Luke Yonex
Rookie
How can you get a good comparison of what a string is really like when you hybrid it ? Thank you to all those play testers who used the Klip in a full string bed.
Tennis Warehouse: Klip Legend 16g & 17g playtest
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
Ok the playtest was very clear that hybrids were acceptable.
Fwiw, there isn't a single player in the mens or womens top 100 that uses full bed gut.
Not a bad choice, but not state of the art, undoubtedly.
Please notice that 3 of that 4 french open mens semifinalists are gut/poly hybrid users.
Fwiw, there isn't a single player in the mens or womens top 100 that uses full bed gut.
Not a bad choice, but not state of the art, undoubtedly.
Please notice that 3 of that 4 french open mens semifinalists are gut/poly hybrid users.
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Luke Yonex
Rookie
That may be so, Its just my personal opinion so don't take it personally. I "personally' feel hybridising a string( when testing it) depletes the purpose. However there may be some people that like different combinations. I just feel It must be hard to decipher 'what' string is doing 'what' in a hybrid. Personally I like to see how a string performs on its own, So i thank those that did this, I don't mean to offend anyone who chooses not to do this. Each to there own.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
This couldn't be more wrong. When doing a hybrid you actually isolate the qualities of a string rather than muffaling it. So I "personally" feel like your criticisms are total nonsense.
I tried to help this person initailly and he just became an awful troll!
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Luke Yonex
Rookie
is there any need to be nasty?? I just personally prefer to hear what a string is like in a full bed. Settle down and chill out
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
No offense meant. Cheers.
But Ive got gut on 2 frames by doing the hybrid! [emoji41]
I do feel like you broke the spirit of the playtest @ post #51 by being dismissive of my approach, even though its very commonly done for both performance and cost reasons.
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Luke Yonex
Rookie
No offence meant yet you called me a troll?? I actually thought of hybridising Klip with NXT or NRG-2 however for the moment I have changed my mind . I would love to hybrid with a poly however I have on and off TE so cant. I have just started using full gut but have trouble getting as much top spin. as I am used to when I used to use polys So I am very curious to know if others have this problem. I was also curious to know the tension others played a full bed of klip with, hence me personally liking full gut bed reviews. I don't pretend to be a expert and am learning all the time, Anyhow this is a interesting thread and I will not hijack it, Cheers
warney
Semi-Pro
What gauge did you receive?
16G
Tension(s) used for playtest:
58 Klip mains, 55 Poly Cross. I used in my 2 PK Q+5X Pro rackets one with Max Power 16 cross and other with X-perience 1.24 cross.
I also had one of my PK 7G (not used for a while) strung with Klip NG 16 main and Max Power Rough 18 cross @ 57/54. I tested this one also for 2 hours.
Regular string set up:
Currently experimenting with Solinco Hyper G 17 main or X-perience 17 main with Black Zone 1.25 cross at 52/50 pounds.
Racquet used for test:
Prokennex Q+5X Pro 17 hours and PK 7G for 2 hours.
Power/Control of test string:
Power with gut mains is always going to be more than fully poly setup and all 3 of my string jobs were no exception. If typical full poly setup power is 5/10, Klip/poly was about 8/10 when (Stringing gut at about 5-6 pounds tighter than poly main). If control with full poly for me is 9/10, Klip/Poly was 7/10.
I liked power on my groundstrokes when I was in control of points and loved it even more when I was defending. It was easy to get ball back deep while defending and any injection of pace from neutral point was very rewarding. Slices were skidding and stayed low.
Where I wished for little less power was on my serves. This is not knock on Klip gut but rather how it suits for my game and my current racket. My serves (both first and second) are typically very close to the service line and I missed quite a few just long when serving with gut/poly setup.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?Comfortable?):
Very Comfortable. In PK rackets even full poly is not uncomfortable for me so this was not a surprise. I liked feel of Klip with Max Power and Max Power rough cross the best. It's crisp while still maintaining good levels of comfort. I could feel the difference between hitting the sweetspot and missing it badly, but shots outside of sweetspot were never jarring.
I am not sure how to describe this, but whenever I hit drop shots/soft volleys I knew if I hit it right or not even before how ball landed on other side of net. I could notice lower launch angle (few shots hitting the tape) whenever I switched from playing 1 set with full poly racket to Klip/Poly racket in next set. Once I started playing exclusively with Klip/Poly this was never an issue.
Overall feel and touch of gut is unmatched by any other type of string. I have never tried more expensive guts (VS, Luxilon) so I cannot give comparison with those guts.
Spin:
Spin was slightly less than my fully poly setup but Klip/Poly never lacked spin. I could generate enough spin with all 3 setups I tested on my groundstrokes. Balls jumped just enough after hitting the court as long as I did not absolutely flatten out my shots. I got little less kick on my kick serves but nothing that was deal breaker.
Among the three setups I tried I got most spin/bite with Max Power Rough Crosses, but please do keep in mind that MPR was thinnest poly I used.
Comfort:
9/10. Full bed of Klip would be 10/10. There were no comfort issues for me with Klip/Poly. But with my PK rackets I never had any comfort issues with any strings (I try to always use polys less than 220 stiffness rating in TWU String Performance database).
Durability:
I rarely break strings, I do restring after mains are notched about 80%. Kilp with Max Power crosses has minimal notching (15%) after 10 hours. I think should be able to get at least 30 hours before Klip notches badly or breaks. I am seeing minimal fraying and that too on only center 6 strings.
Playability Duration:
For first hour Klip/Poly setup more crisp than I expected/liked. After that strings were settled and playability has stayed the same since. Other than outside 2 main strings (Should not be hitting there anyway) I am not seeing any string movement. Unless cross strings suffer heavy tension loss or go completely dead I do not see playability changing. I did cut out strings from X-perience cross racket after 7 hours to go back to full poly. But I am still using racket with Max Power crosses regularly. Right now it's at 10 hours.
Tension recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why):
If I redo Klip/MP or Klip/MPR stringjobs again I will go upto 62 pounds on Klip and keep poly at 55. If Klip came in thicker gauge it would also work in same tension I used for this playtest. All this so that I can cut down on barely missed serves during this playtest.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
I think Klip gut (or for that matter any gut) is tailor made for low powered great feeling rackets. I wish I had tried Gut/poly setup in PCG 100 that I used 3 years back. That would have been ultimate combination.
Overall Gut/poly checks lot of boxes (good power, good spin, consistent response over long duration). Price of Klip Gut makes it no-brainer to at least give a try.
Thank you TW and Klip for giving me the chance to be part of this playtest.
16G
Tension(s) used for playtest:
58 Klip mains, 55 Poly Cross. I used in my 2 PK Q+5X Pro rackets one with Max Power 16 cross and other with X-perience 1.24 cross.
I also had one of my PK 7G (not used for a while) strung with Klip NG 16 main and Max Power Rough 18 cross @ 57/54. I tested this one also for 2 hours.
Regular string set up:
Currently experimenting with Solinco Hyper G 17 main or X-perience 17 main with Black Zone 1.25 cross at 52/50 pounds.
Racquet used for test:
Prokennex Q+5X Pro 17 hours and PK 7G for 2 hours.
Power/Control of test string:
Power with gut mains is always going to be more than fully poly setup and all 3 of my string jobs were no exception. If typical full poly setup power is 5/10, Klip/poly was about 8/10 when (Stringing gut at about 5-6 pounds tighter than poly main). If control with full poly for me is 9/10, Klip/Poly was 7/10.
I liked power on my groundstrokes when I was in control of points and loved it even more when I was defending. It was easy to get ball back deep while defending and any injection of pace from neutral point was very rewarding. Slices were skidding and stayed low.
Where I wished for little less power was on my serves. This is not knock on Klip gut but rather how it suits for my game and my current racket. My serves (both first and second) are typically very close to the service line and I missed quite a few just long when serving with gut/poly setup.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?Comfortable?):
Very Comfortable. In PK rackets even full poly is not uncomfortable for me so this was not a surprise. I liked feel of Klip with Max Power and Max Power rough cross the best. It's crisp while still maintaining good levels of comfort. I could feel the difference between hitting the sweetspot and missing it badly, but shots outside of sweetspot were never jarring.
I am not sure how to describe this, but whenever I hit drop shots/soft volleys I knew if I hit it right or not even before how ball landed on other side of net. I could notice lower launch angle (few shots hitting the tape) whenever I switched from playing 1 set with full poly racket to Klip/Poly racket in next set. Once I started playing exclusively with Klip/Poly this was never an issue.
