Poly and High School Kid???

[Homey]

I have been stringing a high school kids racket for him for awhile now. He usually plays with some cheaper Wilson string. I think it is either Sensation or Stamina or something like that.

He didn't have any Wilson string the other day, so I strung his racket with Gamma Stinger 16/17. It is a hybrid, that has Polyester for the mains, and multifilament for the crosses.

I personally love the way the Gamma Stinger plays.

However, I was told by his coach that he went to play with the new string at a tournament, and played horribly!! He double faulted all over the place. All of his serves kept going 2 or 3 feet long. The HS kid claimed it was the string. He said he was swinging the way he always does, but the ball would NOT stay in, especially on the serves.

He plays with a Technifibre 305 racket or something like that. He is NOT a power player. He is more of a loopy, medium racket speed type player.

I checked my stringing machine to make sure nothing was out of adjustment.

Do you think his problem was the strings??? Or do you think he was playing bad and blamed it on the strings???
I am new to Poly, but personally love the way it plays.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Nitro]

It sounds to me like this is a somewhat mid level player so I don't think it would be unfair to assume that a lot of this is him having a bad day and not being used to a new string. A lot of high school kids have that loopy sort of playing style. They really need a more powerful, softer string. He isn't going to knock the snot out of a good multifillament so I'd stick with that.

[kfactor/all/the/WAY!]

i am on a high school tennis team and i use big ace full string bed, and i love it! its was the best change i made going to poly. the polys should have actually helped the ball get in because on polys, the put more spin on the ball, letting u hit really hard, and it will still go in. i havent tried gamma stinger but i know that there should have been a reverse effect from what he did!

[Homey]

Kfactor: That is exactly what I thought. When I switched to Poly it gave me even more bite and topspin. I love it, because you can swing harder and the ball still stays in.

That is why I don't understand why this kid had trouble keeping the serve in.

[Nitro]

The poly has a deader feeling than a syn gut or multi. My guess is that your hs player couldn't get used to the feel. I personally think that poly would be better for players that hit the ball harder than he does.

[Loco4Tennis]

definately a bad move to go play a tournament or any important game with unknown strings
as for what could have caused the issue, string could very well make people play differenttly
how he was hitting, only he knows, he could have been trying to compensate for the less power by hitting up more or what ever

[10nistennis]

Yea, i was wondering the same thing as Kfactor, that polys would actually have helped the kid.

[Stan]

In this scenario the problem is the kid taking the racquet to someone who did not carry inventory of what he needed.

To randomly substitute a poly (worse yet, one from Gamma!) for a multi is a very poor choice, regardless of how it plays for you. From a construction standpoint there are simply too many differences which will yield a completely different feel and performance. To spring this on an unsuspecting high school kid is just insane practice. The kid likely has no idea about string construction and looks to the stringer to provide competent advice and assistance. What he received in this case was much less than competent. He should be given a free restringing with a string of his choice. Of course, if he was smart, he would immediately find a new stringer...one with an appropriate inventory and the knowledge & experience to properly match product to his style of play and equipment.

[Homey]

Stan: It is not WHAT you say, but HOW you say it. Why do you have to try to flame me like that. I was looking for VALUABLE advice on what could have been the problem, and you want to try to just run me in the ground. I don't understand people like you.

I was already planning on restringing for him free of charge, but that I did not mention that because that is not the problem.

How is a player to learn what strings he likes or doesn't like if he only plays with ONE string his whole life?? You have to try different strings to learn what works for your game and what doesn't.
To expect a person to play with one string his whole life is ludicrous!!!

I was looking for valuable usable information about what could have been the problem, which I got from everybody except you Stan. When I need some HATEFUL USELESS information I will be glad to get in contact with you.

[k_liu]

Strings are like racquets... they feel different to each of us. Did you tell the kid you changed strings on him? Was he able to hit with it prior to the tournament?

[JRstriker12]

Originally Posted by Stan

In this scenario the problem is the kid taking the racquet to someone who did not carry inventory of what he needed.

To randomly substitute a poly (worse yet, one from Gamma!) for a multi is a very poor choice, regardless of how it plays for you. From a construction standpoint there are simply too many differences which will yield a completely different feel and performance. To spring this on an unsuspecting high school kid is just insane practice. The kid likely has no idea about string construction and looks to the stringer to provide competent advice and assistance. What he received in this case was much less than competent. He should be given a free restringing with a string of his choice. Of course, if he was smart, he would immediately find a new stringer...one with an appropriate inventory and the knowledge & experience to properly match product to his style of play and equipment.

I don't think Stan is Flaming - I think he's sort of right. Sounds like constructive criticism to me.

It is a poor chooce to totally change the type of strings on someone - going from a synth gut or multi to a poly/hybrid produces a big change in feel. I wouldn't go into a tournament with poly strings if I haven't played with them for a good bit of time and felt comfortable with them.

