Best Polys for 18x20 string pattern

[Hung.khuu]

Old topic, new thread! What are some good poly to try for this string pattern in your opinion? I'm trying to look around for ideas to string my Head MG Radical MP. My priorities, in order from high to low, are: power, spin potential, overall cost (price + how long each sj last), control (since the racquet is quite low-powered and control oriented itself). Also, tension recommendations are welcomed!

Some on the top of my mind are (all in ~1.20 mm gauge):
- Volkl Cyclone
- Volkl Cyclone Tour
- Tourna Big Hitter Silver
- Solinco Hyper-G (above my preferred price of $10 a set but would like to know if it's worth the price tag)

Some background on my play: 26 yo, 3.5 male with semi western forehand/2-handed backhand; baseliner, enjoys taking full cut at the ball, with some touches here and there to mix up the game. I add some spin in my ground strokes but not looking to rely heavily on it as an advantage.

 

[Big Bagel]

First you said your first priority was power. Then you said you were a 3.5 player. You also said "I add some spin in my ground strokes but not looking to rely heavily on it as an advantage." Those three things tell me that you probably shouldn't be playing with polyester strings to begin with. I would recommend trying something that's not polyester.

That being said, if you insist on using poly, I'd look at round poly strings, probably 18g but definitely not thicker than 17g. I recently put MSV Co-Focus 17L in my 18x20 and so far am really enjoying it. I've also enjoyed tecnifibre pro red code wax. I keep my tensions low, with my current racquets strung at 40 pounds full poly and 48 pounds gut/poly.

 

[Pneumated1]

I string my son's MG Radical MPs with a hybrid of Klip Legend 18 mains / Volkl V-Star 18 crosses in low 50's/high 40's. He gets plenty of pop, more spin than he's ever gotten with any frame or string, and impressive durability.

 

[Hung.khuu]

Those three things tell me that you probably shouldn't be playing with polyester strings to begin with. I would recommend trying something that's not polyester.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm currently stringing my racquets with Prince syn gut duraflex 16g, one at 57lbs and the other 52lbs. So far enjoying the 57lbs more, but the higher tension took away some of the power and it's hard for me to put the ball deep near the baseline. This, combined with much praises for poly, makes me wanna try one at low tension to see if I can find the string that compliments my game. Maybe hybrid is the way to go! Would the Prince syn gut a decent one to hybrid with polys? I got a reel of it thinking i would use that for a long time, but changed my mind when moving to this frame

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[aaron_h27]

any 1.20 or 1.25 gauge poly depending on how much control you want

 

[Hung.khuu]

I string my son's MG Radical MPs with a hybrid of Klip Legend 18 mains / Volkl V-Star 18 crosses in low 50's/high 40's. He gets plenty of pop, more spin than he's ever gotten with any frame or string, and impressive durability.

Looked up the Klip and the price knocked me out. I dreamed of the day when I play well and often enough to justify the "holy grail" hybrid cost, but for now 30+ bucks for a gut/poly hybrid WILL break my banks [emoji23]

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[Hung.khuu]

any 1.20 or 1.25 gauge poly depending on how much control you want

I would prefer a bit more power than control since my racquets are already very control oriented and low powered. Any suggestion on the top of your mind, or your current setup?

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[aaron_h27]

I would prefer a bit more power than control since my racquets are already very control oriented and low powered. Any suggestion on the top of your mind, or your current setup?

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Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.20, cheap, spin friendly, soft, powerful.

Go on TWU University and look at the stiffness ratings, the lower the number the more powerful the string is.

 

[Pneumated1]

Looked up the Klip and the price knocked me out. I dreamed of the day when I play well and often enough to justify the "holy grail" hybrid cost, but for now 30+ bucks for a gut/poly hybrid WILL break my banks [emoji23]

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My son is a stringbreaker. He gets months out of this hybrid in that 18x20. Months. My guess, based on averages, is that you will spend nearly $35-40 on poly by the time his gut snaps, but I string myself. I do understand, but imo, gut/poly is the budget choice ... unless you play in extreme heat and moisture.

My suggestion otherwise would be full Tier One Ghost Wire 18 mid 40s.

