Does tension loss affect the way you play?

[ricardo]

All strings lose tension, some more than others.

Let us assume you tension @60 lbs.

How much tension loss does it take to affect the way you play?
At what point do you feel tension loss?

2 lbs, 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs, 30lbs?

Do you think you will lose a match due to tension loss
or can you adjust to it?

 

[Harry_Wild]

Does tension loss affect the way you play?

Only if you broke your string! LOL!

But seriously, your racquet string loose tension over time! You usually adjust ones playing style to the tension loss gradually. The top touring pros may switch out their racquets ever 7-9 games, to keep consistent string tension since it all "free" for them to do so!

Do you think you will lose a match due to tension loss
or can you adjust to it? ???? See above!

 

[PMChambers]

How do you measure string tension once string? The Tourna Springmeter is about the only method and its still considered by many to be incorrect or suffer from too much variance.

 

[Buford T Justice]

How do you measure string tension once string? The Tourna Springmeter is about the only method and its still considered by many to be incorrect or suffer from too much variance.

Some folks use the app Racquetune ( I do) and others use an ERT meter.

I prefer Racquetune it's very easy to use and very easy to track changes as it logs everything. There will always be debates on the accuracy of the absolute readings no matter the method used, but IMO being able to track the relative changes, regardless of the actual numerical values, is valuable.

 

[LeeD]

I string most of my rackets around 35 lbs., using STBite16.
What I really want is around 30 lbs., but even after a full year of play, 35 doesn't drop down to 30. It's still too tight!

 

[Shroud]

All strings lose tension, some more than others.

Let us assume you tension @60 lbs.

How much tension loss does it take to affect the way you play?
At what point do you feel tension loss?

2 lbs, 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs, 30lbs?

Do you think you will lose a match due to tension loss
or can you adjust to it?

I measure mine off the stringer and when they become unplayable. I use the Gamma ERT300 and I know that I start to have issues with a DT lower than 53. I find things unplayable at 47.

Extrapolating from the chart that came with the machine, a drop from 53 to 47 is equivalent to 11 lbs.

I think though it depends on the racket. Some I find are more powerful so are more sensitive to tension drop.

And of course the type of strings and their stiffness.

 

[Moonballballer]

I string most of my rackets around 35 lbs., using STBite16.
What I really want is around 30 lbs., but even after a full year of play, 35 doesn't drop down to 30. It's still too tight!

Do you only hit dropshots?

 

[junior74]

Yes, but not as much as a tired body

 

[Buford T Justice]

Yes, but not as much as a tired body

Ill echo that!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Yes, but not as much as a tired body

Ill echo that!

Totally agree with you on that!

 

[LeeD]

I measure mine off the stringer and when they become unplayable. I use the Gamma ERT300 and I know that I start to have issues with a DT lower than 53. I find things unplayable at 47.

Extrapolating from the chart that came with the machine, a drop from 53 to 47 is equivalent to 11 lbs.

I think though it depends on the racket. Some I find are more powerful so are more sensitive to tension drop.

And of course the type of strings and their stiffness.

Do you only hit dropshots?

Interesting, Shroud used to string around 23 lbs, and he was 4.0 then. He still is 4.0 now.
I do hit a lot of drop shots, but they work better with higher tension. I've hit with Shroud twice now, and there are no soft easy shots involved.

 

[Shroud]

Interesting, Shroud used to string around 23 lbs, and he was 4.0 then. He still is 4.0 now.

I used to play with a 85" and had TE. Now I play a 110" and arm is fine. Tension will vary a ton based on rackets and how you hit.

I also changed my strokes a bunch too. Well some of the changes have stayed.

 

[LeeD]

So, can we assume you are now Alpha dog, and Papa and I are subserviant?
I used to always think Papa was the Alpha.

 

[Shroud]

So, can we assume you are now Alpha dog, and Papa and I are subserviant?
I used to always think Papa was the Alpha.

How are you getting that out of what I posted? all I said was that I changed my strokes and my rackets.

