VS Gut mains and poly crosses

[TimothyO]

Para...

I have some WC Silverstring 1.25 inbound and will hybrid with either Touch or Team.

Previously I found Team a little too springy in an open pattern. Now I have a PSLGT which is pretty dense.

Based on your experience with this hybrid so far any advice? Right now I'm thinking Team/Silverstring @ 52/48.

How's the string movement with Silverstring? Does the Team spring back nicely?

[TaihtDuhShaat]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

Para...

I have some WC Silverstring 1.25 inbound and will hybrid with either Touch or Team.

Previously I found Team a little too springy in an open pattern. Now I have a PSLGT which is pretty dense.

Based on your experience with this hybrid so far any advice? Right now I'm thinking Team/Silverstring @ 52/48.

How's the string movement with Silverstring? Does the Team spring back nicely?

I'm using a PSL with NRG 18/ silverstring 1.20 at 52.5/48.5 and the tension is perfect for this stick. I know its not gut but same concept. String movement is a non issue and the playability is just right. I liked scorpion even better as a cross.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by parasailing

My current setup is VS Team at 58lbs with WC Silverstring at 54lbs. After a three hour break in, this string plays quite nice. The natural gut mains provide the power and is soft on the arm with the WC SS providing the additional spin that was lacking in a full natural gut setup. I will provide updates on this setup as time goes on but I would like some suggestions on which cross I should consider for future test setups.

I have read about WC Scorpion and WC B5E which intrigues me but I am concern about TT members who mention that B5E should be strung in the 40s which would be a huge difference between what I am stringing my VS Team at.

Wow, 3 hours is a LONG break in period. What does PVAudio string his natural gut at?

[dozu]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Wow, 3 hours is a LONG break in period. What does PVAudio string his natural gut at?

Bab guts do have quite long break-in period.

and I agree with the consensus here - mid 50's seem to be the ideal range for the gut, that's where it is the most 'gut-like', without giving too much power.

[TimothyO]

Originally Posted by TaihtDuhShaat

I'm using a PSL with NRG 18/ silverstring 1.20 at 52.5/48.5 and the tension is perfect for this stick. I know its not gut but same concept. String movement is a non issue and the playability is just right. I liked scorpion even better as a cross.

Why did you prefer the Scorpion over the SS as a cross?

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

Para...

I have some WC Silverstring 1.25 inbound and will hybrid with either Touch or Team.

Previously I found Team a little too springy in an open pattern. Now I have a PSLGT which is pretty dense.

Based on your experience with this hybrid so far any advice? Right now I'm thinking Team/Silverstring @ 52/48.

How's the string movement with Silverstring? Does the Team spring back nicely?

I went with the 17 gauge Silverstring so there might be a bit more movement than the 16 gauge you are going with. If this maintains tension, this will be the control racquet to compare for future string tests. Natural gut at 52lbs is going to be way too much power. I would suggest you up it to at least 55lbs and put SS at around 51lbs. You will probably have a longer break in period at slightly lower tenison as well.

As far as open pattern, yes it is springy but you would adjust by upping the tension to deal with that. My PSTGT is 16x20 which is pretty open and having gut at less than 58lbs is just way too much power.

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Wow, 3 hours is a LONG break in period. What does PVAudio string his natural gut at?

I think it's mainly the SS that gives me the longer break in period. I know if this was a full bed of VS Team, it would take me about an hour to settle in the strings compared to Pacific Tough Gut which took me about 4 hours to settle in and with that string I never did get increase durability people were mentioning. But WC SS is a crisp poly so it's not like Polystar Energy or one of the soft polys and takes a while to break in.

After the 3 hour break in period, it plays well, time will tell how long this last before the crosses go dead.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by parasailing

I think it's mainly the SS that gives me the longer break in period. I know if this was a full bed of VS Team, it would take me about an hour to settle in the strings compared to Pacific Tough Gut which took me about 4 hours to settle in and with that string I never did get increase durability people were mentioning. But WC SS is a crisp poly so it's not like Polystar Energy or one of the soft polys and takes a while to break in.

