Cheater's setup

[maxpotapov]

From reading "Open" by Agassi, I remember how switching to new string had profound effect on his game:

"I've always played with ProBlend, a string that's half Kevlar, half nylon. You can reel in an eight-hundred-pound marlin with ProBlend. It never breaks, never forgives, but also never generates spin. It's like hitting the ball with a garbage can lid. People talk about the game changing, about players growing more powerful, and rackets getting bigger, but the most dramatic change in recent years is the strings. The advent of a new elastic polyester string, which creates vicious topspin, has turned average players into greats, and greats into legends."

What is your "cheater's setup" that you can use just to advance in the tournament, and then go back to more economical setups (or more time before restringing) or arm-safer strings for regular practice? Can be surface and other conditions dependent...

[pvaudio]

I use the same string regardless. I don't practice with forten nylon and then expect to play my best with VS/ALU in a tournament.

And regardless, people still think I'm strange for saying Kevlar doesn't generate near the spin of poly. What more proof do you need?

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

I use the same string regardless. I don't practice with forten nylon and then expect to play my best with VS/ALU in a tournament.

And regardless, people still think I'm strange for saying Kevlar doesn't generate near the spin of poly. What more proof do you need?

Maybe the same people that string Kevlar/Poly at 70 lbs?

Anyway, I simply can not afford practicing with fresh ALU or any other poly (up to 5 hours of hard hitting), but I can spend extra before and during tournament.

Also I would rather practice with natural gut hybrid to keep my arm safe and restringing cost down, whereas I can get easier spin and control with poly mains or some poly/poly hybrid. I can endure stiff poly for a tournament week, especially if I can keep it extra fresh.

[pvaudio]

My friend, I play a poly/syn hybrid. I am currently using Nvy as the synthetic, so it comes to about 7 dollars a frame for me. I also used wholesale Dunlop S-Gut which came to a total of 18/8 so ~ 1 buck for the crosses (8 sets for 18 bucks). That was super cheap with my Scorpion, but even then that's just like 5 bucks a stringbed. I can easily afford to restring it every 6-8 hours when the synthetic breaks. This way, I practice with what I play with and don't have huge variances in my game since I'm in that tricky period where I'm hovering between two levels. Things aren't fully solidified yet to push me up and over, so consistency is key.

I guess my question to you is then, do you have a stringer?

[pvaudio]

Oh and max, just a tip having looked at your youtube.

http://youtu.be/RJjjn2PZ-R8?t=47s
You really, REALLY need a new hitting partner. He isn't even close to being able to handle your pace

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

My friend, I play a poly/syn hybrid. I am currently using Nvy as the synthetic, so it comes to about 7 dollars a frame for me. I also used wholesale Dunlop S-Gut which came to a total of 18/8 so ~ 1 buck for the crosses (8 sets for 18 bucks). That was super cheap with my Scorpion, but even then that's just like 5 bucks a stringbed. I can easily afford to restring it every 6-8 hours when the synthetic breaks. This way, I practice with what I play with and don't have huge variances in my game since I'm in that tricky period where I'm hovering between two levels. Things aren't fully solidified yet to push me up and over, so consistency is key.

I guess my question to you is then, do you have a stringer?

NO I DON'T !!! That's why I have to be creative with strings.

Otherwise I would use some Isospeed Baseline Spin and restring every two training sessions. Or, as a premium solution, Dunlop Black Widow for 5 hours max (its reel is much cheaper in Europe by the way).

I used to have a stringer, Klippermate, and quickly got tired of restringing full Gosen OGSM every other training session. This led me to Gosen Polylon/OGSM hybrid and I quickly got tired of playing with dead strings for weeks. Which led me to a never ending search of optimal price/performance solution, especially after I sold a stringer.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Oh and max, just a tip having looked at your youtube.

http://youtu.be/RJjjn2PZ-R8?t=47s
You really, REALLY need a new hitting partner. He isn't even close to being able to handle your pace

Yes, now I have one, he is a teaching pro, returns everything like a ball machine. That's when I started thinking of tournaments and stuff

[pvaudio]

If that's the case, then Pacific Classic mains, WC Silverstring 1.20 crosses. One of my good friends and hitting partners had me Performaxx/SS 1.20 put in his k90. As far as I know (as to when it was cut out, not whether it was still usable), it was still very playable near September or so. I strung it in January.

[NLBwell]

Full Lux ALU Spin.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

Full Lux ALU Spin.

For how many hours of pre-tournament practice or matches?

[NLBwell]

Actually, the ALU lasts quite well for me, over a couple of weeks, unless the temperature gets high. Then it can turn to mush in one or two matches.

[Fuji]

I normally keep the same set up for tournaments, just a fresh bed. I used RIP Control for a really long time, and I really like the way it plays.

Now I'm using Dunlop Ice 17 / Gosen OG 17 and it's such a dirt cheap set up I can restring whenever I feel the bed isn't playing well or I break it without any concern what soever!

-Fuji

[anubis]

At the 3.0 level, I feel like I'm cheating a little by using BHB7 because its just so spinny. I played a friendly mixed doubles match yesterday with a couple of 4.5 ladies and they had a lot of trouble with the amount of TS that I imparted on the ball. I won a lot of rallies against them because they said they just weren't used to it and rarely see that against other women.

