Got a case of tennis elbow. Decided to order some Babolat natural gut 16 gauge as it's supposed to be the holy grail. Strung my Yonex vcore 95 2021 full bed gut. Mains at 57lbs and crosses at 54lbs. Hit with my ball machine today. Feels like a stiff poly. Like hitting with a board, no feel and to powerful. How long does it take Babolat natural gut to soften up? Had my spare vcore strung with Babolat synthetic gut, 40lbs mains and 35lbs crosses. Hit nice and no arm pain. Regret spending 54.00 on the Babolat gut but hopefully it lossens up. Don
Tennis elbow, natural gut, not very good!
- Thread starter doninva
- Start date
lelopez
Semi-Pro
I believe you and I are in the minority that found NG not as comfy the 1st time we tried it out. It does soften up with a few sessions but not a whole lot. That's the benefit if NG in that it keeps its tension quite well. I don't mind it anymore, but to be honest I much prefer to play with Head Velocity from a comfort standpoint. My arm is better dialed in for comfort with Velocity than NG.
Gut is clearly softer when hitting hard. It gives more under tension than other strings. If you string it pretty tight and don't hit very hard then you won't notice how much softer it is than a synthetic string. When I was experimenting with gut many years ago I found that I could string it as high as I wanted and hit as hard as I wanted and it was still soft feeling compared to a regular string. The power was not good for my game though, except on serve. I hit the hardest serves of my life with gut, but I lost too many points on groundies flying long.
If you string it lower and can manage to control your shots you will probably like it. I personally think it's not for most people. For most people a regular syn gut or a gut hybrid is probably a better way to go. Strings depend a lot on a player's specific circumstances.
If you string it lower and can manage to control your shots you will probably like it. I personally think it's not for most people. For most people a regular syn gut or a gut hybrid is probably a better way to go. Strings depend a lot on a player's specific circumstances.
Gut is supposed to be to powerful at low tension so l went with that theory. It was very powerful at 57/54 so at 40/35 l would probably have damaged the fence lol. Don
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
If you always play with soft strings like syngut at 40/35 and like it, why did you think you had to up the tension of gut to 57/54? You are obviously not liking such a high tension as it will be a much stiffer stringbed. You shouldn’t have to raise the tension more than 10% or maybe 15% when you change from syngut to gut whereas you have increased the tension by 45%-50%.
If you are playing well with syngut at such a low tension, I assume you have short abbreviated swings and you can keep playing with it without needing gut. You might try a racquet with a bigger sweet spot than the VCore 95 if you have tennis elbow.
Well, before l got tennis elbow, l was playing with synthetic gut at 55 pounds. I tried synthetic gut at 45/40 and my elbow didn't like it so l went to 40/35 synthetic gut and ordered the natural gut to try. I hadn't tried the 40/35 so l waited till l got the natural gut strung in my spare racket. Both rackets are Yonex vcore 95 2021. I took both to the court today. After l realized the natural gut was a no go, l tried the 40/35 synthetic gut. My elbow seems to be OK with it. I had to change my swing to more top spin and be careful with my backhand. I am doing the exercises for tennis elbow, using heat and playing with a tennis elbow brace. After 3 weeks the pain is going away and l am trying to be VERY careful it doesn't come back. Don
lelopez
Semi-Pro
I think he's trying to figure out what to do with the racquet he strung NG at 55 since not being able to use it hurts the pocket
He can change his swing.
Bingo, we have a winner lol. Can't afford, 54.00 a set for strings, to experiment with natural gut. I will hit with it and see if it softens up. If not, l will cut the crosses out and try a hybrid. If that doesn't work, l'll cut it out and match my other racket. Will chalk it up to a bad and expensive experiment. Don
I don't know that changing my swing will make the natural gut not feel like hitting with a board. Don
Let it sit in your bag for 2 - 3 weeks and try again. If it still feels like a board then I would say at that tension it's a bad match for your strokes. Hybrid still might be an option, but a decent syn gut at the right tension should also be a good option.
