Are low tensions safe for the racquet frame?

[eks-mat]

I'm wondering if tensions in the low 30s aren't high enough to hold the frames shape together on miss hits and whatnot? I posted this in another thread but want to ask here before I try a low tension with my new racket. Might be a dumb question but I think it makes some sense.

[Absolute]

Originally Posted by eks-mat

I'm wondering if tensions in the low 30s aren't high enough to hold the frames shape together on miss hits and whatnot? I posted this in another thread but want to ask here before I try a low tension with my new racket. Might be a dumb question but I think it makes some sense.

I think it's actually safer for the racket. Less chance of the racket caving in during stringing

[sansaephanh]

thats kind of like asking if that feather is okay sitting on that child compared to an elephant sitting on the child.

[Xizel]

It doesn't make sense. Less tension is less stress is less deformation.

[eks-mat]

Thanks for the info all.

I don't wanna get into a huge thing but I do want to defend myself. First I was thinking recommended tension could have a minimum for another reason than playability.

Secondly, from a physics point of view, circles and spheres can become stronger under pressure. So that was my reason for asking if the minimum tension recommendation gave the racket a inward pressure which strengthened it.

[evanjj]

Originally Posted by eks-mat

Thanks for the info all.

I don't wanna get into a huge thing but I do want to defend myself. First I was thinking recommended tension could have a minimum for another reason than playability.

Secondly, from a physics point of view, circles and spheres can become stronger under pressure. So that was my reason for asking if the minimum tension recommendation gave the racket a inward pressure which strengthened it.

Good thread...as I am about to experiment with low tension for the first time as well

[anirut]

ummmmm .....

[neverstopplaying]

Originally Posted by eks-mat

Thanks for the info all.

I don't wanna get into a huge thing but I do want to defend myself. First I was thinking recommended tension could have a minimum for another reason than playability.

Secondly, from a physics point of view, circles and spheres can become stronger under pressure. So that was my reason for asking if the minimum tension recommendation gave the racket a inward pressure which strengthened it.

Valid point.

My guess is that there is still similar stress placed on all around the racquet at ball impact, so the stresses are similar.

Add that to the fact that people have been stringing in the 30s for a while and it doesn't seem to cause problems.

I think the racquet mfgers often put 50-60 as a range as this is the historical range for optimal performance. We're likely to see the low number decrease as polys and low tensions become more mainstream.

[slowfox]

Unstrung is pretty safe, I assume...

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by eks-mat

Thanks for the info all.

I don't wanna get into a huge thing but I do want to defend myself. First I was thinking recommended tension could have a minimum for another reason than playability.

Secondly, from a physics point of view, circles and spheres can become stronger under pressure. So that was my reason for asking if the minimum tension recommendation gave the racket a inward pressure which strengthened it.

I think it's a very valid question actually. I have mine strung at 35lbs and quite love it. Going to 30 lbs next as it's a 18 x 20 stringbed.

[UCSF2012]

Originally Posted by eks-mat

Secondly, from a physics point of view, circles and spheres can become stronger under pressure. So that was my reason for asking if the minimum tension recommendation gave the racket a inward pressure which strengthened it.

Ooh....science!!!! There will be none of that here. We only make guesses, and the only physics we know is F=ma (improperly used at that).

[anubis]

Originally Posted by neverstopplaying

Valid point.

My guess is that there is still similar stress placed on all around the racquet at ball impact, so the stresses are similar.

Add that to the fact that people have been stringing in the 30s for a while and it doesn't seem to cause problems.

I think the racquet mfgers often put 50-60 as a range as this is the historical range for optimal performance. We're likely to see the low number decrease as polys and low tensions become more mainstream.

Optimal performance for syn gut/nylon strings. I think those ranges don't really apply to poly, at least not in the same way.

[kaiser]

Been playing my 4D 200 Tours at sub-40 tensions for the past three years. No issues whatsoever.

[Fearsome Forehand]

You can't hurt a frame by going too low. Too high, yes, too low, no. Otherwise, unstrung frames would implode.

[OTMPut]

Originally Posted by UCSF2012

Ooh....science!!!! There will be none of that here. We only make guesses, and the only physics we know is F=ma (improperly used at that).

most here have transcended science to know that the so called "physical laws" are actually hypotheses yet to be disproved.

[anubis]

Unlike a guitar, where leaving unstrung can cause damage due to the truss rod configuration, a tennis racquet's natural "equilibrium" is unstrung. As you string it and increase tension, you are moving further and further away from equilibrium. The lower the tension, the closer to equilibrium and the safer it is for the racquet.

[eks-mat]

Originally Posted by anubis

Unlike a guitar, where leaving unstrung can cause damage due to the truss rod configuration, a tennis racquet's natural "equilibrium" is unstrung. As you string it and increase tension, you are moving further and further away from equilibrium. The lower the tension, the closer to equilibrium and the safer it is for the racquet.

Ooo guitar is a great example I wish I would have thought of that one. And the equilibrium idea is exactly what I was thinking about, it seemed to me it would be way easier to break an unstrung frame on the ground by bouncing it than a strung one for sure.

I appreciate all of the input here and will definitely be going low.

[jorel]

ive gone soo low that ive lost all resilency and bounce from the stringbed and it felt like i was hitting with just the frame on every ball

every shot felt like a frame shot

[eks-mat]

Originally Posted by jorel

ive gone soo low that ive lost all resilency and bounce from the stringbed and it felt like i was hitting with just the frame on every ball

every shot felt like a frame shot

I think this is exactly what I was concerned about, sort of like shooting a rifle that isn't tight to your shoulder, the impact will be way worse. So I was thinking loose string becoming tight would yank on the frame.

Ill be trying 35 pounds tonight I'm pretty excited!