MSV Co-Focus Hybrid?

[Shaun]

I'm going to experiment with gut/poly soon and my preferred strings for crosses are luxilon alu power rough. Every time I research for an alternative for my crosses, MSV co focus comes up so much. What is the real reason, other than subjective, that people like msv co focus for crosses with gut so much? I like luxilon alu power rough for crosses because it really bites into the ball enhancing spin generation.

My question is: If I prefer alu power rough for crosses, and would like a similar string, then will msv co focus satisfy my expectations for gut poly hybrid? Or is there any other poly like alu power rough that I can use which is cheaper and would play similarly to how it played in gut/poly hybrid? I'm sure someone out there also should have experimented this before.

 

[McLovin]

What I get w/ Co. Focus is slightly more power, and slightly more spin, than ALU Rough. Whether that translates into a better feeling setup for you, well, only you will know.

I've tried many different poly crosses to gut (ALU, ALU Rough, 4G, ALU 'Ice', Black Code, SPPP, Mosquito Bite, Lux Fluoro, and Concept Pure, to name a few), and I keep coming back to Co. Focus.

And to be clear, I prefer the 1.23mm version. I tried the 1.18 version and just didn't like it. Others here swear by the 1.18. In the end, you just have to give it a try and see for yourself.

 

[TimothyO]

What I get w/ Co. Focus is slightly more power, and slightly more spin, than ALU Rough. Whether that translates into a better feeling setup for you, well, only you will know.

I've tried many different poly crosses to gut (ALU, ALU Rough, 4G, ALU 'Ice', Black Code, SPPP, Mosquito Bite, Lux Fluoro, and Concept Pure, to name a few), and I keep coming back to Co. Focus.

And to be clear, I prefer the 1.23mm version. I tried the 1.18 version and just didn't like it. Others here swear by the 1.18. In the end, you just have to give it a try and see for yourself.

My experience is very similar to McLovin's. Only difference is that I moved from CoFocus to Focus Hex because I found that FH dents and ripples less over time. This extends its outstanding spin potential with gut mains. CoFocus provides better spin initially but will dent over time. They're both outstanding strings.

Another great option with gut mains if 4G. It holds tension as well as gut and provides laser like precision. It also provides really nice pop and feel on volley, more than the MSV products. Only down side is that it doesn't provide as much spin potential as a cross compared to MSV products.

Depending on string pattern and head size you'll want the gut mains in the mid 50s and the poly crosses in the high 40s to low 50s. If an extreme head/pattern combo such as the PSLGT you'll want a thinner poly cross and can go to the low 50s with the gut mains.

 

[McLovin]

Depending on string pattern and head size you'll want the gut mains in the mid 50s and the poly crosses in the high 40s to low 50s. If an extreme head/pattern combo such as the PSLGT you'll want a thinner poly cross and can go to the low 50s with the gut mains.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I've found. I'm using a 98 sq in, 16x20 pattern, and I've settled in @ 54lb gut mains, 52lb Co. Focus crosses.

 

[Maui19]

I don't get the CoFocus love either. I've tried it several times, but frankly find there are half a dozen better options for me.

I echo TimO's assessment of 4G. It doesn't offer enough spin and pop for me, but it does maintain tension really well. If you already hit with power, it is a good option.

 

[lcalamar]

Lots of love for the CoFocus here also.

I've tried several other gut hybrid combos - but the gut/cofocus just works for me.

Try it - if you don't like it don't question why others do... this is subjective afterall.

 

[GlenK]

Co-Focus for me as well. I'm even specific about the color. I like the 1.18mm Aqua blue (light blue). Sizing may be a difference too.

I tried the 1.23 and didn't like it but when moving down to 1.18 it was a perfect fit for my racquet, with nat gut, and my game..

 

[pennc94]

Co-Focus for me as well. I'm even specific about the color. I like the 1.18mm Aqua blue (light blue). Sizing may be a difference too.

I tried the 1.23 and didn't like it but when moving down to 1.18 it was a perfect fit for my racquet, with nat gut, and my game..

What other colors did you try and how did they differ?
How does it comport with thie finding on this page:
http://msvstrings.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/influence-of-color-on-performance/#comments

 

[GlenK]

I only tried the dark blue and it felt a bit stiffer. Once that happened I didn't want to buy anything but the aqua blue.

