Cold Weather Effect on Strings

[Shaun]

Hello
I use a full bed poly strung at 57 and when i play it feels really soft on my arm and the power is fantastic. But I played a little in the cold it was about 40 degrees and the string bed seemed to be really stiff and I wasn't able to hit with a lot of power.

Has this happened to anyone? Is this because of cold weather? How does it effect poly strings? Do poly strings really get very stiff in the cold, not allowing you to hit with a lot of power?

 

[Lukhas]

I typically string less tight in winter. Polys and multis alike. I just don't have as much pocketing in winter, the ball feels like it slides in the string bed, it's rather unpleasant. Even if I like strings with very short contact duration. You just can't get through the ball.

I suggest you lower your tension, or even hybrid your poly with a multi in the crosses.

 

[RetroSpin]

Same here. I started a thread on this a while back after experiencing the same thing. The consesnsus was that the balls being cold maybe was a bigger factor than realized but that poly definitely is effected by temps.

I found that BHBR seemed far more sensitive to cold than RPM Blast. Ironically, the BHBR was relatively fresh and the Blast had been used for weeks.

 

[Shaun]

Same here. I started a thread on this a while back after experiencing the same thing. The consesnsus was that the balls being cold maybe was a bigger factor than realized but that poly definitely is effected by temps.

I found that BHBR seemed far more sensitive to cold than RPM Blast. Ironically, the BHBR was relatively fresh and the Blast had been used for weeks.

So cold weather does make polys stiffer?

 

[moonballs]

Of course cold weather makes string stiffer, also balls are deader.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

My personal experience is that poly is quite sensitive to temperature. The same poly stringbed that is perfect at 70F is too loose at 95F and too stiff at 50F.

 

[vintagefan]

How much lower on tension should you go in winter (upper 40F)? Is 10lbs less too much?

 

[goeblack]

bottom line is cold weather screws up tennis in just about every way. Balls, strings, bodies, minds.

 

[reds17]

bottom line is cold weather screws up tennis in just about every way. Balls, strings, bodies, minds.

That about sums it up. I live in the Mid-Atlantic US and we're having more frequent 40 degree days. One such day was yesterday but it didn't prevent myself and another guy from getting out there and braving the elements. The wind was gusting at times, so that just added to the wind chill. It's definitely a mental and physical battle when you're out in frigid weather like that.

 

[HRB]

Played outside yesterday 2 hours...just happy to be out in the sun...BUT...not going to lie...shots off of swings that woulda' pasted the back line in over 50 degrees barely left service box at 37 degrees F!

Missed so many volleys because you need to swing...ball hits string bed and falls to ground with no rebound....had to swing and volley rest of the match. Groundies were ok once you get used to the fact that you can swing all out and keep it in.

Had a stick strung at 53lbs. with Poly...felt dead, one stung at 60 with syn gut, felt dead...but one strung at 54 with syn gut worked the best...so yes lower tensions relative to string type is preferred.

 

[seb23]

I played today for the first time in a while and the strings definitely felt stiffer. One thing I'd like to know is are there any strings that are better for the cold weather. Polys especially

 

[reds17]

I would think any poly that plays soft, like the Cyclone Tour. It's also a good idea to string a few lbs. lower too, to further offset the stiffness.

On a side note, I will not be braving the elements. We're getting snow, it's actually quite heavy at the moment. Time to watch some football this afternoon.

 

[Matchball]

My most recent example/experience: a poly stringjob felt spot on at 45 F, but noticeably more powerful above 60 F. But then again it's what moonballs says, the balls are an important parameter, too.

 

[Shaun]

Which poly do you guys think would play good and soft on the arm with some good power in cold weather like 30-35 degrees?

 

[Deleted member 120290]

Which poly do you guys think would play good and soft on the arm with some good power in cold weather like 30-35 degrees?

Gut/Yptp

Rip Control

Obviously full gut is great for comfort in cold weather but you will miss the spin of gut/poly or full poly.

 

[illuminotti]

How much lower on tension should you go in winter (upper 40F)? Is 10lbs less too much?

I would say 5 lbs.

But it's a feel thing. Better to be a little tight and play into the right tension than being a little loose and getting looser as time goes on.

 

[HRB]

I'd kill to have the opposite issue right now...wish it was so hot out I had to go up in tension to keep the balls from sailing!

 

[Shaun]

So hard to adjust to windy and very cold conditions. First the ball feels dead and moves around a lot because of the wind, and plus the strings feel stiffer and dead as well. But well, you have to adjust haha

 

[TennisCJC]

I drop 4 lbs in winter and I play a lot in 30-50 F range. I played winter leagues and it is not unusual to play in the low 30s and occasionally even the high 20s.

 

[fuzz nation]

I like to drop tension by 3-5 lbs. when temps get down into the mid 40's or occasional high 30's. I'm not a poly user though - I use either 16 or 17 ga. synthetic gut that I'll install on the "snug" side when it's hotter outside. When I've tried a side by side comparison in cold weather with two of my racquets strung at different tensions, the lower tension seems to have all the feel and performance that the tighter string bed is missing.

I've sampled a couple of poly hybrids in the warmer weather that seemed much more firm than I prefer, even with the poly tensioned at around 50 lbs. I'd expect that sort of string to need at least a 5 lb. drop in tension to get some feel and performance back in the colder conditions.

 

[ilovetennis212]

I use gut/poly hybrid it's great on cold weather.
My all friends use poly. And they had bad experience with cold weather.

 

[Overdrive]

On the subject of cold weather, the local club here has canceled all lessons for the second week in a row.. This is one of the biggest problems with the facilities here..

Also, I personally dislike playing in the winter. Playing in tournaments with a 25 degree wind chill isn't fun at all.

 

[Shaun]

Played with gut/poly today in 30 degrees. Feels like gut/poly performs best in the cold compared to poly or multis.

 

[parasailing]

Yes gut mains/co-poly string is the best setup to save your arm and shoulder from injury especially when the temperature drops into the 40s and below.