different string tension mains and crosses

[Matthieu105]

Hello guys

As you can read in the title, I would like to know what the pro's and contra's are for using different tension between mains and crosses. For example eugenie bouchard has strung her mains at 23kg and her crosses at 25kg. What would be the difference if she strung her mains at 25kg instead of 23kg and her crosses at 23kg instead of 25kg.

Thanks

 

[Audiophile]

I've done not only a lot of research on this subject, but personal testing as well. To be honest, I really don't know.

I've been playing tennis and stringing racquets for over 20 years and I don't mind stating that I have yet to come to a definitive conclusion on the topic.

I've read many different opinions, seen results from tests, seen the math, etc. It almost seems to be a crap shoot and more of a personal preference than anything else.

Now, my comments are based on using the same string for both main and crosses and differing the tension there. Polys vs. multis, hybrids, etc. are a different subject.

I know, this hasn't helped you one bit.

I'm anxious to see other's responses.

 

[darklore009]

it would come to a matter of personal preference. I experimented with different tensions and the result says there was slight difference between the two. When i strung the mains lower and the crosses higher, it ended up shrinking the sweetspot. Vise versa when lowering the tension on the crosses, while the mains are higher.

It just my experience, other people may have difference experience in this issue. I hope this helps.

 

[anubis]

Hello guys

As you can read in the title, I would like to know what the pro's and contra's are for using different tension between mains and crosses. For example eugenie bouchard has strung her mains at 23kg and her crosses at 25kg. What would be the difference if she strung her mains at 25kg instead of 23kg and her crosses at 23kg instead of 25kg.

Thanks

The only thing different that I do is to string the crosses 2 lbs looser for 18x20 patterns, when using full bed of poly. It gives the mains a little more room to move. Tight string patterns are generally a stiffer string bed than open patterns.

Other than that, don't pay attention to what the pros use. They're using their frames an hour or less after stringing, which is a whole different beast altogether. For the general amateur club player, you'll have your strings in for weeks, most likely. After 20 hours of play, it doesn't matter anymore how the string job behaved 2 hours after you strung it.

 

[Matthieu105]

Thanks already for the replies. Just one question left, do you use your mains more on certain strokes and do you use your crosses more on certain strokes. For example do you use your mains more than your crosses when you serve? This could be the only reason the difference in string tension. High in the mains for control on groundstrokes and low at crosses for more power on the serve. It's just an example to make my question more explicit, even it sounds a little bit stupid the way i would like to explain it

 

[drakulie]

Other than driving yourself crazy searching for a set-up that will somehow magically make you invincible there is no benefit.

But you will be super cool.

 

[chrisingrassia]

Thanks already for the replies. Just one question left, do you use your mains more on certain strokes and do you use your crosses more on certain strokes. For example do you use your mains more than your crosses when you serve? This could be the only reason the difference in string tension. High in the mains for control on groundstrokes and low at crosses for more power on the serve. It's just an example to make my question more explicit, even it sounds a little bit stupid the way i would like to explain it

This is pretty close. You use the mains far more on the groundstrokes; this is why when you straighten your strings after a rally it's almost always the mains you're doing it to. It's the mains that are parallel to the ground when you hit a forehand/backhand stroke with spin. Stringing higher/lower tension directly correlates to the trampoline effect; a stiffer stringbed produces less "bounce." If you wanted more power on your serve, not sure why you'd string the crosses at a higher tension.

 

[ARKustom93]

Thanks already for the replies. Just one question left, do you use your mains more on certain strokes and do you use your crosses more on certain strokes. For example do you use your mains more than your crosses when you serve? This could be the only reason the difference in string tension. High in the mains for control on groundstrokes and low at crosses for more power on the serve. It's just an example to make my question more explicit, even it sounds a little bit stupid the way i would like to explain it

Doesn't quite work that way. Aside from the mains being solely responsible for imparting spin on the ball, the string bed acts as one inseparable unit against the ball, regardless of the type of stroke. So, changes in tension of mains or crosses will affect the playing characteristics of the string bed(and racquet) as a whole. Taking hybrids involving Kevlar(remember Pro-blend?) or Poly out of the equation, lowering cross string tension will result in a softer, more flexible string bed and more 'pop'. Just give it a try; provided that you have 3 well-matched frames, string one at uniform tension, the others at 2 and 4lbs down on the crosses. You'll see and feel the difference ...

