Poly cross for gut/poly hybrid?

[SmashServe12]

Ive tried RPM Blast,B5E,Pro Hurricane tour but they were no good for me because they keep cutting through the gut.

Can someone recommend me a poly (preferably non-shaped/textured) to put in the crosses with VS touch 16? Basically im looking for something that keeps its playability duration and that holds tension well.

 

[2Hare]

Ive tried RPM Blast,B5E,Pro Hurricane tour but they were no good for me because they keep cutting through the gut.

Can someone recommend me a poly (preferably non-shaped/textured) to put in the crosses with VS touch 16? Basically im looking for something that keeps its playability duration and that holds tension well.

That depends on what racquet you have, string tension and stroke types. But you can't go wrong with Alu Power. If you have a high power frame, MSV CoFocus is great for that.

 

[Maui19]

I am back to a gut/poly hybrid after trying a full poly bed for a week (ouch!). I've been playing gut/poly for close to two years. Here's what I've found:

Tour Bite: Pros-spin, power; Cons-fades too fast. I LOVE this string, but I don't play it because it just doesn't last. I've got some Tour Bite Soft on the way to see how that works.

BH Blue Rough: really good! Tight at first but plays well--nice sound. Saws gut. This is my second fav, but I don't play it because it saws through the gut--even with copious use of string savers.

Cyclone: Feels like Hurricane Feel but more spin. Awesome sound. Nice hitting string. This would be my #1 if it would spin the ball a little more readily.

Hurricane Feel: Pros-solid feel, volleys, serve, durability; Cons-spin. Very good all around string.

Hepta-Twist: Pros-spin; Cons-can't stand plastic feel. Awesome string--very high spin but I can't get past the plasticy sound/feel.

RPM Blast: Pros-spin, power; Cons-horrible tension maint, kills arm when dead. This is the slipperiest string I have ever strung. Gobs of power and spin, but it is true what they say: it dies very quickly, and when it dies, it DIES.

Lux 4G: Pros-tension maint; Cons-average performer across the board. Average on all fronts except tension maintenance.

Co-Focus: Plays well, decent spin and okay power. Lasts forever.

I am currently trying Kirshbaum Pro Line II. I haven't hit with it enough to form an opinion yet.

 

[Stringers]

I am back to a gut/poly hybrid after trying a full poly bed for a week (ouch!). I've been playing gut/poly for close to two years. Here's what I've found:

Tour Bite: Pros-spin, power; Cons-fades too fast. I LOVE this string, but I don't play it because it just doesn't last. I've got some Tour Bite Soft on the way to see how that works.

BH Blue Rough: really good! Tight at first but plays well--nice sound. Saws gut. This is my second fav, but I don't play it because it saws through the gut--even with copious use of string savers.

Cyclone: Feels like Hurricane Feel but more spin. Awesome sound. Nice hitting string. This would be my #1 if it would spin the ball a little more readily.

Hurricane Feel: Pros-solid feel, volleys, serve, durability; Cons-spin. Very good all around string.

Hepta-Twist: Pros-spin; Cons-can't stand plastic feel. Awesome string--very high spin but I can't get past the plasticy sound/feel.

RPM Blast: Pros-spin, power; Cons-horrible tension maint, kills arm when dead. This is the slipperiest string I have ever strung. Gobs of power and spin, but it is true what they say: it dies very quickly, and when it dies, it DIES.

Lux 4G: Pros-tension maint; Cons-average performer across the board. Average on all fronts except tension maintenance.

Co-Focus: Plays well, decent spin and okay power. Lasts forever.

I am currently trying Kirshbaum Pro Line II. I haven't hit with it enough to form an opinion yet.

Out of these, what would you say is your favorite poly cross?

I'm happy with Pacific Classic/CoF right now, but I may experiment with some more Gut/Poly combos

 

[ChicagoJack]

Hi Smash Serve,

I've tried at least a dozen Gut / Poly combos over the years. If you put a premium on comfort and overall playability, Weiss Cannon Mosquito Bite 18 and Yonex Poly Pro Tour 1.25 make excellent crosses for gut mains. Both are more comfy than the gold standard MSV Co-Focus, which I played with happily for quite a while.

