You may not notice the poly crosses loosing tension much at all, since the gut mains dominate the feel.
Yes that's what I thought, too. Thanks for confirming.
You may not notice the poly crosses loosing tension much at all, since the gut mains dominate the feel.
Two solutions: replace the crosses while maintaining the mains or pick the right poly and perhaps pre-stretch it.
You can also ruin the benefits of a hybrid by stringing too tight and/or picking the wrong gauge for a given frame
You definitely feel it less compared to multi/poly but, depending on the poly, the poly can shows its character through the gut pretty quick. RPM Blast crosses show their dead feeling really quick through gut mains. And some MSV products can show their springy feel pretty quick too.
On the actual topic of this thread, during this recent round of multi/poly testing I was shocked at how quickly and how much multi/poly changed playing characteristics as it ages. Each session felt extremely different compared to how gut/poly which changes slowly and more subtly, especially after gut's brief break-in period.
In one test using Excel FO Edition mains and Focus Hex crosses the string bed went from firm to mushy to dead and very uncomfortable in just a few hitting sessions (again, this is compared to gut/poly which I've been using for two years now).
In some combo's the multi and poly will offset each other. The multi loses tension and gets more spingy and the poly dies and gets lower powered. The two offset each other and the stringbed feels about the same. I have had good results with NXT Tour mains w/ Solinco Outlast crosses.
Jack, are you still doing 60 lbs mains and 52 lbs crosses with nat gut in mains?
With NXT in mains, do you keep the same tensions, or do you adjust at all?
thanks
My first inclination was to use the poly as the main and multi as the cross, but after reading through this thread, this appears to be backwards to what most people do.
I found greatly reduced spin with gut mains/poly cross -- but that may have more to do with technique. Personally, I think that folks who hit with a lot of spin with gut/poly hybrids simply hit with tons of spin -- regardless of the strings. Give them 15 gauge tournament nylon and they'll still put massive RPMs on it.
Remember: spin is mostly a product of technique as opposed to equipment.
I prefer a smooth poly in the mains and a soft multi in the cross. It softens the string bed, gives me more power, yet still provides decent spin. True, you don't get a lot of string snap back, but it's inexpensive and comfortable.
Tried NRG2 1.32 53lbs / Pro Line II 1.20 40lbs and it's superb in my BLX90. Control, power, feel, comfort and excellent spin. I'm surprised at how much spin I am able to get, it's like the multi absorbs the ball, slides along the poly and snaps back to launch the ball back with great vengeance and furious anger.
I'm always amazed at the number of string breakers on this forum. I rarely see a guy break a string on the court and I play, what most would consider, a lot. I hope these balls are flying in.
Lol my thoughts too... I know a 5.0 teaching pro that doesn't break strings that often.
What's everyone's favorite setup? Mostly, which multi main?
for multi/poly hybrids, what you DON'T want is a multi that's sticky and "gummy", which won't slide so well along the poly. Think X1 or Xcel.
Some that work well for me are:
NXT Tour
NRG2
Gamma Prof'l
Awesome, thanks! Also, what do you think of using nvy as a main? I know it's a syngut, but it's a fantastic cross. Maybe a good option for a main also?
Ditto. I see strings break perhaps once every 2 months and I play alot. I don't understand how club players break string like that unless they are constantly shanking the ball.
Prince premiere attack is my favorite multi.
Isn't PPA is being replaced by Prince Premiere Control ? PPA has a great price on it right now. $6 a pack if you buy six or more packs. That's better than the price of a reel.
here's a formula:
har-tru courts, mostly singles, and doubles vs 4.0/4.5 guys, mix in a soft multi cross and an edged poly main -
13 sets - 9 sets of singles, 4 sets of doubles so far - Do you see a lot of shanks here Bud?
I see that some of you use Focus hex in multi hybrids,i tried Co-focus just because its not shaped and i thought Focus hex would saw thru the soft multi quick but this doesnt seem to be the case ?
Have any of you tried multi/hex hybrid and multi/co-focus hybrid and would tell me how they compare ?
I'm very scared, actually. Scared to lose PPA. I hope premiere control doesn't suck.
soft multi cross + sharp poly main = recipe for breakage
I'm very scared, actually. Scared to lose PPA. I hope premiere control doesn't suck.
Prince premiere attack is my favorite multi.
