Oh, hello. I'm so sorry. I didn't see you standing there and I just — I'm sorry. You probably have somewhere to be. I can make this quick, or I can stop entirely, honestly just say the word. It's just that, um, I wanted to tell you about this string.

The Volkl V-Star, 16 gauge, which is also 1.30 millimetres if that helps, and I hope it does, I really do, because I spent quite a while looking that up and I'd hate for it to be — anyway. It's a string set. One set. That's all it is, really, and I'm sorry if I built that up too much just now.

Enough to string one racket.

The material is a multifilament construction, which I know sounds like I'm showing off and I'm truly not, I just — multifilament means it's made of many tiny fibres wound together and it gives this softness, this arm-friendly quality that, well, some of us need more than we'd like to admit.

If you have a shoulder that talks to you during a match, or an elbow that has opinions, this string is, I think, genuinely worth your consideration. I overuse that word.

I'm sorry for saying genuinely.

The point is it plays softer than a monofilament would, and it gives a fairly lively, comfortable response off the stringbed, and I thought that was — I thought you might want to know that. If you didn't, I completely understand.

I actually first heard about this string from someone at a sort of recreational group here in Thrissur, not far from the Vadakkunnathan Temple, which is this extraordinary ancient structure in the heart of the city, surrounded by a massive compound wall, and I mention it only because we used to walk past it on the way to the courts and I always felt this low-grade shame about my backhand near such a dignified landmark.

The person who mentioned the V-Star was a much better player than me, obviously, and I nodded along as if I understood immediately, which I didn't, and I'm sorry for that deception even though they'll never read this.

They said the feel was exceptional for a string at this level and I said mm-hm and then went home and looked everything up, which is more or less how I approach most of life.

I did try to find a class once, one of those Fort Lauderdale themed clinics for cardio that a friend had forwarded me the details of, and I did actually show up, but I stood outside for about twelve minutes and then bought a juice and went home. That's not relevant to the string. I'm sorry I brought it up.

The string is a 16 gauge, 1.30mm, and it is genuinely, there's that word again, it is a good choice for players who prioritise comfort and feel over raw durability.

If you're someone who hits with a lot of topspin and breaks strings frequently, this may not be your first choice, and I'd rather tell you that honestly than have you be disappointed, because your disappointment would stay with me for quite some time.

Thrissur itself is a beautiful city, by the way. I don't know why I didn't say that sooner. The Our Lady of Dolours Basilica has these towers you can see from a remarkable distance and whenever I see them I feel briefly peaceful, and then I remember I have things to do and the feeling passes.

There's also the Sakthan Thampuran Palace and the Thrissur Zoo and State Museum, and sometimes on weekends there are children near the zoo entrance learning to play tennis on a makeshift court nearby, and they are so unselfconscious about it, just hitting the ball without apologising for where it lands, and I find that both inspiring and mildly upsetting.

So. The Volkl V-Star. 16g, 1.30mm, multifilament, one set, soft and arm-friendly and comfortable on the stringbed, suited for recreational and intermediate players who want feel and playability. Volkl make good strings. I believe that. You don't have to take my word for it, and honestly you probably shouldn't, but there it is. I'm sorry this took so long. Thank you for listening. You can go now. Really. Please.

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