The best poly as a cross for gut

[dadozen]

Thicker cross doesn't "dig into" the mains as much.

In my two sticks, one with BHB 1.25 cross and other with MB 1.16 cross, you can definitely see the MB slicing thru the gut more than the BHB. Both are non-textured, soft & smooth polys. Tension hold is a nice side benefit to thicker poly, IME.

Thanks JT, I'll get some Scorpion 1.28 to try. You point makes sense indeed.

 

[mrtrinh]

Thicker cross doesn't "dig into" the mains as much.

In my two sticks, one with BHB 1.25 cross and other with MB 1.16 cross, you can definitely see the MB slicing thru the gut more than the BHB. Both are non-textured, soft & smooth polys. Tension hold is a nice side benefit to thicker poly, IME.

how long does the setup usually last you?

 

[JT_2eighty]

First time through atm... 6 hours played on each:

PTG/BHB:


PTG/MB:


The gut is fraying a little, but in all, should last me a while.

In a full bed PTG would last me about 12 hours, and VS about 7.

Hybrids of gut/multi(RIP feel) would last over 20. I anticipate the poly getting unplayable before the toughgut breaks. Time will tell.

 

[dadozen]

Thanks for sharing the pics JT! It's nice to see that you're getting a decent time from this stringjob!

Just ordered a reel of Scorpion 1.28, didn't get much feedback from it, but it can't be much different from 1.22, right?

Since it will be used in the crosses onlyl, even small differences will be barely noticeable.

Tomorrow I'll play again, first time with string savers. Let's see if they do their job. Also, I'll be stringing 2 more racquets with VS/Scorpion.

But I'll probably start using Vs Touch/Scorpion 1.28 when my supply of VS Team ends. Let's see how it goes

 

[MuscleWeave]

If you'd like a very, very plush and soft stringbed, I used Klip Legend 16 / Cyber Blue 1.25 @59/56. It was in an old 90 sq" 16x19 12.5 oz 9 HL very flexible racquet.

MW

 

[JT_2eighty]

If you'd like a very, very plush and soft stringbed, I used Klip Legend 16 / Cyber Blue 1.25 @59/56. It was in an old 90 sq" 16x19 12.5 oz 9 HL very flexible racquet.

MW

Nice. Is Cyber Blue the one that people were saying for a while was the same string as Big Hitter Blue?

 

[mctennis]

Prince Beast XP 17g is my cross with NG 16g in the mains. IMO this is one seriously nice co-poly that is worth the price.

What tension of each do you use?

 

[neesun]

The touch you get around net is also untouchable, IMO.

Yes

The feel gut gives in touch shots is unbeatable. Volleys, slices and drop shots are much easier to perform.

and yes.

Gut rules, nothing comes close.

 

[DennisK]

Has anyone used a set-up of gut mains with either Polystar Energy or SPPP crosses? Thinking of taking the plunge and buying a few sets of gut.

 

[Lambsscroll]

I'm on 20 hours with my setup (still plays great like the first day) and I'm pretty sure its because the gut slides along the cross so well. I'm using Titan NG 16 for the mains and Eagnas Poly Nova 17g for the cross. I'm pretty sure the poly is dead by now but for some reason the string bed feels really good. I have control, spin, feel, power and its comfortable. Whats a little different about Poly Nova is that its pre-stretched.

 

[dadozen]

After playing with some string savers, I can tell that they did the job. The feel wasn't changed at all.

I just noticed some new fraying points, so I installed more string savers, and my racquet just looks weird with them all over

I have played just 3-4 sets with this setup, let's see how it goes.

Can't wait to get VS Touch and Scorpion 1.28 to check if it really lasts longer.

 

[levy1]

timo mains with gut crosses.

 

[Phonco]

For me, the poly in a Gut-Multi/Poly setup is there to contain the power of mains. Since the mains provide a majority of the feel, I feel the poly doesn't matter that much.

So I prefer to use Gosen Polylon. It's low cost, not textured (so it doesn't cut into the mains), and it gets the job done.

Although, if I had money, I'd like to put Big Banger Ace in the crosses

 

[mctennis]

timo mains with gut crosses.

What tension(s) do you use with this set up? I tried it once and thought it felt stiff as a board. When I switched them it played great ( gut mains/ TiMO crosses).

 

[parasailing]

timo mains with gut crosses.

How long in hours did this particular poly last you since I have read in this forum that polys don't last that long? If the string doesn't last that long, it would be a waste of half a set of expensive gut string.

