Hybrid stringing and frame distortion

[phil7777777]

Hello Tennis colleagues, I am in need of some help and guidance:

I have been using a hybrid of Wilson NXT mains and Alu Power Rough crosses for some time now and at a tension difference of -1 on the crosses. This has always served me well and I have never noticed any frame distortion (Wilson PS97, Vcore 97 310g, V Core 98). However, I have switched to a V Core Pro HD and I am finding that after stringing the racket is around 3/16 of an inch shorter than pre stringing (27 inches pre-string).

This is the first 18x20 frame I have used so I am a little unsure of tension adjustments etc (or whether this is just normal for a flexible, thin frame)

I have tried the following remedies:

• Cleaning stringing clamps to ensure no slippage
• making sure technique is sound and not just me being complacent
• increasing the cross tension to equal tension on mains and crosses (made a little difference, 1/8 inch shorter)
• increasing cross tension to +1.5kg higher than mains (this made the length difference ~1/16 or less)
  • However I did not like the launch angle and performance at this tension
• Stringing with full bed Alu power -1kg difference on crosses (no difference in pre and post stringing racket length)

I have two questions:

1. Is there anything I am missing?
2. Is it ok if I just continue to string at -1kg tension difference and accept the shortening of the racket - long term effects?

All and any input greatly appreciated...

 

[Irvin]

Try using the online Stringway tension advisor.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-I preffer to have the crosses at lower tension than the mains! (when using the same string for both mains/crosses)
-my personal rule of thumb, is on a 16/19 or 18/20 I drop cross tension by 2-lbs; on a 16/20 I drop cross tension by 3-lbs
-some racquets will flex more than others
-as long as you stay close to the recommended tension range, your gonna be able ot write the company if anything goes wrong
-a good person to bring into this conversation is @Shroud (that I know), he can comment on racquet flex more since he puts his racquets through "high stress tests", with his tensions!!

 

[esm]

-my personal rule of thumb, is on a 16/19 or 18/20 I drop cross tension by 2-lbs; on a 16/20 I drop cross tension by 3-lbs

Can’t remember about this. Can you pls remind me again why the difference in the tension for the crosses?
I’m currently in a honeymoon period with a Pure Strike w/ fb of Syn gut at 48lb (Halo 3) - I have done about 4 hours now. What would the the advantage if I do 48/46 next time? Thanks

 

[esgee48]

When you install the mains at ref tension, they will go in at ref tension because there are no frictional forces except at the grommet hole to counter the tension. When you start to do crosses, there are static inter-string friction points [mains&crosses] that prevent you from getting ref tension. Ref tension is closest to the gripper and way off at the beginning of the cross. It could be 3-5# lower due to friction. If you move the cross up/down several times while pulling, the entire cross string will be closer to ref tension. The more mains or closer spaced mains, the more this affects cross tension. LO's cannot use this technique. I am an advocate for longer pull times, 15 sec min, vs 2-3 seconds after tensioner beeps. 3¢

 

[1HBHfanatic]

Can’t remember about this. Can you pls remind me again why the difference in the tension for the crosses?
I’m currently in a honeymoon period with a Pure Strike w/ fb of Syn gut at 48lb (Halo 3) - I have done about 4 hours now. What would the the advantage if I do 48/46 next time? Thanks

-snapback!

 

[Rabbit]

@esgee48, that's interesting. I don't agree necessarily, but that is interesting.

@esm, I drop tension in the crosses 4 pounds. There are several reasons I do this.

• A tour-level stringer told me that decreasing tension in the crosses increases dwell time which increases spin potential.
• Dropping tension on the crosses helps feel, most notably pocketing which I find of the most importance
• I'm playing Yonex which I believe still suggest a reduction in cross tension
• I'm playing poly in the crosses which plays better at lower tensions
• and finally and most importantly, it works for me. I enjoy the feel of the string bed and the results

I have two questions:

1. Is there anything I am missing?
2. Is it ok if I just continue to string at -1kg tension difference and accept the shortening of the racket - long term effects?