 

[Conrads]

what tension would you guys suggest for wilson k 6.1 95 18x20...pac classic gut 16L and co focus 1.18?

low 5.0 player, eastern FH and OHBH, flattish strokes with occasional spin, play both singles and doubles

I was thinking mid 50s for gut and 50/51 for the poly but John at G@G said the stringbed may be stiff at that tension? I usually play 17g polys at 50-52 ish full bed

maybe 52 for gut and 48 for poly?

 

[nytennis-74]

I use gut mains and either co-focus or mosquito bite crosses. I believe the reason is that spin is produced by mains sliding on the crosses and you want to use a round smooth poly to best achieve that (it makes sense that the gut will slide more on a round smooth cross than on a rough/shaped one). The consensus is that co-focus and mosquito bite are best at achieving that objective (they are thin aside from being round and smooth which is also a positive).

 

[Smasher08]

what tension would you guys suggest for wilson k 6.1 95 18x20...pac classic gut 16L and co focus 1.18?

low 5.0 player, eastern FH and OHBH, flattish strokes with occasional spin, play both singles and doubles

I was thinking mid 50s for gut and 50/51 for the poly but John at G@G said the stringbed may be stiff at that tension? I usually play 17g polys at 50-52 ish full bed

maybe 52 for gut and 48 for poly?

I'd suggest starting at the bottom of your racket's recommended tension range. I find that the trick with gut-poly is to figure out what's too loose rather than too tight -- the reason being that with this particular type of hybrid, the looser your strings the spinnier they are.

Also, the looser your crosses, the more the mains will deflect and snap back, so people tend to find that a 3-5 lbs difference works best. Personally, I use a 4 lbs differential.

Good luck!

 

[Smasher08]

I'm going to experiment with gut/poly soon and my preferred strings for crosses are luxilon alu power rough. Every time I research for an alternative for my crosses, MSV co focus comes up so much. What is the real reason, other than subjective, that people like msv co focus for crosses with gut so much? I like luxilon alu power rough for crosses because it really bites into the ball enhancing spin generation.

My question is: If I prefer alu power rough for crosses, and would like a similar string, then will msv co focus satisfy my expectations for gut poly hybrid? Or is there any other poly like alu power rough that I can use which is cheaper and would play similarly to how it played in gut/poly hybrid? I'm sure someone out there also should have experimented this before.

CoF is probably the most elastic smooth round poly out there. Textured poly crosses tend to saw through your mains faster, so CoF tends to give you a very long-lasting spinny setup. In my MGPMs I tend to get 40-60 hrs per setup.

Tourna BHSR or BHBR is a low-cost knock-off of Lux ALUPR, which will probably perform very similarly. You'll probably get a bit more spin, but the trade-off will be its longevity/durability. MSV Heptatwist, a textured string made from the same materials as CoF and Focus Hex, will probably give you your spinniest setup possible, but again, depending on how much spin you hit with, it may only last 10-15 hrs.

With textured crosses, your mileage will vary depending on how flat and hard you hit. A 3.5 with very flat strokes may very well get 50 hrs + out of a gut-poly brid with Hepta or BHSR crosses, while a 5.0 will probably get 10-12.

 

[Conrads]

I'd suggest starting at the bottom of your racket's recommended tension range. I find that the trick with gut-poly is to figure out what's too loose rather than too tight -- the reason being that with this particular type of hybrid, the looser your strings the spinnier they are.

Also, the looser your crosses, the more the mains will deflect and snap back, so people tend to find that a 3-5 lbs difference works best. Personally, I use a 4 lbs differential.

Good luck!

thanks! really looking for more spin on my serves with this setup as the 18x20 sometimes is hard to get decent spin especially 2nd serves but don't want to overall setup too powerful since the 6.1 95 is a pretty powerful racquet.

 

[Smasher08]

thanks! really looking for more spin on my serves with this setup as the 18x20 sometimes is hard to get decent spin especially 2nd serves but don't want to overall setup too powerful since the 6.1 95 is a pretty powerful racquet.

NP! You should definitely get more spin than with any multi or syngut, but just remember that your technique will make the biggest difference!

 

[chetrbox]

Ever since I switched to 15G gut for the mains (babolat vs touch), i've had my 1.18 co-focus crosses break before the mains multiple times. My co-focus reel is almost over, and I was wondering if I should switch to the 1.27 co-focus or try a different smooth poly cross at the 1.18 until I find one that lasts longer than the gut mains. Does anyone have any suggestions? Did any of you switch from the co-focus to a different low CoF cross and find them better?