Why are reviews on 4g so varied?

[SinneGOAT]

I personally find 4g crisp but not stiff, even at low tensions. I string it below 48 full bed, and 50-52 in a hybrid as a cross. However opinions vary from, “it’s very soft” to, “it burned a hole in my elbow”. Why is it so varied? I’m talking specifically the standard 16l, not the soft or the 16 or the rough.

 

[datsveryinterestin]

My belief is that some of the bad reviews are because the 4g is strung at 54 or more pounds by some players/stringerw expecting it to lose tension like other polys.
I had a demo with 4g strung at 56lbs (in a Babolat Pure Aero) and i think TW was touting the COMFORT of 4g and I was shocked because my arm almost fell off trying to hit with it.

I've heard it has great control but I never went back to it because my first hit with it felt so terrible! If it had been strung at 45lbs instead maybe I would've loved it.

 

[PKorda]

reviews on every string are varied.

 

[Dartagnan64]

What is "crisp"? What is "stiff"?

4G is the ultimate stiff string. Low resilience that has been largely prestretched out of it. As it is, it should provide very little give. Even 4G Soft is very stiff.

The problem with reviews is that many people can't interpret the signals their body gets from a string bed. So they write all sorts of crap that probably doesn't do anyone any good. Like wine tasters telling you they can taste hints of strawberry and leather in a wine. Either the wine tastes good to you or it doesn't.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

GSG is one of the best players that poasts here... would you be interested in knowing what he thinks about any string? Now extrapolate that to the rest of the forums.

 

[Steve Huff]

The majority of people here also say you get more spin with poly in mains/gut in crosses than the other way around. All of the players I've convinced to put gut in the mains/poly in crosses were amazed at how much more spin they got this way. I've tried it both ways too, and I get way more spin with gut in the mains. Probably why RF uses it that way too (just guessing). Plus, opinions are influenced by what the user previously used and has to compare the string with. If a player is going from Prince Beast or Tour Bite, they might think 4G is pretty soft. But going from Cyclone Tour or Cream, they might think 4G hits like a board.

 

[antony]

4G and 4G Soft in 16G were pretty nice. 4G soft is lasting a little longer than the 4G in terms of tension maintenance so far

 

[CosmosMpower]

There’s no debate it’s one of the stiffest strings available. Sure you can string it low and some people have high tolerance for stiffer strings but it’s a stiff string looking at the properties listed in the TW string database

 

[tlm]

It is unique in even though it is a very stiff string it does not feel harsh and has a somewhat soft feel. Control and low power are the big standout that 4G has and it seems to last longer than most poly strings.

 

[socallefty]

Reviews are varied because playing tennis and then describing it is very subjective. You have the same variance with the user reviews of every racquet, shoe and string. With strings, the racquet, tension and numbers of hours you play with the string makes it play very different and so, it brings even more variability to the experience of playing with it and describing it.

 

[tlm]

Reviews are varied because playing tennis and then describing it is very subjective. You have the same variance with the user reviews of every racquet, shoe and string. With strings, the racquet, tension and numbers of hours you play with the string makes it play very different and so, it brings even more variability to the experience of playing with it and describing it.

Yes but when brand new a string should give you a good idea of how well it plays.

 

[mxvb]

Because alot of those reviewers are:
- having it strung way to high in tension
- are crappy stringers doing the above

 

[Hit_The_Fence]

- Because string choice is very personal, and what works for me might not work for you.
- Because people think they can use pro tensions when they have neither the technique nor the physical conditioning for it.

 

[ron schaap]

- Because string choice is very personal, and what works for me might not work for you.
- Because people think they can use pro tensions when they have neither the technique nor the physical conditioning for it.

Whats a pro tension? Even pros vary in their tensions. some have it strung high but then mainly with soft multi, hybrid or gut and some use very low tensions.

 

[Hit_The_Fence]

Whats a pro tension? Even pros vary in their tensions. some have it strung high but then mainly with soft multi, hybrid or gut and some use very low tensions.

Actually, you can take it to both extremes:
- People who have not developed touch or wrist action who string at extremely low tensions because Nalbandian strung low, then complain that the string is crap because they can't keep the ball in.
- People who string at 63 lbs because that's how Guga did it, and end up destroying their elbows and shoulders because they don't use their full bodies to hit the ball.

In both cases, I revert to my first point. Find what works for you and your game instead of copying someone else's set up because you like how they play.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Whats a pro tension? Even pros vary in their tensions. some have it strung high but then mainly with soft multi, hybrid or gut and some use very low tensions.

Just because all pros don't string poly at higher tensions doesn't mean that most pros don't string poly at higher tensions. You just have to look at the data to know that, but I guess that would be too much trouble for you, Schnapps...

