Best multi for a poly player

I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
I've got a bit of a wrist issue at the moment. It started because I've been trying to add an extra bit of racquet head drop on my forehand takeback so that with the same swingpath, I can get more topspin. The problem has been that I've been late on contact a few times and haven't gotten the racquet back to parallel. Instead, I've mis-hit the ball with my wrist still bent and I've got a compression type injury to the outside (looking at it with my palms facing down). Unfortunately, I've got a tournament coming up and will probably irritate it more even if I lose first round. Afterwards, I'm going to use a soft string for rehab as I continue to work on this technique.

I don't have a lot of experience with the current multifilament offerings. My priority would be similar launch angle, low powered, and comfort, in about that order. I figure if I can get something like that, I can play with it for some good length of time to fully heal. Spin capability isn't that important, and neither is durability. Suggestions for what to use? I've heard good things about NXT and Velocity. Anything else I should consider?
 
S

Silverbuns

New User
Head RIP control is nice and muted, good spin capability. Head Velocity is a little crisper while still being low powered. Can't go wrong with NXT either, super comfortable. All 3 are fantastic options.
 
I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
Thanks for all of the suggestions! It's very appreciated but it did make me think to go see if I had any in my stash of strings. I have the following:

PSGD 16 gauge
Dunlop Max Comfort
Prince Premier with Softflex 17
Babolap Xcel
Dunlop Comfort Pro
Dunlop Silk Pro

Would any of these do or should I order Velocity/NXT/RIP control and maybe PSGD 15?
 
2nd Serve Ace

2nd Serve Ace

Hall of Fame
Injured Again said:
Thanks for all of the suggestions! It's very appreciated but it did make me think to go see if I had any in my stash of strings. I have the following:

PSGD 16 gauge
Dunlop Max Comfort
Prince Premier with Softflex 17
Babolap Xcel
Dunlop Comfort Pro
Dunlop Silk Pro

Would any of these do or should I order Velocity/NXT/RIP control and maybe PSGD 15?
Click to expand...
I would work with the PSGD 16 around 60.
 
S

Soznie

New User
I really like NXT Power. It's not a nat gut, but it's very close in terms of feel, IMO. Usually string it around #56 LBS just to provide a tad more control than my usual poly.
 
c-had

c-had

Rookie
I'm interested in this as well. I've got a minor hand injury, and was thinking about trying multi for the first time in many years. Something softer, but still feeling/playing closer to poly than most multis. I have a pack of Head Rip Control 16 laying around, which multiple folks have already recommended, so I figure I'll give that a try.

I currently play full bed Solinco Revolution 17 at 49 pounds. What tension would you recommend I use for Rip Control? I was thinking maybe 55?
 
Lozannois

Lozannois

Rookie
2nd Serve Ace said:
Sounds like what you want is velocity black. Has that low powered, muted response of poly but at the same time isn't harsh and buzzy the way poly can be.
Click to expand...
Hi, do you know if Velocity natural color is different ? The 1.25 version plays better on a 18x20 pattern right ? Thank you

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B

blai212

Hall of Fame
i use volkl cyclone tour 16g mains/SPPP 17L crosses at 42/40 in my VCP 100 and it honestly feels softer than gut poly hybrid that I have in my other racquets...the only thing is VCT feels quite a bit heavier than tourna s7t or gut, so it will feel like leaded up gut. I think gut/poly is better overall value in terms of performance and longevity than multi but if you have your heart set on multi, prince premier touch is as close to gut as it gets in terms of softness. I also noticed that it has a slight texture to it which provides ever so slight grip/bite on the ball. I just hate how the outer coating of multi wears out after the first few hours and then it sucks. I especially hate the fraying which produces inconsistent response from string bed. VCT is the answer!!! but id only use it in mains with SPPP as hybrid because it is hella heavy


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I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
c-had said:
I'm interested in this as well. I've got a minor hand injury, and was thinking about trying multi for the first time in many years. Something softer, but still feeling/playing closer to poly than most multis. I have a pack of Head Rip Control 16 laying around, which multiple folks have already recommended, so I figure I'll give that a try.

I currently play full bed Solinco Revolution 17 at 49 pounds. What tension would you recommend I use for Rip Control? I was thinking maybe 55?
Click to expand...

