Multi string for Prokennex Q+20

[dragoncino]

Hi all, I have bought one of this frames, used. It came stringed with Babolat Syn Gut Force 1.30, at tension of about 24/23 kg. Great forehand, great slice backhand, great service, I’m really satisfied.
Now, it is almost time to restring it and I’m selecting a good multi for flat/ low spin game, onehand backend, baseline amateur player.
Here is the list of suggestions that I have collected so far:

• Mantis Comfort Syntethic Natural 1.30 a 25 kg
• Wilson Sensation 1.30 a 25 kg
• Yonex Rexis Speed 1.30 a 25 kg
• Rip control 1.20 a 23 kg
• Intellitour 1.30 a 23/22 kg
• Babolat Syn Gut Force 1.30 at 25 kg

Do you agree/disagree? Any other suggestion? Thx

 

[esgee48]

Why change what ain't broken? I would stay with the Bab SG Force. The other options MAY do what better?

 

[dragoncino]

Basically because some expert here in Italy say that the Bab SG Force is not a good string (see https://www.passionetennis.com/t591...to-per-racchetta-prokennex-ki-q20-285g#976367). Personally I didn't dislike playing with it, but I have played with it only 1/2 hour, who knows if playing with it more time could harm my elbow... after all, it is quite stiff compared to almost all other strings in the list, it is dry, it moves too much for my taste.

 

[Trip]

Going to agree with @esgee48 here. On what grounds does this so-called expert say that SG Force isn't a good string for you? Is he a coach of yours? Someone who has seen you play, and is perhaps convinced you could stand to play with a string that maybe has a bit more of a certain quality? Even so, it's your racquet, and your string setup. You should have the ultimate say, and if you're satisfied with the way your playing, and the string feels good, plays well and seems to last long enough for you, I would say, you're probably as well to stick with it. Perhaps this expert might be under the presumption that a syn gut (and all syn guts) are inferior to higher-end synthetics and most multi's? If so, I would say he might be mistaken, and I'm sure several of our buddies here would agree, especially the likes of one of our resident syn gut experts, @fuzz nation.

Just FYI, Syn Gut Force is a double-wrapped syn-gut, which allows for a bit more additional softness and multi-like properties. Here's a zoom-in of its make-up from Babolat's Canadian website:

​

So in summary, I would say, it's only worth looking for a different string if you can't find SG Force locally, or if you consciously know you'd like to find different qualities in a new string. If that's the case, perhaps you can list what you'd like more/less of, and we could help suggest a replacement string(s), but other than that, I would say, just stick with it.

Hope that helps.

 

[tele]

Basically because some expert here in Italy say that the Bab SG Force is not a good string (see https://www.passionetennis.com/t591...to-per-racchetta-prokennex-ki-q20-285g#976367). Personally I didn't dislike playing with it, but I have played with it only 1/2 hour, who knows if playing with it more time could harm my elbow... after all, it is quite stiff compared to almost all other strings in the list, it is dry, it moves too much for my taste.

what credentials does this poster on the italian message board have that make him/her an expert? or does he/she just claim to be one? I have seen the same poster mentioned as being a guru on another tt thread.

 

[esgee48]

OP ProKennex makes frames designed to protect your arm. They have built in vibration dampening which is the main cause of arm injuries aside from bad technique. Bad technique can be fixed.

There is no reason to use a multi unless your arm is already messed up. If you just want softer, string at lower tension. If you want strings that slide better, plain old Bab SG (not the Force) is softer and slippery. BUT you said you wanted a flatter low spin game. SG is made for that. You’re new to the game? Tell us what else you’re looking for.

The old standard SG back when I was young was Prince Orig SG. Betcha that guy thinks POSG is no good tho it’s been around forever. It’s what I use cuz it’s stiff and I break it within 20 hours. Don’t like polys cuz I can’t break them before cutting them out. Can break 1.25mm polys but they die after 6-8 hours.

 

[dragoncino]

Yep, unfortunately I suffered TE in the past and my arm continuosly warns me to not exceed, that is why I need to use multis.
I have tried lowering the tension on another OS frame (Dunlop CX 200 OS in this case), so I requested to string it with Multifeel 16 at 24 kg two knots: great for the first 2 hours, but soon tension lowered to about 22 kg, making too much difficult to control length of my forehand.
That is why I’m looking for strings that can be stringed at relatively high tension (25 or 26 kg), are good for a flat game, and have a good comfort so multifilament or syn gut.

