Revisiting Monogut ZX

[Muppet]

Goodbye to ZX 1.27 black with and without pre-stretching. I had as good results with it as I could expect with Pro Stacked 16 crosses @56/52 in my signature racquet. It was slightly more powerful than I want, but the main thing I don't like is how the impact feels. The string has a lot of elasticity, but there is a bit of a delay at impact before the string deflects. This is true of the black 1.27. So while the response is good, there is a momentary sharp shock quality that is overcome before the strings pocket. That's fine compared to a lot of full poly beds, but I'm comparing to poly/multi hybrids with more of a 'thud' feel that I like.

I have one more set of natural 1.27 on the way. I'm not sure what to expect for pre-stretching and elongation. I think I'll do the exact same pre-stretch as I did on the black, until it goes over a 1 foot increase in length. Natural is supposed to be more stretchy, while the black only stretched 2 inches. I'm going to have to stop laying out $15.50 for this string and call it a complete experiment. There are certainly less expensive strings that I can be happy with. Well, one more set, two more tries for string nirvana.

 

[PBODY99]

@Muppet
Have you tried the braided ZYEX they make. I would only use the black in 1.30 mm, as I found the others to be to fragile.

 

[2ndServe]

the monogut snapped so many times on me just string or a mishit is the braided zyex any good?

 

[Shroud]

the monogut snapped so many times on me just string or a mishit is the braided zyex any good?

I used to do blue dynamite as a cross and loved it as a replacement to gut crosses. That said its like a y multi and can break fast if you are a string breaker. Not anything like monogut zx

 

[Traffic]

It sounds like your V1 feels kind of clunky to you. There will be about a 18g increase in total weight. Because swing weight is measured about an axis 10cm up from the butt and that's approx where the weight will be added, there will be only a very small increase. A shift in balance point of 1/8" or .5cm is a 1 point HL change. And that small amount makes a difference in the mobility of your racquet, especially when you're starting out near even balance. A more HL balance with more weight makes your racquet feel like more of a weapon because it's both heavier and more manueverable. It's like the old swords that had a ball of weight just above the handle. I hope I'm not getting too hokey for you.

If you already use an overgrip and are just adding leather (12g increase), my guess for the increase in HL is a 2 points, 2/8", or 1cm shift of balance point. A little lead on the hoop will fine tune your balance. The purpose of fine tuning is mostly useful for making your string bed angle hit the ball flush without having to work your wrist.

I'd focus on modifying your best racquet first, until it's where you like it. Then match the other racquet close to it, with variances since it's a different racquet you're starting with.

Not on this thread, but I'm going to enlist your help in helping me tune my racquet. I'm starting to get used to the heavier racquet, but I wouldn't mind having it be a little easier to bring around. I'm hoping that with less arm pain, I can play more and even hit the gym to gain more fitness. I'm not sure that ZX/OGSM is the best combo for a V1P as it's already a control and comfort stick. I may want to up the spin ante a bit. In the meantime, it's a good balanced combo for me and I'm starting to see some success in my tennis progression.

 

[Traffic]

Thanks for the comparison of Spin Effect vs ZX/OGSM. My sister left the strings in too long. Basically strung back in September. She has been complaining of wrist pain lately. Then she remembered my constant rant about stringing frequently. She plays at least twice a week, singles, doubles, mixed doubles.

Her strings looked brand new. I remember hitting with it just fine when it was freshly strung; maybe the flex racquet. But she had complained her strings were too stiff until about the 3rd hitting session. Still had snap back now. No real visible wear. But when I checked tension, it was 45-50M and 30-32C (using tourna string meter). Seems her string was dead.

I've played with her. She has a slice serve. Hits with some moderate topspin. Doesn't hit particularly hard. To me, a good multi would suit her game better. but I didn't have that in inventory. Well, I suppose I have a set of Xcel I bought for someone else I could have used…

Will use this stringing as a comparison to the Spin Effect, then can work on what she likes and doesn't like.

