Natural Gut and Poly Hybrid Setups

Hybrid stringing has gained massive popularity in tennis.

The concept is simple yet effective.

You combine two different string types to get the best of both worlds.

This gives you performance characteristics that no single string can deliver alone.

The fundamental principle behind hybrids is that your main strings contribute about 70% of performance, while your cross strings provide the other 30%.

This guide focuses specifically on natural gut and polyester hybrids, the different combinations, how they play, pro player examples and whether they are right for you.

Poly Mains, Gut Crosses

This setup puts polyester strings in the mains and gut strings in the crosses.

It appeals to aggressive baseliners who want poly's spin potential without the harsh feel.

Your polyester mains handle the heavy lifting on groundstrokes, while the gut crosses add power and comfort to your stringbed.

This combination gives you the best of both materials without major compromises.

Benefits

More customisable performance with the poly of your choice in the mains. You'll get noticeable power gains on serves from the gut strings too.

The gut crosses will also reduce vibration transmission to your arm during long rallies. This makes the setup ideal if you want spin without sacrificing comfort.

Limitations

Expect to restring more frequently than full polyester setups. The gut crosses wear and break more quickly than poly strings.

Natural gut costs $40 or more per set. This expense keeps most recreational players away from this premium option.

Gut Mains, Poly Crosses

This configuration of gut in the mains and poly in the crosses maximizes comfort and power.

The natural gut mains provide exceptional energy return on every stroke.

Poly crosses add just enough control to prevent your setup from feeling too lively.

Pro players gravitate toward this because sponsorship eliminates cost concerns.

Benefits

You'll be able to generate more pace with less effort on your shots due to the gut mains.

Your arm will experience significantly less shock too compared to poly mains. This creates the most comfortable hybrid configuration available.

Limitations

Plan for frequent restringing as gut mains break more easily than polyester. You'll also sacrifice some spin generation compared to poly mains.

The biggest drawback of this, and any setup involving natural gut, is the cost. As stated, a set of gut is $40 or more.

This is why natural gut and polyester hybrid setups are mainly only used by pros who don’t incur the cost of restringing.

Choosing the Right Strings

Natural Gut

Natural gut brands show minimal performance variation between manufacturers. Wilson and Babolat dominate the market with consistently high-quality products.

Your choice often comes down to availability and price. Premium pricing reflects the complex manufacturing process and limited raw materials.

Polyester String

String shape significantly impacts gut longevity in hybrid setups.

Round polyesters like Sync preserve gut strings better than shaped alternatives. This is because sharp edges and rough textures create friction that shortens gut lifespan.

Smooth, round polys like Sync provide the gentlest interaction with natural gut, which maximizes your string investment.

Pro Player Examples

Roger Federer

Federer used Wilson Natural Gut mains with Luxilon ALU Power Rough crosses throughout much of his career.

He typically strung around 58 pounds for the mains and 55 pounds for the crosses.

This setup perfectly matched his aggressive yet precise playing style.

The gut mains provided comfort for his attacking game while the textured poly crosses gave him surgical precision.

Novak Djokovic

Djokovic relies on Babolat VS Touch natural gut mains paired with Luxilon ALU Power crosses.

He typically strings at approximately 59 pounds for the mains and 56 pounds for the crosses.

This combination supports his exceptional defensive-to-offensive transition game.

Gut provides comfort during long rallies while poly crosses help him redirect pace and generate spin.

Conclusion

Gut and poly hybrids represent the pinnacle of string technology. They offer benefits no single string can match.

Your choice between poly mains or gut mains depends on your playing style, budget, and restringing frequency.

If you prioritize spin generation, go with poly mains. If effortless power and arm comfort is your main concern, choose gut mains.

Experiment with tensions and string combinations to find your perfect balance. But be aware that these will be expensive experiments.

For a more affordable hybrid option, consider mixing two polyester strings with complementary characteristics instead.

About the Author: Juan is the co-founder of ReString. He was born in Argentina, raised in Japan, and moved to the US to pursue college tennis. He now plays as an ATP & WTA hitting partner.