Higher swing weight = higher tension? How high (string tension) should I go for?

[vokazu]

I used to like lower tension, but after I've been playing with my heavy and high swing weight racquets (SW 400+), I found I get more control and even more power with higher tension, probably because it makes me unafraid to swing bigger / faster.

Recently I try multi+poly hybrid at 60/58 lbs (Head Velocity MLT 16 + Tourna Big Hitter Blue 16) and I love it so much! I was afraid at first that it will be harsh on my arm but it is not harsh at all! It's comfortable, very very powerful, loads of top spin, so very predictable and my shots become more precise and really powerful.

I'm even thinking that higher tension will be even better for my current racquets! (100 sq inch, 440+/- gram static weight, 400+ SW, 16x19 string pattern).

So, I'd be very grateful to hear your suggestions guys, how high should I go for the string tension?

Thanks!

@travlerajm @Shroud

 

[Soundbyte]

I used to like lower tension, but after I've been playing with my heavy and high swing weight racquets (SW 400+), I found I get more control and even more power with higher tension, probably because it makes me unafraid to swing bigger / faster.

Recently I try multi+poly hybrid at 60/58 lbs (Head Velocity MLT 16 + Tourna Big Hitter Blue 16) and I love it so much! I was afraid at first that it will be harsh on my arm but it is not harsh at all! It's comfortable, very very powerful, loads of top spin, so very predictable and my shots become more precise and really powerful.

I'm even thinking that higher tension will be even better for my current racquets! (100 sq inch, 440+/- gram static weight, 400+ SW, 16x19 string pattern).

So, I'd be very grateful to hear your suggestions guys, how high should I go for the string tension?

Thanks!

@travlerajm @Shroud

Do you have video of you swinging this frame? I'm just curious what your racket head speed is like with such specs. I would have to assume your power is all mass based with flatter strokes, so yes higher tension may help.

 

[AmericanTwist]

on the margin a higher swing weight would be to string lower with thicker strings, but more directly you should add weight to the head and less at the butt cap area.

 

[vokazu]

Do you have video of you swinging this frame? I'm just curious what your racket head speed is like with such specs. I would have to assume your power is all mass based with flatter strokes, so yes higher tension may help.

In normal rallies or hitting sessions, most of my forehands are hit with lots of top spin with high clearance over the net. I feel that with my technique the racquet has a rather high launch angle maybe due to the string pattern 16 x 19.

Only occasionally I hit with flat stroke and different forehand grip with a grip close to eastern forehand grip. When I use lower tension and even with thicker string, these flat shots often go long. Now with high tension string the flatter strokes don't go long as often. This is why I use topspin shots most of the time where the ball clears the net safely and also land deep near the baseline.

 

[vokazu]

Today I tried higher tension at 62 / 60 and I like it more than 60 / 58.

I'm just curious what's the highest tension that I would like? I read that Sampras tension is about 70 to 75 ???

 

[Soundbyte]

Today I tried higher tension at 62 / 60 and I like it more than 60 / 58.

I'm just curious what's the highest tension that I would like? I read that Sampras tension is about 70 to 75 ???

Natural gut can take to higher tensions. I play down in the low 40s with full poly. I don't recommend my clients ever go higher than 60, and thats the folks playing with gut/multis. I recommend anyone playing with full bed poly to start at 48 lbs and titrate from there.

 

[Shroud]

Today I tried higher tension at 62 / 60 and I like it more than 60 / 58.

I'm just curious what's the highest tension that I would like? I read that Sampras tension is about 70 to 75 ???

I am at the max my stringer can go which is 86lbs and use kev/ 4g. You are right that higher tension is a must with a high swingweight.

 

[vokazu]

I am at the max my stringer can go which is 86lbs and use kev/ 4g. You are right that higher tension is a must with a high swingweight.

Wow, that's crazy high man! I wonder if multi on the main string can take high tension like that?

I think I remember Jürgen Melzer also like a very high tension on his full poly racquet bed.

 

[jxs653]

I am at the max my stringer can go which is 86lbs and use kev/ 4g. You are right that higher tension is a must with a high swingweight.

I was going to suggest OP to go with the max tension his racquet allows but you go with the max tension your stringing machine allows. That's a whole different level.

 

[aaron_h27]

I think it's more so to do with twistweight. Higher twistweight works well with higher tensions because you can get the control from the higher tension and the forgiveness from the twistweight. Where as if you use a low twistweight frame you are relying on lower string tension to give you forgiveness.

