Volkl V-Icon is a premium natural-gut tennis string designed for maximum comfort, elasticity, power and tension stability. It provides the distinctive response of genuine gut at a price that is often lower than the most expensive natural-gut competitors.
The string is made from natural serosa fibers and protected by a substantial exterior coating. That coating improves resistance to handling and moisture but can also give fresh V-Icon a firmer, more coated sensation than some premium gut strings.
V-Icon suits players who prioritize comfort, feel and useful power, including advanced competitors using it in a hybrid. The Tennis String Finder can help compare it with synthetic multifilaments.
Volkl V-Icon Natural Gut Rating
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Power | 9.5/10 |
| Spin | 8/10 |
| Comfort | 10/10 |
| Control | 8.5/10 |
These ratings compare V-Icon with the complete market. Natural gut leads for comfort and tension stability, while physical break resistance depends heavily on setup and playing style.
Volkl V-Icon Natural Gut Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| String type | Natural gut |
| Material | Natural serosa fibers |
| Profile | Round |
| Surface | Protective coated exterior |
| Gauges | 16 / 1.30mm and 17 / 1.25mm |
| Color | Yellow |
| Set length | Approximately 12m |
| Primary benefits | Comfort, power, feel and tension maintenance |
V-Icon is sold as full sets and also appears in Volkl’s V-Blast and V-Fuse hybrid packages.
Material and Construction
V-Icon uses ribbons of natural serosa that are cleaned, twisted and bonded into one string. It is not a synthetic imitation or multifilament nylon.
The natural fiber structure stretches and recovers efficiently, producing a combination of power and controlled elasticity that synthetic strings struggle to reproduce.
A protective coating surrounds the fibers. It improves handling and moisture resistance, although natural gut should still be kept away from excessive water, heat and humidity.
The coating can make the fresh response feel firmer than some premium gut competitors. Player feedback indicates that the string may soften after an initial break-in period.
Natural gut also differs from synthetic multifilament in how well it preserves elasticity during use. That retained resilience is a major reason it remains relevant for both comfort-oriented players and advanced competitors who combine gut with polyester.
Volkl V-Icon Natural Gut Performance
Power
V-Icon provides outstanding power. Its natural elasticity returns energy efficiently across compact, moderate and fast swing speeds.
The response is not merely uncontrolled rebound. Natural gut maintains useful tension, allowing skilled players to combine depth with touch and directional changes.
The 1.25mm version feels livelier, while 1.30mm provides more stability and physical resistance.
Power rating: 9.5/10
Spin
Spin is strong despite the round profile. Natural gut pockets the ball and retains elasticity, while its coated surface can move effectively against a smooth cross.
In a full bed, the strings may notch and eventually remain displaced. In a gut-main hybrid with a smooth polyester cross, snapback can be excellent.
It does not grip with sharp edges, so extreme shaped-poly bite is absent. Technique and hybrid orientation determine much of the result.
Spin rating: 8/10
Control
V-Icon offers excellent control for a powerful string. Its tension stability keeps the launch more consistent over time than many synthetic power strings.
Touch, slices, returns and volleys benefit from the string’s pocketing and feedback. Very fast hitters may prefer a polyester cross to reduce launch.
The coating gives V-Icon a slightly firmer character than some natural guts, which may improve containment for certain players.
Control rating: 8.5/10
Comfort and Feel
Comfort is exceptional. Natural fibers stretch readily and cushion impact across the hitting surface.
V-Icon produces deep pocketing and nuanced feedback, making it effective for players who value touch and varied shotmaking. The coating can make the first response crisper than expected.
No string treats an injury. Persistent symptoms still require qualified assessment and proper management of workload, technique and equipment.
Comfort rating: 10/10
Durability and Tension Maintenance
Physical durability varies widely. Non-breakers can receive long life, while heavy topspin and sharp polyester crosses may cut through the natural fibers quickly.
The 1.30mm gauge and protective coating improve resistance. Fraying is normal and does not always mean immediate failure, but deep notching should be monitored.
Tension maintenance is outstanding and one of natural gut’s main advantages. V-Icon can preserve useful response longer than many polyester and multifilament strings when it remains physically intact.
Care and installation have an unusually large effect on the outcome. Kinks, damaged grommets and excessive pulling speed can weaken natural fibers before play begins. Careful stringing and a sound grommet system protect the value of the set.
Choosing the Right Gauge
| Gauge | General characteristics |
|---|---|
| 16 / 1.30mm | Greater control, stability and physical resistance |
| 17 / 1.25mm | More power, spin and feel with faster wear |
The 16 / 1.30mm version is the safest full-bed and hybrid starting point. The 17 / 1.25mm gauge suits dense patterns and non-breakers who want maximum response.
