Why does my setup still feel low-powered?

[pico]

I play a CX 200+ with a leather grip. I have used OEHMS PEARL ROUGH 1.25mm in the mains and Lynx Tour grey 1.20mm in crosses at 55lbs. I switched to BHS7T 1.25mm and yellow PTP 1.20mm at 47lbs. I was expecting way more depth (free power) at this setup. I feel it was not significantly different from my old setup. Why might this be?

 

[Kevo]

There's a fairly marginal difference in power levels with most polys. I've not played with either of those main strings, but I would suspect they are similar power wise. Dropping tension should give a little bit of a boost in launch angle, but depending on the relative tension loss between the two, they might end up closer than the difference in starting tension. Maybe try putting a nylon syn gut in the crosses or going full bed with a more powerful poly to see what you can get out of your frame in a best case scenario.

Kirschbaum max power might be a good one to try.

 

[KungfuTennis]

PTP 1.20 is an odd string, feels more dead than 1.25.

 

[penguin]

By reputation of the strings I would have expected the setup that you switched from to have more depth and free power, except for the higher tension. You could try Head Lynx (not lynx tour) for a poly that is meant to be more powerful.

 

[timmyy]

There's a fairly marginal difference in power levels with most polys. I've not played with either of those main strings, but I would suspect they are similar power wise. Dropping tension should give a little bit of a boost in launch angle, but depending on the relative tension loss between the two, they might end up closer than the difference in starting tension. Maybe try putting a nylon syn gut in the crosses or going full bed with a more powerful poly to see what you can get out of your frame in a best case scenario.

Kirschbaum max power might be a good one to try.

Guy wants more power and you recommend KB Max Power???

With all do respect... LOL...

 

[Kevo]

Guy wants more power and you recommend KB Max Power???

With all do respect... LOL...

I'm am not sure about the "do" respect. Did you consider the other advice I wrote or you just wanted to laugh at Max Power?

I started off by saying there's a fairly marginal power difference in power levels between polys. I also suggested trying a nylon hybrid before offering up MaxPower. Almost any nylon string is going to be better than almost any poly in terms of power.

Poly strings are more finicky than nylon strings. Different gauges of the same string can play differently and polys can be more sensitive to tension change in their performance as well. I have yet to meet a perfect poly and I would never suggest a particular poly is the answer for everyone in a particular scenario. I like polys other people dislike and vice versa. Notice even in my recommendation for Max Power I said "might" be a good one to "try". I was hoping other people would offer up some options for the OP to look into as well. Feel free to make a recommendation for them if you have one to offer. I think that would be respectful to the OP.

 

[pico]

I have experimented with MSV Hex Soft 1.20mm in mains and Signum Polaris 1.20mm in crosses at 48/46. This combo felt better. I would go lower to 45 /43.

 

[dave t]

Too many variables. Different strings, gauges and tensions without much rhyme or reason.

 

[esgee48]

It’s the frame. If you think the 200 series is under powered, use the 300 or 500 series.

 

[dr. godmode]

Agreed on the frame. There’s something wrong with the 200s that I didn’t pick up on for my initial review. Even at high SW, it’s very hard to hit a penetrating ball. I had the specs matched close to my WO and even with lower tension on the CX200 the ball goes nowhere. I can get depth fine, but the ball doesn’t carry through the court with spin at all. Weird.

 

[timmyy]

I'm am not sure about the "do" respect. Did you consider the other advice I wrote or you just wanted to laugh at Max Power?

I started off by saying there's a fairly marginal power difference in power levels between polys. I also suggested trying a nylon hybrid before offering up MaxPower. Almost any nylon string is going to be better than almost any poly in terms of power.

Poly strings are more finicky than nylon strings. Different gauges of the same string can play differently and polys can be more sensitive to tension change in their performance as well. I have yet to meet a perfect poly and I would never suggest a particular poly is the answer for everyone in a particular scenario. I like polys other people dislike and vice versa. Notice even in my recommendation for Max Power I said "might" be a good one to "try". I was hoping other people would offer up some options for the OP to look into as well. Feel free to make a recommendation for them if you have one to offer. I think that would be respectful to the OP.

You never played with Max Power, did you?

