Hybrid: Natural Gut/Alu Power vs Gut/Alu Power Rough?

[cueboyzn]

Anyone have advice/experience/opinion to share on the hybrid of:

1. Natural Gut combined with Luxilon Alu Power (Regular) compared to:
2. Natural Gut with Luxilon Alu Power Rough

I have heard that the Alu Power Rough tends to tear or fray the Natural Gut, thus leading to frequent restringing (expensive). However, would using regular Alu Power (not Rough) solve the durability problem, while still giving most of the playing characteristics?

How much extra spin does Alu Power Rough give over the regular Alu Power?

Basically is the trade off worth it: Less Spin (how much) vs Increased Durability & Lifespan (how much)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gtennis]

The hybrid combination will last depending on set-up

If you use ALU power rough on the mains and natural gut on the crosses (52/54 lbs), this combo will last as well if not more than a full string of babolat pro hurricane tour or RPM Blast, which tend to go dead after 10-12 hours of heavy hitting. However, if you put natural gut on the mains it will fray a lot quicker.

I have used both hybrid combos on my K6.1 tour and they both play well, but with alu power rough on the mains, I get a lot more play time. I have also tried the RPM Blast at 52 lbs on the full string bed, and I found it to be excellent. Strings don't move, provide good feel, and excellent spin and heavy shots. But as I said before, they lose their properties after 10-12 hours of heavy play. Try them you may like them, but use low tension...in the low 50 area.

 

[cueboyzn]

Thanks - very informative.

But how much of a difference is there spin wise using Alu Rough compared to normal Alu Power?

Also will the Normal Alu Power not have the same issue of cutting into the Gut as the Rough version?

 

[ClubHoUno]

Thanks - very informative.

But how much of a difference is there spin wise using Alu Rough compared to normal Alu Power?

Also will the Normal Alu Power not have the same issue of cutting into the Gut as the Rough version?

To be honest the difference between natty gut mains and Alu Power Smooth/Alu Power Rough in the crosses is minute, but I felt the Rough in the crosses played a bit stiffer and I might have gotten a little bit more spin, but not something I actually could feel and durability with the Rough in the crosses will go down by 2-4 hours for me and you need to find a stringer, that will pay close attention while he is stringing the rough through the natty gut mains - or the natty gut will break prematurely.

Fed is the only Top level pro who uses the natty gut - Alu Rough hybrid. Most other players prefer to use the Alu Power Smooth. Djokovic & Cilic uses nat gut mains and Alu Power Smooth crosses. Murray uses Alu Power Smooth mains and Nat gut crosses.

I prefer natty gut mains and Alu Power crosses because I'm an all court feel player. People who are used to poly will prefer the Alu in the mains and the natty gut in the crosses.

Difference between Alu Rough and Alu Smooth is not that big in my view - I actually preferred the slightly softer feeling Alu Power Smooth to the Alu Power Rough. I also felt the Alu Power Smooth had a bit better tension retention than the Alu Power Rough, but we're talking small variations here.....

Best thing is to try both strings in a natty gut hybrid and decide for yourself, which of the two you prefer

You will get Rough lover comments and Alu Power Smooth lover comments in here, so best thing is to test them yourself !

 

[kiteboard]

To be honest the difference between natty gut mains and Alu Power Smooth/Alu Power Rough in the crosses is minute, but I felt the Rough in the crosses played a bit stiffer and I might have gotten a little bit more spin, but not something I actually could feel and durability with the Rough in the crosses will go down by 2-4 hours for me and you need to find a stringer, that will pay close attention while he is stringing the rough through the natty gut mains - or the natty gut will break prematurely.

Fed is the only Top level pro who uses the natty gut - Alu Rough hybrid. Most other players prefer to use the Alu Power Smooth. Djokovic & Cilic uses nat gut mains and Alu Power Smooth crosses. Murray uses Alu Power Smooth mains and Nat gut crosses.

I prefer natty gut mains and Alu Power crosses because I'm an all court feel player. People who are used to poly will prefer the Alu in the mains and the natty gut in the crosses.

Difference between Alu Rough and Alu Smooth is not that big in my view - I actually preferred the slightly softer feeling Alu Power Smooth to the Alu Power Rough. I also felt the Alu Power Smooth had a bit better tension retention than the Alu Power Rough, but we're talking small variations here.....

Best thing is to try both strings in a natty gut hybrid and decide for yourself, which of the two you prefer

You will get Rough lover comments and Alu Power Smooth lover comments in here, so best thing is to test them yourself !

Listen to this guy, once again, he always seems to hit the nail on the head with one blow.

 

[cueboyzn]

To be honest the difference between natty gut mains and Alu Power Smooth/Alu Power Rough in the crosses is minute, but I felt the Rough in the crosses played a bit stiffer and I might have gotten a little bit more spin, but not something I actually could feel and durability with the Rough in the crosses will go down by 2-4 hours for me and you need to find a stringer, that will pay close attention while he is stringing the rough through the natty gut mains - or the natty gut will break prematurely.

Fed is the only Top level pro who uses the natty gut - Alu Rough hybrid. Most other players prefer to use the Alu Power Smooth. Djokovic & Cilic uses nat gut mains and Alu Power Smooth crosses. Murray uses Alu Power Smooth mains and Nat gut crosses.

I prefer natty gut mains and Alu Power crosses because I'm an all court feel player. People who are used to poly will prefer the Alu in the mains and the natty gut in the crosses.

Difference between Alu Rough and Alu Smooth is not that big in my view - I actually preferred the slightly softer feeling Alu Power Smooth to the Alu Power Rough. I also felt the Alu Power Smooth had a bit better tension retention than the Alu Power Rough, but we're talking small variations here.....

Best thing is to try both strings in a natty gut hybrid and decide for yourself, which of the two you prefer

You will get Rough lover comments and Alu Power Smooth lover comments in here, so best thing is to test them yourself !

Thanks a lot for the great reply. Very informative.