Best non poly you've ever tried? Need advice

rsmith

rsmith

Rookie
Poly is killing my wrist, even the softer ones like Hyper G. I'm sure it's a matter of my technique, but until I fix it, I'll be in need of a soft, decent string.

I play with a Prince Textreme 95 and hit relatively flat. I'd be looking for a more control string at 17g that isn't poly, nor natural gut (due to price, of course). Any suggestions? I'm thinking more a multifilamen, similar to Wilson's NXT perhaps..
 
A

Arvin_C

New User
Ashaway Monogut ZX...only string I know of of its kind. It’s a Zyex string, but In monofilament construction. Has very good power, excellent cupping/spin potential and has a plush, comfortable feel. Maintains tension very well. Closest string I’ve played to natural gut.

Drawbacks are it cannot be strung at really high tensions and that it’s really temperamental during the stringing process: it can snap unexpectedly and it can be difficult to get consistent results from one string job to another.

There’s a huge thread on here about how well it plays. A very unique string that doesn’t cost too much...well worth a try!

Good luck!

Arvin C

Edited for spelling...
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
SG like Bab SpiralTek; OGSM, POSG. If you decide on trying multis, check out the Mikeler Thread. NXT comes in variants. Regular NXT is soft. NXT Control is stiffer. I'm sure some Velcoity users will chime in. Softer multis would be X1 an NRG2.

If your string spacing is wide enough, consider 16 Ga versions rather than 17 Ga.
 
beepee1972

beepee1972

Semi-Pro
Start with an available syngut at the lower scale of the tension range (I have good experience with prince and kirschbaum). If you lack control, up the tension a bit until it suits your playing style. SG are the most underrated type of string nowadays it seems. Affordable and great price / durabillity / playabillity ratio. Have I mentioned the comfort aspect already ;-) ?
It takes me about 10 sessions (15 hours) to break mine, for me as a home stringer, that is all I am looking for and my arm thanks me for using it
 
weelie

weelie

Professional
Last edited:
bfroxen

bfroxen

Rookie
Depending on how hard you hit, try Head Velocity or Tecnifibre Multifeel. Velocity works great for my daughter but gets stuck out of place very quickly for me. I tried a bunch of multis and found Multifeel to work best for me. It snaps back into place until it breaks; unfortunately, it frays the crosses and breaks quicker than most multis. I'm actually playing a Velocity/Multifeel hybrid right now (using up a reel of Velocity), and it plays (and lasts) about the same as a full bed of Multifeel.
 
2nd Serve Ace

2nd Serve Ace

Hall of Fame
Isospeed cream is a great cross string that works well with just about any nylon main.
(it is about 30% poly, but still super comfortable)
 
R

redclayny

New User
FOR ME, Isospeed cream are the absolute worst strings I've every used by 1000 miles. I purchased three sets of strings based on the rave reviews in this forum.
I couldn't keep the ball in with those strings. After three days, switched racquets with my other strings and suddenly, I could hit well again.
 
C

colan5934

Professional
Babolat origin is very soft but still controllable and keeps it’s playability considerably longer than run of the mill multifilaments. Expensive, but you get what you pay for!
 
n8dawg6

n8dawg6

Legend
i played a textreme 95 w prince synthetic gut for a match or two ... played well but too much string movement. its a fairly open pattern and the strings would go all over the place after each hit. easy enough on the elbow but it didnt take long for me to be feeling the very bottom of the strings, they were stretched to the max in short order. then, pop. anyway, not sure what level you play, id just recommend a string that moves as little as possible in that frame (and heres where i say velocity is the best non-poly for that in my experience).
 
T

tonylg

Legend
colan5934 said:
Babolat origin is very soft but still controllable and keeps it’s playability considerably longer than run of the mill multifilaments. Expensive, but you get what you pay for!
Click to expand...

I have Origin in a couple of my backup frames, both full bed and mains only. It is very comfortable, plays well and has great tension maintenance.

Only problem is, it breaks too early for what it costs. I think I get better value out of gut.

As above, don't discount syn gut as a good option.
 
C

colan5934

Professional
tonylg said:
I have Origin in a couple of my backup frames, both full bed and mains only. It is very comfortable, plays well and has great tension maintenance.

Only problem is, it breaks too early for what it costs. I think I get better value out of gut.

