Ashaway 100% Zyex monofilament
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I think silence means agreement in this case.
Someone should try an elongation contest between Monogut ZX, Dunlop Hexy Fiber, and Mantis Comfort Synthetic to see which one can be stretched the longest.
mikeler
Moderator
My guess is the following from the most stretch to the least:
1. Monogut ZX
2. Mantis Comfort
3. Hexy Fiber
I just bought a reel of Monogut Zx Pro 17 Red . Can you estimate how many extra inches is stretched/pulled if i cut 30feet? (just trying to save and not waste string)..thanks
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
At least 144 inches
is that a serious answer?
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Nah, must be that Laffy Taffy
Bud
Bionic Poster
I strung up a PDR and had nearly 10 feet remaining from a 40 foot set.
Thanks Bud, it gives me a benchmark to go by. The specs on the PDR is 16x19=35 total strings. My Steam 105s is 15x16= 31 total strings. So i might be able to string a full bed of Monogut ZX Pro with approx 26 ft..giving me approx 27-28 string jobs on a 720ft reel..approx $7.50 a string job.
Thanks Ramon, i will prestretch it. But i already bought a reel of the Pro Red 17g so i'm stuck with it for now .Just have to be real careful
Bud
Bionic Poster
Is ZX available in 720' reels? I've only seen 360' reels.
ilovetennis212
Professional
Which string is Best hybrid option with this?
julianashaway
Rookie
It would depend which characteristics you are looking for? I see you play gut/poly. Gut/ZX may work well for you. It should give you a longer lasting string bed with more power and easier on the arm. Perhaps pre-stretch the ZX and string a little tighter than you would your poly cross to prevent loss of control.
djNEiGht
Legend
Revisiting this thread as I am going to string this up for a friend. I've strung this up in my racquet at 55# CP. My friend likes multi strings due to a sore elbow. He is playing with a Boris Becker DC London with NXT at 55# LO. He is looking for a bit more power and comfort of course is a concern.
Any tension suggestions? Using a Gamma 6 point with a WISE tension head.
Thanks.
Any tension suggestions? Using a Gamma 6 point with a WISE tension head.
Thanks.
55 is about right. CP is tighter than LO so it will essentially be about 10% tighter, which is what you want. Just make sure you let it stretch fully before you clamp, and it should be fine.
I had a full set of the red ZX 17g on my PK Ki 5x, and it broke in the first set! It's not even an open pattern frame, it's 16x20. ZX/NXT should last longer though. ZX is very tough on itself. The crosses notch the mains on a full set. That won't happen with a soft nylon cross.
Monogut ZX often breaks without any wear at all. It tends to break at the grommet holes on off center shots. The red ZX might be worse for this (not sure). I have had incredibly long wear from the natural colored 16G ZX. I have seen other people break red 16G ZX (not wear it out) very quickly.
Are you sure yours wore out or did it just break/snap at the string bed edge?
moonballs
Hall of Fame
Regarding the durability of ZX it is indeed pretty good. I can feel the string bed locking up after 10-12 hours but after some silicone spray the mains werr sliding again. Problem is I heard silicone spray is harmful to be breathed in so I am not that keen of applying it too often. Also after the spray it seems the notching process on the mains has slowed down.
You can eliminate notching with a synthetic cross. Gamma TNT2 and Marathon are really good for this. The stringbed will last longer and maintain playability longer. I also noticed very little string movement with the TNT2 crosses in a tight string pattern, 16x20 at 56 lbs Constant Pull.
Bud
Bionic Poster
Spray it in another room .. hold your breath and close the door right after. It only takes a tiny amount sprayed in the center of the stringbed. It disperses quickly.
moonballs
Hall of Fame
Thanks I actually do it outside. But when in a clear day I can see the small cloud of fuzz after the contact and I am thinking it must have some silicone in it. I hope it is not something to worry about. The silicone works great. Not only the strings are straight the string bed feels softer with more pocketing.
Bennie Backhand
Banned
I tried this as a cross with a poly but found it insanely overpowered. Balls absolutely flew.
Does the power get less over time (like some polys) or is it always like this?
Also would twice pulling the strings when stringing take out some of the power?
Does the power get less over time (like some polys) or is it always like this?
Also would twice pulling the strings when stringing take out some of the power?
Shroud
G.O.A.T.
