16x18 vs 18x20 string patterns and string life

[tennishorn]

How important is a more dense string pattern in increasing string durability? Currently I am getting less than 7 hours per set of string on my Pro Staff Classic16x18. The longest i have made it is 6-7 hours with Pro Hurricane tour at 60lbs, but it kills my arm. I have developed tricept tendonitis. It has been suggested to me that a racquet with 18 x 20 string pattern would increase my string life. Can anyone verify if that change would make a substantial difference or recomend a durable but more comfortable string set up with my current racquet?

 

[iplaybetter]

a 18x20 string patern will help you with durability, the other thing to consider is the good old standby of problend, i dont get complaints and when strung a little looser it has the potential to be easier on your arm than poly, that combo should help you increase durability,


ps. try some problend at 55 and see what you think

 

[Richie Rich]

i was lucky to get a set out of strings when i used the PS classic 16x18. also, the frame is really stiff and wouldn't be a good match for hurricane.

moving to an 18x20 frame really increases string life. i get 20 hours before i cut out poly because they go dead. hardly even notched.

 

[Kevo]

I get about double the life in my new PSL than I did with my PDRs. Getting about 30 - 40 hours out of a set of Cyber Power strung at about 54lbs. That is until breakage. I think the last 4 to 6 hours was pushing it. That's about the time I noticed a change in play.

 

[ronalditop]

16x18 is the more open pattern existing. 18x20 would significatly increase the durability of your strings.

Off topic: im using right now psgd 17 at 59 but next time im going to string with psgd 16 for more durability. since a wider string has less power, should i lower the tension by a few pounds?

 

[Element54]

I've noticed more durability/life until they break.

 

[jazar]

i've never had great durability in my prestiges. when i used to play 5 times a week i strung them up with psgd and it lasted less than 10 hours. i dont play quite as much anymore, but my last set only lasted about 6 hours

 

[SoCal10s]

18X20 =longer strings life

18X20 =longer strings life,but it depends on what you want from a racket.. most 18X20 pattern will give you better ball control but with less power and spin.. so if hitting with a lot of spin and blasting bigger shots are important to you then you have to consider otherwise.. if you can generate a lot of power and don't need the extra added power the 16X18 will give you then go for the switch.. but before you do ,try changing to hybrid kevlar/poly and/or try string savers... when I switched from 16X18 to 18X20, the strings would last about 11-14 sets instead of about 5 sets or about 15 hours of play instead of 6-7 hours.. switching to kevlar/poly hybrid helped but now I use ALU rough 16ga(mains)and Timo 17ga cross with string savers and I'm satisfied with the performance and string life... but I recently switched from 93 to 98 and that is shortening the string life again... it's still ok, lasting about 12 hours of play with the same set up and string savers...

 

[TheRed]

lot's of factors come into play, 18 x 20 in a 93" head, 98", or larger. I'd estimate conservatively that if you were to move to a Head (I, fxp, mg) prestige mp you'd get at least 50% durability but more likely 2-3 times the durability.

 

[fuzz nation]

The two racquets I use the most these days are the good ol' ProStaff 6.1 Classic and the Prince NXG mid. I just popped a string in a 6.1 yesterday and I'm kind of psyched because I've been curious to try a hybrid with especially loose kevlar in the mains (probably syn. gut crosses). Since I string my own bats, this isn't a very tough experiment for me and if I use it today, I'll let you know how it turns out. BTW, I usually use a 17 ga. syn. gut in my ProStaffs right up to 65 lbs. Not the greatest durability with this setup, but I really like the touch and at least what I perceive to be better bite on the ball.

The NXG mid is a lot different in comparison with the ProStaff - very flexible, smaller head, dense string pattern, and actually a touch heavier. The spin production I get with this frame, believe it or not, is at least as good as with the Wilson (must be the extra flex?) and I string these with either that same 17 ga. syn. gut or a multifiber of the same gauge. Not a lot of string movement and I think that this helps with the lifespan of the stingbed, but I wouldn't want a similar dense layout in a stiffer racquet like the 6.1 - I'd expect that to be way too clunky. If you sample anything with a dense stringbed, I'd recommend that it also has more flex.

 

[hoodjem]

18X20 =longer strings life,... most 18X20 pattern will give you better ball control but with less power and spin.

This is largely true. When I switched to an 18 X 20 nCode nPS 95 from a PS 6.0, I got great ball control, less power and spin, but my strings lasted almost forever.

I went from strings lasting a week or two weeks to strings lasting for months and months--so long that I more often had to cut them out.

If you can generate plenty of power and spin on your own, then switching to an 18 X 20 will dramatically improve string life IMO.

 

[origmarm]

18*20 is going to be significantly more durable.

As an aside, I found that when I played with the PSC6.1 that this racquet was a real string eater. I now have a 16*19 (ok so one more string) Vantage with similar specs (apart from weight) and I would say they last 100% longer. I don't think my game has changed that dramatically. So in short, the switch will help but it may just be mostly the PSC also, there's something about it

 

[tennishorn]

Thanks for all of the input. I have been trying out the k61 18x20 and a couple technifiber 18x20. I can generate my own power and spin, so i feel little difference in my shots, but i just love the feel of my PSC. I am going to try out a few more hybrid string jobs and see what i can do. If I have no luck, i will just have to buy new sticks. With the savings from string jobs, they should pay for themselves after 4 or 5 months.

 

[origmarm]

If you really like the feel of the PSC (which I did) and you want to get the same thing in 18*20 the closest thing I think you are going to find is a Vantage. I wanted the same but without the weight as I'm getting older and slower now so I have a 16*19 version, just lighter.

If you get the 18*20 95' version in 70RA with a similar weight you are going to get very close as the feel is very similar I found.