Questions about Co-polymer strings

Overdrive said:

There's always recommendations that racquets should be strung at low 40's. Why is that? I forgot what happens to the racquet strung like this, but I don't need an overpowered racquet. I can generate it myself. Second question: does the racquet become stiff if strung at 58/56? I just don't want to get injured over stringing it too tight.

I'm using BB Bomber (17g) and plan on getting the 16g version.
Here's my plan.

Racquet 1: Recommended set-up for more control
Racquet 2: See above
Racquet 3: 2-3 lbs tighter
Racquet 4: 2-3 lbs looser

I'm a stringing novice, so any help is welcome.

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seekay said:

There are a few reasons for the advice:

1. Poly doesn't really gain power and lose control like nylon or gut strings when you drop the tension.

2. Poly is generally stiffer than other strings. Dropping the tension creates a softer stringbed.

3. Dropping the tension can reduce inter-string friction, allowing the main strings to more easily slide across the crosses and snap back, giving even more spin.

When my customers want to try poly for the first time, I usually recommend stringing it at the bottom of their frame's recommended tension range and iterating from there. In my experience, most (but not all) people prefer to slowly drop the tension over time until they find their own personal sweet spot.

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Overdrive said:

Hold on, I leaded my frame at 12:00. How does this set-up affect the racquet?

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seekay said:

Leading at 12:00 increases swingweight, so you get more plough through and power.

Because it's so dependent on your technique, it's hard to say whether higher or lower tension will accentuate what you like about a higher swingweight; it can go either way. Start with a setup that you expect to work and when you restring, change one variable at a time and evaluate whether it's brilliant or rubbish (or both).

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Overdrive said:

Thanks. That is true.

I just weighed my racquet and it's 14.75 ounces..

The beam width is so thin, that it feels like a 11 ounce racquet. :lol:

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Irvin said:

You put enough weight on the top of the head to bring it up to 14.75 oz. and it feels like an 11 oz. racket? That does not compute unless you holding the head.

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Overdrive said:

My racquet is literally one of the most arm friendly frames in the market. I guess I have to go to court and play with it. My first statement should be irrelevant.



Updated specs (before stringing with co-poly & leather grip):


Weight: 14.55 oz
Balance: 5,8 HL
SW: 375.6
Power index % (center): 45.36
Plow index% (center): 34.3

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gmatheis said:

How on earth did you add enough lead to the head to make it 14.55oz and maintain almost 6 points headlight?

Did you by chance also add weight to the handle?

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Dags said:

3.25 oz is 92.136g.

1/4" lead tape is typically 0.25g per inch. That gives us 368.54 inches.

Did you really add 30 feet of lead tape to the head of your racquet? (and if so, I'm torn between asking why and requesting a picture of it... I think I'll side with the picture.)

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Dags said:

3.25 oz is 92.136g.

1/4" lead tape is typically 0.25g per inch. That gives us 368.54 inches.

Did you really add 30 feet of lead tape to the head of your racquet? (and if so, I'm torn between asking why and requesting a picture of it... I think I'll side with the picture.)

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Irvin said:

I'm with you Dags, I use Glof Wroks 1/2" lead tape and it weighs 1g per inch. I cut it in half so it's 1/4" wide but still it's two time the weight of normal tape. Not so sure the OP is not leading us astray.

EDIT: If the racket is now 5.8 pts HL with 3.25 oz. of lead added to the head imagine how HL it had to be before.

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Overdrive said:

1/2 lead tape waa too wide for me. I wasted $15 buying both lead & head tape. on TW.

In stock, the racquet was 1.1 HL.

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Irvin said:

If your racket is 1.1 whatever HL and you add 3.25 oz of lead at 12:00 it is IMPOSSIBLE to make the racket more head light.

EDIT: Are you sure your racket is not now 5.8 something HH?

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Irvin said:

If your racket is 1.1 whatever HL and you add 3.25 oz of lead at 12:00 it is IMPOSSIBLE to make the racket more head light.

EDIT: Are you sure your racket is not now 5.8 something HH?

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Overdrive said:

Irvin, 1.5 at 12, 1.75 at throat .

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Overdrive said:

No, I added 1.5 oz to the hoop and 1.75 oz to the throat.

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fortun8son said:

When you say throat, do you mean at 6o'clock in the hoop or down in the 'Y' of the yoke?
The yoke is well behind the balance point and adding weight there can easily account for the HL balance.

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fortun8son said:

So... back to the original question.
Stringing poly at 58/56 will create a very stiff stringbed.
I don't recommend going over 54.
Manufacturer's recommended tensions are for nylon-based strings.

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