Soft Poly strings?

[Jackson Heights]

I read last year that soft poly strings were due to come out this year. Has that happened?
If so, is it really soft? I have a history of tennis elbow so I have to use soft strings.
Also, I am a 4.0 player who is not a big hitter. Should I try poly anyway?
(I use medium power mid-plus racquets).
Thanks

 

[nadalex]

if youre not a big hitter why use poly. You wont get much power, just control and spin.Try natural gut or multis to keep the TE at bay especially because youre not a big hitter you probably wont break strings often

 

[pheonix6579]

IMO BIg Hitter Blue Rough and WeissCannon Black5Edge were the softest polys that I have used, very easy on my arm at least. I also string in the low 50s-high 40s

 

[Radicalized]

There are lots of perfectly good synthetic guts to try. Personally, polys don't cause me any issues with pain, but you probably should analyze your game first. If you start in with polys, you'll probably have to go through a number of them. As you can clearly see on this forum, rarely is there an agreement on any string, and this includes polys. If you aren't a big enough hitter, polys aren't going to elevate your game. Don't change because of the proliferation of polys.

 

[Bud]

I read last year that soft poly strings were due to come out this year. Has that happened?
If so, is it really soft? I have a history of tennis elbow so I have to use soft strings.
Also, I am a 4.0 player who is not a big hitter. Should I try poly anyway?
(I use medium power mid-plus racquets).
Thanks

Gut mains and poly crosses have been shown to impart more spin than all poly. The hybrid is also more comfortable. I'm fiddling around with gut mains and Isospeed Baseline crosses (soft poly). The hybrid setup lasts longer as well.

BTW, both my parents were born and grew up in Jackson Heights (1940's - 60's)

 

[yonexpurestorm]

i used to get really bad tennis elbow, but now use polystar energy. it feels as soft as a multi. i cross it with bhbr because i need more spin and it is pretty soft too.

 

[fgs]

polys are strings developed for players hitting with lots of topspin and with pretty much ooomph. the way you describe your game, you should not derive any profit from using polys, but of course it"s up to you to try it out.
the major point about polys which is much too often overlooked is that they have a life-time of 3-15 hitting hours, some exceptions will take you to 20 hitting hours maybe. as they are much more durable then multis, a poly might take you to double the hitting time than a multi. once the string has gone "dead" it is a definite threat to your elbow or shoulder, so if your time-window is going to exceed 15 hitting hours, the best thing would be to stay away from polys.

 

[archman]

Gut mains and poly crosses have been shown to impart more spin than all poly. The hybrid is also more comfortable. I'm fiddling around with gut mains and Isospeed Baseline crosses (soft poly). The hybrid setup lasts longer as well.

I am new to all of this hybriding but wouldn't gut in the crosses and poly in the mains last longer? At least for me when I have been using multi's or synthetics in the past, I typically will break a main first. In a hybrid, what is the advantage of having the poly in the crosses? I have been using SPPP in the mains and MCS in the crosses.

 

[maxpotapov]

Here is a lot of info on softer poly strings here:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=392186

 

[fgs]

i'm stringing quite low (49lbs mains and 47lbs crosses) and use poly in the mains and multi in the crosses.
i have had an experiment quite a long time ago with multi in the mains and poly in the crosses, basically at the same tensions! and i found it not to be to my liking at all. the stringbed stiffened up considerably and while i apparently had much more spin in terms of rpms, i felt that i have no real control. the durability was also much less and most surprisingly of all, the feel was a lot worse than with poly in the mains. it is said that the mains will determine basically the way a stringbed performs, but my experience with multi mains - which should have softened up the stringbed and should have provided more touch - was exactly the opposite.
i know quite a few other players who like the poly in the crosses, but for me it did not work. i will try it out once again sometime, and eventually experience with other tension set-ups, ie going much lower with the poly in the crosses.

 

[mikeler]

Consider not using polys. If you do, hybrid them with a multifilament string or natural gut to soften the stringbed. I had elbow problems for over a year and to my elbow, the following were easiest on my arm:

1. Genesis Black Magic
2. Weiss Cannon Black 5 Edge
3. Dunlop Black Widow

 

[JT_2eighty]

Don't even try the polys. At 4.0 and if you don't hit big, poly will be a disappointment to your arm and game. While durable strings, above -fgs- makes a great point that after 12-15 hours of hitting, the string actually gets stiffer, furthering the potential for arm issues.