So reporting back on my sister's experience. She hated it on her drills class. But probably no warm up and she's jumping into tough situations with an unfamiliar string. After playing with dead strings, having such a lively stringbed as ZX/OGSM was probably a shock. Plus the sound.

She played again doubles. And she had much better success. Her play group commented she was doing really well. So maybe the ZX/OGSM will prove itself. Supposedly she had a match tonight so will have to get her take.

I recommended that she string full multi unless she is really enjoying this combo. I'm kind of losing a little love because of the extra work involved in stringing…all the pre-stretch and potential for breaks… Plus @ $15.50, I'm hoping to get good results with Head Velocity for a cheaper alternative.

 

[PBODY99]

the monogut snapped so many times on me just string or a mishit is the braided zyex any good?

@2ndServe
I think it is works very well. It does not have the low shear strength of the MonoZX , but it acts more like a multi that keeps it rebound angle for a long time in my experience.
The black is much closer to the original Dynamite in being robust. The soft is just to fragile for my ported Prince frames.

 

[2ndServe]

@2ndServe
I think it is works very well. It does not have the low shear strength of the MonoZX , but it acts more like a multi that keeps it rebound angle for a long time in my experience.
The black is much closer to the original Dynamite in being robust. The soft is just to fragile for my ported Prince frames.

Thanks for the input, funny enough I literally just ordered an old Prince rebel and was hoping to use the ported grommets.

 

[Muppet]

Not on this thread, but I'm going to enlist your help in helping me tune my racquet. I'm starting to get used to the heavier racquet, but I wouldn't mind having it be a little easier to bring around. I'm hoping that with less arm pain, I can play more and even hit the gym to gain more fitness. I'm not sure that ZX/OGSM is the best combo for a V1P as it's already a control and comfort stick. I may want to up the spin ante a bit. In the meantime, it's a good balanced combo for me and I'm starting to see some success in my tennis progression.

Let me know of any questions I might be able to help with. If I don't have a sure answer to a question, I'll say so.

 

[mctennis]

I noticed when I tried the Monogut ZX that the tension loss was pretty significant. I even tried it as crosses and I could tell pretty quickly the ZX had lost tension pretty quickly. I won't use it again.

 

[frank52]

I dearly love Monogut ZX as a cross string but I do my own stringing. Not sure I would trust another stringer to do it right for me. You do need to pull each string for a long time.

 

[Traffic]

I noticed when I tried the Monogut ZX that the tension loss was pretty significant. I even tried it as crosses and I could tell pretty quickly the ZX had lost tension pretty quickly. I won't use it again.

Did you pre-stretch. I could see how if you don't pre-stretch, it would have incredible initial loss of tension.

 

[Shroud]

G

Did you pre-stretch. I could see how if you don't pre-stretch, it would have incredible initial loss of tension.

yeah and if it was strung on a lock out it would be even worse...

 

[mctennis]

Did you pre-stretch. I could see how if you don't pre-stretch, it would have incredible initial loss of tension.

I took it to a MRS and he did pre stretch it. I was just sort of disappointed at how it played. It felt like a lot of tension loss to me. Sort of sloppy in the frame after a short while. I could definitely tell the tension loss was a lot more than I wanted it to be. I can feel tension loss, string problems, pretty easily in my racquets. I have been using them since 1999/2000 so every little difference I can tell pretty quickly. I like Ashaway products and had been using their Dynamite 17g string with great success. I switched back to the older Dynamite version. I am very happy with that one. Too bad I cannot find that version any longer.

 

[Traffic]

I took it to a MRS and he did pre stretch it. I was just sort of disappointed at how it played. It felt like a lot of tension loss to me. Sort of sloppy in the frame after a short while. I could definitely tell the tension loss was a lot more than I wanted it to be. I can feel tension loss, string problems, pretty easily in my racquets. I have been using them since 1999/2000 so every little difference I can tell pretty quickly. I like Ashaway products and had been using their Dynamite 17g string with great success. I switched back to the older Dynamite version. I am very happy with that one. Too bad I cannot find that version any longer.

What tension did you string the ZX? What tension do you run the Dynamite?

