Low, low tensions. 30lbs feels great. 20lbs pretty good, too

[yourmailman]

My Biomimetic 100 has no vibration at 30#. I am even thinking of removing the dampener to see what that feels like.

[ART ART]

Originally Posted by corners

Chris Edwards, in the early blog psts, asked TW Professor about it. I've encountered it around 25 pounds.

How can one find that tension?

Thank's

[Povl Carstensen]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

I just finished my mixed doubles partner's 38# string job. This is on a Babolat PureDrive 107. It will be interesting to see how it hits in such a large racquet.

How did that go. Sorry if it has been covered.

[corners]

Originally Posted by ART ART

How can one find that tension?

Thank's

Other than by accidentally stumbling upon it, I don't know

[yourmailman]

Povl,

The PD107 is my MD partner's. We don't play again until Monday night. I will report back.

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by v-verb

Very welcome - I just used what Tennusdude said and googled.




I'm going to give it a try - as you said, doesn't matter what the pros do - just whether it works for your game.

I'm going back to old racquets - Prince Graphites (POGs). Don't think any Pros are using them anymore but really I don't care

Well I got my Prince Boron (only in OS) and POG mid back from the stringer today - RPM Team 17 ga in each. I asked for 40 lbs in the Boron and 38 in the POG.

So I got Racquet Tune (assuming it's accurate) and measured. 50 lbs for the POG (12 lbs more than I asked) and 61.4 lbs for the Boron (18.6 lbs more than I requested). I guess the Stringer thought he knew best

And he broke a couple more grommets on the bottom (2 were already broken) and scratched the frame a little on the Boron. Oy vey....

Next stringing I'll have to find someone else.

So... the low tension experiment is on hold for me for the time being, unless the tension lowers over time.

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by v-verb

Well I got my Prince Boron (only in OS) and POG mid back from the stringer today - RPM Team 17 ga in each. I asked for 40 lbs in the Boron and 38 in the POG.

So I got Racquet Tune (assuming it's accurate) and measured. 50 lbs for the POG (12 lbs more than I asked) and 61.4 lbs for the Boron (18.6 lbs more than I requested). I guess the Stringer thought he knew best

And he broke a couple more grommets on the bottom (2 were already broken) and scratched the frame a little on the Boron. Oy vey....

Next stringing I'll have to find someone else.

So... the low tension experiment is on hold for me for the time being, unless the tension lowers over time.

who the heck strings your rackets??? some big sports store?

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by gmatheis

who the heck strings your rackets??? some big sports store?

Nope, the local tennis guy here. I'm near Toronto and he basically runs the town's tennis leagues and has a small pro shop.

He's pretty good but I guess the kids he gets to string (juniors he coaches) aren't great at listening to what customers what and decided to string just under the low range of each racquet.

They probably thought I had no idea what I was talking about - when I said 38 for the POG he wrote down 38 kg and I had to correct him to lbs. That would have been ridiculous playing a 38 kg (84 lb) tension racquet.

Anyhow we'll see how the racquets play. I don't want to stir it up with him. I'll just take my stringing elsewhere.

[COPEY]

A better move would be to buy a stringer, that way the quality of your string job is completely under your control.

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by COPEY

A better move would be to buy a stringer, that way the quality of your string job is completely under your control.

That's a good idea! I'll look into it as my 2 racquets cost $76 to string today.

Thanks!

[COPEY]

Oh man...yeah, get a stringer, and soon. That's just crazy. The process is a little imtimidating in the beginning, but you soon realize it's pretty simple.

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by COPEY

Oh man...yeah, get a stringer, and soon. That's just crazy. The process is a little imtimidating in the beginning, but you soon realize it's pretty simple.

Thanks Copey!

reading up on Klippermates as they seem cheap and reliable. Any other ideas welcomed!

Off to get some Z's now - thanks again for that idea!

nigel

[COPEY]

No problem, and only one thing to add: consider buying the best stringer you can afford. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a Klippermate, not at all. The thing about the lower-end models is they're more labor intensive. Some don't mind it, have strung on them for years. Others quickly tire of the effort involved, then purchase a model with more convenience features and regret not going to a higher-end model to begin with.

There are several schools of thoughts with purchasing a stringer for the first time. Some say buy a low-end inexpensive model to see if stringing is for you. Not a bad idea, except for the fact that the experience is completely different. I've strung on a Klipper, and for me, if that was first experience, I definitely wouldn't have enjoyed it lol. I would have continued of course, because the idea driving 40 min each way & paying good money to have it done was out of the question.

