Full Syn gut - actually pretty great

[Power Player]

I think every demo racquet should be strung with 16 gauge POSG (no duraflex). It is the ultimate string for figuring out what you need on your next string job.

So I bought some new sticks and had posg put in there at 56#s.

So far I have logged 6 hours and the string is still intact. The key part is that I use tight 18x20 patterns. This is a luxury of that. I believe in this racquet I could get 9-10 hours out of this string job. In an open pattern, I used to get 4-6 max. String movement is there, but its not that bad at all.

Second disclaimer - I grew up using this stuff, so I may be biased.

Observations are that the racquet plays with incredible feel and consistency. the spin is middle of the road, but I still get good spin. The ball drops in just like with poly for me.

Arm comfort is through the roof, but it is a crisper string so the ball feel is far better than a multi (to me). That is my preference only and not a rule.

I am strongly considering just using this setup. Before I make any decision, I will go back to a poly main to see what changes.

But if I don't really notice a huge difference in spin (I have some great spin polys so it will need to be obvious), I may continue down the full syn gut path unless I just break strings way too often.

I think to do it right, you need to have a minimum of 2 sticks, and 3-4 would be optimal. I think it is probably also super key to have a tight patterned stick. But here are some benefits that I see :

Your strings will break before they die unless you are not a heavy hitter.

You can leave your sticks in the bag and not worry about them dying after a while.

You will always have a fresh string job when it is time (instead of playing with dead poly mains in an attempt to wring more life out of the stringbed).

If you use a tight pattern, you will be able to get 6-10 hours out of this setup. Most people play that amount per week on average, so you will string up 1 stick a week - about the same as with poly for me.

To add - that would mean string costs just went down - a lot. If you have your own stringing machine and a reel of POSG, you are spending around $3 a string job.

I saw another thread made about this a while back..was wondering who else has gone from poly to full syn gut and how it has gone. I still need to compare side by side both setups before I make a decision..I also have to make sure that I can get decent life out of the string. But so far I have to say this setup is rather great.

 

[ricki]

good thing is that syngut (my exp. mostly with psgd or red alert) doesnt "die"

 

[Power Player]

good thing is that syngut (my exp. mostly with psgd or red alert) doesnt "die"

Yes that is a huge part. Your strings are honest from start to finish. The racquet just plays the same every outing until the strings break.

 

[Korso]

I have been using POSG in my blade for the last month, just trying out different setups and it it is hard to complain about anything. Good spin, good comfort, good power, good touch. I still prefer full poly but the synthetic setup is not shabby at all.

 

[Power Player]

How long do you get out of it?

 

[Korso]

How long do you get out of it?

I have about 12 hours of doubles on it right now. Playing time has been minimal this month with work and all.

 

[Power Player]

I have about 12 hours of doubles on it right now. Playing time has been minimal this month with work and all.

Thats a perfect example right there of why I am amazed more people do not use full syn gut.

 

[struggle]

i don't break them often, but you might also consider a reel of Gosen OGSM 17 (or whatever guage you like). i like it in a mg rad mp 18x20, 58#, also loved it at 45# for winter outside.

been using syngut all my life, only now toying with some multis.

never have used a poly.

 

[Power Player]

I have OGSM and I use it as a cross. Does it play the same as POSG in a full job? I guess I will find out at some point - so many say OGSM is not great in a full job that I never tried it.

 

[struggle]

well, i use it and like it. but really you'd have to try it. i'd say it's gonna play similar although haven't used psg in quite some time. ogsm might be a bit crisper/stiffer, but not a whole lot.

 

[JGads]

Back before my life got complicated with the discovery of Talk Tennis, I played a Blade 98 with full NXT at 58 pounds and tennis was so simple - played my stick until the strings broke, took it into the shop, they had my setup in the throat and just put in another bed. Rinse, repeat.

Now I can't stop trying different sticks and setups, and have since come to love the feel and effect of a good poly like Tour Bite. It would shock me somewhat if I went back and found that I preferred full Syn gut, but I'm going to give this a try as an experiment to see how I find it now.

 

[mrmike]

There is a lot of truth to this thread. When you think about it, syngut is the perfect bridge between polys and multis. Stiffer than a multi, but more arm friendly than a poly. Plus syngut is so cheap so you can pretty much restring at will.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I too grew up with this stuff. I really miss Prince Synthetic Gut SOFT!

