A couple string tests
- Thread starter Up&comer
- Start date
Could you suggest a string that would give me the strength, speed and reflexes of someone 1/2 my age in league play.
mikeler
Moderator
I've got the perfect string for you. Can't remember who makes it but it is called FOY and only helps in league play. In practice, the magic is just not there.
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
Very much so. I'm liking it more than the scorpion mains, but it's nowhere close to b5e.
mikeler
Moderator
Posture Guy
Professional
one question for you guys. If your primary string setup includes some gut, do you keep a spare racket strung with non-gut for damp days?
I know in the days when I was playing as a kid back in the 70s, and when I splurged for that old Victor Imperial with the blue spiral, gut got along with water about as well as the wicked witch of the west. Is that about the same these days or has that changed?
I know in the days when I was playing as a kid back in the 70s, and when I splurged for that old Victor Imperial with the blue spiral, gut got along with water about as well as the wicked witch of the west. Is that about the same these days or has that changed?
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
fgs
Hall of Fame
the power syn is not as powerful as the name implies (the lux alu power also bears "power" in it's name and is not really powerful) and it really keeps going quite a lot as crosses. mates really well with both the power poly and the comfort poly!
i bet a set of mcs you don't break it in 45 sec.
i bet a set of mcs you don't break it in 45 sec.
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
Odd that you say that, as I just strung it up to do a side by side comparison, and I would've sworn that the comfort was the power and vice versa stringing them up. The comfort felt noticeably stiffer in hand than the power. The comfort also pings really loud while the power is much more muted and even softer sounding if you know what I mean.
On the bounce test, though, they felt almost identical, with the comfort ever do slightly edging out in the softness department. It's not the mushy soft that I was expecting, but more of a firm soft. The power poly felt like any modern co poly.
Now I'm probably going to regret making such a detailed assumption off a bounce test, but the feeling of the comfort poly is so odd.
mikeler
Moderator
Hmm, MCS isn't really impressing me either. It's super soft which I like but super low powered as well. Great for pushing back those bullet serves but I'm having to work a little extra on everything else.
What else would I expect from a low powered string in a low powered racquet right? Strung at 55/53
What else would I expect from a low powered string in a low powered racquet right? Strung at 55/53
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
Both are pretty good. Not great, but good. They're both on the powerful side for polys.
Oh, and just for fun, in doing a full bed of MCS tomorrow to see how fast I can break it. It's grinder day tomorrow, so that will be the true test.
In case you're wondering, grinder day is when we drop feed elevens for 2 and a half hours and you can only win a point of your opponent makes an error. Fun.
mikeler
Moderator
MCS and RIP Control are both very unique and definitely not for everyone.
Poor MCS.
mixedmedia
Professional
If you don't mind me posting a question in here, I was wondering if you, U&C, or mikeler could help me.
Would you compare the stiffness of a 58/58 Gamma Pro 16g (should I tension multi mains and crosses differently?) string bed to that of 54 Pacific Classic/50 Co.-Focus and 54 Pacific Classic/50 Scorpion? It's in a Head YT IG Speed 18x20. Any other characteristic comparisons would be awesome! Thanks!
I played with the Gamma Pro before and remember liking it, but durability wasn't the best. I switched to poly crosses to try and get more spin, with gut mains to soften it, but it still seems sort of stiff, especially the Co.-Focus. Maybe I have something wrong in my form, but I have a lot of matches coming up.
Would you compare the stiffness of a 58/58 Gamma Pro 16g (should I tension multi mains and crosses differently?) string bed to that of 54 Pacific Classic/50 Co.-Focus and 54 Pacific Classic/50 Scorpion? It's in a Head YT IG Speed 18x20. Any other characteristic comparisons would be awesome! Thanks!
I played with the Gamma Pro before and remember liking it, but durability wasn't the best. I switched to poly crosses to try and get more spin, with gut mains to soften it, but it still seems sort of stiff, especially the Co.-Focus. Maybe I have something wrong in my form, but I have a lot of matches coming up.
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mixedmedia
Professional
Oh man, I knew it looked weird when I typed it, but it didn't quite register: I meant Pacific Classic... Now edited to reflect that. Boy, do I feel stupid.
