Multi cross instead of syn gut

[Muppet]

I use a Hexy Fiber multi for my crosses with polyester mains. I tension the multi 5 lbs. higher than the poly. I figure I get more comfort this way, but I'm wondering if I'm missing out on some feel? Or is the reason to use syn gut crosses to come close to the performance of a poly full bed, with more comfort? Or both? I haven't tried syn gut crosses yet. Could someone tell me how there are and give me +/-?

 

[Lukhas]

Hexy Fiber is much closer to a s-gut than a multi. It's basically a multi core with mono wraps. A "regular" s-gut is more often a mono core with mono wraps. So at first I didn't understood your question, since well, Hexy Fiber is closer to s-gut than any multi out there. Exception made of Hex Multi which is basically the same stuff but cheaper: hexagonal, multi core with mono wraps, muted, not very powerful, not very good tension maintenance, ect.

I always string my crosses less tight than my mains. That way the strings don't move as much and snap much easier back in place. I found that Hex Multi has a bad tendency to be all over the place, so I strung the crosses even less tight. So unless you're willing to use a "true" multi or a "true" s-gut, well your question is already answered since you're already using what is close to a s-gut.

 

[Muppet]

When I used to use the original Multifeel, they moved around a lot. I strung them 3 lbs. above the poly mains though. That was more like a true multi, but with a 20% central mono core. It was soft like a true multi. But then so is Hexy Fiber. What works for other people? Can anyone compare Gosen Micro or another syn gut to using multi in the crosses?

 

[MikeHitsHard93]

I just strung up hurricane tour mains with xcel crosses, and I'll let you know how that compares with something like a rpm/nvy setup.

 

[Lukhas]

^I loved PHT with XCel cross. But XCel is such a fragile string. Didn't break it, but yet... Well anyway, it will avoid people to stay with no longer fresh co-poly mains for months.

 

[Muppet]

I just strung up hurricane tour mains with xcel crosses, and I'll let you know how that compares with something like a rpm/nvy setup.

Nvy as opposed to hexy fiber? They're both very flexible, and sets are almost the same price. Hexy loses tension pretty fast. How is nvy in that regard?

 

[MikeHitsHard93]

Nvy as opposed to hexy fiber? They're both very flexible, and sets are almost the same price. Hexy loses tension pretty fast. How is nvy in that regard?

Nvy is probably the best cross I've ever used. Didn't get to use the string setup I strung up tonight. Nvy has VERY good tension maintenance an has a slick outer coating. It's firm, but not stiff like psgd.

 

[Muppet]

Nvy is probably the best cross I've ever used. Didn't get to use the string setup I strung up tonight. Nvy has VERY good tension maintenance an has a slick outer coating. It's firm, but not stiff like psgd.

Thanks for the info Mike. I'm gonna try pre-stretching Hexy first and reducing the tension by 1 lb. If that doesn't work well I'll consider the nvy. I'm convinced that the shape of Hexy is helping my setup spin better, even though the ridges lie across the stingbed.

 

[Lukhas]

Thanks for the info Mike. I'm gonna try pre-stretching Hexy first and reducing the tension by 1 lb. If that doesn't work well I'll consider the nvy. I'm convinced that the shape of Hexy is helping my setup spin better, even though the ridges lie across the stingbed.

Won't change anything. 1lb is a miserably low change. Try to string at "even" tension for example, that would be a relevant change in your setup.

 

[JackB1]

A multi cross won't last as long as a syngut cross, so most people don't want to waste a more expensive multi as a cross when a cheap syngut like Nvy will serve as well. If you use cheaper multi's like Hexy Fiber or Gamma TNT, they are like synguts anyway. Premium multi's like Xcel, Xone or NXT Tour are too expensive to waste as a cross, unless you get some decent longevity out of them.

I have found Nvy to be the best all around cross for poly mains.

 

[fgs]

my syngut crosses experience is rather limited but basically comes down so far to the fact that i'm missing out quite a lot of touch to the stringbed. all the synguts i have played have held up pretty well in terms of durability but have constantly lost tension, so that around the 4-5 hours mark i started getting into some control issues, even with the rather expensive mantis power synthetic. i have not yet played the babolat nvy, but i'm planning to do so towards the end of the year. i'm currently testing out synguts but from the current experience i would rather stay with my trusted mcs (giving me a lot more touch and interestingly a more consistent stringbed in terms of spin), although i have to mention that i'm breaking crosses in around 2,5 hitting hours, but since the poly mains are not (with very few exceptions) heavily notched, i do restring crosses once and the hitting experience is very o.k., as the poly will not have lost too much tension after stabilization. i usually break the mains of the recrossed stringbed.

 

[Muppet]

Won't change anything. 1lb is a miserably low change. Try to string at "even" tension for example, that would be a relevant change in your setup.

I'd only be going down a pound to try to maintain the same stringbed stiffness and to decrease inter-string friction, and to balance out pre-stretching the crosses. I'm not trying to adjust power level. Do you think I shouldn't decrease by a pound, or fine tune while I have the racquet on the stringer?

 

[Lukhas]

I'd only be going down a pound to try to maintain the same stringbed stiffness and to decrease inter-string friction, and to balance out pre-stretching the crosses. I'm not trying to adjust power level. Do you think I shouldn't decrease by a pound, or fine tune while I have the racquet on the stringer?

I think that if you're just lowering or increasing one pound, it's not worth it. You'd have to be a robot to detect the change, and even then I'm not even sure a machine would find it consistently. If you're just modifying one pound in tension it's simply not worth it, there's little to no difference.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Hexy is definitely a multi. Those "cores" you mention are not solid, and when the outer wrap goes it frays just like any other multi.

That said, I used it as a cross for about a year, and it's got a dead feel I just had to walk away from. I'd use a livelier multi.

 

[Lukhas]

^I have it in a full job. It just behaves like a lot of s-guts out there. Moves a lot, and once the tension dropped too much it breaks. When it isn't fresh anymore it really isn't as nice. Didn't get it to fray though. Good stuff, but not good enough for me, a bit too muted. If I were searching for a solid and durable cross, I'd use Premier Attack.

 

[Muppet]

I didn't like Hexy Fiber in a full bed either. The main strings chewed up the crosses too much and straightening them was very difficult. But with a smooth poly main, I find that the poly slides nicely on the Hexy crosses and the setup is much more durable. And I like that dead feeling. It's a good match to the Cyber Flash.

 

[MikeHitsHard93]

Muppet, if you have the money and time you should try out the babolat prepackaged hybrid set of PHT 16 and xcel 16. It plays very well. It plays a bit lively though, depending on tension. Doesn't sacrifice control.

 

[Muppet]

Liveliness is not my friend. I use fairly heavy and low powered racquets, but my wrist releases during ball strike. This gives me a lot of free power. I think when I come to my next string job and I pre-stretch the Hexy Fiber (and decrease a pound), my setup will work out fine.

 

[Lukhas]

^I tried to pre-stretch it. Makes it die quicker unfortunately. It's however playable out of the stringer, but you can sense the s-gut heritage of the string on that part: it doesn't like pre-stretching at all. Tension drops quicker, the string is more fragile, and when tensions drops too much, it breaks. If you pre-strech a string, you can drop further the tension though. I used the pre-stretched full bed about 1.5kgs/3lbs lower than the non pre-stretched one, for similar results. TBH, it didn't solved my control issues, 3lbs being a miserably low change. However, I felt the pre-stretched one felt a bit better, but it lasts so much shorter it wasn't worth it.

 

[Muppet]

Thanks Lukhas. On your advice, I'll keep the setup the same. I like the current liveliness that I'm getting from the Hexy Fiber.