- It really was soft and comfortable
- It came with all kinds of colors (purple! Yeah that's right, you heard right, purple!)
- It was $3

 

[treo]

Even better is syn gut mains with poly crosses. Lasts longer because of less friction and the tension loss from the poly is not that noticeable. A poor man's version of the Federer/Djokovic setup.

 

[JGads]

Even better is syn gut mains with poly crosses. Lasts longer because of less friction and the tension loss from the poly is not that noticeable. A poor man's version of the Federer/Djokovic setup.

Was thinking this could be money. I've tried gut/poly and it's alright but I seem to be the only person who just never quite feels comfortable with gut in either hybrid or full bed and actually prefer Syn gut, so syngut/poly I think I would like.

 

[2handsbothsides]

I started stringing my personal rackets about 30 years ago and carefully tried all the synthetic guts and liked Wilson syn gut the best. It had a better feel and deeper pocket vs. Prince original syn gut. Gosen OG Sheep was more muted and placed between the Prince and Wilson syn guts in my opinion. Then Wilson improved their product with the Wilson syn gut Extreme and that one worked the best vs. many others and I went through many reels of the Wilson Extreme before eventually switching to BDE gut.

The issue with syn gut is that a fresh job of any syn gut initially strung not too tightly plays great for several hours of hard hitting and then resiliency and precision drops off significantly. Its still playable but there is a significant drop off vs. a fresh job. If you string too tightly initially you really loose out on maximum performance but the string will eventually settle in and will be usable but at a lower performance level.

I would think that many club players currently using poly would play better longer with a syn gut.

 

[Power Player]

Even better is syn gut mains with poly crosses. Lasts longer because of less friction and the tension loss from the poly is not that noticeable. A poor man's version of the Federer/Djokovic setup.

I did this. Loved it.

My only issue is that it did not last long for me at all. 4-6 hours max. So it was kind of pricey. I find that full syn gut actually lasts a little longer.

I started stringing my personal rackets about 30 years ago and carefully tried all the synthetic guts and liked Wilson syn gut the best. It had a better feel and deeper pocket vs. Prince original syn gut. Gosen OG Sheep was more muted and placed between the Prince and Wilson syn guts in my opinion. Then Wilson improved their product with the Wilson syn gut Extreme and that one worked the best vs. many others and I went through many reels of the Wilson Extreme before eventually switching to BDE gut.

The issue with syn gut is that a fresh job of any syn gut initially strung not too tightly plays great for several hours of hard hitting and then resiliency and precision drops off significantly. Its still playable but there is a significant drop off vs. a fresh job. If you string too tightly initially you really loose out on maximum performance but the string will eventually settle in and will be usable but at a lower performance level.

I would think that many club players currently using poly would play better longer with a syn gut.

Good points. I agree, this is a setup you can get maybe 9-10 hours out of with a tight pattern, but poly mains usually are close to death by then as well.

 

[maxpotapov]

Full Gosen OGSM:
First outing - awesome!
Second outing - meh...
Third outing - snap!

Next time: first outing - restring

I'm tired of frequent restringing. Natural gut hybrid is more economical time/money wise.

 

[THESEXPISTOL]

Welcome: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=457430

 

[Power Player]

How the heck did I miss that?

Awesome.

 

[Power Player]

Full Gosen OGSM:
First outing - awesome!
Second outing - meh...
Third outing - snap!

Next time: first outing - restring

I'm tired of frequent restringing. Natural gut hybrid is more economical time/money wise.

What racquet and string pattern do you use?

 

[THESEXPISTOL]

How the heck did I miss that?

Awesome.

You could post a picture of your racquets strung with synthetic gut on that thread to redeem yourself :wink:

 

[Passion4Tennis]

I own three Head prestige mid classics, and two of them are strung with a full bed of Forten Sweet 17. I normally get about 12 hours from one before it pops. It plays soft, has good feel, and holds tension pretty well. Not bad for a string the costs 2.95.

 

[maxpotapov]

What racquet and string pattern do you use?

