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

[evanjj]

Originally Posted by v-verb

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.

Yes, I use Babolat Gut on mains and Alu Rough on crosses at 30 pounds and it is as soft as a baby's bottom on the arm

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by keithfival

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!

Is there more spin?

The most surprising result most people encounter at low tension is the loss of power. To me, it felt like the soft stringbed absorbed all the power so the ball is not compressed much. The trampoline I had expected with synthetic gut at 30lbs did not happen at all.

For the hybrid you did, I would think the very low "stretchability" of the poly could have dampened the power even more. At least synthetic gut would stretch and rebound.

Would you consider trying full synthetic gut at 30lbs?

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by NE1for10is?

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)

Even the softest poly is still a very stiff string with little flexibility. So while low tension increases the comfort, I can still definitely feel it is a stiff string material.

I have not tried natural gut. But with the comfort levels and incredible spin from synthetic gut at ELT, I don't think I need to spend more $ for extra comfort.

[The Meat]

Just curious to all of those who posted positive results from ELT stringing with full poly, did you hit flat before ELT or hit with a lot of spin?

I kind of want to know how it feels for those who tried full poly who also hit with a lot of spin before I string up some test racquets.

[yourmailman]

Sorry, been out of town for a few days.

Played with my nat gut at 30 against my favorite person (whom I strung with Technifibre Red Code 18 at 30) in the frozen north.

Yes, the poly setup still feels stiff. I like the syn gut much better. Very comfortable with no effects on the arm at all. I would recommend going that route. The only down side I have seen from the syn gut is a lot of string movement.

Natural gut has the same feel as the syn gut with much less string movement. But try the syn gut first, was less expensive.

Meat, I did hit a pretty flat ball before ELT, and if needed, I can still hit a flat ball with 30#. I just have to watch how much power I out into it.

As others have mentioned, ELT has helped me hone my shot mechanics and improve my game. Part of the improvement comes from the addition of spin, but there is also improvement from hitting the ball better. You don't have to use as much power to get results.

As far as the ball slowing down, I have not seen that at all. It may be a little slower until it hits the court, but then it ricochets with more speed than I ever saw on any of my flat shots when I was at high tension.

Hope this helps.

[unorthodox stringing]

Meat,

Many whom i've played with commented that i already have very heavy spin with multi and syn gut at 60+lbs. I don't normally hit flat.

With full poly strung at 40-50s, i felt there was less spin than full multi or poly hybrid. I had to smack at the ball VERY hard to get enough bite to generate spin. It is the same for textured or shaped full poly as well.

My last experiment with full poly was at 38/36. (Details in my blog) There was immense comfort but very little spin.

With full syn gut at 30lbs, that was the MOST amount of spin i have ever generated. So much that sometimes the ball curls into my side of the net from the baseline with a full swing! And i was already aiming to clear the net by at least 4-5 ft! Nothing i have tried came close in spin prowess, not even kevlar nor poly hybrids. Flat shots were good too but directional control is slightly less than normal tensions.

Just to satisfy my curiousity, I just strung up another racket with full poly at 32 lbs. I'll update my blog when i've had a chance to play.

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

As far as the ball slowing down, I have not seen that at all. It may be a little slower until it hits the court, but then it ricochets with more speed than I ever saw on any of my flat shots when I was at high tension.

Hope this helps.

Yeah man! And after the ricochet comes the comical part of watching my partner's totally SHOCK faced at how high the ball kicked off the ground!!! Ha ha ha

It's unbelievable!

[keithfival]

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

Is there more spin?

The most surprising result most people encounter at low tension is the loss of power. To me, it felt like the soft stringbed absorbed all the power so the ball is not compressed much. The trampoline I had expected with synthetic gut at 30lbs did not happen at all.

For the hybrid you did, I would think the very low "stretchability" of the poly could have dampened the power even more. At least synthetic gut would stretch and rebound.

Would you consider trying full synthetic gut at 30lbs?

Probably more spin but nothing extraordinary. Definitely hit a deeper ball. It will hit with it some more but it's not actually particularly comfortable. Less so than the same frame with syngut at 50. Also feels like a good 10-15mph less on serve.

I will try syngut at 30 at some point.

[yourmailman]

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

Yeah man! And after the ricochet comes the comical part of watching my partner's totally SHOCK faced at how high the ball kicked off the ground!!! Ha ha ha

It's unbelievable!

U-S,

You are a sick, twisted individual. I like the way you think!

[allenkau]

33lb - RPM Blast 17g - head Liquid Metal Radical Oversize - STOCK. No lead tape

Jumped on the bandwagon. Hit for about 45 minutes in 40 degree weather.

