Natural Gut Wholesale: Version 4

[USPTARF97]

Anyone have any experience with Version 4 of the string? Poly Resin Coated.

 

[McLovin]

There is a whole (long) thread out here on this stuff, but here is all you need to know about it:

I'm a 50 yr old 4.5 who hits fairly flat strokes, and rarely breaks strings. This was after 8 games...indoors.

My normal setup (17g Pacific Tough Gut mains/1.25 YPTP crosses) normally lasts 3-4 weeks, and I only cut it out because the YPTP goes dead.

 

[USPTARF97]

Have had some bad results with the earlier versions of these strings. Diameter off, breaking on the stringer, etc. Wondered if anything has changed with the 4th Version.

 

[hotasice]

That sucks.

Right now, I have Klip Legend Tour in the mains of my YT IG prest MP and just hit hour 32 with it this morning. It started to faintly fray around hour 28.

 

[USPTARF97]

I’ve broken Klip on the stringer and in the first 10 min as well. It’s hard to trust any of the lower cost gut it seems.

 

[McLovin]

Have had some bad results with the earlier versions of these strings. Diameter off, breaking on the stringer, etc. Wondered if anything has changed with the 4th Version.

I ordered 4 packs of V4 17g a few months ago: 2 black and 2 red. In both cases I received 1 half-set that snapped on the machine (because it was really around 19g), 2 half-sets that were on the order of 15Lg, and 1 half-set that looked 'just about right'.

For the black 1/2 set, it played nicely for around 10 hours, then I cut it out as it was fraying badly. The red 1/2 set, well, you've seen the pic...

 

[USPTARF97]

I ordered 4 packs of V4 17g a few months ago: 2 black and 2 red. In both cases I received 1 half-set that snapped on the machine (because it was really around 19g), 2 half-sets that were on the order of 15Lg, and 1 half-set that looked 'just about right'.

For the black 1/2 set, it played nicely for around 10 hours, then I cut it out as it was fraying badly. The red 1/2 set, well, you've seen the pic...

Same problems that I had with their strings. Wonder why they can’t get the diameter right. I ordered a set to see if they have improved but sent the guy an email that if I open the vacuum sealed pack and the diameter is obviously off I want my money back and not another set of string.

 

[scotus]

Those of you looking for econo gut should have stocked up on Babolat gut when they were on B2G1F sale over the holidays.

Sure, you pay a tad more but it is problem-free and lasts a whole lot longer.

 

[Chotobaka]

This is sub $5.00 wholesale gut made by Emerson (Global Gut) being sold for whatever the yobbo at NGW is asking these days. He has an exclusive with Emerson for the US so prices are significantly higher than when one could purchase directly from India.

No matter how many "new and improved" versions are made, this is bottom tier string. Icing on dog poop doesn't make it cake.

 

[mctennis]

Cheap gut is just that, cheap gut. Nothing to use if you really want durability or playability. I do not care how many people swear how great the cheap gut is, more people swear at it than about it , believe me.

 

[USPTARF97]

This is sub $5.00 wholesale gut made by Emerson (Global Gut) being sold for whatever the yobbo at NGW is asking these days. He has an exclusive with Emerson for the US so prices are significantly higher than when one could purchase directly from India.

No matter how many "new and improved" versions are made, this is bottom tier string. Icing on dog poop doesn't make it cake.

Tried Global Gut years ago and it was pitiful. Multi mains is much better than sub par gut.

 

[SeeItHitIt]

That sucks.

Right now, I have Klip Legend Tour in the mains of my YT IG prest MP and just hit hour 32 with it this morning. It started to faintly fray around hour 28.

I have 16g Legend mains in a PS97 with around 30 hours too. A little frayed. Originally strung at 58/54, RT pings around 52#. Have changed the crossed to opposite side of mains (Revolve 17 blk). Hard to complain.

