Cross for Wilson Natural Gut

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by Maui19

Here's what I like:

Best: Tour Bite, Hurricane Feel. Both have good spin and pop

OK: 4G--maintains tension well, otherwise a little dull. Hepta-Twist--great spin, decent power, lousy plastic feel.

No thanks: RPM Blast--great performance for a couple hours, then dies horribly. I've never had my arm hurt as much as when hitting with this stuff after it died (about 4 hrs).

Now trying: Big Hitter Blue Rough, Volkl Cyclone.

After these two, I'm done screwing around with crosses for my gut.

I agree with you about the RPM. My forearm and shoulder hurt for 6 months after a stint with this string.

[PigPen]

I'm concerned about the 4g stiffness rating from tennis warehouse. Perhaps I'll try it thinking that it may be softer than the rating.

[TimothyO]

Originally Posted by PigPen

I'm concerned about the 4g stiffness rating from tennis warehouse. Perhaps I'll try it thinking that it may be softer than the rating.

There is cause to be concerned about 4G's stiffness but it really depends on several factors.

Your own arm sensitivity is paramount. For some it will just be too stiff no matter the other factors. For others it will work in any situation. For everyone else we're talking shades of gray. My arm is sensitive and I can handle 4G in certain situations.

- in my Dunlop 200s (18x20, 95") I found 4G way too stiff even at lower tensions in the 40a. Ouch!

- in my Dunlop 200 Tours it's wonderful in the low 50s as a cross with gut mains.

- in my Pure Storm GTs I dislike it in the low 50s as a cross with gut. But in the mid 40s as a cross with gut it's perfectly fine for me. Hit with it again tonight and switched between my frame with Wilson Gut/4G @ 49/45 and my frame with VS Touch/4G @ 55/51. Both were comfy as I've added even more lead to the head upping my SW but the 49/45 frame was extremely confortable and still extremely precise. I played with my wife tonight and she was so angry at my touch shots she threw her frame...twice. There's just nothing that compares to 4G for accuracy over time.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by The Meat

Babolat VS Team Gut actually, the good stuff

Babolat VS Team and Wilson 17 use to be identical (babolat makes the string for wilson). However, When Babolat decided to change their layup of the string this year to the BT7, Wilson gut stayed the same. In other words, it is the same as the old Babolat VS Team, which is hands down a better string than Babolat's BT7.

The BT7 plays stiffer, and is not as "smooth" as the Wilson.

BTW, Fed's strings comes in the Wilson package.


As for the OP question, black magic 17 is nice, Pro Supex Big Ace, Adrenaline, etc. Lot of nice softer poly strings out there.

The 4G is nice and holds tension fairly well, but as someone else said, does tend to feel a bit on the stiffer side.

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

There is cause to be concerned about 4G's stiffness but it really depends on several factors.

Your own arm sensitivity is paramount. For some it will just be too stiff no matter the other factors. For others it will work in any situation. For everyone else we're talking shades of gray. My arm is sensitive and I can handle 4G in certain situations.

- in my Dunlop 200s (18x20, 95") I found 4G way too stiff even at lower tensions in the 40a. Ouch!

- in my Dunlop 200 Tours it's wonderful in the low 50s as a cross with gut mains.

- in my Pure Storm GTs I dislike it in the low 50s as a cross with gut. But in the mid 40s as a cross with gut it's perfectly fine for me. Hit with it again tonight and switched between my frame with Wilson Gut/4G @ 49/45 and my frame with VS Touch/4G @ 55/51. Both were comfy as I've added even more lead to the head upping my SW but the 49/45 frame was extremely confortable and still extremely precise. I played with my wife tonight and she was so angry at my touch shots she threw her frame...twice. There's just nothing that compares to 4G for accuracy over time.

Interesting how the feel changes with different rackets. Sounds appealing though. THanks for the info.

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Babolat VS Team and Wilson 17 use to be identical (babolat makes the string for wilson). However, When Babolat decided to change their layup of the string this year to the BT7, Wilson gut stayed the same. In other words, it is the same as the old Babolat VS Team, which is hands down a better string than Babolat's BT7.

The BT7 plays stiffer, and is not as "smooth" as the Wilson.

BTW, Fed's strings comes in the Wilson package.


As for the OP question, black magic 17 is nice, Pro Supex Big Ace, Adrenaline, etc. Lot of nice softer poly strings out there.

The 4G is nice and holds tension fairly well, but as someone else said, does tend to feel a bit on the stiffer side.

How do the crosses you mention compare with Co-focus or Pro Line II? Thanks

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by PigPen

How do the crosses you mention compare with Co-focus or Pro Line II? Thanks

Can't give opinion on co-focus, but pro line 2 in my opinion is doo-doo. Doesn't hold tension at all, which is why some feel it plays "soft". Feels like playing with wet cardboard.

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Can't give opinion on co-focus, but pro line 2 in my opinion is doo-doo. Doesn't hold tension at all, which is why some feel it plays "soft". Feels like playing with wet cardboard.

What do black magic 17 is nice, Pro Supex Big Ace, Adrenaline play like as crosses with gut?

[The Meat]

Originally Posted by drakulie

The BT7 plays stiffer, and is not as "smooth" as the Wilson.

BTW, Fed's strings comes in the Wilson package.

Ahh, thanks for correcting me. Does he use a stock champion's pack or does he use a pack of nat. gut and a reel of luxilon?

[TimothyO]

Originally Posted by PigPen

Interesting how the feel changes with different rackets. Sounds appealing though. THanks for the info.

I think it has to do with two factors: frame stiffness and string pattern.

