String comparison
Sidewinder vs Hawk Touch
Gosen Sidewinder against Head Hawk Touch: ratings, specs and which one fits your junior.
The short answer
Both are polyester strings. Sidewinder leads on power, spin and durability. Hawk Touch leads on tension hold. They score the same for arm friendliness (4/5).
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 Sidewinder if…
- You want more power (7 vs 6 out of 10)
- You want more spin (8 vs 7 out of 10)
- You want more durability (7 vs 6 out of 10)
- You restring often and want it cheaper to keep up (cost score 4/5 vs 3/5)
- Best for: juniors trying their first poly
- Best for: players who want poly control with less shock
- Best for: spin-oriented players with arm sensitivity
Pick Hawk Touch if…
- You want more tension hold (6 vs 5 out of 10)
- Best for: players wanting soft poly with great feel
- Best for: those transitioning from multifilament to poly
- Best for: arm-conscious players who need poly control
Specs side by side
| Spec | Sidewinder | Hawk Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Polyester | Polyester |
| Construction | Co-polyester monofilament twisted during extrusion for a textured shape | Round co-polyester with enlarged Crystal Core technology |
| Gauges | 16, 17 | 17, 18, 19 |
| Stiffness | Low | Low |
| Set price | $14–15 | $14–18 |
| Reel price | $155–155 | $140–170 |
| Arm friendliness | 4/5 · Good | 4/5 · Good |
| Cost to maintain | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Recommended from | Age 12 | Age 12 |
| Levels | Intermediate, Advanced, Elite | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Play styles | Baseliner, All court | All court, Touch player, Baseliner |
| Junior tension | 46-52 lbs for juniors. Soft for a poly, so it suits a first poly setup. | 50-54 lbs for juniors. |
Sidewinder in short
Gosen Sidewinder is twisted during extrusion, which gives it a textured shape for more ball bite. Tennis Warehouse calls it one of the most arm-friendly co-polys on the market, and it has one of the lowest stiffness readings for a co-poly in the TWU database. The twist adds spin and control. Like many soft polys it loses tension at a fair rate, so plan regular restrings.
Hawk Touch in short
Head Hawk Touch builds on Hawk with an enlarged crystalline core for greater feel and comfort. Softer than RPM Blast, it sits somewhere between RPM Power and Hyper-G in comfort. "A very soft feeling poly that combines feel, control and spin to great effect." The low-powered response allows big hitters to take huge cuts at the ball while the soft feel makes it accessible to a wider audience than traditional polys. Zverev's string of choice. Note: Some users report playability drops quickly after first few hours.
Sidewinder vs Hawk Touch: quick answers
Which has more spin, Sidewinder or Hawk Touch?
Gosen Sidewinder, with a spin rating of 8/10 against 7/10.
Which is more arm-friendly for a junior?
They score the same, 4/5. Sidewinder is recommended from age 12 and Hawk Touch from age 12.
Which lasts longer?
Gosen Sidewinder rates 7/10 for durability against 6/10.
Which is cheaper?
Sidewinder costs about $14–15 a set and Hawk Touch about $14–18, at typical retail.
The short answer and the "pick if" lists are generated from our ratings and junior data only. Data verified 2026-10 (Sidewinder) and 2025-01 (Hawk Touch).