Are synthetic guts uncomfortable? Advice for my next string job

[tennisinvegas]

I'm a self-rated 3.0 player (my buddy who plays UTR 4.0 seems to agree)

I bought a used Yonex DR 98 and it came with NRG2 mains and unknown smooth black poly.
It's an uncommon hybrid but I think they played great. It only lasted about a month or 1.5
I play recreational doubles for about 1.5 hrs 3 times a week. Does that make it 4.5hrs x 4 = 18 hours? 4.5 x 6 would be 27 hours.
Am I considered a string breaker?

Anyways, I had a set of REALLY old Babolat double line vf titanium? (apparently they are synth gut) so I strung full bed syn gut @ 57
after reading that player like me don't benefit from poly.
It's been about two weeks from string job and I can see my crosses eating up mains visibly when I push the crosses up.

Since then, I have been playing worse and started building wrist pain and arm pain. It's not at the level of tennis elbow but I find myself shaking or stretching wrist during the match.
Am I using wrong strings?
I thought of doing Solinco Hyper G Soft mains and Gosen Cream crosses for next string job so I already bought those.
Now I'm not sure if I should go for poly/poly hybrid.

I've always thought that polys don't provide comfort.
If that's the case, is it stupid to go back to NRG2 main and a random poly cross? something cheap like Isospeed baseline speed.

 

[veelium]

Synthetic gut is usually medium for comfort but there's a wide variety, I have tried very comfortable ones and rather stiff ones. No clue about your old Babolat syn gut.
Personally I just don't like how a full bed of syn gut plays.

Hard to say if it's from that stringjob, what did you use before?

Anyway, I'd say 1.5 months is a decent time for a stringbed to last so if you liked it, going back to NRG2 / iso baseline is probably a good idea.

 

[PRS]

I'm a self-rated 3.0 player (my buddy who plays UTR 4.0 seems to agree)

I bought a used Yonex DR 98 and it came with NRG2 mains and unknown smooth black poly.
It's an uncommon hybrid but I think they played great. It only lasted about a month or 1.5
I play recreational doubles for about 1.5 hrs 3 times a week. Does that make it 4.5hrs x 4 = 18 hours? 4.5 x 6 would be 27 hours.
Am I considered a string breaker?

Anyways, I had a set of REALLY old Babolat double line vf titanium? (apparently they are synth gut) so I strung full bed syn gut @ 57
after reading that player like me don't benefit from poly.
It's been about two weeks from string job and I can see my crosses eating up mains visibly when I push the crosses up.

Since then, I have been playing worse and started building wrist pain and arm pain. It's not at the level of tennis elbow but I find myself shaking or stretching wrist during the match.
Am I using wrong strings?
I thought of doing Solinco Hyper G Soft mains and Gosen Cream crosses for next string job so I already bought those.
Now I'm not sure if I should go for poly/poly hybrid.

I've always thought that polys don't provide comfort.
If that's the case, is it stupid to go back to NRG2 main and a random poly cross? something cheap like Isospeed baseline speed.

Synthetic gut should be plenty comfortable for anybody who hasn't dealt with injuries in the past. You are playing a lot of tennis, so any pain is more likely from overuse and/or poor technique. That said, full poly won't help your problem; if anything it'll make it worse.

If you like how your current NRG/poly hybrid setup I'd just stick with that. I think you'd be fine to go with synthetic gut as well; that's probably what I'd recommend if you hadn't had the negative experience with it.

Breaking multi (NRG) mains in 18-27 hours would definitely NOT qualify you as a string breaker. Not sure what gauge NRG you're using, but if you're happy with how it played but want it to last a little bit longer, I'd just recommend a thicker gauge of NRG.

 

[stapletonj]

technique is the likely pain culprit are you taking any lessons? filming yourself?

syn gut is not hard on the body

maybe drop tension a little

as you are just developing as a player, my suggestion is that you stay with syn gut. buy a cheap reel and dial in your preferred tension before
experimenting with diff. types of string/hybrids, etc.

 

[tele]

I'm a self-rated 3.0 player (my buddy who plays UTR 4.0 seems to agree)

I bought a used Yonex DR 98 and it came with NRG2 mains and unknown smooth black poly.
It's an uncommon hybrid but I think they played great. It only lasted about a month or 1.5
I play recreational doubles for about 1.5 hrs 3 times a week. Does that make it 4.5hrs x 4 = 18 hours? 4.5 x 6 would be 27 hours.
Am I considered a string breaker?

