More durable alternative to Alpha Gut 2000?

[vintagefan]

I'm a chronic string breaker and looking for a soft, arm friendly string like Alpha Gut 2000 with nice "ball cupping" effect but more durable in a similar price range. The Alpha Gut string breakage is just too much for me. I tried everything from 18g to 16g and it's still breaking like crazy. Any suggestion? Thanks.

 

[Rabbit]

Try Wilson Sensation

 

[ArliHawk]

Genesis Thunderblast may also be a good fit.

 

[gvsbdisco]

I'm a chronic string breaker and looking for a soft, arm friendly string like Alpha Gut 2000 with nice "ball cupping" effect but more durable in a similar price range. The Alpha Gut string breakage is just too much for me. I tried everything from 18g to 16g and it's still breaking like crazy. Any suggestion? Thanks.

Prince Premier Control 15 OR 15L

 

[CopolyX]

ton of choices out there....buy and try....if you want more durability..step away for a multi and look at some mono core sync gut (w polyamide or zyex ) strings.

 

[esgee48]

What frame and tension do you use with the Alpha Gut 2000? What is your playing style? Baseliner, all court, spin doctor? What do you consider to be short playing period? Your answers will help guide you towards the string you may be able to use. AG 2000 is pretty cheap for a multi, but it is not a very durable string at all. I know people who break the 16 Ga version in 4-8 hours. They were moved to PSGD 16 Ga successfully. They get ~ 12 hours now.

 

[vintagefan]

What frame and tension do you use with the Alpha Gut 2000? What is your playing style? Baseliner, all court, spin doctor? What do you consider to be short playing period? Your answers will help guide you towards the string you may be able to use. AG 2000 is pretty cheap for a multi, but it is not a very durable string at all. I know people who break the 16 Ga version in 4-8 hours. They were moved to PSGD 16 Ga successfully. They get ~ 12 hours now.

My frame is old school Puma Becker Super (Estusa Power Beam Pro). The strung weight is 13.5oz (with lead). I string it loose at very low tension 20-30lbs. I'm a baseliner with classical strokes.

I rally with my partner for 1 hour, 5x a week. The latest AG 18g breakage happened at the 4-5 hour mark. It just popped at the mains right in the middle of the frame. Maybe I should stick with AG on the crosses and switch to a more durable string for mains?

Thanks!

 

[esgee48]

5 Hours with 18 Ga multi is pretty good. I assume the 16 Ga only last a few hours more?

You are using a 16x19 in a mid size frame (~ 90 in^2). 20-30# is really low tension for this frame. Classical strokes means a fairly flat ball hitter using Continental or Eastern Grips.

Have you considered going to very thin polys (17-18 Ga) at this tension range? The range you're using means you are not getting any of the usual benefits of a fairly soft string. Polys down at your range tend to have the stiffness of natural gut which should be OK if you have arm issues. When you get into the 40's, polys tend to have the stiffness of synthetic guts.

Your other option is move away from multi altogether. 16 Ga SG like PSGD or Gamma w/ Wearguard will last a long time at 20-40#. Their Aramid strip helps prevent the string from breaking too fast. POSG or OGSM or Gamma w/o Wearguard would probably break a few hours earlier. One thing I would not recommend is using the AG 2000 as a cross. Its coating is too soft and the mains will end up shredding the crosses quickly.

I would not recommend Kevlar/ZX for you since you string too low. Your stroking techniques would not benefit from this combo.

 

[vintagefan]

Have you considered going to very thin polys (17-18 Ga) at this tension range? The range you're using means you are not getting any of the usual benefits of a fairly soft string. Polys down at your range tend to have the stiffness of natural gut which should be OK if you have arm issues. When you get into the 40's, polys tend to have the stiffness of synthetic guts.

Which thin poly would you recommend?

 

[JetFlyr]

I'm a big fan of Prince XT 18g (1.18mm). I also play with Volkl Cyclone 19g. Both of these strings I string at 60# full poly in a 95 sq. in. Wilson ProStaff with no arm problems.

 

[junior74]

I'm a chronic string breaker and looking for a soft, arm friendly string like Alpha Gut 2000 with nice "ball cupping" effect but more durable in a similar price range. The Alpha Gut string breakage is just too much for me. I tried everything from 18g to 16g and it's still breaking like crazy. Any suggestion? Thanks.

It's dirt cheap. I am not that big a string breaker, but I go through AG2000 in 3-4 hours.

Wilson NXT Control is better in every departement but comfort. It gives me 7-10 hours, and is the longest lasting multi I´ve tried. Pricey, though.
Head Rip Control is also quite durable, but more muted.

 

[COPEY]

I'm a chronic string breaker and looking for a soft, arm friendly string like Alpha Gut 2000 with nice "ball cupping" effect but more durable in a similar price range. The Alpha Gut string breakage is just too much for me. I tried everything from 18g to 16g and it's still breaking like crazy. Any suggestion? Thanks.