 

[antony]

Just because all pros don't string poly at higher tensions doesn't mean that most pros don't string poly at higher tensions. You just have to look at the data to know that, but I guess that would be too much trouble for you, Schnapps...

I read somewhere that the average pro tensions have been trending down, many in the 40s

 

[tlm]

The key point of pro players tension that is always overlooked is that most only use a string job for 30-40 minutes before they change to a new one. So when many players think they are playing with the same tension as their favorite pro player uses well that’s true for the first half hour but not after days let alone weeks of using the same string job.

 

[Rosstour]

I used 4G mains in a hybrid and have never served better. Low 50s I think.

 

[DJTaurus]

The biggest myth about 4G is that it is stiff. Another myth that it does not have power or feel. You just have to found the right racquet for this string it’s not like hyper g that suits to most racquets and lasts about 10-15 days max…. LMAO. 4G is suited for more open pattern….. it will help you tame down the power of open 16x19 or 18x16 racquets. Great energy return and power on serves. It could last easily 20-30 days so there goes the moaning about its price…. it plays exactly the same from day 1 to day 30 with only small loss of control. I never felt it stiff it plays very plush you just have to string it low on a close pattern and to me it’s feel is among the best…. no artificial spin it’s all about what your hand can exploit out of this string. 4G is what a mans string should be Vs all these shaped fancy cheap plastic colourful strings you enjoy …. 4G means Quality!

 

[esgee48]

4G and RPM Team are both stiff because they have been factory pre stretched. That same operation dulls the response of the string so the feeling many player get from it are muted. In thicker gauges, they also dampen vibration very quickly [think shock adsorbers on cars] The factory pre stretch removes a lot of the static tension losses [the easy to remove stuff] leaving the elastic properties alone. Most people cannot hit hard enough to make the remaining elasticity go away. If you can manually pre stretch any 20' section of poly 4-6" permanently before installing, you will have the same feeling as factory pre stretched.

 

[ron schaap]

The key point of pro players tension that is always overlooked is that most only use a string job for 30-40 minutes before they change to a new one. So when many players think they are playing with the same tension as their favorite pro player uses well that’s true for the first half hour but not after days let alone weeks of using the same string job.

the average joe doesnot nearly hit as hard as a pro too, so his stringjob lasts longer anyway.

 

[puppybutts]

The biggest myth about 4G is that it is stiff. Another myth that it does not have power or feel. You just have to found the right racquet for this string it’s not like hyper g that suits to most racquets and lasts about 10-15 days max…. LMAO. 4G is suited for more open pattern….. it will help you tame down the power of open 16x19 or 18x16 racquets. Great energy return and power on serves. It could last easily 20-30 days so there goes the moaning about its price…. it plays exactly the same from day 1 to day 30 with only small loss of control. I never felt it stiff it plays very plush you just have to string it low on a close pattern and to me it’s feel is among the best…. no artificial spin it’s all about what your hand can exploit out of this string. 4G is what a mans string should be Vs all these shaped fancy cheap plastic colourful strings you enjoy …. 4G means Quality!

"another myth that it does not have power or feel" -> "it will help you tame down the power" -> "great energy return and power"
i know strings are subjective....but something tells me your review is not all that reliable lol

 

[antony]

"another myth that it does not have power or feel" -> "it will help you tame down the power" -> "great energy return and power"
i know strings are subjective....but something tells me your review is not all that reliable lol

not too much, not too little power?

 

[tlm]

the average joe doesnot nearly hit as hard as a pro too, so his stringjob lasts longer anyway.

Okay but how much longer? Days, weeks or months?

 

[Samo]

The biggest myth about 4G is that it is stiff. Another myth that it does not have power or feel. You just have to found the right racquet for this string it’s not like hyper g that suits to most racquets and lasts about 10-15 days max…. LMAO. 4G is suited for more open pattern….. it will help you tame down the power of open 16x19 or 18x16 racquets. Great energy return and power on serves. It could last easily 20-30 days so there goes the moaning about its price…. it plays exactly the same from day 1 to day 30 with only small loss of control. I never felt it stiff it plays very plush you just have to string it low on a close pattern and to me it’s feel is among the best…. no artificial spin it’s all about what your hand can exploit out of this string. 4G is what a mans string should be Vs all these shaped fancy cheap plastic colourful strings you enjoy …. 4G means Quality!

Your post should be posted on the top of the thread

My opinion (as long 4G and 4G soft user - Blade 18x20) is that people who don't like it, have slow RHS. To access its full potential you have to have fast RHS. If you have it you will find it soft and very controllable. Plus as mentioned in quoted post above, it plays almost identical from day 1 till it breaks.

 

[antony]

Your post should be posted on the top of the thread

My opinion (as long 4G and 4G soft user - Blade 18x20) is that people who don't like it, have slow RHS. To access its full potential you have to have fast RHS. If you have it you will find it soft and very controllable. Plus as mentioned in quoted post above, it plays almost identical from day 1 till it breaks.