 

[USPTARF97]

I have 16g Legend mains in a PS97 with around 30 hours too. A little frayed. Originally strung at 58/54, RT pings around 52#. Have changed the crossed to opposite side of mains (Revolve 17 blk). Hard to complain.

That’s awesome. What area of the country are you playing in? I’m wondering if the extreme high humidity in the southern states is why I have never seen longevity like that with gut.

 

[McLovin]

I’m wondering if the extreme high humidity in the southern states is why I have never seen longevity like that with gut.

That is most likely the case. I rarely break strings, unless I'm in Florida on the clay. Virginia on the clay in the summer gets me a little less that indoors, but I've broken strings after 4-5 sets on clay in Florida.

Oh, and I'm talking exclusively about gut mains/poly crosses. Full poly...I'll never break that, regardless of conditions & surface...

 

[USPTARF97]

That is most likely the case. I rarely break strings, unless I'm in Florida on the clay. Virginia on the clay in the summer gets me a little less that indoors, but I've broken strings after 4-5 sets on clay in Florida.

Oh, and I'm talking exclusively about gut mains/poly crosses. Full poly...I'll never break that, regardless of conditions & surface...

Sounds more like my experience. 3-5 hrs with Gut mains before it becomes a trampoline or breaks. Do a good bit of training with upper level juniors which is allot of banging ground strokes. Really go through strings quick with that type of heavy ball. That’s expensive when I can get more longevity and great play out of Multi mains. Head Velocity is about $5.00 a frame for the mains. Looks like I am going to get allot more play out of Velocity than gut mains.

 

[max]

Sadly, this is lousy stuff. . . my experience was with the "first version," if there really are different iterations of the stuff. Just bad. Doesn't even seem like gut. Didn't hurt to cut the crap out of my frame and put in synthetic gut. . . it was an upgrade!

Of course, YMMV and good luck with it!

 

[Racer41c]

Yo, I've played 2 packs each of V2, V3, and V4. I've had some issues but no breakage. Here's my 2c:

V2 Very roppy, terrible feel, unravels as you string it. Very low power.
V3 A much improved product but suffers from guage conisistency and random frays off the stringer. If your lucky, the fray is in a place where it won't snap. If your not so lucky, it's in a bad place and will snap soon. The playability is so-so, I have problems with feel and power levels.
V4 Is a bit better than V3 in most ways. I'm using this currently and find that it does seem to be more consistent and didn't kink/fray as easily on the stringer. I have about 10 hours on this string and it feels a little more muted and a tad more powerful than V3, which means it feels and plays a little bit like Legend Tour.

 

[USPTARF97]

Thanks, great info. Sounds like we are paying for his research and development until he gets it right. At that point the strings will cost just as much as the rest.

 

[USPTARF97]

VS Gut is the way to go it seems. Been like that for 40yrs or more.

 

[iscottius]

I am actually having good luck with NGW natural gut. I ordered the 17 guage which is more like 16 guage. It strung up nicely however, I took my time and was careful not to kink or coil (mains with smooth poly crosses) and playability has been solid nice pop, spin and comfort. So far durability is just ok, I have 12 hours on it and it is starting to show some wear, but tension and playability has been good. It has been what I would expect from uncoated gut. I bought a few packs for about 20 a pack, overall i think klip legend or pro is the best value in natural gut.

 

[Chotobaka]

Thanks, great info. Sounds like we are paying for his research and development until he gets it right. At that point the strings will cost just as much as the rest.

There is no R&D. This guy is simply a distributor. He postures himself as a "partner" or "co-owner" but he is just buying and re-selling whatever products Emerson either has on hand or is willing to make. He is low, low volume in the overall scheme of things, and Emerson is a fairly large company whose main focus is musical instrument strings.

