Which soft co-poly would you suggest to a beginner among these options?

O

Odinn21

Rookie
Hello there. Hope you're all doing well.

I'll get my first racquet/string. I live in Turkey and there aren't many options in the country for both equipment types TBH (mostly Babolat and Wilson with atrocious price tags). Getting it from abroad is cheaper and way more options.
My first purchased racquet probably will be one of Prince Phantom 100X 305 and Yonex EZone 100 2020.
I was thinking about getting multifilament string. But some suggestions made me think soft co-poly would be more durable and that's a big thing for me.

These are some soft co-poly strings with positive feedback and probably I'm going to make a choice between them;
- Solinco Tour Bite Soft 1.15 / 1.20
- MSV Co-Focus 1.18
- MSV Focus Hex 1.27
- Prince Tour XP 1.25
- Head Lynx 1.20
- Weiss Cannon Ultra Cable 1.23
- Völkl V-Torque Tour 1.30

I feel like MSV Co-Focus and Völkl V-Torque Tour are my best 2 options. (From what I gather) the Co-Focus is more spin friendly Tour-Bite Soft with better durability, and the Torque Tour offers slightly better spin potential than the Co-Focus with slightly worse tension loss, and 1.30 mm gauge probably would give me a better overall durability.
Head Lynx and WS Ultra Cable has great feedback about being soft. But their tension loss values from TWU are the worst among those options and most reviews are supportive of that.

Edit: Ah, I forgot to mention that I'm asking for a full bed.

Edit 2:
OK, I'm back to multifilaments. My options for multis are;
- Wilson NXT Power
- Head Reflex MLT
- Solinco Vanquish
- Yonex Tour Super Pro 850
- Kirschbaum Touch Multifibre
 
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If you end with a poly that is stiffer than you anticipated ( your arm will tell you ), you can always string it ~10 lbs lower, for example in 36-40 lbs ( 16-18 kg ).
The issue with all soft polys is that all of them drop tension by a whallop. Supposedly, Isospeed Cream is both soft and has a good tension maintenance. I have not tried it. I use myself Pro Signum Big Ace Micro (1.15) and Signum Pro Poly Plasma (1.20) -- I find them soft, they generate good spin, and their tension drop does not bother me. Also, the Prince string with a strong reputation is Tour XT 18 ( Xtra Touch ).
 
there are a lot of new poly-blend multifilaments. such as tecnifibre hdmx, and wilson nxt control. this could be a nice place to start.
if you really want to go poly, i'd suggest "very low tension" (35-45#). with spin you can gain control.
as for soft "co-poly" strings, yonex ptp & kirschbaum (such as proline 2).

i suggest you try to keep the string gauge the same across different strings to get a fair comparison. 1.30 vs 1.18 is going to be very different. 1.25 is a good place to start.
both racquets sound like good choices. more important than gear is technique and player ability, so go out and keep playing :)
 
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@Tennisist
Thanks for all the info.
I was thinking about giving a run at something between 48-54 lbs and dropping down if I start to have troubles on my arm then.

How do you like Signum Pro Poly Plasma? How's overall durability? I forgot to list it in here, it's on my overall list.

---

@ichaseballs
Thanks. I started to entertain the idea of getting a co-poly due to overall durability. From what I gather, co-poly strings are more durable.
Wilson NXT Power, Head Reflex MLT, Solinco Vanquish, Yonex Tour Super Pro 850 and Kirschbaum Touch Multifibre are my multifilaments options. If you think there's a multi among them which stands out with its durability, I'd be happy to hear / learn.

---

Cheers all.
 
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Polyester based strings and beginner tennis player are like oil and water. The level cannot utilize the characteristics of poly or co-poly strings. If it is durability, then yes, you probably will not break the poly string. However, you may break or hurt your arm playing with dead poly strings. Polyester strings will almost always be dead by hour 16 of hitting. Many do not last even 8 hours before dying, i.e. losing elasticity.

If you are ordering the frames from Europe, then you should also buy a reel of 17 Ga or 16 Ga SG like OGSM. You will not outgrow the OGSM until you become a higher level player. 3¢
 
How long are strings lasting for you? If they're lasting a month or more, you don't need poly strings. Stick to a good synthetic while you work on your game. My choice is Yonex Dynawire, but Ashaway Liberty is good and more than half the cost.

