Hi all,
I recently play tested a Percept 97 (strung with Polytour Pro at 23 kg/51 lbs) and loved it. I felt that the only downside was that (just like seemingly everybody else) it wasn't very stable against heavy balls so I will instantly add some weight to 3 and 9 and probably some in the handle. I am looking for some opinions on what to string it with.
Some background: last year, I mostly played with a 2023 Gravity MP that I strung with Babolat Touch VS 130 in the mains and RPM Blast 125 in the crosses (switched a little between 23 kg/51 lbs and 24 kg/53 lbs in mains and crosses and vice versa). Liked that racket a lot. Recently wanted to try the new Head Speed MP to get some more stability and spin. Gut/poly hybrid didn't work for me with that racket, became way too launchy. The past couple of weeks, I have been playing with Head Lynx Tour at 23 kg/51 lbs and that suited the racket a lot better. I enjoy the racket a lot and feel I play well with it, but think I would prefer a more head light and maneuverable racket with more control. Moreover, I am starting to feel my elbow after long sessions with the poly strung Speed MP. So that's why I want to change to the Percept 97, preferably with a gut/poly string setup.
My thoughts are to put Babolat Touch VS in the mains and Luxilon 4G Rough in de crosses. At what tension would you guys string that? I'm guessing fairly low, right? Like 53 lbs in the mains, and 51 in the crosses, or even lower? I saw some pro players with gut setups going even in the direction of 45 lbs like Max Purcell. In general gut hybrids need to be a bit higher than that right? The Percept 97 is already a relatively controlled and small frame, so I would like to have a comfortable stringbed with some power that opens up the sweet spot a little. Especially since I am still improving on technique a lot and dont want to be punished too bad when the ball hits a little outside of the sweetspot. I am not a big string breaker, and don't want to change my strings too often with this hybrid setup so that's why I think a 4G is a bit better than Alu Power, and I think rough is nice to give me some extra bite on the ball.
I'm from Europe so I don't know what US level equivalent I am. I guess a high intermediate. Played some tennis as a kid, and have been started playing tennis again for the past 2 years. 34 y/o male, height 193 cm. I play 3 times a week on average, with private lessons every week. Dedicated to get better. Dont play matches now, but probably will this fall at club level. I have an eastern grip with a twist, and a one handed backhand (the latter most important reason to switch to a 98/97 inch frame instead of 100).
Thanks!!
I recently play tested a Percept 97 (strung with Polytour Pro at 23 kg/51 lbs) and loved it. I felt that the only downside was that (just like seemingly everybody else) it wasn't very stable against heavy balls so I will instantly add some weight to 3 and 9 and probably some in the handle. I am looking for some opinions on what to string it with.
Some background: last year, I mostly played with a 2023 Gravity MP that I strung with Babolat Touch VS 130 in the mains and RPM Blast 125 in the crosses (switched a little between 23 kg/51 lbs and 24 kg/53 lbs in mains and crosses and vice versa). Liked that racket a lot. Recently wanted to try the new Head Speed MP to get some more stability and spin. Gut/poly hybrid didn't work for me with that racket, became way too launchy. The past couple of weeks, I have been playing with Head Lynx Tour at 23 kg/51 lbs and that suited the racket a lot better. I enjoy the racket a lot and feel I play well with it, but think I would prefer a more head light and maneuverable racket with more control. Moreover, I am starting to feel my elbow after long sessions with the poly strung Speed MP. So that's why I want to change to the Percept 97, preferably with a gut/poly string setup.
My thoughts are to put Babolat Touch VS in the mains and Luxilon 4G Rough in de crosses. At what tension would you guys string that? I'm guessing fairly low, right? Like 53 lbs in the mains, and 51 in the crosses, or even lower? I saw some pro players with gut setups going even in the direction of 45 lbs like Max Purcell. In general gut hybrids need to be a bit higher than that right? The Percept 97 is already a relatively controlled and small frame, so I would like to have a comfortable stringbed with some power that opens up the sweet spot a little. Especially since I am still improving on technique a lot and dont want to be punished too bad when the ball hits a little outside of the sweetspot. I am not a big string breaker, and don't want to change my strings too often with this hybrid setup so that's why I think a 4G is a bit better than Alu Power, and I think rough is nice to give me some extra bite on the ball.
I'm from Europe so I don't know what US level equivalent I am. I guess a high intermediate. Played some tennis as a kid, and have been started playing tennis again for the past 2 years. 34 y/o male, height 193 cm. I play 3 times a week on average, with private lessons every week. Dedicated to get better. Dont play matches now, but probably will this fall at club level. I have an eastern grip with a twist, and a one handed backhand (the latter most important reason to switch to a 98/97 inch frame instead of 100).
Thanks!!
