Ashaway Monogut Zyex in hybrid?

[junior74]

Hi guys! I have recently discovered the Ashaway Monogut Zyex 1.27, and I like it a lot. Compared to the multis I have tried, it is easier on the arm, gives me more consistency, has a more controllable power, more spin, retains tension and playability for a longer period of time... but lacks feel. I can't hit my touch shots with this string, so my game is changing towards a baseline-game, while I normally come in a lot.

I have it strung at 55 lbs which feels nice in a 98 frame, 18x20.

Can you recommend a good hybrid string for the Zyex? How will it work as a main string, with a feel-oriented string in cross? Or is Zyex a more typical cross? I have no experience with hybrid set-ups.

I dream of a stringbed with the playability of the Zyex, but with more feel. I don't mind changing strings often. I have never tried a string that lasts as long as the Zyex in terms of playability and comfort, but I would love to have some more feel to my set-up. And I love the spin!

Hope some of you have had success hybriding the Zyex and want to share your experience

 

[Ramon]

Synthetic crosses work great with Monogut ZX. In fact, the stringbed will be more durable and playability will be more consistent over time because the mains won't notch. The softer the cross the better because a stiff cross like RIP Control tends to dominate and take away the power and spin you get from ZX.

I use Gamma TNT2 or Marathon. They are slick, durable, and soft enough to go with ZX. Marathon 15L is best for durability and open patterns. TNT2 16 is softer and comes in different colors and on sale at TW so that's the one I recommend for you. For a dense stringbed like yours, you can also try Dunlop DNA. It will give you more feel and spin, but it won't last as long because it frays.

 

[SCRAP IRON]

Because of the lack of feel, I would not use the Zyex strings in the mains. However, as a cross string paired with your favorite poly, you may find an ideal set up. You can string the Zyex strings at a higher tension. Ultimately, with a spin friendly poly, you can get controllable power without eventually taking a toll on your arm.

 

[eelhc]

I have it as a cross with Origin mains on one of my frames.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=495088&page=3

It's nice... Will work very well for those "string it once a year whether it needs it or not" people. When compared to a full bed of premium multi (Biphase, NRG2, NXT...):

• Spin,Tension Loss, Playability is better
• equivalent Comfort and Power
• Touch/Feel is there but different (the Origin Mains help here).
• Sound on off centered hits is annoying but not as bad as a full bed Monogut ZX

 

[junior74]

Synthetic crosses work great with Monogut ZX. In fact, the stringbed will be more durable and playability will be more consistent over time because the mains won't notch. The softer the cross the better because a stiff cross like RIP Control tends to dominate and take away the power and spin you get from ZX.

I use Gamma TNT2 or Marathon. They are slick, durable, and soft enough to go with ZX. Marathon 15L is best for durability and open patterns. TNT2 16 is softer and comes in different colors and on sale at TW so that's the one I recommend for you. For a dense stringbed like yours, you can also try Dunlop DNA. It will give you more feel and spin, but it won't last as long because it frays.

Thanks, Ramon!
I will try the Gamma TNT2. Do you use same tension both ways? Will TNT2 hold tension as well as the ZX?

I kinda like Rip Control, but after hitting with ZX, there's no turning back, at least at this point. Love the spin and the comfort

 

[junior74]

Because of the lack of feel, I would not use the Zyex strings in the mains. However, as a cross string paired with your favorite poly, you may find an ideal set up. You can string the Zyex strings at a higher tension. Ultimately, with a spin friendly poly, you can get controllable power without eventually taking a toll on your arm.

Thanks for the input, ScrapIron - at this point in time, I simply won't take the risk of putting a poly in there (would love too!), as I have had problems both in elbow and shoulder (getting older here...)

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

I'm using NRG2 mains with ZX crosses. Love the spin I get, even in my not very spin friendly racket. I think my next trial will be natural gut mains with ZX crosses, should last a long time in a dense stringbed.

 

[junior74]

I have it as a cross with Origin mains on one of my frames.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=495088&page=3

It's nice... Will work very well for those "string it once a year whether it needs it or not" people. When compared to a full bed of premium multi (Biphase, NRG2, NXT...):

• Spin,Tension Loss, Playability is better
• equivalent Comfort and Power
• Touch/Feel is there but different (the Origin Mains help here).
• Sound on off centered hits is annoying but not as bad as a full bed Monogut ZX

This looks promising. Perhaps I must try this one, as well. Is this your preferred set-up, eelhc? I understand you have arm-issues, too. I can't make it work with a full bed of multis, it's like there's too much power at hand, difficult to control.