Overall feel and touch of gut is unmatched by any other type of string. I have never tried more expensive guts (VS, Luxilon) so I cannot give comparison with those guts.
Spin:
Spin was slightly less than my fully poly setup but Klip/Poly never lacked spin. I could generate enough spin with all 3 setups I tested on my groundstrokes. Balls jumped just enough after hitting the court as long as I did not absolutely flatten out my shots. I got little less kick on my kick serves but nothing that was deal breaker.
Among the three setups I tried I got most spin/bite with Max Power Rough Crosses, but please do keep in mind that MPR was thinnest poly I used.
Comfort:
9/10. Full bed of Klip would be 10/10. There were no comfort issues for me with Klip/Poly. But with my PK rackets I never had any comfort issues with any strings (I try to always use polys less than 220 stiffness rating in TWU String Performance database).
Durability:
I rarely break strings, I do restring after mains are notched about 80%. Kilp with Max Power crosses has minimal notching (15%) after 10 hours. I think should be able to get at least 30 hours before Klip notches badly or breaks. I am seeing minimal fraying and that too on only center 6 strings.
Playability Duration:
For first hour Klip/Poly setup more crisp than I expected/liked. After that strings were settled and playability has stayed the same since. Other than outside 2 main strings (Should not be hitting there anyway) I am not seeing any string movement. Unless cross strings suffer heavy tension loss or go completely dead I do not see playability changing. I did cut out strings from X-perience cross racket after 7 hours to go back to full poly. But I am still using racket with Max Power crosses regularly. Right now it's at 10 hours.
Tension recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why):
If I redo Klip/MP or Klip/MPR stringjobs again I will go upto 62 pounds on Klip and keep poly at 55. If Klip came in thicker gauge it would also work in same tension I used for this playtest. All this so that I can cut down on barely missed serves during this playtest.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
I think Klip gut (or for that matter any gut) is tailor made for low powered great feeling rackets. I wish I had tried Gut/poly setup in PCG 100 that I used 3 years back. That would have been ultimate combination.
Overall Gut/poly checks lot of boxes (good power, good spin, consistent response over long duration). Price of Klip Gut makes it no-brainer to at least give a try.
Thank you TW and Klip for giving me the chance to be part of this playtest.
jwocky
Rookie
Thank you to the @TW Staff and Klip for this opportunity to participate in a string play test.
What gauge did you receive?
Klip Pro Legend 16 (1.30mm)
Tension(s) used for playtest
29.5M/29.5X in kg
65.0M/65.0X in lb
This is an approximately 30% increase over my normal full bed co-poly tension and about 5% more than when I play with a full bed of Kirschbaum SG 1.30mm or Prince SG Duraflex 1.30mm.
Manual pre-stretch to reduce coil memory.
Regular string set up
All 1.25mm in the 22kg +/-1 (48lb) range with Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution, Tourna Black Zone
Other strings used in hybrids: Kirschbaum Synthetic Gut, Tourna Synthetic Gut Armor, Prince SG Duraflex
Racquet used for test
My usual Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour weighted to 365gm (12.9oz), balance 305mm (12 HL)
Overall Rating
9
Power of test string
10
The only other natural gut I have played is the gold standard Babolat VS Touch.
There was plenty of power, so I might string this again a shade higher or use a machine pre-stretch. Pace on serves and baseline rally shots was plentiful.
Feel (Comfortable? Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? etc.,)
10
This is a very comfortable string in full bed and has convinced me to consider this in a hybrid set up with a co-poly like Kirschbaum Evolution. Touch shots felt very nice.
Spin
7
I had access to reasonable amounts of spin, but clearly less than in a stiffer co-poly set up at lower tensions. Perhaps some tension adjustments between mains and crossed are warranted next time this is used in a full bed.
Durability
8
In the past, I have played natural gut until it breaks usually on a mishit. I do take care of natural gut strings after playing (wipe down, light oil or bee’s wax) and expect this set up will only last a few weeks in a single racquet played regularly on hard courts.
Hours played: 21 hours of doubles (as of review 2019 June 9). There is some fraying and the normal opaqueness at main/cross intersections.
Edit (June 14): Broke it last night (hour 24, doubles, third main/fourth cross) on an overhead - playing on Har-Tru. It was still an enjoyable string to play with full bed.
Playability Duration
10
The set up did not need a break in period as seems typical (to me) for natural gut. This will last until a break.
I will not be cutting this string out.
Control
8
At the tension used I was comfortable with my shots and could play my normal game that relies on variety.
Tension Recommendations: if you strung this string again, would you use a different tension strategy? Why/why not?
I would increase the tension slightly in a full bed next time OR use hybrid with a co-poly. Tension selection for a round, slick co-poly cross would probably start higher than my full bed co-poly to maintain the aspect ratio of the racquet head.
Compare to string used most often
Klip Pro Legend 1.30mm is definitely a worthwhile consideration in a hybrid or a full bed. This is a very comfortable set up with definitely more power than my usual set up, but perhaps a little less spin.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
The test string was examined for defects and for a natural product nothing was terribly unusual.
What gauge did you receive?
Klip Pro Legend 16 (1.30mm)
Tension(s) used for playtest
29.5M/29.5X in kg
65.0M/65.0X in lb
This is an approximately 30% increase over my normal full bed co-poly tension and about 5% more than when I play with a full bed of Kirschbaum SG 1.30mm or Prince SG Duraflex 1.30mm.
Manual pre-stretch to reduce coil memory.
Regular string set up
All 1.25mm in the 22kg +/-1 (48lb) range with Kirschbaum Pro Line Evolution, Tourna Black Zone
Other strings used in hybrids: Kirschbaum Synthetic Gut, Tourna Synthetic Gut Armor, Prince SG Duraflex
Racquet used for test
My usual Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 Tour weighted to 365gm (12.9oz), balance 305mm (12 HL)
Overall Rating
9
Power of test string
10
The only other natural gut I have played is the gold standard Babolat VS Touch.
There was plenty of power, so I might string this again a shade higher or use a machine pre-stretch. Pace on serves and baseline rally shots was plentiful.
Feel (Comfortable? Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? etc.,)
10
This is a very comfortable string in full bed and has convinced me to consider this in a hybrid set up with a co-poly like Kirschbaum Evolution. Touch shots felt very nice.
Spin
7
I had access to reasonable amounts of spin, but clearly less than in a stiffer co-poly set up at lower tensions. Perhaps some tension adjustments between mains and crossed are warranted next time this is used in a full bed.
Durability
8
In the past, I have played natural gut until it breaks usually on a mishit. I do take care of natural gut strings after playing (wipe down, light oil or bee’s wax) and expect this set up will only last a few weeks in a single racquet played regularly on hard courts.
Hours played: 21 hours of doubles (as of review 2019 June 9). There is some fraying and the normal opaqueness at main/cross intersections.
Edit (June 14): Broke it last night (hour 24, doubles, third main/fourth cross) on an overhead - playing on Har-Tru. It was still an enjoyable string to play with full bed.
Playability Duration
10
The set up did not need a break in period as seems typical (to me) for natural gut. This will last until a break.
I will not be cutting this string out.
Control
8
At the tension used I was comfortable with my shots and could play my normal game that relies on variety.
Tension Recommendations: if you strung this string again, would you use a different tension strategy? Why/why not?
I would increase the tension slightly in a full bed next time OR use hybrid with a co-poly. Tension selection for a round, slick co-poly cross would probably start higher than my full bed co-poly to maintain the aspect ratio of the racquet head.
Compare to string used most often
Klip Pro Legend 1.30mm is definitely a worthwhile consideration in a hybrid or a full bed. This is a very comfortable set up with definitely more power than my usual set up, but perhaps a little less spin.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
The test string was examined for defects and for a natural product nothing was terribly unusual.
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StringGuruMRT
Semi-Pro
Klip Legend 17g Review
First off I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse for including me in this playtest. Testing new strings is one of my favorite things to do, and it helps to distract me from the diminishing level of my playing!
What gauge did you receive?
17g
Tension(s) used for playtest
I strung the Klip Legend 17g in the crosses (57lbs) with a hybrid with Luxilon ALU Power 16L (53lbs). I have been experimenting with lower tensions (sub 50) for awhile, and I have not been a fan, so I decided to use the same tensions as I do for my regular set up (see below), as it would make for the best comparison.
