Need help on what soft Polys for Junior player.

Miami Tiburon · Feb 21, 2009

My daughter who is a junior player 12 years old is starting to break Synthetics on a weekly basis.This week in 3 days of practice.She uses an extreme western grip with heavy topspin which Iam sure has alot to do with it.I have been a little reluctant to have her racquets strung with poly's with fear of hurting her elbow or arm.Since I dont string myself it is starting to get expensive and a hassle to leave it to get strung.I was hoping for some advice on what soft poly I can have her try,maybe in and 18 gauge?Any advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Lefty78 · Feb 21, 2009

Here's a link to a good site for technical stats on most every string out there, polys included.
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/issues/200809/200809allstrings.html
I personally use Babolat Pro Hurricane 18, which, as the site shows, is the softest poly on the market. It's the most arm-friendly poly I have ever used, great except that it will not hold its tension forever.

oneguy21 · Feb 21, 2009

Have her try Pro Supex Big Ace 17. It's a very soft poly - very different from luxilon and other arm pain inducing strings.

You want a soft poly, go with this one. It seems weird that a girl at 12 has good enough racquet head speed to break synthetic gut often.

Jonny S&V · Feb 21, 2009

oneguy21 said:
Have her try Pro Supex Big Ace 17. It's a very soft poly - very different from luxilon and other arm pain inducing strings.

You want a soft poly, go with this one. It seems weird that a girl at 12 has good enough racquet head speed to break synthetic gut often.

I second this, but also make sure that you don't string it too tight...

sk8ing · Feb 21, 2009

oneguy21 said:
Have her try Pro Supex Big Ace 17. It's a very soft poly - very different from luxilon and other arm pain inducing strings.

You want a soft poly, go with this one. It seems weird that a girl at 12 has good enough racquet head speed to break synthetic gut often.

not really im 13 and me and all my friends can break synthetic gut in under 5 days

oneguy21 · Feb 21, 2009

sk8ing said:
not really im 13 and me and all my friends can break synthetic gut in under 5 days

And you're a girl?

tennisfreak15347 · Feb 21, 2009

Topspin cyberblue( formerly known as CyberPower) 18gauge, or Big Ace 1.22mm. Either one are superb choices, and you won't be disappointed.

Miami Tiburon · Feb 21, 2009

oneguy21 said:
Have her try Pro Supex Big Ace 17. It's a very soft poly - very different from luxilon and other arm pain inducing strings.

You want a soft poly, go with this one. It seems weird that a girl at 12 has good enough racquet head speed to break synthetic gut often.

I like Big ace myself in the 17 and 18 gauge it was the one string I was leaning towards trying.My daughter is hitting everyday with much older players that give her some good pace to work with.She does generate good head speed for her age.

lazyeenviet · Feb 21, 2009

oneguy21 said:
Have her try Pro Supex Big Ace 17. It's a very soft poly - very different from luxilon and other arm pain inducing strings.

You want a soft poly, go with this one. It seems weird that a girl at 12 has good enough racquet head speed to break synthetic gut often.

I'm 17 and I break synthetics on a YEARLY basis. :?

Miami Tiburon · Feb 21, 2009

Jonny S&V said:
I second this, but also make sure that you don't string it too tight...

She does like to string at 60 lbs.Her racquet is a Dunlop 500 which has good pop to it, she prefers a higher tension for control.I have had it strung at 55 lbs. before, but she broke them anyway.

Miami Tiburon · Feb 21, 2009

Lefty78 said:
Here's a link to a good site for technical stats on most every string out there, polys included.
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/issues/200809/200809allstrings.html
I personally use Babolat Pro Hurricane 18, which, as the site shows, is the softest poly on the market. It's the most arm-friendly poly I have ever used, great except that it will not hold its tension forever.

Great website,with great info,Hurricane 18 is very soft it seems, what a difference from the 16 and 17 gauge.I would of never thought of Pro Hurricane as a soft poly.Thanks

Miami Tiburon · Feb 21, 2009

tennisfreak15347 said:
Topspin cyberblue( formerly known as CyberPower) 18gauge, or Big Ace 1.22mm. Either one are superb choices, and you won't be disappointed.

Thank you, I will look into cyberblue

Steve Huff · Feb 21, 2009

As she's getting older, and stronger, maybe she would benefit from a slightly more flexible frame. Have you thought about the Dunlop 300 line. The other recommendation I'd give you is this: Buy a nice stringing machine. This will increase the bond between you and your daughter.

Trying different strings to find the right one---$200
A nice stringing machine---$600
The bond you'll get from being this involved with your daughter's tennis--priceless.

samej07 · Feb 21, 2009

i would recommend trying a hybrid with poly in the mains, sythetic in the crosses also. you should get enhanced durability of poly while keepin some of the softness of the syn gut you cross it with.

