Breaking strings in 2h - advice needed from stringers
- Thread starter Psi7
- Start date
Humbi_HTX
Professional
Absolutely, the same "test player" has a 16x18 and a 18x20 6.1 BLX Team, the same string job last over twice as long in the more dense pattern.
All of the observations have been without bias because the "subject" has been willing to experiment with different strings unaware of what it is and he plays only 1 frame at a time until breakage.
Psi7
Rookie
I am aware that 18x20 is way better, but if you take a look at my previous posts you will see that i really struggled with elbow/arm pain that was coming either from aero+blast or weak shoulder blade not prepared for this kind of level i started to play with or maybe(most likely) all things connected.
My priority was to fix it first, which hopefully i did as there is a major improvement right now and i recently changed racquet from Aero to Speed Mp so i cant really just sell 3 racquets after 2 months or so and start testing 18x20 again
Maybe it was bad coincidence as i had Speed Pro for testing for a weekend, but due to good run in one tournament i didint have a chance to test it. Then it was all the Yonex racquets including one 18x20 and then click with Speed Mp and Vcore but Speed just felt more comfortable. So maybe i would love Pro as well, but at that time durability wasnt my concern. It was that elbow/arm and i tried to get less stiff racquet just to offload it a little bit without changing my game much. Speed MP felt ideal as it was similar to old Aero with all the reasons i posted earlier and just much better in terms of comfort.Golfer's elbow route/guide - racquets review
I am struggling with golfer's elbow pain and its time to fix it. I will share few posts that had a lot of suggestions and in the upcoming time i will be testing few racquets. I am advanced player i'd say 5.5-6.0. 35 years old, at 20 i was at itf qual level then stopped and for 15 years didint...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
Problems with durability occured after the switch as MP + 1.25 PTP lasted 2 hours wich wasnt enough for me, thats why i was looking here for a compromise between longer durability and good setup for my arm, which i believe was shoulder blade all the way. Just pain coming in the elbow area but not connected with just elbow itself.
Back to today's testing i cant say which one i like better. I am comfortable with both setups. Getting better touch with PTP + Spin but after few first balls i am also getting good feeling with Rough. Its a little bit different, more demanding maybe from my side, a little bit more heavy touch but wouldnt pick one over another. I will have another 2h session tomorrow so hopefully will be able to tell more, but... ptp + spin is more likely to stay simply because rough is way more expensive than ptp here and also i can see that ptp + spin is holding tension better than rough+ spin where strings are moving way easier so probably durability on that 1st attempt where Ptp+spin lasted much longer wasnt coincidence.
Psi7
Rookie
i will try 16x18 8/8 in future assuming i’ll be fine, get in better shape and completely get rid if old pain. I keep getting days off for recovery lately and its all good but will be playing tomorrow 2nd day straight for the first time in a while just to see how it is.
Maybe that new vcore will be nice, would love to get that new model with similar comfort to this mp 22’ in like black or black/neon edition
but yet again, i am perfectly happy with this speed mp and i wont evrn consider anything for months at least. Will be even better if i finish practice session tomorrow without any pain which will be another big step and quite sure i will stick with that 1.3 ptp and 1.25 spin for a while.Will get back with feedback tomorrow as i will be playing with a very good and heavy hitter
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McEncock
Professional
@Psi7
Keep things simple and cheap. If you feel more connected to PTP / PTSpin, don't think twice!
You're getting closer to your final setup, and I am happy for you. Your field reports were very interesting to read
Cheers
Edit : your MP is 8 mains throat, so you're already in the "dense" 16x19 club
Keep things simple and cheap. If you feel more connected to PTP / PTSpin, don't think twice!
You're getting closer to your final setup, and I am happy for you. Your field reports were very interesting to read
Cheers
Edit : your MP is 8 mains throat, so you're already in the "dense" 16x19 club
18x20 is a nice step up for someone chewing through strings and playing poly with some discomfort. You get better durability along with better control typically which allows you to string lower in tension which can help with comfort as well. After I switched to 18x20 I never though I would go to anything else, but then I found some old school fiberglass frames and ended up going to a 16x17 setup on an 85" head and can't imagine to moving to anything else again! Of course I also can't wait to find out what could change my mind.
I can compare 98 inch racquet with dense 16x19 vs 100 inch open 18x20. And strings in 18x20 last me more than 2x times longer.
Psi7
Rookie
I will go with 1.3 PTP + 1.25 Spin, most likely will make order today or tomorrow as i have a good deal on both reels.
I played for the most of the 2h practice today with this setup and i just have a better touch with it
The thing is, that when i switched from 1.25 blast to 1.25 PTP i really liked this new soft feel. It was when i still had Aero. I also played well when i switched to MP 22' with 1.25 ptp. If not durability issues i wouldnt change anything.
