Do head size and power vary directly?

[jaydog23]

First, as head size increases, will power almost always follow? I myself play with a prestige classic 600. I currently have it strung at 54 lbs., but I'm thinking of going down to around 48. My friends who have 98 and 100 square inch racquets play closer to 58 lbs. Second, how much does string tension affect spin potential? I know that "control" goes down as tension goes down, but does that include the actually spin potential? Finally, tecnifibre x-one biphase 16 cross with signum pro poly plasma 17 main sound like a spinny setup? I thinking of switching to alu power rough or solinco tour bite in the main.

[LeeD]

If it were only soooooo simplistic.
It's not.
Stiffness has lots to do with power.
Personal preference even more.
It always comes up to a balance of soft stringing and loss of control, and added power.
As for spin, that is something in voque right now.
Why not look at the results of your hitting to the effectiveness of your game? Isn't that more important?

[oldschoolrules]

Generally, the larger head size racquet is potentially more powerful, primarily due to the longer length of the mains. I said potentially because, as LeeD stated, there are a number of other factors that can play a role - string tension and choice, frame flexibility, etc. But, as an example, you took a Prince Graphite oversize and a midplus and strung them with the same string at same tension, the oversize would be much more inherently powerful.

As for string tension's effect on spin, thirty years ago the consensus seemed to be that higher tensions enhanced spin as they deflected less on impact thus "biting" into the ball more and creating additional friction - that's reportedly why Borg strung those Donnays with VS gut at 80 lbs. But now all the talk is about the "snap back" effect of lower tensioned poly being the greatest influence. Bottom line is that given all the potential variations in frame size and construction, string composition, etc. there really do not seem to be any such "rules" anymore.

[corners]

Originally Posted by jaydog23

First, as head size increases, will power almost always follow?

No. If you adjust your string tension when you go up or down in headsize, the stringbed stiffness could stay the same, in which case there will be no difference in power. But if you string at 54 pounds with a mid and stay at 54 pounds with a 100 the 100 will give you a few more mph on your shots. The lower stringbed tension in the 100 will also mean that the ball will rebound off your strings at a higher angle, so your shots will naturally land deeper. Most people mistake this for "power." It's not power of course, it's just depth and most people will adjust to the changed launch angle fairly quickly. Others will whine that the racquet is too powerful.

Second, how much does string tension affect spin potential? I know that "control" goes down as tension goes down, but does that include the actually spin potential?

There is no simple link between string tension and spin potential. In lab tests, some strings generate more spin at lower tensions and others generate more spin at higher tensions. It's hard to predict. But if you're using copoly strings and don't swing as fast as the pros then you should string lower than the pros. You need to get the main strings to bend, slide and snapback, and if your swingspeed is slower, looser strings will help make that happen. If your copoly strings are too tight they won't slide, they won't give you more spin and your racquet will feel like a board.

Finally, tecnifibre x-one biphase 16 cross with signum pro poly plasma 17 main sound like a spinny setup? I thinking of switching to alu power rough or solinco tour bite in the main.

Some people have tried multi mains and copoly crosses and like it. X-1/SPPP might generate good spin but I don't know. It's worth a try. For me personally, I know that the SPPP crosses would cut through the X-1 mains and snap them pretty quick. X-1 is just a bunch of very thin strands of nylon glued together with polyurethane; it won't stand up to copoly mains very well. Natural gut lasts much longer in the mains than X-1 will. But your experience may be different. Some good players on these boards get 10-20 hours out of their gut mains when strung with copoly crosses. X-1 is pretty expensive, so if you only get 5 hours with it in the mains you'd be better off going with gut.

[ChicagoJack]

Hi Jaydog,

corners has it covered pretty well as usual. I would just add that:

1. all things being equal, a racquet with a wider head will have a higher twistweight. That's fancy talk for increased stability, and incrementally more power when you miss the center of the string bed out towards 3:00 - 9:00.

2. This is because the mass at 3-9 is a greater distance from the long axis running from the tip to butt cap. Sending weight out to the edges is how we get things to stop twisting, rolling an spinning around an axis. Picture a spinning figure skater. When the arms and legs are close to the body, the spin is very fast. When the arms and legs are extended, the spin slows down. Lead at 3-9, or a wider head, works in a similar fashion. It creates a racquet that is more resistant to both kinds twisting that occurs on off center impacts. The roll of the whole frame twisting in your hand, and top of the frame twisting like a screw or a twizzler.

3. Longer strings (at the same tension) create a softer stringbed. Softer stringbeds are more powerful, simply because the ball compresses less. When the ball compresses, the stored impact energy is lost forever. More accurately said, it's converted into friction and heat and other things that are not very useful to making a ball go fast.

4. Most of the variables associated with boosting racquet power, create differences in ball velocity that are fractions of MPHs on average, and might amount a few MPHs when combined together. These difs are incredibly minute, and probably not noticeable to the player. Most on court perceptions of power have nothing to do with velocity or MPHs. But have more to do with ball arcs, flight paths and depth, which players are extremely good at noticing.

X1 Bi Phase is awesome. Used it for several years in an old Prestige. Hits like buttah. But Gut M's, Poly X's is waay better in terms of spin (very low inter-string friction) and is actually cheaper for me in the long run. I snap Biphase (always the crosses) in 6-8 hours, but a 15L or 16g gut can last me 25-30 hours indoors, a bit less on clay, for just a few bucks more.

-Jack

[TennisCJC]

Swingweight is also very critical to power. Most can go higher with SW and still maintain racket head speed. This will give you more pop.

I don't think flex greater changes power but stiffer may have a very very small amount more pop.

Longer strings do give you more spring but they also can be harder to control.