I haven't pre-stretched. So far, I'm satisfied with the ZX mains on my hybrid at 54 CP with no pre-stretch, just seems a bit harsh.
Don't know how the electronic pre-stretch option compares to the traditional way.
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Ashaway 100% Zyex monofilament
- Thread starter corners
- Start date
I haven't pre-stretched. So far, I'm satisfied with the ZX mains on my hybrid at 54 CP with no pre-stretch, just seems a bit harsh.
Don't know how the electronic pre-stretch option compares to the traditional way.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Your right Torres, but you have to remember he can totally change the control of the stringbed with a dampener or string savers.
Magic of tennis
Semi-Pro
Why do these two have different package while look same
Are these two strings same or different one?
why did Ashaway name it slightly differently if they are same one? At least they appear look same.
Are these two strings same or different one?
why did Ashaway name it slightly differently if they are same one? At least they appear look same.
julianashaway
Rookie
Are these two strings same or different one?
why did Ashaway name it slightly differently if they are same one? At least they appear look same.
They are the same strings. The string was initially released as Zyex Monogut, then changed to Monogut ZX. Marketing thought it was a better name.
maggmaster
Hall of Fame
I find this string amazing as a cross to a multi in an 18 by 20 pattern. Strung at 58 lbs.
I've been using ZX mains with a multi cross. It plays well; has better spin and control than full multi but less feel. I usually break mains first, so putting the more durable ZX in the mains made sense to me. How does your setup play with ZX crosses? Can you compare it to full multi?
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
How did u string the Zyex in comparison to the multi mains?
Thanks, I guess it's prob not what I am looking for, but will try it if I have a chance.
djNEiGht
Legend
There is an option to set how much you want it pre-stretched on each pull with the lowest being 10%. 50# with the pre-strech at 10% the tensioner would pull to 55# then move back to 50#. The unit will beep when it comes back to desired tension.
I will prob put this in a 16x19 set up.
Yes I know. My friend has something like that. It seems like a more controlled way to pre stretch, but like I said I don't know how it compares to the traditional way, which is less controlled, and I don't know how much force it applies.
djNEiGht
Legend
read your post a bit too fast...thanks for your response though.
I will try and copy other users who have had good experiences with this string on their technique
I can only speak for myself, but I agree 100%.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Why 4G instead of Alu Power?
arche3
Banned
Better tension maintenance. Fresh Alu better than 4g but 4g holds tension better. Gut 4g hybrid loses 3 to 4 lbs tension from fresh till break. Thats awesome.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Thanks for the tip
A
Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
Is the Zyex supposed to go dead like Polyester strings? Or can I just keep using it until it breaks, without it hurting my arm?
S&V Specialist
Rookie
Zyex is good pretty much until is breaks. It definitely does not go to the death level of poly strings and should not hurt your arm.
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
True -- a few billion internet tough guys who secretly want to touch your pee-pee.
My ZX/Hexy Fiber hybrid is at 11+ hours and counting. I normally break most multis in about 8 hours. Durable 16 gauge multis like PPA and Kirschbaum Touch Multifibre will last me a little over 10 hours. RIP Control will go about 12-15 hours on average, but that's a very unique string. Hexy crosses look like they are about to go at any time. ZX mains look almost fresh by comparison. After it lost its initial tension the first time out, RacquetTune readings have been level after that. There hasn't been much change in playability the entire time. It's pretty safe to say that my game has had more ups and downs than the strings! I played a terrible game a couple days ago, but I really can't blame the strings on my apparent loss of control and spin because I think that was mostly me. Today I played better, and spin and control were good, but it's hard for me to say if it's as good as it was a week ago. The Hexy crosses are worn down, so maybe the loss of texture is a contributing factor to any loss of spin. All subjective signs also show that the ZX mains are holding tension better than the Hexy crosses. I can move the crosses with my fingers more easily than the mains. The mains don't move much between points. They move more than fresh poly but less than dead poly. I'll be better able to judge tension retention when I test a full bed, but all signs on this hybrid say that after the initial break-in, the retention is at least as good as a typical multi and far better than poly.
My arm is very sensitive to poly. It usually starts to hurt when poly is at about the 3-5 hour mark, and that includes poly hybrids. I feel no pain with this setup even at the 11 hour mark, and I don't anticipate that I will.
