Tips for Monofilament Polyamid string or elastomer co-poly to hybridize with natural gut

[Krajicek Serve]

Hi guys,

So it has finally happened: I have a tennis elbow.

Since my case of golfers elbow (which lasted 10 years) I have played with a Prince Phantom Pro 100. At the end of my recovery my elbow was fine while my racket was string with Tier One Fire Wire.

I recently switched to Prince Phantom 100x 18x20 320 grams also stung with FireWire. I also started doing a heavy fitness routine while still playing tennis. This probably caused my tennis elbow.

I immediately switched to natural gut mains and Cream crosses and it felt like a pillow on my elbow. I fell in love with this setup, it kept playing beter and better after every hit. Yesterday the Cream cross snapped after 5-6 hours of hitting.

I have to go back to the drawing board in terms of finding a new comfortable cross string with better durability than Cream.

Some discussion around here before on poly options for natural gut hybrids. I don’t see a definitive answer to my question. What comfort and durability?

I came across a thread mentioning monofilament polyamids and elastomer co-polys.

Based on my positive experience with Cream, I am leaning towards this type of string (elastomer co poly).

Question number 1:
Are there choices more durable than Cream but same comfort (elastomer co poly or monofilament polyamids)?

Question number 2
Do monofilament polyamids offer more comfort than elastomer co polys?

So basically I need a new cross string with the same comfort as cream, but (way) better durability. I am looking for at least 10 hours instead of 5 hours of playtime Very curious to know my options.

 

[Arzivu]

Other elastomer co-polys are Yonex poly tour air and Msv Swift. The latter I have tried extensively in various rackets and setups and sadly the durability is poor. In addition, I have found that monofilament polyamids (like diadem evolution) work better when they are combined with polys. With natural gut or synthetics, they tend to move a lot and the durability isn't great either.
My recommendation is to pair natural gut with tru pro ghostwire. Although not an elastomer, it is still quite soft and works very well with gut. I am sure it will last beyond 10 hours.

 

[tele]

Hi guys,

So it has finally happened: I have a tennis elbow.

Since my case of golfers elbow (which lasted 10 years) I have played with a Prince Phantom Pro 100. At the end of my recovery my elbow was fine while my racket was string with Tier One Fire Wire.

I recently switched to Prince Phantom 100x 18x20 320 grams also stung with FireWire. I also started doing a heavy fitness routine while still playing tennis. This probably caused my tennis elbow.

I immediately switched to natural gut mains and Cream crosses and it felt like a pillow on my elbow. I fell in love with this setup, it kept playing beter and better after every hit. Yesterday the Cream cross snapped after 5-6 hours of hitting.

I have to go back to the drawing board in terms of finding a new comfortable cross string with better durability than Cream.

Some discussion around here before on poly options for natural gut hybrids. I don’t see a definitive answer to my question. What comfort and durability?

I came across a thread mentioning monofilament polyamids and elastomer co-polys.

Based on my positive experience with Cream, I am leaning towards this type of string (elastomer co poly).

Question number 1:
Are there choices more durable than Cream but same comfort (elastomer co poly or monofilament polyamids)?

Question number 2
Do monofilament polyamids offer more comfort than elastomer co polys?

So basically I need a new cross string with the same comfort as cream, but (way) better durability. I am looking for at least 10 hours instead of 5 hours of playtime Very curious to know my options.

prince warrior response is another elastomer co-poly. I find it more comfy than cream. I use multi/poly hybrids and always break the mains first, so I do not know how long it would last with gut. Cream would start flattening out the few times I used it, but I have not noticed that with warrior response. ymmv.

 

[Krajicek Serve]

Hi guys,

So it has finally happened: I have a tennis elbow.

Since my case of golfers elbow (which lasted 10 years) I have played with a Prince Phantom Pro 100. At the end of my recovery my elbow was fine while my racket was string with Tier One Fire Wire.

I recently switched to Prince Phantom 100x 18x20 320 grams. I also started doing a heavy fitness routine while still playing tennis. This probably caused my tennis elbow.

