Firm multis with good feel

kchau

Semi-Pro
I'm looking for a multi that isn't too mushy and not too soft. Livewire xp is good. But I want something cheaper than that.

I'm trying to make a full bed of bhbr 17 more arm friendly whyilr keeping as much of the characteristics as possible.

Good tension holding
Not too powerful
Firmer than average
Good feel
~$10 per set
17-17L gauge

Any recommendations?
 

tball

Semi-Pro
I also like Gamma Livewire XP 17. The string which I like even more than that is Prince TopSpin 15L. I know it's not the guage you are asking, but I like 15L very much. It is cheap, produces soft, dampened response, and presents very uniform stringbed (no hotspots, or deadspots). That's what I'd recommend.
 
I also like Gamma Livewire XP 17. The string which I like even more than that is Prince TopSpin 15L. I know it's not the guage you are asking, but I like 15L very much. It is cheap, produces soft, dampened response, and presents very uniform stringbed (no hotspots, or deadspots). That's what I'd recommend.

Topspin is within your price range, but it's durability is horrid even with it's thick gauge, and it's a very overpriced string. This is a synthetic gut, but I'd recommend Gosen OG Sheep Micro. It's a very good synthetic (one of the few synthetics I'd ever consider using). It's rather inexpensive at 35/reel. It's lower powered than most synthetics, has a crisp response, and it's pretty consistent across the whole string bed. Highly recommended.
 

kchau

Semi-Pro
i just sold 2 reels of gosen og micro. i hated that stuff. it just didnt compare to gamma synthetic gut for me. the best way i could explain it is that its not as crisp and less lively.

not sure about topspin, is gamma duraspin comparable? i have 2 packs of that.

i also picked up 2 packs of babolat addiction today.
 

anirut

Legend
I'm using the Ashaway Dynamite 17 and liking it a lot. Strung at 47 and 48 on two rackets. Even after really bad ball-trashing for three hours, and strung over two weeks, the tension is roughly still very much the same. On one racket the skin has already begun to peel. I check the tension-holding by referencing the string sound to the notes on my piano for both rackets. The strings still hit the same notes as when they were strung. Make sure you follow the instruction of stringing it lower than usual (10-15% lower) or it'll feel like playing old-style polys at 65+.

BTW, do note that this thing doesn't bite the ball hard enough for easy spins.
 
I just bought a 200 meter reel of Babolat Xcel Power 1.25 for just 160 Euro. This multi is crisp, has good tension holding and adequate power. Only nrg2 and x-one can compete with it IMHO.

This equals 10 euro a set, which is approx. 12-13 $ a set for one of the top multis if not THE TOP MULTI according to some.

I would consider that offer if I were you.
 

smirker

Hall of Fame
I'm looking for a multi that isn't too mushy and not too soft. Livewire xp is good. But I want something cheaper than that.

I'm trying to make a full bed of bhbr 17 more arm friendly whyilr keeping as much of the characteristics as possible.

Good tension holding
Not too powerful
Firmer than average
Good feel
~$10 per set
17-17L gauge

Any recommendations?

Head RIP Control would fulfil all the above criteria. I use it as a cross for gut mains and it reduces power nicely without unduly affecting the feel of the gut. Might be a good option for you also?
 

Lawn Tennis

Semi-Pro
Never tried anything from Mantis. It's kind of in between Technifibre's MultiFeel and Head's FXP control string but significantly more durable than either.

The Mantis CS looks good. I especially like the soft durable coating specs. How does that string feel and does it last? The Dunlop Multi takes a while to fray and almost feels the same up until it breaks.
 

mikeler

Moderator
Head RIP Control would fulfil all the above criteria. I use it as a cross for gut mains and it reduces power nicely without unduly affecting the feel of the gut. Might be a good option for you also?

RIP does not have any feel but it meets all the other criteria.


Never tried anything from Mantis. It's kind of in between Technifibre's MultiFeel and Head's FXP control string but significantly more durable than either.

The Mantis CS looks good. I especially like the soft durable coating specs. How does that string feel and does it last? The Dunlop Multi takes a while to fray and almost feels the same up until it breaks.

