Just in case you were thinking of stringing synthetic gut at 30lbs...

[sstchur]

Let me save you some time, string, and money. Don't.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Let me save you some time, string, and money. Don't.

Sh!t is deep yo.

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Sh!t is deep yo.

^^ Where is the Facebook like button? I want to like your comment.

I have no clue why I decided to try it, but I strung at M:33,X:30. It was RIDONKULOUS. And not in a good way.

[ruup2it]

Thanks for the heads up. I must admit, low tension on syn gut has crossed my mind lately.

The string discussions with a local buddy here is giving me the idea that the rule of thumb with higher tension allowing for more control, and lower tension allowing for more power has been completely turned around with Poly's.

He feels that the poly being in lower tension allows the ball to pocket, so allowing for more control, so the higher tension allows less control, just spitting the ball out.

[zapvor]

i am going to try 40 then

[sstchur]

Originally Posted by ruup2it

Thanks for the heads up. I must admit, low tension on syn gut has crossed my mind lately.

The string discussions with a local buddy here is giving me the idea that the rule of thumb with higher tension allowing for more control, and lower tension allowing for more power has been completely turned around with Poly's.

He feels that the poly being in lower tension allows the ball to pocket, so allowing for more control, so the higher tension allows less control, just spitting the ball out.

Yeah, I've heard this argument before. I'm not sure that it's true. There is a book which I checked out of my local library and read about year or so ago. It was called "The Physics of Tennis." And if I recall correctly, the authors said that the old adage "string tight for control and loose for power" should really be revised to something like "string tight if the balls are sailing long on you, and string looser if you're having trouble generating depth."

Their argument was that the difference in mph from stringing tight vs lose was basically negligible (according to their tests) but what DOES happen, is that the string bed deflects more with loser strings, thereby causing the ball to leave the string bed at a higher trajectory. This usually translates into a deeper ball (which some might associate with "more power").

And I think they also said the the amount of time the ball spends on the string bed is roughly constant, regardless of string tension. This surprised me, but they were basically saying that this idea that "ball pocketing" allows the ball to stay on the strings longer and therefore offers more control isn't true. Interestingly though, they did admit that there may very well be a perception of increased dwell time, and this perception may indeed affect how one plays (possibly in a good way). If that is the case, so be it.

Let it be known though, that I'm not making any claims here (please no one start yelling at me if you disagree with all of this). I'm merely spitting back what I read from the book (as best I can remember anyway). If you think this is all a load of poo, please go get the book and read it yourself (or write to the authors if you think they are idiots).

Anyway, I think the reason lower tension seem to work for many with poly is that they are so much stiffer than syn guts, and therefore they don't deflect as much.

But my experiment w/ syn gut at 33/30 was just crazy. If I concentrated on keeping a firm and full western grip, I was able to start to find a groove eventually, but I really had to force the adjustment -- it wasn't natural for me. And my serve was atrocious at first.

If I absolutely HAD to, I suppose I could probably adjust to it. But it definitely didn't come easily on the first pass, and I could definitely feel the ball flying on me.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Let me save you some time, string, and money. Don't.

yeah, it's a big no bueno. the lowest i've tried syn gut is low to mid 50s and even then i found myself desiring higher tensions.

[Sander001]

Originally Posted by sstchur

Just in case you were thinking of stringing synthetic gut at 30lbs... Don't.

I agree. I string at 31lbs.

[goober]

There have been a couple threads on this in the past. Basically vast majority said it doesn't work. It is nothing like poly at low tension. But at least one guy loved 40 lb and was going to try lower. I tried 40 and could not keep the ball in the court.

[JT_2eighty]

This is very racquet sensitive as well.

You could get away with lower tensions on a dense, flexy midsize, but wouldn't bode well at all on a more open patterned, stiff oversize. What racquets are people trying this on?

[Hi I'm Ray]

I tried around 10lbs syn gut once and it felt like the frame was strung with rubber bands. Crazy backspin though, some slices would just stop in place. 90sq in frame.