Radical Shot
Semi-Pro
Just wanted to chip in here and give a big +1 to everything that BigT has said in this thread. Spot-on advice that only comes from experience, stringing and hitting.
BigT,
I like lower powered, spin oriented multis and I was going to purchase something from Pro's Pro. I'm a 4.5 all court player. Which string would you recommend?
Like you said, more spin and pace generally means get some more racquet head speed. That might solve your problem.
If you need help, maybe trying crossing your poly with your favorite synthetic or multi. That might get you some more power without sacrificing too much spin.
Switching racquets should only be done after you've tried several string options.
BigT,
I like lower powered, spin oriented multis and I was going to purchase something from Pro's Pro. I'm a 4.5 all court player. Which string would you recommend?
That's only the RSI list which doesn't include Pro's Pro, Discho, Eagnas and others who have not submitted samples for testing!Haha, good point. Whoa, is it really 800? Is that including each gauge as a different string?
With over 800 strings out there, it's tough to come up with something original. Heck, just look at some of the rock/pop band names out there now! Foster the People? Really?
Pro's Pro is good string at a great price, but BigT is too ethical to use this forum to shamelessly promote his own products.
I'm not a shill, but I do know a good value when it hits me in the face and I like the way he does business.
Ray at Mamba has a different style, but his stuff is good, too, so I've purchased reels from both of them.
I'm an independent racquet tech and my goal is to give my clients the best bang for their buck in a depressed economy.
That's only the RSI list which doesn't include Pro's Pro, Discho, Eagnas and others who have not submitted samples for testing!
Yes that does include the different gauges.
There really is a big difference in the performance of different gauges. They might as well be different strings.
Think about it. How many different FXP, Big Banger, and Live Wire variations are there?
They couldn't think of new names either!
...
I used the B5E last year and strongly considering BHB7 for my next reel. I prefer to work with one string in the mains for the rest of the year.
thanks for your suggestions.
Have you demoed BHB7 and compared it to B5E? I've heard they're pretty different.
With the exception of Gut Power and Kingut, I found most Pro's Pro multis to be quite tame in the power dept.
Tristar and Gutex Ultra are probably the lowest powered, with decent spin.
Torpedo and Claycourt Plus are medium powered with great spin.
If you like MCS, then you would want to give Hitec Multifiber a look.
Silver Twist is as soft as a multi, low powered, and has very good spin.
can there be a softer string than mcs? yes, it is pro's pro hitech multifibre.
i managed to hit yesterday for half an hour with it, but it's too soon to make any statements besides the fact that it was "encouraging". i had it strung with blackout mains and played it parallel with the blackout/mcs combo and a tecnifibre black code/mcs combo.
after stringing i made a measurement with the raquettune and it was 1 point softer than the blackout/mcs combo. you also feel it while hitting. for now the power level is comparable, spin too, i think i have to get used a little bit to the touch of it and slightly adjust in order to have better control, as i felt that i was spraying the shots a little bit more as compared to the blackout/mcs combo.
To preface, this thread is not intended to offend or disrespect anyone. It is just meant to bring to light a few issues I often see here on the forum, and to add some input.
The importance of gear, and the correct gear, is of great importance to every sport, especially tennis. It is solely because of my playing/stringing needs that I got in the business almost 20 years ago.
Please take a look for a minute or two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER9FKDpSi_g
Do these players need poly? Would poly give their shots 'tons of spin'? Would it make their shots that are sailing long, drop in?
What if during a changeover, they started discussing the 'dwell time' or 'ball pocketing' of their strings? How would you react?
What if one them uses poly and claims it feels the same to him after 30 hours as it did after 1 hour? Would that mean anything?
Just yesterday, a customer, who later said he was a 3.5, asked me about stringing. His first question was 'Do you have Luxilon?'
At the 3.5 level, to improve your game, I suggest hitting against the wall for a few hours or getting a lesson from your local pro. A good synthetic or multi would be fine.
^^ Mate, my post did not have you or any other one particular poster in mind. Please do not take offense. It was said as a whole to many of the threads that are made here everyday, and to many inquiries I receive.
