tour vs pro yonex

Yonex Astrox 77 Pro, Tour & Play Review

by Vijay Kumar Pathipaka • Category: Rackets , Reviews

Table of Contents

Are you looking for a badminton racket that suits your aggressive playing style? Do you want to know the differences between the three variants of Astrox 77 series from Yonex? If yes, then this blog post is for you. In this post, I will compare and contrast the features, benefits and drawbacks of Astrox 77 Pro, Tour and Play rackets. You will learn how to choose the best racket for your skill level, budget and preferences. By the end of this post, you will have a clear idea of which Astrox 77 racket is right for you.

Yonex Astrox 77 Pro Specs

• Astrox 77 Pro is a badminton racket from Yonex that belongs to the Astrox series which is designed for aggressive play and power.
• Astrox 77 Pro is the successor of the original Astrox 77 with some new features such as FlexFuse at the throat which helps with shock absorption and provides a softer feel.
• Astrox 77 Pro also has an elongated Namd shaft which provides more flex and a faster snapback for improved smashing performance.
• Astrox 77 Pro has a head-heavy balance, a medium flex, and an enhanced Isometric Head Shape that enlarges the sweet spot on the string bed.
• Astrox 77 Pro is suitable for intermediate to advanced players who want to dominate the court with steep smashes and quick recovery.

Yonex Astrox 77 Tour Specs

• Astrox 77 Tour is a badminton racket from Yonex that belongs to the Astrox series which is designed for aggressive play and power.
• Astrox 77 Tour is a more affordable version of the Astrox 77 Pro with most of the features that the Pro variant has.
• Astrox 77 Tour has a balanced weight distribution, a medium flex, and an enhanced Isometric Head Shape that enlarges the sweet spot on the string bed.
• Astrox 77 Tour also has some unique features such as Nanomesh Neo which enhances durability and repulsion power, and Light Feel Carbon Neo which reduces air resistance and improves stability.
• Astrox 77 Tour is suitable for intermediate to advanced players who want to have versatility and control in their game with steep smashes and quick recovery.

Astrox 77 Play Specs

• Astrox 77 Play is a badminton racket from Yonex that belongs to the Astrox series which is designed for aggressive play and power.
• Astrox 77 Play is the entry-level variant of the brand new Astrox 77 family which was released on 21 October 2022.
• Astrox 77 Play is suitable for players with basic playing skills who want to overwhelm their opponents with speed and power.
• Astrox 77 Play has a flexible shaft and a head-heavy balance that help to deliver devastating power and sharp angled smashes.
• Astrox 77 Play also has a lighter blade that ensures maneuverability and extra power for the player.

Difference between Astrox 77 Pro, Tour & Play

• Astrox 77 Pro is produced in Japan, while Astrox 77 Tour is made in China or Taiwan. Astrox 77 Play does not specify its country of origin.
• Astrox 77 Pro has a higher head weight than Astrox 77 Tour and Astrox 77 Play. This means it can generate more power but also requires more strength and control.
• Astrox 77 Pro has a longer shaft than Astrox 77 Tour and Astrox 77 Play. This means it can create more leverage and whip effect but also reduces accuracy and stability.
• Astrox 77 Pro has an enhanced Isometric Head Shape that enlarges the sweet spot on the string bed to improve forgiveness and consistency4. Astrox 77 Tour and Astrox 77 Play have a standard Isometric Head Shape that still provides a large hitting area but less than the Pro version.
• Astrox 77 Pro is made of higher quality materials than Astrox 77 Tour and Astrox 77 Play. This means it has better durability, performance and feel but also costs more.

How to choose between Astrox 77 Pro, Tour & Play

Choosing between these three rackets depends on your playing style, skill level, budget and personal preference. Here are some general guidelines based on the web sources:

• If you are looking for a light-weight racket that focuses more on speed than power, you may prefer Astrox 77 Play. It is suitable for beginners and intermediate players who want to play defensive shots and net shots with ease.
• If you are looking for a balanced racket that offers a good combination of power and speed, you may prefer Astrox 77 Tour. It is suitable for intermediate and advanced players who want to have versatility and control in their game.
• If you are looking for a heavy-weight racket that delivers maximum power and smash potential, you may prefer Astrox 77 Pro. It is suitable for advanced and professional players who have the strength and skill to handle its high head weight and long shaft.

Of course, these are not definitive rules and you may find that one racket suits you better than another based on your personal feel and comfort. The best way to choose between these three rackets is to try them out yourself if possible or read some reviews from other users who have used them before.

• Astrox 77 Pro is the most expensive and advanced variant of the Astrox 77 family. It has a stiff shaft and a head-heavy balance that provide maximum power and stability for aggressive players. It also has a new grommet pattern that reduces string stress and improves durability.
• Astrox 77 Tour is a more affordable version of the Astrox 77 Pro with most of the features that the Pro variant has. It has a balanced weight distribution and a medium flex that offer versatility and control for intermediate to advanced players. It also has an enhanced Isometric Head Shape that enlarges the sweet spot on the string bed.
• Astrox 77 Play is the entry-level variant of the Astrox 77 family. It has a flexible shaft and a head-heavy balance that help to deliver devastating power and sharp angled smashes for players with basic playing skills. It also has a lighter blade that ensures maneuverability and extra power for the player.

In summary, these three rackets are designed for different levels of players who want to play aggressively with power. The Pro variant is suitable for advanced players who want maximum power and stability, while the Tour variant is suitable for intermediate to advanced players who want versatility and control. The Play variant is suitable for beginners who want speed and power.

Yonex Astrox 88D Pro, 88D Game & 88D Tour Badminton Racket Video Comparison

This video explains the differences between the three versions of the Astrox 88D called the Astrox 88D Pro, 88D Game and 88D Tour

The new Yonex Astrox 88 series was launched in March 2021. Surprisingly, in addition to the D and S models, Yonex has introduced “takedown” versions with identical colourways but slightly different features to reflect the price.

How do they feel and more importantly, how do they play?

(If you would prefer a written version of this video, there is a transcript further down)

Individual Full Written Reviews

Here are the quick links to my individual written reviews of the Astrox 88D Pro & the original 88D.

Yonex Astrox 88D Pro, 88D Game & 88D Tour Comparison – Video Transcript

On this video, I am reviewing 3 88Ds.

These are the Yonex Astrox 88Ds that were launched in March 2021.

So the intention of this video is to give you a comparison between the Pro, the Tour & the Game in terms of physical properties & also playability.

If you enjoyed watching these videos, please press the Subscribe button below, so you will receive notifications of further videos to follow.

So, let’s get on with the reviews & let’s compare the 88D Tour & the 88D Pro.

The Pro is now stable in my bag at the moment & it’s going to be a racket I’m going to use a lot with the Astrox 100ZZ to compare other frames to in the future but I found it’s an absolutely brilliant racket. There is a full review already on my website which is www.badminton-coach.co.uk. There is also a video on YouTube with a comparison to the original Astrox 88D.

So you’re pretty aware that this is a great racket very very maneuverable, lots of power & I’ve really enjoyed using this racket over the last few months. So now we want to compare it to the other 2 rackets that I’ve been testing over the last few weeks.

So let’s start with the Game.

The Game you will already see has a different head shape, although colour scheme is absolutely identical, the only difference being the decal here says Game whereas on the D Pro, it just says Astrox. Racket length is the same, handle length is the same, shaft length is the same. But you will notice, there is a difference here in shape of the ferrule. There is also a difference in the thickness of the shaft. You’ll also find that this, the Game is a little bit more flexible compared to the D Pro you see that doesn’t bend quite as much. D Pro is manufactured in Japan, & the Game & the Tour are manufactured in Taiwan. So this is probably the furthest removed in terms of specs that we’re going to have compared to the original D Pro, but still a very very good racket in its own right.

We’ll talk about budgets later, but this is still a head heavy racket, this is got a balance point of 310 so it’s still good, it’s still head heavy. But again what we have noticed is the weight isn’t at the top of the head but there’s definitely weight here that carries the racket head through really, really well. It’s still quick, not as quick as the D Pro but it’s still a fast frame. But this is a budget racket.

One thing I will mention, this is a G5 grip, this is a G5 grip. For some reason the G5 grip on the Game & the Tour is slightly bigger than the Japanese model. No idea why, but it is ever so slightly bigger, not too much that it becomes a G4 but it’ll probably fit in somewhere in between, but just that’s just a quick little thing I did notice.

So we know that playability is good with this racket. Good in defense, good in attack.

Budget price for this racket, this is retailing for around about £80 in the UK whereas the D Pro is retailing for around about £150. So you more or less can buy two of these, for one of these. And for the intermediate player, this (the Game) could be an absolute bargain at £80. It’s a really really good racket. And as I say with it being slightly more flexible, not quite as heavy as this one, so therefore a little bit more forgiving, and a lot more familiar in feel to other Yonex rackets compared to the new head shape & the stiffness of this one. So you might actually find that this is going to be an absolute star for you in club badminton & you’re going to get a lot of value for money with the Game.

So well, worth a look at, if you get a chance to test it against this one then please do, you will feel the difference but it’s not going to be absolutely huge but it’s well worth testing. But as I say, you can more or less buy two of these for one of these. So in terms of going to club night if you get 2 of these if you break a string go & get your replacement, fantastic can’t do better than that.

Let’s have a quick look at the Tour.

Now, the Tour is a closer copy of the Pro. The head shape is the same & if I line them up, we’ll see the handle size is the same, ferrules are the same, they are both stiff shafts they are both the thinner shafts, so very, very close copy indeed. What you will see there is a Tour logo on this racket the same, we’ve only got the Astrox logo on this one.

Again, not quite as heavy as this, although the BP on this is 308. So it’s still a good head heavy racket. This is a stiffer shaft compared to the Game that you saw before and you’ve already seen me flex that one already.

