Multi/poly for Wilson BLX 90 (Federer) frame

[ushynoti]

Hi everyone,

This is the first time I'm posting in the string forum. I've been on the message boards for a while but mostly just for selling racquets.

Anyways, it looks like guy/poly for the Wilson BLX 90 frame is supposed to be the cream of the crop setup for this racquet, but at the same time, whether it's cost-effective is another story.

I was thinking of trying Technifibre NRG2 mains with MSV Co Focus crosses. Does anyone have any experience with this particular setup and if not, does anyone have any good suggestions for a multi/poly blend for this racquet that I should try?

Thanks for your help, seems like we have quite a few people on this board that have a lot of insight.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by ushynoti

Hi everyone,

This is the first time I'm posting in the string forum. I've been on the message boards for a while but mostly just for selling racquets.

Anyways, it looks like guy/poly for the Wilson BLX 90 frame is supposed to be the cream of the crop setup for this racquet, but at the same time, whether it's cost-effective is another story.

I was thinking of trying Technifibre NRG2 mains with MSV Co Focus crosses. Does anyone have any experience with this particular setup and if not, does anyone have any good suggestions for a multi/poly blend for this racquet that I should try?

Thanks for your help, seems like we have quite a few people on this board that have a lot of insight.

It's cost effective because the gut outlasts multi as far as durability and playability go.

Since you're considering NRG2 mains, I'll try to break it down for you. Yes, the price of most gut is double that of NRG2. But you'll end up with a stringbed that will easily last you 4x that of NRG2 in terms of durability and playability. And if you're willing to take a chance and look beyond brand names, there are gut out there that cost the same as NRG2.

But, if you must stick with multi for whatever reasons, I'd recommend Head RIP Control. It was my go-to multi's until I discovered gut. Great pocketing, comfortable (though some may call it a dead/mute string), great tension maintenance, and durable for a multi.

[WilsonWand12]

TW is selling a relatively cheap gut/poly hybrid for $20 called "Becker BB Hybrid Natural-Poly String." It's one of the strings on my list to test sometime early next year (don't know if I want to test full gut or this hybrid first). I say if you're going to spend a little over $20 for two sets of string anyway, you might as well give a prepackaged, $20 gut/poly hybrid a try. You might like it!

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by WilsonWand12

TW is selling a relatively cheap gut/poly hybrid for $20 called "Becker BB Hybrid Natural-Poly String." It's one of the strings on my list to test sometime early next year (don't know if I want to test full gut or this hybrid first). I say if you're going to spend a little over $20 for two sets of string anyway, you might as well give a prepackaged, $20 gut/poly hybrid a try. You might like it!

Try full gut first, so you know how/what to adjust.

[lawrencejin]

Speaking of economical pre-packaged natural gut / poly hybrids, Klip X-Plosive is also $20.

[pvaudio]

Multi/poly is, IMO, the biggest waste of money in all of string setups. Gut/poly lasts longer and plays better, poly/multi gives more spin and control, poly/poly is self explanatory as is any other full bed. Using a synthetic in place of natural gut in a mains hybrid just doesn't work. Tried it many times and it just doesn't have the elasticity to work.

[NLBwell]

I liked my NXT Max mains and SPPPP crosses and thought it worked well. However, I think gut/poly is a much better setup. You will get more power and spin - possibly more spin than all-poly depending upon the setup. With the small head size of the BLX 90, you should maintain excellent control.
In the end, I think gut-poly (I use ToughGut) is much more economical than any multi/poly because it lasts much longer (and few, if any multis last longer than NXT Max).

[ushynoti]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback, I knew I'd get some good responses here! So I had a spare half set of Wilson NXT lying around this morning and I just blended it with Babolat Duralast (a really cheap poly) and I'm going to test it out. I didn't get a chance to read your posts before I did it, but no biggie.

My friend has a Head Radical at my house now with Babolat VS mains and RPM Blast crosses and just the sound alone of hitting it on my hand is different from the blend that I put in, so I definitely feel that there will be a difference in feel for guy/poly and multi/poly setups. I guess I'll find out soon enough...

[ushynoti]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

It's cost effective because the gut outlasts multi as far as durability and playability go.

Since you're considering NRG2 mains, I'll try to break it down for you. Yes, the price of most gut is double that of NRG2. But you'll end up with a stringbed that will easily last you 4x that of NRG2 in terms of durability and playability. And if you're willing to take a chance and look beyond brand names, there are gut out there that cost the same as NRG2.

But, if you must stick with multi for whatever reasons, I'd recommend Head RIP Control. It was my go-to multi's until I discovered gut. Great pocketing, comfortable (though some may call it a dead/mute string), great tension maintenance, and durable for a multi.

I've tried a full bed of Head RIP Control when Head first introduced it many years ago, and I remember that it was an awesome string, I'm glad to see that it's still being made. Great point on the gut/poly blend outlasting in terms of both playability and durability. I've used full gut setups and it's definitely a ton better than any multi. Thanks for the insight!

[ushynoti]

Do you guys think that it makes a difference whether you have a cheap gut vs. an expensive gut in the mains for the gut/poly setup, and what do you all think of this MSV Co Focus? I'd just like to choose a good blend that isn't going to break the bank...thanks!!

