Need string suggestion for older friend

Ducker · 12-04-2012, 04:47 PM

Looking for some suggestions for string for an old friend of mine.

He going on 60 now and he needs a more arm friendly string. He has been using big banger orignial since it came out. He loves the string and doesnt want to part with it but might have to as his shoulder has been giving some pain now.

The guy is an absolute great player. Ive seen him beat up on college players and teaching pros. Hes also incredibly fast and mobile for his age.

Im pretty sure what hes looking for is something with comparable control qualities but a little easier on the arm. Anyone have a suggestion?

MikeHitsHard93 · 12-04-2012, 05:18 PM

Prince premier attack. It's a multi and offers great spin and control as well as durability.

lobman · 12-04-2012, 06:31 PM

Try a good multi. Two that meet your criteria are Technifibre X-1 Biphase 17 and Wilson NXT Tour 17. Both are arm friendly, very playable and fairly long-lasting.

3fees · 12-04-2012, 06:50 PM

Luxilon BB Ace low 50's tension, its got the tools and arm friendly as well.

Brocolt · 12-04-2012, 07:39 PM

Try Prince premire attack and then have him try discho Multifibre. See wich one he likes better if he does not like either one of those then try a softer poly like Black widow

COPEY · 12-04-2012, 07:54 PM

Personally I don't think it makes much sense to suggest a poly of any kind if there are arm/shoulder/wrist problems. Even at low tensions poly is still stiffer than a multi. Go with the multi recommendations.

kcjim · 12-04-2012, 09:09 PM

I would think the best setup would be gut mains and blackcode crosses. It is soft on the arm, tremendose spin, plenty of pop. You didn't mention his current tension, but if it is say... 50lbs with full poly (guessing a 100 sq racquet), try gut mains at 56, blackcode crosses at 52. Larger racket-- up tension 2lbs for every 5 sq. in (okay, its a guesstamate). Good gut such as vs will last a long time. Just cut out the crosses when they lose their snap ( cut the crosses after the racquet is secured in the stringer) and he might get 50 hours out of the mains, maybe more. Not too bad pricewise compared to what he was playing. 1/2 set vs for $20 plus 1 and 1/2 set of blackcode for $20. A little more than 3 sets of the lux.

fortun8son · 12-05-2012, 12:37 AM

Going directly from BBO to a multi is a big jump.
You may need to wean him slowly.
You could try Black Widow or a hybrid of RedCode and Syngut.
Something along those lines, keeping the tension down.

COPEY · 12-05-2012, 02:37 AM

If he's as good as the OP says he is, it would take him a day to adjust to the multi...probably less. I have 4 sticks strung right now; in two of them I'm comparing Gosen with S-gut. In the other two I have Scorpion and SPPP Hexa. Yep, there's a distinct difference between the two, but when you have sound fundamentals and good technique, making the adjustment isn't that big of a deal. It's not like trying to wean someone off intravenous pain killers or something lol.

mikeler · 12-05-2012, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brocolt

Try Prince premire attack and then have him try discho Multifibre. See wich one he likes better if he does not like either one of those then try a softer poly like Black widow

While these are my two favorite multis, I'd also throw out Head RIP Control. It is the most poly like softer string.

3fees · 12-05-2012, 07:59 PM

Luxilon BB Ace Control 9, Comfort 10. they have durability at 7 actually its 10, Might even try mid 40's.

Frankc · 12-06-2012, 03:41 AM

Senior myself - congratulate your friend for keeping it up in style. I, too, avoid the polys after the warning signs flashed with my shoulder.
I'd like to know his frame choice, size and pattern. For me, my old school, neutral grip game loves heavier, smaller, and densely strung frames. Many of us like more lively strings with smaller frames - good flat power and spin variety and flatter first serves. Remember an old article in Tennis Mag in the 80s - the more neutral gripped pros liked stiffer graphite (not nearly as stiff as today), lead tape, and loose gut. Pretty true then and now...
If he is of this school - the new guts play much stiffer it seems that prior guts - try a new generation power multi - Mantis Comfort or Weis cannon or others. I even like a cheap hybrid of Head Fibergel Mains and Gamma SG crosses ( a $5 string job). String tensions are at middle range.
Joints are fine now and power is easy to dial up and control. Congrats to him and you - that's my 2 cents...

hebrewhammer · 12-06-2012, 12:39 PM

Tour Bite 19 G. I have a customer who had elbow probs and was using VS gut 18 and switched to 19 g tb and loves it

NLBwell · 12-06-2012, 12:57 PM

Depends if he needs something just a little softer or a lot softer.
For just a little softer he can hybrid with a multi like AlphaGut2000. I don't notice a whole lot of dropoff in spin with my ALU when I hybrid it with the AlphaGut.
Something like Fluoro or Black Widow will also give a little help.

