Question About Natural Gut

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

I was wondering... I just ordered new Babolat VS natural gut 16g to try out in a hybrid cross with a Luxilon BB ALU rough 16g. I used to use the hybrid cross: Pro Hurricane cross and sensation main and i also switched over to reaction instead of sensation. I strung these at 58 on my O3 tour MP and I was wondering if I should put the natural gut on the mains or the crosses... And also, what tension should i put the strings at? I can obviously generate my own power since i use a tour racket so I was wondering what tension would be best to get the most spin and somewhat of durability if i am using the natural gut.. should i have different tensions for mains and crosses? please help me... and also, do you think natural gut is worth the 35 dollars, since i dont get it for free? or should i get NXT?

P.S. How long does natural gut honestly last if you put it on mains?

 

[babolatpdtp]

Natural gut will NOT last long on the mains at all, especially if you are a topspin player. Now the nice thing is, natural gut keeps its tension really well. I used to use gut on the crosses (mixed with Pro Hurricane on the mains) and I loved it. If you are using rough, that might break the gut even faster because, its just that...rough.

As for tension, I would keep the crosses and mains at the same tension. Try that out and fiddle around with tension if it just doesn't work. Without seeing you play, I can't tell you that.

Nothing plays like natural gut and that's a fact. For me, it wasn't worth the money. Unless you are a 5.0+ player, it's not worth it. Personally, I have switched the gut with NXT Tour. It's almost as close as you can get to it. Hope this helps.

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

So.. if i use the luxilon big banger, it wont last long? well at what tension should i put it at? i used to put my sensation and pro hurricane cross at 58 which is right in the middle but idk... would lower be better if i want less power and more spin? :sad:

maybe ill try the pro hurricanes on the main instead of big banger...any recommendations?

 

[jonline]

I can't speak for which strings you should use, but if you want more control and less power, you need to string higher, not lower. Higher tensions will give you increased spin potential as well.

 

[Radical Shot]

Gut mains is a great move - you'll really enjoy the performance increase you get, especially with ALU on the crosses. I like to string my nCode90 at 54 pounds - which is just under the half-way range. I think stringing even lower would be even better - I'll do that next time.

I hit hard....really hard, and a gut main / poly cross lasts me about 12 hours, give or take?

In my experience, you will never get anywhere near to how gut plays with any other type of string. NXT is overrated in my opinion. If you're really worried about it, string the gut in the crosses instead and you'll get a bit more life out of it, but if you really want to experience what gut is all about, you have to put it in the mains.

I disagree with the previous poster. If you want spin with gut, string lower. It will pocket the ball better and really rip the ball. I string a lot of racquets - especially my own, and stringing lower is definately the way to go for topspin.....at least for me.

Hope this helps.

 

[joe sch]

If your going to spend the $$$ on VS, then use it on the complete stringbed.

If your going to blend with poly, save the $$$ and use tonic or a cheaper gut. You will not be able to notice the diff and the endurance should be about the same.

Personally, I would just go all poly and drop tension to approx 50 like Rafa does. This works for me when I cant play my natural gut rackets.

The other smart option is to use string savers on your gut poly covering your sweetspot. This will make this investment last lots longer.

Also, lower tension will give you more spin potential, think Rafa again. You just need the ability to generate that kind of racket head speed. Most intermediate players will never get there and low tensions will just end up being trampolines if you attempt lots topspin. Good luck

Joe

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

Ok, so I am thinking about getting the natural gut(m) and bb(c) set up set at a tension of around 55 with babolat string savers.. is that a good idea? i really want to try the babolat vs natural gut!

 

[Radical Shot]

Sounds like the best move possible you could make for your tennis game to me! I would suggest stringing right in the middle of your racquet range, and then move from there. Don't pre-stretch the gut and make sure you get a decent stringer who knows what they're doing with gut.

 

[andreh]

If you try a full gut job string the mains 2-4 pounds higher than the crosses. I found that it gives me more spin.

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

ok so i still havent received the string but since i have time, i was wondering what you guys thought about the Luxilon ALU rough, would it better to use something else and get even better playability+durability? or should i just stick with it? for people who use natural gut hybrids, especially ones who use them on main: do string savers definitely help? and what tension is best? do you recommend high or low???