So you got a good idea that this is a lot lot closer in terms of playability. Yes it’s a touch lighter in the head, but still maneuvers really really well. Yet again that G5 grip is slightly bigger than the Japanese version, but ever so slightly. So it just means you just going to have to watch it if you’re going to change your grips at all & watch the thickness a little bit, if you like to be a lot more specific. Aside from that 2 brilliant rackets, love the Tour as well. This is going to retail for around about £115 against £150. So saving there for you. Identical in looks apart from the one decal. So very, very good value for money, plays brilliant, nice quick racket as you would expect, still got power, still got maneuverability, which is what we’re really looking for. So that’s the Astrox 88D Tour.

So, there we have it, we’ve had the Game, we’ve got the Tour & we got the Pro, all three really good rackets in their own right.

Three different price points, so £80, £115 & around about £150 for the D Pro.

Really, really good value. I think they’re all great rackets as I said before, all maneuverable, one’s a little bit more forgiving with that medium flex shaft on the Game & is probably going to a suit a lot more plays of intermediate standard. But all three great rackets & well worth testing if you get a chance.

So there you are, look out for my website where I’ll do individual reviews of the Tour & the Game very soon. Please do subscribe to the channel so you can get further notifications on the next video where I will probably be reviewing the Astrox 88S comparing the Pro & the Tour & the Game. But for now three great Astrox 88’s.

I hope you enjoyed the video & I hope to see you again very soon.

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• yonex poly tour pro 125 string review

Yonex Poly Tour Pro 125 String Review

Over the years, we’ve come to love poly strings for their high levels of control, spin, and durability.

In achieving those characteristics, we’ve come to accept that we have to make some sacrifices, and when it comes to polys, that sacrifice is normally in comfort.

However, just like modern rackets, there is an emphasis on making these poly strings a little bit more comfortable to play with and one such Poly is Yonex Poly Tour Pro.

Custom Fittings

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All of us at TheTennisBros.com use poly strings, so we’re fairly used to this tradeoff, but it’s always nice when you hit with a string that offers a good balance between performance and comfort.

We love strings like Luxilon 4G and Wilson Revolve because they keep the traditional qualities of poly string but give you a decent amount of comfort.

We found Yonex Poly Tour Pro to be a similar type of string.

To test this Yonex string, we figured it would only be right to try it out in a Yonex racket, so we took the Poly Tour Pro out in a new Yonex VCore Pro 97 HD , to see exactly what we were getting. For this playtest, we strung the Vcore at 50lbs.

We already know this is a firecracker of a racket with speed, control, touch, and comfort, so we were looking for the Poly Tour Pro to accentuate those characteristics and give us top-level performance.

5.5 out of 10

If you’re looking for a string to boost your power levels then you’re not looking at the right string with Yonex Poly Tour Pro .

This string is very much weighted towards control which means you don’t get too much in the way of power.

Most poly string users are used to this, but if you’re switching over from a multifilament string it can often take some time to adjust.

To be able to get the most out of these strings you do need to have some fairly developed strokes.

If you’re still working on developing your technique, you might find it harder to generate the power you need in which case, you might be better suited to something a bit more powerful.

However, for more advanced players, and particularly those players with long, fast swings who can generate plenty of power, the Poly Tour Pro has enough pop to get the job done.

A score of 5.5 out of 10 for power isn’t unusual for a poly, and the next category is generally much more important for poly users.

8.5 out of 10

This might sound funny, but it’s always difficult to describe power and control when it comes to tennis.

The thing is, there’s the power that comes from your racket and strings, and then there’s the power that comes from your body and strokes.

If you don’t produce much power from your body and strokes, then you want a racket and string that can produce some of that power for you.

However, if you produce a lot of power from your body and strokes, then you want a racket and strings that allow you to control that power.

When you produce power from your strokes, control allows you to unleash more power, and that’s one of the reasons poly strings are so popular.

Yonex Poly Tour Pro falls into this category with excellent levels of control.

We gave it an 8.5 out of 10 for control, which isn’t the highest out there, but it’s not too far off.

8 out of 10

Yonex Poly Tour Pro doesn’t have quite the bite of a more textured poly like Babolat RPM Blast Rough but it offers you plenty of spin none the less.

If you’re ripping through the ball with fast swings, then you’re going to be rewarded with a lot of spin and you can use this to really push your opponents onto the back foot.

I really enjoyed the balance this string offered me on spin, it wasn’t too much where I was getting all spin and no power, but it was enough to give me the extra spin I need on my backhand.

All in all, a pretty good combination when you combine it with excellent control.

We gave Yonex Poly Tour Pro an 8 out of 10 for spin.

6.5 out of 10

It may only get a score of 6.5 out of 10 for feel, but Poly Tour Pro doesn’t do too badly for a poly.

These strings tend not to offer buttery levels of feel, but you do get used to the way they play, and I settled in quite nicely with this one.

Feel is very much a personal thing, one person’s heaven is another person’s nightmare, so I always find this category is more a case of getting on court and playing with the strings.

I felt the levels of feel were about right for a poly, and gave Prince Poly Tour Po a 6.5 out of 10.

7 out of 10

Again, this is a pretty good score for a poly.

I’m sure they will find ways of making poly strings more comfortable in the future, but for now, 7 out of 10 is a pretty good score.

I’m someone for whom comfort isn’t a primary concern, but I should be, given I’m fairly susceptible to wrist problems.

So, it was quite nice to play with Yonex Poly Tour Pro which was pretty soft on the joints.

You get good cushioning, and I felt comfortable on all my strokes.

Poly Tour Pro did a very good job at keeping its tension throughout the playtest.

All strings drop a little bit of tension as you play with them, but I felt Poly Tour Pro kept fairly constant throughout.

It’s really annoying when you set your racket and string up a certain way only for your string tension to change dramatically after your first hit, so this is a good characteristic to have.

The Yonex Poly Tour Pro lasted a good amount of time without snapping too, so you can keep your visits to the stringing shop to a minimum.

We were impressed with Poly Tour Pro’s durability and gave it an 8 out of 10.

Overall, Yonex Poly Tour Pro is a very good string for players looking for control, spin, durability, and above average comfort from a poly.

It’s not a string that makes life easy for beginner and intermediate players because of its low powered nature.

However, for players who have no problem generating their own power, this string has plenty of benefits.

There are lots of poly strings out there that offer high levels of control, but there are few that give you comfort, and that’s what Yonex Poly Tour Pro does.

It might not be right at the top for performance, but when you take into account its comfort levels, it’s clear to see why this is a popular string.

Is This String Right For Your Game? Find Out With a Custom Fitting!

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Aug 15, 2022 • Polyester Strings Yonex Strings

Yonex PolyTour Air String Review

Polyester tennis strings are incredibly popular due to their immense adaptability and playing characteristics that suit the modern game. Many poly strings are designed primarily for spin and control, but this can come at the cost of being harsh on the arm and unforgiving. However, big manufacturers have cottoned onto…

Jul 16, 2022 • Polyester Strings Yonex Strings

Yonex PolyTour Fire String Review

Spin friendly tennis strings have become more and more popular in recent years due to the increased power of modern rackets. Athletic, well built players with powerful sticks create a recipe for spraying balls unless a control oriented string is introduced to the party. This is where Yonex PolyTour Fire…

Yonex Poly Tour Pro Review

Why is Yonex Poly Tour Pro one of the most popular strings on tour and among club players? Here is our Yonex Poly Tour Pro Review.

I got this question and thought I’d answer it in a video called “ Why do so many pros use Yonex Poly Tour Pro? ” (and in this post). If you have questions or video ideas, please put them in the comments. I read as often as possible but struggle with time to answer everyone.

Yonex Poly Tour Pro  (check it out from our friends at Tennis Warehouse) is a string used by many, many pros. We have recently seen Ben Shelton use it in a full bed and a hybrid setup with Poly Tour Strike.

Casper Ruud uses it in a hybrid with Poly Tour Spin.

Nick Kyrgios uses it in a full bed.

Marton Fucsovics also uses it in a full bed.

On the WTA Tour, Belinda Bencic uses it in a hybrid , as does Naomi Osaka .

What is Yonex Poly Tour Pro?

Yonex Poly Tour Pro is a round, semi-soft string. Looking at the Tennis Warehouse University data, it is not the most spin-friendly string, and you notice that when playing with it.   Based on my readings, it actually has the least spin of all the polyester strings in the Yonex string family.

It is relatively soft though, and for more spin, you can do like Casper Ruud or Ben Shelton and pair it with a firmer and more spin-oriented string like Poly Tour Strike, Poly Tour Spin or Poly Tour Rev .

I have used Poly Tour Pro a lot throughout my tennis life but never made a full review.

How does it play?

It’s a solid choice for a softer poly, but it is not quite as dependable as I would like. But for many players, it has a bit more give than firmer strings.

As with most softer poly strings, the tension drop is relatively steep.

But when fresh, it gives you good control, a softer feel, but it is a little lacking in spin potential and snapback. If you are looking for a string to really grab the ball, this is not the one.  

On the other hand, if you are not a heavy hitter and are looking for a relatively comfortable and dependable poly, Poly Tour Pro is a solid choice.  

More advanced players should consider using it in a hybrid with a firmer string to get more control and spin.

So why is it used by so many pros on the tour if it lacks standout qualities?

I think the feel is agreeable, and it is a solid enough choice for pros who always play with freshly strung racquets. If you want to limit your stringing, it might not be the one for you, as it plays best relatively fresh.

Paired with a firmer string, it’s an excellent choice to get the best of both worlds: some power, some spin and good control.

Pros Soft on the arm Nice feel

Cons Drops tension Lacks spin potential

Again, I think the string is best paired with a firmer string.

Have you used Yonex Poly Tour Pro? Let me know what you think about it in the comments.  

Jonas Eriksson

Jonas has been known as "tennis nerd" mainly for his obsessing about racquets and gear. Plays this beautiful sport almost every day.

