String comparison
Hawk Touch vs Element
Head Hawk Touch against Luxilon Element: ratings, specs and which one fits your junior.
The short answer
Both are polyester strings. Hawk Touch leads on tension hold. Element leads on power. They score the same for arm friendliness (4/5). Hawk Touch 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 Hawk Touch if…
- You want more tension hold (6 vs 5 out of 10)
- You want to spend less (from $14 vs $18 a set)
- 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
Pick Element if…
- You want more power (7 vs 6 out of 10)
- Best for: juniors transitioning from synthetic gut to poly
- Best for: players wanting poly spin with more comfort
- Best for: intermediate to advanced players
Specs side by side
| Spec | Hawk Touch | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Polyester | Polyester |
| Construction | Round co-polyester with enlarged Crystal Core technology | Multi-Mono Technology - tendon-friendly fibers wrapped in polymer matrix |
| Gauges | 17, 18, 19 | 16, 16L |
| Stiffness | Low | Medium |
| Set price | $14–18 | $18–20 |
| Reel price | $140–170 | $150–180 |
| Arm friendliness | 4/5 · Good | 4/5 · Good |
| Cost to maintain | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Recommended from | Age 12 | Age 12 |
| Levels | Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Play styles | All court, Touch player, Baseliner | All court, Baseliner, Serve and volley |
| Junior tension | 50-54 lbs for juniors. | 50-54 lbs for juniors. Can string slightly higher than stiffer polys due to softer feel. |
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.
Element in short
Luxilon Element occupies a fairly unique space in Luxilon's iconic line of firm monofilament strings. Like its predecessors (M2 Pro and M2 Plus), Element features Multi-Mono Technology - several tendon-friendly fibers wrapped inside a specially designed polymer matrix. The benefit comes in the form of extra flexibility, comfort and power. It's the most arm-friendly polyester in the Luxilon lineup, making it an excellent choice for developing juniors ready to move beyond synthetic gut. Reviewers note it's soft enough to recommend to first-time poly players.
Hawk Touch vs Element: quick answers
Which has more spin, Hawk Touch or Element?
They tie on our spin rating (7/10 each).
Which is more arm-friendly for a junior?
They score the same, 4/5. Hawk Touch is recommended from age 12 and Element from age 12.
Which lasts longer?
They tie on durability (6/10). Tension maintenance: Hawk Touch 6/10, Element 5/10.
Which is cheaper?
Hawk Touch costs about $14–18 a set and Element about $18–20, at typical retail.
The short answer and the "pick if" lists are generated from our ratings and junior data only. Data verified 2025-01 (Hawk Touch) and 2025-01 (Element).