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

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

I will have to second that.

For grins tonight, I started off with my one racquet that is still strung at 50/48. I didn't like it at all. My returns were sailing, as were some of my volleys that would have been clean winners with the 30# setup. The pop was gone from my serve (especially second serves), and I double faulted several times.

After 5 games (should have done it sooner), I went back to my favorite (syn-gut at 30#). All of a sudden, I felt comfortable again. My serves had more pop, and were moving good. I was able to hit the ball with pace, with most of them landing well to the back of the court with lots of top-spin. It was like coming home.

Maybe it's a mental thing, but I think I'll stay with the extreme low tension.

Wow your using Syn gut. I have not tried that yet. I imagine you used poly at 30 also why did you go with the syn gut rather ? Now I gotta go lace up a stick because of you. I was thinking a stiff multi perhaps XONE biphase rather than such a soft syn gut ?? I have not read this thread in a while but have you tried to hybrid at the low tension ?

For those that call it a fad. I have about six 4.5-5.0 level players and a couple of nationally ranked juniors playing with low 30s and not interested in going back.

I will reiterate if your strokes are sloppy then sooner or later you shall return to the higher tension because the lower tension is not forgiving to open faced flailing at the ball which is very common among players with not fundamentally sound strokes. Please this is NOT a slight on everybody just a scientific observation, I mean that before I get attacked.

[yourmailman]

Centerforward71,

Yes, syn-gut. When I strung my first low tension, I only had syn-gut and co-poly lying around. I decided to start with the syn-gut because that's what I had the most of. After trying an all poly and poly/syn-gut hybrid, I like the all syn-gut the best.

Both of the other setups are nice, but I keep going back to the syn-gut. The only down side to it is that the strings move a lot. Not the case with the poly and hybrid.

[yourmailman]

Just ordered some natural gut to continue the experiment.

I'll post results once I get it strung.

[v-verb]

Sounds good YMM!

Don't know if I mentioned it before but I was playing my late friend's Prince CTS Graduate with Bab Syn Gut.

It played great, pocketed wonderfully and was an all round good racquet! I could probably still play it but I moved on to POGs and now a Donnay X-Platinum 94 which is like an even better playing POG at 18 x 20.

I tested the Graduate on RacquetTune and it registered at 33 lbs - it's never been restrung in all those years.

So SynGut at low tensions can play great - just beware it can launch if you don't use spinny strokes!

[yourmailman]

Played tonight in the cold with my 30# syn-gut. 36 at the start of the match and 32 when we finished. My tension app says I am now actually at 28#, and my partner's PureDrive 107 has settled in at 35#.

It seemed to me that the cold didn't affect the strings as much at the lower tension as what I experienced last year when I was in the 50's and 60's. Volleys were still nice and crisp, while the other team was having issues. I was also getting a lot of pop on my serve.

Anyone else had similar results in low temperatures with low tension?

[Centerforward71]

Been playing with the low tensions for almost a year pretty much pain free except for the last couple of weeks been having wrist soreness and some symptoms of TE. Is it the low tension possibly ? I don't play string longer than 8-10 hrs already learned that lesson. Might just be me and poor warm ups and flexibility maintenance, any thoughts ?

[v-verb]

How low is the tension and what string including gauge are you using?

I don't think low tension would cause it, but you may want to increase comfort by going to a smaller string and 30 lbs or so.

I've had a bad wrist since summer (Super light hollow racquets - RipStick and Pure Drive - high tensions - 60+).

I'm using Donnays and old Prince Sticks now. They are solid, 12 ounce sticks and 35-40 lbs tension with 17 ga poly strings. My arms and wrists are feeling tons better.

[Tennisguy3000]

I wish I could try my racquet strung at my current 60 lbs & 40 lbs together (well... one at a time & switch between them

Intrigued for sure

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by v-verb

How low is the tension and what string including gauge are you using?

I don't think low tension would cause it, but you may want to increase comfort by going to a smaller string and 30 lbs or so.

I've had a bad wrist since summer (Super light hollow racquets - RipStick and Pure Drive - high tensions - 60+).

I'm using Donnays and old Prince Sticks now. They are solid, 12 ounce sticks and 35-40 lbs tension with 17 ga poly strings. My arms and wrists are feeling tons better.