If you play long enough and don't turn into a string junkie you'll recoupe the money on your investment if you opt to drop several hundred on a machine. Again, there's nothing wrong with the low-end models; they'll definitely get the job done. It's just that the more features you have the more enjoyable the process.

I wish someone had convinced me to buy one years ago. It's one of the things I really regret. On the flip side, I'm glad I finally did. It's one of the better buys I've made in recent years.

Regardless of what you end up buying you'll love the convenience and cost savings of being able to have a fresh string job any time the mood hits ya.

[ATP100]

Originally Posted by v-verb

Well I got my Prince Boron (only in OS) and POG mid back from the stringer today - RPM Team 17 ga in each. I asked for 40 lbs in the Boron and 38 in the POG.

So I got Racquet Tune (assuming it's accurate) and measured. 50 lbs for the POG (12 lbs more than I asked) and 61.4 lbs for the Boron (18.6 lbs more than I requested). I guess the Stringer thought he knew best

And he broke a couple more grommets on the bottom (2 were already broken) and scratched the frame a little on the Boron. Oy vey....

Next stringing I'll have to find someone else.

So... the low tension experiment is on hold for me for the time being, unless the tension lowers over time.

Go back to him right away.

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by COPEY

No problem, and only one thing to add: consider buying the best stringer you can afford. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a Klippermate, not at all. The thing about the lower-end models is they're more labor intensive. Some don't mind it, have strung on them for years. Others quickly tire of the effort involved, then purchase a model with more convenience features and regret not going to a higher-end model to begin with.

There are several schools of thoughts with purchasing a stringer for the first time. Some say buy a low-end inexpensive model to see if stringing is for you. Not a bad idea, except for the fact that the experience is completely different. I've strung on a Klipper, and for me, if that was first experience, I definitely wouldn't have enjoyed it lol. I would have continued of course, because the idea driving 40 min each way & paying good money to have it done was out of the question.

If you play long enough and don't turn into a string junkie you'll recoupe the money on your investment if you opt to drop several hundred on a machine. Again, there's nothing wrong with the low-end models; they'll definitely get the job done. It's just that the more features you have the more enjoyable the process.

I wish someone had convinced me to buy one years ago. It's one of the things I really regret. On the flip side, I'm glad I finally did. It's one of the better buys I've made in recent years.

Regardless of what you end up buying you'll love the convenience and cost savings of being able to have a fresh string job any time the mood hits ya.

Thanks Copey

Great advice and highly appreciated!

Can I ask what model you would recommend? A few hundred is doable - closer to a thousand not so much as I expect to probably string 4 or 5 times a year for myself only

Originally Posted by ATP100

Go back to him right away.

I would love to but here's the thing - he's the only game in town and it may be better just to leave it alone. I really don't want him or his crew near my racquets again - I can't get a new Boron if mine gets messed up somehow...

And if I want to play in the town leagues I have to deal with him. He usually seems to be nice but lately he's been bad at answering emails so I'm thinking best to back away a bit.

[sundaypunch]

Originally Posted by COPEY

No problem, and only one thing to add: consider buying the best stringer you can afford. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a Klippermate, not at all. The thing about the lower-end models is they're more labor intensive. Some don't mind it, have strung on them for years. Others quickly tire of the effort involved, then purchase a model with more convenience features and regret not going to a higher-end model to begin with.
.....

Good advice.

Once you string on a better stringer you will wish you hadn't purchased an entry level model. If you string one racquet a month you are probably better off with a Klippermate or equivalent. If you string multiple racquets each week you will be happy if you saved up for something better (if you can afford it).

EDIT - I see that you only plan to string 4-5 racquets a year. You might go with an entry level model and then sell it if you decide to do more. Then again, once you have a stringer and can easily try new strings / tensions, you might find that you are using it much more than expected.

[yourmailman]

Also, check around for a higher end used machine. Many times, they are almost as inexpensive as a new low end one.

There is a guy at my tennis facility that just sold a really nice used Eketlon for $300. At least that what he was asking for it, it may have actually gone for less.

[fortun8son]

Gamma Progression ST II. Fixed clamps, 6pt mount, crank. $729
Or you can go with a comparable, cheaper Eagnas/ Pro's Pro model for less.
I did.
You can upgrade to a floorstand and/or Wise later.

[2ndServe]

are there any 5.0 doubles players who like the low tension? How's it for volleys?

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by 2ndServe

are there any 5.0 doubles players who like the low tension? How's it for volleys?

Ask Jack Sock! He won mixed dubs US open @ 38lbs!

-Fuji