130mm poly... Am I the only one? Luxilon 4G alternative?

[Bottle Rocket]

Hi All,

I've been playing 1.30mm polys since ~2007 or so when I discovered Top Spin Cyber Flash for $63/reel. I also converted at least 20 of my customers to it at the time as I had a bit of a stringing and customization business. As recently as a year ago I revisited the situation, since I play almost never now, but am still quite desperate for another reel of string. I've tried Luxilon 4G 1.30 a few times since and really enjoyed it, both in my BLX 18x20's, and my recently acquired Yonex V Core Pro 330. Love the control, the durability, the sound, the feel (or lack thereof), etc...Most people reading this probably haven't heard of Cyber Flash since the forum seems young and there are 50,000 string brands throwing crazy amounts of money at marketing, but in its day, this was great stuff. With this in mind, I do believe there have been minor improvements in string technology since, e.g. Luxilon 4G, and I'd like to take advantage of that. Durability, consistency of the life of the string, comfort, and the balance of spin and power from 4G is what I'm looking for. After reading through these forums a bit more over the last few weeks I have the following questions -

1. Am I the only person on the planet still interested in playing 1.30mm polys in a full bed (no hybrid)?
2. Luxilon 4G is $260 a reel. Cyber Flash is now $75 and not the original formula. What is the best possible modern alternative to 4G 1.30mm?
3. Seriously, how can everyone here be drinking the hybrid thin-gauge poly Kool-aid? Does everyone have a professional stringer and show up to the courts with 7 sticks? Every time I hit with one of these, or even my rackets strung with 17g poly that I had laying around, I am rather disappointed.

 

[mad dog1]

I prefer 16g poly in open patterns. I go with 17g poly in dense 18/20s.

I believe Nadal uses 1.30, too.

 

[travlerajm]

I’m not a poly guy. But ever since I went to 16g kevlar / 15L syn gut at the end of last year, strung tight (like I used to string problend in the 90s) my game has been rejuvenated by the improved launch angle control, and my confidence improving every month.

 

[esgee48]

RPM Team, KB Evolution, X and Max Power, KB Pro Line II and SPPP are distant runner ups. 16 Ga polyesters are too thick for some people in their minds. I am not aware of anything else approaching those listed. Pros Pro use to have a string called Spinox, but it was quickly dropped, probably with a letter from Luxilon.

FWIW, I thought RN used 15L polyesters.

If you could find a thick 1st gen polyester like Prince's old Tournament Poly and stretch it yourself, you could get the similar characteristics, but you would have to keep track of the amount and poundage of the pre-stretch.

 

[mad dog1]

RPM Team, KB Evolution and Max Power, KB Pro Line II and SPPP are distant runner ups. 16 Ga polyesters are too thick for some people in their minds. I am not aware of anything else approaching those listed. Pros Pro use to have a string called Spinox, but it was quickly dropped, probably with a letter from Luxilon.

FWIW, I thought RN used 15L polyesters.

If you could find a thick 1st gen polyester like Prince's old Tournament Poly and stretch it yourself, you could get the similar characteristics, but you would have to keep track of the amount and poundage of the pre-stretch.

Thought RN uses 1.30. I guess some brands consider that 16g while others call it 15L?

I know Tour bite 1.25 is 16L while 4G 1.25 is 17.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

And which 16 gauge do you prefer mad dog? And have you tried 4G?

 

[dr. godmode]

Rafa uses RPM 15L = 1.35mm

Polytour Strike is supposed to have good longevity, Tecnifibre has some mid priced strings with a solid following too.

 

[CiscoPC600]

What tension do you string at?

I'm on a quest for the longest playability (aka I also hate stringing all the time or polys that just go dead after 5 hours), and I think our best bet apart from 4g are Kirschbaum Max Power 1.30 and Solinco TourBite 1.35. I've ordered sets at both but i play with a Yonex 95 and string in mid 40s. Gonna try 40lbs exact with these two strings

 

[esgee48]

dr. godmode beat me to answering mad dog. Most of the threads here about RN's string have been 1.35 mm polyester. Some said 1.40 mm.

