The J011yroger guide to strings.

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
J011yroger

Great article!

I have a question: Why would you use a poly is X-one biphase is so good?
Imagine you were not a string breaker would you still go for a poly?

I have a 14 year old daughter who uses a full bed of either, x-1, multifeel or N.vy, depending on how much money I have at any given time. Are multifeel and N.vy any good?

I wouldn't use a poly unless I was breaking a multi inside of 20 hours.

Poly only "works" if you have sufficient batspeed to bend the strings when you hit. (this is also key to finding the right tension for yourself).

If you do not generate enough racquethead speed to bend the poly strings, you most likely would benefit from the little extra zip that multis afford.

Re: Multifeel, N.vy, and X1, it is just a question of if you like it. They are all quality strings.

J
 

Tunsco

New User
I wouldn't use a poly unless I was breaking a multi inside of 20 hours.

Poly only "works" if you have sufficient batspeed to bend the strings when you hit. (this is also key to finding the right tension for yourself).

If you do not generate enough racquethead speed to bend the poly strings, you most likely would benefit from the little extra zip that multis afford.

Re: Multifeel, N.vy, and X1, it is just a question of if you like it. They are all quality strings.

J

Thanks.

My daughter break strings after 3 hrs with x-1 18 and 4-5hrs with x-1 17, N.vy and mulitfeel. Should she look at polys? And if so what would you recommend for a youngster?
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Thanks.

My daughter break strings after 3 hrs with x-1 18 and 4-5hrs with x-1 17, N.vy and mulitfeel. Should she look at polys? And if so what would you recommend for a youngster?

Well...at 14 for a girl, she isn't exactly a youngster anymore.

Maybe try a blend with poly mains and a multi cross?

As far as what to use, Luxilon ALU is the gold standard, but there are a billion ones out there, so it is about what she likes.

Try one full bed of ALU, and one hybrid.

The ALU is going to change how it feels and plays as it gets wear on it, but so do the multis she is playing with now.

Let me know how it works, and be sure to ask her hitting partner if she is hitting a better ball with the ALU.

J
 

Tunsco

New User
Well...at 14 for a girl, she isn't exactly a youngster anymore.

Maybe try a blend with poly mains and a multi cross?

As far as what to use, Luxilon ALU is the gold standard, but there are a billion ones out there, so it is about what she likes.

Try one full bed of ALU, and one hybrid.

The ALU is going to change how it feels and plays as it gets wear on it, but so do the multis she is playing with now.

Let me know how it works, and be sure to ask her hitting partner if she is hitting a better ball with the ALU.

J

Ha haha. Try telling her she isn't a youngster!

Isn't ALU dangerous for a player of that age? I mean arm and shoulder injuries etc?

And what about bat speed you were talking about? Does the fact that she is a chronic string breaker mean she has the required bat speed?
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Ha haha. Try telling her she isn't a youngster!

Isn't ALU dangerous for a player of that age? I mean arm and shoulder injuries etc?

And what about bat speed you were talking about? Does the fact that she is a chronic string breaker mean she has the required bat speed?

Well, I meant in a tennis sense, once she hits 16 or so, she won't grow much more, where boys keep developing into their early 20s.

As far as being dangerous injury wise, I think that the vast majority of injuries that stem from repetitive motion which people try to quell with softer strings are caused by poor technique. Usually hitting late, trying to use your wrist on normal (non emergency) shots, trying to force topspin, trying to force pronation, or hitting the ball past the point of maximum racquet speed.

***Disclaimer*** I am not a doctor, researcher, therapist, or particularly good tennis player, the above is just what I feel, and have observed.

Basically I am really big on using common sense. If you don't like the way something feels, or if something hurts, stop doing it.

And as far as the batspeed thing goes, if she is breaking multis in under 5 hours, she should be able to reap benefits from using poly.

You will have to play around with tension, the poly only "works" if you are bending the strings when you hit the ball. So it needs to be strung sufficiently loose for the strings to bend. (This is different for every player due to stroke mechanics, body type, racquet type, and string type.)

If the ball is going long when she is hitting after the switch, advise her to swing faster, and the ball will come in.

It is a bit of an adjustment switching to poly and you just have to trust the string and let it do its job, just believe that you can swing at the ball and it will go in.

