Big Hitter Black 7: Durability/Comfort

[TimothyO]

Searching the forum I found conflicting opinions on BHB7.

The RSI review and many TT members give BHB7 high marks for comfort and durability with respect to aging and not becoming "boardy". But a few mentioned that it dies as many polys do...stiff and boardy and a threat to arm health.

What's your opinion on the string's comfort level over time?

As it ages does it become stiff/boardy or softer/more flexibl?

Can you offer a comparison to Focus Hex?

Performance as cross with gut mains?

Thanks!

[wmilas]

I tried it twice crossed with ogsm 18. Each time it went rock hard at 5.5 hours. Unplayable at 6+. Like ROCK hard. I'm puzzled because most other people report it not going stiff. I have no idea.. all I know is that it felt like hitting with a 2x4.

[Bobo96]

When I strung this string at 53-55 it seemed to lose some spin at 5+ hours and started to feel boardy. Now that I string at 40 it plays a lot better and doesn't seem to lose much spin/playability. Now it seems to get softer as the life goes on.

[wmilas]

I strung it at 52 both times. That might be the reason. I only bought one set. If I was to try it again I'd try it lower at 46 and see what happened with the crosses strung a bit higher to compensate.

[TimothyO]

Originally Posted by wmilas

I tried it twice crossed with ogsm 18. Each time it went rock hard at 5.5 hours. Unplayable at 6+. Like ROCK hard. I'm puzzled because most other people report it not going stiff. I have no idea.. all I know is that it felt like hitting with a 2x4.

You're not alone in your assesment. "Rock hard" and "hard as steel" are two descriptions used by others. Thanks for your input!

In trying several different copolys as a cross with gut all seem to perform well initially. The key difference seems to be how the wear.

Most maintain great to good spin potential. A few lock up and become mediocre in spin support, even with gut mains.

Most also evolve towards less comfort and less feel. There's another thread asserting that lab tests show no change in characteristics pertaining to comfort but, while I'm a numbers geek, that is not in line with my court experience.

A few, such as MSV CoFocus and MSV Focus Hex, maintain great comfort and pop. coFocus seems to become more powerful which is good or bad depending upon the frame. Focus Hex seems to stay more even in power. Both maintain great spin potential with a slight edge to CoFocus in spin/power and control to Focus Hex. Looks like I'll stick with MSV.

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

Searching the forum I found conflicting opinions on BHB7.

The RSI review and many TT members give BHB7 high marks for comfort and durability with respect to aging and not becoming "boardy". But a few mentioned that it dies as many polys do...stiff and boardy and a threat to arm health.

What's your opinion on the string's comfort level over time?

As it ages does it become stiff/boardy or softer/more flexibl?

Can you offer a comparison to Focus Hex?

Performance as cross with gut mains?

Thanks!

Just the opposite for me. Started stiff then got softer. My 1st playtest was upper 50s in a hybrid with syn gut. That was too high for my liking. The next time was 52/50 and it was a winner. Nice and soft.. great power and spin. Loved the ball pocketing. I got over 12 hours of wonderful play before the set-up started to go dead in a very linear way. Note: I was using 17G and using a lower tension on the crosses. Most folks here go higher on the crosses. BTW.. this string plays somewhat better than the Focus Hex in all ways IMHO. Using this a cross with Natty Gut would rip thur the Natty Gut in short order.

NOTE: #2. I had a very early reel of the string.. Like the 1st one.... I wonder if it is possible that there could be a QC issue?

Good Luck... I love the string..

[TimothyO]

Thanks for your perspective Steve!

In many ways it's in line with the info from the related threads.

Folks certainly proclaim BHB7's performance, the RSI review is glowing, and it may well out-perform Hex.

But even your review notes that eventually the stringbed goes dead, at least with your synth gut hybrid.

Using gut mains with CoFocus or Hex I never really have the SB go dead, flat, or "boardy". I can use it perfectly well until the gut breaks.

Still, your comments intrigue me and I might give it a try at some point. RSI had rated Wilson Natural gut as #1 in spin potential a few years ago and now BHB7 owns that top spot. I wonder how they would perform in a Gut/poly hybrid together.

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

Thanks for your perspective Steve!

In many ways it's in line with the info from the related threads.

Folks certainly proclaim BHB7's performance, the RSI review is glowing, and it may well out-perform Hex.

But even your review notes that eventually the stringbed goes dead, at least with your synth gut hybrid.

Using gut mains with CoFocus or Hex I never really have the SB go dead, flat, or "boardy". I can use it perfectly well until the gut breaks.

Still, your comments intrigue me and I might give it a try at some point. RSI had rated Wilson Natural gut as #1 in spin potential a few years ago and now BHB7 owns that top spot. I wonder how they would perform in a Gut/poly hybrid together.

Thanks.... My normal set-up is Tourna Big Hitter Silver 17G / Head PPS Syn Gut 16 52/50. Using the same tension with the BHB7 17G I was getting about 25 to 30 % more playable hitting time and the drop off was much more linear with the BHB7 giving me even more playing time. The Big Hitter Silver plays wonderful... when it is fresh.. but when it goes.. it is goes fast. If I get 10 good hours out of the BH Silver I am lucky. I was getting over 12.. and closer to 14 with my 2 test set-ups. The RSI is right about the spin.. it is the #1 spin string I have ever played. Sounds like you have a great set-up using the Gut/Hex set-up...I would stick with it..

Good luck..Steve

[mad dog1]

great playing string but definitely not durable. i break BHB7 16g in 3-4 hours so it never get to the point where it becomes stiff/boardy. comfort is ok. not as harsh as some of the stiffer polys and not as soft as some of the softer polys.

