Mikeler's Multis

[lynnbart]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I don't think that string is going to make the cut but we shall see. How long did it last for you?

We hit one evening and played a set. The next night it snapped while warming up. I'd forgot how full multi's felt and played and was enjoying it.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by lynnbart

We hit one evening and played a set. The next night it snapped while warming up. I'd forgot how full multi's felt and played and was enjoying it.

I only had 2 sets of singles and 1 set of doubles on it. Strange that yours broke in the warm up too. I can only think of 1 or 2 other matches where I've broken a string in the warm up.

[rafafan20]

Mikeler, any plans on trying isospeed energetic plus?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by rafafan20

Mikeler, any plans on trying isospeed energetic plus?

It depends on my upcoming play test with Isospeed Control Classic. I did not care for the newer Isospeed Control. Who am I kidding, of course I'll try it eventually!

[mikeler]

Hit for about 1 minute in the warm up with Dunlop DNA. I'm not sure about this one. Very unique for a multi but time will tell.

[mikeler]

I hit with the DM last night to try and break out of a slump I'm having. The plan did not work but I tore up the DM enough that it was ready to break. So I cut it out and put in Gamma Pro. It was another string that was super easy to install. Feels like a lot of other multis just bouncing balls off of it.

I cut my sets of Ashaway Dynamite Tough 16. I'm very curious to try this one out. Not only does it have the gluey smell that I adore, but it is VERY rough. It seems like rough strings and profiled strings get more spin, so I'm hoping this one puts some good action on the ball. If I did not know better, I'd think this string is a soft poly. It is kind of wiry like Head RIP Control but seems like it will be easier to work with than RIP.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I hit with the DM last night to try and break out of a slump I'm having. The plan did not work but I tore up the DM enough that it was ready to break. So I cut it out and put in Gamma Pro. It was another string that was super easy to install. Feels like a lot of other multis just bouncing balls off of it.

I cut my sets of Ashaway Dynamite Tough 16. I'm very curious to try this one out. Not only does it have the gluey smell that I adore, but it is VERY rough. It seems like rough strings and profiled strings get more spin, so I'm hoping this one puts some good action on the ball. If I did not know better, I'd think this string is a soft poly. It is kind of wiry like Head RIP Control but seems like it will be easier to work with than RIP.

Gamma Pro is a joy to string. I wouldn't call myself a super fast stringer, but last week, I needed to get one of mine strung quickly, and including removing old strings, mounting, stringing, and unmounting, I was 19 min with Gamma Pro.

What tension did you string it at? You using the 16g?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Gamma Pro is a joy to string. I wouldn't call myself a super fast stringer, but last week, I needed to get one of mine strung quickly, and including removing old strings, mounting, stringing, and unmounting, I was 19 min with Gamma Pro.

What tension did you string it at? You using the 16g?

Gamma Pro 16g at 50 pounds. I'm doing all my multis at that tension in the Exo Tour although I might drop the Ashaway to 45 since they recommend going 10-15% lower than other strings and it does seem rather stiff just handling it.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Gamma Pro 16g at 50 pounds. I'm doing all my multis at that tension in the Exo Tour although I might drop the Ashaway to 45 since they recommend going 10-15% lower than other strings and it does seem rather stiff just handling it.

constant pull?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by sstchur

constant pull?

Lockout. RacquetTune said 47.5 using the standard string factor directly after stringing.

I'll hit a few balls in the warm up with it and then switch back to Tier One.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Lockout. RacquetTune said 47.5 using the standard string factor directly after stringing.

I'll hit a few balls in the warm up with it and then switch back to Tier One.

Man, that is really low. But I guess I can't bad-mouth it too much. Back when I used my Fischers, I used to string Gamma Pro on a lockout at around 49/47.

However, I saw that light, and now know that GPro plays MUCH better at higher tensions. My recommendation to others would be mid to high 50s at least, and I would make this recommendation regardless of frame flex.

Interested to hear how it works out for you though.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Man, that is really low. But I guess I can't bad-mouth it too much. Back when I used my Fischers, I used to string Gamma Pro on a lockout at around 49/47.

However, I saw that light, and now know that GPro plays MUCH better at higher tensions. My recommendation to others would be mid to high 50s at least, and I would make this recommendation regardless of frame flex.

Interested to hear how it works out for you though.

With the cooler winter weather, I like to go down some in tension. Of course, we are in a heat spell and will hit 80 for the next week or so.

