Let the MultiFeel-poly experiment begin...

[Winners or Errors]

I've been playing around with poly-poly, but I am just too lazy to restring if it's not broken, so I decided to experiment a bit with MultiFeel 16 and poly crosses in my XTC 305s, which are 18x19. First up, a cross I know, Kirschbaum Proline X 1.25. I was going to string at 53 mains / 51 crosses, but was in the middle of five things while stringing and ended up doing 53/53. Still, we'll see how the strings play.

Next up will be Revolve 1.25, SPPPP 1.23, and Co-Focus 1.18. Will update. The goal is to find something that breaks before it goes dead and plays consistently throughout. I will force myself to string more often, for the good of my arm.

 

[cd3768]

I'm on the watch list

 

[Winners or Errors]

Well, it was windy today, making it hard to be consistent, but my first thoughts on the MultiFeel/Proline X pairing is that it will work. Spin was normal and predictable, feel was much better than the Cyclone 17 at 52#I had in there, and power was as expected. No string movement at this point, but I played 2.5 hours of doubles, so take it with the grain of salt it probably deserves.

We shall see if the combo retains its properties right up to breakage. I do think it could be strung lower than 53. Also, the red-blue combo in my Tecnifibre XTC looks great, even though it is not a direct match for the frame's red and blue paint.

By the way, for those of you who have played the non-colored MultiFeel, the coating on the blue version is definitely much slicker - it must be similar to what they coated the black color in reading the TW review.

 

[taylor15]

I’m watching this one as I am about the string up two SV 95s with the string I have available: multifeel and T1 fire wire.

I really like multifeel and also am just looking for a cross string as well. Next up for me will be ice code.

 

[Winners or Errors]

I hit for an hour this morning with a friend. We basically go full bore the entire time. No changes in my impressions of the feel or control. It is definitely a better setup than pure poly. We'll see if that lasts, though, as I am already noticing string-lock - strings are sticking. Given my experience with MultiFeel in the crosses, that may not affect playability, but we'll see how quickly the bed goes from locked to frayed...

 

[Winners or Errors]

A few more weeks in. Got frustrated with the MultiFeel - Proline X setup today and pulled out my racquet strung with full bed Cyclone. Since the MultiFeel stringbed started locking, spin is less predictable. The full Cyclone racquet was much more consistent.

Ironically, I recall MultiFeel crosses being consistent right up to breaking. I'm still going to play through the end of this set. Maybe some of the other crosses will last longer. Proline X seems like a failure at this point.

 

[ArliHawk]

Try proline evolution, great string.

 

[jangotango]

A few more weeks in. Got frustrated with the MultiFeel - Proline X setup today and pulled out my racquet strung with full bed Cyclone. Since the MultiFeel stringbed started locking, spin is less predictable. The full Cyclone racquet was much more consistent.

Ironically, I recall MultiFeel crosses being consistent right up to breaking. I'm still going to play through the end of this set. Maybe some of the other crosses will last longer. Proline X seems like a failure at this point.

Why multifeel? Have you given other multis a try?

 

[Winners or Errors]

I had used it before and am trying the new version. If I don’t find a good combo, rather than looking for another multi I’ll probably just go to gut-poly. Why? Do you have a suggestion?

 

[jangotango]

I had used it before and am trying the new version. If I don’t find a good combo, rather than looking for another multi I’ll probably just go to gut-poly. Why? Do you have a suggestion?

Gotcha. I had just always found multi feel to be way too gummy in a hybrid (used it with Lux element, head hawk). If the new version is better than the old one, I'll probably give it a second chance. I found Tier One Triumph and Wilson NXT to be far better, in all aspects.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Gotcha. I had just always found multi feel to be way too gummy in a hybrid (used it with Lux element, head hawk). If the new version is better than the old one, I'll probably give it a second chance. I found Tier One Triumph and Wilson NXT to be far better, in all aspects.