I immediately switched to natural gut mains and Cream crosses and it felt like a pillow on my elbow. I fell in love with this setup, it kept playing beter and better after every hit. Yesterday the Cream cross snapped after 5-6 hours of hitting.

I have to go back to the drawing board in terms of finding a new comfortable cross string with better durability than Cream.

I came across a thread mentioning monofilament polyamids and elastomer co-polys.

Based on my positive experience with Cream, I am leaning towards this type of string (elastomer co poly). Are there choices more durable than Cream but same comfort? I need to know my best options in terms of comfort and durability.
Are there any durable monofilaments polyamids? And are they any good when hybridized with gut?

So basically I need a new cross string with the same comfort as cream, but way better durability. I am looking for at least 10 hours instead of 5 hours of playtime Very curious to know my options.

P

Other elastomer co-polys are Yonex poly tour air and Msv Swift. The latter I have tried extensively in various rackets and setups and sadly the durability is poor. In addition, I have found that monofilament polyamids (like diadem evolution) work better when they are combined with polys. With natural gut or synthetics, they tend to move a lot and the durability isn't great either.
My recommendation is to pair natural gut with tru pro ghostwire. Although not an elastomer, it is still quite soft and works very well with gut. I am sure it will last beyond 10 hours.

I’ve half a set of YPTA left, so I can try it, but this string seems to be discontinued. At least in Europe it’s pretty impossible to get ahold of a set.
I also have one set of GW left, but I am afraid that it will make my elbow problem worse.
Thanks for the information on monofilament polyamids paired with gut. It seems a no go for me then

 

[Krajicek Serve]

prince warrior response is another elastomer co-poly. I find it more comfy than cream. I use multi/poly hybrids and always break the mains first, so I do not know how long it would last with gut. Cream would start flattening out the few times I used it, but I have not noticed that with warrior response. ymmv.

Interesting, didn’t know that string. Sounds like a good option for me.

 

[Tmano]

Would maybe Babolat PRM soft be an option?

 

[Krajicek Serve]

Don’t know that version of RPM.
Do you know if it’s durable and at least as comfortable as Cream?

 

[Trip]

Do you know if it’s durable and at least as comfortable as Cream?

RPM Soft is moderately durable, but its finish is kind of "satin" -like, and will lock up like most typical syn gut will, at least eventually.

Already some pretty good suggestions from @Arzivu and @tele. A couple more guys who know a thing or two about how best to deal with sensitive arms and pick the best cross for the job would be @g4driver (creator of the must-read "Kobayashi Maru String Scenario" thread) and @Happi (a primary contributor in the "Accepting that you cannot use poly" thread).

Before the latter two chime in, I will list a summary, with a couple of my own added:

Non-Poly:
- Tecnifibre Multifeel Black 1.30 - The most permanently-slick and snapback-inducing non-poly there is, period. It's only achilles's heel is durability, but it may last longer than Cream in this role. Happi reviews it extremely favorably here:

The gut/poly thread

Where is it on sale? I miss the days when my dad payed for my stringing. Im up for adoption It was on sale on their website around New Year's. Ended up being the same price as Klip, but in stock.

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

Poly / Partial-Poly (from softest to firmest)
- Prince Warrior Response (courtesy of @tele)
- Head Lynx Touch 17
- Diadem Flash Navy
- Tru Pro Ghostwire (courtesy of @Arzivu)

 

[g4driver]

RPM soft is generally accepted by many to be the renamed / discontinued Babolat Origin

Babolat RPM Soft

Looks like new strings coming out soon from babolat

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

See post 20 in above thread

 

[Krajicek Serve]

RPM Soft is moderately durable, but its finish is kind of "satin" -like, and will lock up like most typical syn gut will, at least eventually.

Already some pretty good suggestions from @Arzivu and @tele. A couple more guys who know a thing or two about how best to deal with sensitive arms and pick the best cross for the job would be @g4driver (creator of the must-read "Kobayashi Maru String Scenario" thread) and @Happi (a primary contributor in the "Accepting that you cannot use poly" thread).