[DrpShot!]

I can't comment on hybriding BHBK7 but can say in a 16x19, 12.1oz Head Radical Tour with full bed of it at 49lbs:

What's your opinion on the string's comfort level over time?

Unbelievable. Played 9 hours over 3 days and had not one ping, pain or soreness in the wrist, forearm, elbow or shoulder. I can't say that for any other poly I've ever tried. I usually at least feel fatigue/general blah in my wrist after a few hours with a poly.

As it ages does it become stiff/boardy or softer/more flexible?
It felt stiffer for the first few hours then loosened up nicely and I could really take huge cuts. It took some time to get used to the directional control, it seems to hold the ball forever, I'm used to overcompensating a bit to hit targets, with this setup I had to get used to dialing that down a bit, aiming straight for the target again. Toward the last hour of the 9 hours it lasted me it started to feel too loose, balls were getting hard to keep deep, directionals were getting messed up, then it broke so that was actually good. I don't want a poly in there more than 9 or 10 hours anyway.

[Federerkblade]

guys im desperate for a recommendation. iv read all your posts above. I have half a set of bhb7 16g and N.VY . I have one chance to try the combo in my pro open.

Is 52/56 reasonable or am i way off. Pls give me a recommendation for the best spin and control , im stringing it 12 hours time.

[Squidward]

I've been trying this in place of Black Widow. For me at this price point, I'll stay with the BHB7.

Been using it as a hybrid with syn gut @ 53/55 in a PK Redondo MP. No arm issues and durability seems very good. (Well over 6 hours). Have also tried it in a full bed @ 53 and worked out fine.

[Federerkblade]

thank you im guessing 53 bhb7 and 57 N.VY should work out ok ?

[BoingTennis]

I find the opposite of going "rock-hard". I play with a PB10 Mid, full poly with normal tension of 45/45. I've played with a lot of different polys and the 45/45 has been working great for my game.

When I got a reel of the BHB7 17G, I suddenly found that 45/45 was much softer/mushier than my usual setup. I had to raise the tension to 52/52 to get the same kind of DT that I'm used to.

I really love this string. I was using Genesis Typhoon before I switched to the BHB7. Feel, power, comfort, everything was working out for me at 52/52.

The only negative was that the string loses its tension rather quickly. They don't become rock-hard at all. They get softer and softer and I would overhit and lose control of the ball. Note that where I live, temperature is approx. 30-34C all year round.

It could really be the different batch with different characteristic. I'm almost done with my first reel and my 2nd is coming soon. Will report back.

[PKfan1]

I have a terrible history of tennis elbow and this is my go-to string. I string 16g @62 lbs full bed and no issues what so ever. I've played as many as 8 hrs on them and they have never gone stiff on me or lost comfort and playability.

Also in the spin department, their is nothing else out there that rips the felt off the ball like BHB7. It's actually kind of distracting when you start playing with new balls from all the felt flying in your face.

[Federerkblade]

Originally Posted by PKfan1

I have a terrible history of tennis elbow and this is my go-to string. I string 16g @62 lbs full bed and no issues what so ever. I've played as many as 8 hrs on them and they have never gone stiff on me or lost comfort and playability.

Also in the spin department, their is nothing else out there that rips the felt off the ball like BHB7. It's actually kind of distracting when you start playing with new balls from all the felt flying in your face.

getting confused maybe i should go 54/58

[porsche2]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

Thanks for your perspective Steve!

In many ways it's in line with the info from the related threads.

Folks certainly proclaim BHB7's performance, the RSI review is glowing, and it may well out-perform Hex.

But even your review notes that eventually the stringbed goes dead, at least with your synth gut hybrid.

Using gut mains with CoFocus or Hex I never really have the SB go dead, flat, or "boardy". I can use it perfectly well until the gut breaks.

Still, your comments intrigue me and I might give it a try at some point. RSI had rated Wilson Natural gut as #1 in spin potential a few years ago and now BHB7 owns that top spot. I wonder how they would perform in a Gut/poly hybrid together.

It would be a waste to put BHB7 as a cross with any gut. Because of the sharp edges, the gut would be shredded through fairly quickly. I have yet to try it in a hybrid but others have commented saying it plays better as a full bed. As for the boardiness, I string relatively low and don't feel it getting too stiff in my 4D200T; however, I did feel the stiffness in my old 4D300T which could possibly be because of the closed pattern on it.

[duffman]

Originally Posted by porsche2

It would be a waste to put BHB7 as a cross with any gut. Because of the sharp edges, the gut would be shredded through fairly quickly. I have yet to try it in a hybrid but others have commented saying it plays better as a full bed. As for the boardiness, I string relatively low and don't feel it getting too stiff in my 4D200T; however, I did feel the stiffness in my old 4D300T which could possibly be because of the closed pattern on it.

I found the opposite to be true. I've been using bhb7 as a cross and tonic mains and the gut held up really well. In comparison, the sample set of Luxilon 4G i received from TW that I used in the cross with tonic mains ended up chewing up the mains really bad. I was surprised since the 4G was much smoother. Maybe there is more surface area contacting the gut so it is more abrasive?

[DrpShot!]

BHB& doesn't feel stiff to me, the RSI article on it put it as softer than PSGD. I don't string it over 50 and it doesn't bother my arm at all. Just about the only poly I've played for any length of time I can say that about. Because of its edges it generally doesn't last much more than 12 hours in my 18x20s, a little less in my 16 x 19s, but that's fine I don't want a poly in for much longer than 12 hours.

[Rozroz]

if i hybrid it with multi,
how low can i go?