Same here. I have PPA 1.25 hybrided with CoF 1.18 in my main backup setup that sees action whenever there's rain/puddles. I put the same setup into the PS 85 of someone who puts tons of spin on his shots and it lasted 10 hours. In my i.PM it seems to be going strong, but I've no idea how much cumulative time has been logged in.
It feels a bit softer that Pac Classic 1.25, but otherwise plays reasonably similarly. I highly recommend it.
yes PPA makes a great cross for a poly main. I didn't care for it any other way.
I'm trying out the Yonex 850 16g (non-Pro) multifilament in the mains with Pro Line 2 1.20 in the crosses. It gets better and better as the hours go on so much so that I'm now thinking of switching to a multi/poly hybrid permanently, after being a full poly user for nearly 15yrs.
Excellent access to spin and great, controllable power. Super comfortable. I'm not the greatest volleyer around but this combo turns me into a splendid volleyer, I've been hitting all kinds of awesome. (I think perhaps my problem is that the other polys I usually use are shaped and they grab the ball too much, especially making volleys off somebody's heavy slice very tricky). Whatever, my confidence on the volley right now is soaring.
Durability has also been very good, especially since there was heavy notching after 90min but it's still going strong after 6hrs. I strung it 54/44 and I guess the poly lost tension and that's why it's not sawing as much anymore. And that's why I'm liking it better; next time I may string it 54/42.
Another racquet of mine is strung with full multi (Yonex 880ti 16g) and it's not nearly as comfortable especially as time goes by; the string do not want to slide against eachother.
I should mention that I'm using this in my doubles league where power is needed and things unfold very quickly. I'm the only one i've ever seen who uses full poly on a midsize racquet in that league. In fact, very few use midsize racquets at all.
In singles, I think I'll stick with full poly, especially vs pushers.
Anyway. Any converts out there that would like to share? And what combos have worked or not worked?
How do you think a PPA or rip control main with RPM blast cross would play?
I have been using Rip Control 1.30 mains (50lbs) and RPM Blast 1.25 crosses (50lbs) and I think this one of the best combos of multi/poly that I know!
I haven't found that with a smooth round co-poly (I like Co-Focus and Black Magic for that). I once strung a friend's racquet with Premier Attack/Big Hitter Black 7 (his request) and the BHB7 sliced right through the mains, but more sensible crosses have substantially outlasted full multi for me.
When I play a full bed of multi, this tends to happen:
The crosses' fuzzing impedes the mains' snap-back and everything gets weird. I much prefer the poly crosses, which allow the mains to perform right up until they snap.
Unfortunately my setup Addiction/Focus Hex only lasted about 5 hours. I liked the feel from it but was hoping it would at least last twice that time.
Unfortunately my setup Addiction/Focus Hex only lasted about 5 hours. I liked the feel from it but was hoping it would at least last twice that time.
Focus Hex is a multi-sided poly. Try a round smooth poly for best results when hybriding a multi/poly. I would suggest something like Prince Beast or Proline 2 for the crosses.
I currently have Babalot Xcel mains with Prince Beast crosses in my Radical MP and it's great.
Try a round smooth poly for best results when hybriding a multi/poly.
Focus Hex is a multi-sided poly. Try a round smooth poly for best results when hybriding a multi/poly. I would suggest something like Prince Beast or Proline 2 for the crosses.
I currently have Babalot Xcel mains with Prince Beast crosses in my Radical MP and it's great.
How long does this setup last for you? I have a reel of Cyberflash maybe I could try it as a cross.
for me, it can last 2 months, playing about 3-4 times a week. But I am not a big topspin hitter.
What was the color of the poly?I know this is an old thread... hope someone out there is reading this?!
I just replaced a 10 year old wilson K-blade with a wilson RF97A. It's a heavier beast and my go to strings for last 20 years are no longer a good fit.
I'm a self-assessed 4.5ish player with SHBHand and long strokes.
Previously in my 18x20 blades I had Wilson sensation (a multi) at 52lbs.
I have demo'd this racket at the tennis centre and it was awesome, however they couldn't tell me the name of the poly or tension (duhhhhh).
Reading above, I'm thinking of going Sensation mains and a Poly cross <50lbs.
Does anyone have experience with this frame applying a hybrid set up please?
Keen to retain that popping feel of my beloved Wilson Sensation.... I'm not a fan of "dead" polys, nor can my wrist/elbow handle it.
Thanks in advance.
Kinda faded mauve / dull violet almost brown.What was the color of the poly?