How Much of "Arm Friendly" is Strings v. Frame?

jon44

New User
I decided on a Volkl C10 Pro as my new "Arm Friendly" racquet.

Conventional wisdom would say for ultimate arm friendliness go with all natural gut. But I've always found an all gut setup too springy for my abilities.

So, if I went with a hybrid setup (ntural gut on mains and poly on crosses), I'm wondering how much softness I'd loose. My sense is that it'd solve my control issues and from demo'ing (too) many racquets, I sense it's the C10 frame that makes the difference for my problem wrist (head light, higher swing weight, flexible) and not the strings, but I've never tried poly and don't want to risk a setback.

As always, any advice appreciated,

Jon
 

Valjean

Hall of Fame
....but I've never tried poly and don't want to risk a setback.....
Don't start now, too; I've had that wrist thing (I'm likely at about the same point as you) and it's too tricky to fool around with. Don't know what gut(s) you may have tried, but there is enough of a range to accommodate your concern with control. For instance, is your love for gut untainted, so you prefer VS? Then Pacific's Prime, the next step away and toward control, could suit you. And if you wanted to cut that one, you could introduce any of a variety of synthetics. Cosmetically, I'd go with Tecnifibre's multifibre TGV myself; same coloring....
 
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stules

Rookie
Hi Jon
I started a thread with the same question a few days ago. Lots read it, but no advice.
My racqet is heavy, head light and flexible as well. I have been using N/gut, but find its too powerful. my curiosity is to try some of the co-poly types. Being 47 aand injury free, I am going to tread carefully. NickB on the the large 'poly' thread suggested that the racquet was important, and to try a co-poly.
Regards
Stuart
 

Doc Hollidae

Hall of Fame
I decided on a Volkl C10 Pro as my new "Arm Friendly" racquet.

Conventional wisdom would say for ultimate arm friendliness go with all natural gut. But I've always found an all gut setup too springy for my abilities.

So, if I went with a hybrid setup (ntural gut on mains and poly on crosses), I'm wondering how much softness I'd loose. My sense is that it'd solve my control issues and from demo'ing (too) many racquets, I sense it's the C10 frame that makes the difference for my problem wrist (head light, higher swing weight, flexible) and not the strings, but I've never tried poly and don't want to risk a setback.

As always, any advice appreciated,

Jon

IMO there are many stiff synthetics or soft strings geared towards control that you can try before considering poly.

Pro Supex Maxim Touch - soft string that's very control oriented. Excellent pocketing and very crisp. One of the few soft strings that isn't springy as well.

Gosen OG Sheep Micro Jim Courier - On the stiffer side of synthetics, but not as harsh as a poly. Very crisp feel and good bite. Durable and fairly inexpensive.

Fischer Pro No. 1 - Basically a syn gut with kevlar strands wrapped around it. Stiffest of all the strings I mention. Stiff as some polys, but not as harsh as polys.

Prince Syn Gut Duraflex - similar to OGSM Jim Courier, tad stiffer imo, and not as much touch. However it offered in multiple gauges and is cheap. Can't really go wrong with PSG Duraflex.

Prince Syn Gut Multifilament - Soft multi with good pop and very arm friendly. Not exactly springy, but it has a lot of pop to it. Feel is excellent and the word that comes to mind when playing with PSGM is "butter".
 

jon44

New User
IMO there are many stiff synthetics or soft strings geared towards control that you can try before considering poly.

Some great suggestions, thanks.

To be clear, are you suggesting these on their own, or as crosses to improve the control of a natural gut (i.e., while going for n/guts superior arm friendliness in mains)

Jon
 

Doc Hollidae

Hall of Fame
Some great suggestions, thanks.

To be clear, are you suggesting these on their own, or as crosses to improve the control of a natural gut (i.e., while going for n/guts superior arm friendliness in mains)

Jon

Both, I've used them in both situations. They all make great full sets and hybrids.
 
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