 

[JT_2eighty]

Timo is the harshest poly I've used. Plus, a different guy at my club also used Timo for a while, and now he is out of action for quite some time, destroyed his elbow on Timo.

 

[ethebull]

I've experimented with several poly crosses. For me, maximum control to counter the powerful gut is priority one. Softness and tension maintenence is priority two. So far, my favorite is Pro Supex Premere Ace which excels in control (very low powered) and tension holding, and is decently soft. Round and smooth as well.

 

[2Hare]

I've tried volley gut with Alu Power and Silverstring 125 at same 56/54 gut/poly. Frankly, I think Alu power works much better than Silverstring. Silverstring feels stiffer and less elastic than Alu Power, creating a bigger contrast between the main and cross in terms of stiffness and evenness. Just doesn't feel right. My gut main usually break before cross going completely dead anyway, so silverstring's strong point, tension holding, doesn't help much here. Perhaps I should try stringing lower next time, maybe it'll work better for silverstring.

 

[dadozen]

New update:my last 2 stringjobs lasted me less than 1h30. One even broke after the 1h mark. And I was using string savers. A LOT of them.

I'm not sure if the tension made so much difference, but the tension I was using was a bit higher, 56/53. My first gut/poly stringjob lasted me about 4-5h, and was @ 53/50.

I still have some VS sets coming, so I'll keep trying until I run out of them. I'll string my next racquets with 52/49, and I'll also use VS Touch with Scorpion 1.28.

But if the durability doesn't improve significantly, I'll have to quit using this wonderful stringjob. I mean, my first name is not Roger and I'm not sponsored by Babolat either.

 

[parasailing]

New update:my last 2 stringjobs lasted me less than 1h30. One even broke after the 1h mark. And I was using string savers. A LOT of them.

I'm not sure if the tension made so much difference, but the tension I was using was a bit higher, 56/53. My first gut/poly stringjob lasted me about 4-5h, and was @ 53/50.

I still have some VS sets coming, so I'll keep trying until I run out of them. I'll string my next racquets with 52/49, and I'll also use VS Touch with Scorpion 1.28.

But if the durability doesn't improve significantly, I'll have to quit using this wonderful stringjob. I mean, my first name is not Roger and I'm not sponsored by Babolat either.

You must be hitting with some major topspin since you break them in such a short period of time with string savers. I know there is nothing out there that compares with natural gut.

 

[Boricua]

Prince Beast XP 17g is my cross with NG 16g in the mains. IMO this is one seriously nice co-poly that is worth the price.

Good for spin with a nice feel?

 

[dadozen]

You must be hitting with some major topspin since you break them in such a short period of time with string savers. I know there is nothing out there that compares with natural gut.

Para, the worst thing is that I'm NOT a spin hitter. In fact, I use a semi-eastern FH grip. The guys at the club always complain when playing against me because my shots don't bounce off the court, which happens to the majority of the people at my age and under, because they all use SW and Western FH grips.

So I think it must be something related to the tension, since those last 2 stringjobs were @ 56/53. The one which was @ 53/50 lasted me a lot longer.

Also, I'm using thin strings, VS Team and Scorpion 1.22. I'll check if using VS Touch and Scorpion 1.28 will improve the durability. If not, unfortunately I'll have to go back to full co-poly.

 

[JT_2eighty]

Grab a half-set of Pacific Tough once you get through your VS. String it at your 53/50; curious how long that will last you, I'm getting very good durability, but the 18x20 & 58 flex really preserves strings too.

 

[mctennis]

Prince Beast XP 17g is my cross with NG 16g in the mains. IMO this is one seriously nice co-poly that is worth the price.

What tension(s) do you have these strung at? I have a full Beast 17g in one of my racquets and it has no power at all. I have to overhit every shot to get depth to it. Maybe with gut mains it will be different. I strung mine at 57 lbs.

 

[dadozen]

Grab a half-set of Pacific Tough once you get through your VS. String it at your 53/50; curious how long that will last you, I'm getting very good durability, but the 18x20 & 58 flex really preserves strings too.

JT, the problem is that the webstore I usually buy from doesn't sell Pacific strings. I can get them in another webstore but it's a bit more difficult. I'll give it a try though. I remember you saying that it's less powerful than VS right?

EDIT: another webstore I usually buy from has Klip Legend. Do you think it's a good option as well?

 

[dadozen]

Just strung 4 racquets with VS Team/Scorpion 1.22 @ 52/49. Let's see if they will last longer.