Regular string set up
My usual set-up is a hybrid of poly in the mains (usually ALU Power) at 53 lbs, and a soft multi in the crosses (usually Wilson NXT) at 57 lbs. Occasionally I will replace the multis in the crosses with Babolat VS Touch 16 or Wilson Natural Gut 16, at the same tension.
Racquet used for test
Pro Staff 97 CV
Power/Control of test string
Not surprisingly the test string was a slight jump in power compared to my usual set up. More often than not the crosses in my usual set up are 16g, so the thinner 17g of the Klip Legend added to that as well. I did notice a slightly higher launch angle (particularly on the forehand side), but it wasn't enough where I felt I had to make any adjustments. The added power did not lead to over hitting, it just added a bit of depth, and just gave me a little extra boost without having to put more effort into the shot. Again I didn't feel the need to add extra spin to accommodate for the added power. My backhand is generally the flatter of my two groundstrokes, but again I never felt like I was over hitting the ball when I would drive it. On my slice backhand I could tell a difference between the Klip Legend set up and my usual set up. Volleys felt great! I could give a firm punch, or take the pace off and use touch volleys up close.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
I was taken by surprise how much crisper the Klip Legend felt in comparison to my usual set up, and also compared to the Babolat VS Touch and Wilson Natural Gut I'm accustomed to using. I guess this is probably a result of the coating on the string. I actually really liked the crisp feel of the string, as I prefer a lively string, compared to one where the ball just seems to linger in the string bed. This is probably a result of playing with Kevlar mains for so many years in my old Prince 14 x 18 string eaters! I have always felt like Natural Gut had a very muted feel to it and I was never crazy about it, but that was not the case with the test string at all. I really enjoyed the feel of it!
Spin
For me this was the one place where I felt the string was lacking. I did not get the amount of spin I thought I would with this string, especially given the fact that it was 17g. When I felt the texture of the string, I thought that it would grab the ball better than it did, but maybe it would have done better in this category if I had used it in a full string bed. While I didn't feel the need to add spin for most of my shots, it just didn't feel like it was available to me when I really wanted to whip the ball, which I like to do with some frequency on my forehand side. This was a disappointment.
Durability
I did not pop the test strings during this play test, and that was a bit of a surprise, as I typically will break 17g Natural Gut pretty quickly, especially with a stiff poly in the mains cutting through it. As some have mentioned, this seems to be a "notching gut" rather than a "fraying gut", and I would echo those opinions. Initially the gut did seem to notch earlier than others I have used in the past, but it did not fray as easily as those other guts. I have no complaints about the durability of Klip Legend 17g whatsoever.
Playability Duration
The Klip Legend 17g continued to play lively well past the 8-9 hour mark, which is more than I can say about the Luxilon ALU Power mains. All together I tested these strings for about 10 hours, and I had a noticeable drop in the last hour, which is the typical time frame for my usual set up as well. It wasn't so much of a drop that I would have stopped using the strings, so I would/will keep playing with them until they break. Again for the amount of time I have used the strings, and the amount of spin I hit with, I am surprised not to see more signs of wear. In the center of the head I can see the red main strings starting to become visible through the gut, and there is a fair amount of fraying, but definitely less than what I would see from VS Touch or Wilson Gut. Again I would attribute this to the coating on the string.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
I would not string it at a different tension next time, and I won't when I put in the other half. I would recommend stringing Klip Legend 17 at the same tension you usually string a multi or gut at. If you do not enjoy a string that feels crisp, you might drop the tension a bit, but the feel is not stiff or harsh, so I don't think it's necessary.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
Earlier in the thread I noted that this was the easiest stringing natural gut I have ever installed, and that was without a manual or machine pre-stretch. There really seemed to be much less coil memory compared to other gut I have strung with, and it slid through the mains like I had sprayed it with Teflon before installing it! It was a pleasure to string with!
I really enjoyed playing with this string, and would feel confident recommending it to my clients, and possibly even stocking it in my shop. It is in no way a cut rate natural gut, and plays every bit as well as VS Touch and Wilson Natural Gut. The only drawbacks I found were; 1) the crisp feel (which I appreciated), and that would only be a negative if you prefer the muted feel of gut and, 2) the lower spin potential compared to my usual set up and VS Touch and Wilson Natural Gut.
First off I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse for including me in this playtest. Testing new strings is one of my favorite things to do, and it helps to distract me from the diminishing level of my playing!
What gauge did you receive?
17g
Tension(s) used for playtest
I strung the Klip Legend 17g in the crosses (57lbs) with a hybrid with Luxilon ALU Power 16L (53lbs). I have been experimenting with lower tensions (sub 50) for awhile, and I have not been a fan, so I decided to use the same tensions as I do for my regular set up (see below), as it would make for the best comparison.
Regular string set up
My usual set-up is a hybrid of poly in the mains (usually ALU Power) at 53 lbs, and a soft multi in the crosses (usually Wilson NXT) at 57 lbs. Occasionally I will replace the multis in the crosses with Babolat VS Touch 16 or Wilson Natural Gut 16, at the same tension.
Racquet used for test
Pro Staff 97 CV
Power/Control of test string
Not surprisingly the test string was a slight jump in power compared to my usual set up. More often than not the crosses in my usual set up are 16g, so the thinner 17g of the Klip Legend added to that as well. I did notice a slightly higher launch angle (particularly on the forehand side), but it wasn't enough where I felt I had to make any adjustments. The added power did not lead to over hitting, it just added a bit of depth, and just gave me a little extra boost without having to put more effort into the shot. Again I didn't feel the need to add extra spin to accommodate for the added power. My backhand is generally the flatter of my two groundstrokes, but again I never felt like I was over hitting the ball when I would drive it. On my slice backhand I could tell a difference between the Klip Legend set up and my usual set up. Volleys felt great! I could give a firm punch, or take the pace off and use touch volleys up close.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
I was taken by surprise how much crisper the Klip Legend felt in comparison to my usual set up, and also compared to the Babolat VS Touch and Wilson Natural Gut I'm accustomed to using. I guess this is probably a result of the coating on the string. I actually really liked the crisp feel of the string, as I prefer a lively string, compared to one where the ball just seems to linger in the string bed. This is probably a result of playing with Kevlar mains for so many years in my old Prince 14 x 18 string eaters! I have always felt like Natural Gut had a very muted feel to it and I was never crazy about it, but that was not the case with the test string at all. I really enjoyed the feel of it!
Spin
For me this was the one place where I felt the string was lacking. I did not get the amount of spin I thought I would with this string, especially given the fact that it was 17g. When I felt the texture of the string, I thought that it would grab the ball better than it did, but maybe it would have done better in this category if I had used it in a full string bed. While I didn't feel the need to add spin for most of my shots, it just didn't feel like it was available to me when I really wanted to whip the ball, which I like to do with some frequency on my forehand side. This was a disappointment.
Durability
I did not pop the test strings during this play test, and that was a bit of a surprise, as I typically will break 17g Natural Gut pretty quickly, especially with a stiff poly in the mains cutting through it. As some have mentioned, this seems to be a "notching gut" rather than a "fraying gut", and I would echo those opinions. Initially the gut did seem to notch earlier than others I have used in the past, but it did not fray as easily as those other guts. I have no complaints about the durability of Klip Legend 17g whatsoever.
Playability Duration
The Klip Legend 17g continued to play lively well past the 8-9 hour mark, which is more than I can say about the Luxilon ALU Power mains. All together I tested these strings for about 10 hours, and I had a noticeable drop in the last hour, which is the typical time frame for my usual set up as well. It wasn't so much of a drop that I would have stopped using the strings, so I would/will keep playing with them until they break. Again for the amount of time I have used the strings, and the amount of spin I hit with, I am surprised not to see more signs of wear. In the center of the head I can see the red main strings starting to become visible through the gut, and there is a fair amount of fraying, but definitely less than what I would see from VS Touch or Wilson Gut. Again I would attribute this to the coating on the string.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
I would not string it at a different tension next time, and I won't when I put in the other half. I would recommend stringing Klip Legend 17 at the same tension you usually string a multi or gut at. If you do not enjoy a string that feels crisp, you might drop the tension a bit, but the feel is not stiff or harsh, so I don't think it's necessary.