Or, Tier One Firewire Boost hybrid (Ghost Wire crosses)

 

[Injured Again]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm currently stringing my racquets with Prince syn gut duraflex 16g, one at 57lbs and the other 52lbs. So far enjoying the 57lbs more, but the higher tension took away some of the power and it's hard for me to put the ball deep near the baseline. This, combined with much praises for poly, makes me wanna try one at low tension to see if I can find the string that compliments my game. Maybe hybrid is the way to go! Would the Prince syn gut a decent one to hybrid with polys? I got a reel of it thinking i would use that for a long time, but changed my mind when moving to this frame

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PSGD probably isn't the best cross string but it will work well enough with a round, tension-stable poly in the mains. There are some good round strings to try and they will give you slightly different experiences. Three I would try would be Signum Pro Poly Plasma, Diadem Flash, and Kirschbaum Proline Evolution. You'll get a range of power, crispness, and impact feel. One of them should fit your needs. I'd string the PSGD at the same tension and maybe go about 52 on the mains to start.

 

[shaysrebelII]

Hard to choose between BHS and Hyper G, but I went with BHS since it’s cheaper. I really liked both on my 93P.

 

[Wheelz]

Not in your choices but I'm enjoying the Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour (17). I feel I can string it low and still keep control with added feel. This is my choice in a controlled low power 18x20 racquet in mid 40 tension. Seems like it's losing tension quickly initially but plays very well and for long at the lower tension compared to other strings I've tried.

 

[Hung.khuu]

Hard to choose between BHS and Hyper G, but I went with BHS since it’s cheaper. I really liked both on my 93P.

Not in your choices but I'm enjoying the Babolat Pro Hurricane Tour (17). I feel I can string it low and still keep control with added feel. This is my choice in a controlled low power 18x20 racquet in mid 40 tension. Seems like it's losing tension quickly initially but plays very well and for long at the lower tension compared to other strings I've tried.

thanks for the input, the review of the Hurricane looks nice so imma add that to my list to try.

Here's a strange thought from my limited knowledge about strings and their interactions with the frame being discussed: in a light, slightly HL 18x20 frames, could one maximize swing by these 3 factors only: thin gauge + rough surface (string-to-ball friction) + low tension (ball pocketing) ? I feeel like string snap-backs are significantly mitigated in 18x20 pattern since there's so much string area for it to work. Thoughts?

 

[FIRETennis]

Try them all, ideally side by side.

 

[SteveI]

Cyclone 19G is the wonderful in 18 x 20 frames. Perfect for the Blade 98 18 x 20... it rocks!!

 

[Classic-TXP-IG MID]

I haven't tried Tier 1 Ghostwire, but I will be trying it soon I hope. @Pneumated1 always has good suggestions, so I would try that. All the other suggestions are good too, so I feel you have many options available to you.

I found the Volkl Cyclone 18L (1.15mm) to play really well and produces very good spin (TW has a very high spin rating on it). I would string it around 47M/44C (I keep a 2-3 lbs differential between the mains the crosses). I got high levels of power out of that string in my Fischer VT Pro 95 (but that was a 16x20).

Another option is the Volkl Cyclone 18L (1.15mm) in the Mains and something like Weiss Cannon Silverstring 1.20mm (or Weiss Cannon Scorpion 1.22mm) in the crosses. Another is Volkl Cyclone 18L in the Mains and Yonex Poly Tour Pro in the crosses.

I hope that helps.

 

[ReopeningWed]

If you're going to play with poly as a 3.5, you'll have to redline swing at the ball as fast as you can every chance you get. In a year you'll either have tennis elbow or become a strong 4.0.

 

[ls206]

So far HyperG is my favourite string in the UT (from a v.small sample size) but I use 1.25mm. I find it gives more bite, thus spin and also control. Don’t really notice any less power compared to 1.20mm as I can swing more freely.

 

[Hung.khuu]

If you're going to play with poly as a 3.5, you'll have to redline swing at the ball as fast as you can every chance you get. In a year you'll either have tennis elbow or become a strong 4.0.

so there's still a chance, I'll take it

I'm waiting for my PSGD to break in one of the racquet, then string up a Cyclone 18G orange color. It's freezing here in NC the past week so haven't had a chance to get out and play.

 

[Pneumated1]

I haven't tried Tier 1 Ghostwire, but I will be trying it soon I hope. @Pneumated1 always has good suggestions, so I would try that. All the other suggestions are good too, so I feel you have many options available to you.

I found the Volkl Cyclone 18L (1.15mm) to play really well and produces very good spin (TW has a very high spin rating on it). I would string it around 47M/44C (I keep a 2-3 lbs differential between the mains the crosses). I got high levels of power out of that string in my Fischer VT Pro 95 (but that was a 16x20).

Another option is the Volkl Cyclone 18L (1.15mm) in the Mains and something like Weiss Cannon Silverstring 1.20mm (or Weiss Cannon Scorpion 1.22mm) in the crosses. Another is Volkl Cyclone 18L in the Mains and Yonex Poly Tour Pro in the crosses.

