Mikeler's Multis

[mrmike]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I forgot to mention I strung up Volkl Power Fiber last night. It definitely has a firmer feel than all the other multis I've tried. Seems like it has good spin potential just bouncing balls off it. One of the balls I was bouncing hit the ceiling so it does have some power!

So far comparing all the multis I have tried with my C10 Pro, the Power Fiber II was the most controllable without being too harsh on the arm. As you say, it is stiffer than most multis. I cut it out after 3 months, sharing use between another frame. Held up well other than the black color version was wearing off on the balls.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by mrmike

So far comparing all the multis I have tried with my C10 Pro, the Power Fiber II was the most controllable without being too harsh on the arm. As you say, it is stiffer than most multis. I cut it out after 3 months, sharing use between another frame. Held up well other than the black color version was wearing off on the balls.

A lot of black strings suffer from that problem. They do let you know where you hit the ball on the stringbed but I'm not a fan of all the black marks on the ball.

Just want to give a shout out to g4driver. He sent me a few sets of B5E to try out after my multi testing is done. I plan to try it as a main string.

[Francis27]

Originally Posted by mikeler

For me, gut lasts as long as the few multis I've tested that have exceptional durability. I'm not really the gut expert here on the boards. Poly/gut lasted quite a long time for me as do poly/multi hybrids.

Ok and lastly i decided to use Prince premier attack 16 with rpm team 16 on a Pd2012 i have 1 set of the rpm so thats why im using it. Can you reccomend me a tension? and what do you think would work best poly in mains or cross?

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by Francis27

Do you think its better to use a multi than an eco priced gut like Klip legend and pacific classic in a hybrid?

I'm going to use (mains/crosses) when I refer to hybrids. I've tried poly/multi, multi/poly, and gut/poly. Multi/poly will break in the first 5 hours for most advanced players, so it's not economical. Poly/multi is a popular combination because it's cheap and fairly durable. Gut/poly is the most arm-friendly combination and also fairly durable. I know that a lot of pros use poly/gut. Then again most pros are sponsored by these companies and change their racquets after every set so they always have fresh poly, and they are obviously not price-sensitive like the rest of us. Klip Legend and Pacific Classic are lower priced than VS or Wilson but still much higher than multifilaments. That's why I can't imagine using gut as a cross unless maybe it's $15 econogut. The mains have more effect on play, and crosses are just modifiers. The truth is that by the time the multi breaks in a poly/multi hybrid, the poly is close to dead anyway, so there's no benefit to getting more durable cross.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by Ramon

I'm going to use (mains/crosses) when I refer to hybrids. I've tried poly/multi, multi/poly, and gut/poly. Multi/poly will break in the first 5 hours for most advanced players, so it's not economical. Poly/multi is a popular combination because it's cheap and fairly durable. Gut/poly is the most arm-friendly combination and also fairly durable. I know that a lot of pros use poly/gut. Then again most pros are sponsored by these companies and change their racquets after every set so they always have fresh poly, and they are obviously not price-sensitive like the rest of us. Klip Legend and Pacific Classic are lower priced than VS or Wilson but still much higher than multifilaments. That's why I can't imagine using gut as a cross unless maybe it's $15 econogut. The mains have more effect on play, and crosses are just modifiers. The truth is that by the time the multi breaks in a poly/multi hybrid, the poly is close to dead anyway, so there's no benefit to getting more durable cross.

Last time I did multi mains/poly crosses, I got about 2 hours before it broke

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Francis27

Ok and lastly i decided to use Prince premier attack 16 with rpm team 16 on a Pd2012 i have 1 set of the rpm so thats why im using it. Can you reccomend me a tension? and what do you think would work best poly in mains or cross?

Hard to say without knowing your game and I've never used RPM Blast. Your racket has a lot of power, so I'm thinking something like 56/52 if PPA is in the mains or 52/56 if PPA is in the crosses. Go 4 pounds lower on the poly whatever you choose.

[mikeler]

I had to update the durability section of DNA again, I forgot about a 45 minute hitting session I had with the piano player.

