Hybrid Hype
Hybrid strings and stringing seems to be all the rage on the Sony Ericsson WTA and ATP Tours. Every top player playing in the final eight at the 2006 year-end ATP Masters Cup in Shanghai used hybrid strings, e.g. Roger Federer uses natural gut in the main "up and down" strings and Luxilon, a synthetic string, in the cross strings. Other players choose to use a stronger, more durable string in the mains which break more easily and
then string natural gut on the cross strings. This new hybrid string strategy makes a lot of sense for club players since it combines feel and durability while reducing the cost of stringing completely with natural gut. However, for top pros, most of whom now change rackets after 7 games (when new balls are introduced) it is a little surprising that they don't just use all gut since it has the softest feel... However, some pros feel that the hybrid string offers a bit more spin and control when you swing hard. In the end, it is all about feel when it comes to how a racket plays and the hybrid seems to offer the best of both worlds!
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