First Poly...want to last!

[MikeHitsHard93]

Well, I believe that I am beginning to hit just a little too hard to keep using just multifilament strings. So, I am looking for polyester strings that last longer than most others and also maybe add a little pop rather than just completely deaden the string bed, as I am not a 5.0 player that always hits hard. When I do hit hard, I need it to be more controlled. So what I am asking for is a user-friendly poly, if there is anything like that. Thanks.

[Fuji]

It sounds like you really don't need poly to be honest. Poly lasts around 8-10 hours tops before going dead, and if you aren't creating pretty high RHS then poly isn't going to aid your game.

What I would recommend however is trying Head RIP Control, it's a stiffer multi that adds a bit more control to the strokes!

-Fuji

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by Fuji

It sounds like you really don't need poly to be honest. Poly lasts around 8-10 hours tops before going dead, and if you aren't creating pretty high RHS then poly isn't going to aid your game.

What I would recommend however is trying Head RIP Control, it's a stiffer multi that adds a bit more control to the strokes!

-Fuji

Hey no harm no foul! I would rather not have to restring that often I don't even break strings that often. Just figured that multifilaments are all too stretchy. Do you like RIP control?

[MikeHitsHard93]

BTW how was your experience with your modified IG Instinct S?

[Fuji]

Haha! I love RIP Control. It's pretty much the only string I use these days. Plays nice until breakage and lasts a fair amount of time for me (Since it doesn't break on shanks like poly and gut do from time to time... ) RIP plays SO dead for a multi, it's a bit stiffer and it has just a nice gummy feel to it. Definitely really enjoy it.

The IG S was a bit strange. It hit close to my PDRGT+, but it just felt SO empty inside. Not sure if I should lead it up around the head, but it felt like I was hitting paper. It definitely had solid results with decent comfort all else considering, just the feel of the frame was nothing like I've hit before.

-Fuji

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by Fuji

Haha! I love RIP Control. It's pretty much the only string I use these days. Plays nice until breakage and lasts a fair amount of time for me (Since it doesn't break on shanks like poly and gut do from time to time... ) RIP plays SO dead for a multi, it's a bit stiffer and it has just a nice gummy feel to it. Definitely really enjoy it.

The IG S was a bit strange. It hit close to my PDRGT+, but it just felt SO empty inside. Not sure if I should lead it up around the head, but it felt like I was hitting paper. It definitely had solid results with decent comfort all else considering, just the feel of the frame was nothing like I've hit before.

-Fuji

I am glad you spoke up about RIP control, because that is basically what I want. A multifilament that offers exceptional control and lasts a long time.

On the Instinct S...I can't say that I am surprised. I enjoyed the regular model, but I can imagine that the S version would feel super hollow and rather harsh on the arm. If I were you, I would probably try to pawn it off on some new player lol. Who knows though, it might just turn out to be a fun stick to pick up once in a while.

[fortun8son]

Try Wilson Red Alert before going poly.
Not quite as comfy as multi, but lasts longer, has nice pop, and you can play until it breaks with no danger to your arm.
RIP Control is a love it or hate it string and may deaden the stringbed too much for your taste.

[texastornado]

I like the dunlop comfort synthetic for a control oriented multi. Unfortunately it lasts about a week of playing for me.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by MikeHitsHard93

I am glad you spoke up about RIP control, because that is basically what I want. A multifilament that offers exceptional control and lasts a long time.

On the Instinct S...I can't say that I am surprised. I enjoyed the regular model, but I can imagine that the S version would feel super hollow and rather harsh on the arm. If I were you, I would probably try to pawn it off on some new player lol. Who knows though, it might just turn out to be a fun stick to pick up once in a while.

Definitely try RIP Control then! It's a great string IMO and very unique. As others say, it's a love or hate. There's really no middle ground for it.

Yeah, the Instinct S is just weird. I'll probably keep it around since it's one of my favourite paint jobs of all time, but I don't think I'll hit with it again any time soon.

-Fuji

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by Fuji

Definitely try RIP Control then! It's a great string IMO and very unique. As others say, it's a love or hate. There's really no middle ground for it.

Yeah, the Instinct S is just weird. I'll probably keep it around since it's one of my favourite paint jobs of all time, but I don't think I'll hit with it again any time soon.

-Fuji

Well what would I dislike about it?

Yeah I liked the PJ of that racket too. Better looking than the Radicals but not as good looking as the prestiges imo.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by MikeHitsHard93

Well what would I dislike about it?

Yeah I liked the PJ of that racket too. Better looking than the Radicals but not as good looking as the prestiges imo.

It's VERY gummy feeling. It feels like you're hitting with rubber no matter the stiffness of your stick. Also at high tensions (60+) it strings up super tight. String it low and it's got decent pop and the stiffness isn't nearly as tight.

Definitely! The Prestiges are classic as always.

-Fuji

[COPEY]

Originally Posted by MikeHitsHard93

Well what would I dislike about it?

Its dead feel and lack of power. Some people prefer those charateristics while others want their multi's to pack a little bit of a punch and have above average feel.