 

[Shroud]

I took it to a MRS and he did pre stretch it. I was just sort of disappointed at how it played. It felt like a lot of tension loss to me. Sort of sloppy in the frame after a short while. I could definitely tell the tension loss was a lot more than I wanted it to be. I can feel tension loss, string problems, pretty easily in my racquets. I have been using them since 1999/2000 so every little difference I can tell pretty quickly. I like Ashaway products and had been using their Dynamite 17g string with great success. I switched back to the older Dynamite version. I am very happy with that one. Too bad I cannot find that version any longer.

Thats the problem. No pro stringer will do a proper prestretch. They do the around the pole method and give a light tug. That method is only good for removing coil memory to avoid kinks. It does absolutely nothing to help with tension maintenance.

You need to pull on one end of the sting not two, and permanently elongate the zx at least 12"-18" to avoid what happened to you

This wont cut it and sadly its what all pro stringer do when you ask for a prestretch:

 

[PBODY99]

I switched back to the older Dynamite version. I am very happy with that one. Too bad I cannot find that version any longer.

@mctennis
The Black 16 g is close to the original Dynamite in my experience.

 

[Irvin]

Thats the problem. No pro stringer will do a proper prestretch. They do the around the pole method and give a light tug. That method is only good for removing coil memory to avoid kinks. It does absolutely nothing to help with tension maintenance.

You need to pull on one end of the sting not two, and permanently elongate the zx at least 12"-18" to avoid what happened to you

This wont cut it and sadly its what all pro stringer do when you ask for a prestretch?..

Here is a better video in my opinion. Just remember if one person is pulling on both ends of the string each string will have half the tension applied.

EDIT: Of course if you're tensioning a string at 86 lbs for 30 seconds there is not much need to pull at 49 lbs for 15 seconds before.

 

[Shroud]

Here is a better video in my opinion. Just remember if one person is pulling on both ends of the string each string will have half the tension applied.

EDIT: Of course if you're tensioning a string at 86 lbs for 30 seconds there is not much need to pull at 49 lbs for 15 seconds before.

Much better vid. But none of those methods will provide the prestretch needed to elongate the string permanently. Maybe the 1st is closet but you need to pull hard and long

 

[2ndServe]

G

yeah and if it was strung on a lock out it would be even worse...

What's wrong with a lockout?

 

[Irvin]

What's wrong with a lockout?

There's nothing wrong with a lockout. But normally you reach tension after a second or two of pulling and from then on either the brake or clamp just holds the string. A CP opull a bit longer and tends to create a higher DT if set at the same reference tension.

 

[Shroud]

What's wrong with a lockout?

What Irvin said. Normally nothing but with zx it magnifies the issues with lack of prestretching

 

[Traffic]

I think I pre stretched to 16-17", and strung with DW (constant pull) taking 14s from start of pull to clamp. And it was still stretching slowly as I clamped.

 

[Shroud]

I think I pre stretched to 16-17", and strung with DW (constant pull) taking 14s from start of pull to clamp. And it was still stretching slowly as I clamped.

Yep its stretchy. Fwiw i weave the next cross while its tensioning which sadly can take 30+ seconds. On a dw though couldnt you just wait till it stops stretching?

 

[Muppet]

I think I pre stretched to 16-17", and strung with DW (constant pull) taking 14s from start of pull to clamp. And it was still stretching slowly as I clamped.

I think I may have mentioned this already, but if you let the weight rest and pull at the end of the second drop (past horizontal), it will be easy to see the tensioner come to rest. On the next drop, the string should stop stretching and stabilize.

 

[Traffic]

I think I may have mentioned this already, but if you let the weight rest and pull at the end of the second drop (past horizontal), it will be easy to see the tensioner come to rest. On the next drop, the string should stop stretching and stabilize.

My experience has been that if I get very close with slow tensioning, it'll just dip below horizontal and stop. So probably a soft lockout in the sense that it continues to pull at a reducing rate of tension.

