Greatest Strings by Type

Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
Been reading this forum and other sources about strings and certain patterns/trends/opinions have emerged in my mind. I'll go out on a limb and stir up the hornets nest. From what I have gathered these may be the best string currently available by string type:

Natural Gut: Babolat VS Team 17G (Best playability of any string - period)
Multi: Technifibre X-1 Biphase 17G (The most nat gut-like synthetic)
Poly: RPM Blast 16G (Best spin potential)
Synth Gut: Prince Original 16G (The original SG and still best)

Let the slings and arrows fly!
 
P

pvaudio

Legend
I only agree with #1. Multi is Laserfibre Supernatural Gut Pro Stock, poly depends on what you want (spin is spiky shark though) and syn gut is OG Micro or Forten Sweet.
 
G

Gasolina

Professional
You should also put in different classes of poly, like soft poly's and textured poly's.

Maybe put a separate table for "best value" strings. E.g. best Multi would be the X-1 and the best value Multi would be the Dynamite
 
Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
pvaudio said:
I only agree with #1. Multi is Laserfibre Supernatural Gut Pro Stock, poly depends on what you want (spin is spiky shark though) and syn gut is OG Micro or Forten Sweet.
Click to expand...

Spiky Shark has a higher coefficient of friction than RPM blast which indicates it has less spin potential. See the chart in this blog.

http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1363

The only strings that come close are MSV Focus EVO and Polyfibre TCS but the gap between them and RPM Blast is significant. Spiky Shark is one of the worst performers...
 
Doubles

Doubles

Legend
This is a tough one. I would say this for the following:
Synthetic Gut: Gosen OG Sheep Micro
Multi: HEAD Rip Perfect Control
Spin Friendly Poly: MSV Focus Hex
Soft Poly: RPM Blast
"Traditional" Poly: Luxilon Alu Power Smooth
Natural Gut: Babolat VS Gut
I will patiently wait for some of you to take shots at my picks...
 
Mig1NC

Mig1NC

Professional
Hooked said:
Spiky Shark has a higher coefficient of friction than RPM blast which indicates it has less spin potential. See the chart in this blog.

http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1363

The only strings that come close are MSV Focus EVO and Polyfibre TCS but the gap between them and RPM Blast is significant. Spiky Shark is one of the worst performers...
Click to expand...

That list is far from all inclussive, and TW doesn't sell some brands like Genesis (ok, at this point you can call me fan-boy).

That being said, I am very surprised we aren't talking Tour Bite 17 for best spin poly. People seem to like it here (I never tried it) and it rates highest in spin survey by the USRSA.
 
Centered

Centered

Hall of Fame
Hooked said:
Multi: Technifibre X-1 Biphase 17G (The most nat gut-like synthetic)
Click to expand...
It's the most gut-like in terms of tension retention, when compared with other strings that haven't been pre-stretched. With pre-stretching, in one test IsoSpeed Professional Classic edged it.

But, tension retention is not the most important characteristic. Dynamic stiffness is the primary characteristic of strings for comparison. X-One does not beat some multis in that area, like Dynamite. It is not more gut-like, in terms of dynamic stiffness.

Nylon is a stiffer material than PEEK/Zyex, although extremely fine filaments of nylon can be used in a thin gauge string to come to a close approximation. At high tensions, IsoSpeed's polyolefin is softer than nylon multis, too.

Hooked said:
Synth Gut: Prince Original 16G (The original SG and still best).
Click to expand...
Based on what criteria?

I also think nylon strings came out before Prince was a company.
 
TripleB

TripleB

Hall of Fame
Natural Gut with best cost/playability ratio: Klip Legend 16g
Multi: Yonex Tour Super 850 or (after a little more play time with it) Mantis Comfort Synthetic 16g
Poly: WeissCannon TurboTwist 1.24mm
Synthetic Gut: Forten Sweet Synthetic 16g

TripleB
 
Centered

Centered

Hall of Fame
TripleB said:
Natural Gut with best cost/playability ratio: Klip Legend 16g
Multi: Yonex Tour Super 850 or (after a little more play time with it) Mantis Comfort Synthetic 16g
Poly: WeissCannon TurboTwist 1.24mm
Synthetic Gut: Forten Sweet Synthetic 16g
Click to expand...
Based on what criteria?
 
Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
Mig1NC said:
That being said, I am very surprised we aren't talking Tour Bite 17 for best spin poly. People seem to like it here (I never tried it) and it rates highest in spin survey by the USRSA.
Click to expand...

Tour Bite certainly seems to have promise and perhaps it is better than RPM-B in spin production. I don't know as I haven't tried it yet, but likely will. The USRSA survey is a good data point, but I would like to see something more scientific/objective to quantify those opinions. It would be great if TW updated the COF chart with Tour Bite and some other popular strings to see how they compare objectively. It was eye opening to me to see how some strings that were highly regarded by many actually performed relatively poorly. Another affirmation that perception and reality aren't always correlated.
 
Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
Centered said:
Based on what criteria?QUOTE]

Mostly user opinions. My main objective in this thread was to put some sticks in the sand and see where they end up at the end of the discussion. I knew going in that personal opinion and perception would create some strong reactions to my original post, but I would really like to be proven wrong by some hard data that provides a useful guide to the myriad of strings available and identify the ones that are truly the best in their category. I was unable to find a lot of hard data on nylon string, so I relied on what I believe is a strong conviction amongst a large group of people that Prince Original SG is one of the best, if not the best, sythn guts avaliable today. This is not necessarily my own opinion (I don't have a strong one on SG) but one that is certainly out there.
Click to expand...
 
MarrratSafin

MarrratSafin

Hall of Fame
Here we go again...:lol:

Synthetic Gut: Prince Original Synthetic
Multifilament: Technifibre X1-Biphase
Shaped Poly: Volkl Cyclone
Twisted / Textured Poly: WeissCannon Turbotwist / Genesis Typhoon
Regular Round Poly: WeissCannon Silverstring
Natural Gut: Babolat VS Team
 
Mig1NC

Mig1NC

Professional
Hooked said:
Tour Bite certainly seems to have promise and perhaps it is better than RPM-B in spin production. I don't know as I haven't tried it yet, but likely will. The USRSA survey is a good data point, but I would like to see something more scientific/objective to quantify those opinions. It would be great if TW updated the COF chart with Tour Bite and some other popular strings to see how they compare objectively. It was eye opening to me to see how some strings that were highly regarded by many actually performed relatively poorly. Another affirmation that perception and reality aren't always correlated.
Click to expand...

Since they sell it, I would bet they are working on adding it to their database.
 
G

GPB

Professional
The best synthetic gut I've played with is Pacific Powerline. It's not a very good bang-for-the-buck string, but it typically keeps its tension until it breaks, which is just about all I can ask for.
 
ClubHoUno

ClubHoUno

Banned
Natural Gut: Babolat VS Team 17 BEST STRING EVER MADE and the only natty gut I use!
Worthy of mention: Babolat VS Touch 16 and Wilson Natural gut 16

Multi: Laserfibre SuperNatural gut Prostock 17, but since this Prime Multi is no where to befound and Laserfibre as a company sick, the best Prime Multi is:
Tecnifibre X-One 17 Natural color BEST FEEL OF ANY PRIME MULTI !
Worthy of mention: Tecnifibre NRG2 17 and Babolat Xcel Power 17

Poly: Luxilon Alu Power Smooth & Luxilon Alu Power Rough - can't decide between the two. The Alu Power has slightly better tension retention, feel and durability while the Alu Rough has slightly better spin and power, but feels stiffer and goes dead faster of the two.
Worthy of mention: Weisscannon Silverstring 1.20, Weisscannon Turbotwist 17 and Tecnifibre Blackcode 1.18

Synth. gut: Gosen OG Micro
 
Mig1NC

Mig1NC

Professional
Since Hooked started this, I nominate him to keep a running tally of all the "votes" :)

Could be fun to see how this ends up.
 
Centered

Centered

Hall of Fame
Hooked said:
Mostly user opinions. My main objective in this thread was to put some sticks in the sand and see where they end up at the end of the discussion. I knew going in that personal opinion and perception would create some strong reactions to my original post, but I would really like to be proven wrong by some hard data that provides a useful guide to the myriad of strings available and identify the ones that are truly the best in their category. I was unable to find a lot of hard data on nylon string, so I relied on what I believe is a strong conviction amongst a large group of people that Prince Original SG is one of the best, if not the best, sythn guts avaliable today. This is not necessarily my own opinion (I don't have a strong one on SG) but one that is certainly out there.
Click to expand...
There is plenty of data on nylon strings.

here:
http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/reporter.php

and here:
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2010/01/string_selector_2010.html
 
OldButGame

OldButGame

Hall of Fame
It seems to me,..that if one person simply states "i prefer that string", that is a kernel of information. Admittedly it may not be a detaied analysis, broken down point by point,......but never-the less, it is information. When 10 people say the same thing,...that information has just grow in meaning. Its all about what You can extract from information that You're given,....without needing to have each particle explained to you. These forums ,from what i've seen are very much about people asking others peoples opinions (personal prefernces) on matters, and if each opinion expressed were required to be supported with 'data' and scientific 'proof',....then much of these forums would simply 'die' and to me that would be a sad thing. I respect other peoples opinions and preferences,....just because they 'exist'.
 
Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
OldButGame said:
It seems to me,..that if one person simply states "i prefer that string", that is a kernel of information. Admittedly it may not be a detaied analysis, broken down point by point,......but never-the less, it is information. When 10 people say the same thing,...that information has just grow in meaning. Its all about what You can extract from information that You're given,....without needing to have each particle explained to you. These forums ,from what i've seen are very much about people asking others peoples opinions (personal prefernces) on matters, and if each opinion expressed were required to be supported with 'data' and scientific 'proof',....then much of these forums would simply 'die' and to me that would be a sad thing. I respect other peoples opinions and preferences,....just because they 'exist'.
Click to expand...

