Topic: poly string recommendation

[goodsguys]

Hi and thanks for reading this post.

 Can you recommend a durable long lasting poly for my latest restring job.

I keep breaking string every few matches and the guy who does my stringing has recommended the signum pro poly plasma 1.33mm, never used this string before but he says it is popular.

Is this the right one or are there any more durable ones available.

Many thanks in adavance. John.

[monstertruck]

Have you or your stringer determined the cause of the break?
What string, gauge, and tension are you currently using?
What's your style of play?  Big flat hitter?  Top spin grinder?
How many hours are you getting out of each string job?

I've always had success with Luxillon polys.
With the exception of the Adrenaline line, I've tried the others in various gauges.

If you're looking for durability and willing to sacrifice some spin potential and control, the XP is a very economical string.

Tennis Warehouse is a good online site to shop strings and get reviews.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Remember, for the poly to perform at it's peak, the tension MUST BE LOWERED SIGNIFICANTLY.  If you have the resources, experiment to see how low you can go!

[Jamesdster]

Scott has turned me on to Topspin Cyberflash.  This stuff lasts a LONG time.

[monstertruck]

I know Scoots has recommended that string for a long time due to it's low-cost durability and decent playability.  Surely a respectable enough string for hackers like us.

Nice to see the price on some of the Lux strings has come down out of the stratosphere since I last bought some.

Here's a great site to get string info from experts-
http://www.stringforum.net/
Full out gear heads they are!

If durability is the issue, here are the results-
http://www.stringforum.net/top5.php?cat=H

Though I consider myself an apprentice gear nerd, I always recommend players looking to improve their game spend the hard earned cash on lessons instead of looking for some equipment related short-cut to game improvement.

[monstertruck]

Scott has turned me on to Topspin Cyberflash.  This stuff lasts a LONG time.

http://www.stringforum.net/stringdb.php?show=307&count=1

[Jamesdster]

Scott has turned me on to Topspin Cyberflash.  This stuff lasts a LONG time.

http://www.stringforum.net/stringdb.php?show=307&count=1

Go out to the discussions (strings) on that site and you will see I had a question about polys a month or so ago.

[monstertruck]

I'm far from an expert, but everything I've read about polys says low tension is essential to peak performance of the string.  Being the contrarian that I am, I push the tensions higher (70lbs. plus), just for fun.  Have yet to try ultra low tensions (35-45lbs.) as recommended due to my sabbatical from serious hacker play.  Perhaps that will be next up as I have a few sets of poly left.

The other site I used to frequent that has excellent info from & for professionals is http://www.grandslamstringers.com/.

[Jamesdster]

I'm far from an expert, but everything I've read about polys says low tension is essential to peak performance of the string.  Being the contrarian that I am, I push the tensions higher (70lbs. plus), just for fun.  Have yet to try ultra low tensions (35-45lbs.) as recommended due to my sabbatical from serious hacker play.  Perhaps that will be next up as I have a few sets of poly left.

The other site I used to frequent that has excellent info from & for professionals is http://www.grandslamstringers.com/.

Thanks!  I bookmarked that site.

[goodsguys]

Hi. Many thanks for the replies.

 What do you think of the signum pro poly plasma 1.33mm i mentioned earlier from the lack of responses i guess it may not be all that. At 1.33 mm it seems to be a very thick string which may explain the durability, is it a gauge 15. Thick string is supposed to give less spin as it bites into the ball less than when compared to thin string, It fared well in the link you forwarded however.

Also, why do you say low tension is best for polys i always though high tension, at higher tensions the strings are stiffer so they compress less when impacting the ball making the ball compress more thereby increasing spin.

Also are there are more votes or comments for the Topspin Cyberflash.

Many thanks. John.

[monstertruck]

I've never played the Signum or Topspin strings so I have no direct experience.  I've tried almost all of the Luxillon strings at various tensions.
Give me a bit and I'll see if I can find the best explanation for the low tension requirement with polys.  I do know from experience that during stringing at higher tensions, they are more prone to deform during clamping.

On the various reviews I've read the three strings seem comparable in most areas with the exception of price.  That's where the Signum and Topspin fare a bit better.  I don't know about you, but when I was playing 10-20 hours per week and going through a couple sets of strings per month, I didn't mind spending a couple extra bucks for what I thought was a better product.  My suggestion would be to take three of your sticks, string one with each type of string and play test them for a month.  Keep a written record of your thoughts and then review in 30 days.  You'll have a solid answer then as to which string is your favorite and why.  That's how this here Anal Anthony does it.   Keep us posted, this is a fun discussion and I'm curious as to what you settle on for a string and why. 

Thanks,
Kevin

[goodsguys]

Hi. Thanks for the reply.

In the link for top 5 durable strings the signum does well but is listed as " Signum Pro Plasma HEXtreme/Poly Plasma "

 The pro plasma hextreme and poly plasma are two different strings so why are they listed together like this it appears from casual observation that it is one type of string.

Also it appears string movement should be minimised is babolat elastcross string savers capable of doing this well or is there a better alternative something to really hold the strings in place, apart from gluing them together that is. I did glue the strings on my wilson hammer 5.5 (14mm frame) to give enhanced spin.

