Multi vs Gut durability?
- Thread starter ACESario
- Start date
I don't mean to argue or dispute others advice regarding gut, only to share my experience as a guy who picked the sport back up 3-4 years ago and decided to purchase my own stringer and learn to string my own racquets.
Listening to many on here, it can make you feel like gut is as fragile as a porcelain doll and not worth the risk considering the price. In my experience (limited, I admit), it's not that fragile. Considering the price, I would recommend treating it carefully, but in truth, I do that with any non-poly string. I try not to kink any of them. Polys are indestructible, it seems.
Back to gut. I waited until I felt more confident/comfortable with my stringing before I tried gut. But, I've strung 3-4 full beds of gut and one hybrid with no issues. I've never waxed or pre-stretched it and it strings up pretty much like anything else.
Anyway, my point is for people who do their own stringing and aren't sure if they want to try gut for fear of messing it up.
Listening to many on here, it can make you feel like gut is as fragile as a porcelain doll and not worth the risk considering the price. In my experience (limited, I admit), it's not that fragile. Considering the price, I would recommend treating it carefully, but in truth, I do that with any non-poly string. I try not to kink any of them. Polys are indestructible, it seems.
Back to gut. I waited until I felt more confident/comfortable with my stringing before I tried gut. But, I've strung 3-4 full beds of gut and one hybrid with no issues. I've never waxed or pre-stretched it and it strings up pretty much like anything else.
Anyway, my point is for people who do their own stringing and aren't sure if they want to try gut for fear of messing it up.
Great post! Could not agree more. I was hesitant to try gut as well but have had no issues except sometimes getting thru a blocked hole is more difficult than other strings.
Good point. But, it isn't terribly unlike a multi in that regard, I would say.
speedysteve
Legend
Ditto!
It keeps it tension so well too and BT7 has no problem in handling the slightly damp conditions we have to play in here on occasions during the winter
I have been using Racquettune every week and the gut beds go down very little - last time it was 0.1lb over a week with some 5 or 6 hours hitting! While the Multi (apart from Mantis Comfort Synth), does not hold so well even when played with less!
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What tension should I string a full bed of Babolat VS 17g gut in my yonex vcore 310?
I've been playing with technical fibre 17 and 18 g strung at 54/56, 55/57. I actually like it better when it breaks in and loses a bit of tension after a few sets. I was going to go lower with it, but My stringer says go higher with gut Because it is more powerful.
any recommendations?
I've been playing with technical fibre 17 and 18 g strung at 54/56, 55/57. I actually like it better when it breaks in and loses a bit of tension after a few sets. I was going to go lower with it, but My stringer says go higher with gut Because it is more powerful.
any recommendations?
speedysteve
Legend
I've found you stringer is prob right!
Full bed is powerful.
Not that I went higher tension to tame my two full gut racquets. I swapped the crosses for the Mantis Comfort synth and that have me similar comfort and control, but less power. It brought those racquets in for me.
If your arm is good (no pain), I'd try one of those poly crosses recommended on the great gut/poly cross thread. But for me the Mantis works just fine and hold tension fine too.
I have 2 sets of gut /poly coming, (pacific 16L x head hawk touch 17) but I want to try a full bed of gut too, hence the babolat VS 17 going in now. I'll probably string up one more with another brand of natural gut to compare, and wait to put the poly gut in another racquet (I have 3 of the same vcore) when my multi breaks. My arm is getting better, and I'll string the poly kind of low.
SO... maybe 55/57 for the full gut? 56/58? Higher?
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
- It could also be due to fraying.
- Maybe that's why I don't like gut in hybrids at 55 LBs, it's not as a soft as in full bed at the same tension.
I just bought the racquettune app for android and used it on each of my 2 rackets...
1) technifibre one biphase 18g -
Measured: 49.5 lbs, stiffness 35.5 N/mm
Strung at 54-56 8 days ago 5 sets played.