For more softness, I'd go to Gut/poly next. Definitely more power and similar if not more spin. He'd have to take a bit to adjust to the higher power, but he might love it.
A soft multi would work great for the arm (as, of course, would all gut), but he might not like the lower spin.

fortun8son · 12-06-2012, 01:05 PM

I'm not saying that he can't adjust to multi if he wants to.
He may not want to because of the huge difference in performance.
There are many fine, modern co-polys that are far more arm-friendly than BBO and are still in the same control/spin ballpark.

Davis Cup Fan · 12-06-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hebrewhammer

Tour Bite 19 G. I have a customer who had elbow probs and was using VS gut 18 and switched to 19 g tb and loves it

After elbow problems you switched him from gut to poly?

ramos77 · 12-06-2012, 07:48 PM

Wilson NG mains and BB crosses.

Around 54/50

Valjean · 12-07-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COPEY

Personally I don't think it makes much sense to suggest a poly of any kind if there are arm/shoulder/wrist problems. Even at low tensions poly is still stiffer than a multi. Go with the multi recommendations.

+1, absolutely. Tecnifibre's Multifeel may be a good transition string for him. For deeper problems, tell him to go with Gamma's TNT Rx--which is the only Gamma string I'd be found recommending...

PhotoBlue · 12-07-2012, 06:00 PM

I am a fan of kirscbaum touch multifibre. It's a good soft multi. And btw, COPEY: is that signature for real or not?

mikeler · 12-08-2012, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhotoBlue

I am a fan of kirscbaum touch multifibre. It's a good soft multi. And btw, COPEY: is that signature for real or not?

It is actually one of the stiffer multis that I've tried.

12-04-2012, 04:47 PM	#1
Ducker Rookie Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 294	Need string suggestion for older friend Looking for some suggestions for string for an old friend of mine. He going on 60 now and he needs a more arm friendly string. He has been using big banger orignial since it came out. He loves the string and doesnt want to part with it but might have to as his shoulder has been giving some pain now. The guy is an absolute great player. Ive seen him beat up on college players and teaching pros. Hes also incredibly fast and mobile for his age. Im pretty sure what hes looking for is something with comparable control qualities but a little easier on the arm. Anyone have a suggestion?

12-04-2012, 05:18 PM	#2
MikeHitsHard93 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,838	Prince premier attack. It's a multi and offers great spin and control as well as durability. __________________ ~Wilson BLX Pro Open~

12-04-2012, 07:54 PM	#6
COPEY Professional Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,398	Personally I don't think it makes much sense to suggest a poly of any kind if there are arm/shoulder/wrist problems. Even at low tensions poly is still stiffer than a multi. Go with the multi recommendations. __________________ Need help finding lost dog: walks with a limp, recently castrated, can only see out of one eye - answers to the name, "Lucky".

12-05-2012, 12:37 AM	#8
fortun8son Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: The Desert Posts: 2,996	Going directly from BBO to a multi is a big jump. You may need to wean him slowly. You could try Black Widow or a hybrid of RedCode and Syngut. Something along those lines, keeping the tension down. __________________ Neos 1000, Eagnas Combo 810(home),Prince 5000(work) Member USRSA

12-05-2012, 02:37 AM	#9
COPEY Professional Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,398	If he's as good as the OP says he is, it would take him a day to adjust to the multi...probably less. I have 4 sticks strung right now; in two of them I'm comparing Gosen with S-gut. In the other two I have Scorpion and SPPP Hexa. Yep, there's a distinct difference between the two, but when you have sound fundamentals and good technique, making the adjustment isn't that big of a deal. It's not like trying to wean someone off intravenous pain killers or something lol. __________________ Need help finding lost dog: walks with a limp, recently castrated, can only see out of one eye - answers to the name, "Lucky".