If you start breaking 16g synthetic gut every month, then start looking into a poly hybrid. If you break that in 3 weeks, then start thinking of full polyester. Even if it doesn't break you should be re-stringing poly strings every 2-3 weeks anyways to keep them fresh and minimize arm pain.

Notice how many posters are ignoring your question and telling to not use poly. Its a sign that you should not use poly. But if you don't want to listen, use the Tour Bite Soft 1.15. That's at least the softest string you've mentioned.
 
[d]ragon said:
How long are strings lasting for you? If they're lasting a month or more, you don't need poly strings. Stick to a good synthetic while you work on your game. My choice is Yonex Dynawire, but Ashaway Liberty is good and more than half the cost.

If you start breaking 16g synthetic gut every month, then start looking into a poly hybrid. If you break that in 3 weeks, then start thinking of full polyester. Even if it doesn't break you should be re-stringing poly strings every 2-3 weeks anyways to keep them fresh and minimize arm pain.

Notice how many posters are ignoring your question and telling to not use poly. Its a sign that you should not use poly. But if you don't want to listen, use the Tour Bite Soft 1.15. That's at least the softest string you've mentioned.
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If you saw other post in the thread, I am still considering multifilaments.
Wilson NXT Power, Head Reflex MLT, Solinco Vanquish, Yonex Tour Super Pro 850 and Kirschbaum Touch Multifibre are my multifilaments options. If you think there's a multi among them which stands out with its durability, I'd be happy to hear / learn.
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TBH, I don't know how long strings last for me because I don't own a racquet and I don't get to play with the same racquet/string combo in the tennis course I enrolled, I play with whatever is available. I got hung up on durability because it will be an international transaction and that's not easy with customs procedures.
 
Odinn21 said:
If you saw other post in the thread, I am still considering multifilaments.


TBH, I don't know how long strings last for me because I don't own a racquet and I don't get to play with the same racquet/string combo in the tennis course I enrolled, I play with whatever is available. I got hung up on durability because it will be an international transaction and that's not easy with customs procedures.
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Have you ever played tennis? If the answer is no, go with one of the multis you listed.

Or a round poly/syn.gut hybrid. For example, Kirschbaum Proline II 17g main with Gosen OG sheep syn.gut 17g crosses. This will last forever for beginners and safe for arm too.
 
kailash said:
Have you ever played tennis? If the answer is no, go with one of the multis you listed.

Or a round poly/syn.gut hybrid. For example, Kirschbaum Proline II 17g main with Gosen OG sheep syn.gut 17g crosses. This will last forever for beginners and safe for arm too.
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I have no playing background prior to the enrollment. I've been playing tennis for a month and a half.
 
Odinn21 said:
I have no playing background prior to the enrollment. I've been playing tennis for a month and a half.
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Ok, then go for the poly/syn.gut hybrid. Multis will become trampoline like and full bed of polys would die in a few weeks time frame.
 
Odinn21 said:
I have no playing background prior to the enrollment. I've been playing tennis for a month and a half.
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Yet you are taking advice from some people who know little to nothing about strings or stringing.

Vet your advice. When you get TE from bad technique and poly strings, go back and read post #2.
 
@Odinn21

I string for players who played tennis at schools who have won National Championships in College Football within the last two years, beginners and for collegiate players.

To suggest you use poly as a beginner player is irresponsible and just terrible advice.


From the USRSA

Collaborative Effort By Bob Patterson:

When it comes to poly strings, we all need to make sure adult recreational players and juniors know the facts.

I speak to many manufacturers, coaches, and racquet technicians, and the consensus is that recreational adult players and junior players are using the wrong type of string, tension—or both.

Stiff polyester strings are prevalent in the marketplace and dominate the pro tours, but are they suited for the average club or league player? Most in this industry don’t think so.

First, the very benefit of poly strings is their ability to bend and snap back faster than other materials. This snapback enhances spin on the ball. A pro can swing out and get more spin on the ball while generating a heavier shot. You might think that would be the same for your average junior or club player, but it is most definitely not the case. Most players can’t generate enough racquet-head speed to bend stiff poly strings in the first place. If the string doesn't bend, it can’t snap back, and there is little or no spin enhancement. Many recreational players who switch to a poly never adjust their tension.