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fgs
Hall of Fame
tension maintenance of the zx is close to fabulous. yesterday i broke a string i'm playtesting in fullbed (poly) in a very weird way and had to finish my practice session with the zx/mcs combo i had in my bag. the poly that broke was strung at 21/20kg and the zx was strung about two months ago at 22/22kg. i almost had no adjustments to make to my strokes and could go on playing - i still had the same slight control issues (i said earlier that i should have gone another 0,5kg up on the zx!) but the playing experience was wonderful - spin, short angled shots, this string slowly is growing on me. when i came back from the courts i looked up in my log - the last time i had a hit with the zx-combo was on may 17th! held up incredibly well and plays incredibly well.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Similar to poly?
mikeler
Moderator
Some multis are shank prone as well.
TW playtest thread:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=461439
RSI 16 playtest (ZX)
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2012/06/12_playtest_ashaway_zyex_monog.html
RSI 17 playtest (ZX Pro)
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2013/03/12_string_playtest_ashaway_mon.html
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=461439
RSI 16 playtest (ZX)
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2012/06/12_playtest_ashaway_zyex_monog.html
RSI 17 playtest (ZX Pro)
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2013/03/12_string_playtest_ashaway_mon.html
mrc
Rookie
ZX Update
I am really liking this string more and more.
I have it strung in my I.Presitge Mid with KBaum Competition in the mains. I freakin love the spin and comfort with all the Power.
I know it has power but I feel very in control of it.
I have mine strung in TAN Version at 56lbs and Poly in Mains at 51lbs.
I am really liking this string more and more.
I have it strung in my I.Presitge Mid with KBaum Competition in the mains. I freakin love the spin and comfort with all the Power.
I know it has power but I feel very in control of it.
I have mine strung in TAN Version at 56lbs and Poly in Mains at 51lbs.
ZX Red 1.27 at 52 lbs CP first impressions
Played almost 2 hours with the Red ZX 1.27 at 52 lbs CP (constant pull). This would translate to about 58-60 lbs on most lockout machines, especially considering how long I waited on my drop weight machine for these strings to fully elongate (at least 15 seconds on the mains and 30 seconds on the crosses). I strung it at the same tension I would string a typical multi in this weather. The elongation of this string could be a problem if your local pro shop stringer doesn't have the patience to wait that long and doesn't have an electronic CP machine (which would be the quickest way to string it right). To minimize tension loss, I did a one piece string job, tying it off at the top and bottom crosses. If you look at Richard Parnell's video in the Stringing Techniques forum, that's a similar pattern except my racquet does not require the around-the-world (mains end up at the top). After 2 days just sitting in the closet, it lost 7.7% tension (not bad). After a 2 hour match, the total tension loss was 10.5% (better than your average multifilament). I'll keep track of it after every match to see how it maintains. So far, it looks very good.
I would compare the way this string plays to a soft, smooth, plasticky poly with more power and less spin (but more spin than synthetic nylons). The string movement was almost nil, so the movement was poly-like for the first 2 hours. It really wasn't a good day for me with hard topspin groundstrokes, but I think that was my fault and not the string's. Still, I split sets with an evenly matched opponent by playing a chipping and charging type game, which goes to show that when I needed directional control from these strings, I got it. Touch was a little bit of problem but could be a matter of making adjustments to this new setup. Compared to my ZX/Multi hybrid at 54 lbs CP this full setup at 52 was more comfortable but noisier and more plasticky feeling. I don't know at this point which one I like better. Since I do have some half sets of multifilaments sitting around, I'll probably try a few more hybrids just to see what happens.
Right now, this is my string of choice, either as a full bed or with a multi cross. I think it's worth trying if you want a poly-like string but don't like the tension loss or the discomfort. I imagine that it may not work as well as poly on high powered racquets like the PD or APD. I don't think it's a coincidence that most (if not all) of the play testers here who like the string have low powered racquets.
Played almost 2 hours with the Red ZX 1.27 at 52 lbs CP (constant pull). This would translate to about 58-60 lbs on most lockout machines, especially considering how long I waited on my drop weight machine for these strings to fully elongate (at least 15 seconds on the mains and 30 seconds on the crosses). I strung it at the same tension I would string a typical multi in this weather. The elongation of this string could be a problem if your local pro shop stringer doesn't have the patience to wait that long and doesn't have an electronic CP machine (which would be the quickest way to string it right). To minimize tension loss, I did a one piece string job, tying it off at the top and bottom crosses. If you look at Richard Parnell's video in the Stringing Techniques forum, that's a similar pattern except my racquet does not require the around-the-world (mains end up at the top). After 2 days just sitting in the closet, it lost 7.7% tension (not bad). After a 2 hour match, the total tension loss was 10.5% (better than your average multifilament). I'll keep track of it after every match to see how it maintains. So far, it looks very good.