 

[DropvolleysRhard]

That is the most odd swing I’ve seen in 40 years playing. The extremely low racket head and the wrist action looks so lazy and slow I cannot see how you are moving a racket with 400+ SW. is that video slow motion? If it works then great but I can’t imagine the load on the wrist.

 

[travlerajm]

Nice palm trees.

 

[vokazu]

That is the most odd swing I’ve seen in 40 years playing. The extremely low racket head and the wrist action looks so lazy and slow I cannot see how you are moving a racket with 400+ SW. is that video slow motion? If it works then great but I can’t imagine the load on the wrist.

I tape my wrist quite tightly just for protection. Kimiko Date used a 385 grams racquet and she also starts the swing from low position, I guess that's easier for heavy racquet. She likes to hit the ball flat, I like to hit with high curving top spin.

 

[vokazu]

Nice palm trees.

Yeah I love them. The magpie birds made a nest in one of those and now they're busy feeding the baby on the ground. I saw the parents were playing on the tennis net the other day.

 

[bobeeto]

gyatttttttt damn

To all of this

 

[nintendoplayer]

To me this sounds like you've maneuvered yourself into kind of a dead end with your exorbitantly high swing weight. Of course you need higher tension for higher swingweight, because your racquet becomes more powerful with higher swingweight. But the question to me is: should your swingweight be this high, at all? I personally would claim "absolutely not". At least I cannot find many logical reasons why you should have a higher swingweight than most pros. Your technique has adapted to this "log" of a racquet but that doesn't mean that your technique is healthy, especially in the long run - which your taped wrist is also a testimony to.
High swingweight always feels comfortable and nice- as long as you have the time for preparation and hit the ball nicely in front of you. But during any stressful match you will kill yourself with such a heavy racquet, that's why we all have to find a compromise between maneuverability and plow-through.

So if you would ask me for advice, I would propose to "reset" your racquet specifications and start from the beginning. And work on your technique with a "normal" racquet. So you learn to let the racquet drop and letting the racquet do the work instead of slowly destroying your wrist while trying to somehow swing this monster of a racquet.
Kimiko Date's technique also doesn't look perfectly efficient, but there's at least one big difference to your swing: she's using her hips and body rotation a lot more while you are primarily swinging your arm - which enhances the negative effects on your wrist. If you really want to continue on this "heavy log" journey, you have to focus on using more body rotation than "arming" the ball, a lot more.
The general rule of thumb is "your arm and body should move in sync", with nearly identical speed. Her arm is in sync with her body - moving slower and less than yours, while her body is moving a lot more than yours.
Your arm is out of sync, moving more and faster than the rest of your body. Your arm is working too much, so your wrist gets overworked.

Your forehand swing looks like a hybrid of hers and a normal swing that you would do with a normally weighted racquet. You're trying to put spin on the ball, as it would be easy to do with a "normal" swingweight. She's hitting very flat on the other hand and her swing is also slower / shorter than yours, especially what happens with her arm after she hit the ball. So you "want to hit spinny" but it's impossible to do with your racquet without hurting your wrist - which is why you have to tape it tightly. She doesn't hit spinny, at all. She's hitting very flat and primarily blocks / redirects the ball without creating that much power herself. Many of her strokes are closer to half-volleys than full forehand / backhand swings.

 

[vokazu]

To me this sounds like you've maneuvered yourself into kind of a dead end with your exorbitantly high swing weight. Of course you need higher tension for higher swingweight, because your racquet becomes more powerful with higher swingweight. But the question to me is: should your swingweight be this high, at all? I personally would claim "absolutely not". At least I cannot find many logical reasons why you should have a higher swingweight than most pros. Your technique has adapted to this "log" of a racquet but that doesn't mean that your technique is healthy, especially in the long run - which your taped wrist is also a testimony to.
High swingweight always feels comfortable and nice- as long as you have the time for preparation and hit the ball nicely in front of you. But during any stressful match you will kill yourself with such a heavy racquet, that's why we all have to find a compromise between maneuverability and plow-through.

So if you would ask me for advice, I would propose to "reset" your racquet specifications and start from the beginning. And work on your technique with a "normal" racquet. So you learn to let the racquet drop and letting the racquet do the work instead of slowly destroying your wrist while trying to somehow swing this monster of a racquet.
Kimiko Date's technique also doesn't look perfectly efficient, but there's at least one big difference to your swing: she's using her hips and body rotation a lot more while you are primarily swinging your arm - which enhances the negative effects on your wrist. If you really want to continue on this "heavy log" journey, you have to focus on using more body rotation than "arming" the ball, a lot more.
The general rule of thumb is "your arm and body should move in sync", with nearly identical speed. Her arm is in sync with her body - moving slower and less than yours, while her body is moving a lot more than yours.
Your arm is out of sync, moving more and faster than the rest of your body. Your arm is working too much, so your wrist gets overworked.

