X1 might work with something as slick as sync, but I would advise against using it with anything that has less snapback if you hit with any kind of pace. I tried it with head hawk crosses and it was the worst multi/poly setup I have ever played. Locked up almost immediately, low launch angle and poor feel.
non-poly, non−gut mains/smooth poly crosses review thread
- Thread starter tele
- Start date
d-quik
Legend
**sigh**
21 pages?
Can @tele or @Automatix summarize 21 pages into just 4 or 5 main points? Hopefully something other than the findings on rabbit's thread here:
Ignore/apologies if you find my request to be unreasonable
I am putting in an SG/Poly combo in next week
21 pages?
Can @tele or @Automatix summarize 21 pages into just 4 or 5 main points? Hopefully something other than the findings on rabbit's thread here:
Ignore/apologies if you find my request to be unreasonable
I am putting in an SG/Poly combo in next week
tele
Hall of Fame
have you decided on what syn gut and what poly？**sigh**
21 pages?
Can @tele or @Automatix summarize 21 pages into just 4 or 5 main points? Hopefully something other than the findings on rabbit's thread here:
Ignore/apologies if you find my request to be unreasonable
I am putting in an SG/Poly combo in next week
d-quik
Legend
I am almost certain I will be Wilson Synthetic Gut Power mains with Alu Power regular crosses.
Why so you ask? Is that bad?
tele
Hall of Fame
haha, that will be a new combo for the thread, so I do not think anyone can say. please review! based on my experience with syn gut, I would string the mains over 50 lbs while making sure the alu power has a tension that is within your comfort zone. if it sticks out of place quickly, I recommend trying a different syn gut main string. I was impressed with kirschbaum syn gut (especially for the first few hours) and many have liked prince lightning pro, which I have not tried.I am almost certain I will be Wilson Synthetic Gut Power mains with Alu Power regular crosses.
Why so you ask? Is that bad?
d-quik
Legend
Yeah I didn't read all 21 pages but I was asking more about general impressions of all syn-poly hybrids, not like a very specific type of syn-poly.
Going through the other thread, it didn't seem like it made too big of a difference unless the mains were AK Pro CX. I don't think I am at the level where I can tell the difference about minute details (maybe I am wrong).
I have also never used Alu Power of any kind before. I just know people donk on this string for low playability but again, I wasn't really looking for specifics.
Stumbled into a few sets of Alu Power 1.15mm and SG Power 1.30mm and didn't really know how i was going to use it until I saw these threads.
21 pages was just simply too much for me, which is saying a lot because I have no life and am morbidly curious.
tele
Hall of Fame
if you normally play full bed multi or syn gut, the setup should boost control and spin−my experience and (i think) the general consensus on the thread. i recommend keeping the syn gut tension fairly close to what you would normally use for a full bed of syn gut/multi.
TheNadural
Semi-Pro
Ever try sync?
@Trip have you found sync the best poly cross? It has better lasting SnapBack than WasX in my experience. Haven’t found anything to match but have only tried Toroline, sync, and some Solinco.
Looking at Volkl power fiber pro and sync as a combo.
tele
Hall of Fame
I have not (not commonly found where I live), but it is on my list. It would be interesting to test out the slickest crosses with a main string that is known to stick out of place after a couple hours to see which one performs the best.
Ultimately, as you know, you want your main/cross combo to be as perfect a compliment to one another as possible, and for synthetic mains that are more on the controlled side already, yes, I have found Sync to be just about the perfect cross. Example: MFB/Sync, which for me at least, has been the best combo I've yet created in this thread. That said, for higher-power synthetic mains, I've found that Sync tends to be a hair more powerful and not quite as firm/controlled as I like, to tame such mains, and in such scenarios, tend to prefer the likes of Snap Tour Flex Black, and I would presume A5 will be my all-time-favorite, as it's got considerably more crispness to it, and I'm a crisp feel guy, through and through.
A bit of a long-winded way to say "it depends", but hope it helped.
I like to do that with my main of choice prince premier touch. It has the best ball pocketing I have found out of any multi but it’s not a slick string. I pair it with toroline A5 in the crosses and it performs well. I have found A5 to play the most consistent out of any of the slicker poly strings, but I have not tried sync.
d-quik
Legend
Capitulated and went with Maxbolt Typhoon Heptagonal 1.15mm crossed with Gosen OG Sheep 1.15mm. Thinnest strings I've ever use (both) and the first time using a shaped poly.
I figure using such thin strings in colder weather would be a poor experience so I will use it now while it is still somewhat warm.
