Indeed, I prefer Scorpion in a hybrid even though I do like it in full. Gut is not required also. I would not recommend stringing up the crosses with MCS as it is very low powered. Instead, try Forten Sweet synthetic gut. It's not going to be as lively as a multi, but almost certainly moreso than MCS. It's also fairly soft for a syn gut, so that could solve your shoulder issues too. Let me know!pvaudio,
First, thank you for the reviews. They've been very informative and insightful. I've been reading pretty much all of them whenever I need a break from dissertation writing.
Second, I have a few string concerns that I'd appreciate your advice on. Like you, I really like Weiss Cannon Scorpion 1.22 -- strung full bed at 55 lbs on a pair of Vantage 90" (364g strung weight and 31.5 cm balance). But the string is a bit stiff for my shoulder. Also it doesn't offer me enough power.
I've tried several things to address the stiffness and lack of power of Scorpion. First, I dropped the tension to 40 lbs. I found a bit more power with a softer string bed. But my shoulder was still sore the next day if I did serve and volley. Then I tried multifilament strings. I've tried several for the past few months, such as Wilson Sensation, KLIP Excellerator, Technifibre NRG2 and X-1 Biphase -- all of which had 17 gauge. I liked NRG2 the most, but it was not cost effective. Wilson Sensation, thus far, has been the runner up in terms of power, softness, durability and cost.
But things weren't this simple. Your thread on Scorpion turned everything upside down. In a sense, I'm convinced that I should give hybrids a try before giving up Scorpion all together. I can't quite afford gut -- even the Performaxx or Mamba gut. So, what is a good cross string for Scorpion that would give me soft string bed with some power? From your reviews, it seems that Mantis Comfort Synthetic is a good candidate. Also, would you recommend using soft multifilament strings, such as Iso-Speed Professional 17 and Technifibre Multi-Feel 17, in hybrids with Scorpion?
Thank you for your help. Take care.
+1 Indeed they've been busy, recently.Thank you, mods, for cleaning that up.
Second, I have a few string concerns that I'd appreciate your advice on. Like you, I really like Weiss Cannon Scorpion 1.22 -- strung full bed at 55 lbs on a pair of Vantage 90" (364g strung weight and 31.5 cm balance). But the string is a bit stiff for my shoulder. Also it doesn't offer me enough power.
I've tried several things to address the stiffness and lack of power of Scorpion. First, I dropped the tension to 40 lbs. I found a bit more power with a softer string bed. But my shoulder was still sore the next day if I did serve and volley. Then I tried multifilament strings. I've tried several for the past few months, such as Wilson Sensation, KLIP Excellerator, Technifibre NRG2 and X-1 Biphase -- all of which had 17 gauge. I liked NRG2 the most, but it was not cost effective. Wilson Sensation, thus far, has been the runner up in terms of power, softness, durability and cost.
I did like the 3S. It felt nice and crisp.
As for the Iontec, I don't know what frame you're using. I'd ask Ray for specificity, but I believe I did 46/46.
Anyway, just got my sticks back from being strung locally. Quality? Excellent. Unfortunately, instead of being 52/47.5 (gut/poly), they're strung at 52/57.5. *Sigh.*
Hey, can anyone help out with a poly/gut hybrid tension question?Hey PV, I've got some Klip Legend Gut 17 and if I wanted to do a gut(main)/poly(Hyperion 17) cross, what tension should I be stringing at? I'm quite happy with my current hybrid tension listed below in my sig. I get lots of topspin out of it and I play on clay at sea level. Thank you.
Framingham, MA my friend.I thnk 46 was the magic tension for me too. 48 just felt wrong until I stomped on the string bed, left it in the hot car, and had my friend abuse it for a bit 46 felt great off the bat.
You addressed it in a later post... Gross error though. If you were closer, I'd offer my services but alas, a visit'll have to do. E-mail me more or less what town you're in now that you're settled.
Going to try the Pmaxx/ITb today. Found a local teaching pro to hit against. Most of the people in this area are older 3.5ish people who only play doubles and singles if forced to (not the other way around)
Framingham, MA my friend.
Butt was handed to me on a silver platter. It's very interesting, nonetheless. Whenever I play against people at the same NTRP level, but are my age, or at the very least hit with modern strokes, it's fairly easy to rally against them. There's lots of spin on the ball, predictable bounces, and pace I can work off of. Whenever I hit against anyone with the same NTRP but older, nuh uh. It's always flat or underspin. Never topspin. Just driving the ball through the court, low or lower bounces. Ugh. Very educational to say the least, and a great guy to hit with.
Don't got one! Whatcha see is whatcha get.What NTRP level are you, PV?
what happened to torres?
He and arche3 gnawed each other into ban-dom.
^^^ Is the NXT Control better than the 850?
...gnawed each other into ban-dom.
^^^ Is the NXT Control better than the 850?
I mean, all else is the same: tension, stick, mains. Just the cross.
