PV Audio's Playtest Thread

mctennis

Legend
PVAudio,

The Whisper Touch had a quick death in my bag. I did hit about 40 serves with it but that is all I got to try it out for. Anyhoo, there was some lively discussion on another thread about using power pads to prevent the gut from breaking where it did. Take a look at the pic below and let me know what you think:

84a3a015.jpg

I always use power pads with gut string. If not, you get what you have a picture of here. At least for me that's what always ends up happening way too soon with gut.
 

Up&comer

Hall of Fame
I think I'm going to try an extremely random test (literally random, I selected a main and cross using a random number generator lol). Tour Bite mains, MCS crosses.


The thread lives!!!!!

Also, be ready to get some low durability out of that.
 

pvaudio

Legend
So I'm the moron for being the one who doesn't want a string that breaks prematurely and demands that I always have to keep an eye out in case it starts to rain? I'd argue it's the other way around, sir. :twisted:
If you get any natural fiber wet, cold, too hot, too dry, you are changing its physical properties. Take any given piece of tissue, and apply excess fluid, a dessicant, heat or cold. You'll end up with four radically looking histology slides! The point is that no matter how "good" the gut is, it's still made from natural fibers. Natural fibers are sensitive to ambient conditions. If not, why package them in foil? Store them out of the sun? Not keep them in your bag in the summer or winter, but in the spring and fall you're okay? That's just part of how they work.
 

Ramon

Legend
If you get any natural fiber wet, cold, too hot, too dry, you are changing its physical properties. Take any given piece of tissue, and apply excess fluid, a dessicant, heat or cold. You'll end up with four radically looking histology slides! The point is that no matter how "good" the gut is, it's still made from natural fibers. Natural fibers are sensitive to ambient conditions. If not, why package them in foil? Store them out of the sun? Not keep them in your bag in the summer or winter, but in the spring and fall you're okay? That's just part of how they work.

That's true. I played with VS gut several years ago. I never had a problem with it. It was probably the best string I ever played with. I just didn't think the price was worth the incremental improvement over the better synthetics.

I also remembered when I've seen other players whose strings broke on their own due to the weather. In one instance, I remember a guy who played an hour after his racquet was strung (a mistake), and then his strings lost all their tension. I don't mean a 20% drop, I mean a 100% drop. The strings were literally sagging.

I still might consider gut because if my arm doesn't get any better, that's going to be my best choice. I would hope the coatings they use nowadays have improved gut's resistance to weather.
 

mikeler

Moderator
That's true. I played with VS gut several years ago. I never had a problem with it. It was probably the best string I ever played with. I just didn't think the price was worth the incremental improvement over the better synthetics.

I also remembered when I've seen other players whose strings broke on their own due to the weather. In one instance, I remember a guy who played an hour after his racquet was strung (a mistake), and then his strings lost all their tension. I don't mean a 20% drop, I mean a 100% drop. The strings were literally sagging.

I still might consider gut because if my arm doesn't get any better, that's going to be my best choice. I would hope the coatings they use nowadays have improved gut's resistance to weather.


I know you like more durable strings, but don't kill your arm to save the strings. I was restringing Mantis Comfort after every 2 matches until my arm got better. It is pretty inexpensive in reel form and wonderful on the arm. RIP Control is way more stiff than MCS on a sore elbow.
 

pvaudio

Legend
Indeed, indeed. Got a week to go until I know that part. Until then, playtest requests? I wish I had a 4th racquet, but alas, the 4D200T hasn't decreased enough yet.
 
I think I'm going to try an extremely random test (literally random, I selected a main and cross using a random number generator lol). Tour Bite mains, MCS crosses.

I'd like to see this. Never tried TB. While the String Comparison Tool says TB has a low stiffness rating, everyone who playtests it reports it as fairly stiff. And everyone who can handle TB loves it.

Also, with TB, do you have to "face" each string so that the square profiles line up flush to minimize the wear on the soft crosses?

I want Mikeler to try this combo with his feeble elbow and see what happens.
 

mikeler

Moderator
I'd like to see this. Never tried TB. While the String Comparison Tool says TB has a low stiffness rating, everyone who playtests it reports it as fairly stiff. And everyone who can handle TB loves it.

Also, with TB, do you have to "face" each string so that the square profiles line up flush to minimize the wear on the soft crosses?