J
 

Tunsco

New User
Well, I meant in a tennis sense, once she hits 16 or so, she won't grow much more, where boys keep developing into their early 20s.

As far as being dangerous injury wise, I think that the vast majority of injuries that stem from repetitive motion which people try to quell with softer strings are caused by poor technique. Usually hitting late, trying to use your wrist on normal (non emergency) shots, trying to force topspin, trying to force pronation, or hitting the ball past the point of maximum racquet speed.

***Disclaimer*** I am not a doctor, researcher, therapist, or particularly good tennis player, the above is just what I feel, and have observed.

Basically I am really big on using common sense. If you don't like the way something feels, or if something hurts, stop doing it.

And as far as the batspeed thing goes, if she is breaking multis in under 5 hours, she should be able to reap benefits from using poly.

You will have to play around with tension, the poly only "works" if you are bending the strings when you hit the ball. So it needs to be strung sufficiently loose for the strings to bend. (This is different for every player due to stroke mechanics, body type, racquet type, and string type.)

If the ball is going long when she is hitting after the switch, advise her to swing faster, and the ball will come in.

It is a bit of an adjustment switching to poly and you just have to trust the string and let it do its job, just believe that you can swing at the ball and it will go in.

J

Thanks this is really good advice. I might try her with the new Nadal string, RPM Blast. I hear it is soft and a few pros have switched to it. Have you tried it out?
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Thanks this is really good advice. I might try her with the new Nadal string, RPM Blast. I hear it is soft and a few pros have switched to it. Have you tried it out?

I have not, my buddy tried it, and he didn't seem to think the packet he got for free was any better than anything else.

But he is a 23 year old 5.5 man.

If you are looking for soft, I was asked to demo Pacific Poly Xforce, and thought it was pretty nice. That was soft and one of the best polys to volley with.

Also maybe Luxilon Flouro might be worth a shot for you, although it is expensive.

I suppose the best thing would be to try the RPM, the Flouro, and the Pacific.

But before that, I personally would just have her try one set of regular Lux ALU. That is the gold standard, and will see if she even likes poly better. One stringjob isn't going to make someone's arm fall off. If she likes it, then go from there with experimenting.

One more thing, I only like to use what I like to use, and I HATE trying different things. So really the only strings I have experience with are ones where retailers and reps have asked me to demo them, and review them so they know who to sell them to. I usually hit with them for 20 mins and then either cut them out or give my frame to a friend to hit with until they break, and I go back to my normal string.

So there are a TON of good strings out there which I have not used, so wont comment on. So if you decide to make a switch to poly, just try a few and pick one you like, because trying every string on the planet to find the one you like best is a waste of time for a developing player.

J
 

Tunsco

New User
I have not, my buddy tried it, and he didn't seem to think the packet he got for free was any better than anything else.

But he is a 23 year old 5.5 man.

If you are looking for soft, I was asked to demo Pacific Poly Xforce, and thought it was pretty nice. That was soft and one of the best polys to volley with.

Also maybe Luxilon Flouro might be worth a shot for you, although it is expensive.

I suppose the best thing would be to try the RPM, the Flouro, and the Pacific.

But before that, I personally would just have her try one set of regular Lux ALU. That is the gold standard, and will see if she even likes poly better. One stringjob isn't going to make someone's arm fall off. If she likes it, then go from there with experimenting.

One more thing, I only like to use what I like to use, and I HATE trying different things. So really the only strings I have experience with are ones where retailers and reps have asked me to demo them, and review them so they know who to sell them to. I usually hit with them for 20 mins and then either cut them out or give my frame to a friend to hit with until they break, and I go back to my normal string.

So there are a TON of good strings out there which I have not used, so wont comment on. So if you decide to make a switch to poly, just try a few and pick one you like, because trying every string on the planet to find the one you like best is a waste of time for a developing player.

J

And am I right that one needs to reduce the tension by 10% for the polys?
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
And am I right that one needs to reduce the tension by 10% for the polys?

10% is the common rule of thumb, some people drop 5% some don't at all.

For the first one, drop 10% and see how it feels. Then go up or down from there.

J
 
***Disclaimer*** I am not a doctor, researcher, therapist, or particularly good tennis player, the above is just what I feel, and have observed.

