Ashaway 100% Zyex monofilament

[Torres]

This string is doing my head in. I snapped a 2nd set when tying off the mains. Had to find an alternative spare hole to tie off instead. Not sure what effect that has on the stringbed.

Strung Red ZX 1.27 at 52lbs CP this time in the Juice Pro (versus 53lbs originally). I'm not feeling the love. Not sure what's happening. During the first couple of hours of hitting, it plays okay but I wasn't getting that blend of plushness/crispness/confidence that I got the first time around. Am also getting too much length on balls and I don't quite have the confidence to take a big rip at the ball. That said, the first I strung in the Juice Pro was a bit inconsistent off the stringer and it wasn't until the 2nd hitting session that it began to settle down. I think this string needs to settle after stringing or it needs to be broken in after stringing or something has to happen for it to reach its peak playability levels. I also suspect that going too low in terms of tension isn't the answer.

Will see how it goes over the next few hours to see whether it can replicate the beautiful performance of the string when I strung the first set of string in the Juice Pro. I'm wondering whether those slow pulls suggested by Julian would have helped....

I'm also tempted to try a tension differential between Ms and Cs. Although I appreciate that this isn't a poly, I've found that going 1lb or so lower on the mains increases spin slightly with polys.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Torres

I'm wondering whether those slow pulls suggested by Julian would have helped....

I thought his explanation of why slow pulls are a good idea with this string was pretty interesting.

Have you considered trying poly mains/ZX cross Torres? Not suggesting you give up on full beds yet but thinking poly mains might give you a bit crisper snapback and spin while preserving the comfort of pop of ZX with it in the crosses.

[Torres]

Originally Posted by corners

Have you considered trying poly mains/ZX cross Torres?

It's definitely on my list of things to try, along with zx/poly but I just wanted to play another set of full bed ZX to destruction first to make sure I can replicate the characteristics I experienced originally. That way I can be as clear as I can be about how this string performs before I add a different string into the equation.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Torres

This string is doing my head in. I snapped a 2nd set when tying off the mains. Had to find an alternative spare hole to tie off instead. Not sure what effect that has on the stringbed.

Strung Red ZX 1.27 at 52lbs CP this time in the Juice Pro (versus 53lbs originally). I'm not feeling the love. Not sure what's happening. During the first couple of hours of hitting, it plays okay but I wasn't getting that blend of plushness/crispness/confidence that I got the first time around. Am also getting too much length on balls and I don't quite have the confidence to take a big rip at the ball. That said, the first I strung in the Juice Pro was a bit inconsistent off the stringer and it wasn't until the 2nd hitting session that it began to settle down. I think this string needs to settle after stringing or it needs to be broken in after stringing or something has to happen for it to reach its peak playability levels. I also suspect that going too low in terms of tension isn't the answer.

Will see how it goes over the next few hours to see whether it can replicate the beautiful performance of the string when I strung the first set of string in the Juice Pro. I'm wondering whether those slow pulls suggested by Julian would have helped....

Speaking of strings settling, I was pretty startled by the stiffness straight off the machine of a gut/poly hybrid I strung up a few weeks ago. The difference 2 days later was pretty dramatic how much it has loosened up. There was also a noticeable difference between the first and second match. Back to Ashaway now...

[Torres]

This 2nd string job of Red ZX 1.27 in my Juice Pro is unusual compared to the 1st string job in the same racquet. The 2nd string job is definitely playing better at 2-3 hours in compared to when it was initially strung (it seems to settled down) and you can hit out at the ball much more now - its starting to give that confidence again - but it doesn't quite feel as plush or as powerful or as forgiving as I remember it to be (compared to the 1st string job in the same stick). Stringbed feels tighter/stiffer despite it being strung 1lb lower. Feels more like a soft poly than a combo poly/multi/gut type string which is what the 1st job felt like at certain times. Not sure whether these characteristics are being caused by the mains being tied off on a different hole to what it should be. I wouldn't have thought so, but you never know.

One of the most interesting things about this string (for me anyway) is that I don't feel much fatigue on the body the day after 2-3 hours of hitting. With a stiff poly, I feel fatigue and stiffness in my body the day after a heavy hitting session, and physically would probably be at around 70%. As a result, I usually try and build in a recovery day free of heavy hitting or matches. With this ZX string I'm probably at 90-95% the day after a heavy hitting session.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Torres

This 2nd string job of Red ZX 1.27 in my Juice Pro is unusual compared to the 1st string job in the same racquet. The 2nd string job is definitely playing better at 2-3 hours in compared to when it was initially strung (it seems to settled down) and you can hit at the ball much more now - its starting to give that confidence again - but it doesn't quite feel as plush or as powerful or as forgiving as I remember it to be (compared to the 1st string job in the same stick). Stringbed feels tighter/stiffer despite it being strung 1lb lower. Feels more like a soft poly than a combo poly/multi/gut type string which is what the 1st job felt like at certain time. Not sure whether these characteristics are being caused by the mains being tied off on a different hole to what it should be. I wouldn't have thought so, but you never know.

