Is black knight considered arm friendly?

[MoxMonkey]

A hitting partner of mine broke a string today and asked me to string his racquet.

He usually uses a poly main with gamma glide or a multifilament in the crosses, says he gets elbow issues.

I thought I had a pack of multi sitting around but I can't find it.

So I have rpm, rpm rough, ultra cable, and black knight sitting around(all 17g), as well as prince synthetic gut.

I looked it up and it appears black knight is on the softer side of poly strings.

Can anyone here verify that black knight is an arm friendly string? I was thinking of just doing the whole bed in BK.

Also, can syngut be used in the crosses to soften up the bed? How does it affect performance?

 

[J011yroger]

Absolutely not.

J

 

[NastyWinners]

Hella no.

 

[LocNetMonster]

Not as arm-friendly as synthetic gut or a multi. YMMV, but PSG mains at 48#; BK crosses at 42# is where I would start with what you have to work with.

 

[MoxMonkey]

PSG mains at 48#; BK crosses at 42#. YMMV.

He said he would prefer poly in the mains. I have noticed most gut/poly setups go with the gut in the mains.

What happens to performance with the gut in the crosses?

 

[J011yroger]

He said he would prefer poly in the mains. I have noticed most gut/poly setups go with the gut in the mains.

What happens to performance with the gut in the crosses?

You waste $20.

J

 

[SteveI]

Use a full bed of syn gut.. or natty gut. Soft multi also.

 

[LocNetMonster]

What happens to performance with the gut in the crosses?

Still too many other variables to answer that question. It is going to depend on the tensions (cross and mains), the differential between the two, if any, and the player's swing mechanics. If a poly/multi hybrid is giving him arm problems, his swing/serves technique need to be looked at. If his arm health is really important, then he should be playing with a full bed of softer string like Sgut or a multi.

 

[Rabbit]

If he wants poly mains, may I suggest an 18 gauge poly at no more than 52 pounds. Thinner gauges deflect more and are more arm friendly. I would cross that with a synthetic gut at roughly the same tension. If you like Tier One strings, get a pack of Ghost Wire in what they list as 19 gauge (1.10 mm) but other manufacturers list 1.10 as 18. Ghost Wire is almost as soft as a synthetic.

 

[LocNetMonster]

Also, order a few sets of reasonably priced multi like Absolute Perfection *$10 from Mayami Strings or Triump from Tier One at *$13 per set and keep them on hand.

 

[Turbo-87]

If he wants poly mains, may I suggest an 18 gauge poly at no more than 52 pounds. Thinner gauges deflect more and are more arm friendly. I would cross that with a synthetic gut at roughly the same tension. If you like Tier One strings, get a pack of Ghost Wire in what they list as 19 gauge (1.10 mm) but other manufacturers list 1.10 as 18. Ghost Wire is almost as soft as a synthetic.

I tried a full bed of Ghost Wire 19ga at 57lbs in an 18x20 and I thought it was really nice, but I have always preferred higher tensions. I like your suggestion. I think Ghost is as comfortable as you can get in a poly, at least from the small selection of polys I have tried.

 

[Rabbit]

@Turbo-87 I had the same impression when I tried it. I also really really really like WeissCannon Scorpion 1.22 from TW. At $9.95 it is a bargain. I put it in a Yonex VCore 100 at 52. It is really nice. I plan on getting some more and sticking it in as the crosses on my Yonex VCore 98's.

 

[MoxMonkey]

I have a pack of triumph around here somewhere, it came with a trial pack of tier 1 strings.

Is crossing a poly with a multi help soften up the bed? Do you still retain some of the spin benefits of poly mains?

 

[Yamin]

Only according to the manufacturer. Pretty stiff for me

 

[LocNetMonster]

Is crossing a poly with a multi help soften up the bed? Do you still retain some of the spin benefits of poly mains?

Yes to both questions. It will soften up the string bed slightly, deliver a little more pop, and maintain decent spin production, depending on the player's stroke with poly in the mains. Though Andy Murray, I believe it is, likes this setup, the general consensus, as @J011yroger expressed, is poly mains with multi or gut crosses is a wasted effort. Having tried it, I don't disagree. On the flip side, if they have solid stroke mechanics, multi mains or gut mains and poly cross is the way to go. In addition to greater comfort and more control, the spin potential is higher according to multiple sources. Can't be all that bad if pros like Serena Williams, Fed, Djokovic and Thiem are playing with the gut main-poly cross setup.

 

[J011yroger]

Yes to both questions. It will soften up the string bed slightly, deliver a little more pop, and maintain decent spin production, depending on the player's stroke with poly in the mains. Though Andy Murray, I believe it is, likes this setup, the general consensus, as @J011yroger expressed, is poly mains with multi or gut crosses is a wasted effort. Having tried it, I don't disagree. On the flip side, if they have solid stroke mechanics, multi mains or gut mains and poly cross is the way to go. In addition to greater comfort and more control, the spin potential is higher according to multiple sources. Can't be all that bad if pros like Serena Williams, Fed, Djokovic and Thiem are playing with the gut main-poly cross setup.

Poly main and multi cross gives better performance at lower price than poly main and gut cross.

J

 

[Wheelz]

Poly main and multi cross gives better performance at lower price than poly main and gut cross.

J

Better then multi main poly cross ?

 

[LocNetMonster]

Poly main and multi cross gives better performance at lower price than poly main and gut cross.

For a baseliner, the slice/spin doc or someone looking for a softer stringbed along with durability, I can see that. Having strung it up both ways, as someone who leans toward all-court play, the setup with poly in the crosses is superior for touch and feel.

 

[J011yroger]

Better then multi main poly cross ?

Never tried that.

J

 

[Turbo-87]

Better then multi main poly cross ?

I’m using Solinco Vanquish 16ga multi in the mains and Solinco Tour Bite 17ga poly in the cross. I am really liking this setup in a 16x19 right now. Easy and comfortable, even at the 61lbs I like.

 

[tlm]

Better then multi main poly cross ?

That set up gives better control than having the poly in the main.

 

[onehandbh]

Poly main and multi cross gives better performance at lower price than poly main and gut cross.

J

If he is a stringbreaker, Poly/Multi (main/cross) is going to break REALLY quickly.

Tried it once a long time ago in my PS85. Initially I was like "wow, feels great!" Then it started fraying like crazy and eventually broke.

 

[Rabbit]

Poly main and multi cross gives better performance at lower price than poly main and gut cross.

J

I would go so far as to say poly mains and synthetic gut cross.

 

[MoxMonkey]

String discussion is a beautiful disaster. It's a blend of science, pseudoscience, knowledge, anecdotal experience, and outright alchemy.

I feel at home.