I prefer to stretch SPPP as part of the stringing process. When I was trialing polyesters, I noticed that they had very short lives for playability. Then I found SPPP and tried it. It had the longer durability, but not that much more. Maybe 50%. On my 2nd package, I just let the machine pull until it protested. Pull time was about 15-20 seconds. All during this time, the motor was making small adjustments. This string job lasted about 9 hours according to my notes, which was a lot longer than 2 hours or 4 hours using other strings. Ever since, I have just let the machine pull at least 15 seconds on all my string jobs. [I am considered a slow stringer because I cannot break the 20 minute mark. Takes me 35-40 minutes.] But I gave up on polyesters due to lack of longevity. Polyester strands stretch permanently with each ball impact. They have no elasticity for all practical purposes. With stretched out polyester, the rate of tension loss is dramatically decreased, but it still occurs. That means limited life no matter what you do. 4G 1.3 was trialed, but even then, the most I could get out of it was < 20 hours.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

Thanks for the responses all, this is great.

I tend to break both the Cyber Flash and the 4G before I have an issue with playability - my bigger concern is maintaining consistent characteristics throughout that time. I've been stringing lately between 50 and 54, though back when I was playing 3-4 times a week, for whatever reason, I was stringing at 56 or 57 - surprised about that looking back.

The SPPP people are talking about here... That's Signum Pro Poly Plasma?

The Solinco Tour Bite looks interesting, and Solinco seems to be all the rage these days ($160/reel). Tour Bite isn't a textured or shaped string, is it?

 

[mad dog1]

Thx @esgee48 & @dr. godmode.

 

[mad dog1]

And which 16 gauge do you prefer mad dog? And have you tried 4G?

I like outlast 16 and Prince Tour xp 16.

 

[Doubles]

Kirschbaum Pro Line X and Max Power both have the crispness of original Cyberflash. The new stuff is definitely different.

 

[travlerajm]

RPM Team, KB Evolution and Max Power, KB Pro Line II and SPPP are distant runner ups. 16 Ga polyesters are too thick for some people in their minds. I am not aware of anything else approaching those listed. Pros Pro use to have a string called Spinox, but it was quickly dropped, probably with a letter from Luxilon.

FWIW, I thought RN used 15L polyesters.

If you could find a thick 1st gen polyester like Prince's old Tournament Poly and stretch it yourself, you could get the similar characteristics, but you would have to keep track of the amount and poundage of the pre-stretch.

I forgot about Prince Tournament Poly. This is the most dent-resistant permanently slick poly I’ve ever seen. Prestretched PTP is an excellent cross string because if it. It’s the poor man’s Monogut ZX.

 

[esgee48]

@Shroud was turned on to this by yours truly. Don't recall if he still uses it. He had to when he wanted crosses at 86#. I like this string, but I don't use it. Same reasons.

@Bottle Rocket - Yes, SPPP is Signum Pro Poly Plasma. I get lazy and tired from typing everything out.

 

[CiscoPC600]

Thanks for the responses all, this is great.

I tend to break both the Cyber Flash and the 4G before I have an issue with playability - my bigger concern is maintaining consistent characteristics throughout that time. I've been stringing lately between 50 and 54, though back when I was playing 3-4 times a week, for whatever reason, I was stringing at 56 or 57 - surprised about that looking back.

The SPPP people are talking about here... That's Signum Pro Poly Plasma?

The Solinco Tour Bite looks interesting, and Solinco seems to be all the rage these days ($160/reel). Tour Bite isn't a textured or shaped string, is it?

Have you looked into the low tension theories around here and other blogs? I believe it helps tremendously with maintaining characteristics of the poly. Which is why I asked about your tension for these thicker polys. It also confirms the above post about slow pulling when stringing:

https://ggtennis.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/the-definitive-guide-to-stringing-polys-and-co-polys/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CiscoPC600]

Also, two more things about Tour Bite: (i) yes it is shaped, and (ii) the 1.35 version has better tension maintenance than the 1.30 version, but only the latter is available as an individual set (i.e., for some reason TW is down to reels only for the 1.35).

Some here will say they don't believe in the Compare Strings Tool, but I've generally found my own experience to match what the tool spits out--even before looking it up (i.e., no confirmation bias).