 

[Irvin]

Up until now I have only strung ZX / ZX Pro as a hybrid so I decided to string my my 315 DC frame full bed 2 piece with ZX Pro. I dropped the tension down to 50 lbs w/10% pre-stretch. Normally I use 15 racket lengths of string to string a MP racket with a 9' short side. What I cut off the long so I use a starting knot to run my cross to reduce waste.

First off when I got to tension the outer main on the short side I noticed I had 7" of string extending past the gripper. I noticed the string is fairly stiff and easy to kink if you're not careful long ago. This can lead to premature breakage so I was very careful not to get any twist in the string. I used a pull weaving method and had no problems weaving the string . I would actually say ZX Pro is easier than most to string. I did notice that when I tensioned a string or tie off a string there was less drawback than usual but that could also be because of the 10% pre-stretch and the low tension of 50 lbs.

Now I need to go pick up my granddaughter at school so I going to bounce a few balls off the wall on the way.

 

[Traffic]

Up until now I have only strung ZX / ZX Pro as a hybrid so I decided to string my my 315 DC frame full bed 2 piece with ZX Pro. I dropped the tension down to 50 lbs w/10% pre-stretch. Normally I use 15 racket lengths of string to string a MP racket with a 9' short side. What I cut off the long so I use a starting knot to run my cross to reduce waste.

First off when I got to tension the outer main on the short side I noticed I had 7" of string extending past the gripper. I noticed the string is fairly stiff and easy to kink if you're not careful long ago. This can lead to premature breakage so I was very careful not to get any twist in the string. I used a pull weaving method and had no problems weaving the string . I would actually say ZX Pro is easier than most to string. I did notice that when I tensioned a string or tie off a string there was less drawback than usual but that could also be because of the 10% pre-stretch and the low tension of 50 lbs.

Now I need to go pick up my granddaughter at school so I going to bounce a few balls off the wall on the way.

I've seen a few references to this that you pioneered? Is there a link for more info?

Looking forward to hearing your take of full bed ZX

 

[Irvin]

I've seen a few references to this that you pioneered? Is there a link for more info?

Not sure what this is. I'm sitting in a car line now will respond when I get home and find out what you mean by this?

EDIT: By the way it was too late to hit by the time I left will have to hit later.

 

[mctennis]

Thats the problem. No pro stringer will do a proper prestretch. They do the around the pole method and give a light tug. That method is only good for removing coil memory to avoid kinks. It does absolutely nothing to help with tension maintenance.

You need to pull on one end of the sting not two, and permanently elongate the zx at least 12"-18" to avoid what happened to you

This wont cut it and sadly its what all pro stringer do when you ask for a prestretch:

Interesting and informative. You are right. It was probably not correctly pre-stretched. If is has to be stretched the 12-18" then I am sure they did not do that. What a waste of my time and money on my part. My old stringer always did a great job, I am sure he did it the correct way. I miss that guy and how well he did my racquets over the 20+ years I used him. You do not realize how great of a stringer you have until you do not have them around any longer. I still can't find a really decent stringer. It is all a bunch of " hurry and get the racquet done" types I have around me.

 

[mctennis]

@mctennis
The Black 16 g is close to the original Dynamite in my experience.

Really? Great to know. I will try a set of that. I just broke my strings today while playing. Ugggg.

 

[Irvin]

I finally got to hit on the wall a little. I did not mention in my first post but the string on the bottom cross reached 17" past my gripper. That means I had about 16"-22" more than what it normally takes me to string a racket. Next time I shoot for 32' of string to string my racket.

I found that ZX Pro raised my shot elevation by a little. I normally string multis at 57# so I thought maybe 50# w/10% pre-stretch would be about the same. The string bed was firmer than what I envisioned it was going to be. The string had good pop and ruffed up the balls quite a bit but I did not notice any more spin w/ZX Pro. The strings stayed in place well but I could hear them moving when I hit so I'm sure they were moving and just snapping back. All in all not a bad string at this point but I need to play with it a lot more.

