Best synthetic gut

I want that cheap < 5 dollars synthetic gut. Which one would be the best? Gosen OG Sheep or Prince original or something else?

Thanks!
 

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
Never tried the Gosen but you can't go wrong with Prince Original. It is my favorite syn gut. Pretty smooth, good feel, and tension maintainence.
 
For cheap syn gut i like gamma.. but ive been using wilson nxt and its alot better but way more expensive

Yes, multifilaments are technically synthetic gut (right?) but I was looking for one that weren't multifilaments because those break faster for me.
 

Mcmullenp4

Rookie
Yes, multifilaments are technically synthetic gut (right?) but I was looking for one that weren't multifilaments because those break faster for me.

I think technically everything that isn't natural gut is synthetic gut. . Ive never really used anything but mono in the crosses.. so im not sure then..
 
I personally like the feel of the slick surface of Head syngut PPS more than the gummy surface of other synguts I've tried. Syngut for me keeps playability much better than many multis, like Babolat Xcel.
 

beepee1972

Semi-Pro
I have some good experiences with Babolat Synthetic Gut or Kirschbaum Premium Synthetic Gut, both in 1.30. And the current Prince Syngut DF, also in 1.30. For 18x20 patterns in small heads, I like 1.25mm gauge better.
 

graycrait

Legend
My racket and string travels are pretty wide ranging these past few years. So help me here also. When I string syn gut (I have reels of Forten, Gosen Sheep Micro, Prince SG w/Duraflex and Gosen Tuff 15L) those strings immediately move all over the place, need constant straightening and generally seem to play less well for me than Kevlar x Zyex, poly full beds and natural gut x poly or zyex. I want to feel some love for syn gut but I just can't find it. Maybe there is a trick to stringing syn gut I am not aware of?
 

stoo

Semi-Pro
I've also played with a full bed of Forten Nylon and I found it to play quite nicely with both holding tension and providing spin. I'm more of a flat hitter so my string longevity will be more than others, but at 17 bucks a reel, its pretty hard to beat.
 

n8dawg6

Legend
not to diss synthetic gut, but this is kind of like asking whether beast or busch is better. it's all pretty similar. I've currently got racquets strung with prince duraflex, original, gosen micro, head pps, lightning xx, spiraltek, babolat syn gut, etc. there's a little difference when the string has extra coating like spiraltek or the kevlar ribbon or whatever that XX has, but it usually wears off and you're left with ... synthetic gut.
 

n8dawg6

Legend
My racket and string travels are pretty wide ranging these past few years. So help me here also. When I string syn gut (I have reels of Forten, Gosen Sheep Micro, Prince SG w/Duraflex and Gosen Tuff 15L) those strings immediately move all over the place, need constant straightening and generally seem to play less well for me than Kevlar x Zyex, poly full beds and natural gut x poly or zyex. I want to feel some love for syn gut but I just can't find it. Maybe there is a trick to stringing syn gut I am not aware of?

there is no trick. if you string it real tight, it takes out some of the springiness. it also makes the sweet spot small and makes it more prone to snap. it is what it is, as they say. i dont really give 2 sh*ts about the straightening of the strings, what bugs me is the springiness and lack of spin. im just not as competitive with it. i have seen some players around the 40 yr old mark, though, who played D1 in college with synthetic gut and 6.1 classics. they still manage to hit plenty of spin with it. i just need more help from my equipment than they do.
 
My racket and string travels are pretty wide ranging these past few years. So help me here also. When I string syn gut (I have reels of Forten, Gosen Sheep Micro, Prince SG w/Duraflex and Gosen Tuff 15L) those strings immediately move all over the place, need constant straightening and generally seem to play less well for me than Kevlar x Zyex, poly full beds and natural gut x poly or zyex. I want to feel some love for syn gut but I just can't find it. Maybe there is a trick to stringing syn gut I am not aware of?
I know, fullbed syngut is just like that, strings get stuck out of place immediately. Consider trying syngut mains with non-textured poly crosses if you're not a string breaker. That combo for me gives the best of both worlds: Feel of syngut, control, spin and strings staying in place of poly.

