NATURAL GUT STRINGS {1996}
By Vince Chiarelli, PTR, MRT and Owner of String Along With Vince in Largo
(Part 5 of 5) NATURAL GUT STRINGS
Gut string has been around for a long time. Catgut is the term used for any cord made from the intestines of cows, sheep or hogs. Since it is readily absorbed by the human body, catgut is often used as a suturing in surgical operations. It is also used for stringed musical instruments, clock and typewriter mechanisms, and in control mechanisms of artificial limbs. Although the name would imply that cat intestines are used, I can find no reference to substantiate this common misconception. Beef is the material used most for racquet string. As it was once explained to me, the length of the cows intestines make it easier to create the required 36 to 40 foot length. Sheep is used, although not nearly as much.
The process by which gut is made is quite involved requiring the removal of all protein, slicing into very small strips, drying, twisting and coating. The result is a relatively strong string with outstanding characteristics that have yet to be duplicated. Coreless strings (Ashaway Vantage, Tecnifibre, Wilson Sensation, Gosen Tec-Gut Pro, etc.) come closest to matching the responsiveness of gut string, but high grade natural gut still seems to have that something extra.
You are probably thinking, "There must be drawbacks." Cost is a factor. Good quality gut can cost $50 or more. To solve this problem, you can string the mains with gut and the crosses with synthetic. Cost will be about half and it plays close to the same. The fibers fray and will break faster than most synthetics, & since it's a natural fiber, it's subject to moisture. The coatings presently used help quite a bit, but you still have to be careful, especially if it rains during play ( a backup racquet, strung with synthetic is good to have). In spite of the drawbacks, if you tend to take your game seriously, I would recommend trying gut at least once.
Copyright 1996 (originally published in THE SERVICE ACE - Sep-Oct, 1996
(Part 5 of 5)
NATURAL GUT STRINGS
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