Diadem Elite XT 17 Review by Mike

The American string brand Diadem launches a new, promising string with a very direct response and the well-known 'star-shaped' construction for extra spin. This is the Diadem Elite XT 17 , tested by Mike.

Specifications:

Brand : Diadem

String type : Elite XT 17

Thickness : 17/1.20 mm

Type : Medium stiff, control-oriented co-polyester string with star construction for direct response and feel

Similar strings : Babolat RPM Blast, Luxilon Alu Power, Solinco Tour Bite

Tested by:

Name: Mike

Playing strength : 4/4

Player type : Classic player with flat groundstrokes, generates little spin himself and has had shoulder problems until recently

Racket : Prince Textreme Warrior 107 (107 sq/inch, 16/19 stringing pattern)

Hardness of the string : 24/23 kg

Test duration : 6.5 hours

Favorite string : Diadem Solstice Power 17

Judgement:

Durability : 8

Voltage retention : 8.5

Spin/slice : 8

Ball feeling : 8

Power : 8

Control : 8.5

Comfort/arm friendliness : 7

Stringing the string:

The Diadem Elite XT 17 feels a bit stiffer than the Solstice Power 17 , Mike's favorite string. During stringing, everything went smoothly. The star-shaped construction of the string requires you to straighten it before tightening the cross strings, which reduces friction and helps maintain the shape of the string. This preserves the unique playing characteristics, such as spin potential and direct response.

Diadem Elite XT 17 vs Diadem Solstice Power 17:

The Elite XT 17 is stiffer than the Solstice Power 17 and offers a more direct response to the ball. Where the Solstice Power lets the ball sink more into the string bed and offers a bit more free power and spin, the Elite XT 17 has a more robust feel and is more control oriented. Players who generate a lot of power themselves and want to hit hard without worrying about overheating will appreciate the Elite XT .

Review:

From the first strokes it was clear that the Diadem Elite XT 17 is stiffer than Mike is used to. The string is less forgiving than the Solstice Power 17 , but when you hit the ball well, it pops off the racket. The ball-string contact is short, which ensures a direct and precise feel. The Elite XT requires a little more energy from the player, but promises a high level of control.

In terms of playing feel, the Elite XT is very similar to the Babolat RPM Blast and the Solinco Tour Bite , especially due to the stiff feel and the excellent spin potential that comes from the star-shaped construction. Tension retention is a big plus of the Elite XT ; after 6.5 hours of playing, the string showed no signs of wear.

Compared to the Luxilon Alu Power , the Diadem Elite XT feels slightly stiffer and offers more free spin. Both strings have a nice, direct playing feel and excellent control, but the Elite XT scores better on tension retention.

Conclusion:

Although the Diadem Elite XT 17 is a bit stiff for Mike personally due to his shoulder problems, it is recommended for players who generate enough power themselves and are looking for control in a string to hit hard without overheating. The Diadem Elite XT 17 is now exclusively available in sets and rolls in our webshop.