Looking for advice on strings. I have exclusively played with prince syn gut for as long as i can remember. Ihave occasionally switched between 16g to 15g topspin off and on but mostly use the 16g setup. I have never really explored other strings due to being generally happy with the prince syn gut strings for the most part. Recently i have been burning through the strings on my 4 rackets (diablo tour MP) due to playing more frequently. I string at 53. Anything more and my rackets feel too stiff. My stringer said i need to reevaluate the strings i am using. My issue is that i have no experience with current strings out there and dropping 20 bucks on a pair of strings only to hate them if off putting. Im not overly strong. I am told i hit a hard ball but it takes effort on my part to do so. I also have some tearing in my shoulder but don't have pain right now. everyone suggests polys which i don't feel great about due to to bossily of shoulder pain and lack of arm strength needed. So are there any suggestions? Even if it is to stay with what i have been playing with? I would opt for something that offers a little more pop but wont hurt my arm although im not sure what out there would offer that. Thanks in advance for any input.
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Other than you think you're breaking strings more frequently, what do you like about your current strings? What don't you like?
What level of play?
What does your stringer recommend?
Tons of string choices. But you have to know what characteristics you're looking for. Also, depends on your skill level and style of play. Physical fitness and/or past injuries also play a hand.
I am a 3.5 and play up 4.0 doubles with my brother. Don't have many injuries other than my shoulder that doesn't bother me too often. I like the comfort and playability of the syn gut. Wish it were more durable and maybe offer more pop. It also moves around a lot but doent bother me much. I have been recommended rpm with syn gut or gut in the crosses or wilson nxt. I'm somewhat fit. Could always be in better shape but I do ok on that end.
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Is spin a large part of your game?
Most people move towards poly, which is a stiff/slick string, for lower power (for control) and more snap-back with a full swing for more spin. The trade-off is a stiff string bed which isn't the most arm friendly. If you have mostly flat strokes, you may not get the full benefit of poly while suffering most of its downsides. Also, poly continues to stretch and then lose its good playing properties rather quickly. So though your strings don't break, it may go "dead" the same time if not sooner than you would break nylon.
Multis can provide a slicker string than s-gut for better spin. Also can have a bit more snap-back longer than sgut. And is typical comfortable. I believe mikeler has a long thread on a long list of multi strings he's tested. Generally, multis will not last as long as the sgut and are more expensive. Power can be dialed with tension.
Then there are hybrids. You can string poly in the main and cross with sgut or multi to provide much of the control and spin of the poly and the comfort of the sgut/multi. The holy grail of hybrids is natural gut/poly. The gut provides feel, power, comfort, spin. The poly helps tone down the power, helps increase spin.
You mention power. That is sometimes deceiving. Generally someone with low RHS would favor a powerful string. So without generating Nadal swing, the strings provide extra pop off the racquet. This is great for beginner players as they may have a hard time even getting the ball over the net. Intermediate-Advanced players may favor a less powerful string so they can use a full stroke to generate good RHS. The lower powered strings help keep the ball from launching off their racquets. The higher RHS can help generate more spin to keep the hard hit ball in the court.
I think you would like RPM/Sgut. Should provide a bit more spin and actual tone down your power. But it will allow you to swing a little faster by controlling the power. Gut in the crosses do not last as long as in the main. Also, the whatever you put in the mains tends to dominate the performance characteristics. Wilson NXT is a great string. It just frays like it's growing a beard in no time.
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take some time and research various hybrids and what tensions ppl are using.
If you string sgut at 55. You may want to string your RPM at 50. And keep Sgut in the cross at 55. Many poly strings can even be strung lower than 10% drop. Hybriding strings is a long and deep rabbit hole.
Muppet
Legend
To add a little:
Multis are more elastic than synguts, so I string synguts 3 lbs. higher and multis 5 lbs. higher. If you like your sweet spot wider, go down 1 lb. on the cross string.
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
If syn. gut has been your "normal" for that many years, be prepared for a poly hybrid to give you a substantially different feel. I've used heavier, softer frames pretty much forever and I also string at home. Syn. gut has been my favorite stuff for a long time - 17 ga. usually has the feel and performance I like, but I'll also use a 16 ga. if I want a little more consistency in hotter conditions when strings can quickly soften up.