After the 3 hour break in period, it plays well, time will tell how long this last before the crosses go dead.

PVAudio did his setup at 55/57 and loved it. Might be a good starting point for you:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=262

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by mikeler

PVAudio did his setup at 55/57 and loved it. Might be a good starting point for you:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...&postcount=262

Thanks for the exact link. I will be ordering a couple sets of B5E and Scorpion to test out in both a full bed and hybrid with gut setup.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by parasailing

Thanks for the exact link. I will be ordering a couple sets of B5E and Scorpion to test out in both a full bed and hybrid with gut setup.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts on both of those. The B5E is just far and away better than any setup I've ever used. I still want to try out a few more soft polys just to make sure I'm not missing something better.

[stringertom]

I joined into the abovementioned thread several weeks ago because the conversation was pegged in to the type of set-up I use. The thread is buried 3 or 4 pages deep now but if a couple of you visit and post, we can bring it back to first page status. There's a lot of good info in it!

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by stringertom

I joined into the abovementioned thread several weeks ago because the conversation was pegged in to the type of set-up I use. The thread is buried 3 or 4 pages deep now but if a couple of you visit and post, we can bring it back to first page status. There's a lot of good info in it!

Where do you get your Bow Brand from? I spoke to Bow and they are looking for a different manufacturer for their gut strings so whatever you have might change again.

[TaihtDuhShaat]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

Why did you prefer the Scorpion over the SS as a cross?

Something about the feel of scorpion and it's easy combo of pace/control compared to the silverstring. The silverstring does everything well but the scorpion has a great feel.

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by TaihtDuhShaat

Something about the feel of scorpion and it's easy combo of pace/control compared to the silverstring. The silverstring does everything well but the scorpion has a great feel.

So is scorpion softer than SS and does it maintain tension as well as SS?

[parasailing]

Guess no one has feedback on Scorpion but just another update on my VS Team mains and WC Silverstring. I initially review this string and didn't really think WC SS was anything special. But after 12 hours hitting with this racquet, it now has soften up to the point where it feels really nice. The SS does not notch into the gut mains and has made them last considerably longer than if using a full bed of natural gut.

I did not even put string savers on this particular racquet and the strings show no significant signs of fraying. So the only downside for me about WC SS is the substantial break in time before SS softens up as tension maintenance is still good even after 12 hours of hitting.

[tennisinoc]

12 hour break in time! No wonder I cut mine out after 4 hours. I can't wait that long for a break in time. Gosen Micro 17 cross for me is NO brake in time and better feel and control.

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by tennisinoc

12 hour break in time! No wonder I cut mine out after 4 hours. I can't wait that long for a break in time. Gosen Micro 17 cross for me is NO brake in time and better feel and control.

It is probably due to the tension I put on the strings and need to probably fine tune it a bit with the WC SS since this was my first time using such a setup. I should have probably strung it about 5lbs lower for the WC SS since it is a crisper string which I do not like in a natural gut setup. If this were a full natural gut setup, it would take about an hour to break in and play well throughout.

[GlenK]

I'm using Supersense in the x's at the moment. But when it runs out I'll switch x's to Scorpion. I like Scorpion in a full bed, and "think" it will work well with the gut.
Still playing with the tension on this set up. Started at 54/52, but will up the gut to 55 next. I've got 12 hours on the set up now and it's still playing great.

[JackB1]

You guys think nat gut/ syngut will play softer than nat gut / copoly?

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by GlenK

I'm using Supersense in the x's at the moment. But when it runs out I'll switch x's to Scorpion. I like Scorpion in a full bed, and "think" it will work well with the gut.
Still playing with the tension on this set up. Started at 54/52, but will up the gut to 55 next. I've got 12 hours on the set up now and it's still playing great.

So how long does the hybrid setup of natural gut and Scorpion take to break in? I will try this setup next time I restring one of my racquets.