List any additional thoughts (optional)
Earlier in the thread I noted that this was the easiest stringing natural gut I have ever installed, and that was without a manual or machine pre-stretch. There really seemed to be much less coil memory compared to other gut I have strung with, and it slid through the mains like I had sprayed it with Teflon before installing it! It was a pleasure to string with!
I really enjoyed playing with this string, and would feel confident recommending it to my clients, and possibly even stocking it in my shop. It is in no way a cut rate natural gut, and plays every bit as well as VS Touch and Wilson Natural Gut. The only drawbacks I found were; 1) the crisp feel (which I appreciated), and that would only be a negative if you prefer the muted feel of gut and, 2) the lower spin potential compared to my usual set up and VS Touch and Wilson Natural Gut.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
Figured I'd take a few pictures of the coated vs uncoated versions (the coated is whats in the frame, btw) Also different gauges, 17 vs 16: boy that 16 looks thick!
Not much different, the coated seems more translucent to me in color. The uncoated definitely is more "tacky" in feel, as my fingers detect some oils in it and a slight roughness of surface.
So if you are one of the several hoping for more bite and spin from the regular Legend, then the uncoated might be worth a look.
Also happy to report that the uncoated also seems to have little coil memory or "kinkiness" to it just like the coated. However, I can absolutely tell that it could burn your crosses if pulling too fast.
Update: ok so i decided to string it up and do a hit. Super impressed! Actually does have that gut plush feel that wasnt quite there with the coated version. Whats more, I was getting more grab on the ball and the arc was descinding nicely right after passing the net. The coated wants to still balloon out on me, and can easily go long before dipping. This is identical frame, same cross, same tension.
Not much different, the coated seems more translucent to me in color. The uncoated definitely is more "tacky" in feel, as my fingers detect some oils in it and a slight roughness of surface.
So if you are one of the several hoping for more bite and spin from the regular Legend, then the uncoated might be worth a look.
Also happy to report that the uncoated also seems to have little coil memory or "kinkiness" to it just like the coated. However, I can absolutely tell that it could burn your crosses if pulling too fast.
Update: ok so i decided to string it up and do a hit. Super impressed! Actually does have that gut plush feel that wasnt quite there with the coated version. Whats more, I was getting more grab on the ball and the arc was descinding nicely right after passing the net. The coated wants to still balloon out on me, and can easily go long before dipping. This is identical frame, same cross, same tension.
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StringGuruMRT
Semi-Pro
To answer your question... For me, I simply switched out the NXT that I normally used with the Klip at the exact same tension, and could judge the performance that way. I know what to expect from my usual poly/NXT set up, so noticing differences with the gut was really easy. I've also used gut in poly hybrids for years, so I can use that as a baseline judgement as well.
I kind of thought the same way you did in terms of doing a hybrid vs full bed play test, but ultimately decided on doing the hybrid because that seems to be what most of the posters on here are using gut for. I had originally thought I would string up another racquet with the gut in the mains, but didn't have the time available to properly review it. I might still do it and give my "unofficial" review in a couple weeks.
SavvyStringer
Professional
Review: Klip Legend 17
I play tested 17 as I had no true preference but after using 17 gut I will stick to thicker gauges for gut.
What gauge did you receive?
17G
Tension used for playtest:
52 lbs with 10% pre-stretch on Wilson Baiardo Klip 17 mains/ 50 lbs Tourbite 17g crosses
Regular string set up:
When using gut I use VS Tonic Ball feel 15L as mains with tourbite 17 cross at 50/48. Strings immediately prior to play test was Solinco Vanquish 17/ Tourbite 17 at 50/48.
Racquet brand and model used for test:
Head Radical MPA 16x19 pattern. 315g 31.0cm and 300g unstrung swing weight.
Power/Control of test string:
Power on serves was excellent. Power on ground strokes was seemingly erratic. One stroke would be in the service box, the next 2-3 feet out. I had a hard time dialing in consistency with the 17g Klip mains.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable? Brassy?):
Feel was good. It was plush. I could really feel volleys sinking into the string bed and felt like I had excellent control and the ability to remove pace based on how it pocketed the ball. Feel was on par with 16 VS gut or Pacific classic 16L IMO. Certainly a softer gut than Volkl or the Tonic 15L. I had absolute confidence at the net with the Klip 17 mains despite my struggles with power/spin from the baseline.
Spin:
Wholly inconsistent. I struggled with inconsistent power and spin with this string and I believe they're linked. As a main I prefer a thicker Gut but felt I would try the 17g because using a gut cross seems like a waste of gut to me. Spin was not the strong suit of this string as a main.
Durability:
Durability is pretty good. I don't frequently break but I can break Vanquish 17g mains with 17g Tourbite crosses in 2-3 sets of singles and 3-5 sets of doubles. This string has at minimum 10 sets of doubles, plus feeding, and a couple of hours of casual hitting and it is notched but not fraying badly. It has at least double the life played left in it.
Playability Duration:
Playability has been the same throughout. I have not noticed any changes to really speak of. I learned long ago to machine pre-stretch gut so that the playability remains the same longer. If I would not have prestretched I would expect the gut to be more lively to start then settle in as other reviewers have stated.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
All in all, a good quality string. I will be switching to Klip as my regular gut instead of Tonic or VS. It's more economical and has a very similar feel. Looking at the string it has a different look than the other guts as well. It's very uniform in color and texture. String has had excellent snap back for the duration as well. I haven't had to hand move strings during the playtest.
I will be getting 16g in the next few weeks to test out in comparison to the 17g. I suspect I'll enjoy the thicker gauge more.
I play tested 17 as I had no true preference but after using 17 gut I will stick to thicker gauges for gut.
What gauge did you receive?
17G
Tension used for playtest:
52 lbs with 10% pre-stretch on Wilson Baiardo Klip 17 mains/ 50 lbs Tourbite 17g crosses
Regular string set up:
When using gut I use VS Tonic Ball feel 15L as mains with tourbite 17 cross at 50/48. Strings immediately prior to play test was Solinco Vanquish 17/ Tourbite 17 at 50/48.
Racquet brand and model used for test:
Head Radical MPA 16x19 pattern. 315g 31.0cm and 300g unstrung swing weight.
Power/Control of test string:
Power on serves was excellent. Power on ground strokes was seemingly erratic. One stroke would be in the service box, the next 2-3 feet out. I had a hard time dialing in consistency with the 17g Klip mains.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable? Brassy?):
Feel was good. It was plush. I could really feel volleys sinking into the string bed and felt like I had excellent control and the ability to remove pace based on how it pocketed the ball. Feel was on par with 16 VS gut or Pacific classic 16L IMO. Certainly a softer gut than Volkl or the Tonic 15L. I had absolute confidence at the net with the Klip 17 mains despite my struggles with power/spin from the baseline.
Spin:
Wholly inconsistent. I struggled with inconsistent power and spin with this string and I believe they're linked. As a main I prefer a thicker Gut but felt I would try the 17g because using a gut cross seems like a waste of gut to me. Spin was not the strong suit of this string as a main.
Durability:
Durability is pretty good. I don't frequently break but I can break Vanquish 17g mains with 17g Tourbite crosses in 2-3 sets of singles and 3-5 sets of doubles. This string has at minimum 10 sets of doubles, plus feeding, and a couple of hours of casual hitting and it is notched but not fraying badly. It has at least double the life played left in it.
Playability Duration:
Playability has been the same throughout. I have not noticed any changes to really speak of. I learned long ago to machine pre-stretch gut so that the playability remains the same longer. If I would not have prestretched I would expect the gut to be more lively to start then settle in as other reviewers have stated.
List any additional thoughts (optional):
All in all, a good quality string. I will be switching to Klip as my regular gut instead of Tonic or VS. It's more economical and has a very similar feel. Looking at the string it has a different look than the other guts as well. It's very uniform in color and texture. String has had excellent snap back for the duration as well. I haven't had to hand move strings during the playtest.
I will be getting 16g in the next few weeks to test out in comparison to the 17g. I suspect I'll enjoy the thicker gauge more.
Luke Yonex
Rookie
Thanks for that,, Are you saying you used to Hybrid Klip and NXT. If so i would like to know how you found it, Cheers
StringGuruMRT
Semi-Pro
No I used the Klip in a hybrid with ALU Power, but I usually hybrid the ALU with NXT. So essentially by having the same mains for both set ups, I was easily able to judge the performance of the Klip, as it was the variable in the test, and the ALU was the constant.
