Hey, I've been using BG65 for a while and now switched to BG80 for a few weeks. I use 24LBS tension. The feel of BG80 is really different I can't really tell if I like it or not but would like to try another one. I can't decide between BG65 TI or BG66 ultimax that seem to be 2 high hitting sound string wich I like, i'm just afraid that if I use BG66 durability with plastic will be horrible, but how horrible is the question! Either way any advide would be appreciated. I'm also unsure of the tension. I used to play with an old Yonex Voltric Alpha (3U) with BG65 strung at 22lbs. I recently switched to an Apacs Virtuoso Performance (4U) with BG80 @ 24LBS it really changed my gameplay but I can't tell if it was mainly the racket or the string. I prefer the Apacs one so far as I play double and the Voltric was a bit heavy slowing me down. But then again it's a cheap Yonex racket and the apacs one was quite expensive. I have decent power so I was thinking 24LBS or 26LBS? I really can't tell how to determine what string tension is ideal for me
I did the same. Had been using BG-65 forever and then switched to BG-80. It does seem more powerful but I am not quite sure if I like it better or not. Nothing to complain about, and yet ... that feeling of - what's so special about this? According to this page, that compares different Yonex strings, the Ti versions are not recommended http://badmintonmap.com/string.php
Dont bother to use BG66UM if you play with plastic, its just wasted for it. I wonder why you care about hitting sound if there is none with plastic anyway? However, BG65Ti is a good string for hard hitters. Both BG66UM and BG65Ti are softer than BG80, it will definately feel different. But BG66UM will snap real quick.
BG-65: 0.70 mm, the biggest feature of this string is durable and inexpensive, are more comprehensive, because the functions are similar, very suitable for all types of players. BG-65TI: 0.70mm, this string is smooth and not easy to control, high tension or like to play of resistance is the recommended 65Ti, TI's main function is to increase the power and excellent shock-absorbing function. 65ti is appropriate and often smash and high tension offensive power-type player. However, the durability is relatively decreased.
BG65Ti is slipperier, usually meaning more powerful. If I remember correctly, BG65Ti is a harder string. IME, BG66UM feels frail when hitting plastics and it feels harder to hit with, but you might think differently of it.
When I play with plastics (Voltric 80, 3U) and the BG 66 UM at12kg (around 26,5pounds) the durability is not that great because the string cuts deep into the grommets pretty fast. However I am now experimenting with Hi-Qua Grommet Protection Pads. I tested them with a BG 80 power string already at 12 kg. The string seems to withstand the abuse better(the strings don't cut so deep in the grommets anymore) however I don't like the slippery feeling of the string and the hard feeling. The same for Nanogy and the slippery feeling 99 the string is not so hard as the bg80 power. The effect of the added pads on my striking seems negligible. This week I get my racket restrung using BG 66 Um and the Hi-Qua pads. I will update if they improve the durability. If you would consider the pads make sure that you replace your grommets with slightly longer ones if needed. Conclusion: The BG 66 Um is not very durable, and I am experimenting with the pads to improve that. I will let you know in a couple of weeks if this is possible.
if you play with plastic, its just wasted for 66U and other. However, BG65 is a good string for any player and play with plastic.24 or 26 pounds is not big different with plastic, but if you us shuttlecock, It will be very big different and change. If you us shuttlecock, you can try 66U and 25 pounds first.
FME string tension don't effect so much on plastics, when you compare it with feathers. I wouldn't choose anything higher than 24 lbs for plastics, if you don't want to hurt yourself. Even with excellent technique plastics are not easy on your arm. IMO high tension with plastics is like eating lobster with ketchup. BG66UM is a worst string IMO, because it feels dull really quick (after a few weeks). If you tend to break strings often, I would skip it. BG65TI is IMO a really nice string with a bit less durability compared to the normal BG65. It holds tension better and it feels harder. It's also more powerful compared to the normal one. If you don't like BG80, i would give NBG99 a try. slightly rough coating, good tension holding and pretty durable.
BG66UM will break in less than a week with plastic. Especially if you string at 24lbs. But something tells me that the 24lbs you're getting is more like 20lbs (not many competent stringers around). Like ucantseeme said, I wouldn't go higher than 24lbs for plastic shuttles and I'd stay away from any string under 0.68mm diameter. You should try ZyMax 69 Fire.
I use BG80p at 28 pounds with plastics durability about one month for me. Been using BG80p for the last three years. If you miss hit off centre regularly you will break strings regardless the type of shuttle. Durability is not as good as before when I was 25 or 26 pounds but we're talking three months or now compared to one month. And [MENTION=120537]Dominickk[/MENTION] don't value any opinions from people who don't use plastics shuttle regularly.
