Looking for soft, low powered string

Shaolin

Shaolin

Talk Tennis Guru
Is there such a thing? Or are all softer strings inherently powerful?

Trying to find something soft but low powered to pair with a grippy spin friendly main string.

Thinking of Silk, Sensation, Quasi-gut, Vanquish etc. Lots of choices...want the most feel with the least power.

Thanks for any suggestions
 
Interesting problem you stated. Kevlar and pre-stretched polyesters could be candidates. Kevlar as a cross would hinder spin generation unless it is a low tension and thin gauge, e.g. 40-44#? Would not have to worry about the main destroying the cross. I would look at the string DB and see what pre-stretched polys exists in the upper SG stiffness range. You can recognize pre-stretched poly when their total tension loss % is about 25%.

4G Soft 17, Black Zone 16? could be candidates. Trial away.

If you do not care about cross longevity, you could go with any 15L Ga nylon. Most of the strings you cited may make the mains stick. At least with ordinary nylon, there is no coating to shred.

Now I am rambling. If you intend to use polyester mains with limited life, then it does not matter what poly you put in the cross. Just pick anything round in 17 Ga and string it 4-6# less. If you want a fairly stable DT, then use a pre-stretched poly in the cross.
 
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I don't believe it's been tested so there's no objective measurement of stiffness nor tension loss, but the Grapplesnake Tour Sniper was one of the lowest powered round poly strings I've tried, and it had pretty good tension maintenance and wasn't excessively harsh that I can remember. Might be something to look at if low power is your primary objective.
 
My first thought was also a 15L ga. nylon as suggested by our pal esgee48. Hard to predict what might be "right" in that role, but this string is really cheap and easy to experiment with in different layouts.

The guy that I teach with at a small club in the summer likes to use a hybrid of NXT mains and Luxilon Element crosses. He wouldn't have much control with a full bed of NXT, but the Element is a less-than-rock-hard poly that works well for him as a cross. Another option could be Isospeed Cream - also a poly, but it's earned a reputation for being softer than most.
 
Thanks for the new suggestions guys.

I might try the RIP control and isospeed. I tried Prince premier touch and really liked it. I'll try that with some poly mains I think. Hopefully wont saw thru in 10 min.

As for Monogut zx...Everyone seems to love it but TW describes it as soft & very powerful...definitely dont want extra power. I like to swing hard and generate my own.
 
Shaolin said:
Thanks for the new suggestions guys.

I might try the RIP control and isospeed. I tried Prince premier touch and really liked it. I'll try that with some poly mains I think. Hopefully wont saw thru in 10 min.

As for Monogut zx...Everyone seems to love it but TW describes it as soft & very powerful...definitely dont want extra power. I like to swing hard and generate my own.
Click to expand...

Yup, it is not a low-powered string at all. Not as high-power as a multi, but perhaps similar to NG. Definitely more powerful than any of the soft poly strings I've tried.
 
RIP Control is definitely worth a look. It's a bit polarising, mostly because if you have an open pattern the strings really move around and some people really don't like that.

The other that I'll throw into the hat is Head Velocity. Durability has been pleasantly surprising for multi, and it's quite muted compared to other strings in that class. It also comes in at an extremely attractive price point (certainly in Europe).
 
+1 for Velocity. I had to string it 3 lbs. lower than other multis to get any power out of it. I used it in the mains also, with Red Devil crosses, but the string bed was too soft for me in 70s temperatures. Maybe you would like it that way. As a cross I strung it like I string other multis and I liked the feel a lot. But the power was too way too low.
 
Muppet said:
+1 for Velocity. I had to string it 3 lbs. lower than other multis to get any power out of it. I used it in the mains also, with Red Devil crosses, but the string bed was too soft for me in 70s temperatures. Maybe you would like it that way. As a cross I strung it like I string other multis and I liked the feel a lot. But the power was too way too low.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. Velocity is def on the short list to try out! Have heard a lot of good things about it :)

About RIP Control...I've heard that it breaks easily and is extremely difficult to string...I dont string myself but dont want my stringer to hate me! However I have heard some good things about it too so I'm undecided.
 
Shaolin said:
@Dags
@Muppet

Would you say that Velocity has better feel than a thin poly?
Click to expand...
Different feels. Velocity is softer and pockets more. Some of this pocketing is due to the lower tension. IME, polys have a quick response at impact compared to multis. Velocity and poly in general are both muted. But polys' mutedness comes from their slippery coatings and their stiffness working together. Velocity's mutedness comes from deeper in the string structure, but also from slipperiness.
 
Shaolin said:
Would you say that Velocity has better feel than a thin poly?
Click to expand...
For me certainly. Velocity stretches like anything when stringing it up, which means that it really pockets for me on those touch shots. Some might even find it does so too much. There's a lengthy thread about Velocity that's usually on the front page of this sub forum if you want to read more or ask the experts!

