Serve&Bash
Semi-Pro
I hit with this yesterday and I felt that the racket didn't "feel" right. Is it just in my head or do these things actually make the racket feel different?
Got my racket strung at a new place. What are these and do they have an effect on how the racket feels?
- Thread starter Serve&Bash
- Start date
I hit with this yesterday and I felt that the racket didn't "feel" right. Is it just in my head or do these things actually make the racket feel different?
Tennease
Legend
Power pad.
www.perfect-tennis.com
Do you use your own string? Is the string the same string you usually use? If the string is different to your usual string it can feel different. Different stringer can cause different feel too (different tensioning accuracy, stringing method).
I notice you put lead tape at the inner side of the hoop. I did this many years ago and I didn't like the feel, so I put the lead tape at the outer side of the hoop (right under the head guard) and I like the feel more. Federer also put the lead tape at the outer side of the hoop (under the headguard).
Tsonga also has the lead tape on the outer side of the hoop, under the head guard:
Power Pads For Tennis - The Hidden Pieces of Leather on Roger Federer's Racket - Perfect Tennis
On my recent post about the various types of tennis string available, one of the comments got into talking about vibration dampeners and why Roger Federer doesn't use one. The reason you'll never see Federer fiddling around with a small piece of rubber every time he pulls a freshly strung…
www.perfect-tennis.com
Do you use your own string? Is the string the same string you usually use? If the string is different to your usual string it can feel different. Different stringer can cause different feel too (different tensioning accuracy, stringing method).
I notice you put lead tape at the inner side of the hoop. I did this many years ago and I didn't like the feel, so I put the lead tape at the outer side of the hoop (right under the head guard) and I like the feel more. Federer also put the lead tape at the outer side of the hoop (under the headguard).
Tsonga also has the lead tape on the outer side of the hoop, under the head guard:
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Serve&Bash
Semi-Pro
Thanks for the quick response Tennease. Yeah, I am trying a new string, Luxilon Savage to be exact. I usually go with RPM blast so the string might be the entire reason. However I do think the feel was a lot more dampened than usual. I will try hitting without a shock absorber next time to see how it feels since the article you posted mentioned that power pads elminate the need for a shock absorber. I don't think the lead tape is the issue, I have used this set up on my rackets since 2015 and have gotten used to it.Power pad.
Power Pads For Tennis - The Hidden Pieces of Leather on Roger Federer's Racket - Perfect Tennis
On my recent post about the various types of tennis string available, one of the comments got into talking about vibration dampeners and why Roger Federer doesn't use one. The reason you'll never see Federer fiddling around with a small piece of rubber every time he pulls a freshly strung…
Do you use your own string? Is the string the same string you usually use? If the string is different to your usual string it can feel different. Different stringer can cause different feel too (different tensioning accuracy, stringing method).
I notice you put lead tape at the inner side of the hoop. I did this many years ago and I didn't like the feel, so I put the lead tape at the outer side of the hoop (right under the head guard) and I like the feel more. Federer also put the lead tape at the outer side of the hoop (under the headguard).
Tsonga also has the lead tape on the outer side of the hoop, under the head guard:
Tennease
Legend
The placement of the power pad is a bit unusual though. It's better placed at 6 o'clock, on the 6 holes on the throat.
Luxilon Savage is low powered, so it feels muted. If you want more power out of it you can lower the tension.
If durability is not an issue, you should try multifilament or synthetic gut string... great feel and power.
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TennisManiac
Hall of Fame
Yeah I agree. No stringer should just go and place power pads in someone's racket without explaining their purpose and asking the person if they wanted them. That's really messed up. I'd take the racket back and tell him to do it again without the pads.
Nothing unusual about the placement. Many stringers used to place power pads at that particular spot to protect the string where the grommets force an extreme turn/bending of the string. The practice, however, was used more for delicate strings like natural gut.
