Pacific Classic 1.25 x MSV Co-Focus 1.18

[a0f6459]

After rereading your tension recommendation you said you go 1 below the MINIMUM. I kept think it was the mid point.

In that case for me I should give 59/55 a try? WOW, the thought of that seems like i'd be putting the ball into the fence every time. However, since I don't know the effect of poly in a hybrid I can only go by recommendations.

I string for myself so costs are manageable. You think 59/55 is a good starting point? Do you find yourself purposely having to apply more topspin to keep the ball in, or will a nice smooth natural swing do?

[a0f6459]

Also this is a 16x19 string pattern

[Smasher08]

Originally Posted by a0f6459

In that case for me I should give 59/55 a try? WOW, the thought of that seems like i'd be putting the ball into the fence every time. However, since I don't know the effect of poly in a hybrid I can only go by recommendations.

I string for myself so costs are manageable. You think 59/55 is a good starting point? Do you find yourself purposely having to apply more topspin to keep the ball in, or will a nice smooth natural swing do?

I'd say try 57x53. Remember that you'll naturally get more spin from the crosses. And if it's still launching, put in some string savers in the middle 5 or 6 mains about halfway between the sweetspot and the top cross. They'll have the effect of stiffening the tension by a couple of pounds.

All the rest will be trial and error. You may need to dial down your swings for a couple of hours until you get comfortable.

If it helps, remember that Djoker's tension is 56 and Fed 48.

Oh -- and I'm guessing that your 80s stick weighs 12+ oz. If not, that's the only scenario in which I would consider revising the tensions upwards.

[a0f6459]

Thanks Smasher

I believe it is 12.1 oz strung. So I should still try 57/53?

Also I am able to get my hands on Classic 17 and Cofocus 1.23.

Will that do? Is there a particular reason the cross is always thinner in the cross in your playtests? Will it make that big of a difference?

[Smasher08]

At tension, Pac Classic 17 sure looks quite a bit thinner: more like 1.20 or so.

And at least in theory, less surface area in contact between the mains and the crosses should mean less friction. Which helps explain why thinner gauges tend to correlate with more spin.

If you're doing Pac 17, I'd strongly encourage Co-Focus 1.18. In fact, I'd even suggest it wth Pac 16L.

As for racket weight. If you were wielding a significantly sub-12oz stick, I'd increase tensions by a couple of pounds. But because you're in need of a reference point, I'd suggest sticking to 57.

Oh, and one more thing: because the setup will need several hours to break in, give it at least 8-10 hours before coming to any firm conclusions about it, including the tension. It'll be at its least spinny the very first moment you hit with it, and after about 5-7 hours, you'll really notice the change.

[a0f6459]

Thanks for all your suggestions

I went with the Classic 16L and Cofocus 1.18

I guess I will have two attempts at this.

I will report back my results.

[The Big Kahuna]

PLAYTEST UPDATE:

After nearly a month of play - about 30+ hours of play - the following hybrid test is still playing consistently well with solid comfort, feel, control, and spin. Very minor notching. Great touch and nice power.

• Strings: KLIP Legend Tour 17g mains @ 52 / MSV Co-Focus 18 @ 48

Power: A-
Control: (+ ranked) A-
Feel: A
Comfort: (+ ranked) A
Spin: A+
OVERALL: A

Comments: Great ball pocketing and lively response. Very "Liquid" or "Airy" sensation when hitting ("Spaghetti Strings"?). Great bite on the ball - terrific spin potential. Slightly muted power (balls stayed in play). Larger sweet spot. Tons of dwell time.

After 6 hours of play with the MSV Co-Focus 18g hybrid @ 48 (with KLIP Legend Tour 17g mains @ 52) in my Head Youtek Prestige Pro I am ready to declare this playtest to an end. Every time I put down this racquet to try one with another poly (Weiss Silverstring or Kirshbaum Pro Line II) while they both feel very good, I can wait to get back to the MSV. The feel and ball pocketing is SO much better. I have never felt strings with so much comfort, spin, control, and feel. The power is dialed down just a tad from the other two strings, but more balls go IN the court as a result. My groundstrokes and serves are much more consistent than they have been with anything else to date and it feels like the racquet is simply an part of my arm - it is almost as if I am "throwing the ball" back. The sweet spot feels huge and the picketing is insane! I am totally addicted. It is really like a whole new game for me. Fantastic!