Luke Yonex
Rookie
Ok I misunderstood, I would love to cross Klip with AU power rough however I cant because I have TE, Its a lot better since I have been using gut . I am new to gut only a few weeks (2 wks Klip-4 weeks babolot v touch full bed in different rackets) however I feel I played a lot better when I was using the polys. So anyhow when You cross gut with a poly won't the poly go dead before the gut breaks? or does the gut prolong the life of the poly" I wouldn't want to cut gut out because of dead polys, its to expensive. I have tried timo 110 crossed with a mulit I liked it a lot at first but it went dead fast and did hurt my elbow,
StringGuruMRT
Semi-Pro
Have you tried using gut in the mains and poly in the crosses? That will soften the feel of the poly a bit. The poly does lose tension quicker than the gut, but I feel that having them in the crosses, you don't nice it as much because the gut is the primary string determining playability.
Luke Yonex
Rookie
I am to scared to use polys even at a low tension at the moment. I have improved my TE a lot I don't want to go back to square one, I know the best cure is to out right stop tennis all together for a few weeks/mths however I am trying to avoid doing that.
StringGuruMRT
Semi-Pro
Well make sure you're icing and using ibuprofen as well. Also work on strengthening the arm.
kvan
Semi-Pro
What gauge did you receive?
17G
Tension and strings used:
Klip Legend 17 mains, Pro's Pro Concept 17 (1.22) crosses at 55/52 on my dropweight stringer.
As a lot of players' barrier to entry for continued use (or even giving an honest shot) of natural gut is the price, so I wanted to use a smooth string with fairly good tension maintenance that doesn't break the bank in the crosses. At around $16 a string job, this hybrid still offers many of the benefits of a gut/poly hybrid while remaining cheaper than using a full bed of higher-end poly like Alu Power Rough / RPM Blast, or multifilament like X-One Biphase or NXT Power.
Stringing Legend was a breeze and in retrospect, I didn't need to be as careful as I was during stringing. The outer coating on the string seems to have done its job preserving the string even before the first hit.
Regular string set up:
I usually use Solinco Hyper G 17 mains with Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17 crosses at the low 50s with a 3 pound main/cross differential. I've also used Concept 17 as a main in a similar setup frequently.
Racquet used for test:
Unmodified RF97
Power/Control of test string:
As expected, the power of the stringbed was noticeably greater than that of my normal setup, especially of the get-go, possibly due to the lack of prestretch. After the very short break in time, I found the stringbed settled nicely and the power on groundstrokes, volleys, and serve was consistently greater than my go-to setup.
I found controlling depth the hardest part to adjust to during the playtest, and as a fairly flat hitter, I found myself brushing the back of the ball a bit more for generating a consistently penetrating rally ball. Directional control was great when going to putting away shorter balls, and particularly great off the slice backhand. I found easier power on serves and I got easy pop while focusing more on direction of both deliveries. On return, I enjoyed a
Pros: Easier put-away power, Could focus more on serve direction, deep and controlled slices, consistently deeper returns
Cons: Took a slight break in period, felt a need to adjust groundstrokes to fully take advantage of power
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?Comfortable?):
Volleys were my favorite part during the playtest. Putting away volleys deep was satisfying, but I just kept wanting to hit drop volleys with the control combined with the feel of the stringbed. The stringbed felt plush, but crisp. A bit more firm than I wished on off-center hits, but it was plenty comfortable throughout. I don’t suffer from arm issues, but I can’t imagine developing arm issues using this setup.
Pros: Plush, crisp feel, drop shots/volleys, plenty comfortable even in a hybrid
Cons: Fairly crisp in this setup, which is not preferable to all. A bit firmer than expected on off-center hits.
Spin:
Less spin than a fresh set of my usual setup with Hyper-G, but without the general drop-off in spin and playability really is the tradeoff here. As mentioned before, I’ve been trying to adjust my flatter strokes to get heavier rally balls with more spin, so the lack of spin reinforced that idea. The depth-control suffered during the start of the playtest likely due to this, but it was not a huge deal in the long run. The lack of spin was not as noticeable on slices as it was on groundstrokes and on second serves. Once again, not unmanageable, but be prepared to work a bit harder or adjust your angle of approach to the ball in order to get similar results when using a shaped poly main.
Pros: Consistent throughout playtest, relative lack of spin not noticeable on slice/flat balls
Cons: Not as much spin as a fresh set of shaped-poly mains, second serve and rally balls lacked depth control initially.
Comfort:
Great comfort as mentioned prior, but I found off-center hits to be firmer than expected. I have been lucky with my arm health and I have found no issues in this department.
Pros: Yes
Cons: None
Durability:
Better than expected, which may be due to the coating on the string. I rip through multi mains (namely, sensation, NXT, NXT Power) and have found that after 7 hours of singles play and some drilling, I’ve found fraying on the mains and notching on the crosses that greatly exceed the durability of traditional multis. I expect the setup to last at least 4-8 more hours, depending on how many second serves I have to hit (haha). I usually break my poly main hybrid within 6-10 hours, but have found this to last longer combined with the longer playability, which is more important than overall durability anyway. This may have been due to the fact that I have hit with flatter ball strikers during the playtest as compared to my usual hitting partners.
Playability Duration:
Gut mains remain the same in playability as the first hit, even after the 7-8 hour mark. See above.
Pros: Consistent playability throughout the test
Cons: Fraying, which is simply aesthetic
Tension recommendations:
Although I didn’t have any significant issues with the current tension, I would maybe bring the tension down a few pounds (to 53/50) or just lower the tension on the poly cross (to 55/50 or 55/48) in order to further reduce the firm response of the Concept crosses and aid in main snapback. Pretty minor qualm, however.
Additional thoughts:
Legend is a great intro into the world of gut, especially at the current cost. While I do not play with gut often, this playtest has reminded me why gut continues to be as prevalent as it is and for as long as it has. The coating on the string made it easy to string and I think what uncoated purists may lose in power/spin, you gain in durability and general ease of use. Good stuff!
Thanks to TW and Klip!
17G
Tension and strings used:
Klip Legend 17 mains, Pro's Pro Concept 17 (1.22) crosses at 55/52 on my dropweight stringer.
As a lot of players' barrier to entry for continued use (or even giving an honest shot) of natural gut is the price, so I wanted to use a smooth string with fairly good tension maintenance that doesn't break the bank in the crosses. At around $16 a string job, this hybrid still offers many of the benefits of a gut/poly hybrid while remaining cheaper than using a full bed of higher-end poly like Alu Power Rough / RPM Blast, or multifilament like X-One Biphase or NXT Power.
Stringing Legend was a breeze and in retrospect, I didn't need to be as careful as I was during stringing. The outer coating on the string seems to have done its job preserving the string even before the first hit.
Regular string set up:
I usually use Solinco Hyper G 17 mains with Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17 crosses at the low 50s with a 3 pound main/cross differential. I've also used Concept 17 as a main in a similar setup frequently.
Racquet used for test:
Unmodified RF97
Power/Control of test string:
As expected, the power of the stringbed was noticeably greater than that of my normal setup, especially of the get-go, possibly due to the lack of prestretch. After the very short break in time, I found the stringbed settled nicely and the power on groundstrokes, volleys, and serve was consistently greater than my go-to setup.
I found controlling depth the hardest part to adjust to during the playtest, and as a fairly flat hitter, I found myself brushing the back of the ball a bit more for generating a consistently penetrating rally ball. Directional control was great when going to putting away shorter balls, and particularly great off the slice backhand. I found easier power on serves and I got easy pop while focusing more on direction of both deliveries. On return, I enjoyed a
Pros: Easier put-away power, Could focus more on serve direction, deep and controlled slices, consistently deeper returns
Cons: Took a slight break in period, felt a need to adjust groundstrokes to fully take advantage of power
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp?Comfortable?):
Volleys were my favorite part during the playtest. Putting away volleys deep was satisfying, but I just kept wanting to hit drop volleys with the control combined with the feel of the stringbed. The stringbed felt plush, but crisp. A bit more firm than I wished on off-center hits, but it was plenty comfortable throughout. I don’t suffer from arm issues, but I can’t imagine developing arm issues using this setup.
Pros: Plush, crisp feel, drop shots/volleys, plenty comfortable even in a hybrid
Cons: Fairly crisp in this setup, which is not preferable to all. A bit firmer than expected on off-center hits.
