Natural gut mains / N.Vy crosses?
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Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
NVy is so muted in its feel. It may ruin the feel of gut. Not sure I'd want to pay to find out.
Rjtennis got it below. My normal setup is gut/copoly, but I've also tried gut/OGSM and liked the extra pop, especially on serve. But I also missed the extra spin and dwell time you get with a copoly cross, where the copoly cross allows the gut mains to slide and snap back freely. N.Vy has a silicone coating designed to allow copoly mains to slide and snap back. The question is whether it works this way with natural gut mains as well.
Does Hexy Fiber have a hard, slippery surface? I would be concerned the edges of the hex shape would bite into the gut mains and notch/break them prematurely.
Thanks Steve. Yeah, I don't want to burn a pack of gut on this as an experiment unless someone else gives the thumbs up.
mikeler
Moderator
The surface is sharp but since it is a softer string, it might not be an issue.
Does the gut get stuck out of line?
Everything does in the Exos. Hey, where did that thread go?
JT_2eighty
Hall of Fame
I'll be trying this quite soon. It's been on my short list, as I have some Nvy on hand, and I'll probably just do it on one of my sticks where I replace crosses after mounting the racquet. While that may not be the best way to test a new string, it is something I do every so often (replace crosses only on gut mains), so it will be a similar comparison technique to me that will not be adding a new variable to the mix.
Awesome. Look forward to reading your impressions!
JT_2eighty
Hall of Fame
I'm hoping it isn't like the many full syn gut and full gut combos I've tried, which all after less than an hour on court get notched and stuck to each other out of place after every point.
My wager before the test is that the coating on Nvy lasts longer than typical syn guts, but nowhere near as long as a poly cross. It will be interesting to see how it stands up to Isospeed Pro Classic 17; that was the only non-poly cross I've tried to date that doesn't get 'sticky' and/or notched over time, which allowed mains to slide back into position for as long as poly. The issue with Isospeed Pro classic is they are too soft, and the "rail" quality of poly is lost, i.e. the snapback is very slow in comparison to the 'slick snap' you get with poly crosses.
My wager before the test is that the coating on Nvy lasts longer than typical syn guts, but nowhere near as long as a poly cross. It will be interesting to see how it stands up to Isospeed Pro Classic 17; that was the only non-poly cross I've tried to date that doesn't get 'sticky' and/or notched over time, which allowed mains to slide back into position for as long as poly. The issue with Isospeed Pro classic is they are too soft, and the "rail" quality of poly is lost, i.e. the snapback is very slow in comparison to the 'slick snap' you get with poly crosses.
JT_2eighty
Hall of Fame
The great thing about Isospeed Pro Classic crosses is while they do fray, they are coreless ribbon multi, so it's the same material from the first layer to the inner layers that expose as it frays. It ends up fraying heavily over time, but the mains never need re-arranging like any full syn, full gut, or gut/syn hybrid. That's the plus side. It's also low-powered, almost as much as poly. The downsides are lack of spin as compared to poly crosses, and a very muted feel which some people hate too.
Nvy has a core and two coatings, so I'm probably going to run into varied circumstances as the various coatings get worn in and through.
Nvy has a core and two coatings, so I'm probably going to run into varied circumstances as the various coatings get worn in and through.
polytheist
Rookie
I've strung this hybrid about 20 times.
I string this setup for players who want a "value" gut hybrid. Feels like gut, easy on the arm, lasts a super long time, great tension maintenance, and good touch. Feel is somewhat muted but still gut-like.
Spin is the only thing lacking. It's just not a spinny setup.
Use 16 on open and 17 on closed patterns. I like to go +2 on the Nvy crosses due to eventual tension loss. Usually 54gut/56nvy CP. Easy to string also, although Nvy is tough on blocked holes because it's so flimsy on the stringer.
I string this setup for players who want a "value" gut hybrid. Feels like gut, easy on the arm, lasts a super long time, great tension maintenance, and good touch. Feel is somewhat muted but still gut-like.
Spin is the only thing lacking. It's just not a spinny setup.
Use 16 on open and 17 on closed patterns. I like to go +2 on the Nvy crosses due to eventual tension loss. Usually 54gut/56nvy CP. Easy to string also, although Nvy is tough on blocked holes because it's so flimsy on the stringer.
Yeah, I didn't find Pro Classic to offer snapback-spin when used as a cross with gut mains. Gut/Pro Classic is a very comfortable setup though.
Hmm, if spin is lacking it probably does not allow the gut mains to slide and snapback like a copoly cross does, despite its low-friction silicone coating. Polytheist, would you say gut/N.Vy is any better in the spin department as gut/syngut generally? And how is the "string movement" with gut/N.Vy?
mikeler
Moderator
I know this probably belongs in another thread but I'll put it here.
Recently tested B5E/NvY and B5E/Thunder Blast. The NvY is indeed slippery but the mains started moving out of place and getting stuck there fairly quick. The rougher Thunder Blast seemed to lock the mains in place better. There was a noticeable spin increase with the Thunder Blast crosses.
polytheist
Rookie
String movement is almost nonexistent with gut/nvy, that's another bonus.
Nvy's lack of spin lies in its flimsiness, not lack of slickness. A stiffer cross with the same slickness will provide more spin.
Nvy's lack of spin lies in its flimsiness, not lack of slickness. A stiffer cross with the same slickness will provide more spin.
Shangri La
Hall of Fame
Gut/ISO Classic is a very sweet-feeling combo. It plays well until the crosses break and is super comfortable. Only wish it was no so muted especially when worn.