Anyways, I had a set of REALLY old Babolat double line vf titanium? (apparently they are synth gut) so I strung full bed syn gut @ 57
after reading that player like me don't benefit from poly.
It's been about two weeks from string job and I can see my crosses eating up mains visibly when I push the crosses up.

Since then, I have been playing worse and started building wrist pain and arm pain. It's not at the level of tennis elbow but I find myself shaking or stretching wrist during the match.
Am I using wrong strings?
I thought of doing Solinco Hyper G Soft mains and Gosen Cream crosses for next string job so I already bought those.
Now I'm not sure if I should go for poly/poly hybrid.

I've always thought that polys don't provide comfort.
If that's the case, is it stupid to go back to NRG2 main and a random poly cross? something cheap like Isospeed baseline speed.

hard to know, but it is possible arm damage was accumulating with the previous stringbed and only became apparent after you switched. easiest way to find out would be to return to an nrg hybrid and see if the pain disappears. isospeed cream is a great cross for multi mains, so i would recommend that over baseline since you are not a string breaker. if the pain is still there, i would go fb nrg or another multi until you are healed

 

[jim e]

I would use a full bed natural gut at higher tension. The higher tension would give you more control, and still have a soft hit to help your pain. Either that or at least try full bed of the multi that you hit with.

 

[kabrac]

Without having seen you play and your swing type(we know you have said 3.0)....

Just string looser. Try full bed @53 next time maybe. The strings that came with that racquet may have been in there a while and "set". I have experienced this and sometimes I like a stringjob that has set, or has sat, in a hot car and loosened, worn in whatever......you could experiment in different gauges, etc....Try different tensions first though. Syn gut definitely should not feel harsh on the arm. Either it's too tight, improper technique, or overuse. Just try stringing looser and more frequently

 

[hadoken]

I bought a used Yonex DR 98 and it came with NRG2 mains and unknown smooth black poly.
It's an uncommon hybrid but I think they played great. It only lasted about a month or 1.5
I play recreational doubles for about 1.5 hrs 3 times a week. Does that make it 4.5hrs x 4 = 18 hours? 4.5 x 6 would be 27 hours.
Am I considered a string breaker?

Yo why mess with perfection? I think you bought my frame.

It's NRG2 17 Mains, Gosen GTour 3 17L, strung at 48lbs. I have a very fragile arm and this setup works because the poly is so thin and on the softer side. You can go with NRG2 16 which is a little thicker and you might be able to squeeze out 2 months of durability but if you don't have a stringer this is an expensive setup to restring. I would buy the Gosen by the reel (that reel gauge is only available from 1 retailer if you look around) and then experiment with different mains that are cost effective and pay a local stringer to hybrid them up.

I tried synth gut on the mains....it plays OK you just need to drop the tension to 45lbs. The softest cheap synthetic gut is Forten Sweet which might be a good place to start. I have tried MANY multis and it's hard to find a budget multi similar to NRG2.

 

[SlowTiger]

27 hrs is a long time for that set up. I'd blow through that in like 2 hitting sessions and I don't even really consider myself a strong breaker. If it last you that long, I'd just put it in again

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Some syn guts a firm, some soft.

NRG2 is a great string, albeit expensive. Wilson Syn Gut Power is a softer syn gut that was a suitable substitute in a pinch for my son who usually plays NRG2 mains and YPTFire crosses, but local shop was out of NRG2.

 

[tennisinvegas]

Yo why mess with perfection? I think you bought my frame.

It's NRG2 17 Mains, Gosen GTour 3 17L, strung at 48lbs. I have a very fragile arm and this setup works because the poly is so thin and on the softer side. You can go with NRG2 16 which is a little thicker and you might be able to squeeze out 2 months of durability but if you don't have a stringer this is an expensive setup to restring. I would buy the Gosen by the reel (that reel gauge is only available from 1 retailer if you look around) and then experiment with different mains that are cost effective and pay a local stringer to hybrid them up.

I tried synth gut on the mains....it plays OK you just need to drop the tension to 45lbs. The softest cheap synthetic gut is Forten Sweet which might be a good place to start. I have tried MANY multis and it's hard to find a budget multi similar to NRG2.

