I've been playing with Gamma TNT fat core that I got free with my Gamma X-2 stringer. It works well enough, but playing against a heavy hitter the other night, my wrist began to feel the strain. I switched to my other racquet (identical to the one I was using - a Prostaff Surge mid) strung with Wilson NXT max. Immediately felt the relative "softness" of the NXT max relative to the TNT fat core. I might think about switching to the NXT max as my primary string. However, the NXT is a little less expensive than the NXT max. For the extra money, what is the difference between the two. Also, does anyone else have any experience with how these three strings play relative to each other - the fat core, the NXT, and the NXT max? I'm talking the 16 g versions.
NXT vs NXT max vs TNT fat core
- Thread starter spirit
- Start date
Midlife crisis
Hall of Fame
I got some packs of TNT Fat Core with my Gamma stringer also. I haven't tried the regular NXT or the NXT Max, but I did give NXT OS a shot. The NXT OS is a much more elastic string than the Fat core. Otherwise, tension maintenance was about equal, and I cut both of them out of my primary racquet before they wore. I like stiff, inelastic strings and neither of these worked well for me.
If you like a softer feel, I'd recommend the NXT (all of the variants are slightly different, but I've read here at the OS has the best tension retention). The Fat Core seems to be a typical synthetic gut string, with not much to really distinguish it from other higher quality synthetic guts.
If you like a softer feel, I'd recommend the NXT (all of the variants are slightly different, but I've read here at the OS has the best tension retention). The Fat Core seems to be a typical synthetic gut string, with not much to really distinguish it from other higher quality synthetic guts.
jackson vile
G.O.A.T.
Look at NXT max, if tension lose becomes an issue then look to NXT OS or X-one 17g, Klip excellorator is cheaper and is a mix of the NXT and the x-one, not sure how it compares to the NXT OS. Also note that you can get the NXT Max in an 18g
Thanks for the imput. I played last night against a pusher. He was incredibly fit, did not hit with much pace, but got to almost everything I threw at him. After losing the first set 5-7 using the racquet with the TNT fat core I noticed that the strings did not feel quite right. They seemed to have lost some of their elasticity and the strings were moving quite a lot. This is after about 10 hours of previous play with them. I switched to the racquet with the NXT max. These strings had a lot more than 10 hours of play on them, but still felt better and with more feel and elasticity than the fat core. One variable is that I strung the fat core myself on my Gamma x-2 drop weight, while the Wilson NXT had been strung by Tennis Warehouse when I bought it. I don't know if this was a factor. My match ended so late at night that I have not had the chance to check that string to see if something happened to the fat core, e.g, a knot slipping or something. At times I almost thought I had broken a string because of the way it felt to me, but I did not see any broken string.
I lost in a three set tie breaker. The tie breaker score was 5-7. Rats!
I lost in a three set tie breaker. The tie breaker score was 5-7. Rats!
jackson vile
G.O.A.T.
the NXT will feel great until it breaks.
Yeah, I think the NXT max in 17 g might be a very good one to use. 18 g may be just too thin.
Does anyone know the difference between the NXT and NXT max, besides the price I mean? Like what is the physical difference? More fibres in the max? A coating on it? Or are they just completely different strings?
Does anyone know the difference between the NXT and NXT max, besides the price I mean? Like what is the physical difference? More fibres in the max? A coating on it? Or are they just completely different strings?
jackson vile
G.O.A.T.
spirit said:
If you check it has more of everything, 38% instead of 24% of the what ever stuff and more of the other stuff, sorry can't remember the materials names
Update
OK, I've continued to use these two Prostaff Surge racquets, one strung with the TNT fat core and the one strung with the NXT max. After my experience with the close loss to the pusher I inspected both racquets. Nothing obvisously wrong with the string jobs. The bad experience with the fat core must be that it is not a good string to play when playing against someone who puts no pace on the ball. Too difficult a string to use when you have to supply all the pace on the ball. Whereas the NXT max is a softer, more elastic string with more feel and grip on the ball. I was able to use this string against the pusher more effectively.
I next used the two racquets in a doubles match against opponents who put some pace on the ball. The TNT fat core was a much better string in that game, especially at the net, where it allowed me to hit my volleys deep and with pace more easily than did the NXT max.
I then used the two racquets in a singles match against an opponent who produced moderate pace. The TNT fat core allowed me to hit some screaming forehand winning service returns, and generally provided me with more pace on my own serves.
However, I lost both the doubles match and the following singles match, so neither string was enough to compensate for my inferior play relative to my opponents.
A continuing caveat with this comparison of these strings is that the TNT fat core is the far fresher string job. The NXT max has been in my racquet for a far longer time. A better comparison would be if I had each racquet strung fresh with each string.
But obvisously the most important point for me is to improve my game. Neither string will help me much if I don't do that.
OK, I've continued to use these two Prostaff Surge racquets, one strung with the TNT fat core and the one strung with the NXT max. After my experience with the close loss to the pusher I inspected both racquets. Nothing obvisously wrong with the string jobs. The bad experience with the fat core must be that it is not a good string to play when playing against someone who puts no pace on the ball. Too difficult a string to use when you have to supply all the pace on the ball. Whereas the NXT max is a softer, more elastic string with more feel and grip on the ball. I was able to use this string against the pusher more effectively.
I next used the two racquets in a doubles match against opponents who put some pace on the ball. The TNT fat core was a much better string in that game, especially at the net, where it allowed me to hit my volleys deep and with pace more easily than did the NXT max.
I then used the two racquets in a singles match against an opponent who produced moderate pace. The TNT fat core allowed me to hit some screaming forehand winning service returns, and generally provided me with more pace on my own serves.
However, I lost both the doubles match and the following singles match, so neither string was enough to compensate for my inferior play relative to my opponents.
A continuing caveat with this comparison of these strings is that the TNT fat core is the far fresher string job. The NXT max has been in my racquet for a far longer time. A better comparison would be if I had each racquet strung fresh with each string.
But obvisously the most important point for me is to improve my game. Neither string will help me much if I don't do that.
ace of spades
Semi-Pro
your fat core probably just broke in after the 12 or so hours you played with it, and now, it feels how it is supposed to.
ace of spades said:
I think you are right. The fat core is playing better now that I have more playing time on it. Must have needed a break in period. I've been hitting some wicked service returns and some nice backhand and forehand dippers just over the net. Tough for an opponent to volley those back.
