Mikeler's Multis

[Up&comer]

Why don't you do the Jay Berger serve motion? He started to do it when he got injured.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

Why don't you do the Jay Berger serve motion? He started to do it when he got injured.

I've tried it. It helps the shoulder but I miss SO many serves. That is my last resort if I can avoid it.

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I've tried it. It helps the shoulder but I miss SO many serves. That is my last resort if I can avoid it.

You just have to get an oversize prince graphite and string it with nylon. You'll be golden.

[mikeler]

Two more points about Genesis Thunder Blast. It looks more like a 16L to me after stringing it up again yesterday. Also, now that I have 5 sets of play on it, I see some white gradually coming through this once all black string.

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Two more points about Genesis Thunder Blast. It looks more like a 16L to me after stringing it up again yesterday. Also, now that I have 5 sets of play on it, I see some white gradually coming through this once all black string.

So what is the thing about it that makes it better than mcs?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

So what is the thing about it that makes it better than mcs?

For me, it improves two weaknesses in my game. Flattening out the forehand and my net game are not normally my strengths but with this setup that is not the case. I can't really evaluate my serve until I can hit it normally again. Just need to get my backhand dialed in with it. I'm holding off on buying a reel until I get my 1 handed topspin backhand going (hopefully soon). In the PK 7G, the MCS seems too soft. TB is still soft enough for my sensitive elbow though.

BTW, the company that sent me the string has a 3 for the price of 2 deal on it right now.

[Up&comer]

Just strung up b5e/mcs at 55/58. Stringing was easy, except mcs had a tough time going through blocked holes. Feels pretty muted. Looking forward to a hit with it.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

Just strung up b5e/mcs at 55/58. Stringing was easy, except mcs had a tough time going through blocked holes. Feels pretty muted. Looking forward to a hit with it.

That setup is muted. Anywhere you can pre-weave MCS you need to do it. The string has no stiffness so getting it through blocked holes is a chore.

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by mikeler

That setup is muted. Anywhere you can pre-weave MCS you need to do it. The string has no stiffness so getting it through blocked holes is a chore.

It definitely was muted. I hit for about 2 hours give or take and so far impressions have been good. Not great, but good.

It started out realllllllly low powered and it was a chore to generate a hard, spinny ball. It was easy to hit it hard and flat or a looping topspin, but to hit a hard topspin was difficult.

After about an hour, though, the setup really softened up even more and got some power into it. This helped everything from forehands to backhands to serves.

That being said, it was a really nice setup, but I wasn't just floored. It's arm friendly, has

good spin, and after it softens up it has good power. I don't know what it is, but it just felt weird. All the playability I wanted was there, but it just felt uncomfortable for some reason. Maybe it was just the 100 degree heat, maybe it was just me. I don't know. I'll give it another go, but it looks like it has maybe an hour or two left before it breaks.

Edit, the thumbs down wasn't supposed to be there.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

It definitely was muted. I hit for about 2 hours give or take and so far impressions have been good. Not great, but good.

It started out realllllllly low powered and it was a chore to generate a hard, spinny ball. It was easy to hit it hard and flat or a looping topspin, but to hit a hard topspin was difficult.

After about an hour, though, the setup really softened up even more and got some power into it. This helped everything from forehands to backhands to serves.

That being said, it was a really nice setup, but I wasn't just floored. It's arm friendly, has

good spin, and after it softens up it has good power. I don't know what it is, but it just felt weird. All the playability I wanted was there, but it just felt uncomfortable for some reason. Maybe it was just the 100 degree heat, maybe it was just me. I don't know. I'll give it another go, but it looks like it has maybe an hour or two left before it breaks.

Edit, the thumbs down wasn't supposed to be there.

Keep in mind I like low/medium power level in a string. You might want to try a cross that has a little more pop. I don't like this setup as much in my PKs for whatever reason. The Genesis Thunder Blast just works great with B5E in those sticks.

[tennisexecutor]

how's the durability of thunder blast compared to your b5e/mantis hybrid? what multi would you say it's most similar to in terms of feel? (if you tried it in a full setup)

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by mikeler

Keep in mind I like low/medium power level in a string. You might want to try a cross that has a little more pop. I don't like this setup as much in my PKs for whatever reason. The Genesis Thunder Blast just works great with B5E in those sticks.

Yeah, I'm trying it at 54 all around this time. I got two packs of each so I have 4 total stringings. Hope it works better this time.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by tennisexecutor

how's the durability of thunder blast compared to your b5e/mantis hybrid? what multi would you say it's most similar to in terms of feel? (if you tried it in a full setup)

I've played 6 fairly long sets of singles, one short set of singles and one doubles set with a tiebreak that went to 10-8. I think I've got about 4 or 5 more sets of singles until breakage.

I have not tried it in a full setup, but with B5E mains it reminds me somewhat of a fresh bed of X1. It just seems like I can go for my shots without fear of them going out.

[Up&comer]

Just broke the mantis. Took about 5 hours. Played better and better until it broke. It actually lasted longer than my regular setup because the cross didn't saw through the mains.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

Just broke the mantis. Took about 5 hours. Played better and better until it broke. It actually lasted longer than my regular setup because the cross didn't saw through the mains.

8 sets of singles and 1 set of doubles for me now. The Thunder Blast is getting whiter and whiter but still looks to be in pretty good shape.

[Kcraig]

Tried a set of Genesis Thunder Blast 16g (aka Black Thunder) at 58# in a PK 7g. Have had a chance to play about 3-4 sets of doubles with it so far and have mixed feelings. It has a monofiliament core and it does feel "stiffer" than full Xcel or NXT. Spin potential is pretty good, but the power/feel is average so far. I didnt get the same pop on volleys and groundies I got from Xcel or NXT. I think it would do better if i had dropped the tension down a couple lbs. Also--had a couple of elbow "twinges" with it so not sure how long i will keep it in there. String movement was also more than Xcel or NXT.

Have a mini reel of NXT 16g and plan on trying it at 56lbs. NXT 16g was in the demo 7g i had and performed really we'll see how it goes.

[Kcraig]

Played 3 sets of dubs last night--all with black Xcel 16g. This string is very much softer than Thunder Blast and has as good of spin potential as well. Where I really see the benefit is on those "off center" shots--especially with quick reflex volleys when you don't really have time to setup and punch. The Xcel provides that extra little "pop" that TB did not.

[mikeler]

For those keeping score at home, I'm now playing with the same racket as KCraig, the PK 7G. Much like MultiFeel, it may be the monofilament core in Thunder Blast that helps my game but is not as easy on the arm. Of course, my arm is not near as sensitive (right now) as KCraigs.

[Rogael Naderer]

May be a little off topic, but how do you rate Babolat Addiction (previously Attraction I believe) as a string in itself, but also as a cross for a Co-poly (Silverstring 1.25mm in my case.)

It may be the case you've never tried it, thanks anyway!

[Boricua]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I've tried it. It helps the shoulder but I miss SO many serves. That is my last resort if I can avoid it.

Try Polyfibre TCS in mains with Excel premium in crosses at 59. Much more comfortable and soft than B5E in mains and multi or even gut in crosses. Also, good control and the drop in tension I have not noticed as I hit with topspin and adjust to this. Youll be surprised. TW recommends TCS for some reason and combined with Excel its great in a APD which is a super stiff racket.. Imagine in your racket.