Pacific Classic 1.25 x MSV Co-Focus 1.18

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by RyKnocks

I'm more of a topspin hitter. Do you think 55/50 or 57/50 would help to stiffen out the racquet a bit? Basically I love the spin I get from this racquet and setup, but I'd like to tame the power down a few notches. If I can't then I'll have to switch racquets yet again.

I would try 58/55 next and if that's too powerful, try the reverse hybrid with poly mains and gut crosses.

Cofocus is also a pretty lively copoly. You could try a low power poly instead in your crosses. If your power isn't crazy high, you should be able to find a string setup that will work without having to get a different racquet. IMO the IG instinct isn't THAT powerful.

[The Big Kahuna]

I like the performance of my set-up with my racquet for my game with the gut strung at 52# in the mains and the poly 10% lower at 48# - the sweet spot seems huge and I get great power, comfort, and control at the same time. The longer you hit with it the more pocketing you seem to get.

That said, come next summer, I may go up a couple pounds to tone down the power a little and in the winter when it gets colder here in SoCal (and the balls feel heavier) I may even go down a couple pounds for a bit more pop.

If you are like Federer, you string 5 racquets at different tensions and swap out as the match progresses depending on your opponent and the weather. BTW, here are what some of the pros string their Gut/Ply hybrids at for reference:

Bob Bryan Prince EXO3 Rebel
Prince Natural Gut/Luxilon Big Banger TiMo 56/52lbs (50-60lbs range)

Mike Bryan Prince EXO3 Rebel
Prince Natural Gut/Luxilon Big Banger TiMo 54/51lbs (50-60lbs range)

Novak Djokovic Head YouTek IG Speed Pro 18×20
Head Natural Gut/Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 55/52lbs (52-62lbs range)

Roger Federer Wilson Six.One Tour BLX
Wilson Natural Gut/Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 48.5/44lbs (50-60lbs range)

The second set of numbers noted are what the racquet company recommends as a good range). You can see, they are all on the low side.

[Mig1NC]

Originally Posted by RyKnocks

I'm more of a topspin hitter. Do you think 55/50 or 57/50 would help to stiffen out the racquet a bit? Basically I love the spin I get from this racquet and setup, but I'd like to tame the power down a few notches. If I can't then I'll have to switch racquets yet again.

That's quite a spread in tension between the crosses and mains.

If you want to tame the power a bit, why don't you just normalize the spread a little bit? For example, instead of 55/50 or 57/50, why not 55/52 or 57/54?

[RyKnocks]

Because I've been advised to not go passed 50lbs on the poly cross and also, stringing poly into the 50's starts to do a toll on my shoulder so I'm trying to avoid that as well.

I strung up the other half set on my LM Radical at 52/48 so I'll see how that plays out. Maybe my game isn't suited for a powerful racquet like the instinct.

[jk175d]

Originally Posted by Mig1NC

That's quite a spread in tension between the crosses and mains.

If you want to tame the power a bit, why don't you just normalize the spread a little bit? For example, instead of 55/50 or 57/50, why not 55/52 or 57/54?

The reason I like the spread is a) you *feel* the gut much more, and b) the poly strings do their thing best at low tensions, but gut performs better at traditional tensions. I like to string up each string at optimal tension for that type of string, for me that means the gut in the mid 50s and poly in the mid 40s. I bring them back to the center only by a couple of lbs so as not to have a 10lb diference. But at a 6 or 7 lb difference you really get the benifit of both strings I've found.

[The Big Kahuna]

Originally Posted by Mig1NC

That's quite a spread in tension between the crosses and mains.

If you want to tame the power a bit, why don't you just normalize the spread a little bit? For example, instead of 55/50 or 57/50, why not 55/52 or 57/54?

Poly manufacturers recommend that you drop the tension on their product by 10% over the normal tension strung with multis and gut. It is on most of the packaging.

[RyKnocks]

So I put the other set on my LM Radical at the same 52/48 tension and it played like a dream! The setup gave the Radical the spin and power that it normally lacks from other string setups, while maintaining the control that the Radical is so well known for.