First China Open in four years

Laver cup 2023 racquets, you may also like, dyreex strings overview, luxilon eco spin, kirschbaum super smash orange review, mayami string review, gamma verve soft review, tecnifibre razor code hybrid review, kirschbaum strings, string project sirius, get the right string for your game with..., restring sync.

Hi, I’m assuming when you talk about hybrid setups that the Poly Pro is always in the mains? In that case having a firmer string in the crosses does change the characteristics of the setup but at most by 20 %. Is that really such a noticable difference? It’s very debatable… Cheers Dubo

Totally agree. Been using it a while in the Ezone and it plays just as you said. Awesome when fresh. But I switched, because of the quick loss in playability. Having said that, I got my Ezone freshly strung with Poly Tour Rev / poly tour pro . As I have heard it is supposed to be a superb string for crosses in a hybrid setup. We’ll see how long it will do as a cross only.

How long does it stay fresh / how often does it need restringing? I like the plush feel of it

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Yonex Poly Tour Pro String Review

• Low powered
• Too firm for beginners

After a few weeks of testing Yonex Poly Tour Pro our team couldn't help but marvel at how far polyester strings have come. As you will glean from our comments, what separates this string from earlier generations of polyesters is both the friendlier feel and longer lasting playability. Thankfully, the control we've come to expect from polyester was there in spades. Our two playtesters were able to achieve maximum stroke speed without having to worry about the ball flying unpredictably. The freedom to swing big not only made it easier to finish points, it gave our testers increased access to spin, resulting in some heavy balls with explosive bounces. Our power hitters were also impressed by the fact that Poly Tour Pro held its crisp feel a little longer than comparable strings, providing a controlled response long into the playtest. Ultimately, as with many of the newer high-tech co-polys, this string finds a way to offer a little extra comfort and playability without sacrificing the amazing control for which polyester strings are known.

Power - Score: 45

We tested both the black and yellow versions of Poly Tour Pro . Neither of these colors proved very powerful for Michelle , which suited her just fine. She said, "I didn't find the black or yellow Poly Tour Pro to have much power, though I did string them tightly. This was an effective strategy because the extra control gave me confidence when I needed to swing faster and pressure my opponent. I wouldn't call either of the colors powerless, though. I could tell that they would have had more pop if I had strung them a little looser. Being able to swing all out really helped with spin, which also greatly increased my control."

Andy also found the low power level perfect for controlling his long, fast strokes. He said, "I found the power level of the black version to be about average for a poly, and the yellow version to be slightly below average. Poly Tour Pro is soft with a dead feel, kind of like Luxilon ALU Power Ice. The lower power level allowed me to really swing out and maximize the spin I could get out of the string without losing control, making it a perfect compliment to the high-powered Babolat AeroPro Drive Plus I put it in. The black color did feel crisper and slightly more powerful."

Spin - Score: 79

With its tame power level, Poly Tour Pro made it easy for our team to swing fast and load the ball with spin. Michelle definitely appreciated the extra action on her serve. She said, "I found great access to spin with both the yellow and black string. I was really able to whip through the ball and generate a lot of movement on my shots, especially on serve. The extra movement was noticeable on slices and kickers."

Though he prefers shaped polys, Andy still found plenty of spin with this one. He said, "Once again, the lower power level of the string really allowed me to swing out at the ball with confidence, and with so much racquet head speed I was able to generate a goodly amount of spin. It's not going to bite the ball quite as well as a shaped or textured string, but it does slide on itself well and provide some good snap back action at contact. It was hard to tell the difference in spin potential between the two colors, as they played quite similar in this regard."

Comfort - Score: 72

Even though this is a firm string designed for advanced players, we found Poly Tour Pro to have above average comfort for a poly. In fact, Andy , with his heavy racquet and seasoned mechanics, thought it was quite soft. He said, "Comfort is one of the strengths of Poly Tour Pro. It's very soft, making it very easy on the arm. The ball seems to sink into it like a pillow at contact, giving it a nice plush feel and providing some great ball feel. The yellow played a little softer than the black, but both were on the softer side of the spectrum when it comes to polyesters. Like Polyfibre TCS, it's soft but dead. It's definitely soft enough to throw into a Prestige Mid with no problem."

Picking right up on the comfort was Michelle , who said, "I immediately found both the yellow and black strings comfortable. The yellow was a little more comfortable on off-center hits, but the difference was not significant. Overall, I didn't have any issues with stiffness. I found this string to be one of the softer polys that I've hit, but it still offered good control and spin."

Control - Score: 86

With its predictable response on fast swings, Poly Tour Pro gave our two playtesters excellent control. Andy was completely dialed-in, saying, "Poly Tour Pro offers exceptional control! I felt like I could put the ball on a dime with it! That low-powered response results in a very predictable path off the strings, so you rarely feel like the ball takes off and flies on you. This is another strength of this string."

Michelle also had great control, saying, "In addition to the low power level, both colors offered great bite for controlling the ball with spin. Knowing that the ball wasn't going to fly allowed me to stay aggressive and keep more balls in play. I strung it tight for even greater control."

Playability Duration - Score: 83

In order to improve tension maintenance, Yonex stretches Poly Tour Pro at a high temperature during production. According to Michelle , this strategy seems to be working. She said, "This string maintained tension and playability really well. Even toward the end of the second week the ball came off the stringbed very reliably. The feel changed a little, but it was still crisp and easy to control."

Andy also got a solid two weeks of playability from Poly Tour Pro. He said, "The playability has lasted for the duration of the playtest, which has been about two weeks. Once polys reach this point with no drop in performance, they pass the test for a long-lasting string."

Overall - Score: 84

What type of player would you recommend this to.

Andy - "I would recommend this string to anyone who's already used to polyester strings and knows that they like a more control-oriented poly. If you tend to be a fan of the stiff, dead polys and you want a little relief for your arm, this is a great one to try."

Michelle - "Any aggressive player or anyone who puts a lot of spin on their shots. I think it would suit almost anyone with powerful strokes, but it would enhance the game of players who already utilize a lot of spin."

Michelle - "Loved the extra spin and jump it added to my ball, particularly when using different serves. Great control. Easy access to spin and comfortable for a poly!"

Andy - "It's comfortable, controlled and has great ball feel. A lot to like here!"

Michelle - "None. Would love to keep trying it in different racquets at different tensions!"

Andy - "I would've liked a little more ball grab for some added spin and ball pocketing."

Comparing the string to others they've tried, our testers said:

Michelle - "This was comparable to Black Shark for me in terms of control and spin. It was softer and added a dimension to my game."

Andy - "The Poly Tour Pro played very similar to Luxilon ALU Power Ice and Polyfibre TCS, both of which are extremely comfortable, dead strings. I really enjoyed this playtest, and would definitely recommend it as a comfortable, controlled poly."

(Scores are determined by averaging individual play test scores)

Playtester String Setups

Andy: Playtest Racquet: Head i.Prestige Mid Playtest Tension: 52 lbs. Typical String: Tourna Big Hitter Black 7

Michelle: Playtest Racquet: Babolat Pure Drive Playtest Tension: 62 lbs. Typical String: Polyester strung tight!

Review date: April 2013. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.

All content copyright 2013 Tennis Warehouse.

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• Tennis Equipment

yonex poly tour pro vs poly tour fire vs poly tour strike

• Thread starter tennis4fun
• Start date May 14, 2018
• May 14, 2018

I've tried yonex poly tour pro out of the three yonex strings I have listed. Looking at the string university, it looks like yptp is the softest out of the three and ypt-strike is the stiffest. ypt-strike is also one of the newer strings on the market and there aren't many reviews yet. have anyone tried all 3 strings? what are your pros and cons about them? thanks  

1HBHfanatic

• Jul 3, 2018

Just strung 2 similar rakets to compare these strings yonex.poly.tour.fire (red) yonex.poly.tour.pro (yellow) I found ypt.fire softer, plastic feel, comfortable I found ypt.pro lower power, nice, crisp, solid feel, less plasticky just 1 day of hitting, more to follow but I like the yellow best  

Hall of Fame

• PTS is a firm poly, but holds tension quite well and very low powered. It is a hitter's string with a crisp feel.
• PTP is also low powered but mushier feel. Spin is about the same but the difference is how it interacts with the gut. Even though it dropped tension more than Strike, it didn't feel like it in effect. For a cheap smooth poly that's thin, PTP is a good choice.
• PTF is a slick string with firmness a little bit higher than PTP. It is also more crisp and spin potential is noticeable better than the others. Tension maintenance is about the same as PTP, and both are below the PTS.

EasternRocks

• Aug 30, 2018

Can anyone compare Hyper-G with Poly Tour Strike? Other than the obvious of spin potential, how do they compare comfort and power wise? I want to compare Hyper-G 1.20 and Poly Tour Strike 1.25, because they seem most comparable from a stiffness perspective  

Frans Bleker

Professional.

• Aug 31, 2018

Poly tour drive is great!  

• Sep 1, 2018

Looking for more feedback here on these 3, in full beds. @Sardines , can you chime in? I have these in frames you know well, VCP 97 310 and VC98. PTP 16L at #44 in VCP97310, not enough bite, ball wasn't jumping off the court. PTP 16L at #46 in VC98, same as above, ball would fly, was not confident with consistency. I like the comfort of PTP 16L, really nice. PTS 17 at #46, #49 in VCP97310, a little unpredictable hence the bump in tension, enough spin for me. PTS16L at #45 in VCP97310, more predictable than 17, borderline of how much spin I want from my string, borderline of how stiff I want my string. I also tried Solinco Hyper-G 17 at #45 and it was too stiff. In fact, I was experiencing forearm problems just hitting from it for 5-10 minutes from baseline. Good control, lot of spin, but comfort is its major weakness.  

dr. godmode

EasternRocks said: Looking for more feedback here on these 3, in full beds. @Sardines , can you chime in? I have these in frames you know well, VCP 97 310 and VC98. PTP 16L at #44 in VCP97310, not enough bite, ball wasn't jumping off the court. PTP 16L at #46 in VC98, same as above, ball would fly, was not confident with consistency. I like the comfort of PTP 16L, really nice. PTS 17 at #46, #49 in VCP97310, a little unpredictable hence the bump in tension, enough spin for me. PTS16L at #45 in VCP97310, more predictable than 17, borderline of how much spin I want from my string, borderline of how stiff I want my string. I also tried Solinco Hyper-G 17 at #45 and it was too stiff. In fact, I was experiencing forearm problems just hitting from it for 5-10 minutes from baseline. Good control, lot of spin, but comfort is its major weakness. Click to expand...

