VS Gut mains and poly crosses

Based on all the great comments about the playability of this particular hybrid setup, I would like to know a good starting tension for the following setups. I usually string my PSTGT at 57lbs for a full multi stringbed and gut stringbed.

VS Gut 16 with Luxilon Alu Power 16L
VS Gut 16 with Prince Recoil 16
VS Gut 16 with WC Silverstring 17 gauge
 
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ClubHoUno

Banned
Based on all the great comments about the playability of this particular hybrid setup, I would like to know a good starting tension for the following setups. I usually string my PSTGT at 57lbs for a full multi stringbed and gut stringbed.

VS Gut with Luxilon Alu Power
VS Gut with Prince Recoil
VS Gut with WC Silverstring

Impossible to answer without knowing the gauge of the gut and Silverstring :)

If VSTeam 17 and Silverstring 1.20:

Vs 17 - Alu: 56 lbs - 54 lbs
Vs 17 - Recoil: 58 lbs - 56 lbs
Vs 17 - Silverstring 1.20: 57 lbs - 55 lbs
 
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Impossible to answer without knowing the gauge of the gut and Silverstring :)

If VSTeam 17 and Silverstring 1.20:

Vs 17 - Alu: 56 lbs - 54 lbs
Vs 17 - Recoil: 58 lbs - 56 lbs
Vs 17 - Silverstring 1.20: 57 lbs - 55 lbs

ClubHoUno - thanks for reminding me about the gauge. I just updated my original post so once I get a range, I will string them up and let you guys know how they feel.
 

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
When I used a multi, I would string it at 60. I'm using Pacific Tough Gut 16 in the mains now. I have Pacific XForce 18 in the crosses of one racket and Solinco Tour Revolution 18 in the other. I have them strung at 61/57. Even with the lower tension in the crosses, these still feel a little stiffer than the all multi. I'll probably go to 60/55 next time.
 
Impossible to answer without knowing the gauge of the gut and Silverstring :)

If VSTeam 17 and Silverstring 1.20:

Vs 17 - Alu: 56 lbs - 54 lbs
Vs 17 - Recoil: 58 lbs - 56 lbs
Vs 17 - Silverstring 1.20: 57 lbs - 55 lbs

Is the reason Alu is at 54lbs and Recoil at 56lbs due to the stiffer string of Alu? I will take your settings and put them in VS Gut 16 and see how things play out.
 

nickarnold2000

Hall of Fame
I've used a gut main before and IMO your average player can get away with using a better multi or syn gut as a main. If you've got all sorts of cash ok go for the gut
 
I've used a gut main before and IMO your average player can get away with using a better multi or syn gut as a main. If you've got all sorts of cash ok go for the gut

Actually I plan on also doing a multi main and poly cross but given all the great comments about playability of gut crossed with a poly, I need to find out what I have or have not been missing.
 

Mig1NC

Professional
...your average player can get away with using a better multi or syn gut as a main. If you've got all sorts of cash ok go for the gut

I would disagree on the basis that your average player can get quite a lot more life out of gut than they would out of nylon since they will likely not break the string. Tension maintenance and elasticity will last significantly longer. Comfort, safety from injury and playability can last a very long time.

Unfortunately most average players don't realize the benefits of paying more up front for gut.
 

ClubHoUno

Banned
I've used a gut main before and IMO your average player can get away with using a better multi or syn gut as a main. If you've got all sorts of cash ok go for the gut

I disagree.

Nat gut will hold tension better, feel far far better, be more durable and you don't feel the poly go dead so fast, when it's only used in the crosses as much as in a full job of poly.
 
So do you guys think this would be a good starting point for tension listed below?

VS Gut 16 at 57lbs with Luxilon Alu Power 16L at 54lbs
VS Gut 16 at 57lbs with Prince Recoil 16 at 56lbs
VS Gut 16 at 57lbs with WC Silverstring at 55lbs
 
I had a chance to hit with VS Gut with Recoil yesterday and I definitely felt more spin than using a multi. Slices on this setup was great and volleys were crisp and controlled. This setup definitely allowed me to hit harder and still keep the ball in play so gut mains and poly crosses is a great setup.