If pocketing is high on your priority list poly isn't what you're looking for. The softest poly I've played with is Poly Star Energy, and it's ridiculously soft, but the pocketing isn't on par with a multi like Alpha Gut. On top of that, Poly Star's tension maintenance is extremly poor. You could experiment with various multis to see if one of them meets your needs (like Sensation, but the options are numerous) or you could also try hybriding AG with a synthetic gut to give you more durability, but still retain some of the characteristics of a full bed of AG.

In the end you likely have to come to terms with some trade-offs. Trying alternatives will hopefully give you most of what you're looking for, but it'll still come at a price (a trade-off) - examples being still having to restring fairly often, using a more expensive string, using a gauge that's lacks the same feel/performance to a degree, etc.

 

[Irvin]

Because you like multis and want more durability I'd suggest Head RIP Control. Alpha Gut 2000 and Head RIP Control are both IMO muted strings and easy on the arm.

EDIT: Head RIP Control costs twice as much but it will last 3-4x as long.

 

[esgee48]

RIP Control is a made from polyolefin ribbons. If OP wishes to go this route, he should start with the 17 Ga.

If OP wants to try a soft poly, Signum Pro polys maintain tension well. Any thin (17-18 Ga) poly that described by TW as having good tension maintenance or prestretched is a candidate. As far a pocketing, not sure what that feels like at 20-30# with a multi like AG 2000. OP should also look at the TWU String database for tension maintenance, string stiffness and power at 41#. If he is very price sensitive, he could look at Pros Pro or Golden Set.

 

[SteveI]

This is not a multi... But Forten Sweet 17G in white is a great string and really has that almost gut like feeling... really impressed and it is really a great deal in reels..

 

[fuzz nation]

This is not a multi... But Forten Sweet 17G in white is a great string and really has that almost gut like feeling... really impressed and it is really a great deal in reels..

Agree - Forten Sweet is a soft enough syn. gut (SG) that it can work as a more affordable substitute for some multifibers. Perhaps worth a try in both 17 ga. and also 16 ga. to see which one offers a better combo of feel, performance, and service life. I often like to use a 17 ga. SG for the feel I get with it, but I'll switch to the thicker 16 ga. if I need a little more durability or firmness - often the case in the summer heat.

In general I've always preferred syn. gut to multifiber for my own racquets. I prefer the somewhat softer layout I get from my flexible racquets paired with strings that aren't too stiff. As long as it's not installed at a terribly high tension, I can always count on syn. gut to deliver moderate softness, solid playability, and rather high bang for my buck compared with multis.

While a multi can typically be counted on to be relatively soft and arm-friendly, I've found that it will usually soften up after a little use. That means that it goes too soft for me before it snaps unless I install it at a higher tension where it's going to be uncomfortable for its first couple of sessions. It's also a relatively expensive string type compared with most syn. guts, which give me better play for more hours before breaking down. Alpha Gut 2000 seems to be a lower price multi that doesn't break down as fast a some others in its price range (like Tecnifibre E-Matrix, at least in my experience).

There are more durable syn. guts including Prince SG w/Duraflex and Gamma SG w/WearGuard, which use a stiffer material for an outer wrap to give that string some extra toughness. These can play a bit too firm and "clunky" for me, but I can count on many other syn. guts to deliver a moderate degree of softness along with decent feel at a great price. Lately I've been buying reels of Kirschbaum's standard (not premium) syn. gut from TW at around $35 per reel and have zero complaints with it.

 

[Knife]

I'm a chronic string breaker and looking for a soft, arm friendly string like Alpha Gut 2000 with nice "ball cupping" effect but more durable in a similar price range. The Alpha Gut string breakage is just too much for me. I tried everything from 18g to 16g and it's still breaking like crazy. Any suggestion? Thanks.

My frame is old school Puma Becker Super (Estusa Power Beam Pro). The strung weight is 13.5oz (with lead). I string it loose at very low tension 20-30lbs. I'm a baseliner with classical strokes.

I rally with my partner for 1 hour, 5x a week. The latest AG 18g breakage happened at the 4-5 hour mark. It just popped at the mains right in the middle of the frame. Maybe I should stick with AG on the crosses and switch to a more durable string for mains?

Thanks!

First of all, I would be very happy for a 18g multi to hold up for 4-5 hrs... Strings like Alpha Gut and Forten Sweet have been around for a long time, there are better/newer multis out now. Not only poly's evolve, multis keep getting better also. Try Head Velocity, you will surely get a couple of playing hours more out of it than with Alpha Gut. Better overall playing characteristics included too, imho the best value multi at the moment.

 

[SteveI]

Play tested the Head Velocity for TW... found it to be a nice string and very crisp. Would not call it super arm friendly and does not cup the ball all that well.

The OP is looking for a string coming closer to gut if I am reading his post correctly. While I enjoy the Head Velocity... Not really what I found.

 

[esgee48]

Plus OP seems to be price sensitive. Posters recommending strings that are 2-3x more expensive don't help him.

 

[SteveI]

Plus OP seems to be price sensitive. Posters recommending strings that are 2-3x more expensive don't help him.