When certain customers do insist on poly, I do try to have them hybrid with poly crosses for the reasons you mentioned.
The general guidance here seems to be string cheap and string often - not new.
The problems are 1) burning 30 minutes to an hour stringing for every 8-10 hours on court. When life gets busy, that time isn't that easy to come by. And 2) busy adults will probably need two weeks (or a month if they're rotating 2 frames) to get to 8-10 hours if they can squeeze in 2 sessions a week. Nylon based strings at 8-10 hours a month out are just a mess.
I'd agree that fresh syngut or multi every time out is sufficient for plenty of players - but most players don't have that kind of time to restring (or that kind of money to pay someone else to do it). I've also yet to find a nylon based string that doesn't play significantly differently between sessions. More recent polys (and gut) don't seem to be nearly as variable from hour to hour.
So, BigT - what's the prescription? Is there a cheap syngut that maintains its playability?
Big difference from the first video.The following video is one where I think the level of players could begin to see some differences in play with their string set-ups:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqi-4B7E6xc&feature=related
The following video is one where I think the level of players could begin to see some differences in play with their string set-ups:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqi-4B7E6xc&feature=related
Are you sure the players in that vid are 3.5? I'm sure that I'm better than them and I'm a 3.0.
this is 4.0??? by that i should be 5.0 ! yay for me
Agreed, Maybe I have been underrating myself, but I like to be honest with myself... or at least modest lol
But there is also the issue of the rating system being so vague. I'll stick to my humble 3.5 rating.
I think most of us would be quite surprised and humbled if we were to watch ourselves on video.
I think most of us would be quite surprised and humbled if we were to watch ourselves on video.
I think most of us would be quite surprised and humbled if we were to watch ourselves on video.
HAHA I had that same thought racing thru my head
i hope you're wrong
Yesterday I played in a friendly round robin doubles tournament. My team won 4 sets and lost 1. There were 2 notable players. 1 was a 6', 145lbs, skinny as a chopstick, 25 yo who had all the shots in the bag. Great flat 1st, kick 2nd, crisp volleys, beautiful and flowing 1HBH and most impressively, a BOOMING CANNONBALL FH that almost never missed. This guy hit as hard as most D1's I've seen. I'd put him at 5.5 - 6.0.
Even more surprising was this scrawny, 5'7", 135lb, 65 yo man who showed up with 1 PD Cortex with worn out grip and strings that were all over the place. He and his partner, 6'5", 65 yo stud just blew threw their matches and played against the 25 yo guy and his partner who was just mediocre. The old guys beat the young guys 8-6 in a TB (mostly by attacking the weaker player.)
The short, old guy was the 2nd or 3rd best doubles player at the whole tournament. He would probably get killed in singles because of movement but man, in doubles this guy could hold his own against EVERYONE except the 25 yo. Not only did he have great moderate topspin groundstrokes, pinpoint volleys and serves, he was extremely tennis smart. When he was against the wind he hit a lot of short, slice approaches that died and when with the wind he would hit hard, driving topspin FH's that drove the opponents back.
Sometimes I go to a golf course or a tennis tournament where these old guys show up with crappy, old, beat up equipment and put me to shame. Once this 60 yo man came out of the woods (literally) with just 5 clubs in this patched up bag and joined us for the back 9 at a pretty tough golf course and put all of us with our $500 drivers, $1,200 iron sets and $250 putters to shame. We shot 5 - 10 over on the back nine and he shot -2. He reached a par 5 with a crappy driver and a 2 iron.
I was humbled by the 25 yo but esp. by the old man with his beat up racket, grip and string. I need to just pick a good racket and string setup, stick with it and work on my game instead of trying to buy a better game. That's why my game has stayed in the 4.0-4.5 range while my equipment is 7.0.
"String Guide to the Perplexed"
by
*PRO'S PRO STRINGS-Exclusive Distributor in U.S. and Canada*
^^^ I'll just leave this here and let people draw their own conclusions.
He is not hiding it. I have no problem with the thread myself for that reason.