This review delves into the Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut tennis strings, examining their performance and suitability for players, particularly those experiencing arm injuries. Natural gut strings are renowned for their superior feel and comfort, making them a popular choice among professional and recreational players. However, their cost can be a significant barrier. This review explores the advantages and disadvantages of using Babolat VS Touch, focusing on a cost-effective hybrid stringing approach.The author, experiencing tennis elbow, opted for a hybrid setup using Babolat VS Touch in the mains and a more economical synthetic string in the crosses. This allowed them to experience the unparalleled comfort and arm-friendliness of natural gut while mitigating the expense of a full set. We'll examine the trade-offs between power and comfort, the string's tension maintenance, and ultimately, whether the investment in Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut strings is justified, especially for players prioritizing injury prevention and enhanced playing experience.
Pros And Cons
- Provides the best feel and touch for the racket
- Arm-friendly, suitable for players with tennis elbow, wrist, shoulder, or other arm issues
- Holds tension well, remaining close to the strung pounds until breakage
- Offers plush feeling and comfort
- Can be underpowered compared to other strings
- More expensive than other string types
Read more: Best 5 Spin Tennis Strings for Powerful Serves
Natural Gut: The Premium Tennis String
Natural gut strings are widely considered the gold standard in tennis strings. Their superior feel and performance make them a favorite among professional players. This review focuses on the Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut, exploring its benefits and drawbacks.
A full set of these strings (40 feet) allows for a complete restringing of your racket. However, a cost-effective alternative is using a hybrid setup: combining natural gut with a more economical string.
Hybrid Stringing: Balancing Cost and Performance
Hybrid stringing involves using natural gut in the mains (vertical strings) and a synthetic string in the crosses (horizontal strings). This approach provides the superior feel of natural gut in the primary stringing while reducing overall cost.
Many players opt for this method to experience the benefits of natural gut without the full price commitment. The reviewer used this technique with the Babolat VS Touch, putting natural gut in the mains and a cheaper monofilament in the crosses.
Why Choose Natural Gut?
Natural gut strings have a long and storied history in tennis, having been used by top players for over a century. Their reputation stems from their exceptional arm-friendliness, plush feel, and consistent tension maintenance.
Players seeking superior comfort and reduced risk of injury often choose natural gut, especially those with tennis elbow or other arm ailments. The strings retain tension remarkably well, staying close to the strung tension for a longer duration.
Personal Experience and Review
The reviewer, dealing with tennis elbow, used the Babolat VS Touch in a hybrid setup. While slightly underpowered compared to previous strings, the significant increase in comfort and arm-friendliness made it worthwhile.
The improved comfort allowed for extended play sessions without exacerbating the elbow pain. This trade-off of slightly reduced power for enhanced comfort was deemed a positive experience.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The Babolat VS Touch Natural Gut strings, particularly in a hybrid setup, are highly recommended for players prioritizing comfort and arm health. Despite a potential slight reduction in power, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for those susceptible to tennis elbow or similar injuries.
Though costlier, the enhanced comfort and playing experience make the investment worthwhile for many. For players struggling with arm pain, these strings offer a potential solution for continued enjoyment of the game, making them a wise investment.