• Sep 2, 2018

Sorry. No meaningful input for full bed. Once I went to Cyclone, I've never looked back to any other co-poly as a main. I just restrung my SV98+s with Cyclone 18L crossed with PTF and PTStrike 1.2nn. For a little more comfort, feel and a bit more spin, PTF was the choice. However, PTS allows me to really hit the ball with full power more often, and it absorbs power better than full bed Cyclone 18L.  

dr. godmode said: From what I have read, and my own experience, Hyper-G should be quite comfortable. I have only played with Fire (as a cross with GS Snakebite), and it really softened up the string bed. I have strung both Fire 1.20 and Pro 1.20 , and Fire seems a lot more pliable. It also has a super slick coating which helps with spin initially, but rubs off a little bit. Click to expand...

naturallight

I hit with these pretty recently. All 55lb, full bed. Hyper G: Great control and spin. Low powered. Easy to take big cuts. Feels pretty firm initially and ended up hurting my arm. Great tension maintenance. PTP: Soft and comfy. Spin is moderate, control is moderate. Power above average. First two outings pretty magical but it dies real quick. PT Strike: In the middle of the previous two but much closer to PTP. Nearly as comfy. Good control and spin. Moderate power. Excellent tension maintenance. This is my favorite of the three.  

• Sep 5, 2018

@naturallight What gauge PT Strike? I'm playing 16L and 17 to get a feel for what I prefer. The 17 seems to operate better in the VCORE Pro 97 310, with the 16L a better suit for the VCORE 98.  

• Sep 6, 2018

I do 1.25 for everything  

• alexwawrinka
• Sep 15, 2018

I did not try PTS but i tried PTP and PTF side by side , and PTF is really more powerfull than PTP ans still a very nice control , PTP is top string for Pure drive style raquets(tweeners) .  

alexwawrinka said: I did not try PTS but i tried PTP and PTF side by side , and PTF is really more powerfull than PTP ans still a very nice control , PTP is top string for Pure drive style raquets(tweeners) . Click to expand...

Looking for Poly Tour Pro versus Fire comps.  

• Sep 16, 2018

Frans Bleker said: Poly tour drive is great! Click to expand...

Yonex peaked with Polytour Pro 120 and Polytour Spin (not Spin G which was awful). Polytour Pro 125 is worlds apart from PTP 120 or even the black version of PTP 125 so try those aswell!  

PTF is absolute garbage when compared to PTP, a lot of ppl string PTP too high but if you string it in the 40's it maintains alot of good control, strong tension maintenance and wicked spin. Fire is just a clone of 95% of the poly's on the market. How many pro's opt for PTP over Fire (most).  

Rabe87 said: PTF is absolute garbage when compared to PTP, a lot of ppl string PTP too high but if you string it in the 40's it maintains alot of good control, strong tension maintenance and wicked spin. Fire is just a clone of 95% of the poly's on the market. How many pro's opt for PTP over Fire (most). Click to expand...

Galdust said: I prefer shaped strings in general and ordered a set of poly tour drive out of curiosity. If you have tried other shaped strings, could you compare it to e.g. Cyclone and Tour Bite? Click to expand...

EasternRocks said: Went digging into threads in past talking about these strings and it looked like we were aligned on our preference for PTP 17 and PTP 16L Graphite. I think for my new racquet of choice the VCORE 98, the best option would be the PTP 16L Yellow considering it’s a former response than the DR98 I liked those two strings in. Click to expand...

Frans Bleker said: Compared to Cyclone it is firmer (less ball pocketing). I think it has the same spin, power and comfort. Cyclone dies faster I think. I never tried Tour Bite. Click to expand...

Rabe87 said: Yes I recall our twin experiences with Yonex strings, how is the new Vcore 98? Almost bought it but opted for 2015 Blades instead. Why would PTP 16L yellow work? It's the ****test of the bunch. Use the graphite or pink version or PTP 120 and fang the tension down til you're #spinningtowin or something Click to expand...

Rabe87 said: Tour Bite will shred your tendons it's the string from hell in terms of comfort but my goodness it has great feel and the spin. Wow. Click to expand...

EasternRocks said: Why I think I’m smart in playing around with PTP in my racquet. Click to expand...

Red Code is my latest obsession maybe try it in the Vcore?  

Though I've gone way up to 67 pounds with that string. Loving it in the 18x20 Blade.  

Rabe87 said: The durability is almost the same between the two, there's only a .05mm difference in diameter and you get waaaay more spin with the 17 Click to expand...

Rabe87 said: Yonex peaked with Polytour Pro 120 and Polytour Spin (not Spin G which was awful). Polytour Pro 125 is worlds apart from PTP 120 or even the black version of PTP 125 so try those aswell! Click to expand...

RGT said: I what way are the two gauges different? I tried the 1.25 yellow and liked it alot. But everybody keeps raving about he 1.20? Click to expand...

PolyTour HS 125 (the neon green poly, not sure if its been discontinued but it came out alongside PTP) is also an awesome string for totally different reasons. It's like the 4G of the Yonex line-up.  

Rabe87 said: Honestly they're like two different strings in almost every sense of the word. I *hated* PTP and only bought it way back in 2010 after I watched Kirilenko beat Sharapova with it in the Aus Open (it's been around that long!) and it was really one of the first genuinely soft poly's to come on the market. I tried the 125 and 130 versions and they both play like mush, no feel, no crispness, average spin, average control, power is hard to gauge because again there's just no feel off the strings. PTP 120 is fantastic, but I've tried it at 60 pounds and it plays like garbage. The trick for this string is to go lower than you normally would and somehow all of the characteristics of higher tension stringing come alive with all the benefits of lower tension stringing. I would use it to this day but I found another string that's slightly more suitable. However PTP 120 has an indescribable quality about it and the spin is off the charts (way moreso than any of their geometric offerings). I used to play with it at 40/38 in a Blade 98 18X20 and was literally getting incredible spin and power and yet a lot of control too. I've strung it up for clients and the ones who insist on having it at high tensions end up hating it, the ones who listen to me end up loving it. Buy a packet you'll be pleasantly surprised. Click to expand...

RGT said: Thanks for the info! I guess I'll try them side by side then before buying a reel! Click to expand...

Oh and yes, I was also really amazed by the spin potential of this string!  

RGT said: Oh and yes, I was also really amazed by the spin potential of this string! Click to expand...

Having said that Tecnifibre Black Code 4S is a beast for spin  

Debating internally on tension I need to string the yellow stuff tomorrow to get more control in this frame of mine, so I can hit out and feel like I'm not holding back and forced to think hard about my stroke production. 46 seemed to have a slight unpredictability to it, so I'm thinking 48? The string is known to lose a lot of tension, so will it even make a difference to go up 2 lbs? I'm also going to try a 2 lb differential tomorrow just for fun, I've heard that Yonex has advised it in the past to do that for mains and crosses.  

EasternRocks said: Debating internally on tension I need to string the yellow stuff tomorrow to get more control in this frame of mine, so I can hit out and feel like I'm not holding back and forced to think hard about my stroke production. 46 seemed to have a slight unpredictability to it, so I'm thinking 48? The string is known to lose a lot of tension, so will it even make a difference to go up 2 lbs? I'm also going to try a 2 lb differential tomorrow just for fun, I've heard that Yonex has advised it in the past to do that for mains and crosses. Click to expand...

Rabe87 said: Yeah PolyTour loses a lot of tension in a practical sense but it maintains its playability for so long that it's not overly noticeable. Once its stretched to a certain tension it's not going to play dramatically different from that for the rest of its life, it's not like Alu Power or RPM in that aspect. Click to expand...

Rabe87 said: Im intrigued by your new racquet and how much spin you're getting. I did like the new indented grommet design on those frames but I'll wait til they bring out the Vcore 98+ - that'll be a real sledgehammer. Click to expand...

• Sep 17, 2018

I've never played with Fire... but have with PTP and PTSrike and prefer the Strike. But, I use the 17g Strike as a main @54 and 17g micro sheep black as a cross @58 lbs. This works great in my 343g strung 16x20 Tour G 310. I tried the PTP in the mains and it was too springy. With the Strike hybrid I can take a huge cut and know where the ball is going every time, same with touch shots. I've tried full beds of 18g Tour Bite, 18g Hyper G and 17 Spiky Shark with no real success other than it really helps my serve stay in. They have horrible touch and blockbackablity that can't be relied upon in a match. Half volleys, baseline pick ups tend to hit the tape, but make it over with the hybrid. My backhand slice is one of my favorite shots and it's so unpredictable with full bed of shaped poly. I just don't like full poly in general. It's got a weird powerband that only seems to work with my foot on the gas. I'm guessing the whole snapback thing needs a certain amount of energy to activate, anything under 40% and it's board, and with shaped strings it seems to hold onto the ball, like velcro, which makes block and touch shots wildly iffy. My Strike hybrid in16x20 takes away all that mystery, I can recreate the same shot and know the direction, spin and depth -- and have a happier arm.  

Fire is currently my favorite string, full bed in Blade 16x19 CV @ 51 pound. That said being a mature aged beginner ive probably only used 5-6 different strings. To me its lower powered to many others ive used allowing me a great balance to make a fuller swing to generate the spin and power. The string maintenance and durability is outstanding making it extremely budget friendly.  

