For hybrid, I would suggest gut/ poly hybrids, can be tricky in a humid climate but will be the best combo and durable enough in a 18x20 if you dont get it wet
I was a die hard Lynx Tour guy. Full bed in my blades @46-48lbs. Tried Tour Bite Soft and I’m not looking back. It is just suuuuch a great string. HLT is heavy too.
A Multi/Poly hybrid that has worked relatively well for me has been Tecnifiber Multifeel 1.30mm in the mains and Yonex Poly Tour Fire 1.25mm in the crosses, the spin has really surprised me a lot, obviously it is not the same as a fullbed of sharp shaped poly string. Greetings
yeah, when I had Tennis elbow, I used X-1. Now that I'm better, I've started putting a poly in the crosses. Spin is pretty good and it's still comfortable. I'm using Ghostwire for my cross but any round poly is good. One thing I remember is when Djokovic started playing he was one of the few pros who used full X-1 beds for a year or two. The fact he could play at that level w/ a multi and get enough spin tells me it's more than good enough for me. If I do a full poly, I'll string at 48#. Hybrid I do 52#.
The set up for my Diadem Elevate V3 is Diadem Solstice Black 16L for the mains and Prince Tour XP 16 on the crosses both strung at 48lbs. For me this set up offers the right amount of control and power I want.
I've always used poly/multi. It get's like 90 percent of the poly benefits but a lot more comfort and pop. Multi in the mains and poly in the crosses is the new trend (at least on the internet) but have always hated that. I use cyclone and OG Micro Sheep.
It would take a lot of data, but durability would be key. How long does a certain multi last in the cross with a multi? How long til fraying? Multi A might feel better than multi B for the first five hours for example. But will it last longer, will it be better 10 hours on? I don't know if anyone has answers to those questions.
Was thinking about hybrid setups and looked at one of your older reviews on the VOLKL V-torque Tour. Pretty much everything you said about it was true, it has great spin and control when it is fresh and is allowed to snap back but it notches quickly with the cross - had it with VOLKL Cyclone Tour in a HEAD Speed MP Auxetic. A hybrid setup of VOLKL V-torque Tour (Main) and YONEX Polytour Pro (Cross) might be able to solve this issue with the notching - as PTP is a round string with silicone oil infusion and allow it to have a bit more durability, what do you think ?
I don't think the Yonex PT Pro has the silicone oil infusion. If you want the slickness from SOI, I would suggest the PT Fire or PT Rev. But regardless, the V-Torque Tour mains with a slick round cross could be a good spin-oriented set up.
Interesting. I use the same setup. In a 16x19, Lynx Tour mains or 4G Soft mains in 17 or 16L, with Velocity MLT 16 crosses, works as well as anything I have tried. Everything is a compromise, of course, but that blend of power, control, and durability (more than 10 hours before the cross needs to be replaced) is workable. That was a fine setup as well back when I used an 18x20 Gravity Pro, but in the 18x20 I preferred gut mains (or Gamma or Prince syngut, if going cheap) with Head Hawk 18 or Solinco Outlast 18 crosses. Both those crosses are great on tension maintenance and staying lively, and they are extremely slippery, all the way through the string, not just a coating. I find that gut mains with poly crosses in a 16x19 are too powerful unless I string them super tight--the feel is superb but I end up with more errors than my preferred setup.
Best spin I've ever felt was gut crosses, poly tour mains. But it lasted like 5 hours😅. My wife in college played 4g and multi crosses, they were white and that was a very penetratiing shot with spin. I think everyone wants all this spin and forget you need to penetrate the court with speed, and the multi does that. Yes less spin but more power through the court with our a high launch angle I think I'm going to try 4g soft or 4g with gut crosses. Have you tried this ?
Hi Kent! I recently tried an octo shape string, Tour M8 in the mains and instead of Velocity, I tried Toalson T8. I am finding both sets of strings are moving out of place more than any setup I’ve ever had. Last time I was using Toroline Wasabi and Velocity. Would this be because of the Multi being too soft compared to Velocity with its slick coating?
Unfortunately, I've never used the Toraline Wasabi so I can't comment but if the strings are moving out of place too much, it could be because the cross string is not slick enough or because the mains are shaving away the coating on the crosses or the tension is too low. Hope this helps
@@opencourt808Do you find the velocity MLT snaps back more than the Prince because of the coating on MLT? If not a string breaker, would you put the Velocity in the mains or crosses if I want to keep spin potential and still soften the bed?