Your forehand swing looks like a hybrid of hers and a normal swing that you would do with a normally weighted racquet. You're trying to put spin on the ball, as it would be easy to do with a "normal" swingweight. She's hitting very flat on the other hand and her swing is also slower / shorter than yours, especially what happens with her arm after she hit the ball. So you "want to hit spinny" but it's impossible to do with your racquet without hurting your wrist - which is why you have to tape it tightly. She doesn't hit spinny, at all. She's hitting very flat and primarily blocks / redirects the ball without creating that much power herself. Many of her strokes are closer to half-volleys than full forehand / backhand swings.

I've been playing with heavy racquets since 2009, and my wrist is 100% healthy, never have any problem with it. I just protect it for a precaution. I play each day about 3 to 4 hours, sometimes more if there are other players who want to play with me. I've been playing best of 3 matches and I have no problem swinging the racquets at all. 2 guys that I play regularly with, haven't won a set against me. The racquets I have are really really comfortable for me and I'll stick with it because it doesn't cause any injury for me. All of my elbows, wrists and shoulder are feeling good, I feel great and no pain at all.

 

[nintendoplayer]

Good for you if it works, sorry for misinterpreting. Too bad you live a bit foo far away from Germany, I would really like to play a match with you, because I'm convinced that certain balls under pressure are impossible to defend with your racquet At a certain rally-speed you simply won't be able to keep up (without damaging your arm), at least that's my assumption

 

[Soundbyte]

How is serving with that beast of a racket?

 

[slipgrip93]

Fun to see another thread with those who still like higher static and swingweight racquets. Incredible about the toalson 400.

Get the Power Swing Racket 400 Now at the official Toalson Webshop

Get your new Power Swing Racket 400 from the official Toalson webshop. Get your products delivered all over Europe and pay with your favourite services.

toalson.net

Looking it up , I was amazed that there's also a 500g! version of Toalson's "power swing" racquets.

Tennis TOALSON AT | Tennis Online Shop | Optimiere dein Spiel!

Premium Tennis-Artikel-Hersteller | Tennis Shop mit Riesen Auswahl bei Tennis Toalson | Schneller Versand | Produktberatung, Besaitungsservice, Tennis Training | Spiele dein bestes Tennis

toalson.at

Get the Power Swing Racket 500 Now at the official Toalson Webshop

Get your new Power Swing Racket 500 from the official Toalson webshop. Get your products delivered all over Europe and pay with your favourite services.

toalson.net

reasonable , lower than 'average' price. They seem to have a few 'regular' 300-315g racquet lines too.

some of their fun selling points:

"With its 400 grams weight, it helps the player accelerate his swing this will improve power without losing control. This racket will help everyone, from beginner to advanced players. Great for warming up and training. / "ACHIEVE POWERFUL BALLS THAT AMAZE YOUR OPPONENT!
Are your balls not fast and powerful enough? Do you run out of power during a match? POWER SWING RACKET, specially developed by TOALSON, is an ingenious new strength and swing training racket!"

About using higher tensions. I fine with using 60/59 lbs on my kps88 at 383g static, ~370g sw. Henin used those tensions in her tour 95 variants. Steffi Graf reportedly had 362g sw on her max200g. Chris Evert's late-70's autograph woodie was at 375g static. Maybe it was about when Hingis came on the scene with her lighter racquet that the racquet manufacturers started pushing more lighter racquets in general and the rec market started to trend more that way increasingly in the years since.

 

[fritzhimself]

I tape my wrist quite tightly just for protection. Kimiko Date used a 385 grams racquet and she also starts the swing from low position, I guess that's easier for heavy racquet. She likes to hit the ball flat, I like to hit with high curving top spin.

It's quite nice what you write - but Kimiko Date can play tennis. You make it look like super slow motion.
Sorry and good luck with your setup.

 

[Shroud]

Wow, that's crazy high man! I wonder if multi on the main string can take high tension like that?

I think I remember Jürgen Melzer also like a very high tension on his full poly racquet bed.

Its doubtful multi can do that. Only a few polys can go that high. Most just stretch and don’t retain tension. Old school polys will work but not all. Syngut crosses can go to 86.

My hunch is you wont need to go that high.

 

[Shroud]

I was going to suggest OP to go with the max tension his racquet allows but you go with the max tension your stringing machine allows. That's a whole different level.

It took a bit but I slowly ended up at the max the machine can do. Tourny stringers have stories of that one player showing up requesting mega tension. Wilson frames can take the tension ime.

