Mid Level Gut Playtest

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by McLovin

So far the KLIP Legend Tour is playing like Pacific Classic. Crisp, but not as crisp as the regular Legend.

I haven't found Classic to require a break-in period, but that is just me. Also, I only use the 17g version, and maybe the 16L or 16 require it?

One thing I forgot to mention was gauge consistency. Both Armour Pro and Legend Tour seemed very consistent throughout. The Classic, on occasion, will vary in thickness, sometimes looking like a 16Lg or an 18g.

Thanks, I'm currently playing with Mamba Premium Natural Gut. IF it stays on the frame, then there's nothing wrong with the gut. However, it is prone to premature unraveling and early breakage.

I'm interested in moving away from the econo-gut and considering the sub-$30 range. The hit-or-miss quality of econo-gut can be frustrating, stringing it can be nerve wrecking.

You definitely get what you pay for with econo-gut. But like I said, in the case of Mamba, if it stays on the frame, it's a great alternative to those who want to try natural gut.

[tennisnut09]

Originally Posted by McLovin

So far the KLIP Legend Tour is playing like Pacific Classic. Crisp, but not as crisp as the regular Legend.

I haven't found Classic to require a break-in period, but that is just me. Also, I only use the 17g version, and maybe the 16L or 16 require it?

One thing I forgot to mention was gauge consistency. Both Armour Pro and Legend Tour seemed very consistent throughout. The Classic, on occasion, will vary in thickness, sometimes looking like a 16Lg or an 18g.

Mclovin, any update on this. Please post.

[djNEiGht]

Have you had a chance to hit with the BB Hero? I'm hitting with that now and it's my first time with gut.

Compared to Live Wire XP and NXT ( both 16 ) it has more pop but similar feel and spin. I don't like the ping sound it gives off early on in the strings life but the sound has changed and is less tingy. I had it stung at 60 and raquet tune said 58 a couple days after yet still before the first hit. Three weeks later it said it was at 46. The bed looks pretty ratty and decent amount of string movement. I am pleased with the way it is playing still and will see how much longer I get.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by djNEiGht

Have you had a chance to hit with the BB Hero? I'm hitting with that now and it's my first time with gut.

The plan is to restring this weekend w/ BB Hero in one frame and normal KLIP Legend in the other. I was down in VA Beach this past weekend playing USTA Sectionals and didn't want to screw w/ my strings, so I went back to my normal setup (Pacific Classic).

I did notice that BB Hero is 'Buy 3, Pay for 2' on the TW site, so I may pick up a few more sets if it plays decent.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by tennisnut09

Mclovin, any update on this. Please post.

I played with the Legend Tour the other night. I forgot to take a Racquet Tune reading, but the string is still going strong. Barely any string movement, still nice pop & spin, as well as good feel. In fact, after playing my normal setup (Pacific Classic) all weekend, I'm not sure I could tell any difference between the two.

However, that was doubles, so its hard for me to get an idea of how it really plays from the ground. I'm playing singles Friday, so hopefully there will be more long rallies where I have to hit 6-8 shots per point, and can get a better feel for it.

[AYone]

Question: what are you aiming for with your gut mains/poly cross, tighter/looser combo? I'm popping blood vessels trying to figure out what to experiment with in my set ups. I gravitated towards the poly mains or fully poly w/ tighter mains, with the understanding it optimized spin. But now I see people are doing the opposite. Please let me know your views on what has optimized spin and performance for you. Many thanks. I'm a solid 4.0 player.

[McLovin]

The whole difference in tension is a highly debated issue. For years I strung the gut mains & poly crosses at the same tension (54lbs). Then I read here that people were suggesting the poly be dropped 5-10%, mostly due to the realization that poly plays better at lower tensions.

So, I dropped it 2lbs about three years ago when I changed frames, and have continued doing it even since. I honestly couldn't tell you if it made any difference, other than maybe a slightly softer string bed.

The only way to truly determine any difference is a 'blind taste test', where you string two identical frames with the exact same string and drop the tension of one. Then, not knowing which is which, go out & play a couple matches with each and try to determine afterwards if there is any difference between the two.

[boinz]

Great thread! I'm subscribing with interest... Got a set of KLIP Legend Tour and BB Hero arriving next week

Honestly I had ordered them not just for the cost, but I'm also a sucker for colored strings and there just not many out there. I had also ordered a Yonex Poly Tour Pro and SPPP to match these guts in my hybrid setups.

Noticed the price of BB Hero had risen to $35, if not for the promo it will be also similar priced as the Pacific Tough Gut ( one that I had used previously and like it very much )
In TWE, they carry Pacific guts that come in copper and black. Hope TW will get those soon for more choices

[Lambsscroll]

Thx for the wright-up. Nicely written. You piqued my interest in Klip Legend Tour. I currently use Wilson gut and VS Touch BT7 gut in the mains. If you say Klip Legend Tour has more sustained power than Klip Legend then it may be a fit for me. Thx for adding that Klip is consistent in their gauging. That actually is important to me.

[AYone]

Originally Posted by McLovin

The whole difference in tension is a highly debated issue. For years I strung the gut mains & poly crosses at the same tension (54lbs). Then I read here that people were suggesting the poly be dropped 5-10%, mostly due to the realization that poly plays better at lower tensions.

So, I dropped it 2lbs about three years ago when I changed frames, and have continued doing it even since. I honestly couldn't tell you if it made any difference, other than maybe a slightly softer string bed.

