NATURAL GUT STRING HAS SYNTHETIC RIVALS {2000}

By Vince Chiarelli, PTR, MRT and Owner of String Along With Vince in Largo

The "holy grail" of string manufacturers is to make a string that has the renowned responsiveness of natural gut at the lower cost of synthetic materials. Players who are not chronic string breakers can explore this category of highly playable strings, called multi-filaments, and enjoy the benefits of some remarkable engineering.

Multi-filament, or coreless, construction is the common feature of strings in this category. Usual synthetic strings have a single central core strand of material surrounded by one or more layers of smaller-diameter strands. A multi-filament string is composed of bundles of hundreds of individual fine strands bonded together and coated to prevent premature wear. The coreless construction provides a "soft" gut-like feel, with characteristic vibration damping and shock absorption. Synthetic multi-filament string also avoids natural gut's sensitivity to moisture and other environmental hazards.

Two possible disadvantages of the coreless strings are: 1) they break more easily than the central core type synthetics, and 2) they tend to lose tension more quickly than either natural gut or the cental core type synthetics. A close cousin of the multi-filament string, called pseudo-core or multi-core, is constructed with several central strands surrounded by other layers of strands of various diameters. The pseudo-core strings do hold tension somewhat better but provide somewhat less vibration damping and shock absorption than the true multi-filaments. One company has found a way to process true multi-filament string with a laser so that it holds tension better than the same string unprocessed.

Although multi-filament stringing tends to cost $10 to $15 more than typical synthetic gut stringing, it is much less costly than stringing with natural gut. The excellent playability and comfort of the multi-filaments and the pseudo-core strings make them worth trying. If you have arm problems, these strings are almost "required" even if you have to re-string more often. All major string companies now offer multi-filaments or pseudo-core strings; many in more than one gauge. Some suggestions, with company names in alphabetical order, are as follows: Alpha Claycourt Plus, Ashaway Vantage, Babolat FiberAce, Dunlop Max Comfort, Forten Tiegut, Gamma LiveWire, Gosen Tec Gut Pro, Head Rip Ti.Fiber, LaserFibre Laser Supreme, Prince Perfection, Tecnifibre 515 or NRG2, Wilson Sensation or Sensation NXT, and Yonex Tour Pro 800 Long.

Pre-stretching is a technique used with natural gut to enhance its tension-holding ability. Of all the synthetic multi-filaments listed above, only Tecnifibre 515 string requires pre-stretching for best results. The other strings have been engineered to respond to the normal amount of stretching that occurs during stringing, so pre-stretching is of no benefit. Another benefit of the multi-filaments available today is their ability to perform at low and high tensions.

Copyright 2000 (Previously published in FLORIDA TENNIS - Feb., 2000)
By Vincent A. Chiarelli, CRT, USPTR
Owner, String Along With Vince, Largo, FL