Players who want to switch from multifilaments to polyesters have a tricky choice. You have the feel and comfort you love from multi, but you are starting to want more control, tension stability, and spin potential that poly can give you – without all of a sudden having a stringbed that is too harsh, boardy or unforgiving. So I concentrated on softer, mostly thinner polyester strings that are easier on the arm, easier to get power from and still give you enough control to swing confidently as you get away from multifilament. These are often the strings I advise my clients to move to, in particular with junior players.
Grapplesnake Alpha 1.25mm is in there as it is a soft polyester which has become really popular with junior players too and it is a great stepping stone from multi. Also a bit of an outlier is Luxilon Element as it is made with Luxilon’s patented Multi-Mono technology, which gives it a slightly different character but still is a true poly. For this list I’ve avoided forcing players directly into stiff, harsh polys. Most players moving from multifilament need something that still offers comfort, while gently introducing poly performance. In my experience, softer & thinner polys are often the best transition choice.
| Rank | String | Best for | Main appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yonex Poly Tour Pro | Players switching from multifilament wanting a soft, controlled poly | Easy to use, predictable, and very well balanced. |
| 2 | Grapplesnake Alpha | Players and juniors switching from multi wanting softness and easy performance | Comfortable, lively, and very popular for good reason. |
| 3 | Luxilon Element | Players with big swings switching from multi wanting comfort + power | Soft Multi-Mono poly with enhanced spin and ball pocketing. |
| 4 | Yonex Poly Tour Air | Players switching from multi who prioritise comfort and arm-friendliness | Softest Yonex poly with great shock absorption and snapback. |
| 5 | Kirschbaum Pro Line II | Players switching from multi wanting control with comfort | Soft, forgiving poly with excellent tension maintenance. |
1. Yonex Poly Tour Pro
If I am looking at a player moving from multifilament to poly, I would most often recommend the Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.20mm or thinner sometimes. It hits that really sweet spot — soft enough to feel comfortable and familiar, but still controlled enough that you can swing with confidence without the string bed launching the ball all over the place. The thinner 1.20mm gauge makes it feel more playable and responsive than thicker versions and that’s why it works so well for players that are starting to put more of their own pace on the ball but still want to retain some of that multifilament-like feel. They also do a 1.15mm gauge worth considering if you want an even softer, more responsive set up.
Specs:
- Type: Soft polyester
- Gauge: 1.20mm/1.1.5mm
- Feel: Controlled, comfortable, balanced
- Best for: Players switching from multifilament wanting a dependable all-round poly
2. Grapplesnake Alpha
Grapplesnake Alpha is a great option for players from multifilament who want something soft, modern and easy to live with. It’s been especially popular with junior players making this switch and that usually tells you something about the accessibility and playability which is why I put it in. What I like is it gives you the feel of a soft poly without being too dull or lifeless so it still gives you a decent amount of performance while keeping the stringbed forgiving. It’s a five-sided co-poly that’s on the softer side, which makes it especially good for players with arm or shoulder issues as they go away from multi.
Specs:
- Type: Soft polyester (co-poly)
- Gauge: 1.25mm
- Feel: Comfortable, lively, playable
- Best for: Intermediate and junior players wanting easy performance
- Shape: 5-sided
3. Luxilon Element
Luxilon Element is one of the most comfortable polys in the Luxilon line and that is exactly why it deserves a place for players switching from multifilament. It uses Luxilon’s patented Multi-Mono technology with their Poly Ether construction to give you increased spin and power while improving ball pocketing and comfort. It’s described as a softer polyester string perfect for players with fast, big swings who don’t like harsh vibrations – a very common complaint for someone coming out of multi. You get the control and tension stability of poly but without the harsh boardiness that can scare people away when they first make the transition.
Check our review of the Luxilon Element Soft.
Specs:
- Type: Soft polyester (Multi-Mono construction)
- Gauge: 1.25mm / 16L
- Feel: Comfortable, powerful, precise
- Best for: Players with big swings switching from multifilament who want comfort + power
4. Yonex Poly Tour Air
The Yonex Poly Tour Air is the outlier in this group, it is advertised as the softest string in the Yonex poly line and is very arm-friendly. It gives a nice controlled and comfortable feel and great shock absorption with snapback for better ball spin. If you’re coming from multifilament this is a very gentle introduction to poly – you’ll still get a lot of the comfort and easy power you loved from multi, but you’ll start to see the control and spin benefits of polyester.
Specs:
- Type: Soft polyester
- Gauge: 1.25mm / 16L
- Feel: Soft, comfortable, controlled
- Best for: Players switching from multifilament who prioritise comfort and arm-friendliness
5. Kirschbaum Pro Line II
Kirschbaum Pro Line II has long been a reliable benchmark for a “soft poly” for players that want control and feel, without taking it to the extreme. I often will put this on for a lot of adult players wanting to try out polys for the first time. It has a softer feel than the other Kirschbaum polyester strings, with good ball pocketing and better tension maintenance than most co-polys, and it is available in a thinner gauges that works well for transition players. A very good all round string for me: predictable, controlled and still friendly enough for players moving over from multifilament. It offers great power and control and holds tension quite well.
Specs:
- Type: Soft polyester
- Gauge: 1.25mm / 17
- Feel: Controlled, balanced, forgiving
- Best for: Players switching from multifilament wanting control with comfort
Other Notables to Consider
If you want to go beyond those five, there are some good strings that certainly are worth checking out. Solinco Revolution is a good choice for players who have gotten a little used to poly and are looking for something with more spin potential and a more firm, performance-oriented feel while still retaining good tension stability.
Another slightly off the radar choice is Silvester Evolution. It is an incredibly soft poly even in 1.25mm gauge and is a really solid choice full bed or even paired as a hybrid with a multi in the cross. Round shaped, still offers decent control and spin.
Final verdict
If I were ranking these purely on what I’d most likely recommend to players switching from multifilament to poly, I’d probably say:
- Yonex Poly Tour Pro for the best all-round balance and the most dependable transition.
- Grapplesnake Alpha for softness, easy playability, and great value.
- Luxilon Element for comfort + power with big-swing players who want a softer poly.
- Yonex Poly Tour Air for players who prioritise arm-friendliness and shock absorption.
- Kirschbaum Pro Line II for control and tension stability without harshness.