As above, don't discount syn gut as a good option.
Click to expand...

Breaks quickly for me too, but the OP mentioned he hits “relatively flat,” so durability may not be as much of a question there. For me, I get 1.5 hours out of origin mains and 2 out of gut. I’m not going to be using either, but origin would be my choice if I had to pick between the two. To each their own!
 
Boubi

Boubi

Professional
rsmith said:
Poly is killing my wrist, even the softer ones like Hyper G. I'm sure it's a matter of my technique, but until I fix it, I'll be in need of a soft, decent string.

I play with a Prince Textreme 95 and hit relatively flat. I'd be looking for a more control string at 17g that isn't poly, nor natural gut (due to price, of course). Any suggestions? I'm thinking more a multifilamen, similar to Wilson's NXT perhaps..
Click to expand...
I would first try bigger gauge, 15 or 16, then reduce the tension. Try for instance L-tec paradox string
 
Nick777

Nick777

Semi-Pro
rsmith said:
Poly is killing my wrist, even the softer ones like Hyper G. I'm sure it's a matter of my technique, but until I fix it, I'll be in need of a soft, decent string.

I play with a Prince Textreme 95 and hit relatively flat. I'd be looking for a more control string at 17g that isn't poly, nor natural gut (due to price, of course). Any suggestions? I'm thinking more a multifilamen, similar to Wilson's NXT perhaps..
Click to expand...
Hyper is definitely not soft poly...
 
Nick777

Nick777

Semi-Pro
redclayny said:
FOR ME, Isospeed cream are the absolute worst strings I've every used by 1000 miles. I purchased three sets of strings based on the rave reviews in this forum.
I couldn't keep the ball in with those strings. After three days, switched racquets with my other strings and suddenly, I could hit well again.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't blame cream, offcourse you need to string it tigher if you play with stiffer low power strings
 
Nick777

Nick777

Semi-Pro
Arvin_C said:
Ashaway Monogut ZX...only string I know of of its kind. It’s a Zyex string, but In monofilament construction. Has very good power, excellent cupping/spin potential and has a plush, comfortable feel. Maintains tension very well. Closest string I’ve played to natural gut.

Drawbacks are it cannot be strung at really high tensions and that it’s really temperamental during the stringing process: it can snap unexpectedly and it can be difficult to get consistent results from one string job to another.

There’s a huge thread on here about how well it plays. A very unique string that doesn’t cost too much...well worth a try!

Good luck!

Arvin C

Edited for spelling...
Click to expand...
How do you compare it with cream or velocity?
 
1HBHfanatic

1HBHfanatic

Legend
@rsmith
a few poly SOFTER options you might wanna read up on
btw I agree with @n8dawg6 , the prince textreme 95 is a open pattern racquet, so a durability string is provably best, so soft polys should work
anyway these are some suggestions:
gosen.polylon.comfort (multi strand poly string)
gosen.sidewinder (ime soft buttery feel poly)
luxilon.smart (multistrand poly)

if you wanna get away from poly and go into synthetics, I would look into gamma.ocho (8 sided coating on a mono synthetic construction, both in TNT and LW versions), the synthetics would provably last you a bit longer than the multis..
 
1HBHfanatic

1HBHfanatic

Legend
colan5934 said:
Babolat origin is very soft but still controllable and keeps it’s playability considerably longer than run of the mill multifilaments. Expensive, but you get what you pay for!
Click to expand...

I like the babo.origin on a tight pattern racquet best.. 16/20 or 18/20 racquet,, good stuff..
 
ByeByePoly

ByeByePoly

G.O.A.T.
No such thing as "best for everyone" ... you have to list (order) the attributes that are most important to you ... then ask.

For example ... your list might be:

1) arm friendly
2) plays consistent until break/restringing
3) maintains tension
4) feel
5) spin

Some like strings that notch, some prefer fraying.

Most synthetic gut and multis are arm friendly ... so might think about "how arm friendly". Babolat Xcel for example would be near the most arm friendly end ... and a stiff synthetic gut near the other end.

If closest multi to poly (meaning control ... only poly is poly) is at the top of your list try 16g Velocity ... and TF HDX Tour (has some poly in it). Since you hit flat ... I 2nd the Origin suggestion but string it tighter (powerful) and don't expect much topspin from fb Origin 16 (I haven't tried 17g).