Now all I need to do is find a racquet that's less harsh on my arm than the LM Radical, but plays the same, and I'm all set!

[Smasher08]

Update - Second Set - 6 hours

With the first set at death's door due to notching, I thought I'd play it safe and put the same setup in my other MGPM. The first set is still alive and kicking, but since I have no idea when it'll give up the ghost I've started breaking this setup in.

And before anyone asks, yes this stringjob is woven correctly

17g nat gut mains are, to me, just the best there is: even when fresh they still generate a decent amount of spin -- while feeling exquisite. Somewhat surprisingly, there isn't a big difference in spin between this and the Barry Bonds-style weave at the same time mark. But of course there's a noticeable difference in spin between the setup that's logged 20 hours and this one.

No complaints whatsoever here -- and I'm saving my other stick for tricky opponents.

String movement: none
Power: excellent
Spin potential: good
Arm-friendliness: outstanding
Feel: excellent
Fraying: none
Notching: none
Durability: we'll see!

[TaihtDuhShaat]

Just strung my brothers blx 95 16x18 with pacific classic 1.30 mains and cofocus 1.18 crosses at 53/49. I'll update once he gets a few sessions on it.

[The Big Kahuna]

Originally Posted by RyKnocks

So I put the other set on my LM Radical at the same 52/48 tension and it played like a dream! The setup gave the Radical the spin and power that it normally lacks from other string setups, while maintaining the control that the Radical is so well known for.

Now all I need to do is find a racquet that's less harsh on my arm than the LM Radical, but plays the same, and I'm all set!

Try the Youtek Prestige Pro. Check the specs - very close to the Radical but more solid and dampened feel. Very solid and a bit more maneuverable as it is more head light. A classic all-court racquet.

[TaihtDuhShaat]

My brother has logged 14 hours on his BLX 95 16x18 with the classic 1.30/cofocus 1.18 at 52.5/49 lbs.

His comments matched the OP. He said first 4-6 hours it played a bit weird, then after the poly loses tension, the bed gets spinnier and more bite.

I'm very impressed with the durability given he was breaking the multi cross on poly main hybrids after 8 hours.

He hasn't lost a match since switching to this setup. He has more power, less attackable 2nd serves, and better defense.

I am definitely going to try this hybrid in my radical mp.

Thing is, I like stiff beds, and have been using kevlar mains / poly crosses for a few months at 52.5/48.5.

How does this tension sound for the gut hybrid: 59.5/55 or 57/55?

[Smasher08]

Sounds a bit high to me TDS.

I'd suggest tensioning the mains closer to the bottom end of your stick's tension range, if only because you seem to get both more power and more spin when you go low. If you're too worried about having more power than before and are determined to go tighter, I'd encourage you to go up no more than 5 lbs over your current setup (ideally much less or none at all) just because lower tensions will facilitate your mains moving at impact and snapping back.

Also, if you like stiffer beds, try putting in a bunch of string savers: I find that it really brings out the poly part of the hybrid.

Let us know how it goes -- and I'm really interested in hearing about how your brother's setup ages, particularly since the gauge difference between his mains and crosses is greater than most people tend to use.

[Posture Guy]

I've got a Volkl V1 Classic MP. Strung up Classic/Co-Focus (17g) at 60/56 and LOVE it.

my favorite string setup to date. before that had Classic/B5E. Loved that before I tried this. This has better feel, more pop, more spin, and still has terrific control. I'm a huge fan.

next up I'm going to try a full bed of Pacific Tough Gut, just to try it, but I really, really like this setup.

[TaihtDuhShaat]

Smasher - you were right on about the tensions. The lower tensions really let the strings slide within eachother. My brother's racquet had still great durability with the 16 gut/18 cofocus, but he's going up to 17 cofocus to try and get a little more control.