My intention was to go +10%. I've done this for people I string for and they have been generally happy with the results. It will probably take some adjustment from there but the +10% will at least be in the close ballpark. You going to 55 pounds sounds spot on.

Let me know how Rip Control works for you.
 
brownbearfalling

brownbearfalling

Hall of Fame
Try a hybrid set up first either poly mains x multi cross or reverse. Or substitute multi with syn gut. Then syngut full bed. After that multi full bed.

I have to mention that don’t disregard RICE treatment. And also make sure your grip or grip layers are fresh. The base grip of the racquet plays a role in vibration dampening. If your grip or over grip is slippery you are over stressing your hand and forearm to hold on potentially causing injury.
 
Yoneyama

Yoneyama

Hall of Fame
Caol-ila said:
I have been using Head Velocity for a while, but stopped when I discovered Gosen AK PRO CX. I think it is not exactly a multi, but I think it provides what Injured Again is looking for.
Click to expand...

I've been advocating that string for ages now. It's advertised as a syn gut but it plays absolutely amazingly. My favourite string setup is Natty Gut/Poly cross, followed closely by full bed AK Pro CX for inclement weather. Been meaning to try AK Pro CX/Poly hybrid for a couple months now just have not had time.
 
Caol-ila

Caol-ila

Rookie
I have been playing nat gut for a while, but it was definitely too sensitive to humidity and maybe even heat. Even during the same session it changed its behaviour. In winter I play indoors with a heating air flow that pushes a lot of humidity on the court. I cannot change my gamestyle according to the heating system!
 
Lozannois

Lozannois

Rookie
Caol-ila said:
I have been using Head Velocity for a while, but stopped when I discovered Gosen AK PRO CX. I think it is not exactly a multi, but I think it provides what Injured Again is looking for.
Click to expand...
Hi, Why you find gosen better than Velocity ? What about gosen ak control ? Thank you

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C

Christoforos Giatzakis

Rookie
Some very good suggestions already.
IMO velocity or rip control or premier control would be perfect for what you would like to do. All these are low powered, very comfy compared to poly with good spin. I would use a tension differential (maybe 4lbs) to increase the launch angle a bit. I would string velocity and ppc 2-3 lbs over bhs7t but rip control (especially if you use the 16g) at same tension as bhs7t (this must be the lowest powered multi ever).
 
junior74

junior74

Talk Tennis Guru
Injured Again said:
I've got a bit of a wrist issue at the moment. It started because I've been trying to add an extra bit of racquet head drop on my forehand takeback so that with the same swingpath, I can get more topspin. The problem has been that I've been late on contact a few times and haven't gotten the racquet back to parallel. Instead, I've mis-hit the ball with my wrist still bent and I've got a compression type injury to the outside (looking at it with my palms facing down). Unfortunately, I've got a tournament coming up and will probably irritate it more even if I lose first round. Afterwards, I'm going to use a soft string for rehab as I continue to work on this technique.

I don't have a lot of experience with the current multifilament offerings. My priority would be similar launch angle, low powered, and comfort, in about that order. I figure if I can get something like that, I can play with it for some good length of time to fully heal. Spin capability isn't that important, and neither is durability. Suggestions for what to use? I've heard good things about NXT and Velocity. Anything else I should consider?
Click to expand...

I would recommend NXT Control or RIP Control.
 
2nd Serve Ace

2nd Serve Ace

Hall of Fame
Lozannois said:
Hi, do you know if Velocity natural color is different ? The 1.25 version plays better on a 18x20 pattern right ? Thank you

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Click to expand...
Do think 1.25 would work great in an 18x20.

V natural is fine slightly softer feel. I just like that dead poly like feel that black has.
There are more colors available now but I haven't used um.
 
g4driver

g4driver

Legend

Mikeler's Multis

See post #2 for more info about my game and a few other string thoughts. The reference standard that all multis aspire to (but not necessarily my favorite string): Wilson Natural Gut 16 1. Discho Microfibre 16 or Signum Pro Micronite 16 2. Babolat XCel Premium 16 2A. Prince Premiere Attack...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com

personally, not a fan of Babolat Excel as Excel is the "gummiest" of any multi I have ever used. Tecnifibre X1 Bi-Phase was my favorite multi of all time but it got crazy expensive by the reel. Tecnifibre HDX Tour lasts slightly longer due to the poly fibers, but Mikeler's Multis is a great read on multi strings even you don't like some of his top choices. Haven't used multis since 2012 other than playtesting HDX Tour and Wilson NXT Control, and hitting a few hours with Velocity before stocking it.
 
badmice2

badmice2

Professional
NRG was my go to as i think it lasts a little longer than Biphase and NXT. It does play slightly more mute IMO. Biphase played more crisp. NXT played somewhere in between them.