 

[drakulie]

lowering cross string tension will result in a softer, more flexible string bed and more 'pop'.

So will lowering the overall tension.

 

[am1899]

I've heard some argue that lower crosses widen the sweet spot. Personally, I don't agree. I just don't see how a couple pounds could achieve this. Maybe it's a bit of a placebo effect.

 

[ARKustom93]

I've heard some argue that lower crosses widen the sweet spot. Personally, I don't agree. I just don't see how a couple pounds could achieve this. Maybe it's a bit of a placebo effect.

Too bad ...

 

[am1899]

Too bad ...

Instead of being a smart alec, why don't you enlighten me?

 

[ARKustom93]

Instead of being a smart alec, why don't you enlighten me?

Sorry, couldn't resist ...

On the mains, the entire string section being tensioned experiences more or less unobstructed pull, whereas on a cross string, due to the weave gradually(from right to left) creating increased resistance against the pull, only the short segment between gripper and the near end of the weave actually receives the full tension load. Given that difference in load distribution during tensioning, a 2lbs drop in tension setting will have much more effect on the crosses(particularly in a mid/dense string pattern frame) than one would expect.

Good enough?

 

[am1899]

Yes, I realize the crosses don't get the full effect from the tension head, due to the resistance of the weave. But, to me, that does not explain what is so magical about decreasing ref tension on the crosses by a couple pounds. Personally, I've strung my own racquets this way and I didn't feel a difference. But, if it creams your twinkie, carry on.

 

[ARKustom93]

Yes, I realize the crosses don't get the full effect from the tension head, due to the resistance of the weave. But, to me, that does not explain what is so magical about decreasing ref tension on the crosses by a couple pounds. Personally, I've strung my own racquets this way and I didn't feel a difference. But, if it creams your twinkie, carry on.

Nah, don't believe in magic, just plain old physics:wink:, and more importantly, the difference I feel ...

 

[Irvin]

I doubt there is any magic either but there is some logical reasoning behind different tensions. In hybrid string jobs one string is stiffer than the other sometimes tension is lowered on the stiffer string if one is strung lower than the other. The cross strings are also shorter and it takes more cross string pressure to deflect the strings than it would take on the mains. Lowering the tension on the crosses creates less friction on the mains so they can move easier and thereby (maybe) putting more spin on the ball. Long story short is feel. It it feels good do it, but the feel may not be easily detected. I would suggest stringing two identical rackets one with lower tensioned crosses and see if you can feel the difference.

 

[Audiophile]

I just strung up my frame last night, lowering the cross tension by 2.5 lbs. I'll be hitting with it for a while tomorrow and will report back what, if any, difference I notice.

It's been a while since I've done this. For the last many years I've stuck with same main and cross tension.

 

[am1899]

Changing tensions on a hybrid setup is a different conversation IMHO. Seems to me, with a hybrid there may be some need to compensate for string characteristics by altering tension between the mains and the crosses.

To me, the above is a little different than stringing the entire racquet with the same string, but different tensions between the mains and the crosses.

Bottom line, I haven't felt a difference doing this, but if it feels good to you, have at it.

 

[nathannguyen]

Proportional stringing: Adjusting tension accordingly to the length of each string.
This is done to achieve an equal stiffness across the entire string bed because 60 pounds pulled on an 8 inch main string will be relatively stiffer than 60 pounds pulled on a 12 inch main string.

To answer your initial question:
Higher tensioned crosses - More ball compression resulting in less power and a smaller sweet spot.

Lower tensioned crosses - A larger sweet spot and more bite because the crosses will be holding down the mains less.

These effects aren't terribly apparent with only a two pound differential. Try dropping and raising your crosses by around 6-8 pounds to see the difference

 

[Matthieu105]

Suppose you string your mains at 27kg and your crosses at 25kg. Should you do it one piece string or a 2 piece string?

 

[Wes]

Suppose you string your mains at 27kg and your crosses at 25kg. Should you do it one piece string or a 2 piece string?

