Atrocious. B5E/Xcel is one of the worst hybrids I've used. The stringbed is simply dead after 4 hours! My racquet with Nvy crosses which has about twice the hitting on it plays like a completely different frame. I went from netting every ball to hitting them as I was used to just by switching. That's how woeful they were. Never experienced a hybrid this awful since I tested Hexablade.
PV Audio's Playtest Thread
- Thread starter pvaudio
- Start date
Graphiteking
Rookie
PV, can you go in detail the difference that YOU see between the PP and 200tour. I have both and they play similar to ME. I just wanted someone else view. I play with the 200tour with Wilson extreme syn(full bed) 60lbs
Do not believe I did a full review, although I have tested it in full. I'm currently in the process of selling off my enormous inventory, so perhaps once that is finished.
Looking forward to it and Tour Bite full bed. Especially with how it compares to BHBR / Gut and Gut / CF which I believe is your all-time favorite setup.
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Sure. The Prestige is a much more maneuverable feeling stick and much more forgiving. The larger headsize also means you get extra pop for free, so when you're slightly out of position and can't get perfectly set (like you need to with the 200T), you can still stay in the point. It also allows you to direct balls back much more easily, especially on the backhand side. In short, it's a more versatile version of the 200T.
I have plenty of it left, so I don't have a new choice per se. I also have non-BT7 gut in my inventory, so I won't need to use anything but for quite a while. That said, I don't use natty anymore, but if I did, I'd use Pacific Classic.
mikeler
Moderator
I'm trying NVY now with Solinco Tour Bite Soft. Seems like a good cross so far. The real test will come if I cross the other half of the Solinco with Thunder Blast.
djNEiGht
Legend
I follow both of your threads and am intrigued that NVy is getting is such love fr you two. Might be my next reel for crosses. Will test it against Triumph as I picked up the "indian wells" discounted price.
When playing in a hybrid I don't normally have TE/GE. When it does flare up I go back to a full bed of multi.
I am limbo right now as I'm trying to re-work my FH so the ball movement is different. Once I get things sorted out I'll consider testing out some of your favorite reviews.
When playing in a hybrid I don't normally have TE/GE. When it does flare up I go back to a full bed of multi.
I am limbo right now as I'm trying to re-work my FH so the ball movement is different. Once I get things sorted out I'll consider testing out some of your favorite reviews.
mikeler
Moderator
I can't really evaluate it well since I have not tried Solinco Tour Bite Soft either. It does seem to be just a neutral cross as PVAudio has said. Seems to just get out of the way of the mains and let them do their job.
polytheist
Rookie
For those that like plush/mushy, Nvy is really nice. If you like crispy, look elsewhere.
djNEiGht
Legend
in a full bed or a multi?
Dunlop Max Comfort went to mush quickly in a full bed and a hybrid (used in mains)
mikeler
Moderator
Stretchy is another good term for NVY. If somebody gave it to me for a blind test and I strung it up, I'd swear it was a multi.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
I agree. It feels like a multi when stringing. If you want crisp, go with OG Sheep Micro.
mikeler
Moderator
And it has that smell of wonderful gluey goodness.
polytheist
Rookie
It is stretchy. On my ML100 pulling Nvy 17 at 56 it almost bottoms out.
Fight it man, you're stronger than this!!
PVAudio: Scanning through the thread, it seemed like you had discovered two poly mains that were close to ideal: The Scorpion 1.22 and the BHBR after you broke it in. Sounded like the search was pretty much over back at post 453.
So, why are you on B5E now?
So, why are you on B5E now?
Waiting for final pronouncements with bated breath.
Meanwhile, what do you think of multis used as crosses with poly mains? With a Scorpion or B5E or BHBR main, do any multifilament crosses seem good to you guys? How do they compare to the NVY and natural gut crosses discussed in this thread?
djNEiGht
Legend
What has been the experience with a shape/textured main with a multi/syn cross?
I'm leaning towards a smooth poly with a multi and a textured poly with a syn gut for longevity...but it's just a guess. I've played with textured on a multi and it get's chewed up. I haven't done a smooth poly main (only as a cross). Will try out for my own experience some day but still seeking other views.
mikeler
Moderator
One of my regulars gave me 3 sets of black Thunder Blast last night. So I strung up B5E/ThB at 48/52. I realized as I got down to the 2nd to last cross that I screwed up one of the mains and put it in the wrong hole! And no I was not moving at warp speed like PVAudio and I was only on my first glass of vino.
So I just finished the string job to get the feel of the setup in the Exo. It felt tinny and not as soft as the NVY crosses. Felt great in the sweet spot but not outside of it. I'll probably wait for the white Thunder Blast to come in and try that combo since the white is softer. I'm thinking NVY is probably going to what I'll stick with though. The NVY feels loopy like MCS. Crazy how they got a solid core string to be so soft. Stay tuned...