Spin:
Less spin than a fresh set of my usual setup with Hyper-G, but without the general drop-off in spin and playability really is the tradeoff here. As mentioned before, I’ve been trying to adjust my flatter strokes to get heavier rally balls with more spin, so the lack of spin reinforced that idea. The depth-control suffered during the start of the playtest likely due to this, but it was not a huge deal in the long run. The lack of spin was not as noticeable on slices as it was on groundstrokes and on second serves. Once again, not unmanageable, but be prepared to work a bit harder or adjust your angle of approach to the ball in order to get similar results when using a shaped poly main.
Pros: Consistent throughout playtest, relative lack of spin not noticeable on slice/flat balls
Cons: Not as much spin as a fresh set of shaped-poly mains, second serve and rally balls lacked depth control initially.
Comfort:
Great comfort as mentioned prior, but I found off-center hits to be firmer than expected. I have been lucky with my arm health and I have found no issues in this department.
Pros: Yes
Cons: None
Durability:
Better than expected, which may be due to the coating on the string. I rip through multi mains (namely, sensation, NXT, NXT Power) and have found that after 7 hours of singles play and some drilling, I’ve found fraying on the mains and notching on the crosses that greatly exceed the durability of traditional multis. I expect the setup to last at least 4-8 more hours, depending on how many second serves I have to hit (haha). I usually break my poly main hybrid within 6-10 hours, but have found this to last longer combined with the longer playability, which is more important than overall durability anyway. This may have been due to the fact that I have hit with flatter ball strikers during the playtest as compared to my usual hitting partners.
Playability Duration:
Gut mains remain the same in playability as the first hit, even after the 7-8 hour mark. See above.
Pros: Consistent playability throughout the test
Cons: Fraying, which is simply aesthetic
Tension recommendations:
Although I didn’t have any significant issues with the current tension, I would maybe bring the tension down a few pounds (to 53/50) or just lower the tension on the poly cross (to 55/50 or 55/48) in order to further reduce the firm response of the Concept crosses and aid in main snapback. Pretty minor qualm, however.
Additional thoughts:
Legend is a great intro into the world of gut, especially at the current cost. While I do not play with gut often, this playtest has reminded me why gut continues to be as prevalent as it is and for as long as it has. The coating on the string made it easy to string and I think what uncoated purists may lose in power/spin, you gain in durability and general ease of use. Good stuff!
Thanks to TW and Klip!
M Pillai
Semi-Pro
Klip Legend Natural Gut 16g Review
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- What gauge did you receive?
- 16g
- Tension(s) used for playtest
- 54lb on mains. (Crossed with isospeed baseline control poly at 48lb)
- Regular string set up
- Had been switching around too many strings recently. But mostly go with a full poly setup. A long term user of Volkl Cyclon17 at 54lb mainsx52lb crosses.
- Racquet used for test
- Dunlop Srixon CX 200 TOur 18x20
- Power/Control of test string
- As expected the power came in easy with the soft natural gut in the mains. I did not feel like I had to trade much control for this though. I usually have a full bed of poly in the racquets and so was a bit skeptical at the start of the play test. But I felt that this is infact a good setup for me and I could still keep the balls very well in control. Depth control and direction control was excellent. As expected the tough shots were awesome. The drop shots felt very easy even from the court positions I usually dare to.
- Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
- VERY comfortable. Really good feel on the shots. I guess it goes without saying, that natural gut is comfortable. A poly in the cross even though may stiffen up the stringbed, I strongly believe it does actually make it softer on shots, especially on my kind of shots where I use a lot of brushing. The touch and feel of the string bed was awesome.
- Spin
- I was expecting a reduction in spin production. But I never felt it that way in practice. I still have to find an explanation, but after the initial period, I was able to comfortably go for my swings, and felt confident that the topspin would bring the ball back into the court. Sidespin slices felt extremely good because of the added touch. Kick serves were kicking a good amount, and aggressive slices really felt good. So overall I find that a player like me probably does not need full poly string bed to generate the spin needed, and a natural gut hybrid will get the job done.
- Durability
- So this is a debatable topic. I did break the Klip Legend in mains in around 10hr mark. Now during this period I had a hell lot of fun and enjoyment with the string. So yes it is probably a bit less durable in terms of breaking the string, compared to a full poly string bed. But for me 10hr was more that I would get from usual multifilaments on the mains, and I was slightly surprised by that. So I am actually happy with the durability of these strings. The strings does actually start ripping and damaging at around 5 hr mark… but it infact does not cause much effect on playability. In fact I think it actually provide some extra ball-grab, and so probably added spin.
- Playability Duration
- This is where these strings excels, and pushes ANY poly strings totally out of the way. There was almost the same feel on the string bed all the way through the breaking. Once I groved my strokes, I could not differentiate much on the stringbed from 2hr mark to 10hr mark. I am sure there was some tension loss. But it was not noticeable with my skills.
- Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
- I would probably string 2lb higher next time (56lb). Not because the ball was flying on me at 54lb, but because I think I will probably be a bit more confident on my swings with that. Also the string bed was extremely comfortable that I don’t expect it to be too bad for comfort.
- List any additional thoughts (optional)
- This is the first time I actually tested a natural gut, and I really like it on the mains. But I am still debating whether I am willing to spend that amount of money for every 10hrs, especially for someone like me who spends a lot of hours on tennis courts. I also want to check how it feels in a full bed of natural gut. But from what I remember from using a racket of full natural-gut string from a friend, I felt it to be overpowered for me. So I still think a poly hybrid with natural gut makes a lot of sense. Another thing I notice is the silky slippery coating on the Klip Legend. This provided a good snapback
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mrtrinh
Professional
- What gauge did you receive?
- 17
- Tension(s) used for playtest
- 48/44
- Strung as a hybrid with Isospeed cream in the crosses
- Regular string set up
- Pacific Classic Gut / Isospeed Cream
- Racquet used for test
- Prince Textreme Tour 100 (310)
- Power/Control of test string
- With all natural guts, its fairly powerful but not as powerful as its competitors, Babolat/Wilson. I was hitting long for a few hits but was easily able to dial it in within a few minutes.
- Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
- Super comfy, but more on the crisp side but in no way stiff feeling. I actually think its slightly more crisp than some of the multi's out there such as NRG2 and NXT. Crossed with Isospeed cream and it is the perfect blend of comfort. I felt like I was playing with a full bed of gut.
- Spin
- Top spin production was excellent and my slices would cut through the court.
- Durability
- At it's price point its pretty decent when it comes to durability. More durable then Pacific Classic Gut but not as durable as Babolat/Wilson/Luxilon. Broke strings at the 10hr mark.
- Playability Duration
- Got 8 hours of play without feeling a drop in performance. Strings did start to move around from the 6 hour mark but didn't feel a big drop in tension loss or performance.
- Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
- I personally like to play with lower tension but I would recommend stringing this slightly lower than your other guts. Slightly stiffer with slightly less power, but this helps stringing poly low as well if you plan to do a hybrid.
- List any additional thoughts (optional)
- Very big fan and I plan to make the switch to Klip. Pacific gut is no longer accessible and I am not a fan of Babolat/wilson/luxilon; they're more expensive and too heavily coated. If you're looking for a good natural gut at an affordable price point, try Klip Legend out.
1. What gauge did you receive?
a. 17ga
2. Tension(s) used for playtest
a. 60 lbs
3. Regular string set up
a. I don’t have a regular set up, yet, but I’m currently using either full bed Head Hawk Touch or HHT in a hybrid with either (gut or prince syn gut depending on match or practice)
4. Racquet used for test
a. Babolat Pure Control Tour
5. Power/Control of test string
a. The power level with this string is high around 8 or 9 out of 10. Stringing it at the high range of the recommend tension for my Babolat PCT, I still get enough power to let loose on my serve. But still I wouldn’t get the ball flying on my when I would swing full out on a forehand. The control was excellent at this tension. However, I know from experience that if I don’t get the tension up enough, I will loose that controlled feeling. I have used full gut in the past and it took me a few string jobs to find the right tension.
6. Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
a. Most gut has that softer muted feel, but when I string it at the high range, I get a little bit of a crisper feel. I have become accustomed to the crisp feel of poly, but my arm can’t handle the stiffer polys and the softer ones loose tension after about 8-10 hours. I’ve thought about switching to full gut full time, and if I did, I would likely choose Klip as it is a great gut for the price.
