Play-until-it-breaks Poly strings?

[SF_45er]

Are there poly strings that folks leave in their racket until they break (without hurting their arm)? Would thinner gauges ensure that? Or specific strings? This is for a UTR 4 player (my 11 y/o). Not a string breaker.

So Im looking for simplicity -- nice thing about syn gut or multi is you generally just worry about it once it breaks.

 

[Remioli]

This is for a UTR 4 player. Not a string breaker.

I cannot imagine a UTR 4 breaking poly strings before the die. I'm a UTR 6 and I never break poly, they always get stiff first.

 

[SF_45er]

I cannot imagine a UTR 4 breaking poly strings before the die. I'm a UTR 6 and I never break poly, they always get stiff first.

Agreed! Im also a UTR 6 and I never break poly. With 1.20 usually lasts be 12-13 hours, though sometimes last 3-4 are questionable. Max has been 20 hours with thicker gauges. Ive read on other threads (cant locate them) of folks using super thin gauges so wondering if that might help. Or some magical type of poly I havent used

 

[UnderArmServeOP]

Some UTR 4 players have broken strings just because they brush the ball so much. I've seen it happen.

 

[tele]

Are there poly strings that folks leave in their racket until they break (without hurting their arm)? Would thinner gauges ensure that? Or specific strings? This is for a UTR 4 player. Not a string breaker.

So Im looking for simplicity -- nice thing about syn gut or multi is you generally just worry about it once it breaks.

If poly notches, especially the crosses, it will get stiff. There may be some poly I am unaware of, but the idea of a lower intermediate player hitting a notched poly stringbed until it breaks(if that ever happens) makes my arm hurt. Moreover, the appealing characteristics of the poly would be gone for the majority of the time they would be using it. Unless this person is dead set on poly, the simplest choice is to use a multi like triax that will give them a little more spin/control than the average multi.

 

[Ronaldo]

Go all the way, Stainless Steel Plastic-Coated Steel Wire Rope mains. Nylon crosses. Just re-string the crosses. 4Life!

 

[Chairman3]

Poly Tour Strike 1.20
Longest used was 15 or 16hrs. It was decently notched and mains were moving, it was a neutral (not too open or closed) 16x19, but I was losing a little control and wasn't pressed to keep it in.

In more open patterns I've had slightly more notching with slightly less time used but it is definitely a play-til-it-breaks string.

 

[DropWideShot]

put a 20 gauge cross and 18/19 in the mains and maybe you'll get what you are asking for (the chance to push the string until it breaks with little to no arm considerations). 20 on the mains is too thin unless you are a child or at the senior level as even a 3.0 - 3.5 guy could break a 20 gauge full bed string job in about 2 hours (max).

 

[esgee48]

Has to be the Soft variant of a normal copoly or polyester. The Soft versions embed poly in a softer elastic matrix. Spin decreases, but stiffness does not increase as much cuz there is less poly to work harden. I would not use poly strings at all if you want to leave such strings in place. Better off using a control type multi main with a slick SG.

 

[johnmccabe]

Use whatever you use. Cut it after 15hrs. Simpler?

 

[Kevo]

Other than all the cool kids do it, there isn't a very compelling reason to use poly if you don't actually need durability.

2¢

 

[K1Y]

Are there poly strings that folks leave in their racket until they break (without hurting their arm)? Would thinner gauges ensure that? Or specific strings? This is for a UTR 4 player. Not a string breaker.

So Im looking for simplicity -- nice thing about syn gut or multi is you generally just worry about it once it breaks.

Black code fire. Plays well till breakage for me at 12 hours.

 

[SF_45er]

deleted

 

[SF_45er]

Other than all the cool kids do it, there isn't a very compelling reason to use poly if you don't actually need durability.

2¢

I know it's popular to say this, but it just isn't true in competitive singles tennis. The best juniors are playing with flawless technique and tons of spin. The spin is coming from both technique and strings. If it weren't the case people would not be using poly at all. Even at 4.0/4.5 adult level singles, it makes a huge difference.