New version has a slicker coating and is no longer gummy, but once the crosses start sawing into the mains and the snap-back goes, it's about as useful as synthetic gut - well, not that bad, but still enough locking that it seems to deliver inconsistent spin. It could be the Proline X cross in this first experiment. It's not the slickest cross.

I have several more string jobs before I give up on the experiment. I'm not playing competitive tennis at the moment, so it's just frustration and not ranking numbers when I have a poor day and blame the strings. ;-)

 

[bfroxen]

I play with Multifeel. Currently full bed, but it plays similarly with OGSM or Velocity mains. MF didn’t work well as a main with either of those two. The way it frays as a cross string (and doesn’t notch the mains) makes it work well for me. The only problem is durability, but I don’t think any other main is going to help with that.

 

[isukatennis]

I keep a couple of frames with a FB of multi when the arms tells me i need it... I used to play FB Multi feel, but switched to Velocity because the MF seemed to fray quicker and of course had more of a gummy feel than Vel.... What is this "new" MF you guys are referring to? How long has the "new" been out?

 

[taylor15]

Finally joining in the experiment since I didn't want to change strings in the middle of a league season. I got a free set of FireWire from T1, so my first will be multifeel mains at 54lbs and firewire crosses at 51lbs in my modded (350g) Yonex SV 95s. Dropped with stringer this am, will likely not play until next week.

Edit: I’m getting one racquet with poly/multi and the other multi/poly. Let’s see how they compare

 

[Winners or Errors]

Snapped the MF-Proline X set. Generally happy they broke, as I wasn't impressed by the setup. Tension maintenance was good, but I don't think the Proline X is slick enough to use as a cross for MF.

Started with the MF-Revolve set yesterday. Jury is out. Spin is OK but doesn't appear to even approach Cyclone. Comfort is, as with the other set, still good. Full Cyclone gives me elbow pain, and I have gotten none with the MF hybrids, which was sort of the point. We'll see. I did hit some encouraging shots but wasn't really "on" yesterday, so I need to give it a good run. I do like the feel. Strung in my TF XTC 305 at 55#.

The plan is to go through all of the sets with MF mains and then do some experimenting with the string in the crosses.

 

[Winners or Errors]

So far, so good. Revolve is definitely a better cross with MF than Proline X. It also doesn't hurt my arm as full poly sometimes does.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Revolve was about twice as good as Proline X as a cross with MF - not even close, really. I am actually still playing that set and have not broken the strings, though I am minutes away. Next up, SPPPP 1.23. Stringing it up tomorrow morning. I don't think anything will beat Revolve as a cross, though. It ended up being that good.

 

[Shangri La]

I tried MF crossed with RS Lyon and the combo played very nice. Superb feel, good control and power.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Well, I am pretty much finished with the experiment. Here are the rankings:

#4: Proline X - I wouldn't use this string as a cross with MultiFeel, it just doesn't slide enough and the spin, feel, and durability were poor.
#3: Revolve - best power and spin combination. The only thing I don't like about this combo was the durability. Tension maintenance in this cross is pretty poor. That is why it is #3.
#2: SPPPP - I liked this string. It isn't as slick as my #3 and #1 choices, but it was, as was the orange version, very consistent until I broke the strings. Good power, good spin.
#1: Co-Focus - the surface of this string feels dry and slick. It is in the racquet now and working quite well, surprising as it is the thinnest gauge. Good control, nice spin, expecting good durability. I'm going to have to experiment with tension, though, because the power isn't what I expected.

The top 3 strings are all strings I'd play in combination with MultiFeel 16 Blue. I have liked Proline X in the past, but it's not a winner as a multi cross. YMMV, but these combos give me what I wanted, playable strings that break at the right time.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Irony of ironies, after playing through all of the strings one more time, the ranking is now:

1. Proline X
2. SPPP
3 and 4. Revolve and Co-Focus

I know what I posted earlier, but I discovered, after several more rounds of play, that the stiffest strings offered the best spin/control combination with the Multi-Feel mains. I just ordered more Multi-Feel 16. This time, I will be trying Pro Red Code 17 as a cross - it's pretty similar to Proline X, but a little stiffer. Will post with results. Also, trying the black instead of the blue Multi-Feel. I have some blue left, so I will play side by side and report back.

