Strings - Multi, Gut and 'RacquetTune' App

I've been playing around with different strings and tensions in my Yonex Vcore 310Gs.   I started out using a yonex 16g multi, but it seemed to drop in tension and die quickly, so I started using poly mains with synthetic gut crosses, but due to some arm issues wanted something softer.  I'm finding how much of a difference strings make, and how much there is out there to know and try out!

A couple months ago I went to a very soft multi (technifibre xone biphase 17g and 18g) which I like very much for feel, control and power. However, I was breaking them really quickly. Sometimes in 3-5 sets. The 17g was actually breaking as bad or worse than the 18, (it breaks on the frame when i miss-hit). They call this 'shearing' when it breaks along the top.   I dont string my own rackets, so weekly stringing is simply too costly for me. 

Interestingly... I think I've found a way to extend the life of my strings, or at least keep them from breaking at the top when I mishit, by I placing one of those worm dampeners across the top. I like the feel of the dampener across the top (and yes, it is usta legal).  Better yet, I have not broken a string since doing this, I even have a dozen sets of play on a set of the 18g. The tension on the Technifibre is holding true, not much in the way of peeling/fraying strings... might change my take on using this stuff long term.

I've found the 17g plays the best of me in this racquet and will stick with it now. The 18 'feels better' on touch and spin shots but the 17 has treated me well for serves and groundies. There isnt much difference, but just enough.

I got a lot of advice to try Gut, and Gut mains with poly crosses. I had my stringer put in a bed of the Babolat VS team 17g, @ 57mains,55 crosses.   Unfortunately... I ended up not really liking this full bed of Bab 17 vs gut, I couldn't control it and seemed to launch a lot of balls. The tension dropped down to 34 pounds over time, and it didn't last very long (10 sets?) before developing serious grooves in the mains. 

4/27...
I currently have 3 rackets strung up with Technifibre HDX Tour 17g and really like it. I've gotten 17 sets out of one so far, it looks like it is about to break but is still playing well. I have 11 on another bed and it is still playing great, just starting to peel a bit. The 3rd is still new and I'll be playing with it this week and weekend at our usta match.

I still have a couple of packs of gut/poly (pacific/head hawk touch) that I want to try, but will wait til after the upcoming usta match weekend to put them in.

More info and string tracking on my spreadsheet, here: LINK

More later...