I have slow racquet head speed and I love it haha

 

[DJTaurus]

Your post should be posted on the top of the thread

My opinion (as long 4G and 4G soft user - Blade 18x20) is that people who don't like it, have slow RHS. To access its full potential you have to have fast RHS. If you have it you will find it soft and very controllable. Plus as mentioned in quoted post above, it plays almost identical from day 1 till it breaks.

I have a very fragile elbow and never had issues with 4G. Reviewers just look to point some cons to fill the list…. like stiffness and it’s price. But there is no one rule to rule them all….. each racquet has its best string at the right tension and gauge. Reality most of the time is different from cold numbers. To me strings like alu power/RPM/cyclone/lynx tour etc are more stiff despite lower stiffness. I also enjoy playing with lots of other strings but i can’t stand the fact that most of them loose spin, control, feel after 1 or 2 weeks….that’s why i say that 4G=quality….. i can go deep in tournaments without the worry of missing the window re-string.

 

[antony]

I think I might just buy a reel of 4g soft and not worry about strings anymore haha

 

[Brian11785]

I haven’t used poly in like 5 years. Assumed my strokes were too flat/short to play with poly and also got a bad case of non-dominant wrist-itis after playing with a full bed of Hyper G at a probably too high tension that left a bad impression.

On a whim, I bought a Vcore Pro 97 330 recently and strung it with a full bed of reg’lar 4g at 47/45. All I can say is it was a revelation. The frame is awesome (upgraded from my weighted Duel G 310), but I think most of the credit goes to the string. It does everything a poly is supposed to do but, unlike others, seems to remedy my biggest poly complaint: it plays very predictably/consistently each session. Extremely confidence building. Played a guy who beat me in a close league match a while back in three practice sets and beat him 1, 2 and 2. Could just be honeymoon phase, but I don’t think so.

I diiiiiiid feel a little something in that above-mentioned left wrist after playing a couple days in a row, so keeping an eye on that. Will try it in hybrids (open to suggestions) to see if that helps, but, overall, I feel like I’ve been handicapping myself by playing with anything else the past ten years.

 

[tlm]

I haven’t used poly in like 5 years. Assumed my strokes were too flat/short to play with poly and also got a bad case of non-dominant wrist-itis after playing with a full bed of Hyper G at a probably too high tension that left a bad impression.

On a whim, I bought a Vcore Pro 97 330 recently and strung it with a full bed of reg’lar 4g at 47/45. All I can say is it was a revelation. The frame is awesome (upgraded from my weighted Duel G 310), but I think most of the credit goes to the string. It does everything a poly is supposed to do but, unlike others, seems to remedy my biggest poly complaint: it plays very predictably/consistently each session. Extremely confidence building. Played a guy who beat me in a close league match a while back in three practice sets and beat him 1, 2 and 2. Could just be honeymoon phase, but I don’t think so.

I diiiiiiid feel a little something in that above-mentioned left wrist after playing a couple days in a row, so keeping an eye on that. Will try it in hybrids (open to suggestions) to see if that helps, but, overall, I feel like I’ve been handicapping myself by playing with anything else the past ten years.

Yep 4G is one of the few poly strings that plays consistently for a good length of time.

 

[Yamin]

A stringer put some 4G in at 55 for my brother and he now has TE for the first time in his life and can't get rid of it. The tension was too high for him create snap back as well so it played like a board with no spin.

I have no experience with 4G but if I had to guess it's because people go into strings like 4g since luxilon is used by the pros, don't get the expected performance, are burned 20-40 dollars with discomfort/injury, and are not happy.

 

[Brian11785]

A stringer put some 4G in at 55 for my brother and he now has TE for the first time in his life and can't get rid of it. The tension was too high for him create snap back as well so it played like a board with no spin.

I have no experience with 4G but if I had to guess it's because people go into strings like 4g since luxilon is used by the pros, don't get the expected performance, are burned 20-40 dollars with discomfort/injury, and are not happy.

In my googling before using it for the first time, i saw that the general consensus was to string it lower than you would a normal poly. Many said never over 48 lbs.

Just curious, what racquet does your brother use?

 

[Yamin]

In my googling before using it for the first time, i saw that the general consensus was to string it lower than you would a normal poly. Many said never over 48 lbs.

Just curious, what racquet does your brother use?

It was a flexpoint radical mp I believe. Yeah I would have never advised a tension over 50. Majority of people don't really google tensions and such and just trust their stringer or try something in the "recommended range."

 

[Mirko]

Simply put 4g soft at low tension (48 or lower) instead of 4g and it should work fine.
Or better you put gut In the mains and 4G soft as cross (also at lower tension) I am playing it right now.