Brings back memories for sure. For about 20 years, this combination was my go-to string. I actually found great spin because once the kevlar is broken in, it is quite grippy on the ball. It even has more spin compared to hyper-G poly, when tested on the same racquet. Longevity is comparable to the polys. Essentially, both the kevlar and the poly strings will become dead long before they break, so it is a moot point to try and figure out which one has more longevity. I opted to use 18g kevlar on the mains. For the entire time I have used the kevlar hybrids, I experienced no arm issues and neither have my friends. Your experience may differ. I moved away from the kevlar entirely last year because I found superior overall performance from a full bed of poly. It was a night and day difference. You lose so much power on the kevlar that you become outmatched by harder hitting opponents. But at the 4.0 level and below, it can be super fun to play with kevlar hybrids as you have access to spin and a great amount of control. The kevlar mains are usually strung at 60 lbs and above, which probably explains the control. Tension maintenance is great so you have dependability. It's fun to try out for nostalgia sake, but the days of kevlar hybrids are truly over.
@bradcranford1572 жыл бұрын
Get your tennis history right before just making an incorrect comment. PLEASE. You tend to do that a lot. I enjoy your videos, but don't spread false/fake statements. Ashaway is an American company and always has been. The Crandall family has owned and operated it. Founded in 1824 in Rhode Island making fishing line. First to introduce Kevlar for tennis string.
@a2casius2 жыл бұрын
Harry never corrects his false statements and if viewers don't read your comment, they will never be the wiser. The Crandalls will have to just live with the fact that people will now think Ashaway is Japanese owned. Shame
@irishphil94802 жыл бұрын
Weirdly I played with it and strung it with a Wilson Ultra Kevlar at 72. Was a total board but I hit massive leftie forehands and it worked. Took some time away (20 years) from tennis and couldn’t get a racket I liked with all the new strings, including all the Solinco and tried all sorts. RF97, Pure Drives etc… Strung a new Wilson Ultra CV100 in it and loved it. Felt like home. So now all my rackets have Pro Blend but now I string them at 58.
@nagordnogard27382 жыл бұрын
I love my Ashaway Crossfire ZX hybrid - kevlar in the mains to provide spin and bite, monogut zyex in the cross to soften the string bed and provide smooth surface for the kevlar to slide on. And since zyex is not poly, its tension maintenance is outstanding and the entire string bed can play consistently til it breaks.
@monlewi19762 жыл бұрын
I use the same setup ob my ps97, kevlar 45lb on mains, and zx 50lb on crosses. Superrior feel and spin, and works pretty much forever with the same characteristics, till kevlar weared out and breaks.
@bowsershark2 жыл бұрын
I have buying Ashaway for a long time. Because, in the past, it was much more more reasonable than other string. I have purchased sets and reels of their synthetic stuff. Once I tried the Monogut ZX and became a fan of soft poly.
@rayaohara2 жыл бұрын
I used to play this setup during my high school tennis after breaking babolat pro hurricane every week. Honestly, I enjoyed the different feel as a first-time kevlar user. But, now that I look back, yea it felt like a rock. Fun, but tough to recommend for arm health.
@ScottDreyfus2 жыл бұрын
I still have a 16 gauge pack in my bag. I used gamma tnt 18 in the crosses and 16 in the mains. The old synthetics would shear and after 5 to 10 hours of hitting they would break hence the Kevlar. I always have hit a real heavy ball from the baseline and just broke strings like crazy.
@qwi911 Жыл бұрын
I like the string, I get big spin and nice kick off my serves with it. I really swing big and feel these strings give me the control for my swing type
@irishphil94802 жыл бұрын
I wanted to add, I was breaking 7-10 sets of string a week when using syn gut as a kid and my parents couldn’t keep up financially. Tried Pro Blend and a racket would last me all summer. Huge difference and I loved it.
@Doty6String2 жыл бұрын
Love the Red Bull jacket! It’s all about the crossfire ZX! The ZX set is much better.
@bbulla2 жыл бұрын
That's been around since at least 1990 when I started stringing. Haven't seen it in ages though.
@ualtim2 жыл бұрын
Try Ashaway Kevlar mains with Monogut ZX crosses. The key to making it work is the stringing process, both strings need some form or prestretching with the ZX being the most critical. Also, finding the correct differential in string tension really helps with spin generation, I currently run the crosses 12 lbs less than the mains in a relatively tight 18 x 19 pattern. If strung correctly, it breaks in after a hit and lasts until the ZX saws through the Kevlar mains. (I have gone 100+ hours on an open spin pattern 16 x 16 without breakage). I have used this stringing set up for years after developing tennis elbow with poly hybrids. Ashaway Kevlar is different than other Kevlars, it absorbs vibration, after years of use I have not experienced TE like I did with polys.
