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

[shake&bake]

10 pounds, would like to hear how that one compares!!

[PKfan1]

Originally Posted by tlm

Ivan Ljubicic Head YouTek IG Extreme Pro
Babolat Pro Hurricane 69lbs

Ouch. He must have an indestructible elbow. Just thinking about that racquet/ string combo makes my arm hurt

[Rozroz]

by the looks of this thread it seems that the 30's low tension was just a fun period and most of you got back to 'regular'..
it looks like there are around 3-5 people here that still actually use low tension, and even then also have a regular stick..
am i wrong?
it's not that i won't try it, it just that it's probably turned out not so spectacular as it seemed back when TW Chris tried it.

[TonyB]

I've been using poly at 35 lb. for the past year and a half. Just recently switched to Polystar Energy at 32 lb.

I'll never go back to "regular" tensions. This is perfect. Perfect control, perfect power, and perfect feel.

[corners]

Originally Posted by TonyB

I've been using poly at 35 lb. for the past year and a half. Just recently switched to Polystar Energy at 32 lb.

I'll never go back to "regular" tensions. This is perfect. Perfect control, perfect power, and perfect feel.

A soft copoly at 35 in a mid is great for me too. It's like having the control and spin of copoly with the dwell time of natural gut. The only thing better is gut/copoly at 50, for me anyway.

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

And I thought my experiment at 40 was low...

[ben123]

Originally Posted by tlm

Really so 2012 is not up to date. Thats funny your first example is from 2009, so even though mine is from the beginning of 2012 it is out dated. I guess that all the players have changed their tension since the AO. They must have been reading about the low tension craze here and have all changed and dropped tension.
Latest Update: Australian Open/Davis Cup 1st Round – January/February 2012

....

lmao are you just stupid or are you unable to accept critrism? this list is total ******** ask any pro stringer on this forum everyone will tell you that its wrong. thats the list from colinthestringer websitre right? gratz that you were able to copy and paste it, but do you actually know its right? no you dont so shut the **** up.
i mean come on up to date? when there are pros mentioned who didnt touch a racquet for ages lol? even the recent players are drastically wrong, tommy haas uses gut poly hybrid in the 50's or serena uses 4g hybrid and not full gut etc etc ....
just shut it if you only copy from a website which you dont even know properly the whole list is ********

[tlm]

Originally Posted by ben123

lmao are you just stupid or are you unable to accept critrism? this list is total ******** ask any pro stringer on this forum everyone will tell you that its wrong. thats the list from colinthestringer websitre right? gratz that you were able to copy and paste it, but do you actually know its right? no you dont so shut the **** up.
i mean come on up to date? when there are pros mentioned who didnt touch a racquet for ages lol? even the recent players are drastically wrong, tommy haas uses gut poly hybrid in the 50's or serena uses 4g hybrid and not full gut etc etc ....
just shut it if you only copy from a website which you dont even know properly the whole list is ********

Okay so this list is wrong but a list that you agree with is right ya I got it. How about this list there know it all.





Wimbledon 2012



Serena Williams - Wilson Blade Team - Wilson Natural Gut / Luxilon 4G - 64/62 lbs - 74 restrings
Mike Bryan - Prince Rebel - Prince Natural / Prince Beast - 50/47 lbs - 36 restrings
Bob Bryan - Prince Rebel - Prince Natural / Prince Beast - 50/46 lbs - 35 restrings
Petra Kvitova - Wilson Steam - Luxilon Alu Power - 27/25 kg - 33 restrings
Xavier Malisse - Prince Tour - Babolat FiberTour - 29 kg - 33 restrings
Philipp Kohlschreiber - Wilson 6.1 95 - Wilson Natural Gut / Luxilon Original Rough - 22.5/23.5 kg - 33 restrings
Radek Stepanek - Bosworth Tour - Babolat VS Team / Luxilon Timo - 24/22 kg - 30 restrings
Venus Williams - Wilson Blade Team - Wilson Natural Gut / Babolat VS Team - 63/62 lbs - 30 restrings
Marin Cilic - Head Instinct - Babolat VS Touch / Luxilon Alu Power - 26 kg - 28 restrings
Kei Nishikori - Wilson Steam - Luxilon 4G / Wilson Natural Gut - 58/60 lbs - 26 restrings


Also here is a post from one of the pro stringers from this site.

jamauss
Hall Of Fame

Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,745


Not to mention, not that many pros are going real low with tension - maybe 5 to 10% are, but they are the exception. The pro events I string at still see most racquets being asked to be strung from about 55 to 64 pounds. Both poly and gut and syn gut/multi's included.



So what do you have to say now there Mr big mouth that has no idea what the hell you are talking about. It is hilarious that you can accuse someone of being stupid.LOL

[Rozroz]

Originally Posted by TonyB

I've been using poly at 35 lb. for the past year and a half. Just recently switched to Polystar Energy at 32 lb.