I cut my sets of Isospeed Classic and RPNY tonight. The Classic comes in this weird mini reel type container. They could probably knock a buck or two off the price if they used zip ties. The RPNY feels like DM but is quite a bit darker in color and looks slightly different.

That will be it for the new multis once they break. I'll try PPA and X1 again after that. Then hopefully my arm will be ready to try B5E mains with DM, NvY and ThunderBlast crosses to determine a multi cross winner once and for all...for me.

[Francis27]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Hard to say without knowing your game and I've never used RPM Blast. Your racket has a lot of power, so I'm thinking something like 56/52 if PPA is in the mains or 52/56 if PPA is in the crosses. Go 4 pounds lower on the poly whatever you choose.

Thanks im gnna try 52/56 i like to hit topspin and im mostly a baseliner

[Overheadsmash]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Last time I did multi mains/poly crosses, I got about 2 hours before it broke

I have been liking Tf X-1 Biphase 16 in the mains, and TF Red Code 18 in the crosses. This is in a denser string patterned Dunlop Biomimmetic 300. No problem with breakage. Conversely, when I had TF X-1 Biphase 18 and the Red Code 18 in a more open string pattern stick the mains broke after about three hours. Just an FYI in case you like the feel of that multi mains poly cross setup. Personally, that Dunlop feels great with that setup. I'm 52on the mains, 48 on the crosses. I get great movement on my serves with that setup.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Francis27

Thanks im gnna try 52/56 i like to hit topspin and im mostly a baseliner

Start there and then adjust the next string job. That should get you in the ballpark.

[GS]

Mike---I'm about to try another MCS/Rip Control hybrid, but with Mantis in the mains this time, like you suggested. I like a 57 lb stringbed, but should I have the Rip at a slightly different tension? Thanks in advance. (Now I owe you a 3rd ahi burger.)

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by GS

Mike---I'm about to try another MCS/Rip Control hybrid, but with Mantis in the mains this time, like you suggested. I like a 57 lb stringbed, but should I have the Rip at a slightly different tension? Thanks in advance. (Now I owe you a 3rd ahi burger.)

I don't see a reason to vary the tension between those two strings.

[mikeler]

Got 2 sets of singles and 2 sets of doubles on the Gamma Pro. Pretty nice string for sure.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Got 2 sets of singles and 2 sets of doubles on the Gamma Pro. Pretty nice string for sure.

Before it broke, or that's just how much you've gotten so far? That's what, maybe 3 to 4 hours?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Before it broke, or that's just how much you've gotten so far? That's what, maybe 3 to 4 hours?

Still intact. That is how much mileage I got out of it today.

[mikeler]

I forgot to mention, Ashaway Dynamite has only lost 5.8% tension after stringing and hitting with it for a few minutes. That is the lowest I can remember seeing on RacquetTune.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I forgot to mention, Ashaway Dynamite has only lost 5.8% tension after stringing and hitting with it for a few minutes. That is the lowest I can remember seeing on RacquetTune.

What g are you using in the Ashaway Dynamite? Is it the soft version? I tried the AD Soft in 18g, and I got about 45 minutes until it broke :-/

And it wasn't a mishit either -- was dead center.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by sstchur

What g are you using in the Ashaway Dynamite? Is it the soft version? I tried the AD Soft in 18g, and I got about 45 minutes until it broke :-/

And it wasn't a mishit either -- was dead center.

Dynamite Tough 16. I've never used 18g before with any string type.

[Francis27]

Hey sorry i keep bringing up PPA i just wanna know more about it before i buy a set and possibly a reel if i like it but when you say it stiffens up overtime will it hurt your arm or will it still be comfortable? (Putting as a cross with poly mains)

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by Francis27

Hey sorry i keep bringing up PPA i just wanna know more about it before i buy a set and possibly a reel if i like it but when you say it stiffens up overtime will it hurt your arm or will it still be comfortable? (Putting as a cross with poly mains)

I've used PPA a lot. Even when it stiffens up it is still quite playable and not an arm killer. It's certainly more arm friendly than Babolat Addiction (a stiff multi) and more arm friendly than any poly. If your arm starts hurting from your hybrid, I'm quite certain the culprit is the poly.