[The Big Kahuna]

Originally Posted by RyKnocks

Now all I need to do is find a racquet that's less harsh on my arm than the LM Radical, but plays the same, and I'm all set!

This would be the Head Youtek Prestige Pro or Mid+.

[RyKnocks]

Originally Posted by The Big Kahuna

This would be the Head Youtek Prestige Pro or Mid+.

I actually ended up with the Youtek Radical MP after demoing both the Radical and the Prestige. They were honestly two of the best racquets I've played with and it could have gone great either way, but the Radical felt more solid in my hands and had a little more pop. I definitely wouldn't mind having a Prestige in my bag for times where I'm looking for a little more feel though.

[Smasher08]

Updates - 29 hrs (set one) & 25 hrs (set two)

Happy holidays everyone!

Since we're having a green xmas here in T-dot, I've still been logging in some outdoor court time, albeit somewhat reduced due to the cold and wet weather.

I'm not sure I should be describing these as "tests" anymore since they're clearly successful. Both sets are just a treat to play with. Interestingly, while I've had to put in about 25 extra string savers into the setup that was exposed to wet conditions back in September and started notching exponentially a couple of hours shortly thereafter, only one has gone into set two -- and until last week, they had virtually identically playtime logged on each.

The fraying on set one is pretty interesting to behold, but thanks to the string savers, it'll cross the 30 hour mark which, all things considered, probably makes it an unqualified success. Without string savers, I reckon that it would have blown a tire well shy of the 20 hour mark

As for set two, it'll hit the 30 hour mark with only one or possibly two additional string savers, meaning that it could very well log another 10-15 hours.

As for their playing characteristics, there's nothing to add really: they keep getting spinnier as they age, and have great power, control, feel, touch, and arm-friendliness.

All in all, I think they're great hybrids.

[Maui19]

Interesting thread--sorry I just noticed it.

I have been playing Pacific Classic Gut mains (16) and MSV Hepta Twist. I started this hybrid at 57/54 and finally settled on 50/47. It gives me a great combination of control, pace and spin. Each string job has been lasting about 3 weeks (12-16 hrs) before the gut breaks. After it breaks, I find that the poly has gotten extremely thin in the center--obviously it was completely dead. I found that I was just playing the racquet too long, and that some bad hitting sessions I had turned around completely when I switched to a fresh setup.

Today I tried a different poly--MSV Co-Focus 1.18. While this string is smooth, it wasn't nearly as slippery during stringing as the Hepta-Twist. I warmed up for about 10 minutes with this setup today, and it felt good, but I'm not sure it is as good as the Hepta-Twist. That Classic Gut/Hepta-Twist hybrid is just awesome for about the first 10 hours.

[Smasher08]

Originally Posted by Maui19

While this string is smooth, it wasn't nearly as slippery during stringing as the Hepta-Twist. I warmed up for about 10 minutes with this setup today, and it felt good, but I'm not sure it is as good as the Hepta-Twist. That Classic Gut/Hepta-Twist hybrid is just awesome for about the first 10 hours.

Lol no doubt -- the edged and twisted form of heptatwist probably means there's less surface area coming into contact with your mains, and therefore less friction.

With Co-Focus, I find it takes about 6-8 hours to develop a good amount of spinniness. (Personally, I wonder if using VS mains would eliminate a good chunk of this break in period.)

I'd be very interested to hear a comparative analysis as your current hybrid ages. I think you'll find you get a lot more life out of it.

[Maui19]

Okay, the verdict is in: I'm going back to the Hepta-Twist. I hit with the Co-Focus until it broke (well the gut broke) after about an hour. Yikes! I think the gauge was too small. Then the strings in my other racquet went (the gut/Hepta-Twist hybrid). That racquet had about 12 hours on it.

One thing to note is that I have started practicing with some pretty heavy hitters, which is putting a lot more wear on my strings. I think I may go to 16g in the Hepta-Twist. That Hepta-Twist hybrid is an awesome setup.

So now I've got 2-1/2 packs of Co-Focus that will never get used. Oh well.