The gut/poly thread

phanamous said:
Some thoughts for you to consider:

  • Wilson Revolve 17
    • Least favourite cross for me in a gut / poly hybrid.
    • Soft initial give but stiffens up which dominates feel over gut if strung too tight
    • Strung too low and you get unpredictable launch angles to due its slickness allowing gut mains to move too much when fresh
    • Less of an issue in a tight pattern perhaps?
  • Head Hawk Touch 17
    • My go to for a tight pattern
    • Soft allowing for a slightly higher tension to stabilize the gut mains better
    • Holds tension better than GW 17 but worse than GW 16
  • T1 Ghostwire
    • 16 is preferred as it holds tension better
      • Softer feel than HHT17
      • Less sawing effect on the gut being larger diameter
      • Allows me to restring just the crosses 1-2 times as gut is still good (alternate weave to avoid notches on gut mains)
    • 17 is probably better for tight pattern but lose tension too quickly so had to string it a tad higher in tension compared to 16
      • Feels crisper than 16 initially until tension loss
Click to expand...
Does GhostWire 16 has lower launch angle compared to Revolve 17?I tried Revolve 17 and even in 18x20 it had too much launch angle. Now im going to try GW 16.
 
GW 16 will launch lower simply because I can string it at a higher tension than Revolve 17 so it stabilizes the gut mains better at impact.
With Revolve, I just found the launch angles too unpredictable at a tension I'm comfortable with. Tried stringing it higher but it then felt too boardy negating the gut feel I like. Sweet spot felt smaller with it also as the power drop off is more noticeable off center.

If lowering launch angle is your main concern, Velocity at an even higher tension might do the job. I myself have ordered Velocity and Cream to try next.

nov said:
Does GhostWire 16 has lower launch angle compared to Revolve 17?I tried Revolve 17 and even in 18x20 it had too much launch angle. Now im going to try GW 16.
Click to expand...
 
Volkl sells a packaged gut/poly hybrid, V-Fuse. Great for those of us who do not string our own rackets. It is V-Icon gut and Cyclone. No one can tell me who makes their gut, but it is likely Klip, since it is made in Australia.
 
i just tried gut/velocity. i strung the velocity at a higher tension hoping to get more control (56/53 as opposed to my usual 55/50 or 56/51). not a fan. less control, feels kinda board/stiff as well. waiting for ghostwire to come in and will probably re-string at my usual 55/50
 
You should try a higher tension with the klip legend 16g mains as it's softer than Bab Touch 16g, likely due to the coating.
At 56, it's likely allowing the cross to dominate the feel too much and not snapping back quick enough resulting in more inconsistent launch angles.
I string my blade 101L at 62/50 with klip legend 16g/ GW16 and the mains still feel too soft compared to Bab Touch 16g at same tension. Will try 64/52 on my next stringing.

billsedd said:
i just tried gut/velocity. i strung the velocity at a higher tension hoping to get more control (56/53 as opposed to my usual 55/50 or 56/51). not a fan. less control, feels kinda board/stiff as well. waiting for ghostwire to come in and will probably re-string at my usual 55/50
Click to expand...
 
Which Poly do you guys think produces the most SPIN when hybrid with Gut ?? any brand and any poly , just trying to see what the experiences are out there ??
 
Nostradamus said:
i see Poly tour Fire from Yonex. its a round poly,,, not sure if round poly can produce that much spin as some of the shaped polys can
Click to expand...
I think the benefit of PTFire is the low friction it provides when used as a cross. I’ve used it in a full bed before and it was good but I like PTP better as a full bed but then I like a PTP/PTF hybrid better than either string alone. PTP 1.30/PTF 1.20 is best but PTF really shines as a cross with gut. I use it as a cross for lots of different strings, usually with a thicker gauge, shaped poly, as the string is ready to change by the time the slickness wears off. Gut lasts longer so I do the crosses twice with it.
 
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Rafedovic said:
What gauge and tension? I have some 1.30 to try with gut but haven’t got around to it yet. I hear it’s a lot stiffer than PTF but holds tension a lot better so I was going to try a pretty big differential, like 60/40.
Click to expand...
16mains with 16 or 16l cross. I prestrech both by hand first.

As far as tension, I use a proportional tension type approach... But I usually base this around 54/52 or 55/52.5.

