More arm-friendly: all synthetic gut or natural gut / ALU hybrid

[Craig8592505]

I would like to try a natural gut / ALU hybrid but I'm worried that it would be less arm-friendly than my current setup (Babolat Addiction 17 @ 62).

Can anyone speak to the arm-friendliness of using just a soft synthentic gut versus a natural gut / ALU hybrid? And the difference of using the ALU in the mains versus the crosses?

 

[sonicboi21]

of course, nothing beats gut, but using a soft syn gut like og sheep micro if no gut is available. If you use the alu for mains, the string bed with feel like a full alu, just a bit softer with the crosses. vice versa.

 

[Bolivian Ace]

All sysn gut y more arm friendly.

 

[amx13]

I agree with sonicboi21, it all depends on where you want the ALU on your setup. If you use it on your mains, soft synth gut would be more arm-friendly that alu-gut. But if you use gut in your mains/ALU on the crosses, , I would say that would be more confortable that synth gut

 

[NickC]

What kind of frame are you using?

Anyway, I suggest a multi/gut hybrid with string savers. If that hurts your arm, you shouldn't be playing tennis.

 

[hoodjem]

I would like to try a natural gut / ALU hybrid but I'm worried that it would be less arm-friendly than my current setup (Babolat Addiction 17 @ 62).

Can anyone speak to the arm-friendliness of using just a soft synthentic gut versus a natural gut / ALU hybrid? And the difference of using the ALU in the mains versus the crosses?

What racquet and head-size?

(You could string at a slightly lower tension to minimize arm strain.)

 

[hoodjem]

Babolat Addiction 16 (Nylon 1.31) has a stiffness of 198.

17 gauge would probably be around 194-188.

ALU in various incarnations is 226-240.
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power 125 Polyester 1.23 242
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Fluoro 123 Polyester 1.23 226
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 125 Polyester 1.25 240
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Spin 127 Polyester 1.29 235

Nat guts are usually 100-120. So let's hybrid Alu Power Rough 125 at 240 with Babolat VS Touch Thermogut 16 Natural Gut 1.30 at 107.

107 + 240 = 347 ÷ 2 = 173.5.

You should be fine.

 

[Sublime]

So let's hybrid Alu Power Rough 125 at 240 with Babolat VS Touch Thermogut 16 Natural Gut 1.30 at 107.

107 + 240 =347 /2 = 173.5.

You should be fine.

Hmm... never thought about doing an equation like that. I think to be a little bit more accurate you'd want to factor in that the string lengths are different for mains and crosses and that there are more crosses than mains.

Both of which would point to the crosses have more impact on the final stiffness than the mains.

 

[davidahenry]

Anyway, I suggest a multi/gut hybrid with string savers. If that hurts your arm, you shouldn't be playing tennis.

So true. (And kind of humorous)

DH

 

[ClubHoUno]

I break a full nat gut in 12-15 hours, with the use of Babolat Teflon Elastocross string savers.

Natural gut is the reason why I don't have TE any longer - so my advice, if you're NOT a string breaker - go for the full nat gut setup

Regarding your question about ALU....ALU in the mains will be much more harsh on your arm, than ALU in the crosses of course.

 

[hoodjem]

Hmm... never thought about doing an equation like that. I think to be a little bit more accurate you'd want to factor in that the string lengths are different for mains and crosses and that there are more crosses than mains.

Both of which would point to the crosses have more impact on the final stiffness than the mains.

I could try to do that math, but I don't know what pattern is his racquet.

 

[Craig8592505]

Racquet is Head Prestige Pro MP, so 98 sq. in. head size, 16x19 pattern.

 

[hoodjem]

Racquet is Head Prestige Pro MP, so 98 sq. in. head size, 16x19 pattern.

In that case the stiffness quotient would be 189. Still fairly comfortable.

 

[GugaGuga]

Unless there is some reason why you want to use a poly, I would recommend using either all gut or a gut/synth hybrid.

If you put gut in the mains and a synthetic gut in the crosses, you will get 90% of the gut feel and response at a much reduced price. You can use either multi or mono synthetics. The multis are softer, but the mono will hold its tension better (which is sort of the point of using a poly in the cross).

My favorite setup is to string a mono in the cross at 2lbs. higher tension than the mains. It will firm up the stringbed and give great spin. It will also hold tension for a fairly long time.

 

[hoodjem]

My favorite setup is to string a mono in the cross at 2lbs. higher tension than the mains. It will firm up the stringbed and give great spin. It will also hold tension for a fairly long time.

Is full gut too soft?

 

[GugaGuga]

Is full gut too soft?

No, full gut is not too soft at all. In fact, it is sublime. I would use all gut all the time, if I could. The only reason that I tend to cross with a mono is to cut the cost of the stringjob. I've found that when crossing with a multi, the multi loses tension too fast, so I use a mono.

If you've never used all gut, I recommend that you try it. At the very least, it is a fantastic learning experience, and it will give you a reference point for comparing other setups. Its also worth testing all gut at a couple of different tensions.