Compared to Kirschbaum Touch Multifiber 17, it felt a bit stiffer on my arm and I could feel slight soreness in my arm. I think I will need to lower the tension on the poly as it still might be a bit too stiff for my arm.
 
I tried another variation with VS team at 56lbs in the mains and Recoil at 52lbs in the crosses today. Compared to Polystar Energy, I felt that Energy provided more spin and was just as comfortable as this setup. The only one thing this gut/poly hybrid had on Energy was slices. Slices would go deep, low, and fast. It definitely grip the ball better and volleying was almost improved but for topsin, a full bed of Energy felt better.

I had problems keeping balls on my forehand in the court unlike Energy which would dip into the court at the last minute and didn't have as many balls sail on me. I might give VS Team and Energy in the cross a shot next time to see how this compares but definitely will not be going with Recoil anytime soon.
 

TimothyO

Hall of Fame
parasailing....to avoid a duplicate thread hope you don't mind if I pggyback on yours. I have the exact same question!

Currently my standard setup is VS17 mains and Xcel 17 crosses. I had some arm issues back in the summer/fall which have since largely cleared up through changes in racquet, string, technique, and new PT routine.

So I'm thinking about buying an EXO3 Tour 100 16x18 and stringing with a gut/poly hybrid. I demo'd the Tour with full bed of NXT 17 at mid-tension and had zero arm problems. So I'm hoping that poly crosses will be ok too due to the 52 stiffness and larger head size.

Anyway, here's the plan:

Mains: VS 16 @ 53#

Cross: Hurricane Feel 16 @ ???#

Given the very different tension losses and stiffness ratings I'm not sure of the appropriate reference tension. Any advice?
 
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J_aces

Semi-Pro
I just got a good price on Babolat gut in 15 gauge. I know it will be more durable with a poly cross but will I still be able to get good spin even though it's in 15 gauge?
 
I have tried Tonic 15 gauge and VS Gut 16 and for me there was a difference in spin between the two gauges. They are more durable but you do give up a bit of that spin for it.
 
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My current setup is VS Team at 58lbs with WC Silverstring at 54lbs. After a three hour break in, this string plays quite nice. The natural gut mains provide the power and is soft on the arm with the WC SS providing the additional spin that was lacking in a full natural gut setup. I will provide updates on this setup as time goes on but I would like some suggestions on which cross I should consider for future test setups.

I have read about WC Scorpion and WC B5E which intrigues me but I am concern about TT members who mention that B5E should be strung in the 40s which would be a huge difference between what I am stringing my VS Team at.
 

TimothyO

Hall of Fame
Para...

I have some WC Silverstring 1.25 inbound and will hybrid with either Touch or Team.

Previously I found Team a little too springy in an open pattern. Now I have a PSLGT which is pretty dense.

Based on your experience with this hybrid so far any advice? Right now I'm thinking Team/Silverstring @ 52/48.

How's the string movement with Silverstring? Does the Team spring back nicely?
 

TaihtDuhShaat

Semi-Pro
Para...

I have some WC Silverstring 1.25 inbound and will hybrid with either Touch or Team.

Previously I found Team a little too springy in an open pattern. Now I have a PSLGT which is pretty dense.

Based on your experience with this hybrid so far any advice? Right now I'm thinking Team/Silverstring @ 52/48.

How's the string movement with Silverstring? Does the Team spring back nicely?

I'm using a PSL with NRG 18/ silverstring 1.20 at 52.5/48.5 and the tension is perfect for this stick. I know its not gut but same concept. String movement is a non issue and the playability is just right. I liked scorpion even better as a cross.
 

mikeler

Moderator
My current setup is VS Team at 58lbs with WC Silverstring at 54lbs. After a three hour break in, this string plays quite nice. The natural gut mains provide the power and is soft on the arm with the WC SS providing the additional spin that was lacking in a full natural gut setup. I will provide updates on this setup as time goes on but I would like some suggestions on which cross I should consider for future test setups.