Some synguts have more slick coating than others though. They will initially stay better in place. My favorite, Head syngut PPS is like that.
 

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
I know, fullbed syngut is just like that, strings get stuck out of place immediately. Consider trying syngut mains with non-textured poly crosses if you're not a string breaker. That combo for me gives the best of both worlds: Feel of syngut, control, spin and strings staying in place of poly.

Some synguts have more slick coating than others though. They will initially stay better in place. My favorite, Head syngut PPS is like that.

How long do you get before main snaps?
 
How long do you get before main snaps?
I restring almost solely because of trampolining and tension loss, rarely because strings snap. The restringing point for me is around 15h of playing time, or around 4-8 weeks.

I once broke a string setup after just 1.5h. But that was a mishit on overhead. It must be that I rarely mishit badly and that my opponents (and me...) hit so softly that strings rarely break. So that's why tension maintenance and constant playability are #1 string parameters for my use.
 
I have migrated to a synthetic main / slick poly cross hybrid, and it's about perfect. The thing about synthetic guts is that they will all lose tension at alarming rates, so playing 16 ga synth gut with a 17 ga poly makes it so the synthetic breaks right around when it should, and I don't end up playing dead strings. YMMV. I like the crisp feel of Gosen OG Sheep 16, and have come to the conclusion that I like it more then POSG, which was my favorite for a long time.
 

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
I have migrated to a synthetic main / slick poly cross hybrid, and it's about perfect. The thing about synthetic guts is that they will all lose tension at alarming rates, so playing 16 ga synth gut with a 17 ga poly makes it so the synthetic breaks right around when it should, and I don't end up playing dead strings. YMMV. I like the crisp feel of Gosen OG Sheep 16, and have come to the conclusion that I like it more then POSG, which was my favorite for a long time.

I might try this setup. I really enjoy gut/poly but sometimes I feel I have to hold back on my strokes due to too much power. Do the mains snap back into place until it breaks?
 

oble

Hall of Fame
I have migrated to a synthetic main / slick poly cross hybrid, and it's about perfect. The thing about synthetic guts is that they will all lose tension at alarming rates, so playing 16 ga synth gut with a 17 ga poly makes it so the synthetic breaks right around when it should, and I don't end up playing dead strings. YMMV. I like the crisp feel of Gosen OG Sheep 16, and have come to the conclusion that I like it more then POSG, which was my favorite for a long time.
Gosen OGSM 16 or POSG 16 in the mains with Solinco Outlast 17 in the crosses is one of my favourite cheap and cheerful setup, and plays miles better than a full bed of syn gut.
 

jim e

Legend
I know that brand name recognition plays a role, but PSGD has been the #1 selling string in specialty shops for a good # of years now.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
I used to love the semi-soft feel and performance of Tecnifibre Syn. Gut, but TW isn't selling it anymore.

Forten Sweet is probably the softest syn. gut around. The 17 ga. is rather fragile and I'd only recommend it for use in a dense racquet pattern. The Sweet 16 can actually work as a substitute for some multis, at least in my opinion.

Gosen OGSM is a little on the firm side, but the 16 ga. has earned a great reputation as a good cross in hybrids with poly mains.

Prince SG w/Duraflex is popular, but I'm not a fan of the 16 ga. - too clunky feeling for me. The 17 ga. has been rather nice - also a bit firm for a thinner syn. gut, but the outer wrap seems to give it a little longer service life.

Prince Original Syn. Gut - really can't go wrong with that stuff... so there.

I'm keeping a reel of 17 ga. Kirschbaum Syn. Gut (not the premium version) handy for my own racquets. Pretty good bang for my buck here, since I string at home. I might pick up an additional reel of this in 16 ga. pretty soon, unless I decide to grab a reel of Sweet 16 instead.

GREAT bang for the buck with Forten Nylon - reels sell for $17. Too bad they don't also sell this in a 17 ga. or I'd probably gobble it up!!
 

boramiNYC

Hall of Fame
I liked Gosen OGSM 17g as cross with poly main. Pretty durable.