 

[Ramon]

Thanks, Ramon!
I will try the Gamma TNT2. Do you use same tension both ways? Will TNT2 hold tension as well as the ZX?

I kinda like Rip Control, but after hitting with ZX, there's no turning back, at least at this point. Love the spin and the comfort

TNT2 holds tension well for a solid core synthetic, much better than PSGD. I suspect it probably holds tension better than ZX because most high quality synthetics do. I use same tension for mains and crosses.

RIP Control was my least favorite cross for ZX. It had great control but all the power was gone. It seemed dead.

 

[darklore009]

i remembered i play tested a hybrid with Ashaway Monogut and zyex. It feels great, but i dont like that i have to move it back in place.

 

[SJSA]

My current setup is Natural Gut 16g/MonoGut ZX Pro.
The feel is much better than a full bed of ZX Pro.

My next try is a hybrid with Volkl Cyclone Tour 17g.
I have not decided yet which string goes to main.

 

[eelhc]

I have it as a cross with Origin mains on one of my frames.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=495088&page=3

It's nice... Will work very well for those "string it once a year whether it needs it or not" people. When compared to a full bed of premium multi (Biphase, NRG2, NXT...):

• Spin,Tension Loss, Playability is better
• equivalent Comfort and Power
• Touch/Feel is there but different (the Origin Mains help here).
• Sound on off centered hits is annoying but not as bad as a full bed Monogut ZX

This looks promising. Perhaps I must try this one, as well. Is this your preferred set-up, eelhc? I understand you have arm-issues, too. I can't make it work with a full bed of multis, it's like there's too much power at hand, difficult to control.

My preferred setup is actually the following:

M: Head Rip Control 17 @50~55lbs
X: Topspin Cyber Blue 17 @45-50lbs (~5lb < M)
​

I'm not a string breaker. The Cyber Blue does not saw through Rip Control and I can go 15~20Hrs with the above setup. I cut the bed out when I start to launch balls. The low power of the rip control allows me to go to string at 50lbs and still swing out without going long. It is an extremely comfortable setup (Cyber Blue is amongst the softest Poly/Co-Poly). The main reason why I prefer this setup over the Origin/Monogut ZX setup is cost (~$5/string job vs ~$18/string job). Origin/ZX does last much longer though (gut like playability) and is good for folks who just don't want to bother with restringing every couple/three weeks. Additionally, Origin/ZX has to be strung at a higher tension to tame the power. While Origin/ZX seems to be very comfortable even at the higher tensions, I just don't get the same level of ball pocketing/feel with this setup.

Full bed of Monogut ZX or ZX pro is quite possibly the worst feeling setup I've ever hit with...

 

[junior74]

Thanks for the input
I've heard good things about the inexpensive Poly Star Energy. Would that one work as a cross with the ZX? (I know I said I won't touch polys again, but from what I read, it is really soft and pretty easy on the arm). Any thoughts?
This would increase control, and tame the power a bit, am I right? Not sure it would improve feel, but some testers report very good touch qualities from Poly Star Energy...

 

[junior74]

Oh, I have now played five matches with the ZX. It is beginning to lose its qualities. It has lost tension, I am beginning to lose more control and sometimes the strings do not snap back. Still there is not much wear on the strings. And it is still very comfortable. No pain in the arm at all!

I realize I have to check out different set-ups and see how they work for me, but I value any response a lot. Your experience is a useful guide in the jungle of strings.

 

[SpinToWin]

Thanks for the input
I've heard good things about the inexpensive Poly Star Energy. Would that one work as a cross with the ZX? (I know I said I won't touch polys again, but from what I read, it is really soft and pretty easy on the arm). Any thoughts?
This would increase control, and tame the power a bit, am I right? Not sure it would improve feel, but some testers report very good touch qualities from Poly Star Energy...

Polystar Energy is VERY powerful, more powerful than some multis I'd say. It also loses a TON of tension, so using it as a cross is not advisable.

 

[Ramon]

Oh, I have now played five matches with the ZX. It is beginning to lose its qualities. It has lost tension, I am beginning to lose more control and sometimes the strings do not snap back. Still there is not much wear on the strings. And it is still very comfortable. No pain in the arm at all!



I realize I have to check out different set-ups and see how they work for me, but I value any response a lot. Your experience is a useful guide in the jungle of strings.

