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String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24 Review: A Balanced Power String with Comfort and Control

The String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24 is a relatively new product from the Italian string brand String-Kong, known for its playful packaging and high-quality products. This string promises a user-friendly and power-oriented co-polyester experience with good all-round playing characteristics and a surprisingly high level of comfort.

Specifications

Brand: String-Kong
String type: Gorill-1
Thickness: 1.24 mm
Type: Power-oriented co-polyester string with good all-round playing characteristics and comfort
Comparable strings: Diadem Solstice Power 16L, Yonex Poly Tour Pro , Luxilon Element 1.25

Tested by

Name: Mike
Playing strength: 4/4
Player type: Classic player, flat groundstrokes, generates little spin himself, recently had shoulder problems
Racket: Prince Textreme Warrior 107 (107 sq/inch, 16/19 stringing pattern)
String hardness: 24/23 kg (stringing range: 23-27 kg)
Test duration: 3.5 hours

Rating String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24

Durability: 7.5
Voltage retention: 8
Spin/Slice: 7.5
Ball control: 8
Power: 8.5
Control: 8
Comfort/Arm-friendliness: 9

Strung the String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24

Stringing the String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24 was surprisingly smooth for a polyester string. The string feels quite stretchy for polyester, which makes threading the cross strings easier than with some stiffer alternatives. A notable detail on the packaging is the recommended stringing range of 20-24 kg —on the low side for polyester strings—but this turned out not to be a problem. My racquet was strung at 24/23 kg , and the Dynamic Tension came in nicely at 37 , which is in line with expectations. This confirms that it is wise to stick to String-Kong's recommended stringing range.

In addition, the slogan on the packaging stood out: 'Only ask for certified stringers' . String-Kong seems to attach great importance to quality, something I can fully agree with.

Review of the String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24

Feel and Comfort
What immediately stood out when playing with the String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24 was the comfort and direct feel of the string. Although the string does not feel as soft as for example the Luxilon Element 1.25 , it does offer a similar level of comfort with a slightly more direct response, which I personally really liked. This makes the string not too stiff or too robust, but ideal for players who are looking for a balanced mix of power and comfort.

Spin and Slice
The grip on the ball was good, but not extreme. Although the product description suggested that the Gorill-1 excels in spin, in my opinion it does not perform noticeably better here than other strings. For players who are mainly looking for a lot of spin, strings like the Diadem Solstice Power 16L might be a better choice. Nevertheless, the Gorill-1 offers solid performance in generating spin and slice.

Balance between Power and Control
What makes the String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24 special is the excellent balance between power and control. Although it is a power-oriented string, it never feels like the balls are flying out of your control. The string offers a stable and controlled amount of power, allowing you to play with confidence without fear of quickly losing control. In terms of control, the string does almost as well as it does in terms of power, partly due to the good ball feel.

Durability and Voltage Maintenance
After 3.5 hours of playing, the string showed no visible signs of wear, and the playing feel remained constant. The tension retention was excellent; the playing characteristics remained stable throughout the test period. This is one of the strong points of the Gorill-1 1.24 , and I can confirm that the tension retention is fine.

Comfort and Arm-friendliness
Comfort is always an important aspect for me, given my previous shoulder problems. The String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24 scores excellently here. The comfort cannot be compared to super soft strings, but the string offers enough vibration dampening to play comfortably, even during longer sessions. The balance between softness and response makes it an excellent choice for players who are prone to arm or shoulder problems.

The String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24 is a versatile and balanced co-polyester string that is suitable for a wide range of players. Although the string does not excel in spin, it does offer excellent all-round playing characteristics with a nice balance between power, control and comfort. The good tension retention and solid durability make it a reliable choice for players who like consistency in their game. Especially the comfort and arm-friendliness are remarkable for a string in this category, making it a great option for players who are prone to injuries.

The String-Kong Gorill-1 1.24 is a very pleasant introduction to the new Italian brand and shows that they are capable of producing high-quality, user-friendly strings that are at home in all markets. For an overview of string types from this brand, see our previous post about String-Kong .