Honestly, I'd be ticked if I came in and asked the stringer for brand X and he gave me brand x and z, which I didn't ask for and in a configuration that I don't usually play with. Did you even ask the kid if he was okay with your substitution before you strung it up?

[Stan]

Homey,

No flaming intended. Just stating the facts as I see them.

You, indicate that what I say is accurate, but you just don't appreciate the straight forward presentation. Understood, but direct comments are just how I communicate.

I agree that to expect a person to play with one string for his entire life is ludicrous. You are absolutely correct. However, it is more ludicrous to make a change as dramatic as the one you made in the middle of a season. There is a time and a place for players to experiment with different string types and tensions. The scenario you presented was neither the time nor the place. A competent stringer would have understood this and been sensitive to it.

I am being direct with you with the hope to make an impact and help you learn. You came to this forum to learn and I am taking valuable time to teach you.

Here's a free pointer for you. When a player is going from a multi to a poly you might want to introduce them to polys as a hybrid which will serve as a more comfortable transition into the world of full poly setups.

[Homey]

If you read my initial post, you will see that Gamma Stinger is a Hybrid. It is Poly mains and a multifilament cross for a softer feel.

The player had the racket for a couple of days before the one day tournament, but chose not to hit with it until the tournament.

I explained to him the different kinds of strings that I had in stock. I did emphasize however, that I liked how the Poly hybrid played compared to other strings. He said "I don't care what string you put in it." So I went with the hybrid.

Sorry, I overreacted when I felt like I was attacked. I am looking for information on this message board, I just think it is easier to get across your information in a non-attacking format. I just feel like people will listen more if we express ourselves in pleasant tone versus a hateful tone.

I am sorry if I overreacted.

[Nitro]

If I were you, I would stick with a multi for hs kids unless you are specifically asked. Poly is not an easy substitute for a multi.

[nickb]

Originally Posted by Homey

If you read my initial post, you will see that Gamma Stinger is a Hybrid. It is Poly mains and a multifilament cross for a softer feel.

The player had the racket for a couple of days before the one day tournament, but chose not to hit with it until the tournament.

I explained to him the different kinds of strings that I had in stock. I did emphasize however, that I liked how the Poly hybrid played compared to other strings. He said "I don't care what string you put in it." So I went with the hybrid.

Sorry, I overreacted when I felt like I was attacked. I am looking for information on this message board, I just think it is easier to get across your information in a non-attacking format. I just feel like people will listen more if we express ourselves in pleasant tone versus a hateful tone.

I am sorry if I overreacted.

I never EVER put poly in a customer’s racket unless they ask for it. If a customer wants something more durable I explain how poly plays and the advantages/disadvantages, again if they want more spin/control/less power I will talk about poly with them. If someone says "I don’t care what you put in" you should always just give them a good synthetic gut...something like Gosen OG Micro. I treat multi's/gut like I do poly...if a customer wants something softer, more powerful or have tennis elbow I talk about multis with them. The standard string put in most peoples rackets will be and should be synthetic gut strung at mid tension, tighter if they want more control. If they like the string they just broke then always try to give them that string or something very similar.

What you did was irresponsible. If you were stringing poly for a hard hitter then fine but a high school kid that plays with soft strings?

Never choose strings for your customers based on what you like.

Nick

[Zhou]

Originally Posted by nickb

I never EVER put poly in a customer’s racket unless they ask for it. If a customer wants something more durable I explain how poly plays and the advantages/disadvantages, again if they want more spin/control/less power I will talk about poly with them. If someone says "I don’t care what you put in" you should always just give them a good synthetic gut...something like Gosen OG Micro. I treat multi's/gut like I do poly...if a customer wants something softer, more powerful or have tennis elbow I talk about multis with them. The standard string put in most peoples rackets will be and should be synthetic gut strung at mid tension, tighter if they want more control. If they like the string they just broke then always try to give them that string or something very similar.

What you did was irresponsible. If you were stringing poly for a hard hitter then fine but a high school kid that plays with soft strings?

Never choose strings for your customers based on what you like.

Nick

I agree, when I am going to string for my friends, I ask them what they like and what they currently use.

[TennisNewbie85]

Originally Posted by Homey

If you read my initial post, you will see that Gamma Stinger is a Hybrid. It is Poly mains and a multifilament cross for a softer feel.

should have at least switched it around to give him better feel for the ball since that is what he is normally use to. i am sorry to say, but i agree with the concensus with everyone on this thread. you shouldnt have given him poly

[logansc]

Well to be honest I'm going to disagree with all the people who are saying the stringer is in the wrong, he had an opportunity to open the kid's horizons and told him to go hit with it before the match, he chose not to AND to be fair he loses all ability to complain when he says " I don't care what you put in it." So Homey next time kid shows up without his string ask him to pick it out that way people don't call you irresponsible and such.

[LanEvo]

id say its the strings but i dont think its that big of a deal i can practically play with any strings just give me a few hits to warm up with it

[iplaybetter]

in theory it be the oposit problem