B5E is textured and with the Thunder Blast multi, I'd typically get 12-15 hours before the multi would break. This is fine since the poly is starting to die by then anyways. I think synthetic guts are a little more resistant to notching than multis.
mikeler
Moderator
I'll buy the rest of your reel if you want. Shoot me an e-mail if interested.
mikeler
Moderator
Hah! That stuff is black gold; not giving it up. I do have a weisscannon auction on that big site right now, however
Guess I'll just have to pickup a cheap reel of Pro's Pro Blackout since it is the same string according to BigT.
g4driver
Legend
Hah! That stuff is black gold; not giving it up. I do have a weisscannon auction on that big site right now, however
Not a fan of Excel- too soft for me.
Been using B5E/X-One 16 g now for two years thanks to you pvaudio
And now that NRG2 comes in reels of Black, the B5E/NRG2 16 g all black string jobs are a customer favorite --especially for those Johnny Cash fanboys
Listen to Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt" by the Man in Black - this song is haunting
http://youtu.be/o22eIJDtKho
djNEiGht
Legend
Would you ever do a multi/textured poly set up?
New hitting video in case anyone is interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMv2I2bA6RM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMv2I2bA6RM
mikeler
Moderator
Not a fan of Excel- too soft for me.
Been using B5E/X-One 16 g now for two years thanks to you pvaudio
And now that NRG2 comes in reels of Black, the B5E/NRG2 16 g all black string jobs are a customer favorite --especially for those Johnny Cash fanboys
Listen to Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt" by the Man in Black - this song is haunting
http://youtu.be/o22eIJDtKho
So you are back to B5E again? Thanks for sending me those sets of B5E that I'm now using. Now I have to decide if I want to splurge for a reel or just pay more for individual sets.
If I wanted the string job to break in 2 or 3 sets, I might try it. That won't last long for me.
g4driver
Legend
I never stopped using B5E/ X-One in my pro opens. I have 4 frames in my bad now. The X-One breaks around 12-15 hours or is so badly frayed I switch frames and restring so I have fresh ones in my bag
The Wilson Steam 99s killed my shoulder during a 2 week period where played over 20 sets with it.
I have 4 frames in my bad now. The X-One breaks around 12-15 hours or is so badly frayed I switch frames and restring so I have fresh ones in my bagThe Wilson Steam 99s killed my shoulder during a 2 week period where played over 20 sets with it.
X-1 as a cross? Honestly, get something much cheaper. Dunlop S-Gut makes a nice cross for not much cash. I prefer it to most others as a cross. It's softer than Prince and Gamma, but not crisp like Gosen. It also has a lot more feel than those syn guts, but not as much as Nvy. As far as durability goes, it's probably between Nvy and PSGD, the latter being less durable. It's orders of magnitude moreso than Gosen, IMO.I never stopped using B5E/ X-One in my pro opens.
The Wilson Steam 99s killed my shoulder during a 2 week period where played over 20 sets with it.
g4driver
Legend
I get an amazing deal on X-One and NRG2 (and pretty much most reels except Weiss Cannon) and it only takes 15' for the crosses on a Wilson Pro Open
660/15' of X-One = 44 sets of crosses at just over $5 a cross
660/18' of B5E = 36 sets of mains per reel at $3.5 for the mains
It purely mentally now
The only two USTA matches I've lost this spring have been to unbeaten selfrated guys, so I don't want to switch. Each string job cost less than $10 and last 12-15 hours. that works out to less than a $1 per hour. But a reel of NvY is amazingly cheap. And it comes in blue, white and natural.
finalfantasy7
Professional
Pvaudio got a unrelated question for you, if you could help.
I noticed that you take the hammer gel (health page), basically ive ordered some of it but in the 26serving jug (notice u take it in thr sachet)
Question 1 - What would be the equivalent (same ML) the sachet (doest say on thr website)
Q2 - can i add this into a 600ml bottle mixing it with a carb drink-(powder carb, add water), or will this be diluting the gel too much?. (I know they have a flask which you can add 100ml into it)
I noticed that you take the hammer gel (health page), basically ive ordered some of it but in the 26serving jug (notice u take it in thr sachet)
Question 1 - What would be the equivalent (same ML) the sachet (doest say on thr website)
Q2 - can i add this into a 600ml bottle mixing it with a carb drink-(powder carb, add water), or will this be diluting the gel too much?. (I know they have a flask which you can add 100ml into it)
finalfantasy7
Professional
Graphiteking
Rookie
@pv, is that a 1hb at the beginning of the clip?
Doubles
Legend
Haha yes, I was reading the thread in the tips section about "PUT UP OR SHUT UP!" for 1HBHs. Since I used to have one, I decided to hit one. Feels nice, but is definitely harder to control
The feel of contact with a one hander with the prestige is so sublime though :twisted:
Pv, long time thread reader, finally registered to say thanks for all the reviews. I have both the 4D 200 tours and the prestige ( mid though) in my bag and have played with most of your poly poly combos. Do you have a favorite smooth, durable, poly cross? My impulse is MSV co-focus but I thought I would get your thoughts.
For outright spin, CoFocus is really hard to beat. For a nice and solid general cross, Scorpion works if you want a plusher feel and Silverstring works if you want a firmer feel. If you want something in the middle, Discho Iontec works nicely. When I wasn't stringing my frames due to being away from home last summer, I only took with me Performaxx, Scorpion and Iontec.
SWEET! I'm moving back having finished up grad school. Did/do you hit at a club?
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