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
If I remember correctly, the gut mains/ poly cross at the lower tension should be softer compared to gamma pro. The co focus hybrid will have more spin and power, but less control. The scorpion hybrid will have less power, slightly less spin, and alot more control. I personally think it performs better at net as well.
Hope I got everything.
Hope I got everything.
mixedmedia
Professional
Huh, really? It still seems to be taking a toll on my arm. Any ideas?
mikeler
Moderator
Cut the poly out. Got my new batch of multis in so keep an eye on that thread.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=352048&page=122
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
Used Babolat Hurricane Feel in APD Gt at 46 mains/44 crosses. Nice blend of control and power. Not to soft, not too stiff. At this tension it felt very good specially for my topspin strokes. Before this, I tried Pacific Polygut but too much power in the gut mains. Will stick with this Hurricane Feel unless the LTEC strings Im going to try next really impress me.
I am stringing my backup racket with it. Will see how it plays this weekend. I have heard mixed reviews but TW representatives that I have spoken on the phone with highly recommend it. For the price, nothing wrong in trying a set.
dParis
Hall of Fame
I'm not really trying to be a S.A., but what does "It looks decent" mean? I understand that the price is attractive. I bought a set of 17g based on reviews and price. I probably won't have it strung until some time next month, though.
D
Deleted member 120290
Guest
Cyclone 18g is my personal favorite string. No matter how many other new, old, expensive, cheap, etc. strings I try I always come back to it. The combo of spin, control, feel and right amount of power is great for my game. If you factor in the price it is even better. It doesn't last very long but in my racket, YT Extreme Pro, no other string does either.
All the tennis shops I've talked to highly recommend Cyclone and for sure it isn't because they make tons of money on it.
mixedmedia
Professional
Okay, and I think I may. Is there any reason to go with multi over gut? At least in hybrid, the gut doesn't seem to give me the feel I originally thought it would, or maybe I've become used to it. Also, the pain has been on the outer part of my shoulder some but mostly in my wrist and lower forearm. I think I'm cocking my wrist too much, but is there something else that could contribute to it?
Thanks, guys!
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
Alrighty. Mantis Power Polyester 51/49
Stringing- Pretty easy. It felt softer than comfort poly stringing it up. No real problems.
Groundstrokes- Very good. I'm used to B5E, so this was a little powerful in comparison. However, once I compensated, it played great. It had surprisingly good spin potential. I had to adjust my stroke to more of a brushing action on rally shots, but on put aways I felt perfectly confident swinging away. It felt like most modern co-polys. It held tension pretty well. One thing that did happen was that it started moving after about 3 hours. Not dead moving, but moving like fresh tour bite. It wasn't dead. Just the middle main would move after I hit it.
Overall- 9/10
Serves- Awesome. I mean awesome. The power was completely there, I just had to place it. I was bombing first serves. I don't know if I'm just in a rythm right now, but I served great with this stuff. Kicks were heavy (even my opponents commented on it) and slices skidded. Just great.
Overall- 10/10
Volleys- Meh. Average for a poly. Not too much to say here.
Overall- 7/10
Durability- Slightly below average for a poly. Broke in 6.5 hours.
Overall- 8/10
Softness- You know the drill
Overall- 7.5/10
All in all, this string performed great. I was hitting my groundies and serves about as well as I ever have. I did miss the little extra at net, but all in all I really liked it.
Stringing- Pretty easy. It felt softer than comfort poly stringing it up. No real problems.
Groundstrokes- Very good. I'm used to B5E, so this was a little powerful in comparison. However, once I compensated, it played great. It had surprisingly good spin potential. I had to adjust my stroke to more of a brushing action on rally shots, but on put aways I felt perfectly confident swinging away. It felt like most modern co-polys. It held tension pretty well. One thing that did happen was that it started moving after about 3 hours. Not dead moving, but moving like fresh tour bite. It wasn't dead. Just the middle main would move after I hit it.
Overall- 9/10
Serves- Awesome. I mean awesome. The power was completely there, I just had to place it. I was bombing first serves. I don't know if I'm just in a rythm right now, but I served great with this stuff. Kicks were heavy (even my opponents commented on it) and slices skidded. Just great.
