For the last several years my favorite Gut/Poly hybrids have been Black VS Touch mains and either Focus Hex crosses or 4G 1.25 crosses.
The Black VS Touch plays a little stiffer than non-BT7 Babolat natural gut but provides superior access to spin imo than softer natural gut such as Wilson's (which is also manufactured by Babloat using a different process).
Focus Hex crosses provide more spin access than 4G, remain smooth over time, but provide less control.
4G crosses provide more control but less spin, especially as they dent over time.
Recently I tried Black Code 4S 17g crosses in a few different frames as an experiment: Pure Strike 18x20, Graphene Prestige S, Pure Storm GT, and Microgel Radical MP (all modified in some way to increase polarization). In all cases 4S 17g provided as much spin as Focus Hex and as much control as 4G, even over several hours of use. The setup is certainly comfortable too, even in dense 18x20 patterns. With use the stringbed seemed to become less lively. This may turn off some, but I found this extremely attractive. Denting was also minimal and on par with Focus Hex.
As far as control is concerned, fresh 4G is still better...when freshly strung. but even 4G gets a little more lively over time. BC4S's combination of that dead feeling and spin access provide amazing control. Even touch shots felt better with BC4S as I felt more connected to the ball than with 4G.
One word of caution: right off the stringer the stringbed didn't seem like anything special. In fact, inter-string friction felt fairly significant, almost "gummy". But after a brief break-in period the stringbed loosened up very nicely and spin became easily accessible, even when under pressure and using less than an ideal angle of impact. The mains slide easily over the crosses, more easily than any other hybrid I've tried.
This might be the Focus Hex - 4G lovechild some of us have been looking for.
The Black VS Touch plays a little stiffer than non-BT7 Babolat natural gut but provides superior access to spin imo than softer natural gut such as Wilson's (which is also manufactured by Babloat using a different process).
Focus Hex crosses provide more spin access than 4G, remain smooth over time, but provide less control.
4G crosses provide more control but less spin, especially as they dent over time.
Recently I tried Black Code 4S 17g crosses in a few different frames as an experiment: Pure Strike 18x20, Graphene Prestige S, Pure Storm GT, and Microgel Radical MP (all modified in some way to increase polarization). In all cases 4S 17g provided as much spin as Focus Hex and as much control as 4G, even over several hours of use. The setup is certainly comfortable too, even in dense 18x20 patterns. With use the stringbed seemed to become less lively. This may turn off some, but I found this extremely attractive. Denting was also minimal and on par with Focus Hex.
As far as control is concerned, fresh 4G is still better...when freshly strung. but even 4G gets a little more lively over time. BC4S's combination of that dead feeling and spin access provide amazing control. Even touch shots felt better with BC4S as I felt more connected to the ball than with 4G.
One word of caution: right off the stringer the stringbed didn't seem like anything special. In fact, inter-string friction felt fairly significant, almost "gummy". But after a brief break-in period the stringbed loosened up very nicely and spin became easily accessible, even when under pressure and using less than an ideal angle of impact. The mains slide easily over the crosses, more easily than any other hybrid I've tried.
This might be the Focus Hex - 4G lovechild some of us have been looking for.
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