HELP! Need String That Doesn't Lose Tension

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ThatWasIn!

New User
I'm trying to find a string that can provide control and doesn't lose tension. I'm currently playing with a Dunlop CX 200 tour 18x20 racket and take massive swings at the ball. My serve is around 125mph and have a huge forward with lots of spin. I"m trying to find a spin/control string that will hold tension longer than 2 hours. Was using ALU BB Rough mains with Prince 15L synthetic gut crosses strung at 59 mains/61 crosses but noticed tension dropping so fast. Just switched to Lux 4G Rough mains to help with tension loss with Prince 15L crosses strung at 62/64. It's absolutely amazing for the first day/3 or 4 sets. It feels almost impossible to miss long and I can take huge cuts at the ball with total control. But after a day or two, even without playing, if I try to take the exact same swing I'll be hitting the back wall. It gets so bad I have trouble keeping slices from going long. I do not need the string to provide any power but love strings that help with spin which is why I started with polys. Just can't afford to be stringing rackets after every match because of tension loss.

I've tried Klip Natural Gut but even at 65 it had too much power and was more difficult to generate spin although it did hold it's tension well. Thinking about trying Technifiber NRG2 but the string description makes it sound like it's better at lower tension. Any ideas? Open to try anything.
 
J

JamesV

Rookie
ThatWasIn! said:
I'm trying to find a string that can provide control and doesn't lose tension. I'm currently playing with a Dunlop CX 200 tour 18x20 racket and take massive swings at the ball. My serve is around 125mph and have a huge forward with lots of spin. I"m trying to find a spin/control string that will hold tension longer than 2 hours. Was using ALU BB Rough mains with Prince 15L synthetic gut crosses strung at 59 mains/61 crosses but noticed tension dropping so fast. Just switched to Lux 4G Rough mains to help with tension loss with Prince 15L crosses strung at 62/64. It's absolutely amazing for the first day/3 or 4 sets. It feels almost impossible to miss long and I can take huge cuts at the ball with total control. But after a day or two, even without playing, if I try to take the exact same swing I'll be hitting the back wall. It gets so bad I have trouble keeping slices from going long. I do not need the string to provide any power but love strings that help with spin which is why I started with polys. Just can't afford to be stringing rackets after every match because of tension loss.

I've tried Klip Natural Gut but even at 65 it had too much power and was more difficult to generate spin although it did hold it's tension well. Thinking about trying Technifiber NRG2 but the string description makes it sound like it's better at lower tension. Any ideas? Open to try anything.
Click to expand...
Try Genesis Hexonic. It's a solid control string and has a hex shape that helps spin. Also, it's a good price/performance value, so it won't break the bank. This particular string, and Genesis strings in general, don't get much marketing push, but they do the job at a good price. Give 'em a try. You may have to experiment with different gauges. I like 16L, but your mileage may vary.
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
Read the Kevlar/ZX thread. That may be the only combo hybrid that has a chance. You definitely need to prestretch both manually tho the differential between mains & crosses can be as low as 15#. I am referring to the Ashaway Crossfire ZX 17 pack.
 
T

ThatWasIn!

New User
esgee48 said:
Read the Kevlar/ZX thread. That may be the only combo hybrid that has a chance. You definitely need to prestretch both manually tho the differential between mains & crosses can be as low as 15#. I am referring to the Ashaway Crossfire ZX 17 pack.
Click to expand...
I have never tried kevlar but open to anything. Would I string at the same tension as poly or go lower?
 
dr. godmode

dr. godmode

Hall of Fame
ThatWasIn! said:
I have never tried kevlar but open to anything. Would I string at the same tension as poly or go lower?
Click to expand...
Read the thread on it. A lot of crazy tensions from 90/40 to 86/86lbs. It's up to you how you want to approach it, I wouldn't string kev too loose as it becomes all saggy.
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
The J-man has learned to live with short string life. That's why he has so many frames, not as many as you, but very many of the same model. He went on a journey of trying Kevlar mains and those strings collapsed the frames he was currently using. He is back to full poly. for some time now. 8-B
 
B

blai212

Hall of Fame
signum pro poly plasma has great tension maintenance with nice soft feel/response


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
L

LocNetMonster

Professional
ThatWasIn! said:
I'm trying to find a string that can provide control and doesn't lose tension.
Any ideas? Open to try anything.
Click to expand...

Try Prince XC 15 Tour or XC 15G Experimental as the cross string and whatever flavor of main string that you want in 16 or 17g. XC is as durable as Kevlar, the super slick surface provides above average snapback and even at high tensions it seems it takes weeks for the tension to drop noticeably.
 
