I had my aerostorm strung with cyberpower (blue) and cyberflash and I loved it, but the lifespan of its playability (and of all polyester strings) is very short. I don't string my racket myself (at the moment) so I can't cut the strings out once they die because then I'd be paying 25 dollars every week or so (plus the cost of the strings too)... So if I wanted to move to different strings like multifilament/syn gut, are there any good strings/hybrids that would be similar to poly strings in how they played? Obviously you can't replicate poly strings but are there any other strings that give good control, spin, and power that will last longer? Thanks!
Alternative strings to use instead of poly?
- Thread starter magogami
- Start date
Richie Rich
Legend
do you hit with a lot of spin? an aerostorm has a fairly open string pattern. multi's will lose tension pretty quickly and syn guts will notch and snap pretty quickly.
your budget may dictate that you play with dead poly until you can afford to restring :lol:
your budget may dictate that you play with dead poly until you can afford to restring :lol:
Valjean
Hall of Fame
If I were you I would try Prince's Lightning Power and/or Tecnifibre's XR3, both of which blend polyester in some form with nylon, to start with. Tension maintenance is pretty good with those when compared to polyester.
Here:
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2005/01/prince_lightning_power.html
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2008/05/tecnifibre_xr3.html
There are some multifilaments you can try too. Key to selecting one is how much of a string breaker you truly are. A lot of people try out polyester without actually needing so much breakage protection and then find the tension loss more exhausting than planned on.
Here:
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2005/01/prince_lightning_power.html
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2008/05/tecnifibre_xr3.html
There are some multifilaments you can try too. Key to selecting one is how much of a string breaker you truly are. A lot of people try out polyester without actually needing so much breakage protection and then find the tension loss more exhausting than planned on.
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consistency wins
Semi-Pro
Darn it, RR. I'm in the same boat as the OP. I just can't afford to cut out poly every week and string four rackets per week. I will monitor this thread. I can get a whole reel of Super Fine Play 17 for the price of three sets of poly and that will at least last a month...hmmmm...
Be forewarned that If you are playing enough that poly goes dead in a week you might find that you break a multi setup in less than a week's time in an open pattern racquet like that.
-SF
consistency wins
Semi-Pro
I decided to go with Babolat SFP 17. I know I'll break strings. The only time I was known as a breaker of strings was when I used it in the past. But considering I string for everyone in town, and considering the cost and spin, pop, control, and playability of these strings...I'll happily break strings with the cost of them in a reel. Hurry up--there's only three left as I just bought a reel....
Doc Hollidae
Hall of Fame
Try Gosen Super JC 16 or Fischer Pro No 1, Both are fairly stiff and maintain playability longer than poly. Super JC has better ball bite.
Two other options to consider are a gut hybrid if you aren't a string breaker or a textured syn gut to simulate the bite of poly since the stiffness will most likely be less.
Two other options to consider are a gut hybrid if you aren't a string breaker or a textured syn gut to simulate the bite of poly since the stiffness will most likely be less.
I hit spin and flat shots but I guess you could say I hit with a lot of spin (especially with those strings when they are fresh). What I like about those strings is that hitting with spin is effortless, so I wanted a string that could make spin come easily too when I want it.
And the first time I got my racket strung with those strings I kept them in for a couple of months and it was just horrible. I felt like I was hitting with a board that had no power at all. But unless I find other good strings I may just have to do that, or get a stringing machine lol.
I wouldn't consider myself that much of a string breaker but that may just be because of the strings I've been using.
And if those strings have polyester in them, won't they die quickly?
Does natural gut last long (as in playability/durability/tension maintenance)? Because its so expensive...
Do you know of any good textured syn guts?
Thanks for that information. At the moment I'm playing for about 3 hrs every week day so that might be something to consider.
D
Deleted member 25923
Guest
I think you should invest in a stringing machine.
tennisfreak15347
Banned
I got an idea, use HEAD FXP. Its a multi with polyester fibers, but it doesnt die too fast either. I think this is exactly what your looking for.
You'll probably break through a multi then rather quickly then. I would suggest investing in a stringing machine, like the Gamma X-2, as soon as you can.
-SF
Richie Rich
Legend
wilson just came out with a textured syn gut that got good reviews. there is a recent thread about it. you might want to check that out
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
I highly recommend giving a Kevlar/poly hybrid a try. The key is that it softens up after it breaks in, but playability remains high as long as the initial tension was not too loose. I find it's best to string it so that it feels a little stiff and underpowered when its fresh, but then feels just right after a few hours of hitting - then I get at least 60 hours of good playable string life. The bite of the stringbed actually increases as it softens.
Ashaway Kevlar has similar tension loss to poly, so that's a good one to start with. Mid 50's is a good tension to start with, assuming a midplus headsize.