I have read about WC Scorpion and WC B5E which intrigues me but I am concern about TT members who mention that B5E should be strung in the 40s which would be a huge difference between what I am stringing my VS Team at.


Wow, 3 hours is a LONG break in period. What does PVAudio string his natural gut at?
 

dozu

Banned
Wow, 3 hours is a LONG break in period. What does PVAudio string his natural gut at?

Bab guts do have quite long break-in period.

and I agree with the consensus here - mid 50's seem to be the ideal range for the gut, that's where it is the most 'gut-like', without giving too much power.
 

TimothyO

Hall of Fame
I'm using a PSL with NRG 18/ silverstring 1.20 at 52.5/48.5 and the tension is perfect for this stick. I know its not gut but same concept. String movement is a non issue and the playability is just right. I liked scorpion even better as a cross.

Why did you prefer the Scorpion over the SS as a cross?
 
Para...

I have some WC Silverstring 1.25 inbound and will hybrid with either Touch or Team.

Previously I found Team a little too springy in an open pattern. Now I have a PSLGT which is pretty dense.

Based on your experience with this hybrid so far any advice? Right now I'm thinking Team/Silverstring @ 52/48.

How's the string movement with Silverstring? Does the Team spring back nicely?

I went with the 17 gauge Silverstring so there might be a bit more movement than the 16 gauge you are going with. If this maintains tension, this will be the control racquet to compare for future string tests. Natural gut at 52lbs is going to be way too much power. I would suggest you up it to at least 55lbs and put SS at around 51lbs. You will probably have a longer break in period at slightly lower tenison as well.

As far as open pattern, yes it is springy but you would adjust by upping the tension to deal with that. My PSTGT is 16x20 which is pretty open and having gut at less than 58lbs is just way too much power.
 
Wow, 3 hours is a LONG break in period. What does PVAudio string his natural gut at?

I think it's mainly the SS that gives me the longer break in period. I know if this was a full bed of VS Team, it would take me about an hour to settle in the strings compared to Pacific Tough Gut which took me about 4 hours to settle in and with that string I never did get increase durability people were mentioning. But WC SS is a crisp poly so it's not like Polystar Energy or one of the soft polys and takes a while to break in.

After the 3 hour break in period, it plays well, time will tell how long this last before the crosses go dead.
 

mikeler

Moderator
I think it's mainly the SS that gives me the longer break in period. I know if this was a full bed of VS Team, it would take me about an hour to settle in the strings compared to Pacific Tough Gut which took me about 4 hours to settle in and with that string I never did get increase durability people were mentioning. But WC SS is a crisp poly so it's not like Polystar Energy or one of the soft polys and takes a while to break in.

After the 3 hour break in period, it plays well, time will tell how long this last before the crosses go dead.


PVAudio did his setup at 55/57 and loved it. Might be a good starting point for you:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=5298876&postcount=262
 

mikeler

Moderator
Thanks for the exact link. I will be ordering a couple sets of B5E and Scorpion to test out in both a full bed and hybrid with gut setup.


Looking forward to reading your thoughts on both of those. The B5E is just far and away better than any setup I've ever used. I still want to try out a few more soft polys just to make sure I'm not missing something better.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Gut Poly Club thread would be relevant!

I joined into the abovementioned thread several weeks ago because the conversation was pegged in to the type of set-up I use. The thread is buried 3 or 4 pages deep now but if a couple of you visit and post, we can bring it back to first page status. There's a lot of good info in it!
 
I joined into the abovementioned thread several weeks ago because the conversation was pegged in to the type of set-up I use. The thread is buried 3 or 4 pages deep now but if a couple of you visit and post, we can bring it back to first page status. There's a lot of good info in it!

Where do you get your Bow Brand from? I spoke to Bow and they are looking for a different manufacturer for their gut strings so whatever you have might change again.
 
Guess no one has feedback on Scorpion but just another update on my VS Team mains and WC Silverstring. I initially review this string and didn't really think WC SS was anything special. But after 12 hours hitting with this racquet, it now has soften up to the point where it feels really nice. The SS does not notch into the gut mains and has made them last considerably longer than if using a full bed of natural gut.