If it's all too much and you just want to be told 8-B go string your racquet with fb velocity 16g natural mid-tension -3lbs ...looks like that would be @47lbs on your racquet. I play fb @52lbs on 50-60 range.

Give us some feedback on what you try.
 
B

blai212

Hall of Fame
prince premier touch is very soft/comfortable and textured to imitate natural gut...i use 15L mains with ghostwire 17g crosses at 56/50 lbs in my ezone98 and it feels wonderful
 
ByeByePoly

ByeByePoly

G.O.A.T.
blai212 said:
prince premier touch is very soft/comfortable and textured to imitate natural gut...i use 15L mains with ghostwire 17g crosses at 56/50 lbs in my ezone98 and it feels wonderful
Click to expand...

I have noticed that on the low stiffness end of multis ... 149 16g, 137 17g ... but never see much discussion about it here.

What's it's traits? Tension maint, does it fray, powerful?

Edit: tw review

Tennis Warehouse - Prince Premier Touch String Review

www.tennis-warehouse.com www.tennis-warehouse.com
 
Last edited:
rsmith

rsmith

Rookie
Boubi said:
I would first try bigger gauge, 15 or 16, then reduce the tension. Try for instance L-tec paradox string
Click to expand...

I know reducing the tension would make it softer, but wouldn't a thicker gauge make it stiffer? Also, I've never ever broken a string...
 
rsmith

rsmith

Rookie
1HBHfanatic said:
@rsmith
a few poly SOFTER options you might wanna read up on
btw I agree with @n8dawg6 , the prince textreme 95 is a open pattern racquet, so a durability string is provably best, so soft polys should work
anyway these are some suggestions:
gosen.polylon.comfort (multi strand poly string)
gosen.sidewinder (ime soft buttery feel poly)
luxilon.smart (multistrand poly)

if you wanna get away from poly and go into synthetics, I would look into gamma.ocho (8 sided coating on a mono synthetic construction, both in TNT and LW versions), the synthetics would provably last you a bit longer than the multis..
Click to expand...

Nice. Thx for the recommendation. Gosen might be especially nice considering I live in Japan ;)
 
A

Arvin_C

New User
Nick777 said:
How do you compare it with cream or velocity?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I haven't tried either Cream or Velocity, but with my experience as a former professional stringer, what I will say is...in general...compared to polys, the Monogut ZX will feel softer than even the softest polys, as well as have a lot more power than polys usually do. It has incredible cupping action on the ball as well as snap-back because of it's elasticity and monofilament construction. However, if you're a poly user who loves to rip at the ball with spin-heavy groundies, it may not be for you, simply because it has so much built-in power, you may feel you don't have the control to keep it in play. And remember, it can't be strung very tightly...Ashaway recommends 60 lbs. at most.

I use it in a hybrid setup with Klip Legend 17 natural gut for the mains. This allows me to string up the gut fairly tight (58-64 lbs. depending on the racquet) so I take some of the power out of it, then use the ZX (strung 4-6 lbs. lower) as a cross that lets the gut slide very easily and cups the ball naturally. I've found I get more "built-in" spin, even with my flat ground strokes, and can take a longer stroke to the ball without it going long. And because the ZX is fairly slippery, the natural gut lasts a lot longer and notching is greatly reduced.

Monogut ZX is very much like natural gut...great string to look at if you need to add power, spin and (especially) comfort. But there's a definite trial period to get it exactly how you want it to play, and for some, it just will have too much power for their strokes.

Just my $0.02 worth...

Arvin C
 
1HBHfanatic

1HBHfanatic

Legend
rsmith said:
I know reducing the tension would make it softer, but wouldn't a thicker gauge make it stiffer? Also, I've never ever broken a string...
Click to expand...

