The gut/poly thread
- Thread starter SpinToWin
- Start date
leejayh
Rookie
So, the gut/poly tension difference question is a good one. I think that it surely depends on the feel that you want, and the cross string that you are using (more stiff, or more comfy).
Right now, I have settled at 58lbs mains (various), and 48lbs crosses (PRCW). That seems to work well for the moment. I got here by not wanting the poly to be higher than 48. And i kept increasing the gut to tame the power. Not sure i would go higher at this stage.
Oh, and I pre-stretch the PRCW (10% on my stringer's auto setting) to try and hold it at 48lbs for longer.
Right now, I have settled at 58lbs mains (various), and 48lbs crosses (PRCW). That seems to work well for the moment. I got here by not wanting the poly to be higher than 48. And i kept increasing the gut to tame the power. Not sure i would go higher at this stage.
Oh, and I pre-stretch the PRCW (10% on my stringer's auto setting) to try and hold it at 48lbs for longer.
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dsb
Rookie
I got a Strike 18x20 to experiment with, the stringer strung it 52x51 (VS 1.25xALU 1.20). I usually use a 4# differential (52x48) but the stringer said that the new grommets would settle, so this would be better. 1st time out it felt like crap... seriously, bad enough that had i not purchased the racquet I'd probably not have hit with it again. Luckily, I tried it again after it sat for a few days and it felt great, and has for 10+ hours so far. I attributed the suckage to the string bed being locked up until the ALU lost some tension and created some differential, but what do I know? Is this 'break in' typical in no/low differential gut/poly setups? Does the longevity warrant the 'break in'?
rogerroger917
Hall of Fame
I agree about low or no differential. Thi is what I do now as well. Since I don't play much and want the string to last. Not change too much.
speedysteve
Legend
I love reading this thread too!
Arm allowing I would be using Bab Team or Touch or Pacific or Klip gut and Revolve crosses like a shot.
I'm hoping to give it a go again come summer.
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anfield
Semi-Pro
Apologies, I posted this also in Poor Man's Champion's Choice:
I used to use KB Max Power smooth crosses with gut before I got my own string machine. A friend gave me his stringer and a few sets of AlLURough. And I hate to admit it, but it's really, really nice. I've seen some folks mention that they replace the crosses a few times before the gut gives out.
Just curious, with Max Power Rough would I maybe have to change the crosses a couple times vs the three or four times you would have to with the Alu Power Rough? I don't mind restrining, just want maximum playability. KB seems much stiffer and if the only benefit is longevity, it's not worth it. Or maybe a thinner gauge with the KB, or is there another string that is rough and in the middle of the Lux and KB?
I used to use KB Max Power smooth crosses with gut before I got my own string machine. A friend gave me his stringer and a few sets of AlLURough. And I hate to admit it, but it's really, really nice. I've seen some folks mention that they replace the crosses a few times before the gut gives out.
Just curious, with Max Power Rough would I maybe have to change the crosses a couple times vs the three or four times you would have to with the Alu Power Rough? I don't mind restrining, just want maximum playability. KB seems much stiffer and if the only benefit is longevity, it's not worth it. Or maybe a thinner gauge with the KB, or is there another string that is rough and in the middle of the Lux and KB?
I'm back to gut/poly and im trying this set-up tomorrow, how has it held up for you?
Hmgraphite1
Hall of Fame
Really liking my lux gut hybrid with maxpower, strung up a second one with lux gut and alu soft.
The tests continue....
The tests continue....
MisterP
Hall of Fame
Not really. I think I ended up popping the gut right after I posted this. “Almost no fraying” with VS means it’s fraying and once that starts it unwinds and pops very quickly. YMMV. Sweet feel though. I’m using a full bed of Black Code 4S at a lower tension now.
IowaGuy
Hall of Fame
Are you using MaxPower 1.25 or 1.30? Do you notice any difference in stiffness between the two? TW string compare shows 1.30 a little less stiff.
Lux 1.25 or Lux 1.30?
Hmgraphite1
Hall of Fame
All 1.25. The luxgut/max power really softened up after a week or two.
