Question

[sestroff15]

I am a 4.5 tennis player playing with a Wilson pro staff using typically a full bed of poly strings to get maximum spin potential but having shoulder problems not related to the string but the type of string does not help...seeking input on a softer combination either full poly or multi-filament or natural gut or hybrid to keep spin as important with other attributes that are arm/shoulder friendly...thank you in advance!

 

[dkmura]

There's no single answer to this kind of question. Depending on what string/tension you currently use, other options could include a full poly with a softer construction, like Solinco Hyper-G soft, strung at a lower tension. Or you could try a gut/poly combo or another match, but all may or may not offer the type of spin potential you are looking for. But you should realize that your shoulder malady will likely result in a stringing compromise with comfort vs. control being at balance. Hope you're getting some PT help with on the shoulder- good luck!

 

[sestroff15]

There's no single answer to this kind of question. Depending on what string/tension you currently use, other options could include a full poly with a softer construction, like Solinco Hyper-G soft, strung at a lower tension. Or you could try a gut/poly combo or another match, but all may or may not offer the type of spin potential you are looking for. But you should realize that your shoulder malady will likely result in a stringing compromise with comfort vs. control being at balance. Hope you're getting some PT help with on the shoulder- good luck!

Thank you and good input...PT will ultimately be the answer and I am using a lower tension poly and love the spin since I hit a flatter ball and down in the lower 40 lb range and the poly really helps...don’t want to lose that attribute but don’t have the time to keep changing the setup if you know what I mean...thx again

 

[Steve Huff]

The players (your level and above) that I have convinced to switch from poly/gut over to gut/poly have reported an increase in spin (even with 15L natural gut). I normally string the gut at 5# higher than the poly. Gut is not the fragile, oft-breaking string that it once was.

 

[blai212]

it could be the racquet...may look into getting a more arm friendly stick

 

[fuzz nation]

My first suspicion when somebody like yourself has a grumpy shoulder is that you've got a mis-match with your racquet (and that's without even seeing your hit some balls). Maybe it's too heavy, maybe too light, maybe something else. Poly usually irritates a player's wrist or elbow, but if it's an especially low-powered setup, it might also trick a player into overcompensating by swinging too hard too often to put some zip on the ball. A few hours of that can put a lot of strain on a shoulder.

The easiest way to make a substantial change with your gear is to dump the poly for the short term. Easier meaning cheaper than shopping out a different racquet and adjusting to that. Try a couple rounds with full beds of syn. gut or multifiber and see how things progress with a significantly softer layout. Your shoulder health is a higher priority right now compared with any wow factor you get with the poly. A few weeks of hitting with a softer alternative should either make a difference or not. Poly isn't for everybody, so maybe it's time to sort that out for yourself.

If you can't live without some poly in your life, there may be some kinder-gentler options. Locals who use me for stringing have had great success with what I think of as a skinny poly hybrid; a light gauge poly main of 1.20mm or lighter with a syn. gut or multifiber cross. For a while now I've used super affordable Isospeed Baseline combined with a few different crosses including Gosen OGSM, Volkl Classic Syn. Gut, and Prince Premier Control - all in 16 ga. In a 98"-100" frame, it seems to run fine tensioned anywhere from maybe 48-55 lbs.

This skinny poly hybrid brings a degree of poly performance to the equipment equation (spin) without going as firm as a full bed of poly. It also seems to have the advantage of not turning dead too drastically with a multi or syn. gut in the crosses to keep some resilience there. Although I don't play with polys, I've sampled this layout and it's similar to the firmness of a bed of syn. gut - not what I'd consider to be uncomfortable. And it's never irritated the arms of any players in my circle who have tried it.

I also haven't tried the gut/poly layout described in post #4, but I'd bet that it can offer a lot of upside once the tensions are dialed in.

 

[SinneGOAT]

Tecnifibre Triax and a smooth round poly in the crosses. Triax has the best spin of any multi I’ve tried, it’s like a poly.

 

[FIRETennis]

Which Pro Staff exactly are you using?
Which strings, what tension and when do you replace the strings?

Those frames with the exception of the RF97 are pretty low power, high control, relatively low launch angle frames.
That might make you swing faster than usual in order to produce penetrating, deep landing shots.