String Suggestion? - Head Youtek Graphene Speed MP 100

trixner

New User
Been playing with this racquet for about 2 years and I've never really gotten used to the contact and feel with NXT Tour 16 strung at 56.

Background: In college I played a Head Liquimetal Radical (thick beam 18x20) and thought I could use some more playability when I got back to playing again seriously two years ago. My friend who is a pro suggested the Speed so I play tested a few racquets (hated the newer Radical, liked the Pure Strike, liked the Speed) and picked up the Head Youtek Graphene Speed MP 100. I've never really gotten adjusted to it. Added weight to bring it up a bit and stabilize this year and it feels a lot better and more solid overall. I like doubles, attacking, playing a flatter game.

My issue with this racquet is I seem to get a lot of fliers and have a problem with the control aspect without feeling the need to hit more spin or the spin isn't as repeatable as I'd like.

So to my question.....

Can I make a string adjustment (string type, tension, gauge) to resolve this issue I'm having?
 
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fjcamry

Semi-Pro
Yes try a syngut multi in mains and a soft poly in crosses. 16g main with 18 gauge cross at 58/52 lbs tension for main/cross. may add 1.5 gm lead tape on handle , 0.5 gm lead on 12 o’clock. I’m using kirschbaum multi and proline ll


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You could try a soft poly like cyclone tour at #54 and if your arm is fine using a poly string next you can try Cyclone 18L at #52 pounds. A lot of good strings out there, I said cyclone because the quality/price relationship is hard to bet.
 
Forgot to mention that all the Multi's like NXT, X-one, NRG2, etc, etc... are not very spin friendly... of course you can generate spin but not as much as with a Poly or a Gut/Poly hybrid.
 

Traffic

Hall of Fame
Been playing with this racquet for about 2 years and I've never really gotten used to the contact and feel with NXT Tour 16 strung at 56.

Background: In college I played a Head Liquimetal Radical (thick beam 18x20) and thought I could use some more playability so when I got back to playing again seriously two years ago. My friend who is a pro suggested the Speed so I play tested a few racquets (hated the newer Radical, liked the Pure Strike, liked the Speed) and picked up the Head Youtek Graphene Speed MP 100. I've never really gotten adjusted to it. Added weight to bring it up a bit and stabilize this year and it feels a lot better and more solid overall. I like doubles, attacking, playing a flatter game.

My issue with this racquet is I seem to get a lot of fliers and have a problem with the control aspect without feeling the need to hit more spin or the spin isn't as repeatable as I'd like.

So to my question.....

Can I make a string adjustment (string type, tension, gauge) to resolve this issue I'm having?
So you've been playing with NXT Tour for the past 2yrs? How often do you play? Have you tried any othe tensions? Have you tried any other string?

If you want to reign in the power a bit, you could try upping the tension.

There are some lower powered options out there like Babloat Origin, Head Velocity, Technifibre NRG to name a few.
 

fjcamry

Semi-Pro
I think what you need on the speed frame is pop from the strings. Try a poly syngut hybrid first , then try a multi poly hybrid next for added playability.


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Traffic

Hall of Fame
Since you say you played in college, I'll assume you have good technique.
I would try whatever new string full bed. I would not jump into a hybrid initially.

Find out what strings, tensions you prefer/dislike. Then can put together alternative stringing options like hybrids.
 

phanker

Semi-Pro
This racquet has a pretty open string pattern, hard to gain control other using a stiff poly of some sort. Problem with that is potential elbow issues.
Try a stiff poly in the mains and a soft poly, or multi, in the crosses. The mains are long so it can handle a stiff poly ok. The crosses need to be a softer string as they're not much longer than a 98in frame due to the elongated head of the Speed. This should soften up the stringbed enough while allowing for the control you're looking for.
 

fjcamry

Semi-Pro
Spin is more than respectable with multi in the mains and poly crosses. A soft poly in cross will have plenty of snap back for the mains to slide . The proline ll in particular has a lot of pop paired with syngut.


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trixner

New User
So you've been playing with NXT Tour for the past 2yrs? How often do you play? Have you tried any othe tensions? Have you tried any other string?

If you want to reign in the power a bit, you could try upping the tension.

There are some lower powered options out there like Babloat Origin, Head Velocity, Technifibre NRG to name a few.


I've been hitting with the NXT since I purchased the racquets. I play 2-3 times a week. Never strung it with anything else because that's whats easily available at the club I get my sticks strung at. I had them strung at 54 initially and went up to 57 to try and make them a bit more solid. Doesn't seem to have helped. I'll try some of those strings.
 
