Why doesn't anybody ever string multiple polys together to make a double poly hybrid?

Zaerop

Zaerop

Rookie
I still can't believe how rare this is. Combos I've considered are:
ALU/4G, or 4G/ALU
4G rough/ALU or 4G
Volkl Cyclone/ALU or 4G
Tecnifibre black code 4S/ALU or 4G
RPM blast/ALU
ALU power rough/4G
Wouldn't putting a spinny string in the mains and a smooth control or power oriented poly (to allow the main string to snap back faster) create a great combo of spin, power, and control?
But nobody seems to ever use a poly/poly hybrid, despite all these people using full beds of one poly. It baffles me. Is there something I'm missing here? Is there some really bad thing that happens when you put two polys together?
 
I've tried it a few times and I know a handful of pros do it, but didn't find much benefit vs. using a full bed. In general, polys don't complement each other to the same extent as poly/gut or poly/multi.
 
Booger said:
I've tried it a few times and I know a handful of pros do it, but didn't find much benefit vs. using a full bed. In general, polys don't complement each other to the same extent as poly/gut or poly/multi.
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But if people are going to use full beds of one poly, might as well use two different ones to get the balance of characteristics you want, right? I like the feel of ALU power, but it doesn't have enough spin for me, so I was thinking about putting cyclone in the mains, and ALU in the crosses. The ALU is still smooth and allows the cyclone to slide along it easily; I feel like it would give me a great combo. What do you think of that?
 
Zaerop said:
But if people are going to use full beds of one poly, might as well use two different ones to get the balance of characteristics you want, right? I like the feel of ALU power, but it doesn't have enough spin for me, so I was thinking about putting cyclone in the mains, and ALU in the crosses. The ALU is still smooth and allows the cyclone to slide along it easily; I feel like it would give me a great combo. What do you think of that?
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I say give it a shot, especially if you are a stringer. My guess is that ALU in the crosses isn't going to provide much tangible difference that an average rec player can feel, but it's always fun to experiement. I tried pairing soft polys like Yonex PTP in the mains with stiff monofilaments like Head hawk in the crosses. I may try a similar hybrid soon.
 
Yes. I've read somewhere that putting a textured/shaped poly in the mains with a smooth poly cross can give good results. I've yet to try consistently.
 
I use cyclone on the mains and a smooth poly on the crosses like polylon. I honestly can't say it is better than a full bed of cyclone but it doesn't seem to be any worse either. it is definitely more economical since the cross that I use it much cheaper.
 
Ok the spirit moved me to give this one a shot. I just finished stringing my favorite soft poly (Diadem Solstice Power) in the mains, and my favorite control poly (Lux alu power rough) in the crosses. I will give it a swing tomorrow and see what happens.

KoA2748.jpg
 
Zaerop said:
I still can't believe how rare this is. Combos I've considered are:
ALU/4G, or 4G/ALU
4G rough/ALU or 4G
Volkl Cyclone/ALU or 4G
Tecnifibre black code 4S/ALU or 4G
RPM blast/ALU
ALU power rough/4G
Wouldn't putting a spinny string in the mains and a smooth control or power oriented poly (to allow the main string to snap back faster) create a great combo of spin, power, and control?
But nobody seems to ever use a poly/poly hybrid, despite all these people using full beds of one poly. It baffles me. Is there something I'm missing here? Is there some really bad thing that happens when you put two polys together?
Click to expand...

This is not so rare as you think, it may be seldom discussed but I for one can attest most of my regular tennis buddies experiment with poly/poly setup. currently I am using blackfire mains with scorpion crosses. the trick is nailing the proper tension. My next string job will be msv focus hex mains and blackfire cross.
 
I tried using a full bed of Cyclone and loved the spin but felt it was a little lacking went I went to really stick a volley. I now am using Revolve in the crosses which is very slick and also somewhat lively. The combination is giving me the spin I had plus the pop I wanted. I will keep experimenting with poly/poly as well as more standard hybrids.

AllCourtGuy
 
I swear by Yonex Poly tour Pro 1.25 black mains and weisscannon scorpion 1.22 crosses at 43lbs Love it. They both have a syn gut like quality but poly control and spin. Also, it makes a huge booming sound like syn gut does.

I added the scorpion to add a little more power and to enhance feel... the Yonex is a tad too dead for my tastes.

poly duo
 
hybriding polys with polys is not that rare as it seems, it is just rare that you go hybriding two "very" expensive strings. usually hybriding is done also to keep costs under control, so indeed pairing two expensive strings is rather unusual.
 
Yes, I've been doing a lot of poly-poly hybrids with the following main and cross combos:

* Expensive + Inexpensive
* Shaped + Smooth
* Thick + Thin
* Stiff + Soft

I don't think poly-poly hybrids are rare at all.
 
