4G vs 4G Soft

[TennisManiac]

According to the TW String Data Base. 4G Soft appears to basically be equal in tension maintenance and energy return. But is softer and can produce way more spin. So clearly 4G Soft is superior to regular 4G.... right? Does anyone have any real experience between the two and care to share their thoughts?

 

[Blade_X]

4G 1.25, 4G Rough, 4G Soft, 4G 1.20, 4G Hybrids...

4G Utopia! Whats your favorite way to setup some 4G? This string is an absolute high control cannon with loads of amazing power & spin potential under complete control love it just working on figuring out the optimal 4G setup. I've only used 4G 1.25 full bed and 4G Rough NXT Control hybrid so...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

 

[AndrewUtz]

According to the TW String Data Base. 4G Soft appears to basically be equal in tension maintenance and energy return. But is softer and can produce way more spin. So clearly 4G Soft is superior to regular 4G.... right? Does anyone have any real experience between the two and care to share their thoughts?

yes, it is superior imo.

 

[naturalexponent]

I like soft better but it notches really quickly.

 

[Irvin]

According to the TW String Data Base. 4G Soft appears to basically be equal in tension maintenance and energy return. But is softer and can produce way more spin. So clearly 4G Soft is superior to regular 4G.... right? Does anyone have any real experience between the two and care to share their thoughts?

I have 2 players that like 4G gold more than 4G soft. And 2 others that are just the opposite. all four have broken their string of choice but more often than not their rackets strings are not broken. It’s all a matter of preference.

 

[AndrewUtz]

I have 2 players that like 4G gold more than 4G soft. And 2 others that are just the opposite. all four have broken their string of choice but more often than not their rackets strings are not broken. It’s all a matter of preference.

i guess so. i’ve tried both @ 54lbs but haven’t tried 4g any lower. 4g soft @54 seems just about my perfect string.

 

[Samo]

"Regular" 4G is firmer. Now if that is better or worse it depends on the player and the style of play. I have been playing with 4G for a very long time and also went thru 4 reels of 4G soft. Both are great, if you like one, you will like the other as well. For me the biggest difference was that you can play even more aggressive with regular 4G. The harder you hit more control you will have. However if you drop RHS or you play defensively most of the time, then soft is better option, as you don't have to work as hard to produce at least neutral ball. Try both and see what you prefer.

 

[grakic]

I played with 4G soft and it was a true miracle for me. However I felt I needed a little bit more bite. What about 4G Rough? Or Desert Storm?

 

[AndrewUtz]

I played with 4G soft and it was a true miracle for me. However I felt I needed a little bit more bite. What about 4G Rough? Or Desert Storm?

head lynx tour imo.

 

[calmlyTryin]

I heard 4g rough would lose tension really quick.

 

[Blade_X]

I played with 4G soft and it was a true miracle for me. However I felt I needed a little bit more bite. What about 4G Rough? Or Desert Storm?

Regular 4G has the most byte.

 

[ichaseballs]

4G soft was stiff... I can only imagine 4G is super stiff

 

[AndrewUtz]

4G soft was stiff... I can only imagine 4G is super stiff

yes, too stiff imo. and in my experience i got more spin with 4g soft. and frankly it wasn’t particularly close. the TWU numbers reflect this as well.

 

[dfwchar]

I tried both late last year. 4G Soft in my pure strike vs was phenomenal. Great tension maintenance with the spin. 4G destroyed my wrists after a 1.5 hour session even though I strung the 4g lower than the soft.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Titsi got hammered too - at least you’re in illustrious company…

 

[PD1978]

I normally use gut/4G. Really like it but having slight forearm pain. Going to try 4G soft in its place this time around.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-this is how i look at it:
-if you like to play with low tension/s, go with 4g
-if you like to string tight, go with 4G.soft

-but some people like/prefer different feel at impact!?

 

[PCunique]

4G Desert Bronze is phenomenal. Love it @45 lbs in my Pro Staff 97 V11. Slightly dampened feel.

