Odd discovery

[TonyB]

Funny that I never really noticed it before, but it seems that the cross strings really wear down a lot faster than the mains. I guess the reason that I haven't noticed it in years is that I've been using natural gut mains and poly crosses for so long. The gut mains always break first.

But now that I've gone to full natural gut, I see that the cross strings are wearing down almost immediately and the mains aren't even really broken in yet. This leads me to believe that the majority of the stress in the stringbed is felt by the crosses.

Which is making me think that it's the crosses that deliver the power and feel in the stringbed rather than the mains. The mains just seem to be along for the ride at this point, maybe providing some elasticity to the stringbed, but not shouldering the majority of the load. I'm thinking of putting something cheaper and much softer in the mains and sticking with gut for my crosses.

Anyone with me on this? Or am I completely off-base?

 

[tennisfreak15347]

really? I notice that the majority of the notching comes from my mains, especially apparent in Wilson sensation.

 

[TonyB]

really? I notice that the majority of the notching comes from my mains, especially apparent in Wilson sensation.

If by that you mean that the mains notch first, then I definitely agree.

But that's not what I was saying. My point is that the crosses look very well-worn and the mains look brand new (except for the notching). The crosses are all cloudy and fuzzy, while the mains are crystal clear and not showing any broken fibers at all.

Maybe what that really means is that I need something that plays soft, but is durable, in the mains. Like something more durable but at a lower tension. I'm not really sure what to make of it.

 

[forehand2theface]

cause your hitting the ball in a way that moves the main from direct force, which makes them move around and scrape against the cross

 

[teppeiahn1]

Usually crosses saw into the mains.

 

[Irvin]

I would think it would all depend on the racket path through the ball. Most people move the racket from low to high in such a motion that the mains deflect from the 3 to 6 o'clock positions. This deflection type or sawing motion by the mains cause friction between the crosses and mains. Since the mains are the strings that move all the friction is centered in one spot on the mains and distributed across the crosses so the mains notch and the crosses start fraying. The notching will cut through the strings much fast so the mains will split and break faster. When the player drags the racket across the ball or hits with a more pronounced angle the strings are deflected in a different manner.

The mains strings are longer in the racket and if the tension in the crosses and mains is held constant it stands to reason the mains are easier to move back and forth.

Irvin

 

[Pusher]

Tony, I think that is fairly common. When I was stringing gut I noticed that the crosses usually started to fray more than the mains. I'm sure there is a reason for that but I can't come up with one-Maybe Irvin has the answer.

 

[Irvin]

It all depends on the players stroke. Most people keep their racket parallel to the ground so the mains go from side line to side line in a low to high path. This action moves the mains strings. Some people put side spin on the ball and the racket is moved so that the crosses move more.

Because of friction the strings that move more are the strings that are damaged more. This is not to say both are not damaged.

If you are using a textured string the the sawing will be more pronounced. Imagine a saw with no teeth. It will still go through the board but it will take a little longer.

If you are using a textured string I would suggest using a hybrid if you find the string breaking too fast. Like Prince topspin. If your mains break too fast you want to change the cross string to a smoother string. Many people like Prince Topspin because of the feel. They dislike it because of its durability. I put Topspin in the mains and Prince Syn Gut with Duraflex in the crosses and it work better for them.

Irvin

 

[forehand2theface]

if you pound the ball flat, the mains have more of a chance of breaking.
if you use lots of spin, the crosses break easier

 

[saturn]

I recently started using Wilson NXT and noticed also that the crosses frayed first. It didn't happen with any other string I've tried before but I also haven't tried gut yet. It happens with certain strings I guess.

 

[Irvin]

I recently started using Wilson NXT and noticed also that the crosses frayed first. It didn't happen with any other string I've tried before but I also haven't tried gut yet. It happens with certain strings I guess.

Let me guess you also never tried a multi-filament strings before either.