I would compare the way this string plays to a soft, smooth, plasticky poly with more power and less spin (but more spin than synthetic nylons). The string movement was almost nil, so the movement was poly-like for the first 2 hours. It really wasn't a good day for me with hard topspin groundstrokes, but I think that was my fault and not the string's. Still, I split sets with an evenly matched opponent by playing a chipping and charging type game, which goes to show that when I needed directional control from these strings, I got it. Touch was a little bit of problem but could be a matter of making adjustments to this new setup. Compared to my ZX/Multi hybrid at 54 lbs CP this full setup at 52 was more comfortable but noisier and more plasticky feeling. I don't know at this point which one I like better. Since I do have some half sets of multifilaments sitting around, I'll probably try a few more hybrids just to see what happens.
Right now, this is my string of choice, either as a full bed or with a multi cross. I think it's worth trying if you want a poly-like string but don't like the tension loss or the discomfort. I imagine that it may not work as well as poly on high powered racquets like the PD or APD. I don't think it's a coincidence that most (if not all) of the play testers here who like the string have low powered racquets.
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mikeler
Moderator
I do think this is a string for lower powered rackets. Works great in the Exos. Touch takes a few matches to dial in, keep at it and report back. I think you'll like it better and better once you learn how to wield it. Interesting that you already say that this is your string of choice. It would be mine if I had never found B5E but that is too stiff to use when the weather cools off. So that is when I'll go back to full ZX beds.
I already played with the hybrid for 11+ hours, so this full bed really didn't give me any surprises. I'm actually thinking this might be the type of string to use on some of the racquets that are coming out in 2014 with high spin string patterns like the Blade 98S. I've heard they eat strings up, but this one might be durable enough to use and not hurt my arm.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I tried a full set of zyex at 66 lbs. and it seems pretty good, nice feel and good control, spin seemed pretty good also.
I usually use kevlar mains with blue gear x's so I tried my regular kevlar main with zyex x's and it was okay. But the full bed of zyex seems nicer, have to see how it plays after a few more times out.
I usually use kevlar mains with blue gear x's so I tried my regular kevlar main with zyex x's and it was okay. But the full bed of zyex seems nicer, have to see how it plays after a few more times out.
purple-n-gold
Hall of Fame
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Have not given the zyex x's enough of a chance to say for sure yet. kev/zx is pretty good definitely takes some of the harshness out of the kevlar.
Wilson Natural Gut 16 / Wheat ZX 16 @ 60/56 CP
Donnay P1 97/16x19 @ 340g
5 week review
5 weeks after stringing. The tension maintenance is pretty incredible really compared to other strings. It doesn't lose tension like a poly and it doesn't stretch with hitting and not stretch back like a nylon string does. The stringbed hasn't turned into an overpowered trampoline and it's still playing pretty well. Some lovely free (controllable) power on tap with this string setup as well.
There's not as much spin as there was originally and the ZX does feel like its lost a bit more tension but the ZX still feels like its holding the stringbed together and stopping the gut from completely trampolining. The gut in particular feels much more broken in and very buttery plush. This Wilson gut seems to feel better and better the more hitting its had on it. There really is no other string that feels like a good natural gut.
Interestingly, the strings doesn't feel as if they're meshing as well with each other as they did during the first few weeks. The stringbed has gone back to feeling a bit like two different strings. Hit with with a moderate amount of top and you feel the natural gut. Hit flatter and you feel a firmer stringbed. The ZX although it feels like its lost a bit of tension actually feels a bit stiffer when hitting flat. Not sure what the exact reason for that is but the ZX has made small dents in the natural gut in the intersections where ZX meets the natural gut. Moving the ZX crosses about manually and they will 'click' into the dents made in the natural gut mains. When hitting with topspin, this isn't so noticeable as the gut slides across the ZX where the gut as been dented. However, when hitting flat I'm sure not whether its the dents in the gut that stop the ZX from sliding as freely as they could do hence the possibility of some initial 'resistance' when hitting flat ie the sensation of some firmness. It's not a fluid a feel as when both strings were unworn. Both strings remain as straight as an arrow though and show no movement.