I’m always amazed to hear of a 3.5 adult or junior using a full poly set-up at high tensions. This is a surefire way for a player to hurt his or her arm.

Second, monofilament poly strings lose their elasticity—or the ability to snap back—much faster than nylon
or other string materials. Since poly strings have a fairly dead feeling to begin with, their decline is less noticeable for recreational players, who tend to not restring as often as they should, which only makes the problem worse.

Not only is poly string wrong for most recreational and junior players, it can be harmful. The stiffer string
coupled with stiffer, lighter racquet creates much more shock to the player when the ball impacts the stringbed. In recent years, we’ve seen arm and wrist injuries sideline many top pros, and these athletes train and take every precaution to prevent injury. If we all know it is a problem, how do we fix it?

It starts with education: inform players about why they should alter their string set-up. It is better for their health and for their game. Manufacturers need to step up, too.

It is easy to market a string their top sponsored player is using, but companies need to make rec players aware that string may not be best for everyone. Then they need to offer a softer, better-suited string.

The bottom line is that we all need to address this issue. Injured players play less, and may stop playing altogether.

And that’s not good for anyone. •

Bob Patterson:
Executive Director of
the U.S. Racquet Stringers Association.
Tennis Industry: Nov/Dec 2017
 
I heard the best poly for a first racquet ever, as a beginner, is called Gamma Gut. Rave reviews. Plays ‘just like’ natural gut but for <4/pack.
 
@g4driver
I mean, your first post in the thread looked pompous TBH. You said there's no reason without mentioning its explanation. As a beginner, how can I take something meaningful from your post when I'm a newbie. Latest post is far better and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to give an explanation.
I'd be happy to hear what you would suggest from my multi list.
 
If you are new to tennis and learning modern strokes I can't see why a soft poly strung in the forties and replaced fairly often won't work out well if the racquet is not too stiff.

The key attribute poly brings is control through topspin. Isospeed Cream would be fine. If you don't like that then do go with multis.
 
Odinn21 said:
@g4driver
I mean, your first post in the thread looked pompous TBH. You said there's no reason without mentioning its explanation. As a beginner, how can I take something meaningful from your post when I'm a newbie. Latest post is far better and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to give an explanation. I'd be happy to hear what you would suggest from my multi list.
Click to expand...


My first post was accurate and one point. If you took my words as pompous, my advice to you when taking advice is to consider the source. I had a very busy day yesterday. Pompous? My words weren't meant that way. Don't read what isn't there . My words were accurate, that's all.

A question to you:

Do you know the RDC rating of the Yonex EZ 2020? Without even looking at it, I will tell you it measures 69 on a Babolat RDC . Do you know what an RDC is? If, not please take the time to look it up. I would highly suggest you demo any frame if at all possible before purchasing one.

For the most part, this is an anonymous forum, but you as a new member can click on the profile of posters and decide for yourself if the poster has experience in stringing, as a teaching pro, or as a high-level player. I am not going to give every new member here a resume of my stringing experience/history and highly doubt most seasoned stringers will either. You don't know me and I know nothing about you other than you are a beginner tennis player. My words to any beginner tennis player would be the same. "Beginner + Poly = terrible option." Short and on point. No explanation needed. It isn't up to me to do the due diligence and research for you. You have done plenty of reading about poly strings and their tension loss. How much research have you read about polys and beginners? Suggested strings for beginners? How much effort have you put into looking at the professional or very experienced stringers on this forum? Any at all?