The most important thing is that when you string ZX it has to be completely stretched before clamping it. You can either pre-stretch it, or if you use a constant pull machine, you can let it pull for an extra 30 seconds. If you don't have a stringing machine and you don't know a reputable stringer, this could be a problem. In fact, you may need to switch to a different string if this is the case.

I also found that my hybrids with synthetic crosses held up better than the full bed. I think the fact that they don't notch made the difference. However, none of that matters if it isn't strung correctly.

I really think this string should come packaged as pre-stretched. Most pro shops use lockout machines and try to get the job done in the least amount of time, which would be disastrous for this string.

 

[junior74]

The most important thing is that when you string ZX it has to be completely stretched before clamping it. You can either pre-stretch it, or if you use a constant pull machine, you can let it pull for an extra 30 seconds. If you don't have a stringing machine and you don't know a reputable stringer, this could be a problem. In fact, you may need to switch to a different string if this is the case.

I also found that my hybrids with synthetic crosses held up better than the full bed. I think the fact that they don't notch made the difference. However, none of that matters if it isn't strung correctly.

I really think this string should come packaged as pre-stretched. Most pro shops use lockout machines and try to get the job done in the least amount of time, which would be disastrous for this string.

My trusty stringer pulled it for 30 secs before clamping, and I thought it held tension very well. After about 10 hours I felt a difference, as described above. And tonight, it snapped in the mains. Lasted me 12 hours, which is fine by me. Afterwards, I hit with my 2nd QTour, strung with RIP control, and I have no doubt this is a rougher string for the elbow and shoulder than the zx. I also got less spin, less consistency, more power and better touch with RIP.
I have ordered the Gamma TNT2, excited to try the hybrid.

 

[moonballs]

Ramon, doesn't your cross get rough from the zx mains scraping on them? That happens with my setup mostly with ogsm in the crosses. The mains start to move sooner than the mains in a full bed ZX even though the full bed get notched sooner. I still prefer the hybrid because of the cost and the excessive time to string the ZX crosses though.

 

[Ramon]

Ramon, doesn't your cross get rough from the zx mains scraping on them? That happens with my setup mostly with ogsm in the crosses. The mains start to move sooner than the mains in a full bed ZX even though the full bed get notched sooner. I still prefer the hybrid because of the cost and the excessive time to string the ZX crosses though.

I never tried OGSM. The only cheap syngut I tried was Gamma Synthetic Gut 15L w/Wearguard. It got roughed up badly after only 3 hours. TNT2 and Marathon hold up really well by comparison. They don't get rough, they just get thinner. I do notice the mains moving sooner compared to a full bed, but I think some of that is because the notching locks the full bed setup in place.

 

[comeback]

Hey Ramon, Thanks for being the gatekeeper for ZX.. I use Red 17g ZX pro for crosses with Nat Gut and Poly in my Wilson Steam 105s...Did you ever reuse the old ZX crosses after the mains break?

 

[Ramon]

Hey Ramon, Thanks for being the gatekeeper for ZX.. I use Red 17g ZX pro for crosses with Nat Gut and Poly in my Wilson Steam 105s...Did you ever reuse the old ZX crosses after the mains break?

I'm no gatekeeper. I hated ZX the first time I tried it as a cross with gut. I never re-use strings, but you can certainly try it yourself. I used 17 gauge ZX in a full bed on my 16x20 Pro Kennex. It broke in the first set! It played great, but that was enough for me.

 

[Sander001]

I don't see many people trying Zyex with a poly cross, why is that? After 2.5hrs, I'm finding it superb.

 

[graycrait]

My favorite Zyex hybrid is Ashaway Kevlar 16G in the mains at 60lbs and Zyex 17G at 65lbs, no prestretch and use a leisurely pace when stringing the crosses on my Neos 1000 in POG/PCG 107. This usually means 19' of Zyex Pro becomes about 21' feet by the end of string job. I recently tried the aforementioned strings at 60/40 but that tension didn't feel right to me, so am experimenting with 65/65. However, 60/65 Kev/Zyex gives me control and comfort, without "free power" using the 12.6-13oz POG/PCGs.

Also, prestretched Zyex in the crosses with Babolat VS Touch in the mains works pretty nice for a friend of mine with shoulder issues. He uses 16x19 Volkl V1 Midplus (102").

 

[v-verb]

Cyclone 19 mains, MonoGut ZX Pro 17 cross. Lots of spin, power, touch - just love it. Lasts a long time - got 27 hrs in my Ultra XP 100S 16 x 15 pattern

 

[Shroud]

I hit touch shots with full kevlar....