Hello Kent, What good content, it is always interesting to hear your opinion in these types of videos. Have you noticed any difference in playability or feel on the Lynx Tour strings depending on the color? In my city I have only been able to test the champagne color (more responsive) and orange (softer). Greetings from Mexico.
Aloha Jorge, I'll chime in here since Lightning Pro is the most popular string. Compared to Rip Control, it has the following attributes - softer, better tension maintenance, and more spin potential. It's also cheaper too. If you want something comparable to Lightning Pro, Head Velocity MLT would be your best bet.
@@AMstringing Hello AM! Thanks for doing so! I have played with Velocity. And I like how it feels, wish it gave more spin. Would LP be spinnier than Velocity?
@@jorgeandrescoppiano In my opinion, they both have good spin potential initially. However, as the Velocity frays from wear, it will tend to get stuck in place, which by the way is true for most multifilament strings. When the strings get stuck in place, there is less snapback and, therefore, less spin potential. On the other hand, since Lightning Pro is a synthetic gut, it wears down by notching as opposed to fraying, which is also similar to how polyester strings wear. This occurrence allows the strings to continue to snap back until the notch becomes too deep and then eventually breaks.
Aloha Kent, If you still have an extra half set of the Lynx Tour and Lightning Pro, try reversing the two in your hybrid setup (52M/50X). Although I noticed you prefer firmer-feeling strings, this setup would be softer, but you may notice a better feel and increased snap-back. I use (for clients) a similar setup but usually Lightning Pro on the mains and Prince Tour XP on the crosses. This setup is also a good way to transition players from full-bed synthetic/multifilament to polyester strings. Keep up the good work! 🤙
Great advice Albert. I was actually thinking of trying that. I usually only put natural gut in the mains when I do hybrids but the Lightning Pro feels crisp and lively enough to be a good main string.
For hybrid, I would suggest gut/ poly hybrids, can be tricky in a humid climate but will be the best combo and durable enough in a 18x20 if you dont get it wet
No spin
I was a die hard Lynx Tour guy. Full bed in my blades @46-48lbs. Tried Tour Bite Soft and I’m not looking back. It is just suuuuch a great string. HLT is heavy too.
Witch gauge of both?
A Multi/Poly hybrid that has worked relatively well for me has been Tecnifiber Multifeel 1.30mm in the mains and Yonex Poly Tour Fire 1.25mm in the crosses, the spin has really surprised me a lot, obviously it is not the same as a fullbed of sharp shaped poly string. Greetings
yeah, when I had Tennis elbow, I used X-1. Now that I'm better, I've started putting a poly in the crosses. Spin is pretty good and it's still comfortable. I'm using Ghostwire for my cross but any round poly is good. One thing I remember is when Djokovic started playing he was one of the few pros who used full X-1 beds for a year or two. The fact he could play at that level w/ a multi and get enough spin tells me it's more than good enough for me. If I do a full poly, I'll string at 48#. Hybrid I do 52#.
Put prince in mains at 52 n slick round poly cross at 48
I have tried the Prince Premier Power mutli in the mains and lynx tour gold in the cross. I used this combo during the winter time for more feel
The set up for my Diadem Elevate V3 is Diadem Solstice Black 16L for the mains and Prince Tour XP 16 on the crosses both strung at 48lbs. For me this set up offers the right amount of control and power I want.
I've always used poly/multi. It get's like 90 percent of the poly benefits but a lot more comfort and pop.
Multi in the mains and poly in the crosses is the new trend (at least on the internet) but have always hated that.
I use cyclone and OG Micro Sheep.
Did you ever tried a round solft poly with a a stiff shaped poly? MSV swift + MSV Focous hex for ex.
It would take a lot of data, but durability would be key. How long does a certain multi last in the cross with a multi? How long til fraying? Multi A might feel better than multi B for the first five hours for example. But will it last longer, will it be better 10 hours on? I don't know if anyone has answers to those questions.
Was thinking about hybrid setups and looked at one of your older reviews on the VOLKL V-torque Tour. Pretty much everything you said about it was true, it has great spin and control when it is fresh and is allowed to snap back but it notches quickly with the cross - had it with VOLKL Cyclone Tour in a HEAD Speed MP Auxetic. A hybrid setup of VOLKL V-torque Tour (Main) and YONEX Polytour Pro (Cross) might be able to solve this issue with the notching - as PTP is a round string with silicone oil infusion and allow it to have a bit more durability, what do you think ?
I don't think the Yonex PT Pro has the silicone oil infusion. If you want the slickness from SOI, I would suggest the PT Fire or PT Rev. But regardless, the V-Torque Tour mains with a slick round cross could be a good spin-oriented set up.
