Know Your String - Co-Poly Monofilament
Know Your String - Co-Poly Monofilament
This post is an extension of the original "Know Your Strings" post, focusing solely on co-poly monofilament (Poly).
Overview
Poly strings are gaining significant traction and popularity in the last two decades. Unlike other, softer string options, co-poly monofilament is a single strand of string, which will be a little stiffer in the racket. Poly will typically last longer in your racket than other string options and will usually have a slick outer coating to allow the string to slide at contact and snap back quickly, replicating the string movement of natural gut. Because of this string movement, players who hit with significant pace and spin will enhance more benefits from poly, and will not feel as drastic effects of its stiffness.
Options
Most string companies make several poly options. Overall, the differences are stiffness and longevity. Stiffer poly will produce a little more power and spin as the strings will snap back into place faster. Softer poly, however, will be a little more forgiving on the arm and maintain its tension longer, since it has a little more "give" to it. Below are a handful of great places to start, going from stiffer at the top, to softer at the bottom of the list.
Solinco Tour Bite (also available in a softer version)
Solinco Hyper G (also available in a softer version)
Stringing
Stringing poly is pretty straightforward and most stringers should have a general understanding of what they are doing. Because poly is stiffer than other string options, it can wind around itself and create kinks in the string. Although this is less of a major problem than with natural gut, it should still be avoided as it weakens the string.
Tension
Here's where the fun begins with poly. Just looking at the pro tour level, players with a full-poly setup have significantly varying tensions. Some players like to string in the low 20-lbs range, and others will be in the high 60-lbs range (although this is becoming less common). The recommended tension of a racket seems to no longer apply when stringing with full poly. If you're experimenting with tensions, most string companies will recommend dropping the tension 5% to 10% from softer strings. But there is research that shows increased benefits to stringing full-poly at very low tensions (think below 45 lbs). This goes back to the movement of strings at contact: if the strings move further and snap back faster at a lower tension, a player will be able to get more pace and spin on the ball easier. The trajectory of the ball off the strings also increases, but the additional access to spin counteracts that difference in the ball flight.
Setup
If you do choose to try poly, I would hesitate going thicker than 16 gauge (1.30 mm). 16 (1.30 mm) to 17 (1.25 mm) will be a little more playable and softer than anything thicker. I would recommend the following setups:
- hybrid with natural gut for anyone below a 4.0 UTR. The polyester string will provide added durability for harder hitters, and the gut will be incredibly playable, soft, and promote string movement (access to pace and spin). As far as mains/crosses go, it comes down to your personal preference. The most common is utilizing the softer gut in the crosses, but I wouldn't rule out experimenting with it in the mains.
- full poly for anyone above a 4.0 UTR. This would be a great option for players who hit with longer, faster swings and can generate pace and spin. The string will amplify the pace and spin that the player creates, especially when strung at a lower tension.
Who needs poly?
Anyone who is looking for greater access to pace and spin can benefit from poly. Whether it's in a hybrid setup or the full string bed, poly will be a pretty durable option (but it does lose it's tension relatively quickly, so don't neglect restringing) and remains very playable. With so many options for poly on the market, my best recommendation is to experiment with different setups and tensions to find what you like best.
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