7. Spin
a. I don’t have huge spin groundstrokes, but I do put a lot of jump on my kick serve. Unless I’m using a textured poly, I don’t notice any big drop in spin on my serve from HHT to gut. The gut sits in the string bed longer (at least that is how I feel it) and allows me to generate good rotation. I also love gut for slice serves, I can really get the ball moving away from my opponent.
8. Durability
a. I got about 20hrs of play before it broke on me. I usually buy 16g and I can get around 30 hours from that.
9. Playability Duration
a. 20 hrs…I know some guys who will play with their poly set ups for a month, but for me the tension drops too fast with poly, so I cut it out after 10 hours. So gut is actually a good value as it plays great up until it breaks.
10. Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
a. I would use the same tension. Since I have used full be gut many times, I’ve gotten to where I know the right set up.
11. List any additional thoughts (optional)
a. I have used Pacific gut, Babolat Tonic and Volkl gut. I have found that I prefer Klip. At that 30-35 price range, Klip does everything solid and has the best feel. I haven’t tried the high end guts so I can’t comment on how Klip compares to those, but there are times when I think I should give up on poly and just stick with all gut. The thing that keeps me going back to poly is that crisp connected feel when it is right off the stringer. The first match with poly is a dream, then it fades.
Thanks to TW for the opportunity to playtest!
a. 17ga
2. Tension(s) used for playtest
a. 60 lbs
3. Regular string set up
a. I don’t have a regular set up, yet, but I’m currently using either full bed Head Hawk Touch or HHT in a hybrid with either (gut or prince syn gut depending on match or practice)
4. Racquet used for test
a. Babolat Pure Control Tour
5. Power/Control of test string
a. The power level with this string is high around 8 or 9 out of 10. Stringing it at the high range of the recommend tension for my Babolat PCT, I still get enough power to let loose on my serve. But still I wouldn’t get the ball flying on my when I would swing full out on a forehand. The control was excellent at this tension. However, I know from experience that if I don’t get the tension up enough, I will loose that controlled feeling. I have used full gut in the past and it took me a few string jobs to find the right tension.
6. Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?)
a. Most gut has that softer muted feel, but when I string it at the high range, I get a little bit of a crisper feel. I have become accustomed to the crisp feel of poly, but my arm can’t handle the stiffer polys and the softer ones loose tension after about 8-10 hours. I’ve thought about switching to full gut full time, and if I did, I would likely choose Klip as it is a great gut for the price.
7. Spin
a. I don’t have huge spin groundstrokes, but I do put a lot of jump on my kick serve. Unless I’m using a textured poly, I don’t notice any big drop in spin on my serve from HHT to gut. The gut sits in the string bed longer (at least that is how I feel it) and allows me to generate good rotation. I also love gut for slice serves, I can really get the ball moving away from my opponent.
8. Durability
a. I got about 20hrs of play before it broke on me. I usually buy 16g and I can get around 30 hours from that.
9. Playability Duration
a. 20 hrs…I know some guys who will play with their poly set ups for a month, but for me the tension drops too fast with poly, so I cut it out after 10 hours. So gut is actually a good value as it plays great up until it breaks.
10. Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why)
a. I would use the same tension. Since I have used full be gut many times, I’ve gotten to where I know the right set up.
11. List any additional thoughts (optional)
a. I have used Pacific gut, Babolat Tonic and Volkl gut. I have found that I prefer Klip. At that 30-35 price range, Klip does everything solid and has the best feel. I haven’t tried the high end guts so I can’t comment on how Klip compares to those, but there are times when I think I should give up on poly and just stick with all gut. The thing that keeps me going back to poly is that crisp connected feel when it is right off the stringer. The first match with poly is a dream, then it fades.
Thanks to TW for the opportunity to playtest!
El_Yotamo
Hall of Fame
- Gauge: 17
- Setup: Got to do two, with gut on the mains at 56 lbf in both cases. Crosses were ALU Power Ice at 48 lbf in a PT57A and Max Power Rough at 48 lbf in a BLX Six.One Tour 90
- Regular string setup: double-copoly hybrids of many shapes and colors. Most recently ALU Power Ice mains and Polytour Fire crosses at 48/44 lbf
- Power/Control of test string: Clearly much more powerful than what I'm used to. This had the classic positives and negatives of a more powerful setup, and I found myself playing a slightly more attacking style than usual although I also felt quite comfortable on the defensive since less effort was required to get the ball over the net, especially when sliced. In terms of control, no it didn't have what my usual setups do (as expected) but the setup was reasonable in how the pop allowed me to go for bigger targets and remain effective. That's all part of game changing as a result of different playing setups. Additionally the feel allowed at times to have a very high level of accuracy.
- Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Crisp and super lively. Quite awesome touch as well, and I felt very connected to the ball as expected. Very different from copolys in many ways, especially in terms of liveliness.
- Spin: Not on the level of my spinniest hybrids, but definitely on the level of some more mellow copoly setups I've gone with. The biggest standout in terms of spin was the slice and serves were also very positively impacted. Spin on groundstrokes was average in comparison to what I've used copoly-wise as mentioned.
- Durability: Well that's quite expectedly this setup's biggest weakness. The two setups I tried lasted approximately a combined 6 hours, which is just about the lower limit of the amount I get with a single setup of copoly. Definitely an improvement from multi/poly which often lasts about half that of this setup though.
- Playability Duration: During the string's lifespan it practically didn't falter. That's a very good strong point of this string, and I can see why those who don't often break strings go with these kinds of setups. The crosses, which are usually the last thing I worry about for playability duration (mains are longer so lose tension much faster ceteris paribus) lost far more tension and degraded more in terms of playability than the mains. This was to be expected but it's still quite extraordinary.
- Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I wouldn't change a thing. The setups, tensions, and tension differentials worked great for me.
- List any additional thoughts (optional): this wasn't my first time playing a gut setup, but I haven't played more than half a dozen, so it was still an interesting experience/experiment. Thanks a lot to TW and Klip for the opportunity!
A smidge late on this, but I wanted to play my hybrid twice--once at lower tension and once higher. Please excuse my lateness, TW!
What gauge did you receive? Legend 16--felt slightly thicker than Wilson Natural Gut 16 while stringing it up, but that might just be in my head. Strung up without any issues and was easy to handle. I never felt like I had to watch for kinking or tangling like I do with Babolat gut.
Tension(s) used for playtest: Went with 62 with gut on the mains and Element on the crosses first because I'm used to poly in the higher 50s right now. Dropped to something that more people might consider reasonable for the second go-around with gut at 55 and Element at 51 the second time.
Regular string set up: Full bed of Solinco's charcoal poly (yet to be released) or Tour Bite in 16L between 56 and 58 pounds, depending on how I'm feeling.
Racquet used for test: Wilson Clash 100 customized with 20g of lead
Power/Control of test string: The ball came off of the hybrid with noticeably more zip than my usual setup. I sailed the first few groundies because I'm so used to a deader stringbed. Once I adjusted--about 5 minutes--I was nearly in tennis heaven. The ease with which I could generate power and spin while still hitting my targets accurately was nearly euphoric. I work so hard with the polyester, and I might even say that I get more out of the Natural Gut hybrid with less effort. I was able to relax and swing out to my targets without ever feeling like I was needing to take a giant cut. This led to a few balls that were missed wildly because I'm so used to swinging hard, but when I got myself to relax and just hit the ball to a spot, I was rewarded with enough power to put the ball past my opponent while maintaining a high level of accuracy and depth control. Serving was a breeze too...just focus on whatever you want--spin, power, direction--and you're rewarded. When I dropped the tension to 55/51 from 62/58, I still experienced these qualities but with a bit too much power for me. I did not like the lower tension as much, but I do think that I could get used to it because the gut gave such a clean and consistent response from the stringbed.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Very comfortable stringbed. This is important to me as a teaching professional who still plays 4-5 days a week. I'm hitting at such a high volume that my arm will get sore with the full poly setup on occasion--not so bad that I can't play but enough that I've got mild discomfort. This was never the case, even at the higher tension. The response from the stringbed was crisp and even. Even off center hits felt forgiving enough, and I especially enjoyed this setup in doubles where I hit more volleys and have less time to set up, both with higher and lower tension. Touch and angled shots were responsive, and I even hit some fun defensive lobs that are tougher to come up with while using a full poly stringbed.