Prestige Mid, can't get any denser than that
I also used full Gosen OGSM in LM Radical MP when I had a stringer

 

[Power Player]

Prestige Mid, can't get any denser than that
I also used full Gosen OGSM in LM Radical MP when I had a stringer

Sounds about right. Seems like ~ a 6 hour setup.

 

[Power Player]

Quick update - My Prince Original 16 lasted a heck of a lot longer than I thought - over 10 hours. That is fantastic. Credit goes to having a tight pattern, but still.

Trying Forten Sweet 16 in a full job this week.

OGSM in a full job is ok..not great. POSG wins that battle.

So it is down to POSG vs Forten Sweet. Then a reel will be bought.

 

[fuzz nation]

I'm a fiend for the crispy-yet-not-too-harsh feel of syn. gut in my Volkl C10's. Going to try some Forten Sweet in both 16 and 17 gauges very soon.

I've done better in terms of feel with Gosen OGSM in 17 gauge over 16 gauge, but have also really enjoyed Tecnifibre's syn. gut in those racquets in 16 gauge. That stuff gives me feel that I prefer over the Gosen 16 along with very acceptable durability.

 

[logrock]

Made the switch from Gosen OG 16 & 17 to Forten Sweet 16 and very glad I did. Much better in all aspects. I really like in in a full bed and love it as a cross with Tourna BHS 17 mains. Strung in my LM Rads both MP & 107.

 

[Passion4Tennis]

Quick update - My Prince Original 16 lasted a heck of a lot longer than I thought - over 10 hours. That is fantastic. Credit goes to having a tight pattern, but still.

Trying Forten Sweet 16 in a full job this week.

OGSM in a full job is ok..not great. POSG wins that battle.

So it is down to POSG vs Forten Sweet. Then a reel will be bought.

Sweet's tension maintenance isn't quite as good as POSG, and I think it produces a little less spin too, but FS is softer. I like them both. They're my two favorite syn guts out of the dozen or so that I've tried.

 

[ace0001a]

OGSM in a full job is ok..not great. POSG wins that battle.

Yeah my thoughts are pretty much the same on this...was hoping GOSM would've been as good but it just wasn't. I know POSG says "Manufactured in Japan..." on the back of the package and since Gosen is a manufacturer out of Japan, like others who have said, was hoping POSG was made by Gosen or rather Gosen was the OEM manufacturer...so based on that we had though OGSM would essentially be an OEM version of POSG. Must be something in the formulation for POSG...but yeah to this day I still think of it as the golden standard for synthetic guts. I recall PSGD saying something like manufactured in Taiwan on the back of the package. Like PSGD, I wish POSG came in more colors like it used to...I remember stringing up my Head Radical 260 OS back in the day with purple POSG.

 

[kazamzaa]

Dunlop silk is also pretty good nylon. I had it in my bio 200 18x20 and impressions were pretty much the same as Power Players. I also used syn gut in rqis tour 1 16x19. And 6.1 18x20.
Syn gut offer great feel and touch compared to full poly. Precise baseline bashing with low net clearance is super easy and nice. Net game is perfect with it.
The only reason I prefer gut/poly hybrid are those heavy topspin short cross court great angle shot. Also spin serves are spinnier. And then also the heavy topspin high net clearance shot gives me more time to recover when in trouble.
So really full syn gut for me means automatically different play. More flat serve and ground strokes.
I am not hundred percent sure of which I compete best with. The modern game with an open pattern gut/poly or more flat tight pattern syn gut. But strongly believe that it is the first.

 

[JackB1]

Anyone try Genesis Blizzard? I tried it in a demo racquet and it felt as nice as a multi.

 

[Power Player]

Anyone try Genesis Blizzard? I tried it in a demo racquet and it felt as nice as a multi.

Yes I have, still have a pack here. I still prefer Prince Original. It is more lively.

My opinion is that syn gut is easy. Between Prince Original (crispy and lively) and Forten Sweet (softer) you will have a setup. Then you just adjust tension after your first string job and done. total consistency, arm health and feel back into your racquet.