• Sep 18, 2018

Well Poly Tour Pro over Strike in anything mid-high stiffness, open 16x19 is the verdict for me.  

EasternRocks said: Well Poly Tour Pro over Strike in anything mid-high stiffness, open 16x19 is the verdict for me. Click to expand...

anfield said: I agree the Tour G 310g is 63 RA, but I'm sure it's lower. The Strike really helps balance out the buttery its feel. I have the Tour G 330 as well and there is no chance they are the same RA. I have a Duel G 310 and not a chance it's 1 RA point stiffer at 64. That's why I'm excited about the Vcore 95, I thought the SV95 was too sporadic. Can't wait for the low RA but solid and dense construction. I'm sure one can really wind up and hit dimes. Click to expand...

• Sep 22, 2018

More Fire vs Pro comparisons please.  

• Sep 23, 2018

Hyper-G 1.20 vs Poly Tour Fire 1.25 anyone?  

Any full bed PTF vs PTS comparisons?  

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Yonex Nanoflare 1000Z vs Tour vs Game vs Play Comparison Review

Some of you might have seen the rep ort about Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (IND) and Tan Pearly (MAS) setting new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the fastest male and female badminton hits with the Yonex Na noflare 1000Z . Will the Yonex Nanoflare 1000 Tour , Nanoflare 1000 Game and Nanoflare 1000 Play models give you world record playing performance too?

Not forgetting that the Nanoflare 1000 Play is the most expensive Play version racket in the Yonex catalog so let's find out if it is one of the best value rackets out there.

I mentioned before in my Nanoflare 1000Z review that I think Yonex might be going for a new world-smashing record as they always push the envelope with a Z racket. Boom! Over half a thousand km per hour speed is quite an incredible feat! Mindblowing! So well done to the team that’s behind this project.

The key question I’ll be looking to find out is if any of the innovations used in the Nanoflare1000Z is trickled down into these more budget-friendly Tour, Game and Play versions.

If you have not seen my review of the Nanoflare 1000Z, go check it out here .

Visually, like the other Pro, Tour, Game and Play series that Yonex has launched, the Nanoflare 1000Z follows that similar trend in getting their budget-friendly models looking almost identical to the top-end Pro or Z version. On closer inspection, you’ll find visual indicators of what model it is on the shaft of each racket and the frame. The Nanoflare 1000Z Tour, Game and Play have silver decals printed on the respective models whilst the flagship Nanoflare 1000Z is blank.

Other visual differences would come down to finishing quality as well as trickle-down innovations such as the Speed Assist Bumper, which is used on the Tour model but not the Game and Play options. When laid side by side, you can also see the difference in the grommets used around the T-joint area, with the Z model having the best quality grommets; the Tour model retains that high-end semi-transparent block grommet which looked similar to the Z model; the Game model then reverts to the usual-looking black T-joint grommet; and lastly, the Play model is fitted with ordinary individual grommets. Despite the differences, they were all very well-fitted and they look and feel great too.

I did however find that the Nanoflare 1000 Play model had a few decals that weren’t applied exactly straight. It won’t affect playing performance at all but it's always nice to have everything aligned properly.

Like all previous Yonex launches, only the top-end Z model is made in Japan; the Tour and Game models are made in Taiwan; and the Play model comes from China.

In terms of specs, all four models carry similar racket frame designs with thick frame profiles on the sides that are almost identical to the super popular Nanoflare 700, but with some slight differences across all four models. On the recessed areas on the racket frame, only the Nanoflare 1000 Play has its top half recessed while the other three higher-end models have fully recessed racket frames.

The Z, Tour and Game models have a pretty consistent measurement of about 12.7mm for their frame thickness around the 3 and 9 o'clock regions, which then slimmed down slightly to around 12.4mm around the 10 and 2 o'clock areas. Surprisingly, the Play model has the thinnest frame out of the four models with 12.5mm at the 3 and 9 o'clock areas and only 11.8mm at the 10 and 2 o'clock areas. The Z and Tour models also have smaller frames compared to the Game and Play models. Yonex calls this their Compact Frame design and they measure about half a cm shorter and about 2mm to 3 mm thinner compared to the Game and Play models.

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Additionally, shaft diameters are pretty consistent at around 7mm to 7.1mm, and the same shaft length of 21cm, for all four models. However, there are some slight differences between the models in terms of handle lengths. The Z and Tour models have handle lengths of 18cm; the Game model is half a cm down at 17.5cm; and lastly, the Play model has the shortest handle at only 17cm. I do also want to note that the cone cap for the Play model is a basic one and once it is wrapped with my usual grip, it did have a larger-than-usual gradient from the handle to the cone. I’ve mentioned before that I like the Energy Boost Cap which is used on the Z, Tour and Game models but the basic cone on the Play certainly doesn’t impact how I play.

For recommended string tension ratings, all four rackets are rated at 28 lbs for the 4U models and 29 lbs for the 3U models. All the rackets that I have tested are 4U G5 rackets and strung with my usual set-up of Yonex Aerobite at 27 lbs by 29 lbs. From my stringing experience, the Tour model was pretty solid with no flex at all and the Game model also held up fine, albeit with some flexing. The Play model however had lots of flex during stringing and I personally would not go any higher than 27 lbs by 29 lbs if you really want to push the racket without damaging it.

In terms of playing feel and performance, as mentioned in my previous post, the Nanoflare 1000Z is super fast and feels very crisp with lots of stiffness. Hence it’s not the easiest racket to play with but it does have that Z factor when you connect with the shuttle properly and that gets me excited.

With the Nanoflare 1000 Tour, my feeling is that it is head heavier than the Nanoflare 1000Z. This is good news for those of you who think the Nanoflare 1000Z did not have enough head weight. However, this also means the Tour model feels slightly sluggish compared to the Z model. To verify this, I mounted the rackets onto the Yonex Precision Scan machine to measure their head weights, and sure enough, the Tour model did come out slightly ahead of the Z model.

The stiffness of the Tour model feels somewhat similar to the Z model, but with a slight difference. The level of stiffness of the Z model is more suited to my preference and it is just a bit more responsive compared to the Tour model but overall, they are super close! The timing demand of the Tour model is very similar to the Z model. You may have timing issues with the Tour model initially as it's fast and stiff but if you give it some time, you’ll find ways to enjoy it pretty soon.

Besides the slight difference in head weight, the Nanoflare 1000 Tour is probably the Tour model racket that feels the closest to its top-end counterpart, so well done to Yonex there. With every single iteration of the Pro, Tour, Game, Play racket launch, Yonex does close the gap in terms of feeling and that’s very good to see.

For the Nanoflare 1000 Game, I’ll be honest, in my first testing session, I wasn’t able to feel much difference between the Tour model and the Game model so that’s good news for budget-conscious players. Even on further testing, the only noticeable difference whilst playing is the stiffness of the shaft. The Game model's shaft feels slightly more whippy compared to the Tour model. The Game makes a slight flex high up in the shaft close to where the T joint is, but it certainly did not feel slower compared to the Tour model, even though it does not have a compact head. In fact, I find the Game model to be less demanding in terms of shot timings, which is a plus point for me.

Lastly, we take a look at the Nanoflare 1000 Play. You all know that I always have a soft spot for the Play rackets as they are normally super good value rackets, and the Nanoflare 1000 Play is no different. It has the lightest head among the four rackets, and that also means it’s the easiest racket to play with.

The Play model also feels more whippy compared to the other models, especially the Z and Tour models, so if you are someone who likes a bit of flex with your shafts, then the Play model is a nice one for you. Its whippiness did not compromise control or accuracy for me so I quite enjoyed it.

I do wonder why there is a wide difference in the pricing of the Play model rackets across the different Yonex racket series. In the UK, the Nanoflare 1000 Play is around 50% more expensive than the Arcsaber 7 Play. This puts the Nanoflare 1000 Play in a different price category and might not be as good value compared to the Arcsaber 7 Play.

Looking abroad, prices of the Play models are more similar but then again, that means some of the Play rackets are more expensive compared to the UK market. For me, if I can get three Arcsaber 7 Plays for the price of two Nanoflare 1000 Plays, I know which one I’d be picking.

In conclusion, speed and stiffness are certainly no issue for the Nanoflare 1000 Tour, Game and Play rackets, with the Nanoflare 1000 Play being the least stiff and the Nanoflare 1000 Tour having that little bit more head weight. If you are looking for a fast, speedy and stiff racket with crisp response, I think you will like the Nanoflare 1000 series but do note that the Tour model will need a little bit more learning time compared to the Game and Play models.

For me, the Game model is the easiest to play with among the lot and is certainly the sweet spot for this Nanoflare 1000 series. They are fantastic rackets but you do have to take into account how they are priced within your region and decide which is the best option for you. I’ve really enjoyed having that extra speed playing with the Nanoflare 1000 series rackets, so the real question for me would be: should I swap them with my usual rackets? What do you think? I’ll see you in the next post!

Thank you to BadmintonBay for sponsoring the video above, remember to use my discount code 'CKYEW' when you shop at Badminton Bay and check out their Racket Selector Tool too!

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2 comentarios

Thanks for your informative review. There have been cases of 1000z breakage, do you think the 3u version will be more durable since it is heavier (hence more material in the racquet head ) ?

Thanks, CK for your review!

How do you compare Nanoflare 1000 Tour with your current favorite Astrox 88D Pro in terms of all the dimensions and also the racquet frame? The reason I asked is because you have mentioned Nanoflare 1000 Tour is the heaviest "head heavy" among all the Nanoflare 1000 racquets.

If it has similar learning curve as the 88D Pro and same feel, control and smash, perhaps it is worth considering. I am also using 88D Pro just like you, but thinking of a different Yonex racquet but still retaining almost the same playing experience as 88D Pro, if not better.