That said -sure, if money is no object, use a gut hybrid (and in a 18x20 it's probably cheaper IME) or Multis.

 

[mxvb]

Alu 1.10 or Alu 1.15

 

[SF_45er]

Alu 1.10 or Alu 1.15

Thanks! I've never tried anything lower than 1.18. I guess it's about time!

 

[Roforot]

I know it's popular to say this, but it just isn't true in competitive singles tennis. The best juniors are playing with flawless technique and tons of spin. The spin is coming from both technique and strings. If it weren't the case people would not be using poly at all. Even at 4.0/4.5 adult level singles, it makes a huge difference.

That said -sure, if money is no object, use a gut hybrid (and in a 18x20 it's probably cheaper IME) or Multis.

OP is UTR of 4. I don’t think he’s getting much benefit from poly. But I can’t say there isn’t any. As it will help w spin but not as much as better technique.

If he strings himself and theres no pain, go ahead and use poly. But its hard to imagine yhe scenario where he can break the poly before it goes dead… even 20g. Perhaps he swings like a maniac and hits one of eight shots in… something like that perhaps

 

[SF_45er]

OP is UTR of 4. I don’t think he’s getting much benefit from poly. But I can’t say there isn’t any. As it will help w spin but not as much as better technique.

If he strings himself and theres no pain, go ahead and use poly. But its hard to imagine yhe scenario where he can break the poly before it goes dead… even 20g. Perhaps he swings like a maniac and hits one of eight shots in… something like that perhaps

Im a UTR 6, but this wasnt for me. I was a bit vague in my OP. So this is for a junior -- 11 year old girl. In nor cal for 12u, the very top girls might be UTR 6-7, but Top 30 more like UTR 4-5. So these are girls with very good technique (specifically: lots of topsin). Some of them just not very big yet. It certainly looks to me like they're getting benefit of poly...just watching matches. But hard to say for sure. As a barely UTR6, and someone who has tried every manner of string, I certainly benefit from poly myself. It would be nuts for me to argue otherwise. Juniors a bit below me in level seem to think they do as well.

 

[Roforot]

Thanks for clarifying. Perhaps you said earlier but how often are they breaking their multi or syn gut now?

 

[Kevo]

I know it's popular to say this, but it just isn't true in competitive singles tennis. The best juniors are playing with flawless technique and tons of spin. The spin is coming from both technique and strings. If it weren't the case people would not be using poly at all. Even at 4.0/4.5 adult level singles, it makes a huge difference.

I switched to kevlar before polys were a thing, and it wasn't for spin or feel that's for sure. Poly was a better option for people than kevlar. The people you talk about that hit with tons of spin and good technique would all be breaking nylon very often.

 

[SF_45er]

Thanks for clarifying. Perhaps you said earlier but how often are they breaking their multi or syn gut now?

I think 6 weeks to break poly 1.20/syn gut1.25 hybrid, playing 6-7 days a week. Probably on the order of 55-60 practice hours.

 

[K1Y]

I think 6 weeks to break poly 1.20/syn gut1.25 hybrid, playing 6-7 days a week. Probably on the order of 55-60 practice hours.

60 hours with one stringbed before it breaks?

 

[DariaGT]

Pro's Pro Concept no one will ever snap as a Cross string or even a Main even
better than 4G as its WC Scorpion rebranded made in Germany.

It is slick, shiny pearl string that eats everything for a snack as it makes them snap back
The only combo that lasted for me has been stringing 15L tour bite Mains @48lbs
and Concept 1.33 Xs @ 44lbs on 1993 Gen 1 PK Destiny 352gsm/342sw.

 

[LOBALOT]

Im a UTR 6, but this wasnt for me. I was a bit vague in my OP. So this is for a junior -- 11 year old girl. In nor cal for 12u, the very top girls might be UTR 6-7, but Top 30 more like UTR 4-5. So these are girls with very good technique (specifically: lots of topsin). Some of them just not very big yet. It certainly looks to me like they're getting benefit of poly...just watching matches. But hard to say for sure. As a barely UTR6, and someone who has tried every manner of string, I certainly benefit from poly myself. It would be nuts for me to argue otherwise. Juniors a bit below me in level seem to think they do as well.

