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

[fedhead83829]

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

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

mine, strung at 35lbs with a full bed of explosive poly, has a slight buzz. more so the first couple of times playing with it than now. Not sure if i just got use to it or if its gone down some.. i have my other racket strung at 30lbs but i have not hit with it yet..

[yourmailman]

I have my Biomimetic 100's at 372g (13.12oz). I use lead tape around the inside of the head from 9 to 3. I use several layers, first is Babolat for a heavy base, than 2 to 3 layers of standard 1/4".

The specs say 11.8oz (334g) strung, but all of mine weighed in at 11.9oz (337g). Specs say the swing weight is 311, so with the extra ounce and a third, I'm sure it is way more than that.

The combination of the 59 stiffness and the low tension seems ideal for my game.

[yourmailman]

Originally Posted by fedhead83829

mine, strung at 35lbs with a full bed of explosive poly, has a slight buzz. more so the first couple of times playing with it than now. Not sure if i just got use to it or if its gone down some.. i have my other racket strung at 30lbs but i have not hit with it yet..

I had a buzz in my racquet when I strung it at 36, at 30, no buzzing at all.

[eks-mat]

I played with my blx six.one 95 at 35 lbs with big hitter blue rough, I string myself, and it was very nice to only pull 35 pounds. The stringing went super easy, was easier on the clamps and my hands since the clamps didn't have to be so tight to hold tension.

Anyway I hated it. For me there was no surprising spin or anything, it just felt like a racket strung too low. low power yes, but the spin was terrible. In my expert opinion my strings were moving too much on impact. I don't get how all you have such spin with low tensions, my brother tried my racket and agreed on the power, but playing against him he definently wasnt spinning the ball at all either, and he does at his normal 56 lbs.

I'm fed up at the moment with all this anyway so I'm gonna take a break for a few weeks but I do wish I had better results tonight... id have to say it wasn't even that much different than normal tension...

[v-verb]

Sorry you hated it eks-mat.

I do have a question for those using an 18 x 20 string pattern - what tensions do you find work best? I'm at 35 lbs in my Donnay X-Platinum and it still feels pretty stiff.

Advice appreciated!

[fedhead83829]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

I had a buzz in my racquet when I strung it at 36, at 30, no buzzing at all.

I played with 30# in both rackets i tried(bio 300 weighted the same as my aerogel 4d 200s & a f 3.0 tour) 2 nights and there was a slight buzz in both like the 35#. I am interested in seeing if its still there the next time because in had gone away after about two matches..

[eks-mat]

Ya, seems like everyone here loves it, makes me feel like I did something wrong... idk what it could of been though.

[yourmailman]

Originally Posted by eks-mat

Ya, seems like everyone here loves it, makes me feel like I did something wrong... idk what it could of been though.

eks-mat,

The extreme low tension is not for everyone. If you already hit with a lot of topspin you may not see that much of an increase. At higher tensions, I hit a pretty flat ball (thanks Jimmy Connors). Now I see tremendous amounts of topspin without much effort. And the backspin I get on some of drop shots is unbelievable.

As I stated earlier in the thread, all the people I have converted love the extra spin they get at ELT. I can vouch for the fact that it is their on their shots. Shots they weren't making before (at least not with the amount of spin). My girlfriend's shots started jumping a lot more, and the amount of spin was actually hard for me to gauge because it was so different than her shots when she was in the upper 50s.

I had to alter my game a little, but I am loving the ELT. But, like I said, it's not for everybody. Use what you are comfortable with. I like what ELT has done for my game and right now I can't see going back to the higher tensions.

Sorry it didn't work for you, but don't feel you did anything wrong. Did you hit with a lot of topspin at higher tensions?

On another note, I injured my arm in a singles match on Wednesday. I knew from past experience that I was going to have trouble serving last night. It was a little tenuous at first, but I think the ELT made it much easier to serve with the soreness I had. I remember having the same soreness when I first started playing again a few years ago, and I was lucky to get the ball over the net on my serves. I chalk it up to the low tension helping to propel the ball.