Stick with a durable multi like Head RIP Control, or if you are looking for more power, check out various Multi threads, where you will probably settle on a string from Tecnifibre or Babolat. Multifilaments can be played until they break without risking arm issues, and are a better fit for your level and style of play.

 

[Jackson Heights]

soft polys

Thanks for the response. I guess I am better off avoiding polys. I have a new question about hybrids which I am going to post right now as a new separate thread

 

[mikeler]

If you are interested in multi reviews, check out my thread below:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=352048

 

[Orion3]

Just about to start play testing luxilon savage. Initial reaction is good. Will see how it goes

 

[cknobman]

Gut mains and poly crosses have been shown to impart more spin than all poly. The hybrid is also more comfortable. I'm fiddling around with gut mains and Isospeed Baseline crosses (soft poly). The hybrid setup lasts longer as well.

BTW, both my parents were born and grew up in Jackson Heights (1940's - 60's)

I have always done the poly in the mains and gut in crosses with the rational that the poly applied the spin because of ball bite and when you swing the main strings are horizontal and brushing up would mean the horizontal strings are what would be applying the majority of the spin on the ball.

I could be totally off though. Why do you say the poly in the crosses applies more spin?

 

[JT_2eighty]

^^^ either setup will be great for spin, but the edge can often go to gut mains because the gut is more elastic. So, using your same description of ball bite during contact, imagine the ball getting sling-shotted by elastic gut mains as they slide across smooth poly crosses. However, using multi mains just doesn't compare to gut mains, so if you prefer to not use gut either way, then stick with poly main/multi cross, it will be very very similar in spin production to gut main/poly cross. The additional benefit to poly mains over gut mains is better directional control, as gut mains will also produce a more lively, powerful stringbed response.

The variables are endless in hybrid configs, so sometimes it's best to stick to a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality, and keep using what you are confident in using. Experimenting too much can lead you into the abyss of string addiction that many of us have fallen into... ;p

 

[cknobman]

I hear ya JT.

I foolishly just tinkered with my string setup by trying all full bed of Kirschbaum Pro Line II 17 in my racquets. For a few weeks it was ok and just as I started getting used to it my elbow started hurting. Now my elbow feels like its going to fall off and I had to cut the string out.

I was just fine with what is in my sig but just could not resist the temptation to "tinker" with a new setup........I never learn.

 

[Power Player]

A few weeks? If you use poly, you just have to accept that you need to string your racquet on a weekly basis if you play 6 hours a week.

It's that simple..you have to do that or you will destroy your joints.

I use syn gut crosses and black magic mains - my strings break or if im playing pushers, i cut them out each week.

It is a fact of poly that people need to accept instead of playing with them for weeks.

 

[JT_2eighty]

Yea, it's unfortunate that string distributors market Polys as a "durability" string; while many stringers also string them as a durability option for their customers.

I run into too many players that have had poly in their racquet for weeks and weeks, and sometimes months and months. Sadly it is the casual rec player looking for a durable string that does not get informed that this "durability" string is actually the cause of their arm discomfort over time, but also I can't believe how many pro shops/clubs out there are stringing Luxilon or RPM in people's racquets without telling their customers that these strings get worse on the joints over time.

Unfortunately, I don't think many of these stringers even realize this, as I once encountered an MRT who suggested I use PHT at 60 lbs as a durability option, without any mention of the loss of resiliency of polys. He said 60lb would be fine because polys lose so much tension initially (which may be true), but it was a bricky arm-death setup that nearly gave me TE after I continued using it past 12 hours of hitting time. I guess I do have him to thank, as it spurred me to research stringing, strings, and my purchase of a dropweight.

 

[Power Player]

Yep..and it takes time to where your joints get inflamed. So some could be older and not have an issue, but it is slowly building and they don't know it.

Full poly is seriously a 4 hour setup..that is 2 sessions.

Hybrid, you can probably last 6-8, and that is pushing it.

That is why I do not think the gut/poly thing is that great. Who wants to cut out gut every 6 hours? That is what the pros who use it do.

Just because you have gut in your mains does not mean the dead poly will not send small vibrations to your hand.

I stand by poly and syn gut/multi crosses. It is a perfect combo and could be used all the way up to the pro level.

There are people at 3.5 and 4.0 playing with full poly for weeks at a time and it makes ZERO sense.

