Babolat Touch VS Natural Gut 17/1.25 String
Line: Natural Gut
$65.00
Babolat has changed the name of the string from VS Team 17 to Touch VS 17 Babolat's top of the line Natural Gut in a thin and responsive 17 gauge. Used by top touring pros and players who demand ultimate feel and control. VS Natural Team Gut is constructed with a tighter gauge tolerance than any previous Babolat VS Natural Gut offering. Includes Thermogut Technology - a process of high temperature finishing that increases the cohesion of the fibers down to the core of the string. Made with BT7 technology which is a new layering structure, increasing durability by 15%. Offers a slightly firmer feel, but remains the "Gold Standard" for comfort and playability.
String specs
| Gauge | 17/1.25mm |
| Length | 40ft/12m |
| Composition | Natural Gut (w/Thermogut & BT7 Technology) |
| Color | Natural |
Where to buy
What players say
Reviewers call Babolat Touch VS 17 one of the most comfortable and powerful natural gut strings available, with top marks for feel and arm-friendliness. The main trade-offs are its price, lower spin and control than modern polyester, and the fraying that comes with the thin 17 gauge.
Best for
- Players who want maximum comfort and arm protection
- Hybrid setups (gut mains, poly crosses) for control
- Serve-and-volley or doubles players who value touch
- Players with tennis elbow or shoulder issues
Pros
- Exceptional comfort and shock absorption, widely cited as arm-friendly
- Effortless power and depth, even on off-center hits
- Plush feel and touch at net, strings snap back well after hard shots
- Holds tension longer than most reviewers expected for gut
Cons
- Expensive relative to synthetic and polyester strings
- Thin 17 gauge frays and needs frequent straightening between points
- Lower spin and control than shaped polyester strings
- Durability is inconsistent; some sets break within a few sessions
Voices
— Jonas Eriksson, Tennisnerd, Web
You really feel how the ball sinks into the string bed and how the string snaps back into place after a hard shot.
— Jon Crim, TennisCompanion, Web
The woven natural serosa fibers offer unmatched shock absorption and a plush response that's incredibly easy on the arm.
— Jon Crim, TennisCompanion, Web
The natural elasticity of premium-grade gut, derived from cow serosa, delivers effortless depth and penetrating shots, even on off-center contact.
— Kams, CA (Tennis Warehouse customer review), Web
Although expensive, this is best gut I find among the available brands.
— Mario, NJ (Tennis Warehouse customer review), Web
Difficult adjusting from polyester strings; too much power for a baseline player seeking topspin control.