Which poly string is arm friendly?

jmacdaununder2 said:
Do you find the V-Torque Tour retains tension okay? I found standard V-Torque to be terrible in this regard, so just curious. Thanks, JMac.
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I rate it good -average. The nice thing about this string is that you can string it pretty high and it still feels good just like one of the TW testers stated. Retained it' tension up to 5-7 days on my son's racquet. Much better than the black widow he was using. It also doesn' lose its edges as fast as black widow.
 
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I went from full gut (was using due to wrist injury @60lbs or so) to full bed of Diadem Solstice Power at 42/39 and I have to say that once I adjusted I have found a lot of comfort with this string. Usually polys cause issues quickly for me but this one really is a huge step in the right direction for comfort and it generates incredible spin. It has a low COF for string to string and at this tension is the second most rated for spin on TWU. For a shaped poly this is the closest thing I have found that is close to the control and feel of a round, it is that good for me. I purchased a 1.20 reel but at this tension the thicker gauges are less stiff, they didnt stock 1.25 or I would have tried that one instead. I will check a set of 1.25 but the 1.20 is a fantastic string in its own right.

I recommend SP highly and other softer round strings like YPTP and RS Lyon. Most polys are going to cause issues so be careful with tension as a priority.
 
stephenclown said:
I went from full gut (was using due to wrist injury @60lbs or so) to full bed of Diadem Solstice Power at 42/39 and I have to say that once I adjusted I have found a lot of comfort with this string. Usually polys cause issues quickly for me but this one really is a huge step in the right direction for comfort and it generates incredible spin. It has a low COF for string to string and at this tension is the second most rated for spin on TWU. For a shaped poly this is the closest thing I have found that is close to the control and feel of a round, it is that good for me. I purchased a 1.20 reel but at this tension the thicker gauges are less stiff, they didnt stock 1.25 or I would have tried that one instead. I will check a set of 1.25 but the 1.20 is a fantastic string in its own right.

I recommend SP highly and other softer round strings like YPTP and RS Lyon. Most polys are going to cause issues so be careful with tension as a priority.
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I know the thread is about comfort but, for what it's worth, Diadem Solstice Power is the spiniest string that I have ever played with by a mile.

Regarding V-Torque Tour, it is a soft, spin friendly poly but I found that it didn't hold tension that well.

More importantly, with respect to comfort, stay away from polys if you have arm problems (with the possible exception of isospeed cream - which according to the Tennis Warehouse review "Cream's primary ingredient is not polyester, but a uniquely flexible elastomer"). Even so, with my tennis elbow, I go to ashaway monogut ZX...spin of a poly, softness & power of a multi.
 
Super comfortable poly, which does not get much air play on the forums is Volkl V-Star. I have my teen kids using it in 17 gauge. They love how it feels compared to other strings I have tried with them. Really good feedback, power and comfort. Spin is ok - but we were going more for predictability and consistency. The issue is that it dies quickly - maybe 8 hrs, and I have to re-string. That said, I string my own rackets, and in a reel, is it affordable enough.

I will want to try V-Torque Tour given all the recommendations. I wonder how they compare.
 
leejayh said:
Super comfortable poly, which does not get much air play on the forums is Volkl V-Star. I have my teen kids using it in 17 gauge. They love how it feels compared to other strings I have tried with them. Really good feedback, power and comfort. Spin is ok - but we were going more for predictability and consistency. The issue is that it dies quickly - maybe 8 hrs, and I have to re-string. That said, I string my own rackets, and in a reel, is it affordable enough.

I will want to try V-Torque Tour given all the recommendations. I wonder how they compare.
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I was using V-Star as a cross with V-Torque Tour Mains.

I have never played with a full bed of V-Star but when stringing, they feel very similar in terms of stiffness.

Full bed of V-Torque Tour vs V-Torque Tour main/V-Star hybrid - both played very similar to me - both soft (for poly), both good spin, both poor tension maintenance IMHO.

