Natural Gut Review: First Hit

[meowmix]

With all the hype on this board about natural gut, I decided to try it for myself. Through a string trade, I received 1/2 set of Wilson Natural Gut, and 1 set of Global Natural Gut. I usually use either a poly hybrid or full synthetic gut in my sticks (at tensions ranging from 52-55 lbs). Strung up the Wilson Natural Gut in a hybird- Nat Gut 16 mains at 56, E-Force Fluid 18 crosses at 58 (I enjoy this cross string in a hybrid very much).

I have yet to play a competitive set with these strings yet, but I've played some doubles in gym (read: played a bad team, and just had some fun) for about 45 minutes, and have hit with the stuff against a wall for about 45 minutes.

I am NOT impressed by this stuff, at all. At first, it played very crisp, almost as crisp as my synthetic gut beds, but now, 4 days after stringing, it plays VERY soft, mushy almost. Power is there in abundance, as the reviews have said, and it's a little more overwhelming than I thought it would be. My biggest complaint is the lack of any stiffness whatsoever: this stuff is TOO loose! I like a cushy stringbed as much as the next person, but this feels TOO mushy! Also, the supposed "feel" that people always rave about when playing with natural gut, I'm not getting it. I just get this really soft, mushy feel when the string impacts the stringbed, and then I have no idea where the ball is going. And as for spin... it's really weird. It seems that I'm not generating as much topspin as I was before, except on some really random shots, in which case there's more topspin than I've ever hit before.

All in all, so far, I'm not impressed. I haven't played a competitive match with this stuff yet, so maybe this stuff will impress me then. I really do hope so, considering that this stuff costs 25 bucks a stringbed- 4-8 times the cost of my usual beds.

 

[86golf]

natty gut=springboard

I posted a similar thread today as well. One detail I left out is that I use MP racquets- Prince O3 tour, Pro Kennex Ionic 5 and a Head Prestige. It could be that natty gut is better for mid sized racquets or those that like the jumpy string bed. I like soft strings, but I like a more dead string bed so when I go for broke I have some chance that the ball will land in.

I play with a bunch of guys that just block serves back, get to the net and stay there. I think natural gut would be good for them.

 

[VGP]

A lot of us, me included, grew up on plastic.

Natural gut is quite a change from what we're used to using.

Judging by your sig, you put it in your Gamma Ipex 7.0 which seems to be a power oriented frame (albeit a low static weight).

One thing to get used to is feeling the ball cup in the sweetspot. It's way different than the ball pancaking on a stiffer plasticy stringbed.

You might find in time that you can get more ball action off your frame with less effort. It just takes an adjustment period.

But, if in the end you don't like it, there's nothing wrong with that. Then natural gut's not your cup of tea. There no rule saying you have to use it. Even if other people swear by it.

I like it on my 16x18 or 16x19 mids or a nice 18x20 midplus......

A full job is too springy for me, so I go to a 16 gauge natural gut main/PSGO 16 cross hybrid at 66 pounds reference tension. I get nice action, but enough of the plastic feel to stay in my comfort zone.

 

[KenC]

Sounds like you would be better off with something like Tecnifibre X-One. It plays like a stiff string but is soft enough to be easy on the arm. The reason I like X-One so much is it is the only multi that gives me excellent control with a good amount of power. There is nothing else like it.

 

[scotus]

For many, natural gut is an "acquired taste".

I absolutely hated my first set of natural gut. But now I am addicted.

 

[JavierLW]

With all the hype on this board about natural gut, I decided to try it for myself. Through a string trade, I received 1/2 set of Wilson Natural Gut, and 1 set of Global Natural Gut. I usually use either a poly hybrid or full synthetic gut in my sticks (at tensions ranging from 52-55 lbs). Strung up the Wilson Natural Gut in a hybird- Nat Gut 16 mains at 56, E-Force Fluid 18 crosses at 58 (I enjoy this cross string in a hybrid very much).

I have yet to play a competitive set with these strings yet, but I've played some doubles in gym (read: played a bad team, and just had some fun) for about 45 minutes, and have hit with the stuff against a wall for about 45 minutes.