Spin: Spin was there when I wanted it but not in the spades I had hoped. I usually find this with gut mains. I get enough spin from it to keep the ball in, especially after the strings break in and drop a little tension. I can generate more spin from my full poly, but I think that's a byproduct of having to swing harder. So, it's not that spin wasn't there, but the power made it tough to load a hard-hit ball with spin. Just something to adjust to. This was significantly more difficult to adjust to with the lower tension, but I got more spin when I dropped lower, so doubles points were more fun. It was just tougher to keep the ball in for singles play.
Durability: Better than expected. Some of this my be due to not needing to swing so hard at every ball and playing more doubles than singles, but I got 3-4 hours from each stringjob which is about the same as I get with my usual setup. Tension at both the higher and lower ends held well, and I didn't notice any drop in playability. Once I was through the coating, the mains went on me quickly. I would assume that in a full bed or crossed with something like Head Velocity or Babolat Origin, this gut would last a long time for the player it suits.
Playability Duration: I did not notice any change beyond the initial tension drop after the first hit. The higher tension I used felt just slightly boardy for the first 20 minutes or so, but then settled in to a buttery level and stayed there until breakage.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I preferred the 62/58 combo, and I think this is because my Clash 100 has such a high launch angle and power level. I would maybe change the cross to something a little stiffer than Element, like RPM Blast, ALU Power, or Head Hawk but keep the tension the same. In a smaller racquet--I still pull out the IG Prestige MP and Pro from time to time, I would use a lower tension to bring out the control and feel of those racquets more. I liked what 55/51 brought to my game in terms of feel and oodles of easy power, but I couldn't adjust enough in such a short time frame to play effective singles with it.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Thanks so much to TW for treating me to this playtest. I string gut from just about every major brand for our members and use it for myself on occasion. The KLIP Legend has been just as good, if not better, an experience as Luxilon, Wilson, and Babolat natural gut for me. The playability and comfort surpass my current polyester setup, and if I was able to afford and decided to play with Natural Gut mains, KLIP would be at the top of my list!
What gauge did you receive? Legend 16--felt slightly thicker than Wilson Natural Gut 16 while stringing it up, but that might just be in my head. Strung up without any issues and was easy to handle. I never felt like I had to watch for kinking or tangling like I do with Babolat gut.
Tension(s) used for playtest: Went with 62 with gut on the mains and Element on the crosses first because I'm used to poly in the higher 50s right now. Dropped to something that more people might consider reasonable for the second go-around with gut at 55 and Element at 51 the second time.
Regular string set up: Full bed of Solinco's charcoal poly (yet to be released) or Tour Bite in 16L between 56 and 58 pounds, depending on how I'm feeling.
Racquet used for test: Wilson Clash 100 customized with 20g of lead
Power/Control of test string: The ball came off of the hybrid with noticeably more zip than my usual setup. I sailed the first few groundies because I'm so used to a deader stringbed. Once I adjusted--about 5 minutes--I was nearly in tennis heaven. The ease with which I could generate power and spin while still hitting my targets accurately was nearly euphoric. I work so hard with the polyester, and I might even say that I get more out of the Natural Gut hybrid with less effort. I was able to relax and swing out to my targets without ever feeling like I was needing to take a giant cut. This led to a few balls that were missed wildly because I'm so used to swinging hard, but when I got myself to relax and just hit the ball to a spot, I was rewarded with enough power to put the ball past my opponent while maintaining a high level of accuracy and depth control. Serving was a breeze too...just focus on whatever you want--spin, power, direction--and you're rewarded. When I dropped the tension to 55/51 from 62/58, I still experienced these qualities but with a bit too much power for me. I did not like the lower tension as much, but I do think that I could get used to it because the gut gave such a clean and consistent response from the stringbed.
Feel (Stiff? Mushy? Muted? Crisp? Comfortable?): Very comfortable stringbed. This is important to me as a teaching professional who still plays 4-5 days a week. I'm hitting at such a high volume that my arm will get sore with the full poly setup on occasion--not so bad that I can't play but enough that I've got mild discomfort. This was never the case, even at the higher tension. The response from the stringbed was crisp and even. Even off center hits felt forgiving enough, and I especially enjoyed this setup in doubles where I hit more volleys and have less time to set up, both with higher and lower tension. Touch and angled shots were responsive, and I even hit some fun defensive lobs that are tougher to come up with while using a full poly stringbed.
Spin: Spin was there when I wanted it but not in the spades I had hoped. I usually find this with gut mains. I get enough spin from it to keep the ball in, especially after the strings break in and drop a little tension. I can generate more spin from my full poly, but I think that's a byproduct of having to swing harder. So, it's not that spin wasn't there, but the power made it tough to load a hard-hit ball with spin. Just something to adjust to. This was significantly more difficult to adjust to with the lower tension, but I got more spin when I dropped lower, so doubles points were more fun. It was just tougher to keep the ball in for singles play.
Durability: Better than expected. Some of this my be due to not needing to swing so hard at every ball and playing more doubles than singles, but I got 3-4 hours from each stringjob which is about the same as I get with my usual setup. Tension at both the higher and lower ends held well, and I didn't notice any drop in playability. Once I was through the coating, the mains went on me quickly. I would assume that in a full bed or crossed with something like Head Velocity or Babolat Origin, this gut would last a long time for the player it suits.
Playability Duration: I did not notice any change beyond the initial tension drop after the first hit. The higher tension I used felt just slightly boardy for the first 20 minutes or so, but then settled in to a buttery level and stayed there until breakage.
Tension Recommendations (would you string it differently next time - why): I preferred the 62/58 combo, and I think this is because my Clash 100 has such a high launch angle and power level. I would maybe change the cross to something a little stiffer than Element, like RPM Blast, ALU Power, or Head Hawk but keep the tension the same. In a smaller racquet--I still pull out the IG Prestige MP and Pro from time to time, I would use a lower tension to bring out the control and feel of those racquets more. I liked what 55/51 brought to my game in terms of feel and oodles of easy power, but I couldn't adjust enough in such a short time frame to play effective singles with it.
List any additional thoughts (optional): Thanks so much to TW for treating me to this playtest. I string gut from just about every major brand for our members and use it for myself on occasion. The KLIP Legend has been just as good, if not better, an experience as Luxilon, Wilson, and Babolat natural gut for me. The playability and comfort surpass my current polyester setup, and if I was able to afford and decided to play with Natural Gut mains, KLIP would be at the top of my list!
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
I hate how this wasn't obvious.
I’ve recently started having elbow pain, so I’m reevaluating my setup. I was previously playing with a PS one7 with full beds of soft polys at 48lbs. I sold the PS’s and decided to switch to the vcore 97 310.
Now I’m trying to figure out what to string it up with. I bought both 16g and 17g Klip a couple weeks ago. I’m thinking of starting off with a full bed with the 17g for now until my elbow is completely healed. Can anyone help recommend a tension to start with? I’m thinking maybe ~58lbs, but really just guessing since I have never played with gut.
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Now I’m trying to figure out what to string it up with. I bought both 16g and 17g Klip a couple weeks ago. I’m thinking of starting off with a full bed with the 17g for now until my elbow is completely healed. Can anyone help recommend a tension to start with? I’m thinking maybe ~58lbs, but really just guessing since I have never played with gut.
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2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
For FB I would 58 is about perfect. (Klip is crisper than bab)
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Thanks, that’s what I went with, just got done stringing it up...my first time stringing gut. I took my time, the only adjustment I had to make was the gripper on my Neos machine was crushing the string. Had to make a few adjustments to get it just right, never really noticed this happening before with other types of strings. Hopefully it didn’t damage it enough to cause it to break prematurely [emoji52]
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2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
A long term follow up on legend: physical durability of the string has been very good for me, but oddly, tension maintenance has been disappointing.
Just restrung a frame with legend/poly, but this time did a manual prestretch on the gut and reduced the install tension by 1 lb. (55/53)
Early results felt marvelous! No break in period at all. Also a good initial forehand hitting period only knocked .3 lbs off the tension, which suggests stronger tension hold than my previous non-prestretch jobs.
Just restrung a frame with legend/poly, but this time did a manual prestretch on the gut and reduced the install tension by 1 lb. (55/53)
Early results felt marvelous! No break in period at all. Also a good initial forehand hitting period only knocked .3 lbs off the tension, which suggests stronger tension hold than my previous non-prestretch jobs.