Neither setup is as soft as Isospeed cream, or holds tension as well, but spin is slightly better.
 
Great to know. Will try the v- hybrid and see if it helps any. I also have isospeed cream, and it is softer, but has a different feel. Have not tried that on them yet.
 
gazz1 said:
Softest poly for me is Isospeed Cream.

If you have elbow problems and are determined to retain the spin of a poly then PLEASE try Ashaway Monogut ZX. It's made from Zyex. It has no polyester, spin is on par with poly, power is greater, and it's much easier on the arm than any poly. That said, there's no substitute for natural gut in terms of comfort.

I'm currently using Head Velocity 16 mains and ZX 17 crosses due to my tennis elbow flaring up again. This combo is very plush and plays great - much better than a multi or natural gut main with a poly cross IMHO. I think I will stick with it even after my elbow recovers but I am going to try a natural gut/zx combo soon.

I wouldn't recommend a full bed of ZX in very open string patterns though. It is too powerful and tends to spray the ball in my Pure Aero. Potentially I could have resolved this by increasing the tension quite a bit, but I had moved onto my DR98 by then.

It plays great in the DR98 full bed or hybrid.
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How fast does zx notch the velocity main? What v tension and zx tension?
 
gazz1 said:
I was using V-Star as a cross with V-Torque Tour Mains.

I have never played with a full bed of V-Star but when stringing, they feel very similar in terms of stiffness.

Full bed of V-Torque Tour vs V-Torque Tour main/V-Star hybrid - both played very similar to me - both soft (for poly), both good spin, both poor tension maintenance IMHO.

Neither setup is as soft as Isospeed cream, or holds tension as well, but spin is slightly better.
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V-Torque Tour has very nice spin, I can confirm.
I don't think the tension maintenance is too horrible for a co-poly though.
 
Simon_the_furry said:
I string hybrid and I personally still find it playable at this point (strung it a few weeks ago. Of course, I rarely cut out string before it's broken.)..
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I string hybrids as well. However, I can always tell when the co-poly starts to lose tension/playability. Some have very short life in my racquet. To me, that is a waste of time and money if they are only good for 6 or so hours. That is less than two weeks of court time for me.
 
mctennis said:
I string hybrids as well. However, I can always tell when the co-poly starts to lose tension/playability. Some have very short life in my racquet. To me, that is a waste of time and money if they are only good for 6 or so hours. That is less than two weeks of court time for me.
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Agreed 100%. I would be careful stringing V-Torque Tour. If I were you, I'd string it up as if it was a synthetic gut. I strung it in the low 50s at first and it was wonderful for about a week and a half. I went out to hit one day and I couldn't keep a ball in the court. It had fallen off a huge playability cliff.

HOWEVER, once I strung it up a little tighter to counteract the tension loss, it was great.
 
Simon_the_furry said:
Agreed 100%. I would be careful stringing V-Torque Tour. If I were you, I'd string it up as if it was a synthetic gut. I strung it in the low 50s at first and it was wonderful for about a week and a half. I went out to hit one day and I couldn't keep a ball in the court. It had fallen off a huge playability cliff.

HOWEVER, once I strung it up a little tighter to counteract the tension loss, it was great.
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Agree. My son being only nine is fine with it at 52lbs for around five days before it starts to drop off. I string a PA Team and PD + 2018 @ 55 mains 53 crosses for the PA Team and 56 Mains 54 crosses in the PD +. Surprisingly I can get a good week out of the strings. 17 Guage btw. 18 guage on the PD + was outstanding for about three days before it broke.
 
ByeByePoly said:
How fast does zx notch the velocity main? What v tension and zx tension?
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Hi,
I’m not sure about the notching...it’s smooth and slippery like a poly so string to string friction would be similar to a poly...maybe slightly lower as it’s more elastic and absorbs some shock(?)

I use Sergetti proportional stringing where the tension of each string is different (crosses generally much tighter than mains), so I’m not sure on the tension.

