InsideInForehand
Rookie
What would be a good, budget poly/poly hybrid and what should you look for in a poly/poly hybrid, like round strings and gauge ect?
Poly/Poly hybrid recommendations
- Thread starter InsideInForehand
- Start date
ryushen21
Legend
What are you looking for in terms of feel, power, spin, etc???
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
Exactly the question is way too broad. In particular I would want to know how stiff a setup the player is looking for, why they are looking to hybrid vs. going straight up with something, what type of strokes they have, what are they using now and and liked now and in the past, etc.
In addition to what @ryushen21 and @LOBALOT mentioned, what model frame(s) are you working with? That will effect the choice of how crisp or gummy/muted a string(s) you should select, as well as gauge.
InsideInForehand
Rookie
A combination of all. Like a mix of everything with nothing standing out
InsideInForehand
Rookie
I use an FX500Tour modified with a leather grip, and 3grams at 3, 9 and 12
ryushen21
Legend
That's still really vague. You're not going to find much of a consensus answer here without providing more information.
I could suggest one my preferred setups like YTex Penta Power Twisted and Hexagon X. But if you don't play with much spin you may hate it. If we don't know what kind of racquet you're using, we can't suggest tension or have other ideas on overall feel.
We want to help, but you've got to give us a little more to go on.
InsideInForehand
Rookie
See answer above. Racquets specs there
ryushen21
Legend
More information needed. Spin or flat hitter? 1 or 2-handed backhand? Baseliner or all-court? Desired feel?
InsideInForehand
Rookie
Between a flat and spin hitter, more flat tho. 2HB, all court. No desired feel, but like it a bit muted
@Lasse1910 - Thanks. I know the FX500T pretty well, as I've spent probably 50-75 hours evaluating the more firm 2020 version. In short, it's fairly powerful, pretty muted and the string pattern is very open, especially towards 12 and 6, so especially for flatter hitters, I think three things tend to help:
1) low-ish power, to help reign in the FX500's flat power
2) moderately crisp feel, to transmit as much feedback as possible (I know you said you like a muted feel, but trust me, muted strings in an FX500T makes for a vague, disconnected mess in the feel department)
3) thicker gauge, to fill in the pattern and calm down the trampoline as much as possible, which helps enhance control on flatter strikes -- so like upper 1.20's gauge poly, or thicker.
Additionally, for your semi-flat / semi-spinny hitting style, I would combine shaped mains with a slick, round cross, to make for a grippy, snappy yet consistent string bed overall. Here's what I would look at specifically:
Shaped Mains:
- Head Lynx Tour Champagne or Grey 1.25 or 1.30
- Tru Pro (formerly Tier One) DuraFluxx 1.28
Round Crosses:
- Head Hawk (any color) 1.25 or 1.30
- IsoSpeed Grey Fire 1.25 or 1.30
- MSV Bussard 1.25 or 1.30
Of all of the combos I've ever tried in the FX500T, and I tried probably 10 or so, my favorite by far was DuraFluxx 1.28 / Hawk 1.30 at 54/52 (lockout crank, so like 52/50 or 51/49 on an electronic machine) and I have similar mostly-flat strokes, although I have a one-handed backhand, but it's still pretty flat.
Hope that helps. Any questions, feel free.
1) low-ish power, to help reign in the FX500's flat power
2) moderately crisp feel, to transmit as much feedback as possible (I know you said you like a muted feel, but trust me, muted strings in an FX500T makes for a vague, disconnected mess in the feel department)
3) thicker gauge, to fill in the pattern and calm down the trampoline as much as possible, which helps enhance control on flatter strikes -- so like upper 1.20's gauge poly, or thicker.
Additionally, for your semi-flat / semi-spinny hitting style, I would combine shaped mains with a slick, round cross, to make for a grippy, snappy yet consistent string bed overall. Here's what I would look at specifically:
Shaped Mains:
- Head Lynx Tour Champagne or Grey 1.25 or 1.30
- Tru Pro (formerly Tier One) DuraFluxx 1.28
Round Crosses:
- Head Hawk (any color) 1.25 or 1.30
- IsoSpeed Grey Fire 1.25 or 1.30
- MSV Bussard 1.25 or 1.30
Of all of the combos I've ever tried in the FX500T, and I tried probably 10 or so, my favorite by far was DuraFluxx 1.28 / Hawk 1.30 at 54/52 (lockout crank, so like 52/50 or 51/49 on an electronic machine) and I have similar mostly-flat strokes, although I have a one-handed backhand, but it's still pretty flat.
Hope that helps. Any questions, feel free.
ryushen21
Legend
@Trip gave a lot of good suggestions. I am not familiar with the racquet that you are using but you mention you like a bit more of a muted feel.
