More on Hybrid Crosses

One of our more popular posts with readers of this blog is our entry on selecting cross strings for hybrids with poly-based mains.  While the content of that posting remains accurate, we would like to add a new perspective we did not have when the entry was written and posted over a year ago.

Recently we have been playtesting poly-based mains with natural gut cross strings.  We have found that our customers prefer the natural gut cross strings over multis as well as solid core strings.  They tend to realize additional pop, bite and feel.  In general they receive at least 50% more string life (time used before breakage occurs) with the natural gut compared to the soft solid core strings we listed in last year’s blog.  They also tend to offer 100 – 200% (or more) greater string life than multis used as a cross string with a poly-based main.

We used to fall into the camp that believed using natural gut as a cross string was a waste of money.  We have re-examined this position and are now ready to amend it.  We still believe that using top-of-the-line natural gut as a cross string in a hybrid setup is not the best value in the world, but we do believe that the lower quality guts we have been using as crosses may very well be the ticket.  With players constantly seeking the best playability for the lowest cost, we are now recommending they explore some lower cost natural gut alternatives as possible cross string options to consider.