Not sure I could hit with the old rackets like I am now. maybe I could maybe not.

Anyhow TT has my forehand messed up and my serve too so I aint beatin anyone now.

 

[LeeD]

Just saying, style changes often don't affect overall performance.
I'm a bad tennis player, and I can play badly going for screaming winners or just chop blocking the ball, makes no difference, I"m about the same either way.
Remember when we swtiched racket's 4 year's ago? We hit about the same, me with your square grip heavy SW 23 lbs string racket, you with my 4DAero300 at 47 lbs. I suspect if you switched to a regular Head Speed Pro, you'd hit just fine without any need to adapt.
A always said you had a tendency to just hit the ball and blocking out your mind, while I like to try to hit the ball, but my mind is going a million miles a second, too many choices leading to brain cramp and doing it wrong.

 

[jga111]

How do you measure string tension once string? The Tourna Springmeter is about the only method and its still considered by many to be incorrect or suffer from too much variance.

Feel??..

 

[PMChambers]

Feel??..

Stringforum or similar string site did a blind trials and indicated that the average player can't notice a 10% drop in tension. The indicated a D1 level where better than lesser levels, but basically 55lb to 50lb can't be consistently identified as a change. So feel is not a good measure. Feel when tell you when you think the strings are not performing, but what tension loss is that? It's unknown without measurement, it's also dependent on string pattern, thickness, etc.

 

[Moonballballer]

I can feel it when I suddenly hit all my shots way longer and with less spin. Easy to feel when you're a hardhitter.

 

[torpantennis]

Interesting, Shroud used to string around 23 lbs, and he was 4.0 then. He still is 4.0 now.
I do hit a lot of drop shots, but they work better with higher tension. I've hit with Shroud twice now, and there are no soft easy shots involved.

Frame or strings does not make you a better player. Your strokes are what they are, regardless of frame used. But a frame strongly affects how EASY it is for you to get close to your max level, day in day out. And that part TBH is mostly based on feel, as bad days tend to be mental collapses, lack of concentration etc. A frame you feel swings naturally and is "just right" gives you the relaxed mindset and makes you better have your best effort every day.

 

[dgold44]

All strings lose tension, some more than others.

Let us assume you tension @60 lbs.

How much tension loss does it take to affect the way you play?
At what point do you feel tension loss?

2 lbs, 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs, 30lbs?

Do you think you will lose a match due to tension loss
or can you adjust to it?

I string my rackets at 45 pounds and after few months they are in the 30 range and it does not effect me that much because I am not a power hitter.
Tension really affects guys who play aggressive more.

 

[LeeD]

I"m going to string one of my old Mfil200's by hand, hoping for around 25 lbs tension. It's a 95 sq in racket and 18x20 pattern. Just gotta go to the container and retrieve the strings.
35 on a Bio300T, weighted to well over 12 oz and 320 SW, seems very good also.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I can feel it when I suddenly hit all my shots way longer and with less spin. Easy to feel when you're a hardhitter.

True, but that may not represent loss of tension. Could be loss of resiliency and snapback. Could be non-string related. Could be your swing mechanic has changed slightly.

Lots of golfers suddenly start hitting a fade or a hook they can't fix through a whole round. Doesn't mean the shaft of the club has changed its flex point. Something has changed in the kinetic change to slightly alter the swing path. Not fixed by buying new clubs but getting back to the range.

 

[LeeD]

To me, moderately low tensions in the mid 30 range doesn't make the ball fly out at all, unless I fail to apply any topspin to it.
With lower tensions, mid '30 range, it's easier to hit with a flattish swingpath and still get moderate topspin on the ball, so anything lower than 24" above the net will go in, thanks to gravity, some topspin, and air resistance. Seems that vid of Monfils hitting with Dogopolov tends to bear this out. Not that any of my shots are within 25 mph of theirs.
Sidespin can provide an adaquate alternative to topspin, as it slows the ball down, causes friction, allowing gravity to do it's thing.