That's the idea behind head gravity isn't it? Lots of people I know have been trying out combos with a smooth poly in the crosses with something like tour bite in the mains
 
I've tested plenty of poly/poly hybrids; I've found that a flat string (triangular or square) in the cross with a round sting in the main (or even another flat string) give superb string movement, because of less friction, and thus more snapback/spin.
This type of setup tends to last longer as notching is less prevalent.
 
cluckcluck said:
I've tested plenty of poly/poly hybrids; I've found that a flat string (triangular or square) in the cross with a round sting in the main (or even another flat string) give superb string movement, because of less friction, and thus more snapback/spin.
This type of setup tends to last longer as notching is less prevalent.
Click to expand...

Have you tried Head Gravity? It's designed to have the thicker triangular string in the mains and a thinner slick round string in the crosses.

In your opinion, the reverse would result in more spin?
 
scotus said:
Have you tried Head Gravity? It's designed to have the thicker triangular string in the mains and a thinner slick round string in the crosses.

In your opinion, the reverse would result in more spin?
Click to expand...
I've tried it in reverse, for me personally, I got more spin with Round mains and Flat crosses. Though flat mains and flat crosses do well too, just not at much.
 
cluckcluck said:
I've tested plenty of poly/poly hybrids; I've found that a flat string (triangular or square) in the cross with a round sting in the main (or even another flat string) give superb string movement, because of less friction, and thus more snapback/spin.
This type of setup tends to last longer as notching is less prevalent.
Click to expand...

This sounds like a good idea, if the round mains are sitting exactly on top of the flat surface of a square cross string. Just need to be carefull when stringing.

I can't see it work with a triangle cross though.
 
Been playing Snakebite 16 + Focus Hex 18. I've tried many combos and this has been best so far. A stiff thick main with a soft thin cross. Works well in a 98+ sq. in racquet, Ai 100 in my case. Not as well in a smaller frame.
The thinner softer crosses help to tame down the trampoline effect which create flyers on flat shots. It's nice on the elbow too allowing me to put in a much stiffer main. The trick is to string the mains just low enough to allow the mains to work best with some good dwell time. Then adjust the cross tension accordingly, 1lb less in tension in my case.
It feels like I'm getting more spin then usual due to the thinner 18 crosses. Less friction on the mains and more of the mains are in contact with the ball. More than anything, the greater dwell time I can now afford is the main culprit likely.
 
I recently tried Volkl Cyclone mains with Polystar Energy (a powerful poly) in the crosses. It was clearly more powerful than full Cyclone bed. I will try it again on a racquet where I need the extra power.
 
Booger said:
Ok the spirit moved me to give this one a shot. I just finished stringing my favorite soft poly (Diadem Solstice Power) in the mains, and my favorite control poly (Lux alu power rough) in the crosses. I will give it a swing tomorrow and see what happens.
That's awesome, tell us all about it! I use an RF97 too and the combo I've been thinking I'll settle with is cyclone mains and ALU power crosses

KoA2748.jpg
Click to expand...
 
I used to do it all the time and still will on occasion. Unfortunately, it becomes a pain when you have to stock all sorts of different strings and whatnot. I think my favorite combo was Pro Hurricane Tour x Pro Line II. Did it because I had nothing left to string with and it became a go to for a long time... Hmm, I might have to give it a go now :D
 
Taveren said:
This sounds like a good idea, if the round mains are sitting exactly on top of the flat surface of a square cross string. Just need to be carefull when stringing.

I can't see it work with a triangle cross though.
Click to expand...
If you string with caution, your triangular cross will make contact on the flat side with no problems where you typically impact the ball. Like all string jobs, slow, steady, and patience will give you a quality string job.
 
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Zaerop said:
That's awesome, tell us all about it! I use an RF97 too and the combo I've been thinking I'll settle with is cyclone mains and ALU power crosses
Click to expand...

I hit with it for a couple hours tonight and results were pretty much what I expected. Compared to a full bed of Diadem Solstice, the hybrid played a little firmer, little less spin, lower launch angle, and more control. I do miss the monster spin of the Diadem, but I'll hit with this combo a few more times at least.
 
phanker said:
Been playing Snakebite 16 + Focus Hex 18. I've tried many combos and this has been best so far. A stiff thick main with a soft thin cross. Works well in a 98+ sq. in racquet, Ai 100 in my case. Not as well in a smaller frame.
The thinner softer crosses help to tame down the trampoline effect which create flyers on flat shots. It's nice on the elbow too allowing me to put in a much stiffer main. The trick is to string the mains just low enough to allow the mains to work best with some good dwell time. Then adjust the cross tension accordingly, 1lb less in tension in my case.
It feels like I'm getting more spin then usual due to the thinner 18 crosses. Less friction on the mains and more of the mains are in contact with the ball. More than anything, the greater dwell time I can now afford is the main culprit likely.
Click to expand...
I've played snakebite (twisted poly) 16 mains and power cord (smooth poly) 17 crosses both at 58 lbs and it gives me less spin, and is stiffer feeling, than a full bed of power cord 16 at 58lbs. Frames are Prince Tour 100T ESP. I don't know why the spin is less.
 
cluckcluck said:
If you string with caution, your triangular cross will make contact on the flat side with no problems where you typically impact the ball. Like all string jobs, slow, steady, and patience will give you a quality string job.
Click to expand...

