Using Natural Gut in a Hybrid?

[TripleB]

Below I asked the question "Is a Poly / Natural Gut Hybrid a Waste of $ ?"

It seems that many agree that having a polyester main with a natural gut cross is waste of money.

For some reason, I guess because I've never tried natural gut before, I want to start this year off by trying some natural gut. I'm probably going to have to use it in a hybrid in order to bring the total cost of the string job down.

What (IYO) is the best way to incorporate natural gut into a hybrid set up?

As a main? As a cross? What type of string to use as the other part of the hybrid?

I would like to get as many of the benefits of gut as I can while still getting a reasonable amount of durability. FYI: I currently use Luxilon BBALUP16L with a Gosen (or Prince) synthetic gut cross. I'm looking to move to a softer feel {joints are feeling as young as they used to} with better touch/feel (especially at net).

You may rest easy now. I think I've covered every type of string possibility in the 27 posts I've put up in the last 4 days. I appreciate everyone's help and patience throughout my latest quest. I'm just hoping to get a "perfect" (at least for me) set up in my 'yet to be ordered' RDX-500 Midplus.

TripleB

 

[Gaines Hillix]

TripB, several factors here. How much do you want to pay for the gut you will use in the mains, how long do you want it to last and how do you want it to feel? If price is not an issue, Babolat VS Gut is the way to go. Gauge depends on preference. Thinner for spin, thicker for durability. BDE and Bow Brand are good alternatives. Most people recommend a solid core string for the crosses because gut can be abrasive and it will cut through a multifiber syn gut quickly. Many stringers use Gosen OG Micro or PSG or PSGD with it. But, if durability is not the main issue, your favorite multi can be used. Remember that 80% or more of the feel is going to come from the mains. The gut will retain its tension for a long time. Some stringers will bump up the tension on the crosses by a few lbs. to compensate. If durability of the crosses becomes an issue in your frame, you can try an inexpensive softer poly in the crosses(Rab Monoflex, for instance). Also, take a look at the Klip brand in the strings section on TW. They make prepackaged hybrids of their gut. That will give you a good idea of what the possibilities are. There are tradeoffs between each one. The choice depends on which ones you want to make.

 

[TripleB]

Gaines,

As always, your knowledge and expertise is extremely valuable.

I've been looking at three natural gut string possibilities: Babolat Tonic+ (15L or 16g), Bow Brand Championship (15L), and Bow Brand Professional (16g).

The main synthetics I've been looking at are: Prince Synthetic Gut w/duraflex (16g), Gosen OG Jim Courier Micro (16g), and Gosen Super Tec AK Pro (16g).

If going with a synthetic in the crosses is going to give me a similar feel to having a multi in there, I would just as soon go with the synthetic mono.

Durability is not the main issue (softer feel/more touch is) but it is an issue. I've been used to the 40 to 50 sets I get with the Luxilon and don't want to return to the days of 5 sets with the Prince Synthetic Gut w/duraflex 17g. I realize that the gut will not give me the 40 to 50 sets like the Luxilon but I don't want to go back the old days of 5 or 6 sets with a set of string....especially if one set costs around $16 (1/2 gut , 1/2 synthetic).

Thanks again for all your help and advice. I think having you as a mentor has got me headed in the right direction for a new string set up. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

TripleB

 

[Gaines Hillix]

TripB, one other thing I forgot to mention. I am not a big string breaker. A set of gut will last 6 mos. for me playing a couple of times per week, especially if I put string savers in where the string junctions start to fray. The strings you mentioned for use in the crosses have almost identical stiffness ratings in the USRSA database, so I don't think you'd be able to tell the difference between them in a hybrid, although when people ask for a recommendation for a very crisp playing syn gut the response is often the Micro JC, so you might want to try the AK Pro or PSGD first if you're looking for a softer stringbed. If you want it to be stiffer/crisper feeling, then try the JC. The PSGD is about 1/2 the price of the AK Pro. It will be interesting to hear your reaction to this compared to ALU.

 

[TripleB]

Gaines....I appreciate the additional info.

Any "soft but durable" mono synthetic strings you can think of for my crosses?

Do you have any opinions (or maybe have heard others talk) as to whether the Bow Brand Championship, Bow Brand Professional, or Babolat Tonic+ might be the better natural gut?

At this time I'm probably looking more towards the 15L because with the RDX-500 MP (or if I decide to try the hybrid in the POG mid) I think the pattern is open enough to where I'll get plenty of spin with the 15L.

I'll be interested to see how I like it compared to the Luxilon/Mono hybrid I'm currently using also. I'll try to remember to pass along my opinions once I get a chance to give it a try.

TripleB

 

[Gaines Hillix]

TripB, for my money, I'd try the Bow brand. I've used it and it's a good quality gut for the money. I've never used the 15L though. Not sure why it's priced a few dollars higher than the other gauges other than there's probably more material in it. I'd try the AK Pro 16 or PSG without duraflex in the crosses. Get some string savers also.

