Tennis Prose




Sep/14

15

The String Master Recommends a Multi/Poly Hyrbid Set Up

The String Master
By Dan Arnold

index

Today we are going to talk about Hybrid stringing. Many players wonder what type of string they should be using in their rackets. With so many choices it could be overwhelming to choose what is best for your game. For many players 4.0 level and above, a hybrid set up is a good call. This is a combination usually of a polyester main string and a multifilament cross string.

The polyester which gives great control and spin sometimes can feel stiff and affect players with sensitive elbows and wrists. By adding the multifilament, you soften up the string bed, and depending on what string you use can also add a little power. One thing to remember is that the mulitifilament usually will break sooner than the poly especially if you hit a lot of spin but some poly’s can lose tension quickly and cause a loss of control.

I recommend stringing the poly at maybe 45-50 lbs and the multi at a higher tension, maybe 55. You will have to try different set-ups and find what is best for your game. Their are some good pre-packaged Hybrid strings available now which come with 2 half sets ready to go. Some of the better ones are the Volkl Psycho, Weiss-Cannon Dual Reality, Head Intellitour and Isospeed Platinum.

I think the hybrid set up is mostly valuable to the 4.0+ player. If you are, lets say, a 3.5 I don’t think your game is strong enough where you would notice a big difference. Better players are usually more discerning with equipment and would feel a difference with a hybrid vs just playing with a multi or poly. Of course there will always be exceptions.

Dan Arnold lives in Redding, CT. He plays at the Four Seasons Club in Wilton, Ct. When Dan played tournament tennis, he was a ranked player in the East in the Adult divisions. He played No. 1 at the State University of Oneonta in New York and has a wicked forehand.

No tags

7 comments

  • EddietheEagle · September 16, 2014 at 5:14 am

    What about the 1.0 player? I’m still knocking up with a plain wooden handled 1930s Wilson racquet I bought in Oakland flea market back in 1977. The strings look like twisted intestine, but they’re still there. I’ve saved thousands.

  • Scoop Malinowski · September 16, 2014 at 8:34 am

    Eddie bring a fry pan for when the string inevitably pops so you have a back up stick )

  • Scoop Malinowski · September 16, 2014 at 8:39 am

    Nice article Dan. Just started using the hybrid combo this year. Like it a lot. Feels good. Can feel the ball in the sweet spot sometimes. Played the best match of my life this summer with hybrid in the NJ State 45s final so I’m definitely a believer in this string option.

  • Dan Markowitz · September 16, 2014 at 2:32 pm

    Scoop, your topspin off both wings and your angles have improved a lot. Now we know why.

  • Scoop Malinowski · September 16, 2014 at 2:47 pm

    Not going to give the strings all the credit for that Dan but thank you. I think it was more studying Marcelo Rios videos for two hours a day for the last ten years 🙂

  • Dan Markowitz · September 16, 2014 at 9:06 pm

    By multifilament, Dan, the StringMaster, means the hybrid combo that Scoop is referring to. And Scoop, that’s interesting you watched beaucoup hours of Rios and that helped your game a lot. Get me those tapes.

  • Scoop Malinowski · September 16, 2014 at 10:52 pm

    I exaggerated about watching that much of Rios. But my hands did get better from playing a lot these last ten years.

<<

>>

Find it!

Copyright 2010
Tennis-Prose.com
To top