Compiling poly crosses for gut/poly hybrid

[beltsman]

Here is what I have so far. What should I add? Keeping stiffness below ~240 and tension loss below ~30%. So no 4G.

Round not shaped

String	Stiffness	Tension Loss %
Kirschbaum Max Power 16 (1.30)	233​	21​
Kirschbaum Max Power 17 (1.25)	241​	24​
Kirschbaum Max Power 18 (1.20)	226​	22​
IsoSpeed Cream 17 (1.28)	178​	28​
Signum Pro Poly Plasma 17 (1.23)	198​	26​
Yonex Poly Tour Pro 17 (1.20)	189​	33​
Tecnifibre Pro Red Code Wax 17	236​	29​
Yonex Poly Tour Fire 16L (1.25)	195​	35​
Tourna Black Zone 16	197​	30​
Ghost Wire 127	188​	16​
Ghost Wire 122	181​	15​
Ghost Wire 117	167​	19​
Ghost Wire 110	146​	24​
Luxilon 4G Soft 1.25	217​	25​

 

[flanker2000fr]

Here is what I have so far. What should I add? Keeping stiffness below ~240 and tension loss below ~30%. So no 4G.

String	Stiffness	Tension Loss %
Kirschbaum Max Power 16 (1.30)	233.2​	20.9​
Kirschbaum Max Power 17 (1.25)	240.6​	23.5​
Kirschbaum Max Power 18 (1.20)	226.3​	21.8​
IsoSpeed Cream 17 (1.28)	177.7​	28.1​
Signum Pro Poly Plasma 17 (1.23)	198.3​	26​
Yonex Poly Tour Pro 17 (1.20)	188.6​	33.3​
Tecnifibre Pro Red Code Wax 17	235.5​	28.8​
Yonex Poly Tour Fire 16L (1.25)	194.9​	35​
Tourna Black Zone 16	197.2​	29.5​

You should add 4G Soft, whose stiffness is 217 and tension loss is 26%.

 

[smithie]

I've tried a few off this list so I will give you my feedback - although YMMV.
- Out of those listed my top three would be YPTF (1.20), YPTP (1.25) & Max power (1.20) - with a preference of YPTF in denser patterns, Max power in more open patterns/powerful rackets and YPTP if my elbow injury flairs up.
- I've used IsoSpeed Cream but found it too mushy and powerful for me unless strung v.high, I thought YPTP is similar to cream but plays slightly better in every aspect.
- Technifibre Red Code Wax is similar to YPTF but feels slightly stiffer/crisper with better tension maintenance (albeit only marginally) so it will depend what feeling you want off the stringbed - I personally preferred YPTF over Red Code Wax. It's worth noting that this string is now discontinued so if can get a hold of it and love it, you wont be able to source anymore going forward.
- Signum Pro Poly Plasma is a solid option at a really good price point which offsets the cost of gut. It does well in every category but IMO doesn't excel in one. I would put IsoSpeed Cream, SPPP and YPTP in the same category as they share similar characteristic but I thought YPTP out preformed these.

All the above strings are great in a gut hybrid and are playable until the gut breaks so I think all are worth a try! It might be worth adding T1 Ghostwire and Wilson Revolve onto that list too but I am yet to try these myself (these are on my list to try in winter once the temps drop).

 

[beltsman]

You should add 4G Soft, whose stiffness is 217 and tension loss is 26%.

I will add Ghost Wire too

 

[flanker2000fr]

I will add Ghost Wire too

I think 4G Soft is actually a very good option for a hybrid with a gut, be it in crosses or in mains, as it will help tame some of the natural power of the gut. Plus, it is round and slick, which you want in this kind of set up to avoid fraying the gut too quickly. The only knock I would find is that it only comes in 16L gauge, which might be too thick if one plays with a tight string pattern (18x20, 18x19, etc.) that requires a gauge 17 or thinner.

An alternative to 4G Soft might be Tecnifibre Ice Code, with a stiffness of around 220 and and tension loss in the low 30's. I will be testing it, in a 17 gauge, first in a full bed in an Angell TC95 18x20. Then I will hybrid it in the mains of the same racquet, with Triax, to see if this is a good alternative to 4G Soft, that I have been using both as a full bed and hybrid with Triax.

 

[beltsman]

I think 4G Soft is actually a very good option for a hybrid with a gut, be it in crosses or in mains, as it will help tame some of the natural power of the gut. Plus, it is round and slick, which you want in this kind of set up to avoid fraying the gut too quickly. The only knock I would find is that it only comes in 16L gauge, which might be too thick if one plays with a tight string pattern (18x20, 18x19, etc.) that requires a gauge 17 or thinner.

An alternative to 4G Soft might be Tecnifibre Ice Code, with a stiffness of around 220 and and tension loss in the low 30's. I will be testing it, in a 17 gauge, first in a full bed in an Angell TC95 18x20. Then I will hybrid it in the mains of the same racquet, with Triax, to see if this is a good alternative to 4G Soft, that I have been using both as a full bed and hybrid with Triax.

Awesome, let us know. I would like to maybe have this thread as a sticky or megathread for cross options in a gut hybrid.

 

[happyandbob]

If it helps, here are round poly strings from the TWU db with stiffness under 240, tension loss under 30, with the lowest string-to-string coefficients (all 0.075 or less). I know RPM Rough is supposed to be shaped, but it's pretty round and smooth in my experience.

String	Gauge	Stiffness	Tension Loss Pct	Energy Return Pct	Spin Potential
Babolat RPM Blast Rough 16	1.3	209.7	29.5	90.1	8.2
Head Hawk 16 (1.30)	1.3	230.3	28.5	88	6.4
Head Hawk 18 (1.20)	1.2	194.3	28.9	88	6.3
Solinco Outlast 16L (1.25)	1.25	208	28.8	88.7	6.5
Tourna Black Zone 16	1.3	197.2	29.5	88.2	5.6

 

[Steve Huff]

Head Sonic Pro

 

[JW89]

Kirachbaum evolution

 

[GummiiBear]

Solinco Confidential, Dunlop Explosive Bite? Or is this round polys only? I haven’t had any issues with shaped crosses, but ymmv. And I know, many have said to put shaped crosses with gut mains is stupid or the like.

 

[flanker2000fr]

Solinco Confidential, Dunlop Explosive Bite? Or is this round polys only? I haven’t had any issues with shaped crosses, but ymmv. And I know, many have said to put shaped crosses with gut mains is stupid or the like.

The issue with a shaped poly as a cross to a gut main is that it tends to considerably reduce the life of the gut. The angles of the poly will saw through the gut rapidly if one hits with enough spin and force.

 

[Klitz]

Diadem Soltice power and pro

 

[TennisandRamen]

+1 for Head Hawk

 

[Klitz]

Head Sonic Pro

It has a tension loss of 57%...

 

[blai212]

isospeed cream 1.23, nuff sed

 

[Sir Faultalot]

Kirschbaum Evo and Head Hawk are my 2 fav. Both last pretty long which is nice with the gut. I also think both play more controlled than their stiffness rating leads on

 

[JustTennis76]

Prince Tour XC.