RS Paris Octagon 1.20 Review: Comfort and Power in a Smooth Co-Polyester String
The RS Paris Octagon 1.20 , a new co-polyester string from the brand RS Tennis (founded by former world-class player Robin Söderling ), offers an excellent combination of comfort, power and moderate spin potential. This string has an octagonal shape for extra rotation and is suitable for players looking for a softer polyester string with good playing characteristics. Read the full review of this remarkable string below.
Specifications:
Brand : RS Tennis (by Robin Söderling)Type: Paris Octagon
Thickness: 18/1.20 mm
String type: relatively flexible octagonal co-polyester for extra rotation and good comfort
Similar strings: Diadem Solstice Power 17 , Babolat RPM Team 17 , Solinco Tour Bite Soft
Tested by:
Judgement:
Setup and stringing:
I have strung the RS Paris Octagon 1.20 at 23/22 kg in my Prince Textreme Warrior 107. I have also tested the 'first' RS Tennis string, the RS Lyon , in the same thickness. Just like the RS Lyon, this RS Paris Octagon also comes in a beautiful resealable package. This ensures that the strings can always be stored in good condition, even when you use half a set for a hybrid, for example. Very neat, I think! In the resealable package, the string set is then in a plastic mini roll. This is comparable to the way Babolat packages the string sets. It is very easy to remove the strings from this mini coil. This prevents the strings from curling up as quickly. You can also easily secure a possible half set in this mini roll.
The string feels quite supple when strung. There is also little friction from string to string when threading the cross strings.
Review RS Paris Octagon 1.20:
When hitting it is immediately noticeable that the RS Paris Octagon is a somewhat softer co-polyester string. The string feels very lively! It is very easy to get good depth and power in my groundstrokes. In addition, the comfort is better than expected. The string has a relatively soft, comfortable feel.
My favorite string is the Diadem Solstice Power 17. This string is also a soft co-poly and has a star-shaped construction, also angled like this RS Paris Octagon. The past week the conditions have been quite good. I tested the string for a good 3 hours in warm conditions on the gravel.
What struck me was the good power and comfort of the Paris Octagon. The extra 'spin effect' as stated on the packaging, however, was average. With these warm conditions, with my relatively flat groundstrokes, the balls floated a bit faster and often fell behind the baseline in the beginning. With the Solinco Tour Bite Soft, I had this even more. My favorite Diadem Solstice Power 17 is sharper and clearly provides more ball rotation and therefore more margin in my strokes. I had expected a bit more from the spin potential of the RS Paris Octagon, but the string made up for this with nice comfort for my sensitive shoulder.
Fresh from the stringing machine I also noticed that with this RS Paris Octagon 1.20 the strings initially slid a bit more than I am used to with strings in this genre. After a good hour of playing I did not notice this anymore, possibly also because the strings may already be slightly worn in.
Because the string is relatively soft, it gives quite a bit of free power. The control is also more than sufficient. If the spin effect of this octagonal string had come out a bit easier (good for extra margin in my strokes) then I would have rated the string even higher in this area.
I found the tension retention of the RS Paris Octagon to be comparable to the Diadem Solstice Power 17, so good. I also found the durability to be more than fine, especially considering the relatively soft feel of the string. I played with it for about 3.5 hours. In summary, I think the RS Paris Octagon 1.20 is a nice and user-friendly string for players who would like to make the transition to polyester strings, for example a good junior player. Also someone who is looking for some extra power in a string, without it being too snappy on the arm, would certainly appreciate this string.