I've used BG65ti, bg68ti and even the nanogy ones but not the Ultimax ones yet for plastic. It really depends on what tension you like and what racquet you're using it on. I've never tried the virtuoso or the alpha racquets you've got but there are so many variables that you're talking about at the moment and it will take some time before you figure out which combo works best for you. Even the same racquet and same tension feels different for me because different restringers!
Wasn't you using 29x31? I don't agree. I depends which tension you use. You can hit with 22lbs alot off center, btw your center is really big. If you use anything tighter, your center will became smaller. You wrote that you like to hit hard and your BG80P lasts 1 month with plastics @28lbs? There is something wrong. Even 14 year old boys at my club who hit semihard break it @28lbs within 2 weeks. They break the center main because the string is worn down. No mishit. IMO you are a spammer and a lying toad. Maybe your stringer cheat you, maybe you are not that great and stronger player which you always want to tell us? I used playstics regular years ago and shared my experiece even at high tension. I thing that yan.v did the same. So what is wrong with our experiences?
Yeah three different zf2 and three different tensions but all using bg80 or bg80p. If you don't believe me that's fine.. What benefit do I have from lying? I've never said I was great player. I just said I like to smash hard and compared to the state level players I'm still far behind them but can at least give them a reasonable competition. I'm already in my late thirties and overweight so badminton is just a fun pastime for fitness and socialising. I have a 4u zf2 bought in early november and still original strings supplied with racquet around 28 pounds. Another 3u lcw edition bought mid november and 29x29 pounds. Another standard 3u with 29x31 but that was restrung about a month ago I think. So yes different racquets with different tensions. So the first two I've owned for three months now and I've tried to used more regularly recently but still can't break the string yet. So conservatively I'll say it will last one month if it was my exclusive racquet without rotation. Fair? The zf2 3u LCW edition racquet was strung by the local yonex dealer/representative that travels everywhere as part of the yonex team. He uses the yonex ES machine which is supposed to be A$15k or so. He's strung racquets for quite a few of the current professionals. Why would he cheat me? And I've said previously that racquet is hard to use for me. years ago what tension, what string and what racquet were you using with your experiences? Was it a yonex voltric alpha or apacs virtuoso performance? I think the zf2 racquets I've got now play well with the higher tensions. I'm still able to put pressure on my younger league opponents with my smashes now. All I'm trying to say to the OP is that yes you can try different tensions upwards until you admit that you are playing worse with a higher tension with that racquet. I've used 24-25 pounds for many years now and didn't try anything higher until the z-speed, zf1 and zf2 racquets I got in the last couple of years. And they cope well with the tension and the strings are still reasonably durable for me. All he can do is try and experiment with the different combinations rather than being negative yet again.
I used in the past various rackets with different strings @ different tensions(20-29lbs). It shows me, that you are unable to play with plastics at your chosen tension, because you use red plastics. The wrong shuttle for your climate. Cheater! There are alot stringers out there and some lower your request, because they don't want to break your racket or just want to satisfy you with a durable stringing job. Some are lazy and use flying clamps to do more jobs in one hour which results in 3 lbs lowered jobs. They string different at tournaments compared to their daily business. Stringers are not wellpaid workers. An expensive kitchen doesn't give you a michelin star automatical. After a talk with a stringer at a GPG tournament 2 years ago, who told me that he strings the mains 2lbs tighter than the cross, the title "Yonex tournament stringer" isn't for me always a certificate for a great and good stringer.
You are probably right considering the fact that I rarely use the same stringer twice in a row. I just bought 2 new racket and i'm using different string on each. I just tried Bg68ti for the first time and I like it over the BG80 so far. I think I prefer soft feeling over hard one. As far as tention goes... I use 26lbs but considering going at 27lbs as I don't have any problem to produce power. I mainly play with plastic tought and i've seen many people saying that high tension is worthless with plastic I guess that's true, but when I lower my tension i'm not quite sure I like the feeling. I guess i'd have to check wich one I prefer between BG65, 65ti and 68ti. According to reviews 68ti seem like a poor string tought will probably go back to 65ti/65 But what tension to use ?
Some people prefer high tension with plastic shuttles like Mark A. so it's not totally out of the question. It is pretty rare that those people are in Canada though, the dryer and colder climate makes it pretty harsh to play at those tensions with plastic shuttles. As long as you don't develop any arm injury, I guess it's fine though.