MarrratSafin · Feb 22, 2009

Another vote for Cyberblue, a very good soft poly. Topspin Poly Polar is even better in terms of softness, but lacks tension maintenance.

Luminous · Feb 22, 2009

+1 for Pro Supex Big Ace 17

Lindsay · Feb 22, 2009

String at low tensions not to help maintain string life, but to maintain comfort. If you're switching to poly, its a good idea anyway. Here's some of my favorites:

1. Hurricane Tour 18
2. Timo 17L
3. Big Banger Ace 18
4. Kirshbaum Pro Line 2 18 or 18L
5. And the Pro Supex listed above.

Are you wanting to do a full polyester setup, or use a hybrid with her current synthetic? I would recommend the later to start out. Good luck.

Pusher · Feb 22, 2009

Miami Tiburon said:
My daughter who is a junior player 12 years old is starting to break Synthetics on a weekly basis.This week in 3 days of practice.She uses an extreme western grip with heavy topspin which Iam sure has alot to do with it.I have been a little reluctant to have her racquets strung with poly's with fear of hurting her elbow or arm.Since I dont string myself it is starting to get expensive and a hassle to leave it to get strung.I was hoping for some advice on what soft poly I can have her try,maybe in and 18 gauge?Any advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Try going to a thicker syngut. I just don't see a 12 year old girl getting much benefit from a poly. Restringing every week or even every three days is just a part of the deal at a certain level of play.

I had a similar problem with my son who now plays D-1 tennis. The best advice I ever got was to buy a stringer and string his racquets myself. You will save a lot of time and money. Plus your daughter will benefit from your increasing knowledge of strings.

Good luck.

Miami Tiburon · Feb 22, 2009

Lindsay said:
String at low tensions not to help maintain string life, but to maintain comfort. If you're switching to poly, its a good idea anyway. Here's some of my favorites:

1. Hurricane Tour 18
2. Timo 17L
3. Big Banger Ace 18
4. Kirshbaum Pro Line 2 18 or 18L
5. And the Pro Supex listed above.

Are you wanting to do a full polyester setup, or use a hybrid with her current synthetic? I would recommend the later to start out. Good luck.

Thank you,I will try both the hybrid and the full poly.

zeratul90 · Feb 22, 2009

sk8ing said:
not really im 13 and me and all my friends can break synthetic gut in under 5 days

Dang! I'm 14, and I break my synthetics never broke on me before, only my poly mains, and that took me a few months!

steve s · Feb 22, 2009

Before jumping to a poly, what string and gauge is she using?

As someone above stated a stringing machine for a player is a win win.
A drop weight machine for $150, will pay for itself in 10 string jobs if labor is $ 15. If you string, buying reels bring more savings.

That list of strings and their stiffness does not seem to tell the whole story.
Does anyone here think that Bab Hurricane is softer than Forten Sweet.

Please speak up!!!

jazar · Feb 22, 2009

i would recommend a hybrid rather than full poly. when i was a junior i was going through psgd in less than a week in an 18/20 frame. for the last year and a half now i've been using hybrids and i find the playability and comfort are great, and the durability is much better

Miami Tiburon · Feb 22, 2009

Steve Huff said:
As she's getting older, and stronger, maybe she would benefit from a slightly more flexible frame. Have you thought about the Dunlop 300 line. The other recommendation I'd give you is this: Buy a nice stringing machine. This will increase the bond between you and your daughter.

Trying different strings to find the right one---$200
A nice stringing machine---$600
The bond you'll get from being this involved with your daughter's tennis--priceless.

Thats what so great about Tennis ,I practice with my Daughter daily.That in it self is priceless

Miami Tiburon · Feb 22, 2009

Pusher said:
Try going to a thicker syngut. I just don't see a 12 year old girl getting much benefit from a poly. Restringing every week or even every three days is just a part of the deal at a certain level of play.

I had a similar problem with my son who now plays D-1 tennis. The best advice I ever got was to buy a stringer and string his racquets myself. You will save a lot of time and money. Plus your daughter will benefit from your increasing knowledge of strings.

Good luck.

Thank you,Iam leaning towards getting a stringer that would make things easier.

Miami Tiburon · Feb 22, 2009

steve s said:
Before jumping to a poly, what string and gauge is she using?

As someone above stated a stringing machine for a player is a win win.
A drop weight machine for $150, will pay for itself in 10 string jobs if labor is $ 15. If you string, buying reels bring more savings.

That list of strings and their stiffness does not seem to tell the whole story.
Does anyone here think that Bab Hurricane is softer than Forten Sweet.

Please speak up!!!

She has been using 16 gauge ,earlier I was getting her 17 gauge.I understand what you mean about the stiffness you would think Forten sweet is softer than Hurricane 18 gauge. I have never used Hurricane before so I could not compare.

Need help on what soft Polys for Junior player.

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