Some say the 17g is a bit more playable/has better feel (relatively speaking) than the 16. I've only tried the 16 so I can't offer up my personal opinion in that area.

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by Fuji

It's VERY gummy feeling. It feels like you're hitting with rubber no matter the stiffness of your stick. Also at high tensions (60+) it strings up super tight. String it low and it's got decent pop and the stiffness isn't nearly as tight.

Definitely! The Prestiges are classic as always.

-Fuji

Hmm. I think I might get these strings in the racket that I end up choosing. They sound like something I would like. Maybe you could help me in choosing a racket, if you wouldn't mind?

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by COPEY

Its dead feel and lack of power. Some people prefer those charateristics while others want their multi's to pack a little bit of a punch and have above average feel.

Some say the 17g is a bit more playable/has better feel (relatively speaking) than the 16. I've only tried the 16 so I can't offer up my personal opinion in that area.

Thank you for your insight! I think I may have to try these.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by MikeHitsHard93

Hmm. I think I might get these strings in the racket that I end up choosing. They sound like something I would like. Maybe you could help me in choosing a racket, if you wouldn't mind?

For sure! Man I went through a really freaking heavy racket addiction in the past few years, it's been rough. That being said I've tried literally every style of racket made in the last two decades haha!

Let me know: what style you play / what you are looking for / what arm problems you have (if any) / height / fitness level / pro's and cons of what you are using now / what you like and dislike of your current set up / playing level

If you go through that I'm sure we can help find you something that would be worth a demo!

-Fuji

[MikeHitsHard93]

Originally Posted by Fuji

For sure! Man I went through a really freaking heavy racket addiction in the past few years, it's been rough. That being said I've tried literally every style of racket made in the last two decades haha!

Let me know: what style you play / what you are looking for / what arm problems you have (if any) / height / fitness level / pro's and cons of what you are using now / what you like and dislike of your current set up / playing level

If you go through that I'm sure we can help find you something that would be worth a demo!

-Fuji

I am a 3.5-4.0 baseliner but it is turning into all-court recently. Semi-western fh, 2hbh, and I play with a good amount of topspin.

I am looking for lots of control, but I don't really know if I even supply that much power or if its my current racket. Typically I have little to no arm problems, but occasionally my wrist starts to ache (from overuse I think). I'm 5'10", 175lbs. I am in pretty good shape (typical young man strength, used to bench 255 squat 400 etc.)

What I am using now: Wilson BLX Pro Open (old model) W/ prince lightning xx 16 @60lbs.

Pros: I get pretty good spin with this setup being a multi string. It is soft feeling, decent control when hit with topspin, and is more consistent than anything else I have ever used. I also serve decently with this stick.

Cons: Since I string it so tight, my stringbed is kinda spotty feeling and not very forgiving. Also, I rarely am able to hit flat groundstrokes or else the ball will sail. Dead zone in the tip is large. I also think I want something with more stability, as I seem to always have to muscle the ball every time.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by MikeHitsHard93

I am a 3.5-4.0 baseliner but it is turning into all-court recently. Semi-western fh, 2hbh, and I play with a good amount of topspin.

I am looking for lots of control, but I don't really know if I even supply that much power or if its my current racket. Typically I have little to no arm problems, but occasionally my wrist starts to ache (from overuse I think). I'm 5'10", 175lbs. I am in pretty good shape (typical young man strength, used to bench 255 squat 400 etc.)

What I am using now: Wilson BLX Pro Open (old model) W/ prince lightning xx 16 @60lbs.

Pros: I get pretty good spin with this setup being a multi string. It is soft feeling, decent control when hit with topspin, and is more consistent than anything else I have ever used. I also serve decently with this stick.

Cons: Since I string it so tight, my stringbed is kinda spotty feeling and not very forgiving. Also, I rarely am able to hit flat groundstrokes or else the ball will sail. Dead zone in the tip is large. I also think I want something with more stability, as I seem to always have to muscle the ball every time.

Haha we sound pretty similar in the build section (I'm assuming we are around the same age as well. )

Makes sense, your needs are pretty common among a lot of players. When you're on, you're good to go. When you're not, it's not as much fun.

Well there's a couple routes to go down...

1) String lower. If you like your string, string lower OR do what I do, which is string the crosses a few pounds lower then your mains. It's amazing what a 2lbs lower difference in the crosses from the mains will do to the sweet spot. It'll really open it up and hopefully get rid of that spotty feel. Another option is to string lower all together, but since you have some issues with flattening out the ball, it'd try the crosses trick first. (could be technique as well, since you're using a SW. I used to have the same issue!)

2) Change strings! Strings are relatively cheap to try (in comparison to a new racket!) Definitely try some different styles out. When I used lightning it had a fair amount of pop. When in the sweet spot the ball really had some juice, outside however; not so much. I'd definitely try something like Head RIP Control to see if that helps at all. RIP has quite a bit less inherent power then Lightning, so it could be just what the doctor ordered. Again, if you string RIP @ the same tension you use now, it could be pretty dead. So revert to step 1, with RIP Control if you like the feel off the start. If not, there are plenty of multis out there that have a lower powered feel, but not many with the durability that RIP offers.

