Low, low tensions. 30lbs feels great. 20lbs pretty good, too - Page 80

evanjj · 02-11-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Chemist

Yourmailman,

Thanks for the interesting feed-back.

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

yes...I went for it straight up at 30 and loved that first hit

unorthodox stringing · 02-11-2013, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v-verb

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

I was thinking of 28lbs too

Please share your play test ok?

Thanks!

v-verb · 02-11-2013, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

I was thinking of 28lbs too

Please share your play test ok?

Thanks!

I shall do - may take a couple of weeks but I will report back. Thinking of putting Spiky Shark 17 in it and see how much spin I can get

Cheers

unorthodox stringing · 02-12-2013, 03:10 AM

I finally summoned enough "courage" to jump in the deep end with reckless abandon!

30 lbs it is! And ditch the mains and cross strings differential!

Will update later after I get to strip some ball fur!!!

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot....ut-30-lbs.html

evanjj · 02-12-2013, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

I finally summoned enough "courage" to jump in the deep end with reckless abandon!

30 lbs it is! And ditch the mains and cross strings differential!

Will update later after I get to strip some ball fur!!!

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot....ut-30-lbs.html

Nice job....we await reports!

unorthodox stringing · 02-12-2013, 06:22 PM

Thanks evanjj!

I've updated my play test on my blog. Both the earlier strung Dunlop and the PSC 6.1.

Old Chemist · 02-12-2013, 06:24 PM

Yourmailman,

Again thanks for your original reply to me -- so I tried 30 lbs not really expecting much but was very pleasantly surprised -- you were right on about better feel, more spin, a little more power, and yet still very good control.

I picked up a reel of Discho Big Blue 1.20 in Germany when I was visiting my daughter over Christmas (29 EU was too good to pass up). I started out trying it at 46 lbs (drop weight) which is a low tension for me. I quite liked it for the first 5 hours. I found it to be a low powered control string with a muted but not dull feel. After 5 h it became deadened and was hard on my arm -- up until then no problem. I cut it out right away and tried 42 lbs thinking I might get a longer playing time before it started bothering my arm -- no such luck -- right off the bat it gave me grief.

With some reluctance I followed your suggestion and strung up my racquet yesterday at 30 lbs (M's & X's). First off, stringing was an absolute delight -- pulling crosses was easy and quick. Today I played a friend who is a solid 4.5 -5.0. I usually average winning 3 games against him and have problems holding serve. We hit for about half an hour then played a set. Maybe I was sharp today, but I think the string setup made a big difference. I lost 7-6 in a tie break. I didn't break him but I did get him to deuce on his serve a few times. I held my own serve pretty easily, getting 5 aces on the way -- normally I get 1 - 2 per set. I did notice my balls were launching off my racquet at a higher angle giving me more clearance over the net, but as you noted the spin I was getting on the ball was bringing it down nicely so my shots were landing deep with some kick. I had to adjust a little bit to the way my racquet played but not anything really drastic. I was also surprised at the control I had on returning serve -- I was sure I would have a hard time with balls flying away on me -- in fact I had one of my better days returning -- slices, drives, and deep bloopers were all working. Finally, no arm pain after my session -- hope this continues.

What I am now wondering is how long the playability will last and I am also quite keen to try a few other polys at 30 lbs to see how they play.

unorthodox stringing · 02-12-2013, 06:34 PM

Old Chemist, thanks for sharing your experience!

Would you consider Discho Big Blue to be a soft or stiff poly?

Now that I am happy with the syn gut at ELT. I was thinking of trying ELT poly next...

Old Chemist · 02-12-2013, 06:44 PM

U-S,

I would consider it a pretty stiff poly.

Old Chemist · 02-12-2013, 06:52 PM

U-S,

If you are looking for a softer poly I found Dunlop Black Widow to be very soft. I also found Mamba O-Power and Black Mamba not too bad -- less than Big Blue but not as soft as BW.

yourmailman · 02-12-2013, 07:06 PM

Hey guys,

Chemistry ... nice to hear the good reports about ELT. Like I said earlier, I was very pleasantly surprised when I went low. I am now holding my own against players who used to thrash me. A bit more practice and I may actually start beating them.

U-S ... thanx for the shout-out in the blog. I like the syn-gut over the poly, but they both play great at ELT. What really got me was going to natural gut and getting even more spin and control. I played mixed doubles last night, and even though my arm was still sore (bruised my bicep ... don't ask), I was still able to hit some wonderful shots.