Also, I have 2 VS Touch 1.30 and 2 VS Touch 1.35 sets coming. Will probably use them with Scorpion 1.28.

If nothing works, I'll go back to Hyperion x Scorpion. But probably using Hyperion 1.24 this time.

 

[Boricua]

I only just got a stringing machine a month ago and boy have I been doing a lot of testing. I've done a comprehensive Multifilament test and the X-One and NRG2 came out on top, with the surprise being Sensation which I also really liked.

As for this thread though, I'd used Champions Choice in the past in my BLX 90 racket and while it was very good, the durability was very poor in my opinion. So I thought that given I was stringing my rackets, I thought I'd try a few different things. I had my first hit out with a Poly/Gut hybrid tonight and wow - loved what I had put together. I used Klip Legend 16 with Luxilon BB Original Smooth, using string savers in the Federer pattern, as well as power pads for the gut (using a BLX Pro Open now). After hitting for 2 hours with it, the wear was minimal (MUCH less than X-One Biphase 17), and the power and control was very good - definitely better than Champions Choice IMHO.

I think the important thing was to get the tension gap right. NG likes to be strung at very high tensions, due to the elasticity. At the Aussie Open, Clijsters was stringing her full gut setup at 66lbs, which is at the top of the tension range for her Babolat Pure Drive, and Henin was around 62lbs - also near the top of her Wilson tension range. But.... Poly's like to operate at a lower tension.

Having consulted the threads here, and asking a bunch of questions, I ended up stringing my BLX Pro Open with the Gut in the mains at 63lbs, and the Luxilon BB in the crosses at 55lbs. 8lbs may seem a lot, but I think it kept the operating range of each string where they ought to be. The power was amazing, with very good control and feel too. I'm definitely a convert to a hybrid setup!

I'm going to use the leftover string to put in another BLX Pro Open racket that I have, to put the Poly in the mains, and the gut in the crosses, to see what it feels like. It seems to be a personal preference as to which way people like it - Andy Murray uses a Poly main with a VS cross and he seems to play alright. ;-)

Let us know about the poly-main/ gut-cross setup.

 

[dadozen]

Let us know about the poly-main/ gut-cross setup.

Just not in this thread, please. This thread was started to discuss about gut/poly setups.

You can find a lot of info about poly/gut setup if you do a quick search.

 

[Boricua]

Just not in this thread, please. This thread was started to discuss about gut/poly setups.

You can find a lot of info about poly/gut setup if you do a quick search.

Ill keep in mind your suggestion. My intention was just to see which setup this person preferred, either gut/poly or poly/ gut.

On the other hand, I am a heavy topspin hitter using a Babolat APD GT, usually using full copoly and find the stringbed very stiff. I have developed shoulder pain which I had never had. It got to a point where I bought a Yonex racket (Yonex VCore 100) because I could not tolerate the APD.

My concern is the durability of the gut string, having to much power or not generating spin. Obviously, the only way to know is to try it out but please give me tour opiniom.

I am about to put VS Touch mains and Babolat Revenge crosses in the APD. Do you think this will help?

 

[bsandy]

Played with NG mains and Recoil crosses last night.

Initial reports are good!

 

[dadozen]

Ill keep in mind your suggestion. My intention was just to see which setup this person preferred, either gut/poly or poly/ gut.

On the other hand, I am a heavy topspin hitter using a Babolat APD GT, usually using full copoly and find the stringbed very stiff. I have developed shoulder pain which I had never had. It got to a point where I bought a Yonex racket (Yonex VCore 100) because I could not tolerate the APD.

My concern is the durability of the gut string, having to much power or not generating spin. Obviously, the only way to know is to try it out but please give me tour opiniom.

I am about to put VS Touch mains and Babolat Revenge crosses in the APD. Do you think this will help?

Hmmm, maybe the APD is causing pain to you. IT's a really stiff racquet. What you can do is playing with a hybrid setup, poly/syn gut. That might soften up the stringbed a little.

As for gu/tpoly, it gives incredible spin potential. The NG becomes very sllipery over the poly crosses, while keeping a nice feel and feedback. You should definitely try it

This setup also is much softer than full poly

 

[Boricua]

Hmmm, maybe the APD is causing pain to you. IT's a really stiff racquet. What you can do is playing with a hybrid setup, poly/syn gut. That might soften up the stringbed a little.

As for gu/tpoly, it gives incredible spin potential. The NG becomes very sllipery over the poly crosses, while keeping a nice feel and feedback. You should definitely try it

This setup also is much softer than full poly

Follow up question-

If I use gut as a main, I know VS Team (17 gauge) is the best. Nonetheless, I suspect that I could break it fast. My point of reference is that the other day I used VS Touch (16 guage) as a cross string and the gut began fraying after 3 hours playing.

