Tru Pro Strings: The Complete Brand Guide and Full Lineup Breakdown

Tru Pro — formerly known as Tier One Sports — has been quietly building one of the more interesting string lineups in the mid-price bracket. The company was founded by former Division I college players and coaches with a specific goal: close the performance gap between premium strings and the price most club players are actually willing to pay. At $21 AUD per set (with Triumph coming in at $25), they're priced well below the flagship offerings from Babolat, Luxilon, and Solinco — and independently tested by the USRSA to back up the performance claims.

The rebrand from Tier One Sports to Tru Pro hasn't changed the lineup or the manufacturing approach. What it has done is consolidate the brand identity. If you're searching for old Tier One Sports reviews online, the strings are the same.

Manufacturing: Taiwan vs Germany, and What It Actually Means

Most of the Tru Pro lineup is made in Taiwan. This matters for one reason: Taiwanese string manufacturing tends to produce a livelier, more elastic feel with better snapback than strings produced in European facilities. That elastic character shows up in strings like Pure Rush and Ghost Wire — there's energy return at contact that you don't always get from firmer, more control-oriented polys.

The exception in the lineup is Atomos, which is German-made. That's not incidental. German co-poly manufacturing typically prioritises dimensional consistency and firmness over elasticity. The result is a string that plays firmer and more controlled from the first ball — which is exactly what Atomos is positioned to do. The USRSA stiffness number of 320 kg/mm puts it at the firm end of the poly spectrum, well above anything else in the Tru Pro range.

Understanding this split helps you navigate the lineup before you even look at individual strings. If you want the livelier, more arm-friendly Tru Pro character, you're shopping the Taiwan-made strings. If you want maximum control and firmness, you're looking at Atomos specifically.

Reading the Lineup: Profiles and What They Do

Tru Pro uses four distinct cross-sectional profiles across the lineup: round, triangular (3-sided), hexagonal (6-sided), and octagonal (8-sided). The profile is the single biggest driver of how a string interacts with the ball — more so than marketing language about "spin" or "control."

Here's the short version: shaped strings (anything that isn't round) bite into the ball with their edges at contact. More edges, more aggressive bite, more topspin potential. But there's a tradeoff — sharper edges create more friction between main and cross strings, which can restrict snapback. The ideal spin setup pairs high ball-to-string grip with low string-to-string friction. Shaped strings deliver the first part; how well a string slides across its crosses determines how much of the second part it also delivers.

Round strings work differently. They generate spin primarily through snapback — the main strings slide sideways at contact and spring back when the ball leaves, brushing topspin onto it. A round string with a slick, low-friction coating can generate serious spin without the mechanical ball bite of a shaped string. It also tends to produce a more penetrating, flatter ball flight compared to the high-launch loopy spin of aggressive shaped polys.

With that in mind, here's how the Tru Pro profiles break down:

• Round: Ghost Wire — spin via snapback, soft, designed for hybrids
• Triangular: Firewire — three sharp edges, aggressive bite, maximum spin
• Hexagonal: Pure Rush, Atomos, Durafluxx, Black Knight — the most common shaped profile in the lineup
• Octagonal: Tour Status — eight sides, bite with slightly less edge aggression than hex

String-by-String Breakdown

Pure Rush — The Starting Point

Pure Rush is the most popular string in the range for a reason. It's hexagonal, which gives it genuine ball bite and spin potential, but it's made in Taiwan, which keeps the feel alive and elastic rather than stiff and boardy. The combination of a shaped profile and lively construction gives you spin and power in the same package — a harder combination to land than it sounds at this price point.

Tru Pro markets it as arm-friendly, and that tracks with the Taiwan manufacturing. If you're arm-sensitive and have been using a firm Euro-made poly, Pure Rush is a reasonable step down in stiffness without completely sacrificing spin. That said, hex strings with any stiffness still transmit more impact than a round poly or a soft multi — if your arm is genuinely compromised, start lower in the stiffness range.

The ball pocketing and dwell time are noticeable. The string lets the ball sit in the stringbed for a beat, which translates to feel and spin. For a mid-price poly, that's not nothing.