That is why I was thinking some like Forten Sweet... great deal in reels.. Like $2.50 a set

 

[vintagefan]

I'm trying the PSGO 17 (natural) now @ 30lbs. I rallied for an hour yesterday and didn't like it one bit. It felt like a board and I missed some easy put away shots at the net as a result. It just felt "numb" with no touch. Now my hitting arm feels a bit sore most probably from the extra shock from the string that I'm not used to switching from AG 2000.

 

[Frankc]

I'm trying the PSGO 17 (natural) now @ 30lbs. I rallied for an hour yesterday and didn't like it one bit. It felt like a board and I missed some easy put away shots at the net as a result. It just felt "numb" with no touch. Now my hitting arm feels a bit sore most probably from the extra shock from the string that I'm not used to switching from AG 2000.

Similar here - old school flat hitter with an old school flat hitter's dream - PPro at 12.75 oz. Yes, I also really enjoyed the touch and softness of AG 2000. And that "touch" issue is very special - and fleeting with so many of the stiffer, new strings. It is all so personal, but why not stay within the Alpha lineup for a similar feeling? i really enjoy the Alpha multis (again, real value alert here) strung a bit higher than your AG 2000 set up. My need for touch and power in my old school game loves Alpha Prodigy (only $2 or so more than AG 2000) - a soft & vibrant feel (strung low at 42 or so on a drop weight - stretches out a great deal as you set the weight). Has a break in period , then plays softly with great feel for many outings - if and only if you play flat & old school and like a vibrant string bed. Often, with the 18X20, I will restring before it breaks. Great life and great feel and super value. Like the AG2000, try a few different tensions as you want to find the feel, but not have the tightness remove the inherent softness of the Prodigy (or Sphere).Sphere is great too - a little more vague for me. Lastly, even the thicker SGs by Alpha play rather softly for me. The Alpha HC is a"tougher" string, but still plays softish for me and is a ridiculous value. Maybe a hybrid of HC mains and AG multi crosses ($5-7 a string job) might be good at your right tension. Alpha strings as a line share some tendencies...

 

[Ignatz Tushwop]

Maybe try Prince premere control 15?
Sale
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Pri..._660_String_Reel/descpageACPRINCE-PPC15R.html

 

[127 mph]

Keep the same string set up and get some string savers. This will help you get more durability. I use them and they work very well.

Another thing i recommend is getting your own cheap stringer( smartest thing I ever did) lets you try many different things from string types, tensions, hybrids and pays itself off very fast especially if you do a couple of rackets for friends.

If you wanted to try an underated poly get a set of Polyfibre TCS it is about as comfortable as it gets for poly ( but it will lose tension so even if it does not break the play of the string will) i usually cut my polys out before they break, if you have some game you can tell a difference.

Another option is going with gut, although it costs more than any string, the durability is much better than that of multis, not only in breakage of the string but by playing the same till the end. I use savers with my vs gut mains and polyfibre tcs cross string set up.

I will also cut out my crosses and restring them while leaving the gut mains in. I have done this for years and have not have 1 issue in doing so. I find consistant performance from all three of my rackets. I feel as though i can just grab one out of the bag and go.

Hope this helps.

 

[Chotobaka]

I am going to chime in with an oldie but a goodie -- Tecnifibre Multi-Feel 17 (1.25). Price has climbed to $14.95 but it is on sale now for $9.95 with no minimum. This was one of TF's first bundled multi's (like most of their strings and the ones they make for Wilson are now) and it still gets the job done at a decent price. It plays great and you are highly unlikely to have any of the durability problems you are experiencing with Alpha Gut.

 

[Crocodile]

I like Pacific bull gut 1.3 , but I have 4 racquets so I rotate them around and this extends my string life. With natural gut you can't always use it in occasions it starts to rain or the air is damp. I can't stress how important it is to not skimp on high quality strings as it will extend the life expectancy of your elbow, wrist and shoulder and I'd take that any day over spending hundreds of dollars getting treatment on the arm and time away from the game. Time equals money.

 

[TennisCJC]

I am going to chime in with an oldie but a goodie -- Tecnifibre Multi-Feel 17 (1.25). Price has climbed to $14.95 but it is on sale now for $9.95 with no minimum. This was one of TF's first bundled multi's (like most of their strings and the ones they make for Wilson are now) and it still gets the job done at a decent price. It plays great and you are highly unlikely to have any of the durability problems you are experiencing with Alpha Gut.

Yea, TF MultiFeel on sale for $9.95 is a great deal. I prefer TF NRG2 but MultiFeel is my 2nd favorite and a good alternative to Alpha Gut. I have a bunch of MF and NRG2 in my stock of strings right now.

 

[TW Staff]

Wilson Optimus 16 is worth a shot. A little crisper playing for me compared to Alpha Gut 2000, but offers nice control and a good connection to the ball. At only $6.49 I think it's a solid deal.

Cheers,
Chris, TW

 

[rockbox]

Try tier one triumph. I think it is rated the most comfortable synthetic string on the string forum. My wife loves it.

 

[dimkin]

***** alphagut ... now I remember why I switched to Kevlar and Polys ... had ALU Soft Mains / Alphagut Crosses ... broke <2> cross strings on one shot in about 3.5 hours ...

<no mas>