Full natural gut

tata · Mar 8, 2011

Im planning on going full natural gut on my next string job. It will be my first time. I was just wondering which string would be the best?
I would also like to know how well natural gut stacks in terms of tension maintenance and string movement. I would assume it to be more powerful than a full poly job. But as a first timer using natural gut, what do you guys recommend and say about the string?

stringsguy · Mar 8, 2011

Also interested in this everyone, so fill us in.

wrxtotoro · Mar 8, 2011

Everyone here will tell you that VS team is the best NG out there.

I happen to like Pacific Classic more though. I think it has the best price v.s. performance gut on the market now. (Haven't tried Genesis NG so it might be good as well...) It also plays firmer than VS so it takes me less effort to adjust from a full poly setup. I string NG 15% higher than my normal poly setup.

Rusty669 · Mar 9, 2011

On the contrary I would advise you not to use VS right away if it is your first time using a full bed of natural gut.
People might question me for saying this, but I believe it is better-for a first time user- not to go for the high end of natural gut right away but test the waters first off with a little cheaper but yet also very rewarding string.

So my advice to you would be to maybe string your racket up with Babolat Tonic(the thinner gauge of both tonics if possible) and string it about a kilo tighter than you do your regular setup.
Gut is very powerful but fulfills its true potential when going up in the kilos because it is so much more elastic than any other string,hence springing back quicker to its normal position than the rest.
In addition I would suggest you insert string savers,as they will reduce friction and also lock the strings in a bit more so that they don't move around on you constantly.
What racket do you use in regards to mainly headsize and string pattern?

Now once you have enjoyed playing with full natural gut(i.e. Babolat Tonic) and feel that you might want to really stick with it,give VS a try to notch things up as it is the nonplus-ultra of gut strings,according to many.
Trying a cheaper gut string first will give you a good idea what it is all about and also save you money.
If you decide you don't like it whatsoever,you might have saved a little money this way.
But of course it is your choice

JT_2eighty · Mar 9, 2011

wrxtotoro said:
Everyone here will tell you that VS team is the best NG out there.

I happen to like Pacific Classic more though. I think it has the best price v.s. performance gut on the market now. (Haven't tried Genesis NG so it might be good as well...) It also plays firmer than VS so it takes me less effort to adjust from a full poly setup. I string NG 15% higher than my normal poly setup.

agreed, +1. Pacific is crisper and more durable than VS. Best price/performance gut out there. I do full gut around 61, hybrids per sig, and full poly mid 40s.

baek57 · Mar 9, 2011

Compared to poly it is softer and more powerful. It will also break much sooner but it will keep the tension longer. Full gut also breaks much faster than a hybrid. I use isospeed classic in the crosses and the strings last easily 3x longer.

Rabbit · Mar 9, 2011

JT_2eighty said:
agreed, +1. Pacific is crisper and more durable than VS. Best price/performance gut out there. I do full gut around 61, hybrids per sig, and full poly mid 40s.

+2....Pacific Classic for the money cannot be beat. It is a great natural gut to start on or finish with! It is lower powered than other guts like VS or Prime, but that can be a plus as well. Pacific used to advertise that their product could be strung looser and still retain control.

If you want a close to VS experience for +$3 over Classic, try a set of the Blue Sprial. It is buttery and smooth.

athiker · Mar 9, 2011

tata said:
Im planning on going full natural gut on my next string job. It will be my first time. I was just wondering which string would be the best?
I would also like to know how well natural gut stacks in terms of tension maintenance and string movement. I would assume it to be more powerful than a full poly job. But as a first timer using natural gut, what do you guys recommend and say about the string?

I can't give you comparisons as I've only used the cheap stuff. It doesn't move much initially, or rather snaps back on its own initially, but after a while it moves and stays moved quite a bit. I guess some coating wears off and the fraying causes this.

Arm comfort is extreme. I have battled TE and have a permanently sensitive shoulder. Playing with full natural gut is like barely playing as far as body impact.

Spin is available but is good but not as good as fully poly or a hybrid. That feeling of just swinging out on a ball and say pulling a forehand down the line while keeping it in is not as reliable. When I'm going for a shot like that I have to really make sure I'm maintaining form as best as possible. Any lunging or jerking and the ball is going to sail.

That is not to say you can't hit hard with full nat gut; I think it just takes more concentration to stay in control. On the flip side hitting rally ball groundstrokes takes less effort.

Touch volleys, cut slices and drop shot feel is excellent. Mishits out of the sweet spot have a better chance as well IMHO.

I really liked hitting forehands with poly hybrids but overall, unless its damp out, I play with full natural gut almost all of the time now. Report back your findings...good luck.

scotus · Mar 9, 2011

I do not find Pacific Classic more durable than VS Touch.

But I agree that it is a fine string and probably the best value.

I actually like the Classic better than Tough Gut from the Pacific line. It feels closer to VS.

