mikeler
Moderator
25.4% tension loss according to RacquetTune for Isospeed Classic Control.
Mikeler's Multis
- Thread starter mikeler
- Start date
25.4% tension loss according to RacquetTune for Isospeed Classic Control.
Lukhas
Legend
Correct expectations. It only needed one hitting session to determine it... :neutral: Middle of the road on every aspect, power, spin, you name it. Looks like a concurrent to POSG, which isn't really surprising. Slightly muted like a lot of s-gut strings, but not really, really muted either. At least, it made me realize how my racquet performs, and it's a nice stick.
EDIT: Anyway, on a 18*20 Blade 98 2013, PPA in 17 or 16 gauge?
Last edited:
mikeler
Moderator
I don't use 18x20 so I'll let others chime in.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
I'd say 17 since ppa is pretty resilient to breakage. And the blade pattern is right in between a prestige and an open pattern racket, so it shouldn't be a launcher.
Conventional wisdom says go with 17 gauge on a closed string pattern. However, I can attest that if you're a string breaker you probably don't even want to consider any multi that's thinner than 16 gauge. When I used older racquets with even closer strings, I couldn't tell much difference in play between 16 and 17 gauge. 15L was definitely worse.
djNEiGht
Legend
I hope it helps your thread and other users. Figured that this is one of the most active threads and has a solid following.
best regards
Lukhas
Legend
Nope, I'm not a breaker (yet), I just don't want to restring frequently, and I'm starting to play much more than before. The Blade isn't a launcher, but it's pretty solid so it's easy to hit hard with it. Thanks for the tips, I'll hesitate a bit, maybe going to take 3 sets of 16 because the port is cheaper than on the other site with 3 sets of 17.
Last edited:
Most multis are very easy to string. I use a drop weight strings (APDC+), and I use the same guidelines for pulling and clamping as I do for poly (5 seconds on mains, 20 seconds on crosses), and I might even wait longer if I have a string with lots of elongation. I think a lot of people pull and clamp too fast, and it results in the string not being pulled to full tension because it needed more time to elongate. I know that an expert stringer with sophisticated equipment can do it quickly with great results, but your typical kid on a basic lockout machine is most likely going to get it way under tension if he does it quickly.
Glenk, It depends on the multi. Some are very stretchy and some, like DNA, are not. While pulling I feed the string into the next grommet and after that I clamp off. I do have a stringway so stringing multis is a breeze.
I now played two sets on DNA and I loved it! Very muted feeling, spin friendly multi. It was a bit stiff in the beginning but loosened up. However, for the price PPA is a better option as it plays similar to me.
I now played two sets on DNA and I loved it! Very muted feeling, spin friendly multi. It was a bit stiff in the beginning but loosened up. However, for the price PPA is a better option as it plays similar to me.
mikeler
Moderator
Check out my review of Sensation in post #1 of this thread. It seemed like Sensation really helped my cross court forehand but was average for the rest of my game.
mikeler
Moderator
Check out post #2 of this thread where I list the top 3 multifilament strings by several measures including spin.
LOL. Thanks. Sorry, been following the last page of this thread most of the time, but I did check post 1 again before asking. Did not notice the post 2 breakdown. Nice.
Do you think it would be worth pairing a multi as a cross with a poly bed or is that a waste of a multi and you would just go with a synthetic gut cross?
Last edited:
mikeler
Moderator
Ah, now you have a good question that I've probably addressed deep in the bowels of the thread that won't be so easy to find. For me, the upgrade from a synthetic gut to a multi is worth the extra money. I like the additional pop, feel and comfort a multi cross provides versus a synthetic gut.
Many TTWers love Babolat NVY as a synthetic gut cross. I recently tried it and thought it provided nothing special to the string bed for my game. It is priced the same as a value multi so for that reason, I probably won't be going back to synthetic gut crosses.
L2read dude! What has he been talking about for the last 2 weeks? LOL
I actually thought N.Vy was a better cross than NXT. Lasted longer and had better control.
Last edited:
Only mention I remembered of post 2 was a link to djNEiGht's review, which I had already read in-line. This thread is pretty active, it's not too hard to miss stuff...and I'm not a die-hard multi guy. I still haven't really found one I like due to my poly/spin addiction. I'm just trying to be nicer to my shoulder.
If the prices are the same and there is no noticeable difference in spin, then I would prefer to use the softer string. If the spin was the same, I would be even willing to pay a bit more for the softer string. I will just have to try out the different combinations and see how it goes. Thanks for the suggestion.
djNEiGht
Legend
I think what you are looking for was in red and was not a link to a post.
hope it helps
I like the spin and control I get from fresh poly also, but I switched to full multi because of my arm. My personal experience was that my game eventually improved after switching to multi, not because the string played better but because my arm and shoulder got better. That may not happen to everybody. My game involves generating lots of racquet head speed, so I have to be able to swing freely without being concerned (even on a subconscious level) that I'll hurt myself.
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Beast attack is indeed arm friendly, however it felt a bit "mushy" to me. I'm not really a beast fan.
Thanks. I had found it and took note of the 3 Top spin multis (1. Head RIP Control 16, 2. Dunlop Hexy Fiber 16 & 3. Tecnifibre X1 Biphase 16)
I have tried X1 Biphase. Didn't like it in full bed too much. But I don't like the full bed of Discho Microfibre I have in one of my racquets right now either.
