Does gut/multi get notched and stuck? (No snap back)

[TimeToPlaySets]

Playing gut/poly.
Maybe a few hours, and both gut and multi are fraying hard.
They get displaced, and take a lot of effort to click back into place.
The strings are like glued together now. Is this normal ?

 

[Dartagnan64]

I'm confused. Are you playing gut/poly or Gut/multi?

Which gut, which multi? Your lack of precision in your posts can be challenging.

Gut and many multis have intrinsically high string-string coefficients of friction and are softer. They are also made of multiple fine filaments. Hence they will all tend to notch (softness), fray (multiple filaments), get displaced (friction).

This is why combining a multi or gut with poly is preferable in many instances because poly is firmer (won't notch easily), has low friction (won't displace as easily), and is a monofilament (won't fray).

Some multis do have a coating to prevent this (Velocity comes to mind) but even those that have a coating, it will wear off and then fraying and displacement will return.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Main: Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut 16 String (50)
Cross: Head Velocity MLT 17 String Black (45)

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Trying to avoid Poly cross to protect the arm.

 

[aaron_h27]

If you don't want to use poly just use full multi or full gut. I dont think either benefits each other in a hybrid

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Ok, I will try both.
I am very confused what tension to use.
I want low tension for TE
but softer strings like gut need to be strung higher.

If I liked Poly at 50,
what should I try gut or multi at?

 

[aaron_h27]

Gut feels soft for me at any tension, i've never strung higher than 66 lbs though.

I would start gut at 60 lbs and if you feel it's too powerful go up 2 lbs until you find the right tension

 

[mikeler]

Using multis in the crosses saves quite a bit of money and for me, it still feels mostly like gut.

 

[aaron_h27]

Using multis in the crosses saves quite a bit of money and for me, it still feels mostly like gut.

I can't speak for gut/multi but gut/poly felt & played nothing like full gut.

But i think people should play with whatever string allows them to play their best, whether that be $2 synthetic or $40 gut. Go for performance over price

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

I'll try full gut at 55

 

[mikeler]

I can't speak for gut/multi but gut/poly felt & played nothing like full gut.

But i think people should play with whatever string allows them to play their best, whether that be $2 synthetic or $40 gut. Go for performance over price

Totally agree. I tried gut/poly and it just isn't for me. Many others love it so to each their own. I find that the mains dominate the feel, so putting a multi in the crosses with gut saved some money and barely changed what I felt.

 

[aaron_h27]

Totally agree. I tried gut/poly and it just isn't for me. Many others love it so to each their own. I find that the mains dominate the feel, so putting a multi in the crosses with gut saved some money and barely changed what I felt.

gut/poly is overhyped on these forums. Maybe it works for Fed & Djok because they change rackets every few games.

Or maybe i didnt choose the right poly cross, i just can't be bothered to test them all so full gut it is

 

[aaron_h27]

I'll try full gut at 55

I'd go a bit tighter if i were you. Maybe 58. If you like poly at 50.

when i tried poly i liked it at 53-55 lbs, now i string full gut at 64 lbs

 

[mikeler]

gut/poly is overhyped on these forums. Maybe it works for Fed & Djok because they change rackets every few games.

Or maybe i didnt choose the right poly cross, i just can't be bothered to test them all so full gut it is

The pros have the money to try every combo. Sounds like you found your Excalibur, now go slay all that come before you.

 

[Dartagnan64]

gut/poly is overhyped on these forums. Maybe it works for Fed & Djok because they change rackets every few games.

Or maybe i didnt choose the right poly cross, i just can't be bothered to test them all so full gut it is

I hate full gut but love gut/poly. Full gut shreds and locks up too quickly and has far less spin potential. Gut/poly lasts longer, spins better, modulates power better and doesn't lock up as quickly. Can't see why it isn't superior to full gut in everyway but tension maintenance and comfort.

And TTPS, if you thought gut/multi was a problem with notching, string movement and fraying, then you won't get the answer with full bed of gut or multi. Gut/poly answers most of your concerns.