 

[Shroud]

Interesting and informative. You are right. It was probably not correctly pre-stretched. If is has to be stretched the 12-18" then I am sure they did not do that. What a waste of my time and money on my part. My old stringer always did a great job, I am sure he did it the correct way. I miss that guy and how well he did my racquets over the 20+ years I used him. You do not realize how great of a stringer you have until you do not have them around any longer. I still can't find a really decent stringer. It is all a bunch of " hurry and get the racquet done" types I have around me.

Amen to that. I often think about being a stringer bit its all about speed i think and i am lucky to finish a string job in an hour and 1/2 often 2 hours

 

[graycrait]

I still can't find a really decent stringer.

At over 62yrs and having played tennis in some form or other since about 1960 I got my first and only stringing machine 3 yrs ago. I would never have tried Zyex or Ashaway Kevlar if I hadn't purchased my own machine. On a crank lockout I can string a 16x18 in an unhurried 20-25 minutes.

I would encourage any tennis enthusiast to get a stringing machine at their earliest opportunity.

 

[esgee48]

Lucky you! Try doing 17 Ga polys in 18x20 Prestige Mids/MPs. I have never been less than 45 minutes because I am cussing the GD crosses!

 

[Traffic]

Can't do it with ZX. But I did string my boys racquet with hyperG/OGSM last night in 45min.

Last 2 crosses were a pain. Probably shaved 10% of cross off rubbing against the mains...

 

[graycrait]

OK, my buddy who is 28 and is king of the rec players here, demands I string his 98" 18x20 with Ash Kev x Zyex Pro at 62x62. I would guess that job takes 45 -50 minutes.

 

[Traffic]

Not sure what this is. I'm sitting in a car line now will respond when I get home and find out what you mean by this?

EDIT: By the way it was too late to hit by the time I left will have to hit later.

I think folks gave you credit for a bead weave method? Not sure what it is.

I've found that if I cross with S-gut, it's pretty easy to weave crosses. Poly cross on the other hand is still a b***h. Oh wait, haven't done that in a long while….

 

[Traffic]

OK, my buddy who is 28 and is king of the rec players here, demands I string his 98" 18x20 with Ash Kev x Zyex Pro at 62x62. I would guess that job takes 45 -50 minutes.

Oooh…talk to @Shroud about 60+ tension on the ZX...

 

[Traffic]

I finally got to hit on the wall a little. I did not mention in my first post but the string on the bottom cross reached 17" past my gripper. That means I had about 16"-22" more than what it normally takes me to string a racket. Next time I shoot for 32' of string to string my racket.

I found that ZX Pro raised my shot elevation by a little. I normally string multis at 57# so I thought maybe 50# w/10% pre-stretch would be about the same. The string bed was firmer than what I envisioned it was going to be. The string had good pop and ruffed up the balls quite a bit but I did not notice any more spin w/ZX Pro. The strings stayed in place well but I could hear them moving when I hit so I'm sure they were moving and just snapping back. All in all not a bad string at this point but I need to play with it a lot more.

Any more spin compared to???

I just got done with my Flights for this week. Bah!! I sucked again. But now I'm thinking it's not that I just had an off day. I do believe my racquet has been eating spinach and has gotten more powerful. I can't seem to take control of it. Balls are launching on me and even when I try to add spin, I have to be so careful or else it goes just long. That "careful" play is so hard to modulate… I'm about 9hrs into this stringing. I think things started to go south on me at hour 7. By south, I mean, increase in power. And the crispness has fallen off.

Tell me I should try ZX/Cream for awesome spin!! I need help. I'm about to raid my son's HyperG!!! Must…resist…shaped…poly...

 

[mctennis]

At over 62yrs and having played tennis in some form or other since about 1960 I got my first and only stringing machine 3 yrs ago. I would never have tried Zyex or Ashaway Kevlar if I hadn't purchased my own machine. On a crank lockout I can string a 16x18 in an unhurried 20-25 minutes.

I would encourage any tennis enthusiast to get a stringing machine at their earliest opportunity.

