Poly/Multi Hybrid Tension Question

[Znak]

When I first started out, I used full beds of multi, then more recently to full beds of poly. Now I'm just getting into hybrids and I'm loving the combination of both. My question is; I usually know my tensions for full beds, but how do I know say if I want more power or control which string tension I need to adjust. Do I always adjust my mains first and then see how that responds, or do I make adjustments to both the mains and crosses at the same time?

Currently set up with NRG2/Cyclone at 54/52 in my Yonex DR 98, finding it close but missing both a bit of power and control. I've been usually playing with full beds of Hyper-G/Tour Bite/ Cyclone around 50.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Notirouswithag]

I use a hybrid myself and as a general rule I always string my mains 1-2(maybe even 3) pounds lower than my cross strings.

In my blade 98L im currently using 4G soft @ 52 pounds/ Isospeed cream @ 54 pounds and so far I noticed I have more controllable power overall.

I used to string 54/56 and noticed that I had alot more control when I hit bigger but not as much power

 

[Muppet]

There are a couple of problems with your current setup. NRG2 has a sort of soft, gummy coating and it's a very soft string. With Cyclone's geared shape, the NRG2 will get notched up fast and have a hard time deflecting for good spin. I'd recommend trying two different strings, and go up 2 more lbs. on the multi. This last thing will give you a smaller sweet spot for better control. Or possibly go down on the poly instead.

But you still need good multi/poly hybrid strings. For the main string I would recommend Gosen AK Pro 1.22. For the poly cross I'd recommend Tourna Zone 1.20. I'm looking at these particular strings because they have a similar feel to what you have now and very slippery coatings. For a crisper, livlier feel, substitute Tourna Big Hitter Silver 1.21 for the crosses.

 

[Znak]

There are a couple of problems with your current setup. NRG2 has a sort of soft, gummy coating and it's a very soft string. With Cyclone's geared shape, the NRG2 will get notched up fast and have a hard time deflecting for good spin. I'd recommend trying two different strings, and go up 2 more lbs. on the multi. This last thing will give you a smaller sweet spot for better control. Or possibly go down on the poly instead.

But you still need good multi/poly hybrid strings. For the main string I would recommend Gosen AK Pro 1.22. For the poly cross I'd recommend Tourna Zone 1.20. I'm looking at these particular strings because they have a similar feel to what you have now and very slippery coatings. For a crisper, livlier feel, substitute Tourna Big Hitter Silver 1.21 for the crosses.

Good to know, it was what I had left over in the closet, didn't know it would notch! I wish I could try out the Gosen, but they don't have it where I am (France). Any other suggestions? Still trying to keep the setup relatively arm friendly. Thanks

 

[Znak]

I use a hybrid myself and as a general rule I always string my mains 1-2(maybe even 3) pounds lower than my cross strings.

In my blade 98L im currently using 4G soft @ 52 pounds/ Isospeed cream @ 54 pounds and so far I noticed I have more controllable power overall.

I used to string 54/56 and noticed that I had alot more control when I hit bigger but not as much power

How is Isospeed Cream? Been reading great things, seems like my type of string. What poly would you compare it to?

 

[Muppet]

Good to know, it was what I had left over in the closet, didn't know it would notch! I wish I could try out the Gosen, but they don't have it where I am (France). Any other suggestions? Still trying to keep the setup relatively arm friendly. Thanks

With a lively cross, Dunlop Hexy Fiber 1.26 main would be good as it's very muted. With a dampened cross like Black Zone, I'd try a livlier main like a synthetic gut.

 

[Muppet]

OP:

You are trying out multi/poly configs now, right? If so, you will want to string your mains' tension 2 to 5 lbs. higher than your poly crosses. This will help stiffen the softer mains and give you a more consistent string bed.

 

[Znak]

OP:

You are trying out multi/poly configs now, right? If so, you will want to string your mains' tension 2 to 5 lbs. higher than your poly crosses. This will help stiffen the softer mains and give you a more consistent string bed.