This is about the age the tournament players begin to transition from their multi setups into hybrids or softer poly strings. What is wrong with a hybrid instead of making the leap in one full swoop?

My son's pathway was full multi->poly/multi hybrid->lux element->other full poly setups. This was 10 years ago now so there are probably better ideas out there but this one worked for us.

 

[Roforot]

I think 6 weeks to break poly 1.20/syn gut1.25 hybrid, playing 6-7 days a week. Probably on the order of 55-60 practice hours.

May I suggest tru pro ghostwire. It is very soft poly. You can even get 1.10 or 1.17.
It is not a crazy spin string but I feel it is safe and once this is breaking, you can transition to using a different poly in the mains. Ghost wire works as a great cross primarily but Ive seen full beds in certain situations.

 

[SF_45er]

This is about the age the tournament players begin to transition from their multi setups into hybrids or softer poly strings. What is wrong with a hybrid instead of making the leap in one full swoop?

My son's pathway was full multi->poly/multi hybrid->lux element->other full poly setups. This was 10 years ago now so there are probably better ideas out there but this one worked for us.

Hey thanks for sharing your experience! So yeah - that's sort of what we're doing! Transitioning from Syn Gut to Poly/Syn Gut. SG on its own worked well -- combination of everything. We're recently started doing Poly/SG hybrid but day before match strings broke and had to use the backup racket which was just SG. But she just won the L6 tournament with SG. Good news. However I noticed opponents were hitting a bit heavier balls with full poly. So certainly going back to Poly/SG at a minimum (seems to play well for her despite lot of folks complaining about locked stringbeds).

Anyway, given that observation, just wondering whether to just transition to soft poly in one swoop. If so, the best options seem:
- cut out at some time marker (two other parents seem to do monthly -- this is likely in the 30+ hours practice time; but I think for 11-12 years that may be ok as the strings seem non-dead for longer).
- wait until it breaks (most brain dead way to remember to replace strings --- best bet seems to be to use a thin gage 1.10).

 

[SF_45er]

May I suggest tru pro ghostwire. It is very soft poly. You can even get 1.10 or 1.17.
It is not a crazy spin string but I feel it is safe and once this is breaking, you can transition to using a different poly in the mains. Ghost wire works as a great cross primarily but Ive seen full beds in certain situations.

I've used GW 1.22 myself in full bed and enjoyed it! It's a solid FB string and makes a nice sound IMO. And I am using GW 1.17 as we speak as the main in my other kid's racket (crossed with wilson SG).Though I didn't realize they make 1.10. Trying a full bed of a soft 1.10 seems like the way to go.

 

[LOBALOT]

Hey thanks for sharing your experience! So yeah - that's sort of what we're doing! Transitioning from Syn Gut to Poly/Syn Gut. SG on its own worked well -- combination of everything. We're recently started doing Poly/SG hybrid but day before match strings broke and had to use the backup racket which was just SG. But she just won the L6 tournament with SG. Good news. However I noticed opponents were hitting a bit heavier balls with full poly. So certainly going back to Poly/SG at a minimum (seems to play well for her despite lot of folks complaining about locked stringbeds).

Anyway, given that observation, just wondering whether to just transition to soft poly in one swoop. If so, the best options seem:
- cut out at some time marker (two other parents seem to do monthly -- this is likely in the 30+ hours practice time; but I think for 11-12 years that may be ok as the strings seem non-dead for longer).
- wait until it breaks (most brain dead way to remember to replace strings --- best bet seems to be to use a thin gage 1.10).

Buy a good stringing machine now. I did for my son at this age and bought a Ghost 2. We had cash set aside for college for my son and I borrowed from that and then strung for others and paid his fund back in about a year.

You are going to want to string often here on out. It is part of being good at the sport and taking racquets multiple times/week to the pro shop to string is $$$$$.