IowaGuy
Hall of Fame
Softened up as in awesome, or softened up as in unplayable?
What tension did you string at?
Did you monitor tension loss at all with RacquetTune?
I'm trying a gut/poly set-up for the first time in about 2 years, I normally play a full bed of Lux NG however due to the christmas sale most places are out of stock and I had to get Vs Touch instead. I did not like VS touch in a full bed at the same tension as Lux NG. No control or spin, lots of string movement. Blah. I strung Vs at 62 lbs
I cut out my crosses and re-strung them with Black Code 4s 1.25 as i wanted something with good tension maintenace that is resistant to denting. Can't wait to hit with it. I hit against the wall and i can hear the strings snapping back which is pretty cool. I'm excited to try it out.
I cut out my crosses and re-strung them with Black Code 4s 1.25 as i wanted something with good tension maintenace that is resistant to denting. Can't wait to hit with it. I hit against the wall and i can hear the strings snapping back which is pretty cool. I'm excited to try it out.
Hmgraphite1
Hall of Fame
Softened up good, like the feel now. I have a guitar tuner I use to monitor the tension.
It started at a D#
2 months later it's at D -2
( most of my full poly beds would have dropped to between C# and C#+6)
(There are 20 steps between each half step that I can read on the tuner)
Once there is little or no further drop the strings are shot, harsh.
With the gut staying flexible, even if the crosses are harsh, i may not notice it, not sure yet
Wow I never break strings but broke vs touch / black code 4s in 2 hours LOL.
It played horribly for the first hour(too lively), but i never like fresh strings anyway so that was expected, about 15-20 minutes before it broke I was getting pretty good spin and consistency, although I felt like the only thing I could do was hit spin and I struggled to flatten out the ball/penetrate the court. I think it was more spin than a full bed of Lux NG, but honestly Lux NG gives me enough spin and put away power on its own. I had more spin with the hybrid but it didn't necessarily equate to more balls in play.
I'll try Vs Touch / Black Code 4s again just because i have a half set left, but I'm honestly just probably going to go back to a full bed of Lux NG once they re-stock, unless some miracle happens and I can get more than 10 hours out of the hybrid.
Why am I even trying a hybrid? Well curiosity got the best of me, plus Lux NG is out of stock and i was trying to see if i could save a couple of dollars with a hybrid, but I'll gladly pay $40 per string job as it makes my time on court more enjoyable.
The nice thing about the hybrid was I could hit dropshots/volleys with back spin, but overall I get more feel with Lux NG and don't need to rely on such trick shots
some of you gut/poly users should try Lux NG if cost is of no concern to you and you'll find it's pretty spin friendly for NG! and holds tension for about 6 weeks for me.
It played horribly for the first hour(too lively), but i never like fresh strings anyway so that was expected, about 15-20 minutes before it broke I was getting pretty good spin and consistency, although I felt like the only thing I could do was hit spin and I struggled to flatten out the ball/penetrate the court. I think it was more spin than a full bed of Lux NG, but honestly Lux NG gives me enough spin and put away power on its own. I had more spin with the hybrid but it didn't necessarily equate to more balls in play.
I'll try Vs Touch / Black Code 4s again just because i have a half set left, but I'm honestly just probably going to go back to a full bed of Lux NG once they re-stock, unless some miracle happens and I can get more than 10 hours out of the hybrid.
Why am I even trying a hybrid? Well curiosity got the best of me, plus Lux NG is out of stock and i was trying to see if i could save a couple of dollars with a hybrid, but I'll gladly pay $40 per string job as it makes my time on court more enjoyable.
The nice thing about the hybrid was I could hit dropshots/volleys with back spin, but overall I get more feel with Lux NG and don't need to rely on such trick shots
some of you gut/poly users should try Lux NG if cost is of no concern to you and you'll find it's pretty spin friendly for NG! and holds tension for about 6 weeks for me.
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How does it feel after the 6 weeks? Or does it just fray too much to use?
Loses too much tension for me personally.
If I string it at 62 lbs after about 6 weeks of playing (30-40 hours) it drops to about 50 lbs and balls start flying more than normal. Spin potential is great the whole duration of the string job. In fact I get more spin as the tension drops, but more trampoline effect too.
