First time gut experience w/Klip Legend

RKS12 · 10-12-2005, 06:53 AM

Been playing tennis for about 15 years and play at the 4.5-5.0 level but I never used natural gut before yesterday. I'm not looking for performance, i'm trying anything that has the potential to reduce GE pain. Wow, the feeling of gut blew me away. Definitely less twinge while hitting and far less ache and pain after playing. I had Klip Legend 16 at 58 lbs in a Volkl T10Gen2. The feel of the ball on the strings is incredible. The only challenge will be getting used to the significant increase in power. It really rebounds the ball off the strings so keeping some groundies from going long was an adjustment. Overheads were incredibly powerful and controlled with this string. I've played with good synthetic guts like Live Wire Professional and NXT and there is no comparison to the feel of the real stuff. Unless this string breaks really fast, i think the $40 string job is well worth it to help play high level tennis at age 48 with less pain. I think i could get my regular stringer to do Klip for $35 but i like to keep him happy and don't want to nickel and dime him.

Marius_Hancu · 10-12-2005, 07:01 AM

swing a little bit slower, calm down, let the strings do the work for you; put more topspin in

also, you might string a bit higher, as the gut loses tension easier after 1-2 days (a stringmeter would be useful to detect that); but then, use whatever tension better protects your elbow (experiment)

NoBadMojo · 10-12-2005, 07:32 AM

I agree w. Marius except I would not recommend swinging slower. Also, this may be a good time to swing just a hair faster and create more spin (both top and slice) for control and you may find that you get a performence bump in your game. Then if you still are struggling for control, 58 isnt very tight in that frame for gut, and you can always string at 60 or a bit higher the next time...might as well try and take advanatge of your new found power especially snce you've also got enhanced ball feel

RKS12 · 10-12-2005, 07:40 AM

Thanks NBM. I will go up a couple next time if i need to adjust. Certainly your experience with Klip was a factor in trying this first. It seems like a great value at $25 per set.

Rickson · 10-12-2005, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKS12

Been playing tennis for about 15 years and play at the 4.5-5.0 level but I never used natural gut before yesterday. I'm not looking for performance, i'm trying anything that has the potential to reduce GE pain. Wow, the feeling of gut blew me away. Definitely less twinge while hitting and far less ache and pain after playing. I had Klip Legend 16 at 58 lbs in a Volkl T10Gen2. The feel of the ball on the strings is incredible. The only challenge will be getting used to the significant increase in power. It really rebounds the ball off the strings so keeping some groundies from going long was an adjustment. Overheads were incredibly powerful and controlled with this string. I've played with good synthetic guts like Live Wire Professional and NXT and there is no comparison to the feel of the real stuff. Unless this string breaks really fast, i think the $40 string job is well worth it to help play high level tennis at age 48 with less pain. I think i could get my regular stringer to do Klip for $35 but i like to keep him happy and don't want to nickel and dime him.

40 bucks is a lot to pay for a gut string job. My stringer only charges me 15, but I tip him 5 anyway, because he tells me that the gut I bring him is no more difficult for him to string than synthetic. For some stringers, the natural gut will be more difficult, but 40 bucks is still way too much for a natural gut string job.

Rabbit · 10-12-2005, 07:55 AM

I think that's $40 inclusive of the string. In other words, $25 for the string and $15 for the labor.

I agree with Mojo. Don't alter your swing speed downward. Swing faster and with more spin. That's what I'm trying to regain now, racket head speed more in the vertical plane and not the horizontal.

I'm actually going to back my tension down on my next restringing to 55 from 58.

RKS12 · 10-12-2005, 10:51 AM

Correct Rabbit, $25 for the Klip gut strings and $15 for labor. He charges me $10 labor for synthetic gut and I could get the same price but i don't want to nickel dime him.

rfederer32291 · 10-12-2005, 11:24 AM

i woudl NEVER get a gut job if it was 40 dollars

Rabbit · 10-12-2005, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKS12

Correct Rabbit, $25 for the Klip gut strings and $15 for labor. He charges me $10 labor for synthetic gut and I could get the same price but i don't want to nickel dime him.

That ain't a bad deal. Glad you're liking the gut. I started playing recently with Klip 16 Uncoated and like it as well.

RKS12 · 10-12-2005, 01:14 PM

Rabbit, do you have any data yet on how much play you're getting from the 16 Legend before breakage? Do you play clay or hard or both?

moist · 10-12-2005, 03:33 PM

I also just tried gut for the first time with the Klip Lightning hybrid. I was doubtful that there would be much of a difference, but it really is fantastic. I'll try a full gut job now that I know it won't be a waste of money.

NoBadMojo · 10-12-2005, 03:33 PM

RKS12 I use 17ga coated Legend gut and am getting good mileage playing mostly on the dirt. use stringsavers whereveer you see a string start to fray. i get maybe 15hours out of the stuff (8-10sessions)..for comparison purposes I was getting perhaps 8-10 hours (4-5 sessions) out of the NRG2-17 before. the har tru i play on is very well conditioned and the balls dont pick up patter which would really screw w. the gut.