In the original NGW thread (deleted due to some infraction in the OP's first post) I pointed out that he ripped off TW's verbiage describing natural gut, but was too careless to bother removing the words "Tennis Warehouse" from his plagiarized text. He also ripped off text, verbatim, from other natural gut manufacturers. At that time he was running the "business" out of a residence in Chula Vista. Any real knowledge or semblance of being a legit manufacturer is strictly an illusion.

 

[USPTARF97]

There is no R&D. This guy is simply a distributor. He postures himself as a "partner" or "co-owner" but he is just buying and re-selling whatever products Emerson either has on hand or is willing to make. He is low, low volume in the overall scheme of things, and Emerson is a fairly large company whose main focus is musical instrument strings.

In the original NGW thread (deleted due to some infraction in the OP's first post) I pointed out that he ripped off TW's verbiage describing natural gut, but was too careless to bother removing the words "Tennis Warehouse" from his plagiarized text. He also ripped off text, verbatim, from other natural gut manufacturers. At that time he was running the "business" out of a residence in Chula Vista. Any real knowledge or semblance of being a legit manufacturer is strictly an illusion.

So are you thinking that there haven’t been any changes in the multiple versions of these strings?

 

[USPTARF97]

Not sure how this company stays in business if the results are as consistently bad as I read here.

 

[Chotobaka]

So are you thinking that there haven’t been any changes in the multiple versions of these strings?

Not exactly. Emerson has probably added coatings. So, that's a change. Intrinsic changes to the string material and core manufacturing process? Likely, zero changes. What I am saying is NGW is not a legit string company with credible R&D capabilities. It's a guy buying and re-selling a product made by Emerson and on a very small scale at that.

 

[USPTARF97]

Not exactly. Emerson has probably added coatings. So, that's a change. Intrinsic changes to the string material and core manufacturing process? Likely, zero changes. What I am saying is NGW is not a legit string company with credible R&D capabilities. It's a guy buying and re-selling a product made by Emerson and on a very small scale at that.

Thanks for the info, definitely will not buy anymore of that string.

 

[USPTARF97]

Double post

 

[BretH]

Just do yourself a favor and get real gut. String hybrid and see how long it can last (my strings from sometime in September are still fine, but I'm only a 3.5/4.0 player). Anyway, echoing Chotobaka, here's my take on the business model:

I'll be clear that I have no objection to the business model of importing quantities of India gut to the US market and making it easier for US buyers to make a purchase. But there are 2 ways this could be done:

1) Import a ton of gut and carefully examine each set before repackaging and shipping - the sales model would be "we find the best so you don't have to" but making no secret of the fact the product is bulk gut from india and elsewhere. Charge accordingly.

Or 2) Import a ton of gut and repackage it with your label and claim it is as good as "tier 1 gut". Have a policy of replacing sets from your back stock without question to keep as many return buyers as possible. When sales flag announce a new "Vx" version with claims of how much better it is than the previous version, changing the packaging to match.

One method puts the burden on the seller but would in the end result in far greater customer satisfaction. The other puts all the burden on the buyer - wasting time stringing flawed sets, returning sets and in general taking all the risks associated with the third-rate product it is (no matter what glowing terms the seller uses to describe it).

Restated for completeness is my judgement on how you might possible make this work as a buyer:

The ONLY way using your product would make sense to me would be to buy lots of 10+ packages of strings (2x string sets in each pack) and ruthlessly return every one that showed she slightest of flaws before trying to string. Then try stringing the 10 or so strings that are left and return those that don't string well. Then enjoy the four to six strings sets that make it that far because they will play fine. Then do exactly the same with all the strings you receive as replacements.

 

[USPTARF97]

Just do yourself a favor and get real gut. String hybrid and see how long it can last (my strings from sometime in September are still fine, but I'm only a 3.5/4.0 player). Anyway, echoing Chotobaka, here's my take on the business model:

Played VS Gut and a Luxilon for years. RF97 eats strings no matter what it is. Cant afford to keep running the most expensive strings.

 

[USPTARF97]

Double post

 

[USPTARF97]

double post