Rebel 98 Recommended strings
- Thread starter PigPen
- Start date
I just tried a few strings 4.5 bad elbow. NRG worked very well soft and good power at 55 pounds. I used Mantis comfort and my arm was very sore after playing. What played the best was prince premier attack all around a great string the spin was unreal. The racket has a lot more power then i thought it would but everything lands in due to the nasty spin the racket puts on the ball. Best racket i ever hit with
SJSA
Professional
Hybrid with two poly strings is not a best idea.
He is 50 not a good choice his arm will be toast. OP are you looking for a hybrid or multi
BC1
Professional
For what it worth - I just started using the Rebel 98 a couple weeks ago and quickly began feeling it in my elbow and shoulder. This totally shocked me as I never had any problems playing with much stiffer racquets (pure drives). My rebel is strung with lux alu rough at 58 - so that may be the problem, but once again I didn't expect it to be an issue because I've played with stiffer racquets with the same set-up and no problem. I assumed it was because I was having to swing harder and maybe changed up my stroke a little to make up for the loss in free power. I was given this good string advice on a different thread:
Originally Posted by fuzz nation
"I'd offer that pretty much anytime that one of us takes up with a different racquet, that's going to usually bring an adjustment period where mis-hits will be a lot more common. Even when using a frame with an especially arm-friendly reputation, a big increase in mis-hits will be a lot rougher on the elbow.
I've also seen more that one or two cases of chronic arm irritation and tennis elbow suffered by players in my region in recent history. Nothing groundbreaking there, but some instances have been among stronger players using "arm-friendly" racquets strung with poly. I'm convinced that square one when looking to adopt gear that's easy on the arm is to look for softer string regardless of the stiffness of the racquet."
Anyway - long story short - you may want to start out with a softer string. Low tension soft poly or a multi. I've heard of many others complaining about arm problems with the rebel 98. I haven't restrung mine yet, but will be soon. I did demo a rebel team with pince xx spin and it felt more comfortable and had more power.
BC1
Professional
UPDATE--- The strings did make all the difference. After my freshly strung Rebel 98 sat around for a week the strings loosened up and settled in. And now it plays like a totally different racquet. Felt amazing last night, very comfortable, more power, and NO arm problems. Even though it's poly - alu power rough - it felt great due to it's lower tension. So, Fuzz Nation had it correct, the strings can and do make all the difference. I know this but am still shocked how much strings matter. It seems strings are more important then the frame.
Either go with a multi or soft poly at low tension - and let the racquet rest for a couple of days. You will be happy with the results. The Rebel 98 is geared more towards control and with it's 16x20 string pattern you can use a lower tension without sacrificing much control. Feels better all around and you can feel the ball pocketing.
Right now I'm loving the lux alu power rough - tension now is probably 53 mains 50 crosses. (it was originally strung at 58/55)
Larrysümmers
Hall of Fame
nxt 16 @60lbs, or ng
tom4ny
Professional
I am trying the new string from Prince called 'attack'. It is a stiffer multi that feels crisp in this frame and so far is holding tension quite well. I still may like a soft poly best but this string feels pretty similar just a tad firmer and is arm friendly.
Agree that the frame is best at mid to low tension and assuming a full bed string set up suggest dropping the crosses by 3 or 4 lbs.
The frame does need a vibration dampener though. I definitely lose control and get a pinging sound sans dampener but this is minor. Still liking the Rebel 98!
Agree that the frame is best at mid to low tension and assuming a full bed string set up suggest dropping the crosses by 3 or 4 lbs.
The frame does need a vibration dampener though. I definitely lose control and get a pinging sound sans dampener but this is minor. Still liking the Rebel 98!
WilsonPlayer101
Professional
How about natural gut?
tom4ny
Professional
i suspect that gut would sound 'pingy' in this frame without the dampener but other than that i think it would play well and give some added power. would still suggest mid to low tensions and drop the crosses by 3. i plan to try vs gut next as i loved it in my old volkl tour 10 mp v-engines and the prince rebel 98 reminds me a lot of that frame.
kimguroo
Legend
Might be a good choice but no cheap gut.
I tried some but durability was big issue. Klip natural gut should be minimum.
I am not string breaker but. Cheap gut last only 4 hrs. klip last longer so I think it's almost same price or even cheaper to buy klip than $12 cheap gut.
My set up is klip natural gut main and MSV hex.
I have klip and Alu power cross but don't like it because of stiffness.
sansaephanh
Professional
Not to be a djerkovic, but shouldn't this go in the string section? Though I'd never recommend poly unless you're a string breaker.
kimguroo
Legend
I like high tension but I don't string high tension for natural gut.
Usually around 55lbs for good quality gut and around 50lbs for cheap gut but no longer buy those cheap gut. Klip is my choice now.
Usually I string 2-3lbs higher for MSV cross
I use rebel 95 and I can have slight more power than poly string set up.