2) technifibre one biphase 17g - technifibre one biphase 18g -
Measured: 49.0 lbs, stiffness 35.1 N/mm
Strung at 55-57 2 weeks ago. 3 sets played.
Right now I love the way these multi strings feel... so for gut... ??? Start in the same range and string at 55lbs? Lower? higher?
1) technifibre one biphase 18g -
Measured: 49.5 lbs, stiffness 35.5 N/mm
Strung at 54-56 8 days ago 5 sets played.
2) technifibre one biphase 17g - technifibre one biphase 18g -
Measured: 49.0 lbs, stiffness 35.1 N/mm
Strung at 55-57 2 weeks ago. 3 sets played.
Right now I love the way these multi strings feel... so for gut... ??? Start in the same range and string at 55lbs? Lower? higher?
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
^^^
Depends also on your frame and strokes, but for me, full bed natural gut, 17g, is 57 mains and 55 LBs crosses just to try to prevent some of the strings movement, while still taking advantage of the natural gut elasticity (if I string it tighter it kinda negates its properties, at least for me).
Depends also on your frame and strokes, but for me, full bed natural gut, 17g, is 57 mains and 55 LBs crosses just to try to prevent some of the strings movement, while still taking advantage of the natural gut elasticity (if I string it tighter it kinda negates its properties, at least for me).
I had my stringer put in a bed of the babolat vs team 17g, @ 57mains,55 crosses. I just got it back but have not hit with it yet. I probably wont play with it til I have a chance to get used it it in drill or non-match play.
Interesting that using my "RacquetTune" app, it pings at 43.6lbs (stiffness 31.3N/mm.)
My other racquets ping as follows with the same app:
Technifibre 17g 57/55 -
After 1 set: 49.5. (stiffness 35.5N/mm)
After 4 sets: 49.4, (stiffness 35.4N/mm)
Technifibre 18g 56/54 -
After 8 sets: 49.0. (stiffness 35.14N/mm
After 12 sets: 48.8. (stiffness 35.0N/mm)
NOTE: I am using a spoon for these tests. I've also used a screwdriver handle with the technifibre, and get results a few pounds higher... like 53 instead of 45.5).
Interesting that using my "RacquetTune" app, it pings at 43.6lbs (stiffness 31.3N/mm.)
My other racquets ping as follows with the same app:
Technifibre 17g 57/55 -
After 1 set: 49.5. (stiffness 35.5N/mm)
After 4 sets: 49.4, (stiffness 35.4N/mm)
Technifibre 18g 56/54 -
After 8 sets: 49.0. (stiffness 35.14N/mm
After 12 sets: 48.8. (stiffness 35.0N/mm)
NOTE: I am using a spoon for these tests. I've also used a screwdriver handle with the technifibre, and get results a few pounds higher... like 53 instead of 45.5).
Interestingly...
I think I've found a way to extend the life of my Technifibre Xone biphase strings. I was mostly breaking strings across the top of the strings, so now I run one of those worm dampeners across the top. I have not broken a string since doing this, I even have a dozen sets of play on a set of the 18g. The tension is holing true, not much in the way of peeling/fraying strings.
I like the feel of the dampener across the top (and yes, it is usta legal).
I think I've found a way to extend the life of my Technifibre Xone biphase strings. I was mostly breaking strings across the top of the strings, so now I run one of those worm dampeners across the top. I have not broken a string since doing this, I even have a dozen sets of play on a set of the 18g. The tension is holing true, not much in the way of peeling/fraying strings.
I like the feel of the dampener across the top (and yes, it is usta legal).
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Nice that you are techie
I usually care if the stringer did prestretch the natural gut and knew what he was doing in terms of tension and so forth.
When other stringers didn't prestech my natural gut, the first thing I noticed was a loud bang on each shot.
Nice that you are techie
I usually care if the stringer did prestretch the natural gut and knew what he was doing in terms of tension and so forth.