 

[Moonballballer]

True, but that may not represent loss of tension. Could be loss of resiliency and snapback. Could be non-string related. Could be your swing mechanic has changed slightly.

Lots of golfers suddenly start hitting a fade or a hook they can't fix through a whole round. Doesn't mean the shaft of the club has changed its flex point. Something has changed in the kinetic change to slightly alter the swing path. Not fixed by buying new clubs but getting back to the range.

Doesn't tension loss automatically mean loss of snapback? For me it's always the middle mains after a couple of hours of intensive play.

 

[LeeD]

Today I used a 6 year old racket, possibly 7, with it's original LuxBigBangerLite 16 gauge strings. No more than 15 hours of actual playtime with this particular stringjob and frame.
It hit fine. Flat serves higher '90's, lots of spin on second serves, no problems with forehands or backhands, I did miss a few overheads due to looking into the sun without a hat on, can't blame strings for that.
Just hitting, it started out good, reverted to normal "I suck", then got good for the 3 sets of play.
Can't blame the strings, racket, or the new shaved down grip, can only blame myself for any bad play.

 

[ricardo]

How do you measure string tension once string? The Tourna Springmeter is about the only method and its still considered by many to be incorrect or suffer from too much variance.

This is hard to do.

Strings loses tension but we cannot measure precisely how much tension was lost.

I can usually tell when too much tension is lost: lost of control.

1. Higher launch angle
2. Unpredictable stringbed

 

[ricardo]

I string my rackets at 45 pounds and after few months they are in the 30 range and it does not effect me that much because I am not a power hitter.
Tension really affects guys who play aggressive more.

What about directional control, i.e blocking the ball and directing it to a certain spot?
This is not affected at all?

 

[ricardo]

Doesn't tension loss automatically mean loss of snapback? For me it's always the middle mains after a couple of hours of intensive play.

Tension loss affects snapback, specifically the speed of snapback.

Let us assume that the crosses remains slippery forever.

As the mains loses tension, its ability to snapback gets slower and slower.
It will still snapback but at a slower pace.
It will become so slow that the ball already left the racket when the snapback completes.
For snapback to be effective, it should be vigorous and speedy so that it can impart additional spin on the ball.

 

[ricardo]

To me, moderately low tensions in the mid 30 range doesn't make the ball fly out at all, unless I fail to apply any topspin to it.
With lower tensions, mid '30 range, it's easier to hit with a flattish swingpath and still get moderate topspin on the ball, so anything lower than 24" above the net will go in, thanks to gravity, some topspin, and air resistance. Seems that vid of Monfils hitting with Dogopolov tends to bear this out. Not that any of my shots are within 25 mph of theirs.
Sidespin can provide an adaquate alternative to topspin, as it slows the ball down, causes friction, allowing gravity to do it's thing.

Just curious.

When you started stringing using low tensions (30lbs), did you notice increased power or higher launch angle compared to high tensions (i.e 50-60lbs).

 

[dgold44]

Tension loss affects snapback, specifically the speed of snapback.

Let us assume that the crosses remains slippery forever.

As the mains loses tension, its ability to snapback gets slower and slower.
It will still snapback but at a slower pace.
It will become so slow that the ball already left the racket when the snapback completes.
For snapback to be effective, it should be vigorous and speedy so that it can impart additional spin on the ball.

Valid point but I hardly even HEAR any snap back on the strings and I hit the ball moderately hard.

 

[roger presley]

Certainly does. Polyester string just drop dead and becomes stiff as hell.

 

[ricardo]

Valid point but I hardly even HEAR any snap back on the strings and I hit the ball moderately hard.

I don't HEAR any snapback either and I hit the ball really hard.
I am not even aware that you should be able to hear it.
The only thing I see is that my Mains remain straight.
I can move them sideways easily and when I let go they return to their original position.
As they get older and loses tension, the Mains get stuck to where they moved
so I straigthen them.
When this happen often I re-string or re-tension.