Gut/Poly Launch Angle

[KaiserW]

Hello,

I really enjoy gut/poly but do not like the really high launch angle as the setup wears. Probably is magnified since I have an open 16x18 pattern. First handful of outings I really enjoy it. I am using YPTP as a cross which is not the best at tension maintenance. Have thought about using a better tension maintenance cross such as 4G or Max Power recommended by Spin to Win. But here is my dilemma, I choose YPTP because of comfort reasons so I am concerned about a really stiff poly cross.

So how is the comfort level of gut/4G or gut/Max Power? Also what tension recommendations?

 

[Aretium]

Hello,

I really enjoy gut/poly but do not like the really high launch angle as the setup wears. Probably is magnified since I have an open 16x18 pattern. First handful of outings I really enjoy it. I am using YPTP as a cross which is not the best at tension maintenance. Have thought about using a better tension maintenance cross such as 4G or Max Power recommended by Spin to Win. But here is my dilemma, I choose YPTP because of comfort reasons so I am concerned about a really stiff poly cross.

So how is the comfort level of gut/4G or gut/Max Power? Also what tension recommendations?

You can increase the tension differential if the poly is uncomfortable? Help me Spintowin, you're my only hope.

 

[Imago]

Poly/Gut will have a lower throw angle but also less comfort.

 

[Aretium]

Poly/Gut will have a lower throw angle but also less comfort.

Why would you say such a thing, I'm shielding Spintowin's ears from such terrifying thoughts.

 

[ringwraith]

Yeah I usually play with 4g as crosses with the gut, and find the same thing. I usually break strings in a month or so, but this time for whatever reason its been still running fine over 2 months (perhaps its because i've been waxing the strings after each use). Finding really hard to control the launch angle. Everything seems to jump off the stringbed at a huge angle. Very interested in what others have to say.

 

[KaiserW]

I have to stay away from poly in the mains too stiff for me.

 

[KaiserW]

Yeah I usually play with 4g as crosses with the gut, and find the same thing. I usually break strings in a month or so, but this time for whatever reason its been still running fine over 2 months (perhaps its because i've been waxing the strings after each use). Finding really hard to control the launch angle. Everything seems to jump off the stringbed at a huge angle. Very interested in what others have to say.

Was hoping 4G or similiar stiffer cross would help with the really high launch angle. I am finding it difficult to have confidence when I need to rip a winner coming in on a short ball because of the launch angle. I am fine at the baseline it is when I come to net I feel I have to hold back on approach shots so it does not fly long on me.

If a stiffer cross does not work out for me I think I will go back to a multi or syn gut.

 

[Imago]

Tried today PP Hexaspin 30 kg/Black Global Gut 27 kg - playability is much better than vice versa, very good feel and control, no snap back, actually very little snap at all as compared to gut/poly. Yet, after two hours heavy hitting with ball machine, I felt a little discomfort in the place usually referred to as Golf Elbow locus.

 

[Aretium]

Tried today PP Hexaspin 30 kg/Black Global Gut 27 kg - playability is much better than vice versa, very good feel and control, no snap back, actually very little snap at all as compared to gut/poly. Yet, after two hours heavy hitting with ball machine, I felt a little discomfort in the place usually referred to as Golf Elbow locus.

No snapback? I think poly/gut is better for flatter hitters. For me, poly/gut is stiffish. Gut/poly is heaven, try head hawk, low powered, slick and though it was firmer than most, I didn't have any discomfort.

 

[SpinToWin]

To answer all the speculation here:

There are a few factors of the crosses which determine a stringbed's launch angle IME:

• The crosses' tension relative to the mains
• The crosses' gauge
• The crosses' actual composition

The last is what you should look for first. Some polys (for instance 4G or Lynx) have a surprisingly high launch at a given tension, which I attribute to their particular construction/composition. First you need to find a string that promotes a low launch angle naturally and which provides the other benefits you look for. Then you need to consider whether the string's natural tension loss will result in a too high launch angle after a short while and if that is so, you should either compensate for that by stringing higher initially or by pre stretching the string. Thicker gauges will be preferable to you, as they promote a lower launch angle and oftentimes less tension loss too.

Hawk and Max Power are two strings I know of which provide a lowish launch angle. The lowest I have ever gotten was from Sonic Pro Edge crosses.

I personally have not found Max Power or Hawk to be uncomfortable. You need to be prepared to drop the tensions lower than what you might want to otherwise though, even considering the gut in the mains. Trust the low powered and stiff poly cross to do the controlling and the gut in the mains at lower tensions will provide all kinds of comfort. For instance I am at 50/44 lbs with Tonic +/Max Power now.

If you want a more accurate break down of the respective poly crosses check out the thread and ask if you need anything else.



Regarding poly/gut I have only one comment: Not worth it for rec players.