I am NOT impressed by this stuff, at all. At first, it played very crisp, almost as crisp as my synthetic gut beds, but now, 4 days after stringing, it plays VERY soft, mushy almost. Power is there in abundance, as the reviews have said, and it's a little more overwhelming than I thought it would be. My biggest complaint is the lack of any stiffness whatsoever: this stuff is TOO loose! I like a cushy stringbed as much as the next person, but this feels TOO mushy! Also, the supposed "feel" that people always rave about when playing with natural gut, I'm not getting it. I just get this really soft, mushy feel when the string impacts the stringbed, and then I have no idea where the ball is going. And as for spin... it's really weird. It seems that I'm not generating as much topspin as I was before, except on some really random shots, in which case there's more topspin than I've ever hit before.

All in all, so far, I'm not impressed. I haven't played a competitive match with this stuff yet, so maybe this stuff will impress me then. I really do hope so, considering that this stuff costs 25 bucks a stringbed- 4-8 times the cost of my usual beds.

My comments would be:

1) 56lbs might be sort of low for that string in the mains. Depending on what you are used to with your normal string. I usually like a multi at around 57/58, and I would string Wilson NG at about 60 and I enjoyed it.

2) I think when people talk about the "feel" of natural gut, they are really talking about the feedback you get. If you can control your swingspeed, it's very easy to hit an accurate shot because unlike synthetics, shots are more consistant with how they fly off your racquet. This is because the resiliency is a lot better. It's also attributed to being able to hit touch shots easily.

But some people attribute "feel" to hearing noise when they hit the ball, especially if they are into very stiff strings. They love hearing that big "THUNK" when they try to rip the ball, and when they go to Natural Gut there is none of that. It's quite and muted and they claim it's "mushy".

To be honest if I stop using Natural Gut for any long period of time it does take me a few days to get used to that. But then after that it's fine. If I had to judge Wilson Natural Gut from my first time ever using it I would probably say right away I hated it as well.

3) As far as spin, you can get some more spin because the ball is getting cupped more by the strings. But I think you are right it's a somewhat different effect then when you have stiffer strings.

Ive also noticed that when for whatever reason the tension gets too loose, the ball seems to hang on the strings for longer then desired so you get some really squirrelly shots. Which is another reason I wouldnt want to string it too low.

Cranking it up around 60 at least will give it some firmness even if it doesnt feel like it after the initial break in.

You could also fill it with string savers, that adds some tension as well. I had a full bed of it and I used to put 100 string savers in it (in a square around the middle of the sweet spot) and I used to really like how that felt.

I dont know if sticking it at 56 with a power orientated racquet, with another string that sounds to be power orientated (but probably not as much as gut) is really a good test.

 

[tennisdad65]

I string natural gut from 40-50 on a 90s sq inch low powered flexible frame (ra = 50).

To the OP: If you do not want to cut out the gut, try putting in gamma string savers. They effectively stiffen up the string bed. I do this all the time. If I find the gut is too powerful at the lower tensions, I will put in String savers.

Not all string savers stiffen up the string bed equally. The string savers with holes in the center (eagnas) allow the mains and crosses to contact and do not stiffen up the string bed. They only prevent string movement.

The string savers which have perpendicular grooves (gamma) separate the mains and crosses by ~ 1mm and significantly stiffen the string bed depending on how much you use.

 

[Hotrocks]

With all the hype on this board about natural gut, I decided to try it for myself. Through a string trade, I received 1/2 set of Wilson Natural Gut, and 1 set of Global Natural Gut. I usually use either a poly hybrid or full synthetic gut in my sticks (at tensions ranging from 52-55 lbs). Strung up the Wilson Natural Gut in a hybird- Nat Gut 16 mains at 56, E-Force Fluid 18 crosses at 58 (I enjoy this cross string in a hybrid very much).

I have yet to play a competitive set with these strings yet, but I've played some doubles in gym (read: played a bad team, and just had some fun) for about 45 minutes, and have hit with the stuff against a wall for about 45 minutes.

I am NOT impressed by this stuff, at all. At first, it played very crisp, almost as crisp as my synthetic gut beds, but now, 4 days after stringing, it plays VERY soft, mushy almost. Power is there in abundance, as the reviews have said, and it's a little more overwhelming than I thought it would be. My biggest complaint is the lack of any stiffness whatsoever: this stuff is TOO loose! I like a cushy stringbed as much as the next person, but this feels TOO mushy! Also, the supposed "feel" that people always rave about when playing with natural gut, I'm not getting it. I just get this really soft, mushy feel when the string impacts the stringbed, and then I have no idea where the ball is going. And as for spin... it's really weird. It seems that I'm not generating as much topspin as I was before, except on some really random shots, in which case there's more topspin than I've ever hit before.