It could be a mental thing, but I was actually serving pretty well, even with the pain.

[fortun8son]

It's funny.
People who have left their stings in forever would feel right at home with low tension synthetic.

[eks-mat]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

eks-mat,

The extreme low tension is not for everyone. If you already hit with a lot of topspin you may not see that much of an increase. At higher tensions, I hit a pretty flat ball (thanks Jimmy Connors). Now I see tremendous amounts of topspin without much effort. And the backspin I get on some of drop shots is unbelievable.

As I stated earlier in the thread, all the people I have converted love the extra spin they get at ELT. I can vouch for the fact that it is their on their shots. Shots they weren't making before (at least not with the amount of spin). My girlfriend's shots started jumping a lot more, and the amount of spin was actually hard for me to gauge because it was so different than her shots when she was in the upper 50s.

I had to alter my game a little, but I am loving the ELT. But, like I said, it's not for everybody. Use what you are comfortable with. I like what ELT has done for my game and right now I can't see going back to the higher tensions.

Sorry it didn't work for you, but don't feel you did anything wrong. Did you hit with a lot of topspin at higher tensions?

On another note, I injured my arm in a singles match on Wednesday. I knew from past experience that I was going to have trouble serving last night. It was a little tenuous at first, but I think the ELT made it much easier to serve with the soreness I had. I remember having the same soreness when I first started playing again a few years ago, and I was lucky to get the ball over the net on my serves. I chalk it up to the low tension helping to propel the ball.

It could be a mental thing, but I was actually serving pretty well, even with the pain.

Thanks for the input. I was gonna try it out again, but probably wont now. Big Hitter rough is pretty soft for a poly, maybe with a very stiff poly I'd like it more IDK. But ya I do hit with decent topspin already, and with the ELT I had virtually no spin, as well as NO power just swinging as I normally do. I really went at a few and just couldn't get the spin.

Having said that I am glad I tried it, and I am still gonna drop my normal tension a few lbs to see if I can find a sweet spot that does yield me a little more spin and increase ball pocketing. Also, I don't have arm issues, but the softness at 35 lbs was pretty nice I have to admit.

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by eks-mat

Thanks for the input. I was gonna try it out again, but probably wont now. Big Hitter rough is pretty soft for a poly, maybe with a very stiff poly I'd like it more IDK. But ya I do hit with decent topspin already, and with the ELT I had virtually no spin, as well as NO power just swinging as I normally do. I really went at a few and just couldn't get the spin.

Having said that I am glad I tried it, and I am still gonna drop my normal tension a few lbs to see if I can find a sweet spot that does yield me a little more spin and increase ball pocketing. Also, I don't have arm issues, but the softness at 35 lbs was pretty nice I have to admit.

Sorry to hear that you did not like ELT...

I have not tried Big Hitter Rough (BHR) but I have used Pro Supex Big Ace, which is touted to be a very soft co-poly. I did not like it at all in the low 40s and high 30s. Like your experience, there is simply no power, no spin and not much control. Just plushy softness! And there was plenty of string vibrations that even two dampeners could not mute!!!

At 50-60+ lbs, I normally already hit with a lot of topspin. With ELT, my spin levels increased much more than the increase in power. That allowed me to swing all out even from mid-court and not fear hitting the ball long. The spin will take care of it.

My one single session with 16g multi/ 17g syn gut already converted me. I fear to even think how much more spin I will get with poly at ELT. If the extra spin materializes, how am I going to even get the ball over the net!

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by fortun8son

It's funny.
People who have left their stings in forever would feel right at home with low tension synthetic.

Not really...

I am one bloke who cuts and re-strings usually around 6-8 hours of play. Rackets restrung for about a month with little use are also re-done...

The feel and difference is drastic but the potential is huge.

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by v-verb

Sorry you hated it eks-mat.

I do have a question for those using an 18 x 20 string pattern - what tensions do you find work best? I'm at 35 lbs in my Donnay X-Platinum and it still feels pretty stiff.