@uk_skippy @Irvin @jim e @scotus @esgee48 are just a few stringers you might consider taking their advice over mine or anyone else on these forums. My apologies to other fellow stringers I left off. Need to run to an appt soon. @Odinn21 I just gave you a great list of members whose advise is well respected on this fourum. Poly is a terrible option for most players, especially new players for reasons I posted Bob Patterson's words. I have former collegiate USTA rated 5.0C men who battle tension elbow (TE) and have to alter their setups to help them avoid TE. So my advice to you is the same. Try Head Synthetic Gut PPS or Prince Premiere Control. I stock 30+ reels of strings at my house in various polys, multis, syn gut, and packs of Natural Gut, multis and syn gut. Could I put a $15 or $20 pack of Wilson NXT, X-1 Bi-phase, HDX Tour, HDMX Floro in your frame? Yep. Would I do so? No. If you want a multifilament and are dead set on one: I would recommend Head Velocity or Tecnifibre Mult-feel.
FWIW, an honest assessment of Isospeed Cream = a rubber compound mated with a soft poly and had a byproduct they named Isospeed Cream. I stock it and I use it for specific players who don't like poly, who don't break strings but who don't like strings sticking out of place as many syn guts and multis do. Cream/Velocity or Velocity/Cream works well for these non-string breaking non-beginner players, including many USTA rated 3.5 men and 4.0 women. I highly doubt you get TE from Cream/Velocity, but then again TE comes primarily from bad mechanics. TE is exacerbated with stiff strings and stiff lightweight frames. Avoid stiff light frames with poly. That is the worst combo of all.

Cream might be labeled a poly, but it is nothing like any other poly available. I have yet to find a string that feels so rubbery. If beginners and non-string breakers want to be cool because they "use a poly" Isospeed Cream is the only string I would string for them and only in a hybrid with the slickest multi I have discovered, Head Velocity. 4.5C Rated men snap 1.28 Cream in less than two hours.

https://www.isospeed.com/en/innovationen/cream
  • Monofilic polyester / Monofilic elastomer
en.wikipedia.org

Elastomer - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Best wishes to you @Odinn21 hope this helps.
 
@g4driver thank you. I have had problems with tennis elbow in the past. I never really did like full bed poly in my rackets because it was too stiff. For a long time after my arm problems I keep far away from poly in my racket and to this day I would not advise it for anyone at any tension if you have arm problems. BUT on the other hand, after reading the thread about lowering tension, and different articles about stringing Poly I decided to try poly for myself at ~15# lower than I string multi / SG strings and I’ve found that I like some. I still would not advise using poly unless you hate your strings moving or frequently break string.
 
I concur with most of the people here. Polys should not be your go to as a beginner. As a beginner, you really don't need their durability, and their stiffness is going to cause problems for you. There is nothing wrong with a solid synthetic gut. I used a standard Gamma synthetic gut when I was learning and it was great. As you get more experienced, you may want to try some multifilaments, I personally like the Head velocity. As you get even better, you can run with a multi or synth gut hybrid with polys. I think you are looking at advanced players and trying to copy their setup, when really you should be focused on your own skill level and development. And listen to @g4driver because he really is right on all accounts.
 
g4driver said:
My first post was accurate and one point. If you took my words as pompous, my advice to you when taking advice is to consider the source. I had a very busy day yesterday. Pompous? My words weren't meant that way. Don't read what isn't there . My words were accurate, that's all.
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I wasn't saying you were pompous. Just saying your words looked like that. But that's on me. When I give advice on the internet, I also provide explanation to ease people's minds, but that's me and I was expecting something like that and that's not on you. Yeah.

g4driver said:
A question to you:

Do you know the RDC rating of the Yonex EZ 2020? Without even looking at it, I will tell you it measures 69 on a Babolat RDC . Do you know what an RDC is? If, not please take the time to look it up. I would highly suggest you demo any frame if at all possible before purchasing one.
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Yeah, I know what RDC is and means. I also looked at stringing patterns, vibrations, swingweights, sweetzones, balance, etc.
What I gather was I need a racquet with 310 or less grams unstrung weight, 325 or less swingweight, 6 points or lower HL balance, 16x18 or 16x19 stringing pattern for more free power and easier spin, lower vibration and with decent stiffness for a beginner.
My racquet list does not only contain Prince Phantom 100X 305 and Yonex EZone 100 '20.
Dunlop CV 3.0 F Tour (305 gr, 326 SW, 3 pts HL, 16x19, 69 RDC)
Head 360+ Gravity Tour (305 gr, 325 SW, 4 pts HL, 18x20, 61 RDC)
Prince Phantom 100X 305 (305 gr, 321 SW, 6 pts HL, 16x18, 58 RDC)
ProKennex Black Ace 300 (300 gr, 295* SW, 7 pts HL, 16x19, 59 RDC) [* no test data about SW]
Völkl V-Feel V8 Pro (305 gr, 316 SW, 6 pts HL, 18x20, 67 RDC)
Yonex EZone 100 2020 (300 gr, 322 SW, 4 pts HL, 16x19, 69 RDC)
I have the Dunlop, the Völkl and the Yonex in there due to reviews. I'm not one for to get a stuff that's directly labeled as 'for beginners'. Maybe it's not the best for me but I know what drives me.
Prince Phantom 100X 305 is the most likely to be my choice. Looking at these, the ProKennex is probably a better choice than the Yonex though.
If you have a favourite/choice among these, I'd be happy to hear. (I'm not sure if I'll get the equipment from TW [for some reason TW-Europe doesn't ship to Turkey] and availability is an issue in the UK and Germany compared to TW, that's why I don't have big lists.)