Aha, that's some good advice. Yep I'm working on multi's in main, poly's in the crosses. Was enjoying full beds of polys, but after a few years my arm needs a break, need something a little more friendly. Wanted the control of the poly and bring some power back I was getting from the multis. Good to also know about the lively/dampened note, learning this stuff is really neat.

 

[Notirouswithag]

How is Isospeed Cream? Been reading great things, seems like my type of string. What poly would you compare it to?

I love it, its soft, yet pretty powerful and tension maintenance basically last as long as my luxilon before I cut them out. I use 17g cream though.. I usually cut out and restring once I see some pretty significant notching. A setup usually last me about a month if I play 3-4x a week ontop of lessons. I also get great topsin from the setup and if I want a bit less power and more control I string both a bit higher, or if I want slightly more power slightly less.

I used to use full beds of luxilon but wanted something more arm friendly so I switched to hybrids with luxilon mains/ wilson NXT crosses. Loved the NXT because of the feel but durabillity was crap and I would break them in about 2-3 weeks.

 

[Znak]

I love it, its soft, yet pretty powerful and tension maintenance basically last as long as my luxilon before I cut them out. I use 17g cream though.. I usually cut out and restring once I see some pretty significant notching. A setup usually last me about a month if I play 3-4x a week ontop of lessons. I also get great topsin from the setup and if I want a bit less power and more control I string both a bit higher, or if I want slightly more power slightly less.

I used to use full beds of luxilon but wanted something more arm friendly so I switched to hybrids with luxilon mains/ wilson NXT crosses. Loved the NXT because of the feel but durabillity was crap and I would break them in about 2-3 weeks.

Did you ever use Cream/NXT combo?

 

[ByeByePoly]

Aha, that's some good advice. Yep I'm working on multi's in main, poly's in the crosses. Was enjoying full beds of polys, but after a few years my arm needs a break, need something a little more friendly. Wanted the control of the poly and bring some power back I was getting from the multis. Good to also know about the lively/dampened note, learning this stuff is really neat.

I don't have much hybrid experience ... but it doesn't stop me from having some thoughts on them

To me, the mains will be more important in how the strings play ... so I would try to narrow that down quickly. Trust me ... string testing, particularly hybrids is a rabbit hole. It's also fun ... but better to find your go to strings, and then test on the side. Hard to do without 2nd racquet.

So to me, it would help you to narrow between poly/multi or multi/poly. (I'm assuming no gut/poly ... that will be your max spin like fb poly).

Poly/multi|sg ... more durable, probably more spin

Multi/poly ... feel, arm-friendly

You said you are not a big string breaker, so the multi/poly is an option for you. Me to. We are lucky, because many here will break multi mains to fast.

So, IMO ... pick your arm friendly main as fast as you can. Co-poly or multi. To me, I need to hit a string fb to get a read on it. If I play two new strings in a hybrid ... how do I know if I like a string, or if one was so good (or bad) it masks the other one.

So muti mains:
I was coming from fb rpm blast 16 @52, so I knew I wasn't looking for a powerful multi. I also wouldn't string past mid-tension 55 recovering from TE. So start from the power level you prefer. PPC and Velocity are low-mid for a multi. I think V is a little more powerful than ppc, but plays better. A good starting point for low-mid power end.

But that's a waste of time if you want bigger pop from your multi main. I've never played the NRG2 ... you seemed to have liked that. Good feedback would be someone who has played both ngr2 and velocity.

My only feedback to poly main is Cream was pretty arm-friendly ... even to my post-TE elbow. It's not muti-friendly ... I would feel the poly outside the sweet spot. A test of fb Cream might be a good choice for you. FB @50lbs was very controllable to me. You might find you have no need to hybrid ... restring once a month and good to go. If I never had TE, most likely I would be playing fb Cream.

Good luck in the hybrid rabbit hole. Say hello to @Traffic and @392Hemi.

 

[Traffic]

When I first started out, I used full beds of multi, then more recently to full beds of poly. Now I'm just getting into hybrids and I'm loving the combination of both. My question is; I usually know my tensions for full beds, but how do I know say if I want more power or control which string tension I need to adjust. Do I always adjust my mains first and then see how that responds, or do I make adjustments to both the mains and crosses at the same time?