I want Mikeler to try this combo with his feeble elbow and see what happens.


Not gonna happen. I trust PVAudio and Up&Comer when it comes to their opinions. When the young bucks say it is stiff, I believe them.
 

Up&comer

Hall of Fame
They just started the "plus" system for honors classes when I left high school. It was a little unfair that I'm taking calculus and bringing my GPA down to prepare for college.


Id still have a 4.0 without the weighting.

Edit: I'd have a 3.7. I think the weighting with AP is justified.
 
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mikeler

Moderator
Strung up Unifibre gut mains at 56# with B5E crosses at 52#. Hit a few balls off the wall with it and about 40 serves. I can honestly say the fastest 2 serves of the year I hit were today with this setup. My slice serve was super heavy and nasty. Looking forward to playtesting it in battle on Tuesday.
 

bad_call

Legend
Strung up Unifibre gut mains at 56# with B5E crosses at 52#. Hit a few balls off the wall with it and about 40 serves. I can honestly say the fastest 2 serves of the year I hit were today with this setup. My slice serve was super heavy and nasty. Looking forward to playtesting it in battle on Tuesday.

expect a full report Wednesday leftenant... :)
 

Up&comer

Hall of Fame
Strung up Unifibre gut mains at 56# with B5E crosses at 52#. Hit a few balls off the wall with it and about 40 serves. I can honestly say the fastest 2 serves of the year I hit were today with this setup. My slice serve was super heavy and nasty. Looking forward to playtesting it in battle on Tuesday.


Can't wait to hear what you think.
 

UCSF2012

Hall of Fame
A little note regarding the Unifibre. If you have the other half-set, you should store it in an air-tight container, possibly. What happens that that the string starts to unravel within the container once the container is opened. I've had two half-sets unravel after 3 weeks of storage, showing the 6 or so smaller strands making up the string. I strang them up anyway despite the unraveling, and it plays the same. But it's somewhat concerning that it unravels over time.

The unifibre plays great though. I like it more than Performaxx HT, actually.
 

Agent Orynge

Professional
lol, I tell you what, you cut out the 'monkey' business and I'll stop picking on you. If I disagree with something you say, I'll keep it civil. Deal?
 

mctennis

Legend
PVAudio,

The Whisper Touch had a quick death in my bag. I did hit about 40 serves with it but that is all I got to try it out for. Anyhoo, there was some lively discussion on another thread about using power pads to prevent the gut from breaking where it did. Take a look at the pic below and let me know what you think:

84a3a015.jpg

Same thing happened with my full WT string job. I even used power pads. I wasn't impressed with the longevity of this string. It didn't last very long before breaking. I'll try another gut string and maybe save some $$ from not having to re-string it early.
 

fortun8son

Hall of Fame
Was that an African swallow or a European... Argh!...
Sorry for the hijack.

"DINSDALE!"
Some of these posts do remind me of the Fish Slapping Dance :)
 
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mikeler

Moderator
About last night, let's just say I normally only have 1 bagel for breakfast, not 2 for dinner. We played a practice set after that where I served well and he did not, so I had a set point but could not convert it. Guy just makes no unforced errors and can move you around.

Now to the gut/poly setup. It was very nice but I like the poly/gut setup best still. The serve is better with gut mains but volleys were not as good. Spin is better with the poly mains. Against a very consistent player, I needed to volley much better than I did last night. My flat forehand never really got going last night, could have been the opponent though so I'm not going to pin that on the setup just yet. Best thing about this setup is no elbow pain after the match or this morning.
 

Up&comer

Hall of Fame
About last night, let's just say I normally only have 1 bagel for breakfast, not 2 for dinner. We played a practice set after that where I served well and he did not, so I had a set point but could not convert it. Guy just makes no unforced errors and can move you around.

Now to the gut/poly setup. It was very nice but I like the poly/gut setup best still. The serve is better with gut mains but volleys were not as good. Spin is better with the poly mains. Against a very consistent player, I needed to volley much better than I did last night. My flat forehand never really got going last night, could have been the opponent though so I'm not going to pin that on the setup just yet. Best thing about this setup is no elbow pain after the match or this morning.


Interesting. You start to notice what separates a 4.5 and a 5.0 is consistency.
 
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