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trixner

New User
Since you say you played in college, I'll assume you have good technique.
I would try whatever new string full bed. I would not jump into a hybrid initially.

Find out what strings, tensions you prefer/dislike. Then can put together alternative stringing options like hybrids.


Yes, I have good technique. I was a tennis pro for a few camps in the summers, I've taught lessons before and I played competitively in a higher end D3 program (our team punished a lot of respectable D2 schools). I'm going to maybe look at a full softer poly at a lower tension and also try to find what Head initially suggested the racquet be strung with in their own line.

Looking at Head Lynx, Solinco Hyper-G and at the suggestion of Jonathan P the Cyclone Tour. Any other suggestions? Would rather not go with a hybrid but full bed first and then mix and match.

Full disclosure I never focused on string in college or even until now. I always just hit with whatever we were provided (which I think was a simple multi syn gut).
 
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Yes, I have good technique. I was a tennis pro for a few camps in the summers, I've taught lessons before and I played competitively in a higher end D3 program (our team punished a lot of respectable D2 schools). I'm going to maybe look at a full softer poly at a lower tension and also try to find what Head initially suggested the racquet be strung with in their own line.

Looking at Head Lynx, Solinco Hyper-G and at the suggestion of Jonathan P the Cyclone Tour. Any other suggestions? Would rather not go with a hybrid but full bed first and then mix and match.

Full disclosure I never focused on string in college or even until now. I always just hit with whatever we were provided (which I think was a simple multi syn gut).
I think you are pretty much covered with Cyclone and Hyper G. I mentioned the cyclone tour because you are coming from a Multi filament and Polys are way stiffer than you current NXT. Cyclone Tour are on the softer side of polys so it will be like in the middle. Cyclone 18L been thinner play with great spin and its also "soft" for a poly. Tension should be like 2-3 pounds lower than your NXT.
 

jim e

Legend
Try a nat. gut in mains strung at a relatively high tension as gut hits well at high tensions while giving good control.You would have to get a quality nat. gut as cheap ones do not hold up to the high tensions.I have had great luck with VS gut, older Wilson gut, and Klip gut both coated Klip and uncoated Klip and Luxilon gut.
You can go with full bed, or hybrid with a poly cross if you are looking for more spin production.
 

hurworld

Hall of Fame
I'm guessing going the 16x19 string pattern has higher ball launch angle than your previous 18x20, resulting in more balls going long? Since you play a flat-hitter's game, without altering swing path, maybe changing grip towards a little more western may help?
 

trixner

New User
I'm guessing going the 16x19 string pattern has higher ball launch angle than your previous 18x20, resulting in more balls going long? Since you play a flat-hitter's game, without altering swing path, maybe changing grip towards a little more western may help?

I've been tooling around with this lately. The balls aren't going real long and don't feel like mishits but they just have a little bit higher and deeper flight. I'm a semi-wester forehand. Might have to get to a ball machine and tinker around with it. Thanks!
 

n8dawg6

Legend
try sonic pro edge, full bed, at 52-54 lbs. the frame has a very open pattern. ive had success with a poly main/synthetic gut cross hybrid too, but lots of string movement and notching. i really think the frame was designed with a full poly setup in mind.

the speed PRO’s tighter pattern is much more tolerant of a synthetic gut. works well with velocity multifilament too, although i havent tried other multis in it.
 

Traffic

Hall of Fame
Yes, I have good technique. I was a tennis pro for a few camps in the summers, I've taught lessons before and I played competitively in a higher end D3 program (our team punished a lot of respectable D2 schools). I'm going to maybe look at a full softer poly at a lower tension and also try to find what Head initially suggested the racquet be strung with in their own line.

Looking at Head Lynx, Solinco Hyper-G and at the suggestion of Jonathan P the Cyclone Tour. Any other suggestions? Would rather not go with a hybrid but full bed first and then mix and match.

Full disclosure I never focused on string in college or even until now. I always just hit with whatever we were provided (which I think was a simple multi syn gut).
I strung a co-workers racquet. It's a new Pure Aero (100", 16x19 open pattern). I strung it with Velocity/Cream the same as my racquet. He asked me to hit with his racquet a bit. I couldn't hit a thing. Now, it may be the strings needed a day to season, but I was really surprised at how erratic his PA felt compared to my V1Pro. Now, I'm nowhere as good as you. But my son is probably about your level. Every once in a while, I ask to try his racquet out and he hits with mine. The first thing he does is dump all the balls into the net because my racquet has a much lower launch angle because of the tighter string pattern in the middle. Plus my string setup also has low launch angles compared to his poly.
 
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