I only seem to use zx as a cross these days as its better than the ones I have tried.
I ALWAYS prestretch the zx manually and then use the machine to prestretch as well.
Yes prestretching will take out some of the power. If you manually prestretch it correctly you will see it elongate by a FOOT or more.
A
Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
Does pre-streching stiffen it up pretty bad though? Or will it still have advantages over a good polyester?
torpantennis
Legend
This is exactly the reason I don't quite get why ZX would be so great. It's VERY denting resistant, so it's a perfect cross in this sense. BUT, it's high powered and IMO crosses should rather be lower powered than mains, since they are essentially just "rails" for the mains to slide on. The power and the spin comes from the mains, so any extra power in the crosses is bad.
Maybe gut mains/ZX crosses or multi mains/ZX crosses would work, since gut/multi are presumably higher powered than ZX?
A
Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
In theory you can achieve a good result by using a higher tension and/or prestretching. I certainly need to do this. I don't think it's necessary for the crosses to be at lower tension, it just happens to work with poly due to its stiffness.
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Bennie Backhand
Banned
I don't have pre-stretch on my machine, so I cut out the strings (preserving the ZX crosses) and re-used them with fresh poly mains. Basically, this resulted in the ZX crosses being pulled to tension twice, once originally and once on the restring. Definitely a less wild stringbed. Still a bit powerful, but less so and plays perfectly fine. Very unusual string.
My usual response is same tension as natural gut, which is 6-10% higher than nylon. However, I would never put gut mains in a Blade 98S for 2 reasons: 1) it won't last long, and 2) if you actually string it tight enough for that pattern (mid to high 60's) you'll break strings regularly on the stringer.
Most people strongly advise against replacing mains only. No one cares what you do with your own racquet, but it is probably a good idea for people to do some research on this topic first before they decide to try it.
Bennie Backhand
Banned
It's good to be cautious. I'm pretty experienced so I just mount the racket, snip the knots on the last cross, and then unwind, before cutting out the mains. Basically, I just do the reverse of stringing.
ChicagoJack
Hall of Fame
I had a fantastic week long demo with the 98s with full poly. I currently have several of my Donnay Pro Ones strung with gut mains at 60 and Zx crosses at 54. I string full beds of ZX at 58/56.
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shogun90
Rookie
Hi Jack, what tension and string did you use in the 98S?
ChicagoJack
Hall of Fame
Hi Shogun,
1. The Blade 98s was a TW demo, strung with Lux 4g 16L. I know that for sure, because I asked TW last week in this thread here. If memory serves correct, 4G is the string that Wilson recommends for all the spin tech racquets.
2. Regarding the tension, Michelle said it was strung at "mid tension, -2 lbs". I'm guessing that means they look at the recommended tension range printed on the racquet and subtract 2 lbs from center.
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shogun90
Rookie
Thanks for the info Jack
I've just tried gut/zx last night and my first impression is very positive. I normally strung gut/poly at 50/45 in EZone Xi98, before my TE. Coming back, I have been using gut/recoil (dubai has tons of recoil still being sold) at the same tension. Frankly, haven't liked it that much, as it still feels stiffish and has limited power, while spin is meh.
So, I've finally tried gut/zx at 50/48:
Likes: spin, pocketing and comfort. For me, It is actually more comfortable than gut/gut at 55. Almost reminds me of the feeling gut gave, when I was a junior some 25 years ago
Dislikes: strings don't snap back consistently (spin is fine, though) and for the first time of any string job I'd say too much power.
So, I know that people have advocated a higher tension. My question is this: based on my favorite string jobs in terms of power, comfort and spin, what tension should I use:
Best power/spin: babolat gut team/hepta twist at 50/45 (the setup that gave me TE after Hepta Twist died)
Best comfort: last night's setup NG Team/monogut at 50/48
I've been thinking 52/50 or 54/50?
So, I've finally tried gut/zx at 50/48:
Likes: spin, pocketing and comfort. For me, It is actually more comfortable than gut/gut at 55. Almost reminds me of the feeling gut gave, when I was a junior some 25 years ago
Dislikes: strings don't snap back consistently (spin is fine, though) and for the first time of any string job I'd say too much power.
