Mamba Tennis

[mctennis]

I'm waiting for the gut in a 17g to come out. I saw that the 16g is sort of thick to get through some grommets. I'm not sure the 17g is out quite yet.

[Lsmkenpo]

They also have a yellow 1.25mm poly called spin monster this is a hidden gem, it is a little livelier than all of the black mamba strings, and plays very consistent for an extended period of time. Well worth a try for any player looking for a livelier poly that doesn't go dead fast or suddenly become a rocket launcher hit to hit.

It may be the best price to performance poly currently produced.

[mad dog1]

^^ have you tried IonTec yet? if so, how does it compare? reason why i ask is because i'm generally not a big fan of shaped or twist/textured strings. i've tried some Mamba, Penta, Penta twist and found Mamba and Penta to be pretty good, but IonTec was the best of any poly including other brands i've tried to date.

[BobFL]

Originally Posted by mctennis

I'm waiting for the gut in a 17g to come out. I saw that the 16g is sort of thick to get through some grommets. I'm not sure the 17g is out quite yet.

Gut 16g looks awful. Very low quality. Gauge is from 1.13 to 1.36 on the sample I saw.

[Lsmkenpo]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

^^ have you tried IonTec yet? if so, how does it compare? reason why i ask is because i'm generally not a big fan of shaped or twist/textured strings. i've tried some Mamba, Penta, Penta twist and found Mamba and Penta to be pretty good, but IonTec was the best of any poly including other brands i've tried to date.

Yeah, I have played Iontec, Poly premium, Black spin, Black mamba, Black Mamba Penta Twisted and Spin Monster.

Iontec is petty unique it is a prestretched poly but still soft and low powered with a large emphasis on control without the need for a lot of topspin to keep the ball in play. The string kind of makes your racquet feel like you are hitting with the control of a denser string patterned racquet while maintaining a soft feeling string bed. No poly that I have ever played really feels like it. It is a unique string that players will either love or hate.

Spin Monster is much livelier than Iontec, it offers more power and spin, the extra spin is what gives the control with this string. If you have the racquet head speed and hit with a lot of topspin you can hit a really heavy ball with this string. It is not as heavily textured as the various Black Mamba strings, I would call it more shaped than textured. I usually have to restring with most polys after a long match or a hitting session but spin monster doesn't seem to go dead very fast or become a surprise rocket launcher next time you hit with it.

If you are more of an all court player or a flat ball striker you may prefer the control and feel of Iontec, if you are an aggressive base liner with a lot of racquet head speed and topspin strokes you will probably prefer Spin Monster or Black Mamba Penta Twisted over Iontec.

[lstewart]

I ordered a couple of sets of their 16g gut, and have used it once as a cross for a poly main. It was difficult to string, but seemed okay once in the frame. I don't really care for it, but I think it is just the gut feel, and not the brand of gut. I recently ordered a couple of sets of one of their multi's, Acura Control. It seemed to be made with the same material Isospeed and Head use.... which I've had some interest in... again as a cross string with poly. Have it in a frame as a cross now, but have not hit enough with it yet to have an opinion. Their customer service seems to be very good, at least with general communications.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by Lsmkenpo

Yeah, I have played Iontec, Poly premium, Black spin, Black mamba, Black Mamba Penta Twisted and Spin Monster.

Iontec is petty unique it is a prestretched poly but still soft and low powered with a large emphasis on control without the need for a lot of topspin to keep the ball in play. The string kind of makes your racquet feel like you are hitting with the control of a denser string patterned racquet while maintaining a soft feeling string bed. No poly that I have ever played really feels like it. It is a unique string that players will either love or hate.

Spin Monster is much livelier than Iontec, it offers more power and spin, the extra spin is what gives the control with this string. If you have the racquet head speed and hit with a lot of topspin you can hit a really heavy ball with this string. It is not as heavily textured as the various Black Mamba strings, I would call it more shaped than textured. I usually have to restring with most polys after a long match or a hitting session but spin monster doesn't seem to go dead very fast or become a surprise rocket launcher next time you hit with it.

