Natural Gut Owners Unite!

Djokovicfan4life

Djokovicfan4life

Legend
Well, I strung my Fischer M pro no. 1 with natural gut and I'm NEVER going back to anything else. :)

Technifibre X-1 Biphase is a close second but nothing compares to the feel of gut IMO.

If you are a believer in the awesomeness that is natural gut, post here.
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
Can't get this song out of my head all of a sudden, thanks to this thread's title.

Gut users "of the world...
hand it over, hand it over, hand it overrrr."

Trivia: title and artist? EDIT: WARNING...you might have to be a certain age to get it.
 
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J

jaykay

Professional
nickb said:
lol....I love the stuff too...I dont use it all the time (I use Luxilon) but cant help stringing some up for grass court play in the summer.

Nick
Click to expand...

Dang - I have to play on grass a few times before I die. I get super inspired to jump the pond each time I watch Wimby.

I was a VS Gut 17 mains / SPPP 1.18 crosses guy till I switched religions. I am now VS Gut 17 mains / Topspin Cyber Flash 1.25 crosses and I don't think I'll switch for a while. However, I think once I get my stringing machine (which should be very soon), I think I'll be replacing VS Gut with NRG2 17 (or occasionally X-One Biphase 17) since I am not very confident of handling gut on my own.

Nickb: How close do you think Biphase gets to gut? - tension retention, feel, playability? Also, how dramatically diff will NRG2 be? What should I expect?

Do share your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.
 
J

jaykay

Professional
slice bh compliment said:
Can't get this song out of my head all of a sudden, thanks to this thread's title.

Gut users "of the world...
hand it over, hand it over, hand it overrrr."

Trivia: title and artist? EDIT: WARNING...you might have to be a certain age to get it.
Click to expand...


oh maaan... I know that I am not young. Now you are telling me that I am not old enough because I can't crack your trivia question?

Slice - u crack me up... :)
 
Djokovicfan4life

Djokovicfan4life

Legend
slice bh compliment said:
Can't get this song out of my head all of a sudden, thanks to this thread's title.

Gut users "of the world...
hand it over, hand it over, hand it overrrr."

Trivia: title and artist? EDIT: WARNING...you might have to be a certain age to get it.
Click to expand...

Queen, "We are the champions"? (I don't know, I feel stupid now)
 
Djokovicfan4life

Djokovicfan4life

Legend
jaykay said:
Dang - I have to play on grass a few times before I die. I get super inspired to jump the pond each time I watch Wimby.

I was a VS Gut 17 mains / SPPP 1.18 crosses guy till I switched religions. I am now VS Gut 17 mains / Topspin Cyber Flash 1.25 crosses and I don't think I'll switch for a while. However, I think once I get my stringing machine (which should be very soon), I think I'll be replacing VS Gut with NRG2 17 (or occasionally X-One Biphase 17) since I am not very confident of handling gut on my own.

Nickb: How close do you think Biphase gets to gut? - tension retention, feel, playability? Also, how dramatically diff will NRG2 be? What should I expect?

Do share your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Don't know how close it comes to gut, but I had Biphase on my Nblade OS and it was amazing for a while, now it barely goes over the service line (I really need to get it restrung as a backup for my fischer).

It had excellent control and decent power as well, although the power could have been related to the OS racquet. The spin was just ridiculous for a 18X20 string pattern.

I still want to try natural gut on my Nblade though, maybe the cheaper Babolat Tonic since it will only be a backup.

The difference in racquets is just too much too compare it to my M Pro no. 1.
 
T

TonyB

Hall of Fame
I tried a ton of different strings on my Fischers when I was using them. I was very disappointed in every single string until I started using a natural gut/poly hybrid. The racquet completely came to life, as if it were DESIGNED to use gut.

Now that I use the RDS 001, I have noticed that it is less sensitive to string types, but it still plays well with the natural gut/poly hybrid. It's just not as dramatic of a difference as it was with the M-Speed.

I use Tonic+ mains and Weiscannon Silverstring crosses now. Great feel, power, touch, control, and spin. A very good hybrid.
 
nickb

nickb

Banned
jaykay said:
Dang - I have to play on grass a few times before I die. I get super inspired to jump the pond each time I watch Wimby.

I was a VS Gut 17 mains / SPPP 1.18 crosses guy till I switched religions. I am now VS Gut 17 mains / Topspin Cyber Flash 1.25 crosses and I don't think I'll switch for a while. However, I think once I get my stringing machine (which should be very soon), I think I'll be replacing VS Gut with NRG2 17 (or occasionally X-One Biphase 17) since I am not very confident of handling gut on my own.

Nickb: How close do you think Biphase gets to gut? - tension retention, feel, playability? Also, how dramatically diff will NRG2 be? What should I expect?

Do share your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Yeah I love grass...there are 2 clubs near me that have fantastic courts and both hold big tournaments on there...I love it!