After this, I will put in Tennis Only M1 1.3mm crossed with Wilson Synthetic Gut Power 1.3mm for the start of fall.
Then at the mid-fall, I will put in the Wilson Synthetic Gut Power 1.3mm crossed with Luxilon Alu Power 1.15mm since strings don't last that long ANYWAYS when it is chilly.
I also found a mint condition MAX 200G last week so that is going to be a heavy, heavy distraction from playing with those strings in my regular racquet, so it will be a while until I get there.
If you have used the 200G before, you will understand what I am going through right now.
I've tried a bunch of syn gut / multi mains setups with poly crosses and haven't found any that I love. They play with good control, but the feel isn't for me. I've had the same experience with gut /poly. It's hard to describe in words. It's soft but without the feeling of the ball sinking into the string bed very much.
I'm just coming back to tennis after a very long injury, so I'll try a few more hybrids to see if the comfort benefit can outweigh the feel.
I've used the following strings crossed with MSV swift:
Prince premier touch
Kirschbaum premium syn gut
Signum pro micronite
Prince premier control
Head velocity MLT
Pros Pro syn gut
VS touch
I'm just coming back to tennis after a very long injury, so I'll try a few more hybrids to see if the comfort benefit can outweigh the feel.
I've used the following strings crossed with MSV swift:
Prince premier touch
Kirschbaum premium syn gut
Signum pro micronite
Prince premier control
Head velocity MLT
Pros Pro syn gut
VS touch
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O remember it move a lot? Í use some time. Did you use with cream? it doesnt move a lot?
jmacdaununder2
Legend
Yep, the playing group that I still string for and I played for many years with Head RIP variants - yellow & black Intellistring in my case - until Head stopped selling much of the range in Australia & then stopped me buying it from Tennis Warehouse.
Since then I’ve been using lower tension Yonex polys, prioritising performance over arm concerns, although the ability to string poly at lower tensions mitigates some of the risk; the rest of the group has moved on also.
Since then I’ve been using lower tension Yonex polys, prioritising performance over arm concerns, although the ability to string poly at lower tensions mitigates some of the risk; the rest of the group has moved on also.
RIP control is so divisive. I see that some love it - others hate it. I'm in the latter group so far.
I have only tried it crossed with Outlast, but it had absolutely no feel whatsoever. Extremely muted (despite I tried it in my 2019 TT 100P, which is crisper than the ATS). Initial slickness disappeared at the first session. The performance was actually good, at least when hitting hard. But I didn't enjoy it at all.
At the same time, VS gut / Outlast 18 was a dream. Full bed Outlast 18 also very good, crisp in the sweet spot, spinny, just on the limit for my elbow (just like Evolution 18, which is a bit less crisp with longer dwell). I also liked Triax mains crossed with just about any poly so far.
I have only tried it crossed with Outlast, but it had absolutely no feel whatsoever. Extremely muted (despite I tried it in my 2019 TT 100P, which is crisper than the ATS). Initial slickness disappeared at the first session. The performance was actually good, at least when hitting hard. But I didn't enjoy it at all.
At the same time, VS gut / Outlast 18 was a dream. Full bed Outlast 18 also very good, crisp in the sweet spot, spinny, just on the limit for my elbow (just like Evolution 18, which is a bit less crisp with longer dwell). I also liked Triax mains crossed with just about any poly so far.
RIP Control is decent for certain use cases, namely for comfort with durability (due to being a fusion of nylon and polyolefin), but it has pretty high string-to-string friction and like @mihu86 mentioned, is very muted, which is no-bueno in a lot of today's overly-muted retail layups. IMHO, there are better substitutes, Prince Lightning Pro and TF Multifeel Black being my faves. Or, simply using modern-enough, more supple co-poly at lower tension.
d-quik
Legend
Finally got it in. Took me a while but got the Wilson SG Power 1.3mm crossed with Powerfibre Ultra Spin 1.15mm in both a vintage Dunlop MAX 200g and my main racquet.
I wanted to hit with both today but only ended up hitting with the dunlop for 4 hours.
Initial impressions was that the poly crosses are smoother than expected. No sawing but a lot of sliding. Maybe a bit too much as the mains are already all squiggly and stuff.
I should have hit with my main racquet some more but I was having so much fun with the Dunlop that I didn't even pick up (much less actually swing/hit with it) my main racquet.
The feel isn't on the same level as a multi mains + syngut cross hybrid in terms of... er... "pure pleasure"? Multis are still more pleasurable, predictably.
