Babolat RPM Hurricane String Review

Naturally, RPM Hurricane is a control focussed string, so by definition it will be lacking in the power department. This is actually one of the string’s major benefits, as it gives you the confidence to swing fast at the ball, whilst being able to trust your shots will find the court consistently.

However, the string is so good when it comes to control and touch (especially for a poly), that you can afford to string it at mid to low tensions and still experience all that the string has to offer.

Doing this also adds to the comfort and additional pop you can get from RPM Hurricane, making it more accessible and playable for a wider audience.

For big hitting players that need that extra bit of control in their game to tame their natural grunt, Babolat RPM Hurricane’s low levels of power will be an ideal match.

Control really is the stand out feature of Babolat RPM Hurricane. The string is pretty ‘dead’ feeling, especially when strung at higher tensions. Whilst some players may complain this makes it lack feel or touch, it definitely adds to the control factor.

RPM Hurricane gives you an incredible consistent response, which again helps with controlling the ball off the string bed.

More powerful, softer strings are often great for touch and feel, since they give you a greater sense of raw connection with the ball. Whereas harder polyester strings like Babolat RPM Hurricane can have a tendency to feel a little bit stiff or numb.

However, this is not always a bad thing. What a lot of intermediate and advanced players look for when they need control is a string that performs consistently. When the levels of intensity rise and you are under pressure in a match, what you really need is a racket and string combination you can rely on.

Therefore, having a string that feels very similar time after time rather than a more lively string that may feel a little bit more inconsistent on contact will actually be beneficial to a lot of higher level players.

Granted, for players that are perhaps used to a softer polyester or even a multifilament or natural gut string, using a full bed of RPM Hurricane could be a little on the harsh side. However, after a certain period of time when the string can bed in, it can really be the ultimate string for control!

This is part of the reason why RPM Hurricane (formerly Pro Hurricane Tour) has been so popular over the years!

Touch is another area in which RPM Hurricane performs surprisingly well. It is of course not as soft or feelsome as a multifilament, but for a poly it is pretty good.

The main thing with RPM Hurricane is how consistently the ball comes off the string bed. Especially when strung at higher tensions, you get an incredibly crisp and communicative response from RPM Hurricane.

Again, from a stiffness perspective RPM Hurricane is definitely on the firmer side. So, if you want to experience the ultimate levels of control that this string has to offer but also need a little softness to make it more forgiving and arm friendly, it may be worth pairing it with a multifilament or natural gut string.

RPM Hurricane takes after the famous RPM Blast by being an octagonal shaped string. This enhances the snap back and friction that the string can impart on the ball, which increases the RPMs you can generate on your shots. This again helps with the amount of control you have when striking the ball with RPM Hurricane.

You can swing the racket fast and with confidence, safe in the knowledge that the ball will dip back down into the court thanks to the spin you can generate.

There are definitely other more spin friendly strings out there however. Rough textured strings will grab and spit out the ball with more spin for sure, but RPM Hurricane will still help you rip up the court. The string will give you a nice, satisfying blend of spin and plow through on your groundstrokes and serves.

Polyester strings tend to be extremely durable due to their firmer feel and more robust construction.

RPM Hurricane definitely follows this trend and is one of the most durable strings on the market today.

Many polyester strings can have a major drop off in performance after quite a short duration of time. However, given that RPM Hurricane is not the most lively feeling string to begin with, this drop off in performance is pretty minimal as far as this string is concerned.

If anything, RPM Hurricane will actually soften off and become a little more playable as it gets used more, which is a characteristic that many players actually prefer!

Comfort is an area that many polyester based strings tend to fall down in. This is because they are naturally pretty firm due to the material they are made from. Whilst this definitely enhances the durability, control and spin potential of these strings, softness and flexibility is what tends to be associated with comfort.

However, RPM Hurricane scores relatively highly on the comfort front, especially for a spin friendly, control oriented polyester string.

The string is so consistent and precision focussed that you can actually afford stringing it down a few pounds and still retain a decent level of control. This also adds to the comfort as it softens RPM Hurricane off slightly and makes it easier on the arm.

You tend to get a nice balance of firmness which gives the string a crisp response, along with just an edge of suppleness which takes the sting out of the playing experience. Again, using a softer multifilament or natural gut to offset the natural firmness of RPM Hurricane could be recommended in order to increase comfort.

Overall, RPM Hurricane (formerly Pro Hurricane Tour) has been a long-standing classic from Babolat for a reason. The supreme levels of control, decent spin potential and overall crispness from the string make it a go to string for intermediate to advanced level players.

The fact that RPM Hurricane has a respectable level of comfort and feel for a firmer polyester makes it a great all rounder too.

You get such a consistent response from RPM Hurricane and this gives you a lot of confidence on the court. The string encourages you to take large swings at the ball as the string will do the work in terms of keeping the ball inside the lines.

The firmness won’t be to everyone’s taste, but once you commit to the string and start to enjoy it, you probably won’t want to play with anything else!