All in all, so far, I'm not impressed. I haven't played a competitive match with this stuff yet, so maybe this stuff will impress me then. I really do hope so, considering that this stuff costs 25 bucks a stringbed- 4-8 times the cost of my usual beds.

Try gut in the crosses....much better feel! But everyone has there own likes & dislikes.

 

[jim e]

Most of my clients have their nat. gut strung 2-8 lbs. higher than their normal string.depended on the type of string they were once using, and size of racquet.Personally my OS racquets are strung at 64 lbs. and my MP strung at 61 lbs. Even back in the wooden racquet days I strung my racquets with nat. gut at 61 lbs. and that was a very small size racquet.If I put in 56 lbs, I don't think I would care for it either.If you are going to try gut again, I would up the tension a little more.

 

[drummerdan]

I love my gut! I string mine up at 60# (mains) and I use Wilson Sensation on the crosses (same tension). It feels very nice, excellent spin but it is different from most any other type of string. Yeah, it's somewhat of an aquired taste. But once it's set, it feels basically the same until it breaks. I can get many, many hours out of this setup and as long as I can pay for it, gut's my string.

BTW, I am using Babolat Tonic+ 16 gauge.

 

[Keifers]

A lot of us, me included, grew up on plastic.

Natural gut is quite a change from what we're used to using.

Judging by your sig, you put it in your Gamma Ipex 7.0 which seems to be a power oriented frame (albeit a low static weight).

One thing to get used to is feeling the ball cup in the sweetspot. It's way different than the ball pancaking on a stiffer plasticy stringbed.

You might find in time that you can get more ball action off your frame with less effort. It just takes an adjustment period.

But, if in the end you don't like it, there's nothing wrong with that. Then natural gut's not your cup of tea. There no rule saying you have to use it. Even if other people swear by it.

I like it on my 16x18 or 16x19 mids or a nice 18x20 midplus......

A full job is too springy for me, so I go to a 16 gauge natural gut main/PSGO 16 cross hybrid at 66 pounds reference tension. I get nice action, but enough of the plastic feel to stay in my comfort zone.

Yes, very well said. The whole post, and especially the bolded sentences.

Nat gut is unique in how elastic it is (how much it deforms on impact) and how resilient it is (how quickly it recovers). So the string bed pockets the ball (increasing dwell time) and recovers quickly (sending the ball back with pace). A poly string bed is just about the opposite -- very little deformation and not a lot of pop.

So the two string beds are going to put action on the ball quite differently. And people who are used to poly will find gut way soft and mushy.

I haven't strung any racquets with full gut for many years -- it feels too different from the multis and monos I use. For me, hybrids of gut mains and a firm-feeling monofilament in the crosses is the ideal way to go. Even then, when I switch between a gut hybrid and a multi/mono, it takes a small adjustment to get my strokes grooved optimally again. Switching between a gut hybrid and a poly/multi hybrid takes more adjustment.

As VGP said, if you stick with gut, you may find that you get more power and control with less effort. I'm not familiar with your Ipex 7.0, but you probably should string gut tighter than 56. (I string my gut hybrids at 60 in MPs and 64-65 in OS sticks.)

 

[meowmix]

I went and played a couple sets with a friend today. I had one stick strung up with the Natural Gut hybrid, and the other strung up with a full bed of MSV Hex 1.18 (strung up last night).

The natural gut played, surprisingly, alright. Way too powerful, but it felt very nice, especially at net. The posters above, I agree. I'm going to try my next hybrid at around 63 lbs. It was very fun to serve with, as there was pace galore.

 

[The_Question]

Have you yet, tried a full bed of gut?

 

[wrxtotoro]

A full bed of natural gut strung tight feels the best. Too bad we can't do it in some cheaper gut strings. I am going to try 60/64 lb (M/C) with some 17G Pacific Classic next time.

 

[meowmix]

Have you yet, tried a full bed of gut?

No I have not. I don't feel quite confident enough in my stringing abilities to be trying to string a full bed of global gut at 60+ pounds.