3) Change rackets! You're Pro Open is a pretty "standard" spec'd tweener. Middle of the range weight, open string pattern, and 100 sq inch head size. (Correct me if I'm on the wrong stick here.) There's a couple things to look at with your current stick... It's a middle of the road stiffness @ 66. If you like that feel, great! However from personal experience, once your past 64 you start getting some extra juice when you don't exactly want or need it. Also, the open pattern! 16x19 is a solid pattern that I definitely like, the issue is is that it does often have some hot spots higher then the bed. Also, strings get eaten a fair amount faster. I'd look at something similar spec'd to your Pro Open, but maybe a touch less stiff and a closed pattern. With a denser pattern you're definitely going to have less pop, and way more control. The issue is, is that you're going to have to string lower to retain a similar playing bed. Hence, revert back to step 1.

From looking at the specs alone, here's what I came up with that you might be interested in demoing/trying out!

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-LMRAD.html

The Head LM Radical MP! It's a solid intermediate to high level stick that offers solid control and hits fairly neutral ball. It puts out what you put in really. A long standing classic and the price is amazing for what you get. The only down side, is that you'll have to adjust to the Head grip shape if you haven't used it before. It's way more rectangular then Wilson. With a SW forehand grip it's a bit harder to get used to.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-DAG3HT.html

The Aerogel 4D 300 Tour. A good friend of mine has used this stick for years and let me tell you, it's control city. A fairly closed pattern @ 18x20, but it's a pretty comfy ride. The only issue is that with the denser pattern and the lowish Swingweight, the upper hoop is deadsville. A very unique frame in the fact that you can swing hard, and normally the ball will still drop in. (Buddy uses it strung with RIP Control @ 60/58. Ridiculous amounts of control!) Plus it's also fairly inexpensive compared to most players frames. (Fun fact, as far as I know this is the same mould that James Blake / Berdych / Other Dunlop pros ACTUALLY used underneath the paint! If it's good enough for them to customize and use, it's definitely good enough for the likes of me!)

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-BLXB98.html

The BLX Blade 98. I actually still own this stick as it's such an odd duck. It's so close to even balance it hits a monster ball from anywhere on the court. The real issue is reining that in. I definitely wouldn't call it a control stick, but compared to your Pro Open, it might be a nice stick to transition into. Serves are massive and so are ground strokes. It feels a bit weird to swing around, but it's definitely a must demo. Some people really seem to like it!

If you are looking for open patterns, here's some other things to try too...

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-IS200L.html

Lots of guys are liking the heavier version of this stick. Look up the RDIS 200 to see the absolute rave reviews on it. Personally I haven't hit the 200 but since so many people are amazed by it, it would be a sweet one to demo.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-BPSGT.html

The Pure Storm to me plays actually pretty similar to the Blade, just in a more open pattern. Comfortable with it's lower flex, but still pops a fair punch. At 1point headlight, it does start to feel a bit cumbersome to me however. Good stick, just not my taste!

Hope some of this makes sense, sorry it's such a long post!

Any questions feel free to ask of course!

-Fuji

[MikeHitsHard93]

Lol I'm not gonna try to quote that one that was probably the most in-depth advice anyone has given me on here. Whenever I try to get opinions on sticks, I think people have gotten annoyed because I've asked so many times. I'm just kinda struggling to find what works for me on my own lol. I am almost 20 btw.

This actually makes me feel a bit better. Those are all sticks that I have been looking at and considering buying. I have hit with the 300t before, but it vibrated a lot. Although I had poly strung pretty tight in it...polyfibre bv @57. I have always strung multis so tightly to get that extra control, but I get that spotty stringbed like you said earlier.

I didn't realize that lightning had so much power to be honest. I thought it was just a very spin-friendly multi lol. I will look into more strings like RIP control. Have you ever used Wilson stamina or red alert?

Like I said, I am going to buy a new racket anyway and I will pay up to $160. I've been thinking about just buying a used frame do that I can return it if I don't like it.

But yeah basically in highschool I was the guy that went up in the weight room with the football players and surprised the crap out of them. They didn't think a tennis player could lift more than them

[MikeHitsHard93]

Btw, do you think a tweener such as a pd or apd would have too much power?

[Hi I'm Ray]

I hope you don't turn out like that guy on here with the strange adversion to lead tape, saying things like "what plays just like a Radical only slightly heavier?"
Your frame could be too light in stock. Try some lead which costs all of $2.50, I'd suggest starting with 4gm at the buttcap and either 2gm @ 12 or 4gm at 3&9. I don't like making comparisons to pros, but pretty much all the pros use lead tape.

I don't really buy into the idea that a frame is too powerful. I think the issues are: if it fits a particular style or swing, spin to power ratio, or control on the players part. I feel like some of the very powerful frames like the PDR actually play best when hitting full on (even with loose strings!) - definitely didn't feel any lack of control or placement, or issues keeping it in the court.

Try some players frames if you haven't already. 6.1 16x18 & prestige mid are must tries. The dunlop 200's get rave reviews. Throw in a lighter control frame like the Rad, Rebel, or 300/300t to cover your options.