Pure Rush single set | Pure Rush reel

Ghost Wire — Built for Hybrids

Ghost Wire is the softest string in the lineup. It's round with a slick coating, and the USRSA stiffness number is 188 kg/mm. For context, Yonex PolyTour Spin — widely regarded as a comfortable poly — comes in at 212. Ghost Wire is meaningfully softer than that.

At that stiffness level, Ghost Wire isn't really designed as a full-bed string. Tru Pro's own positioning is that it works best as a cross string in a hybrid setup — pairing a firmer, spinnier main (like Firewire) with Ghost Wire in the crosses to soften the overall feel and extend the playability window. That's a sound hybrid logic: the mains do the spin and bite work, the crosses absorb impact and keep the bed from going harsh.

That said, plenty of arm-sensitive players run soft round polys full-bed with good results. If you've been on a firm hex poly and want to come down significantly in stiffness without moving to a multifilament, Ghost Wire is worth testing. The round profile produces a more penetrating ball flight and consistent launch angle — less spin than a shaped string, but more predictable trajectory.

Ghost Wire single set

Firewire — The Spin String

Firewire is triangular — three sides, three sharp edges. Tru Pro says it's ranked number one in their lineup for spin for three consecutive years. That's credible given the profile. Triangular strings tend to have the most aggressive edge geometry of any shaped poly, and the bite at contact is notably sharper than a hex string.

The USRSA stiffness sits at 236 — not the softest option, but not extreme either. It's in the same band as standard co-polys. If you're a heavy topspin baseliner who lets the ball drop into your strike zone and swings hard with a full brushing motion, Firewire is designed for that pattern. The triangular profile delivers edge bite, the snapback delivers RPMs, and the Taiwan construction keeps it from being a harsh experience.

For the way I play — taking the ball early, looking for depth rather than loopy spin — Firewire produces a higher launch angle than I want. That's not a criticism of the string; it's a shape-profile reality. Heavy topspin players who work the ball from higher contact points will likely find this a very different conversation.

Firewire single set

Firewire Boost — The Hybrid Pre-Made

Firewire Boost combines the Firewire and Ghost Wire technologies in a single string — essentially the hybrid logic built into one product. The spin-generating character of Firewire's triangular profile is balanced against the softening effect of Ghost Wire's construction, giving you a co-poly that sits between the two in terms of feel and bite.

If you want the spin of Firewire without the commitment of a full sharp-edged setup, or you want the comfort of Ghost Wire without losing all edge bite, Firewire Boost is the sensible middle ground. It's also the simpler option if you don't want to manage a proper two-string hybrid setup.

Firewire Boost single set

Tour Status — The Octagonal All-Rounder

Tour Status is eight-sided with a USRSA stiffness of 217 and a tension loss of 14.66 lbs. The stiffness places it just above Ghost Wire but well below Alu Power, which is a comfortable mid-range position. The tension loss figure matters: 14.66 lbs of tension loss is moderate — it'll move after stringing, but it won't fall off a cliff in the first session the way some polys do.

Octagonal profiles are an interesting middle ground. Eight edges give you ball bite and spin potential, but the geometry is less aggressive than triangular or hexagonal strings. The result tends to be a balanced playing experience — enough spin to be useful, enough feel to stay connected, without the extremes of the spin-maximising or control-maximising options in the range.

If you're a player who wants one string that does everything competently rather than one thing brilliantly, Tour Status is the Tru Pro string to look at first.

Tour Status single set

Atomos — The Firm Control Option

Atomos is the outlier in the lineup — German-made, hexagonal, and the stiffest string Tru Pro produces at USRSA 320 kg/mm. That puts it meaningfully above Solinco Hyper G (290) and well above RPM Blast (273). This is a firm string.

Firmness in a poly translates to one thing primarily: control. Stiff strings resist deformation, which means less trampoline effect, less power from the string, and more reliance on the player's swing to generate pace. The ball sits where you put it. For confident, hard-hitting players who want to take the power out of the string entirely and control their own depth, that's the goal.