The other thing you want to do is properly diagnose the cause of your tennis elbow. It can be a result of many things, not just a stiff frame/strings. When I had it, I eventually discovered that it was actually caused by the mouse I was using to do computer work. Any repetitive stress to that area could be a potential cause or contributing factor. The mechanics of your strokes often are a factor and a softer frame and/or strings can certainly help, but it might not be the full solution. I hope you are able to get it completely resolved and find a string setup that works well.
Thanks, l am retired and have been doing some remodeling, laying rock, shingleing a roof, lots of hammering. This could be the cause or has added to my tennis elbow. I think l have a handle on it with lots of stretching exercises and heat. I am wearing a arm sleeve, for tennis elbow, when doing any work and trying to be careful. I had hoped the natural gut would be the key to protecting my elbow but it looks like the synthetic gut, exercise and caution is going to be the answer. Don
Step on it to soften it up.
I too have been feeling pain in my elbow, but not TE or GE. I couldn't tell (much of) a difference between NG and NXT Comfort/X-1 biphase/other premium multi.
After playing 3 matches with it, I hate to say that I like it! I've also adjusted my serve, as that was giving immediate feedback. I'm doing more slice and less flat.
I went with Wilson NG 17, as it is one of the cheaper ng options.
I don't feel like I've done a good job of illustrating it here, but I wasn't impressed at first. Now, I hate how much I like it. It has allowed me to keep playing instead of having to sit out.
After playing 3 matches with it, I hate to say that I like it! I've also adjusted my serve, as that was giving immediate feedback. I'm doing more slice and less flat.
I went with Wilson NG 17, as it is one of the cheaper ng options.
I don't feel like I've done a good job of illustrating it here, but I wasn't impressed at first. Now, I hate how much I like it. It has allowed me to keep playing instead of having to sit out.
ChanterRacquet
Professional
I put nat gut in a new to me clash when I got TE. Hated it with no perceivable change in comfort. A testament to how TE can just be due to overuse.
LocNetMonster
Professional
If you have tennis elbow issues playing with synthetic gut and NG, the problem isn't the string. The real issue is your swing mechanics. It sounds like your next investment should be 2-3 private lessons with a teaching pro. I would have strung the NG at the same tension as your synthetic gut setup, not 30% higher than your normal setup. Want to soften it up quick? Take a 7-10 lb dumbbell and leave it on the strings overnight.
My synthetic gut setup was 55/55 so not 30% lower than the natural gut. After getting TE, l tried 45/40, didn't feel any better than 55/55 so l strung one of my rackets at 40/35 with synthetic gut. I strung my other racket, with natural gut, at 57/54. This was due to the concenses, on the forum, to string natural gut a few pounds higher. It would probably take more than 3-4 lessons, with a teaching pro to help my game but thanks for the suggestion. Don
I read a lot before stringing up the gut. I was convinced that I should go higher. My normal starting point for a multi is 55lbs. I was prepared to string around 57-60 before someone talked some sense into me. Essentially, they said "if 55 is your starting tension, and gut holds tension better than a typical multi, then you should string at 55 first and get a feel for it. "
Well, after playing 3 matches alongside a few practice sessions, I've determined that I should have gone a little higher. I'll probably go 58 next time.
Are there specific shots where you feel the pain? For me, it was on serves. For comparison sake, I have felt every stroke when hitting with poly, so I can definitely tell a difference in comfort.
Going from 40 to 57 is a very big difference. That's nearly a 50% increase in tension. I get that you had other string jobs at 55, but if the last one was 40...I get why you feel the difference.
ZDragonBall
New User
You need to try thin gauge poly at low tension. I find nat gut just plays too hot. A lot easier to swing out on poly as it’s more consistent.
My one hand backhand and my serve is where it started. I didn't notice any issues on my forehand. I tried poly last summer and, at my skill level, saw no advantage. Don
Sounds like we are in similar boats.
Now that you are dealing with full fledged arm pain, do you have access to a racquet with poly? I'd be curious if a single hit would send shockwaves through your arm. Okay, that might be dramatic, but I can tell instantly that I'm not ready to play with poly again for a while.
Also, just to clarify, every shot feels bad now?
To save money, I recommend trying below multifillament strings no particular order - these are some of the top quality mutlifillament strings on the market which are soft and yet should maintain tension well.
