17 G vs 18 G multis---Myth on power

[LeeD]

If you think it's all good, then it is.
Compromise is usually better than black or white.

[fortun8son]

Velocity difference is minimal no matter what the gauge, tension or material.
Maybe 3mph at best.
The difference is launch angle and the depth of the shot.
Power is perceived, not actual.

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by fortun8son

Velocity difference is minimal no matter what the gauge, tension or material.
Maybe 3mph at best.
The difference is launch angle and the depth of the shot.
Power is perceived, not actual.

Agree but 3 mph is huge difference in amateur tennis. agree about launch angle, I feel like with 18 gauge, more of my shots fly higher and longer and OUT. do you think it is because of the launch angle ???

[rst]

Power is perceived, not actual................

is it not both?

[coloskier]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

LeeD, I always challenge people to think and think out of the box.

I have been doing 18 G multi with 17 G Poly. What do you think about 17 G Multi and 18 G poly, do you think that is better ?

I'm using 17 RIP Control on the crosses and 18 Tour Bite on the mains at 50#. The RIP always breaks before the Tour Bite. But it does give me loads of spin.

[fuzz nation]

Maneuverability around the net is a high priority for me, but I don't worry about my strings when I want to get quicker handling from my racquets. I've always been used to a heavier frame in the neighborhood of 12.3-12.8 oz., but I also need a significant amount of head-light balance in my hefty frames to get both the maneuverability and stablility I prefer.

If my racquet has 9-10 points HL balance, it moves well for me without being so overly head-light that it feels twitchy and unpredictable. My Volkl C10's have some lead on their handles to give me this balance that I prefer. Even though this tuning increases their static weight, I don't get any sense of diminished maneuverability, since the altered balance helps the hoop of the frame to be "quicker" for me.

Just offering this idea, since I'm a fan of using both 16 and 17 gauge syn. gut in my racquets. Although I'm sure that the thinner string makes for a slightly lighter head, it hasn't been an issue for me. Tuning my racquets with some lead on the handles has been my key to getting that maneuverablity that I want around the net.

[UCSF2012]

I tried 18g strings once. My first serve mph dropped to about 60mph, down from 125mph. Never again will I use 18g. I'm at 16g and will never stray away.

[robow7]

In general, 18g multi's tend to stretch out more quickly and lose more tension than a 17g and I don't care to restring my racquets that often, but then I'm using it for the entire string bed.