Dropping tensions is the way to go

dudu

dudu

New User
If you haven’t yet, and you are a full bed polyester user, I encourage you to experiment with dropping tensions.

I see no drop off in performance, but an uptick in comfort and consistency over the life of my string bed, maybe a little more power, but not a huge loss of control (either depth or side-to-side).

I’m stringing my rackets 5lb lighter than my “standard” (and 5lb lighter than the lowest recommendation for my frame) … and will continue dropping down in increments until I find my happy place.

Btw I take big full hacks at the ball, and am a pretty big swinging player, so while I appreciate low tensions suit different players more, I think in modern polyesters lowers tensions are more appropriate for free swingers and all around performance.

Has anyone had similar or different experiences?
 
I think the racket recommendations printed on the frame are usually for multi or gut strings. For poly, it seems like going 5-10 pounds under is standard. I’ve been stringing my poly between 45-50 for a while now and it’s great. I don’t consider that “low,” though. To me, 48 is like middle range average poly tension. Under 42 would be low to me.
 
pico said:
Can you rip with confidence or do you feel you need to impart good spin always in order for balls to stay in?
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I can rip whatever shot I want without worrying about the type of shot and it stays in no problem. Topspin lobs are excellent, but forehand slaps work as well. I was surprised at how much spin there is on shots that weren't necessarily the perfect shot to hit spin with (low RHS or flat shots). My game definitely is somewhat flat, but Tour M8 gives enough spin to hit flat and not worry about missing long. The lower tensions will naturally give more spin. Tour M8 is excellent for low tension because of its consistency, so it is still predictable and controlled, even at low tension. I played a match about a month ago vs a D3 counterpuncher who loved the high topspin ball, and I had no issue flattening it out to hit winners consistently. IMO Tour M8 has more control at 42lbs than Hyper G at 48lbs. Way more spin as well. I'm not a Grapplesnake shill, and I don't receive anything for praising them, but Tour M8 really is an excellent string. I use a TFIGHT ISO 305 for racket reference, which is an 18x19, so I'm not using some super open pattern which will give me spin no matter what. If you use a frame with power levels between low-medium and medium-high, and you play between at an NTRP 3.5-5.5 level, just try out Tour M8 at 42lbs. I promise you won't regret it. Above 5.5 bump tension 2lbs, but I thought going up to 44lbs took a lot of the dwell time and pocketing out of the string. If you use a super high power frame, it probably won't compliment the stiff nature of the frame because it is a string that wants a lot of ball pocketing. Super low powered frames may feel dead with this string, but it is hard for me to imagine- I haven't had any problems before, and it would probably be more of a skill and racket issue than a string issue.
 
JK208 said:
What string are you using for this? 42lbs is the sweet spot for me- any lower and the string has a weird "bottoming out" feel
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Various co-poly (many) years ago.
Chris from TW had a thread about going low low tension years ago…
 
pico said:
Can you rip with confidence or do you feel you need to impart good spin always in order for balls to stay in?
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Both. still feeling free to swing away, which generates more spin annd keeps balls in, even at this tension (no fear of trampoline effect).
 
TwinCinema said:
I think the racket recommendations printed on the frame are usually for multi or gut strings. For poly, it seems like going 5-10 pounds under is standard. I’ve been stringing my poly between 45-50 for a while now and it’s great. I don’t consider that “low,” though. To me, 48 is like middle range average poly tension. Under 42 would be low to me.
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I think this is the truth. Strings have changed and we should adjust with the tech. The manufacturer recs are not it seems up to speed
 
dudu said:
I think this is the truth. Strings have changed and we should adjust with the tech. The manufacturer recs are not it seems up to speed
Click to expand...
I have been all over the map from 15 lbs to 86lbs. As my swing weight got higher i went with more tension and use 86lbs kev/4g these days.

Its good to try somethings for sure. Have to know what you don’t need to know
 
Do you guys think "low" tension also applies for soft polys?

I think it doesn't, softer polys at low tensions really are rocket launchers, at least for my technique.

I would say a good rule of thumbs would be that if stiffness is above 200 , that poly is perfect for low tensions

Any thoughts?
 
VanDerVaart23 said:
Do you guys think "low" tension also applies for soft polys?

I think it doesn't, softer polys at low tensions really are rocket launchers, at least for my technique.

I would say a good rule of thumbs would be that if stiffness is above 200 , that poly is perfect for low tensions

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

48-52lbs is my sweet spot for most polys. I'll do couple lbs higher for real soft polys, and a little lower for stiff ones. I usually know the tension is too high when my touch shots start sailing because I can't flex the string bed.

I also drop tension in cooler weather. I think I'm going to have a designated cold weather racquet this year with soft poly at low tension, since that's how I got TE last year.
 
VanDerVaart23 said:
Do you guys think "low" tension also applies for soft polys?

I think it doesn't, softer polys at low tensions really are rocket launchers, at least for my technique.

I would say a good rule of thumbs would be that if stiffness is above 200 , that poly is perfect for low tensions

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
To me, softer polys were feeling too gummy below 40pounds and the power & depth were difficult to control, because there wasn't a linear increase between the swing speed and energy return. But I'm also playing with high swingweight racquets and I like to hit hard.

