mikeler
Moderator
Which gauge of RIP Control?
Mikeler's Multis
- Thread starter mikeler
- Start date
Which gauge of RIP Control?
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
PPA 16g working nicely as cross with the OGSM mains. handles heavy hitting 4.5 opponents...next up 5.0 hitter.
thanks mikeler for a cheaper alternative to Multifeel 16.
I have said PPA makes a great cross many times. One of my favorite combos is the prepackaged hybrid of Prince Beast / PPA.
16 gauge. I'm thinking 17 would be a better cross than 16, but I probably won't try it. I'm thinking ZX needs a very soft string for a cross for it to maintain its character. Hexy Fiber is soft. It's one of the softest multis on the RSI stiffness scale, plus it loses a lot of initial tension. In fact, it elongates about as much as ZX. Another poster mentioned he liked ZX with MCS crosses.
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mikeler
Moderator
RIP and MCS could take a little bit of the unwanted extra pop off the ZX in the summer months.
Not so sure that will be the case with MCS. Hexy Fiber is low powered but ZX/Hexy is powerful. RIP Control kills the power even with a 4 pound differential (54/50). My theory is that stiff crosses take all the springiness out of the ZX mains, and the springiness is its source of power. With a stiff cross, the string bed response is completely different. It doesn't even feel like ZX.
mikeler
Moderator
Maybe I'll try ZX with Thunder Blast sometime.
You said Thunderblast was stiff. I predict it will play and feel like Thunderblast. It will be interesting to see what happens.
I will either lower the tension on my PPA crosses (because I have lots of PPA laying around) or go back to Hexy crosses and experiment with other soft crosses.
I am seeking a multifilament that is very arm friendly for a female that has some Wilson Sensation 16 at ~ 40 lb. (lockout stringer). Thanks Mikeler for the consistent reviews.
Would Prince Premier Attack be arm friendly for her application? I would like an arm friendly, value, multifilament that could be used for the ladies at a low tension and at more normal tensions. Is PPA a suggested string for this application? Thanks
Would Prince Premier Attack be arm friendly for her application? I would like an arm friendly, value, multifilament that could be used for the ladies at a low tension and at more normal tensions. Is PPA a suggested string for this application? Thanks
mikeler
Moderator
2nd hitting sesh with PPA crosses not as good as Multifeel against hard hitters. Mf has greater control, comfort and a bit more forgiving. would definitely pick Mf for the "serious" matches.
Good to know. It just seems like I find the softer multifilaments don't perform quite as well as the stiffer ones. I just ordered a few more sets of Genesis Thunder Blast white to use as a cross with that B5E you got me addicted to!
So she uses Sensation 16 now and you are looking for softer? My top multis DM, PPA and DNA all are arm friendly and do well at least around the 50 pound mark on a lockout. I've never gone down to 40 with multis so I can't help you at that tension.
bad_call
Legend
have 1/2 set of ThB black (courtesy of yourself) to use in the crosses. will bump the tension a few lbs and hope it will be enough to rein in the power a bit.
bad_call
Legend
recommend trying Multifeel. it's more arm friendly than PPA. both can be strung lower. got mine strung in the mid 40s.
mikeler
Moderator
I didn't think Multifeel was anything special as a cross string.
bad_call
Legend
better than PPA for this hitter. nice to have 2 racquets strung with dif strings depending on opponent.
did you review the "newer" version Mf?
mikeler
Moderator
better than PPA for this hitter. nice to have 2 racquets strung with dif strings depending on opponent.
did you review the "newer" version Mf?
My belief is that I tried the old version as a full bed and the new version as a cross.
KCraig is liking Addiction as a cross.
I'll have to respectfully disagree that Addiction needs more respect. Lol
It's probably just me, but Babolat Addiction is on my list of the 3 worst strings I ever tried. It felt dead, had no bite, and on my APDGT it was one of the few multis that made my arm hurt. It's safe to say there was nothing I liked about it.
I'm surprised more people don't dislike it as much as I do, so I guess my experience must be unique.
mikeler
Moderator
I thought it was a decent string but was definitely one of the firmest multis out there.
Mikeler, For PPA (and also DM & DNA) - how many pounds higher in reference tension than a Synthetic Gut (Prince SG/D for example) would you recommend? Based on 16 ga. I assume.
bad_call, Same question on reference tension for Multifeel.
Thanks for the help!
bad_call
Legend
what racquet, string pattern & especially player preference/level/hitting style?
MikeHitsHard93
Hall of Fame
Mikeler, I have a new string for you to try and I think you would really like it. Pacific premium power x 16. Tons of controlled power and really good comfort. I'm gonna hit with it again tonight and see how it does.
djNEiGht
Legend
strings and beer!
also I enjoyed up&comer's thread...i believe he is busy with school
bad_call, The application of PPA & Multifeel [& DM / DNA] are for ladies 110 sq. in. frames and fairly unaggressive play. The one lady has some serious tennis elbow and I just gave her some Pro Supex Maxim Touch Classic 1.30 at 40 lb. constant pull, as that was the softess MF I had around. I think some of these ladies are using synthetic gut and would benefit from a good arm friendly, value priced multifilament. My reference tension question more relates to a target starting point with the multifilaments you'all are using that will help me in getting the girls going.