Mantis Comfort is the softest multi I've tried but it is also one of the least durable. I would get maybe 5 hours out of it in a full bed. It behaves much better as a cross string with a hybrid. The feel is great, the power is low and it holds tension well.
 

ced

Professional
I'm using the Ashaway Dynamite 17 and liking it a lot. Strung at 47 and 48 on two rackets. Even after really bad ball-trashing for three hours, and strung over two weeks, the tension is roughly still very much the same. On one racket the skin has already begun to peel. I check the tension-holding by referencing the string sound to the notes on my piano for both rackets. The strings still hit the same notes as when they were strung. Make sure you follow the instruction of stringing it lower than usual (10-15% lower) or it'll feel like playing old-style polys at 65+.

BTW, do note that this thing doesn't bite the ball hard enough for easy spins.

I too use the Ashaway Dynamite strings, both the 17 and the Soft 17 .... great tension maintenance in both. I usually string Soft 17 as a hybrid in the mains with PSGD about 4# higher in the crosses to firm up the bed.
 

smirker

Hall of Fame
RIP does not have any feel but it meets all the other criteria.


No, agreed, but 5 out of 6 aint bad!

When coupled with gut mains I don't notice a significant loss of feel from the stringbed and it (RIP) does lower the power and contribute some spin which is a bonus. On balance the positives outweigh the negatives of this string but I am now wondering how the Mantis CS would work as a cross for gut?
 

mikeler

Moderator
RIP does not have any feel but it meets all the other criteria.


No, agreed, but 5 out of 6 aint bad!

When coupled with gut mains I don't notice a significant loss of feel from the stringbed and it (RIP) does lower the power and contribute some spin which is a bonus. On balance the positives outweigh the negatives of this string but I am now wondering how the Mantis CS would work as a cross for gut?


The beauty of Mantis Comfort as a cross with poly is that it softens the string bed and keeps it low powered which I like. It is also fairly cheap. With gut, your string bed is already soft with feel, so I don't know what Mantis Comfort could add in that hybrid. I can understand crossing RIP with gut to tame it some. Mantis Comfort will also tame the gut but you won't get quite the same spin or durability. With that being said, please try it out since I'm curious how it plays on your dime! :twisted:
 

suppawat

Semi-Pro
The one that my friends keep asking for after testing is the test string from Solinco. It provides raw & firm feel, and works so well on our beloved Head PC600. I have no idea about pricing and when it will be available.

IMAG0002.jpg


Alternatively, you can try Volkl V-Feel. We tested it last year, and testers like it. A bit costly though.

Volkl_Venom_01.JPG


The outer core is black and the inner core is white.
_Cut.JPG
 

caesar66

Professional
i just sold 2 reels of gosen og micro. i hated that stuff. it just didnt compare to gamma synthetic gut for me. the best way i could explain it is that its not as crisp and less lively.

not sure about topspin, is gamma duraspin comparable? i have 2 packs of that.

i also picked up 2 packs of babolat addiction today.

I'm glad someone else has had this experience with of sheep micro. It's one of my least favorite strings on the market-I've tried it in full beds and in hybrids with strings that I love, and have been let down each time.
 
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Gamma Revelation, which I believe is around 7 bucks per set, is a very solid string. I have experienced all of the op's requirements. Worth a try in my opinion
 

mikeler

Moderator
I'm glad someone else has had this experience with of sheep micro. It's one of my least favorit strings on the market-I've tried it in full beds and in hybrids with strings that I love, and have been let down each time.


I also did not like the Gosen at all compared to Gamma synthetic gut. That Solinco prototype multi was horrible for me but that could just be due to it needing a lower tension.
 