-Jack

 

[SmashServe12]

Hi everyone im new to these forums and ive been seeing how nice and helpful people are here. Thanks for all the recommendations.

 

[SmashServe12]

That depends on what racquet you have, string tension and stroke types. But you can't go wrong with Alu Power. If you have a high power frame, MSV CoFocus is great for that.

I have a pd2012 which is a pretty powerful racket im interested in the co focus, how long do you think it will last with vs touch mains?

 

[2Hare]

I have a pd2012 which is a pretty powerful racket im interested in the co focus, how long do you think it will last with vs touch mains?

Since it's a smooth poly, it will definitely last longer. But PD2012 chews through strings fast. So you want to use the toughest, thickest gut you can get in there. Applying lubricants to the stringbed can help to extend its life too. Good luck.

 

[tvu]

I had great luck with Genesis Black Magic.

 

[TimothyO]

Ive tried RPM Blast,B5E,Pro Hurricane tour but they were no good for me because they keep cutting through the gut.

Can someone recommend me a poly (preferably non-shaped/textured) to put in the crosses with VS touch 16? Basically im looking for something that keeps its playability duration and that holds tension well.

I too have tried many poly crosses with gut mains and experienced the same issue.

For durability and, especially, tension maintenance, you won't go wrong with 4G 1.25.

4G provides outstanding tension maintenance and control. The only downside I've experienced is slightly less spin potential compared to other polys. But it's not a big deal as the difference is small.

I've also tried "thickening" the gut mains by switching to VS Longevity from VS Touch. Now, not only do I get more time before the gut breaks, but I also get more control than I do with VS Touch. It's also less expensive than VS Touch.

 

[Maui19]

Out of these, what would you say is your favorite poly cross?

I'm happy with Pacific Classic/CoF right now, but I may experiment with some more Gut/Poly combos

My fav is Tour Bite, but it doesn't last long enough for me. I'm going to try the Soft version to see if that is better.

 

[parasailing]

I have tried many polys in the cross and my favorite to date is still the Ltec 4S mainly due to great tension maintenance. For me, it lasts the longest before having to restring though other strings mentioned offer pretty good performance but require more frequent restringing.

 

[SmashServe12]

I too have tried many poly crosses with gut mains and experienced the same issue.

For durability and, especially, tension maintenance, you won't go wrong with 4G 1.25.

4G provides outstanding tension maintenance and control. The only downside I've experienced is slightly less spin potential compared to other polys. But it's not a big deal as the difference is small.

I've also tried "thickening" the gut mains by switching to VS Longevity from VS Touch. Now, not only do I get more time before the gut breaks, but I also get more control than I do with VS Touch. It's also less expensive than VS Touch.

I cant decide between luxilon 4G , MSV co-focus, and weiss cannon Silverstring. Can anyone tell me the differences between them?

 

[TimothyO]

I cant decide between luxilon 4G , MSV co-focus, and weiss cannon Silverstring. Can anyone tell me the differences between them?

I've used all three.

SilverString: nothing special, inferior spin potential. Significant tension loss, denting, and rippling limit its long term viability. No compelling reason to use it.

CoFocus: outstanding spin potential but over time loss of control can be significant. My favorite application for CF is in dense string patterns in small heads where the superior spin potential is maintained while the control loss is mitigated. I've also used pre-stretched MSV Focus Hex which provides spin as good as, or greater than, CoFocus but with greater control. Focus Hex also dents less than CoFocus thereby extending its spin potential but it also cuts through the gut mains faster. No free lunch with Gut/Poly!

4G: the best control and tension maintenance of all but it will dent and ripple more than Focus Hex. So, a little less spin potential compared to CoFocus and Focus Hex.

I've concluded that the two biggest challenges with Gut/Poly for we rec players who don't string every match or ever week is the longevity of the poly cross from two perspectives: cutting the gut mains and tension loss/changes in feel. So far, the single best long term poly cross that I've tested is 4G. Nothing else lasts as long with respect to tension loss and comfort. Spin potential drops a bit but it's still greater than any other setup I've tried such as full poly, full multi, or multi/poly hybrid.

The second best cross is pre-stretched Focus Hex which maintains control and comfort over the long haul and provides the highest level of spin potential. But it will cut through the gut mains faster than other solutions.

