Best Babolat Tennis Strings Compared: Gut, Polyester & Hybrid Picks

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The best Babolat tennis strings depend on what you want from your racquet: natural gut is built for feel, comfort, and power, while polyester options focus more on spin and control. A hybrid pairs different string types to balance those traits. Below, you can compare five Babolat options and find the one that best fits your playing style, comfort needs, and preferred setup.

Our Picks: Best Babolat Tennis Strings reviews

1. Babolat Touch VS 17G: A Comfortable Natural-Gut Option

Babolat Touch VS is a natural-gut string designed around comfort, power, and feel. Its 17-gauge version is a good option to consider if you want the playing characteristics of gut in a thinner gauge. The product description highlights its ability to hold tension and its softer feel on the arm.

The package is a single set intended to restring one racquet. That makes it a straightforward choice if you want to try natural gut without buying a reel or changing your full stringing routine. Compared with the 16-gauge Touch VS options below, this is the thinner choice; your stringer can help you decide which gauge better matches your racquet and how often you break strings.

Natural gut costs more than many synthetic options, and this set may not be the best fit if your top priority is a firm polyester response for heavy spin. But if you value comfort and a lively response, Touch VS 17G is the clearest choice in this group for a gut-first setup.

Pros:

• Natural-gut construction with an emphasis on comfort and feel
• Designed to provide power and hold tension
• 17-gauge format offers a thinner option than the listed 16-gauge sets
• One set is intended for one racquet

Cons:

• May not suit players who prefer a firm, spin-focused polyester string
• Natural gut may not be the right choice for every budget or string-breaking pattern

Verdict: Choose Touch VS 17G if comfort, power, and natural-gut feel matter more to you than a firm polyester response.

2. Babolat RPM Blast + Touch VS: A Pre-Matched Hybrid

This hybrid pairs Babolat RPM Blast polyester with Touch VS natural gut. The supplied description identifies the combination as RPM 17 and VS 16, bringing together two string types associated with different playing traits. It is designed to offer a blend of control and spin from RPM, with feel and comfort from gut.

A hybrid can be useful when a full bed of one string type does not match what you want. Rather than choosing between a polyester setup and a natural-gut setup, this pack gives you both in one combination. Follow the stringer’s guidance on which string goes in the mains and crosses, since the layout can affect how the racquet plays.

The trade-off is that a hybrid is less simple than choosing a single string type. It may also be less suitable if you already know you want a consistent full bed of either gut or polyester. For players curious about combining spin and control with a more comfortable feel, this is the most direct hybrid option among these picks.

Pros:

• Combines RPM Blast polyester and Touch VS natural gut
• Designed to balance spin and control with feel and comfort
• Offers a hybrid alternative to a full bed of either string type
• Uses a 17-gauge RPM and 16-gauge VS combination, according to the listing

Cons:

• Not the best match if you want a single-material string bed
• May require your stringer’s help to choose the setup and tension

Verdict: Pick RPM Blast + Touch VS if you want a ready-made hybrid that combines polyester control and spin with natural-gut feel and comfort.

3. Babolat VS Touch 16: Black Natural Gut with a Listed Tension Range

This version of Babolat VS Touch is a 16-gauge natural-gut string with a 1.30 mm diameter. It is listed in black, giving you a different look from the natural-colored Touch VS set. The supplied product information also gives a recommended tension range of 53 to 70 pounds.

Like the other VS Touch options here, it is a natural-gut choice rather than a polyester string. Its 16-gauge size may be worth considering if you prefer a thicker string than the 17-gauge Touch VS set. Gauge alone does not determine the right setup, though; your racquet, playing style, stringing tension, and string-breaking frequency all matter.

The listing does not provide as much detail about this specific set’s playing traits as it does for some of the other options. If you want a 16-gauge gut string in black and value the stated tension guidance, it is a focused alternative. If you want more detail about comfort and tension retention from the supplied description, compare it with the natural-colored Touch VS 16g set.

Pros:

• Natural-gut string in a 16-gauge, 1.30 mm size
• Black color offers an alternative to natural-colored gut
• Listing provides a recommended tension range of 53–70 pounds

Cons:

• Product details give less performance information than some other options here
• Not intended for players specifically seeking a polyester string bed

Verdict: Consider this VS Touch set if you want 16-gauge natural gut in black and the listed tension range suits your stringer’s recommendation.

4. Babolat RPM Blast 17g: A Firm, Spin-Focused Polyester Set

RPM Blast is a black polyester monofilament string with an octagonal structure. Babolat describes it as a spin- and control-focused option with a firm response. The set is listed as 17 gauge and 12 meters, or 39 feet, which is intended for stringing one racquet.

This string is aimed at players who take full swings and want a controlled response. The product description also identifies the RPM family as durable, making it a possible fit for heavy hitters looking for a polyester setup. Compared with natural-gut Touch VS, RPM Blast puts more emphasis on a firm feel and control than on comfort.

