Babolat
Xcel French Open Black 17
Lab measurements for Babolat Xcel French Open Black 17, ranked against all 791 strings in the database. Every figure below is a testing-machine result at a fixed reference tension, not a playtest opinion.
Measured values
Stiffness
—lb/in
not measured
Tension loss
—%
not measured
Energy return
—%
not measured
Spin potential
4.7
higher = more spin off the string bed
Ball bite
0.413COF
higher = grabs the ball harder
String friction
0.087COF
lower = strings slide and snap back
How it ranks against all 791 strings
More spin potential than 48% of strings tested.
Grips the ball harder than 32% of strings tested.
More string-on-string friction than 39% of strings tested.
What Xcel French Open Black 17 is actually good for
Its standing on each of the site's rankings, out of every measured string in the database. Same arithmetic as the finder, not a separate opinion.
Measured at every tension and swing speed
The figures at the top of this page come from one test condition: 51 lb at fast swing speed. There are one in total, and all of them are below. Tension moves the bed more than the choice between two similar strings does, so this is the table that actually answers "what will it feel like for me".
Stiffness lb/in lower = softer, kinder on the arm
| Strung at | Slow swing |
|---|---|
| 62 lb 28.1 kg | 135 |
Tension loss % lower = stays where you strung it
| Strung at | Slow swing |
|---|---|
| 62 lb 28.1 kg | 28 |
Energy return % higher = livelier, more free power
| Strung at | Slow swing |
|---|---|
| 62 lb 28.1 kg | 95 |
The highlighted cell is the condition every other figure on this site is quoted at.
What else the machine recorded
Further measurements from the same test, given at the reference condition of 51 lb, fast swing.
More from Babolat
- Addiction 16 gauge 16
- Addiction 17 gauge 17
- Attraction 16 gauge 16
- Ballistic Polymono 16 gauge 16
- Conquest 16 gauge 16
- Duralast 16 gauge 16
- Duralast 17 gauge 17
- FiberTour 16 gauge 16
- Hurricane Feel 16 gauge 16
- Hurricane Feel 17 gauge 17
- M7 16 (1.30) gauge 16
- Origin 16 (1.30) gauge 16
What these numbers mean
Stiffness · lb/in
How much the string bed resists deflection. Higher plays firmer and more controlled; lower plays softer and easier on the arm.
Tension loss · %
Share of the reference tension the string sheds under a fixed test protocol. Lower means the bed stays where you strung it for longer.
Energy return · %
Share of impact energy handed back to the ball. Higher plays livelier and more powerful.
Spin potential
Ball friction divided by string-on-string friction. Higher means better bite with a cleaner snapback, so more spin.
Ball bite · COF
String-on-ball friction. Higher grabs the ball harder through the brush.
String friction · COF
String-on-string friction. Lower lets the mains slide and snap back into place after impact.
Compare Xcel French Open Black 17 against 791 strings Switching from this? Convert your tension Use it in a hybrid Find it on the map Find the right string for me