g4driver said:
For the most part, this is an anonymous forum, but you as a new member can click on the profile of posters and decide for yourself if the poster has experience in stringing, as a teaching pro, or as a high-level player. I am not going to give every new member here a resume of my stringing experience/history and highly doubt most seasoned stringers will either. You don't know me and I know nothing about you other than you are a beginner tennis player. My words to any beginner tennis player would be the same. "Beginner + Poly = terrible option." Short and on point. No explanation needed. It isn't up to me to do the due diligence and research for you. You have done plenty of reading about poly strings and their tension loss. How much research have you read about polys and beginners? Suggested strings for beginners? How much effort have you put into looking at the professional or very experienced stringers on this forum? Any at all?

@uk_skippy @Irvin @jim e @scotus @esgee48 are just a few stringers you might consider taking their advice over mine or anyone else on these forums. My apologies to other fellow stringers I left off. Need to run to an appt soon. @Odinn21 I just gave you a great list of members whose advise is well respected on this fourum. Poly is a terrible option for most players, especially new players for reasons I posted Bob Patterson's words. I have former collegiate USTA rated 5.0C men who battle tension elbow (TE) and have to alter their setups to help them avoid TE. So my advice to you is the same. Try Head Synthetic Gut PPS or Prince Premiere Control. I stock 30+ reels of strings at my house in various polys, multis, syn gut, and packs of Natural Gut, multis and syn gut. Could I put a $15 or $20 pack of Wilson NXT, X-1 Bi-phase, HDX Tour, HDMX Floro in your frame? Yep. Would I do so? No. If you want a multifilament and are dead set on one: I would recommend Head Velocity or Tecnifibre Mult-feel.
FWIW, an honest assessment of Isospeed Cream = a rubber compound mated with a soft poly and had a byproduct they named Isospeed Cream. I stock it and I use it for specific players who don't like poly, who don't break strings but who don't like strings sticking out of place as many syn guts and multis do. Cream/Velocity or Velocity/Cream works well for these non-string breaking non-beginner players, including many USTA rated 3.5 men and 4.0 women. I highly doubt you get TE from Cream/Velocity, but then again TE comes primarily from bad mechanics. TE is exacerbated with stiff strings and stiff lightweight frames. Avoid stiff light frames with poly. That is the worst combo of all.

Cream might be labeled a poly, but it is nothing like any other poly available. I have yet to find a string that feels so rubbery. If beginners and non-string breakers want to be cool because they "use a poly" Isospeed Cream is the only string I would string for them and only in a hybrid with the slickest multi I have discovered, Head Velocity. 4.5C Rated men snap 1.28 Cream in less than two hours.

https://www.isospeed.com/en/innovationen/cream
  • Monofilic polyester / Monofilic elastomer
en.wikipedia.org

Elastomer - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Best wishes to you @Odinn21 hope this helps.
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Thanks for all your help. Isospeed Cream is available on only TW among my dealers options. If I decide to get the equipment from TW, I'll go with it. If not, I'll get a full bed multi.
 
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I share the broader groups thoughts on poly for a beginner.

It has been a while since I have been to Turkey. It is very pretty there. That said, one item I was wondering about is do you have access to a stringer that will be able to string your racquet frequently as poly requires? Also, have you researched the price of the restringing? You may want to take that into account.

If you insist on poly have you considered a multi or synthetic gut main with the Isospeed Cream as a cross?

