Smasher08
Legend
Following my testing of a Pac Classic 1.30 x Co-Focus 1.23 hybrid, I was disappointed that it took approximately 25 hours for it to develop the kind of spinniness that I was looking for from the get-go. I suspect that at least part of the reason for this was related to using 16g mains in an 89" 18x20 racket head. And given the excellent durability of that hybrid, I decided to try gauging down a size to see if I could better get the attributes I was looking for.
I've been using 17g strings since the late 90s precisely because they provide better feel and spin. With Intellitour 17, now unfortunately no longer carried by TW, I'd found an excellent hybrid that had poly-like spin and durability, with a multi's arm-friendliness. Those attributes are still among my defining features when I evaluate a setup.
I sure don't think that this one disappoints.
Immediately I noticed much, much more spin than I got out of the 16g mains even after 10 hours. The difference in feel was exceptional too: my sense of the ball on the strings and my placement on stab shots was much, much better. I found it was translating into increased confidence to rip shots, and an increased tendency for those to land in.
To be fair, the 16g mains hybrid is significantly spinnier after 30+ hours, but after 6.5 hours the 17g set is catching up fast. After 10 or 12 hours it honestly looks like it will outspin virtually any textured poly.
And I am so looking forward to that.
As for how it plays on specific shots, it's uniformly excellent across the board, perhaps being exceptionally extra special on volleys and drop shots: there just seems to be some extra life on those that synthetic strings just can't match. Going for angles or winners on groundies just seems to be easier too, so it's not at all surprising that natty gut strings have been favoured by touring pros.
Impressions after 6.5 hours
String movement: none
Power: excellent
Spin potential: very good
Feel: excellent
Arm-friendliness: excellent
Fraying: virtually none
Notching: none
Durability: we'll see, but so far so good
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