Thanks again.
Anybody tried Technifibre TGV very soft on the arm better then NRG for control an spin
bad_call
Legend
suggest starting at 40 then with Multifeel and adjust accordingly as you receive feedback. good luck.
mikeler
Moderator
I have found all those strings to perform well anywhere in the 50-60 pound range.
Pass, too expensive.
Thanks for the kudos. Good to see you back here. I don't drink beer anymore so I can't help you there.
Yep, I miss seeing him here.
Me? I don't do the cold white north.
I think Maxim Touch Classic is the perfect string for this scenario since it is very soft and also has a lot of power. Another one to look at may be Genesis Xplosion.
djNEiGht
Legend
I liked TGV. Mikeler was nice enough to put my review on his table of contents.
mikeler
Moderator
Again, a little too pricey.
djNEiGht
Legend
when you have PPA at a great price it's hard to consider other strings that are almost/if not twice as much.
mikeler
Moderator
My current setup in my signature is pretty cheap too if you buy reels.
leroy_sunset
Rookie
No, I usually play a full bed of Gamma DuraSpin 16 (without wearguard). It's cheap, good power/spin balance, and they don't move too badly on me. The only poly I have liked was BHSR 17, and it just doesn't maintain its spinniness long enough. For multis, my favorite ever was Gamma TNT Fatcore 16. Huge spin, nice power, terrible longevity.
djNEiGht
Legend
Have you tried PPA?
I might do a side by side test of TGV and PPA. As soon as I played with TGV, I played with it till it broke and then went back to PPA.
djNEiGht
Legend
For me...
PPA = curb side street tacos
TGV = fancy Mexican restaurant "street style" tacos
Both tasty...more bang for the buck getting from the corner kiosk.
I did not like PPA. For me Wilson NXT Control and TVG were the best out of all the Multis I tested. I guess its all personal preference
djNEiGht
Legend
For me, I was happy with both. TGV might have taken it in the comfort department. For the price, I'm perfectly happy with PPA but still curious to try TGV side by side (not in a big hurry) as well as in a hybrid because the coating seems very durable. It TGV did not notch on my for a while and snapped back nicely.
I have yet to try NXT Control. I've only tried the Tour and it was in a hybrid.
leroy_sunset
Rookie
I just strung up some Babolat Xcel and I'll give it a spin tonight. Hopefully it is better than PPA (according to mikeler, it is).
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Better be twice as good
leroy_sunset
Rookie
In fact, it was.
I was very pleased with Xcel. The first 5 minutes everything was flying, very trampoline-like. Then it settled in. Great spin in the first hour, similar to a mid-level poly. After an hour it was totally broken in, and the spin decreased and leveled off (similar to a mid-level poly). Good power, good control, good feel. The best multi I have hit with in a long time. Its longevity is suspect, but time will tell.
And I paid only $2 more per set than I did for PPA. Not even close. Xcel blows it out of the water for an extra two bucks.
7zero
Semi-Pro
TGV was my first string, I liked it very much - then I tried cheap poly after break (I think it was pro's pro of some kind) and my wrist and arm said NO. so I put TGV back and into new radical S I got Xcel premium - just to test if I like it. Ispired by this great thread I just ordered another bunch of multis reasonable priced (9-12 EUR) and I will give them a try. Pity not all of the strings in Mikeler's list are available in Europe site of warehouse. If any TW staff read it please send some trucks to German warehouse!
bertrevert
Legend
7Zero - same thing happens over here in Aust- just not the same fantastic range. USA is a very big market with increased demand and buying power.
mikeler
Moderator
TGV was my first string, I liked it very much - then I tried cheap poly after break (I think it was pro's pro of some kind) and my wrist and arm said NO. so I put TGV back and into new radical S I got Xcel premium - just to test if I like it. Ispired by this great thread I just ordered another bunch of multis reasonable priced (9-12 EUR) and I will give them a try. Pity not all of the strings in Mikeler's list are available in Europe site of warehouse. If any TW staff read it please send some trucks to German warehouse!
Kind of strange since a lot of the strings are produced in Germany.
7zero
Semi-Pro
we have an roverb here which could be translated like: "The mare of the smith walks barefoot"
TGV was my first string, I liked it very much - then I tried cheap poly after break (I think it was pro's pro of some kind) and my wrist and arm said NO. so I put TGV back and into new radical S I got Xcel premium - just to test if I like it. Ispired by this great thread I just ordered another bunch of multis reasonable priced (9-12 EUR) and I will give them a try. Pity not all of the strings in Mikeler's list are available in Europe site of warehouse. If any TW staff read it please send some trucks to German warehouse!
TVG was like Multi feel but more feel and easier on the arm. I love it its just a dollar more then NRG and they have no problem selling that string
mikeler
Moderator
Tecnifibre makes good strings but they are too expensive.
7zero
Semi-Pro
yes agreed, tecnifibre strings are quite expensive, that is why I picked different multis in my recent shopping spree just to try if I can find some lower cost replacement. But maybe later I will get to test NRG2, XR3 and even maybe X1
leroy_sunset
Rookie
Longevity sure is suspect. They are fraying in the crosses after 4 sets. But the results are good. 6-2 6-1 victories in both matches.
mikeler
Moderator
Xcel or PPA?
