Questions on Topspin Cyber Flash 17/1.25

Thanks to every single post that is titled "Looking for Soft Poly" here on TW forums). I too was having arm issues trying to use harder polys and I tried a bunch of softer polys listed in many of the threads (using search feature). The one I love is Topspin Cyber Flash 17/1.25. Few questions on this string:

1. I've been stringing it on my own at 48 pounds on my Head Graphene Touch Extreme MP. I found some threads today that say it should be strung in the 42-46 pound range. Thoughts by avid users?

2. Has anyone tried this string as a hybrid perhaps with gut mains and cyber flash crosses? If so, what tensions on each string?

I'm happy to have finally found a string that is soft on the arm (no issues so far) and gives me the response I'm looking for with a poly.

janky said:

Thanks to every single post that is titled "Looking for Soft Poly" here on TW forums). I too was having arm issues trying to use harder polys and I tried a bunch of softer polys listed in many of the threads (using search feature). The one I love is Topspin Cyber Flash 17/1.25. Few questions on this string:

1. I've been stringing it on my own at 48 pounds on my Head Graphene Touch Extreme MP. I found some threads today that say it should be strung in the 42-46 pound range. Thoughts by avid users?

2. Has anyone tried this string as a hybrid perhaps with gut mains and cyber flash crosses? If so, what tensions on each string?

I'm happy to have finally found a string that is soft on the arm (no issues so far) and gives me the response I'm looking for with a poly.

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Its a great string, very soft but still have a crisp responce. I use the 17L version and it works great in FB and as a cross to gut mains, very soft setup.

Happi said:

Its a great string, very soft but still have a crisp responce. I use the 17L version and it works great in FB and as a cross to gut mains, very soft setup.

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What tensions do you use in your hybrid setup?

janky said:

What tensions do you use in your hybrid setup?

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Does not make any sense to give a specific tension, as it all depends on racquet, patterns and most important how you like the feel of your stringbed. Over the years I have learned that it is very individual how you like your tension and feel. I like a thin poly strung low 40’s on a 95 18x20 head, I also string the gut lower than most, but hey that is just me and the way I like it, others prefer to string in the 50’s or 60’s.

The best advice is to try it out for your self with different tensions, and dont listen to what others do.

Happi said:

Does not make any sense to give a specific tension, as it all depends on racquet, patterns and most important how you like the feel of your stringbed.

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From the bottom of my heart...thank you!

Seriously...I was just about to quote item #1 in the original post and say what you said. However, I will add it also depends on the machine (drop weight vs lockout vs electric w/ constant pull), as well as the stringer.

To the OP...the Extreme MP is a fairly powerful racquet, and going too low may cause the ball to fly on you. I've used Cyber Flash in the past as a cross to gut, and it is an excellent budget poly. Others in that class are Tourna Big Hitter Silver and Blue, and Signum Pro Poly Plasma (aka SPPP). However, they all tend to lose tension a bit quicker than some newer ones, so you need to weigh the cost of the gut vs playability time of the poly.

In the category of 'newer' polys, I'd put Yonex Poly Tour Pro (aka YPTP), Tecnifibre Ice Code and Black Code, and LaserFibre JB 100. I've not used it, but many people here also like Wilson Revolve.

Basically, any round poly will do well as a cross to gut.

As far as tension...maybe bump the gut up 2lbs from your normal tension to 50, and keep the cross poly at 48. I'm not a fan of changing too many things at once. It may take a few stringings, but you'll eventually dial in your desired tension. But start where you're used to so you can get a reference to go by.

Thanks for the other poly recommendations. I’m gonna try Cyber in a FB and hybrid and compare the two setups. Of course I’m not going to use your tensions exactly. I’m trying to get a baseline of what folks do in hybrid so McLovin your post was helpful.

CF is a super string. My favourite soft poly. I've tried it both as a cross and main with Monogut Zyex, and it became too powerful to my taste, but as always when you hybrid with Zyex, the bed feels fresh for quite a long time, because it's so slippery.

Gosen Sidewinder is even softer, but is also a very different string with emphasis on spin and nowhere near the delicate feel CF offers.

Love CF, in FB or in main for me. Crisp, good feel and control, fairly soft. Using 1.30, never tried 1.25

Update: I did a full bed of CF 1.25 at 46 pounds. Loved it. I'm going to try guts in the mains and CF in the crosses next to see how it plays and if I like it better than FB @ 46 pounds.

Update 2 (Feb 10-2022): Been playing with Cyber Flash 17/1.25 with a natural gut cross and love it. 50 pounds in the mains for the gut and 48 pounds with the crosses for the CF.

Been playing a lot with full bed of CF 1.25 lately (in a dense 16x19 that compares well with an open 18x20). What a high quality string, in terms of general quality per $$ it's top-notch, and in terms of control level per "level of softness" it's also top-notch. CF 1.25 is unique among soft polys.

I tried it as a cross w gut mains. Didn't notice a difference between it and ZX crossed w gut, so stuck w the latter. The fact that I couldn't feel a difference probably speaks of how soft CF is.