Pacific Tough Gut - really tough

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by JT_2eighty

On average, Tough Gut 16L crossed with most polys in 16L to 17 gauge, survives for 20-30 hours before breaking or going completely dead.

Does it ever go completely dead? I understand, poly loses playability over time, but would it affect natural gut mains that much?

20 hours with Mosquito Bite crosses would be excellent for me! Like $1.5 per hour for a stringbed. Anything extra is a bonus, unless it goes "completely dead" as you say.

[JT_2eighty]

Originally Posted by maxpotapov

Does it ever go completely dead? I understand, poly loses playability over time, but would it affect natural gut mains that much?

20 hours with Mosquito Bite crosses would be excellent for me! Like $1.5 per hour for a stringbed. Anything extra is a bonus, unless it goes "completely dead" as you say.

For me, MB never went 'dead', or if it did, it wasn't in a bad way. It kept its great feel for at least 20 hours, then I stopped counting, and even let it sit dormant for a few months while trying other setups, and now using it again after those other tests came and went, and it still plays great; lively and comfy and still very controllable.


other notable tests:


MSV Co-focus 1.27 was also comfy, but after about 13 hours became too powerful. Focus Hex 1.23, on the other hand, felt lifeless after 5 hours and was never as soft.

Tourna BHB 17 went dead (stiff as a brick) in just 3 matches (about 4.5 hours). It was amazing when fresh though (like many usually are).

Lux ALU 16L seemed to last better than BHB, although stiffer to begin with, but held tension well for at least 9 hours, before control became erratic. There were a couple matches I couldn't seem to miss with this setup.

Currently testing Lux M2 1.25, definitely a softer offering from Luxilon, and enjoyable test so far. Great controlled power, nice spin, and responsive feedback.

[netguy]

Thanks for your answer JT, I forgot to ask you...
Do you pre-stretch gut?

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by JT_2eighty

For me, MB never went 'dead', or if it did, it wasn't in a bad way. It kept its great feel for at least 20 hours, then I stopped counting, and even let it sit dormant for a few months while trying other setups, and now using it again after those other tests came and went, and it still plays great; lively and comfy and still very controllable.


other notable tests:


MSV Co-focus 1.27 was also comfy, but after about 13 hours became too powerful. Focus Hex 1.23, on the other hand, felt lifeless after 5 hours and was never as soft.

Tourna BHB 17 went dead (stiff as a brick) in just 3 matches (about 4.5 hours). It was amazing when fresh though (like many usually are).

Lux ALU 16L seemed to last better than BHB, although stiffer to begin with, but held tension well for at least 9 hours, before control became erratic. There were a couple matches I couldn't seem to miss with this setup.

Currently testing Lux M2 1.25, definitely a softer offering from Luxilon, and enjoyable test so far. Great controlled power, nice spin, and responsive feedback.

Thanks for your input! It's good that I don't have to experiment as much as you did, and just stay with Mosquito Bite. I really like the way it looks and the way it plays, and it's amazing that it did not dent so far. Even though other polys can perform even better when fresh, I don't feel like cutting natural gut out just because poly crosses became lifeless, hard as a brick or too powerful/erratic. And did I mention Mosquito Bite is thin and red?

[julian]

Originally Posted by maxpotapov

I'm play testing Pacific Tough Gut 16 crossed with WC Mosquito Bite Red at 50/50 lbs in Prestige LM Mid, and from 2 hours of hard hitting I can tell it will be tough to break. No signs of notching, only a slight wear on the surface of both gut and poly strings. But it performs as a very low powered, control oriented setup, which is surprising for natural gut/poly setup at 50 lbs. I think for such a dense string pattern, Pacific Tough Gut may be safely strung at low 40s. I hope it will break in and become more energetic, as Prestige LM Mid can definitely use some help from the stringbed in terms of power. My sore shoulder could use some help too.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showt...=1#post7084208
post #4375

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by julian

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showt...=1#post7084208
post #4375

Interesting... It plays really nice after break-in, not sure if I want anything softer anyway.

[julian]

Originally Posted by maxpotapov

Interesting... It plays really nice after break-in, not sure if I want anything softer anyway.

How long is a break-in?

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by julian

How long is a break-in?

2-3 hours of moderate to heavy hitting
this is when initial toughness is going away
but most comfort starts with hour 5 I guess

[Steve Huff]

I just strung 1 racket with Tough Gut 16, and 1 with Klip Legend 16. The Tough Gut seemed about a gauge thinner. I really like the deep copper color though.