The only way to truly determine any difference is a 'blind taste test', where you string two identical frames with the exact same string and drop the tension of one. Then, not knowing which is which, go out & play a couple matches with each and try to determine afterwards if there is any difference between the two.

Thanks man. I think that's the truth. The Pepsi challenge!

[corbind]

Originally Posted by McLovin

The only way to truly determine any difference is a 'blind taste test', where you string two identical frames with the exact same string and drop the tension of one. Then, not knowing which is which, go out & play a couple matches with each and try to determine afterwards if there is any difference between the two.

Hopefully you'll get a chance to do that for a perfect test.

[Francis27]

Whats a good cheap gut? I want the babolat ones but theyre too expensive. I was thinking either KLIP Legend (original) 16g but i heard its stiff? planning on putting it as a cross with poly mains. Looking to either get KLIP Legend (original) or Pacific Classic. How do these compare? Basically im looking for comfort, durability and tension maintenance.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Francis27

Whats a good cheap gut? I want the babolat ones but theyre too expensive. I was thinking either KLIP Legend (original) 16g but i heard its stiff? planning on putting it as a cross with poly mains. Looking to either get KLIP Legend (original) or Pacific Classic. How do these compare? Basically im looking for comfort, durability and tension maintenance.

That's a lot of money for a string used in the wrong places...

[Francis27]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

That's a lot of money for a string used in the wrong places...

I can always put it in the mains. ive never used gut before

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Francis27

I can always put it in the mains. ive never used gut before

I only said that because the stringbed's characteristic is largely contributed by what's in the mains. So, putting $30 gut in the crosses is well, a waste.

Gut in the mains, now you're talking.

[dave t]

If you've never used gut, definitely give it a shot in the mains or as a full bed.

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by Francis27

Whats a good cheap gut? I want the babolat ones but theyre too expensive. I was thinking either KLIP Legend (original) 16g but i heard its stiff? planning on putting it as a cross with poly mains. Looking to either get KLIP Legend (original) or Pacific Classic. How do these compare? Basically im looking for comfort, durability and tension maintenance.

I've tried Klip Legend and Pacific Classic, both 16 gauge. Legend is stiffer, which is why I prefer Classic. Legend lasted longer for me. Both will hold tension very well in good weather but will drop dramatically in wet weather. However, playability is still quite good even after the drop. I monitor tension after every match with RacquetTune. From now on my racquets with gut stay indoors when the humidity is too high.

Both are significantly more durable than synthetics and noticeably higher in quality than cheap econogut.

[McLovin]

As the others have said, KLIP Legend (the $25.95 stuff) generally is 'stiffer' (or 'crisper') than Pacific Classic. While I've just begun my playtest, I have found KLIP Legend Tour (the $29.92 stuff) to be much nicer than regular KLIP Legend, after a brief break-in period (maybe 5-10 minutes of hitting).

It costs the same as Pacific Classic, strings slightly easier, and is black (which some people like). I cannot speak to its durability right now as I've only hit w/ it a couple of times, but there's nothing that leads me to believe it is any worse than the others.

However, stay away from KLIP Armour Pro. You might as well go full poly IMO.

As I said earlier, I hope to string up BB Hero next week, as well as regular KLIP Legend and also writeup Pacific Classic.

And if you're using it in the mains, stay away from the bargain-based gut (e.g. Titan, Global, etc.). You get what you pay for, and while some may have good experience, most have it snap prematurely, either while stringing or just sitting in the bag.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by McLovin

As the others have said, KLIP Legend (the $25.95 stuff) generally is 'stiffer' (or 'crisper') than Pacific Classic. While I've just begun my playtest, I have found KLIP Legend Tour (the $29.92 stuff) to be much nicer than regular KLIP Legend, after a brief break-in period (maybe 5-10 minutes of hitting).

It costs the same as Pacific Classic, strings slightly easier, and is black (which some people like). I cannot speak to its durability right now as I've only hit w/ it a couple of times, but there's nothing that leads me to believe it is any worse than the others.

However, stay away from KLIP Armour Pro. You might as well go full poly IMO.

As I said earlier, I hope to string up BB Hero next week, as well as regular KLIP Legend and also writeup Pacific Classic.

And if you're using it in the mains, stay away from the bargain-based gut (e.g. Titan, Global, etc.). You get what you pay for, and while some may have good experience, most have it snap prematurely, either while stringing or just sitting in the bag.

I'm not a fan of black gut. I just can't help but think the dye they used interferes with playability of a natural product. Yes, I am aware that natural gut is already thoroughly processed by the time we get it. I'm just saying, it doesn't need anymore processing in the form of coloring dyes. Also, I'm not saying the dye alter playability (maybe it does?), but it's certainly in my head. That's why I'm not crazy about black gut.

The cheap econo stuff, you certainly get what you pay for. But I have had VERY good result and experience with Mamba Premium Natural Gut. Does it make me want to rip my hair out? Yes, but that's once in a while. If you are careful at stringing, the Mamba stuff is worthwhile for those with limited budget.

Thanks for confirming Klip Legend plays crisper. That may be perfect for me.

[JT_2eighty]

I've yet to try Klip gut.

I've read in past threads that Klip tends to 'bottom out' over time, while Pacific's guts tend to 'hold strong' like Babolat, until breakage.

How many hours/sets/matches have you logged on your Klip hybrids so far? I'm curious how the longevity of these guts will be for you. Great read so far. Thanks for the informative reviews, looking forward to more.