String comparison
RPM Team vs Verve Soft
Babolat RPM Team against Gamma Verve Soft: ratings, specs and which one fits your junior.
The short answer
Both are polyester strings. RPM Team leads on control, durability and tension hold. Verve Soft leads on spin. For a junior with arm concerns, Verve Soft is the safer choice.
Ratings
Power
Spin
Control
Comfort
Durability
Tension hold
Ratings are on a 1–10 scale. The higher score is in bold when they differ.
Pick RPM Team if…
- You want more control (9 vs 7 out of 10)
- You want more durability (8 vs 6 out of 10)
- You want more tension hold (8 vs 6 out of 10)
- You restring often and want it cheaper to keep up (cost score 4/5 vs 3/5)
- Best for: players who like Blast but want more comfort
- Best for: juniors with fast swings seeking control
- Best for: all-court players wanting spin with comfort
Pick Verve Soft if…
- You want more spin (9 vs 8 out of 10)
- Arm comfort comes first (arm friendliness 4/5 vs 3/5)
- Your player is younger (recommended from age 12 vs 13)
- Best for: spin players seeking comfort
- Best for: hard hitters wanting power and control
- Best for: players transitioning from multifilament to poly
Specs side by side
| Spec | RPM Team | Verve Soft |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Polyester | Polyester |
| Construction | Eight-sided co-polymer with silicone coating and micro air bubbles | AMP co-extrusion co-polyester with three protruding filaments |
| Gauges | 16, 17 | 16, 17 |
| Stiffness | Medium high | Medium |
| Set price | $17–19 | $16–19 |
| Reel price | $120–140 | $150–180 |
| Arm friendliness | 3/5 · Moderate | 4/5 · Good |
| Cost to maintain | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Recommended from | Age 13 | Age 12 |
| Levels | Intermediate, Advanced, Elite | Intermediate, Advanced, Elite |
| Play styles | Baseliner, All court, Big hitter | Baseliner, Big hitter, All court |
| Junior tension | 48-52 lbs for juniors. Holds tension better than Blast so can string at normal range. | 50-54 lbs for juniors. Softer poly allows comfortable tensions. |
RPM Team in short
The string of choice for Carlos Alcaraz when he won his first Grand Slams. Launched in 2012 as a more comfortable version of RPM Blast, RPM Team combines an eight-sided shape for bite with a cross-linked silicone surface to boost snapback. What sets it apart is its low-density design using micro air bubbles to cushion ball impact. Despite being designed for comfort, it tested as one of the firmest Babolat strings in the lab - proving the air bubble technology works. Better tension maintenance than Blast makes it more cost-effective for frequent players.
Verve Soft in short
Gamma Verve Soft uses AMP co-extrusion technology to combine stiff and soft materials for hard hitters wanting power, control, and forgiveness. Three protruding filaments provide maximum ball bite for greater spin generation. The co-extrusion build creates incredibly satisfying and heavy groundstrokes with super reliable directional input. Players describe it as encouraging, rewarding, and strengthening shots with raised intensity.
RPM Team vs Verve Soft: quick answers
Which has more spin, RPM Team or Verve Soft?
Gamma Verve Soft, with a spin rating of 9/10 against 8/10.
Which is more arm-friendly for a junior?
Gamma Verve Soft scores 4/5 for arm friendliness, against 3/5 for RPM Team. It is recommended from age 12.
Which lasts longer?
Babolat RPM Team rates 8/10 for durability against 6/10.
Which is cheaper?
RPM Team costs about $17–19 a set and Verve Soft about $16–19, at typical retail.
The short answer and the "pick if" lists are generated from our ratings and junior data only. Data verified 2025-01 (RPM Team) and 2025-01 (Verve Soft).