Mikeler's Multis

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Hewex

No worries, as others have said, I appreciate all the testing you do. On the Yonex string, my pro told me it was crap, LOL...plus he said that Wilson made it for Yonex. He's represented a couple different string companies, so I trust what he tells me. Thoughts...does Yonex make their own string?

My experience with most tennis coaches is that many of them are full of BS including my high school coach of 4 years. I don't have any inside knowledge of stringing manufacturers so I can't comment on it.

Funny story about the coach I mentioned. He used to always try and predict who the next big player was. 99 times out of 100 he was wrong. But he did get 1 right. I played at a tournament where Rick Macci used to teach. One of Rick's pros was working out a 13 year old girl. I knew after 30 seconds this one would probably make it to the top. Once Jennifer Capriati won her first major, my feelings were vindicated.

[JT_2eighty]

^^ heh, I agree. I mean, coaches are good for coaching, but many times when they talk about gear, they are as misinformed as the rest of us.

Sometimes even stringers are the same way... like my last stringer (before I got my own machine) who when I asked for full gut due to arm pain, instead recommended a Gut Hybrid... and strung PHT/GUT hybrid, at 60 lbs!!! He also didn't make any mention (or probably didn't know) about how poly strings get stiffer over time... so while the first match or two felt nice and had some amazing spin and power, it just got harsher and harsher until I couldn't lift my arm anymore. I guess I can thank him for prompting me to string for myself now.

TLDR is that it's always best to do your own research as even coaches, stringers, and pros can pass around misinformation like the flu.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by mikeler

It did not move very much at first. Around set #7 the strings started moving quite a bit more.




I have not tried Alpha Gut because from what I've read the durability is poor. Have you tried it?

Trying it now, but only played a bit of doubles and not enough to test the durability. I like the softness. Based on my experience w/ other 18g strings, I only expect about 2.5 hours out of this, but time will tell.

[slopoke]

Mike, of the strings you have tested which two are the most arm friendly? Thanks for your efforts.

[JT_2eighty]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Trying it now, but only played a bit of doubles and not enough to test the durability. I like the softness. Based on my experience w/ other 18g strings, I only expect about 2.5 hours out of this, but time will tell.

In my experience with Alpha 18g, it was great for the first 1-2 hours. I'm not a huge string breaker, so it lasted a few more hours but the playability after hours 2-3 just dropped bigtime; the string actually stiffens up over time and loses its initial softness and power. IIRC it actually helped with control as it stiffened up, but string movement got real bad and became too crisp for my taste.

However, for self-stringers and for $6, it's a great match-day string that you can string up fresh every other match and probably save $$ as opposed to more expensive multis that only last 4-7 hours anyway. I would imagine the 16g is better for both durability and tension maintenance, and it's still only $6, so worth a try.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Trying it now, but only played a bit of doubles and not enough to test the durability. I like the softness. Based on my experience w/ other 18g strings, I only expect about 2.5 hours out of this, but time will tell.

I should caveat my comment about string movement. The outer three mains on each side tend to move the most. The middle mains don't move very much at all.

Originally Posted by slopoke

Mike, of the strings you have tested which two are the most arm friendly? Thanks for your efforts.

I think Mantis Comfort Synthetic 16 is the most arm friendly. Babolat Xcel 16 and Maxim Touch 17 are probably tied for 2nd.

[Torres]

Originally Posted by Lambsscroll

Tecnifibre X-One Biphase leads all categories for multis ( non poly) except for one. Its probably too powerful for you Mike but maybe with the added spin it gives your ball will land shorter. It does rank the highest in comfort so thats a plus. http://www.stringforum.net/string2010.php

Why do you keep on quoting String Forum? The is the forum that had Black Code as their poly of the year in 2009.

Most people know that the way that their 'string of the year' is voted for simply favors those strings which are common or well known or simply have alot of hype surrounding them at the time of voting.

They send you a questionnaire which says, 'Which of these multis do you think is best for spin', and people then vote for the string that they know, even though they might not have played with any of the other strings on the list. It's a really flawed 'reader voting system'. StringForum string of the year is really about what's most popular or most well known by their readers, not necessarily what's best.

