Pro Staff 6.0 85

[greeeg]

Hello,

This is my very first post on Talk Tennis. I read many posts of all you guys and almost all were interesting.

In particular, I read threads about the PS 6.0 85 to solve my current question : which string to use with it ? I really love my PS, and I play with it for more than 10 years... strung with Wilson NXT Tour 1.30mm @24kg. I'm not a spin player.

I have to say, I have never tried an other string and I would like to know if there are new strings that can give me:

1. more or equal power
2. more or equal control
3. more durability

The more durability point is important for me (I can play only 4 hours with the NXT...). Then comes power and control (the PS has already enough control I think...)

I heard about Pacific string, Babolat XCell.
Techfibre NRG2 1,32 mm seems to bo really good. Any feedback ?

This evening, I'm going to play with a Technifibre Duramix... I'll tell you how it was.

Thanks for all,
Greg

 

[KaiserW]

I would try full gut, some of the mid range priced ones are very good. I like Babolat Tonic and Pacific Classic. It should give you more power, control, and durability. I love full gut but find it too powerful, so I use gut/poly. That would be another option to consider. My PS 85 gut/poly and it plays great. Not my main racquet anymore but control is unmatched.

 

[MAPE]

NRG2 17 gauge @ 55 lbs works very well but it's the only string I've tried. PS 85 not my regular stick. I'd choose soft/feel string at fairly high tension, multi or gut.

 

[BreakPoint]

Wow, you break NXT Tour in 4 hours and you're not a spin player? Amazing.

For more power and feel, I would go with a softer multi. There are many softer multis out there. Almost every string manufacture has them, e.g., Babolat, Wilson, Tecnifibre, Prince, etc.

 

[seekay]

How does your NXT break? Is it usually a main or cross string?

 

[greeeg]

How does your NXT break? Is it usually a main or cross string?

Usually the cross string.

 

[greeeg]

NRG2 17 gauge @ 55 lbs works very well but it's the only string I've tried. PS 85 not my regular stick. I'd choose soft/feel string at fairly high tension, multi or gut.

And what about durability?

 

[seekay]

Usually the cross string.

I'd try keeping the NXT mains, but in a hybrid with a different cross string. Synthetic gut is cheap and will give you a nice bump in durability, but at the cost of a little power and feel.

A smooth, soft poly could also make a nice cross, but it's a bigger departure from what you're used to. I have one of my 85s strung up with Gamma Professional mains (50lb) and Gamma Zo Power crosses (48lb) and it works well for me.

The next step beyond that is gut/poly. There are plenty of threads on that you can find with a quick search.

 

[greeeg]

I would try full gut, some of the mid range priced ones are very good. I like Babolat Tonic and Pacific Classic. It should give you more power, control, and durability. I love full gut but find it too powerful, so I use gut/poly. That would be another option to consider. My PS 85 gut/poly and it plays great. Not my main racquet anymore but control is unmatched.

Thanks. So, you think a Babolat Tonic will last more than the NXT?

 

[greeeg]

Wow, you break NXT Tour in 4 hours and you're not a spin player? Amazing.

Well. Let me fix than. It's more 4x1.5h = 6 hours.

 

[AsianArnold1]

go gut and fuggetaboutit !!
i had the PS85 with wilson's Champion Choice at 52/48. best $$ spent on this racket.

 

[greeeg]

Ok guys.

Yesterday, I played about 1 hour with the Duramax. Regarding the NXT, it feels:

- same power,
- a little less control,
- less comfortable (feel stiff)

So, it wont be my choice.

If I summarize your advices, I should give a try to:
- Babolat Tonic
- Pacific Classic
- NRG2 17

Important question: what is the durability ratio Natural Gut / NXT?

 

[unorthodox stringing]

greeeg,

Since you do not hit with much spin and breaks crosses more often, I suspect you are hitting with more sidespin, like this:

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot.sg/2014/12/breaking-cross-strings.html?m=1

That makes it even better to try gut/poly as you "sttess" the crosses more.

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot.sg/2015/01/prostaff-60-85-with-gutpoly.html?m=1

 

[TheRed]

Take Gut mains, try some different crosses, i.e. syn gut or poly and see which feel you like most. You will definitely get more durability, more long term playability and possibly more power. Because you're breaking crosses, DO NOT USE a multi cross. You'll get a bump in power, but no difference in spin or durability.