 

[TaihtDuhShaat]

I agree with the above observations about the gut/poly hybrid. Once the poly crosses lose tension, the gut mains don't seem to block the bad vibrations from the sagging poly. After as little as 3-4 hours of play on this setup, I noticed I had to swing very hard and could no longer generate pace once the poly lost tension. Conversely, when using kevlar mains with poly crosses, the string bed still plays great once the poly loses tension with great pace, control, and a surprisingly comfortable feel.

 

[maxpotapov]

I stand by poly and syn gut/multi crosses. It is a perfect combo and could be used all the way up to the pro level.

There are people at 3.5 and 4.0 playing with full poly for weeks at a time and it makes ZERO sense.

Totally agree. Even cheapest setup like mine really works once I discovered lower tensions (thanks Talk Tennis).

And I will never forget my first full poly setup, Babolat Ballistic @ 60 lbs in my 18x20 frame... Hate full poly ever since.
On another occasion I playtested Luxilon Adrenaline prototype and it was nice and easy on my arm, for 3 like hours and then it broke. Hybrid is the way to go.

 

[cknobman]

Man this is the first time I have ever heard that Poly needs to be cut out after a few hours.

Sure I knew the pros did this but I mainly thought it was because of how picky they are with tensions.

So leaving a poly in for more than a few hitting sessions is what is causing the pain in my elbow?

When I play with my usual hybrid I usually play until the strings break which is anywhere between 2-3 weeks and have never had a moments trouble out of my arm. Occasionally I will notice my game go to crap out of no where an balls start flying on me and then I will cut out the strings before they break.

 

[user92626]

Yep..and it takes time to where your joints get inflamed. So some could be older and not have an issue, but it is slowly building and they don't know it.

Full poly is seriously a 4 hour setup..that is 2 sessions.

Hybrid, you can probably last 6-8, and that is pushing it.

That is why I do not think the gut/poly thing is that great. Who wants to cut out gut every 6 hours? That is what the pros who use it do.

Just because you have gut in your mains does not mean the dead poly will not send small vibrations to your hand.

I stand by poly and syn gut/multi crosses. It is a perfect combo and could be used all the way up to the pro level.

There are people at 3.5 and 4.0 playing with full poly for weeks at a time and it makes ZERO sense.

What about syn gut/multi for mains and poly for crosses? I've played with poly, co-poly for 15 months or so and I know the mains make the most difference. So, if you want to enjoy comfort, better make syn gut your main?

 

[Power Player]

No it doesn't work as well that way. The mains will move too much due to ball friction unfortunately. Gut mains work much better, but besides that, poly mains are the way to go in a hybrid with syn gut/multis.

 

[tlm]

Yep..and it takes time to where your joints get inflamed. So some could be older and not have an issue, but it is slowly building and they don't know it.

Full poly is seriously a 4 hour setup..that is 2 sessions.

Hybrid, you can probably last 6-8, and that is pushing it.

That is why I do not think the gut/poly thing is that great. Who wants to cut out gut every 6 hours? That is what the pros who use it do.

Just because you have gut in your mains does not mean the dead poly will not send small vibrations to your hand.

I stand by poly and syn gut/multi crosses. It is a perfect combo and could be used all the way up to the pro level.

There are people at 3.5 and 4.0 playing with full poly for weeks at a time and it makes ZERO sense.

Your right stating that just because you have gut in the mains does not mean that the poly x's will not go dead. I used to use nat. gut mains with poly x's and it is a nice combo, but the poly goes dead way before the gut does so what i would do is just change the poly x's.

I know you probably think this is crazy and it will ruin the frame, but it works without a problem. With this method i can use the gut main until it breaks, just change the x's every 4 to 5 times out and you can keep a great set up until it breaks.

 

[2Hare]

Yep..and it takes time to where your joints get inflamed. So some could be older and not have an issue, but it is slowly building and they don't know it.

Full poly is seriously a 4 hour setup..that is 2 sessions.

Hybrid, you can probably last 6-8, and that is pushing it.

That is why I do not think the gut/poly thing is that great. Who wants to cut out gut every 6 hours? That is what the pros who use it do.

Just because you have gut in your mains does not mean the dead poly will not send small vibrations to your hand.

I stand by poly and syn gut/multi crosses. It is a perfect combo and could be used all the way up to the pro level.

There are people at 3.5 and 4.0 playing with full poly for weeks at a time and it makes ZERO sense.