Haha yes! I didn't realize how great that setup played until it was gone
thank you for great rackets at great price. Wanted to ask you what the black poly is but didn't want to bother

How long have you played with the strings before you sold them to me? So I can gauge how much string life I actually get out of NRG2 since I don't have my own stringer so your setup is on the pricier side.
Messing around with racquet was one thing but messing around with strings is a whole another level. Surprising to find multi main/poly cross enjoyable and playable contrary to the general consensus on the forum.

 

[tennisinvegas]

technique is the likely pain culprit are you taking any lessons? filming yourself?

syn gut is not hard on the body

maybe drop tension a little

as you are just developing as a player, my suggestion is that you stay with syn gut. buy a cheap reel and dial in your preferred tension before
experimenting with diff. types of string/hybrids, etc.

Not taking lessons but did film myself the other day.
I am not extending my arm out on my forehand much so I do agree technique or fatigue could be the issue.
I just strung mine fairly high since
1. It's a synthetic gut not poly
2. Over time it drops tension so I usually string it higher.... because it will drop eventually (cheap mindeset)

I would buy a reel but I don't have my own stringer yet. I'm really debating if I should or not

 

[stapletonj]

If you are truly bit by the tennis bug (and it sounds like you are) and are of a cheap mindset, like me, here's a thought.

I don't know what you are paying for stringing, but a dropweight machine can be had for $250 or less if you find one for sale.
I do not recc. the Bay, but do recc. this board.
For about $250, you can get a decent machine and a reel of syn gut.
If your stringer is charging, say $30 (lots of places now charge more!) to restring with generic syn gut, after 8 DIY sting jobs, you have saved the cost of the machine.

TW has some good videos and the guys on this board are magnificent.

Now. Your first time, allocate about 3 hours. Second time, allocate 2 hours. 3rd time about an hour. Within 5 string jobs, you will be down to about 50 minutes.
Of course, if you despise the thought of doing this and have no interest in doing so, that's another matter

 

[veelium]

As a warning though @tennisinvegas, there is zero chance that after buying a stringing machine you are not gonna buy too many reels and sets.
Those are the hidden costs of having a stringing machine.

 

[hadoken]

Messing around with racquet was one thing but messing around with strings is a whole another level. Surprising to find multi main/poly cross enjoyable and playable contrary to the general consensus on the forum.

Multi main, poly cross is basically the setup for guys like me, 50 years old who grew up with the synthetic gut and dislike that stiff poly feel, but want a little more spin. If you flip it to poly mains, multi cross, that comfort drops dramatically unless you lower the tension.

I have my own stringer so I experimented a lot...picking the right multi makes a massive difference in feel. NRG2 is the 'can't go wrong' multi but as you mentioned costly. I don't recall how long I had used those frames (they were sitting around in my closet for a while) but in general I would say breaking every 3-4 months is reasonable.

I would highly recommend shopping for a used stringer, but don't get a dropweight. Try and find a used crank for say $500. There is ZERO downside. Even if you do say 5 string jobs and decide you don't wan to string you can sell it for say $400. To me, it's worth every penny to save my arm and play in comfort with the right setup which is why I ended up trying many multis only to cut them out after only 1 hr....I can tell pretty quickly what I like and don't like.

 

[Cowboy]

If you are truly bit by the tennis bug (and it sounds like you are) and are of a cheap mindset, like me, here's a thought.

I don't know what you are paying for stringing, but a dropweight machine can be had for $250 or less if you find one for sale.
I do not recc. the Bay, but do recc. this board.
For about $250, you can get a decent machine and a reel of syn gut.
If your stringer is charging, say $30 (lots of places now charge more!) to restring with generic syn gut, after 8 DIY sting jobs, you have saved the cost of the machine.

TW has some good videos and the guys on this board are magnificent.

Now. Your first time, allocate about 3 hours. Second time, allocate 2 hours. 3rd time about an hour. Within 5 string jobs, you will be down to about 50 minutes.
Of course, if you despise the thought of doing this and have no interest in doing so, that's another matter

I did this a few months back. Bought an Ektelon Model H for $250. Came with a bunch of sets of various string and all of the 'necessary' tools. I did get a few extra, like starting clamp and tension gauge. All in, I'm at about $325 for machine and tools.

As a warning though @tennisinvegas, there is zero chance that after buying a stringing machine you are not gonna buy too many reels and sets.
Those are the hidden costs of having a stringing machine.

Yes...tell me about it. I now have more money in string than I do in the stringer and tools.

There is another Model H listed on fb marketplace in my area for $300. At that price, I'm tempted, but don't need it.