I wanted to give a full 1h of each setup today during practice, but when i had drills with points i was getting ptp setup just because it feels like "my string" and i was more comfortable with it. Like i could play with both, but lets say i have to pick one for a tiebreak in 3rd set and i would go with ptp+spin.
And if thats the case, there is no logic to consider rough+spin option anymore because rough reel cost 50% more than PTP and also will break earlier.
I think that 4 hours(or close) will be great for me with one of the strings at 1.25, somehow I dont have that arm/elbow problems anymore, played 2 days straight for 2h each with very heavy hitters and good players and i dont want to mess with it by getting more stiff setups like lynx tour for example.
My game will also improve when i stop changing racquets with different strings all the time...
I played for the most of the 2h practice today with this setup and i just have a better touch with it
The thing is, that when i switched from 1.25 blast to 1.25 PTP i really liked this new soft feel. It was when i still had Aero. I also played well when i switched to MP 22' with 1.25 ptp. If not durability issues i wouldnt change anything.
I wanted to give a full 1h of each setup today during practice, but when i had drills with points i was getting ptp setup just because it feels like "my string" and i was more comfortable with it. Like i could play with both, but lets say i have to pick one for a tiebreak in 3rd set and i would go with ptp+spin.
And if thats the case, there is no logic to consider rough+spin option anymore because rough reel cost 50% more than PTP and also will break earlier.
I think that 4 hours(or close) will be great for me with one of the strings at 1.25, somehow I dont have that arm/elbow problems anymore, played 2 days straight for 2h each with very heavy hitters and good players and i dont want to mess with it by getting more stiff setups like lynx tour for example.
My game will also improve when i stop changing racquets with different strings all the time...
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ryohazuki222
Hall of Fame
I love the way you’re thinking about this.
I remember back in the day I liked signum pro poly plasma a whole lot. I also really liked rpm team. Instead of worrying about it too much I just used rpm for free when I was sponsored by Babolat and then SPPP when I wasn’t because it was sooooo much cheaper.
excited for you shifting from “figuring it out phase” to “using it phase”. At least for me, the “using it phase” has been so incredible that it justified all the effort of being intentional.
Psi7
Rookie
Yes i am very happy to finally stop it as it really took months. First racquets, then strings and really a lot of long posts here in both topics
Made order for both reels so no more changes The only thing i'll do, and that will happen after many racquets with ptp+spin first is checking ptp+blast out of curiosity, how blast feels vs spin. I assume it will be very similar so maybe will just put it on one racquet time to time instead of selling reel. If not, i will just get rid of it.
You mentioned RPM Team and i recently found my old reel from 2006 when i still had some serious plans
Its Pro Hurricane but from what i heard this is basically same string. Got it at 1.35 so maybe will try/use it at some point as well with that 1.25 spin Just as one racquet in the bag... no more messing with main setup. Its 1.3 PTP + 1.25 Spin 
SlowTiger
Professional
Lol is that even possible? I was reading the original post and I'm like ... I even think nadal breaks strings that fast. I snapped a brand new set of 16g poly once in 10 mins. Super shank for the win!!!
McEncock
Professional
If you force Nadal to drill with 130 PTP I think he could break in less than 30min
ryohazuki222
Hall of Fame
Update: pt spin mains and rough crosses (1.25 each) does seem to have more longevity than rough mains on ptp crosses.
I’m at above 6 hours now so durability seems improved, though looks like they’ll break in the next 90 minute session. This wasn’t an apples to apples week in terms of hitting so hard to say for sure.
bigger surprise is how consistently this setup plays over its life. Still feels very fresh. Previous setup got bouncy around this time. I liked it still but it was a very different feel from new.
I’m at above 6 hours now so durability seems improved, though looks like they’ll break in the next 90 minute session. This wasn’t an apples to apples week in terms of hitting so hard to say for sure.
bigger surprise is how consistently this setup plays over its life. Still feels very fresh. Previous setup got bouncy around this time. I liked it still but it was a very different feel from new.
Psi7
Rookie
Nice, @ryohazuki222. My reels arrived so i can confirm this lab test is done but will just share how long strings survived with next 2-3 breaks. I am quite sure this will be around 4h mark, but i decided to go for it after 1.5 attempt to be fair, so definitely rushed it a bit but hopefully no surprises
ryohazuki222
Hall of Fame
Nice, @ryohazuki222. My reels arrived so i can confirm this lab test is done but will just share how long strings survived with next 2-3 breaks. I am quite sure this will be around 4h mark, but i decided to go for it after 1.5 attempt to be fair, so definitely rushed it a bit but hopefully no surprises
watching this thread officially paid off. I was very happy with rough mains ptp crosses. Only bother was 5.5 hours max until they break. Minor gripe was maybe they are a little too powerful, but I liked it. Getting the feel was worth it.
switching to pt spin main and rough crosses. Basically better in every way and only the slightest hit to feel. I was positive I was in string overtime going into todays session and they lasted another 90 mins. Totally sold. And my reel just arrived.
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