I bought Victor Thruster F Enhanced thinking I could rotate between the two but ultimately, I…

Yonex Poly Tour Pro String Review

A co-polyester string from yonex that is designed for comfort. how did it perform.

I had heard good things about Poly Tour Pro, and I was looking forward to trying it out. The main selling point of the string as advertised was comfort, but ironically, the best feature turned out to be something completely different.

I so enjoyed playing with Poly Tour Pro that I am seriously considering switching to it permanently, away from my current choice of Head Hawk. How did the playtest go?

Yonex Poly Tour Pro Specification

Solid power, spin and comfort […] For players of all swing-speeds looking for a soft, all-round string. How Yonex pitches their Poly Tour Pro String.

String Specs:

• Co-poly monofilament
• Round cross-section
• Gauges – 1.15 mm, 1.20 mm, 1.25 mm, 1.30 mm
• Colours – “Flash” yellow, graphite and blue

I play with a Head Prestige S from 2018. Prestige racquets are Head’s series for precision and control and typically come with a smaller head size as a result.

Mine has a 95 square-inch head with a 295 g unstrung weight. It also has a 16×19 string pattern and is 0.66 points head-light.

I had Poly Tour Pro strung at 55 lb with a 1.30 mm gauge , on which I also placed Head’s medium-level dampener – Pro Damp.

Yonex Poly Tour Pro Full Review

So how did Yonex Poly Tour Pro play? Let’s take a look with a full playtest and review.

Initial Thoughts and How It Felt

On a sunny day, I took to an artificial clay court with a friend where the air was hot, and the sand was dry.

I was expecting from what I had read for the string to have a decent level of comfort, but it actually felt a bit stiff compared to what I was used to.

Ball pocketing was minimal, but it wasn’t uncomfortable either. Physically hitting with the string caused no discomfort in my arm.

As I started to warm up, any apparent stiffness was still there, but it seemed to fade into the background of my attention, and instead, I felt incredible access to power.

The ball was not only going faster, but it also had considerably more weight to it when landing on my opponent’s side of the court.

The string was unforgiving –  if I didn’t hit it right in the sweet spot, I felt a slight decrease in power.

It reminded me a lot of Tecnifibre’s T-Fight frame, where if you were precise with your shots and watched the ball carefully, the rewards in speed were great. But if you miss-hit a ball, you could easily lose some rally dominance. I also noticed less access to spin.

On my forehand, particularly, I couldn’t generate the same amount of topspin with the same technique, and my slices had less backspin.

Nevertheless, this didn’t pose any real problems, and I enjoyed watching the ball pop off my racket. I quite like the colour, and it was a gentler hue to the bright orange string I had previously reviewed.

I imagine it would aesthetically go well with most frames, and the other choices of graphite and yellow provide a nice degree of variation.

Nick Kyrgios, of course, opting for the “flash” yellow as described by Yonex, uses a version of Poly Tour Pro with a 1.20 mm gauge.

Though the snapback was decent, if players wanted a more all-around string with the same power, then opting for a lower gauge such as the 1.20 mm would help in generating topspin.

How It Played

On the forehand side, I found Pro to be flat and aggressive with some but not a great deal of topspin.

In defensive situations where I was pushed back, it wasn’t easy to generate the looping topspin needed to stay in the rally.

Instead, some of my forehand shots were floaty, landing mid-court, which gave my opponent an easy ball to attack.

I have adapted slightly and have tried to hit through the ball more to compensate for the lack of depth, but I found myself making some unforced errors as a result.

However, I don’t see this as a major downside. Poly Tour Pro gives so much power and weight to the ball in neutral and attacking rallies (rather than defensive ones) that it encourages you to step forward, take it early and be aggressive.

As a result, this increased urgency has led me to play more on instinct and finish points quickly with the knowledge that attempting a flat forehand down the line, for example, will be greatly aided by the string.

Mentally I feel better on the court, not getting stuck in long, drawn-out exchanges but playing with freedom and pace.

On the backhand side with my one-hander, it was a similar story. A topspin groundstroke had enough but not loads of spin, whereas a flatter shot had extra weight and speed.

I was able to pull my opponent far out of position with a cross-court shot and move forward to finish the point. Players who like to hit with a lot of topspin on their backhand may find their shots lacking depth.

So many young players at my local club play with a flat, double-handed backhand and seem to slap the ball with no apparent loss in precision.

I imagine Poly Tour Pro would be decent here, providing consistent depth and shot tolerance for rallies on the backhand side, even with increased speeds.

There was also less backspin for the backhand slice, though tactically compared to the forehand side, it wasn’t so much of a problem. I found my slices and drop shots staying low and biting into the ground enough to help win the point.

On the serve, I really had to watch the ball carefully. Before, if I had not hit my serve right in the sweet spot, the ball would still have a fair degree of speed.

Here with Poly Tour Pro, a badly-timed serve would lead to a weak ball gently drifting into my opponent’s service box. But with proper contact, the ball fired off the racket, increasing the probability for aces and successful “serve plus one” tactics.

My serve really is not the best in the world, and it can be my weakest shot. Sometimes, I can send a flat serve down the “T” with no problem or a slice or a kick out-wide.

Other times I choke and almost pat the ball over the net in fear of making an error. If you’re confident with the serve and have a nice fluid motion, you will have no problems with Poly Tour Pro.

If you are like me and sometimes you can’t do the proper stroke, you may find yourself open to attack at times.

Overall, particularly for groundstrokes, Poly Tour Pro is incredibly precise, offering great control. I was able to take greater risks and aim for space close to the lines, taking more time away from my opponent. This gives you further confidence to go for winners with the reassurance of accuracy.

Around the net, Poly Tour Pro dealt with volleys well. The punch-slice technique Federer employs for volleys came off particularly fast.

Because of the slight stiffness of Pro, I found softer shots in the forecourt more difficult. You really had to soften your hands for light touches and pickups.

However, the firm string bed makes for good energy transfer for close deflections and reflex shots when tight to the net.

Durability and Price

The string has decent snapback, and I never had to move them back into position. There was a small issue with tension.

I asked for the tension to be set at 55 lbs. However, after an hour of play, the tension had decreased slightly more than I’d expect from a polyester.

Over the course of the week, I felt the strings gradually slacken, and by the last session, it may have been time for a restring. A hybrid setup may last slightly longer with the Poly Tour Pro on the crosses.

Nevertheless, the value for money is great, with the price being $11.60 (~£8.40) for a 12 m set . A very reasonable cost for a string that would easily boost an aggressor and counter-puncher game.

Who Is This String For?

Pro is a great choice for players looking to be aggressive, take the ball early and finish points quickly. Though there were some issues with generating topspin when pushed behind the baseline, the string still produces enough for those who like to hit with great shape on the ball in a neutral rally situation.

If you like hitting flat forehands and backhands, Poly Tour Pro will complement your game well. I would recommend this string for intermediate players who can tactically adjust to the lack of spin when on the defensive.

If you’re looking for more comfort, I wouldn’t say this was the best option. Though Yonex highlights comfort as a main feature of Pro, it actually plays a little stiff, especially during delicate shots around the net.

Find Your Ideal Tennis String

Are you looking for a new string to try in your racket? Use our easy to use tennis string finder tool . It lets you filter by string type, gauge, colour, price, stiffness and shape.

Final Thoughts

Yonex Poly Tour Pro can be unforgiving, hard to defend with and perhaps a little stiff, but I love it. It has superb access to power, encouraging attacking and decisive tennis. Mentally I feel so much better playing with this string and really going for shots.

I think the blue is a nice colour change without being too “out there”, and for what it is, the price, the string is great.

I was a little disappointed with the slight loss of tension, but after the test, I can still play well and keep my opponent on the back foot. It’s definitely not an all-around string, but for hard-and-fast tennis, it’s great.

• High levels of power
• Very precise
• Less access to topspin
• Could have more feel for softer shots at the net
• Loss of tension after the first session and noticeable at the end of the week

Have you tried Yonex Poly Tour Pro? Have any questions about it? Let me know in the comments below.

Yonex Poly Tour Pro Review

Control - 8, comfort - 6, touch / feedback - 6, snapback - 9, durability and tension maintenance - 5, big power for aggressive play.

Yonex highlights comfort as Poly Tour Pro’s main feature, but the real benefit of the string is power.

Alex Nulliah

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10 comments.

Congrats, bro 🙂

Off-topic but about the post’s image. I was alwys impressed by Tiafoe’s forehand backswing. Looks a bit like Delpo or Kyrgios and maybe Khachanov or Sock? Or it’s his own?

Nice article, Alex!

Sorry, again off-topic, but big news (at least for me) – Thiem just going lefty 😉 https://www.instagram.com/stories/domithiem/2622197812176566738/?hl=en

Cheers for the review Alex. I have used Poly Tour Pro a few times over the last year, used it when I reviewed the previous generation Vcore 98 – https://www.perfect-tennis.com/yonex-vcore-98-review/

I found it quite jumpy but this might have also been due to the Vcore which I struggled with early to control. I should really try it in the Pro Staff I have been using as well, I have Solinco Confidential in it now and will be doing a review of that shortly.

Keep this one to the Poly Tour Pro. The last post can be corona stuff seen as though it was vaguely related to the Olympics.

You can also find me the data that unvaccinated people drive mutations 😀

[OFF-TOPIC] I guess, you will not follow OL with a dedicated article, Jonathan?

What a big tournament! they are 64 in singles. Only 10 from Top20. But 22 ranked 100+, including 2 ranked 500+. Rather impossible in any Masters tournament.

I’m wondering, what does the seeding in OL tournament? What will be worth the title?

Good, that neither Fed nor Thiem are there

Who is your favorite for the title, hahaha … ???

Ever heard of Artemisia annua? The extract of this plant should have shown to be effective in killing Covid in lungs of infected people.