Before the latter two chime in, I will list a summary, with a couple of my own added:

Non-Poly:
- Tecnifibre Multifeel Black 1.30 - The most permanently-slick and snapback-inducing non-poly there is, period. It's only achilles's heel is durability, but it may last longer than Cream in this role. Happi reviews it extremely favorably here:

The gut/poly thread

Where is it on sale? I miss the days when my dad payed for my stringing. Im up for adoption It was on sale on their website around New Year's. Ended up being the same price as Klip, but in stock.

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

Poly / Partial-Poly (from softest to firmest)
- Prince Warrior Response (courtesy of @tele)
- Head Lynx Touch 17
- Diadem Flash Navy
- Tru Pro Ghostwire (courtesy of @Arzivu)

Thanks a lot!!

 

[Automatix]

Ghostwire is stiffer than Cream but it will provide a lot more durability.
MSV Swift will break sooner than Cream.
Polyamide multifilaments are defintly softer than any elastomer co-poly but they are not slick like them.

IMHO if you're after longevity/durability your best bet is Ghostwire. Choose a guage the closest to the gauge of your gut and it should give you what you're after. The gauge variety is another strong point of Ghostwire. Cream comes only in 2 gauges. Poly Tour Air in one.

 

[veelium]

Did you use the thickest gauge of cream?

Supposedly Rexxxer (also isospeed) is made also with elastomer and has an oval design to be especially good as a cross for gut.
Can't compare the comfort to cream as I haven't used cream enough but rexxxer is a great cross to gut.

 

[Krajicek Serve]

Ghostwire is stiffer than Cream but it will provide a lot more durability.
MSV Swift will break sooner than Cream.
Polyamide multifilaments are defintly softer than any elastomer co-poly but they are not slick like them.

IMHO if you're after longevity/durability your best bet is Ghostwire. Choose a guage the closest to the gauge of your gut and it should give you what you're after. The gauge variety is another strong point of Ghostwire. Cream comes only in 2 gauges. Poly Tour Air in one.

Thanks for your info! You mean polyamide monofilaments in your post, right (instead of ‘polyamide multifilaments’)?


To summarize based on all answers:

Polyamide monofilaments are more comfortable than elastomer co poly’s but not ideal to pair with gut for two reasons:
1. They move a lot (because they’re not slick like elastomer co polys).
2. Durability is an issue (elastomer co poly’s are more durable)

Prince warrior Response is the softest elastomer co poly out there a the moment and is also durable so it should be the winner for me

I dont’want to take any risks so I will stay away from GW at this moment in time. My observation based on golfers elbow is that it’s advisable (at least in the beginning fase when the injury just developed) to stay away from ‘traditional’ co poly’s even if they are very soft like GW, head sonic pro etc.

 

[Krajicek Serve]

Did you use the thickest gauge of cream?

Supposedly Rexxxer (also isospeed) is made also with elastomer and has an oval design to be especially good as a cross for gut.
Can't compare the comfort to cream as I haven't used cream enough but rexxxer is a great cross to gut.

Yeah I used 1.28 mm.

Do you know if Rexxer is more durable than Cream?

 

[KungfuTennis]

I second the Lynx touch recommendation, was really impressed by it in a full bed

 

[Automatix]

Thanks for your info! You mean polyamide monofilaments in your post, right (instead of ‘polyamide multifilaments’)?

Yes.

 

[tele]

Prince warrior Response is the softest elastomer co poly out there a the moment and is also durable so it should be the winner for me

To be precise, i found it more arm-friendly than cream when strung in the high 40s. i do not know how it behaves at higher tensions.

 

[veelium]

Yeah I used 1.28 mm.

Do you know if Rexxer is more durable than Cream?

Yeah was more durable for me. Also stiffer for sure.
Personally I don't mind stiffer polys if I do gut/poly hybrid so you could give some thicker gauge polys a try as well.

 

[Tmano]

Don’t know that version of RPM.
Do you know if it’s durable and at least as comfortable as Cream?

I have no idea to be honest. I have a few sets i would love to try but i just recover from TE and i think i'm gonna wait a little before to test it. However it is seems to be very soft.