Soft poly with good spin?

[JT_2eighty]

JT, have you tried PS Strike which is a bit stiffer than Energy but holds tension better (so I am led to believe)? Also I have thought about hybriding these strings, in particular Turbo/Energy but also thinking of Strike/Energy.

Yes, I've used Strike, Turbo and Energy; all in full beds at 50 lbs (as well as some other tensions and hybrids with Turbo and Energy).

Strike on its own is a not as soft as the other two, but still on the softer spectrum of copolys. It is a nice string with better tension maintenance than the other two, better control but not a 'big spin' string. It has a unique surface, but probably not enough to cause any difference to ball contact; I didn't notice any wild spin-ability or 'ball bite'. It had a greasy-like coating on it, so I tried it with Gut mains as well. That was a nice combo. Easier spin production, and great flat control with gut mains. Strike in a full bed to me felt like a soft version of BBO. Good all-round poly, but without one single defining characteristic: average feel, spin & power; good to very good control.

I do have a Turbo/Strike hybrid on my short list to try out soon. Strike/Energy would also be an interesting one too.

 

[smirker]

Yes, I've used Strike, Turbo and Energy; all in full beds at 50 lbs (as well as some other tensions and hybrids with Turbo and Energy).

Strike on its own is a not as soft as the other two, but still on the softer spectrum of copolys. It is a nice string with better tension maintenance than the other two, better control but not a 'big spin' string. It has a unique surface, but probably not enough to cause any difference to ball contact; I didn't notice any wild spin-ability or 'ball bite'. It had a greasy-like coating on it, so I tried it with Gut mains as well. That was a nice combo. Easier spin production, and great flat control with gut mains. Strike in a full bed to me felt like a soft version of BBO. Good all-round poly, but without one single defining characteristic: average feel, spin & power; good to very good control.

I do have a Turbo/Strike hybrid on my short list to try out soon. Strike/Energy would also be an interesting one too.

Thanks for the info. I will get to trying Turbo/Energy and strike/Energy when they come. Got some Energy in 1.20 to use as a cross and 1.25 to use full. Also some Classic as they were selling it off cheap. Any experience of that?

 

[Darkhors]

I think the new Prince Beast XP should be on the list. To me it's a super comfortable (see SOFT) co-poly and it seems to hold tension very well. A couple of my high school players I've strung for are using it and they have about 20 hours on it and are still loving it. I asked them how it was playing and if they thought we needed to restring again and they said no, the love it the way it is right now.

Just for reference these are #1 and #2 singles guys that are competitive at the state level and play USTA.

I'm thinking of using it as a full bed in my YTek PP, but not sure at what tension. I'm thinking maybe 46lbs?

DH

 

[BreakPoint]

OMG. You haven't tried it yet. PE is strung very low like 44 lbs cross with syn gut is probably more comfy than a stiff multi at 56/57. That's just what I think. I'm probably never gonna hear the end of this now from the non ploy users, lol

You should try poly for the last time, this is quite soft, my clamps leaves marks all over the string cause its that soft. My mate broke this string on his machine, and he's stung hundreds of polys, tells me it's the softest he's strung.

But if PS Energy really is THAT soft, why not just use a multi? From my experience, the stiffer the string, the easier it is to generate spin.

 

[pvaudio]

BP, I own reels of Energy and Turbo. I also have a reel of Genesis Black Magic, and sets in various gauges of Dunlop Black Widow. Black Widow 18 is the softest poly on the market as far as stiffness goes depending on who you ask (Pro Hurricane 18 and Head FXP Tour are softer in some, Topspin Cyberflash are softer in other lists, but BW is always in that top 3). By feel, Black Magic feels softer with Energy and Turbo coming in just slightly softer feeling. Energy will not transform your opinion of poly. For my customers seeking the utmost in poly comfort, I send them to Black Magic or Energy. Many still have TE issues. When I go and use Black Widow, the TE disappears. In short, Xonemains' clamps are simply set too tight because while it feels incredibly soft and is incredibly soft, it's not soft enough to declare that it's like playing with a multi. Not even close.

 

[unit-0]

cross string tension

OMG. You haven't tried it yet. PE is strung very low like 44 lbs cross with syn gut is probably more comfy than a stiff multi at 56/57. That's just what I think. I'm probably never gonna hear the end of this now from the non ploy users, lol

You should try poly for the last time, this is quite soft, my clamps leaves marks all over the string cause its that soft. My mate broke this string on his machine, and he's stung hundreds of polys, tells me it's the softest he's strung.

What is your cross tension?

 

[rodrigoamaral]

Poly Star energy and turbo are both terrific strings with excellent feel and comfort.. They sure are not as soft as multi's but without a doubt the best feeling poly out there

 

[Xonemains]

But if PS Energy really is THAT soft, why not just use a multi? From my experience, the stiffer the string, the easier it is to generate spin.