 

[esgee48]

The Ki20 already is dampened so using a multi is not needed. I would use a 15L SG at lower tension eg 50#. Tell your stringer to prestretch.

 

[dragoncino]

The Ki20 already is dampened so using a multi is not needed. I would use a 15L SG at lower tension eg 50#. Tell your stringer to prestretch.

This is a good point!
But I would prefer in gauge 1.30 to have more comfort and less weight (I do not want to raise the SW, 320 is my maximum and with Bab SG Force I already have 322). Besides, I never break strings. Have you got some suggestion of a light SG in 16 gauge? Thx

 

[Trip]

If you want a relatively light (read: lower-density, softer) syn-gut in 16 gauge that will be very arm-friendly and play well over the long haul, it doesn't get much better than Kirschbaum Syn Gut Natural. Especially for the dirt-cheap price that it is. At least in the USA, you can buy an entire reel off Amazon for ~$30. That's less than $1 per section / $2 per string job. Show me anything else that even comes close to that for the level of performance you get, and I'd be surprised.

 

[dragoncino]

Latest addictions:

• Kircschbaum Syn Gut Natural 1.30 at 25 kg
• Isospeed Professional Classic 1.20 at 26 kg

I know that the Isospeed fits better with normal or smaller heads, but I'm curious to try it because from specs it should be very light, hence lower the swing weight of the racquet. Do you think the tension is correct at 26 kg (57 lbs)? Too high/low? Thanks

 

[veelium]

Latest addictions:

• Kircschbaum Syn Gut Natural 1.30 at 25 kg
• Isospeed Professional Classic 1.20 at 26 kg

I know that the Isospeed fits better with normal or smaller heads, but I'm curious to try it because from specs it should be very light, hence lower the swing weight of the racquet. Do you think the tension is correct at 26 kg (57 lbs)? Too high/low? Thanks

For the isospeed, 26 sounds good compared to your other tensions.

 

[tele]

Latest addictions:

• Kircschbaum Syn Gut Natural 1.30 at 25 kg
• Isospeed Professional Classic 1.20 at 26 kg

I know that the Isospeed fits better with normal or smaller heads, but I'm curious to try it because from specs it should be very light, hence lower the swing weight of the racquet. Do you think the tension is correct at 26 kg (57 lbs)? Too high/low? Thanks

those are two great options. I have used isospeed control classic (same as professional but in a different gauge) in a relatively open pattern and it was fine. 57lbs for the isospeed should be very comfy.

 

[dragoncino]

those are two great options. I have used isospeed control classic (same as professional but in a different gauge) in a relatively open pattern and it was fine. 57lbs for the isospeed should be very comfy.

Tele, if you use the 1.30 gauge with tension 57 lbs, maybe 57 lbs is not enough for 1.25. What about 60 lbs for Professional Classic? Too much?

 

[tele]

Tele, if you use the 1.30 gauge with tension 57 lbs, maybe 57 lbs is not enough for 1.25. What about 60 lbs for Professional Classic? Too much?

i have used professional in a full bed (18x20) at 57 and 60 and did not notice a big difference in comfort.

 

[dragoncino]

And what about control? You tried in a 18x20, mine is a 16x19 OS…

 

[tele]

And what about control? You tried in a 18x20, mine is a 16x19 OS…

i cannot make any guarantees about how you will perceive it, particularly because I have never used it in an OS racquet, but professional is relatively low-powered for a multi

 

[hadoken]

Basically because some expert here in Italy say that the Bab SG Force is not a good string (see https://www.passionetennis.com/t591...to-per-racchetta-prokennex-ki-q20-285g#976367). Personally I didn't dislike playing with it, but I have played with it only 1/2 hour, who knows if playing with it more time could harm my elbow... after all, it is quite stiff compared to almost all other strings in the list, it is dry, it moves too much for my taste.

I don't understand why you need to restring the racquet - you said it played well but only used it for 1/2 hr?

Your expert might be trying to upsell you on a more costly string to make a little more money so I am not convinced you need to change. Most multis and synguts will move around a lot so that will not change. Syn gut is a solid choice for a string...there is a reason it is still readily available at all tennis shops because it 'does the job', decent power, not harsh on the arm and cost effective. Stiffness is relative....a softer string doesn't necessarily play better for everyone. I would not change for the sake of changing