One of the most interesting things about this string (for me anyway) is that I don't feel much fatigue on the body the day after 2-3 hours of hitting. With a stiff poly, I feel fatigue and stiffness in my body the day after a heavy hitting session, and physically would probably be at around 70%. As a result, I usually try and build in a recovery day free of heavy hitting or matches. With this ZX string I'm probably at 90-95% the day after a heavy hitting session.

It seems that the very low stiffness of these strings is making a clear impression on your body! even though results have been up and down for your hitting. Thanks again for investing your time and cash in this string Torres. We're all learning a lot from your systematic approach.

[chapmag]

Originally Posted by Torres

One of the most interesting things about this string (for me anyway) is that I don't feel much fatigue on the body the day after 2-3 hours of hitting. With a stiff poly, I feel fatigue and stiffness in my body the day after a heavy hitting session, and physically would probably be at around 70%. As a result, I usually try and build in a recovery day free of heavy hitting or matches. With this ZX string I'm probably at 90-95% the day after a heavy hitting session.

I too appreciate your report on how the string physically affects you. I've noticed the same thing with the Monogut ZX 16 and 17 strings. I had a tough match yesterday and today my shoulder and elbow feel great. For me that's a huge advantage to these strings.

[corners]

Originally Posted by chapmag

I too appreciate your report on how the string physically affects you. I've noticed the same thing with the Monogut ZX 16 and 17 strings. I had a tough match yesterday and today my shoulder and elbow feel great. For me that's a huge advantage to these strings.

Hi Chapmag, Welcome! Feel free to post any more impressions you have of this string. The more info the better at this point, and we'd all appreciate your input!

[Boricua]

How would this string match up against a a hybrid of Poly Plasma mains at 48 and OG micro at 52? This, in a Pro Kennex Q5 295. What tension shluld I use with this racket if using the Zyez?


Also, a cousin of mine is using a Head Speed Lite and he wants a soft but controlled setup. I thought about a full set of Technifibre NRG 2. Would this Zyez string be a better alternative. If so, what tension?

[chapmag]

Some background - for a long time I played full Zyex beds with my Pro Kennex Ki s. I played Dynamite WB (loved it) then the newer Dynamites (eh) then tried the Klipper Zyex (eh).

I loved the way that I could feel the ball sink into the strings with the Dynamite WB with high racquet head speed. And the same string let me play touch volleys and drop shots. But like most I hated the movement of the strings.

I'm experimenting with the Monogut ZX to see if I can get some of the poly sliding advantages without giving up all of the Zyex feel.

I've got about 7 hours in a set of Klipper Zyex mains (50#) and the brown Monogut ZX 16 (50#). I'm just starting to notice a bit of string movement. This hybrid is lower powered than a full bed of Kipper Zyex and I don't see a lot of additional spin. My touch shots seems fine.

I've also got about 4 hours in a full bed of the red Monogut ZX Pro (50#). This is more powerful than the Zyex/Zyex hybrid and also has noticeably more spin (maybe 20%?). No string movement so far. I'm not getting the sinking-in feeling I had with the multifilament Zyex. My groundstrokes have more depth, perhaps because of the mono launch angle effect? I'm hitting more balls long with this string than with the hybrid set.

[corners]

Originally Posted by chapmag

Some background - for a long time I played full Zyex beds with my Pro Kennex Ki s. I played Dynamite WB (loved it) then the newer Dynamites (eh) then tried the Klipper Zyex (eh).

I loved the way that I could feel the ball sink into the strings with the Dynamite WB with high racquet head speed. And the same string let me play touch volleys and drop shots. But like most I hated the movement of the strings.

I'm experimenting with the Monogut ZX to see if I can get some of the poly sliding advantages without giving up all of the Zyex feel.

I've got about 7 hours in a set of Klipper Zyex mains (50#) and the brown Monogut ZX 16 (50#). I'm just starting to notice a bit of string movement. This hybrid is lower powered than a full bed of Kipper Zyex and I don't see a lot of additional spin. My touch shots seems fine.

I've also got about 4 hours in a full bed of the red Monogut ZX Pro (50#). This is more powerful than the Zyex/Zyex hybrid and also has noticeably more spin (maybe 20%?). No string movement so far. I'm not getting the sinking-in feeling I had with the multifilament Zyex. My groundstrokes have more depth, perhaps because of the mono launch angle effect? I'm hitting more balls long with this string than with the hybrid set.

Thanks Chapmag! Noticeably more spin and no string movement with ZX full bed. Sounds good. I think you're probably right that the increased depth you're getting is a result of the sliding mains launch angle effect. I've found that pretty easy to adjust to in most cases, but when going back and forth to other sticks it can be unnerving. I'd be interested to hear how the string plays for you as it gets a little older.

[Torres]

Just can't get the consistency from this 2nd Red ZX 1.27 stringjob at the moment. It was playing really well on Thurs and felt controlled. Yesterday and today it feels overpowered, and lacking forgiveness and control from the stringbed. Not really hitting a heavy ball and some of the mains are 'clicking' (like a nylon) and not sliding cleanly when I move them with my fingers. I just don't get it.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Torres

Just can't get the consistency from this 2nd Red ZX 1.27 stringjob at the moment. It was playing really well on Thurs and felt controlled. Yesterday and today it feels overpowered, and lacking forgiveness and control from the stringbed. Not really hitting a heavy ball and some of the mains are 'clicking' (like a nylon) and not sliding cleanly when I move them with my fingers. I just don't get it.