I think my next project may be to make some ELT shirts and give them to people who are playing at 30#.

The revolution has begun!

evanjj · 02-12-2013, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

Thanks evanjj!

I've updated my play test on my blog. Both the earlier strung Dunlop and the PSC 6.1.

Great posting..I love seeing all that fluff on the strings as well!

evanjj · 02-12-2013, 08:33 PM

Am wondering if going lower than 30 pounds will gain anything? Reading Chris' original findings, he suggests I won't gain much by going to 20?

PS..Sign me up for a tshirt!

Povl Carstensen · 02-13-2013, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Chemist

What I am now wondering is how long the playability will last and I am also quite keen to try a few other polys at 30 lbs to see how they play.

Give us an update!

unorthodox stringing · 02-13-2013, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Chemist

U-S,

If you are looking for a softer poly I found Dunlop Black Widow to be very soft. I also found Mamba O-Power and Black Mamba not too bad -- less than Big Blue but not as soft as BW.

Thanks for the reply. I have both a very soft poly and a stiff poly.

The problem is i do not have enough familiar rackets to string them up to test. Am also wondering if any has tried soft poly at 30lbs yet.

unorthodox stringing · 02-13-2013, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yourmailman

U-S ... thanx for the shout-out in the blog. I like the syn-gut over the poly, but they both play great at ELT. What really got me was going to natural gut and getting even more spin and control. I played mixed doubles last night, and even though my arm was still sore (bruised my bicep ... don't ask), I was still able to hit some wonderful shots.

I think my next project may be to make some ELT shirts and give them to people who are playing at 30#.

The revolution has begun!

I seriously don't think i can handle any more spin!

Initially, I had some difficulties hitting deep with so much spin. Quite a few balls curled down into the net on my side. I had to take a full loopy smack at the ball to get it over with heavy topspin. Once it cleared the net, i can really see my partner struggling to get his timing right. It kicks almost 6ft up! Most of his returns became weak blocks and shallow taps.

Don't start the revolution! Let us practise more and make $ betting with the skeptics.

keithfival · 02-16-2013, 09:51 AM

Ok, I just strung an MG Rad with Outlast 16L/Forten Sweet 17 at 32/35. Been playing with 17g syngut at 50, so already coming from moderate/low tension.

First hit:

Groundies: deeper, often landing around the baseline, but seem quite a bit slower. Even when I'd really step in and crank one it seemed like the ball was in slo mo and the other guy had an extra 5 seconds to get there!

Volleys: more forgiving, more bite on slice

Serve: only hit a few but seemed slower like groundies

Comfort: same. Really didn't seem extra comfortable and definitely less so than syn gut at 50.

Control: Same.

How are people getting more power with this setup? I can see deeper but it seemed half speed compared to when I smack a flat FH at 50lbs. Please explain!

NE1for10is? · 02-16-2013, 06:21 PM

Sorry if this question has been asked a billion times already here, but I'm not up to going through all 80 pages of this thread tonight.

I'm recovering from Golfer's Elbow. How does the low tension poly compare to natural gut in terms of comfort and feel? Is low tension poly going to be more forgiving or do you guys think it would be ok with a more flexable racquet to give it a the low T poly a spin? (pardon the pun)

keithfival · 02-16-2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithfival

Really didn't seem extra comfortable and definitely less so than syn gut at 50.

^^ Outlast 16L/Forten Sweet 17 at 32/35 felt less comfortable to me than syn gut at 50 so I would think it's not even close to the comfort natural gut.

v-verb · 02-17-2013, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NE1for10is?

Sorry if this question has been asked a billion times already here, but I'm not up to going through all 80 pages of this thread tonight.

I'm recovering from Golfer's Elbow. How does the low tension poly compare to natural gut in terms of comfort and feel? Is low tension poly going to be more forgiving or do you guys think it would be ok with a more flexable racquet to give it a the low T poly a spin? (pardon the pun)

I would go one step further and try gut at low tension like yourmailman has. Especially if you're recovering from golfer's elbow.

Check some of his posts a page or 2 back where he's tried klip 18 to great results.

Poly at low tensions is fairly comfortable - I've got Solinco TB17 and Barb wire at 35 - but don't take a chance.