RKS12 · 10-12-2005, 04:39 PM

NBM, yeah I'd rather play with 17g but am afraid of breaking the expensive strings too fast. I've never used string savers. Do they not affect playability at all? They look funny to me which is why i'm probably averse to them. Maybe i need to be open minded about them.

NoBadMojo · 10-12-2005, 05:06 PM

stringsavers dont affect playability...use them sparingly...only where you see a string starting to fray..they do a good job at prolonging things

MTChong · 10-12-2005, 08:49 PM

I use 17g Klip Uncoated Gut as well in my 90" Vantage frame, and I have to say that there is no other string that can parallel the response and playability of the gut! And even though I'm using 17g (in a hybrid with synthetic - too expensive otherwise), the strings have lasted me a good 15 hours at least so far and still seem strong despite my heavy topspin. I've tried other strings in my other racquet, and the playability and feel is just too inferior to the gut. I even preferred this Klip Uncoated over Babolat Tonic 16 (which didnt' even feel too good, I thought)

SunDog · 10-13-2005, 04:54 AM

RKS12,

If you want to combat the extra power associated with your new string - you may want to consider hybriding the Klip NG with some less powerful cross string - like say Ashaway Monogut or Bab Hurricane - or even an inexpensive solid core syngut. You would be surprised at how much of the feel remains - and how much control is gained. Also - it would serve to keep the overall price of the stringjob down.

I personally do not like all gut stringbeds. I use a Volkl C10 Pro MP with Legend 17 mains and Tournafibre Syngut 17 crosses - both at 60 lbs on a constant pull machine.

Rabbit · 10-13-2005, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKS12

Rabbit, do you have any data yet on how much play you're getting from the 16 Legend before breakage? Do you play clay or hard or both?

So far, I've got approximately 13 hours on this string job. I play on both clay and hard. With the 16 gauge, I have seen some fraying and a little notching, but nothing that I can't live with. I don't think you should have any problem with the 17. If you're afraid of premature breakage, I'd opt for the coated string. I have to say that this string has performed exceptionally well and I have enjoyed hitting with it.

I should also note that if conditions are damp, I don't play with a frame strung with gut. I'll use one I have strung with PowerFibre.

10-12-2005, 06:53 AM	#1
RKS12 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 239	First time gut experience w/Klip Legend Been playing tennis for about 15 years and play at the 4.5-5.0 level but I never used natural gut before yesterday. I'm not looking for performance, i'm trying anything that has the potential to reduce GE pain. Wow, the feeling of gut blew me away. Definitely less twinge while hitting and far less ache and pain after playing. I had Klip Legend 16 at 58 lbs in a Volkl T10Gen2. The feel of the ball on the strings is incredible. The only challenge will be getting used to the significant increase in power. It really rebounds the ball off the strings so keeping some groundies from going long was an adjustment. Overheads were incredibly powerful and controlled with this string. I've played with good synthetic guts like Live Wire Professional and NXT and there is no comparison to the feel of the real stuff. Unless this string breaks really fast, i think the $40 string job is well worth it to help play high level tennis at age 48 with less pain. I think i could get my regular stringer to do Klip for $35 but i like to keep him happy and don't want to nickel and dime him.

10-12-2005, 07:01 AM	#2
Marius_Hancu G.O.A.T. Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 15,002	swing a little bit slower, calm down, let the strings do the work for you; put more topspin in also, you might string a bit higher, as the gut loses tension easier after 1-2 days (a stringmeter would be useful to detect that); but then, use whatever tension better protects your elbow (experiment) __________________ Great fitness sites http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=15571 "Simon and Hiroko": My Novels on Amazon

10-12-2005, 07:32 AM	#3
NoBadMojo G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Parts unknown Posts: 11,916	I agree w. Marius except I would not recommend swinging slower. Also, this may be a good time to swing just a hair faster and create more spin (both top and slice) for control and you may find that you get a performence bump in your game. Then if you still are struggling for control, 58 isnt very tight in that frame for gut, and you can always string at 60 or a bit higher the next time...might as well try and take advanatge of your new found power especially snce you've also got enhanced ball feel __________________ Volkl DNX9 - Legend17 m's / IsoProClassic x's

10-12-2005, 07:55 AM	#6
Rabbit G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: at the bottom of every hill I come to Posts: 11,113	I think that's $40 inclusive of the string. In other words, $25 for the string and $15 for the labor. I agree with Mojo. Don't alter your swing speed downward. Swing faster and with more spin. That's what I'm trying to regain now, racket head speed more in the vertical plane and not the horizontal. I'm actually going to back my tension down on my next restringing to 55 from 58. __________________ Wilson Steam 99S poly Luxilon 4G 1.25 @ 45

10-12-2005, 03:33 PM	#12
NoBadMojo G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Parts unknown Posts: 11,916	RKS12 I use 17ga coated Legend gut and am getting good mileage playing mostly on the dirt. use stringsavers whereveer you see a string start to fray. i get maybe 15hours out of the stuff (8-10sessions)..for comparison purposes I was getting perhaps 8-10 hours (4-5 sessions) out of the NRG2-17 before. the har tru i play on is very well conditioned and the balls dont pick up patter which would really screw w. the gut. __________________ Volkl DNX9 - Legend17 m's / IsoProClassic x's