Think of my game as kind of a Sampras-Davenport hybrid (best examples of pros i can find) in that I use a clean, classic stroke with not much spin. I was wondering what the best type of string would be for this "Classic" type of game, and if anyone has any suggestions. I should say that for me feel is very important, and that I string in the higher tension ranges.
Good string for a flat hitter
- Thread starter BU-Tennis
- Start date
I had thought about trying some natural gut which when i order some new racquets i'll definitely give it a shot for a while, even though i hit flat i don't break strings much. Thanks for the advice. Since i've never ventured into natural gut before, are there any that are known for high durability...basically the best bang-for-your-buck string.
smucker007
Rookie
There are a couple more inexpensive guts out there like such as Kilp and Titan from TW..but nothing beats Babolat..if you can afford it! If you want durability, try the 15L versions of gut.
brownbearfalling
Hall of Fame
Natural gut seems like it would suit your game the best since it has a lot of power to it. If you can't get your hands on natural gut or looking for a cheaper alturnative you might look into trying powerful synthetic strings. Wilson hollow core, prince lightning xx and tecnifibre x1 are pretty powerful
COPEY
Hall of Fame
You're a college student that currently uses "whatever string your coach buys". Is it that you don't like the string you're being supplied with? I'm asking because you didn't indicate whether you did or didn't. If you do, but you're simply exploring other possibilities, that's fine, too! Again, I was just curious.
As for natural gut, if you're a typical college student you probably don't have the funds to spring for expensive string, which includes NXT and NRG² (although NRG² is the cheaper of the two).
Start with affordable synthetics and work your way up. With string the old adage of "you get what you pay for" doesn't apply. It's about what feels good to "you". It could be that a string such as Pro Supex Spiral Flex (very inexpensive) is pure gold for your game or you might find that Mantis Power Synthetic, KLiP Scorcher or Alpha Viper MXT (a little more expensive, but cheap compared to high-end multis) is more to your liking.
There are LOTS of strings out there, and the number of choices can be daunting to say the least. Do a little research, start low, take your time, and good luck!
As for natural gut, if you're a typical college student you probably don't have the funds to spring for expensive string, which includes NXT and NRG² (although NRG² is the cheaper of the two).
Start with affordable synthetics and work your way up. With string the old adage of "you get what you pay for" doesn't apply. It's about what feels good to "you". It could be that a string such as Pro Supex Spiral Flex (very inexpensive) is pure gold for your game or you might find that Mantis Power Synthetic, KLiP Scorcher or Alpha Viper MXT (a little more expensive, but cheap compared to high-end multis) is more to your liking.
There are LOTS of strings out there, and the number of choices can be daunting to say the least. Do a little research, start low, take your time, and good luck!
I am a realtively flat ball hitter, old school style, and as a result I do not break strings all that often. I prefer high tensions as well, and my favorite strings are all Babolat VS gut 16g. at 64 lbs. on my os racquet, and 61 lbs. on the MP.
Babolats VS is the industry's standard, and it hits well has great durability, and plays well until it breaks, so its very economical as well. If you hybrid the string, the synthetic will lose its characteristics before the gut would, and you will be changing out the string before it breaks. If you never hit with all nat. gut before you need to try an all gut set up at least once to see how you like that string. BTW, I would string it up a few lbs. higher (approx. 6 lbs) than a synthetic gut string, and even more over a poly string .
Babolats VS is the industry's standard, and it hits well has great durability, and plays well until it breaks, so its very economical as well. If you hybrid the string, the synthetic will lose its characteristics before the gut would, and you will be changing out the string before it breaks. If you never hit with all nat. gut before you need to try an all gut set up at least once to see how you like that string. BTW, I would string it up a few lbs. higher (approx. 6 lbs) than a synthetic gut string, and even more over a poly string .
JT_2eighty
Hall of Fame
Pacific Tough Gut.
It's a bit more crisp and more durable than VS. It's the most durable gut I've used, and is great once you get it around 60+ lbs... the pocketing, control, feel... etc. Definitely not as "plush" or soft feeling as VS, but my favorite price/performance gut.
I usually hybrided it with a multi (head RIP), and recently been hybriding with poly (but to get more spin), so I'd say go full per jim's advice, or save a few $, & hybrid with a durable multi (like HEAD RIP), and you'll be in flat-hitters paradise.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Excuse my ignorance, but I never understand these "good strings for a flat hitter" threads? Why is one string better than another for a flat hitter? Do u want more help to get more spin or do u want to keep hitting as flat as possible? I can't imagine anyone wanting to hit flat as possible, since your margin for error is so low. So this would leave me to believe that most flat hitters need help with spin, so shouldn't they get the string with the most "spin potential" out there? It's a given that you MUST use spin to play tennis effectively, so why wouldn't flat hitters want a spinny string? Am I missing something?
MuscleWeave
Semi-Pro
You see, forums have things called threads, and for each of these threads there is a title. The title is used to grab the attention of those whom peruse said forums. So for instance, a thread title of "Good string for a flat hitter" will tell you the audience enough information for them to decide if they feel like further investigation is needed. Often, the titles are created in such a way as most people will click on it and read the thread. Within that thread, more information is given by the OP that will clarify the question and provide the limits for appropriate responses. But seriously...
Flat hitters do not want a "spinny" string because they are not trying to generate more spin, and most people will agree that if you want more spin in your shot then first you must change the way you hit the ball...strings would be one of the last things you would change (besides tension).
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
Most of the flat hitters I know wish they had more spin. I don't see how hitting flatter all the time is advantageous to hitting with spin? Sure there are times when flattening out a passing shot is good, but 90% of the better players hit with a lot of topspin.
BagelMe
Semi-Pro
I have a flat forehand and recently I tried Big Hitter Blue Rough, which is a very "spinny" string, and after trying low tensions, high tensions and a hybrid with a multi I find that whatever I try to do with this string it just never works for me. So, YES, there are strings that are more suitable for flat hitters; most of the time they are not the "spinny" ones.