Overall. Still playing pretty well though not quite as good as earlier on. More of a controllable power based setup with easy court length rather than that something that offers poly-esque short angle spin. I suspect its a combination of the elasticity of the gut elongating the ball trajectory and the ZX losing a little bit of tension. Spin is there but you have to work the racquet more to find it and with the power of the gut, I can't say that I really felt confident hitting short angles with this setup - I tended to look for depth and go for the corners instead. Still perfectly playable though and still a lovely hitting setup providing you're clean with your strokes. That said, I still preferred the greater spin orientated performance of Yonex PTS / ZX in this particular acquet though that setup only lasted about 5-6 hours before the performance of the poly really started dropping off.
Although gut/ZX probably isn't quite my type of stringbed (my racquets are already fairly powerful due to highish swingweights), it has got to be one of the longest lasting playable string setups you can have. If this had been a gut/Alu setup, 5 weeks after stringing the ball would be flying all over the place by now. I would hazard a guess that I could probably try this same gut/ZX stringbed/racquet in 1 months time and it would still play pretty well.
Donnay P1 97/16x19 @ 340g
5 week review
5 weeks after stringing. The tension maintenance is pretty incredible really compared to other strings. It doesn't lose tension like a poly and it doesn't stretch with hitting and not stretch back like a nylon string does. The stringbed hasn't turned into an overpowered trampoline and it's still playing pretty well. Some lovely free (controllable) power on tap with this string setup as well.
There's not as much spin as there was originally and the ZX does feel like its lost a bit more tension but the ZX still feels like its holding the stringbed together and stopping the gut from completely trampolining. The gut in particular feels much more broken in and very buttery plush. This Wilson gut seems to feel better and better the more hitting its had on it. There really is no other string that feels like a good natural gut.
Interestingly, the strings doesn't feel as if they're meshing as well with each other as they did during the first few weeks. The stringbed has gone back to feeling a bit like two different strings. Hit with with a moderate amount of top and you feel the natural gut. Hit flatter and you feel a firmer stringbed. The ZX although it feels like its lost a bit of tension actually feels a bit stiffer when hitting flat. Not sure what the exact reason for that is but the ZX has made small dents in the natural gut in the intersections where ZX meets the natural gut. Moving the ZX crosses about manually and they will 'click' into the dents made in the natural gut mains. When hitting with topspin, this isn't so noticeable as the gut slides across the ZX where the gut as been dented. However, when hitting flat I'm sure not whether its the dents in the gut that stop the ZX from sliding as freely as they could do hence the possibility of some initial 'resistance' when hitting flat ie the sensation of some firmness. It's not a fluid a feel as when both strings were unworn. Both strings remain as straight as an arrow though and show no movement.
Overall. Still playing pretty well though not quite as good as earlier on. More of a controllable power based setup with easy court length rather than that something that offers poly-esque short angle spin. I suspect its a combination of the elasticity of the gut elongating the ball trajectory and the ZX losing a little bit of tension. Spin is there but you have to work the racquet more to find it and with the power of the gut, I can't say that I really felt confident hitting short angles with this setup - I tended to look for depth and go for the corners instead. Still perfectly playable though and still a lovely hitting setup providing you're clean with your strokes. That said, I still preferred the greater spin orientated performance of Yonex PTS / ZX in this particular acquet though that setup only lasted about 5-6 hours before the performance of the poly really started dropping off.
Although gut/ZX probably isn't quite my type of stringbed (my racquets are already fairly powerful due to highish swingweights), it has got to be one of the longest lasting playable string setups you can have. If this had been a gut/Alu setup, 5 weeks after stringing the ball would be flying all over the place by now. I would hazard a guess that I could probably try this same gut/ZX stringbed/racquet in 1 months time and it would still play pretty well.
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I've put in some more hours on the full bed Red ZX at 52 lbs CP. I'm adjusting to the different response now, and I'm growing into this type of string. The question still remains, do I prefer the full bed ZX at 52 or the ZX/Hexy hybrid at 54?
Today I tested both setups side-by-side. I actually had more feel with the full ZX, but it was a plasticky feel. That's not surprising because Hexy Fiber has a muted response. So is it better to have more of a plasticky feel, or less of any feel? I couldn't decide. The tiebreaker was I seemed to get slightly more pocketing with the ZX/Hexy hybrid, which I didn't expect from the tighter string bed. Maybe it's because Hexy Fiber loses a lot of initial tension and the differential is creating a pocketing effect? Maybe I should try this with a 2-4 lbs differential with looser crosses? I notice the mains still don't move much. In fact, the crosses are moving more than the mains (another indication that Hexy is losing more tension than ZX).