2

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
dr. godmode said:
Read the thread on it. A lot of crazy tensions from 90/40 to 86/86lbs. It's up to you how you want to approach it, I wouldn't string kev too loose as it becomes all saggy.
Click to expand...

This is true, you need to prestretch it or pull it multiple times and not a normal prestretch, I've found it best to string up the mains, don't cut off the strings and let it sit for a day or 2. Then undo the strings and string it again. Very extreme but otherwise it gets super saggy imo, anyone who uses kevlar and then cuts out the cross and feel the kevlar feels like it's strung at 20lbs after a few weeks. Just my experience
 
G

Goodman

New User
My main string over the last year has been a full bed of NRG2. I string it very tight and find it holds tension well. At this moment, I plan to keep using it!
 
N

NLBwell

Legend
Kevlar mains - Gut crosses
You play much like I do (or did). Kevlar will give you more control than anything else. The gut will give you some comfort and spin will be decent. The kevlar will lose tension, but since it is so stiff that won't make much difference in the playability. You could go to a full kevlar bed, but that would be very uncomfortable.
 
brownbearfalling

brownbearfalling

Hall of Fame
Another vote for Kevlar. Makes sure it’s pure Kevlar. Ashaway Kevlar is the best I’ve seen. I’ve always strung Kevlar mains/ syngut crosses for customers and it seems to work well.
 
B

Big Bagel

Professional
Your problem is not with the strings. You are using a very low-powered racquet with very low-powered strings at very tight tensions. I think you need to work on your technique. 4G is already one of the lowest powered strings. If you're intent on fixing your problem with just strings, I really think your best bet is to go Kevlar. I rarely recommend Kevlar because it's very stiff and harsh, but that might be your best bet. Either that, or go full-bed poly with luxilon 4G or Kirschbaum Max Power (both strings have rough options if you prefer) and you can pre-stretch by hand to minimize tension loss.
 
WestboroChe

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
Big Bagel said:
Your problem is not with the strings. You are using a very low-powered racquet with very low-powered strings at very tight tensions. I think you need to work on your technique. 4G is already one of the lowest powered strings. If you're intent on fixing your problem with just strings, I really think your best bet is to go Kevlar. I rarely recommend Kevlar because it's very stiff and harsh, but that might be your best bet. Either that, or go full-bed poly with luxilon 4G or Kirschbaum Max Power (both strings have rough options if you prefer) and you can pre-stretch by hand to minimize tension loss.
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Perhaps. But he may need to resign himself to frequent restringing. If he serves and plays as he says that’s pretty close to tour level no? I would guess about about 2 hours of match play is what the OP can expect to get out of anything. Except maybe Kevlar but I’ve never tried that stuff and won’t and I think there’s a reason it’s not popular with the pros.
 
T

ThatWasIn!

New User
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I've ordered Ashaway Crossfire ZX Tour 16L to try Kevlar and Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 16 with NRG2 crosses. One thing I've never done is pre-stretch strings. Curious how big of a difference that will make with tension loss but possible that could solve my problem so I can stick with poly.
 
B

Big Bagel

Professional
WestboroChe said:
Perhaps. But he may need to resign himself to frequent restringing. If he serves and plays as he says that’s pretty close to tour level no? I would guess about about 2 hours of match play is what the OP can expect to get out of anything. Except maybe Kevlar but I’ve never tried that stuff and won’t and I think there’s a reason it’s not popular with the pros.
Click to expand...
No, that's not close to tour level. He should be able to get 6-12 hours out of a set of poly. 4G should give him on the long side of that range, not below that range.
 
WestboroChe

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
Big Bagel said:
No, that's not close to tour level. He should be able to get 6-12 hours out of a set of poly. 4G should give him on the long side of that range, not below that range.
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Well maybe ITF tour. But you’re right. Huge cuts is an indicator you’re not hitting the ball right. However if you’re the kind of player who consistently is hitting and returning 125 mph serves your strings will not be long for match play.
 
T

timgus88

New User
Signum Poly Pro Plasma. Also Kirschbaun Pro Line Evolution lasts a while too. Kirshbaum strings are factory pre-stretched so they tend to have longer playability.
 
B

blai212

Hall of Fame
ThatWasIn! said:
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I've ordered Ashaway Crossfire ZX Tour 16L to try Kevlar and Tourna Big Hitter Silver 7 Tour 16 with NRG2 crosses. One thing I've never done is pre-stretch strings. Curious how big of a difference that will make with tension loss but possible that could solve my problem so I can stick with poly.
Click to expand...

i would stay away from nonpoly crosses...outer coating wears off after only a couple hours and then either a.) cross strings start getting chewed up by the mains constantly sliding over it or b.) stringbed locks up because friction is so high between mains and crosses. Do yourself and your wallet a favor and use low cost high quality poly as cross such as SPPP


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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