I think Biphase comes close to gut as far as multis go but its still no where near really. The Biphase would be less durable. I think both X-One and NRG2 would snap really quick with poly in the crosses (and on their own). Dont be scared to string gut, just take your time and dont let the string kink...you will be fine.

Nick
 
Babb

Babb

Professional
nickb said:
I think Biphase comes close to gut as far as multis go but its still no where near really. The Biphase would be less durable. I think both X-One and NRG2 would snap really quick with poly in the crosses (and on their own). Dont be scared to string gut, just take your time and dont let the string kink...you will be fine.
Click to expand...
I had Biphase in the crosses with poly mains, and they didn't last nearly as long as with Gamma Professional in the crosses and poly in the mains...
 
J

jaykay

Professional
nickb said:
Yeah I love grass...there are 2 clubs near me that have fantastic courts and both hold big tournaments on there...I love it!

I think Biphase comes close to gut as far as multis go but its still no where near really. The Biphase would be less durable. I think both X-One and NRG2 would snap really quick with poly in the crosses (and on their own). Dont be scared to string gut, just take your time and dont let the string kink...you will be fine.

Nick
Click to expand...


I envy you. I JUST HAVE TO PLAY ON GRASS. 2 decades of hard court play in 3 diff countries has butchered my knees and I'm looking forward to clay now.

Why do you think X-One/NRG2 (in mains) will snap easily? I hardly snap my strings and cut them off when they don't feel good (!). Given that I'm not a frequent string-breaker, does your surmise on decreased durability of X-One/NRG2 in mains still hold good? If so, does the setup of X-One/NRG2 in mains and Cyber Flash 1.25 in crosses have something to do with it?

I'd be interested in your opinion in this matter. Do explain.

Thanks.
 
Rabbit

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
You should. You've heard clay is easier on the knees than hardcourts? As easy as clay is, there's a bigger difference between clay and grass. Grass rules for playing tennis.
 
nickb

nickb

Banned
jaykay said:
I envy you. I JUST HAVE TO PLAY ON GRASS. 2 decades of hard court play in 3 diff countries has butchered my knees and I'm looking forward to clay now.

Why do you think X-One/NRG2 (in mains) will snap easily? I hardly snap my strings and cut them off when they don't feel good (!). Given that I'm not a frequent string-breaker, does your surmise on decreased durability of X-One/NRG2 in mains still hold good? If so, does the setup of X-One/NRG2 in mains and Cyber Flash 1.25 in crosses have something to do with it?

I'd be interested in your opinion in this matter. Do explain.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Well if you never break strings then you should not have any trouble...but they are much less durable than natural gut. There will be a big drop in playability IMO...NRG2 does not hold tension well and X-1 has a rather long break in period/feels stiff then goes mushy. Your best bet is to try them but I think you will go back to gut.

Nick
 
J

jaykay

Professional
Rabbit said:
You should. You've heard clay is easier on the knees than hardcourts? As easy as clay is, there's a bigger difference between clay and grass. Grass rules for playing tennis.
Click to expand...

Yes, I have heard clay is easier on the knees than hard courts. Makes sense, too. Is that assumption incorrect?
 
J

jaykay

Professional
nickb said:
Well if you never break strings then you should not have any trouble...but they are much less durable than natural gut. There will be a big drop in playability IMO...NRG2 does not hold tension well and X-1 has a rather long break in period/feels stiff then goes mushy. Your best bet is to try them but I think you will go back to gut.

Nick
Click to expand...

I think so too. Sadly, I can't seem to find a viable alternative to gut for:
a) tension retention and continued playability
b) ease of stringing (from what I have heard)

If you have any suggestions with regard to nat gut alternatives, do let me know. I'll be sure to try Biphase as well as NRG2 in the mains.

Thnx.
 
nickb

nickb

Banned
The problem is there are no strings like gut...its either gut or something else that plays nothing like it.

If I could afford it I would take natural gut every time...but im a string breaker so its not an option for me.

Nick
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
jaykay said:
oh maaan... I know that I am not young. Now you are telling me that I am not old enough because I can't crack your trivia question?

Slice - u crack me up... :)
Click to expand...

Djokovicfan4life said:
Queen, "We are the champions"? (I don't know, I feel stupid now)
Click to expand...

Hahhaha, sorry guys. I just meant that the artist was primarily from the 80s and 90s (and has enjoyed a resurgence of late).
Another hint: receding hairline.
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
Close in that they are both from the UK, were with a band, then had successful solo careers.

Not close in that Phil Collins is about fifty times as wealthy. Maybe a hundred.

Another hint: probably not hetero. If he played tennis, he'd appreciate gut, even though he doesn't have a large one yet.
 