Based on my experience, stiffer and crisper polys do a lot better at low tensions than softer polys.
 
Icsa said:
To me, softer polys were feeling too gummy below 40pounds and the power & depth were difficult to control, because there wasn't a linear increase between the swing speed and energy return. But I'm also playing with high swingweight racquets and I like to hit hard.

Based on my experience, stiffer and crisper polys do a lot better at low tensions than softer polys.
Click to expand...
Perhaps it has to do with the makeup and rigidity of the string itself.
I will admit that this has been an experiment with mainly stiff crisp polyesters. Would not apply (without testing) to soft strings, gut, syn gut, multi....
 
Recently Ive been messing with my tensions as well. Was using a speed mp and stringing at 54 no matter what string. Now I am using a Ezone 98 and dropped the tension to about 48. So far I am really enjoying it and playing some of my best doubles as of late.
 
I actually used to use low tensions like mid 40s and high 40s but recently I decided to go up in tension and I've been using 60 pounds recently full poly and the soreness in my forearm and wrist has gone away and everything feels better. I use this formula to start my tension in a racquet. I take the flex of the racquet and divide it by 1.25 then I 4+/- to the number, usually I go up 4 to start and round up. So like if the flex is 69 then I would divide by 1.25 and get 55.2 and then add 4 to 59.2 but I just round up to 60. I use the nova v3 tour with solstice power 16g and the 60lbs. feels awesome!
 
njhmusicman said:
I actually used to use low tensions like mid 40s and high 40s but recently I decided to go up in tension and I've been using 60 pounds recently full poly and the soreness in my forearm and wrist has gone away and everything feels better. I use this formula to start my tension in a racquet. I take the flex of the racquet and divide it by 1.25 then I 4+/- to the number, usually I go up 4 to start and round up. So like if the flex is 69 then I would divide by 1.25 and get 55.2 and then add 4 to 59.2 but I just round up to 60. I use the nova v3 tour with solstice power 16g and the 60lbs. feels awesome!
Click to expand...
That formula is GOLD! I am going to try and use it! Thanks for sharing. I am finding myself on this same trend though it is still too early to say abt the effects on my forearm and wrist.
 
vndesu said:
Recently Ive been messing with my tensions as well. Was using a speed mp and stringing at 54 no matter what string. Now I am using a Ezone 98 and dropped the tension to about 48. So far I am really enjoying it and playing some of my best doubles as of late.
Click to expand...
what string?
 
njhmusicman said:
I actually used to use low tensions like mid 40s and high 40s but recently I decided to go up in tension and I've been using 60 pounds recently full poly and the soreness in my forearm and wrist has gone away and everything feels better. I use this formula to start my tension in a racquet. I take the flex of the racquet and divide it by 1.25 then I 4+/- to the number, usually I go up 4 to start and round up. So like if the flex is 69 then I would divide by 1.25 and get 55.2 and then add 4 to 59.2 but I just round up to 60. I use the nova v3 tour with solstice power 16g and the 60lbs. feels awesome!
Click to expand...
Do you typically restring after a certain number of hours?
 
47/45 was my go-to when I used full-poly. The lowest I ever went was 44/42. The control is still there and it doesn't become a trampoline as some people think it will.

I did do one racquet at Mannarino tension for a player as an experiment and even that one still had a good amount of control.

It can be done for sue.
 
There's a reason we are seeing pros use lower tensions than the past with many in the 40's and that's because you still get all the poly benefits with less harshness on your arm. I don't feel that control is markedly different on most polys at say 50 lbs compared to 44 lbs but my arm sure can tell the difference.
 
pico said:
Do you guys find that you have to alter your swing as you lower in tension?
Click to expand...

My opinion from experience.
You have to get used to it and you timing will slowly adjust, i don't believe the strokes themselves change. I would suggest dropping on 2-3 lbs each sequential stringing. A big change from 50 to 40 (for example) can end up with issues adjusting under pressure. So over 3-4 months a 10 lbs drop can be achieved. Also the string really really matters because not every string goes down tension wise and still plays well. Typically I feel stiffer, crisper and more dead strings tend to work better with low tensions but even with those I would go down slowly. Also make sure you don't have another racket in the bag with you current tension as you will instantly want to switch back. If you go with a straight 10 lbs drop for example - You might get ONE good dream session and then its total crap the second time. Some people here say they can go straight to Mannarino tension and still play well - all power to them.
 
Last edited:
heavyD said:
There's a reason we are seeing pros use lower tensions than the past with many in the 40's and that's because you still get all the poly benefits with less harshness on your arm. I don't feel that control is markedly different on most polys at say 50 lbs compared to 44 lbs but my arm sure can tell the difference.
Click to expand...
But they are not winning Slams?
 
pico said:
That formula is GOLD! I am going to try and use it! Thanks for sharing. I am finding myself on this same trend though it is still too early to say abt the effects on my forearm and wrist.
Click to expand...
I can't take credit for the formula as I just saw it on an Instagram video but it's been working for me.
 
jhick said:
Do you typically restring after a certain number of hours?
Click to expand...
I normally keep the string in for a while, unless of course it breaks or I'm playing in a tournament or an important league match, then I'll probably restring it but it lasts pretty long.
 
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