I break multis in about 3 hours, I'm sick of stringing my racquets.

PE does not break and the price, man, the reel is a bargain! Cross with syn gut, it's even cheaper, lol, goodluck with your trial

 

[BreakPoint]

BP, I own reels of Energy and Turbo. I also have a reel of Genesis Black Magic, and sets in various gauges of Dunlop Black Widow. Black Widow 18 is the softest poly on the market as far as stiffness goes depending on who you ask (Pro Hurricane 18 and Head FXP Tour are softer in some, Topspin Cyberflash are softer in other lists, but BW is always in that top 3). By feel, Black Magic feels softer with Energy and Turbo coming in just slightly softer feeling. Energy will not transform your opinion of poly. For my customers seeking the utmost in poly comfort, I send them to Black Magic or Energy. Many still have TE issues. When I go and use Black Widow, the TE disappears. In short, Xonemains' clamps are simply set too tight because while it feels incredibly soft and is incredibly soft, it's not soft enough to declare that it's like playing with a multi. Not even close.

Thanks for the info, pvaudio.

This is the kind of frank answer I was looking for.

 

[BreakPoint]

I break multis in about 3 hours, I'm sick of stringing my racquets.

PE does not break and the price, man, the reel is a bargain! Cross with syn gut, it's even cheaper, lol, goodluck with your trial

Well, I don't break multis that fast and I string my own racquets so durability is not that important to me. The most important priority for me is comfort and injury prevention. And since I hit mostly flat, the ability of the string to generate gobs of spin is not all that important to me either. So based on pvaudio's comment, I think I'll pass on the trial of PS Energy.

BTW, what's the difference between breaking a multi in 3 hours versus having to cut out PS Energy after only a few hours since it quickly loses all playability as others here have pointed out?

 

[pvaudio]

I mean for sure, as far as polys go, Energy is very soft feeling. If you get elbow pain though, it's not going to help compared to a multi. The biggest problem with Polystar strings is that when they die, they turn into ABSOLUTE bazookas. That's quite frustrating.

 

[sansaephanh]

I mean for sure, as far as polys go, Energy is very soft feeling. If you get elbow pain though, it's not going to help compared to a multi. The biggest problem with Polystar strings is that when they die, they turn into ABSOLUTE bazookas. That's quite frustrating.

considering you should cut out poly when they die, it isnt that bad right? I mean it would suck if you were spaying balls in a match, but most people these days have some sort of back up stick.

 

[Xonemains]

BTW, what's the difference between breaking a multi in 3 hours versus having to cut out PS Energy after only a few hours since it quickly loses all playability as others here have pointed out?

PE last me about 8 hours before I cut. Play 12 hours p/week. So it's a lot of restings for me.

 

[TonyB]

While we're on the subject of PS Energy, I have to add that while the string does become a rocket launcher after 6 hours or so, it's still very soft and comfortable. So yes, you have to work really hard to control the power, and you definitely get some flyaway shots from time to time, you can still actually play with the string without it killing your arm like 99% of the other polys that go dead after 10 hours.

So if you really wanted to, and you could control the increased power, you could actually continue to use PS Energy for many hours beyond the 6 hour mark, probably 10-12 hours or more without any other problems.

 

[pvaudio]

considering you should cut out poly when they die, it isnt that bad right? I mean it would suck if you were spaying balls in a match, but most people these days have some sort of back up stick.

Indeed you should, but even as a stringer myself, I still don't do it religiously. I also can only advise my clients to do so, but in all honesty, 99% of players who have to pay someone for stringing are not going to get their strings re-done until they're absolutely unplayable. That occurs well after death.

 

[smirker]

While we're on the subject of PS Energy, I have to add that while the string does become a rocket launcher after 6 hours or so, it's still very soft and comfortable. So yes, you have to work really hard to control the power, and you definitely get some flyaway shots from time to time, you can still actually play with the string without it killing your arm like 99% of the other polys that go dead after 10 hours.

So if you really wanted to, and you could control the increased power, you could actually continue to use PS Energy for many hours beyond the 6 hour mark, probably 10-12 hours or more without any other problems.

Good point. I found this when I strung up my N-Tour Two with Energy at 35lbs. It was godlike for the first two hours but still playable for a long time after and I didn't notice any discomfort like I do with other polys after leaving them in the racquet too long. A hybrid of PSE mains and syn gut crosses would also mitigate against the rocket launcher effect.

 

[TonyB]

A hybrid of PSE mains and syn gut crosses would also mitigate against the rocket launcher effect.

I tried this for a brief test and it stunk. It was almost as if I didn't even have PS Energy in my racquet at all. None of the good characteristics were there. I immediately restrung with a full bed and I was back in heaven.

 

[Jazo]

Thanks for the answers