My recommendation: pre-stretched Focus Hex unless you break through the gut mains too fast...or 4G is you have the technique to overcome any slight loss in spin potential in order to garner its low tension loss and superior control benefits.

 

[Francis27]

I've used all three.

SilverString: nothing special, inferior spin potential. Significant tension loss, denting, and rippling limit its long term viability. No compelling reason to use it.

CoFocus: outstanding spin potential but over time loss of control can be significant. My favorite application for CF is in dense string patterns in small heads where the superior spin potential is maintained while the control loss is mitigated. I've also used pre-stretched MSV Focus Hex which provides spin as good as, or greater than, CoFocus but with greater control. Focus Hex also dents less than CoFocus thereby extending its spin potential but it also cuts through the gut mains faster. No free lunch with Gut/Poly!

4G: the best control and tension maintenance of all but it will dent and ripple more than Focus Hex. So, a little less spin potential compared to CoFocus and Focus Hex.

I've concluded that the two biggest challenges with Gut/Poly for we rec players who don't string every match or ever week is the longevity of the poly cross from two perspectives: cutting the gut mains and tension loss/changes in feel. So far, the single best long term poly cross that I've tested is 4G. Nothing else lasts as long with respect to tension loss and comfort. Spin potential drops a bit but it's still greater than any other setup I've tried such as full poly, full multi, or multi/poly hybrid.

The second best cross is pre-stretched Focus Hex which maintains control and comfort over the long haul and provides the highest level of spin potential. But it will cut through the gut mains faster than other solutions.

My recommendation: pre-stretched Focus Hex unless you break through the gut mains too fast...or 4G is you have the technique to overcome any slight loss in spin potential in order to garner its low tension loss and superior control benefits.

Very well said! As you may of heard that there will be a luxilon 4G rough and i think it will make 4G even more superior because of the lack of spin.

 

[SmashServe12]

I've used all three.

SilverString: nothing special, inferior spin potential. Significant tension loss, denting, and rippling limit its long term viability. No compelling reason to use it.

CoFocus: outstanding spin potential but over time loss of control can be significant. My favorite application for CF is in dense string patterns in small heads where the superior spin potential is maintained while the control loss is mitigated. I've also used pre-stretched MSV Focus Hex which provides spin as good as, or greater than, CoFocus but with greater control. Focus Hex also dents less than CoFocus thereby extending its spin potential but it also cuts through the gut mains faster. No free lunch with Gut/Poly!

4G: the best control and tension maintenance of all but it will dent and ripple more than Focus Hex. So, a little less spin potential compared to CoFocus and Focus Hex.

I've concluded that the two biggest challenges with Gut/Poly for we rec players who don't string every match or ever week is the longevity of the poly cross from two perspectives: cutting the gut mains and tension loss/changes in feel. So far, the single best long term poly cross that I've tested is 4G. Nothing else lasts as long with respect to tension loss and comfort. Spin potential drops a bit but it's still greater than any other setup I've tried such as full poly, full multi, or multi/poly hybrid.

The second best cross is pre-stretched Focus Hex which maintains control and comfort over the long haul and provides the highest level of spin potential. But it will cut through the gut mains faster than other solutions.

My recommendation: pre-stretched Focus Hex unless you break through the gut mains too fast...or 4G is you have the technique to overcome any slight loss in spin potential in order to garner its low tension loss and superior control benefits.

Thanks Timothy, very good explanation and i will try the 4G

 

[mpournaras]

I've used all three.

SilverString: nothing special, inferior spin potential. Significant tension loss, denting, and rippling limit its long term viability. No compelling reason to use it.

CoFocus: outstanding spin potential but over time loss of control can be significant. My favorite application for CF is in dense string patterns in small heads where the superior spin potential is maintained while the control loss is mitigated. I've also used pre-stretched MSV Focus Hex which provides spin as good as, or greater than, CoFocus but with greater control. Focus Hex also dents less than CoFocus thereby extending its spin potential but it also cuts through the gut mains faster. No free lunch with Gut/Poly!

4G: the best control and tension maintenance of all but it will dent and ripple more than Focus Hex. So, a little less spin potential compared to CoFocus and Focus Hex.

