Soft, spin-friendly hybrid setups for Yonex EZONE Ai 98?

Simon_the_furry · Dec 23, 2017

I'm looking for some new setups to try.
My last setup was Wilson Revolve 16 in the mains and Gosen Laytex Touch 16 in the crosses, at 52 and 48 pounds respectively. It made my arm sore, though.

I'd like a nice set with ample spin and a plush feel.
I liked Isospeed Cream a lot when I tried it, but it just wasn't quite enough spin.
I'm considering trying Solinco Hyper G, WeissCANNON Ultra Cable, or Volkl V-Star, unless anyone has other suggestions.
I usually string my sticks in the high 40s and low 50s.
I hit a very flat two-handed eastern backhand, a semi-eastern forehand, and I slice fairly frequently, especially off the forehand side.

I'm hoping for some advice.

Thanks, guys.

JoshTheLMT · Dec 23, 2017

I’m currently using a Hyper G 17g @ 51/ Gosen OGSM 16g @ 55 in my Prince TT 100P. I’ve tried Cyclone Tour 16 and 17 gauges with full bed or hybrid setups recently too. The CT was easy on the arm, but way too powerful for my game (heavy topspin on both wings). The Hyper G/GOGSM has been great so far. Great spin, control, and lower powered, plus zero arm issues at this point. I even miss hit more shots than normal for the first hour or so. I was so used to swinging slower because the CT was so powerful and inconsistent. I found myself being able to swing out again with the Hyper G. It took me a little bit, but MAN I missed my old swing!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JoshTheLMT · Dec 23, 2017

Also, I just ordered a reel of WC Ultra Cable. Hopefully it has even better results for me.[emoji16][emoji106]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

CopolyX · Dec 25, 2017

good options. try them..
just don't think you are buying more spin...
You might be buying more spin potential....

CopolyX · Dec 27, 2017

adding...n gut / with a nice round slick copoly...

Traffic · Dec 27, 2017

Simon_the_furry said:
I'm looking for some new setups to try.
My last setup was Wilson Revolve 16 in the mains and Gosen Laytex Touch 16 in the crosses, at 52 and 48 pounds respectively. It made my arm sore, though.

I'd like a nice set with ample spin and a plush feel.
I liked Isospeed Cream a lot when I tried it, but it just wasn't quite enough spin.
I'm considering trying Solinco Hyper G, WeissCANNON Ultra Cable, or Volkl V-Star, unless anyone has other suggestions.
I usually string my sticks in the high 40s and low 50s.
I hit a very flat two-handed eastern backhand, a semi-eastern forehand, and I slice fairly frequently, especially off the forehand side.

I'm hoping for some advice.

Thanks, guys.

I went from full shaped poly, to shaped poly/sgut hybrid, to sgut, to full (low powered) multi, to Nat gut/poly and now multi/poly. And every now and again, I hit with my son's full bed shaped poly (HyperG).

I'd have to say that the ngut/poly has the closest spin potential to full bed poly. It's also easy on the arm.

I'm currently hitting with Velocity/Cream because I feel the accuracy is better. I still have good spin. But it's not auto-spin like full poly or ngut/poly.

Simon_the_furry · Dec 31, 2017

Traffic said:
I went from full shaped poly, to shaped poly/sgut hybrid, to sgut, to full (low powered) multi, to Nat gut/poly and now multi/poly. And every now and again, I hit with my son's full bed shaped poly (HyperG).

I'd have to say that the ngut/poly has the closest spin potential to full bed poly. It's also easy on the arm.

I'm currently hitting with Velocity/Cream because I feel the accuracy is better. I still have good spin. But it's not auto-spin like full poly or ngut/poly.

Would notching the Cream and roughing it up a bit help, maybe?

Traffic · Jan 1, 2018

Simon_the_furry said:
Would notching the Cream and roughing it up a bit help, maybe?

Cream serves as a slippery cross for the mains to slide on. So roughing or notching would go against this.

Simon_the_furry · Jan 1, 2018

Traffic said:
Cream serves as a slippery cross for the mains to slide on. So roughing or notching would go against this.

Fair enough. Thanks.

BretH · Jan 1, 2018

CopolyX said:
adding...n gut / with a nice round slick copoly...

After trying full poly and full syngut my ai98s are strung with Klip legend or Babolat tonic mains at about 54 and pros pro Vendetta crosses at 50. For me it's the Holy Grail of setups. Great feel, plenty of spin, soft on the arm and very durable. But what I like is that it comes closest to making the racquet "disappear" so I don't think about it when playing.

ckhirnigs113 · Jan 1, 2018

BretH said:
After trying full poly and full syngut my ai98s are strung with Klip legend or Babolat tonic mains at about 54 and pros pro Vendetta crosses at 50. For me it's the Holy Grail of setups. Great feel, plenty of spin, soft on the arm and very durable. But what I like is that it comes closest to making the racquet "disappear" so I don't think about it when playing.

