Pros using silcone spray on their strings

Torres · 06-23-2012, 10:16 PM

[Edit: Since originally posting this article (from the Sunday Times newspaper) a number of stringers from the Wimbledon stringing room and other events have said that they have never seen anything that would suggest that pros use silicome spray on their strings. Whether that means that they spray themselves after the racquets have been strung or the article is BS no one knows. Nevertheless you should treat the article below with a healthy dose of scepticism since it does not quote anyone or evidence that which it alleges/speculates in the article. Just because a story is printed in a newspaper does not mean its true.]

They definitely need to ban the application of external substances (other than logo paint) on strings. Doesn't say who the culprits are though and what type of strings this is being used on....

The Sunday Times
Barry Flatman Published: 24 June 2012

A Rafa Nadal topspin shot can rotate the ball at up to 4,900 revolutions a minute (Paul Childs)

TOP tennis players are hugely increasing the spin on a ball by secretly spraying their racket strings with silicon.

Former tennis stars, including two Wimbledon champions, this weekend called for a crackdown on the use of the spray. Pat Cash, who triumphed at Wimbledon in 1987, said: “The game’s values are gone.” In the 1960s, the Australian Ken Rosewall, one of the finest exponents of spin, got up to 2,000 revolutions of the ball per minute. Today’s players can reach 4,900rpm.

Cash said former players including Mats Wilander, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl were supportive of his call for outlawing the use of silicon. Cash said Lendl “maintains string technology has gone way too far” and that the use of silicon should be banned.

Modern racket strings stretch and snap back in a fraction of a second, increasing the spin on a ball. Players enhance that spin further with silicon.

The International Tennis Federation is monitoring the situation but has taken no action.

syke · 06-23-2012, 11:25 PM

Where can I buy these silicone spray? Any good recommendations?

Bud · 06-23-2012, 11:36 PM

I've used silicone spray for a couple of years now on my stringbed. It does help the strings snap back into place but no more so than a non-sprayed gut/poly hybrid or a full poly stringbed.

I only use it because a full gut or multifilament stringbed is a mess without it... having to be constantly straightened.

I've never seen any study that definitively proves that silicone spray, when applied to a stringbed, increases spin on a tennis ball

Quote:

Originally Posted by syke

Where can I buy these silicone spray? Any good recommendations?

Walmart sells it for about $2 per can

Torres · 06-23-2012, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syke

Where can I buy these silicone spray? Any good recommendations?

Complete waste of time for a rec player.

Bartelby · 06-24-2012, 12:07 AM

If it keeps a multi string job straight that's useful enough, but i dont use multi.

Bud · 06-24-2012, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torres

Complete waste of time for a rec player.

Useless opinion

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartelby

If it keeps a multi string job straight that's useful enough, but i dont use multi.

It does

YesTennis · 06-24-2012, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

I've used silicone spray for a couple of years now on my stringbed. It does help the strings snap back into place but no more so than a non-sprayed gut/poly hybrid or a full poly stringbed.

I only use it because a full gut or multifilament stringbed is a mess without it... having to be constantly straightened.

I've never seen any study that definitively proves that silicone spray, when applied to a stringbed, increases spin on a tennis ball

Walmart sells it for about $2 per can

Do you use WD-40 or the equivalent or is it just generic silicone spray?

000KFACTOR90000 · 06-24-2012, 05:33 AM

It would be interesting to know if the pro stringers are applying it for their on court players.

corners · 06-24-2012, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

I've used silicone spray for a couple of years now on my stringbed. It does help the strings snap back into place but no more so than a non-sprayed gut/poly hybrid or a full poly stringbed.

I only use it because a full gut or multifilament stringbed is a mess without it... having to be constantly straightened.

I've never seen any study that definitively proves that silicone spray, when applied to a stringbed, increases spin on the ball.

Here you go. Wd40, not silicone, but lubricants clearly increase spin: http://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/lear...pinandlube.php

A_Instead · 06-24-2012, 09:00 AM

What is considered silicone spray? I know what WD40 is.
But not sure what is refered to as silicone spray?

Rabbit · 06-24-2012, 09:14 AM

Silicone spray can be found using trusty old Google. It run $5 - $13 a can. Seems to be readily available. If it does enhance spin, it should be banned.

gino · 06-24-2012, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

I've used silicone spray for a couple of years now on my stringbed. It does help the strings snap back into place but no more so than a non-sprayed gut/poly hybrid or a full poly stringbed.