Agreed. It is an ideal situation when you have objective data and subjective opinions that match up, but that is rarely the case. A few of the strings I nominated based on what I perceived to be a lot of subjective support without any real objective data to back it up. I know there are lots of great tools and data on various websites including TWU and RSI and others, but a lot of that data is raw, has holes and is difficult to translate into real world comparisons of how the strings will feel/behave. For instance, if the coefficient of friction is the main component of producing spin (and spin is such a large part of the game at higher levels), then why is it so difficult to find the specs for it in any of the objective data out there? It's kind of like assembling raw data on every car engine on the planet and leaving out the torque and horsepower figures.
 
Centered

Centered

Hall of Fame
OldButGame said:
It seems to me,..that if one person simply states "i prefer that string", that is a kernel of information.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's often like asking a lobbyist about the company/group he/she lobbies for. It's a "kernel of information", but what type of information?
OldButGame said:
Admittedly it may not be a detaied analysis, broken down point by point,......but never-the less, it is information.
Click to expand...
So is this.
OldButGame said:
When 10 people say the same thing,...that information has just grow in meaning.
Click to expand...
Yeah, like at Jonestown. There was consensus there.
OldButGame said:
if each opinion expressed were required to be supported with 'data' and scientific 'proof',....then much of these forums would simply 'die' and to me that would be a sad thing.
Click to expand...
False dilemma.
 
Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
Certainly not scientific, but if you look at the feeback and rule out all of the single nominees that are not seconded, you are left with the following:

Nat Gut:
Bab VS Team - 6 votes

Poly:
Bab RPM Blast - 2 votes
Solinco Tour Bite - 2 votes
WeissCanon Turbotwist - 2 votes

Mutli:
Technifibre X1 Bi-Phase 17G - 4 votes
Technifibre Laserfibre Supernatural Gut Pro Stock - 2 votes

Synth Gut:
Prince Original - 2 votes
Gossen OG Micro - 2 votes
Forten Sweet - 2 votes

Looks like a win for Bab VS team and Tech X1 BP but probably not enough data to be statistically useful.

I tried Technifibre X1 BP on a friends racquet last night and was really impressed with the feel and control it provided. We both agreed that giving up the extra spin that RPM Blast provided was a trade off we would likely make. I need to get a set and spend some more time with it. Same goes for Solinco Tour Bite.
 
OldButGame

OldButGame

Hall of Fame
OldButGame said:
It seems to me,..that if one person simply states "i prefer that string", that is a kernel of information. Admittedly it may not be a detaied analysis, broken down point by point,......but never-the less, it is information. When 10 people say the same thing,...that information has just grow in meaning. Its all about what You can extract from information that You're given,....without needing to have each particle explained to you. These forums ,from what i've seen are very much about people asking others peoples opinions (personal prefernces) on matters, and if each opinion expressed were required to be supported with 'data' and scientific 'proof',....then much of these forums would simply 'die' and to me that would be a sad thing. I respect other peoples opinions and preferences,....just because they 'exist'.
Click to expand...

Centered said:
Yes, it's often like asking a lobbyist about the company/group he/she lobbies for. It's a "kernel of information", but what type of information?

So is this.

Yeah, like at Jonestown. There was consensus there.

False dilemma.
Click to expand...

First,...I dont equate the minds expressing thoughts here ,...to those in Jonestown...(false dilemna otra vez mi amigo!!!),.....
....Secondly,...If You grant SOME credibility and respect to the people expressing opinions here,...then it seems to me You have a degree of 'probability',...that there may be validity in the opinions expressed,....not an absoluteness,...but a certain amount of likelihood or probability, the ability to abstract your thinking indicates a flexibility and maturation in the learning process,....:-|
 
N

Netspirit

Hall of Fame
ClubHoUno said:
Multi: Laserfibre SuperNatural gut Prostock 17, but since this Prime Multi is no where to befound and Laserfibre as a company sick
Click to expand...

A few days ago I went to laserfibrestore.com and ordered 2 sets of ProStock 17g (paid via PayPal), they arrived today as promised.

So LaserFibre is alive and kicking.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
Alternative string needed to replace multifilament strings for my daughter
Replies
18
Views
3K
Steve Huff
S
W
mains for exo3 tour
Replies
0
Views
536
wolfinsignia
W
B
4.5 player, Head YTPMP, need string help!
Replies
1
Views
635
kiteboard
K
tursafinov
I would like a recommendation, please.
Replies
13
Views
813
Noveson
N
F
All of a sudden, im breaking strings in 1 day...solution?
Replies
39
Views
7K
tennismastermine
T
Top