So, I know that people have advocated a higher tension. My question is this: based on my favorite string jobs in terms of power, comfort and spin, what tension should I use:
Best power/spin: babolat gut team/hepta twist at 50/45 (the setup that gave me TE after Hepta Twist died)
Best comfort: last night's setup NG Team/monogut at 50/48
I've been thinking 52/50 or 54/50?
rene.55555
New User
I want to try MonoGut ZX or ZX Pro in my IG Prestige Mid in hybrid setup with kevlar string in the mains. What kevlar string do you recommend me? I want to go with thin gauge, maybe Ashaway 18 1.10, is it good choice? Is here something better on the shop? Thanks
graycrait
Legend
BLUF: 16G Ashaway Kevlar at 63lbs in the mains x 17G ZX Pro at 60lbs in the crosses. But I think your racket is 18x20 correct? You may want to reduce the tension a bit. My rackets are mostly 16x19 or 16x18.
I have used a set of Forten Thin Blend hybrid and I must have not been paying attention because I have 8 or 10 rackets strung with Ashaway Kevlar x ZX and ZX Pro. My favorite rackets all weight a little over 11.1 - 11.5oz strung and have 16x19 pattern and vary from 95-102," 64-66 stiffness. My favorite set-up to play sets with is 63lbs 16G Ashaway Kevlar in the mains x 60lb 17G ZX Pro crosses. I ordered a set of Prince ProBlend, another hybrid Kevlar set, and some more Forten Thin Blend, just to do a better comparison. I also ordered some Forten Aramid Gear String, another Kevlar based string, just to see what it does. Experimenting i have some rackets strung 70lbs Ashaway Kevlar in the mains x 48lbs ZX Pro in the crosses, and every thing in between. I get better depth, control along with easy spin with Kev x ZX than I do with nat gut hybrids, polys and multis. It must just mesh with my hitting style, because most around me are using polys. Most I hit/play with are younger than me.
I have used a set of Forten Thin Blend hybrid and I must have not been paying attention because I have 8 or 10 rackets strung with Ashaway Kevlar x ZX and ZX Pro. My favorite rackets all weight a little over 11.1 - 11.5oz strung and have 16x19 pattern and vary from 95-102," 64-66 stiffness. My favorite set-up to play sets with is 63lbs 16G Ashaway Kevlar in the mains x 60lb 17G ZX Pro crosses. I ordered a set of Prince ProBlend, another hybrid Kevlar set, and some more Forten Thin Blend, just to do a better comparison. I also ordered some Forten Aramid Gear String, another Kevlar based string, just to see what it does. Experimenting i have some rackets strung 70lbs Ashaway Kevlar in the mains x 48lbs ZX Pro in the crosses, and every thing in between. I get better depth, control along with easy spin with Kev x ZX than I do with nat gut hybrids, polys and multis. It must just mesh with my hitting style, because most around me are using polys. Most I hit/play with are younger than me.
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graycrait
Legend
I've only tried ZX Pro as a full bed once and it was a ball launcher for me at 58lbs. However, as a cross behind Kevlar it works well in that pairing for me. I've kept the same strings in my two primary rackets for at least 6 weeks I think - I need to keep a log, but there is very little visible wear on the ZX. There is some wear on the Kevlar. I can only get 4-7 hours per week indoors at this time. The Kevlar still slides easily along the Zyex. Since getting my Neos stringing machine I have tried lots of strings, including all the popular poly's. Right now, when playing for points, I'm sticking with the Kev x ZX.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Demoed Ashaway Crossfire ZX at 56# in a Volkl C10 pro and was totally satisfied with the 17 gauge Kevlar in the package.
As far as aging, it's more like nylon than poly. The initial drop in tension is similar to a typical synthetic gut string. After that, it's very stable. It does not die like poly. My arm is sensitive to poly and Kevlar, but I'm totally confident in the arm-friendliness of Mono ZX.
Ramon I am now using basic Gosen syngut as a cross (with MonogutZX mains) vs the Gamma Marathon I was using, plays as well (maybe a little softer) with no noticeable change in spin/control etc. Gosen is a lot cheaper than the Gamma. Still loving the MonogutZX mains
I'm also using ZX pro mains/smooth Golden Set poly crosses..with great success..I have about 15 hours on my current setup and still moving freely with great spin and comfort.
HellsBells
Rookie
What would people say are the differences between this and Tecnifibre X-One Biphase when used as a cross? Which one is better?
