Need to restring, need advice...

[GeoffHYL]

I have two Volkl V-Sense 10 Tour racquets. One is strung with Gamma LiveWire XP 17g. It needs to be restrung. My other 10 Tour is strung with Luxilon ALU Power Flouro 17g. Before these two racquets I always used synthetic gut. I play okay with the LiveWire, but always seem to play better with the ALU Power. I bought the racquet strung with the ALU Power used about 4 months ago and have played 40+ hours of recreational doubles with it. I think most people would advise me that the strings are dead and need to be cut out, but they feel fine to me. I hit moderate pace/moderate spin groundstrokes, moderately hard serves and volleys.

So, do I just restring the racquet with ALU Power like the other one, or do I try a different multi or syn gut? I am considering Gosen OGSM 16g for a syn gut, Prince Premier Control 16g and Alpha Gut 2000 17g for multis. Any insight into the playability of these compared to either of the strings I currently have? Any advice on other strings?

 

[USPTARF97]

String them both with Alu Power. Be aware that if you restring the racquet with Alu that was strung 4 mths ago at the same tension it will feel quite a bit stiffer.

 

[Karma Tennis]

IME, Volkl strings work very well in Volkl racquets.

Consider either Volkl Cyclone or Volkl Cyclone Tour.

Volkl Cyclone is somewhat stiffer that Cyclone Tour but Cyclone has better durability and tension maintenance. If you go with Cyclone, try one of the coloured variants first (ie either Orange or Yellow rather than Anthracite!)

 

[Steve Huff]

First, are you a string breaker? It doesn't sound like it. If you are, go with the the Lux ALU. But, if you aren't, I'd go with a multifiliment (Livewire, NRG2, etc) at a slightly higher tension than you're using now. It will be better on your arm, probably suit you well. I say this because you like the lower powered Lux ALU better than a high powered multi. The multi is probably just strung too loose. Up the tension to around 62# (of course it depends on the racket also). See what that plays like.

 

[GeoffHYL]

IME, Volkl strings work very well in Volkl racquets.

Consider either Volkl Cyclone or Volkl Cyclone Tour.

Volkl Cyclone is somewhat stiffer that Cyclone Tour but Cyclone has better durability and tension maintenance. If you go with Cyclone, try one of the coloured variants first (ie either Orange or Yellow rather than Anthracite!)

Thanks for the suggestion. The yellow Cyclone would look good in the 10 Tour.

First, are you a string breaker? It doesn't sound like it. If you are, go with the the Lux ALU. But, if you aren't, I'd go with a multifiliment (Livewire, NRG2, etc) at a slightly higher tension than you're using now. It will be better on your arm, probably suit you well. I say this because you like the lower powered Lux ALU better than a high powered multi. The multi is probably just strung too loose. Up the tension to around 62# (of course it depends on the racket also). See what that plays like.

I am not a string breaker. The ALU Power is not hard on my arm, at least not in my 10 Tour racquet. In the past I have tried synthetic gut at higher tension and didn't like the feel, so I'm guessing higher tension multi will also not be to my liking, but I may give it a try at some point.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

For a softer feel, babolat.origin (its a unique synthetic), playes like a multi..
For a poly feel, babolat.rpm.rough is also a softer poly (3 colors)
lately ive tried and found yonex.poly tour.pro a very good string (yellow)
anyway, lots of options, good luck..

 

[Ultra 2]

Hey Geoff,

Let me know if you need some syn guts. I have a plethora of them. My elbow is giving me issues lately so I strung up a few of my sticks with Klip Legend NG & some old school soft syn gut. Never cared for the polys and multis I've tried.

If you're a Volkl guy, I have a PB10 Stealth strung with this setup you can hit with (54lbs).

 

[GeoffHYL]

Hey Geoff,

Let me know if you need some syn guts. I have a plethora of them. My elbow is giving me issues lately so I strung up a few of my sticks with Klip Legend NG & some old school soft syn gut. Never cared for the polys and multis I've tried.

If you're a Volkl guy, I have a PB10 Stealth strung with this setup you can hit with (54lbs).

Thanks for the offer. Are you local to me (North Orange County, CA)? I eventually do want to try natural gut, but that is probably a few months out for one of my own racquets.

 

[Ultra 2]

Yep, Fullerton. Play some tennis at the Fullerton Tennis Center on Harbor & Bastanchury.