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C

cpmoran

Rookie
Clay is much easier on my knees. Mainly because when I change directions on I clay I slide. I just strung up my M pro #1 today with vs team and hurricane today. Cant wait to try :)


jaykay said:
Yes, I have heard clay is easier on the knees than hard courts. Makes sense, too. Is that assumption incorrect?
Click to expand...
 
YULitle

YULitle

Hall of Fame
slice bh compliment said:
Close in that they are both from the UK, were with a band, then had successful solo careers.

Not close in that Phil Collins is about fifty times as wealthy. Maybe a hundred.

Another hint: probably not hetero. If he played tennis, he'd appreciate gut, even though he doesn't have a large one yet.
Click to expand...

OH! I know it now. Though I cheated. :oops: :oops:

:D
 
J

jaykay

Professional
YULitle said:
OH! I know it now. Though I cheated. :oops: :oops:

:D
Click to expand...

WHAT? Who is it? And even if I guess right, I cannot for the life of me guess the song? Dang... and I thought I was a fairly decent quizzer...

I'm humbled. Quick - tell me the answer...
 
Djokovicfan4life

Djokovicfan4life

Legend
cpmoran said:
Clay is much easier on my knees. Mainly because when I change directions on I clay I slide. I just strung up my M pro #1 today with vs team and hurricane today. Cant wait to try :)
Click to expand...

You'll love it dude, the ball just explodes off your strings.

Nice to see a fellow M pro #1 user. :)
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
jaykay said:
WHAT? Who is it? And even if I guess right, I cannot for the life of me guess the song? Dang... and I thought I was a fairly decent quizzer...

I'm humbled. Quick - tell me the answer...
Click to expand...

Last hint: the song has 'shoplifters' in the title. And it is by a band from England with a charismatic frontman and a talented guitarist named Johnny.
 
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Valjean

Valjean

Hall of Fame
jaykay said:
I think so too. Sadly, I can't seem to find a viable alternative to gut for:
a) tension retention and continued playability
b) ease of stringing (from what I have heard)

If you have any suggestions with regard to nat gut alternatives, do let me know.....
Click to expand...
Try Wilson's new one out, K-Gut *Pro* too; you'll find NRG2 and X-1 have been very much superceded....
 
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S

Stephencl

New User
The smiths.....Shoplifters of the world....

slice bh compliment said:
Can't get this song out of my head all of a sudden, thanks to this thread's title.

Gut users "of the world...
hand it over, hand it over, hand it overrrr."

Trivia: title and artist? EDIT: WARNING...you might have to be a certain age to get it.
Click to expand...


Shop lifters of the world, unite and take over......hand it over, hand it over.....
 
Pro_Tour_630

Pro_Tour_630

Legend
hoodjem said:
So is Klip Legend any good?
Click to expand...

if I say otherwise people around here are touchy/territorial and will get out the noose on me.

IF I play it I will only play the 1.20mm legend and the few times that I did were not so pleasant. IT was nice at first (few hours) but then played dead. some say it settled and love that feel, I didn't. I promised to give it one more try.

I found the certain species who swears by Klip have never tried Pacific,
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
Well done, Pro Tour 630.
The Smiths are the VS Gut of 80s rock. I bet the TW forum's own 'morrissey' would agree.

I just read about the whole gay and communist subtext of the song. I'm not really down with it, but, I respect Moz's choices and naturally love the music and smile at his delivery.

I always just took it as a message that we're all liars in a way, and that we ought to admit it, and unite. And I guess a bit of an anrachist message is in there too.

Well, in any event, gut users of the world, unite!
 
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Azzurri

Azzurri

Legend
hoodjem said:
So is Klip Legend any good?
Click to expand...

Try the 17g. It was my 2nd gut (Wilson Nat Gut 1st) and I loved the spin and dwell time. It did have more power than I was used to, but it took me around 30 minutes or so to get used to it. I have heard great things about Pacific, BDE and of course Babloat. Nat Gut strings play differently, so do a search. Some play soft, crisp, low-high power, etc.
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
I've tried Pacific Prime Gut. It really is great.
Pacific Tough Gut is not as sweet as VS, but it's close and the price is good.
Oh, and like Babolat, Pacific gut comes in half sets, which is kind of convenient for those of us who blend gut with something else.

For me, not that storing gut in a ziploc is a hassle, but, there's nothing more convenient than the VS team that comes in the same package as Hurricane Tour.
 
H

Hedges

Guest
Here's Radek talking about his change from poly to natural gut:

Also at this time you were trying to go from using polyester strings to using natural-gut. Why this drastic change? What were you looking to gain?