Overall - Took time to get used to it. Did not try Serves or Volleys.

Forehands - Lots of spin. Felt like the ball stayed on the strings a lot longer. Had to perform Full strokes to keep the ball in. Can't get lazy or it will sail.

Backhands - Felt the same as forehands. SLICES - Very good.. Lots of action.

Defensive reach shots - They are magical. Somehow ends up over the net and in... Throws my partner off guard.

[evanjj]

Originally Posted by allenkau

33lb - RPM Blast 17g - head Liquid Metal Radical Oversize - STOCK. No lead tape

Jumped on the bandwagon. Hit for about 45 minutes in 40 degree weather.

Overall - Took time to get used to it. Did not try Serves or Volleys.

Forehands - Lots of spin. Felt like the ball stayed on the strings a lot longer. Had to perform Full strokes to keep the ball in. Can't get lazy or it will sail.

Backhands - Felt the same as forehands. SLICES - Very good.. Lots of action.

Defensive reach shots - They are magical. Somehow ends up over the net and in... Throws my partner off guard.

This is the key to low tensions I have found

[Old Chemist]

So far after 6h of hitting time (4h doubles + 2h singles) I felt some arm stiffness for a short while afterwards but no real problem. Playability has remained the same, although I have also had some problems with serving after my first time out – mainly hitting a lot of them long – need to make some adjustments there.

Summarizing Pro’s and Con’s of this low tension setup (30lbs Discho BB 1.20 and Dunlop 200 Tour + vibration dampener):

Pro’s
Significantly increased sweet spot (using bounce test)
Increased dwell time / better cupping
More spin
Better control
Slightly more Power
Unique feel? (personal preference)
Longer playability ? (not a definite yet)
Reduced harshness? (not a definite yet)

Cons
Some stroke adaptation required – mainly with the serve
Muted sound? (personal preference)
Unique feel? (personal preference)

Overall, I liked playing at 30 lbs tension – but I am still a little worried about my arm, I am not sure if the stiffness I am feeling when playing the above setup is leftover from a couple of weeks ago or is due to the current setup. So maybe I will have to take a rest and then try a few softer polys to see how they play. IMO a very interesting and worthwhile experiment – when summer arrives and I can really get out and try a few different setups I will know for sure if this the way t go for me.

Here are some tension measurements as well. I download some frequency files and measure the frequency of my racquet bed by ear -- then calculate the tension of an average string ca. 10.5 in. Wt/L = 0.0000863 lbs/in.

0h 430 hz = 18.2 lbs
14h no playing 420 hz = 17.4 lbs
24 h no playing +1h S 395 hz = 15.4 lbs
5.0 h (+4h D) 395 hz = 15.0 lbs
6.0 h (+1h S) 395 hz = 15.0 lbs

[v-verb]

Hey Old Chemist just noticed you're in Saskatoon! Very cool - I lived there from ages 1-3.

Anyhow Cheers and please keep us posted

[unorthodox stringing]

Old Chemist,

Yes, I had some problems with serves as well with full syn gut at 30lbs. Flat serves went mostly long. But spin serves were nice!

[unorthodox stringing]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

U-S,

You are a sick, twisted individual. I like the way you think!

You must be deeply mistaken!!!

I am normally a calm, introverted and reserved individual. It's ELT that triggered the Jekyll & Hyde thingy....

[Old Chemist]

Originally Posted by v-verb

Hey Old Chemist just noticed you're in Saskatoon! Very cool - I lived there from ages 1-3.

Anyhow Cheers and please keep us posted

Hey v-verb,

Will do -- I notice you play with some interesting racquets.

[Old Chemist]

Originally Posted by unorthodox stringing

Old Chemist,

Yes, I had some problems with serves as well with full syn gut at 30lbs. Flat serves went mostly long. But spin serves were nice!

Hey U-S,

I still can't believe playing with Syngut at 30 lbs -- but I may have to try it. Which one are you using?

[unorthodox stringing]

Don't believe it! Just do it!

I've posted all the details and pics on my blog. In fact, I just strung up another TWO rackets...

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot.sg/

Another way to get onto my blog is to click on my username "unorthodox stringing" and then "visit unorthodox stringing's homepage!" Voila!

[Old Chemist]

U-S,

Had a quick look -- nice website -- I bookmarked it -- look forward to going through it in the future -- it's past my bedtime.

[BHiC]

This thread has inspired me, I have always strung my racquets around 55/58 or 56/60, but I just now strung my racquet at 32 lbs with Black Widow in the mains and Hexy Fiber in the crosses. The racquet is a slightly leaded Dunlop F 2.0 tour. I will update tonight on how the strings play.