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

oh and also, how about the um... prestreching of gut??? is that very important or no???

 

[PBODY99]

!. I don't pre-stretch gut unless asked.
2. Yes the string savers help. Install before you first hitting session and add as needed.
3. My gut Main/ poly players don't play the modern spin game, but the poly is in stalled 2 to 5 pounds tighter than the mains.

 

[Radical Shot]

Here's my take on it.

1. Don't pre-stretch gut. I don't know where this idea came from, but I think it's absurd. One of the qualities of gut is it's fantastic elasticity. Why on Earth anyone would want to stretch that quality out of it is beyond me. Seems like a total waste - you might as well buy a multifiliment if you're going to do that to gut. I especially like the "cupping" feeling you get with gut as you unload on a crosscourt forehand. If you stretch the gut, I doubt you're going to get this sensation.

2. String savers? Give or take for me....but then again, I string my own racquets and hit hard. When the gut's done, it's done. String savers may help a bit, but when you're hitting hard, the tension will go before the string breaks anyway, so why bother!?

3. ALU rough? Overhyped string to me. Gut is the string that will produce topspin, not a poly with some dimples in it. If you're after topspin, string low and develop a topspin grip and technique. I believe you can put just about anything in the crosses if you've got gut in the mains and you'll reap the benefits of gut....and that means power, control, touch and feel.

Hope this helps.

 

[bagung]

i am using full gut and hybrid with gut in main.....
for more durable gut, try the armourpro....
for me, gut main/ multi cross last approx 12-15 hrs of playing time..
full armourpro gives me 17-19hrs....

 

[steve s]

I have about 15 hrs on my Legend 16g main Sweet 17g crosses. Fraying has slowed down. After clipping the ends, string still look to be in good shape.

 

[tarkowski]

I too would recommend a full gut-job if this is your first time trying it. The O3 MP is quite an open-patterned racquet that is tough on string, but durability really depends on your game. For a first-cut, I'd recommend VS 16 @ 60lbs (a couple lbs over mid tension on that racquet). Gut really starts to shine after a couple of sets of play. From there, the pocketing and playability really go up and its an unbelievable experience. By going full-gut, you get a benchmark for what you'd like to do with it.

There are quite a few threads on hybrid stringing and I highly recommend taking a look at those. Hybrid stringing makes sense at the pro-level where restringing takes place on a daily basis. Because poly holds tension least well, and gut holds tension best, a dichotomy exists that may prove difficult to live with in the long-term.

Good luck!

 

[Steve Huff]

Like others, I'd put the gut in the mains. I'd drop the tension 5# for the poly crosses---yes! 5#. Then, I'd get a thick gut (15L or even 15). You've already muted out most of the feel with the poly anyway, it won't hurt.

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

for some reason, i still have not received by natural gut strigs and by luck i found some good deals on **** for natural gut... they are different but they are still gut, so should i purchase them? they are VS Team 17g with thermo

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

the place i found them is yabe, spelled backwards since forum blocks it

 

[fastdunn]

Like others, I'd put the gut in the mains. I'd drop the tension 5# for the poly crosses---yes! 5#.

Why would you do that ? Poly has big initial tension loss and thus don't you
want to increase tension ?

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

i got the racket restrung with 55 tension, natural gut mains, but it was wilson 16 gauge instead of babolat.. hopefully they're similar since they are made in same factory.. anyways i got it and it feels great, but i cant really say much yet

 

[william]

Doesn't Federer get his strings prestretched???

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

so... i just picked up my second racket, and they strung it with 16 gauge natural gut, but it is from babolat.. im wondering if there's a big diff because i know they are both made in the same factory. hopefully they are similar...

 

[xXShOcKeRz91Xx]

OK... so one of my sets broke... but at an odd place... check the pics out and can you tell me if this is normal or a problem with the person who strung the racket... also, if it isnt anyone's fault, then should i just only replace the natural gut or replace also the luxilon... they are good stringers anyways, the people who string my rackets