Ive heard that Tonic 16 or 15 is not good as a main string; other strings like Klip, head, Pacific, Gaucho havent heard about as a main string. Ive just read that Babolat could be better quality gut.

That said, what gut string would you recommend in order to play with gut as a main string and still be able to feed my four and almost two year old kids?

Remember I am coming from full copoly so anything with gut will be soft. I am just looking for some durability, good playability and saving my shoulder.

 

[dadozen]

Follow up question-

If I use gut as a main, I know VS Team (17 gauge) is the best. Nonetheless, I suspect that I could break it fast. My point of reference is that the other day I used VS Touch (16 guage) as a cross string and the gut began fraying after 3 hours playing.

Ive heard that Tonic 16 or 15 is not good as a main string; other strings like Klip, head, Pacific, Gaucho havent heard about as a main string. Ive just read that Babolat could be better quality gut.

That said, what gut string would you recommend in order to play with gut as a main string and still be able to feed my four and almost two year old kids?

Remember I am coming from full copoly so anything with gut will be soft. I am just looking for some durability, good playability and saving my shoulder.

Boricua, I have the same question as you. I was using VS Team mains and my last 2 stringjobs broke before 1h30 mark.

I'll try VS Touch 1.30 and VS Touch 1.35, along with Scorpion 1.28 crosses, but if I find out that gut is breaking too fast, I'll move back to full copoly.

 

[JT_2eighty]

other strings like Klip, head, Pacific, Gaucho havent heard about as a main string. Ive just read that Babolat could be better quality gut.

That said, what gut string would you recommend in order to play with gut as a main string and still be able to feed my four and almost two year old kids?

Remember I am coming from full copoly so anything with gut will be soft. I am just looking for some durability, good playability and saving my shoulder.

I have posted a few times in this thread and others about the benefits of Pacific Gut as main setup. I've used VS as well, and compared side by side, Pacific is stiffer (so in my opinion a great gut to transition from for those coming from full poly), and it is more durable (Tough Gut is) than VS. Also is less expensive. So you have the stiffness (yet still comfort and pocketing feel of gut), durability (plays great until breaks, also frays less than VS--although both play great even when fraying), and less expensive (more money for food).

PACIFIC Tough! Try it! 16g for max durability.

 

[Boricua]

I have posted a few times in this thread and others about the benefits of Pacific Gut as main setup. I've used VS as well, and compared side by side, Pacific is stiffer (so in my opinion a great gut to transition from for those coming from full poly), and it is more durable (Tough Gut is) than VS. Also is less expensive. So you have the stiffness (yet still comfort and pocketing feel of gut), durability (plays great until breaks, also frays less than VS--although both play great even when fraying), and less expensive (more money for food).

PACIFIC Tough! Try it! 16g for max durability.

Ok, Ill give it a try. Thanks!

 

[dadozen]

Well, tension definitely has a big role in gut's durability, at least considering gut/poly setups.

I as wrote presviously, the last 2 stringjobs I broke, that lasted me less than 1h30, were strung @ 56/53. That's because the racquets were new and I wanted the grommets to settle in, and because I had an important match, and I wanted to have a little extra control.

Now I strung 4 racquets @ 52/49 and played for around 40 min with one racquet and around 30 minutes with another, and both don't even show notching/fraying sings.

I remember that my first VS/Scorpion racquet strung was @ 53/50 and it lasted around 4-5hs.

I'm just not sure if what makes this setup last longer is gut or poly tension. But i'm not willing to discover that at cost of gut.

I have just received one VS Touch 1.30 natural and another VS Touch 1.30 Black - the natural doesn't have BT7 technology, but the Black does. Also, I have received 2 sets of Scorpion 1.28, and the reel I bought will be delivered this week. I still have 4 racquets strung with VS Team/Scorpion, but the next stringjobs will be VS Touch/Scorpion 1.28

Also, I bought 2 VS Touch 1.35 sets to try. But if VS Touch 1.30 works for me, I'll stick with it.

Btw, I tried to play with full co-poly this weekend just to try if the difference in feel is that big. It is. Definitely. It doesn't come even close. Gut/poly is the way to go. You can tell exactly where the ball is going right after it left the stringbed. It's just amazing.

I hope I can solve my durability issues with gut/poly, because going back to full co-poly will be so sad....