[mikeler]

I took a very close look at my Xcel string bed this morning. There are several deep notches in the sweet spot. I'd really be surprised if it lasts throughout my match tomorrow since I'm playing another spin meister. We shall see though. I can't believe I want a string to break that I love, but I'd like to march forward and try some more strings out. In any event, if it survives the weekend I plan to cut it out and string NXT Control on Sunday.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I should caveat my comment about string movement. The outer three mains on each side tend to move the most. The middle mains don't move very much at all.




I think Mantis Comfort Synthetic 16 is the most arm friendly. Babolat Xcel 16 and Maxim Touch 17 are probably tied for 2nd.

In another part of this thread, I remember you saying that Maxim Touch 17 had the best ball pocketing.

Given that you feel Mantis Comfort is tops for comfort, can you clarify the difference a little bit? What make MC more comfortable than MT? What makes MT feel like it has more ball pocketing than MC?

How would you rate the ball pocketing of MC?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by sstchur

In another part of this thread, I remember you saying that Maxim Touch 17 had the best ball pocketing.

Given that you feel Mantis Comfort is tops for comfort, can you clarify the difference a little bit? What make MC more comfortable than MT? What makes MT feel like it has more ball pocketing than MC?

How would you rate the ball pocketing of MC?

Maxim Touch 17 gave me the most ball pocketing of any string I've tried so far. Mantis Comfort Synthetic 16 has pretty good ball pocketing but not as much as MT 17. MCS 16 is softer but not by much. I don't think pocketing is directly related to softness but that is just my opinion. Off to the courts...

[mikeler]

Played 2.5 sets of intense singles today. The Xcel is still holding on but barely. Several of the crosses have lost over half their mass. One cross looks like the Mantis mains right before they go. Just a small strand left. Still plays well though. I'll either break it or cut it out tomorrow and put the NXT Control in.

[bad_call]

have any MCS left? it's holding up pretty well in the AG4D100.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by bad_call

have any MCS left? it's holding up pretty well in the AG4D100.

I do, I'll shoot you an email.

[mikeler]

I cut out the Xcel. I only played 1 set with it today. It looked so bad I felt like it might be losing its playability. Probably not because both of my sets today went to tiebreakers. Of course. I won the TB with Prince Premiere and lost the one with Xcel.

[mikeler]

Strung up NXT Control just now. The string felt firm out of the package but not stiff. Had a weird smell to it that I can't describe. It uncoiled easily and the mains were easy to do except for some minor kinking. The crosses caused my fingers major friction burn so I used a screwdriver in lieu of my fingers to fan out the crosses. Knots on the crosses were kind of tough too.

Gave it Ye Olde ball bounce test. Seems like it will have average spin. It was very muted and felt great in the sweet spot.

[Kcraig]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I cut out the Xcel. I only played 1 set with it today. It looked so bad I felt like it might be losing its playability. Probably not because both of my sets today went to tiebreakers. Of course. I won the TB with Prince Premiere and lost the one with Xcel.

So total hours on Excel??

[FedererBestTennis]

Taking price into account, what is more worth it? XCel, or Mantis?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Kcraig

So total hours on Excel??

13 hours.

Originally Posted by FedererBestTennis

Taking price into account, what is more worth it? XCel, or Mantis?

Mantis is $1/hour. Xcel is unknown because I cut it out. It may cost $1.25/hour. If you pay for stringing then Xcel is probably cheaper per hour of play.

[Kcraig]

Originally Posted by mikeler

13 hours.




Mantis is $1/hour. Xcel is unknown because I cut it out. It may cost $1.25/hour. If you pay for stringing then Xcel is probably cheaper per hour of play.

My local actually charges the same overall price (string and labor) on Excel and NRG. Was a little suprised to see that since NRG cost almost $3 less.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Kcraig

My local actually charges the same overall price (string and labor) on Excel and NRG. Was a little suprised to see that since NRG cost almost $3 less.

They probably get a discount on the Xcel.