Interesting. I use the same setup. In a 16x19, Lynx Tour mains or 4G Soft mains in 17 or 16L, with Velocity MLT 16 crosses, works as well as anything I have tried. Everything is a compromise, of course, but that blend of power, control, and durability (more than 10 hours before the cross needs to be replaced) is workable. That was a fine setup as well back when I used an 18x20 Gravity Pro, but in the 18x20 I preferred gut mains (or Gamma or Prince syngut, if going cheap) with Head Hawk 18 or Solinco Outlast 18 crosses. Both those crosses are great on tension maintenance and staying lively, and they are extremely slippery, all the way through the string, not just a coating. I find that gut mains with poly crosses in a 16x19 are too powerful unless I string them super tight--the feel is superb but I end up with more errors than my preferred setup.
Best spin I've ever felt was gut crosses, poly tour mains.
But it lasted like 5 hours😅.
My wife in college played 4g and multi crosses, they were white and that was a very penetratiing shot with spin. I think everyone wants all this spin and forget you need to penetrate the court with speed, and the multi does that. Yes less spin but more power through the court with our a high launch angle
I think I'm going to try 4g soft or 4g with gut crosses.
Have you tried this ?
@@RobertGarcia-s5z I haven't tried 4G with gut but it should be the same benefits.
Hi Kent! I recently tried an octo shape string, Tour M8 in the mains and instead of Velocity, I tried Toalson T8. I am finding both sets of strings are moving out of place more than any setup I’ve ever had. Last time I was using Toroline Wasabi and Velocity. Would this be because of the Multi being too soft compared to Velocity with its slick coating?
Unfortunately, I've never used the Toraline Wasabi so I can't comment but if the strings are moving out of place too much, it could be because the cross string is not slick enough or because the mains are shaving away the coating on the crosses or the tension is too low. Hope this helps
@@opencourt808Do you find the velocity MLT snaps back more than the Prince because of the coating on MLT? If not a string breaker, would you put the Velocity in the mains or crosses if I want to keep spin potential and still soften the bed?
Is it possible to replace the lightning pro with lightning xx which is much cheaper?
You could possibly do that but I've never tried the xx version so I don't know if it feels the same or not
Restring Zero in your Mains, Wasabi X populating your crosses. Your opponent needs to be able to tolerate egg shaped balls.
Hello Kent, What good content, it is always interesting to hear your opinion in these types of videos. Have you noticed any difference in playability or feel on the Lynx Tour strings depending on the color? In my city I have only been able to test the champagne color (more responsive) and orange (softer). Greetings from Mexico.
Yes the Champagne color is the liveliest, than the gray. The Lynx Tour black plays the deadest. I've never tried the orange color.
How would you compare Lightning Pro vs Rip Control?
Aloha Jorge, I'll chime in here since Lightning Pro is the most popular string. Compared to Rip Control, it has the following attributes - softer, better tension maintenance, and more spin potential. It's also cheaper too. If you want something comparable to Lightning Pro, Head Velocity MLT would be your best bet.
@@AMstringing Hello AM! Thanks for doing so! I have played with Velocity. And I like how it feels, wish it gave more spin. Would LP be spinnier than Velocity?
@@jorgeandrescoppiano
In my opinion, they both have good spin potential initially. However, as the Velocity frays from wear, it will tend to get stuck in place, which by the way is true for most multifilament strings. When the strings get stuck in place, there is less snapback and, therefore, less spin potential.
On the other hand, since Lightning Pro is a synthetic gut, it wears down by notching as opposed to fraying, which is also similar to how polyester strings wear. This occurrence allows the strings to continue to snap back until the notch becomes too deep and then eventually breaks.
I have not tried Rip Control. Thank you Albert for the advice and insight
Aloha Kent,
If you still have an extra half set of the Lynx Tour and Lightning Pro, try reversing the two in your hybrid setup (52M/50X). Although I noticed you prefer firmer-feeling strings, this setup would be softer, but you may notice a better feel and increased snap-back. I use (for clients) a similar setup but usually Lightning Pro on the mains and Prince Tour XP on the crosses. This setup is also a good way to transition players from full-bed synthetic/multifilament to polyester strings.
Keep up the good work! 🤙
Great advice Albert. I was actually thinking of trying that. I usually only put natural gut in the mains when I do hybrids but the Lightning Pro feels crisp and lively enough to be a good main string.
Poly is slick so it allows the multi to move and vice versa