Same goes for the typical 3.0 male that I play against. they mostly use a cheap syn gut or multi that has long since died 6 months ago. They can't generate the type of spin that I do, and they have trouble countering that spin to.

Since I love stringing so much, I only play 10 to 12 hours with each setup and then cut it out, so I almost always have fresh strings for every match.

So yeah, it feels like cheating: I have more access to spin than most of my contemporaries, and its really because of my string, not my technique.

[mikeler]

One of my opponents thought my B5E mains setup should be illegal because of the spin.

[fgs]

maxpotapov,

for around 200 euros you already get a pretty solid mechanical stringing machine (don't know what shipping would be though!).

take that and put in a really nice hybrid with isospeed baseline mains for instance, or take the pro's pro blackout and you will find that you will have a really decent stringbed lasting you 4-6 hitting hours at least until it either breaks or you just cut it out.

switching strings between practice and tournament is not a very smart idea in my opinion, you practice a certain stroking mechanics and then you have to change in order to adapt to a different response from the stringbed.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by fgs

maxpotapov,

for around 200 euros you already get a pretty solid mechanical stringing machine (don't know what shipping would be though!).

take that and put in a really nice hybrid with isospeed baseline mains for instance, or take the pro's pro blackout and you will find that you will have a really decent stringbed lasting you 4-6 hitting hours at least until it either breaks or you just cut it out.

switching strings between practice and tournament is not a very smart idea in my opinion, you practice a certain stroking mechanics and then you have to change in order to adapt to a different response from the stringbed.

Health is of greater priority for me, that's why even if I can afford frequent restringing of poly, I would still use natural gut mains and some sleek synthetic crosses for regular practice. Switching to something else before the tournament is tricky, I know, but it would take me one or two training sessions to adapt (judging by all the string testing I'm doing). Especially if I prioritize spin over power -- I have much more tolerance in terms of net clearance and depth of my shots. So I think some "cheater's" setup will actually boost my confidence in the match play, as I suddenly can get the ball over the net and into the court with so much less effort and so much more control.
But then again, after the competition I would return to natural gut mains so that my arm can recover and stay safe.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by anubis

At the 3.0 level, I feel like I'm cheating a little by using BHB7 because its just so spinny. I played a friendly mixed doubles match yesterday with a couple of 4.5 ladies and they had a lot of trouble with the amount of TS that I imparted on the ball. I won a lot of rallies against them because they said they just weren't used to it and rarely see that against other women.

Same goes for the typical 3.0 male that I play against. they mostly use a cheap syn gut or multi that has long since died 6 months ago. They can't generate the type of spin that I do, and they have trouble countering that spin to.

Since I love stringing so much, I only play 10 to 12 hours with each setup and then cut it out, so I almost always have fresh strings for every match.

So yeah, it feels like cheating: I have more access to spin than most of my contemporaries, and its really because of my string, not my technique.

And that's a perfect case of how this approach works!

Now I'm trying to challenge the notion that using the same setup for every purpose in 3.0-5.0 tennis is the only way to achieve best results in terms of price/performance (price includes cost of restringing and/or medical bills).

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by mikeler

One of my opponents thought my B5E mains setup should be illegal because of the spin.

Try some 7-sided mains next, or Polystar Turbo, because he will most likely upgrade for your next match. Talking about arms race

[arche3]

Every advantage in spin from a string comes with a disadvantage. The reason top players play with what they practice is predictability. It can be as simple as a change in the dwell time when you hit down the line on the run (on your forehand around the approaching opponent) into the corner. The amount of hook you can get is different on different strings. When you know how much margin for error you have then it's all down to your game.

I prefer a round string for predictable rebounds and spin. At the higher levels of even rec tennis say 4.5 and above spin does not really bother people.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by arche3

Every advantage in spin from a string comes with a disadvantage. The reason top players play with what they practice is predictability. It can be as simple as a change in the dwell time when you hit down the line on the run (on your forehand around the approaching opponent) into the corner. The amount of hook you can get is different on different strings. When you know how much margin for error you have then it's all down to your game.

I prefer a round string for predictable rebounds and spin. At the higher levels of even rec tennis say 4.5 and above spin does not really bother people.

From the strings I tried, I have two setups that I would prefer for competitive play: Black Widow / Gosen OGSM and Polystar Turbo / Gosen OGSM.

Gosen OGSM is very smooth and provides just enough cushioning for the mains without altering their response in any way. Very neutral and just enough energy return for the first 2-3 hours.

Black Widow is probably the best co-poly available on every front: optimal energy return, ball bite, pocketing, etc... for the first 5 hours or so. This would be my default competition setup.

But if I play against the opponent I'm familiar with and have to exploit certain weakness in his game (usually high bouncing top/side spin shots to his backhand) then my best choice would be Polystar Turbo mains. It does not feel anywhere as good as Black Widow, especially when fresh -- it gives you that weird sound and sticky sensation, but I can put any spin on the ball in any situation.

Such was the case with a top ranked junior that returns everything that bounces low, no matter how hard I hit. Phenomenal reflexes and movement. The only way to win is to spin the ball deep over his head (he is not tall) and this is where it really helps to "cheat" with my string setup.

With enough depth, spin will bother any player of any level, even more than flat penetrating shots that they can feed off. Nadal's approach is effective, especially on slower surfaces, but it takes much energy and a lot of strings to impart 2000+ rpm on the ball.