String comparison
Tour Bite Soft vs Cyclone Tour
Solinco Tour Bite Soft against Volkl Cyclone Tour: ratings, specs and which one fits your junior.
The short answer
Both are polyester strings. Tour Bite Soft leads on control and tension hold. Cyclone Tour leads on power and comfort. For a junior with arm concerns, Cyclone Tour 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 Tour Bite Soft if…
- You want more control (9 vs 8 out of 10)
- You want more tension hold (7 vs 6 out of 10)
- 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
Pick Cyclone Tour if…
- You want more power (7 vs 6 out of 10)
- You want more comfort (6 vs 5 out of 10)
- Arm comfort comes first (arm friendliness 3/5 vs 2/5)
- Your player is younger (recommended from age 12 vs 14)
- Best for: players who like Cyclone but want more comfort
- Best for: spin players seeking better feel
- Best for: those wanting premium poly performance at budget price
Specs side by side
| Spec | Tour Bite Soft | Cyclone Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Polyester | Polyester |
| Construction | Square-shaped co-polyester with softening additives | Twisted gear-shaped co-polyester monofilament |
| Gauges | 16, 17 | 16, 17, 18 |
| Stiffness | Medium high | Medium |
| Set price | $10–12 | $10–13 |
| Reel price | $130–150 | $130–150 |
| Arm friendliness | 2/5 · Low | 3/5 · Moderate |
| Cost to maintain | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Recommended from | Age 14 | Age 12 |
| Levels | Advanced, Elite | Intermediate, Advanced, Elite |
| Play styles | Baseliner, All court | Baseliner, Big hitter, All court |
| Junior tension | 46-50 lbs for juniors. | 50-54 lbs for juniors. Softer than regular Cyclone so can string slightly higher. |
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.
Cyclone Tour in short
Volkl Cyclone Tour takes the proven Cyclone formula and adds a twist - literally. The twisted gear-shaped construction offers more comfort and liveliness than the original while retaining the excellent spin and control. Playtesters found it to be a comparatively springy co-poly with softer response than standard Cyclone, making it more accessible to a wider range of players.
Tour Bite Soft vs Cyclone Tour: quick answers
Which has more spin, Tour Bite Soft or Cyclone Tour?
They tie on our spin rating (9/10 each).
Which is more arm-friendly for a junior?
Volkl Cyclone Tour scores 3/5 for arm friendliness, against 2/5 for Tour Bite Soft. It is recommended from age 12.
Which lasts longer?
They tie on durability (7/10). Tension maintenance: Tour Bite Soft 7/10, Cyclone Tour 6/10.
Which is cheaper?
Tour Bite Soft costs about $10–12 a set and Cyclone Tour about $10–13, 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 Bite Soft) and 2025-01 (Cyclone Tour).