Crosses

[schap02]

Just racking my brain here - people always say crosses don't matter at all...curious to know why most pros use Nat Gut Mains and BB Rough crosses if they don't matter?

I actually prefer the poly main and gut crosses myself....

Anyone have any suggestions on Good playable crosses?
Let's stick to syn gut for now so we don't get a million different responses.

Also - best choice for a thin gauge (17 or thinner) poly - cost wise let's keep it under $5 for a half set - example - MSV Hex is 7.50 for a full set so it would rank as 3.75 for a half...

Current set ups in my KBlades are Pro Supex Blue Gear 1.19 Mains/Pro Supex FT Rough (17) crosses and MSV Hex 1.18 Mains w/ FT rough crosses...

 

[Mr. Blond]

Pros are using the poly in the crosses to tame the power of gut. They are just using the poly to deaden their racquet a bit without sacrificing all of the feel of gut on the mains.

 

[Dgpsx7]

Pros are using the poly in the crosses to tame the power of gut. They are just using the poly to deaden their racquet a bit without sacrificing all of the feel of gut on the mains.

I agree. Also the mains are responsible for almost all the spin because they are biting into the ball but from my research the reason a lot of the pros are getting a spin enhancement from putting poly in the crosses because a string like luxilon alu power rough has the rough texture that can actually let the roughness of the crosses create friction on the ball. A great example of this is how Fed uses gut in the mains and luxilon rough crosses. Natural gut also give great spin so this is a good combination.

This setup is of course expensive which is why he must use power pads to extend the time before his strings break and string spaces to slow down the rate of the rough crosses from cutting into the natural gut mains.

A combination that I would think could create the most spin would be MSV Focus Hex 1.10mm in the mains and Luxilon Alu Power Rough in the crosses. Once I get a hold of some lux I will try it.

 

[DrpShot!]

This setup is of course expensive which is why he must use power pads to extend the time before his strings break and string spaces to slow down the rate of the rough crosses from cutting into the natural gut mains.

Uh...do you really think Fed cares how fast he goes through strings? Its not like he has to pay for them. The pads are supposed to allow for more string movement, or pocketing, increasing dwell time. The spacers may create more spin by allowing the mains to to move and return to their original position:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=275155

 

[Dgpsx7]

Uh...do you really think Fed cares how fast he goes through strings? Its not like he has to pay for them. The pads are supposed to allow for more string movement, or pocketing, increasing dwell time. The spacers may create more spin by allowing the mains to to move and return to their original position:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=275155

yes both of them change the feel of the racket I have power pads on my K90. I did not try to mention it to say he is doing it to save money on strings but if you are in the middle of a point and your strings break you have a problem. This is one of the reasons he does this. So this way he just switches rackets when the tension goes down instead of waiting for the strings to break.

 

[rozzman]

Also - best choice for a thin gauge (17 or thinner) poly - cost wise let's keep it under $5 for a half set - example - MSV Hex is 7.50 for a full set so it would rank as 3.75 for a half...

Current set ups in my KBlades are Pro Supex Blue Gear 1.19 Mains/Pro Supex FT Rough (17) crosses and MSV Hex 1.18 Mains w/ FT rough crosses...

How is the MSV Hex/FT rough working for you?

I myself want to try the MSV in the mains with the Wilson Sensation or the Pro Supex Maxim Touch in the crosses...

 

[diredesire]

Just racking my brain here - people always say crosses don't matter at all...curious to know why most pros use Nat Gut Mains and BB Rough crosses if they don't matter?

I actually prefer the poly main and gut crosses myself....

Anyone have any suggestions on Good playable crosses?
Let's stick to syn gut for now so we don't get a million different responses.

Also - best choice for a thin gauge (17 or thinner) poly - cost wise let's keep it under $5 for a half set - example - MSV Hex is 7.50 for a full set so it would rank as 3.75 for a half...

Current set ups in my KBlades are Pro Supex Blue Gear 1.19 Mains/Pro Supex FT Rough (17) crosses and MSV Hex 1.18 Mains w/ FT rough crosses...

Crosses DO matter. I don't know of that many people who would blatantly disregard the crosses, but they contribute less characteristic (IMO) to a string job than changing the mains would.

In terms of playable crosses: I like Forten Sweet. It's soft, doesn't add to or take away much from a string job, and it wears really well. Tension maintenance is good for a nylon syn gut.

As far as polys, i hesitate to recommend anything without knowing what you want to get out of it.

 

[papatenis]

I thk most people forgot the reason why rec and pro players started using poly on the mains, multi strings were breaking too frequently, so inorder to maintain the multi feel but get durablity out of their strings, they tried poly/multi and that combo set lasted longer than full multi

 

[schap02]

How is the MSV Hex/FT rough working for you?

I myself want to try the MSV in the mains with the Wilson Sensation or the Pro Supex Maxim Touch in the crosses...

MSV is actually a wonderful string, feel is great but my main reason for using it is it comes in such a thin gauge so it works erfect in the 18x20 stringbed.

I have also tried a full bed of msv but don't think it's worth it when you can hybrid w/ a cheap cross for less than $6 a set - also Im a home stringer and I must say the msv is very very simple to string with

 

[rozzman]

MSV is actually a wonderful string, feel is great but my main reason for using it is it comes in such a thin gauge so it works erfect in the 18x20 stringbed.

Yes, I'll try the 1.23mm (instead the 1.18) for durability. I have an Hyper Hammer 5.3 with a 16x20 stringbed.

Have you tried the Yonex Tournament 80 Spin or the Signum Pro Poly-Speed Spin? I want to take a look at those too.

 

[Il Mostro]

Head apparently thinks the crosses are not irrelevant. Just read the RSI August play-test review of a Head Perfect Match Hybrid... 17g Sonic Pro mains and 16g Natural Gut crosses. I am looking forward to trying this.

 

[Dgpsx7]

Head apparently thinks the crosses are not irrelevant. Just read the RSI August play-test review of a Head Perfect Match Hybrid... 17g Sonic Pro mains and 16g Natural Gut crosses. I am looking forward to trying this.

I think the crosses are important especially for power and feel but the mains are responsible for most of the spin. If you think of the angle the strings rub up against the ball you can understand why the cross strings would not really produce any spin unless they were very rough.