Though I think it would make more sense to go down the path of synthetic guts before trying multi. I think you may find that mutli drop off with play-ability (mushy) may go faster than SG. Other approach is to string hybrid using multi/SG as main and poly as cross; which may give you a softer feel without loosing too much control if you're accustom to ploy.
 
Caol-ila

Caol-ila

Rookie
Lozannois said:
Hi, Why you find gosen better than Velocity ? What about gosen ak control ? Thank you
Click to expand...

I feel that Gosen string is better than Velocity for my game and arm sensibility. It seems more spin-friendly, even if I am not much of a topspin player. However I slice alot and backspin is my cup of tea.

AK Control is more rigid, I played just once and did not like it. It could be even more spin friendly than AK PRO CX.
 
SteveI

SteveI

Legend
Injured Again said:
My intention was to go +10%. I've done this for people I string for and they have been generally happy with the results. It will probably take some adjustment from there but the +10% will at least be in the close ballpark. You going to 55 pounds sounds spot on.

Let me know how Rip Control works for you.
Click to expand...

Rip Control is also a great option. I used to break the 17G so I needed to use the 16G. Isospeed Classic is also a great one..

ISOSPEED Control Classic 16/1.30 String | Tennis Warehouse

www.tennis-warehouse.com www.tennis-warehouse.com

"
Comments: This string is flawless. In other words perfect or without mistakes. Agree with Keith from 06/10 -- the Isospeed Control combines the playability of a multi with the control and spin of a Poly. Strung in the Donnay XRed 99 at 59 lbs.
From: Joe, 4/16
 
AceyMan

AceyMan

Professional
I'll be the first one to mention Tecnifibre Multifeel.

As a single core [edit:triple core?] multi it's firmer, at any given tension, than TFs all stranded stuff (NRG², Bi-phase), and cheaper, too. I'd say it's comparable to Prince Premier Control, but I think it plays better.

Gamma's TNT² also has a big single core and might be worth checking out, but I haven't played it in a full bed to say much more about it.

/Acey
 
Last edited:
c-had

c-had

Rookie
Injured Again said:
My intention was to go +10%. I've done this for people I string for and they have been generally happy with the results. It will probably take some adjustment from there but the +10% will at least be in the close ballpark. You going to 55 pounds sounds spot on.

Let me know how Rip Control works for you.
Click to expand...

So, yesterday I strung up my Prince Textreme Tour 100P (2015) with Rip Control 16 at 55 pounds. I played last night with it. This was my first time playing a multi in years (last time was a demo 4 years ago).

The good
It definitely feels a lot softer than poly. It also was not too bad for control and spin. I didn't feel like balls were flying on me, and I was getting a good dip on the ball. This was non-competitive doubles, so I decided to hit all my returns at the net man for a couple games to see how well I could dip the ball below the net, and I was getting very good dip. Actually won almost all of those points, much to the chagrin of the opposing net man. Overall, I played fine with it.

The bad
Wow, multi feels different than poly. I really don't get the ball pocketing sensation I'm used to. I struggled with feel because of this, particularly at net. I'm sure I'd get used to it (and might eventually prefer the feel as many folks do), but for now it just feels so different.

As to helping my hurting hand... I dunno. For the first 45 minutes, my hand was feeling OK and I thought maybe this was a good solution. Then I framed a volley, sending shooting pains through my hand. For the rest of the time, my hand hurt just like it's been hurting with poly. Not debilitating, but I could definitely feel it. Of course, I can't blame the strings for pain when I didn't even manage to hit the strings, but it goes to show that softer strings may not solve the problem if I can't hit my shots cleanly. And I'm never going to play for a couple hours without at least a few mishits, so I'm not sure where that leaves me.
 
I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
@c-had That's kind of my worry as well. I did hit for a few minutes with a gut/poly hybrid a week or two ago and I just don't know how I could cope with that much elasticity. The ball just gets **flung** from the stringbed with little pocketing feel. This was on an RF97, strung upper-50's with gut mains and about 50 with some smooth poly cross.