When other stringers didn't prestech my natural gut, the first thing I noticed was a loud bang on each shot.
Techie is a nice word for it
I posted a short entry on strings to my BLOG and
even started my own spreadsheet for strings..
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZX07MAH1Efq8wl911KFX_BwovU0pOyw4wH6TQ-fnSwA/edit?usp=sharing
My stringer has a lot of experience and did pre-stretch the gut. I'll let you know how that works out as well.
I have a different issue. I have had Wilson natural gut 16 strung at 62 lbs (at 10% pre-stretching set on Yonex Protech stringing machine).
RaquetTune measures its ping at 71 lbs (a few hour after stringing).
What do you guys mean by "breaking accross the top" ?
You mean it pops on cross strings toward the top ?
On the main strings, above the top string. (Top being the top of the head, not the sides and the opposite end from the grip and 'butt' end which is the bottom)
You mean "shearing" ?
Check the image of the very last post of
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=185116
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Exactly, yes.
But I'm not using Poly. I was using a multi. The vibe dampener seems to have fixed this for me, and now that I think about it went down a few pounds too.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
True and in my case it wasn't what you guys call shearing (right at the top), but more to the side, exactly where the stringer had tied a knot.
After that had happened a couple of times, he moved said knot a bit further down (and sidewise), it seems to have helped although now the knot seems to be back in that position (but no more breakage?). I could be wrong about the position, I'll ask him next time I see him again.
Also hitting more on the sweet spot helps avoid this situation:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=2147487&postcount=2
VoodooBoot
Semi-Pro
I get about 30+ hours out of gut/smooth poly hybrids.
I spray the strings with Teflon (I think) after every time I play. I also use string savers: I start with 8 in a cross-cross pattern in the middle on the 4 central mains. As the gut starts to notch, I add more savers at specific places.
I spray the strings with Teflon (I think) after every time I play. I also use string savers: I start with 8 in a cross-cross pattern in the middle on the 4 central mains. As the gut starts to notch, I add more savers at specific places.
VoodooBoot
Semi-Pro
Not much for me, to be honest. At the end of its life--which is when I start using SS--gut has already stretched a bit, so the difference is not really noticeable. Also, I install the SS gradually, rather than all at once.
I will give chapstick a go, cheers for the info!
I ended up not really liking this full bed of Bab 17 vs gut, I couldnt control it and seemed to launch a lot of balls. The tension dropped down to 34 pounds over time, and it didnt last very long (10 sets?) before developing serious grooves in the mains.
I have 3 strung up with Technifibre HDX Tour 17g and really like it. I've gotten 17 sets out of one so far, it looks like it is about to break but is still playing well. I have 11 on another bed and it is still playing great, just starting to peel a bit. The 3rd is still new and I'll be playing with it this week and weekend at our usta match.
I still have a couple of packs of gut/poly (pacific/head hawk touch) that I want to try, but will wait til after usta weekend to put them in.
More info on my spreadsheet, here: LINK
I have 3 strung up with Technifibre HDX Tour 17g and really like it. I've gotten 17 sets out of one so far, it looks like it is about to break but is still playing well. I have 11 on another bed and it is still playing great, just starting to peel a bit. The 3rd is still new and I'll be playing with it this week and weekend at our usta match.
I still have a couple of packs of gut/poly (pacific/head hawk touch) that I want to try, but will wait til after usta weekend to put them in.
More info on my spreadsheet, here: LINK
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Sorry to hear that!
That's one reasone I switched to open pattern frames (16X18, from 18X20) to help prevent the balls from sailing long with full bed natural gut.
Also my racquet is a bit heavier than yours (by about 20g static weight and a bit higher swing weight). Also more headlight, controll oriented.
7zero
Semi-Pro
have you tried WC mosquito bite? In another thread here I was asking about Hawk as cross and I got advise mosquito bite is far better.