As a guess, I would probably string mains and crosses at about 50lb on my dr98 and tighter for more open string patterns. I mentioned before that the ZX was too powerful for my pure aero, but if I had another go, I’d probably use 55lb on the aero.

Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.
 
LOBALOT said:
I have had more than my share of wrist and elbow surgeries and being older I need something comfortable. While polys are harder on the arm I have found 2 strings that I can use and not have issues.

The thing to note is the softer polys inherently are not that durable so they are better if you string your own racquets otherwise you will be your stringers best friend.

The first is Polyfiber TCS. For 6 hours or so I get good comfortable control out of it and can swing out at the ball. After that (and you will know!), I can't keep anything inside the back fence.

The other is the Volkl Cyclone Tour. From my perspective this string plays differently. It pockets the ball almost like a synthetic gut. I get a ton of spin out of it. However it too has a short lifespan (Maybe 10 hours) before the texture on the string wears away.

Strangely, while the Polyfiber plays firmer than the Volkl Cyclone Tour I think the Polyfibre is tad more comfortable.
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Softer strings hurt my arm even more. Weird
 
All of them because you get no power no matter how hard you swing. I get power with stiff strings . Soft have no feel either very muted. It may not make sense but that is my experience
 
Tennusdude said:
Softer strings hurt my arm even more. Weird
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Wow, so a post from 2018.... My thoughts didn't age well in 4.5 years particularly as string technology has changed.

Polyfibre TCS was really not a great string as it could not hold tension at all.

Cyclone tour is a great string. It does lose tension as well just not as quickly.

I am not sure why your particular situation and racquet but as others have noted perhaps poly is not for you.
 
Tennusdude said:
All of them because you get no power no matter how hard you swing. I get power with stiff strings . Soft have no feel either very muted. It may not make sense but that is my experience
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Which racquet?

String wise - Give me a few examples (2-3 on each side) of what you are calling stiff and what you are calling soft
 
Softest poly I ever tried was head sonic pro, Way too soft for my liking, also very slippery.
Anyway Imo 90% at least shouldnt use poly to begik with, you have to hit out to gain anything. Most People would play better with cheap syn gut or multi.
For me it depends on the racquet, if its powerful I might go for a full bed of alu power, if not I use poly as a cross string to gain a bit of Control and spin while still being comfortable. Poly mains/multi crosses plays like c… imo, stringbed feels unstable.
I grew up in a world without poly and did pretty well without, Im sure I could adapt to a full bed of multi pretty easy if I wanted to.
 
DanF1961 said:
Another vote for Quadro Twist, along with Ytex Square X. The black colors for both strings are a little softer than the white colors. They both play softer than Volkl Cyclone Tour 1.30 which I would also consider a soft poly. I never tried Isospeed Cream, but that would also be worth a try.
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Yes, black coloured strings are supposed to play a bit softer than coloured ones.
I have played with the Isospeed Cream 1.23/17 on a light 285-ish frame 2 years ago. The other 285-ish frame was strung with the Kirschbaum Super Smash Honey 1.23/17, both at 22kgs.
The Cream offered much more power, has premium feel - as do all Isospeed strings (Made in Austria) and great control. But, it was a lightweight frame for beginners.
I'm sure that on a 300grams frame it would play even better. I've got many Isospeed strings to try: Grey Fire, Black Fire S, Cream, Energetic Plus, Professional, Energetic, V18, Rexxxer.
I've recently played with the Black Fire 1.20/17: pro's string for sure. Isospeed has a huge range of strings.

The Ytex Quadro Twist (black) is the last string I've played with.
Just make sure you have it strung 1.5-2 kgs higher than your usual tension.
I was playing at 22kgs, then moved to 23kgs. I feel the Quadro Twist would suit me better at 24-25kgs. It's by far the most comfortable string I've ever played with. It comes with a noticable trampoline effect, but the great ball bite balances this issue.

Give Isospeed Cream 1.23/17 a try. It definetely worths it!
 
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