Consequently, I decided to play my match with the ZX/Hexy hybrid, and I played well with it. My topspin backhand serve returns on weak serves were clicking today, and I really didn't have any weak shots. It's worth noting that I now have over 13 hours on this hybrid. That's serious playability duration! It's still early for me to say which setup I like better, but I can at least say there's no compelling reason for me to keep playing with full bed ZX while I still have stockpiles of multi laying around that could make good crosses, and I can still string up some full bed ZX's at different tensions for comparison. I hope PPA makes a good cross. I have a lot of it laying around because of the price reduction.
Today I tested both setups side-by-side. I actually had more feel with the full ZX, but it was a plasticky feel. That's not surprising because Hexy Fiber has a muted response. So is it better to have more of a plasticky feel, or less of any feel? I couldn't decide. The tiebreaker was I seemed to get slightly more pocketing with the ZX/Hexy hybrid, which I didn't expect from the tighter string bed. Maybe it's because Hexy Fiber loses a lot of initial tension and the differential is creating a pocketing effect? Maybe I should try this with a 2-4 lbs differential with looser crosses? I notice the mains still don't move much. In fact, the crosses are moving more than the mains (another indication that Hexy is losing more tension than ZX).
Consequently, I decided to play my match with the ZX/Hexy hybrid, and I played well with it. My topspin backhand serve returns on weak serves were clicking today, and I really didn't have any weak shots. It's worth noting that I now have over 13 hours on this hybrid. That's serious playability duration! It's still early for me to say which setup I like better, but I can at least say there's no compelling reason for me to keep playing with full bed ZX while I still have stockpiles of multi laying around that could make good crosses, and I can still string up some full bed ZX's at different tensions for comparison. I hope PPA makes a good cross. I have a lot of it laying around because of the price reduction.
My stringer strung it up with a electronic cp machine at 55lb, interestingly using racquettune if I use gut and 1.27 the tension on racquettune is 54lb. On the same machine I would get same reading on racquettune for PPA and natural gut give or take 1 lb.
Does this mean its elasticity is very close to Nat gut?
Does this mean its elasticity is very close to Nat gut?
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
It does. PPA makes a very good cross, since it's a lot like a very good syngut. Two of my favorite crosses for poly mains are Nvy and PPA. Would I use either as a full bed? No way!
maggmaster
Hall of Fame
Using full bed again, figured out the serve. I did break one on a terrible return shank but other than that they seem as durable as a good poly. They even notch like a poly over time.
Thanks Ramon, you are right
Stringer impression is the string is tougher than poly yet has elasticity of nat gut, very unique.
I meant 'feel' tougher on hand. Yet to play with it.
mikeler
Moderator
The stringer did not comment on how it played. He/she only said it has the elasticity of natural gut. I string for myself and this string stretches like gut or Mantis Comfort. It does not feel like those strings but man does it stretch.
Definite coil memory. If somebody sent this string to me unmarked, I'd think it was a poly for sure. You just need to pull the trigger and try it for yourself.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Ashaway Dynamite have much coil memory? Prince Zyex sure did. Resembles a poly too.
I didn't find coil memory to be that bad. It's there, but for me it wasn't a major hindrance. It does resemble poly when you feel it. I wouldn't say it feels that tough to handle, but it does have what I'll call a "stealth" friction burn. I didn't think it was going to hurt, so I handled it like it was harmless, but my index finger felt an intense burn later that lasted for days. At least with a textured poly you know what you're dealing with and the warning comes instantly.
I think the elongation is the main thing that will give stringers problems. I don't mind giving the pulls extra time so I can take up all the slack, but I don't have to finish 10-15 stringing jobs in a day, and I don't have an employer monitoring me who pays me by the hour. Worst case would be a kid rushing through the job on a crank machine, and then the customer wonders why it lost so much tension. If you don't string racquets yourself, make sure you take it to someone reputable. I think the best type of machine for this is electronic constant pull (which are very expensive), but a good stringer who takes pride in his work can probably do a good job on any machine.
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Correct, he was very interested in how it will play.
Yes, but you also think that Murray uses a Radical.