Either way.
You don't have to differ from whichever method you would normally use when the tensions are the same.

 

[Matthieu105]

But i was thinking about this.
Suppose this extreme example. You want to string your mains at 27kg and your crosses at 10kg. If you do it in one piece wouldn't the tension of your crosses much higher because of the mains?

 

[Wes]

But i was thinking about this.
Suppose this extreme example. You want to string your mains at 27kg and your crosses at 10kg. If you do it in one piece wouldn't the tension of your crosses much higher because of the mains?

Well, that's not what you had asked, is it. You asked regarding 27/25kg.

With a 17kg. differential (27/10kg.), it's likely to be a different animal altogether, but does it really matter?
Are you actually going to have that big of a differential? 17kg? That's around 37lbs. difference!
If that's your plan, I think you (and your frame!) are going to have bigger issues than worrying about the tensions "evening out".

I don't believe that varying tensions have a snowball's chance in hell of "migrating" around grommet strips when stringing at reasonable tensions (differentials of 10lbs. or less).

 

[Wes]

Maybe think of it in these terms...

You and I walk into a warehouse. We throw a rope over a metal pipe near the ceiling.
You grab one side of the rope, I grab the other.
You weigh 150lbs. and I weigh 200lbs.
We both pick our feet up off the floor and hang on our respective sides of the rope.
Being outweighed by me, do you think you would continue to go up?
Do you think I would simply go back down?

No.
Why? Friction.
Different story if I weighed 400lbs., right?

 

[Matthieu105]

Wes thats a good alternative way to see it, never tought about that . And no I'm not going to string my mains at 27 and my crosses at 17. It's just that i was curious about it. So thanks everyone for the good comments, appreciate it

 

[Audiophile]

Hit yesterday with a 2.5 lb. difference, crosses being less. I don't think I could really tell a difference. If there was any at all, it was so slight I couldn't pick up on it.

As always, I'm still keeping an open mind and will probably experiment more in the future.

 

[EasternRocks]

So is the consensus, it makes no difference and we should just string it at 1 tension?

 

[am1899]

So is the consensus, it makes no difference and we should just string it at 1 tension?

IMHO it's unlikely for most players to discern a difference of a couple pounds.

Often the differential has to be pretty significant...

 

[MathieuR]

In this discussion I miss "racket-distortion". If you measure the L/W on.the inside of the frame before and after stringing, this should be the same.

If not, the L/W- forces of the string are not in balance, and frame- distortion is the consequence.

 

[struggle]

I string "full bed" jobs at a single tension unless requested, then I give them what they ask for.

In hybrids, I do often string the poly a few pounds lower no matter if it's the mains (most often) or the crosses (rare).

I've noticed no distortion to speak of when doing so. I tend to gauge racket distortion by how easily the frame comes back off the machine (or whether the frame loosens in the mounts while stringing).

 

[phanker]

Specifically in Eugenie Bouchard's case, her APD is a wide frame and will play more consistently with the crosses strung tighter. I have the same issue with my Head Extreme Pro 2 which is rather wide also. If I don't string the crosses 4 lbs tighter, I get too many launchers as the string bed is too lively.

 

[phanker]

Lower cross tension does expand the sweetspot according to TW, and I do find it's true. The upside is that the mains are more free to move around so more spin is gained with better snap back. The downside is that your ball launch angles will also be more unpredictable. The crosses work to stabilize the mains in a way. Look at a slow-mo ball/string impact video and you'll know what I mean.

I find you also don’t actually get a consistent string bed using the same string anyway, especially with poly. The shorter cross strings tend to react differently compared to the longer mains. Better stringbed consistency can only be gained by stringing the crosses tighter than the mains. This is so since you actually add more tension to the mains when stringing the crosses. The mains were straight when you’re done stringing them. They are now weaved, as in extended longer.

That’s why it’s popular to string the crosses with a syngut/multi, or a softer smaller gauge poly, at a slightly higher tension than the mains. I basically string the crosses as low as I can until ball launch angles predictability isn’t sacrificed. As a bonus, it’s much easier on my elbows too which was the main reason for my hybrid experiments in the first place.