If I were to play full gut and want an economical solution, I would probably put VS in the main and Pacific Classic in the cross.

tata · Mar 10, 2011

well i use the ex03 graphite 100, pacific isnt exactly the most biggest brand name but i think my local tennis shop might have it. otherwise i may go with the babolat.

but im not a chronic string breaker so maybe going full natty gut is ok for me. i have never broken a full poly job before which is interesting because i hear strings last longer if i hybrid. i once hybrid pro hurricane with prince duraflex as crosses and it was fraying so much quicker than evne a full synthetic job.

parasailing · Mar 10, 2011

tata said:
but im not a chronic string breaker so maybe going full natty gut is ok for me. i have never broken a full poly job before which is interesting because i hear strings last longer if i hybrid. i once hybrid pro hurricane with prince duraflex as crosses and it was fraying so much quicker than evne a full synthetic job.

I don't break poly strings either but that does not necessary give you a good indication of how long natural gut will last. Have you every broken a string that is a multi? If you have, then you will break the string. String savers will also improve the durability of the string but might mute the feel of natural gut and also increase the tension by upwards of 2lbs.

Going with a hybrid setup and string savers does increase the life and allow you to use a set of the string for two stringjobs.

tata · Mar 11, 2011

i was thinking of babolat excel or wilson sensation or nxt as the crosses. would the sensation be better value for money?

jim e · Mar 11, 2011

Since you are not a chronic string breaker, a full nat. gut may serve you the best, as it will play good until it breaks, where if you hybrid the gut with a synthetic string, the synthetic string will loose its characteristics before it breaks, and you may be cutting the striings out before it breaks. You really should try a good all nat. gut by itself just so you know how the string hits, and for a non string breaker it is the most economical as well. I hit a relatively flat ball, so the strings last me a long time.I would not go the route of a cheap nat. gut as well, as you will get what you pay for.String it up at a high tension, as that is where the gut string plays its best, as with a cheap brand you are limited to the tension, where a quality one you can string it up where it belongs. Also since you are not a string breaker, I would forget the string savers as well.

Blade0324 · Mar 11, 2011

I would advise you to actually go with Klipp Nat. Gut. I find this the coated version of this to be good for Gut. I'm a full poly or occassionally a hybrid user, but have tried full gut and gut hybrids. All I can say is I find Gut mushy and a bit too powerful even when I string it up around 65. I really like the feeling of swinging out on a ball and feeling it pancake against the strings and I feel like gut really stretches and moves.

I also find gut to have much more string movement and that REALLY bothers me. If you really like full poly I encourage you to try out Gut and decide for yourself.

2Hare · Mar 11, 2011

why not go hybrid with gut/poly or poly/gut? you get the benefit of a soften up stringbed and it'll have a lot more spin than full gut and even full poly and it's cheaper than full gut. not many people go for full gut these days due to the lack of spins compared to poly or hybrids.

if that's what you are going for, high end gut like VS gut is great for gut/poly, while cheaper gut is better for poly/gut due to elasticity and durability. And I would stay away from stiff and less elastic polys because it's screw with the stiffness of the stringbed. Some people say Alu power is rather stiff, but I found it to be very elastic compared to most poly so it's perfect for gut/poly hybrid IMO. man, the spin and feel u get from gut/alu power hybrid is simply amazing!

levy1 · Mar 11, 2011

Blade0324 said:
I would advise you to actually go with Klipp Nat. Gut. I find this the coated version of this to be good for Gut. I'm a full poly or occassionally a hybrid user, but have tried full gut and gut hybrids. All I can say is I find Gut mushy and a bit too powerful even when I string it up around 65. I really like the feeling of swinging out on a ball and feeling it pancake against the strings and I feel like gut really stretches and moves.

I also find gut to have much more string movement and that REALLY bothers me. If you really like full poly I encourage you to try out Gut and decide for yourself.

I use the klip 18 ga natural gut for the price.

levy1 · Mar 11, 2011

2Hare said:
why not go hybrid with gut/poly or poly/gut? you get the benefit of a soften up stringbed and it'll have a lot more spin than full gut and even full poly and it's cheaper than full gut. not many people go for full gut these days due to the lack of spins compared to poly or hybrids.

if that's what you are going for, high end gut like VS gut is great for gut/poly, while cheaper gut is better for poly/gut due to elasticity and durability. And I would stay away from stiff and less elastic polys because it's screw with the stiffness of the stringbed. Some people say Alu power is rather stiff, but I found it to be very elastic compared to most poly so it's perfect for gut/poly hybrid IMO. man, the spin and feel u get from gut/alu power hybrid is simply amazing!

If you are a true 3.5 like me don't go with any poly!

levy1 · Mar 11, 2011

tata said:
Im planning on going full natural gut on my next string job. It will be my first time. I was just wondering which string would be the best?
I would also like to know how well natural gut stacks in terms of tension maintenance and string movement. I would assume it to be more powerful than a full poly job. But as a first timer using natural gut, what do you guys recommend and say about the string?

You are making a great decision to try gut. Get a idea of the tension you want. I use Klip to save money. I also string the mains with gut and the crosses with synthetic to save money. I am a USTA 3.5

maverick66 · Mar 11, 2011

Well we all know full Andy Roddick uses full gut at 82lbs tension. So if he uses it and is the greatest player alive then shouldnt we?

