Did anyone find Grapplesnake Tour M8 too soft and bouncy? (2025)

Dennis Chan

Hall of Fame
  • Jun 14, 2024
  • #1

My usual strings are Yonex Polytour Pro, Solinco Revolution and Confidential (all are 1.25 gauge), at tension 42 lbs, on my Pure Strike VS. I recently strung up the racket with Grapplesnake Tour M8 (1.25) @42 lbs. I found the M8 (pleasantly) soft when stringing. Then when I hit the string bed against my hand I found it noticeably more bouncy than the other strings. I won't be hitting with this new setup for a few days. Just wonder if any M8 users had the same experience/feeling on the string. And did the bounciness affect your play? Did you end up stringing at a higher tension than your other strings?

E

ebo03

New User
  • Jun 14, 2024
  • #2

Tour M8 plays softer than Confidential, which is expected based on handling them. Based on the feel of M8, I was mostly impressed with the control of the string. Given the soft feel, I was expecting it to be a more erratic but the control was there. It’s a solid option but personally I like a firmer feeling string.

ClownCar96

Professional
  • Jun 14, 2024
  • #3

M8 is a great cross to ever so slightly soften up a stiff main and provide a little extra power. I like it as a cross to Lynx tour and tour bite. Outstanding tension Mx and control to complement and enhance main string

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
  • Jun 14, 2024
  • #4

I’ve been using M8 1.30 as a cross with kevlar 1.30 main, last 2 string jobs. Yes, tension came out softer than expected and went a few lbs higher second time.

jimdontcare

Semi-Pro
  • Jun 14, 2024
  • #5

The added dwell time is one of its perks. It seems like a love-it-or-hate-it thing. Either way, what it's able to do with that level of elasticity--its playability duration and control--is impressive. But I get why some people just aren't looking for that feel in their strings. It's different. And certainly different from Confidential and Revolution. (Never tried PTP myself.)

Dennis Chan

Hall of Fame
  • Jun 14, 2024
  • #6

Agree with @jimdontcare it seems like a love-it-or-hate-it thing. I'll find out in two days when I have a chance to play.

S

snoflewis

Legend
  • Jun 14, 2024
  • #7

i found that you need to string grapplesnake strings 2-4 lbs higher than normal, at least that was the case for tour sniper, paradox pro, and alpha

H

Holdingserve85

New User
  • Jun 15, 2024
  • #8

I always string it tighter

Dennis Chan

Hall of Fame
  • Jun 16, 2024
  • #9

Played a set with the M8 first time today, against my usual hitting partner. Match result was similar as before. So the bounciness did not affect my level of play much. In fact it wasn't felt too much once the points started. I like the comfort the M8 provides. Will most likely string up a few lbs next time.

Thanks everyone for your inputs!

B

BBender716

Professional
  • Jun 19, 2024
  • #10

I'm a fan of Tour M8. It's been a nice happy medium of a comfortable poly that isn't totally round, isn't sharp, but jusssst right. Probably my favorite GS string tbh

W

Wolfessis

Rookie
  • Oct 19, 2024
  • #11

For those that needed to string grapplesnake tour m8 2-4lb looser, what strings are you comparing it to?

We talking strings like confidential or something else?

jimdontcare

Semi-Pro
  • Oct 19, 2024
  • #12

Wolfessis said:

For those that needed to string grapplesnake tour m8 2-4lb looser, what strings are you comparing it to?

We talking strings like confidential or something else?

Personally, my reference tension is 48

To get the most out of Lynx Tour and Hyper G, I like 48

To get the most out of Confidential, I like 46

M8 I like 44

All to preference of course

W

Wolfessis

Rookie
  • Oct 19, 2024
  • #13

@jimdontcare
Oops I meant to type tighter there not looser, but it's interesting that you think it needs to be strung even looser than confidential! Wow ok that is interesting.

Are we talking 1.25? How much have you used grapplesnake m8 and in which frame?

Lynx tour and confidential are relatively low powered strings. They assumingly give more launch angle than grapplesnake m8 though due to shape. Do you think the lower tension was needed to get a similar launch angle? Or did it just feel underpowered and not responsive enough when strung closer to your usual tension?

FoldingChair

Semi-Pro
  • Oct 19, 2024
  • #14

I always string in the mid 40 pounds for most strings as per my signature. With 2 m8 trial runs, I went 46/44 the first time and went down to 43/41 the next. 43/41 was much better as it had enough power, some nice control, and no discomfort but I couldn't…feel(?) the stringbed and felt like I wasn’t sure where the ball was (in the stringbed) when I hit it. I don’t hate but I didn’t love it like I loved tour sniper. It just felt strange to me and I couldn’t jive with it.

jimdontcare

Semi-Pro
  • Oct 20, 2024
  • #15

Wolfessis said:

@jimdontcare
Oops I meant to type tighter there not looser, but it's interesting that you think it needs to be strung even looser than confidential! Wow ok that is interesting.

Are we talking 1.25? How much have you used grapplesnake m8 and in which frame?

Lynx tour and confidential are relatively low powered strings. They assumingly give more launch angle than grapplesnake m8 though due to shape. Do you think the lower tension was needed to get a similar launch angle? Or did it just feel underpowered and not responsive enough when strung closer to your usual tension?

I completely forgot about gauge. I’ve used 1.25 for the other strings and only 1.30 so far for M8, so that accounts for everything most likely.

W

Wolfessis

Rookie
  • Oct 20, 2024
  • #16

jimdontcare said:

I completely forgot about gauge. I’ve used 1.25 for the other strings and only 1.30 so far for M8, so that accounts for everything most likely.

Ah yeah that would very likely explain the required difference

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Did anyone find Grapplesnake Tour M8 too soft and bouncy? (2025)

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