Advice appreciated!

In my 18x20 Dunlop AG200, it did feel pretty "stiff" at 35/33. When I passed it to my playing partner, he thought it was strung around 50lbs or so.

I know I'll definitely drop some tension when I restring this 18x20 AG200. Maybe 32? Or 30?

I'm thinking what tension should I try on my 95 sq in 16x18 PSC 6.1...

[evanjj]

Playing with this low tension really is something different. I was ready to give up on it last week, but told myself to really focus on good stroke technique and not going for extreme power shots the last 2 days hitting..and I love it again!

I was playing tired up until then for a few days and couldn't control my shots.

I can't stress enough how much you need proper technique at these low tensions. That is when you get rewarded

[mikeespinmusic]

Hi Chris,

Would love to see footage as to how this plays! I wouldnt mind trying 30lbs on stiff poly like genesis spin x on my boris becker DC London Tour.

[Povl Carstensen]

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

In my 18x20 Dunlop AG200, it did feel pretty "stiff" at 35/33. When I passed it to my playing partner, he thought it was strung around 50lbs or so.

I know I'll definitely drop some tension when I restring this 18x20 AG200. Maybe 32? Or 30?

I'm thinking what tension should I try on my 95 sq in 16x18 PSC 6.1...

Yes, perhaps one could make a rule of thumb that what is "soft" or low in 16/19 or 18 is a couple of kgs higher than in 18/20.

[Old Chemist]

I generally have been stringing polys at 48-56 lbs -- decided to try low 40's.

I found the string bed felt duller and less responsive and bothered my arm to boot -- tried this with a couple of polys.

Don't know if this was addressed in this thread earlier, bit I am curious to see if anyone else had the same experience.

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by Povl Carstensen

Yes, perhaps one could make a rule of thumb that what is "soft" or low in 16/19 or 18 is a couple of kgs higher than in 18/20.

I'm going to 28 lbs when I restring the X-Platinum 18 x 20

[yourmailman]

Originally Posted by Old Chemist

I generally have been stringing polys at 48-56 lbs -- decided to try low 40's.

I found the string bed felt duller and less responsive and bothered my arm to boot -- tried this with a couple of polys.

Don't know if this was addressed in this thread earlier, bit I am curious to see if anyone else had the same experience.

I started out in the 60's and some at 70. I started dropping at the suggestion of my coach.

I liked the initial drops into the low 50's, but when I got into the 40's, I had some control issues, and my forearm tended to get a little sore. In short, I didn't like it. It wasn't really too bad, but I didn't see any great advantage over the low 50's I had worked down to.

I was about to give up when I came upon this thread. I went into the 30's and found what a lot of people here have found. I liked it. My control started to return, no more arm soreness, and my strokes actually improved. Plus I started getting a lot more spin on the ball.

When I dropped down to 30 (which was the original intent of the thread) I found lots of power, spin and control. My service speed had dropped off a little when I started lowering my tension, but once I got into the really low 30s and at 30, it picked back up. Maybe it was just needing to get used to the lower tensions, maybe the middle tensions (40's & high 30's) aren't ideal for the way I serve.

To make a long story a little shorter, I absolutely love the ELT. Not the middle of the road, a bit lower than "normal" tensions, but the extreme low range. I tried several different blends in the mids. They all lacked what I was looking for. But when I got down to 32 and 30, I found a new weapon.

Everyone's experience is going to be a little different due to racquet choice and playing style. But I would say that the people going down into the 40's are missing the point of the experiment. Until you get WAY down in the 30's, you are not experiencing the effects of ELT.

In other words ... GO FOR IT!!! Jump in with reckless abandon. Do a great big cannonball. Don't wade into the shallow end of the pool up to your ankles and decide that swimming isn't for you. Have some fun.

Like Cole Porter said, "Do what all good scientists do ... EXPERIMENT"!

[Old Chemist]

Yourmailman,

Thanks for the interesting feed-back.

OK -- I will give it a go -- next stop 32 lbs.