 

[KaiserW]

To answer all the speculation here:

There are a few factors of the crosses which determine a stringbed's launch angle IME:

• The crosses' tension relative to the mains
• The crosses' gauge
• The crosses' actual composition

The last is what you should look for first. Some polys (for instance 4G or Lynx) have a surprisingly high launch at a given tension, which I attribute to their particular construction/composition. First you need to find a string that promotes a low launch angle naturally and which provides the other benefits you look for. Then you need to consider whether the string's natural tension loss will result in a too high launch angle after a short while and if that is so, you should either compensate for that by stringing higher initially or by pre stretching the string. Thicker gauges will be preferable to you, as they promote a lower launch angle and oftentimes less tension loss too.

Hawk and Max Power are two strings I know of which provide a lowish launch angle. The lowest I have ever gotten was from Sonic Pro Edge crosses.

I personally have not found Max Power or Hawk to be uncomfortable. You need to be prepared to drop the tensions lower than what you might want to otherwise though, even considering the gut in the mains. Trust the low powered and stiff poly cross to do the controlling and the gut in the mains at lower tensions will provide all kinds of comfort. For instance I am at 50/44 lbs with Tonic +/Max Power now.

If you want a more accurate break down of the respective poly crosses check out the thread and ask if you need anything else.



Regarding poly/gut I have only one comment: Not worth it for rec players.

Thanks for the feedback. Will try Hawk or Max Power when I get a chance.

 

[Imago]

No snapback? I think poly/gut is better for flatter hitters. For me, poly/gut is stiffish. Gut/poly is heaven, try head hawk, low powered, slick and though it was firmer than most, I didn't have any discomfort.

With Gut/Poly, you have only snap and no snapback, so if the snapback is constituent of any spin potential then the latter should be very low here.

Anyway, there are many dragons to be killed in the stiffness - tension - comfort - spin section, lots of totally unsupported myths and legends circulating in the space inhabited by uncritical minds.

 

[SpinToWin]

With Gut/Poly, you have only snap and no snapback, so if the snapback is constituent of any spin potential then the latter should be very low here.

Anyway, there are many dragons to be killed in the stiffness - tension - comfort - spin section, lots of totally unsupported myths and legends circulating in the space inhabited by uncritical minds.

Huh? You have very good snapback with gut/poly though?

 

[Aretium]

With Gut/Poly, you have only snap and no snapback, so if the snapback is constituent of any spin potential then the latter should be very low here.

Anyway, there are many dragons to be killed in the stiffness - tension - comfort - spin section, lots of totally unsupported myths and legends circulating in the space inhabited by uncritical minds.

Sorry but, you have no idea what you are saying do you?

 

[Franklin_B]

With Gut/Poly, you have only snap and no snapback, so if the snapback is constituent of any spin potential then the latter should be very low here.

What? gut/poly has very low string-string friction so the strings move back and forth easily...

 

[ringwraith]

To answer all the speculation here:

There are a few factors of the crosses which determine a stringbed's launch angle IME:

• The crosses' tension relative to the mains
• The crosses' gauge
• The crosses' actual composition

The last is what you should look for first. Some polys (for instance 4G or Lynx) have a surprisingly high launch at a given tension, which I attribute to their particular construction/composition. First you need to find a string that promotes a low launch angle naturally and which provides the other benefits you look for. Then you need to consider whether the string's natural tension loss will result in a too high launch angle after a short while and if that is so, you should either compensate for that by stringing higher initially or by pre stretching the string. Thicker gauges will be preferable to you, as they promote a lower launch angle and oftentimes less tension loss too.

Hawk and Max Power are two strings I know of which provide a lowish launch angle. The lowest I have ever gotten was from Sonic Pro Edge crosses.

I personally have not found Max Power or Hawk to be uncomfortable. You need to be prepared to drop the tensions lower than what you might want to otherwise though, even considering the gut in the mains. Trust the low powered and stiff poly cross to do the controlling and the gut in the mains at lower tensions will provide all kinds of comfort. For instance I am at 50/44 lbs with Tonic +/Max Power now.

If you want a more accurate break down of the respective poly crosses check out the thread and ask if you need anything else.



Regarding poly/gut I have only one comment: Not worth it for rec players.

Thanks Spin. Hawk's been on my radar for a while and you recommended it earlier as well. I have some spare sets of Outlast that I might try out before that. I am ok with the relatively high launch angle of 4G for a less than a month old stringbed, but after that the control seems to be vanishing in even a small 90 sq inch head.

 

[Imago]

What? gut/poly has very low string-string friction so the strings move back and forth easily...

Mine move only forth and not back, so I have to use my fingers to bring them back. Theory is lame.

 

[TennisCJC]

Mine move only forth and not back, so I have to use my fingers to bring them back. Theory is lame.

Theory works pretty well for Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and a ton of other pros who use gut/poly. Sorry, it doesn't work for you.

 

[Imago]

Theory must have universal validity to be true. If it works only 2 hours for a definite tension, it is far from being true.