I agree with the above observations about the gut/poly hybrid. Once the poly crosses lose tension, the gut mains don't seem to block the bad vibrations from the sagging poly. After as little as 3-4 hours of play on this setup, I noticed I had to swing very hard and could no longer generate pace once the poly lost tension. Conversely, when using kevlar mains with poly crosses, the string bed still plays great once the poly loses tension with great pace, control, and a surprisingly comfortable feel.

The solution to the short playability gut/poly hybrid is lubricants such as lotion. You guys gotta try it! Keep it playable until gut breaks! As for the poly, stick with Alu power. Any other poly I've tried especially the "soft" polys does what TaihtDuhShaat describe, live short and die fast. Alu power's playability last surprisingly long as crosses. Gut main/Alu power is the dream combo for spin, power, and feel!

 

[Manaldo]

Gut mains and poly crosses have been shown to impart more spin than all poly. The hybrid is also more comfortable. I'm fiddling around with gut mains and Isospeed Baseline crosses (soft poly). The hybrid setup lasts longer as well.

BTW, both my parents were born and grew up in Jackson Heights (1940's - 60's)

Hi Bud, I am looking for a main string and very interested in your setup, what kind of gut do you use? Natural gut or syn gut? Any idea on that?
Thanks.

 

[John Z.]

Consider not using polys. If you do, hybrid them with a multifilament string or natural gut to soften the stringbed. I had elbow problems for over a year and to my elbow, the following were easiest on my arm:

1. Genesis Black Magic
2. Weiss Cannon Black 5 Edge
3. Dunlop Black Widow

I'd like to revive this thread - i'm looking for a comparison in "softness" among the following polys:

1. Dunlop BW
2. Volkl Cyclone Tour
3. Tourna BHB 7
4. Solinco Tour Bite Soft

I am personally used to hybrid setup with main / cross = DBW (18g) / Prince Premier Control (17g), in a blade 93 at 42/44 lbs.

Could some competitive players out there (5.0+) who *played* with those strings write down there perspective on the softness of those 4 strings relative to one another? Lets try to keep the signal to noise ratio up...; thanks in advance!

 

[Nostradamus]

go with Kirschbaum proline X and DNA helix

 

[mikeler]

I'd like to revive this thread - i'm looking for a comparison in "softness" among the following polys:

1. Dunlop BW
2. Volkl Cyclone Tour
3. Tourna BHB 7
4. Solinco Tour Bite Soft

I am personally used to hybrid setup with main / cross = DBW (18g) / Prince Premier Control (17g), in a blade 93 at 42/44 lbs.

Could some competitive players out there (5.0+) who *played* with those strings write down there perspective on the softness of those 4 strings relative to one another? Lets try to keep the signal to noise ratio up...; thanks in advance!

I've tried all but BW as full beds, so I'm guessing on BW softness. My ranking for most soft to least would be:

1. Solinco Tour Bite Soft
2. Dunlop Black Widow
3. Volkl Cyclone Tour
4. Tourna BHB7

 

[SpinToWin]

I've tried all but BW as full beds, so I'm guessing on BW softness. My ranking for most soft to least would be:

1. Solinco Tour Bite Soft
2. Dunlop Black Widow
3. Volkl Cyclone Tour
4. Tourna BHB7

I've played Black Widow. I'd rank it in as the softest and the most powerful of the bunch. Has a bit of an erratic response though due to the exaggerated edges. Not my cup of tea. Precision and touch are seriously lacking IMO. Also durability and playability duration is one of the worst I've had for a polyester string.

 

[John Z.]

Mikeler, Spin2Win - thanks.

I had a bit of hope with TBS 17g and CT 18g... but it looks like it's not going to be easy to find softer than BW 18g.

 

[Torino_Chela]

soft poly means more power?

 

[mikeler]

I've played Black Widow. I'd rank it in as the softest and the most powerful of the bunch. Has a bit of an erratic response though due to the exaggerated edges. Not my cup of tea. Precision and touch are seriously lacking IMO. Also durability and playability duration is one of the worst I've had for a polyester string.

Yeah I did not like Black Widow at all.

 

[rodrigoamaral]

soft poly means more power?

typically yes but not always.. soft typically does mean worser tension stability..

Soft Poly WORTH a try is poly star energy...

 

[Torino_Chela]

typically yes but not always.. soft typically does mean worser tension stability..

Soft Poly WORTH a try is poly star energy...

well, im using rpm blast (a very stiff string), at 52 lbs and it gives me a lots of power.