My last string job though I had the crosses sawing into the mains after about 2 months though and it was fairly painful on my elbow/wrist I think it might have had something to do with me forgetting to lubricate the strings b/c normally i do it after every session with coconut oil, however for some reason I got lazy and didn't do it the last few weeks of that string job.
I string mine at 62# as well. It does saw through in the sweet spot but you can usually tell when the tension changes and becomes more jarring from the ball. I use several racquets and rotate through them so it just seems to last longer which it probably does not, just in my mind it does.
tennisbike
Professional
Are you saying you delayed clamping by 10 seconds? Or did you take 10 more seconds to reach lock out tension?
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I think I partly understand why most of the pros prefer the luxilon or babolat poly hybrid combo. and Solinco isn't so much of a favorite besides it being contract issue. Solinco produces as much of massive spin as any poly out there but when you try to flatten it out, it isn't as easy and power is lacking a bit. but with poly like RPM blast or Alu power, there is plenty of power when needed and also when you need to flatten out the shot, it is much easier to do.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
How much weight does typical Poly string add to the racket after stringing ? Thanks
Ft.S
Semi-Pro
17-20 gm.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I am being told about 0.5 oz on average. is that right?
Moosch
New User
.5 oz converts to 14.175 grams. The difference between your figure and his are so minute does it really matter?
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Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
LOL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i said on Average.
zettavaska
Rookie
For me it’s been averaging 17 grams for full bed of 1.25 mm
petetennis54
New User
So if, per frame, the poly is $5, that leaves $13 for the gut. Where are you buying Klip for $26 per full set?
I use fullbed technifibre razorcode 18g on my 18x20 Wilson ultra tour at 52/49 lbs. What tension should I try on the same racquet using the same string on the mains and luxilon NG 17g on the crosses? Im thinking about switching bc my arm is slowly breaking down [emoji1787]
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Hmgraphite1
Hall of Fame
I like the nat gut on the mains for power and poly on crosses for directional control and limiting overall power.
Where do you get your gut so cheap? At TW the price for Klip hiked up to $30 a set.
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Very true. Right now I'm at the start of 4 packs of Luxilon gut 16g that I got during the Black Friday sale for nearly $32 each.
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It's been a while since I hit with Luxilon gut, probably over a year, but from what I remember it was damn near bullet-proof for natural gut. I got around 26 hours of court time with it at 50 lbs in the mains and 47 lbs Poly Tour Pro 1.25 in the crosses of my Pro Staff 90. In contrast the hybrid with Klip lasted me around 20 hours. I play in Florida and have an eastern forehand for what it's worth.
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Hmgraphite1
Hall of Fame
Think it was $22 a set.
Wow was it really that cheap? That's 50% off. I should check my receipts.
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Looks like I paid $33.71 per set for 4 sets of string.
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Hmgraphite1
Hall of Fame
Guess I forgot, gotta check mine
soulfree914
Rookie
In early December, it was $22.47 each when you buy 3.
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Hypergxtraspin
New User
Ok guys, last time I tried gut/poly was with tonic mains and WC rockn power crosses 2 years ago. I didn't like it too much, hit alot long, but my arm has come back to bother me after using full poly hybrids for the last 2 years. I want to try Babolat VS touch black or lux natural gut 1.25 mains. I am debating on crosses. I would like access to spin still if possible, but I know I will have less with gut mains. I am a low 5.0 player with big serve and forehand, I slice alot of backhands. I was thinking of possible crosses:
hyper g 16L (this is what I play with in hybrid/full)
Diadem flash 16L
4g soft 1.25
Alu power 1.25 lime
Prince XC 15L (because I have a reel i don't use)
Head lynx edge 17
Any help would be appreciated, looking for any input or suggestions for spin. Thanks guys
hyper g 16L (this is what I play with in hybrid/full)
Diadem flash 16L
4g soft 1.25
Alu power 1.25 lime
Prince XC 15L (because I have a reel i don't use)
Head lynx edge 17
Any help would be appreciated, looking for any input or suggestions for spin. Thanks guys