The proportional stringing isn't required to get great spin.

In my opinion, the Luxilon gut is significantly stiffer than babbylot Vs gut. The 4g is stiff too.

I like tight string beds. right now, one racket has 17 gauge Confidential at 53.5 with 17 ghost wire at 52. This is firmer than the gut/poly for sure, I am just giving you insight into what I like and why the gut/poly tension might seem low.
 
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Klitz said:
16mains with 16 or 16l cross. I prestrech both by hand first.

As far as tension, I use a proportional tension type approach... But I usually base this around 54/52 or 55/52.5.

The proportional stringing isn't required to get great spin.

In my opinion, the Luxilon gut is significantly stiffer than babbylot Vs gut. The 4g is stiff too.

I like tight string beds. right now, one racket has 17 gauge Confidential at 53.5 with 17 ghost wire at 52. This is firmer than the gut/poly for sure, I am just giving you insight into what I like and why the gut/poly tension might seem low.
Click to expand...
I’d imagine 4g at that tension would really tame the gut. I use Clip because of the price but I string it high to get more control, maybe I should try lowering the gut and raising the cross tension:unsure:
 
Nostradamus said:
i see Poly tour Fire from Yonex. its a round poly,,, not sure if round poly can produce that much spin as some of the shaped polys can
Click to expand...
Are you putting gut in the mains or crosses? if gut/poly set up, round strings in the cross works well. It's not always about bite on the ball but low friction from string to string that produces snap back. Shaped strings that bite are great and also helpful for those with moderate RHS. but not always good for a gut/poly or poly/gut set up.
 
djNEiGht said:
Are you putting gut in the mains or crosses? if gut/poly set up, round strings in the cross works well. It's not always about bite on the ball but low friction from string to string that produces snap back. Shaped strings that bite are great and also helpful for those with moderate RHS. but not always good for a gut/poly or poly/gut set up.
Click to expand...
i am doing Poly in mains
 
billsedd said:
- proline evolution- i have a pack of the 16g- so could give this a try- just concerned it will be stiff compared to other options here
Click to expand...
I have tried this (17g PLE with VS Touch/Klip Legend mains) and I liked it in 2020 Ezone racquets (plus and tour) because it made stringbed response crisper. But don't like it in my Dunlop CX200+, feels too boardy.
 
Nostradamus said:
4S black code, Technifiber
Click to expand...
okay...with a square string, I personally wouldn't pair it with NG in a poly/gut or gut/poly set up. If you like 4S, try it with Ghostwire as a cross. Will not feel like NG but GW is a very nice/soft/slick poly that I enjoy using with a sharp/shaped main
 
Best thing I have found is a slick poly cross with decent tension maintenance. Tourna Big Hitter Black, Luxilon 4g are a couple. Head Hawk Touch is what I’m using now because of availability but has decent tension maintenance. Have used Head Hawk Touch full bed in some of the powerful Head frames to tame them down and it lasts quite awhile.
 
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torpantennis said:
I began my gut/poly "career" with Federer setup, gut/ALU Rough, couple of years ago. Maybe I should go back there, but with the slick ALU? Maybe the shorter life of ALU is not a problem in crosses?
Click to expand...

A beautiful combo and lasts a descent time. 3x 1.5 hour sessions with former D1 player, so fast pace. Still no notching and mains move nicely.

VS Touch Black 16L/Alu Power 1.25 (not rough)
 
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dl32 said:
A beautiful combo and lasts a descent time. 3x 1.5 hour sessions with former D1 player, so fast pace. Still no notching and mains move nicely.

VS Touch Black 16L/Alu Power 1.25 (not rough)
Click to expand...

One of my RF97’s has Klip Legend 1.25/ Lux Alu 1.25 58/55 with about 5hrs on it. Tension on the Alu is starting to drop off. Can see where the initial indention on the string has moved over a bit. Still plays controllable and believe I like it once it loosens off a bit. If I had started lower with the tension it wouldn’t be controllable after the tension loss.
 
I was using LXN gut 1.30 / Pro Line 1.20 at 55/45lbs and it was pretty good, lasted very well too.