Basically I am really big on using common sense. If you don't like the way something feels, or if something hurts, stop doing it. J

Despite the disclaimer, the most sage of advice. :) BHBH
 
***Disclaimer*** I am not a doctor, researcher, therapist, or particularly good tennis player, the above is just what I feel, and have observed.

Basically I am really big on using common sense. If you don't like the way something feels, or if something hurts, stop doing it. J

In Nashvegas, we call this "Hee-Haw Therapy" ;) :) BHBH
 

Tunsco

New User
10% is the common rule of thumb, some people drop 5% some don't at all.

For the first one, drop 10% and see how it feels. Then go up or down from there.

J

Just got two rackets restrung. One with Alu Flouro 17 and the other RPM Blast 17. She uses the Wilson Kfactor Pro Open.

She hit with the RPM today for 3 hours and actually loves it. We restrung them at 52lbs She says its better than the N.Vy and Multifeel. She wants to switch to it. Will try the flouro tomorrow.
 

LPShanet

Banned
Just got two rackets restrung. One with Alu Flouro 17 and the other RPM Blast 17. She uses the Wilson Kfactor Pro Open.

She hit with the RPM today for 3 hours and actually loves it. We restrung them at 52lbs She says its better than the N.Vy and Multifeel. She wants to switch to it. Will try the flouro tomorrow.

It's also worth seeing how she feels about either/both after a few days. Polys are notorious for losing their zip, and they may play totally different after a few hours. In general, RPM seems to go flat quicker than Fluoro, but your mileage may vary.
 

Tunsco

New User
It's also worth seeing how she feels about either/both after a few days. Polys are notorious for losing their zip, and they may play totally different after a few hours. In general, RPM seems to go flat quicker than Fluoro, but your mileage may vary.

How long do they last for you?
 

LPShanet

Banned
How long do they last for you?

Fluoro lasts longer for me than RPM in terms of playability, as I find it okay until it breaks (for me that's about 6-8 hours). RPM, though I haven't used it extensively, goes slightly longer before it breaks, but I find its performance drops after about 4 hours. I go through strings faster than some of my friends, but J011y, for example, goes through them much faster than I do.
 

Lambsscroll

Hall of Fame
Jo11y, I had to give up the kevlar. I strung up one of my sticks with a stiff poly for the cross and a soft synthetic for the mains and it plays beautifully. With the stiff poly for the cross it helps with tension maintenance and for whatever reason I get power, control and feel with this set up. Give it a go!
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Jo11y, I had to give up the kevlar. I strung up one of my sticks with a stiff poly for the cross and a soft synthetic for the mains and it plays beautifully. With the stiff poly for the cross it helps with tension maintenance and for whatever reason I get power, control and feel with this set up. Give it a go!

As long as you aren't breaking it too quickly, sounds like a great setup for you.

J
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
He's BACK!!!!!!!!!!!! How's it hangin' J-Man? BHBH ;) :)

Doing ok, fighting with some injuries for the past couple of months, going to take two weks off and try to rest up as best as I can for the national, and mixed season.

Was playing great at the end of the summer, so hopefully when spring comes I can bounce right back into that groove with a couple of weeks of training. (Wishful thinking I know).

Anyhow, I will chronicle my adventures in 2011 here, and look forward to seeing and hitting with you again in the future.

Hope the family is well, and in good health.

J
 

AlpineCadet

Hall of Fame
I heard Nadal/Federer somehow heard about this thread and are about to switch to the Kevlar/Poly setup because of the intense increase in control/spin/comfort. I just bought some stocks in support of Kevlar and hope you guys do so as well. Cheers, OMGWINCOPTER.
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
You're not dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or...even cooler, like a pheonix risen from the ashes...

No... Wait... A zombie!

No... Even cooler!

A Death Knight!!!

lance30.jpg


J
 

MuscleWeave

Semi-Pro
Hi Jolly

I'm a new poster to your thread. I'm hoping that you, or someone else, can help me set up some hybrids. I have a set of Tourna BHBR 17, a 19' length of TF Pro Red Code 16, a full set of Revelation 17 and a half set of Multifeel 16. I'd like to experiment, but I'd rather not waste good string. I guess I'll be using the Red Code as a cross, since I have only 19'. Would it be better to use the Revelation or the Multifeel for the mains? Also, would it be better to use Tourna BHBR 17 in the mains or crosses? Would either Multifeel or Revelation work best here? I have flexy racquets, and my usual string is Multifeel 16. I play an all-court counterpunching style, 3.5 on good days.

