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

[evanjj]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

Serving took a little getting used to as well. My speed dropped a little (but not very much) until I got used to the tension, and my placement is WAY better. Plus the added movement really helps. I actually aced my teacher several times last week (and that doesn't happen too often).

Definitely a different game of tennis at this low tension. I will keep going with it. I love the fact that I am not trying super hard to find that extra pace and spin like I used to. As I said earlier, I am enjoying the proper technique needed on every shot to get the ball where I need to. Making my strokes way better.

[unorthodox stringing]

yourmailman,

Thanks for sharing your low tension experience with synthetic gut.

I just tried a combination of Maxim Touch / Synthetic Gut Titan at 35/33 lbs in my Dunlop Aerogel 200.

I experienced all the benefits you mentioned. And the amount of spin in absolutely incredible! Way beyond any poly or kevlar strings I've tried.

Thanks!

PS: I've also posted my findings in my blog at:http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot....i-syn-gut.html

[yourmailman]

Unorthodox Stinging,

Nice blog. I too find a lot of fur on my strings that I didn't see at higher tensions.

The loss of directional control that you mention was evident when I first dropped down into the 30's, but once I got used to it, I find that I actually have more directional control.

I know you have been reading this thread, but I want to reiterate that I really like my natural gut setup at 30#. It actually seems to infuse a little more spin and power than that syn-gut or hybrid setups. An added benefit is that there is less string movement on the natural gut. I seem to only see significant string movement after I have really ripped one.

The ping pong ball analogy is right on. I hit a shot earlier tonight that blew everybody's mind. I got pulled out wide, but was able to get to the ball. It looked as if it was going back wide, but then it started curling back towards the court. By the time it got to their baseline (actually, about a foot inside of it), it had curled back into the doubles alley for an outright winner.

If you are up for some more experimenting, try going to a 120mm string in at least the crosses. The thinner strings might also help with your loss of directional control. It did for me.

Glad you like the thread.

[yourmailman]

Almost forgot ...

I agree that the sweet spot seems much larger at the extreme low tension. The only time I seem to miss-hit now is when the ball actually come in contact with the frame. It's very comfortable and easy on the arm.

[evanjj]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

Almost forgot ...

I agree that the sweet spot seems much larger at the extreme low tension. The only time I seem to miss-hit now is when the ball actually come in contact with the frame. It's very comfortable and easy on the arm.

Are you saying I should ditch my hybrid at 30 pounds and go full gut?

[Calor1]

I tried a lower tension yesterday and I hated it.
I tried 20/19 kg or 44/41 lbs, coming from 27 kg or 59.5 lbs. (full bed SPPP)
I played with it for half an hour after which I took another racket with my normal tension. Low tension is not for everybody..

[SOY78]

Originally Posted by Calor1

I tried a lower tension yesterday and I hated it.
I tried 20/19 kg or 44/41 lbs, coming from 27 kg or 59.5 lbs. (full bed SPPP)
I played with it for half an hour after which I took another racket with my normal tension. Low tension is not for everybody..

20/19kg is not that low, you should try in the 14/13kg range, it feel much different than what you've tried.

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

Unorthodox Stinging,

I know you have been reading this thread, but I want to reiterate that I really like my natural gut setup at 30#. It actually seems to infuse a little more spin and power than that syn-gut or hybrid setups.

...

If you are up for some more experimenting, try going to a 120mm string in at least the crosses. The thinner strings might also help with your loss of directional control. It did for me.

Glad you like the thread.

Thanks for your kind words. I'm just returning to tennis after more than a decade's layoff

With the ridiculous amount of spin with syn gut at low tension, to add more by using nat gut would probably allow me to "boomerang" my shots and play tennis alone!

I did note you preferred 18g strings at 30lbs. That's why i made adjustments and strung at 35/33 lbs with my 16g and 17g string respectively. I thought that would be similar to your full 18g setup. I will try full 30lbs as soon as i can get hold of 18g strings

Did u have any string buzz problem with poly at 30lbs?

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by SOY78

20/19kg is not that low, you should try in the 14/13kg range, it feel much different than what you've tried.

I share the same view that 30+lbs is totally different from 40+lbs.

Before trying, i had assumed control to be a linear graph when plotted against string tension. Now i know i am wrong. It is not linear.

The amount of control "lost" does not increase proportionally with the tension drop. To me, it seems like the massive increase in spin and pocketing added back some control. But with only one session of tennis so far, i cannot be sure... I have to weigh other factors like tension holding, durability and serves into the equation.

So far, all i know is this setup has more merits than demerits.

[ART ART]

With high SW or heavy mass rackets, the low tensions don't work as well ...

Low tensions are very good for the light weight and low SW rackets, because you can get more dwell time in string/ball.

With heavier mass, and high SW rackets, this low tensions (13kg to 17kg) don't work very well ...

[kaiser]

Really..?

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by ART ART

With high SW or heavy mass rackets, the low tensions don't work as well ...

Low tensions are very good for the light weight and low SW rackets, because you can get more dwell time in string/ball.

With heavier mass, and high SW rackets, this low tensions (13kg to 17kg) don't work very well ...

My racquet is heavy - now 360 grams (I added 10g to the butt). Low tension is perfect for me

[ART ART]

Originally Posted by v-verb

My racquet is heavy - now 360 grams (I added 10g to the butt). Low tension is perfect for me

What's the tension and string ?

Do you know the SW of the racket?

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by ART ART

What's the tension and string ?

Do you know the SW of the racket?

See my sig - tension and string are there. SW? don't know, sorry. It's a heavy beast though

[TroutSc]

My pb7s are tb/vanquish at 55. What do we think a full tb at 35 would do?

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by TroutSc

My pb7s are tb/vanquish at 55. What do we think a full tb at 35 would do?

Let's put it this way:

TB @38lbs in my Aero storm, was the only set up in my life where I was consistently hitting 6.5+ foot kickers. TB is my absolute favorite string at low tensions when my elbow is fully healthy.

-Fuji

[Centerforward71]

Originally Posted by Calor1

I tried a lower tension yesterday and I hated it.
I tried 20/19 kg or 44/41 lbs, coming from 27 kg or 59.5 lbs. (full bed SPPP)
I played with it for half an hour after which I took another racket with my normal tension. Low tension is not for everybody..

Buzzerrrr. That's not low tension. Read earlier post. Start at 35. Your experience above is exactly what you get in that middle point. Also ditch the tension difference for this total waste. Everyone seems to start too high. Actually start at 32

[unorthodox stringing]

My Dunlop Aerogel 200 racket has been beefed up to 366g.



The stock swingweight is 330+. So with the additional weight, the SW should easily be 350 or more.

Both my playing partner and myself felt the low tension played well. Are you able to elaborate which aspect doesn't jive with the low tension?

[fedhead83829]

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

My Dunlop Aerogel 200 racket has been beefed up to 366g.



The stock swingweight is 330+. So with the additional weight, the SW should easily be 350 or more.

Both my playing partner and myself felt the low tension played well. Are you able to elaborate which aspect doesn't jive with the low tension?

Where did you beef it up at? or what positions? I had the aerogel 200, then swapped to the aerogel 200 4Ds.. I have been playing around with some bio 300 weighted to the same weight as the ag 200 4ds..

[unorthodox stringing]

My ag200 strung but with no grip was 328g.

Dampener 5g
Leather grip 20g
Overgrip 5g
4" of lead tape at 3 & 9 (2 layers) 8g

Total = 328 + 5 + 20 + 5 + 8 = 366g

Balance is approximately 32.3cm i think...