Full Gosen 17g at high tension feels amazing first day or so. Crispy as hell.
 

eelhc

Hall of Fame
The "free" Wilson Synthetic gut that TW provides on new racquet purchases is great stuff if you like a soft stringbed with great ball pocketing.
 

Chuonfood

Semi-Pro
I played full bed of Gosen OG Sheep Natural 17g on my Ai 98, had tremendous pop @ 56#, very durable, high access to spin, decent control. The only knock is that at first few hits, it's hard as a board..but breaks in pretty sweet.
 

JustTennis76

Hall of Fame
Gosen OG Sheep Micro 17 Natural. feels amazing in the first session which will make you think to switch to a full bed but after 4 hours, strings move all over the place and not playable. It works great as a hybrid cross with a poly.
 

Capulin Zurdo

Hall of Fame
Lots of good ones mentioned here. My favorite now is the Gosen OG Sheep Micro. Just love the crispiness of syn. gut string. I find it compliments my PS 85/90 very nicely with better feel/response than with poly.
 

Frankc

Professional
Need to talk more of your own head size and string patterns - obviously matters very much. A full bed syngut 17 job holds up very well in a 90 Head, 18X20 for a flat hitter... now a 100, more open pattern, a whole different conversation...
So, mention head size and pattern and game style - then the string report...

At my courts, some super seniors adore 17 syngut in a very large frame - they have short strokes and like straight through pop ... so it depends, obviously..
In my 18x20, 90 frames - syngut holds up very well - old school flat game here...
To answer the OP's remark - for me, a great syngut is Gamma Syngut...
For a sturdy, good control syngut for larger frames - Alpha Hardcourt - a more complex syngut design at a low, low cost...
 
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geca

Semi-Pro
Polys aren't as arm friendly?

try the goldenset powercord, softer than synguts but more power and spin... longer string life, stays straight on the frame all the time, can play till it breaks, can string from mid 50's all the way down to 10lbs (not a typo)... costs $4 per if you buy reel.

with all the above considered, synguts are crap.
 

JustTennis76

Hall of Fame
Could not agree more with FrankC - I have put Gosen OGSM 17 full bed on my prestige mid and it holds up pretty well for at least 6 hours for me. After that, strings move a bit but it's still not a problem for me.
 
try the goldenset powercord, softer than synguts but more power and spin... longer string life, stays straight on the frame all the time, can play till it breaks, can string from mid 50's all the way down to 10lbs (not a typo)... costs $4 per if you buy reel.

with all the above considered, synguts are crap.
Wait, does it not lose tension very fast? I was actually considering an ashaway mono gut zx

I honestly doubt stringing it at ten pounds would be that playable... Don't wanna risk it :p
 

geca

Semi-Pro
Wait, does it not lose tension very fast? I was actually considering an ashaway mono gut zx

I honestly doubt stringing it at ten pounds would be that playable... Don't wanna risk it :p

never tried monogut.

how else can you invest $4 and get an amazing tennis experience?
 
never tried monogut.

how else can you invest $4 and get an amazing tennis experience?

How is the tension maintenance for the string? Is it really as comfortable as a synthetic gut like goshen sheep micro?

(You do have a good point though, if it is that good, it would be such a steal)
 

geca

Semi-Pro
How is the tension maintenance for the string? Is it really as comfortable as a synthetic gut like goshen sheep micro?

(You do have a good point though, if it is that good, it would be such a steal)
ogsm is really not THAT comfortable.

anyway, with the powercord I string 56lbs on my Extreme Pro 2.0, 10-30lbs on my PS85 and POG mid.... if you name a frame I may be able to recommend a tension.
 
ogsm is really not THAT comfortable.

anyway, with the powercord I string 56lbs on my Extreme Pro 2.0, 10-30lbs on my PS85 and POG mid.... if you name a frame I may be able to recommend a tension.
Funny how you dodged both questions of how comfortable powercord is, and about tension maintenance. Anyways, since im not a string breaker, I think I'll stick with a very comfortable ashaway monogut zx.
 
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