I would not rush the switch to poly. It will come anyway. Heavy balls come from technique not the strings in junior tennis (higher target over the net and brushing).

You will know when it is time to switch to full poly when she is snapping the hybrid like crazy. Then I would look at Lux Element 16L. It is a bit pricy but a really good transition string for junior players.

 

[SF_45er]

Buy a good stringing machine now. I did for my son at this age and bought a Ghost 2. We had cash set aside for college for my son and I borrowed from that and then strung for others and paid his fund back in about a year.

You are going to want to string often here on out. It is part of being good at the sport and taking racquets multiple times/week to the pro shop to string is $$$$$.

I would not rush the switch to poly. It will come anyway. Heavy balls come from technique not the strings in junior tennis (higher target over the net and brushing).

You will know when it is time to switch to full poly when she is snapping the hybrid like crazy. Then I would look at Lux Element 16L. It is a bit pricy but a really good transition string for junior players.

Thanks! Appreciate the parental perspective. Ive got two playing so seems inevitable. Just haven't quite gone down that rabbit hole yet

You will know when it is time to switch to full poly when she is snapping the hybrid like crazy.

Good point. Guess we'll know when we know

 

[LOBALOT]

Thanks! Appreciate the parental perspective. Ive got two playing so seems inevitable. Just haven't quite gone down that rabbit hole yet

Good point. Guess we'll know when we know

Being a "Tennis Dad" is the best. You are going to have a great time. I have so many stories tucked away I could write a book.

With 2 it is 2x the need to string for yourself.

I recall when my son was playing juniors there was a family that had 2 playing and it was crazy. On weekends one parent would be 2 states over with their kid playing in a tournament meanwhile the other parent would be 2 states in the other direction with the other at a tournament (They were different age divisions).

My wife and I only have our son. He is now a senior playing college tennis so our tennis parent days will soon be over.

 

[chic]

Hey thanks for sharing your experience! So yeah - that's sort of what we're doing! Transitioning from Syn Gut to Poly/Syn Gut. SG on its own worked well -- combination of everything. We're recently started doing Poly/SG hybrid but day before match strings broke and had to use the backup racket which was just SG. But she just won the L6 tournament with SG. Good news. However I noticed opponents were hitting a bit heavier balls with full poly. So certainly going back to Poly/SG at a minimum (seems to play well for her despite lot of folks complaining about locked stringbeds).

Anyway, given that observation, just wondering whether to just transition to soft poly in one swoop. If so, the best options seem:
- cut out at some time marker (two other parents seem to do monthly -- this is likely in the 30+ hours practice time; but I think for 11-12 years that may be ok as the strings seem non-dead for longer).
- wait until it breaks (most brain dead way to remember to replace strings --- best bet seems to be to use a thin gage 1.10).

No real benefit to poly vs nylon mains with poly crosses, although that is the most breakable combo (if you're doing the reverse now might want to try to the Poly cross hybrid setup).

Since it sounds like you're a pretty serious tennis house, or will be soon, with you and 2 kids playing, gonna also say time to buy a stringer and some reels. I'm also a ghostwire 1.1 proponent (as a cross string anyway) but be ready for the kid to want to switch to a mainline brand in a few years.

Also might be time to invest in 1-2 more racquets for the rotation so there is always one with fresh strings headed into tournament weekend. Good to have 2 fully matching racquets including strings - gives the confidence in the equipment so that she's not blaming that when matches get difficult or workouts get hard.

 

[maksp]

Pro's Pro Concept no one will ever snap as a Cross string or even a Main even
better than 4G as its WC Scorpion rebranded made in Germany.

It is slick, shiny pearl string that eats everything for a snack as it makes them snap back
The only combo that lasted for me has been stringing 15L tour bite Mains @48lbs
and Concept 1.33 Xs @ 44lbs on 1993 Gen 1 PK Destiny 352gsm/342sw.

How is the stiffness? What other strings are close?

 

[Hawks9451]

4G plays basically the same from fresh to broken

 

[Rosstour]

OP is UTR of 4. I don’t think he’s getting much benefit from poly. But I can’t say there isn’t any. As it will help w spin but not as much as better technique.

