definite difference between 16g and 17g RPM blast

[arche3]

SO I have been using RPM 16g last week. Last night I strung up a racket with the 17g and played this morning. As expected the 17g has more pop. not sure about more spin. As the 16 gives you great spin anyways. The 17g has a bit more pace on all shots. Feel is better than 16g as RPM feels even softer on the 17g. One thing of interest for me is the 17g RPM is very similar to ALU power. As they are both 1.25mm the trajectory of the ball is very comparable. The RPM has more spin than ALU imo. but with RPM the ball dips faster by a tad than ALU.

I will need to play more with the 17g RPM before I decide if the added pace is more desirable than the added control of the 16g RPM blast.

I had originally loved the RPM but wandered away to ALU and Gut hybrid. It feels good to be back on these strings as they complement my game perfectly.

 

[LeeD]

Real question is, does strings actually improve your overall level of play, a your level.
I believe NOT.
I"m 4.0 and fading fast, maybe once up to lowest 5.5s 25 odd years ago. I always used cheap strings. Sometimes, VS or some sponsor would send me packages of strings, so I'd try them for a while. NOPE, still lower level 5.5 at best.
I can be lower level 5.5 with my Leona66 15 gauge NYLON then, and did.
String might help your feel, might satisfy your mind's need for the pursuit of perfection, but nobody got to another full level just by changing their strings.
Practice, dedication, hard work, sweat, knowledge, smarts, the application of, is what makes you a better tennis player.
Currently, I use PrinceTourneyNylon 15 gauge. I've used plenty of rackets with every 17 gauge, or 16, Lux, and plenty of blends. YES, I can feel the difference. NO, I'm still a falling 4.0.

 

[arche3]

Real question is, does strings actually improve your overall level of play, a your level.
I believe NOT.
I"m 4.0 and fading fast, maybe once up to lowest 5.5s 25 odd years ago. I always used cheap strings. Sometimes, VS or some sponsor would send me packages of strings, so I'd try them for a while. NOPE, still lower level 5.5 at best.
I can be lower level 5.5 with my Leona66 15 gauge NYLON then, and did.
String might help your feel, might satisfy your mind's need for the pursuit of perfection, but nobody got to another full level just by changing their strings.
Practice, dedication, hard work, sweat, knowledge, smarts, the application of, is what makes you a better tennis player.
Currently, I use PrinceTourneyNylon 15 gauge. I've used plenty of rackets with every 17 gauge, or 16, Lux, and plenty of blends. YES, I can feel the difference. NO, I'm still a falling 4.0.

Personally strings do make me play better or worse. At my level. I can trounce 4.5's but against good college kids I get beat. I am 43 yrs old.
Where I notice the difference is on my serves the most. Forehands I can adjust to any decent poly. Backhands I am very easy and can adjust to any string poly or not.

when I played in college I played all gut. I didn't even know what tension. It was done for me by my coach. I could of played with crappy prince nylon and still hit the crap out of a ball. 24 years later strings do matter for me and my game. It is obvious when I hit and serve better. I was always under the impression that I can play with anything and my game will be comparable. I am finding out that strings do matter to me right now. I don't play a level better lol with certain strings though.

 

[LeeD]

So you're saying the young and talented don't notice strings, while the older and decrepit players DO notice the strings more?
Or are the young and talented too dumb to notice?
Or are the old and decrepit too bad at tennis to not look for more excuses for their falling game?

 

[arche3]

So you're saying the young and talented don't notice strings, while the older and decrepit players DO notice the strings more?
Or are the young and talented too dumb to notice?
Or are the old and decrepit too bad at tennis to not look for more excuses for their falling game?

Bitter? lol. I thought it was pretty obvious.

When you are in your prime in your youth equipment matters less. when you are older and all the aches and pains show up and you lose a step or two equipment matters more. For me it does not make me a much better player but it does make a difference on a few shots a match. And sometimes matches are won or lost on a few points. So yeah it does matter. And if I win or lose now it doesn't really matter but it does not mean I don't try to improve my game. And part of improving my game is tuning my strings to find something that is healthy for my arm and has the feel I desire so I can perform at my best. why the anger towards tennis strings Lee?

 

[Falloutjr]

So you're saying the young and talented don't notice strings, while the older and decrepit players DO notice the strings more?
Or are the young and talented too dumb to notice?
Or are the old and decrepit too bad at tennis to not look for more excuses for their falling game?

I have to disagree with you on this, strings do make some difference. Not nearly the difference some people on this board think they do, but the right bed of strings can be useful and be a good addition to your game.

 

[Fedace]

SO I have been using RPM 16g last week. Last night I strung up a racket with the 17g and played this morning. As expected the 17g has more pop. not sure about more spin. As the 16 gives you great spin anyways. The 17g has a bit more pace on all shots. Feel is better than 16g as RPM feels even softer on the 17g. One thing of interest for me is the 17g RPM is very similar to ALU power. As they are both 1.25mm the trajectory of the ball is very comparable. The RPM has more spin than ALU imo. but with RPM the ball dips faster by a tad than ALU.

I will need to play more with the 17g RPM before I decide if the added pace is more desirable than the added control of the 16g RPM blast.

I had originally loved the RPM but wandered away to ALU and Gut hybrid. It feels good to be back on these strings as they complement my game perfectly.

what about RPM in 18 gauge,,,,did you try that ?? i heard the sample is out already with Reps.

 

[DE19702]

Look at it this way. Sometimes you hit a ball that is out by an inch and other times you hit a ball that is in by an inch. In my experience this happens certainly a few times in a match. If a string can cause you to have even a little bit more control or if you are able to impart just a little more spin, the ball that was going out by an inch will be in. If a ball that would have previously gone out now is in, this can make the difference in a match. A few points here and there add up. This can also have a psychological effect and lead to additive effects. So, while I agree that Prince Tournament nylon is a good string (indeed, I have used it an like it), there is a difference. Depends on how much you want to obsess over it.

 

[arche3]

what about RPM in 18 gauge,,,,did you try that ?? i heard the sample is out already with Reps.

have not tried the 18g. I think 17g is as small a diameter as I would go. I have tried some 18g strings and I prefer a thicker string.

 

[Falloutjr]

have not tried the 18g. I think 17g is as small a diameter as I would go. I have tried some 18g strings and I prefer a thicker string.

IMO, if you find a good Poly in 18g, it's worth it; in a full bed, and even more if you hybrid. Full bed of 18g poly still takes me a couple weeks to break, and in a hybrid the non-poly string is always the string that goes first for me, so there's no point NOT to.