I've concluded that the two biggest challenges with Gut/Poly for we rec players who don't string every match or ever week is the longevity of the poly cross from two perspectives: cutting the gut mains and tension loss/changes in feel. So far, the single best long term poly cross that I've tested is 4G. Nothing else lasts as long with respect to tension loss and comfort. Spin potential drops a bit but it's still greater than any other setup I've tried such as full poly, full multi, or multi/poly hybrid.

The second best cross is pre-stretched Focus Hex which maintains control and comfort over the long haul and provides the highest level of spin potential. But it will cut through the gut mains faster than other solutions.

My recommendation: pre-stretched Focus Hex unless you break through the gut mains too fast...or 4G is you have the technique to overcome any slight loss in spin potential in order to garner its low tension loss and superior control benefits.

How many times did you try Siverstring? Maybe a bad batch?
Everyone (including myself) found the Silverstring to be a fantastic maintainer of tension and power. Spin was mediocre though

 

[Francis27]

TimothyO which will last longer Co focus or 4G? VS touch in mains?

 

[kazamzaa]

For tension maintenance and control Tourna Big hitter silver 17 is good.
I think I've found my poly now.
I'll just try the yonex poly tour pro 1.25 once to find out if it's even better than BHS17. Then I'm done with string tests.

 

[Shangri La]

How many times did you try Siverstring? Maybe a bad batch?
Everyone (including myself) found the Silverstring to be a fantastic maintainer of tension and power. Spin was mediocre though

Yeah, Silverstring is known to have great tension stability and long-lasting playability. A very nice cross string to go with gut.

 

[Doubles]

I've played with SPPP, Black Magic, RPM Blast, Co-Focus, and ALU power crosses with gut mains. As I have had to factor price in to the equation as I pay for my own strings (and am a poor college student) I've found SPPP, and Black Magic to be my two favorite crosses as they hold tension well for polys and provide solid spin.

Another string worth trying, although I've never tried it in a gut/poly hybrid would be Pro Line X. As a full bed it played pretty well. It holds tension nicely, better than Pro Line II, and provides great spin in a full bed. It's a round string with decent power and slides over itself easily, so I could see it playing well in a gut hybrid.

With that said, I haven't played it in a hybrid personally, so this assessment of the hybrid is even more subjective than a review of me having played with the hybrid myself.

 

[SmashServe12]

Ive tried the gut/4g and it was ok lasted a pretty long time.

--

Has anyone else tried Weiss Cannon Silverstring or Co-Focus in a hybrid?

 

[Stringers]

Ive tried the gut/4g and it was ok lasted a pretty long time.

--

Has anyone else tried Weiss Cannon Silverstring or Co-Focus in a hybrid?

I've got CoF in mine now. Great spin potential but tension loss was faster than I would have liked. Still great spin tho. Tough Gut/Mosquito Bite will be the next experiment I believe.

 

[Francis27]

Delete post

 

[SmashServe12]

I've got CoF in mine now. Great spin potential but tension loss was faster than I would have liked. Still great spin tho. Tough Gut/Mosquito Bite will be the next experiment I believe.

Thank you ^^

Can anyone compare the playability duration and tension maintenance of the silverstring and the CoFocus? Which one will last longer and play better with gut mains?

 

[Maui19]

Thank you ^^

Can anyone compare the playability duration and tension maintenance of the silverstring and the CoFocus? Which one will last longer and play better with gut mains?

IMO SS provides more power and spin, but CoF lasts much longer. I found CoF to be a little on the dead side--low powered and harder to spin than most of my other gut/poly hybrids. I find this curious because others have different opinions about this, which is why making string decisions is so hard! lol

 

[Matt G]

First time ive tried lux alu rough with gut tonight (in a k90)

In a mid stiff frame at 50lb, it was comfy. Not as stiff as i thought it would be

The alu seems to love the slickness (even a word?) of th gut, so it does more around a bit, but great spin and power, but without the loss of control

Will be trying this setup (and the normal alu power) with gut in some pt57a's and 293.1's to see how the 18x20 and 16x19 differ

Gut and poly seems to last a long time and be comfy, win win