Definitely sticking with Multi-Feel, though. I really like the string, and it breaks in just the right number of hours to keep me from playing with dead string. It works well as a main string, much better than either the Volkl or Gosen synthetic guts.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Still keep coming back to Multi-Feel / poly hybrid. At this point, it doesn't really seem to make a difference which smooth poly so long as it's something I like full bed, so I bought a reel of Kirschbaum Proline X 17 and called it a day. YMMV, but for me this hybrid plays well right up to the point that it breaks the multi mains. Next up may be gut mains, because as I understand it those last much longer, but I'm happy at the roughly $7 a set for strings this hybrid costs me and it performs well in all of my different racquets.

I have found the blue and black version of Multi-Feel perform quite similarly, by the way.

 

[taylor15]

Still keep coming back to Multi-Feel / poly hybrid. At this point, it doesn't really seem to make a difference which smooth poly so long as it's something I like full bed, so I bought a reel of Kirschbaum Proline X 17 and called it a day. YMMV, but for me this hybrid plays well right up to the point that it breaks the multi mains. Next up may be gut mains, because as I understand it those last much longer, but I'm happy at the roughly $7 a set for strings this hybrid costs me and it performs well in all of my different racquets.

I have found the blue and black version of Multi-Feel perform quite similarly, by the way.

I’m about to try multifeel mains and lux element crosses. Trying to make my hybrids cheaper than the NXT mains.

 

[Winners or Errors]

I’m about to try multifeel mains and lux element crosses. Trying to make my hybrids cheaper than the NXT mains.

YMMV. It's my understanding, though I've never played with NXT, that Multi-Feel is more than a bit crisper. Good luck. It's a cheap experiment at least.

 

[taylor15]

Yep, I know I’ll like it. I played multifeel in a full bed for a while after I first came back to the game after shoulder surgery. I like it a lot and think it will hybrid well

 

[Pneumated1]

Yep, I know I’ll like it. I played multifeel in a full bed for a while after I first came back to the game after shoulder surgery. I like it a lot and think it will hybrid well

You'll love it. Imo, multifeel/poly is one of the best kept hybrid 'secrets' out there in string land--at least for multi/poly options. That said, I just started experimenting with a V7 Blade 18x20 that came with NXT DuraMax 15. That frame with that string is a sublime experience, but I'm thinking the frame is influencing most of that. Multifeel should last awhile in your UTs, but so does gut.

 

[taylor15]

You'll love it. Imo, multifeel/poly is one of the best kept hybrid 'secrets' out there in string land--at least for multi/poly options. That said, I just started experimenting with a V7 Blade 18x20 that came with NXT DuraMax 15. That frame with that string is a sublime experience, but I'm thinking the frame is influencing most of that. Multifeel should last awhile in your UTs, but so does gut.

Yeah, I've found that I don't break nearly as many strings in the UT as some other frames. I'm thinking 17g Multifeel with the 1.25 element cross at 50/47 while it's cold and bumping to my regular 52/49 when spring rolls around. I'm getting all 3 UTs string tomorrow with NXT/Element b/c I still have 3 packs of it so using what I have. I think I'll get a pack of element to go along with the multi-feel pack I have and that will be the next string job in two of them. Will report back once that comes around. The weather in GA is so cold I probably won't make it to the courts this week.

 

[Heartbeat]

Can anyone share the difference between NRG2 and multifeel?

 

[graycrait]

Can anyone share the difference between NRG2 and multifeel?

