Need Top Spin String for Babolat Pure Drive Roddick GT

[maartn]

Originally Posted by majordude

Well, a little feedback.

I'm not sure I like natural gut... or maybe I don't like the tension. I have no clue.

I called TW and TE and BOTH said that their demo racquets are strung mid + 2. Mine is at 58#... the racquet is 55-62#.

I like a more powerful swing (the ball jumps off the string and it feels "solid").

So maybe 60 next time?

Or 16 instead of 17 diameter?

I've checked a few of your other posts and it seems that you haven't really been playing for so long/intensively and are actually picking tennis back up after years. Stating that you only played recreationally in the past?

If this is the case..

I wouldn't spend so much time on your equipment, it's only going to hold your improvement back! Work on your technique and your game for 200% and you'll reach far more then wondering about wether you should use this or that string at this or that tension.

Seriously, just pick something, which you have right now, and stick with it!
Practice makes perfect, not equipment

[Power Player]

Ask for a half reel of Topspin Cyberflash. It costs a little more then a set of good nat gut. String at low tension (54#s or so) for power. I would not string higher then that on a babolat, and would go as low as possible to be honest.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by majordude

Well, a little feedback.

I'm not sure I like natural gut... or maybe I don't like the tension. I have no clue.

I called TW and TE and BOTH said that their demo racquets are strung mid + 2. Mine is at 58#... the racquet is 55-62#.

I like a more powerful swing (the ball jumps off the string and it feels "solid").

So maybe 60 next time?

Or 16 instead of 17 diameter?

My favorite gut on both my Pure Drive and Pure Storm is Global 16 in black. I've tried others like Klip and Babolat and GG is the best for these racquets, IMO. It also does not move at ALL in the stringbed... which is something I had a major issue with using the Klip and Babolat NG.

Here's the PD with Global Gut 16g... strung at 55 lbs. on a DW machine:

[Bud]

Originally Posted by davidm

Try things like Gosen OG Micro or Prince Syn Gut Original, or a good but cheap multi like Bab Addiction, or a soft co-poly like MSV Focus Hex (try it around 50lbs). these are all nice strings in my opinion from each different "class" of strings, and under $10 a set ea. - 4 sets, 4 different strings compared to one set of VS for $42. have fun!

I agree... Gosen Micro 17/18 also feels good in Babolat frames and it's much cheaper. It gives much crisper feedback, compared to gut. Be careful though and heed the warning if you start feeling pain in your wrist/arm/shoulder.

The reason I use NG in my Babolats is to minimize any injury risks since I've suffered from really severe TE in the past.

I love the feel of a Babolat racquet and I play my best tennis with them.

[coloskier]

If you don't have the swing mechanics to hit good topspin, all the string in the world won't help you. So, the best topspin string would be the string that makes you swing correctly.

[davidm]

Originally Posted by Bud

Here's the PD with Global Gut 16g... strung at 55 lbs. on a DW machine:

Sweet looking string job Bud!

I noticed that you did the final cross tie-off at 10, which is I know the recommended spot on Pure Drives, but I've always found the space there too darn small on the pure drives between the cross the last main - at least too tight to do a parnell without it pushing the last main inwards a little at the tie off. So I always open up grommet 11 for the tie-off when i am doing a pure drive and that's worked well, but does mean a little extra length of string running on the outside and maybe a tad more tension loss after the tie is done.

But yours looks very neat at 10 and the main doesn't appear to be pushed in at all. What knot are you using there? a PC knot? or just one single half-hitch?

Thanks!

[Bud]

Originally Posted by davidm

Sweet looking string job Bud!

I noticed that you did the final cross tie-off at 10, which is I know the recommended spot on Pure Drives, but I've always found the space there too darn small on the pure drives between the cross the last main - at least too tight to do a parnell without it pushing the last main inwards a little at the tie off. So I always open up grommet 11 for the tie-off when i am doing a pure drive and that's worked well, but does mean a little extra length of string running on the outside and maybe a tad more tension loss after the tie is done.

But yours looks very neat at 10 and the main doesn't appear to be pushed in at all. What knot are you using there? a PC knot? or just one single half-hitch?

Thanks!

Single half hitch

You're correct... that's about the only grommet you can use safely and a double HH is too large. When stringing NG, I like to minimize use of the awl.

[davidm]

Originally Posted by Bud

Single half hitch

You're correct... that's about the only grommet you can use safely and a double HH is too large. When stringing NG, I like to minimize use of the awl.

Right makes sense. to clarify, I enlarge 11 first beforehand, so it's already big enough to use like a normal tie-off without need to use an awl anywhere near the string. But if I could get away with using 10 i would definitely prefer that as it saves some time at least on the first job not having to do the enlargement.

i guess with NG the single half-hitch can hold securely anyway. thanks!

[jim e]

Originally Posted by davidm

Right makes sense. to clarify, I enlarge 11 first beforehand, so it's already big enough to use like a normal tie-off without need to use an awl anywhere near the string. But if I could get away with using 10 i would definitely prefer that as it saves some time at least on the first job not having to do the enlargement.

i guess with NG the single half-hitch can hold securely anyway. thanks!

In tight tie off spots like this, the PC knot works very nice.

[majordude]

Originally Posted by maartn

I wouldn't spend so much time on your equipment, it's only going to hold your improvement back! Work on your technique and your game for 200% and you'll reach far more then wondering about wether you should use this or that string at this or that tension.

I'm an avid multi-tasker. I'm doing all of the above!

After I break this natural gut I think I'll string with Babolat Xcel 16 (is 17 better?) at 55#.

[guedoguedo]

17 gauge in a non poly string will break way too quick (if you are 4.0+) ...go with 16 unless your using poly