Since MSV is soft co-poly and very comfortable with NG hybrid set up but downside is... Hex is textured string so durability is issue though but I am not string breaker so it's not bad.
tom4ny
Professional
prince attack is really an awesome string in this frame. it breaks in pretty quickly and the power level is perfect for the rebel 98 yet the control is there. more important - you can play for hours with this set up and have no arm issues. i like the string so much that i will try it in my dunlop bio 300t's but in 17g. i have the 16g version in my rebel 98.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
What tension do you have it in the Rebel 98? Full job or hybrid?
BC1
Professional
^^^ Hearing all of this favorable talk about the Prince Attack, or the Attack/Beast hybrid is making me want to restring my rebel 98.
Jack and Tom (and others), I guess this change from a poly (alu power rough) to the attack or any syn gut "should" give me a little more power and possibly make the racquet a little more forgiving? If so, maybe it's worth a shot.
Jack and Tom (and others), I guess this change from a poly (alu power rough) to the attack or any syn gut "should" give me a little more power and possibly make the racquet a little more forgiving? If so, maybe it's worth a shot.
tom4ny
Professional
i have tried a copoly (fell bed) in the rebel and liked it but i like a full bed of prince attack even better. it doesn't cup the ball as well as a soft multi like isospeed control (the new version) but it has good snap and power but like i said it is very comfortable.
the first go around i had it strung by my coach at 56/53 which is my reference tension. the next go around i will try at 54/51 to see if i can get some of the cupping back that i got with isospeed.
prince premier attack is a powerful yet comfortable multi. the blend of solid core and multi wrap seems to give it a decent life span too. i have over 10 hours so far. i do use the prince vibration dampener. the string does lose control and vibration is increased without it. i will be interested to see if i need a vibration dampener in my dunlop 300t
the first go around i had it strung by my coach at 56/53 which is my reference tension. the next go around i will try at 54/51 to see if i can get some of the cupping back that i got with isospeed.
prince premier attack is a powerful yet comfortable multi. the blend of solid core and multi wrap seems to give it a decent life span too. i have over 10 hours so far. i do use the prince vibration dampener. the string does lose control and vibration is increased without it. i will be interested to see if i need a vibration dampener in my dunlop 300t
BC1
Professional
Does the Attack move around alot? That is one reason I love poly - the strings always stay (or snap back) in place.
mikeler
Moderator
PPA moves very little for a multi. As stated above, the outer mains move a little bit but the inner mains move very little. My crosses barely move too and I've got about 11 hours of play time on it. Think it will break soon but most multis I break between 4-6 hours.
Start mains at the top . there is side that racket need to be strung on. If you use the wrong side it will be wrong. The side with the silver grommet needs to be on your right if you are facing the racket. You need a boomerang tool and watch irwins video in the stringing section its very helpful.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
What tension do you recommend for Attack 16 in the Rebel 98?
tom4ny
Professional
given how you are stringing your warrior i would definitely start at 55/52 with a full bed of attack in the rebel 98. i have mine at 56/53 and i wouldnt go higher than that. i also am using the black dyed version with vibration dampener and a head hydrosorb grip. perfecto!
BC1
Professional
Jack, what have you decided to try as your string setup for the 98? Are u going with attack?
BC1
Professional
The first number is typically the main, so 54 would be the main.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
tried it tonite and I think full setup of Attack at 54/52 was too loose and sprjngy for me. I need to go higher next time or try a hybrid with a poly.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
I had the dampener in there. I never play any racquet without one. I think the tension is just too low. I bought it new online and I think it may have lost tension during shipping or just bad stringing job overall. The strings are moving too easily it seems. I measured the tension with my iPhone app and it showed 39! It was supposedly strung up at 55/52, but its far from that now.
tom4ny
Professional
egads! yes, it sounds like a horrible string job. i don't know that iphone app but i believe what you say and that you used a dampener. i have my rebels at 56/53 and they are too springy for me without the dampener but i love the ball pocketing at this tension. i do not usually like dampeners as it mutes the string bed too much for me but i like the little exo3 dampener. i am sorry to hear about your experience but i do really think that this frame performs best aound the tension that you have it. at 60 lbs you start to lose that pocketing and ball feel but that is me and what i like about the frame.
i think that you will find you get some amazing angles and zip shots down the line with the rebel - more so than with the warrior due to the oval head shape. serving will be better with your warrior but hang in there 'cause it will come with the rebel. have fun
i think that you will find you get some amazing angles and zip shots down the line with the rebel - more so than with the warrior due to the oval head shape. serving will be better with your warrior but hang in there 'cause it will come with the rebel. have fun
BC1
Professional
i think that you will find you get some amazing angles and zip shots down the line with the rebel - more so than with the warrior due to the oval head shape. serving will be better with your warrior but hang in there 'cause it will come with the rebel. have fun
Totally agree. Angles and zip shots are easy to come by with the Rebel. Serves with warrior are better/easier at first but with proper timing the Rebel is an amazing serving racquet - I am able to hit the "T" consistently, and it can put some great spin on it as well - I found poly really helps with spin and control in this racquet. I've hit the rebel with syn gut (xx spin) and did not get the same results.
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