 

[vokazu]

Its doubtful multi can do that. Only a few polys can go that high. Most just stretch and don’t retain tension. Old school polys will work but not all. Syngut crosses can go to 86.

My hunch is you wont need to go that high.

I think 60 / 58 feels great for me. 62 / 60 also feels great.

 

[johnmccabe]

I used to like lower tension, but after I've been playing with my heavy and high swing weight racquets (SW 400+), I found I get more control and even more power with higher tension, probably because it makes me unafraid to swing bigger / faster.

Recently I try multi+poly hybrid at 60/58 lbs (Head Velocity MLT 16 + Tourna Big Hitter Blue 16) and I love it so much! I was afraid at first that it will be harsh on my arm but it is not harsh at all! It's comfortable, very very powerful, loads of top spin, so very predictable and my shots become more precise and really powerful.

I'm even thinking that higher tension will be even better for my current racquets! (100 sq inch, 440+/- gram static weight, 400+ SW, 16x19 string pattern).

So, I'd be very grateful to hear your suggestions guys, how high should I go for the string tension?

Thanks!

@travlerajm @Shroud

Work on techniques before going crazy down this road

 

[Soundbyte]

my kps88 at 383g static, ~370g sw. Henin used those tensions in her tour 95 variants. Steffi Graf reportedly had 362g sw on her max200g. Chris Evert's late-70's autograph woodie was at 375g static.

Even the examples you quoted are quite far off from OPs 440g static 400SW racket. And those are hall of Fame pro tennis players, not a rec level player like the rest of us

 

[Shroud]

How is serving with that beast of a racket?

Here is a recent match and I am serving in the hat. My swingweight is 469 with a static weight of 402g. The racquet is not slowing me down as much as the toss and technique are . Actually the high sw adds some power imho.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

I don’t agree. I use a Tfight 305. In stock - the iso can range 330-335.

I will use a 1.25 but I expiriment tensions based on string and conditions.

A softer poly gets a higher tension. Stiff- usually low.

Since I live in Florida - November through April o string between 45-48 lbs. m/x. Sometimes a 50/48

Hot weather I tend to go higher to 54 lbs.

 

[Soundbyte]

Here is a recent match and I am serving in the hat. My swingweight is 469 with a static weight of 402g. The racquet is not slowing me down as much as the toss and technique are . Actually the high sw adds some power imho.

Out of curiosity, how are you guys measuring swing weight?

 

[Shroud]

Out of curiosity, how are you guys measuring swing weight?

I have the briffridi SW1 machine. Took me a bit to get it sorted but here is a thread with the very responsive developer where I eventually got accurate readings once I properly calibrated things.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/matching-swingweights.759390/

 

[vokazu]

How is serving with that beast of a racket?

My serve percentage increases drastically after I switched to my current racquet. I very rarely double fault. I feel it gives me easy power.

 

[Jonwj86]

Here is a recent match and I am serving in the hat. My swingweight is 469 with a static weight of 402g. The racquet is not slowing me down as much as the toss and technique are . Actually the high sw adds some power imho.

I think it depends on what level you guys are playing at. Playing up to maybe. 3-3.5 which is what this looks like and you might be able to have the time needed to swing this heavy of a stick. However even in this match there’s times when you were at the net or had to make quick adjustments when your time was taken away from you it resulted in errors and losing the point that could be coming from the high weight/SW. The ability to make those micro last minute adjustments would be the most affected so I would think once you start playing a hard hitting 3.5/4.0+ you would begin to struggle more because of how heavy your racquet is

 

[Shroud]

I think it depends on what level you guys are playing at. Playing up to maybe. 3-3.5 which is what this looks like and you might be able to have the time needed to swing this heavy of a stick. However even in this match there’s times when you were at the net or had to make quick adjustments when your time was taken away from you it resulted in errors and losing the point that could be coming from the high weight/SW. The ability to make those micro last minute adjustments would be the most affected so I would think once you start playing a hard hitting 3.5/4.0+ you would begin to struggle more because of how heavy your racquet is

when I was playing, I was 4.0c and well I will be the first to say my play is dreadful and some strokes like the volley and fh are not where they should be. Though I will take that play having only played about 6 times in the last 2 years (long long story but I am coming back and relearning things and getting stronger).

One day I will be able to volley really well since in the past that was my best shot.

Said another way, you should see me volley with a light racquet...

 

[Soundbyte]

You're just such an outlier that it's hard to believe. I don't doubt you, and kudos for posting videos. I think it just blows people's mind that most players consider a 330g racket heavy, and your almost 40% heavier than that lol!