Hybrid新體驗2: Babolat VS Natural Team Gut 17g + Luxilon 4G 17g
3個星期前換了副Babolat Hybrid RPM Blast 17g + VS Gut Touch 16g混線後，可能是Main穿的RPM Poly磅數偏高(55 lb)的原因，所以一直都覺得手感不太舒服，也就是拍身Sweet Point比較偏硬。
經過了10個多鐘頭後，我感覺Head YOUTEK IG Extreme Pro開始越來越得心應手了，絕對多了很多手感，尤其是Underspin，幾乎可以感受到球將會著陸的位置。
這應該全歸功於跌磅的原因吧，早知如此，我應該一早就把作為Main的RPM Poly磅數比Cross的VS Gut穿低2到3磅(52-53 lb)。
最令我最高興的是，這次的Hybrid磨損程度比起NRG2來說，簡直就是救星，看樣子應該可以維持多1個半月，就是全程2個月左右。怎麼算還是折扣後的Hybrid也比兩副NRG2來得便宜，而且手感也好得多了，另外擊球的聲音也真的比較清脆好聽。
上星期五跟另一位志同道合的師兄合資，每人半副線去體驗Hybrid Take 2 on my 2nd Extreme Pro.
這次我們選的是Babolat VS Natural Team Gut 17g + Luxilon 4G 17g，最大不同的是這次VS Gut Team做Main (55lb)， Luxilon 4G Poly磅做Cross (52 lb)。而且這次的VS Natural Team Gut是17g (1.25) 比上次的 VS Gut Touch 16g (1.30) 細了一個碼，所以壽命應該差些，但手感也會同樣增加一點。
另外就是那半副號稱不跌磅(或者跌磅不明顯/緩慢)的Luxilon 4G，聽穿線師傅說，Luxilon 4G比其它的傳統Poly都硬，所以穿此線需要的時間也比較長。
當談到線的耐用程度，師傅說可以考慮全副Gut，只要拉高磅數就可以避免球線之間的摩擦，從而減少磨損程度，不過換來的是一幅沒什麼手感的拍子。
另外他指出，如果把Gut作為Cross的話，其實浪費了腸線的功能，他個人認為如果Main用Poly這樣的安排，其實任何線做Cross都行，如NRG2等，不必浪費昂貴的腸線做Cross。
也就是說與其想要Gut延遲壽命的話，到不如直接用其為Main，雖然壽命可能會短1/4，但是你肯定享受腸線手感的那3/4時間會比Gut作為Cross的多得多。
我今天突然發現附送的Wilson網球拍塑料袋前後都有個小孔，所以根本不是密封。我個人認為如今Babolat的ThermoGut科技應該可以減少潮濕的影響，只要別在下雨的時候用腸線的拍子即可，所以我也不用任何塑料袋做為保護。
要等到下星期二才有機會試驗新的混線表現如何，到時候再如實報道。
Babolat VS Natural Team Gut 17 (1.25)
Babolat’s top of the line Natural Gut in a thin, spin responsive 17 gauge. Used by top touring pros and players who demand ultimate feel and control. VS Natural Team Gut is constructed with a tighter gauge tolerance than any previous Babolat VS Natural Gut offering. Includes Thermogut Technology – a process of high temperature finishing that increases the cohesion of the fibers down to the core of the string. Now comes with BT7 technology which is a new layering structure, increasing durability by 15%. Offers a slightly firmer feel, but remains the “Gold Standard” for comfort and playability.
Gauge: 17 (1.25 mm) – Note: Was 1.27mm, now back to 1.25mm
Length: 40 feet
Natural gut material selection: “first grade”
Thermogut Technology increases elasticity & tension hold
Color: Natural
Luxilon 4G 17 (1.25)
Though quite firm and durable, Luxilon 4G is loaded with playability. Our testers found this one to have higher than average comfort for a monofilament string, making it more than just a niche string for string breakers. Luxilon spent two years tweaking the molecular properties of 4G in order to extend the life of playability. This is a great option for players who want all the benefits of a control string without the high tension loss and impact shock that comes with some of the first generation polys. This doesn’t mean it will work for players who prefer natural gut or nylon multifilaments, but it does mean that for players with long, fast strokes, Luxilon has created a very user-friendly co-poly.
Gauge: 17 (1.25 mm)
Length: 40 feet / 12m
Construction: Co-polyester
Color: Gold
Update: May 24, 2013
Finally I’ve broken the string today on a forehand swing, it’s the main Babolat VS Natural Team Gut 17g. I would say this new combination did last at least for 2 months which falls within my expectation. The Natural Gut 17g as main did provide the best hand feel and perhaps I can use a cheaper poly as suggested by the pro-shop staff next time.
Update: Oct 6, 2013
I’ve got my racket restrung on Jun 4th, then it lasted for more than 4 months mainly due to excessive rain in Hong Kong and still going strong…but I couldn’t bear the lost tension anymore, so I went to pro-shop today and string it with the same combination of Babolat VS Natural Team Gut 17g and Luxilon 4G 17, but this time, I choose the tension to be a bit lower than before, which is 53 lbs for main and 50 lbs for cross as for some reasons, I found 55 lbs x 53 lbs is too stiff.