Another thought on Federer and USO. Maybe the best would be for Fed to fall in the ranking, so he can get Nadal or Djoker in first/second round, so he is still fresh and without pains and can give it all. Even if losing, there would be a chance for an epic match. There will be not much more such chances. And should Fed have some chance to defeat a big rival, he needs to do it early. Even in the worst case, if he would need to withdraw after such a win, it would be at least some great accent in New York (be it farewell or not). Jonathan will probably know, how low Fed could fall in the ranking before USO.

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Middle East Crisis Hamas Resists Israel’s Latest Cease-Fire Offer

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• Israeli military vehicles on the border with Gaza. Atef Safadi/EPA, via Shutterstock
• Demonstrators in Tel Aviv demanding the return of hostages on the day that Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and President Isaac Herzog of Israel were meeting. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
• Displaced Palestinians next to a placard thanking pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses in the United States. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• A funeral for an Israeli soldier in Ashdod, Israel. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
• Walking past the rubble of a destroyed building in Rafah, Gaza, on Tuesday. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Follow live news updates on the crisis in the Middle East .

Hamas says its position is ‘negative’ on Israel’s offer but signals willingness to keep talking.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Wednesday that Hamas leaders could save Palestinian lives by accepting a proposed deal under which they would free 33 hostages in exchange for a six-week cease-fire and the liberation of many Palestinian prisoners.

“We are determined to get a cease-fire that brings the hostages home and to get it now, and the only reason that that wouldn’t be achieved is because of Hamas,” Mr. Blinken said at the start of a meeting in Tel Aviv with Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel. “There is a proposal on the table, and as we’ve said, no delays, no excuses. The time is now, and the time is now long past due to bring the hostages home to their families.”

But on Wednesday night, a spokesman for Hamas, Osama Hamdan, said in an interview on Lebanese television, “Our position on the current negotiating paper is negative.”

The Hamas press office later clarified Mr. Hamdan’s comments, saying that while Hamas’s leaders would not accept the current Israeli proposals without changes, they were willing to keep negotiating. “The negative position does not mean negotiations have stopped,” the press office said. “There is a back and forth issue.”

Mr. Blinken’s comments were part of a concerted campaign by President Biden and his top aides to press Hamas leaders to accept the six-week halt in fighting and possibly lay the foundation for a longer-term cease-fire.

Mr. Blinken made similar comments to reporters the previous evening outside a humanitarian aid warehouse in Zarqa, Jordan. Earlier this week, Mr. Biden urged the leaders of Qatar and Egypt to push Hamas to accept the terms, after Israel agreed to lower the required number of hostages released in the initial round to 33 from 40.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has said he supports the latest proposed deal, but at the same time he has vowed to carry out a major ground offensive in the city of Rafah “with or without a deal.” Israeli officials say their objective is to eliminate four battalions of Hamas fighters in Rafah.

Mr. Hamdan, the Hamas spokesman, said in his comments on Al Manar television, “If the enemy carries out the Rafah operation, negotiations will stop.”

Biden administration officials are opposed to a major ground assault in Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians have sought refuge during the war.

Mr. Blinken discussed the hostage and cease-fire deal on the table in a nearly three-hour meeting with Mr. Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday, according to a summary from the State Department. He also spoke about efforts to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and the U.S. government’s “clear position” on Rafah, the summary said.

Israeli officials said a new crossing into northern Gaza, near the Erez kibbutz, had just opened to allow aid deliveries, and that 30 trucks with goods from Jordan had rolled through the crossing earlier on Wednesday. The opening was promised weeks ago, but the Israeli military said it had to build inspection facilities and pave roads on both sides of the border before the crossing could be used by aid trucks.

Hwaida Saad contributed reporting from Beirut, Lebanon.

— Edward Wong traveling in the Middle East with the U.S. secretary of state

Israel has softened some demands in cease-fire negotiations, officials say.

After a monthslong standoff, Israel is softening some of its demands in negotiations over a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held there.

As part of its latest proposal, Israel would allow displaced Palestinian civilians to return to northern Gaza, according to two Israeli officials, which is a sharp reversal on an issue that has been a sticking point in the talks.

For weeks, Israel has demanded that it be allowed to impose significant restrictions on Palestinians going back to the north because of worries that Hamas could take advantage of a large-scale return to strengthen itself. Now, Israel has consented to Palestinian civilians’ going back en masse during the first phase of an agreement, according to the officials, whose account was confirmed by a non-Israeli official familiar with the talks.

One of the Israeli officials said those returning to the north would be subject to no inspections or limitations, while the second said there would be nearly no restrictions, without elaborating. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to share details of the proposal.

It was not clear whether Hamas would accept the most recent Israeli proposal, which is part of negotiations that the two sides are conducting indirectly through mediators from Egypt and Qatar. As of Wednesday afternoon, the group hadn’t officially issued a response.

The cease-fire talks were a focus of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken as he visited Israel on Wednesday. “There is a proposal on the table, and as we’ve said, no delays, no excuses,” Mr. Blinken said before meeting with President Isaac Herzog. He later discussed the talks and other issues in a nearly three-hour meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hamas has long demanded that any deal include a permanent end to the war, which has forced most of Gaza’s more than two million people to flee their homes. The Israeli offer, according to one of the Israeli officials, doesn’t include language that refers explicitly to an end to the fighting.

Hanging over the negotiations is Israel’s threat to invade Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza where roughly a million civilians are sheltering, along with what Israel says are thousands of Hamas fighters. But even as it vows to carry out its plan for a ground invasion there, in defiance of pleas from world leaders and humanitarian groups, it is showing some willingness to make concessions in talks to stop the fighting and free hostages.

On Monday, The New York Times reported that, as part of its proposal, Israel had reduced the number of hostages Hamas would need to release in the initial phase of a deal. For months, it had been insisting on the release of 40 hostages, but in the new offer, the Israeli government said it would agree to 33.

That change was prompted in part by the fact that Israel now believes that some of the 40 have died in captivity , one of the officials said.

As details of Israel’s latest offer have emerged, Mr. Netanyahu has come under increasing pressure from his right-wing coalition partners to reject compromise. If they withdraw from the government over a deal, Israel could head to early elections, threatening Mr. Netanyahu’s political future.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a hard-line member of the coalition, has said that if Mr. Netanyahu gives up on invading Rafah immediately, a government under his leadership doesn’t have “the right to exist.”

On Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu said an invasion of Rafah would take place, without saying when.

“The idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” he said in a meeting with the families of hostages, according to a statement from his office. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there — with or without a deal — in order to achieve the total victory.”

If Israel and Hamas strike an agreement, it would be the first cease-fire since late November, when a short-lived pause in the fighting allowed for the release of more than 100 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas and its allies captured roughly 240 Israelis and foreigners in their attack on Oct. 7, which prompted Israel to go to war in Gaza. More than 130 hostages are believed to still be held in Gaza, but some are thought to have died.

Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting.

— Adam Rasgon reporting from Jerusalem

Israeli settlers attacked aid trucks headed to Gaza, Jordan says.

Israeli settlers attacked several aid trucks on the way from Jordan to Gaza around dawn on Wednesday, including some that were headed for the newly opened border crossing on the north edge of the Gaza Strip, Jordan’s foreign ministry said.

The ministry said that the settlers dumped some of the aid onto the street . It condemned the Israeli government’s failure to protect the aid as a violation of its legal obligation to safeguard the flow of food and other humanitarian necessities to the devastated Palestinian enclave, and said the attack undermined Israel’s claim that it was working to allow more aid into Gaza.

Asked about the attack, the Israeli military said in a statement that overnight, Israeli civilians had “caused damage” to aid on several trucks from Jordan “secured” by Israeli forces.

Details about the attack, including where it happened and how much aid was dumped or damaged, were not immediately released by the Israeli military or the Jordanian foreign ministry, though both said the trucks ultimately managed to reach Gaza.

Honenu, a right-wing legal aid group that often represents Israeli extremists accused of violent crimes against Palestinians, said that four people had been arrested for blocking aid trucks near Ma’ale Adumim, one of the largest Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The trucks were part of two convoys, one of which was headed for the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza, the Jordanian foreign ministry said. The other convoy was the first to enter northern Gaza through the Erez crossing, according to the Jordanian foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, who called the attack “despicable” on social media and called for global condemnation and international sanctions against Israel.

Israel agreed to open the Erez crossing on Wednesday, after some of its closest allies, including the United States, pressured it to allow more aid into Gaza in the aftermath of the Israeli military’s killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers in April. For months beforehand, United Nations officials and aid organizations had been pleading with Israel to open the crossing to allow aid to move directly into northern Gaza, in hopes of averting famine.

Honenu said on Wednesday that it had provided legal counsel to the four arrested individuals, and that they had been released after being issued a restraining order requiring them to stay away from aid convoys and not participate in illicit gatherings.

Israeli civilians have repeatedly blocked the passage of aid trucks — sometimes as Israeli security forces stand by — with many demanding that no aid reach Palestinians in Gaza until hostages held in the enclave are released.

The U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, who has been on another wartime tour of the Middle East, was in Jordan on Tuesday at the warehouse where medical and food aid was being loaded onto the convoy heading to the Erez crossing. He praised Israel’s opening of the crossing as “real and important progress,” adding that “more still needs to be done.” On Wednesday, during a visit to Israel, Mr. Blinken included the Kerem Shalom crossing among his stops.

— Anushka Patil and Johnatan Reiss

Blinken’s visit to the Kerem Shalom crossing puts aid for Gaza front and center.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken visited an inspection checkpoint at the Kerem Shalom border crossing in Israel on Wednesday, part of an effort to prioritize the issue of humanitarian aid for Gaza during his Middle East tour.

Under pressure from President Biden after an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers , Israel announced last month that it would open more avenues for aid to enter Gaza . Israel has since expedited the flow of aid into Gaza amid intense international scrutiny, though humanitarian organizations say more is urgently needed to alleviate the severe hunger that is gripping the enclave.