 

[maksp]

I have experimented with MSV Hex Soft 1.20mm in mains and Signum Polaris 1.20mm in crosses at 48/46. This combo felt better. I would go lower to 45 /43.

How does Polaris feel as cross? What does it compare to?

 

[veelium]

Just string even lower until it works.

 

[pico]

How does Polaris feel as cross? What does it compare to?

Polaris feels so soft. It felt like synthetic gut. Thats the best comparison I can make.

 

[pico]

Agreed on the frame. There’s something wrong with the 200s that I didn’t pick up on for my initial review. Even at high SW, it’s very hard to hit a penetrating ball. I had the specs matched close to my WO and even with lower tension on the CX200 the ball goes nowhere. I can get depth fine, but the ball doesn’t carry through the court with spin at all. Weird.

Is this just the latest 200? I am using the CX 200+ from 2018.

 

[tjanev]

The tourna big hitter 7 is a stiff string, hence the lower power. Try a known power string and use it as a benchmark. Strings that say soft tend to be higher power as soft usually means more stretchy. If you can get power out of it, then it's your string choice/tension. if not then it's your power generation with that racquet and you have to work on your technique, or change racquets. Welcome to the never ending perfect set up journey.

 

[pico]

The tourna big hitter 7 is a stiff string, hence the lower power. Try a known power string and use it as a benchmark. Strings that say soft tend to be higher power as soft usually means more stretchy. If you can get power out of it, then it's your string choice/tension. if not then it's your power generation with that racquet and you have to work on your technique, or change racquets. Welcome to the never ending perfect set up journey.

Power strings probably come at the expense of poor tension maintenance I imagine? Any recommendations?

 

[Kevo]

Power strings probably come at the expense of poor tension maintenance I imagine? Any recommendations?

If you really want more power from your string, hybrid with synthetic gut or actual gut. Pretty much any cheap nylon synthetic gut will have more power than pretty much any poly you can find. It's also easier to dial in power level with synthetic gut versus poly. Nylon strings tend to be pretty predictable in response to tension. Polys are much more variable overall. The downside to syn gut is durability, but using it in hybrid with a poly it's not a big issue. Other pluses are it's usually noticeably cheaper and easier on your body.

 

[langley]

rather than strings (if you still want to use polys) may I suggest adding a bit of lead. Without adding lead to my cx 200 tour 18x20’s they didn’t have much plow through at all.

 

[swish41]

Maybe because of cx200+ string pattern. Middle of the hoop interestingly dense. I'd try soft multiflament main, slick poly cross

 

[Operation20]

If you're lacking guts it might be a good idea to switch to a gut poly setup. I've tried different poly strings and tensions from 50lbs down to 44lbs and noticed negligible power increase. It's the gut + poly combination that pumps up the power.

If you're on a budget, you could perhaps try a full bed of Technifibre Triax. Link to review below:

Tecnifibre Triax 17/1.28 String Review - Tennis Warehouse

www.tennis-warehouse.com

 

[coolbh6]

I play a CX 200+ with a leather grip. I have used OEHMS PEARL ROUGH 1.25mm in the mains and Lynx Tour grey 1.20mm in crosses at 55lbs. I switched to BHS7T 1.25mm and yellow PTP 1.20mm at 47lbs. I was expecting way more depth (free power) at this setup. I feel it was not significantly different from my old setup. Why might this be?

Some : Racket, String, Player, Tension combos just are not compatible with each other ESPECIALLY when using hybrids. Things are not as linear as you think. If you want to solve this you will have to change ONE variable at a time but can take too much experimentation.

Here is a theory to explain some differences - i cant explain everything since you have changed SO many things.

The Alu Pearl Rough has least amount of contact (pic below) with the Lynx Tour (Personally I would do LT X Alu Pearl if I wanted maximum spin and power since I can load the heavier, stiffer, stickier main string better and spit it out with much more of everything I need) Personally Alu Pearl has been a major fail for me in mains or full bed - just too freaking launchy and doesnt bite. : I guess it could be a great cross for me but I dont want to waste my time

Consider YPTP with the same cross : will probably have more friction. Which might seems like a bad thing BUT can allow you to load it more controllable-y which in other words can also be lower powered.