String comparison
Tour XP vs Poly Tour Pro
Prince Tour XP against Yonex Poly Tour Pro: ratings, specs and which one fits your junior.
The short answer
Both are polyester strings. Tour XP leads on power, spin, durability and tension hold. Poly Tour Pro leads on control and comfort. For a junior with arm concerns, Poly Tour Pro is the safer choice. Tour XP 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 Tour XP 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 (8 vs 7 out of 10)
- You want more tension hold (9 vs 7 out of 10)
- Your player is younger (recommended from age 12 vs 13)
- You want to spend less (from $8 vs $14 a set)
- Best for: players frustrated by tension loss
- Best for: spin players seeking consistent response
- Best for: budget-conscious competitive players
Pick Poly Tour Pro if…
- You want more control (9 vs 8 out of 10)
- You want more comfort (7 vs 6 out of 10)
- Arm comfort comes first (arm friendliness 4/5 vs 3/5)
- Best for: power players wanting control
- Best for: players seeking soft poly with precision
- Best for: those who like dead, muted feel
Specs side by side
| Spec | Tour XP | Poly Tour Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Polyester | Polyester |
| Construction | Thermopoly co-polyester monofilament | Round co-polyester monofilament with high-temperature stretching process |
| Gauges | 16, 17 | 16L, 16, 17 |
| Stiffness | Medium | Medium |
| Set price | $8–10 | $14–18 |
| Reel price | $90–110 | $150–180 |
| Arm friendliness | 3/5 · Moderate | 4/5 · Good |
| Cost to maintain | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Recommended from | Age 12 | Age 13 |
| Levels | Intermediate, Advanced, Elite | Intermediate, Advanced, Elite |
| Play styles | Baseliner, All court, Big hitter | Baseliner, All court, Big hitter |
| Junior tension | 50-54 lbs for juniors. Exceptional tension maintenance means less drop-off. | 50-54 lbs for juniors. Yellow version plays slightly softer than black. |
Tour XP in short
Prince Tour XP (originally released as Beast XP) is a new-age thermopoly designed to sidestep the terrible feel and abysmal tension maintenance that plagued polyester strings. Two years in development with extensive elite player feedback, Tour XP delivers spin-friendly performance with impressive accuracy on full swings. The "thermo construction" technology creates excellent ball pocketing - the ball feels like it gets a "hug" from the stringbed. Tension loss is minimal - typically 1 pound vs 4-6 pounds for standard polys.
Poly Tour Pro in short
Yonex Poly Tour Pro is a softer playing poly stretched at high temperature during production to improve tension maintenance. "I felt like I could put the ball on a dime with it!" - exceptional control on fast swings. The ball seems to sink into it like a pillow at contact. Despite being firm, it has above average comfort for a poly with the yellow version playing slightly softer than black. Not the most spin-friendly in the Yonex family (actually the least), but the control and predictable response make it a favorite among power players. Don't try to get more than a month out of it - when it dies, it's done.
Tour XP vs Poly Tour Pro: quick answers
Which has more spin, Tour XP or Poly Tour Pro?
Prince Tour XP, with a spin rating of 8/10 against 7/10.
Which is more arm-friendly for a junior?
Yonex Poly Tour Pro scores 4/5 for arm friendliness, against 3/5 for Tour XP. It is recommended from age 13.
Which lasts longer?
Prince Tour XP rates 8/10 for durability against 7/10.
Which is cheaper?
Tour XP costs about $8–10 a set and Poly Tour Pro 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 2025-01 (Tour XP) and 2025-01 (Poly Tour Pro).