Your Diablos are certainly capable spin factories, they're also somewhat soft, and not terribly heavy. I tried that racquet some years ago, but the heftier midplus Prince NXG was a better fit for me (I also still have a couple NXG mids). Because that Diablo was borderline light for me, it didn't offer me the inherent stability or power that I prefer (strung with syn. gut). You may find a new layout that's really good for you if you try some hybrids, but I'd be willing to bet at least a nickel that a poly hybrid would reduce the "pop" or liveliness that you get with that frame.
While I won't flat out say that a poly hybrid will injure you, I'm also pretty confident that it will be less arm-friendly than a full bed of syn. gut. You have the luxury of having multiple racquets though, so you can do a pretty good comparison between the two string setups. For the sake of knowing what other strings might offer, I'd say some experiments are worth a try. Just don't expect a funky new hybrid to be an absolute game changer for you.
Poly generally helps players who swing very fast - fast enough to deform that string so it can effectively work the ball. I've sampled different hybrids in my own racquets through recent history and I haven't found much upside with these string setups to justify my using them regularly instead of full syn. gut. Glad that I've tried them for sure.
If you want to keep your costs under control and you're pretty happy with syn. gut, you could consider buying reels of your own string and just paying your stringer a labor charge to install them. Kirschbaum standard syn. gut is relatively soft and reels of this string sell for $35 at TW. I've been enjoying this string for a while and I also just grabbed a reel of both their 16 and 17 ga. premium syn. gut. Details at eleven...
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Sorry I missed this part. If anything more than sgut @ 53 feels too stiff, then I would not go the way of poly. There are many on the forum that play poly in the high 30s and low 40s that say it plays as soft as sgut. But I have not tried it myself.
There are some sgut options out there that offer a bit more spin with slick coatings and such. I think I heard some good opinions on Spiraltek.
I think a good multi might suit your needs a lot better. It's generally softer than sgut and offer a bit slicker surface to help with spin. You can dial in the control/power balance by varying tensions.
When you say burning through strings, how long can you go on a single stringing?
I know you aren't crazy about spending $20 on strings, but I just spent $30 and think I've found my holy grail of strings. I've been playing with Head Velocity which is a rather unique multi string that seems to have similar performance of a soft poly with the comfort of a nylon string and its playability lasts quite a long time if you aren't a chronic string breaker. But I'm just trying natural gut in the mains and a soft poly in the crosses. And for me, it's offering the spin and control of a poly, with the feel, comfort and touch of a multi. I have about 7hrs of play on this stringing and other than some tiny fraying, no other signs of wear. I've read that it keeps its playability until it breaks and often times the poly goes dead before the gut breaks. So if it lasts, then that could help offset the cost of the strings by having to string less often. We shall see.
just thought i would update for those who cared. i was convinced to go with the wilson revolve and sensation hybrid. its comfortable but i lost a lost of spin compared to my prince sgut. i also find that i have to hit through the ball more than i am used to. dont think it is for me. think i may try the multi. do you have any suggestions. overall i enjoy the feel and play of the sgut over what i have now.
esgee48
G.O.A.T.
My journey was nylon-gut-multi-sg-polys-sg-hybrids-sg over a period of decades. SG provides at least for me the best combo of tension maintenance, comfort, 'power' and spin. 16 hours is about all I get from any string. But, since I have a stringer, I don't care. If you have a bad shoulder and can't handle high tensions or stiff strings, than stay with the SG. I would just buy a pack of string savers and install them around the sweet spot (6x6 pattern). If you are itching to try a multi, go for it, but also buy the string savers.
Check out the Mikeler Multi thread. 1st pages has his recommendations. If you only want to dip your toe in the multi waters, use NXT or X1 or Alpha Gut 2000 (cheapest).
Check out the Mikeler Multi thread. 1st pages has his recommendations. If you only want to dip your toe in the multi waters, use NXT or X1 or Alpha Gut 2000 (cheapest).
My personal experience as a guy with a sensitive arm...
i feel less jarring playing a thin softer poly strung in the 30s than a multi in the 50s. If you play a spin game this is another option for you. Less touch, more spin, and better durability than a multi. As others have stated, hybrid would a good option also.
i feel less jarring playing a thin softer poly strung in the 30s than a multi in the 50s. If you play a spin game this is another option for you. Less touch, more spin, and better durability than a multi. As others have stated, hybrid would a good option also.