Thank you
MW
 
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MuscleWeave

Semi-Pro
Hi Jolly

I'm a new poster to your thread. I'm hoping that you, or someone else, can help me set up some hybrids. I have a set of Tourna BHBR 17, a 19' length of TF Pro Red Code 16, a full set of Revelation 17 and a half set of Multifeel 16. I'd like to experiment, but I'd rather not waste good string. I guess I'll be using the Red Code as a cross, since I have only 19'. Would it be better to use the Revelation or the Multifeel for the mains? Also, would it be better to use Tourna BHBR 17 in the mains or crosses? Would either Multifeel or Revelation work best here? I have flexy racquets, and my usual string is Multifeel 16. I play an all-court counterpunching style, 3.5 on good days.

Thank you
MW


Jolly

I don't break strings. I have a full, medium speed stroke with moderate spin.

Thanks again
MW
 
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Hi Jolly

I'm a new poster to your thread. I'm hoping that you, or someone else, can help me set up some hybrids. I have a set of Tourna BHBR 17, a 19' length of TF Pro Red Code 16, a full set of Revelation 17 and a half set of Multifeel 16. I'd like to experiment, but I'd rather not waste good string. I guess I'll be using the Red Code as a cross, since I have only 19'. Would it be better to use the Revelation or the Multifeel for the mains? Also, would it be better to use Tourna BHBR 17 in the mains or crosses? Would either Multifeel or Revelation work best here? I have flexy racquets, and my usual string is Multifeel 16. I play an all-court counterpunching style, 3.5 on good days.

Thank you
MW

Hi, I just cut out a hybrid that I had with Revelation crosses because I didn't like it. I had 16 Beast XP mains with Revelation crosses at about 55 I think. Anyways, from my experiences, revelation is very very soft, almost too soft and the Beast XP just dominated the stringbed, almost too much, it seemed like revelation wasn't there. Maybe the first 2 or 3 times I hit with it, it was okay, but after that it went dead and just felt strange with no power and kind of stiffer. I know the Beast probably went dead first, but the revelation was just not a good string to be hybrided with it. I think you would probably be better with Multifeel crosses because the Revelation would break extremely fast as a main, because it was barely hanging in there as a cross for me. I don't know how multifeel is though, so I can really only base this off of what my experiences are with Revelation. Good luck deciding!
 

MuscleWeave

Semi-Pro
Hi, I just cut out a hybrid that I had with Revelation crosses because I didn't like it. I had 16 Beast XP mains with Revelation crosses at about 55 I think. Anyways, from my experiences, revelation is very very soft, almost too soft and the Beast XP just dominated the stringbed, almost too much, it seemed like revelation wasn't there.

Thanks for your reply.

Could you tell me more about the tensions? Did you tension both strings at 55, or the same tension? Usually a multi cross string is set tighter than the poly main by 2 or 3 lb. I hope I have better luck than you had with the Revelation. I'm thinking of stringing it in the mains at 56 with Pro Red Code in the crosses at 52.

MW
 
Thanks for your reply.

Could you tell me more about the tensions? Did you tension both strings at 55, or the same tension? Usually a multi cross string is set tighter than the poly main by 2 or 3 lb. I hope I have better luck than you had with the Revelation. I'm thinking of stringing it in the mains at 56 with Pro Red Code in the crosses at 52.

MW

I did the revelation tighter than the Poly mains. I remember stringing a friend of mine's racket with revelation mains and gamma zo power crosses, and he absolutely hated it. No pop at all and just felt weird... That's another way to explain revelation; Not a lot of pop.
 

a0f6459

Rookie
Tension and customization question

J011yroger,

First off I can't believe I read through 30+ pages, but this thread is very informative.

I found the first page about finding the right tension by checking depth on the ball especially helpful.

My question is about matching tension with lead tape customization.

1) Should you find the right string tension first before going to customization?
2) Say you finally have the right tension because you have good depth on your ball, won't adding lead make you start hitting it out because of the higher swing weight?
3) On that same train of thought, should you string it with tension so that you have depth beyond service line, but ample distance from the baseline so that you can add weight in still be able to keep the ball in?