@markbrodeur17072 жыл бұрын
I forgot to mention that in my post. Pre-stretch and differential. Right on.
@Doty6String2 жыл бұрын
You string the ZX lower than the Kevlar?
@ualtim2 жыл бұрын
@@Doty6String Yes. Depending on the racquet and string pattern, I have strung Monogut ZX crosses anywhere from 12 to 7 lbs lower than the Kevlar mains.
@Doty6String2 жыл бұрын
@@ualtim I’m a longtime crossfire ZX user. Trying to dial it in for my prestige. I’ve been dropping tension for the 18x20 pattern but keeping it uniform for main / cross. What have you found the advantage to be getting the ZX Lower in tension? CROSSFIRE FOR LIFE !
@ualtim2 жыл бұрын
@@Doty6String , spin generation, feel, and control. Monogut ZX is limited to 60lbs of tension (it’s on the Ashaway website) and if you pre stretching on a machine that can limit your max tension even lower if you do want the prestretch tension to exceed 60lbs. ( some have reported stringing the ZX at higher tensions with success, but there is breaking point and I have reached that point during knot tie offs ). In toghter patterned racquets I have gotten away with lower tension differentials, but in the more open patterns I have to up the Kevlar main tension to keep the mains in place ( snap back). From there it is a matter of dialing it in for feel and control. For example, if you are doing a 10% prestretch, I like to keep my ZX at or below 55 lbs. At 25% prestretch, 48 lbs. From there, it’s getting mains tight enough to avoid mains staying out of place for a base tension setup. From the base, I adjust the Kevlar mains for control and the ZX for power and feel.
@alanb762 жыл бұрын
Kevlar is tough to cut, removing it from the racket may dull your scissors. But for returning those bullet serves it should be just the ticket. :)
@gtye0h2 жыл бұрын
This is my favourite string of all time. It keeps the ball on the strings much longer for you to drive the ball through.
@movdqa2 жыл бұрын
I recall this name from a long time ago but never used it. I have a reel of ALU Power and I replace the strings after ten hours of play. I'd love a replacement for durability but I'd have to give up the great feeling and control of ALU Power.
@kelseykelsey1248 Жыл бұрын
Should have strung it at 52 and put gut in the crosses. Mui bueno. The old Aggasi set up. I have one of Aggasi's actual frames from US open. Austrian made. 20 mains. That's right 20 18 crosses. Strung with 17g Ashaway braided Kevlar in the mains. 16G (1.28 mm) VS Gut crosses. Difficult to say what this frame was strung at. As Cross string had snapped. 12.8 oz. 5pts head light. If I had to guess I'd say frame was strung 55-57 lbs. I currently use 16 gauge (1.30mm) Ashaway braided Kevlar and Yonex Dynawire 16 in the Cross. Lots of pop, lots of spin and control. Easy on the arm. Tension maintenance is off the chart. It plays ostensibly the same from day one until it breaks. The art of this strung. Is to string it as low as possible and still find the lines. Far as I'm concerned tension maintenance and the predictability of the string bed are what I'm looking for. I can create my own power. Just say'n. Went away from the Kev for a long time. Trying to make those poly hybrids work. Now? I'm back with the Kev and loving it
@harrisnajeeb43186 күн бұрын
from your setup. the tension of kevlar same as cross or you reduce the tension
@christopherlee30412 жыл бұрын
Durable and playable? Try the legend: Prince ProBlend. I pair it with my Prince CTS 110. My go to combo since my high school days back in the 80's. Still playing this today!
@georgezheng81422 жыл бұрын
Crossfire has been very popular in Singapore for 20 yrs. I believe it has something to do with the pro-shops (particularly the ones in Queensway) promoting it. Though I don't find it very popular in California or here in Shanghai... Not my type of string..
@sl38482 жыл бұрын
Seems like the opposite of what a tennis shop would want to push if it lasts forever! I stumbled on this video because I bought a secondhand racket strung with this stuff and haven’t had a chance to try it yet. Not sure it sounds promising for my arm health 😳
@owenrivard88322 жыл бұрын
Coach Gu reppin the Red Bull merch!! Love to see it 🔥
@nathanmiller60512 жыл бұрын
Thanks great video!
@benjaminblackmon91302 жыл бұрын
Aramid, the same stuff my old usaf flight jacket is made of… Strings should have some fireproof properties.
@alanb762 жыл бұрын
Another interesting cross string to test is Gamma Glide.