Open patterns and heavy topspin favor 1.30mm because the strings have more room to move and rub together. The thinner option makes more sense when the pattern is dense or when feel and response matter more than resistance to notching.
Full Bed or Hybrid Setup
Full Bed
A full bed maximizes comfort, power, tension stability and natural-gut feel. It is ideal for non-breakers and players who value touch over polyester firmness.
Protect the string from moisture and inspect fraying regularly.
Volkl V-Icon Mains With Polyester Crosses
V-Icon mains dominate power, comfort and feel. A smooth polyester cross lowers launch and supports main-string snapback.
This is the comfort-led orientation used as one option in Volkl V-Fuse. A sharp cross can reduce gut life.
Polyester Mains With Volkl V-Icon Crosses
Polyester mains dominate control and spin, while V-Icon crosses add power and cushioning. This orientation is physically tougher on the gut and uses less of its elasticity.
It suits established polyester players rather than users seeking maximum natural-gut feel.
General Tension Guidance
V-Icon can begin near a player’s established natural-gut or multifilament reference. Hybrid setups should account for the different stiffness of each component.
Lower tension increases power and pocketing. Higher tension lowers launch but can make the coated string feel firmer and increase stress on the fibers.
Use the racket manufacturer’s range and avoid unnecessarily large changes. The Tennis String Tension Calculator provides broad guidance.
Who Should Use Volkl V-Icon Natural Gut?
V-Icon is best suited to:
- Players prioritizing maximum comfort and feel
- Non-breakers wanting long tension stability
- Compact and moderate swingers needing power
- Advanced players building a premium hybrid
- Doubles and all-court competitors
- Players seeking a lower-priced genuine gut option
Who Should Avoid Volkl V-Icon Natural Gut?
V-Icon is less suitable for:
- Frequent natural-gut breakers
- Players who expose equipment to moisture
- Buyers seeking the lowest-cost string
- Users wanting sharp geometric bite
- Players who dislike a coated, firmer break-in feel
- Anyone expecting a string to cure an injury
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Exceptional comfort | High cost relative to synthetic strings |
| Outstanding power and tension stability | Vulnerable to moisture and sharp crosses |
| Excellent feel and pocketing | Physical life varies widely |
| Two useful gauges | Coating can feel firm when fresh |
| Effective in full beds and hybrids | Frays with use |
| Often less expensive than premium gut rivals | Yellow is the only principal color |
Volkl V-Icon Natural Gut Compared With Other Strings
V-Icon vs Babolat Touch VS
Babolat Touch VS is a benchmark premium natural gut with Thermogut protection. V-Icon often costs less and has a firmer coated character.
V-Icon vs Wilson Natural Gut
Wilson Natural Gut emphasizes premium feel, power and durability treatments. V-Icon is positioned as a value-conscious genuine-gut alternative.
V-Icon vs Luxilon Natural Gut
Luxilon Natural Gut is designed with a firmer, more controlled response for hybrids. V-Icon provides a similarly crisp natural-gut option at a different price.
V-Icon vs Volkl Power Fiber II
Volkl Power Fiber II is synthetic and less moisture-sensitive. V-Icon provides greater natural elasticity and tension stability.
Final Verdict
Volkl V-Icon is a genuine natural gut that delivers exceptional comfort, power, feel and tension stability. Its protective coating and relatively competitive price make it especially attractive for full beds and premium hybrids.
It may feel firmer than expected when fresh, and its physical life depends heavily on moisture, spin and the chosen cross. These are practical considerations rather than reasons to ignore its performance strengths.
The 16 / 1.30mm version is the best starting point. Choose 1.25mm only when added response outweighs the loss of physical resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Volkl V-Icon real natural gut?
Yes. It is made from natural serosa fibers rather than synthetic multifilament.
Does V-Icon hold tension well?
Yes. Tension stability is one of its strongest qualities when the string remains physically intact.
Which gauge should most players choose?
The 16 / 1.30mm version offers greater stability and durability.
Can V-Icon be used with polyester?
Yes. A smooth polyester cross can create a powerful, comfortable and spin-capable gut-main hybrid.
Is natural gut waterproof?
No. The coating improves protection, but the string should still be kept away from excessive moisture.
Is V-Icon only for players with compact swings?
No. Its power helps compact swingers, while advanced players can use its tension stability and feel in a controlled full bed or gut-main hybrid. The racket, tension and cross string determine how lively the final setup becomes.