That may be the most expensive investment I could ever make. I would constantly be fiddling with different strings, strings combinations, tensions, etc.. The UPS truck would have a daily stop at my house to drop off even more sets and rolls of strings. I'd have to get another job just to support my habit. " I'm not addicted. I can quit any time I want."

 

[Irvin]

Any more spin compared to???

I normally play with one of the Tecnifibre multi strings (XR3, MultiFeel, NRG2, HDX, Duramix, or X-One.) I do not see any more spin from the ZX than I get from just about any other string.

 

[Irvin]

I think folks gave you credit for a bead weave method? Not sure what it is.

I've found that if I cross with S-gut, it's pretty easy to weave crosses. Poly cross on the other hand is still a b***h. Oh wait, haven't done that in a long while….

Yes that was a method of weaving crosses I came up with.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/new-video-how-to-weave-crosses-faster.406749/

 

[graycrait]

That may be the most expensive investment I could ever make.

It gets pretty bad. I have to have 7 rackets of the same make and model, different lengths of rackets, weights and string set ups. Fortunately I can find this make and model of Prince Classic Graphite 100LB from 20 - 60 dollars. These rackets don't include "yesterday's" late great rackets or my very minor collection of thrift store rackets. I have a box full of reels of string but the only reels that get used up regularly are Ashaway Kevlar and Zyex Pro. My regular UPS guy kids the new guys training with him that I string rackets for pros who send me their rackets.

I blame it all on getting a Prince Neos 1000 3 yrs ago this coming June.

 

[Shroud]

Any more spin compared to???

I just got done with my Flights for this week. Bah!! I sucked again. But now I'm thinking it's not that I just had an off day. I do believe my racquet has been eating spinach and has gotten more powerful. I can't seem to take control of it. Balls are launching on me and even when I try to add spin, I have to be so careful or else it goes just long. That "careful" play is so hard to modulate… I'm about 9hrs into this stringing. I think things started to go south on me at hour 7. By south, I mean, increase in power. And the crispness has fallen off.

Tell me I should try ZX/Cream for awesome spin!! I need help. I'm about to raid my son's HyperG!!! Must…resist…shaped…poly...

Yikes that kind of play sounds like me. Be careful you are heading toward kev/poly at insane tensions

 

[skydog]

I have been using natural Monogut ZX as my cross string for a while now and wanted to try the black version so I bought a mini reel last week and strung up one my Blade 104's as a test. My current stinging specs are Ashaway Kevlar 16g mains @57 lbs with Ashaway Monogut ZX 16g crosses @ 50 lbs and I kept the same tensions with the switch to the black ZX.

I have 3 hours on the racquet strung with the black Monogut ZX and have found it to generally play very similar to the natural version with just some minor differences. The black strings appear to be a bit smoother and offer a bit less friction. I noticed this when stringing the racquet as the crosses were a bit easier to pull/weave as well as on the court as I seem to be getting a little bit more spin on my shots. The black string also feels a bit stiffer which I noticed coming off the reel during the stringing process as well as during play as I noticed a little less power off the stringbed and a very slight tighter feel off the stringbed.

Other than those minor differences, I found the black version to play just like the natural version of ZX. In a blind test, I am not sure I could differentiate the playing qualities of either color, but coming off the reel I probably could tell you which color was which. At the end of the day, I will probably end up having two racquets of each color in my bag. The black for the warmer months or when I want a touch less power and the natural for the cooler months or when I want a touch more power.

You can not go wrong with either color.

 

[Traffic]

Yes that was a method of weaving crosses I came up with.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/new-video-how-to-weave-crosses-faster.406749/

Omg, that is BRILLIANT! Genius, pure genius.

 

[Traffic]

Yikes that kind of play sounds like me. Be careful you are heading toward kev/poly at insane tensions

Kevlar...like they use that stuff to stop bullets.

 

[Shroud]

Kevlar...like they use that stuff to stop bullets.

Or keep them in the court

 

[skydog]

Or keep them in the court

Or both...I use it to keep them it the court and stop bullets. My reaction volleys have improved while playing under the influence of Kevlar.