Many thanks. John.

[monstertruck]

My apologies.
Just a wee bit of poking around on that site provides-

Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.18
http://www.stringforum.net/strings.php?sdnr=2234&count=1

Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.23
http://www.stringforum.net/strings.php?sdnr=1902&count=1

Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.28
http://www.stringforum.net/strings.php?sdnr=1903&count=1

Signum Pro Poly Plasma 1.33
http://www.stringforum.net/strings.php?sdnr=1904&count=1

I've never tried string savers or glueing so I can't advise there.
My experience with the Lux polys is once they're 'set', movement is virtually nil, even in a hybrid.

As mentioned before, I believe that most hackers like myself that fall under a 5.0 NTRP are better served expending their resources on instruction in proper stroke technique as this will result in greater gains in spin production if that is the desired result.  Technical improvements to gear can enhance spin a bit, but it begins and ends with the stroke itself.
As you may have surmised from my rather lengthy blatherings, I am still as fascinated by the gear as I am about the game itself and rarely follow my own advice.

Happy Hitting!
Kevin

[jb08668]

grandslamstringers

Its a great site.

[monstertruck]

grandslamstringers

Its a great site.

That site is real deal!
Personally, I'm just a hacker who strings for himself & a few buddies.
Perhaps someday I'll make the leap to 'professional stringer'.
Are you a stringer JB?

Welcome to T4U!

[HarryWild]

I can recommend Babolat RPM Blast 17 String.  I used the shiny version back in the days when it was first introduced.  They have taken the shine out of it and now it is a dull matted black.  Yes, that the string of Rafel Nadal!  I have it in at 50 lbs. on a Prestige MP Flexipoint.

[monstertruck]

I can recommend Babolat RPM Blast 17 String.  I used the shiny version back in the days when it was first introduced.  They have taken the shine out of it and now it is a dull matted black.  Yes, that the string of Rafel Nadal!  I have it in at 50 lbs. on a Prestige MP Flexipoint.

So how does it compare to other polys you've tried?
Any special characteristics that made you decide this was the string for you?

More questions to follow later.
I love feedback on gear.

[Jamesdster]

I can recommend Babolat RPM Blast 17 String.  I used the shiny version back in the days when it was first introduced.  They have taken the shine out of it and now it is a dull matted black.  Yes, that the string of Rafel Nadal!  I have it in at 50 lbs. on a Prestige MP Flexipoint.

I am thinking of stringing my son's racket with this so as Monster said, please let us know what you think of that string.

[Start da Game]

I'm far from an expert, but everything I've read about polys says low tension is essential to peak performance of the string.  Being the contrarian that I am, I push the tensions higher (70lbs. plus), just for fun.  Have yet to try ultra low tensions (35-45lbs.) as recommended due to my sabbatical from serious hacker play.  Perhaps that will be next up as I have a few sets of poly left.

The other site I used to frequent that has excellent info from & for professionals is http://www.grandslamstringers.com/.

i string mine at about 55 lbs and that is already very high on power i felt........it's a 98 sq inch head, so maybe that's the reason........

i am planning to buy a prostaff 88 just for fun and i think that's the right size of frame to lower the tension even further and increase control........are you sure you want to go below 45 lbs? 55 itself feels high on power for me........

[HarryWild]

I can recommend Babolat RPM Blast 17 String.  I used the shiny version back in the days when it was first introduced.  They have taken the shine out of it and now it is a dull matted black.  Yes, that the string of Rafel Nadal!  I have it in at 50 lbs. on a Prestige MP Flexipoint.

So how does it compare to other polys you've tried?
Any special characteristics that made you decide this was the string for you?

More questions to follow later.
I love feedback on gear.

Well, hate to tell you that this is my first pure poly.  I usuually string it with natural gut or Babolat XCel 17 String Natural which is a synthetic string that is not a poly but suppose to be like gut. 

I do not hit like most players now a days so for me it was nice to have string like a poly that I feel was easy on the arm(polys are not suppose to be that) and you can swing much harder and not have it go out of the court too.  Touch was very good and serve was good too.  I just do not have the more detail words to describe the poly.  It is softer then natural gut and has more power then the XCel string.  Does not break either or fray. 

It worth trying!  Just remember to string it a 10% less tension or even lower then you do a natural gut and you should be okay. 

[monstertruck]

I'm far from an expert, but everything I've read about polys says low tension is essential to peak performance of the string.  Being the contrarian that I am, I push the tensions higher (70lbs. plus), just for fun.  Have yet to try ultra low tensions (35-45lbs.) as recommended due to my sabbatical from serious hacker play.  Perhaps that will be next up as I have a few sets of poly left.

The other site I used to frequent that has excellent info from & for professionals is http://www.grandslamstringers.com/.

i string mine at about 55 lbs and that is already very high on power i felt........it's a 98 sq inch head, so maybe that's the reason........

i am planning to buy a prostaff 88 just for fun and i think that's the right size of frame to lower the tension even further and increase control........are you sure you want to go below 45 lbs? 55 itself feels high on power for me........

 

Typically higher tension =  less power/more control.
Lower tension = more power/less control.

What string/s are you using?
What style of game?