The PSGT is a little stiffer than the 4D 200 Tour. So a string comfortable in the 200 Tour might not be as comfortable in the stiffer PSGT.

The 4D 200's dense string bed means less flex in the string bed which means a stiffer string will feel more harsh compared to how it feels in an open string bed.

It's definitely not binary and instead you have many different factors which influence one another in subtle and dynamic ways that can even change over time.

[Lambsscroll]

Originally Posted by The Meat

Ahh, thanks for correcting me. Does he use a stock champion's pack or does he use a pack of nat. gut and a reel of luxilon?

Good question.

[JT_2eighty]

Originally Posted by PigPen

I use a Vantage 95, 63 flex and 16x19 string pattern. I have been using Wilson 17g gut with 18g Co-Focus at 50/47. The combo is nice and comfortable, but MSV seems to get powerful over time. I'm looking for a combo that is comfortable, retains tension and has great feel. I am more of a touch than power player.

Ok, well then if you are already using a thin cross with good results, you definitely want to give WeissCannon Mosquito Bite a shot as your cross. It only comes in 1.16mm (18g), so it is not for everyone.

It is Comfy, Retains amazing tension, and by far, the Best Feel poly you will find. Nothing comes close, IMO, for a touch-oriented poly.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by PigPen

What do black magic 17 is nice, Pro Supex Big Ace, Adrenaline play like as crosses with gut?

They provide a nice "shock system" to the gut in where they tame the power, yet don't take away from it, nor do their attributes drown out the great feel and performance of the gut.

Originally Posted by The Meat

Ahh, thanks for correcting me. Does he use a stock champion's pack or does he use a pack of nat. gut and a reel of luxilon?

You're welcome. He doesn't use the champions choice packs. he uses gut from a pack of wilson, and the lux rough from a reel. In this thread there are a bunch of photos I took when stringing with P1 this year.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=438964

You could see his pack of gut strings on the floor next to his frame:

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by drakulie

They provide a nice "shock system" to the gut in where they tame the power, yet don't take away from it, nor do their attributes drown out the great feel and performance of the gut.



You're welcome. He doesn't use the champions choice packs. he uses gut from a pack of wilson, and the lux rough from a reel. In this thread there are a bunch of photos I took when stringing with P1 this year.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=438964

You could see his pack of gut strings on the floor next to his frame:

Which poly mentioned above do you feel provides the most spin?

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by JT_2eighty

Ok, well then if you are already using a thin cross with good results, you definitely want to give WeissCannon Mosquito Bite a shot as your cross. It only comes in 1.16mm (18g), so it is not for everyone.

It is Comfy, Retains amazing tension, and by far, the Best Feel poly you will find. Nothing comes close, IMO, for a touch-oriented poly.

Interesting choice. What do you string gut/mosquito bite at?

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

I think it has to do with two factors: frame stiffness and string pattern.

The PSGT is a little stiffer than the 4D 200 Tour. So a string comfortable in the 200 Tour might not be as comfortable in the stiffer PSGT.

The 4D 200's dense string bed means less flex in the string bed which means a stiffer string will feel more harsh compared to how it feels in an open string bed.

It's definitely not binary and instead you have many different factors which influence one another in subtle and dynamic ways that can even change over time.

True, this constant experimentation with strings (and previously rackets) can be both fun and frustrating. When I was demoing rackets, my game really went downhill.

[TimothyO]

Originally Posted by PigPen

True, this constant experimentation with strings (and previously rackets) can be both fun and frustrating. When I was demoing rackets, my game really went downhill.

Yeah, I play better when I stick to one setup for an extended period. I've learned a ton from experiments. And hardware with a better "fit" determined by trying new stuff makes for a more enjoyable playing experience. But for competition you need "confident consistency" and that means a stable stroke which means you can't keeping hitting with a new setup every week with different power levels, swingweights, spin potential, etc.

Last year I hit with the Speed 300 for everything. This time I gave myself until December 31 to settle on a frame and string setup which I'll use throughout 2013. It's part of my evolving policy to stick to one setup spring through fall for competition and use winter to try new stuff. So I won't play league matches in the winter. By Dec 31 I'll have my final setup, play with it casually and in practice through late winter, and then use it for competition starting in the spring.

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

Yeah, I play better when I stick to one setup for an extended period. I've learned a ton from experiments. And hardware with a better "fit" determined by trying new stuff makes for a more enjoyable playing experience. But for competition you need "confident consistency" and that means a stable stroke which means you can't keeping hitting with a new setup every week with different power levels, swingweights, spin potential, etc.

Last year I hit with the Speed 300 for everything. This time I gave myself until December 31 to settle on a frame and string setup which I'll use throughout 2013. It's part of my evolving policy to stick to one setup spring through fall for competition and use winter to try new stuff. So I won't play league matches in the winter. By Dec 31 I'll have my final setup, play with it casually and in practice through late winter, and then use it for competition starting in the spring.

Sounds like a plan. Seems I have a "grass is greener on the other side" sickness with rackets an strings. Talk Tennis certainly fuels this obsession. I played with the PSGT for about one year and enjoyed that frame. Good luck with it.

[gavna]

Originally Posted by The Meat

I'm actually liking Luxilon 4g as the cross, Dimitrov and I believe Serena also uses this combo as well. 4g holds tension pretty well and a smooth poly cross allows the mains to glide over it.

Totally love this set up!!! I have been using both Wilson and VS gut with 4G and it's awesome.

[ramos77]

Originally Posted by gavna

Totally love this set up!!! I have been using both Wilson and VS gut with 4G and it's awesome.

whats it like after 10-15 hours?

am using wilson ng/co-focus and its nice until the co-focus gets to powerful.