The tradeoff is feel and arm load. At 320, Atomos isn't a string you string at full tension in a stiff frame without thinking about it first. If you're going to play this string, string it at the lower end of your tension range. And if your arm is anything other than completely healthy, this is not the right starting point in the Tru Pro lineup.

Tru Pro positions Atomos as their control-focused offering, and the spec backs that up. It's a genuine option for players who feel like softer polys are giving away too much depth and precision.

Durafluxx — Control and Low Power

Durafluxx is hexagonal with a stiffness of 244 — above Alu Power's 242, which puts it in a genuinely control-oriented position. Unlike Atomos, it's not extreme, but it's clearly not a power string. The name signals the intent: durability and control are the priorities, not pop or spin.

For players who snap strings regularly and want something that will last, or players who want to take power out of the string equation without going all the way to the firmness of Atomos, Durafluxx occupies a reasonable position in the lineup. It won't be as lively as Pure Rush and won't produce the edge bite of Firewire, but it holds tension consistently and sits where you put the ball.

Durafluxx single set

Black Knight — Durability With Balance

Black Knight is hexagonal and positioned as the durability string in the Tru Pro range — the choice when longevity is the primary consideration. Tru Pro describes it as balancing power, control, and spin, which is a reasonable description of a durable all-around poly. The hexagonal profile keeps spin potential in the picture, and the durability focus means string-breakers can stay in the poly category without burning through sets every week.

Black Knight single set

Triumph — The Premium Tier

Triumph is Tru Pro's top-of-range offering at $25 AUD, a small step up from the rest of the lineup. Full specifications aren't included here, but its positioning as the premium string in the range suggests it's where Tru Pro has concentrated more of the co-poly development work.

Triumph single set

How the Lineup Compares: Stiffness in Context

The USRSA stiffness data tells a clear story about where each Tru Pro string sits relative to the market. Ghost Wire at 188 is softer than most polys you'll encounter — significantly softer than Alu Power (242) and well below RPM Blast (273). Tour Status at 217 sits in the comfortable mid-range. Firewire at 236 is a standard co-poly feel. Durafluxx at 244 is in the firm control bracket alongside Alu Power. And Atomos at 320 is at the extreme firm end of the spectrum — there are very few strings in any brand's lineup that are stiffer.

For comparison, many players consider Solinco Hyper G (290) to be a firm string. Atomos is 10% stiffer than that. This isn't a string you string tight in a stiff racquet without consequences.

The practical upshot: Tru Pro's lineup is unusual in offering genuine options across almost the entire stiffness spectrum — from very soft (Ghost Wire) to very firm (Atomos) — within a single brand at a consistent price point.

Where to Start Based on Your Game

You're a heavy topspin baseliner who takes big cuts from behind the baseline: Start with Firewire. The triangular profile and aggressive bite are built for that swing pattern. If you find the feel too raw, drop to Firewire Boost.

You want spin but also want to feel the ball and have some arm sensitivity: Pure Rush. The hexagonal profile gives you genuine bite, the Taiwan manufacturing keeps the feel alive, and the stiffness is approachable. It's the most popular string in the range for good reason.

You want an all-round balanced string without extremes: Tour Status. Eight sides, mid-range stiffness, measured tension loss. Does everything well without excelling at one thing.

You string infrequently and want something that holds up: Black Knight for durability, or Durafluxx if you want the control element alongside it.

You're a control player who wants to take power completely out of the string: Atomos. But string it low — 48 lbs or below in most setups — and make sure your arm is healthy before you start.

You want to build a proper hybrid at low cost: Firewire mains + Ghost Wire crosses. You get the triangular bite in the mains doing the spin work, and the ultra-soft round cross in the crosses absorbing impact. At $21 AUD per set for both strings, you're building a performance hybrid at a fraction of what a gut/poly setup costs.

You take the ball early and prefer a penetrating ball flight over loopy topspin: Ghost Wire or Tour Status. The round profile of Ghost Wire produces the most consistent launch angle in the range, and Tour Status's octagonal profile is balanced enough to stay out of loopy territory. Firewire and full hex strings will push the launch higher than you want if you're hitting on the rise.

The full Tru Pro lineup is available at The Tennis Store.

Frequently Asked Questions