Pros using silcone spray on their strings

[PrinceMoron]

What deodorant does Nadal use?

My 1000th posting on TWH, I was hoping for better, but there it is.

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by grimmbomb21

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

Originally Posted by tyu1314

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

WD40 is NOT silicon spray.

Thing is, the propellent in some of these sprays is actually caustic to some plastics, turning them slightly brittle or at least tarnishing the smoothness of it. I'm surprised they say people use this on strings/racquets. Besides, if they absolutely wanted to be sure, all they'd have to do is feel the inside of the racquet plastic bag the pros take off. If it's slippery and leaves a slight film on your hands, they've been sprayed. This is honestly the first time I've head of this even happening.

[Bartelby]

What's the difference between building slipperiness into the string and adding it on with a spray? The former is presumably much costlier and people send lots of money on strings so why not spray?

No benefit to the average player, who knows, but they do spend some money on strings because they're told they're good for spin!

[SwankPeRFection]

The difference is that one is built into the string technology itself and subject to tennis regulations (if any) and the other is not. It's no different than a pitcher using vaseline on the ball or something else.

As a joke I think I'm going to bring an empty can of Pam with me to the courts this week and make like I'm spraying my strings at each changeover and before the match starts. See what happens... Should get a few laughs.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by YesTennis

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

Generic silicone spray

Originally Posted by Rabbit

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.

It's a bit more than $2 at Walmart

Originally Posted by TennisD

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

Originally Posted by Yourtenniscoach

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

There are many rec players (4.0+) who can put enough topspin on a tennis ball to feel the effects of poly string... or in this case a string lubricant. The effect is magnified as the racquet head speed increases. I'd be more concerned with what it's doing to their arms.

[Bartelby]

A pitcher is tampering with the ball. Silicone has nothing to do with the ball. Both players share the ball, not the racquet, so there is a big difference.

[dr. godmode]

Has anyone actually tried this yet?

[Bartelby]

I'll try it tomorrow - curiosity is a virtue - not expecting a miracle.

[Wuppy]

I put the spray on the racquet itself so that it slides through the air more easily. I then apply it to my body and find I can run faster.

[CDestroyer]

If Nadal uses silicon spray and it does enhance spin I wouldn't be suprised. It would just be another way that he cheats in order to win. Similar to a steroid filled home run hitter in baseball. For me it would invalidate the narrow based major wins that he does have.

[JDMasFCK]

Originally Posted by Wuppy

I put the spray on the racquet itself so that it slides through the air more easily. I then apply it to my body and find I can run faster.

me too

10chars

[Leelord337]

Originally Posted by corners

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

ha when i was a 3.0 and just getting started w/tennis 10 years ago I used to rub candle wax all over my strings thinking it would give me more spin, and it did

[Bartelby]

Might try it on a string that was due to be cut out, so I don't know whether that's an entirely useful test.

[floydcouncil]

THIS IS WAAAAAAAAY BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

I'll try it tomorrow - curiosity is a virtue - not expecting a miracle.

You have to spray the stringbed after every tennis session and then move all main strings to distribute the lubricant across the stringbed (crosses). Then, straighten the stringbed as much as possible.

It takes about a week until the strings will move back into position (like a poly). It's best to try it on a freshly strung racquet as older stringjobs already have fairly deep notches. The strings will snap back into those notches.

[Bartelby]

This story is quite funny for all those who remember the day when luxilon strings were recommended for banning around here for doing much the same thing, well, no one argues that anymore.

[arche3]

I think rpm blast and other polys already have silicon on the string as part of the manufacturing. New rpm sure feels like it has a coating on it.

[syke]

Originally Posted by PrinceMoron

What deodorant does Nadal use?

My 1000th posting on TWH, I was hoping for better, but there it is.

Nadal must have used a can of WD40 on himself, mistaking it for the Lynx effect....

[Hi I'm Ray]

I tried this more than a year ago. I didn't have silicone spray on hand but used some spray for vinyl. It dids increase spin noticeably, but wears off after about 30min and left marks on the tennis balls. Maybe silicone spray will last longer.

I neither agree nor disagree with the proposed ban. Some people have been doing this or with wax on gut for years. A gut string job I got from TW had quite a bit of wax on it. If you string for yourself you might have noticed there are also several strings that come packaged with a light coating of lubricant already on it.

[treo]

Spray your whole racquet except the grip with Armor All. It will be good for your strings and racquet, making it shiny and slippery.

Maybe the real reason some pros switch racquets after several games is because the silicone spray has worn off.