Apologies in advanced if I'm not asking the right questions, but I also spent some time reading up on lead tape customization and was wondering how these two go hand in hand as far as getting the correct setup calibrated.

As far as my game, I am a baseliner that only goes to the net when pulled up there by short balls. I was coached as a kid all the way through high school, so my swing technique is solid. I do not hit tons if topspin, just what comes naturally within my normal swing so although I have not tried it yet, I'm pretty sure it will be a deploarized setup.

Thanks in advance.
 

Agent Orynge

Professional
J011yroger,

First off I can't believe I read through 30+ pages, but this thread is very informative.

I found the first page about finding the right tension by checking depth on the ball especially helpful.

My question is about matching tension with lead tape customization.

1) Should you find the right string tension first before going to customization?
2) Say you finally have the right tension because you have good depth on your ball, won't adding lead make you start hitting it out because of the higher swing weight?
3) On that same train of thought, should you string it with tension so that you have depth beyond service line, but ample distance from the baseline so that you can add weight in still be able to keep the ball in?

Apologies in advanced if I'm not asking the right questions, but I also spent some time reading up on lead tape customization and was wondering how these two go hand in hand as far as getting the correct setup calibrated.

As far as my game, I am a baseliner that only goes to the net when pulled up there by short balls. I was coached as a kid all the way through high school, so my swing technique is solid. I do not hit tons if topspin, just what comes naturally within my normal swing so although I have not tried it yet, I'm pretty sure it will be a deploarized setup.

Thanks in advance.

Would you settle on a particular tension, and then change frames? Probably not. If you consider that a modified frame is essentially a different racquet altogether, then you understand that you should modify your frame before experimenting with string type and tension. To do otherwise is simply putting the horse before the cart.

Practically speaking, it's also much easier (and quicker) to apply and remove tape than it is to experiment with tension.
 
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a0f6459

Rookie
Would you settle on a particular tension, and then change frames? Probably not. If you consider that a modified frame is essentially a different racquet altogether, then you understand that you should modify your frame before experimenting with string type and tension. To do otherwise is simply putting the horse before the cart.

Practically speaking, it's also much easier (and quicker) to apply and remove tape than it is to experiment with tension.

Thanks for the reply.

To me it seems like chicken or egg unless I am understanding customization incorrectly. From those threads it seems that you would also add or subtract lead when you have reached the depth that you want off of your shots.

So if tension is adjusted based on depth and customization is based on depth, I'm not not quite sure how to reconcile the two.

So in your suggestion, I would add tape to what I already have strung. Would I add tape until I felt that I was hitting the ball nice and heavy? (and possibly hitting it out at this point) Then would I increase string tension to decrease depth to start getting the ball in?

Does that make sense?
 

yokied

Hall of Fame
After a decent scan of the first few posts (thanks j011yroger for all of it), I still have a question: is there any advice you can give me on how to play a new string job in?

I picked up 4 fresh restrings from my stringer, went direct to serving training and broke 2. I understand serving probably isn't the best way to start off, but I had no choice. About half an hour of rallying ok?
 

Muppet

Legend
If you're adding lead tape to the hoop, put a little more on than you need. While playing, peel layers off until it feels comfortable. Then when you re-string dial in the depth. Unfortunately this method doesn't help with adding weight to the handle.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
That's not the way you do it.

You add 2-3 grams per week and get used to it. Then see if you want to add more. There is no way you will be able to make decisions on lead over the course of one hitting session.
 

ClarkC

Hall of Fame
And am I right that one needs to reduce the tension by 10% for the polys?

10% is the common rule of thumb, some people drop 5% some don't at all.

For the first one, drop 10% and see how it feels. Then go up or down from there.

J

I understand that reducing the tension on the poly mains in a hybrid string job will let the polys move more and impart more spin, for those with sufficient racquet head speed. But reduced tension is also said to increase power and decrease control.

Is the idea of the reduced tension poly mains to increase spin and use the spin to compensate for control issues as well as compensating for the increased power by spinning the ball down into the court before it can go long?
 

derickyan

New User
is monofilament strings considered as a poly? should the beginners-intermediate use those strings? or would it hurt your arm?
 
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