Overall- 10/10
Volleys- Meh. Average for a poly. Not too much to say here.
Overall- 7/10
Durability- Slightly below average for a poly. Broke in 6.5 hours.
Overall- 8/10
Softness- You know the drill
Overall- 7.5/10
All in all, this string performed great. I was hitting my groundies and serves about as well as I ever have. I did miss the little extra at net, but all in all I really liked it.
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Up&comer
Hall of Fame
fgs
Hall of Fame
up&comer,
i'm really very happy that there is another "reputed" poster and tester (i'm serious!!!) that appreciates this string. i always said that so far i have not found many shaped/textured strings to prduce significantly more rpm's than this one, specially when you have played past three hours and the shape/texture has worn down.
interesting is also the durability - you are much younger and most probably hit a faster ball than i can nowadays, but 6.5h is pretty good in my opinion - heavy practice hitting assumed. i get anywhere between 8-10 hours in the mean time, depending on how much drills or point play is involved.
i have never tried the mcs in fullbed but maybe you also give it a try in a hybrid with the power poly. i'd really love to see what you think about MY reference set-up.
i'm really very happy that there is another "reputed" poster and tester (i'm serious!!!) that appreciates this string. i always said that so far i have not found many shaped/textured strings to prduce significantly more rpm's than this one, specially when you have played past three hours and the shape/texture has worn down.
interesting is also the durability - you are much younger and most probably hit a faster ball than i can nowadays, but 6.5h is pretty good in my opinion - heavy practice hitting assumed. i get anywhere between 8-10 hours in the mean time, depending on how much drills or point play is involved.
i have never tried the mcs in fullbed but maybe you also give it a try in a hybrid with the power poly. i'd really love to see what you think about MY reference set-up.
fgs
Hall of Fame
i had a chance to hit with a former futures player some months back and on that occasion a string only lasted for 4 hours, but that is the exception. while i would love to have more often such opportunities, i hope that my son will rise up to that level in the next few years. with him i have gone down from roughly 12 hours on a stringset to around 8-10 in the mean time, so from this point of view there is some real progress he has made (but not enough yet!).
).mixedmedia
Professional
The acromial region.
mikeler
Moderator
You are an animal!
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
mixedmedia
Professional
Hard to say. What I can say is it feels pretty much at the joint and right behind it (if you stretch your arm across your body, it would be right around the sort of point/knob that your shoulder forms). It feels like the upper edge of my shoulder if that makes sense. Any ideas what's causing it?
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
Huh. I'm summoning all my anatomy knowledge on this one. It sounds like the deltoid miscle, in which case it could be caused by either hitting a violent slice backhand moving your shoulders without your arm or trying a nadal like stroke. One other thing that could really hurt it would be if on a serve your arm dropped too far down behind your back (if you know what I mean).
mixedmedia
Professional
Hmm... On my serve I do have a problem of letting my arm and elbow drop too far sometimes. What about if I'm not moving through my shots? Would that contribute? I'm trying to determine whether or not I should switch to multi or gut then back to gut/poly or just give up on poly, i.e. how much form is contributing and how much string is.
Also, is there any reason to use multi over gut?
Thanks for all your help!
Also, is there any reason to use multi over gut?
Thanks for all your help!
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
Truthfully, if you can afford it, use gut. However, I would personally suggest just using multis. Mikeler would do a better job directing you to which one to use.
And yes, not moving through your shots would definitely contribute to some of the pain unless you are completely ripped. I would still suggest using a multi until your arm and shoulder are healed. If it's your arm, stick with multis for a while after your arm feels better and make sure to strengthen your arms.
And yes, not moving through your shots would definitely contribute to some of the pain unless you are completely ripped. I would still suggest using a multi until your arm and shoulder are healed. If it's your arm, stick with multis for a while after your arm feels better and make sure to strengthen your arms.
mixedmedia
Professional
Yeah, I've been lazy on the gym aspect... Thanks, Up&comer!
mixedmedia
Professional
What bugs me is that none of the people I play with have problems, and they play with poly/multi and full poly in the mid 50s to low 60s. And they look to have worse form...
Up&comer
Hall of Fame
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