But one aspect of feel that was superior to multis was the "connectedness" of the PMCC hybrid. I guess we can easily attribute that to the poly crosses. All in all, it was both better and worse than my expectations (expectations based on zero experience that is, 100% conjured up by my imagination with no basis in anything) somehow.
The durability and connected exceeded by expectations but the "pleasurable" feel (idk how to word it) was lower. All in all, I would try PMCC again but probably at a higher tension than the ridiculously low 48 pounds I strung it at.
Sunday, I will try to use my main racquet but suspect that I will likely waste even more time on the Dunlop MAX 200g. Will report back if I find any new surprises.
tele
Hall of Fame
I recently played some sets with a full bed of multi (HDMX) that has been sitting In my backup ig mid for 2 years, and once I adjusted to the power, I found the pocketing and the consistency of the feel to be superior over multi/poly. I also like the consistent feel of fb poly but do not love how it robs the prestige of much its sweetness. either way, going to keep experimenting to see if I can find a multi/poly combo that feels more like a "unit" while also performing like I want (ak pro/rexxxer was probably my favorite in that respect, but the string-string friction was too high). hope your recovery is going well and that you discover something good!
Thanks, I've had a few hits and my shoulder has held up ok so far (fingers crossed).
I saw a youtube video where an ex-pro was using a full bed of Tecnifibre Triax at 39lbs (similar to HDMX). He was hitting the ball harder than I'd ever dream to with insane accuracy.
Based on that I'm going to try some lower tension Triax hybrids. Maybe I'll even try a full bed at 40lbs
I've only tried it once before in the original Tecnifibre tf40. It felt pretty stiff and I could feel a tightness in my foreharm creeping in. Saying that it was strung way tighter than I'd ever personally use. Who knows, It might have been the racket's fault. I'm willing to give it another go, but the price has also deterred me from using it.
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Happi
Hall of Fame
I have to disagree, TRIAX is very much a multi and feels like a multi, however more firm. It frays like a multi and plays much closer to other firm multies than poly.
BenC
Hall of Fame
of course it's a multi. but it's such an outlier that when I use it, I have to remind myself I can't put it in my usual poly/multi hybrids at the usual tension.
While I think it's a great string, I think many soft polys are more comfortable.
Agree, I had to string it around the tension of medium/stiff polys to make it work.
For getting more durability, using crosses like Cream or Swift work very well (you can find lots of infos in some kobayashi thread).
I'll have to revisit it this winter.
tele
Hall of Fame
Although I agree the difference is immediately apparent compared to softer, springier multis, I don’t remember sensing that much difference compared to multis like HDMX, NXT Control, and Multi Sensa. However, I can play HDMX and NXT Control in the mid-50s with no discomfort (I would not choose to play fb cream in the mid-50s), so based on what you and @veelium are saying, Triax might be stiffer than I remember (I only used it once a long time ago). With HDMX gone, it's on my list to try again. What tension do you string it at?
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BenC
Hall of Fame
I know this is the wrong thread for this but I've moved onto poly mains/multi crosses and current trying Head Lynx Tour 17g mains with various multi crosses at about 46/49ish lbs depending on the racquet. Everything was playable to some degree except Triax which I guess needs to be strung lower.
Don't HDMX and NXT Control contain some monopoly fibres as well? Haven't tried those but I assume/vaguely remember that they have less.
Tension wise let's say in one racquet that I'd string 24/23 with natgut/poly, 22-23 with full multi, 21-20 with full poly I'd also go around 20-21 with Triax full bed.
I've also heard others string Triax a lot higher so might not be the same for everyone.
tele
Hall of Fame
yes, 1/3 of the filaments are poly in both nxt control and hdmx, but they are quite comfortable overall (YMMV). I have never liked a multi below 50 lbs bc it gets a little too mushy/muted, so I think I probably tried Triax in the low-to-mid-50s. I found it kind of lackluster, but there have been enough people on the boards who like it that I think it deserves another shot. If I try it again, I'll probably do so at a lower tension than my go-to range for HDMX (53-55 lbs).
Anybody here had any success in finding a non-poly x poly setup that pairs well with the new Pure Aero 100?
Got my hands on one and don't know where to start testing strings. My latest setups were full poly but I need more comfort.
Looking for a setup with a great control:comfort ratio.
Got my hands on one and don't know where to start testing strings. My latest setups were full poly but I need more comfort.
Looking for a setup with a great control:comfort ratio.
NRG2 black gets stuck out of place unlike MFB. Still a great string.