I only use it because a full gut or multifilament stringbed is a mess without it... having to be constantly straightened.

I've never seen any study that definitively proves that silicone spray, when applied to a stringbed, increases spin on a tennis ball

Walmart sells it for about $2 per can

Bud, how do you apply silicone spray and will it shorten the life on my string-bed?

I have a BLX Six.One 95 16x18 setup with a solinco poly main and syn gut, they vary based on what is sent to me.

mmk · 06-24-2012, 09:24 AM

If silicone spray is banned, shouldn't wax on gut be banned as well?

OldFedIsOld · 06-24-2012, 09:37 AM

Wouldn't graphite lube powder work better? Because silicon spray is a liquid so gunk would build up from the ball fuzz and the sand/dirt/etc from the courts, which would cause more friction on the bed.

Towerofpower205 · 06-24-2012, 09:54 AM

Would this work with say an RpM blast and xcel hybrid

TennisD · 06-24-2012, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

Useless opinion

No, he's actually very, very right. It's a massive waste of time and effort for a rec player.

grimmbomb21 · 06-24-2012, 10:23 AM

Hopefully this thread doesn't lead to club and public courts smelling like WD40.

tyu1314 · 06-24-2012, 11:18 AM

anyone try it on full poly or copoly?
since nadal is using a poly string.

Does it trade off any things?

tyu1314 · 06-24-2012, 11:20 AM

would this work?
http://www.*********/itm/WD-40-NO-ME...item416368c600

Yourtenniscoach · 06-24-2012, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TennisD

No, he's actually very, very right. It's a massive waste of time and effort for a rec player.

Falls in line with rec players playing with poly strings, IMO.

06-23-2012, 10:16 PM	#1
Torres Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,620	Pros using silcone spray on their strings [Edit: Since originally posting this article (from the Sunday Times newspaper) a number of stringers from the Wimbledon stringing room and other events have said that they have never seen anything that would suggest that pros use silicome spray on their strings. Whether that means that they spray themselves after the racquets have been strung or the article is BS no one knows. Nevertheless you should treat the article below with a healthy dose of scepticism since it does not quote anyone or evidence that which it alleges/speculates in the article. Just because a story is printed in a newspaper does not mean its true.] They definitely need to ban the application of external substances (other than logo paint) on strings. Doesn't say who the culprits are though and what type of strings this is being used on.... The Sunday Times Barry Flatman Published: 24 June 2012 A Rafa Nadal topspin shot can rotate the ball at up to 4,900 revolutions a minute (Paul Childs) TOP tennis players are hugely increasing the spin on a ball by secretly spraying their racket strings with silicon. Former tennis stars, including two Wimbledon champions, this weekend called for a crackdown on the use of the spray. Pat Cash, who triumphed at Wimbledon in 1987, said: “The game’s values are gone.” In the 1960s, the Australian Ken Rosewall, one of the finest exponents of spin, got up to 2,000 revolutions of the ball per minute. Today’s players can reach 4,900rpm. Cash said former players including Mats Wilander, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl were supportive of his call for outlawing the use of silicon. Cash said Lendl “maintains string technology has gone way too far” and that the use of silicon should be banned. Modern racket strings stretch and snap back in a fraction of a second, increasing the spin on a ball. Players enhance that spin further with silicon. The International Tennis Federation is monitoring the situation but has taken no action. Last edited by Torres : 08-18-2012 at 09:11 AM.

06-23-2012, 11:25 PM	#2
syke Professional Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,078	Where can I buy these silicone spray? Any good recommendations? __________________ Pacific X Force Modified (333g/5HL/333SW) + Volkl Cyclone 18/Yonex Poly Tour Pro 125

06-24-2012, 09:14 AM	#11
Rabbit G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: at the bottom of every hill I come to Posts: 11,110	Silicone spray can be found using trusty old Google. It run $5 - $13 a can. Seems to be readily available. If it does enhance spin, it should be banned. __________________ Wilson Steam 99S poly Luxilon 4G 1.25 @ 45

06-24-2012, 10:23 AM	#17
grimmbomb21 Professional Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,082	Hopefully this thread doesn't lead to club and public courts smelling like WD40. __________________ 1x IG Prestige MP

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