Strung at 35 plays at 30 and below. Genesis twisted razor 16L on head ig speed 315 16x19

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by Centerforward71

Strung at 35 plays at 30 and below. Genesis twisted razor 16L on head ig speed 315 16x19

Seems pretty good. Maybe try 17 ga or 18 ga string but the strings will break easier.

Good luck, maybe take a few days off to rest it. I use KT tape on my wrist just in case and I think it helps a lot. Give it a try

[jcollura4]

wow, how powerful is it

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by v-verb

Seems pretty good. Maybe try 17 ga or 18 ga string but the strings will break easier.

Good luck, maybe take a few days off to rest it. I use KT tape on my wrist just in case and I think it helps a lot. Give it a try

Must have been something else. I've played everyday and all pain is gone. Hmmm? I must have done something to wrist elsewhere and not realized it ?

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by jcollura4

wow, how powerful is it

It's a different power. It's power on demand but has a lot more control than you would ever imagine. Take that from someone who use to string everything 60+ even full poly because of needing control over power !!

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by Centerforward71

Must have been something else. I've played everyday and all pain is gone. Hmmm? I must have done something to wrist elsewhere and not realized it ?

That's excellent news - glad the pain is gone!

[yourmailman]

I hit last night with a PS 6.0 85 strung at 36# with Technifibre Red Code 18.

I absolutely loved the feel of the racquet. But the strings were a little too tight.

If you have been following this thread, you know I normally play Dunlop Bio 100 strung at 30#.

I ordered this before I got way down in the tensions. I guess I am gonna have to order some more Technifibre Red Code and drop the tension down where I like it.

I was surprised at how balanced the frame was and I am thinking that if I go down to 30#, I will like it even more.

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

I hit last night with a PS 6.0 85 strung at 36# with Technifibre Red Code 18.

I absolutely loved the feel of the racquet. But the strings were a little too tight.

If you have been following this thread, you know I normally play Dunlop Bio 100 strung at 30#.

I ordered this before I got way down in the tensions. I guess I am gonna have to order some more Technifibre Red Code and drop the tension down where I like it.

I was surprised at how balanced the frame was and I am thinking that if I go down to 30#, I will like it even more.

Could you tell me a little about your style of play and level of play ? Curious and helpful for comparison sake..

[fedhead83829]

this season I have played with dunlop explosive poly 16L in the mains strung at 42 & either dunlop explosive syn gut or the vokl power fiber 16L in the crosses strung at 45.

Last season I tried the same setup but swapped the syn in the mains and poly in the crosses.. And that felt amazing!!! Incredible feel and loved it. BUT, it didnt last very long so i just reversed it and the feel is good as well.

Has anyone tried all poly (say Dunlop Explosive poly) strung way low?? around 35lbs?? If so I would be interested in how that worked for yall..

[Litespeeds]

When everyone is talking about stringing down into the low to mid 30's, what kind of stringer are you all using. Electronic constant pull, crank or drop weight? This makes a huge difference is actual low tension.

I have been stringing a Yonex V-Core 95D with Solinco Revolution 1.25 at 38 pounds on a Wilson Baiardo stringer. Feels tighter than some racquets that are claimed to be 55+ lbs.

Do you think the 95D will play even better at 30-32 lbs? Is it better to use Revolution 1.25 or 1.20 gauge for low tension stringing for control?

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by Litespeeds

When everyone is talking about stringing down into the low to mid 30's, what kind of stringer are you all using. Electronic constant pull, crank or drop weight? This makes a huge difference is actual low tension.

I have been stringing a Yonex V-Core 95D with Solinco Revolution 1.25 at 38 pounds on a Wilson Baiardo stringer. Feels tighter than some racquets that are claimed to be 55+ lbs.

Do you think the 95D will play even better at 30-32 lbs? Is it better to use Revolution 1.25 or 1.20 gauge for low tension stringing for control?

Drop weight That's why I mention stringing tension and playing tension.

[sansaephanh]

do all you low tensioners play massive topspin games? Any serve and volley, chip and charge, feel oriented players trying these tensions? I still have yet to try low tensions. Would love to experiment in my mids.