If he strings himself and theres no pain, go ahead and use poly. But its hard to imagine yhe scenario where he can break the poly before it goes dead… even 20g. Perhaps he swings like a maniac and hits one of eight shots in… something like that perhaps

My UTR is currently under 4.5 and I can hit pretty big with lots of spin. Too much variance to say one's rating should dictate equipment without knowing more about their game

 

[slal1984]

it comes with a side of tennis elbow

 

[VanDerVaart23]

Grapplesnake Tour M8

 

[10sbeast888]

all this poly go dead talk got me puzzled.. maybe I just don't know enough.

been using goldenset power cord for 10+ years always played till break... very soft low power string that many friends also like... never heard of any of them cutting out or getting arm issues.

switched to Solinco TB a couple of years ago always played till break, never any problems.

 

[stapletonj]

I know it's popular to say this, but it just isn't true in competitive singles tennis. The best juniors are playing with flawless technique and tons of spin. The spin is coming from both technique and strings. If it weren't the case people would not be using poly at all. Even at 4.0/4.5 adult level singles, it makes a huge difference.

That said -sure, if money is no object, use a gut hybrid (and in a 18x20 it's probably cheaper IME) or Multis.

If you restring poly like you should, it often works out that the gut M/poly X works out to be just as cheap if you can restring crosses only.

 

[veelium]

Full bed triax, plays fantastic until break, control and spin like a (not-so-spinny) poly.
If you are not a string breaker, imo (one of) the best strings to try.

 

[CiscoPC600]

I know it's popular to say this, but it just isn't true in competitive singles tennis. The best juniors are playing with flawless technique and tons of spin. The spin is coming from both technique and strings. If it weren't the case people would not be using poly at all. Even at 4.0/4.5 adult level singles, it makes a huge difference.

That said -sure, if money is no object, use a gut hybrid (and in a 18x20 it's probably cheaper IME) or Multis.

My buddy was in the top 3 for 4.5 for California and made it to the semis of USTA’s tournament nationals (in 2023 I believe) using his trusty Head Rip Control. I know plenty of others that are the same.

The point is: many people overstate the difference poly makes at the rec level.

 

[dak95_00]

Being a "Tennis Dad" is the best. You are going to have a great time. I have so many stories tucked away I could write a book.

With 2 it is 2x the need to string for yourself.

I recall when my son was playing juniors there was a family that had 2 playing and it was crazy. On weekends one parent would be 2 states over with their kid playing in a tournament meanwhile the other parent would be 2 states in the other direction with the other at a tournament (They were different age divisions).

My wife and I only have our son. He is now a senior playing college tennis so our tennis parent days will soon be over.

I wasn't a tennis dad. Mine were into soccer and basketball. The youngest's basketball days ended in high school and now she plays college club tennis. They travel all over and I go and watch her play. It's a fun atmosphere. Club tennis or tennis on campus has an interesting format with a women's singles set, a women's doubles set, a men's singles set, a men's doubles set, and a mixed doubles set. She has played against former D1 men's and women's players who have transitioned away from the grind to the fun format. The really weird thing is the match winner isn't determined by the winner of the sets. It's determined by the team that won the most games. Oh. And a player can only participate in two sets and they could also be subbed out in the middle. I witnessed only one tournament at West Virginia University but my wife attended another at Purdue.

 

[Robert F]

4G plays basically the same from fresh to broken

I'm a big fan of 4G. Most of the time I'm able to play with it before it breaks. I'll wind up breaking it somewhere between 2-4 weeks, usually playing at least 4 times a week.
Once in a while something feels off and I'll cut it out. Whereas a lot of other polys I like will play different after a week or two for me--loses consistency with the, more unpredictable flight paths, less responsive. So then I'll cut those out.. Rarely does this happen with 4G.

I wonder if 4G just loses tension so slowly that you naturally adapt to the changes in the string bed whereas the bigger drops of other strings happen so steeply it is harder to adapt to?

