DR 100 - full bed gut? gut/poly? tension?

[stapletonj]

Hey guys, got a new DR100 coming from yonex after the frame snapped on a service return. (in the yoke!)

I have been playing for a while with Solinco Barb Wire 17 strung at the upper end of the recc. tension.

I play doubles, so my strokes are kind of flattish, no arm issues or the like.

Wanting to try gut. (My bro wont play with anything else other than full bed in his 115 Wilson, but he's a pretty darn good player)

Hoping for a consensus ....

full bed gut or gut/poly? (I can afford full bed)

IF poly, I assume in crosses, and a smooth string not something like Barb Wire. Any diff. using any old syn gut vs. mono poly or multi poly?

How bout tension? higher than before? lower than before? about the same?

Is prestretching the gut a myth or a requirement?

all opinions deeply appreciated!

 

[CopolyX]

well, if you are transitioning to n gut in your bed, I start with n gut in the crosses and yes a round nice copoly in the mains. Once you get use to it, you could flip the configuration. Remember the mains will domain the feel. Tension, around 4/5 lower for the copolys than the n gut. Tension is so subjective but n gut I would always go in the high 50/to 60...but that is just me...
Pre-stretching depends no the copoly...I never do for me bacause I stick with (below the avg) low tension loss strings .

 

[stapletonj]

So you are saying I should string the gut a little tighter than I have been stringing the poly?

I tried a poly mains / gut crosses setup once last year and couldn't feel any difference than a full poly setup, so I have narrowed my options down to gut mains/poly crosses or full bed gut.

Everyone feel free to chime in!

 

[jim e]

If you are wanting to try nat. gut, then try it out as a full bed and you will know 1st hand how nat. gut hits.
If later you decide to hybrid, then do so.
If you do hybrid, I would put the gut in the mains as that will give you the predominate feel.
If you go with all nat. gut use a quality one and you can then string it at a relatively high tension for best control, as nat. gut hits very nice at high tensions, as this is where nat. gut shines, but beware of cheap nat. gut, as the cheaper ones cannot tolerate high tensions.
Most of my nat. gut customers hit with full bed at 60-65 lbs.
My own racquets I string them either at 64lbs. for the over size racquets and 61 lbs. for the mid plus.
If you pre stretch it I would only do a light hand pre stretch just to rid some of the coil memory so it makes stringing easier so you don't kink it. This way it does not really change any of its characteristics . Get a quality gut and string it in low to mid 60 lb. range, and you should be happy.
If you are not a big string breaker a full bed of nat. gut can last a long time as all gut hits well until it breaks, unlike synthetic strings.

 

[Readers]

If you are used poly at high tension, I would say try VS 16 at 60 or even higher.

Full bed, that gives you a good idea on gut.

 

[stapletonj]

full bed it is.
VS it is.
16 it is.

MFR. says 45-60 lbs tension recc. range.... whaddya think?

 

[jim e]

I would string it up to the 60 lb. minimum, as gut plays well at high tensions.
Especially since you now have a poly at a high tension.

 

[McLovin]

A little late to the party, but...

As far as tension...what is your normal tension? Its a pet peeve of mine, but us throwing around tension values is useless as your stringer's results (or your's if you string your own) will undoubtedly be different from ours. It all depends on machine type (drop weight/crank/electronic), constant pull, machine pre-stretch vs manual, speed (slower normally results in higher tensions, especially w/ electronic + constant pull), tieoffs, etc.

So, I'd recommend taking your 'normal' full bed tension and bumping it up at least 5lbs, maybe even 8-10 if you are on the low end of the range now. As a frame of reference...Sampras strung his ProStaff 85s in the 70+ range, so going tight w/ full gut won't really hurt you.

If doing a hybrid, though, definitely do gut mains. I normally suggest to people I string for that we take to normal tension and bump it 2lbs for the gut mains, and keep the poly crosses the same. This gives us a starting point to evaluate whether they like guy/poly, and will adjust up/down based on how it plays.

Also, Yonex Poly Tour Pro (aka YPTP) is an excellent poly cross to gut mains. I've pretty much the full range of offerings, and have found it to be the best all-around poly cross. Comfortable, but not mushy, good power, spin, and most importantly, good longevity.

 

[stapletonj]

I string at or near the top of the recc. tension now, so I'll prob. not go above that for fear of breaking the warranty.
Of course, I also fear the premature string snap ....

thanks for all the advice guys!