Review: Volkl V-Square String Reel

Published on 07/19/2023 · 3 min readCurated Tennis Expert Brandon M. shares his experience with using the Volkl V-Square String Reel. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.
By Tennis Expert Brandon M.
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The Curated Take

4.0/5

The Volkl V-Square String Reel is ideal for big-hitting intermediate to advanced players seeking excellent ball pocketing, superior spin, and control over their aggressive swings. Its square shape boosts RPM generation, while its softer polyester construction offers comfort, making it effective in stiffer frames. While tension maintenance and power are average, its durability and spin-friendly nature stand out, offering consistent playability. Its value for money is significantly higher than similar products in the market.

Ideal for
  • Spin machine
  • Surprisingly easy on the arm
  • Pinpoint control
Not ideal for
  • Too underpowered for beginners
Control
In general, polyester strings are control-oriented due to their stiffer construction. This makes them the string of choice for big-hitting advanced players who need to tame the power that they...Read more
Spin
Volkl V-Square is the most spin-friendly string I've ever used, and other test sources say the same. The sharp square-shaped profile and slippery surface promote snap on the back of...Read more
Comfort
Volkl V-Square is one of the softer polyester strings that I've played with. It is slightly softer than Volkl Cyclone and quite a bit more so than Solinco Tour Bite....Read more
Tension Maintenance
Polyester strings are not known to have outstanding tension maintenance, and Volkl V-Square is fairly typical of the strings I've used in the past. I notice a drop in tension...Read more
Durability
I've played for around 35 hours over two sets of Volkl V-Square without breaking a string yet. I cut both sets out before they broke. Still, there was no noticeable...Read more
Power
Thanks to its softer construction, Volkl V-Square offers a bit more power than is typical for polyester strings. There is a noticeable difference between V-Square and Volkl Cyclone, which is...Read more

Expert Reviews of the Volkl V-Square String Reel

 Volkl V-Square string is the most spin-friendly string I have ever used. The square shape bites the ball and makes generating lots of RPMs on my shots easy. It is a softer polyester string, so it retains really good comfort. That softness also produces nice ball pocketing so that when combined with the easy spin, I feel like I can put the ball anywhere I want. As with most polyester strings, it doesn't have a ton of power, so it is definitely best for big-hitting intermediate to advanced players looking to take their spin to the next level.

Review Ratings

Control

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. In general, polyester strings are control-oriented due to their stiffer construction. This makes them the string of choice for big-hitting advanced players who need to tame the power that they generate with their swings. Volkl V-Square is not the most controlled string I've tested purely based on stiffness and power. Still, the combination of great ball pocketing and extreme spin potential makes it so I am really confident in putting the ball exactly where I want it. I feel like my directional control of the ball is better than ever since switching to V-Square.

Spin

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. Volkl V-Square is the most spin-friendly string I've ever used, and other test sources say the same. The sharp square-shaped profile and slippery surface promote snap on the back of the strings on impact and grab the ball for vicious spin production. The control lets me swing fast for extra racquet head speed, which also helps generate even more RPMs on the ball.

Comfort

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. Volkl V-Square is one of the softer polyester strings that I've played with. It is slightly softer than Volkl Cyclone and quite a bit more so than Solinco Tour Bite. It would do a really good job of taking the bite out of stiff frames such as the Babolat Pure Aero and Pure Drive lineups.

Tension Maintenance

3/5
 gave 3 of 5 stars. Polyester strings are not known to have outstanding tension maintenance, and Volkl V-Square is fairly typical of the strings I've used in the past. I notice a drop in tension after 4-5 hours, but there isn't a drastic shift in playability as a result. Power, control, and spin levels stay consistent for 12-15 hours before I notice a change and cut them out to restring.

Durability

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. I've played for around 35 hours over two sets of Volkl V-Square without breaking a string yet. I cut both sets out before they broke. Still, there was no noticeable notching that I typically see with other polyester strings after 10-15 hours of play. There are definitely going to be more durable polyesters out there, but not with the same playability that V-Square offers.

Power

3/5
 gave 3 of 5 stars. Thanks to its softer construction, Volkl V-Square offers a bit more power than is typical for polyester strings. There is a noticeable difference between V-Square and Volkl Cyclone, which is more controlled. It's less powerful than multifilament strings such as Volkl Power Fiber II or Head Velocity MLT. However, it is a good choice for players who need just a little more boost than a typical poly string gives them.

FAQs

What was your favorite moment with this gear?

My wife hates when I hit deep forehands with a heavy spin that bounces high. She prefers to drive the ball through the court by taking the ball early, and these types of shots throw off her timing. When I first took out my new Volkl V-Cell V1 Pro strung with Volkl V-Square, I instantly felt extremely comfortable hitting those heavy deep balls, causing her to get frustrated. She and I are usually on pretty equal footing ability-wise. Still, with my confidence in the V-Square string, I easily beat her that day.

Why did you choose this product?

My game relies on using spin and power to my advantage, but I like a softer, more comfortable feel from my racquet and string. I have previously played with Volkl Cyclone 17g, which I was quite happy with. Volkl says that V-Square is slightly softer and much more spin-friendly than Cyclone. With a new racquet on the way, which coordinated perfectly with the lava red color of the V-Square, I decided to give it a shot. From the first balls I hit, I was hooked on the ball pocketing I got, which, combined with the huge spin, let me put the ball exactly where I wanted it.

What is the value for the money versus other options?

Volkl strings are a tremendous value leader in the market. Volkl Cyclone is easily the best bang for one's buck string for a polyester string, while the V-Square is just a little more expensive. At $10.99, it is more than 45% cheaper than the similar Babolat RPM Blast Rough and almost 30% less expensive than Technifibre 4S, another square-shaped soft polyester string.

What do you love about this product?

Volkl V-Square string is the most spin-friendly string I have ever used. The square shape bites the ball and makes generating lots of RPMs on my shots easy. It is a softer polyester string, so it retains good comfort. That softness also produces nice ball pocketing so that when combined with the easy spin, I feel like I can put the ball anywhere I want.
Brandon M., Tennis Expert
4.91
Brandon M.
Tennis Expert
Grew up in a tennis shop. Played competitively through college. Taught tennis for 6 years. Lover of the game and the gear. Married to the best tennis player I know, with three girls who hopefully get some of her talent.
70 Reviews
1436 Customers helped
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Written by:
Brandon M., Tennis Expert
4.91
Brandon M.
Tennis Expert
Grew up in a tennis shop. Played competitively through college. Taught tennis for 6 years. Lover of the game and the gear. Married to the best tennis player I know, with three girls who hopefully get some of her talent.
70 Reviews
1436 Customers helped

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