My problem started when I tried to increase my wrist layback and to drop the racquet head as part of my forehand takeback, which definitely gives me an increase in topspin with the same swingpath for my hand. With the gut/poly hybrid, I just didn't feel like I could control the extra ballspeed without exaggerating the layback and racquet head drop, which then exacerbates my wrist issue if I didn't catch it clean.

And you're right - there's still a fair amount of shock on any mis-hit. Definitely better than with a full poly stringbed but definitely also still there at levels that can further worsen an existing injury.

I think it's still worth a try on my own racquet but I'm now less hopeful this is going to be the miracle cure that will let me continue to play while things heal.
 
B

blai212

Hall of Fame
VCT 1.30mm 16g mains with SPPP/silverstring thinnest possible gauge as cross, feels SOFTER/BETTER than gut poly. All the spin of a twisted poly plus comfort of nat gut and amazing pocketing feeling. Props to @g4driver for VCT, all hail the GOAT


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I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
@blai212 I will give this a try if using a full bed of some multi doesn't work. I just worry that if I use anything but a really soft stringbed that I'll be dragging out the recovery and possibly make it chronic. I'm almost wondering if I shouldn't just stop playing all together to let it fully heal, but I really like the extra spin I get by accentuating the racquet head drop on the take back. So if I stop playing to let it heal, then try to use this same technique which injured my healthy wrist in the first place, what's to prevent me from just hurting it again?

Seems like I either have to accept the fact that I'm 58 and not do this, or spend some period of time to get used to an entirely different stringbed feel and response that may ultimately negate some of the advantage I get from doing this. How in the heck am I supposed to know what's better for someone my age?
 
BlueB

BlueB

Legend
The old Technifibre X-Code, if you can find some. It is actually made out of poly micro filaments, coated in some rubbery outer skin. However, you have to cross it with a real smooth poly, otherwise it won't snap back.

Rip Control is also poly-like.

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B

blai212

Hall of Fame
Injured Again said:
@blai212 I will give this a try if using a full bed of some multi doesn't work. I just worry that if I use anything but a really soft stringbed that I'll be dragging out the recovery and possibly make it chronic. I'm almost wondering if I shouldn't just stop playing all together to let it fully heal, but I really like the extra spin I get by accentuating the racquet head drop on the take back. So if I stop playing to let it heal, then try to use this same technique which injured my healthy wrist in the first place, what's to prevent me from just hurting it again?

Seems like I either have to accept the fact that I'm 58 and not do this, or spend some period of time to get used to an entirely different stringbed feel and response that may ultimately negate some of the advantage I get from doing this. How in the heck am I supposed to know what's better for someone my age?
Click to expand...

u might be overstraining your wrist with the accentuated wrist drop...it could be the racquet. I believe you use the blade SW104 which is an extra inch longer? swingweight has got to be pretty high for that and just fyi, VCT is a very soft poly but it feels like leaded up natural gut so it will make your racquet feel considerably heavier


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Happi

Happi

Hall of Fame
Injured Again said:
@blai212 I will give this a try if using a full bed of some multi doesn't work. I just worry that if I use anything but a really soft stringbed that I'll be dragging out the recovery and possibly make it chronic. I'm almost wondering if I shouldn't just stop playing all together to let it fully heal, but I really like the extra spin I get by accentuating the racquet head drop on the take back. So if I stop playing to let it heal, then try to use this same technique which injured my healthy wrist in the first place, what's to prevent me from just hurting it again?

Seems like I either have to accept the fact that I'm 58 and not do this, or spend some period of time to get used to an entirely different stringbed feel and response that may ultimately negate some of the advantage I get from doing this. How in the heck am I supposed to know what's better for someone my age?
Click to expand...

@Injured Again I have been following your comment on the BHS7T and that got me into thas string, and I really liked it, so thanks and I will give you this back:

Before I played with multi strings and have a lot of experience with these, I you are looking for arm safety nothing beats Isospeed Professional Classic 17, it one of the only strings beside Nat Gut that does not increase in stiffness the harder you string it, so you can string it at high tension for control and still have a soft string. Check TWU database and you will see.

Strings does not move (the best of any multi I have tried, and I guess I tried almost every big brand multi string), soft, holds tension very well (after a big initial tension loss in the first 24h then the tension stabilities), works well in hybrid (I use it as a cross string for Gut and strig at high tension).