I use natural gut mains with Isospeed Cream cross and really like it. However, I really don't think I would like a full bed of Isospeed Cream as to me it plays deader than one would think. I agree it has this rubbery kind of property but it does not translate to how it performs in the racquet.

As a cross in a hybrid I use the "deadness" of the cream to firm up a softer main string.

There are other poly strings that I think play less dead but they do not last long at all which again leads to the question of access to a stringer and the expense of restringing frequently.
 
@Odinn21

Been to your beautiful country many times and I have spent two deployments to Incirlik AB. Fun times in Turkey!

Pop's Leather is the best! Amazing work.

https://www.popsleather.com/

Five of my USAF classmates were Turkish Air Force pilots back in the 90s. It was great to reconnect with them in Turkey after spending a year together in pilot training. There should be tennis shops in Turkey where you can demo frames. My .02, I wouldn't purchase the most current version of a frame. Instead, buy one that is on sale, not just for sale. A new 2016 frame will work just as good as a 2020 frame and save you some cash. The paint jobs changes, but not much else for most frames. The Wilson Clash series is probably the biggest exception. Clash 100, 100 Tour and 98 are unique frames with their low flex of 55 on an RDC.
 
g4driver said:
@Odinn21

Been to your beautiful country many times and I have spent two deployments to Incirlik AB. Fun times in Turkey!

Pop's Leather is the best! Amazing work.

https://www.popsleather.com/

Five of my USAF classmates were Turkish Air Force pilots back in the 90s. It was great to reconnect with them in Turkey after spending a year together in pilot training. There should be tennis shops in Turkey where you can demo frames. My .02, I wouldn't purchase the most current version of a frame. Instead, buy one that is on sale, not just for sale. A new 2016 frame will work just as good as a 2020 frame and save you some cash. The paint jobs changes, but not much else for most frames. The Wilson Clash series is probably the biggest exception. Clash 100, 100 Tour and 98 are unique frames with their low flex of 55 on an RDC.
Click to expand...

And in my opinion, sometimes older frames are better. I think the 2015 Blade 98 is miles ahead of all of the versions that came after it.
 
@g4driver
Yeah, I like my country as well. So many beautiful sights and places...

Demoing is nearly non-existent in the country though. There are only 3 dealers with demo service, at least AFAIK. All 3 of them offer only one brand (2 of 'em Wilson, the other one Yonex). There's no way to make a comparison by trying across the brands. One of Wilson dealers has a very shaky looking website and bad feedback. The other Wilson dealer is a well known company but their price tags are just outrageous. They're selling Wilson NXT Power string set for 32-33 USD. The Yonex dealer also has absurd price tags. They're selling the previous VCore Pro and EZone lines for a higher price than the current lines on abroad websites. I mean this is not as bad as the pricey Wilson dealer but I wouldn't be comfortable with paying that much when I know if I were to get those models, getting them from outside of the country is way cheaper.

If I had a chance to demo, I wouldn't be on the internet to look for everything instead of actually trying out on the court...
 
I wouldn't choose poly string unless you're going with a 12oz. or heavier racquet (strung). A poly string bed is much more solid than a softer material. You need the extra mass from the frame to win the collision with and reverse the direction of the ball. Without the extra mass, soft strings will be much less punishing. And multi and synthetic gut are more elastic and are made for slower ball speeds and slower strokes.
 
Odinn21 said:
@ichaseballs
Thanks. I started to entertain the idea of getting a co-poly due to overall durability. From what I gather, co-poly strings are more durable.
Wilson NXT Power, Head Reflex MLT, Solinco Vanquish, Yonex Tour Super Pro 850 and Kirschbaum Touch Multifibre are my multifilaments options. If you think there's a multi among them which stands out with its durability, I'd be happy to hear / learn.
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Firstly, multifilaments aren't the best for durability. That said, using a thicker gauge 1.30 would ensure better durability.
I prefer technifibre strings when it comes to multis. the x1 and nrg2 are very popular. they are not cheap either.
one could argue that natural gut is worth the extra cost for potentially longer durability than multi. klip is a good value brand to check out.
 
You're a beginner, so you aren't going to be breaking strings. String Durability won't be an issue.