 

[blai212]

id say gut/poly is the way to go, jus make sure u go with a slick poly so your gut stays intact as long as possible...also make sure u go with poly that maintains playability and tension maintence (yonex comes to mind) so that you get the most out of your gut since u dont want your poly to die before your gut snaps. Poly tour pro/fire/strike are all good poly crosses to use with gut, fire being the slickest but least powered, strike having the most power, PTP in the middle...id also string the crosses about 8-10 lbs lower so u get maximum snapback action with your mains...stiff crosses -> stiff/boardy feel= injury waiting to happen unless u hit super clean like djokovic, good luck with that lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Maybe I will do gut/poly at 55/50 for the next one.
I am using a softer racket, and gut mains.
I am taking more rest days.
Maybe that is enough for TE prevention,
and I don't need to go extreme into old man setup (soft racket, full poly)
I still want to hit big, and am not changing my strokes

 

[TforTommy]

Maybe I will do gut/poly at 55/50 for the next one.
I am using a softer racket, and gut mains.
I am taking more rest days.
Maybe that is enough for TE prevention,
and I don't need to go extreme into old man setup (soft racket, full poly)
I still want to hit big, and am not changing my strokes

What racquet? 55/50 seems to be such a big difference. from my experience a round poly such as ALU/polytour pro with say gut at 52/50 is perfect. you get that softness of that gut but still get that control and all the great features of gut

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

For now, POG
and might be shopping for other flex rackets.

 

[Dartagnan64]

For now, POG
and might be shopping for other flex rackets.

*cough* Prince Phantom *cough*

And try gut/ghostwire before you give up on the POG.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Yea, just not sure on which one.
Pro 93P, 100, Pro 100P, Pro 100.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Yea, just not sure on which one.
Pro 93P, 100, Pro 100P, Pro 100.

All good rackets with strong followings. I love my 93P from the baseline and my Pro 100 18x20 in the forecourt. Probably the Pro 100P would be the compromise.

 

[aaron_h27]

I hate full gut but love gut/poly. Full gut shreds and locks up too quickly and has far less spin potential. Gut/poly lasts longer, spins better, modulates power better and doesn't lock up as quickly. Can't see why it isn't superior to full gut in everyway but tension maintenance and comfort.

And TTPS, if you thought gut/multi was a problem with notching, string movement and fraying, then you won't get the answer with full bed of gut or multi. Gut/poly answers most of your concerns.

Have you tried Lux NG? I find it has great spin potential equal to some poly's

 

[tlm]

I hate full gut but love gut/poly. Full gut shreds and locks up too quickly and has far less spin potential. Gut/poly lasts longer, spins better, modulates power better and doesn't lock up as quickly. Can't see why it isn't superior to full gut in everyway but tension maintenance and comfort.

And TTPS, if you thought gut/multi was a problem with notching, string movement and fraying, then you won't get the answer with full bed of gut or multi. Gut/poly answers most of your concerns.

I never had a problem with full gut locking up or producing good spin, it’s been a while since I used nat. gut but I thought it was very good for spin.

 

[tlm]

I never had a problem with full gut locking up or producing good spin, it’s been a while since I used nat. gut but I thought it was very good for spin.

I think there are too many people worrying about snap back. I can use Kevlar mains with a syn. Cross and get loads of spin with no snap back.

 

[aaron_h27]

I never had a problem with full gut locking up or producing good spin, it’s been a while since I used nat. gut but I thought it was very good for spin.

Same here, i tried gut/poly but didn't get any more spin or control and lost feel

 

[Dartagnan64]

I never had a problem with full gut locking up or producing good spin, it’s been a while since I used nat. gut but I thought it was very good for spin.

Guess it depends if snap back is part of your spin equation. If not then grabby gut will work fine.
Grabby strings like gut just fray and break on me and I’m too lazy to put in string savers. Adding a slippery cross buys me durability and a tiny bit of spin but without substantial loss of feel. And I can modulate the power response better.

I’ve not tried lux gut but I can’t imagine it’s much better than babolat gut.

 

[aaron_h27]

Guess it depends if snap back is part of your spin equation. If not then grabby gut will work fine.
Grabby strings like gut just fray and break on me and I’m too lazy to put in string savers. Adding a slippery cross buys me durability and a tiny bit of spin but without substantial loss of feel. And I can modulate the power response better.

I’ve not tried lux gut but I can’t imagine it’s much better than babolat gut.

oh but it is though...

 

[Dartagnan64]

oh but it is though...

Why? Magic cows?

 

[ohniner]

Main: Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut 16 String (45)
Cross: Head Velocity MLT 17 String Black (50)

Interesting as I use same strings but reverse tension. Gut mains @ 54, Velocity @51. Even though Velocity is a multi, its stiffer than gut and should be strung some 10% softer, your elbow will love it. Gut needs higher tensions to access its spin potential. Also you seem concerned about cost so try Klip Legend 16ga gut, that's what I use and has proven as or more durable than Babolat.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Yea, I actually typed that incorrectly.
Main 50 / Cross 45

 

[BretH]

Yonex ai98 - Klip Legend mains @48, soft poly crosses (hexaspin) @44 - I find this gives great feel and lasts as long as I could wish. Mains get slowly notched but never ever get far out of whack -good snapback up to when they break. YMMV