[Radek] “You are correct. I had been using polyester strings for many years – I had only started to use them because they didn’t break as often. Back when I started using poly, I was ranked in the #500’s – I couldn’t afford strings that broke too quickly. I guess I just got use to the feel of the polyester strings and never gave it much thought until in 2005, my wrist started to hurt and my shoulder would get ‘tired’ easily. Petr suggested, (more like demanded) I change to natural-gut – Petr has never used anything else and he told me the extra ‘power’ plus the better arm-protection, was what I needed to succeed. The gut strings in my ‘old’, (Tour 10 mid V-Engine) frame really increased my ‘power’! My control was not quite as good as before, but I felt I could make the adjustments needed.”
Click to expand...
 
Pro_Tour_630

Pro_Tour_630

Legend
Hedges said:
Here's Radek talking about his change from poly to natural gut:
Click to expand...

Radek could not afford them when he was #500 as a pro, and now when he switched he was having a little issues with control. How can we expect 4.0's and below to play with these expensive type NG and be able to control their shots. They are having enough problems just playing the game now they have to worry about increase in power.
 
H

Hedges

Guest
A #500 ranked player earns very little money and has many expenses plus he breaks strings very quickly.

Many 3.5 and 4.0 players have real jobs and earn a decent living. On top of that, most players at that level are not string breakers....and, if they are string breakers then they are probably inconsistent.

I think it's helpful to amateur players to learn to how to play without taking "woolly mammoth" swings on every shot; consistency & percentage tennis goes a long way at the amateur levels. Some natural gut in a non-bazooka racket provides a platform from which to build skills other than baseline bashing.

I still remember my first set of natural gut as a kid and the "Eureka!" I experienced. Sure, I had to roll & sweep lots of clay courts to get that set of gut, but I promise you that it was worth it!

I agree that putting natural gut in a bazooka racket is a waste.
 
Pro_Tour_630

Pro_Tour_630

Legend
Hedges said:
A #500 ranked player earns very little money and has many expenses plus he breaks strings very quickly.

Many 3.5 and 4.0 players have real jobs and earn a decent living. On top of that, most players at that level are not string breakers....and, if they are string breakers then they are probably inconsistent.

I think it's helpful to amateur players to learn to how to play without taking "woolly mammoth" swings on every shot; consistency & percentage tennis goes a long way at the amateur levels. Some natural gut in a non-bazooka racket provides a platform from which to build skills other than baseline bashing.

I still remember my first set of natural gut as a kid and the "Eureka!" I experienced. Sure, I had to roll & sweep lots of clay courts to get that set of gut, but I promise you that it was worth it!

I agree that putting natural gut in a bazooka racket is a waste.
Click to expand...
what you say is true for the most part, BUT the expensive natural gut is a bazzoka in itself, even 4.5 on this board who will not use VS are complaining of its jumpiness are using Klip instead, how can a 4.0 and below be able to tamp their shots, even in none bazooka frames. frames are powerful in design like PD's and most are designed that way except for a few "flexible mid tight patterned players frame" rarely do you see 3.5/4.0 in low powered frames.

The only way these players are going to learn not to take full woolhy mammoth swings is to practice, not to put some expensive Jumpy NG that they are going to hit the fence with on every other shot.
 
H

Hedges

Guest
Sounds like we found some common ground from which to build?

We agree that natural gut in powerful rackets is a waste. Can we agree that 3.5-4.0 players can benefit from natural gut in control-oriented rackets? Or are you one of those who believe 3.5-4.0 players should never use a "player's platform" (just a ego building name for a control-oriented frame).

Like, for example, your PT630...do you think that racket is appropriate for a 3.5 or 4.0 player who wishes to build an all-court, consistent game with the goal of eventually moving to 4.5 (years down the road)?
 
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Azzurri

Azzurri

Legend
Hedges said:
A #500 ranked player earns very little money and has many expenses plus he breaks strings very quickly.

Many 3.5 and 4.0 players have real jobs and earn a decent living. On top of that, most players at that level are not string breakers....and, if they are string breakers then they are probably inconsistent.

I think it's helpful to amateur players to learn to how to play without taking "woolly mammoth" swings on every shot; consistency & percentage tennis goes a long way at the amateur levels. Some natural gut in a non-bazooka racket provides a platform from which to build skills other than baseline bashing.

I still remember my first set of natural gut as a kid and the "Eureka!" I experienced. Sure, I had to roll & sweep lots of clay courts to get that set of gut, but I promise you that it was worth it!

I agree that putting natural gut in a bazooka racket is a waste.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on this. I play my best tennis when I practice. I take more fluid strokes and don't try to kill the ball. When people ask me my rating, I tell them a solid 4.5-5.0 in practice, but a low-level 4.0 when playing. So yea, building fluid, not hurried strokes is the way to tame the nat gut strings.

I was surprised how much power teh Klip Legend had and it did take me some time to tone down my stroke. I felt that with the gut, a person needs to play more controlled.

I play a CHEAP, 2nd GRADE gut, I hope to one day go to the elite status of gut and play Pacific or VS..then I will play real tennis and know what true gut feels like. :)
 
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