ChicagoJack
Hall of Fame
Just bought the X-Dual Pro, strung at Mantis Comfort Poly17/ Mantis Comfort Synthetic Poly16 (53lbs/53lbs), the feel of hitting is so dead, no ball pocketing feeling, no power, just like hitting a frying pan. Is there any diff between X-Dual Pro and Pro One 97 18x20?
Thanks!
Hi Mr. Rockstar - Something in the way you are verbalizing impact sensation has me thinking you are describing the string feel not the frame feel? Also I cant quite figure out the strings you have. There's a lot that doesn't make sense to me here.
1. Re "ball pocketing" that phrase is typically used to describe the string bed cupping the ball, not the frame flexing. Frames don't pocket the ball, strings do.
2. Both of the strings you have shown in your photo appear to be black. I've not seen any Mantis strings which are black. Comfort poly 16 is bright yellow. Comfort Synth 16 is beige. Power Poly 17 is light grey. Power Synth 17 is amber.
3. There is no string called "Mantis Comfort Synthetic Poly 16", there is a Mantis Comfort Synthetic 16. I'm assuming this is your cross string. Its a much softer multi, at 162 lbs per/in, but if this is your cross string, it's not going to dampen a stiff poly main very much, as the mains account for most of the impact feel.
4. Re Mantis Comfort Polyester, there's nothing comfortable about that string. It's been tested at 271 lbs/in. See link . The stiffness range for polys is 165 - 302, so it's one of the stiffer polys out there.
5. Not sure which u have in the mains or crosses, because u might have have mis-named the string, but polys and multis dont make the best hybrid partners either way. Gut mains and a soft co-poly crosses r a much better hybrid for both arm safety and easy spin production. I'm assuming from the names of the string you were hoping for a soft string bed, I'm thinking you missed the target by quite a bit. If you'd like to follow me on my quest for a soft co-poly to use as a cross with gut mains, I've posted a thread devoted to that topic here.
6. Re the feel of the 18x20 P1: I've played both the 18x20 and the 16x19 version of the P1 side by side with a ball machine, trading back and forth between sticks. IMO, they feel really similar, its just that the 18x20 pattern makes the string bed a bit stiffer, and it hits a flatter ball. I know that you've used the 16x19 in the past, I think you'd feel the same difference.
Having said all of that, if what you want in a frame is lots of feed back, none of these 2nd Generation Donnay frames are right for you. Not sure what you mean by "dead feeling" or "hitting with a frying pan", but these frames are designed to minimize shock and vibration. That's what they do. Some players like a more "informative" frame so to speak. It might be a case of A - attempting to create a soft string bed, but mistakenly creating a stiff one. B - you might just prefer a frame with more impact feedback. Or C - Perhaps you prefer a frame with a bit more flex, the PK QTour you reference is more flexible at 63. Anywhoo, that's my take on it. Rock on, Mr. Rockstar.
Hope this helps!
-Jack
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