I did not even put string savers on this particular racquet and the strings show no significant signs of fraying. So the only downside for me about WC SS is the substantial break in time before SS softens up as tension maintenance is still good even after 12 hours of hitting.
 

tennisinoc

Semi-Pro
12 hour break in time! No wonder I cut mine out after 4 hours. I can't wait that long for a break in time. Gosen Micro 17 cross for me is NO brake in time and better feel and control.
 
12 hour break in time! No wonder I cut mine out after 4 hours. I can't wait that long for a break in time. Gosen Micro 17 cross for me is NO brake in time and better feel and control.

It is probably due to the tension I put on the strings and need to probably fine tune it a bit with the WC SS since this was my first time using such a setup. I should have probably strung it about 5lbs lower for the WC SS since it is a crisper string which I do not like in a natural gut setup. If this were a full natural gut setup, it would take about an hour to break in and play well throughout.
 

GlenK

Professional
I'm using Supersense in the x's at the moment. But when it runs out I'll switch x's to Scorpion. I like Scorpion in a full bed, and "think" it will work well with the gut.
Still playing with the tension on this set up. Started at 54/52, but will up the gut to 55 next. I've got 12 hours on the set up now and it's still playing great.
 
I'm using Supersense in the x's at the moment. But when it runs out I'll switch x's to Scorpion. I like Scorpion in a full bed, and "think" it will work well with the gut.
Still playing with the tension on this set up. Started at 54/52, but will up the gut to 55 next. I've got 12 hours on the set up now and it's still playing great.

So how long does the hybrid setup of natural gut and Scorpion take to break in? I will try this setup next time I restring one of my racquets.
 

Lambsscroll

Hall of Fame
Guess no one has feedback on Scorpion but just another update on my VS Team mains and WC Silverstring. I initially review this string and didn't really think WC SS was anything special. But after 12 hours hitting with this racquet, it now has soften up to the point where it feels really nice. The SS does not notch into the gut mains and has made them last considerably longer than if using a full bed of natural gut.

I did not even put string savers on this particular racquet and the strings show no significant signs of fraying. So the only downside for me about WC SS is the substantial break in time before SS softens up as tension maintenance is still good even after 12 hours of hitting.

Sounds like I'll be trying WC Silverstring. The Poly Nova 17 I use in the cross seems to work well but I think SS wont saw through the gut as much.
 

GlenK

Professional
I have not used the Scorpion yet with the VS. I used it in a full bed while searching for a new set up. It was my favorite full bed poly.
Now when SS runs out, I'll switch to Scoprion. It was very similar to SS in full bed so I'm thinking it will be equally as good for x's.

We'll see, fingers are crossed...
 

dadozen

Hall of Fame
I have used VS Team / Scorpion 1.22 for a while and it was a great setup. I just gave up on this because the cost was too high for me.
 

Bahama Scott

New User
Parasailing, my setup is Aeropro Drive Cortex Scorpion 1.22 48lbs X VS 17 52lbs. It took a couple of hours to break in and I now have about 15 hours and it is just great....spin, power, control, love the feel but that's my deal. On my next setup I am going to drop both tensions down 2 pounds but next time I am going to use the WT 1.2
 
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Bahama Scott

New User
I originally strung it at 54/58. It was really unbelievable for about 10 hours BUT then the tension fell off dramatically and it took a lot of adjusting to compensate for the extra power. Weiss STRONGLY recommends 52 pounds max. At my current tension, it wasn't quite as remarkable at first (still better than anything else including full VS gut) but I have not noticed any real degradation in the performance so far.
 

TennisCJC

Legend
Bab Tonic + Ball Feel is significantly less $ than VS and it plays great. Tension would vary based on your racket but I would try the gut at 55 and poly's at 51 to start with. Try the to keep the poly tension in the 52 or less range if possible as it's way better for the arm and last longer.
 

dadozen

Hall of Fame
What was you tension for the VS mains and scorpion crosses?

Para, I was using 52/49. When I raised the tension to 56/53, the stringjob broke in less than 2h.

I was going to try something like 48/44, but then I decided to go with full polys.
 
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