Tecnifibre HDMX Review and Play Test
String: Tecnifibre HDMX (16 1.30 mm)
Tension: 59 lbs
Construction: Multifilament (33% Polyester Fibers / 34% Elastyl Fibers / 33% Thermostabyl fibers with a 3SPL Silicium Pyrogene Lubritec anti-abrasion coating)
Racket Used: Babolat Aeropro Drive 2013
Cost: $16
HDMX – What You Need to Know
Our final foray into Tecnifibre’s fusion string technology. Previously I’ve reviewed RPX and Triax and after both experiences I was left wondering what sort of player would really benefit from either string. Well the same thing is true here only the response off the string bed is so much worse. It was super tingy for the first few hours and that trait is something that’s hard for me to get past. I found HDMX did play closer to a polyester than a multifilament and was more durable than the other two but it still eventually frayed and snapped way sooner than a polyester.
This fusion technology is an interesting idea but I feel like way more emphasis needs to be placed on the actual feel off the string bed compared to lab test results in a controlled environment. Things like tension maintenance, durability, spin potential, repulsion power, etc mean nothing if the ball doesn’t feel good leaving the string bed.
HDMX – What I Loved
I didn’t love anything but of the three I liked the playing characteristics of HDMX the most.
HDMX – What I Hated
The dreaded “ting” response was such a killer for me. I hated the feel so much it was all could think about during my first couple hitting sessions. It’s unfortunate because I think the string itself plays fine it just can’t replace a traditional poly/multi or even poly/synthetic setup.
Value
As a hybrid alternative for $16 I’d say the value is fine but there are way better hybrid setups for equal or lesser cost.
Who this string IS for
If for some reason you only like your rackets strung one piece and want to kind of experience a poly/multi hybrid setup this would be a string to try. Not sure how many people/players would ever be in that camp but there you go.
Who this string is NOT for
Similar to what I’ve written in the previous two reviews (RPX and Triax) the pop and feel is lacking so much compared to an actual hybrid that I think most players won’t enjoy playing with this string.
Final Verdict
There are definitely poly/multi hybrid like characteristics to HDMX that I can acknowledge. It’s more durable and offers more control than the previous two “hybridized” strings I tried from Tecnifibre which is another plus. Unfortunately the actual feel and response off the string bed was such a killer for me in my racket that I couldn’t really focus on much else. For that reason Tecnifibre HDMX is not a string I could really recommend to anyone but in certain rackets I do imagine it feels a lot nicer.