Power level is lower than a full poly, but spin is better than full poly.
Ashaway Kevlar has similar tension loss to poly, so that's a good one to start with. Mid 50's is a good tension to start with, assuming a midplus headsize.
Power level is lower than a full poly, but spin is better than full poly.
The reviews of this string don't look too promising though...
Are you talking about the hyperlast string or something else? The hyperlast string seems to be getting good reviews.
Richie Rich
Legend
Oh, well the reviews don't seem as good as those of the hyperlast strings, but thanks for pointing it out.
What if I got a multi/syn gut hybrid? Would that make it last longer?
And just in general, how are nylon strings? I was looking at the ashaway crossfire kevlar hybrid and since the mains are kevlar and nylon, I began to wonder about them.
Do you know how the Ashaway Kevlar hybrid with syn gut compares to the hybrid with poly? Does the syn gut hybrid give more power?
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
Wow! Just reading that post hurt my arm...
Is kevlar very stiff? And does it lose its playability quickly like poly?
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
Yep, kevlar is stiff. Real stiff.
IMO, kevlar starts off less playable than poly and stays on a flatter less playable line than poly. Kevlar, like poly, is an acquired taste. Once upon a time, I used Prince ProBlend at 65 in a Hammer 5.0 Mid+. I liked it because they made an 18 gauge variant, but it tore my elbow up.
IMO, you'd do well to steer clear of kevlar unless you're extremely careful with your tension and how long you leave it in.
IMO, kevlar starts off less playable than poly and stays on a flatter less playable line than poly. Kevlar, like poly, is an acquired taste. Once upon a time, I used Prince ProBlend at 65 in a Hammer 5.0 Mid+. I liked it because they made an 18 gauge variant, but it tore my elbow up.
IMO, you'd do well to steer clear of kevlar unless you're extremely careful with your tension and how long you leave it in.
Yeah I probably don't want to deal with it until I string myself and can cut out the strings if the tension doesn't work out.
So I guess I'm at a dead end. Do I just string up the racket with some random syn gut at like 60 lbs and see what happens? Will I lose a lot of spin or other characteristics?
Also does stringing a hybrid with poly and syn gut make the strings more playable when the poly dies?
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
No, not really. Your crosses aren't going to make a lot of difference. Poly just plays dead. While poly does enhance spin, it's really more a question of your technique than anything else. You could try a poly/PSG hybrid and see if you like it.
That said, I've had really good luck with Pacific PolyForce Original. It doesn't go dead IMO like a lot of other polys. Once it's knotched about half way or better you should restring, but it retains tension and playability longer than others. And, it's less expensive than Lux for sure.
That said, I've had really good luck with Pacific PolyForce Original. It doesn't go dead IMO like a lot of other polys. Once it's knotched about half way or better you should restring, but it retains tension and playability longer than others. And, it's less expensive than Lux for sure.
hoodjem
G.O.A.T.
I was thinking the same thing: kevlar/poly hybrid, but maybe down in the upper 40s.
Check this out:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=190596&highlight=kevlar
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I should've asked this a while ago but I never thought of it. So if poly (for me) goes dead in about 1-2 weeks (sometimes even a little longer actually), how long would syn gut last? How long would a multi setup last if it actually took me 3 weeks for polys to go dead? I want to see how the durability of the different strings relate to each other.
I guess I could try that sometime. How long does it usually last before it breaks?
tennisfreak15347
Banned
it maintains it's string life UNTIL it breaks and tension maintenance is the best. if you add some elastacross string savers, I'd say you could probably get a good 40 hours before it breaks, and if your not a string breaker, maybe 70+
Does that mean that syn gut will stop playing well even before it breaks?
ced
Professional
You might give TF Multifeel 16 or PSGM 16 a try... string above mid to maintain the control you are used to ..... I believe you can get more than 15 hours a week from either of them . They are reasonably priced and worth a try for what you are looking for.
tennisfreak15347
Banned
all strings lose their playability eventually.. except natural gut
orangettecoleman
Professional
i hear that head ultra tour is a very long lasting poly in terms of playability, and i've heard the same about klip k-boom. i had the same issue and i started using klip blast, which is a hybrid string with klip hardcore poly in the mains and syngut in the crosses. so far so good. seems to last longer in terms of playability than full poly. i thought fxp was pretty good, i'd definitely use it again. it might also be worth stringing a thicker multi at really high tension to get less power and more control.
orangettecoleman
Professional
also i really like klip scorcher. it's a syngut with two wrappings of multifibers, i think. it holds tension super well and plays great, really crisp with good spin, and it's solid core so it's more durable than a multi. i've been really impressed with all the klip strings i've used actually.
