Luxilon Alu Power Review & Test:
Is It Worth It?
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Used by touring pros and club players alike, Luxilon ALU Power is a quintessential polyester tennis string that has stood the test of time and remains one of the best-selling and most trusted options for players seeking exceptional control, spin, and durability.
In this review, I provide detailed insight into my test of ALU Power’s performance across several key attributes and share my honest assessment of its pros and cons to help you decide if it’s an ideal fit for your game. I’ve also included practical notes on the string’s composition and optimal tension to help inform your decision.
| Key Specs | Measurement |
| Rating | 8.5 / 10 |
| Length | 12.19 m / 40 ft |
| Gauge (thickness) | 1.25 mm / 16L |
| Weight | 20.2 g / 0.71 oz |
| Shape | Round |
| Reel available | Yes |
| Available colors | Silver / Blue / Ocean Blue / Lime Green |
| Popular Retailers | Price |
| Amazon | » Check Price |
| DoItTennis | » Check Price |
| Holabird Sports | » Check Price |
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Video
Here’s a brief video where I share an up-close view of Luxilon ALU Power, including it strung in the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v9.
Performance
To evaluate Luxilon ALU Power’s performance, I tested the string and rated it across eight distinct criteria. In the following sections, I detail my notes on each to give you a better sense of my hitting experience.
Power: 6.2/10
Despite the name, ALU Power isn’t a high-powered string. Like most polys, it sits on the lower end of the power spectrum, but it does offer a slightly livelier response compared to many other polyester strings.
On groundstrokes, it gives me the control I need to swing aggressively, which is essential for generating topspin while still providing just enough pop for more penetrating shots. That same quality also benefits my serve, where many polys often limit upper-end velocity, ALU Power gives me a touch of extra power without sacrificing precision.
Spin: 8.9/10
Luxilon ALU Power delivers excellent spin thanks to its signature snapback effect, a hallmark of high-quality polys. That added rotation helps me guide the ball with consistency and precision.
This quality really shines on my groundstrokes, but it’s just as noticeable on my slice and kick serves, where it helps generate more action and livelier bounces, especially on my second serve, where I dial it back for accuracy but still want to keep my opponents from stepping in.
That said, it doesn’t quite match the extreme spin I get from strings like Babolat RPM Blast or Solinco Hyper-G, and that’s okay. What makes ALU Power special is its balance. It doesn’t heavily over-index in any area, helping it perform more reliably across the board.
Control: 9.1/10
The combination of Luxilon ALU Power’s low power, which lets me swing fast and generate topspin, and its excellent touch results in some of the best control I’ve experienced with any string.
When hitting groundstrokes, my targeting and placement feel more precise, helping me keep the ball deeper in the court and hit the corners more consistently. That control translates well to my serve, too.
However, ALU Power is equally dependable at the net, giving me a rare combination of baseline control and touch up front that’s hard to find in most polys. It’s a string that rewards confident shot-making from all areas of the court.
Feel: 9.1/10
Not to be confused with comfort, feel is another area where ALU Power shines, especially when compared to most other polyester strings.
This attribute stands out most when I’m at the net, hitting volleys or pulling off finesse shots, such as drop shots. In both cases, I’m more confident in my execution because the response is precise, clean, and connected, giving me a better sense of the ball on the strings.
Comfort: 7.5/10
As much as I enjoy hitting with ALU Power, it falls short in the comfort department due to its stiffer composition – a characteristic typical of this type of string and closely tied to its lower power.
The string bed feels firmer on contact, and I notice more shock and vibration, especially on off-center hits. Fortunately, this doesn’t bother me, but players who have dealt with wrist or arm discomfort should take note.
The silver lining is that, relative to other polys, ALU Power is one of the more comfortable options. However, it still won’t match the plusher feel of natural gut or multifilaments.
If comfort is a concern, one way to improve it is by choosing the 17-gauge version, which I find noticeably more forgiving and responsive.
Durability: 9.0/10
One of ALU Power’s noteworthy strengths is its durability. It handles heavy hitting with ease, giving me the confidence to take big cuts at the ball without worrying about premature breakage.
