Titan Natural Gut 17g/Technifiber E-Matrix 17g playtesting...
Tension:
Mains: Titan Gut 17g @42 lbs
Cross: Technifibre E-Matrix 17g @36 lbs
Stringing
I re-used the Titan natural gut 17g Mains (17 hours old) because it is still in good condition (no notching/fraying)
I re-strung just the crosses with Technifiber E-Matrix 17g @36 lbs because the previous cross (Head Rip control 17g) broke at 17 hours.
I put 52 babolat elastocross ($7.95) string savers on the sweetspot: 10 on each #1 mains, 8 on each #2 and #3 mains.
stringing complaints:
1. No complaints stringing Technifibre E-Matrix 17g.
Day 1 (4-20-11) 19 hours Titan gut, 2 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours using moderate topspin on both wings.
This hybrid is softer and more powerful than the Titan gut/Head Rip Control. However, the strings tend to move more and the string friction is higher.
This is one of the best string setup that i used on my wilson kfive 108 in terms of comfort, playability, spin, and power. I noticed more spin and controlled power. Most important of all, my golfer's elbow did not complain as much.
No visible fraying on mains/crosses after 2 hours.
Day 2 (4-22-11), 21 hours Titan gut, 4 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
I noticed the following:
- Technifibre E-Matrix 17g crosses is a Natural gut eater (Mains). After only 4 hours, the E-Matrix caused notching on the Titan gut mains. In contrast, Head Rip Control crosses did not cause any notching. I will not use T.E-Matrix again as a cross for Natural Gut.
- T.E-Matrix is a ferocious ball biter. I can see a lot of ball fuzz on the E-Matrix crosses indicating that E-Matrix really bites the ball and won't let go. In contrast, there is hardly any ball fuzz on the Titan gut mains. Because it bites the ball so well, I will use E-Matrix on the Mains to increase spin. I have to find a slippery cross string, maybe an 18g poly or Head Rip Control.
- T.E-Matrix is a high friction string. It prevents the Titan gut mains from snapping back. It is much harder to manually move the mains sideways compared to the Head Rip control crosses. It also makes grating noise when I move the mains.
Summary: T.E-Matrix is better suited as a Mains because it really bites the ball well thus increasing spin. However, I will not use it again as crosses for Natural Gut because it destroys the natural gut.
Day 3 (4-23-11), 23 hours Titan gut, 6 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
Both mains and crosses still looks good. The mains (titan gut) still 9/10 condition, maybe good for another 10 hours of heavy hitting. The crosses (E-Matrix) however, is showing wear but not yet fraying.
Day 4 (4-25-11), 25 hours Titan gut, 8 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
Both mains and crosses still looks good. The mains (titan gut) still 9/10 condition, maybe good for another 10 hours of heavy hitting. The crosses (E-Matrix) however, is showing wear and also some fraying in a few spots.
Day 5 (4-27-11), 27 hours Titan gut, 10 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
Both mains and crosses still looks good. The mains (titan gut) still 9/10 condition, maybe good for another 10 hours of heavy hitting. The crosses (E-Matrix) however, is showing wear and also some fraying in a few spots.
Many people say that both Titan gut and E-Matrix breaks quickly, under 5 hours.
Maybe the low string tension (40-45 lbs) and string savers help in extending string life.
Day 6 (4-29-11), 29 hours Titan gut, 12 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
T.E-Matrix broke at 12 hours. Titan gut 17g still looks good, no notching/fraying. I will re-string just the crosses.
Tension:
Mains: Titan Gut 17g @42 lbs
Cross: Technifibre E-Matrix 17g @36 lbs
Stringing
I re-used the Titan natural gut 17g Mains (17 hours old) because it is still in good condition (no notching/fraying)
I re-strung just the crosses with Technifiber E-Matrix 17g @36 lbs because the previous cross (Head Rip control 17g) broke at 17 hours.
I put 52 babolat elastocross ($7.95) string savers on the sweetspot: 10 on each #1 mains, 8 on each #2 and #3 mains.
stringing complaints:
1. No complaints stringing Technifibre E-Matrix 17g.
Day 1 (4-20-11) 19 hours Titan gut, 2 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours using moderate topspin on both wings.
This hybrid is softer and more powerful than the Titan gut/Head Rip Control. However, the strings tend to move more and the string friction is higher.
This is one of the best string setup that i used on my wilson kfive 108 in terms of comfort, playability, spin, and power. I noticed more spin and controlled power. Most important of all, my golfer's elbow did not complain as much.
No visible fraying on mains/crosses after 2 hours.
Day 2 (4-22-11), 21 hours Titan gut, 4 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
I noticed the following:
- Technifibre E-Matrix 17g crosses is a Natural gut eater (Mains). After only 4 hours, the E-Matrix caused notching on the Titan gut mains. In contrast, Head Rip Control crosses did not cause any notching. I will not use T.E-Matrix again as a cross for Natural Gut.
- T.E-Matrix is a ferocious ball biter. I can see a lot of ball fuzz on the E-Matrix crosses indicating that E-Matrix really bites the ball and won't let go. In contrast, there is hardly any ball fuzz on the Titan gut mains. Because it bites the ball so well, I will use E-Matrix on the Mains to increase spin. I have to find a slippery cross string, maybe an 18g poly or Head Rip Control.
- T.E-Matrix is a high friction string. It prevents the Titan gut mains from snapping back. It is much harder to manually move the mains sideways compared to the Head Rip control crosses. It also makes grating noise when I move the mains.
Summary: T.E-Matrix is better suited as a Mains because it really bites the ball well thus increasing spin. However, I will not use it again as crosses for Natural Gut because it destroys the natural gut.
Day 3 (4-23-11), 23 hours Titan gut, 6 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
Both mains and crosses still looks good. The mains (titan gut) still 9/10 condition, maybe good for another 10 hours of heavy hitting. The crosses (E-Matrix) however, is showing wear but not yet fraying.
Day 4 (4-25-11), 25 hours Titan gut, 8 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
Both mains and crosses still looks good. The mains (titan gut) still 9/10 condition, maybe good for another 10 hours of heavy hitting. The crosses (E-Matrix) however, is showing wear and also some fraying in a few spots.
Day 5 (4-27-11), 27 hours Titan gut, 10 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
Both mains and crosses still looks good. The mains (titan gut) still 9/10 condition, maybe good for another 10 hours of heavy hitting. The crosses (E-Matrix) however, is showing wear and also some fraying in a few spots.
Many people say that both Titan gut and E-Matrix breaks quickly, under 5 hours.
Maybe the low string tension (40-45 lbs) and string savers help in extending string life.
Day 6 (4-29-11), 29 hours Titan gut, 12 hours T.E-Matrix
I hit for about 2 hours.
T.E-Matrix broke at 12 hours. Titan gut 17g still looks good, no notching/fraying. I will re-string just the crosses.
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