SMASHER, how is you test with Pacific as the mains and C0-Focus 18 ply in the crosses going?

[jk175d]

Originally Posted by The Big Kahuna

PLAYTEST UPDATE:

After nearly a month of play - about 30+ hours of play - the following hybrid test is still playing consistently well with solid comfort, feel, control, and spin. Very minor notching. Great touch and nice power.

• Strings: KLIP Legend Tour 17g mains @ 52 / MSV Co-Focus 18 @ 48

Power: A-
Control: (+ ranked) A-
Feel: A
Comfort: (+ ranked) A
Spin: A+
OVERALL: A

Comments: Great ball pocketing and lively response. Very "Liquid" or "Airy" sensation when hitting ("Spaghetti Strings"?). Great bite on the ball - terrific spin potential. Slightly muted power (balls stayed in play). Larger sweet spot. Tons of dwell time.

After 6 hours of play with the MSV Co-Focus 18g hybrid @ 48 (with KLIP Legend Tour 17g mains @ 52) in my Head Youtek Prestige Pro I am ready to declare this playtest to an end. Every time I put down this racquet to try one with another poly (Weiss Silverstring or Kirshbaum Pro Line II) while they both feel very good, I can wait to get back to the MSV. The feel and ball pocketing is SO much better. I have never felt strings with so much comfort, spin, control, and feel. The power is dialed down just a tad from the other two strings, but more balls go IN the court as a result. My groundstrokes and serves are much more consistent than they have been with anything else to date and it feels like the racquet is simply an part of my arm - it is almost as if I am "throwing the ball" back. The sweet spot feels huge and the picketing is insane! I am totally addicted. It is really like a whole new game for me. Fantastic!

SMASHER, how is you test with Pacific as the mains and C0-Focus 18 ply in the crosses going?

I got out today with a fresh stringing of VS and Co-focus 1.18. Previously I had only strung up the co-focus on a set of VS mains that already had gone through three other crosses, even then it felt great but the tension of the mains was probably lower than what I would normally do so this fresh stringing was a better test. I strung this one at 55/49 and it felt great off the bat. My feeling about the set-up is similar to yours. After five sets against hard hitters today there is no fraying or visiable notching. I think I've found my cross.

[Smasher08]

Originally Posted by The Big Kahuna

SMASHER, how is you test with Pacific as the mains and C0-Focus 18 ply in the crosses going?

Glad to hear the good results! I'm going to do an update shortly. Just over the 20 hour mark now and the notching has become exponential. Loving how it plays but I don't think it's going to last much longer!!

[Smasher08]

Update - 20 hours

I don't know how much longer she'll last. The spin is just wonderful, but like I said, the notching is growing exponentially. I've put in about a dozen more string savers, but the notches are just ubiquitous and deep.

I'm not sure to what extent playing in slightly wet conditions had on the mains, but the notching took off like wildfire shortly after that. Also immediately noticeable was that I'd need to straighten out the mains a couple of times an hour.

Otherwise this setup has been phenomenal.and a real treat to hit with.

String movement: minor, intermittant
Power: excellent
Spin potential: outstanding*
Arm-friendliness: very good to excellent
Feel: very good
Fraying: virtually none
Notching: significant, widespread
Durability: good

[Nojoke]

Have you kept the same cross the whole time? Do you find the thinner co-focus to hold tension/liveliness as well as the thicker gauge you used before?

[RyKnocks]

Can this type of combo be used until the gut breaks or will the poly die and have a negative impact on the performance after a while?

[jk175d]

Originally Posted by RyKnocks

Can this type of combo be used until the gut breaks or will the poly die and have a negative impact on the performance after a while?

the poly may or may not die before the gut breaks, I swap out the crosses at least once before the gut breaks. If you string yourself it's an easy way to get more for your $ on the gut mains.

I think the lower the tension the less likely you will notice the crosses going dead. at higher tensions on the poly, say 52 and up, you *feel* a lot more of the poly and therefore when it goes dead you will feel its stiffness. At lower poly cross tensions you will feel the gut mains much more, so when the poly is done, you still don't feel it much. That's my experience anyway.