 

[Blade_X]

My playtest/revisit is finished. I still prefer regular 4G over 4G soft. Definitely more heavy ball when you go for it. More raw / connected feel. More precision. Soft obviously feels softer / plusher and has more easy launch when on defence to return the ball with depth. Soft a lot more arm friendly. If 4G doesn’t bother your arm and your pattern is super open i see no reason to use soft….. you can just lower the tension on regular 4G

 

[AlexKangaroo]

4G Desert Bronze is phenomenal. Love it @45 lbs in my Pro Staff 97 V11. Slightly dampened feel.

I enjoyed it in my v14 demo as well. Now trying to figure out something cheaper alternative that would maybe perform as well.

 

[Trip]

I enjoyed it in my v14 demo as well. Now trying to figure out something cheaper alternative that would maybe perform as well.

Head Hawk Black. 80+% of the playability/longevity of 4G Desert Bronze, for 55% of the cost (via TWE: €9/$10 sets and €120/$125 reels).

Sure, 4G purists will lambaste that suggestion, but from a price-to-playability ratio, IMHO Hawk nips it by a decent margin. Just my two cents.

 

[AlexKangaroo]

Head Hawk Black. 80+% of the playability/longevity of 4G Desert Bronze, for 55% of the cost (via TWE: €9/$10 sets and €120/$125 reels).

Sure, 4G purists will lambaste that suggestion, but from a price-to-playability ratio, IMHO Hawk nips it by a decent margin. Just my two cents.

I will definitely try them out. Any opinion on what gauge should be used? I haven't broken a string at least yet for the last 6months, so I don't think I need 1.30mm.

 

[Trip]

I would start with 1.25 gauge. Should be plenty thick/firm enough in the PS X. They make 1.20 but only in White and it tends to be much less widely stocked, so usually harder to find locally if you're ever in a pinch.

 

[Blade_X]

I enjoyed it in my v14 demo as well. Now trying to figure out something cheaper alternative that would maybe perform as well.

I am searching for years for that cheap 4G alternative and the simple answer is NONE

Personally what i am doing to lower the cost of 4G is: using 4G only for competition / tournaments….. using other strings for friendly matches….. currently enjoying pure rush. 80 euros for a reel is unreal for the performance it offers.

 

[Blade_X]

Head Hawk Black. 80+% of the playability/longevity of 4G Desert Bronze, for 55% of the cost (via TWE: €9/$10 sets and €120/$125 reels).

Sure, 4G purists will lambaste that suggestion, but from a price-to-playability ratio, IMHO Hawk nips it by a decent margin. Just my two cents.

I love head hawk. Great premium string offered at a lower price……. but but but not the same punch with 4G. I mean i still haven’t found a string with that high of ration on both power and control….. also to note it’s unmatched durability.

 

[Trip]

I love head hawk. Great premium string offered at a lower price……. but but but not the same punch with 4G. I mean i still haven’t found a string with that high of ration on both power and control….. also to note it’s unmatched durability.

For sure. That's why I said "80+%". Hawk will never perfectly replicate or replace 4G in every aspect, though IME it's just about equally dent-resistant. Overall, it's one of the very few strings that comes at least close, especially considering the price-to-performance ratio. That said, absolutely, your mileage may vary, batteries not included, etc. etc.

 

[Samo]

Head Hawk Black. 80+% of the playability/longevity of 4G Desert Bronze, for 55% of the cost (via TWE: €9/$10 sets and €120/$125 reels).

Sure, 4G purists will lambaste that suggestion, but from a price-to-playability ratio, IMHO Hawk nips it by a decent margin. Just my two cents.

If you like Hawk, I suggest you try Lynx Tour and/or hybrid HLT mains with HH crosses. It is even cheaper (around 90€ per reel). I have been playing with it for couple of months and I find it a very good alternative to 4G.

 

[Blade_X]

If you like Hawk, I suggest you try Lynx Tour and/or hybrid HLT mains with HH crosses. It is even cheaper (around 90€ per reel). I have been playing with it for couple of months and I find it a very good alternative to 4G.

Is that the museti combo ? Lynx tour / Head Hawk ?
Lynx tour is one of the few shaped strings i really like because it plays mostly like a round poly. I ll try that. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Samo]

Is that the museti combo ? Lynx tour / Head Hawk ?
Lynx tour is one of the few shaped strings i really like because it plays mostly like a round poly. I ll try that. Thanks for the suggestion.

I don't know.
You said it well - usually I try to avoid shaped strings like a plague, but this one plays like a round poly.