@MrPBODY19662 жыл бұрын
Ashway Line & Twine is an American company, never owned by the Japanese.
@tom-gnade11 ай бұрын
You need to string the mains at 60 and monogut zx pro crosses at 40. It will play completely differently.
@colinc2752 жыл бұрын
I think i used that string a long ago dont remember if i liked it, and that prince pro blend !
@bowsershark2 жыл бұрын
In the 80's, I was turned on to Prince Pro Blend by a old vet named Joe DeVos which played every day with his wife. He liked the longevity of the string with his flat hitting style. In those days, Toalson was the other hybrid packaged string with a actual monopoly and a separate synthetic which looked like braided rope&was a 14g or 13g string. It was so wide you could feel the sides dragging on the grommets when you weaved the string.🧐. The rope style synthetic gut was very elastic for power. The monopoly was stiff as hell and very durable. I strung the poly at much lower tensions and the synthetic at regular synthetic type tensions. It also worked as a great reverse hybrid with the synthetic rope style on the mains and the monopoly on the crosses. These experiences were the beginning of a long trek with hybrid experiments. In those years, we played daily and want strings to last longer. I tried synthetic 15g(a la AL Maranda) on the mains and 15 or 16g nylon on crosses for more bite. It wasn't bad! It was doing the best with what we had at the time for max play&feel.☺
@chuckfriebe8432 жыл бұрын
I used Prince ProBlend in my Trisys 260 OS Radical back in 1994 through the late 1990s. My tension was 68lbs. No arm pain. Spin is mostly in technique and I could generate plenty as I hit the ball really hard. What a bunch of wussies.
@takshakwankhede20362 жыл бұрын
video anda sangat bagus dan mempunyai mesej yang luas terima kasih
@alanb762 жыл бұрын
Speaking of Ashaway, what do you think of Monogut ZX in the crosses?
@bowsershark2 жыл бұрын
I tried Ashaway Monogut ZX on the mains and Wilson 15g synthetic gut on the crosses. The feel was softer than RPM or ALU Power and less harsh on the arm at similar tensions.
@bushmenaa2 жыл бұрын
I play with 1.10 version 16/19 or 19/21 kilos :)
@jameshaldeman91812 жыл бұрын
Crossfire ZX has a bit more of a softer feel, from the monogut ZX as the crosses. A lot more comfortable but still mega stiff compared to polys. Also, still no spin at all lol
@Doty6String2 жыл бұрын
Gotta string it low to get the spin
@markbrodeur17072 жыл бұрын
OK tennis nerds. I watch all of these videos. I play with Ashaway Crossfire. Prince Pro Blend occasionally. I have been stringing racquets since Vilas. I'm not going to bag on the lack of historical knowledge of Ashaway string as an AMERICAN brand. Always has been. Here's why you should be playing with this string. #1. Stringbed Consistency. This string plays the same today as it did yesterday and a week from now. Poly cannot do that and you are constantly "learning" your poly stringbed from week to week. I tried poly. I liked poly. I HATED the inconsistent stringbed performance and yes, I could literally string my frames every other day if I wanted to. I want my racquet's launch angle to stay the same day in and day out. 2. Flat Player. Look at Andre Agassi's strokes. He played with kevlar mains and natural gut crosses. He hit pretty flat. If you aren't at least a 4.5, you shouldn't be playing with Poly because you can't bend it with your strokes consistently. I can hit plenty of topspin with this string. Tension is the secret. 3. Durability. Spending too much on strings? This stuff is bulletproof. Literally. 4. Looser. DO NOT STRING this stuff at 60lbs in your racquet. Use the 17 or yes, 18 gauge, and string it at 52. Think polyester tensions. You could string this at 44 and be very happy. 5. The Sound. Nothing sounds sweeter to me than a well struck ball with Kevlar. 6. Immune to Weather. Did you forget your frame in the car overnight? Are you playing in damp conditions? 97 degrees on court? No problem.
@motennis10762 жыл бұрын
I have used kevlar for years. Tried most of the polys with the same results as you. I have been stringing cross polys for about 6 months now with no bad results. i did string at 47 lbs kevlar main and 45lbs poly cross (msv 17g) and another racquet Head Hawk 17g. The msv seems to perform better. Kevlar doesn't get much respect.
@rodneyalt827 Жыл бұрын
Do you string a full bed of Kevlar or hybrid? And do you use more or less tension in the crosses vs. mains or the same? Thanks for your insights.
@josephkeane24072 жыл бұрын
60lbs is too high. It's better much lower which is why it feels amazing when its broken in :)