Poly/poly hybrid cross strings

[eah123]

I have been playing with Volkl cyclone / Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 16 hybrid at 45/49# for about a year now in my Pure Aero. I'm interested in trying some polys in the crosses to see if I can get increased spin production without losing the feel and power I get from a synthetic gut.

Any suggestions? Basically, I need a "soft and slick" poly with good elasticity. Impossible?

So far on my list to try:
Gamma Glide
Tier One Ghost Wire
Isospeed Cream

 

[408tennisguy]

You could also try Kirschbaum pro line 2 to that list. I use GW and Cream as soft round cross polys as well

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Yonex Poly Tour Air as always.

 

[Humbi_HTX]

There are a few strings that are on my list to try next, Cream, YPTAir and Triax, but if you replace your sgut for PLII or Ghostwire you will definitely feel much less power. You should try first going thinner and it will have more feel and a touch more spin.

I have been using same hybrid style wifh different poly mains and OGSM 16/17&18g and right now all my 3 sticks have 18g and don't think I will go back to thicker gages. Mind you that I am a recreational player and not a string breaker or a big power hitter but I am not a junk baller.

 

[Shaolin]

Tourna Black Zone is an excellent slick cross poly to pair with an edged main poly like Cyclone.

Not too expensive either. Very underrated string.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

@eah123
-fyi, gamma.glyde is not a poly!!
-think of it as a high price synthetic.gut string
-lots of power and very slick, great cross string, but not a "poly"

-ideally( on a full bed poly/poly hybrid), you want a thinner gauge round poly on the cross strings

 

[PKorda]

If I may ask, as newbie sort of question, what is the technical reason for using round poly in the cross and a more textured string like Volkl Cyclone in the mains, vs. say just a full bed of Volkl Cyclone.

(I'm an experienced player but just getting into string research after many years of just stringing it up with RPM Blast)

 

[Humbi_HTX]

If I may ask, as newbie sort of question, what is the technical reason for using round poly in the cross and a more textured string like Volkl Cyclone in the mains, vs. say just a full bed of Volkl Cyclone.

My reason is to extend the playability of the string bed, I have noticed that when using full bed (no matter the type of string) the notching and locking of the string bed happens sooner and the "feel" and control decreases. I am no expert on friction and materials, but my experience has been that a slick(er) cross allows the mains to move and return easier with much longer playlife before creating notches and locking up. The mains will usually get sawed by sliding across in a small area of the string, if the cross is slicker it slows that wear.

In the case of Poly/SG or Poly/MF, the playability of the string bed is extended because the less durable string in the mix wears in a across a longer section of the string compared to the mains and takes longer to break, plus it gives you more power back than shaped poly/slick poly (but this can be also adjusted with lower tensions).

 

[TypeRx]

I have been playing with Volkl cyclone / Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 16 hybrid at 45/49# for about a year now in my Pure Aero. I'm interested in trying some polys in the crosses to see if I can get increased spin production without losing the feel and power I get from a synthetic gut.

Any suggestions? Basically, I need a "soft and slick" poly with good elasticity. Impossible?

So far on my list to try:
Gamma Glide
Tier One Ghost Wire
Isospeed Cream

I have used Ghost Wire and Cream -- neither will provide the feel or "power" of syn gut at 49 lbs. Of the two, ghost wire is a far better string IMO. Cream feels like mush to me. At the same time, I know many like it.

Another alternative if you want a lively "poly" string that will not notch and remain slick throughout its life, Ashaway Monogut ZX or ZXP Pro is something to consider. You will sacrifice feel vs. syn gut but maintain/gain inherent power. ZXP is as "elastic" as it gets. There are downsides to ZX/ZXP (need to be gentle during stringing, may experience sig. tension drop if you don't pre-stretch prior, and generates an unusual sound upon ball impact) but I really do think people should at least try it out.

I have used Cyclone/OGSM as well as Cyclone/ZXP in the past (plus full bed cyclone of course). ZXP crosses performed very well but don't expect a long-lasting string bed as the ZXP saws through poly pretty quickly.