What cross string is best with ashaway kevlar 18g

[equinox]

Hello TT users,

I'm going to string up an Ashaway Braided kevlar 18g 1.10mm hybrid.

I''ve at my disposal gosen og micro 17,16g and various polys, gosen SP17, SPPP 17L, SPPMF 18.

What should i use for the cross?

What gauge would best be suited for maximum ball bite?

Any suggested tensions?

Diredesire, you played with a similar setup and advice?

 

[ryohazuki222]

the only ashaway kevlar (17g) hybrds ive tried are with gamma syn gut w/ wearguard (17) crosses and with biphase (17) crosses. I felt like the gamma had a lot more power, while the biphase felt really nice. gamma saw'd my mains though... the kevlar always snapped first. I noticed when i used biphase, the mains looks virtually untouched... but it didnt really last as long as i hoped.

if you end up using gosen og micro 17 on the crosses, plz post back about how it is! I'm very interested!

btw... how does spin potential compare between ashaway kevlar and polys like alu rough, cyber flash etc.... i cant seem to find too much info on the ashaway stuff.

 

[POGforEver]

I'm using Ashaway 16g with either PSGD or og micro in my POG...I've tried 18g kevlar but it breaks pretty quickly if you're a big hitter so I went back to 16g and it has plenty of spin. Good luck!

 

[diredesire]

I'm using Ashaway 16g with either PSGD or og micro in my POG...I've tried 18g kevlar but it breaks pretty quickly if you're a big hitter so I went back to 16g and it has plenty of spin. Good luck!

I'd go for something like this, i'd probably (given your stock of strings) use the og micro 17. I don't like having my gauges too different, but i also wouldn't want an 18g string in the cross (doesn't feel as... controllable to me). I used prince syn gut duraflex when i played with the 18g, and didn't like the 18g. It was TOO thin, and TOO spinny. The 17g was much better, IMO. Solid feel like the 16g, and plenty spinny.

I should add: I think hybriding a kevlar and poly is certain death (eventually) for your arm, though i've never tried it. I can't even imagine how firm/HARD that would feel.

 

[equinox]

ok done. See sig. I'll hit with it this week. Hopefully my arm won't fall off and i'll get some wicked spin from this setup.

Lol 18 is really thin, had to adjust my clamps major.

Thanks for your help.

 

[psp2]

On my doubles racquets (Open X), I use OG 17g @ 60#/Ashaway 18g @ 55#. It's very comfortable once the kevlar stretches out a bit. Spin generation/ball bite is MASSIVE with this setup for me.

 

[equinox]

Hmm kevlar feels like it's lost some tension.

 

[TennisProPaul]

Hmm kevlar feels like it's lost some tension.

does the kev mains move around alot? I know not in the beginning but after a few hours, or later?

 

[ryohazuki222]

i think that's just how it plays.... i havent played with a freshly strung kevlar hybrid in a couple months... but i do remember how much i dislike it in the beginning.... until i hit some... then eventually it settles in or something and becomes what i like. maybe that "settling" was actually tension loss?

 

[equinox]

Yeah i think that's right ryohazuki. It loses some initial tension then settles down.

 

[diredesire]

does the kev mains move around alot? I know not in the beginning but after a few hours, or later?

Yes, kevlar mains start moving around a ton. It's just the nature of the beast, i guess

 

[equinox]

Kevlar main broke today. I'll post some pictures when i find my usb cables.

 

[equinox]

 

[diredesire]

How'd you like the thin gauge in such an "open" patterned racquet? I played with it in a 16x20 and it was already driving me crazy. It was my last retail string job, too

 

[buder]

I have purchased more reels of 18g ashaway Kevlar than I care to admit. For the crosses, I use anything with polyoefine ribbons. Head Rip Control 17 or Iso Speed Pro 17 (extremely low stiffness). The trampoline on kevlar is non-existent, so you can string it much lower without losing control.

 

[diredesire]

I have purchased more reels of 18g ashaway Kevlar than I care to admit. For the crosses, I use anything with polyoefine ribbons. Head Rip Control 17 or Iso Speed Pro 17 (extremely low stiffness). The trampoline on kevlar is non-existent, so you can string it much lower without losing control.

MAN! I can only imagine an 18g kevlar in the RD-7. Sounds like it would be a set up so spinny... it would be illegal

I don't know how you guys can stand an 18g kevlar. As far as polyolefine ribbons, don't you find them harsh at all? They're a very unique composition, I find they hold tension well, but are a little stiff (in play, not by nature)

 

[buder]

MAN! I can only imagine an 18g kevlar in the RD-7. Sounds like it would be a set up so spinny... it would be illegal

I don't know how you guys can stand an 18g kevlar. As far as polyolefine ribbons, don't you find them harsh at all? They're a very unique composition, I find they hold tension well, but are a little stiff (in play, not by nature)

If you look at the USRSA stiffness ratings, both Iso Speed and RIP Control have among the lowest stiffness for non-gut strings. On an RDC machine, an all RIP Control stringjob scores a lower overall stiffness (by a small margin) than any synthetic I've tried at the same tension and gauge. I've found this softness evident in play -- however, nothing plays stiff in my rd7 because the weight and flex absorb so much shock. I'm not sure how the polyeofine ribbons contribute to the stiffness rating, but it has been my experience that the material is muted, soft and low powered.