I'd suggest Tru Pro Black Knight mains with Lux Element crosses. It should give you close to that desired feel while retaining spin but also add some comfort and control to the setup. From there it's all about testing and adjusting tension.
Strings are an absurdly deep rabbit hole to fall into and there are a ton of options with more coming out all the time.
I'd suggest Tru Pro Black Knight mains with Lux Element crosses. It should give you close to that desired feel while retaining spin but also add some comfort and control to the setup. From there it's all about testing and adjusting tension.
Strings are an absurdly deep rabbit hole to fall into and there are a ton of options with more coming out all the time.
proracketeer
Professional
Grey Fire should be a bird, too
That can certainly be true, but at least for those of us who string for ourselves and others, the experience can be so worth it, for the journey alone, apart from the knowledge gained. I for one have enjoyed it tremendously!
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
They are and I was thinking the other day how deep the variety of decent polys there are out here now.
Back in the day poly came one of two ways... Dead and Deader.
Then they came out with soft poly strings that lasted 10 minutes before they were rocket launchers.
Now they come in so many stiffness levels and shapes and a lot of them with decent playability.
Back in the day poly came one of two ways... Dead and Deader.
Then they came out with soft poly strings that lasted 10 minutes before they were rocket launchers.
Now they come in so many stiffness levels and shapes and a lot of them with decent playability.
ryushen21
Legend
Very true. I love that there are so many more options now to offer players and that we can specifically tailor a string setup to each player. I get excited when I hear about new strings coming out and how they compare to others that I'm familiar with.
Indeed, we're very lucky right now to be on the head-end of a golden age for tennis strings, save perhaps the decline in variety and availability of natural gut (but considering the state of our planet in 2023, that's not a huge surprise...). I'm excited to see how string makers will continue to push the limits of what's possible -- both big OEMs and small boutique outfits alike.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
I've never considered this combo. Did you ever try BK/GW? If so, is the Element more controlled as a cross? A little crisper maybe?
ryushen21
Legend
I've tried BK/GW and TS/GW. GW can be almost too soft to the point where things start to feel mushy.
With Element, you get more comfort but there is a touch more firmness than with GW and that both feels better and gives better feedback.
Pneumated1
Hall of Fame
This is my experience as well. I hit BK/GW in my Angell TC95s years back and have crossed about every main you can imagine with GW, and it inevitably gets too vague for me too soon. I've only hit Element full bed but love the string, so I may give this a shot. Thanks for confirming.
InsideInForehand
Rookie
What would you think about a hybrid of Cyberflash Blue in the mains and Tourna big hitter in the crosses?
Superchoo
New User
Hey all, I have a bit of a niche racket in the oversized, extended PK Black Ace 105. It's a 16x19 so a very open string pattern.
I've tried it with Durafluxx 1.23 in the main and crosses @50lbs - with this, it had good control, a tiny bit too much power with the occasional ball going long in open play.
With this set up it had decent spin, although it would always be nice to have more. I was happy with the launch angle for the most part but could go lower to help attack short balls.
I'm just pondering a couple of options with the string I have available: some Hawk touch (HT) in 1.30, Black Knight (BK) and Durafluxx (DF) 1.23 and would love some feedback, especially with tension recommendations, if possible:
1) Go for HT 1.30 in the crosses and BK/DF in the mains to tame power and lower the launch angle. If this sounds like a good option, would it be best to string the thicker, round cross a little higher, say HT @ 52/4 lbs with the thinner, shaped BK main @ 50 lbs?
2) Go with the more traditional thicker round mains and shaped thinner crosses, should I go with the 1.30 HT main @ say, 52/4 lbs and BK 1.23 cross @ 50lbs?
Would be great to hear your feedback. Thanks in advance.
I've tried it with Durafluxx 1.23 in the main and crosses @50lbs - with this, it had good control, a tiny bit too much power with the occasional ball going long in open play.
With this set up it had decent spin, although it would always be nice to have more. I was happy with the launch angle for the most part but could go lower to help attack short balls.
I'm just pondering a couple of options with the string I have available: some Hawk touch (HT) in 1.30, Black Knight (BK) and Durafluxx (DF) 1.23 and would love some feedback, especially with tension recommendations, if possible:
1) Go for HT 1.30 in the crosses and BK/DF in the mains to tame power and lower the launch angle. If this sounds like a good option, would it be best to string the thicker, round cross a little higher, say HT @ 52/4 lbs with the thinner, shaped BK main @ 50 lbs?
2) Go with the more traditional thicker round mains and shaped thinner crosses, should I go with the 1.30 HT main @ say, 52/4 lbs and BK 1.23 cross @ 50lbs?
Would be great to hear your feedback. Thanks in advance.