If you are more of an all court player or a flat ball striker you may prefer the control and feel of Iontec, if you are an aggressive base liner with a lot of racquet head speed and topspin strokes you will probably prefer Spin Monster or Black Mamba Penta Twisted over Iontec.

thanks for such a detailed comparison! this is awesome! i might have to order a set of Spin Monster to try. I just love IonTec. I don't find a lack of power from it, but i definitely think it's just middle of the road in terms of power for polys. for a poly i think it really excels in the feel and control department which i really value. i just can't hit w/ strings that don't have any feel. i think the control comes from the amazing feel rather than huge spin potential as you mentioned although i can get some really good spin from it as well. not Tour Bite levels of spin, but still very good spin. i wouldn't mind a little more spin or power so Spin Monster might work well for me. i tried Penta Twisted and it just didn't work at all for me. just didn't get a feel nor did i get any more spin. i far preferred Penta over Penta Twisted. i also love that IonTec is available in reels which Spin Monster is not unfortunately.

btw, did you string both IonTec and Spin Monster at the same tensions? what tensions did you use? i'm stringing IonTec in my Vantage BC20 at 51.5/49 and in my PS85 at 47.5/46.

also have you tried IonTec Hexa? if so, can you share how it compares to IT and Spin Monster?

[Lsmkenpo]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

thanks for such a detailed comparison! this is awesome! i might have to order a set of Spin Monster to try. I just love IonTec. I don't find a lack of power from it, but i definitely think it's just middle of the road in terms of power for polys. for a poly i think it really excels in the feel and control department which i really value. i just can't hit w/ strings that don't have any feel. i think the control comes from the amazing feel rather than huge spin potential as you mentioned although i can get some really good spin from it as well. not Tour Bite levels of spin, but still very good spin. i wouldn't mind a little more spin or power so Spin Monster might work well for me. i tried Penta Twisted and it just didn't work at all for me. just didn't get a feel nor did i get any more spin. i far preferred Penta over Penta Twisted. i also love that IonTec is available in reels which Spin Monster is not unfortunately.

IonTec has a lot of stretch for a poly which enhances feel, to get more feel with the various black mamba strings you can drop tension considerably and not lose control. Don't be afraid to go to a much lower tension with them, the feel is much improved and you will still have plenty of control. I would suggest trying at least 5lbs less than your normal tension if you still don't have enough feel, drop tension 3lbs and try again.

Originally Posted by mad dog1

btw, did you string both IonTec and Spin Monster at the same tensions? what tensions did you use? i'm stringing IonTec in my Vantage BC20 at 51.5/49 and in my PS85 at 47.5/46.

If you try the spin monster I would recommend stringing it at your normal tension the first time, than you will get a feel for the strings characteristics in your own racquet with your strokes. Than you can adjust accordingly. I personally string it at 55lbs, which is around mid tension for my frame. In the same frame I would string Iontec at 50lbs. I don't want to lead you astray you wrote "feel" is an important string characteristic for you. I would rate spin monster as mid level in feel for a poly it is not extremely stiff nor is it as soft as Iontec.

Originally Posted by mad dog1

also have you tried IonTec Hexa? if so, can you share how it compares to IT and Spin Monster?

Sorry, I haven't tried the Hexa yet.

[Lsmkenpo]

Originally Posted by lstewart

I ordered a couple of sets of their 16g gut, and have used it once as a cross for a poly main. It was difficult to string, but seemed okay once in the frame. I don't really care for it, but I think it is just the gut feel, and not the brand of gut. I recently ordered a couple of sets of one of their multi's, Acura Control. It seemed to be made with the same material Isospeed and Head use.... which I've had some interest in... again as a cross string with poly. Have it in a frame as a cross now, but have not hit enough with it yet to have an opinion. Their customer service seems to be very good, at least with general communications.