What gauge Vendetta are you using? Also what kind of lifespan are you getting out of the setup? I’ve been using gut/poly for a number of years now in my Ai98’s, but I still haven’t settled on a smooth poly cross. I’ve probably spent the most time with Revolve 17ga, but I keep trying other strings hoping to find one that maintains good playing characteristics until the gut mains finally break. I guess that’s what we’re all after, isn’t it?

BretH · Jan 2, 2018

Whatever the equivalent of 17 gauge is - FWIW it's the older Vendetta version. As for longevity, I have 2 identical racquets that I strung at the same time in ... September? I play a couple times a week and I see no reason to re-string yet. I'm sure there are those who would tell me my poly is way past dead but stringing it fairly low does increase its useful lifespan. I have a reel of Hexaspin that I've used also and saw no significant difference in play or durability. In all cases the mains eventually fray so much I restring but they glide easily on the crosses all the way to the end, and I rarely have to straighten them.

But I'm just a 3.5/4.0 player and I'm not terribly picky about feel.

BretH · Jan 2, 2018

ckhirnigs113 said:
What gauge Vendetta are you using...

Sorry, forgot to "reply" above so you get the alert.

ckhirnigs113 · Jan 2, 2018

BretH said:
Sorry, forgot to "reply" above so you get the alert.

Thanks for the info! I’ve got a reel of Pro’s Pro Concept I may try after I run out of my more expensive options (Head Hawk, Max Power, Revolve).

Muppet · Jan 7, 2018

For something unique that's both soft and spin friendly, Ashaway Monogut ZX 16/Head Velocity 16 is a great hybrid to try. It can be tricky to string though. It needs to be thoroughly pre-stretched, you have to be careful not to nick or kink it, and you have to go easy on the knots. Especially on the knots, don't cinch it up by rocking back and forth. Just use straight pulls in the direction of the knot. The pre-stretch should permanently pull at least 6" of slack out if you use a constant pull machine or 10" if you use a lock out machine. After you've got it strung it should last a very long time. When my strings have settled in and relaxed, the feel is crisp but soft and there is just a little boost in the launch angle that you don't usually get from soft strings. This should give you an amount of spin about equivalent to multi/poly, certainly more than fb natural gut, depending on your strokes. Using Pro's Pro Hitec Multifiber in the crosses instead gave me a true gut-like feel, but a lower launch angle. I'm using a cross tension 3 lbs. lower than the mains.

Simon_the_furry · Jan 7, 2018

I'm looking at Volkl V-Torque in the mains, OG Sheep Micro in the crosses.
Anyone tried this combo before?

Muppet · Jan 8, 2018

Simon_the_furry said:
I'm looking at Volkl V-Torque in the mains, OG Sheep Micro in the crosses.
Anyone tried this combo before?

For more muted feel use white OGSM. Otherwise, natural is a great choice.

Simon_the_furry · Jan 9, 2018

Muppet said:
For more muted feel use white OGSM. Otherwise, natural is a great choice.

I always use white OGSM.

Gus Dog · Jan 9, 2018

Simon_the_furry said:
I'm looking at Volkl V-Torque in the mains, OG Sheep Micro in the crosses.
Anyone tried this combo before?

I hit a Yonex DR100 using 16 gauge VTorque in the mains and 16 gauge Cyclone in the crosses strung at 44/48. Plush, spinny, lots of control, easy on the arm, and lasts. The racket disappears. I tried it on a whim. I don't know why it works, it just does!

Racer41c · Jan 21, 2018

Simon_the_furry said:
I'm looking at Volkl V-Torque in the mains, OG Sheep Micro in the crosses.
Anyone tried this combo before?

I have V-Torque and a syn gut in racquet # 2 at 52/50. Relative to the gut setups I normally use I find the power too low to be useful. It does generate a tad bit more spin, but lacks pop.

Simon_the_furry · Jan 22, 2018

Racer41c said:
I have V-Torque and a syn gut in racquet # 2 at 52/50. Relative to the gut setups I normally use I find the power too low to be useful. It does generate a tad bit more spin, but lacks pop.

I'm gonna string it in the low 40s to get some more oomph from it.

Soft, spin-friendly hybrid setups for Yonex EZONE Ai 98?

Hall of Fame

Rookie

Rookie

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Semi-Pro

Rookie

Semi-Pro

Semi-Pro

Rookie

Legend

Hall of Fame

Legend

Hall of Fame

New User

Professional

Hall of Fame

Similar threads