Toroline O’Toro Spin is one of those strings that makes you stop and think about what you’re really feeling. It looks like a modern, spin-first co-poly that goes well with O’Toro Tour on paper. It plays more complicated than that on the court. I tried it out a lot in the Head Speed MP, and I was both impressed and a little confused, which is a good thing.
I really like O’Toro Tour, and Spin feels like a sibling that has been tuned differently: it’s a little less powerful, a lot more spin-biased, and sometimes more difficult to control. Sometimes it felt stiff and structured, but other times, especially at the net and on touch shots, it gave me a lot more feel than I thought it would. It’s a very interesting string, and it’s not easy to understand.
This review goes over how it plays, who it’s for, and why I think gauge choice might be more important here than usual.
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Tech & specs
- Profile: Shaped / snap-back focused
- Gauge: 1.23mm / 17
- Material: Co-polyester
- Available Colors: Lavender (also available in White, Neon Pink, Neon Green)
Playtest Impressions
From the first hit in the HEAD Speed MP racquet, O’Toro Spin made it clear that it was a firm string that was good for spin. The response was clear and structured, and the stringbed felt solid. Spin didn’t feel as powerful as O’Toro Tour and relied more on racket-head speed to control depth.
Access to spin is very good, especially on full, fast swings. Topspin forehands jumped up aggressively, and kick serves were especially good. The ball went up quickly and dropped late on topspin serves, which gave them a lot of margin and action.
Depth control made things more difficult. Even with the spin, I sometimes had trouble keeping the ball in, especially when I was flattening out my forehands or pressing on my returns. If your timing is a little off, the launch can sneak up on you. Also, the firmness and high snap-back mean that it doesn’t always self-correct like some thicker or more muted polys do.
The feel at the net and on drop shots was what surprised me the most. Even though Snap felt stiff from the baseline, it had a surprisingly good touch. The volleys felt clean and accurate, and the drop shots gave me more feedback than I expected from a spin profile string. This string is a little confusing but also interesting because it is both rigid and offers good feedback.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Outstanding access to spin for aggressive swings
- Excellent kick and topspin serve performance
- Firm, modern response with good stringbed stability
- Surprisingly good feel on volleys and drop shots
- Lower power than O’Toro Tour, which many players will appreciate
Cons
- Can struggle with depth control at times
- Can feel quite rigid despite thinner gauge
- Demands good timing and racket-head speed
- Not the most forgiving string on off-centre hits
Who this suits
Best For:
- Topspin-oriented baseliners who rely on spin to control depth
- Players who build points with shape, height, and heavy cross-court balls
- Those who use kick and slice serve to open the court rather than flat pace
Not For:
- Pure flat hitters looking to drive through the court
- Touch-first or serve-and-volley players
- Anyone wanting a dead-linear, ultra-predictable launch window
Comparable strings
In context, O’Toro Snap sits in an interesting space:
Summary & Recommendation
Toroline O’Toro Spin is a poly string with good access to spin and a slightly firmer feel. It has hidden layers. I loved the string, but I also wondered if I would like it better if it were a little thicker to slow down the launch and make it a little more forgiving.
It doesn’t give you everything for free, it’s less powerful than O’Toro Tour, gives you great access to spin, and rewards fast, confident swings. The stiffness can be hard to deal with, but the feel on touch shots is better than expected, which makes it a real option instead of just a typical shaped spin string. If you like to shape the ball and are a strong baseliner who can make your own pace, you should definitely try Spin.