Still holding onto a Maxply Fort that you wanted. Also sent you a text. Best, Dave

 

[Big Bagel]

Do yourself a long-term favor and stay away from poly. You might not feel it now, but it will most likely catch up to you eventually. Try Tourna Quasi Gut Armor at a higher tension, or Tecnifibre NRG/X-One Biphase/Multifeel.

 

[Traffic]

I have two Volkl V-Sense 10 Tour racquets. One is strung with Gamma LiveWire XP 17g. It needs to be restrung. My other 10 Tour is strung with Luxilon ALU Power Flouro 17g. Before these two racquets I always used synthetic gut. I play okay with the LiveWire, but always seem to play better with the ALU Power. I bought the racquet strung with the ALU Power used about 4 months ago and have played 40+ hours of recreational doubles with it. I think most people would advise me that the strings are dead and need to be cut out, but they feel fine to me. I hit moderate pace/moderate spin groundstrokes, moderately hard serves and volleys.

So, do I just restring the racquet with ALU Power like the other one, or do I try a different multi or syn gut? I am considering Gosen OGSM 16g for a syn gut, Prince Premier Control 16g and Alpha Gut 2000 17g for multis. Any insight into the playability of these compared to either of the strings I currently have? Any advice on other strings?

If you are happy playing with dead dead poly (40+hrs), then you might enjoy playing with Head Velocity. 40hrs poly would lack power, lack spin, lack feel. Velocity is good spin for a multi but not up to full poly level. But neither is dead dead poly. Velocity lacks feel. But so does DDP. Velocity is low powered for multi and great for control.

BUT... the biggest difference would be that Velocity is more arm friendly.

Also, if you are not breaking your poly in 40hrs, then you are not a string breaker and you don't need poly.

Poly goes dead for my son in 12hrs. So he re-strings every week. If this doesn't sound like a routine for you, then stay away from poly.

 

[GeoffHYL]

If you are happy playing with dead dead poly (40+hrs), then you might enjoy playing with Head Velocity. 40hrs poly would lack power, lack spin, lack feel. Velocity is good spin for a multi but not up to full poly level. But neither is dead dead poly. Velocity lacks feel. But so does DDP. Velocity is low powered for multi and great for control.

BUT... the biggest difference would be that Velocity is more arm friendly.

Also, if you are not breaking your poly in 40hrs, then you are not a string breaker and you don't need poly.

Poly goes dead for my son in 12hrs. So he re-strings every week. If this doesn't sound like a routine for you, then stay away from poly.

Funny you should mention Head Velocity. I purchased a package of the 16g based on some of the reading I have done here on the forum. I think it is the control I like from DDP. It also seems pretty easy on my arm, maybe because I can swing more freely without hitting the ball long than I can with a multi. Will consider using it when I restring.

 

[GeoffHYL]

Update: Ultra 2 restrung my 10 Tour with Forten Sweet 17g synthetic gut at 58 lbs. Have played 5 times with it for about 7.5 hours total. That is just enough time to get adjusted to the new strings. Haven't played with my other 10 Tour with ALU Power since getting this one strung. I think I will restring it now with a multi and see how they compare.

 

[Ultra 2]

Yeah, it will play entirely different. I know you need to go with less tension on polys but not sure about the multis.. let us know how the multis feel and which you prefer.

 

[GeoffHYL]

Have about 20 hours of doubles on the 10 Tour with Forten Sweet 17g, satisfied with the way it plays.

Have also been playing a Pro Staff RF97A with a natural gut/synth gut hybrid string job. Well, this morning I snapped the strings. The gut mains broke right in the middle of the central string. Had about 22 hours of mostly doubles play on it. Loved the feel of this racquet, but not sure if it is the racquet, strings, or both. Going to get it restrung with either Prince Premier Control or Head Velocity MLT. If that doesn't play well I will go back to a natural gut hybrid setup.

 

[patrafa]

First, are you a string breaker? It doesn't sound like it. If you are, go with the the Lux ALU. But, if you aren't, I'd go with a multifiliment (Livewire, NRG2, etc) at a slightly higher tension than you're using now. It will be better on your arm, probably suit you well. I say this because you like the lower powered Lux ALU better than a high powered multi. The multi is probably just strung too loose. Up the tension to around 62# (of course it depends on the racket also). See what that plays like.

I use a poly . But it's really losing topspin. It's all notched but it won't break.