Irvin

 

[TonyB]

I would think it would all depend on the racket path through the ball. Most people move the racket from low to high in such a motion that the mains deflect from the 3 to 6 o'clock positions. This deflection type or sawing motion by the mains cause friction between the crosses and mains. Since the mains are the strings that move all the friction is centered in one spot on the mains and distributed across the crosses so the mains notch and the crosses start fraying. The notching will cut through the strings much fast so the mains will split and break faster. When the player drags the racket across the ball or hits with a more pronounced angle the strings are deflected in a different manner.

The mains strings are longer in the racket and if the tension in the crosses and mains is held constant it stands to reason the mains are easier to move back and forth.

Irvin

I think you might be onto something here. It makes sense, anyways.

However, I still wonder why my mains aren't breaking in like the crosses. I always string with the crosses about 2-3 lb. lower than the mains anyways. But it seems that the mains aren't bearing much of the load, if any. The crosses are not only frayed, but they're internally broken in. It's visually obvious. But the mains look brand new and internally clear.

It's funny that many people (including myself in the past) say that the mains dictate the feel and power in the stringbed, but this latest experience seems to disprove that. Also, I used to string poly in the crosses with my gut mains and the stringbed was noticeably stiffer and offered less touch. It seems that the poly crosses overwhelmed the gut mains, indicating that the feel, power, and power of the stringbed is probably dictated more by the crosses than the mains.

So I guess what I'm looking for is a very soft, but durable string to put in the mains and probably loosen up the natural gut crosses a bit more than usual to transfer some of the load to the mains.

Anyone got any opinions on using Gosen Polylon Comfort in the mains and gut in the crosses?

 

[spdskr]

Tony,
My normal setup is gut mains and poly crosses. I have also strung both full gut and poly mains with gut crosses. All three setups feel different:

Full Gut: By far the most power and most feel at net, but the mains move quite a bit and spin is not as accessable has other two options. I also notice the crosses breaking down faster than the mains. However, the mains finally start wearing and break before the crosses (near the upper center of the sweet spot). This setup is a "softer" hit and great for generating pace on the serve.

Gut Mains/Poly Crosses: Great power and control. Strings do not move. Mains break first. The setup is the easiest for me to hit deep shots with good spin. Not as much feel as full gut or as "soft" a hit. Durability as good or better than full gut. My preferred string job.

Poly Mains/Gut Crosses: Easiest to generate spin, but less power and much less feel. Strings do not move. Crosses would break first, but poly will go dead before that occurrs. Difficult for me to get the depth on my shots that I can get with the above setups. Numb feeling at net.

Why not try a different brand of gut? I have only experimented with Klip, Babolat, and Pacific but they each have unique characteristics. Personally, I'll never put anything in my mains again but gut (regardless of the brand).

Just my 2 cents. Hope you find your solution.

 

[Irvin]

The crosses are not only frayed, but they're internally broken in. It's visually obvious. But the mains look brand new and internally clear.

...

So I guess what I'm looking for is a very soft, but durable string to put in the mains and probably loosen up the natural gut crosses a bit more than usual to transfer some of the load to the mains.

Anyone got any opinions on using Gosen Polylon Comfort in the mains and gut in the crosses?

I am not sure what type of string you have in the mains but it sounds like gut in the crosses. It is normal for the gut strings to break down in that manner. Sounds like you may have polyester strings in the mains. It is normal for them not to break down in that manner.

If you want to get a softer string bed you could use something like Prince Syn Gut 15L or Gamma Marathon 15L. Moving to a softer poly would still give you a firm string bed.

Irvin

 

[TonyB]

I am not sure what type of string you have in the mains but it sounds like gut in the crosses. It is normal for the gut strings to break down in that manner. Sounds like you may have polyester strings in the mains. It is normal for them not to break down in that manner.

If you want to get a softer string bed you could use something like Prince Syn Gut 15L or Gamma Marathon 15L. Moving to a softer poly would still give you a firm string bed.

Irvin

I said a couple of times that I'm using full gut.

I'm just looking for something that will allow me to transfer some of the load to the mains, as they don't seem to be absorbing much of the impact at this point, since they're not breaking in like the crosses.