 

[ringwraith]

I would recommend full gut as well. Pacific tough gut is even more durable than the classic with slightly smoother feel.

 

[KaiserW]

Ok guys.

Yesterday, I played about 1 hour with the Duramax. Regarding the NXT, it feels:

- same power,
- a little less control,
- less comfortable (feel stiff)

So, it wont be my choice.

If I summarize your advices, I should give a try to:
- Babolat Tonic
- Pacific Classic
- NRG2 17

Important question: what is the durability ratio Natural Gut / NXT?

I have never used NXT but considering you are only getting 6 hours I would think you will get at least double that with gut. If you get double you are about the same cost wise but there is a good chance you will get longer than double.

 

[greeeg]

I have never used NXT but considering you are only getting 6 hours I would think you will get at least double that with gut. If you get double you are about the same cost wise but there is a good chance you will get longer than double.

Thanks for that.

So I reorder my futur tries:

- Pacific Classic
- Babolat Tonic + Synth
- Babolat Tonic
- NRG2 17

 

[greeeg]

Take Gut mains, try some different crosses, i.e. syn gut or poly and see which feel you like most. You will definitely get more durability, more long term playability and possibly more power. Because you're breaking crosses, DO NOT USE a multi cross. You'll get a bump in power, but no difference in spin or durability.

What do you mean by "a multi cross"?
What would you recommend as a good synthetic or poly string to mix with gut?

 

[Shroud]

What do you mean by "a multi cross"?
What would you recommend as a good synthetic or poly string to mix with gut?

One of my faves in my ps85 was lux 4g for the crosses. But now I think I might use monogut zx. You have to prestretch the zx but its a great cross.

 

[SpinToWin]

I have tried a few poly crosses with gut mains in the 85 and the one I am loving at the moment is Head Lynx 16.

 

[TheRed]

What do you mean by "a multi cross"?
What would you recommend as a good synthetic or poly string to mix with gut?

I mean multi's like: NRG, NXT, Xcell

Just a plain old syn gut i.e. prince syn (a bit stiffer), ashaway syn, babolat syn, would last longer.
I frankly am not much of an expert on polys, having only used about 5-6 of them. I've tried rpm blast and find it acceptable but its reputation on this forum is not always good. Lux 4g played well too, being more stable tension wise than rpm. I've even tried isospeed baseline, which costs about $2 as a cross and found it nearly as good as rpm as a cross.
My favorite, if you want spin/power without going to poly route is Head RIP control but it's a very muted string and is basically a love/hate string.

 

[MAPE]

And what about durability?

Well, they have not broken yet but I'm not a notorious string breaker quite the contrary. I've played them in Wilson Nblade for a very long time and they start to fray quite quickly but contains it playability for a long time. Eventually the strings will turns into rocket launcher, you will notice it. But if you're a string breaker I'm quite sure that a thicker gauge will work in PS85 quite open string bed. Another you may want to try is Champions Choice, I tried it in Wilson KPS88 and was absolutely amazing borderline too powerful but so sweet. The lux string loses tension quite quickly though and therefore I don't think it's worth the price. If you can afford it try it, string it quite high.

 

[greeeg]

Hi guys,

I could try some strings during last weeks.

First, Technifibre NRG12 @24kg. It feels great. Probably more powerful than Wilson NXT a and as smooth. After 3 hours, it looks as if it was new . It sounds "higher" than the NXT and the Duramax. A really comfortable string !

Then, still @24kg, the Babolat VS + Hurricane. Wow ! More and more powerful than all other strings and so smooth. Control is a little bit more present that with NRG and NXT.

I think I have to play more with those new strings, but the NRG is really close to the VS + Hurricane, so if it lasts more...

 

[Franklin_B]

I have my PS85 strung with pacific tough gut mains and kirschbaum max power crosses at 50/46 and like it a lot.

 

[greeeg]

Hi,

I finally choose the Babolat VS + Hurricane. But, with a quick question.
What tension do you suggest for the gut and for the Hurricane? I mean, what is the best (which should be more heavily strung?) to be close to the NXT @24kg? I use it now Babolat VS + Hurricane @24kg, but is it better to have 23/25kg, I do not know.

Thanks for your answers

 

[LiquidWhip]

I would recommend stringing Hurricane at a lower tension - 23kg might be a good starting point as you have suggested with Babolat VS at 25kg.

 

[Franklin_B]

I generally have the gut mains 1-2kg tighter than the poly crosses.