I have tried Volkl Cyclone and Cyclone Tour in a few different frames and the comparison is interesting as they feel related but not interchangeable. Cyclone is the more classic, control-oriented option, while Cyclone Tour is clearly the softer, more modern version with a little more comfort and liveliness. In practical terms, one gives you a firmer crisper response and the other gives you a little more pocketing, easier depth and a slightly friendlier feel.
Tech & specs
Volkl Cyclone
- Shape: Heptagonal shaped polyester.
- Feel: Crisp, firm, and controlled.
- Power: Low to medium.
- Spin: High.
- Key trait: Great bite and a more direct, tour-style response.
Volkl Cyclone Tour
- Shape: Twisted / shaped soft co-poly.
- Feel: Softer, more pocketing, and more muted.
- Power: Medium.
- Spin: High.
- Key trait: Extra spin with more comfort and easier depth.
Find Volkl strings available at Tennis Warehouse Europe (code TNERD10 for 10% off) or at Tennis Warehouse (USA, Canada).
On-court feel
Cyclone feels the more traditional of the two strings. It gives you a very direct response off the stringbed and that will appeal to you if you like to know exactly where the ball is going. It feels a bit more “on the edge” and firmer but that helps with control and gives you confidence when you swing hard.
Cyclone Tour is the softer, more lenient sibling. It has more pocketing and a softer initial response so is a little more comfortable straight away. The ball seems to linger on the strings a fraction longer, which makes the whole setup feel a little more playable and less demanding. If Cyclone is the sharper, more old-school option, then Cyclone Tour is the one that feels more manageable to live with over a longer session.
Spin, control and launch
Cyclone is giving you very good spin but it does it in a firmer, lower launch way. That means it’s a good option for those players that want heavy rotation without losing that feeling of a controlled, predictable trajectory.
Cyclone Tour also produces a lot of spin, but with a slightly higher launch and a little more free depth. It was easier to get shape and margin with Cyclone Tour, especially when swinging through the backhand side or trying to roll the ball heavy off the baseline. Cyclone Tour has the advantage if you’re looking for a string that will give the ball a little more pop while keeping the balance of spin and control.
Comfort and playability
Cyclone Tour is the more comfortable string and that is probably the biggest reason for picking it. It just feels softer in the hand and less punishing on off-center contact and that’s easier to recommend to a wider group of players. To me, it’s the string that gives you more playability straight away.
Cyclone is still playable but it’s definitely firmer and more demanding. It rewards clean technique and a confident swing path. It will suit players who don’t mind a string that feels a little more rigid. If you want the sharpest possible response, Cyclone makes sense; if you want something easier to settle into, Cyclone Tour is the better pick.
Durability and tension stability
Cyclone has a reputation for being a good, consistent enough deck for competitive play. It’s the kind of string that keeps its own identity for a decent while before the response starts to soften.
Cyclone Tour can be a little more inconsistent in playability as it breaks in, especially since that added softness and pocketing can break in a touch quicker than it would with the standard Cyclone. That said, it’s still good value if you’re willing to restring when the feel starts to drop off. In return, you get a more comfortable spin-friendly response straight away.
Who each string suits
Volkl Cyclone suits:
- Intermediate to advanced players who want a firmer control poly.
- Players who generate their own pace and want the string to stay disciplined.
- Baseliners who value a direct, predictable response.
Volkl Cyclone Tour suits:
- Intermediate to advanced players looking for more comfort.
- Players who want easier depth and a slightly higher launch.
- Aggressive baseliners who want spin, control, and better pocketing.
Verdict
If you want the firmer, more classic control-poly feel then Cyclone is the better choice for me. It’s more direct, more pointed, and it gives you that more connected answer that certain players really like.
Cyclone Tour is the more friendly option. It is softer, easier to generate power with, and a touch more comfortable making it the better choice for most players wanting a modern shaped poly without the harsher edge.
For more bite and a firmer, more disciplined feel, go with Cyclone. If you want more comfort, more pocketing, and easier depth, try the Cyclone Tour.
Find more great tennis strings.
