MSV Focus Hex is a six-sided co-polyester string designed for players looking to add control and spin to their game. It is widely considered one of the best tennis strings on the market thanks to its great performance and low price tag, but how does it play? In this MSV Focus Hex review we’ll be play testing the string and rating its playability, durability and value for money.
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MSV Focus Hex Key Features & Specs
| String Material | Co-Polyester |
| Special Features | Edged String for increased spin potential |
| String Gauge | 19 Gauge (1.10 mm), 17L Gauge (1.18 mm), 16L Gauge (1.23 mm) or 16 Gauge (1.27 mm) |
| String Colour | Black, White, Blue & Red |
String Testing Setup
We play tested the MSV Focus Hex 16 Gauge on multiple occasions using a Wilson Pro Staff RF97 and a full stringbed setup at 52 lbs and 62 lbs.
MSV Focus Hex Review - Test Results
Here’s a quick overview of the ratings we awarded the string in our test:
Control - Score: 88
MSV Focus Hex is definitely a control oriented string and is great for players who can generate their own power and are rather looking for a little more control in their game. When play testing it, we rarely found ourselves overhitting and felt very comfortable swinging through our shots without the worry of the ball sailing long. It even offered plenty of control at lower tensions and w found it nicer to play with as it provided a little more power on our shots.
Combined with the extra spin potential generated by the strings hexagonal design, there is no doubt that it’s a great string from a control perspective.
Power - Score: 67
It’s no surprise that a control and spin oriented string like this is also fairly low powered. That being said, we always felt like we were getting enough on the ball, likely thanks to the ability to swing through and really hit without worrying about the ball sailing beyond the baseline. If you struggle generating power on your shots, we’d suggest trying the thinner version of this string and using it at slightly lower tensions.
Spin - Score: 83
As an edged string, the MSV Focus Hex is designed for spin and it definitely delivers on it. The string’s six-edge design really grips the ball and makes it very easy to get high amounts of spin on groundstrokes. From a spin perspective, we found the string performed better at higher tensions, though that’s probably because we were able to speed up our shots and swing through the ball.
It may not offer quite as much spin potential as strings like the Babolat RPM Blast or the Wilson Revolve Spin, but we definitely thought it offered enough spin to get a real bite on the ball. And considering the string’s durability and price, it’s difficult to beat.
Comfort - Score: 75
Despite being a fairly tough polyester string, we were pleasantly surprise at how nice it felt to play with. Even when strung as a full stringbed at a higher tension and used in a rather stiff frame like the Wilson Pro Staff RF97, we didn’t notice any discomfort at all. That being said, we’d suggest going with a thinner version of the string if you do suffer from arm or wrist injuries, or even combining it with a softer string in the crosses as a hybrid string setup.
Feel - Score: 83
When it came down to feel and the ability to hit “finesse” shots, we found the string to be very crisp and responsive. Perhaps thanks to the easy access to a little extra spin, hitting drop shots and getting a good bite on them was no problem at all. That being said, we found it to be a little more responsive at slightly lower tensions.
Playability Duration - Score: 79
After an initial tension loss, which is pretty much expected from co-poly strings, the MSV Focus Hex seemed to maintain its string tension quite well and offered a consistent performance pretty much the entire time we used it. Even when strung initially at lower tensions, the string’s performance was consistent until it broke, and at no point did we feel like we were losing out on any of the spin or control.
Durability - Score: 92
Probably the string’s best feature is just how long it lasts. The MSV Focus Hex offers amazing durability, particularly considering the cost of the string. Playing regularly 2-3 times a week, we found the string lasted at least three weeks and often lasted over a month of consistent high standard tennis.
Considering we used the thicker version of the string and it lasted so long, we’d even suggest using the thinner version of the string and sacrificing some of the durability for a little extra comfort and playability.
Price
The best thing about the MSV Focus Hex is that it’s actually one of the cheapest edged polyester strings on the market. It’s commonly available at major online tennis stores for around £6 ($8 in the US) for a 12 metre set or £40-50 ($80 in the US) for a 200 metre reel. When compared to other textured strings on the market, MSV Focus Hex is definitely great value for money and, in our opinion, is worth every penny.
Verdict - Who Is This String For?
Overall, we were very happy with the MSV Focus Hex. It’s great from a performance perspective and really excels when it comes to its key features: spin, control and durability. We preferred the string at slightly lower tensions as it still offered its great control and spin, though gave us a little more power on our shots.
Beginners and intermediate level players may struggle a bit with MSV Focus Hex as it’s a very low powered string. However, it’s the perfect string for advanced players who can generate their own pace and are looking for an edged polyester string to add more spin and control to their game without breaking the bank.
Similar Tennis Strings
If you’re looking for a string that offers a very similar performance to MSV Focus Hex, be sure to check out the Wilson Revolve Spin, Babolat RPM Blast or the Volkl Cyclone. They’re all fantastic strings designed for spin and control, though they are a little pricier than the MSV Focus Hex.