Which gut did you try, they have two, the premium which is cow gut and the supra which is sheep gut.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by Lsmkenpo

IonTec has a lot of stretch for a poly which enhances feel, to get more feel with the various black mamba strings you can drop tension considerably and not lose control. Don't be afraid to go to a much lower tension with them, the feel is much improved and you will still have plenty of control. I would suggest trying at least 5lbs less than your normal tension if you still don't have enough feel, drop tension 3lbs and try again.

really appreciate your recommendations here. i actually tried Penta Twisted at 47/43 in the BC20 which was 5 lower than the tension i string IonTec at. maybe it still wasn't low enough.

Originally Posted by Lsmkenpo

If you try the spin monster I would recommend stringing it at your normal tension the first time, than you will get a feel for the strings characteristics in your own racquet with your strokes. Than you can adjust accordingly. I personally string it at 55lbs, which is around mid tension for my frame. In the same frame I would string Iontec at 50lbs. I don't want to lead you astray you wrote "feel" is an important string characteristic for you. I would rate spin monster as mid level in feel for a poly it is not extremely stiff nor is it as soft as Iontec.

got it. thanks again for being so detailed.

Originally Posted by Lsmkenpo

Sorry, I haven't tried the Hexa yet.

i'm really intrigued by Hexa. the BC20 is such a flexy, comfy frame i can afford to go w/ stiffer strings. i'll share my impressions of Hexa after i try it. while i'm at it ordering Hexa, i may as well try a set of Spin Monster, too. your feedback has convinced me to give it a shot. thanks again.

[lstewart]

I'm trying the premium gut, which was the lower price. Mamba recommends it be strung at lower tensions. I strung it about 55 and was sweating it as I finished up. Finally got it strung, and it seemed to play okay. I've got it in the crosses with a poly main, but am not crazy about how it plays. I've become used to a muted low power feel, so the gut is too lively to suit my taste at this point.

[dltorre]

Tried Iontec 1.2 full job 40 m 36 x on a PS85, feels good and it is you can not miss unless ou frame it or have really bad timing too early or late, feel is good
for a poly.
Also tried Iontec 1.25 hybrid 40 m 46 x syngut on a EXO3 100 Graphite, again control is unmatched, power is good.

Thanks Ray

[blackfrido]

I just bought couple of sets of Iontec 1.25, I cross my fingers for good results....I'm tired of trying strings
I know that I have to find the one and not change anymore!

[mctennis]

Originally Posted by blackfrido

I just bought couple of sets of Iontec 1.25, I cross my fingers for good results....I'm tired of trying strings
I know that I have to find the one and not change anymore!

I can agree with you 100% about being tired of trying different strings. I'd LOVE to find about two to three different ones to use ALL THE TIME. That way if one is backordered or out I have one or two more to choose from to use. Keep us posted on how you like the Iontec 1.25 strings.

[mad dog1]

i love IonTec 17g. it's worked really well in the 2 very different frames i've tried it in which is rare. usually a string that works well in stiff frames doesn't work so well in soft frames. IonTec has worked equally well for me in my Vantage BC20s which are soft and flexy and have worked wonderfully in the latest release of the PS85 which is alot stiffer than the BC20.

[blackfrido]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

i love IonTec 17g. it's worked really well in the 2 very different frames i've tried it in which is rare. usually a string that works well in stiff frames doesn't work so well in soft frames. IonTec has worked equally well for me in my Vantage BC20s which are soft and flexy and have worked wonderfully in the latest release of the PS85 which is alot stiffer than the BC20.

I have a question for you, I usually string my racquets full bed with polyester at 52......what would you recommend for Iontec 17g? thanks

[tennisrookie57101]

The orange mamba string is very durable and is my favorite by far... i crossed it with head fxp feel 16

[blackfrido]

Originally Posted by tennisrookie57101

The orange mamba string is very durable and is my favorite by far... i crossed it with head fxp feel 16

thanks for the answer!

[blackfrido]

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[mctennis]

Originally Posted by blackfrido

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Did you fall asleep on your keyboard?