The listing data supplied for this article marks this set as unavailable. Availability can change, so check the product page before making plans to buy it. If it remains unavailable, the RPM Blast + Touch VS hybrid is the closest listed alternative for players who want RPM in their setup with some natural gut alongside it.

Pros:

• Polyester monofilament with an octagonal structure
• Designed for spin and control with a firm response
• 17-gauge, 12-meter set is sized for one racquet
• Product description positions it for heavy hitters

Cons:

• Firm response may not suit players who prioritize comfort
• Marked unavailable in the supplied listing data

Verdict: RPM Blast 17g is the most focused choice here for spin and control, but check availability and consider the hybrid if you want to pair RPM with natural gut.

5. Babolat Touch VS 16g: Natural Gut for Power and Tension Hold

This natural-colored Touch VS set is listed as 16 gauge, with a set length of 12 meters, or 39 feet. Babolat describes it as a natural-gut string that offers a lively feel, power, and tension retention. Its elasticity is intended to help the ball travel deep without requiring as much effort from the player.

The product description also notes that Touch VS can be used in a hybrid setup. That gives you the option to pair it with another string if you want some natural gut’s feel alongside a different string’s response. The listed length is for one racquet, so it is a practical format for a single restring rather than a larger supply.

This 16-gauge set is a useful comparison with the Touch VS 17G option. Both are natural gut, but the listed gauge differs. If comfort and a lively response are your main goals, either may be worth discussing with your stringer. If you prefer a firmer polyester feel, RPM Blast is the more relevant choice.

Pros:

• 100% natural-gut construction, according to the listing
• Designed for feel, power, and tension retention
• Can be used in a hybrid setup
• Natural color and 16-gauge format

Cons:

• May not suit players who want the firmer response of polyester
• Only one racquet’s worth of string is included

Verdict: Choose Touch VS 16g if you want natural gut with an emphasis on feel, power, and tension hold in a 16-gauge set.

How to Choose Babolat Tennis Strings

Choose a string type that matches your priorities

Start by deciding which traits matter most. Babolat Touch VS is natural gut, and its supplied descriptions emphasize feel, comfort, power, and tension retention. RPM Blast is polyester and is described as firm, spin-focused, and controlled. The RPM Blast + Touch VS hybrid combines those string types for players seeking a middle ground.

Consider gauge and string-break frequency

The products here include 16- and 17-gauge options. Gauge is one factor to discuss with your stringer when choosing a setup. Your playing style and how often you break strings also matter. If you are unsure whether to choose the 16- or 17-gauge version, ask your stringer to weigh your preferences against your racquet and typical string life.

Think about comfort and response

If comfort and a lively feel are high priorities, the natural-gut Touch VS options are the most relevant choices in this group. If you want a firm response and more emphasis on spin and control, consider RPM Blast. The hybrid is a practical option if you want traits associated with both types rather than a full bed of either one.

Use tension guidance carefully

The black VS Touch 16 listing gives a recommended range of 53 to 70 pounds. That range is product information, not a one-size-fits-all setting. Your racquet’s recommendations, your preferences, and your stringer’s advice should guide the final tension. Do not assume the same tension will feel right across different string types.

Check the set size and availability

Several options are described as 12-meter, 39-foot sets intended for one racquet. Confirm the package details before ordering, especially if you are comparing different listings. The RPM Blast 17g listing was marked unavailable in the supplied product data, so check its product page or consider the hybrid as an alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Babolat string in this list is best for comfort?

The Touch VS natural-gut strings are the strongest fit if comfort is your main concern. Babolat’s supplied descriptions highlight comfort, feel, and power for Touch VS. The hybrid also includes Touch VS alongside RPM Blast.

Which option is designed for spin and control?

Babolat RPM Blast is described as a firm polyester monofilament designed for spin and control. The RPM Blast + Touch VS hybrid is another option if you want RPM in a setup that also includes natural gut.

What is the difference between the Touch VS 16g and 17G sets?

Both are natural-gut options, but their listed gauges differ. The 16-gauge sets are listed at 1.30 mm for the black version and 16g for the natural-colored version; the other Touch VS set is 17G. Ask your stringer which gauge better fits your play and string-breaking pattern.

Is the RPM Blast + Touch VS set a full bed of one string?

No. It is listed as a hybrid that combines RPM Blast polyester and Touch VS natural gut. The supplied details identify the combination as RPM 17 and VS 16.

How much string comes in a set?

The product descriptions for RPM Blast and the natural-colored Touch VS 16g specify a 12-meter, 39-foot set intended for one racquet. Check the individual product listing for package details on the other options before ordering.

Can natural gut be used with another string?

Yes. The supplied Touch VS 16g description says it can be mixed with another string in a hybrid setup. The RPM Blast + Touch VS product is also offered as a hybrid combination.

Final Recommendation

For comfort, feel, and power, Babolat Touch VS is the best starting point, with 16- and 17-gauge options to compare. Choose RPM Blast if you prefer a firm, spin-focused polyester response and can confirm availability. If you want a blend of both approaches, RPM Blast + Touch VS is the most balanced option in this lineup. Match your final gauge and tension to your racquet and playing style with help from your stringer.