You've got to be kidding me... You mean to tell me you make every single triangle string lay flat so the point sticks up?
 
alidisperanza said:
You've got to be kidding me... You mean to tell me you make every single triangle string lay flat so the point sticks up?
Click to expand...
No, not telling you that. I'm just saying that if you are cautious you can achieve flat surface contact with the intersecting round main on most of the intersections.
 
I'm currently using signum pro poly plasma 1.23. Which other strings would you guys say this compares to from the bigger brands? Also, what would be a good string to hybrid this with (I'm guessing the SPPP would go in the mains)?
 
I've been mixing polys for number of years and played with following combinations and think they are worth trying:
Mains: Signum Pro Firestorm 17G
Crosses: Genesis Typhoon 16L. or Yonex Poly Tour Pro 17G, or Weiss CANNON Silverstring 17G.
 
petema99 said:
I'm currently using signum pro poly plasma 1.23. Which other strings would you guys say this compares to from the bigger brands? Also, what would be a good string to hybrid this with (I'm guessing the SPPP would go in the mains)?
Click to expand...

I have used SPPP a lot of times and would recommend you use it as a cross then consider a shaped poly like the hextreme (spin and tension maintenance), tornado (spin, power, comfort) MSV focus hex (spin, spin and more spin) as the mains. Tension is completely subjective to your preferrence.
 
gvsbdisco said:
I've played snakebite (twisted poly) 16 mains and power cord (smooth poly) 17 crosses both at 58 lbs and it gives me less spin, and is stiffer feeling, than a full bed of power cord 16 at 58lbs. Frames are Prince Tour 100T ESP. I don't know why the spin is less.
Click to expand...

You'll likely need to string the SB at a lower tension as it's a stiffer string? I've litteraly strung it 2 lbs stiffer than my current tension and spin was noticeably less as there's not sufficient dwell time. I'm pretty confident that you'll like it at 55/57 with your SB / PC hybrid. Might have to go even lower depending how much stiffer it was relative to the fullbed of PC.
 
Zaerop said:
That's awesome, tell us all about it! I use an RF97 too and the combo I've been thinking I'll settle with is cyclone mains and ALU power crosses
Click to expand...

Cyclone/ALU should work pretty well. My go-to competition set up is ALU Spin/ALU Feel. It works really well in the RF97A. I'd expect that Cyclone mains would have a little less power but still work well to grab the ball.
 
seekay said:
Cyclone/ALU should work pretty well. My go-to competition set up is ALU Spin/ALU Feel. It works really well in the RF97A. I'd expect that Cyclone mains would have a little less power but still work well to grab the ball.
Click to expand...

That sounds like fun. Does it remain playable for very long?
 
Booger said:
That sounds like fun. Does it remain playable for very long?
Click to expand...

It's all ALU, so it has a shorter playability time than most polys, but that window is magical. I usually get a good ~12 hours of court time before it starts getting weird.

I don't recommend the setup to my paying customers since it doesn't represent good value when factoring in the cost of stringing labor. But anyone who strings for themselves should try all-ALU at least once.
 
I've got a few players who don't want to pay for full alu so they have the mains as alu and then usually polyfibre eduro or tourna black zone as a cross
 
Go to setup for several years now has been 17g Tourbite Soft mains with 17g Big Hitter Silver smooth crosses. Great snapback, economical and good playability and longevity. Silver mains and crosses look good too.
 
Zaerop said:
I still can't believe how rare this is. Combos I've considered are:
ALU/4G, or 4G/ALU
4G rough/ALU or 4G
Volkl Cyclone/ALU or 4G
Tecnifibre black code 4S/ALU or 4G
RPM blast/ALU
ALU power rough/4G
Wouldn't putting a spinny string in the mains and a smooth control or power oriented poly (to allow the main string to snap back faster) create a great combo of spin, power, and control?
But nobody seems to ever use a poly/poly hybrid, despite all these people using full beds of one poly. It baffles me. Is there something I'm missing here? Is there some really bad thing that happens when you put two polys together?
Click to expand...

just because you're new here doesn't mean it's rare and isn't often done. :)
 
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