Shaolin said:
About RIP Control...I've heard that it breaks easily and is extremely difficult to string...I dont string myself but dont want my stringer to hate me! However I have heard some good things about it too so I'm undecided.
Click to expand...
RIP Control is textured, which makes it stick a bit when pulling crosses. Other than that, nothing odd about stringing it. I'd happily string it over any poly. It's more durable than most multis too. The main negative is that the strings move about a fair amount, and some people don't like that. I've never been fussed myself - takes me back to my junior days!
 
Dags said:
For me certainly. Velocity stretches like anything when stringing it up, which means that it really pockets for me on those touch shots. Some might even find it does so too much. There's a lengthy thread about Velocity that's usually on the front page of this sub forum if you want to read more or ask the experts!


RIP Control is textured, which makes it stick a bit when pulling crosses. Other than that, nothing odd about stringing it. I'd happily string it over any poly. It's more durable than most multis too. The main negative is that the strings move about a fair amount, and some people don't like that. I've never been fussed myself - takes me back to my junior days!
Click to expand...

Thanks Dags I'll definitely be trying Velocity...probably will still give Rip Control a chance then too.
 
If you plan to futz around with Head strings, add FXP, not FXP Tour to the list.

I drop into the Velocity thread every once in a while to bother BBP. If you decide to trial Velocity, keep the tension on the lower side. It is a very low powered multi. Just use the Natural 16 Ga unless you like something firm. Then go with the 17 Ga. V comes in colors, so if you decide on this string, drop the ref tension between 1-2 # from natural when you switch to a dyed version. Rip Control is sticky. Not sure you will like it when it starts to shred.
 
esgee48 said:
If you plan to futz around with Head strings, add FXP, not FXP Tour to the list.

I drop into the Velocity thread every once in a while to bother BBP. If you decide to trial Velocity, keep the tension on the lower side. It is a very low powered multi. Just use the Natural 16 Ga unless you like something firm. Then go with the 17 Ga. V comes in colors, so if you decide on this string, drop the ref tension between 1-2 # from natural when you switch to a dyed version. Rip Control is sticky. Not sure you will like it when it starts to shred.
Click to expand...

Thanks @esgee48 eat

Appreciate all the good info.
 
My first thought for a soft low powered string was Lux 4g, at least that was my experience. A little too soft for a poly, Imo. But it seems like OP is looking for a multi-esque string. In that case, maybe give Technifibre Multifeel a try.
 
@Shaolin , this is what I would try:
prestretching multis will give you that dead feel for the cross string
than you can up the tension on the crosses (ex. 52/54), from the mains and get a even deader/locked feel
 
Shaolin said:
Is there such a thing? Or are all softer strings inherently powerful?

Trying to find something soft but low powered to pair with a grippy spin friendly main string.

Thinking of Silk, Sensation, Quasi-gut, Vanquish etc. Lots of choices...want the most feel with the least power.

Thanks for any suggestions
Click to expand...

Try Prince Warrior Response. Prince claims it's a hybrid built into one string and that's not far off, both contruction-wise and performance-wise, too. The string is both softer AND not too powerful. This string gets zero press or promotion. It's 100% under the radar, but it's a really unique and quality string. TW has it for $5 a set. Try using Warrior Response as mains with a syn gut in the crosses (I like Tourna Syn Gut Armor) for an even plusher feel that's still relatively low-powered. More expensive alternatives are Luxilon Element, Luxilon 4G Soft, and Babolat Addiction.
 
Yeah Prince Premier Touch is quite high powered and not very. control. I quite like it as mains with PPC, the latter being the opposite.
I use a hybrid of them for wet weather hits where gut is out.
 
I have used Dunlop Black Widow for a long time. It seems to meet what you may be looking for. In addition to being low powered and soft, it is shaped for ball bite and provides tons of spin.
 
Velocity is bomb. I find rip control kinda mushy, so it's easy to "lose" the ball on the string bed. I'd also rather string Tourbite than ripC because of the texture, pulling its through the crosses makes a horrible noise.

Element could also be interesting, but may not be soft enough
 
Thanks for the latest recommendations guys. Really appreciate it.

Velocity is def going to be among the first I try. Hoping a shaped poly main like Tour Bite or Cyclone doesn't eat through it too fast.
 
bigserving said:
I have used Dunlop Black Widow for a long time. It seems to meet what you may be looking for. In addition to being low powered and soft, it is shaped for ball bite and provides tons of spin.
Click to expand...

black widow is among the softest but most powerful polys no?
Since OP is looking for a good low powered cross string, I would suggest a round poly such as yonex poly tour pro or signum pro poly plasma. Round smooth poly is best for cross string cuz it promotes the snapback action of the mains. I’ve tried head velocity in crosses and it didnt work well for me. The shaped poly mains shred thru the velocity coating quite quickly and then it becomes difficult for mains to slide across those strings in crosses. YPTP/SPPP are also among the softest but most low powered polys out there and maintain tension/playability duration at a fantastic price point. I use SPPP 18g crosses on ALL my racquets no matter the setup because it’s value cant be beat.


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