 

[ron schaap]

No i dotoo, now and then.
Losing some tension does not always result in lack of control, because dwell time could increase which is beneficial i find. 4g has a very thick 1.40 mm version but not easy to find. Also Weiss cannon ultra cable 1.23 is much thicker than 1.23 because its square and very very durable. Even its edges stay shap. However very low powered too.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

Have you looked into the low tension theories around here and other blogs? I believe it helps tremendously with maintaining characteristics of the poly. Which is why I asked about your tension for these thicker polys. It also confirms the above post about slow pulling when stringing:

https://ggtennis.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/the-definitive-guide-to-stringing-polys-and-co-polys/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I essentially follow these recommendations with my dropweight. Good reading though, thanks.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

Also, two more things about Tour Bite: (i) yes it is shaped, and (ii) the 1.35 version has better tension maintenance than the 1.30 version, but only the latter is available as an individual set (i.e., for some reason TW is down to reels only for the 1.35).

Some here will say they don't believe in the Compare Strings Tool, but I've generally found my own experience to match what the tool spits out--even before looking it up (i.e., no confirmation bias).

I agree that the compare tool info is useful. I'm generally looking to avoid square or textured strings, but honestly, I don't have a great reason for taking this position. I think it feels like durability is compromised and it's a bit gimmicky.

Re SPPP... I tried this stuff maybe 8 years ago. I hated it. I think I wrote a review on it and posted here, which I'll look for, but I recall thinking it was 'mushy'. Possible I'd think differently now.

 

[CiscoPC600]

I agree that the compare tool info is useful. I'm generally looking to avoid square or textured strings, but honestly, I don't have a great reason for taking this position. I think it feels like durability is compromised and it's a bit gimmicky.

Re SPPP... I tried this stuff maybe 8 years ago. I hated it. I think I wrote a review on it and posted here, which I'll look for, but I recall thinking it was 'mushy'. Possible I'd think differently now.

Yeah I’m more excited to try Max Power than Tour Bite for that reason too (prefer round polys). They seem to notch less and not there’s no shape to wear out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Injured Again]

I agree that the compare tool info is useful. I'm generally looking to avoid square or textured strings, but honestly, I don't have a great reason for taking this position. I think it feels like durability is compromised and it's a bit gimmicky.

Re SPPP... I tried this stuff maybe 8 years ago. I hated it. I think I wrote a review on it and posted here, which I'll look for, but I recall thinking it was 'mushy'. Possible I'd think differently now.

The two sharply-edged square strings I've tried, V-Square and Cube, both can grab the ball in ways that other shaped strings really can't, well, except for possibly V-Torque but only when that was very fresh. You do have some downsides. The V-Square notched itself heavily and broke in four hours, and the much thicker Cube went dead in six hours. They are much more sensitive to incoming ball spin, most noticeable when sneaking in to volley your opponent's defensive underspin shot.

I haven't yet found a textured string that helps spin production much over its smooth version.

The Tour Bite was the longest lasting poly string that I've found so far. It went a good 15 hours in the 1.30 gauge with good playability during the entire time. It's lightly shaped so spin is very good but not exceptional, and launch angle/incoming spin sensitivity are both moderate.

 

[terg]

Have a look at Head Hawk in 1.30. Great string with very good launch angle control. Played side to side with Poly Tour Pro and it was a world of difference. With PTP ball were going high/low long/short. While with Hawk i could rip the ball and keep them within 1m of the baseline.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

It had to be done... I bought another reel of Topspin Cyber Flash 1.30mm. And it's as smooth and satisfying as ever. Happily committed now to another 200 meters of it.

If you happen to be in the Bay Area and want to try some, let me know. You can grab a set from me on the courts.

 

[CiscoPC600]

It had to be done... I bought another reel of Topspin Cyber Flash 1.30mm. And it's as smooth and satisfying as ever. Happily committed now to another 200 meters of it.

If you happen to be in the Bay Area and want to try some, let me know. You can grab a set from me on the courts.

I thought people gave up on that string because they changed formula? It's stiffer and plays differently, no?

 

[Bottle Rocket]

Maybe so, but it's still great.