GUT vs. MULTI

SCRAP IRON · Feb 19, 2013

I am a solid 4.5 club player that truly understands equipment and the difference between various strings and tension. I must say though, after 3 times playing with quality gut strings, I can't see a tangible difference between gut and Technifibre X1 BiPhase multifilament. Furthermore, I feel that some poly strings, though much stiffer, are far superior in performance when compared to gut. I would imagine other good level players have had similar experiences...

Say Chi Sin Lo · Feb 19, 2013

Performance is such a broad term that it doesn't really mean anything to us 4.5 club player.

There is a significant difference between gut and multi. Multi is man's poor attempt to replicate nature's perfection. The biggest difference is the elasticity and longevity in gut. As in, you don't need to cut it out and the gut plays true until it snaps.

Now, as a 4.5 club player, it impossible to compare the performance gut and polyester. Because they're designed for different things.

Roger Wawrinka · Feb 19, 2013

Were you stringing your gut and biphase on the crosses or mains?

NE1for10is? · Feb 19, 2013

Were you using Babolat gut with BT7? Cause BT7 makes it stiffer and it doesn't really feel much like gut anymore and I could see where it might feel the same as a multi.

pvaudio · Feb 19, 2013

SCRAP IRON said:
I am a solid 4.5 club player that truly understands equipment and the difference between various strings and tension. I must say though, after 3 times playing with quality gut strings, I can't see a tangible difference between gut and Technifibre X1 BiPhase multifilament. Furthermore, I feel that some poly strings, though much stiffer, are far superior in performance when compared to gut. I would imagine other good level players have had similar experiences...

With all due respect, making blanket statements like your first one and then saying the second bolded portion kinda does show a bit of ignorance. It's kind of like saying that you are a fruit expert and then saying "although they're not as sweet, apples are far superior to oranges when it comes to fruit".

pvaudio · Feb 19, 2013

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
Performance is such a broad term that it doesn't really mean anything to us 4.5 club player.

There is a significant difference between gut and multi. Multi is man's poor attempt to replicate nature's perfection. The biggest difference is the elasticity and longevity in gut. As in, you don't need to cut it out and the gut plays true until it snaps.

Now, as a 4.5 club player, it impossible to compare the performance gut and polyester. Because they're designed for different things.

I see SCSL covered exactly what I was trying to convey.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Feb 19, 2013

Also, a true 4.5 player wouldn't let such thing as trivial as strings type get in the way of competing. A true 4.5 is going to hit his/her shots regardless.

Would one have a preference over another? Yes, but please, all strings perform.

NLBwell · Feb 19, 2013

It's whatever you feel is best for your personally. There are one or two pro players who use cheap syngut.

slowfox · Feb 19, 2013

I find multis feel great when fresh. That first session is awesome, but then... uh, no. Gut feels super-awesome when fresh, and then for most of its lifespan feels plain awesome.

Relinquis · Feb 19, 2013

are we talking when freshly strung or after a couple of matches/practice sessions?

i use multis. notice a difference between a fresh bed and one that has been used for a long time in terms of the way it feels at contact, but it doesn't really affect my game. have never used natural gut, but want to try it at some point.

mikeler · Feb 19, 2013

I have not used all the guts out there but I don't play any better with them than full multi jobs. Price therefore wins.

Centerforward71 · Feb 19, 2013

slowfox said:
I find multis feel great when fresh. That first session is awesome, but then... uh, no. Gut feels super-awesome when fresh, and then for most of its lifespan feels plain awesome.

This is the only perfect answer. Longevity. I agree some multis may outperform at first but not for long.