[coloskier]

I'm using a Solinco Tour Bite 18 main and Head RIP Control 17 cross and it is working great for me.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by ushynoti

Do you guys think that it makes a difference whether you have a cheap gut vs. an expensive gut in the mains for the gut/poly setup, and what do you all think of this MSV Co Focus? I'd just like to choose a good blend that isn't going to break the bank...thanks!!

I'm using cheap gut in the form of Mamba Premium Natural Gut, my crosses are MSV Co-Focus.

Does expensive brand name gut play better? Yes of course, but does it play twice as well? I'm not certain about that. With inexpensive gut, it's a bit of a gamble because the quality control is not there. As much as half of your order could have imperfections that'll lead to pre-mature breakage.

But once it's on the frame, cow collagen is cow collagen more or less. Before anyone goes after me for saying cow collagen is collgen blah blah. I acknowledge brand name gut plays better, but not twice as well as the price suggests.

[ushynoti]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I'm using cheap gut in the form of Mamba Premium Natural Gut, my crosses are MSV Co-Focus.

Does expensive brand name gut play better? Yes of course, but does it play twice as well? I'm not certain about that. With inexpensive gut, it's a bit of a gamble because the quality control is not there. As much as half of your order could have imperfections that'll lead to pre-mature breakage.

But once it's on the frame, cow collagen is cow collagen more or less. Before anyone goes after me for saying cow collagen is collgen blah blah. I acknowledge brand name gut plays better, but not twice as well as the price suggests.

Yeah, I think that is the key, if the gut that costs twice as much doesn't play twice as better or you can't really tell a big difference that warrants double the price, then it's probably not worth it. Where do you get your Mamba, straight from the company? It looks like all they have are black right now...

[ushynoti]

Originally Posted by coloskier

I'm using a Solinco Tour Bite 18 main and Head RIP Control 17 cross and it is working great for me.

Why do you put the poly on the mains? I thought the way to go was to put the gut on the mains for better playability? I can understand if you want more durability to put the poly on the mains...

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by ushynoti

Yeah, I think that is the key, if the gut that costs twice as much doesn't play twice as better or you can't really tell a big difference that warrants double the price, then it's probably not worth it. Where do you get your Mamba, straight from the company? It looks like all they have are black right now...

Yep, straight from them. I have tried the black version, and they fray EASILY thus affecting durability. Otherwise, no significant difference.

One more thing I want to add about these econo-gut, most if not all of them were never designed to withstand 55lbs, and they warn you of it too. So if you're looking to string tighter than 55lbs, you're going to have to pay for the big boys gut.

While paying twice as much for brand name gut and their quality control may sound ridiculous, there is something to be said about a peace of mind. When you know the gut wont snap in the machine, or snap pre-maturely, that's worth the investment to some people. I have had several sets snap on me in the machine, or 2hours into playing, it's certainly annoying. But I also know how much I paid for them.

While I do believe cow collagen is cow collagen, I also believe in the notion of what you get is what you pay for.

[ushynoti]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Yep, straight from them. I have tried the black version, and they fray EASILY thus affecting durability. Otherwise, no significant difference.

One more thing I want to add about these econo-gut, most if not all of them were never designed to withstand 55lbs, and they warn you of it too. So if you're looking to string tighter than 55lbs, you're going to have to pay for the big boys gut.

While paying twice as much for brand name gut and their quality control may sound ridiculous, there is something to be said about a peace of mind. When you know the gut wont snap in the machine, or snap pre-maturely, that's worth the investment to some people. I have had several sets snap on me in the machine, or 2hours into playing, it's certainly annoying. But I also know how much I paid for them.

While I do believe cow collagen is cow collagen, I also believe in the notion of what you get is what you pay for.

Cool, great insight on the premature breakage. I know that it breaking on the string machine would be pretty frustrating and may be worth the extra 5 bucks to buy a little better brand like maybe Klip or Pacific?

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by ushynoti

Cool, great insight on the premature breakage. I know that it breaking on the string machine would be pretty frustrating and may be worth the extra 5 bucks to buy a little better brand like maybe Klip or Pacific?

I don't know where you're going to find a deal like that, but if you do, spread the word!

To me, double the cost isn't worth it. I string my own frames so I end up saving a lot of "batched" sets.

[ushynoti]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I don't know where you're going to find a deal like that, but if you do, spread the word!

To me, double the cost isn't worth it. I string my own frames so I end up saving a lot of "batched" sets.

Actually, I guess it's more like extra $10 for better gut like Klip or Pacific, which is still to me maybe worth the price if it means no breakage on the stringer while stringing. What do you string your gut/poly blend at?

I tried the NXT/Durablast blend that I mentioned earlier, strung at 50/52 and it felt like a board, not even better than a full poly Durablast blend. I probably strung it too tight. I saw that thread where Chris from TW strung his racquet with full poly at 30 lbs and apparently it played great. I can see that, since I have always been a proponent of stringing low for poly, even before I even came to this board, because it just tames the stiffness of the string.

How does co-poly differ from traditional monofilament poly strings? I know there's a difference in feel but what provides that difference in feel?