 

[JavierLW]

I went and played a couple sets with a friend today. I had one stick strung up with the Natural Gut hybrid, and the other strung up with a full bed of MSV Hex 1.18 (strung up last night).

The natural gut played, surprisingly, alright. Way too powerful, but it felt very nice, especially at net. The posters above, I agree. I'm going to try my next hybrid at around 63 lbs. It was very fun to serve with, as there was pace galore.

I wouldnt necessarily jump all the way from 56 to 63.

Just put the gut at 60, and leave the crosses at whatever you strung them at last time.

(3lbs can make a huge difference, 63 is a bit much plus it might make it even harder for you to string if you are not that sure about it)

Besides, a lot of what you attribute to being "too powerful" is just the fact that gut pockets the ball more and sends the ball on a different angle off the racquet face which takes a little getting used to.

 

[LafayetteHitter]

It amazes me when people use the phrase "way too powerful"? Might we ask some of the touring pro's? Why is it not too powerful for these guys?

 

[JavierLW]

It amazes me when people use the phrase "way too powerful"? Might we ask some of the touring pro's? Why is it not too powerful for these guys?

I think he really does just mean from his own perspective though. (or in his given racquet, or with his given stroke technique or whatever)

Besides some people say it is too powerful for the pros that's why they use poly. It's pretty debatable though since they dont always choice their own equipment and in their game they are playing a different game then we are. (and they only use a racquet for 5 games or whatever it at times where some of us novices are trying to limp a racquet thru 3 months if we dont break anything)

 

[meowmix]

It amazes me when people use the phrase "way too powerful"? Might we ask some of the touring pro's? Why is it not too powerful for these guys?

What I mean by that is that I don't have the confidence that I get with polyester, and I'd have to adjust my strokes a bit. I found that with natural gut, a very eastern grip worked very well, but when I used my usual sw-western grip, I had no confidence when hitting out. Sometimes I would get a nice penetrating stroke, but my next shot might be six feet out. I could probably get used to it, but I don't really want to change my style.

 

[alm]

What I mean by that is that I don't have the confidence that I get with polyester, and I'd have to adjust my strokes a bit. I found that with natural gut, a very eastern grip worked very well, but when I used my usual sw-western grip, I had no confidence when hitting out. Sometimes I would get a nice penetrating stroke, but my next shot might be six feet out. I could probably get used to it, but I don't really want to change my style.

I know exactly what you mean about confidence. I had Babolat VS Team strung at 54lbs and once the strings began moving around, hitting out on a shot became a lottery. Stringing gut tighter and using string savers is something I have yet to try.

I ended up reverting to a poly because, in my opinion, the benefits of being able to swing out freely, outweighed anything gut had to offer.

 

[alm]

What I mean by that is that I don't have the confidence that I get with polyester, and I'd have to adjust my strokes a bit. I found that with natural gut, a very eastern grip worked very well, but when I used my usual sw-western grip, I had no confidence when hitting out. Sometimes I would get a nice penetrating stroke, but my next shot might be six feet out. I could probably get used to it, but I don't really want to change my style.

I know exactly what you mean about confidence. I had Babolat VS Team strung at 54lbs and once the strings began moving around, hitting out on a shot became a lottery. Stringing gut tighter and using string savers is something I have yet to try.

I ended up reverting to a poly because, in my opinion, the benefits of being able to swing out freely, outweighed anything gut had to offer.

 

[The_Question]

No I have not. I don't feel quite confident enough in my stringing abilities to be trying to string a full bed of global gut at 60+ pounds.

It won't snap, just take good care of it, not like how you would treat a syn gut. That's how people keeps snapping them...60lbs is not very high.

 

[Gemini]

Natural gut is a matter of personal taste. If I could afford it, I'd play with it all the time. It's the only string that consistently lets me string tighter and still maintain a decent power level. Otherwise, I'd use it in a hybrid with black code.

I love gut..just not the gut price.

 

[JoshuaP6TC]

I don’t know why I need to give a comment on this because this post has been here for years but sure I think the OP is now addicted to Nat gut, I was like him when I tried one because I thought, Shoot! this is a rocket launcher but after it frayed dang this string is the thang! haha. Wish all the dimes I’ve spent on polys was spent on a lamb gut/cow gut whatever they’d like to call it.