Back in the 80's and 90's when I got racquets strung at various places, I used to get power pads placed without anyone asking in advance, or explaining afterwards unless I asked the stringer what those were. I assumed it was common practice.
djNEiGht
Legend
just to echo many of the posts
power pads
-can add a bit of dampening
-protects string at the grommets (popular with delicate strings)
-can add a bit of power as it elongates the string
all of that is subjective
For a stringer back in the day to do that on an older racquet and string I see it's purpose. For a stringer today to do it can also have the same purpose but strings are more durable today and the grommets are often with a better design. I do not put these on customers racquets without their consent/request (those with modern racquets/strings). I'll ask them if they are interested.
power pads
-can add a bit of dampening
-protects string at the grommets (popular with delicate strings)
-can add a bit of power as it elongates the string
all of that is subjective
For a stringer back in the day to do that on an older racquet and string I see it's purpose. For a stringer today to do it can also have the same purpose but strings are more durable today and the grommets are often with a better design. I do not put these on customers racquets without their consent/request (those with modern racquets/strings). I'll ask them if they are interested.
D
Deleted member 768841
Guest
Maybe the machine is off a little? Did you have them string at the same tension as always?
![[d]ragon](/data/avatars/m/26/26312.jpg?1574364787){kind=avatar}
[d]ragon
Hall of Fame
Not sure why they'd use them there, but I wouldn't call it unacceptable nor do I think 2 (thin) pads will make any meaningful difference. You're more likely to feel a difference in the stringing due to going to a new place. Not a bad thing, just means you might have to make a slight adjustment in reference tension if you do feel they string differently or just go back to the old place. If you're curious about the pads, ask 'em about it. If you don't like it, ask they don't do it. Pretty simple. If you don't like it to the point where you think the strings are unplayable due to 2 little pieces, then...
esgee48
G.O.A.T.
Stringers will tell you that if you use the same machine, same string, same ref tension, same frame, but different stringing person, you will get string beds that feel slightly different. That's because no 2 stringing persons clamp and prepare the next string in the the same manner and amount of time. They have different rhythms which some people cannot get use to. If this is also your 1st time with Lux Savage, you may also have picked the wrong tension for the string.
Serve&Bash
Semi-Pro
Update: So I hit with the racket again today without a shock absorber and it definitely felt a lot better. When you put on a shock the feel becomes dampened beyond belief and it feels terrible. This is a pro staff 95, so you can imagine how weird it felt the other day when i first used it. The guy who strung it is some elderly man who owns a small tennis club in North Carolina. I guess he is just set in his ways so I didn't wanna go back argue with him about this. I agree with people that stringers should inform you before adding stuff like power pads.
AceyMan
Professional
Look at it this way: he's fussy and old school enough to take time to do an extra touch like that. He's probably more attentive and repeatable than half the "pro shops" around, depending who exactly handles your stick. He's just not up on the latest and greatest (clearly not a TT member, obvi).
/Acey
Nice stick, btw. I would take good care of it at my shoppe.
Every time you get a racket strung at a new place it will be (at least) slightly different.
55 lbs tension on one machine may be looser to tighter than 55 lbs on another machine. The way the person strings the frame will always vary a bit from person to person, even if they are on the same machine.
I would certainly be surprised if someone put power pads on a graphite racket of mine, though.
55 lbs tension on one machine may be looser to tighter than 55 lbs on another machine. The way the person strings the frame will always vary a bit from person to person, even if they are on the same machine.
I would certainly be surprised if someone put power pads on a graphite racket of mine, though.
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
I'm with SCOTUS on this one. Pads are in the right place. You wouldn't put them in the throat as the grommets are already rounded (woofer-shaped). Power pads are meant to decrease the angle the string must bend coming out of the hole. Extra power and extra dampening remain subjective.
volleymaster2
New User
in this age of veganism, one can not assume leather power pads are acceptable without asking first. i use pads which i cut from a thick vegan (leather style) belt and i believe they actually work better and last longer.
