more liveliness compared to Hyper-G."

Brittany - "Advanced-level players with long, fast strokes will benefit from both Hyper-G and Cyclone. They both allow you to swing out without fear of overhitting thanks to their lower power levels and spin potential. These strings are also both great options for intermediate-level players to hybrid with a multifilament to get a little more control and spin without resorting to a full bed of polyester string."

Likes

Chris - "Cyclone: One of my favorite strings! I love the spin, control and feel, while it also offers just the right amount of pop. Hyper-G: Another favorite. I love the control and spin, and that it lasts well."

Michelle - "I love the overall controlled experience from Hyper G; it holds tension well, adds control and still offers access to spin."

Troy - "Both are great strings for control and spin. I have a slight preference for the control, feel and consistent response of Hyper-G. I like Cyclone when I want a little more pop from a racquet, like a midsize with a tight string pattern."

Brittany - "Both strings offer great control and spin. I love the plusher feel of Cyclone, and the colors and price!"

Dislikes

Chris - "Cyclone: Some of the lighter colors can get flighty once the tension starts to drop. I find the black the most controlled. Hyper-G: Everyone knows this string by its color, but it doesn't look good in all racquets."

Michelle - "There really isn't anything I don't love about Hyper-G, which is why it is my go-to string and remains so after this test! Cyclone gets a bit bagged out after a couple of hours of use, and it gets a bit of an elastic, bouncy feel that makes me feel like I lack control."

Troy - "There's not much to dislike with either, but Cyclone can get a little springy on me over time. I am so dialed in with Hyper-G, but it would be cool to see a couple color variations someday, although the Hyper Green is sort of its signature; it certainly makes a statement on court."

Brittany - "None! These are my top two strings on the market."