I noticed that Julian did not answer your question about whether this string has a coating. Based on your experiences - spin drop off, clicking, not sliding cleanly - past the 10-hour mark, I'm inclined to think this string does have a slippery coating and that that coating is worn off by this point in the string's life.

If this were so, the string would still be better as a cross than any nylon string on the market, because it doesn't dent or notch and its doesn't fray. So it still might excel as a cross with gut or shaped copoly mains.

On the other hand, 10 hours of maximum playability is pretty good compared to many polys.

[corners]

RSI's playtest report for the 17g "Pro" version of this string is now online. The comments section is expanded over the print version of the playtest report.

Note that, unlike the 1st playtest RSI did on the 16g version of ZX, blind playtesters were advised to drop tension by 10-15%.

http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com...haway_mon.html

As usual with these blind playtests, comments run from very favorable to insightful to just plain ridiculous. Interesting that some playtesters praise the string for not moving while others say it moves to much. Go figure. Here is my favorite:

“With a 5-10% tension reduction this string performs as well or better than my current natural gut hybrid. It seems to have the control and spin of a co-poly, but with more power. I don’t usually hit with a lot of spin, but the ball rotation I get with this is awesome. This string is also very accurate. I am surprised at the comfort as I expected it to be too stiff. It’s very friendly on the tendons. It also maintains tension remarkably well. I am not a string breaker but I suspect that this string would hold up very well against the competition. I would definitely consider buying it.” 4.0 male baseliner with moderate spin using Boris Becker Delta Core Sportster strung at 62 pounds LO (Volkl V Blast 17)

[Torres]

Originally Posted by corners

some playtesters praise the string for not moving while others say it moves to much.

They will probably have evaluated it at different times during its string life and also with different racquets and tensions. During the first few hours it doesn't move, then movement gradually creeps in and it begins to stick slightly, presumably as the string notches wears. It's going to be more noticable in a 100/16x19 than say a 95/18x20, especially at lower tensions. That said, it's not as bad as a nylon wheres the mains really stick and remain stuck.

[Torres]

I just can't seem to jive with this 2nd stringjob in the Juice Pro at a slightly lower tension. Balls tend to fly a bit long unless I'm standing 6ft behind the baseline and balls don't seem particularly heavy. Can't seem to find that ultimate nth degree of control either. I definitely would be careful about stringing this at too low a tension.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Torres

I just can't seem to jive with this 2nd stringjob in the Juice Pro at a slightly lower tension. Balls tend to fly a bit long unless I'm standing 6ft behind the baseline and balls don't seem particularly heavy. Can't seem to find that ultimate nth degree of control either. I definitely would be careful about stringing this at too low a tension.

Are you comparing it directly with another racquet/strings at the moment?

[Torres]

^ Am comparing it strung at 52lbs CP with the same string, same racquet previously strung at 53lbs CP. This 2nd string job isn't providing the same consistency over the string's playing life. Just seems a bit overpowered and I'm having to reduce my racquet speed or change my racquet path. The only difference is the tension and the main tied off on a different hole. I just don't get it - 1lb will make a slight difference but surely not as much as I'm seeing. If I was going to try another full bed of this, I'd definitely be trying the 'slow pulls' suggestion by Julian and going back to 53lbs CP for this stick. All this testing is getting expensive as I've burned through 4 sets now and this string isn't cheap. If it wasn't for the fact that the 1st set of this string in the Juice Pro played beautifully for a time, I would have junked this test ages ago....

Next up will be Red ZX 1.27 / Genesis Black Magic 17 at 53/52lbs CP. Should be interesting to see if those poly crosses help that ZX slide and snap back more easily. Will be doing slow pulls on both. Machine goes down to 30% pull speed, but will use 50%.

The remaining half sets will then be used in reverse after that ie poly mains / ZX crosses. Not entirely convinced by that combination, primarily because Black Magic 17 tends to go dead after about 5 hours of hitting, and I doubt that any cross will save it.

[Boricua]

In a week I wii order Q5 295. Will string with red Zyex at 55. I will report my impressions

[chapmag]

Originally Posted by Torres

Next up will be Red ZX 1.27 / Genesis Black Magic 17 at 53/52lbs CP. Should be interesting to see if those poly crosses help that ZX slide and snap back more easily. Will be doing slow pulls on both. Machine goes down to 30% pull speed, but will use 50%.

I'll be interested in your results. I wonder if the poly cross will constrain the power of the Monogut ZX. I've felt lots of power from the ZX, especially the Pro, so giving up some power for some additional snap back could work out very well.

My next experiment will be the ZX Pro Red/MSV Co.-Focus 17 at 50 lbs. I don't do my own stringing, but my full-bed impressions several posts above were strung at slow pull speeds (not sure how slow).