News

Ashaway, RI – Since racquetball’s first surge of popularity in the 1970s, Ashaway SuperKill® strings have been a popular choice for players at all levels. And as the game has evolved, so have SuperKill strings. Today, the SuperKill family of strings offers an array of playing characteristics optimized to meet the needs of both recreational and competitive players.

“The story of our SuperKill line of racquetball strings has been evolving now for nearly 40 years,” said Ashaway Vice President Steve Crandall. “As racquet head designs and styles of play have changed, so have we expanded and enhanced our SuperKill strings to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of players.”

All three SuperKill strings feature a nylon core with a high tenacity nylon wear surface, and offer a range of design and construction features. The original SuperKill string is now called SuperKill II and is the heavyweight of the family. At 1.3 mm, or 16 gauge, it has a monofilament nylon core wrapped in a tough nylon wear surface. SuperKill II offers a superior combination of power and durability with excellent resiliency. Its rugged, abrasion resistant jacket resists notching even with the most powerful strokes. Offered in natural and white colors, recommended stringing tension for SuperKill II is up to 55 lbs. (25 kgs.).

As the sport of racquetball matured, players began requesting thinner strings. In response to this demand, Ashaway designed and introduced SuperKill 17. Also built on a monofilament core, SuperKill 17 is 1.25 mm in diameter (17 gauge) and offers an excellent balance of power and ball control with superior resiliency and above average durability. Designed for optimum playability at all skill levels, SuperKill 17 is a tough, long-lasting string with good abrasion resistance, and was used exclusively by several top touring pros in the 1990s. Offered in natural and white colors, recommended stringing tension for SuperKill 17 is up to 45 lbs. (20 kgs.).

The most recent addition to the family is SuperKill XL, which incorporates a multifilament nylon core that provides a softer feel with excellent response and resiliency. Also 1.25 mm (17 gauge), SuperKill XL is a thin, lively string that provides enhanced grip on the ball and shot placement. Designed for use by top players looking to optimize power, touch and ball control, SuperKill XL is white in color with a distinctive red and blue cross pattern. Recommended stringing tension is up to 50 lbs. (22.5 kgs.).

“Ashaway Racket Strings has been an innovative leader in racquetball since the sport was in its infancy,” said Crandall. “Today, as the sport continues to grow and gain in popularity, we have added new strings, like our Zyex®-based UltraKill® and PowerKill® families, and continue to research new and better ways to improve our racquetball string for the next generation and beyond.”

Ashaway Racket Strings are made by Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co., the only U.S. manufacturer of string for squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton. Operated by the Crandall family since 1824, Ashaway has been making racquet strings since 1949, and is responsible for several important technical innovations. Ashaway has been the Official String of USA Racquetball for more than ten years, and is also the Official String of Professional Tennis Registry. Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. also makes braided products for medical and industrial applications. For more information visit ashawayusa.com. Zyex is a registered trademark of Zyex Ltd.