Update: Feb 10, 2014
Somehow, this is still the best ultimate combination I found so far, so this time it’s 53lbs x 51 lbs.
The following is my friend Jeff’s comment about the new combination.
今次串Babolat VS Team Natural Gut 17 (1.25mm) + Luxilon 4G 16L (1.25mm), 較上次串Babolat RPM Blast 17 (1.25mm) + Babolat VS 16 (1.30mm) [下稱Nadal線]貴了大約40元左右, 整體每人300仲夠找返返屋企.
先講少少history, 之前post 1講到第一次串Nadal線, 用RPM做Main, VS做cross, both 53lbs. 而家條線打左已經22小時(2月2號開始), 少少披口跌磅唔多, 感覺上仲可以打到10+ 小時. 之於點解用Poly做Main呢….其實我都冇諗過, 但耐唔耐用對我個人黎講唔係一個issue, 可能之前champion choice都係咁所以慣左 -_- 但反而無心插柳下用RPM做main卻給予我一次top spin的樂趣體驗, 以往用eastern打得比較flat既我用呢個組合終於親身理解到打top spin打到上人地頭頂個種樂趣了, 當然自己都有刻意用多d semi western去配合條線, 但呢種top spin樂趣好明顯主要由RPM provide.
經過上次第一次用VS既經驗後, 對Babolat的Natural Gut信心大增, 所以今次想玩得極致少少直頭用幼多一個碼既VS team, 在此要感謝prostaff85的同意, 而選用4G是基於對呢條新線的好奇. 今次小弟用VS team做main, 4G做cross, Main依然53lbs, 但cross同串線師研究過, 佢意見認為如果我想打返之前both 53lbs個種感覺, 今次poly做cross可以適當調低3-4lbs, 最後落墨49lbs.
抱住興奮又懷疑的心情上星期五試打, first impression是: 嘩乜咁power!?!? 以平時一貫用開手勢搓mini court d波都飛哂去baseline. 搓完一輪開set, 打了接近一小時, 整體感覺都幾差下. Power較Nadal線強了, 但犧牲了Spin, 條gut既手感又並無好似其他師兄講比起串cross更強, 而且條poly成日走線, 打完幾個來回又要自己撥返正, 最後打完first set即刻用返Nadal線打埋第二set(同是PSBLX90), 即時感覺好返好多. 而4G相較RPM也明顯硬了不少, 但又未至於好似Power Rough咁硬
星期六又有局, 今次全程用新組合打足3小時, 好認真去feel下條線, 嘗試多d, 但條線依然比唔到更多positive feedback我, 而且經常走線令我煩惱不已.
星期日又有局, 今次全程用Nadal線, 得心應手唔在講仲心諗:”嘿4G你浪費左我成3舊水, 準備入冷宮啦”
星期一本來無局, 但小弟唔信邪, 再用4G打多3小時. “咦! 今次好似有d料到wor!” 唔知係小弟開始適應左條線定之前條線未開既關係, 總之今次用後感覺十分良好. Power一貫非常非常強(但小弟有懷疑過係因為今次VS幼一個碼兼且做Main既關係), Spin少了也是事實, 更強手感終於今次體驗到, 咬波既感覺超強, 而且開始感覺到control上了一個層次, 網前表現亦較Nadal線進步不少. 小弟星期一晚全程用返舊打法, eastern grip打flat波, 可能又係另一個因素導致夾到條線. 而今次最明顯的分別係, 當對手回球較慢既時候, 亦係小弟扎哂馬打inside out的時候, 以前只可以aim住大慨個位置, 但今晚無論我想打mini court斜角/大角/down the line直線, 非常準繩咁打到每個位之餘仲見到個波成枝箭咁好快飛落個位度. 另一點係開波, Power和control強了當然開波係最受惠, 星期一晚開波既感覺爽到不得了. 正手個part形容得可能有d誇張但真係我尋晚打完既感覺. 另一點需指出係fast swinger會比較喜歡4G, 我認為4G本身power唔強, 但fast swinger/hard hitter既波友如果對自己正手信心爆燈的話, 不妨用4G大大板抽, 4G既control能力係令我最為讚歎既地方. 而缺點則是Spin少了, 而且成日走線….(我都唔知係咪個串線師失手定因為條線比較扁平而導致, 要睇下prostaff85 review完點講先知)
RPM for top spin愛好者, 而如果喜歡control的朋友, 小弟正式推介呢條Luxilon 4G!
2個組合我都會keep住打落去直到斷為止, 大慨都要個另兩個月後.
之後小弟想試試:
(1) VS Team + Luxilon ALU Power Rough 16L (唔信邪, 個個都話Power Rough好點解我唔覺? 再比多d耐性試真d)
(2) VS Team + Babolat RPM Blast 17g (想比較返同[VS Team Natural Gut 17 + Luxilon 4G 16L]呢個組合時既分別, 究竟power源自Gut還是4G? RPM做cross會否少了top spin?)