When I tried the DM at 54 in the Exos, my serve was a creampuff. Just not enough pop. Keep in mind the Exo has a flex rating of 52 which is very low.

The two upcoming experiments I'm most curious about are the Ashaway Dynamite test and prestretching X1 combined with low tension.

[Muppet]

Any more news on DNA?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Muppet

Any more news on DNA?

Last night I pulled the racket with the Gamma Pro out of the bag for a minute or two and then went back to the Tier One Triumph the rest of the night. The Gamma seemed to lack pop. DNA is up next. I should be playing both days this weekend against hard hitters so the Tier One may be a goner by Sunday.

[Muppet]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Last night I pulled the racket with the Gamma Pro out of the bag for a minute or two and then went back to the Tier One Triumph the rest of the night. The Gamma seemed to lack pop. DNA is up next. I should be playing both days this weekend against hard hitters so the Tier One may be a goner by Sunday.

Thanks for the update.

[mikeler]

Picked up DNA down 6-4, 4-1 today. I was not playing great up until that point. The next 3 games I was hitting quite a few winners. The final 2 games I framed everything. So DNA seems decent.

I'm pretty sure Tier One will be toast tomorrow. I played 1 set of dubs with it against some hard hitters too.

[mikeler]

OK, here is my review in the TW format of the Tier One Triumph 16. Thank you to Tier One for sending me a sample to test.

I have to mention a few caveats in this review. I bought a used Exo Tour last month and I just cannot seem to get the weighting to match the other 3 I bought from TW a few months ago. Combined with a healing wrist injury, I've not played well since using this racket and that definitely has soured me on all the strings I've playtested the past month. Just keep that in mind as you read the review and assess the ranking I give this string.

This was really easy to string up. If I had to guess, I'd say this is Micronite with a different coating.

Tension it is strung: 50 pounds on a lockout machine full bed
Your regular string set up: Discho Microfibre 16
Racket: Prince Exo3 Tour 16x18
String pattern of your racquet: 16 x 18
Power (or lack there of): Medium powered multi
Feel: Great
Tension maintenance: The string lost 12.3% tension over the life of the playtest.
Price: $12.95/set, $179.00/reel.
Overall comments and feedback: See below

General: This string feels very similar to Micronite/Microfibre my favorite multi to date. The coating is a little different and I'm guessing that is the reason I did not like this string quite as much but it could be due to a slump I'm in too

Serve/Return of Serve: I did not seem to any aces with this string which is kind of strange. Second serves were nothing special. Returns were OK.

Strokes: Average spin on both wings. Depth control was my big downfall with this string. I just could not seem to get it dialed in. Slices are pretty good with this string.

Volleys: This string is better than average at net.

Touch shots: Excellent! Drop shots and drop volleys were consistently finding the mark.

Softness: The string feels pretty soft.

Tension: I'd probably string this a few pounds tighter if I could do it over. We are experiencing temperatures in the 80s during this warm spell and I think that has something to do with my control issues.

Durability: I think I got about 7 sets of singles and 2 sets of doubles of playtime with it. The string has not broke yet (it is very close to breaking), but I think I'm going to retire my racket.

Movement: String movement was about average.

Conclusion: This string looks a lot like my favorite Discho Microfibre in terms of construction. I'm pretty sure I would have liked it a lot better in my stock racket. The feel when you hit the sweetspot is outstanding but when you mishit every other shot, the strings can't bail you out. So that is why this string is getting a higher ranking than you might think based on my review.

[mikeler]

I strung up Dynamite Tough 16 last night. Man is that a rough string. They should have called it Dynamite Rough. Pulling the crosses it sounded like I was trying to start up a lawn mower!

I ended up going with 50 pounds tension but may end up regretting not going lower. The ball bounce test told me that it does not have much pop but loads of spin (at least until the roughness wears off). It feels like any other multi when you hit the sweet spot.

It had the most clear signal on RacquetTune that I've ever seen. Even though it is not a nylon string, it read 50.2 pounds on RacquetTune right off the stringer using the default string factor for nylon 1.3mm.

I plan on just hitting balls Sunday so I'll try out the Gamma Pro and the Ashaway for a few minutes each then.

[maggmaster]

Careful, I put in about 7 hours with a set of ashaway dynamite at 56 lbs and after about the 4th hour it started hurting my arm.

[Nostradamus]

When will they make a string that is NOT affected by temperature ?