Shaochieh

Rookie
Gamma Revelation, which I believe is around 7 bucks per set, is a very solid string. I have experienced all of the op's requirements. Worth a try in my opinion

+1 good cheap string with decent power and feel. I got a set from buying Gamma stringer and it actually feels better than NRG2.
 

smirker

Hall of Fame
The beauty of Mantis Comfort as a cross with poly is that it softens the string bed and keeps it low powered which I like. It is also fairly cheap. With gut, your string bed is already soft with feel, so I don't know what Mantis Comfort could add in that hybrid. I can understand crossing RIP with gut to tame it some. Mantis Comfort will also tame the gut but you won't get quite the same spin or durability. With that being said, please try it out since I'm curious how it plays on your dime! :twisted:

Lol,ok I will try it out just for your benefit when I get some MCS. My thought was to use the gut in the main and cross it with RIP control to tame some of the power and enhance the spin a little without going down the poly route.

I fancy trying a different set up altogether as I have been playing full polys or hybrids thereof for some time now.

I once tried a full bed of WC Explosiv and that was an uncontrollable trampoline for me so I don't want to go that route again. Gut at mid tension and a low powered multi cross at + 2lbs seems like a good compromise?
 

mikeler

Moderator
Lol,ok I will try it out just for your benefit when I get some MCS. My thought was to use the gut in the main and cross it with RIP control to tame some of the power and enhance the spin a little without going down the poly route.

I fancy trying a different set up altogether as I have been playing full polys or hybrids thereof for some time now.

I once tried a full bed of WC Explosiv and that was an uncontrollable trampoline for me so I don't want to go that route again. Gut at mid tension and a low powered multi cross at + 2lbs seems like a good compromise?


I'll be waiting for your review. ;)
 

Lawn Tennis

Semi-Pro
RIP does not have any feel but it meets all the other criteria.

Not a fan of RIP. It felt soft and dead at the same time, but never used it in a hybrid.


Mantis Comfort is the softest multi I've tried but it is also one of the least durable. I would get maybe 5 hours out of it in a full bed. It behaves much better as a cross string with a hybrid. The feel is great, the power is low and it holds tension well.

So Mantis is probably quite similar to Technifibre Multifeel. That stuff lasted about one hour before the protective coatings were gone! Four hours later, snap. The Dunlop multi is nice tradeoff.. lasts a couple weeks with a full bed and longer in a hybrid all while maintaining some level of feel.
 
I am currently playing with Isospeed energetic 17g and like it very much. Find it crisp and responsive with decent Spin. Holds the tension pretty well and has been good on durability so far. Anyone here has tried this string? would be interested to get your feedback compared to other multis you have tried.
 

mikeler

Moderator
Once the Mantis coating goes, you are a few games from breakage. I once peeled the coating across a cross string and broke it by hand. MultiFeel lasted 4 hours for me in cold conditions.
 

Torres

Banned
The one that my friends keep asking for after testing is the test string from Solinco. It provides raw & firm feel, and works so well on our beloved Head PC600. I have no idea about pricing and when it will be available.

IMAG0002.jpg


Alternatively, you can try Volkl V-Feel. We tested it last year, and testers like it. A bit costly though.

Volkl_Venom_01.JPG


The outer core is black and the inner core is white.

They look the same, or at least very similar, to the Head RIP line of strings.

Same manufacturing process?
 
+1 good cheap string with decent power and feel. I got a set from buying Gamma stringer and it actually feels better than NRG2.

Same. Got some with the progression II and now my dad (4.0 flat, classic strokes) is obsessed and I use it frequently as well
 

fortun8son

Hall of Fame
The Dunlop Comfort is great while you can still get it.
It is one of the few strings that has a multi core with wrap and two coatings.
Discontinued.
Mantis Comfort Synthetic is the next generation of this string.
The founder of Mantis used to work for Dunlop.
I'm confused, though.
What was wrong with the nat mains and Rip crosses?
Why back to poly/hybrids?
 
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coolblue123

Hall of Fame
I'm glad someone else has had this experience with of sheep micro. It's one of my least favorite strings on the market-I've tried it in full beds and in hybrids with strings that I love, and have been let down each time.

+1 on that. I thought this string felt really mushy on a full-bed. Maybe on crosses with poly will be better.
I still have 3 pkgs of this stuff I can't get rid of.

I really like Pro Supex FT Ruff 17g. But unfortunately, I haven't seen this on sale for 6 months now. =( It's has great feel and kept tension well. Durability was the only issue.
 

