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

TW Staff · 03-25-2010, 04:39 PM

Over the last couple of days I've been experimenting with low tensions. Pro player Volandri is around 26lbs, so I started at 30lbs yesterday and then dropped to 20lbs today.

Here's my blog on my hitting experiences if you'd like to check it out:

http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1154

Chris, TW

Pwned · 03-25-2010, 04:56 PM

Very interesting. I just tried 48 and thought it felt great. I may try SpinX at ~41-42 next.

Larrysümmers · 03-25-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TW Staff

Over the last couple of days I've been experimenting with low tensions. Pro player Volandri is around 26lbs, so I started at 30lbs yesterday and then dropped to 20lbs today.

Here's my blog on my hitting experiences if you'd like to check it out:

http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1154

Chris, TW

I'm too nervous to drop any lower

Kick Serve 14 · 03-25-2010, 05:01 PM

Wow... that is really low, I should try that the next time I string mine up...

Larrysümmers · 03-25-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kick Serve 14

Wow... that is really low, I should try that the next time I string mine up...

maybe I'll go to 35 before 30 lol. I def wanna try this

Shangri La · 03-25-2010, 05:06 PM

The TW Professor is the root of all evil.

That is all.

sandflea · 03-25-2010, 05:10 PM

Good stuff Chris, when I read the thread title I was guessing that you had used a kevlar string. It's even more interesting that you didn't.

Nanshiki · 03-25-2010, 05:35 PM

I find that there is a sweet spot for string tensions, depending on the racquet.

Too high, and you can't hit flat serves well and you have to swing too fast for consistent groundies; too low and your shots spray around too much, or bounce to deep when you hit volleys, blocks, and slice shots.

Ivan Lendl's Backhand · 03-25-2010, 05:58 PM

Interesting!

What about your accuracy and precision play, Chris? Was that affected or were you still as pinpoint with your directional shots?

vincent_tennis · 03-25-2010, 11:36 PM

mm interesting..

scotus · 03-25-2010, 11:54 PM

Soon you will be able to string your racquet by hand!

Xenakis · 03-26-2010, 01:28 AM

A worthy experiment thanks Chris. What about the longevity of a full bed of poly at these much lower tensions?

Gaab · 03-26-2010, 01:38 AM

Most interesting, thanks for sharing your experience.

ericsson · 03-26-2010, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TW Staff

Over the last couple of days I've been experimenting with low tensions. Pro player Volandri is around 26lbs, so I started at 30lbs yesterday and then dropped to 20lbs today.

Here's my blog on my hitting experiences if you'd like to check it out:

http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1154

Chris, TW

Nice experiment but all depends on what type of player you are, if you hit with lots of topspin it's a lot easier to go very low then when you hit really flat just above the net. I can play with lower tensions but i have to adjust my game just as i can play with higher tensions, i have to adjust there too. So for me mid tension works out the best.
The lowest i went is 15 kg but 20lbs is extremely low...

Lambsscroll · 03-26-2010, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotus

Soon you will be able to string your racquet by hand!

lol,

I'm going to try 30 pounds today for the hell of it.

pingu · 03-26-2010, 04:22 AM

Chris, Thanks for sharing an interesting subject. Please let us know how it goes with you

ClubHoUno · 03-26-2010, 04:49 AM

I will try VS NAT GUT @ 48 lbs mains and Luxilon Alu Power @ 44 lbs crosses next time on my 2 Völk PB10 Mid - but 20 lbs and 10 lbs is a bit too low, when I use nat GUT in the mains.....

For a full poly, I could see the benefits from it thoug....interesting reading.

jrod · 03-26-2010, 05:12 AM

Chris-

What about string movement? Do they move all over the place or do they tend to restore their initial position?

Also, I'd be interested in how this affects the longevity of a co-poly...

-jrod

pingu · 03-26-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrod

...
What about string movement? Do they move all over the place or do they tend to restore their initial position?
...

-jrod

I think Chris mentioned in his blog that string was fine

"...Another fact that surprised me was I did not have to adjust the strings at all. As usual for me with a poly, the strings returned to an aligned state after every shot..."

JackB1 · 03-26-2010, 05:53 AM

I would think you can only do this with a poly or copoly, because of their low resiliency. A multi at 20 would launch rockets.

03-25-2010, 04:39 PM	#1
TW Staff Administrator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tennis-Warehouse.com Posts: 22,452	Low, low tensions. 30lbs feels great. 20lbs pretty good, too Over the last couple of days I've been experimenting with low tensions. Pro player Volandri is around 26lbs, so I started at 30lbs yesterday and then dropped to 20lbs today. Here's my blog on my hitting experiences if you'd like to check it out: http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1154 Chris, TW __________________ LIKE us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tenniswarehouse Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TennisWarehouse TW Blog: http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/tenniswarehouse Follow us on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/tenniswarehouse/ Add us on Google+: www.google.com/+tenniswarehouse

03-25-2010, 05:01 PM	#4
Kick Serve 14 Professional Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,021	Wow... that is really low, I should try that the next time I string mine up... __________________ haha

03-25-2010, 05:10 PM	#7
sandflea Rookie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 302	Good stuff Chris, when I read the thread title I was guessing that you had used a kevlar string. It's even more interesting that you didn't. __________________ Bosworth Tour 96

03-25-2010, 11:36 PM	#10
vincent_tennis Professional Join Date: May 2007 Location: Aussie (612) Posts: 971	mm interesting.. __________________ "You never know. That Hawkeye doesn't work anyways. Sorry, I had to get it out" - Roger Federer

03-26-2010, 01:38 AM	#13
Gaab Rookie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 223	Most interesting, thanks for sharing your experience. __________________ Don't argue with idiots. They bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.