Here’s a look at where things stand .

Border Crossings

Israel imposes stringent checks on incoming aid to keep out anything that might help Hamas, which it has pledged to eliminate. Since the start of the war, most of the aid for Gaza has been transiting through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Israel opened the crossing at Kerem Shalom in December after pressure from the United States to speed up the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, Israeli protesters have regularly gathered at the crossing, trying to block aid convoys from entering the enclave in the hopes of raising the pressure on Hamas to release the hostages.

The Rafah and Kerem Shalom checkpoints both touch southern Gaza. Aid officials pleaded with Israel for months to add additional entry points — especially in the north, where the risk of famine was deemed greatest by the United Nations.

Under pressure, Israel said last month that it would reopen the Erez border crossing into northern Gaza and that shipments bound for the enclave would be accepted at the Israeli port of Ashdod. On Wednesday, Israel said that the first aid trucks, 30 in total, had passed through the crossing after being inspected.

But the Erez crossing, which was primarily used for pedestrian traffic before the war, was badly damaged during the Hamas-led raid on Israel in October. As international officials and humanitarian agencies looked for signs that Israel was making good on its pledges, Israel said it would be opening another crossing into northern Gaza — not Erez.

Other Efforts

U.S. Army engineers also are working to construct a floating pier off the coast of Gaza. The pier — which Mr. Blinken said Tuesday would be operational in about one week — could help relief workers deliver as many as two million meals a day.

And the Jordanian military and government have in recent weeks increased the amount of aid arriving in overland convoys, which travel from Jordan through the West Bank and across part of Israel before reaching the southern Gaza border crossings. The Jordanian military carries out its own inspections. Government trucks are inspected by Israel.

Situation on the Ground

There are widespread food shortages in Gaza, and the United Nations has warned that a famine is looming . Aid groups and United Nations officials have accused Israel of systematically limiting aid delivery. Israel denies the assertion, blaming the shortages on logistical failures by aid groups, and has recently increased the number of trucks entering the strip.

In recent weeks, Israel’s efforts to increase the flow of aid have been acknowledged by the Biden administration and international aid officials. More aid trucks also appeared to be reaching Gaza, especially in the north.

On Wednesday, Mr. Blinken discussed how aid delivery has improved when he met with Mr. Netanyahu and “reiterated the importance of accelerating and sustaining that improvement,” according to the State Department.

— Cassandra Vinograd

‘Thank you, American universities’: Gazans express gratitude for campus protesters.

Thousands of miles away from the campus protests that have divided Americans, some displaced Palestinians are expressing solidarity with the antiwar demonstrators and gratitude for their efforts.

Messages of support were written on some tents in the southern city of Rafah, where roughly a million displaced people have sought shelter from the Israeli bombardment and ground fighting that Gazan health officials say have killed more than 34,000 people.

“Thank you, American universities,” read one message captured on video by the Reuters news agency. “Thank you, students in solidarity with Gaza your message has reached” us, read another nearby.

Tensions have risen at campuses across the United States, with police in riot gear arresting dozens of people at Columbia University on Tuesday night and officers across the country clashing with pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had erected encampments and seized academic buildings at other institutions. The protesters have been calling for universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel, and some have vowed not to back down.

The protests have come at a particularly fearful time in Rafah, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel vowing to launch a ground invasion of the city to root out Hamas battalions there despite glimmers of hope for a temporary cease-fire.

Palestinians “are very happy that there are still people standing with us,” said Mohammed al-Baradei, a 24-year-old recent graduate from the dentistry program at Al-Azhar University who spoke by phone from Rafah.

“The special thing is that this is happening in America and that people there are still aware and the awareness is growing every day for the Palestinian cause,” he added.

Akram al-Satri, a 47-year-old freelance journalist sheltering in Rafah, said Gazans were “watching with hope and gratitude the student movement in the United States.”

“For us this is a glimmer of hope on a national level,” he added in a voice message on Wednesday.

Bisan Owda, a 25-year-old Palestinian who has been documenting the war on social media, said in a video posted to her more than 4.5 million Instagram followers that the campus protests had brought her a new sense of possibility.

“I’ve lived my whole life in Gaza Strip and I’ve never felt hope like now,” said Ms. Owda.

Nader Ibrahim contributed reporting and video production from London.

— Hiba Yazbek reporting from Jerusalem

Colombia’s president says the country will sever ties with Israel, calling its government ‘genocidal.’

Colombia will sever diplomatic ties with Israel over its prosecution of the war in Gaza, President Gustavo Petro announced in Bogotá on Wednesday, describing the Israeli government as “genocidal.”

His announcement came in a speech in Colombia’s capital city in front of cheering crowds that had gathered for International Workers’ Day.

“The times of genocide, of the extermination of an entire people cannot come before our eyes, before our passivity,” Mr. Petro said. “If Palestine dies, humanity dies.”

Colombia is the second South American nation to break off relations with Israel after Bolivia, which cut ties in November over its strikes in Gaza. On the day that Bolivia made its announcement, Colombia and Chile both said that they were recalling their ambassadors to Israel, and Honduras followed suit within days. Belize also cut diplomatic ties with Israel that month.

The Israeli government denounced Mr. Petro’s move on Wednesday.

“History will remember that Gustavo Petro chose to stand at the side of the most abominable monsters known to man, who burned babies, killed children, raped woman and abducted innocent civilians,” Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, wrote on X . “Israel and Colombia always enjoyed warm ties. Even an antisemitic and hateful president will not change that.’’

Mr. Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader and a critic of U.S. drug policy toward his country, had threatened to cut ties with Israel in March if it did not comply with a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. And he called on other countries to do the same. In response to that threat, Mr. Katz wrote on X that Mr. Petro’s “support for Hamas murderers” who carried out massacres and committed sex crimes against Israelis was shameful.

“Israel will continue to protect its citizens and will not yield to any pressure or threats,” he added.

In February Mr. Petro suspended Colombia’s purchase of Israeli weapons in February after Israeli forces opened fire while a crowd was gathered near a convoy of trucks carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza City, part of a chaotic scene in which scores of people were killed and injured, according to Gazan health officials and the Israeli military.

“Asking for food, more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Netanyahu,” Mr. Petro wrote on X at the time, comparing the events to the Holocaust “even if the world powers do not like to acknowledge it.”

“The world must block Netanyahu,” he added.

— Genevieve Glatsky reporting from Bogotá, Colombia

Netanyahu’s pledge to invade Rafah could undermine efforts to reach a cease-fire deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel once again pledged on Tuesday to launch a ground invasion into the southern Gazan city of Rafah, a move that could undermine efforts to negotiate a cease-fire agreement after seven months of war in the Palestinian enclave.

The United States, Qatar and several countries have been pushing to get a cease-fire deal, with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken visiting the region and expectations rising that Hamas and Israel might be edging closer to an agreement.

But with Hamas arguing that any agreement should include an end to the war, and with right-wing politicians in Israel threatening to leave the government coalition if the long-planned incursion into Rafah is delayed, Mr. Netanyahu made clear that Israel would reserve the right to keep fighting.

“The idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” he said in a meeting with the families of hostages held in Gaza, according to a statement from his office. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there — with or without a deal, in order to achieve the total victory.”

Israeli officials have said repeatedly that they plan to move into Rafah, but over the weekend, they made clear they were open to holding off if it meant they could secure the release of hostages taken when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. One official also suggested that Israel was using the threat of an imminent military maneuver to press the armed group into a hostage deal.

In anticipation of an offensive, some families in Rafah have been moving north into areas of Gaza that had already been attacked by Israeli forces, but on Tuesday, the scale of the evacuation remained unclear. As of last week, more than one million Gazans, many of them previously displaced from other parts of the territory by Israeli bombardment, were still sheltering in the city in makeshift tents.

American officials and other allies have been pressing Israel to either avoid an assault on Rafah or develop specific plans to adequately minimize civilian casualties.

On Tuesday, Mr. Blinken met with officials in Jordan to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas, and to press for peace and an increase in humanitarian aid. There was no immediate reaction from the State Department to Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain spoke to Mr. Netanyahu on Tuesday, his office said in a statement. The British leader “continued to push for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow more aid in and hostages out” and said that Britain’s focus was on de-escalation, it said.

For weeks, cease-fire talks had been at a standstill. But Israeli officials have said that negotiators have reduced the number of hostages they want Hamas to release during the first phase of a truce, opening up the possibility that the stalled negotiations could be revived.

A senior Hamas official said on social media on Monday that the group was studying a new Israeli proposal.

A Hamas delegation met with officials in Egypt’s intelligence service on Monday, according to a senior Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk about sensitive discussions between Hamas and Egypt.

Adam Rasgon contributed reporting.

— Damien Cave

A father in Rafah whose family survived an airstrike asks, ‘What should we do?’

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel repeats his vow to launch a ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza and Israeli airstrikes continue to pummel the city, it is a particularly fearful time for displaced families sheltering there.

“What should we do? Where will we go?” said Mohammed Abu Youssef, who spoke on Wednesday in video shot by the Reuters news agency about how he and his children had narrowly survived an airstrike. “I am waiting for a tent so I can leave,” he added as he burst into tears.

Mr. Abu Youssef said his family had recently fled to Al-Shaboura neighborhood in Rafah, seeking safety. He suffered a head injury in the strike, he said, and his brother-in-law, who was sheltering with him, lost two children. Several other relatives were also wounded, he said.

Roughly a million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter in Rafah from the Israeli bombardment and ground fighting that health officials say have killed more than 34,000 people across Gaza. Israel has said that the purpose of the planned invasion is to root out Hamas fighters there.

Mr. Abu Youssef said he was now left grappling with the uncertainty of again trying to find a place where his family could be safe. Some displaced families in Rafah have already been moving north into areas of Gaza that were combat zones earlier in the war.

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