Get will soon.
 
B

blai212

Hall of Fame
Happi said:
@Injured Again I have been following your comment on the BHS7T and that got me into thas string, and I really liked it, so thanks and I will give you this back:

Before I played with multi strings and have a lot of experience with these, I you are looking for arm safety nothing beats Isospeed Professional Classic 17, it one of the only strings beside Nat Gut that does not increase in stiffness the harder you string it, so you can string it at high tension for control and still have a soft string. Check TWU database and you will see.

Strings does not move (the best of any multi I have tried, and I guess I tried almost every big brand multi string), soft, holds tension very well (after a big initial tension loss in the first 24h then the tension stabilities), works well in hybrid (I use it as a cross string for Gut and strig at high tension).

Get will soon.
Click to expand...

whats the difference between professional classic and professional?


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I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
Muppet said:
Wrist strap
Click to expand...

I have two different level 2 wrist braces and they don't help. There is some sort of compression injury to the soft tissue on the pinkie side of my wrist right where it bends. If I do any kind of racquet head drop and catch the ball less than perfectly clean without getting the racquet back to parallel, my hand goes weak so some nerve involvement too. The problem now is that hitting shoulder high balls hurt even if I try to hit flat through them. Since that's a primary weapon, it's an issue.

I fell and dislocated this wrist when I was around ten years old. There was a bone chip that didn't get diagnosed properly and when they reset it and put my arm in a cast, the bone chip prevented the wrist bones from being in the correct position. Technically, my wrist is still "dislocated" because the bones aren't in the correct position. I was thinking of having this fixed some years ago but wasn't having problems with it then. Shoulda, coulda.....
 
I

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
blai212 said:
u might be overstraining your wrist with the accentuated wrist drop...it could be the racquet. I believe you use the blade SW104 which is an extra inch longer? swingweight has got to be pretty high for that and just fyi, VCT is a very soft poly but it feels like leaded up natural gut so it will make your racquet feel considerably heavier
Click to expand...

I'm actually okay with a higher swingweight. Up until a few months ago, I played with four to six grams of weight at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions before taking that weight off to give myself a better chance to make clean contact when on the hard move. You're right - I'm using an SW104 but if the multi experiment doesn't work, I'll give the VCT hybrid a try.

Do you know how long the single packs of VCT are? I need it to be at least 39 feet or I can't cut it in half and get two sets of mains out of it. The 18X19 pattern in the 104 square inch frame requires 19'6" and a starting clamp to bridge the ends so I can pull tension on the last mains. Without using a starting clamp, I need 20'6" and no single packs of string are 41 feet.
 
Muppet

Muppet

Legend
Injured Again said:
I have two different level 2 wrist braces and they don't help. There is some sort of compression injury to the soft tissue on the pinkie side of my wrist right where it bends. If I do any kind of racquet head drop and catch the ball less than perfectly clean without getting the racquet back to parallel, my hand goes weak so some nerve involvement too. The problem now is that hitting shoulder high balls hurt even if I try to hit flat through them. Since that's a primary weapon, it's an issue.

I fell and dislocated this wrist when I was around ten years old. There was a bone chip that didn't get diagnosed properly and when they reset it and put my arm in a cast, the bone chip prevented the wrist bones from being in the correct position. Technically, my wrist is still "dislocated" because the bones aren't in the correct position. I was thinking of having this fixed some years ago but wasn't having problems with it then. Shoulda, coulda.....
Click to expand...
Another idea:

I sometimes get the same pain in the outer crook of my right, fh side wrist. When that's happening it's because I am pulling the racquet back with my hand during preparation rather than with the unit turn of my whole torso. Then let gravity drop the racquet. Don't try to over control things with your hands. The fact that you're using higher swing weight makes me think that you may be compensating in this way. You may have to get your feet moving a little faster.
 
speedysteve

speedysteve

Legend
Another rec for Head Rip Control.
I put Prince Premier Touch (also multi) in the crosses for more spin and pop.
Very comfortable set up for me..
Can crunch heavy wet winter balls no problem.

Isospeed Professional Classic 17 sounds interesting.
Might give that a go, as a hybrid first, in one racquet.
Would you recommend it as a main or cross in the first hand?
 
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