durability: kevlar vs. poly

[mhstennis100]

How would the durability of 17g (1.20 mm) kevlar, specifically Ashaway Crossfire, compare to Luxilon BB ALU 16L (1.25mm)? Would it help with spin potential? Please don't tell me how kevlar is bad on the arm or whatever because I've never had arm trouble with any string, including 16g kevlar.

I'm a 3.5- low 4.0 self rated player. I hit with topspin from both sides and have a pretty big serve.

 

[Hessam]

using kevlar is for kids who get off on trying to break their string before their other friends do.

the durability you get with kevlar over a quality poly is so minimal that it's not worth giving up the amazing spin, power, potential of a good poly.

 

[GokuQ]

i'd rate poly as being better shear/break-wise
i shear kevlar much more then i do alu/or that type of poly in the 16l/17g range due to the way it frays

but for playability i think kevlar lasts longer, kevlar seems to play better the more thrashed and frayed it gets
most people say tension loss is close to alu, but kevlar just seems to retain control even after tension loss, i play it till it breaks i almost never have to cut out a kevlar hybrid, unless the crosses get too mushy

i havnt found a non-textured poly that gives has more bite/spin potential then kevlar......and alu rough doesnt even come close
maybe super smash spikey

am currently playing 17g ashaway/gosen kevlar with pacific rought gut crosses, in an aerogel 200 16x19@63.5/66lbs and am digging it!!

 

[travlerajm]

i'd rate poly as being better shear/break-wise
i shear kevlar much more then i do alu/or that type of poly in the 16l/17g range due to the way it frays

but for playability i think kevlar lasts longer, kevlar seems to play better the more thrashed and frayed it gets
most people say tension loss is close to alu, but kevlar just seems to retain control even after tension loss, i play it till it breaks i almost never have to cut out a kevlar hybrid, unless the crosses get too mushy

i havnt found a non-textured poly that gives has more bite/spin potential then kevlar......and alu rough doesnt even come close
maybe super smash spikey

am currently playing 17g ashaway/gosen kevlar with pacific rought gut crosses, in an aerogel 200 16x19@63.5/66lbs and am digging it!!

I agree with all of GokuQ's assessments.

Nothing beats Kevlar for bite/spin. I currently play with Ashaway Crossfire II, which is softer than Problend, but lasts almost as long. I'm 5.0 who hits hard and plays twice a week, and I still last months. But I only last a couple of weeks with 18g Ashaway, and maybe 3-4 weeks with 17g. I've found that polys give noticeably LESS spin than Kevlar hybrid. I really hate the spongy feel of poly, and much prefer the solid grippy feel of Kevlar. And Kevlar control gets better and better all the way until it breaks, while poly control gets worse after a few hours.

 

[boatsign]

Ashaway/Luxilon

I'm also a 3.5-4.0 self-rated player. I have a Babolat PD team, weighted to 12.25 oz, swingweight in the 350's.

Based on TW forum reading, I requested my pro put in Ashaway CrossfireII. He put in a braided Ashaway kevlar at 48 lbs (don't know if it's the most recent), and Wilson synthetic gut crosses at 53 lbs.

In the past couple weeks I've hit with it for about 4 hours and find it a little stiff. (I've also been hitting with my other PD to rest my arm.) I've been hoping the strings will soften and provide more resilience once they're more broken in. Will that happen or will the stiffness remain about the same?

My Pro says that my arm will gradually get hurt from the kevlar, and he recommends the Luxilon BB ALU 16L instead. He says the Luxilon will take me in same the direction as my racquet weighting, but the kevlar works against it. Comments please.

Should I cut out the kevlar and put in the Luxilon?
Should I continue breaking in the kevlar and put the Luxilon in my other racquet?

Thanks in advance.