I wanna use multi for feel but it breaks fast. Even in hybrid stringing.

Any suggestions?

 

[Ultra 2]

Hey Geoff, let me know if you need help with the frame getting strung. Working from home until Jan 2nd so I have some time. You’re not going to get a better feel unless you go full bet natty guy. The Prince premier is very soft.. if that’s what you’re looking. Also consider Techifibre Biphase.. if you want to go softer.

 

[GeoffHYL]

Have had the RF97A strung with Head Velocity MLT 16g for about a week. Have 8 hours of doubles on it. Definitely plays different than the previous natural gut/synthetic gut hybrid. Feels like I am getting a little more power and little less control. It isn't a big difference, but is taking some time to adjust to. The extra power helps with my serve and volleys, but I am hitting a few more groundstrokes long. Just need to add a bit more topspin to keep the ball in.

 

[fuzz nation]

Have about 20 hours of doubles on the 10 Tour with Forten Sweet 17g, satisfied with the way it plays.

Have also been playing a Pro Staff RF97A with a natural gut/synth gut hybrid string job. Well, this morning I snapped the strings. The gut mains broke right in the middle of the central string. Had about 22 hours of mostly doubles play on it. Loved the feel of this racquet, but not sure if it is the racquet, strings, or both. Going to get it restrung with either Prince Premier Control or Head Velocity MLT. If that doesn't play well I will go back to a natural gut hybrid setup.

I've been playing Volkl C10's and also some leaded up Volkl O10's (these weigh and balance close to my C10's after my tuning) and I've been stringing them almost exclusively with synthetic gut. I've tried Forten Sweet in both 16 and 17 gauges and I think this stuff is a potentially great option for anybody who wants a rather soft string option. I think that Forten Sweet is actually soft enough to work as a decent low-cost alternative to a lot of the premium multis.

The Sweet 17 was much less durable than the Sweet 16 for me and I'd probably only use the 17 in a racquet with a dense string pattern that wouldn't be as quick to chew up this string compared with a more open layout. I do like the feel and moderate softness of a 17 ga. syn. gut though. Lately I've been buying reels of Kirschbaum's standard syn. gut - very affordable stuff that works great for me. This syn. gut has just a little more backbone than the Sweet 17, but not as much as what I might find with Gosen OG Sheep Micro.

My all-time favorite syn. gut was from Tecnifibre, but TW stopped selling reels of this a few years ago. Kirschbaum also has a "Premium Syn. Gut", but I tried that string and I didn't find a difference that justified the higher price tag. It's not expensive compared with a premium multi, but their standard SG gives me unbeatable bang for my buck.

I find that 17 ga. syn. gut can turn drastically softer when it gets really hot in the middle of the summer, so that's when I might switch to the 16 ga. alternative, which seems to hold a little more steady when the temperature spikes. But for the rest of the year, my 17 ga. syn. gut at the right tension gives me a really nice blend of solid performance, crisp feel, and moderate softness that keeps my arm pretty happy. Not the most exotic string around, but I think that anybody who doesn't "need" a poly can get a lot of upside with this option.

 

[Ultra 2]

^^If you want a soft bed in a syn gut, try the Dunlop S-Gut. Good strings. I am still using some old school Winn Gutite & Gutex that are no longer produced. Love those strings.

 

[GeoffHYL]

New string tension question. I am now playing with a Tecnifibre T-Fight DC 315 Ltd. 18x20 pattern strung with Babolat Spiraltek 17g at 51 lbs. I really like this setup. I want to string one of my Volkl V-Sense 10 Tour racquets with the same string to do a compare of the two racquets with the string being as close to the same as possible. The 10 Tour is a 16x19 string pattern. Since they have different string patterns, should I string the 10 Tour at a little higher tension to match the feel of the 315 Ltd.? If so, how much higher?

 

[SavvyStringer]

New string tension question. I am now playing with a Tecnifibre T-Fight DC 315 Ltd. 18x20 pattern strung with Babolat Spiraltek 17g at 51 lbs. I really like this setup. I want to string one of my Volkl V-Sense 10 Tour racquets with the same string to do a compare of the two racquets with the string being as close to the same as possible. The 10 Tour is a 16x19 string pattern. Since they have different string patterns, should I string the 10 Tour at a little higher tension to match the feel of the 315 Ltd.? If so, how much higher?

IMO same tension. Change as few variables as possible.