2 questions: String Savers & Hybrids?

Question

1. What do string savers do?
2. I like the hybrids Federer uses but do they come in hybrid packs because the Wilson Natural Guts are expensive.

Answer 1

Hey sportsfan, those are both great questions. Hopefully my 15 years of playing tennis, playing University tennis(5.5 level), coaching highschool, and instructing private & group lessons will be background enough. In my 20's I was OTA ranked in the top 35 for men's Open and in the top 20 for men's doubles. Currently my doubles partner (same one) & I are both USTA 4.5 level players and think anyone that would call a 4.0 level inexperienced is a real moron. Just needed to get that off my chest.

String savers do work. Once you get older and can afford Babolat VS Natural Gut you will probably use string savers like we do in our frames which by the way we use in both OTA & USTA sanctioned tournaments, The USTA will not allow you to put a vibration dampener above the bottom cross string - so no Wilson W, or Prince zerovibe or even lastic band wrapped. The best string savers are Babolat Elasto Cross. They do extend string life and keep the crosses from notching into the mains. Don't waste your money on the Gamma round plastic ones they suk.

I like hybrids too and yes Wilson has the Federer hybrid of Wilson Natural Gut and the Luxilon BB ALU rough. Wilson Natural Gut is made by Babolat and Wilson bought out Luxilon. We just use packages of ALU Rough & packages of Babolat VS gut since we usually do numerous frames at once.

Oh and to contradict more incorrect information that you may have been given high gauge actually gives you more power not less. The thinness of the string allows it to stretch and pocket the ball more ending in it catapulting with more force. Hope all this helps.

Answer 2

String savers reduce friction between strings, increasing string life. Some are better than others.

A hybrid similar to Federer's has been released by Wilson, I think. I'm not sure if it's on shelves yet, but it's supposed to be called Wilson Champions Choice. It has Luxilon Alu Power Rough and Wilson Natural Gut. Thing is, I haven't seen it yet, so I don't know if it is actually out yet. It should be. But you should just but the full set of natural gut and luxilon since neither of them come in half sets or hybrid packages together that I've seen released. This way, you have enough for 2 rackets. Although, Babolat releases strings in half sets, so you can buy one of their natural guts and one of their polyesters. It isn't the same feeling, but the idea is the same.

Answer 3

Since you asked questions about both strings and string savers, I'm assuming you are below a 4.0 NTRP level (it just means that you are an inexperienced tennis player).

About the strings themselves, a typical, amateur, club player (i.e., NTRP 4.0 or below), rarely needs anything more than synthetic gut at either 15, 15L (15-and-a-half) or 16 gauge
(lower gauges last longer and give the racquet more power and longevity, but less spin; higher gauges give you more spin, but less power and longevity).

As far as the string saver is concerned, I won't bother with an explanation about them, because there is no scientific basis for determining whether string savers are better or worse on your strings (guess what the manufacturers will tell you!).

IMHO, it's just a gimmick.

Consider this: USTA rules disallow any object from being placed above the first cross-strings (i.e., the outermost "box", if you will, where the vertical and horizontal strings meet). Since the string saver is located at the outside of the cross-strings, they can't possibly do as good a job as they would in the middle of the racquet; but the middle would interfere with the ball, which is a violation of the rules, not to mention a big problem for the hitter!

Think of it like this: pretend that a trampoline is a tennis racquet head, and then pretend that a 12" ruler is a "trampoline saver". What possible good would it do to put the "trampoline saver" anywhere on or around or through the trampoline or springs?

If you're a typical amateur/club player, then you probably don't need a string saver. FWIW, I'm a 4.0+ player who has never needed, wanted, or used a string saver. So, save your money!

The first link, below, has additional links to answers about strings.

The second link is a simple (original) version of the NTRP.

The third link is a more complicated (newer) version of the NTRP (it's a PDF (Acrobat) document) and may take a while to download, even with broadband, so be patient! Use the numbers down the orange column).

To determine your NTRP level, use either the second or third link, and start at the very top row. You need to be able to EVERYTHING consistently and strongly to the right of that number in order to be considered that level of play. If you HONESTLY can do EVERYTHING at that level CONSISTENTLY, then proceed to the next level. When you find that you cannot do everything consistently at the next given level, then you may consider yourself a player at the previous level. Ultimately, you are at the mercy of whatever club pro or USTA team determines what your NTRP level is! (I know plenty of legitimate advanced players who are "stuck" at the intermediate levels!)

Answer 4

String Savers

Answer 5

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Answer 6

1 Decrease string friction to increase string life. Don't know if that is true or not...

2. I don't think anyone plays with real natural gut anymore. Not even the pros. It's too expensive and it breaks way too easily. Since the natural gut is made by Wilson and the other type f strings he uses is made by Luxilon, it is very doubtful that you will find them in hybrid packs.

Answer 7

Hello. I don't know when this thread was written, but it must be outdated. Babalot & Wilson BOTH offer 1/2 sets of hybrids pre-packed. Wilson's is Champions Choice w/ Babalot-made gut & Luxilon Rough which is a textured string for more spin. Babalot's is VS Natural Gut & RPM Blast which is also a textured string. It currently comes in black & natural. You can buy 1/2 sets from many diff. makers & come-up with your own favorite combo. With the rough or textured polys in the 2 sets I mentioned above, I use string savers because of the "rough" strings cutting-in to the gut. Enjoy!!!

Answer 8

some mis-info here.....I would say good string gives you better control, power and consistency, even for beginners, and especially at the correct tension. You have to experiment with differerent hybrids, but Ashaway's Crossfire works for be before I switch to Gut.

The Tourna string saves works, it brings lower tension strings to a newer and firmer feel, hence reviving control. Of course, without rubbing of the strings, it will prolong string lives in a 2nd way.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

1. string savers prevent strings from notching at intersections, which causes them to break.

2. yes, babolat sells half sets. ($19)

the full set of natural gut is only $25. i'd advise making my own half sets for 2 racquets instead of buying a half set.