Natural Gut: What's the biggest difference?

[ricardo]

Econo/Pricey Natural Gut: What's the biggest difference?

Econo/Pricey Natural Gut: What's the biggest difference?

In TW, NG prices range from $26 - $47.

IMHO, based on my own personal stringing/hitting experience, the biggest difference would be maximum tension capability. Econo-gut can be safely strung to a max of 55lbs while more expensive guts can be strung over 65 lbs.

My maximum NG string tension so far is 53lbs using Pacific classic gut. Sometimes I string NG as low as 40 lbs hybrid (mains).

Question
Since I string at low tensions (<54 lbs), is it just a waste of money to buy more expensive NG (i.e Babolat VS Touch, Wilson NG)? Does more expensive NG play better and last longer?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Readers]

Natural Gut: What's the biggest difference?

In TW, NG prices range from $26 - $47.

IMHO, based on my own personal stringing/hitting experience, the biggest difference would be maximum tension capability. Econo-gut can be safely strung to a max of 55lbs while more expensive guts can be strung over 65 lbs.

My maximum NG string tension so far is 53lbs using Pacific classic gut. Sometimes I string NG as low as 40 lbs hybrid (mains).

Question
Since I string at low tensions (<54 lbs), is it just a waste of money to buy more expensive NG (i.e Babolat VS Touch, Wilson NG)? Does more expensive NG play better and last longer?

Thanks in advance...

I have used both classic and prime(1st set) at 53lb(on gamma 8800), full bed, the prime is much more powerful. It also feels softer. I did not notice any difference in spin(I use wax on both).

Will get back to you on durability once I break the prime.(will take a while).

 

[Valjean]

It matters whether you intend to use the gut in the mains or not...

 

[ricardo]

It matters whether you intend to use the gut in the mains or not...

I use NG in the mains and nylon (multi/syn) in the crosses.

I normally string NG mains under 53lbs (40-53lbs).

I have initially use Titan Gut and have been satisfied with it ($20/set).
However, TW no longer sell it.
I then tried Klip Legend ($25) and Pacific Classic gut ($29).

I now use P.Classic gut all the time.

Question
How would a more expensive NG (B. touch VS, Wilson NG) be an improvement over P. Classic NG?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lambsscroll]

I use NG in the mains and nylon (multi/syn) in the crosses.

I normally string NG mains under 53lbs (40-53lbs).

I have initially use Titan Gut and have been satisfied with it ($20/set).
However, TW no longer sell it.
I then tried Klip Legend ($25) and Pacific Classic gut ($29).

I now use P.Classic gut all the time.

Question
How would a more expensive NG (B. touch VS, Wilson NG) be an improvement over P. Classic NG?

Thanks in advance.

Been awhile since I used Pacific Classic but I do know that Wilson NG and Babolat BT7 are more powerful than Klip Legend. Even the gut in Champions Choice is more powerful. This isn't necessarily a good or bad thing. So I think you may gain power with the more expensive NG but lose a little feel with Babolat BT7.

 

[Rabbit]

If you're going to spring for Prime, do yourself a favor and string mains and crosses with it. It is sublime. It is the most powerful gut I've ever used and has a plush feel.

 

[purple-n-gold]

The more expensive guts always last longer in my experience,,using as a hybrid in both the mains and crosses. I've only had a few sets of the econo gut break prematurely, whereas that has never happened with VS,, it depends on your tolerances.

 

[ultradr]

Does more expensive NG play better and last longer?

Playability lifespan and consistency in quality.

They matter most in full bed.

 

[parasailing]

Aside from what others have mentioned, I would say there is a difference in stiffness between the best one and the cheap stuff. Some might not agree but I definitely find certain higher end brands offer a more softer feel with the exception of the new Babolat BT7 stuff which is just stiff.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

recently my stringers goofed on my mains and broke my Pacific Toughgut 16l's while doing a job. They gave me VS 17 instead. I noticed that it is far more cooshy in feel and required some adjustment on serves etc. It definitely has more power (which I'm not really into).

So yes VS 17 is far softer than Toughgut 16L (both are supposed to be 1.25 but the VS looks thinner).

Toughgut is marketed as gut for people who like the boardier feel of non-gut and Ive found that to be true (though it is far softer than poly or even most syngut).

Im going to stick with Toughgut in the future as I feel I get better bite on the ball with toughgut mains rather than VS.

 

[ricardo]

They gave me VS 17 instead. I noticed that it is far more cooshy in feel and required some adjustment on serves etc. It definitely has more power (which I'm not really into).

So yes VS 17 is far softer than Toughgut 16L (both are supposed to be 1.25 but the VS looks thinner).

Is that the VS with the BT7?

 

[Lambsscroll]

Aside from what others have mentioned, I would say there is a difference in stiffness between the best one and the cheap stuff. Some might not agree but I definitely find certain higher end brands offer a more softer feel with the exception of the new Babolat BT7 stuff which is just stiff.

I agree to a certain extent. The India gut which is sheep intestine actually is softer than Wilson NG and has slightly more feel. Klips uncoated NG looks interesting in that it may offer a consistent gauge with the feel and softness as India gut.

 

[Smasher08]

Question
How would a more expensive NG (B. touch VS, Wilson NG) be an improvement over P. Classic NG?

Thanks in advance.

I think the real question here is whether it's 50% better than what you're currently using -- since it costs roughly 50% more.

There's no doubt that pre-BT7 Bab was the best on the market. I'm sure it's of the highest quality available, but not 50% better.

Additionally, the answer to the relevant question "will it make a difference to your game" is "probably not", in the same manner that choosing Tournagrip over Supergrap really won't either.

But if you want to try it out to see what all the fuss is about, why not!

 

[Ramon]

The best bang for the buck NG I tried was Klip Legend. For $26, I had a set that lasted 30 hours (which was probably unusual, just lucky I guess). I tried Pacific Classic after that, and I liked it better because it was softer, but I got less than half the playing time with it. My worst experience was with Babolat Tonic w/BT7. Compared to Klip and Pacific, it was the hardest to control and it was the stiffest. On top of that, it only lasted me 5 hours because there was one spot that frayed pre-maturely while the rest of it looked fresh. I tried the $15 econogut stuff, and I think you get what you pay for. It's hard to string, it's stiff, and it's inconsistent.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

Is that the VS with the BT7?

Yes it is BT7

I feel it is a bit more powerful and gives more pocketing. I like it boardier and a bit deader. Ill be sticking with Toughgut.