Recommendation for cross string

[micahtouchet]

Hi, guys! I need a recommendation for my cross string. My racquet is a Wilson Blade 98S. For years, I played with Pacific Tough Gut 16L at 54LBS in the mains, and Luxilon Big Banger Ace 18 at 48LBS in the crosses. It appears that Pacific is now defunct, plus I was wanting to get away from gut if possible, and switch the poly to the mains. I’ve experimented with a few string setups, and finally found a setup I love. I have Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable 17 at 48LBS in the mains, and Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 at 47LBS in the crosses. I absolutely love this setup, but my problem is after about 2 hours of play time, the mains have dug into the crosses so much that they start fuzzing up. Then, the snapback becomes really diminished and shortly thereafter, the crosses break. I absolutely love the feel of the Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 string, but I’m wondering if there is an alternative that would be “slicker,” so the mains don’t dig in as much. I’ve had arm issues years ago, so I’m very hesitant to go full poly, plus I love “feel” shots. Is this fuzzing something that is inherent to multifilaments? Is there something with a similar feel, power level and comfort as the Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 that would slide better against the mains?

Thanks!!

 

[fuzz nation]

When I do basic poly hybrids for local players, I typically use Gosen OG Sheep Micro 16 as a cross. This string has an extra degree of softness compared with many polys, it's durability is better than average among syn. guts, and it's also rather slippery, at least when it's relatively fresh. But OGSM is also substantially more stiff than Biphase - as well as probably all multi's and a lot of other syn. guts, too.

If you want a cross that's softer than poly and more resistant to fraying, I'd say consider Forten Sweet 16. Although it's a syn. gut, it's soft enough to work as an alternative to some multis (the lighter gauge Sweet 17 is rather fragile). Two other syn. guts that I think of as being moderately soft are Prince Original (without the Duraflex) and Volkl Classic. The 17 ga. version of those two might actually work okay as a cross - I wouldn't expect them to break down quite as quickly as Biphase 17 (or Sweet 17).

Any multi will probably fuzz out eventually as a cross when paired with a poly main, but some of our pals here may have a strong candidate for the job. Ashaway Monogut ZX has a reputation for being both soft and durable, but I can't say I've ever sampled it myself. I also haven't tried Yonex 850 in a few years, but that multi surprised me with its impressive durability in a couple different frames I picked up along my racquet history.

If you're stuck on the performance of poly and still want some feel, I think you're on the right track with using a semi-light gauge poly main. Although most multi's will likely fray as a cross in that hybrid, you might get a little better combo of feel and service life if you try an even lighter gauge poly main with a 16 gauge multi cross. Tricky business though, since it's tough to know what will feel "right" for you.

 

[micahtouchet]

Thanks, everyone, for the recommendation — with particular thanks to @fuzz nation ! I bought a pack of all the strings you mentioned, except for Yonex 850, and have started process of elimination this morning on the courts.

Thanks again!

 

[The Big Kahuna]

Check out BEST HYBRID WITH GUT Discussion.


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[Daniel Waters]

Hi, guys! I need a recommendation for my cross string. My racquet is a Wilson Blade 98S. For years, I played with Pacific Tough Gut 16L at 54LBS in the mains, and Luxilon Big Banger Ace 18 at 48LBS in the crosses. It appears that Pacific is now defunct, plus I was wanting to get away from gut if possible, and switch the poly to the mains. I’ve experimented with a few string setups, and finally found a setup I love. I have Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable 17 at 48LBS in the mains, and Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 at 47LBS in the crosses. I absolutely love this setup, but my problem is after about 2 hours of play time, the mains have dug into the crosses so much that they start fuzzing up. Then, the snapback becomes really diminished and shortly thereafter, the crosses break. I absolutely love the feel of the Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 string, but I’m wondering if there is an alternative that would be “slicker,” so the mains don’t dig in as much. I’ve had arm issues years ago, so I’m very hesitant to go full poly, plus I love “feel” shots. Is this fuzzing something that is inherent to multifilaments? Is there something with a similar feel, power level and comfort as the Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 17 that would slide better against the mains?

Thanks!!

I'm late responding to your post, but I suspect you are going to have the same durability issues with any non-poly cross string you use with Ultra Cable. Ultra Cable has sharp edges, and it's going to really dig into any softer cross string. If you are truly wanting a setup where you want the mains to be able to slide against the crosses, then a round poly main with a synthetic gut cross string would be best (or something like RPM blast rough that is sided but they are not sharp edges and have a coating that allows for the string to slide more easily). If you are wanting to stick with a sharp edged poly for the mains, then you just have to live with the downside, which is the lower durability (unless you choose to pair it with a poly cross string, but that may not have the feel you are wanting).

 

[The Big Kahuna]

I'm late responding to your post, but I suspect you are going to have the same durability issues with any non-poly cross string you use with Ultra Cable. Ultra Cable has sharp edges, and it's going to really dig into any softer cross string. If you are truly wanting a setup where you want the mains to be able to slide against the crosses, then a round poly main with a synthetic gut cross string would be best (or something like RPM blast rough that is sided but they are not sharp edges and have a coating that allows for the string to slide more easily). If you are wanting to stick with a sharp edged poly for the mains, then you just have to live with the downside, which is the lower durability (unless you choose to pair it with a poly cross string, but that may not have the feel you are wanting).

All the strings I have been testing - for that reason - are smooth Polys. I rated about 10 of the best regarded smooth Polys for comfort, control, power, and spin. Here is what I have so far:

CROSS STRING
Ratings for: comfort/control/power/spin

• 2 Kirschbaum Pro Line EVO - 8/9/7:9 - 33
soft comfortable resilient flexible elastic lively explosive springy stiff wire-like solid crispy precise rough innovative unique
Good all-around
Blue version of the Pro Line No. II. Plays like: Yonex Poly Tour Pro 125 or softer Babolat RPM Blast

• 25 MSV Co-Focus 17L (1.18) - 8/7/8/8 - 31
soft comfortable resilient flexible elastic lively explosive stretchy spongy springy stiff wire-like solid crispy precise dull sluggish boring rough innovative unique
Good all-around
Plays like: softer Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.23

• 6 Weiss CANNON Silverstring 17 - 8/9/8/8 - 33
soft comfortable resilient flexible elastic lively explosive stretchy spongy springy stiff wire-like solid crispy precise dull sluggish boring rough innovative unique
Good all-around
Plays like: softer Luxilon Alu Power 16L and BB Ace 18; Yonex Poly Tour Pro 125


• 3 Mayami Hit Pro 1.25
soft comfortable resilient flexible elastic lively explosive stretchy springy solid crispy precise innovative unique
Good all-around
Plays like: Yonex Poly Tour Pro 125 w/ better control & comfort

———-

ISOSPEED Touch Poly V18 String (1.12)
soft comfortable resilient flexible elastic lively explosive stretchy springy solid crispy precise rough innovative unique
Durability?
Plays like: Luxilon Big Banger Ace 18

Yonex Pro Tour FIRE 17 - 3/8/3/8 = 22?
comfortable solid crispy precise dull
Power?

Wilson REVOLVE 17 - 7/9/6/9 = 31
soft comfortable flexible elastic lively explosive stiff solid precise rough
Feel?

Tecnifibre Ice Code White 18 - 7/9/6/8 = 30

15 Luxilon ACE 18 - 7/8/5/8 = 28

Kirschbaum Pro Line II 18L (1.15) Red - 6/9/5/7 = 27

Luxilon ALU Power 125 - 6/8/3/5 = 24

Luxilon ALU Power 115 - 2/7/4/7 = 20



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