 

[Power Player]

Yeah my thoughts are pretty much the same on this...was hoping GOSM would've been as good but it just wasn't. I know POSG says "Manufactured in Japan..." on the back of the package and since Gosen is a manufacturer out of Japan, like others who have said, was hoping POSG was made by Gosen or rather Gosen was the OEM manufacturer...so based on that we had though OGSM would essentially be an OEM version of POSG. Must be something in the formulation for POSG...but yeah to this day I still think of it as the golden standard for synthetic guts. I recall PSGD saying something like manufactured in Taiwan on the back of the package. Like PSGD, I wish POSG came in more colors like it used to...I remember stringing up my Head Radical 260 OS back in the day with purple POSG.

From reading your posts it sounds like we have the same taste and probably both grew up using Prince Original as kids. I also feel as if it is the gold standard, but I was very surprised at how well it plays, since I had not thought to try full syn gut in years.

I think a lot of people favor poly because of one or two shots..usually the forehand, sometimes the serve, but rare as most players don;t have good enough head speed and usually hinder themselves with poly. But they see some extra spin and think they need it. I have found that with full syn gut I see improvement on far more shots..lobs, droppers, touch shots, slice approach, and most important - rally shots. It just connects me better to the stick than poly. Also feel that is why a lot of pros use gut mains instead of poly mains. The gut connects you to the ball a lot better than poly.

I am also hitting really sharp angles with the full syn gut, so I think some of that boils down to the racquet weighting as well.

 

[kazamzaa]

.... The gut connects you to the ball a lot better than poly.
I am also hitting really sharp angles with the full syn gut, so I think some of that boils down to the racquet weighting as well.

I totally agree that you're much more connected to the ball with gut than poly. The same thing with syn gut too. Many guys who always use full poly are crappy with their touch shots and volleys. But man do they like hitting topspin from the baseline all night long! For them I usually shuffle the game and hit all kinds of shots to really make them mad.
For a developing player syn gut is actually best option because the "connected to the ball" feeling you mentioned. Of course gut/poly also gives you a lot of feedback as well. But syn gut is 5-10 times cheaper. And the stringbed is more consistent hour to hour. And you don't have to worry about rain either.

Power player do you think POSG 16 is good for an open pattern at mid+ tension? I think I'll give syn gut a try soon, to find a rainy day setup.

 

[Power Player]

I think with open patterns, syn gut becomes more of a challenge. Not as much for 3.5 players, but 4.5 and up usually have high racquet head speed. the prince 16 is really durable though for what it is. I'd expect 6 hours or so out of it in an open pattern.

 

[marsh]

Seems like the consensus is that POSG is the synthetic gut to beat. Is that true? I tried the Gosen once and didn't care for it. What other recommendations are there?

I have recently seen some really good prices on Tecnifibre reels.

 

[Power Player]

Seems like the consensus is that POSG is the synthetic gut to beat. Is that true? I tried the Gosen once and didn't care for it. What other recommendations are there?

I have recently seen some really good prices on Tecnifibre reels.

I read the tec stuff is sub par.

I truly think POSG is the best one, but let me try the Forten sweet this week and maybe a contender will appear.

Another very nice syn gut is Wilson Stamina, but still I pick POSG.

 

[JackB1]

Yes I have, still have a pack here. I still prefer Prince Original. It is more lively.

My opinion is that syn gut is easy. Between Prince Original (crispy and lively) and Forten Sweet (softer) you will have a setup. Then you just adjust tension after your first string job and done. total consistency, arm health and feel back into your racquet.

lots of people seem to like a syngut/copoly hybrid as compared to a nat gut/copy hybrid. maybe the syngut/copoly setup gives a littme more spin that the full syngut setup?

 

[Power Player]

lots of people seem to like a syngut/copoly hybrid as compared to a nat gut/copy hybrid. maybe the syngut/copoly setup gives a littme more spin that the full syngut setup?

Nope. You are probably hurting your game using poly at all. Your head speed is not fast enough so basically you are not getting much benefit.

I can about guarantee if you stick with that blade 104 and use full syn gut for a while, you will become a better player.

 

[JackB1]

I read the tec stuff is sub par.

I truly think POSG is the best one, but let me try the Forten sweet this week and maybe a contender will appear.

Another very nice syn gut is Wilson Stamina, but still I pick POSG.

the consensus seems to be:

Forten Sweet = softer and better in the mains in a syngut/poly hybrid

Micro OG = crisper feeling and better as a full job

 

[keithfival]

the consensus seems to be:

Forten Sweet = softer and better in the mains in a syngut/poly hybrid

Micro OG = crisper feeling and better as a full job

I have tried OGSM 17 and FS 17 in lots of various hybrids (including with each other) and consistently prefer OGSM as a main and FS as a cross. OGSM is more controlled/predictable as a main and FS has better feel, bigger sweetspot, more plush as a cross.