First $$$. Secondly and my opinion only: NRG2 is much livelier than Multifeel? I am experimenting with Multifeel in 98" 16x20 63RA in tensions from 45-55. I am liking it at 55-52, now seeing how low I can go. I wonder if NRG2 would be a good match for rackets in the sub 60RA flex range. The folks I know who like NRG2 are mainly seniors using OS rackets playing doubles twice a week. I don't underestimate them because these fellas have been playing many decades and can do some crazy things at the net.

 

[taylor15]

First $$$. Secondly and my opinion only: NRG2 is much livelier than Multifeel?

I would agree with this statement. NRG2 in my experience has only slightly less power than x1 bi-phase. NRG2 is good in a hybrid for me, but it's very soft and powerful as a full bed. I did use it for a while, and xone after I had shoulder surgery. Super comfortable to play, but I ended up with multifeel as a full bed b/c it was less lively and had much better spin.

 

[jakefromstatefarm]

@Winners or Errors - Curious what you are stringing now, a couple years later. I've been doing Multi-Feel mains with Yonex Policy Tour Air crosses and it feels amazing. Curious what other crosses you may have tried over the past couple years?

 

[Winners or Errors]

@Winners or Errors - Curious what you are stringing now, a couple years later. I've been doing Multi-Feel mains with Yonex Policy Tour Air crosses and it feels amazing. Curious what other crosses you may have tried over the past couple years?

Still using Multi-Feel/Proline X as my main setup, but currently experimenting with Prince Lightning Pro and Klip gut mains. Finding I like both of those setups as well in the right racquets. The Klip is quite crisp feeling, but expensive, so we’ll see if the durability makes it worthwhile. The Prince string is only really winning in my 18x20 Becker London Tours, which are dense and flexible.

 

[Wolfessis]

Finally joining in the experiment since I didn't want to change strings in the middle of a league season. I got a free set of FireWire from T1, so my first will be multifeel mains at 54lbs and firewire crosses at 51lbs in my modded (350g) Yonex SV 95s. Dropped with stringer this am, will likely not play until next week.

Edit: I’m getting one racquet with poly/multi and the other multi/poly. Let’s see how they compare

Did you end up trying a combo with multifeel in the crosses and a poly in the mains? If so, how'd it go?

 

[jakefromstatefarm]

@Wolfessis Many people have said the character of the mains is the more dominant characteristic in a hybrid. I have found the multi in mains to be more comfortable than in crosses, which I value more than the extra spin of placing them in mains.

My string setup listed above (at 51/48 in my Blade 16x19 v7) really feels perfect and has more than sufficient spin for my hard hitting, heavy topspin game. It’s pretty much the softest poly around and feels like the holy grail of setups to me. If I make changes from here, it will be removing the poly and not moving it back to mains.

 

[Wolfessis]

@Wolfessis Many people have said the character of the mains is the more dominant characteristic in a hybrid. I have found the multi in mains to be more comfortable than in crosses, which I value more than the extra spin of placing them in mains.

My string setup listed above (at 51/48 in my Blade 16x19 v7) really feels perfect and has more than sufficient spin for my hard hitting, heavy topspin game. It’s pretty much the softest poly around and feels like the holy grail of setups to me. If I make changes from here, it will be removing the poly and not moving it back to mains.

Yeah fair enough. Sounds like an interesting setup! I like blades, especially in the 18*20 version. I hit heavy topspin also, but open patterns I generally find the launch angle is too high for my form/grips/power. Love 16x20 and 18x19 patterns though!

I plan on trying both ways with cyclone tour, and stringsavers when the multi is in the main so I can keep a rough poly in the crosses without notching prematurely preventing main string movement.

Cyclone tour is an amazingly comfortable poly (even when you accidentally string it too tight like I have before lol)... and I'll be comparing a full bed of it, to cyclone tour with multifeel black in the cross.

 

[taylor15]

Did you end up trying a combo with multifeel in the crosses and a poly in the mains? If so, how'd it go?

I did, and it was a great setup with tons of spin but I didn't stick with it b/c the FireWire ate the multifeel very quickly. I used it for a while with smooth poly crosses and it was nice. I'm using NRG2 mains currently with KBaum Max Power rough crosses, which also doesn't last long but I like the power/spin.