02-12-2013, 06:24 PM	#1587
Old Chemist New User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Posts: 72	Yourmailman -- I Tried Discho Big Blue 1.20 @30 lbs Yourmailman, Again thanks for your original reply to me -- so I tried 30 lbs not really expecting much but was very pleasantly surprised -- you were right on about better feel, more spin, a little more power, and yet still very good control. I picked up a reel of Discho Big Blue 1.20 in Germany when I was visiting my daughter over Christmas (29 EU was too good to pass up). I started out trying it at 46 lbs (drop weight) which is a low tension for me. I quite liked it for the first 5 hours. I found it to be a low powered control string with a muted but not dull feel. After 5 h it became deadened and was hard on my arm -- up until then no problem. I cut it out right away and tried 42 lbs thinking I might get a longer playing time before it started bothering my arm -- no such luck -- right off the bat it gave me grief. With some reluctance I followed your suggestion and strung up my racquet yesterday at 30 lbs (M's & X's). First off, stringing was an absolute delight -- pulling crosses was easy and quick. Today I played a friend who is a solid 4.5 -5.0. I usually average winning 3 games against him and have problems holding serve. We hit for about half an hour then played a set. Maybe I was sharp today, but I think the string setup made a big difference. I lost 7-6 in a tie break. I didn't break him but I did get him to deuce on his serve a few times. I held my own serve pretty easily, getting 5 aces on the way -- normally I get 1 - 2 per set. I did notice my balls were launching off my racquet at a higher angle giving me more clearance over the net, but as you noted the spin I was getting on the ball was bringing it down nicely so my shots were landing deep with some kick. I had to adjust a little bit to the way my racquet played but not anything really drastic. I was also surprised at the control I had on returning serve -- I was sure I would have a hard time with balls flying away on me -- in fact I had one of my better days returning -- slices, drives, and deep bloopers were all working. Finally, no arm pain after my session -- hope this continues. What I am now wondering is how long the playability will last and I am also quite keen to try a few other polys at 30 lbs to see how they play. __________________ "All science is numbers, but not all numbers is science" -- unknown. Dunlop 200 tour - Mamba O-Power 1.18 @ 56/54.

02-12-2013, 06:44 PM	#1589
Old Chemist New User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Posts: 72	U-S, I would consider it a pretty stiff poly. __________________ "All science is numbers, but not all numbers is science" -- unknown. Dunlop 200 tour - Mamba O-Power 1.18 @ 56/54.

02-12-2013, 06:52 PM	#1590
Old Chemist New User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Posts: 72	U-S, If you are looking for a softer poly I found Dunlop Black Widow to be very soft. I also found Mamba O-Power and Black Mamba not too bad -- less than Big Blue but not as soft as BW. __________________ "All science is numbers, but not all numbers is science" -- unknown. Dunlop 200 tour - Mamba O-Power 1.18 @ 56/54.

02-12-2013, 07:06 PM	#1591
yourmailman Rookie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 222	Hey guys, Chemistry ... nice to hear the good reports about ELT. Like I said earlier, I was very pleasantly surprised when I went low. I am now holding my own against players who used to thrash me. A bit more practice and I may actually start beating them. U-S ... thanx for the shout-out in the blog. I like the syn-gut over the poly, but they both play great at ELT. What really got me was going to natural gut and getting even more spin and control. I played mixed doubles last night, and even though my arm was still sore (bruised my bicep ... don't ask), I was still able to hit some wonderful shots. I think my next project may be to make some ELT shirts and give them to people who are playing at 30#. The revolution has begun! __________________ Evil doers ... you face The Tick!

02-16-2013, 09:51 AM	#1597
keithfival Semi-Pro Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 646	Less power? Ok, I just strung an MG Rad with Outlast 16L/Forten Sweet 17 at 32/35. Been playing with 17g syngut at 50, so already coming from moderate/low tension. First hit: Groundies: deeper, often landing around the baseline, but seem quite a bit slower. Even when I'd really step in and crank one it seemed like the ball was in slo mo and the other guy had an extra 5 seconds to get there! Volleys: more forgiving, more bite on slice Serve: only hit a few but seemed slower like groundies Comfort: same. Really didn't seem extra comfortable and definitely less so than syn gut at 50. Control: Same. How are people getting more power with this setup? I can see deeper but it seemed half speed compared to when I smack a flat FH at 50lbs. Please explain!