PP- If you like POSG as a main, try it with a Forten cross. I swear forten cross sweetens up every string I've tried it with, bigger sweetspot, added feel, and little extra pop/depth but with great control. I really find it to be a magic cross string. I'd be a little surprised if you prefer a full bed of Forten to full bed of Prince.

 

[Power Player]

Jack OGSM is not better in a full job. Its better as a cross.

Keith, I may give that a shot once I see what I think of it in a full bed.

 

[keithfival]

Jack OGSM is not better in a full job. Its better as a cross.

Keith, I may give that a shot once I see what I think of it in a full bed.

Let me know how full bed compares to POSG. I've always like PSGD but haven't tried in POSG in ages. How do they differ?

 

[Power Player]

original has the best feel..crispy and lively. duraflex doesnt have the same magic and costs more too.

I could be biased since this was my go to string since I was 7, but I still am impressed by it to this day.

 

[ace0001a]

From reading your posts it sounds like we have the same taste and probably both grew up using Prince Original as kids. I also feel as if it is the gold standard, but I was very surprised at how well it plays, since I had not thought to try full syn gut in years.

I think a lot of people favor poly because of one or two shots..usually the forehand, sometimes the serve, but rare as most players don;t have good enough head speed and usually hinder themselves with poly. But they see some extra spin and think they need it. I have found that with full syn gut I see improvement on far more shots..lobs, droppers, touch shots, slice approach, and most important - rally shots. It just connects me better to the stick than poly. Also feel that is why a lot of pros use gut mains instead of poly mains. The gut connects you to the ball a lot better than poly.

I am also hitting really sharp angles with the full syn gut, so I think some of that boils down to the racquet weighting as well.

Right on man, I'm definitely on the same page as you on synthetic gut...was always the string I used back in my early days of tennis and like I said that POSG is still my favorite string to this day. I can still remember how great it felt back in the day in my Donnay Pro One OS LE (original one, not the reissue).

 

[Power Player]

I just hit with Forten Sweet gold in a full job and I love it. It's a close call between that or POSG, but I am going to buy a reel of Forten since it is softer and probably easier on the arm.

It really does feel incredible on sweet spot hits. And the spin was really heavy for a syngut.

 

[keithfival]

I just hit with Forten Sweet gold in a full job and I love it. It's a close call between that or POSG, but I am going to buy a reel of Forten since it is softer and probably easier on the arm.

It really does feel incredible on sweet spot hits. And the spin was really heavy for a syngut.

Just a heads up, I find the three colors of Forten (at least in 17g) play differently and not all are available in reel. After many string jobs with each one I consistently felt this way:

White: The softest and least powerful. A hair underpowered to me, almost like a Mantis or HexyFiber where there feels like a limit on how hard you can hit. Very comfy though.

Natural: (Goldish color but not as gold as "Gold"!) My favorite. Super comfy but perfect blend of power/control/feel. Basically just a bit more pop than white but similar.

Gold: A good bit stiffer feeling than the other two. My least fav, at least as a cross. The stiffness might be good as a main I suppose.

They don't sell 17g natural in a reel, so I just bought packs. Preferred it that much.

 

[Power Player]

I love the Gold..i think any softer and id be looking for more of that cracking sound and feel. This nailed it. I feel like it is softer than POSG. I also can string it a little tighter and it's going to play like a dream.

Anyway I found a reel through TW so Im going with Gold. It's $49, so pretty much a no brainer.

 

[keithfival]

I love the Gold..i think any softer and id be looking for more of that cracking sound and feel. This nailed it. I feel like it is softer than POSG. I also can string it a little tighter and it's going to play like a dream.

Anyway I found a reel through TW so Im going with Gold. It's $49, so pretty much a no brainer.

16g or 17g? My experience was mostly with crosses and the natural does feel a bit mushy as a full bed (that's why I have used OGSM main/Forten crosses.) Sounds like the crisper gold is better for a main. Yeah, it honestly feels like $12 syn gut for $3.