String comparison
RPM Team vs Tour Bite Soft
Babolat RPM Team against Solinco Tour Bite Soft: ratings, specs and which one fits your junior.
The short answer
Both are polyester strings. RPM Team leads on power, comfort, durability and tension hold. Tour Bite Soft leads on spin. For a junior with arm concerns, RPM Team is the safer choice. Tour Bite Soft costs less per set.
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 power (7 vs 6 out of 10)
- You want more comfort (7 vs 5 out of 10)
- You want more durability (8 vs 7 out of 10)
- You want more tension hold (8 vs 7 out of 10)
- Arm comfort comes first (arm friendliness 3/5 vs 2/5)
- Your player is younger (recommended from age 13 vs 14)
- 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 Tour Bite Soft if…
- You want more spin (9 vs 8 out of 10)
- You want to spend less (from $10 vs $17 a set)
- Best for: players who like Tour Bite but find it too stiff
- Best for: control-focused players wanting some comfort
- Best for: advanced juniors with full swings
Specs side by side
| Spec | RPM Team | Tour Bite Soft |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Polyester | Polyester |
| Construction | Eight-sided co-polymer with silicone coating and micro air bubbles | Square-shaped co-polyester with softening additives |
| Gauges | 16, 17 | 16, 17 |
| Stiffness | Medium high | Medium high |
| Set price | $17–19 | $10–12 |
| Reel price | $120–140 | $130–150 |
| Arm friendliness | 3/5 · Moderate | 2/5 · Low |
| Cost to maintain | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Recommended from | Age 13 | Age 14 |
| Levels | Intermediate, Advanced, Elite | Advanced, Elite |
| Play styles | Baseliner, All court, Big hitter | Baseliner, All court |
| Junior tension | 48-52 lbs for juniors. Holds tension better than Blast so can string at normal range. | 46-50 lbs for juniors. |
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.
Tour Bite Soft in short
Tour Bite Soft takes the legendary control and spin of Tour Bite and adds comfort-enhancing additives. Still a firm string by most standards, but noticeably more playable than the original. Maintains the sharp-edged square profile for spin generation while being more forgiving on the arm. A good middle ground for players who want Tour Bite's control but can't handle the stiffness.
RPM Team vs Tour Bite Soft: quick answers
Which has more spin, RPM Team or Tour Bite Soft?
Solinco Tour Bite Soft, with a spin rating of 9/10 against 8/10.
Which is more arm-friendly for a junior?
Babolat RPM Team scores 3/5 for arm friendliness, against 2/5 for Tour Bite Soft. It is recommended from age 13.
Which lasts longer?
Babolat RPM Team rates 8/10 for durability against 7/10.
Which is cheaper?
RPM Team costs about $17–19 a set and Tour Bite Soft about $10–12, 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 (Tour Bite Soft).