 

[comeback]

I don't see many people trying Zyex with a poly cross, why is that? After 2.5hrs, I'm finding it superb.

I also had this set up last year and it worked fine

 

[Kalethan]

In low-ish powered frame, PS97s weighted in handle and a bit at 3 & 9, I've been using Zyex mono 16 gauge mains at 60 and LuxElement 16 crosses at 50. I string the mains Super slowly to get the stretch out and find the setup plays really nicely for maybe 3 or 4 matches, with gradually diminishing comfort as both strings go stiffer/less elastic and the Element notches the Zyex Mono eventually. The strings still don't move at all in that 18x17 frame, but in the end the notching mixed with inelasticity makes the setup a little arm-unfriendly after 4 to 6 sessions.

I am about to try Zyex Mono mains with Technifibre Duramix HD crosses, my favorite weird semi-multi. I will go for 60 lbs mains and 56lbs crosses I think. The Zyex will definitely fray the Duramix crosses first, will remain un-notched, and am curious how long the setup will be both playable and arm-friendly.

Interesting (?) aside: I put the Zyex mains Eement crosses setup into an 18x20 Blade 98 for my friend/opponent at 60 mains, 52 crosses, and he served just ludicrously well with it, instantaneously. His other strokes didn't necessarily benefit as obviously, more power than normal ALU Power 16L setup, but not immediately better placement. On his serve, he suddenly had absurd power and perfect control. He beat me in two set, but it was pretty cool to see him have his best serving day ever by a mile.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[skydog]

First night with a Blade 104 weighted up this evening.

Mains: Monogut ZX 16g @ 57 lbs (machine pre stretched @ 25%)
Cross: Big Hitter Silver 16g @ 50lbs


Good power and good spin so far with this combination. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.

 

[skydog]

Through 6 hours with this string set up and still going strong. My touch is coming coming back as I get used to the new frame and string combination.

It's kind of a poor man's Djokovic hybrid.

 

[comeback]

Through 6 hours with this string set up and still going strong. My touch is coming coming back as I get used to the new frame and string combination.

It's kind of a poor man's Djokovic hybrid.

Glad it's working for you..I've played ZX in the mains and it worked well

 

[skydog]

Following up on my Monogut ZX hybrid with Tourna Big Hitter Silver in the crosses. Amazing tension maintenance for a poly hybrid set up. The Blade 104 I strung up in July and has about 25 hours on it has only lost one lb of dynamic tension compared to another Blade 104 with the same setup 48 hours off the stringer without a hit. My second Blade 104 had about 8 hour on it and registered the same dynamic tension as the 25 hour racquet, 1 lb lower than the recently strung Blade 104.

The pre-stretch appears to have kept the Zyex in check compared to the first time I used it 2 years ago.

Loving this set up. Great combination of power and control.

 

[Ramon]

Following up on my Monogut ZX hybrid with Tourna Big Hitter Silver in the crosses. Amazing tension maintenance for a poly hybrid set up. The Blade 104 I strung up in July and has about 25 hours on it has only lost one lb of dynamic tension compared to another Blade 104 with the same setup 48 hours off the stringer without a hit. My second Blade 104 had about 8 hour on it and registered the same dynamic tension as the 25 hour racquet, 1 lb lower than the recently strung Blade 104.

The pre-stretch appears to have kept the Zyex in check compared to the first time I used it 2 years ago.

Loving this set up. Great combination of power and control.

You haven't commented on the comfort of this setup. I'm guessing it's quite good. That's why I like having ZX in the mains (ZX/TNT2 for me). So far it's the only arm-friendly main that I consider durable.

 

[Shroud]

I think monogutzx is best used as a cross. To the OP if you want to try a hybrid, you should look at the other zyex strings Ashaway makes called dynamite. They have 3 gauges and each is a different color. Should give you similar softness but more feel than a full bed of ZX.

Natural gut is a good choice too with zx crosses.

Though for me the best hybrid with zx is kev/zx.

 

[skydog]

You haven't commented on the comfort of this setup. I'm guessing it's quite good. That's why I like having ZX in the mains (ZX/TNT2 for me). So far it's the only arm-friendly main that I consider durable.

It is uber comfortable, much better than poly mains. The most comfortable setup I have used in a poly hybrid.

 

[drak]

love my Kev mains with ZX crosses at an 18-20lb differential, 64 mains Kev and 45 crosses Monogut ZX