 

[Winners or Errors]

I did, and it was a great setup with tons of spin but I didn't stick with it b/c the FireWire ate the multifeel very quickly. I used it for a while with smooth poly crosses and it was nice. I'm using NRG2 mains currently with KBaum Max Power rough crosses, which also doesn't last long but I like the power/spin.

Yeah, Multifeel crosses just get chewed up for me, while as mains they’re pretty much good until they snap.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I think I'm going to try Prince Topspin mains with Cream poly crosses. I've played full be Topspin and used Cream as a hybrid with gut. But a cheaper option would be a syn gut with a poly.

 

[jakefromstatefarm]

I would suggest trying the @g4driver magical set up of Multi-Feel mains & Yonex Poly Tour Air crosses. It is brilliant. It is significantly more comfortable than my old Cyclone hybrids I used to swear by - and does so with NO concession on spin rates. It is almost too much spin. In my Blade v7 16x19 it is really perfect (at 51/48). I just bought some reels and so string cost will be under $10 per job.

I will admit it doesn't feel quite so perfect on my Pro Staff Six.One v13 100 - but that might also be the lighter swingweight that is throwing off my timing vs Blades.

 

[Winners or Errors]

I would suggest trying the @g4driver magical set up of Multi-Feel mains & Yonex Poly Tour Air crosses. It is brilliant. It is significantly more comfortable than my old Cyclone hybrids I used to swear by - and does so with NO concession on spin rates. It is almost too much spin. In my Blade v7 16x19 it is really perfect (at 51/48). I just bought some reels and so string cost will be under $10 per job.

I will admit it doesn't feel quite so perfect on my Pro Staff Six.One v13 100 - but that might also be the lighter swingweight that is throwing off my timing vs Blades.

I'm with you. No concession on spin rates with Multifeel and a smooth poly. That's what drew me to it. Black for me, though, as I think the natural color is still a little sticky.

 

[eminaise]

What kind of durability are you experiencing? on a blade 104 V8 I tried black MF mails at 52 and black Kirshbaum PLII crosses also at 52 and it lasted only 4.5 hours before the mains snapped.

 

[AKB]

What kind of durability are you experiencing? on a blade 104 V8 I tried black MF mails at 52 and black Kirshbaum PLII crosses also at 52 and it lasted only 4.5 hours before the mains snapped.

Roughly 6-7 hours at snapping, compared to 8-10 for full bed poly before needing to cutout.

 

[AKB]

Anyone still using MF mains and Poly crosses?

Digging it at 47/44 with MF17 and WCSS17, feel is very good. Trying string savers to increase longevity, will report back.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Anyone still using MF mains and Poly crosses?

Digging it at 47/44 with MF17 and WCSS17, feel is very good. Trying string savers to increase longevity, will report back.

Yes. Still my go to string set.

 

[AKB]

Yes. Still my go to string set.

What‘s your setup? Getting 8 hours?

 

[Winners or Errors]

What‘s your setup? Getting 8 hours?

MF 16 black and Proline X 1.25. Yes, I get 8+ hours. I don’t hit the ball with as much vigor as I did 20 years ago though, so I may not be a good comparison.

 

[AKB]

MF 16 black and Proline X 1.25. Yes, I get 8+ hours. I don’t hit the ball with as much vigor as I did 20 years ago though, so I may not be a good comparison.

Thanks, further up you mentioned trying Klip with your smooth poly cross. How did that compare with MF in regards to durability? Any chance you used the same cross on Klip and MF?

 

[Winners or Errors]

Thanks, further up you mentioned trying Klip with your smooth poly cross. How did that compare with MF in regards to durability? Any chance you used the same cross on Klip and MF?

The Klip wore well but had more power than I wanted, so a little change in tension made it less playable. I ended up cutting it out. If I experiment with Klip again, I'll have to string it at least 5 lbs higher than I string the MF.