SteveI

Legend
The one that my friends keep asking for after testing is the test string from Solinco. It provides raw & firm feel, and works so well on our beloved Head PC600. I have no idea about pricing and when it will be available.

IMAG0002.jpg


Alternatively, you can try Volkl V-Feel. We tested it last year, and testers like it. A bit costly though.

Volkl_Venom_01.JPG


The outer core is black and the inner core is white.
_Cut.JPG

The first one shown has been tested here by many here about 6 months ago.. results were very mixed.. from... love it to can't wait to cut this crap out of my frame. I was in the last group... Others really loved the string and wanted to buy some the next day.

Have good one..
 

mikeler

Moderator
The first one shown has been tested here by many here about 6 months ago.. results were very mixed.. from... love it to can't wait to cut this crap out of my frame. I was in the last group... Others really loved the string and wanted to buy some the next day.

Have good one..


Yep, that was the December playtest thread. It was the lowest powered multi I've tried and just took all the sting out of my shots. Maybe lowering the tension 5 pounds versus other multis might make the string come alive.
 

bcart1991

Professional
I also did not like the Gosen at all compared to Gamma synthetic gut. That Solinco prototype multi was horrible for me but that could just be due to it needing a lower tension.

I got burned by 4 sets of Gamma syngut that all snapped on me inside an hour of play in the same week. Similar tension on all 4, and they all broke at almost the exact same spot, 3rd or 4th main, 5-6 crosses down. Obviously a bad batch.

Neither Gamma nor the retailer would replace them because they were the last sets out of a bulk purchase made a couple months earlier.

I get much better durability out of the OGSM, but I'm switching back to multis for a while. I like Gamma Revelation and Klippermate's Pearl Zone (going back to this string). They're quite similar in playability and price.
 

mikeler

Moderator
I got burned by 4 sets of Gamma syngut that all snapped on me inside an hour of play in the same week. Similar tension on all 4, and they all broke at almost the exact same spot, 3rd or 4th main, 5-6 crosses down. Obviously a bad batch.

Neither Gamma nor the retailer would replace them because they were the last sets out of a bulk purchase made a couple months earlier.

I get much better durability out of the OGSM, but I'm switching back to multis for a while. I like Gamma Revelation and Klippermate's Pearl Zone (going back to this string). They're quite similar in playability and price.


Sounds almost like the experience I had with the Gamma WearGuard version.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
I got burned by 4 sets of Gamma syngut that all snapped on me inside an hour of play in the same week. Similar tension on all 4, and they all broke at almost the exact same spot, 3rd or 4th main, 5-6 crosses down. Obviously a bad batch.

Neither Gamma nor the retailer would replace them because they were the last sets out of a bulk purchase made a couple months earlier.

I get much better durability out of the OGSM, but I'm switching back to multis for a while. I like Gamma Revelation and Klippermate's Pearl Zone (going back to this string). They're quite similar in playability and price.

Pearl Zone along with E-Matrix broke within 6-8 hrs, twice as fast as most multis.
 

mikeler

Moderator
^^^ Yep that WearGuard 16 version lasted me less than 2 hours both times I used it. It is packaged garbage.
 

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
Mikeler--have you tried the Solinco Tru Feel. I didn't think I'd like it because of the "plastic" feel when stringing, but at 62# (slightly above what I'd normally string at), I really liked it. What was their "prototype" multi?
 

wolfdog410

New User
i'm new to tennis but so bear with me if this doesn't make sense :) but i'm planning on crossing head RIP with either gosen og sheep or the mantis CS to add a little feel/comfort to the bed. do you think this would still fit the criteria of a low-powered, control-oriented setup? also any recommendations for tensions on each?
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
Tecnifibre's TGV...

Pre-stretched... not mushy... frays really nice.... in a tight string pattern has good durability.
 

coolblue123

Hall of Fame
My vote goes to Goldenset Maximals because it has to be < $10. Very crisp and maintains tension pretty well.
If it's > $10, Volkl Gripper, all the way! Great Bite, great feel, and great control. Bad durability...
 
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