I personaly like reducing the cross strings a couple lbs from the mains, example.. 50lbs mains/48lbs crosses on some of my racquets
4me, ime:
it reduces the shock
it increases the sweetspot feel
it gives better snap.back
 
Shroud

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
weelie said:
The Kevlar Zyex has been a lifesaver for me, at least. https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/in-praise-of-kevlar-zx-hybrid.550375/

It is isn't cheap, though. https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Ashaway_Crossfire_ZX_17_String/descpageACASH-XFIREZX17.html

(Mine is strung at +7lb / -11lb compared to the regular 17 "soft" poly I had before. I had 26kg before, now have 29kg/21kg, iirc)
Click to expand...
Yo dude your sticks are about 20g heavier than the ones I was using. Great job! I used to use that zorbothane grip but the Wilson shocksheild is everybit as good just weighs about 50g lighter.
 
mrmike

mrmike

Semi-Pro
I agree with some of the previous posts regarding Babolat Origin. It has much better comfort, feel and tension maintenance than synthetic gut but of course it is 4x the price. I put it on my main racquet and Prince synthetic gut original on my backup.
 
L

Luke Yonex

Rookie
Yep natural Gut is the answer, if you can afford it, I had tennis elbow bad and switched to natural gut, it helped a lot, I have tried babolot vs touch and Klip legend. Klip is cheaper and I prefer it.. Gut doesn't go dead the same as a multi so may even work out cheaper
 
N

NDStrings

New User
If you have never broken a string, how long are you leaving a full bed of poly in your racquet? Dead poly might be part of your problem. Great suggestions here for softer polys, but it needs to be changed out regularly. Pretty much any synthetic gut or multifilament would be a good choice in a 16/16L since you aren't a string breaker and you stated you hit a flatter ball.
 
Boubi

Boubi

Professional
rsmith said:
I know reducing the tension would make it softer, but wouldn't a thicker gauge make it stiffer? Also, I've never ever broken a string...
Click to expand...
A thicker gauge will vibrate less and be therefore more comfortable
 
albertobra

albertobra

Hall of Fame
Hyper-G os not a soft string. If you have issues anywhere on your arm, chances are that It gets worse with Hyper-G.
You can try Wilson Revolve for a real soft poly.
There are some cheap Pro's Pro strings that are soft.
If your game os flat, try Red Devil 1.24 at 44-45 lbs.
 
F

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
rsmith said:
Nice. Thx for the recommendation. Gosen might be especially nice considering I live in Japan ;)
Click to expand...

Strongly recommend putting any thoughts of trying a "soft poly" on the back burner for now until you get yourself back to 100%. You might be able to live with one of those somewhere down the road, but I think your first move should be a bigger jump in the direction of a softer string type.

I'm pretty big on synthetic gut. Hardly an exotic option, but it's still a stand-out for many of us. I coach a local high school team and also teach. In recent years I've switched a few younger players as well as a few adults away from poly strings and the improvements for these folks were substantial. Synthetic gut or an occasional full bed of multifiber can sometimes be a lot more appropriate for a certain player with strong fundamentals.

Poly has earned a reputation as being a "better" string, probably because lots of stronger players with huge, fast swings tend to use them. But that doesn't make them universally superior for all of us. Decent players with solid swings might get diminished performance from a poly depending on the setup and that player's specific technique.

Gosen OGSM is mildly more firm than some syn. guts, but it's not poly and its service life is usually rather good.

Middle-of-the-road syn. guts (for firmness - in my opinion) include Prince Original SG (withOUT Duraflex), Volkl Classic, Tecnifibre, Kirschbaum... one or two others that I'm probably not remembering right now. Tecnifibre is probably my all-time favorite.

The softest syn. gut I know of is Forten Sweet. This can actually work as an affordable substitute for a lot of multifibers. Sweet 17 is the 17 ga. version - super soft, but not too tough. I'd only consider that string for a really dense pattern like an 18x20 mid.

Multifibers are generally a bit softer than most syn. guts, but I don't use those too much. Multis seem to degrade (fray and soften) more steadily than syn. guts in my own frames and the premium multis are expensive. Not a great feature when their service lives can often be shorter than a much more affordable syn. gut.

I have been impressed with the durability of Yonex 850 multi in the past and there also seems to be a bit of buzz around Head Velocity these days - haven't tried this one myself. Prince Premier Control has always been a decent multi whenever I've needed one for a local "customer" and I also used it a couple years ago to cure a significant case of tennis elbow in one of the boys on my team who was using full poly in a Pure Drive.
 
Boubi

Boubi

Professional
And to be more precise:
The frequency of vibration depends on:

- the mass of the string and therefore its diameter

- the force the string is tensed (tension)

- the length of the string
 
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