1. Wilson NXT Comfort 16g or 17g
2. Tecnifibre NRG2 16g or 17g
3. Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 16g or 17g
Also, you should be taking some time off from tennis to let your elbow rest and relax from tennis...
Good luck.
1. Wilson NXT Comfort 16g or 17g
2. Tecnifibre NRG2 16g or 17g
3. Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 16g or 17g
Also, you should be taking some time off from tennis to let your elbow rest and relax from tennis...
Good luck.
I'll concur with this. I haven't played NRG2, but I have the other two. Both very soft. Babolat Xcel should probably also make the list. Maybe Dunlop Iconic too.
LOBALOT
Legend
Natural gut is not some magic elixir that will make TE go away simply by putting it in your racquet and hitting with it. Especially at higher tensions.
I am not sure what OP was expecting. If you have TE then you have TE. Rest and have it looked at and resolved and then come back when you are healed and then try Natty gut at a more realistic tension.
Putting natty gut in your racquet is not going to make your elbow better like popping an aspirin or something. It could potentially prevent it if you don't already have it.
I am not sure what OP was expecting. If you have TE then you have TE. Rest and have it looked at and resolved and then come back when you are healed and then try Natty gut at a more realistic tension.
Putting natty gut in your racquet is not going to make your elbow better like popping an aspirin or something. It could potentially prevent it if you don't already have it.
There are number of other options which are worth experimenting with, I listed strings which I have experience with and people who I string for have provided very positive feedback.
TY Cowboy!
Never expected a magic pill. I have been doing rehab exercises and wearing the te band to protect my elbow. With all the research, l did, the concensus was to string about 5 pounds higher than your usual tension. Everyone said ng would be to powerful unless strung at 56 to up in the 60s. Evidently that was wrong. Also the concensus was to use NG to protect your elbow. Evidently that was also wrong. Won't drink the Kool aid again. Will try to get the NG tension down by hitting or using weights as was suggested. If this fails, l'll cut it out and stop listening to people on the internet. Luckily it was only a 54.00 lesson. Don
LocNetMonster
Professional
Sorry. I misread your original post thinking 45/40 was your normal setup.
tacotanium
Professional
From my experience (unlike others have) Klip Legend Pro natural gut feels softer than Wilson's natural gut. Wilson' NG takes a few hitting session for it to soften just a tad bit but neither gives me TE.
@doninva, you should give Klip Pro Legend a try. I've heard Babo's NG is the same as Wilson's NG. Klip's NG feels a lot softer than Wilson's NG on impact.
@doninva, you should give Klip Pro Legend a try. I've heard Babo's NG is the same as Wilson's NG. Klip's NG feels a lot softer than Wilson's NG on impact.
To me it really does feel like it. I have TE on every string setup except natural gut, once I put it back on it's goes away almost instantly, it's weird in a good way for me.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
@doninva - You certainly are not alone with the natural gut observation. A few people I string for have had or have arm trouble and have wanted to try gut. A majority of them don't like it and feel it's not as comfortable as a good multi. I have begun to recommend Yonex Rexis in that case and it has been a winner for all those (without fail) who try it. It's not mushy, firm but not too. It's a bit more expensive but they really think it's worth it. You might also try Volkl Power Fiber Pro. It is very slick which assures you of snapback. It is to date the only string I've had to adjust my Sensor clamps for. I have used it in the past and it is an exception value for a multi IMO.
I think you're better off putting gut in mains and a soft poly in crosses. That way you can string lower, which will feel nicer and you'll regain some of the control of poly.
If the arm is so bad you cannot handle that, then a break might be warranted.
But like Rabbit pointed out above, Yonex Rexis is in between gut and a soft poly.
I played through my torn supraspinatus with it in mains.
If the arm is so bad you cannot handle that, then a break might be warranted.
But like Rabbit pointed out above, Yonex Rexis is in between gut and a soft poly.
I played through my torn supraspinatus with it in mains.
Which Yonex Rexis are you using? I saw they make a couple different Rexis strings. Don
He means compared to your 40/35.
Rexis Speed, 1.25mm.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Thanks for the memory,