Currently set up with NRG2/Cyclone at 54/52 in my Yonex DR 98, finding it close but missing both a bit of power and control. I've been usually playing with full beds of Hyper-G/Tour Bite/ Cyclone around 50.

Thanks in advance!

Good luck in the hybrid rabbit hole. Say hello to @Traffic and @392Hemi.

Hybrids truly are a rabbit hole. But definitely can discover a combo that fits your needs that are not part of a set that is readily available.

As mentioned, select a string that you really like as your mains. Then select a cross that can support what you are trying to do with your stringing goals.

I've been trying to start with tensions of the individual string alone. So if I string NRG2@54 and Cyclone at 50, then I would end up with 54/50. The Cyclone should tame the power of NRG while helping spin potential as well.

But definitely focus on the mains first. Then see how to taylor the feel with the cross.

If I were going Cyclone/NRG, I would probably try 50/54 first.

I would also stick with smooth poly for a cross. Can use shaped poly as a main. Beware that shaped poly will eat into multi or sgut faster than smooth poly.

And remember that the strings will lose tension at different rates. Prepare for your poly still going dead at its normal time.

It does take several iterations to dial in the right tension FOR YOU. A second racquet and your own stringing machine definitely helps.

 

[Znak]

So, IMO ... pick your arm friendly main as fast as you can. Co-poly or multi. To me, I need to hit a string fb to get a read on it. If I play two new strings in a hybrid ... how do I know if I like a string, or if one was so good (or bad) it masks the other one.

This is a good call, I just doubled my order on certain strings so I can test them out fb.

My only feedback to poly main is Cream was pretty arm-friendly ... even to my post-TE elbow. It's not muti-friendly ... I would feel the poly outside the sweet spot. A test of fb Cream might be a good choice for you. FB @50lbs was very controllable to me. You might find you have no need to hybrid ... restring once a month and good to go. If I never had TE, most likely I would be playing fb Cream.

Cream was on the list too haha! Going with a fb in one racquet with Velocity and the other V/Cream to compare (had to do it after reading your 22 page thread haha)

But definitely focus on the mains first. Then see how to taylor the feel with the cross.

Very good point, going to test some fbs

I would also stick with smooth poly for a cross. Can use shaped poly as a main. Beware that shaped poly will eat into multi or sgut faster than smooth poly.

And remember that the strings will lose tension at different rates. Prepare for your poly still going dead at its normal time.

It does take several iterations to dial in the right tension FOR YOU. A second racquet and your own stringing machine definitely helps.

Also a good point, ordered some smooth polys for my upcoming tests. I didn't love the NRG2/Cyclone combo, nothing special to write home about but again I haven't tried either in fb so it's tough to narrow down what exactly I didn't prefer. In all though, a little too pricey for my budget. Ordered up a few sets of Velocity, Cream, YPTP, YTSP, Isospeed Control Classic and Signum Pro Micronite. Let the games begin!

Thanks both for your insight, will post some results!

 

[Thatshot]

So I string my pure drive at 55lbs with cyclone (co-poly) and now I am looking to try out hybrid with poly mains and sythetic cross, what tension would you suggest I try to get it to my 55lbs with cyclone?

 

[Muppet]

So I string my pure drive at 55lbs with cyclone (co-poly) and now I am looking to try out hybrid with poly mains and sythetic cross, what tension would you suggest I try to get it to my 55lbs with cyclone?

55/58. Going up 3 lbs. for the syn gut will give the string a stiffer feel and gives the string bed as a whole more consistency. Down a lb. on both strings for more comfort.

 

[Thatshot]

55/58. Going up 3 lbs. for the syn gut will give the string a stiffer feel and gives the string bed as a whole more consistency. Down a lb. on both strings for more comfort.

Thanks Muppet that's exactly what I was thinking. Since there's a 10% difference between poly and synthetic in a general sense, the 3lbs different would definitely make the string bed as a whole more consistent. I string my gut/poly hybrids with a 3lb difference so this make sense.