On this thread, I'm not sure 4G is the best string for a junior transitioning from syn gut to poly. It is one of the stiffer strings out there.
Althought both my daughters did fine with 4G in high school.

 

[Conrado85]

Hexonic 2.0

 

[Happi]

My buddy was in the top 3 for 4.5 for California and made it to the semis of USTA’s tournament nationals (in 2023 I believe) using his trusty Head Rip Control. I know plenty of others that are the same.

The point is: many people overstate the difference poly makes at the rec level.

There is this player from my country who is a former ITF world no 1 in +55 and who won the world Championship with his trusted RIP Control. At almost 70 now he has a WTN below 20, so still a really good player and still hits with RIP Control. I dont see many players here at his level, so if RIP control is good him I guess most players here could do well with RIP and save their arm.

For more spin and snapback, one of my favorite combos are RIP Control mains with Multifeel black as cross (its Intellitour on steriods). Only drawback is that MF will not last that long.

 

[Roforot]

My UTR is currently under 4.5 and I can hit pretty big with lots of spin. Too much variance to say one's rating should dictate equipment without knowing more about their game

I suspect you'd probably hit with a lot of spin even if you used syn gut.

 

[maksp]

There is this player from my country who is a former ITF world no 1 in +55 and who won the world Championship with his trusted RIP Control. At almost 70 now he has a WTN below 20, so still a really good player and still hits with RIP Control. I dont see many players here at his level, so if RIP control is good him I guess most players here could do well with RIP and save their arm.

For more spin and snapback, one of my favorite combos are RIP Control mains with Multifeel black as cross (its Intellitour on steriods). Only drawback is that MF will not last that long.

You try swift or cream instead of MF?

 

[SF_45er]

I'm a big fan of 4G. Most of the time I'm able to play with it before it breaks. I'll wind up breaking it somewhere between 2-4 weeks, usually playing at least 4 times a week.
Once in a while something feels off and I'll cut it out. Whereas a lot of other polys I like will play different after a week or two for me--loses consistency with the, more unpredictable flight paths, less responsive. So then I'll cut those out.. Rarely does this happen with 4G.

I wonder if 4G just loses tension so slowly that you naturally adapt to the changes in the string bed whereas the bigger drops of other strings happen so steeply it is harder to adapt to?

On this thread, I'm not sure 4G is the best string for a junior transitioning from syn gut to poly. It is one of the stiffer strings out there.
Althought both my daughters did fine with 4G in high school.

Thanks - I found this helpful! Less for this specific situation but more for myself. I am planning to string up 4G Soft next in my racket. I've shied away from it due to it's stiff reputation. But since I want to experiment with lower tensions, it seems to fit the bill (I think stiffer and crisper strings at lower tensions will suit me better than soft strings I've been trying - eg Hyper G soft needs 50-52 lbs in my APDO. I will try 4GS somewhere at 42-45).

 

[SF_45er]

Update: So the next setup I've put in my daughter's racket is Ghostwire 1.17 / Wilson Syn Gut 1.25. I had discovered this somewhat by accident since I had GW lying around as a cross for me (I didn't like it myself as a cross with HG but I've previously liked GW 1.22 as a full bed). Anyway - there's something really nice about this, at least freshly strung (I've hit with it myself); way nicer than other hybrids Ive tried. When I've tried a heavily shaped main (yonex poly tour spin) with syn gut it just didn't produce much spin. I will definitely stick with round polys if I do poly/SG. Heck I might try this hybrid in my own racket.

Also, at latest count, she's breaking syn gut every 3.5-4 weeks now. So I realized from a stringing cost perspective, I could justify just restringing a full bed of 1.10 or 1.15 gauge poly once a month; GW 1.1 would be a great candidate as suggested). So the "play until it breaks" premise might be somewhat moot. I'd also look at PTP 1.15, and 1.10 or 1.15 of Solinco HG/Conf/TB.

As to stringing machine: I'm going to wait until it's inevitable My guy in chinatown delivers and picks up for $15 so at least until he raises his rates. But I do plan to get reels at some point sooner.