 

[TripleB]

Gaines,

Alpha Gut 2000 16, Gosen Tec Gut Power 16, and Wilson Sensations Supreme 16 seem to be pretty good (as least from the comments I've seen) multifilaments that are on the 'cheaper' side ($6, $7, $6, I think).

What do you think of putting one of these in a hybrid with either poly or natural gut? Not enough durability compared to a mono?

If I go mono I think I've decided to go with the Prince Synthetic Gut 16.

Thanks for your help.

TripleB

 

[Gaines Hillix]

Gaines,

Alpha Gut 2000 16, Gosen Tec Gut Power 16, and Wilson Sensations Supreme 16 seem to be pretty good (as least from the comments I've seen) multifilaments that are on the 'cheaper' side ($6, $7, $6, I think).

What do you think of putting one of these in a hybrid with either poly or natural gut? Not enough durability compared to a mono?

If I go mono I think I've decided to go with the Prince Synthetic Gut 16.

Thanks for your help.

TripleB

TripB, I've never tried the Tec Gut, but the other two have only average durability and I don't think they'll last as long as the gut in the mains. Alpha 2K and Sensation Supreme also aren't known for stellar tension holding. I'd prefer something that holds tension better to match the nat gut's. I'd try PSG 16 first. BTW, do you have your own stringing machine?

 

[Jerry Seinfeld]

I have had good success with Alpha Gut 2000 as a cross string (prestreched) with natural gut. In terms of softer synthetics, I usually use the laserfibre classic synthetic gut which plays softer than some of the others. It is comparable to the old Prince synthetic gut soft that is now sold under the ektelon name here at TW. From experience I know both of these make a nice complimentary string as a cross with the Bow Brand natural gut mains.

 

[freewalker]

Many people reccommend using PSG, PSGD, or Gosen OG Sheep as crosses for gut hybrid. Among these strings, I think Gosen OG Sheep maintains tension best.

Gut maintains tension well. Is it better to choose a cross string that also holds tension well such as Gosen OG Sheep?

I am asking because I am also thinking about gut hybrid.

Thanks,

If I go mono I think I've decided to go with the Prince Synthetic Gut 16.

 

[TripleB]

Gaines,

I used to have my own stringing machine {many moons ago} - one of the $130 Klipper models. I used it for about 2 years but have since gotten rid of it. At the time I used 17g string and on a couple different occasions over that two year period I got to about my last three strings and had the string break on me. I'm sure it was my error (I didn't seem to be as skilled or as fast as others I talked to) but after a while it got frustrating and I got rid of it. Now that I think about it, that's was a bad move on my part.

Do you know if Babolat Fibertour (Fiberace) is any better at maintaining tension than the Alpha or Sensation Supreme? {I think it received a 3.5 or so in the USRSA review for tension maintanence} FORGET THIS QUESTION...AFTER READING SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS STRING, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE "CRISP" FOR A MULTI AND MAY NOT SOFTEN UP THE STRING BED OF A POLY ANY MORE THAN THE PRINCE SYNTHETIC.

Thanks for the information Jerry. My Natural Gut "Finalist" are the Bow Championship 15L and the Babolat Tonic + 15L. Have you ever compared these two strings? Have you received any more Kryptonite yet?

Thanks.

TripleB

 

[Richie Rich]

TB,

The best hybrid I have come across using nat gut in the mains is with Laserfibre Supreme crosses. The LF is firm enough to go well with the gut and it has great tension holding (so you are not cutting out good ng because your cross strings feel mushy). Plus reduces cost, which is always a plus. Gosen OG Micro and PSG w/duraflex come next.

Cheers
Rich

 

[TripleB]

Richie Rich,

Thanks for the input. Does the LaserFibre Supreme offer good durability?

TripleB

 

[jings]

You're already using the Lux Alu so you like that and it hybrids very nicely in the cross with Bow Gut mains. I get great durability from this set up, a good crisp feel, minimal string movemnet, good tension hold. yes I know the lux is supposed to lose it a bit, but it doesn't seem to effect the overall feel for me. In terms of gauging what you want / like / hate in the hybrid this would seem a logical step from your Lux Alu currently. My 2c.

 

[Richie Rich]

I found LFS to have better than avg durability but excellent tension maintenance. I used 17 guage gut so it frayed and broke after 3 weeks (14 sets) so I was happy with durability.

I think it was Jerry Seinfeld who mentioned the 17 is more durable than the 16 but I can't remember specifically why that was the case.

 

[Liebestod]

TB,

The best hybrid I have come across using nat gut in the mains is with Laserfibre Supreme crosses. The LF is firm enough to go well with the gut and it has great tension holding (so you are not cutting out good ng because your cross strings feel mushy). Plus reduces cost, which is always a plus. Gosen OG Micro and PSG w/duraflex come next.

Cheers
Rich

I also plan to use Laserfibre Supreme as cross, which gauge do you use? 16 or 17?