I'll never go back to "regular" tensions. This is perfect. Perfect control, perfect power, and perfect feel.

and what's your game and strokes style, may i ask?

[morten]

At Stockholm open this year Hewitt strung alu power/natural gut at 17kg, about 38-40 lbs...

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by Rozroz

and what's your game and strokes style, may i ask?

Solid 4.5 player in both singles and doubles, 1HBH, semi-western FH, all-court player. Tend to flatten out my shots when I can. Rarely hit with Nadal-like heavy spin.

Like I said, I'm using Polystar Energy at 32 lb. in a Yonex Tour 89. I'd like a little bit more feel when I'm at net, but otherwise this string/frame setup is amazing.

[Rozroz]

Originally Posted by TonyB

Solid 4.5 player in both singles and doubles, 1HBH, semi-western FH, all-court player. Tend to flatten out my shots when I can. Rarely hit with Nadal-like heavy spin.

Like I said, I'm using Polystar Energy at 32 lb. in a Yonex Tour 89. I'd like a little bit more feel when I'm at net, but otherwise this string/frame setup is amazing.

thanks. ------

[Bedrock]

Is there any diagrams with characteristic or just blah, blah, blah ...?

[Rozroz]

would you say that a 35lb poly feels more softer on the arm than lets say a 55 multi?

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by Rozroz

would you say that a 35lb poly feels more softer on the arm than lets say a 55 multi?

It depends on the poly, but I don't think so. From my experiences, multi is almost always going to be softer then poly.

-Fuji

[Hi I'm Ray]

Originally Posted by Rozroz

would you say that a 35lb poly feels more softer on the arm than lets say a 55 multi?

As Fuji mentioned, there is a big difference between the stiffer polys and the softer ones. Still, I'd say poly around 35lbs may feel like it has more give at impact, but I can still feel the underlying stiffness of the string and a multi at 55lbs will probably be better for your arm.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by Hi I'm Ray

As Fuji mentioned, there is a big difference between the stiffer polys and the softer ones. Still, I'd say poly around 35lbs may feel like it has more give at impact, but I can still feel the underlying stiffness of the string and a multi at 55lbs will probably be better for your arm.

You said it much better then I did, but that's the point I was attempting to make LOL!

-Fuji

[Rozroz]

Originally Posted by Fuji

It depends on the poly, but I don't think so. From my experiences, multi is almost always going to be softer then poly.

-Fuji

Originally Posted by Hi I'm Ray

As Fuji mentioned, there is a big difference between the stiffer polys and the softer ones. Still, I'd say poly around 35lbs may feel like it has more give at impact, but I can still feel the underlying stiffness of the string and a multi at 55lbs will probably be better for your arm.

thanks!
but i'll miss some spin without my trust poly

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by Pwned

I was using low tensions on both 14x18 and 16x19 and thought it worked quite well. No problems with directional control once accustomed to the tension. I've moved back up into the 40s with a full bed of poly or 50s with a hybrid.

Hey Pwned

Great info on your posts - and the others who have posted - in particular as I'm getting a few 1 stripe POG mids and 1 POG OS.

Going to string with Babolat RPM Team 17 ga at 38 lbs and see how it goes.

I tend to hit with lots of topspin and pace and hoping low tensions will add some more topspin.

Will report when I try it out

Cheers

nigel

[yourmailman]

Okay, I am new to the low tension revolution, but here are my thoughts ...

First, low tension may not be right for everyone. Hell, back in the 70s and early 80s, I was having my racquets strung at 75 and 80. I loved it! I tried lower tensions back then (not as low as what we are talking here), and didn't like it at all.

Then, I didn't play for almost 30 years.

When I stared back, I was still in high tension mode. I had 2 each at 60. 65 and 70. I varied what tension I used based on factors like my opponent's style of play, weather, court conditions, etc. When I broke a string, my coach suggested 52 (and a lighter gauge), which I found appalling. But I tried it and I liked it. I had worked my way down to 48, 46 and 44 (2 each) and decided to try something. I strung one of my new Biomimetic 100's at 38 (co-poly mains & syn-gut crosses) and liked the results.

My latest adventure was restringing one at 36 with Gosen OG Sheep on both. I was actually amazed at the feel, the power, and the added spin I got. I have only played one doubles match with it, but we beat a team that we shouldn't have, and both of our opponents (and my partner) commented on my improved shot-making. I thanked them, but didn't let on what the difference was from the last time we played (about 6 weeks ago).

The extreme low tension seems to give my groundstrokes added spin, my serves are popping very nicely, and I haven't had any trouble with volleys at the net after the first few games. After one rally that ended with a reflex-volley duel, my opponent said "Wow, that was intense!". This is a guy almost 30 years my junior. He was amazed at how much pace was on the balls I was sending his way (with very little effort on my part).

Last night, I happened upon this thread. Some very interesting posts and information. I haven't got through all of it yet (although I plan to go back), but it is intriguing. My next trial will be the Gosen OG at 30 sometime this weekend. I'll report back after a few matches.