I have tried nearly every string combination imaginable on court over the years. The combination or isolation of string types can range from stiff full beds of low powered co-poly strung in the mid 40s to luxury natural gut and poly hybrids and will completely change how a racket plays.
The default habit that players get into is to string a “full bed” of whatever string they bought first. But trying hybrid setups (different strings for the mains and crosses) opens up a huge spectrum of playability, pocketing, arm comfort and spin.
If you want pure durability and predictable spin from your string bed, stick with a full bed. But if you want plush pocketing, touch and balanced power, explore a hybrid. Here is a complete rundown of full beds vs. the best hybrid pairings that I string and test daily.
| Setup Option | String Pairing | Key Characteristics | Pros | Cons | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Bed Poly | Same co-poly in mains & crosses | Firm, direct response with a low launch angle | Maximum durability, uniform string bed feel, extreme spin bite | Stiff on off-center hits, quick tension/elasticity loss, harsh on joints | Fast-swinging ball strikers and chronic string breakers with healthy arms. |
| Full Bed Multi / Gut | Same multifilament or gut in mains & crosses | Plush, elastic, high-power string bed with long dwell time | Elite arm comfort, effortless depth, exceptional touch and volley feel | Frays quickly against heavy topspin, higher launch angle can cause overhitting | Players with tennis elbow, senior club players, and compact swingers. |
| Poly / Poly Hybrid | Shaped poly mains / Smooth round poly crosses | Low-friction, high-snapback modern spin setup | Eliminates string lockup, maximizes topspin RPMs, slightly smoother feel | Still a full polyester setup with limited shock absorption | Spin specialists wanting maximum bite and trajectory control without notching. |
| Poly / Synthetic Gut | Co-poly mains / Synthetic gut crosses | Cushioned control setup on a budget | Affordable, softens the stiff poly feel, retains good baseline spin | Synthetic gut crosses notch faster, reducing snapback over time | Club players wanting poly spin and control without the high cost or harshness. |
| Poly / Multifilament | Co-poly mains / Multi crosses (or reverse) | Balanced blend of modern spin, control, and net touch | Great pocketing, reduced impact shock, versatile all-court response | Poly mains will eventually saw through the softer multifilament crosses | All-court players wanting controlled baseline depth alongside plush net feel. |
| Natural Gut / Poly | Natural gut mains / Smooth poly crosses (or reverse) | Tour-level premium performance and tension retention | Unmatched feel, maximum tension stability, supreme power and comfort | Highest price point, sensitive to wet/damp playing conditions | Discerning competitive players and pros demanding the ultimate in feel and control. |
Full Bed Setups: Uniform Response & Predictable Trajectory
Polyester
A full bed of smooth or shaped polyester gives a very direct, low powered and spin heavy response. The main-strings and crosses are the same in composition, so friction and elasticity are perfectly consistent throughout the string bed. A good durability against breakage and a low predictable launch angle result, enabling aggressive fast swinging baseliners to hit through the ball with full commitment.
The biggest con is comfort and life span. Polyester is naturally stiff and unforgiving on off-center hits, which can send harsh vibrations into developing or sensitive wrists, elbows and shoulders. Also poly rapidly loses its elasticity. The string bed often “dies” and loses its playable tension after 8 to 15 hours of play, long before the string actually breaks.
Full Bed Multifilament & Natural Gut
The other extreme is a full bed of multifilament or pure natural gut which delivers an ultra-plush, elastic and lively response. The string bed flexes deeply on impact for extended dwell time, elite vibration dampening and effortless depth on compact or defensive swings. Touch volleys and drop shots give immediate tactile feedback at net.
The tradeoff is durability and control. Heavy topspin quickly frays and notches the soft fibers, locking the strings out of place and causing them to break prematurely. The higher launch angle and elastic bounce of the trampoline can also make it difficult for attacking players who swing with full force to keep faster shots inside the baseline.
Hybrid Configurations: Engineering Your Ideal Response
Poly / Poly Hybrid (Shaped Mains + Smooth Crosses)
The setup is a sharp shaped main string and a slick smooth round poly in the crosses. When you string a full bed of shaped poly the rough edges saw against each other creating friction that prematurely locks up string movement. The shaped mains slide and snap back easily when a smooth round poly is in the crosses, creating maximum topspin rotation and noticeably smoothing out the impact on contact.
This is the ultimate option for the modern spin player who wants maximum bite and a controlled trajectory without the harsh lock-up of traditional shaped full beds.
Budget Performance Hybrid of Poly/Synthetic Gut
One of the most cost effective performance upgrades is to pair a controlled co-poly in the mains with a traditional synthetic gut in the crosses. The poly mains provide the kick and control the launch angle, while the synthetic gut cross absorbs the shock. The softer cross cushions the string bed on off-centre impacts, which makes the racket feel a lot more arm friendly without giving up much baseline control. (More on arm-friendly racquets and strings)
The disadvantage is that the softer synthetic gut cross notches faster than a polyester cross, which over time narrows the albeit limited snap back of the mains.
Poly / Multifilament Hybrid (The Balanced Performer)
This setup is a versatile bridge between modern control and arm-friendly comfort. A stiff poly in the mains and a premium multifilament in the crosses combine for crisper response with the plush pocketing and net touch of a multi.
Turn it around, multifilament in the mains and poly in the crosses, and you’ve flipped the priority to target more power and arm comfort, with the poly cross being used solely to pull down the launch angle. The main issue here poly mains will eventually wear through the delicate multifilament crosses especially with a thinner gauge. It is generally not advised to pair a shaped poly with a multifilament as it will cut through the softer string too quickly.
Natural Gut/Poly Hybrid (The Ultimate Tour Standard)
The natural gut/poly hybrid is considered the gold standard of professional tennis. When you string the mains with natural gut and put a slick poly cross in you get incredible ball pocketing, good power and a’buttery’ feel at the net. The reverse setup of poly mains and gut crosses makes an aggressive spin setup but with good feel/comfort.
Natural gut holds its tension better than any synthetic material out there, providing consistent playability until breakage. The only downsides are that it is more expensive and susceptible to damp, wet weather. It may not be the most practical choice for club players.
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Essential Rules for Stringing Hybrids
When hybrid stringing, there are a few technical rules to follow to balance string performance:
- The Differential Rule: When pairing a stiff polyester with a soft gut, multifilament or synthetic gut, always string the softer string 3 to 4 lbs tighter than the polyester (i.e. 51 lbs Gut Mains / 48 lbs Poly Crosses). This allows for differences in the elasticity of materials , and produces a uniform and comfortable sweet spot .
- Keep Crosses Smooth: Do not use a rough, twisted or sharp shaped string in the crosses. Rough cross strings will quickly saw through soft gut or multi mains or friction lock up against another shaped poly. A slick round cross is critical to allow smooth snapback.
- Position Dictates Playability: The main string gives you about 75% of the overall ball flight and feel. If you want spin bite and launch control go with poly in the mains. Natural gut or multifilament in the mains if ball pocketing, power and arm comfort are your main concerns.
Final Thoughts
If you’re breaking strings every few days and generating good topspin and have no history of arm pain, a full bed of co-poly is still hard to beat for raw control, spin and all round performance.
But for most competitive club, tournament and league players, a hybrid setup can offer a versatile option. It gives you free power, protects your joints and provides the perfect combination of control, feel and spin for your game.