Blade0324 · Mar 12, 2011

maverick66 said:
Well we all know full Andy Roddick uses full gut at 82lbs tension. So if he uses it and is the greatest player alive then shouldnt we?

Yes but Roddick has better control that the TTW monkeys so we better string it at about 95lb. to be safe.:wink:

bkpr · May 4, 2012

I'm also considering a full natural gut for my next string job. If I currently string Wilson sensation 17 @ 56lbs on 18x20 (and like it pretty well) what tension would you recommend with my first gut string job?

Also, I'm considering a 16 sized gut string for durability and hoping the elasticity will be better/softer than the Sensation 17. Would you say thi is true? I much prefer the feel of 17 multi vs 16, so I'd go with 17 gut if 16 gut didn't retain that bitey feel.

prjacobs · May 4, 2012

Gotta go with your gut on this one... Sorry, couldn't resist. I switched to full gut a couple of years ago. I went with babolat VS because I decided as long as I was trying it, why not get the highest rated string out there.
(Earlier today I posted in this section, asking if I was an idiot not to try other, more modern types of string. I'm taking everyone's advice and sticking to gut. I plays great and lasts for a long time if you don't break strings).
Let's face it, if you're interested in gut, sooner or later you'll have to try the VS, so just go for it

.

Uvijek Argen · May 5, 2012

Good advice prjacobs.

bkpr, If you buy high end gut VS/wilson gut you can go for 16 since is pretty thin already(I used Wilson gut 16 by preference (Babolat does their gut). And trust me, it bite the ball pretty well. (Shame on me for misjudge gut first time I used it)
Seeing that you string sensation at 56 probably 60# will be a good start.

ls206 · May 5, 2012

I prefer Bow Brand gut over VS, it was a while ago since I compared them but I think the VS was a little crisper and more powerful.

ramos77 · May 5, 2012

i just treated myself (dont tell the wife) to a bunch of VS touch packs in black and natural colour. In Australia they are $80-$90. Picked them up from the US for $40 delivered...

Playing tomorrow, but so far even just hitting in the backyard I know I"m going to like it. String on Warrior 100 and Donnay P1 97.

I just wasted some Klip Legend Pro, strung at 55 I was hitting way to long and had to cut em out.. Lesson learnt

bkpr · May 5, 2012

Uvijek Argen said:
bkpr, If you buy high end gut VS/wilson gut you can go for 16 since is pretty thin already(I used Wilson gut 16 by preference (Babolat does their gut). And trust me, it bite the ball pretty well.
…
Seeing that you string sensation at 56 probably 60# will be a good start.

Thank you for the advice

wmilas · May 6, 2012

I prefer Pacific natural over Bab VS. Its crisper. If you aren't a string breaker, and you don't need poly for the control with a fast head swingspeed, gut is the way to go. Good choice. I wish I could still use it in the mains

Oh and btw I break 17g poly before i break 16g gut in the mains. If you don't shank balls, gut is amazingly long lived. The stuff is amazing.

ramos77 · May 6, 2012

strung my Pro One 97 at 60 pounds with Bab VS touch, wow!

I'll never use another string again. Amazing power, control and comfort. POP POP POP

Overheadsmash · May 6, 2012

The really good players at my club, most of whom played D1 college tennis, use the babolat VS and nothing else. These are folks in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. The teenagers and 20 somethings all use poly's. The serious players say you will never have an arm problem with gut. A couple of the really good players also use full bed of TF NRG2.

Nostradamus · May 6, 2012

tata said:
Im planning on going full natural gut on my next string job. It will be my first time. I was just wondering which string would be the best?
I would also like to know how well natural gut stacks in terms of tension maintenance and string movement. I would assume it to be more powerful than a full poly job. But as a first timer using natural gut, what do you guys recommend and say about the string?

if money is no object then babolat VS touch natural gut. No string can match this string in terms of feel, power and control. but not spin. If you need something cheaper but almost as good, BDE natural gut is right up there.
I love gut too but it breaks on me too fast. especially in Hybrid

achokshi99 · May 6, 2012

Gut is timeless, if you look at the modern high end multis they all try to describe themselves as close to gut as they can be. There prob won't be anything as good as gut if the technology now hasn't resulted in a $10 set of strings that plays like gut.

Gut maintains tension and will play very consistently right until the end even if you have a ton of fraying, notching, and shredded strings.

I use Babalot Tonic 16 which is the cheap babolat gut line and it is amazing. I plan to use the Tonic 15L with the durability coating to see if I can get a bit more playing time out of it but overall I am very pleased.

Have several sets of Weisscanon Explosiv and Mantis Comfort Syn to work through and then will get back to the gut.

tata said:
Im planning on going full natural gut on my next string job. It will be my first time. I was just wondering which string would be the best?
I would also like to know how well natural gut stacks in terms of tension maintenance and string movement. I would assume it to be more powerful than a full poly job. But as a first timer using natural gut, what do you guys recommend and say about the string?

Full natural gut

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