I have a couple more packs of Discho Microfibre that I plan to string up with poly to see how that goes. I can play with it...but my other two racquets have black widow and tour bite right now and after warming up with the Discho (just to put some time on it and maybe starting a set with it) I switch to one of the others and more balls go in.
From a shoulder standpoint I think I have a small labrum tear and it won't heal with[out] surgery and it isn't bad enough for me to get surgery but I really don't swing so hard and I'm not a big string breaker that I need full poly. I'm just trying to find a blend that will work and if it is better for my arm and maybe saves me money then that's a plus. I have a bunch of strings written down for my upcoming order. Thanks.
Edit: Don't get me wrong, I could play with a multi like X1 or Discho if I had TE or a real reason to but I just don't like it as much.
Last edited:
Lukhas
Legend
Though it would be medium-crisp because of PPA. Thanks for the input.
mikeler
Moderator
Start with a hybrid of poly mains and DM crosses. Poly mains will give you more control and will be less of a shock to your game coming from full poly.
That's the plan. Thanks.
The only problem is that there are so many different combinations to try. I plan to be more diligent about keeping records of what I am stringing up and my feelings of how it seemed to play for me.
Do hybrid patterns typically have more string movement than full poly? (as in where I have to straighten them myself if I don't like them out of place a lot)
Last edited:
mikeler
Moderator
You probably will experience more string movement.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
So I went back to this Mamba tennis site to find some more strings. I found this mamba natural gut. what is your opinion on this ? there is also Supra gut, is this better than the regular stuff they carry ?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
You rated Babolat Xcel premium higher than X-1 biphase. why ?
mikeler
Moderator
This plus Xcel lasts longer.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
do you mean, does it maintain tension longer and better ?
Lukhas
Legend
That's basically what he wrote in his review. X1 doesn't hold tension as much as XCel... when not pre-stretched that is. I'd pre-stretch every "true" multi personally, Mikeler doesn't, everybody has his opinion on it.
djNEiGht
Legend
Is a true multi one with out a solid core?
what are users take on pre-stretching multi's w a solid core?
Thanks.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Be careful with that. cause some multis lose all the power and go kind of deadish after pre-stretched.
Lukhas
Legend
And if I don't, they just become trampolines. I know, I'm not talking about a 50% pre-stretch or something. Between 10 and 15% is enough to get rid of it. And if I pre-stretch, I just string at lower tensions, which gives me back the power and better tension maintenance.
Yes, one without a solid core, which excludes XR3, XR1, PPA and most if not all S-Gut strings. Because of the core, there's no need IMO to pre-stretch, since the core is already here to help tension maintenance. Pre-stretching ruins the core IMO, plus it isn't needed to begin with.
Last edited:
Pre-stretch makes the string more predictable. I love the feeling of a multi on the end of its life. I'll probably prestretch the next multi and lower tensions by 10%.
Prestretched solid core s-gut are just awfull. Very stiff, dull and no feel. Would not recommend it to anyone with a tender wrist or elbow.
Prestretched solid core s-gut are just awfull. Very stiff, dull and no feel. Would not recommend it to anyone with a tender wrist or elbow.
mikeler
Moderator
It had better durability for me.
Mikeler,
You've had arm problems in the past and test many strings and combinations. I've rehabbed golfer's elbow and it feels fine....also switched racquets which helped. I used to use poly/multi or poly/gut hybrids and would like to try again (currently using discho microfiber full bed).
Any suggestions on the most comfortable hybrid that you've tried that also performs well. I may give it one try and go back to all multi again if I have any pain.
You've had arm problems in the past and test many strings and combinations. I've rehabbed golfer's elbow and it feels fine....also switched racquets which helped. I used to use poly/multi or poly/gut hybrids and would like to try again (currently using discho microfiber full bed).
Any suggestions on the most comfortable hybrid that you've tried that also performs well. I may give it one try and go back to all multi again if I have any pain.
Lambsscroll
Hall of Fame
Do you live in Central Florida? Just asking. Otherwise try Mikes favorite multi only found in Central Florida.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
if YOU Tell me that Excel has better tension maintanence and same power as X-1 then I will switch. is this true ?
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
^^^^^
XCel is softer than X-1 and lower powered to boot. It also plays more consistently throughout its life. In my experience, X-1 Biphase plays a bit stiff at first and then settles into a zone where it is a superb string. After that, the bottom falls out tension-wise. XCel, in addition to being softer and lower powered, does not exhibit the behavioral swings of X-1. YMMV.
XCel is softer than X-1 and lower powered to boot. It also plays more consistently throughout its life. In my experience, X-1 Biphase plays a bit stiff at first and then settles into a zone where it is a superb string. After that, the bottom falls out tension-wise. XCel, in addition to being softer and lower powered, does not exhibit the behavioral swings of X-1. YMMV.
mikeler
Moderator
Try Solinco Tour Bite Soft 17 in the mains. By far the softest poly I've used.
I'm not great at marketing my products: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=5814813&postcount=17
Not the same power. Xcel is lower powered. It may be the same string as the Discho Microfibre for all I know.
Prestretched X1 does not experience that massive tension loss.
GlenK
Professional
How do you pre-stretch it? I string for a guy that uses it and it dropped 7.3% in 24hrs. Would love some tips on reducing that drop.
mikeler
Moderator
I just put one end in a clamp and gave it a firm pull from 40 feet away for about 30 seconds and then repeated it one more time. I'd have to search back in this thread but I don't think it got over 7 or 8 % tension loss by doing that. The initial 24 hour tension loss was just over 5% if I recall correctly.
