Gut/Poly Hybrid advice

[TennisManiac]

Hello fellow tennis fanatics. I'm looking for some feedback.

I just purchased an RF97 and plan on trying a gut/poly hybrid in it. I usually string a full bed of Alu Power at 46 in my modified PS97 and I get around 4 hours out of it before it completely bags out and I have to cut it out. For this reason, I don't want to hybrid gut with Alu Power. I already know that the Alu Power will bag out fast. So I'm wondering if some of you who play gut/poly hybrids can offer me some suggestions in regards to which poly's might work well as a cross with gut in the mains? In a perfect world I would like a poly cross that will hold tension well for around 10 hours and stay slick enough for the gut mains to keep sliding and snapping back the entire time. But I realize that's a really tall order. So what poly's would come close to what I'm looking for?

Also, knowing that I usually play with a full bed of Alu at 46. What tensions should I try with a gut/poly hybrid? I was thinking 52/48 or 54/50.

 

[jmysun]

@TennisManiac from what I've read in The Gut/Poly Thread, some popular choices have been:

Luxilon 4g
Tourna Black Zone
Kirschbaum Max Power

Also maybe Head Hawk?!?

Good tension maintenance on those. I no longer use that frame, but my experience with it so far has only been with champions choice and klip legend/revolve at 57/54. Gut/poly hybrid is amazing in that frame. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

Forgot to mention I played full poly in that frame at 50/48 - 52/50.

 

[TennisManiac]

@TennisManiac from what I've read in The Gut/Poly Thread, some popular choices have been:

Luxilon 4g
Tourna Black Zone
Kirschbaum Max Power

Also maybe Head Hawk?!?

Good tension maintenance on those. I no longer use that frame, but my experience with it so far has only been with champions choice and klip legend/revolve at 57/54. Gut/poly hybrid is amazing in that frame. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

Hey thanks man! Appreciate the feedback.

 

[landcookie]

Hello. Fairly new to the dark side myself.

Tried max power and Yonex poly tour fire 125 as crosses. MP lasts longer but doesn't have that same zing as ptf. I'd give either of them a go at theyre pretty budget friendly.

Strung at 55/52. My full poly tension is 45/43 or 48/46 depending on the poly.

 

[topspin2000]

I just recently switched to gut/poly hybrid on my RF97 myself. Like you, I've been a full bed poly user most of my tennis life with PS97, then RF97. I cut out my poly strings long before they break because I hate the way they feel after a few hours. Decided to switch to ng/poly hybrid. I'm using Wilson natural gut in the main, and Luxilon Element in the cross, at 52/50 tension. So far I love this combination, it provides me with the comfort and feel that I was looking for. I'll have to hit more to see how long the playability lasts, I suspect it'll be much longer than full bed poly.

 

[Deleted member 768841]

I wouldn’t recommend champions choice for people who don’t have a pocket the size of the Grand Canyon, because ALU power bottoms out pretty much after 4-5 hours. I use 4gL, but I’ve heard kirschbaum max power is good as a cross. The kirschbaum will be better in terms of price.

 

[tonylg]

The biggest problem with gut/poly hybrids is cutting out gut with life left in it.

That said, I get around 2 hours out of a full bed of ALU before I don't like it. Over 4 hours and all the magic is completely gone and it's just rubbish, but in a gut hybrid it's still going usable at that point. I'd go so far as to say you get almost twice the mileage in a gut hybrid as you do a full bed.

Currently using Cream in my crosses and after a few hours the launch angle gets a bit high, but it is still comfortable up to ten hours. As the Cream looks after the gut, it's freyed but not generally not broken. The Cream does flatten out though.

 

[FIRETennis]

The biggest problem with gut/poly hybrids is cutting out gut with life left in it.

That said, I get around 2 hours out of a full bed of ALU before I don't like it. Over 4 hours and all the magic is completely gone and it's just rubbish, but in a gut hybrid it's still going usable at that point. I'd go so far as to say you get almost twice the mileage in a gut hybrid as you do a full bed.

Currently using Cream in my crosses and after a few hours the launch angle gets a bit high, but it is still comfortable up to ten hours. As the Cream looks after the gut, it's freyed but not generally not broken. The Cream does flatten out though.

Have your stringer mount the frame on the stringing machine (ideally 6 point) then cut out the crosses and restring crosses only.

 

[tonylg]

Have your stringer mount the frame on the stringing machine (ideally 6 point) then cut out the crosses and restring crosses only.

I know it's in my head, but when I have fresh strings, I want a full bed of fresh strings!

Doesn't matter wth the Cream. Gut is ready to break about the same time as the Cream has turned into flat ribbons and ready to go too.

 

[NLBwell]

Signum Pro Poly Plasma Pure.
Poly that plays well the longest that I've found. Good in all categories as a single string but really excellent as a cross with gut.

 

[taydbear7]

Prince Syn Gut/Tier One Ghost Wire poly. Man I was on fire yesterday.

 

[stephenclown]

I know it's in my head, but when I have fresh strings, I want a full bed of fresh strings!

Doesn't matter wth the Cream. Gut is ready to break about the same time as the Cream has turned into flat ribbons and ready to go too.

I remember a fondness for pro line evolution as a cross the last time I used it. Good solid feel and nice spin. Might also be good to test out firestorm as I thought that string displayed some similarities to alu but with more power and slightly less spin.

Agree that you get more life from the Alu with gut in the mains. I feel like the gut string to ball friction makes up for alus deterioration in this department. Alu starts off by taking felt off the ball but loses this pretty fast.