You've probably read the polys are durable, which they are. If you're Rafa or a pro or advanced player who really hits with pace and spin, you need a string
that is durable so you're not snapping them all the time. That's not going to be an issue for you. The thing that people don't know is that polys tend to go dead and lose playability much sooner than many other strings, from a matter of hours/days or according to the playtesters at TW, within 1-3 weeks usually. It depends on how you play. Even if you don't hit hard or with pace, they have more limited playability duration than other types of string. That is one reason my tennis partner bought a stringer, was to be able to replace his polys more frequently without paying the shop cost of a restring.

In my opinion, multifilament strings aren't as durable as polys, maybe synth guts in some ways, but if you're not actually breaking the string, they retain playability for a long time compared to synth guts and polys, generally. Thus, you can put multis in your racquet and as a relative beginner, use them for several months without a big drop in playability.

Synth Guts, in my experience, don't have as good tension maintenance and playability duration as a good multi and are also less soft and forgiving. Soft and forgiving are good qualities for a beginner, in my opinion. Synth Guts are cheaper, but unless you're stringing your own racquet, most of the cost of stringing is the labor.

Natural Gut is obviously the gold standard as far playability goes, tension maintenance and playability duration are excellent. After all, this string is what multifilament stings are patterned after. However, it comes at a high cost and is also more sensitive to the environment - heat/cold and humidity can cause problems for natural gut.

Personally, I'd get a reasonably priced multifilament and go from there. Head Velocity MLT, Prince Premier Control, Head RIP Control are all moderate priced multifilaments that play well. I haven't played with Technifibre NRG2, but have heard good things. Technifibre X1 Biphase was a nice string that felt great, but is the only string I've ever snapped and it only lasted 2 weeks in my racquet. Technifibre strings tend to be a little on the pricey side. Babolat Xcel is also great, possibly my favorite multifilament.
 
for me, there are several things that don talk about sustainability.

for an experienced player, it will mean the time it will take before breaking, but as a beginner, this will not be your first concern.so he will look for a very good poly, which can last 5 to 6 hours

for a club player, who has already been playing for a few years, it will be, the longer that it remains playable, without relaxing too much, without losing too much flexibility, power, and control.there, the choice of a good multi, or a hybrid, which combines the comfort and performance of the multi with the control of the poly.

for a person who does not break yet, or never, this will be the longest lasting to the maximum of his ability.but even multi premiums do not keep forever. the materials used necessarily degrade over time. a multi premium is changed every three or six months depending on the number of hours played.

once we have put an answer on this first criterion, you have to know, what is your budget?

where, I know it is not recommended, but where a co-poly will last (playability before dying and causing an injury) 10 hours for twenty dollars, we will also have a good multi premium, which will lose necessarily performance after 20-25h (bi phase, tgv for example), and for a few dollars more (25-30) we can afford the rolls, a natural gut (babaolat tonic), if provided not playing in the rain, of course, will last until it breaks. (I know women of 50-60 years who have been playing tennis for 30 to 40 years, therefore not beginners, who keep their natural gut for almost a year, without ever losing in quality of play. therefore, compared to a multi premium that will need to be replaced once or twice a year, it's a very good investment.

I know players who have a natural gut on a rescue racket who perform well even several years later

myself, I have a head prestige IG, which has had a nat gut on it for at least 3 years, with which I play only a few times a year, it's like on the first day, nothing has changed.
 
Sometimes people used to poly won't even consider multi anymore and kinda look down on it - including myself. But honestly multi can be a very capable string especially at the thinner gauges like 17 and 18, and just feels so darn good.

Every so often I go from full poly straight to a full bed of multi, and every time I do it, the playing quality of the string is awesome and it changes my mind every time.

Try em all - Sensation, NXT, xcel, x1 biphase just to name a few.
 
VacationTennis said:
Sometimes people used to poly won't even consider multi anymore and kinda look down on it - including myself. But honestly multi can be a very capable string especially at the thinner gauges like 17 and 18, and just feels so darn good.

Every so often I go from full poly straight to a full bed of multi, and every time I do it, the playing quality of the string is awesome and it changes my mind every time.

Try em all - Sensation, NXT, xcel, x1 biphase just to name a few.
Click to expand...

I agree but much prefer a multi in hybrid with a soft poly cross vs. locked in a single string-bed.
 
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