In my experience, the first signs of wear typically appear as notching, resulting from the mains sliding against the crosses. But more often than not, the strings lose playability before they ever come close to breaking, so I’ll typically cut them out and restring before they snap during play.
Playability Duration: 8.4/10
I’ve used Luxilon ALU Power for years, and through all my testing and experience, I’ve found it to hold up well over time. On average, it delivers consistent performance for a few weeks before tension loss, and a drop in responsiveness signals it’s time for a restring.
Since I string my racquets, that’s not a major issue, but the cost of frequent restringing can add up for players who rely on a stringer. It’s definitely something to keep in mind when considering this string.
String Movement: 9.5/10
ALU Power does a great job staying in place throughout play, requiring minimal manual straightening. Its slick surface helps the mains glide across the crosses and snap back into position with ease.
After a week or two of play, I start to notice a change – the strings lose some of their resilience, and the snapback effect weakens, making them more prone to becoming misaligned. Combined with visible notching, this is a reliable indicator that it’s time for a restring.
Test Summary
Luxilon ALU Power is a well-established co-poly known for its exceptional control, spin, and durability, and yes, it lives up to the hype.
In my testing, it delivered a crisp, connected feel with outstanding precision, especially from the baseline and at the net. While it’s not the most powerful or comfortable string, it offers exceptional all-around performance for experienced players with solid technique.
It stays playable for a few weeks, but subsequent tension loss quickly affects performance, leading to more frequent restringing, which can add up. Overall, it’s a premium choice for competitive intermediate to advanced players who demand reliable, all-court performance.
| Pros | Cons |
| Top-tier control | Firm, lower comfort |
| Excellent spin | Can get pricey to restring |
| Crisp, connected feel | |
| Durable for heavy hitters | |
| Minimal string movement |
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Who Should Buy It
ALU Power is best suited for intermediate to advanced players with sound technique and quick racquet head speed who can handle a firmer stringbed and want precision, spin, and control without sacrificing feel. Ultimately, it’s an ideal choice for competitive all-court players who don’t mind more frequent restringing in exchange for high-end performance.
Tension
For my playtest, I strung Luxilon ALU Power in the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 at 52 lbs, and it performed well at this tension.
Of course, string tension is a personal preference. However, there is an easy way to determine the optimal tension for your racquet.
First, start with your racquet’s recommended tension range. In my case, I tested ALU Power with the Blade 98 16×19, which Wilson suggests stringing between 50 and 60 lbs (22.7 – 27.2 kg).
If you’re stringing for the first time, I recommend starting at the halfway point, which is 55 lbs or 24.9 kg for me. However, polyester strings are stiffer than most, so I recommend dropping your tension by roughly 5-10%, which is equivalent to 3-5 lbs (1.4-2.3 kg). That would bring my tension down to 50 to 52 lbs (23.6 or 24.0 kg); I opted for the higher end to maintain a slighter stiffer response for more control.
Finally, Luxilon recommends stringing ALU Power at no higher than 56 lbs (25.5 kg), primarily for comfort. We’ll want to double-check that we don’t exceed that, and I’m in the clear.
If you already string with a poly, I recommend maintaining that tension the first time you use Alu Power. Then, adjust the weight by a few pounds up or down based on your experience.
Composition
Luxilon ALU Power is a co-poly, meaning it’s made from a blend of polymers rather than a single base material. Specifically, Luxilon uses a refined poly-ether-ether composition that enhances performance while minimizing inconsistencies in the string’s makeup.
I prefer co-polys over traditional polyester strings because the added materials improve elasticity, resilience, feel, and tension maintenance, resulting in better overall playability.
One key distinction that makes ALU Power unique is the inclusion of aluminum, which contributes to a crisp, controlled response and a solid power-to-control balance. Most importantly, this feature provides an exceptional feel on contact.
Despite the sophisticated blend of ingredients, ALU Power remains a monofilament, meaning it consists of a single solid strand. This attribute enhances durability, ensuring it holds up well even in humid or damp conditions, making it a reliable option for all playing conditions.
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