Ramon · Feb 19, 2013

I've played with multis that give me about the same performance as gut, so I agree that if you have a very good multi you'll play as well as you do with gut. For me it's a matter of durability and sustained playability. Even though gut costs more, it generally lasts much longer and it isn't susceptible to premature breakage on shanks. If you're a 4.5 player, chances are you've broken a few strings in the first few hours on shanks. Then there's also the matter of playability over the life of the string. Does X1 play the same after 10 hours as it does when it's fresh?

mikeler · Feb 20, 2013

Ramon said:
I've played with multis that give me about the same performance as gut, so I agree that if you have a very good multi you'll play as well as you do with gut. For me it's a matter of durability and sustained playability. Even though gut costs more, it generally lasts much longer and it isn't susceptible to premature breakage on shanks. If you're a 4.5 player, chances are you've broken a few strings in the first few hours on shanks. Then there's also the matter of playability over the life of the string. Does X1 play the same after 10 hours as it does when it's fresh?

X1 is not a good comparison for long life. I'm hoping to try it again with a good prestretch to see if that helps.

SCRAP IRON · Feb 20, 2013

Gut

Just to clarify- I have used full string beds of Babolat VS Gut. I realize that gut will last longer in favorable conditions, but I could not see much of a difference in terms of performance when comparing it to good quality multis. It was good to hear your responses/opinions with regard to this subject. Thanks men...

Lambsscroll · Feb 20, 2013

The reason why natural gut is getting so much attention of late is because it works so well with poly strings. The friction is very low. This allows for easy spin. You also get the feel from the natural gut and the control from the poly string.

X-1 and other multis may offer nice feel but the friction is too high in a multi/poly hybrid. This results in less spin and less control when compared with a gut/poly hybrid.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Feb 20, 2013

Of late? Gut has always been good, for any occasion related to tennis. It will always come down to whether or not people want to invest and commit to it.

ultradr · Feb 20, 2013

Ramon said:
I've played with multis that give me about the same performance as gut, so I agree that if you have a very good multi you'll play as well as you do with gut. For me it's a matter of durability and sustained playability. Even though gut costs more, it generally lasts much longer and it isn't susceptible to premature breakage on shanks. If you're a 4.5 player, chances are you've broken a few strings in the first few hours on shanks. Then there's also the matter of playability over the life of the string. Does X1 play the same after 10 hours as it does when it's fresh?

+1, especially the sustained playability.

I pay more for that sustained playability. Not for BT7 Babolats, though.
Balolat BT7 natural Gut feels like synthetic to me. They remind me of old Laserfibre multi's.

Although it's subjective, I personally feel there is something special in gut
(that no synthetic can reproduce). People may refer to "ball pocketing", maybe?

I have that all mighty feeling with the gut. Dynamic resiliency. Crisp and
resilient at the same time. No synthetic can do that.

TennisCJC · Feb 20, 2013

I disagree. Gut is GOOD. But, I use it rarely because it simply cost too much. I use multi/poly hybrids now because it is cheaper, almost as good, the multi last about as long as the time that the poly plays nice, and I can affort to play this all the time. I am at the point where I just want the same setup all the time and not worry about changing setups.

Gut/poly is better to me. Gut holds tension, seems to have longer dwell time, has slightly better spin, and controlable power.

X1 was good for me but it did get springy after 5-6 hours and it also notched faster than gut in a X1/poly hybrid. I was kind of surprised by how fast in notched. But, excellent control and power for the first 5-6 hours.

hmd · Feb 20, 2013

I am surprised no one mentioned COMFORT.

marosmith · Feb 20, 2013

LOL well initial feel aside, eat for a couple weeks when the multi is dead and loses 20% of its tension then there is no argument whatsoever the gut is better.

Ramon · Feb 20, 2013

hmd said:
I am surprised no one mentioned COMFORT.

For me the comfort factor is hardly worth mentioning. Most multis comfortable enough and won't give you arm problems like poly. I use gut for other reasons.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Feb 20, 2013

hmd said:
I am surprised no one mentioned COMFORT.

A solid 4.5 don't need no comfort. S/he can play with steel and it'll be fine.

kimguroo · Feb 20, 2013

Multi strings are very close to gut but it's not same.
Nothing compare to gut.
I use gut because of power and comfort.

marosmith · Feb 20, 2013

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
A solid 4.5 don't need no comfort. S/he can play with steel and it'll be fine.

Sure. And pros switch to softer string and rackets because they just aren't up to the 4.5 level.

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