I did a brief review of it on the prior page. It's pretty nice. I do have a feeling though that Iontec Salmon would be a better candidate for a cross, but in full, I prefer the black. Same feel, just a touch more control. Nonetheless, it's harder for me to evaluate since I have 3 racquets strung with it, two of which play similarly, and one which does not. The two are the ones I had strung by the pro shop here, and the other is the one I strung before I left. I prefer the feel of the one I did myself as the tension is lower. They use a Sensor which I know is notorious for overshoot, and perhaps they do not pull poly slowly, but the stringbed just feels a lot less lively and responsive compared to the one I did. As I mentioned, they also for some reason tied off on cross holes when the assigned tieoffs are obvious. Who knows. I'm hitting again tomorrow so I'll have a better estimate for you then.PV,
What did you think of the ITB/performaxx combo?
Thanks in advance.
So if I read this right your favorite is natural gut with Iontec Black?I can't compare Iontec to the 3S hybrid since it's full poly. Unfortunately, I did not try OS/4S. I tested those strings given to me, and these were the two recommended hybrids from GG that I could make out of the four strings given me (I couldve done 5S/3S, but Pro/Gut is not a rec. hybrid while 3S/gut is). As I already know what I like and it costs a fraction of those, I'm going to stick with what I've got. I can get gut mains, Iontec Black crosses for less than the L-Tec poly hybrid. As it is, it's no coincidence that most reviews in here are hybrids. I prefer that feel, hence my comment about not preferring poly hybrids. I always tension the softer string a bit higher to try to get a more uniform string bed stiffness, coupled with the fact that they'll lose tension over the course of stringing.
I did a brief review of it on the prior page. It's pretty nice. I do have a feeling though that Iontec Salmon would be a better candidate for a cross, but in full, I prefer the black. Same feel, just a touch more control. Nonetheless, it's harder for me to evaluate since I have 3 racquets strung with it, two of which play similarly, and one which does not. The two are the ones I had strung by the pro shop here, and the other is the one I strung before I left. I prefer the feel of the one I did myself as the tension is lower. They use a Sensor which I know is notorious for overshoot, and perhaps they do not pull poly slowly, but the stringbed just feels a lot less lively and responsive compared to the one I did. As I mentioned, they also for some reason tied off on cross holes when the assigned tieoffs are obvious. Who knows. I'm hitting again tomorrow so I'll have a better estimate for you then.
Mamba Supra. Harder to string, but the best of all the "cheap" guts.So if I read this right your favorite is natural gut with Iontec Black?
BTW I have been using Pmax WT, I cannot get it right now, any suggestions in that price range?
Hey PV!
I'm thinking about going back to WC strings( used 3 or 4 reels of Scorpion in the past 2 years ).
I playtested B5E in my current IG Prestiges( customized ) and really liked it( although I never liked shaped strings ). I think that it suited the racquet very well, especially after the customization.
I have 1 set of Scorpion coming my way, but I'm just wondering which one you prefer right now. I checked your last reviews about those 2 strings and still can't find out which one you like better
Thanks!
He likes (I think) Scorpion better (because it is a better all around string for him). I believe he likes B5E too (because of spin and tension maintenance). I love (parantheses). :twisted:
WeissCANNON, WeissCANNON, WeissCANNON. How, and I mean HOW in the Hell do you do this? How can you make strings this good?
WeissCANNON Black5Edge / WhisperTouch
Stringing: easy to string. It's WeissCANNON. I can sleep under anesthesia with more difficulty than I can string anything from WC. Gut has already been covered. Strung at 55/57.
Playability: What, the ****. What....the ****. WC. Seriously? How are no pros using this string? Silverstring? Not even close. This is the string to choose from between Scorpion and B5E. If you want something softer, use Scorpion. If you want crisper, use B5E. This string is so unbelievably responsive, it defies logic. Seriously. The feel is astounding. More importantly, this setup is incredibly soft. For once, the description from a manufacturer is accurate.
This is the first "soft" poly that I have ever used. It feels like a multifilament, but plays like a poly. IF you can generate spin, the string gives you all that you want. Coupled with the gut, you can create sounds that shake your spine if you put up a 100+ flat serve. I'm not going to go on like some do and say "you just can't miss!!". What I'm saying is that this string does what you want it to do. You want to hit a short angle shot, it hits a short angle shot. You want a touch volley, you get a touch volley.
It has the characteristics of a high end multifilament and a high end polyester all in one. Astounding. Again, if you want something a bit softer, go with the Scorpion. If you want something a bit crisper, go with the B5E. WC, upon release of this string, is now the best string manufacturer out there and I stand by that statement 100%. If you sit there and think about it, they do not make a single bad string.
Durability: Frayed the gut about as much as the Scorpion. There's not much to talk about here yet. I played for an hour and a half against a good junior player and purposely gave him spin to drive him mad, and the WhisperTouch continues to show that it's no slouch when it comes to not only feel, but also longevity.
Overall: Tied with the Scorpion setup: 9.5/10
PV,
Did B5E eat into the gut causing durability issues?