[The Big Kahuna]

Originally Posted by Smasher08

I'm not sure to what extent playing in slightly wet conditions had on the mains, but the notching took off like wildfire shortly after that. Also immediately noticeable was that I'd need to straighten out the mains a couple of times an hour.

This may have a lot to do with the differences in our durability. Moisture is kryptonite to gut and will definitely accelerate the wear on that string. I am in SoCal and that has not been a issue.

In addition, I am using the KLIP Legend Tour that has a double (black) coating on it that seems to me to prolong the life of the string. You may want to try that next. It also looks bad-*** with the MSV Co-Focis 18 in the crosses.

[Smasher08]

Originally Posted by The Big Kahuna

I am using the KLIP Legend Tour that has a double (black) coating on it that seems to me to prolong the life of the string. You may want to try that next. It also looks bad-*** with the MSV Co-Focis 18 in the crosses.

Interesting. I'm having the same setup I've just used put into my other MGPM, and have decided to give Pac classic 16L a try after that.

Klip Legend sure does sound good from your reviews, and you're getting precisely the kind of durability I wanted from this. Perhaps in a few months I'll give it and Klip Armour Pro a test drive.

By the way, is it possible to ask you for a pic of your setup??

[Nojoke]

I just put some armour pro 17 in my donnay plat 99 with black magic crosses. 52m x 48 crosses. I know our crosses are different, but I can chime in on the Armour Pro's durability.

Joe

[a0f6459]

Well, I finally got the strings delivered and strung them up last night.

Pacific Classic 16L / CoFocus 1.18

Strung at 56/52

I went out and hit for about an hour and a half so I am still undecided on how I feel about this setup. Smasher, I know that you said it needs a few hours to break in to see the extra spin, however, I am wondering about the power level.

I really feel that I need to swing out in order to get good depth. As you pointed out previously, if I don't forcefully put enough topspin while I am swinging out, the ball just launches.

I was hoping this setup would allow me to hit a nice fluid stroke to get good depth, while helping me generate extra spin when called upon.

Do you feel it is just a matter of letting the strings break in? Or maybe I should drop the tension even lower?

I'll give it a few more sessions until I hit the 6 hour mark before I make any determination.

smasher, what are your thoughts?

[Smasher08]

Originally Posted by a0f6459

I really feel that I need to swing out in order to get good depth. As you pointed out previously, if I don't forcefully put enough topspin while I am swinging out, the ball just launches.

Do you feel it is just a matter of letting the strings break in? Or maybe I should drop the tension even lower?

Definitely give it more time -- like until the 8 hour mark. You'll find both more spin and a little more pop by then.

The other thing that you'll come to realize is that the setup rewards swinging out, and once you get the hang of it, you'll start noticing that you're hitting more winners and unreturnables.

Just remember that this is a new setup for you, and there'll be a adjustment period, so feel free to experiment a little.

And as you point out, the other option is to go a few pounds lower in the future.

[jk175d]

Originally Posted by Smasher08

Definitely give it more time -- like until the 8 hour mark. You'll find both more spin and a little more pop by then.

The other thing that you'll come to realize is that the setup rewards swinging out, and once you get the hang of it, you'll start noticing that you're hitting more winners and unreturnables.

Just remember that this is a new setup for you, and there'll be a adjustment period, so feel free to experiment a little.

And as you point out, the other option is to go a few pounds lower in the future.

for me I find this feels great right off the bat. It does settle in a little bit but I don't find it *needs* a break in period. Two differences for me though are VS 17g instead of Pacific and my tensions are 55/48.

On a side note, the MSV Co-focus 1.18 definately cuts through the gut faster than the Silverstring 17g I have in another frame with the same setup.

[The Big Kahuna]

Originally Posted by Smasher08

Interesting. I'm having the same setup I've just used put into my other MGPM, and have decided to give Pac classic 16L a try after that.

Klip Legend sure does sound good from your reviews, and you're getting precisely the kind of durability I wanted from this. Perhaps in a few months I'll give it and Klip Armour Pro a test drive.

KLIP Legend Tour - Highest grade natural gut with tremendous playability. Legend Tour offers 2 coatings providing a livelier feel with more durability. Very responsive string with the uniformly smooth feel of natural gut. 100% Australian. Comes in a non-traditional black color.

What is the easiest way to post a photo of my set-up? I am not totally up on this new fangled technology thingy.