I hope that helps.

I agree that Cyclone (yellow) is hard to beat for a shaped poly main string. I typically play hybrids and like softer mains these days with a smooth poly cross, but when I play poly main hybrids, I seem to always come back to Cyclone. I feel like the listed stiffness ratings can be misleading. I've noticed from personal experience stringing poly for myself and others that Cyclone is one of the most pliable. And I think it plays softer than most, which contradicts the numbers on it. All that to say, I agree that you probably won't go wrong with Cyclone.

Back in the summer, I tried a hybrid of Cyclone 18 (yellow) mains and V-Star 18 (orange) crosses. Very comfortable and playable hybrid. But I do think Ghost Wire is arguably the best cross string available right now, especially for a shaped poly main. So there are two more options.

Edit: Just to clarify, I meant that Ghost Wire is arguably the best smooth poly cross to pair with a shaped poly main--didn't mean to imply GW was shaped or should be used as a poly main

 

[Hung.khuu]

Back in the summer, I tried a hybrid of Cyclone 18 (yellow) mains and V-Star 18 (orange) crosses. Very comfortable and playable hybrid. But I do think Ghost Wire is arguably the best cross string available right now, especially for a shaped poly main. So there are two more options.

Cyclone 18g main/Ghost wire 18g cross seems like a good hybrid set-up, definitely will try that. TW doesn't seems to carry Tier1 strings though, anywhere I can buy it in ConUS?

 

[Pneumated1]

I'm pretty sure Tier One Sports is based in Canada, but I think you get free shipping on orders over $25. May as well load up on some Firewire Boost (which is another good option for 18x20s and includes Ghost Wire crosses) or just go with Ghost Wire. I have limited experience with Tier One strings, but they are good. The Black Knight mains I currently have in my TC95 18x20s play very controlled and sharp but are too firm for me--even at 42# reference tension at the 4-5 hour mark.

 

[Rabbit]

@Pneumated1 the package I got said designed/conceived in San Diego and manufactured in Taiwan. I purchased a pack of Ghost Wire 1.10 to evaluate.

 

[JamesV]

Old topic, new thread! What are some good poly to try for this string pattern in your opinion? I'm trying to look around for ideas to string my Head MG Radical MP. My priorities, in order from high to low, are: power, spin potential, overall cost (price + how long each sj last), control (since the racquet is quite low-powered and control oriented itself). Also, tension recommendations are welcomed!

Some on the top of my mind are (all in ~1.20 mm gauge):
- Volkl Cyclone
- Volkl Cyclone Tour
- Tourna Big Hitter Silver
- Solinco Hyper-G (above my preferred price of $10 a set but would like to know if it's worth the price tag)

Some background on my play: 26 yo, 3.5 male with semi western forehand/2-handed backhand; baseliner, enjoys taking full cut at the ball, with some touches here and there to mix up the game. I add some spin in my ground strokes but not looking to rely heavily on it as an advantage.

Cyclone is a good one. Cyclone Tour adds power, but that should be OK in a control-oriented 18x20 racquet. Genesis Hexonic 16L and Trionic 18 are also nice at a slightly lower price point, but you cannot go wrong with either of the Volkl Cyclone strings. Forget BH Silver. It doesn't live up its specs that are on paper. Hyper-G is good, but either Cyclone is better and cheaper. I know some suggested you should go with a multifilament, or syn gut, but just string the cyclone toward the lower end of your racquet's recommended tension range to promote power and arm comfort and you should be fine.

 

[dr. godmode]

IMO OP should be using gut hybrid. At 3.5, it possible that your swing isn't fast enough to generate the snap back necessary to bet the benefits of full poly. Gut mains offer loads of power and forgiveness, and poly crosses will give your spin and control. Gut can last plenty long (especially in an 18x20) if you just keep it in temp controlled locations.

 

[Pneumated1]

@Pneumated1 the package I got said designed/conceived in San Diego and manufactured in Taiwan. I purchased a pack of Ghost Wire 1.10 to evaluate.

Let us know what you think. They'll probably be my next lengthy experiment. You gonna hybrid with Gosen mains?

 

[taydbear7]

I use Luxilon ALU and Tecnifibre NRG2.

 

[Rabbit]

Let us know what you think. They'll probably be my next lengthy experiment. You gonna hybrid with Gosen mains?

Indeed I am!

 

[nwatts]

Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.20, cheap, spin friendly, soft, powerful.

Go on TWU University and look at the stiffness ratings, the lower the number the more powerful the string is.

I agree! Great recommendation.