Now I increased it to 60/50lbs and it's superb, better feel and control! Amazing blend of spin, feel, power and control :love:

I don't play much anymore and this boost in confidence i got brought me back to a time when I was playing much more frequently. I haven't been this eager to play again in years :)
 
tennisplayer1221 said:
Volkl sells a packaged gut/poly hybrid, V-Fuse. Great for those of us who do not string our own rackets. It is V-Icon gut and Cyclone. No one can tell me who makes their gut, but it is likely Klip, since it is made in Australia.
Click to expand...
Great stuff! A fantastic value. I used to string with VS Touch and Luxilon ALU Power Soft 17 (at about $40. a racquet) and I prefer the performance and playability of V-Fuse to that (for about $20. a set on sale).
 
Since the poly in a gut/poly hybrid usually goes dead before the gut breaks, how many hours of quality play (in general) do you feel you get out of a hybrid set-up? How often should you restring? Opinions?
 
Since the beginning of the year I actually write down how long my strings last, and for how long the stringbed keeps the playability. Mainly to see if gut is actually worth the cost. I prefer to play with full poly bed but from time to time my arm hurts a bit if I play often enough, and I need to restring quite often.

During the winter and spring (indoor hardcourt) I played with VS mains and Luxilon 4G crosses (at 26-27kg/24-25kg) in a Speed Pro, and it lasted about 14-19hours. Most often the 4G actually broke first, but not every time. I'd say that the playability has been excellent for at least 10hours, after that it can be a bit inconsistent, but still very good until it breaks. Never had any arm issues either. I had to change to full poly since I started playing outdoors on clay during the summer, as the natural gut broke in just 6-7 hours. Now I've been playing with Alu Power Rough again, and might continue to as I move indoors if my arm can take it.
 
RF97
Klip Legend 1.25/ Lux Alu Power 1.25

8.5 hrs into the set up and believe the Alu has become a little dead which gave it more control. Spin, power still sufficient. Gut beginning to fray a bit. Should have no problem getting 3-4 more hrs out of it.
 
USPTARF97 said:
RF97
Klip Legend 1.25/ Lux Alu Power 1.25

8.5 hrs into the set up and believe the Alu has become a little dead which gave it more control. Spin, power still sufficient. Gut beginning to fray a bit. Should have no problem getting 3-4 more hrs out of it.
Click to expand...

Have you ever tried element instead of ALU? Hugely under the radar string if you don't break it.

J
 
VS 16 mains at 60#
ALU Power 16 crosses at 55#

Strung on DW machine.

This is the best combo and tension, imho.
 
The Big Kahuna said:
Since the poly in a gut/poly hybrid usually goes dead before the gut breaks, how many hours of quality play (in general) do you feel you get out of a hybrid set-up? How often should you restring? Opinions?
Click to expand...
I don't notice much difference until the gut starts fraying. Then, must use more spin as the ball flies a bit more.

Hard hitting, 8-10 hours.
Club doubles, a couple weeks.
 
tennisplayer1221 said:
Volkl sells a packaged gut/poly hybrid, V-Fuse. Great for those of us who do not string our own rackets. It is V-Icon gut and Cyclone. No one can tell me who makes their gut, but it is likely Klip, since it is made in Australia.
Click to expand...
which might explain why there is apparently a huge Klip gut shortage right now!
 
Rafedovic said:
I think the benefit of PTFire is the low friction it provides when used as a cross. I’ve used it in a full bed before and it was good but I like PTP better as a full bed but then I like a PTP/PTF hybrid better than either string alone. PTP 1.30/PTF 1.20 is best but PTF really shines as a cross with gut. I use it as a cross for lots of different strings, usually with a thicker gauge, shaped poly, as the string is ready to change by the time the slickness wears off. Gut lasts longer so I do the crosses twice with it.
Click to expand...

Do you think poly tour Rev would be even better for spin with hybrid with gut ?? yonex say rev was created for spin
 
I've played both Element and Ghostwire as crosses in a hybrid, but the mains weren't gut. With gut, I would think your primary goal would be "playability duration" and if that's the case, you want the Ghostwire. Element bagged out too soon for me.
 
mark b. said:
I've played both Element and Ghostwire as crosses in a hybrid, but the mains weren't gut. With gut, I would think your primary goal would be "playability duration" and if that's the case, you want the Ghostwire. Element bagged out too soon for me.
Click to expand...
I’m playing a hybrid of gut element now, and had ghostwire on hand. I think I made the wrong decision long term, but man it’s good to start
 
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