All and any input greatly appreciated...

1. It certainly sounds like you're not missing anything.
2. It should be find to continue stringing as you are.

I've never had any problems with racket length on any stringing machine I've used. That said, I don't think I'd sweat the length difference at all unless it makes a difference in your play.

 

[esm]

@esm, I drop tension in the crosses 4 pounds. There are several reasons I do this.

• A tour-level stringer told me that decreasing tension in the crosses increases dwell time which increases spin potential.
• Dropping tension on the crosses helps feel, most notably pocketing which I find of the most importance
• I'm playing Yonex which I believe still suggest a reduction in cross tension
• I'm playing poly in the crosses which plays better at lower tensions
• and finally and most importantly, it works for me. I enjoy the feel of the string bed and the results.

Thank you for this. I do love a nice pocketing feel.
do you think this also applies to fullbed of Syn gut/multi?
if so, if I currently have fb of 48lb... does that mean it’d be 48/44?
I don’t do fb of co-ploy or hybrid anymore.... and I do miss the lively pocketing feel with very low tension on fullbed of co-poly....

(apologies for hijacking the thread)

 

[Rabbit]

@esm, I have to say that string bed feel, like much else in tennis, is very subjective. But given your post and the similarities that appear in it to my tastes, I'd say "Yes", 48/44 is not outside an acceptable range of tension for you. I don't think you'll find the 44 side of the equation will have a detrimental effect on the overall performance and in fact will give you a "kinder/gentler" string bed.

 

[esm]

@esm, I have to say that string bed feel, like much else in tennis, is very subjective. But given your post and the similarities that appear in it to my tastes, I'd say "Yes", 48/44 is not outside an acceptable range of tension for you. I don't think you'll find the 44 side of the equation will have a detrimental effect on the overall performance and in fact will give you a "kinder/gentler" string bed.

Thank you. This is a good excuse for me to string up/match the second Pure Strike 98 I got last week.....

 

[phil7777777]

Hello all! `Thanks for all the great advice. I have taken it all in and tried a few things. Summary below:

@Irvin - thanks for the stringway pointer. I did this and it gave me a tension of 21kg mains; 22.3kg cross (assuming my strings were the right category which I think they were). This felt a little boardy to me and lost dwell time, however, I am a fan of open patterns so likely only my "personal" feel here. Key point - racket was 27" before stringing and measured 27" after stringing. Width measurements were also unaltered

@esgee48 - there certainly does seem to be some friction related aspect to the cross tension, see below table and also Alu Rough is a bit of a pain to string with the added texture. I held the tension for longer and it certainly seems to have helped

@Rabbit - sounds like we have exactly the same tastes in feel. This is exactly how I feel the lower cross strings. Normally I would also not worry about the difference but I first visibly noticed it when I had a strung racket next to an unstrung. However, the new calculations (being careful about measurements and cleaning clamps, etc seem ok to me to continue).

	Poly Tour pro 20kg; NXT 20kg		NXT 20kg; Alu power rough 19 kg		NXT 21kg; Alu power rough 22.3 kg
	Tension (Dynamic tension measured with Gamma String tension tester)	Length (in inches)	Tension (Dynamic tension measured with Gamma String tension tester)	Length (in inches)	Tension (Dynamic tension measured with Gamma String tension tester)	Length (in inches)
Unstrung	N/a	27"	N/a	27"	N/a	27"
Off stringer	19, 12	26" 15/16	19, 15	26" 15/16	19, 16	27"
after 1 day	18, 12	26" 15/16	19, 14 (potentially an error)	26" 15/16	18.5, 15.5	27"
After 1 hour play	18, 11	26" 7/8	18, 15	26" 15/16	17.5, 14.5	27"

 

[Daniel Waters]

Hello Tennis colleagues, I am in need of some help and guidance:

I have been using a hybrid of Wilson NXT mains and Alu Power Rough crosses for some time now and at a tension difference of -1 on the crosses. This has always served me well and I have never noticed any frame distortion (Wilson PS97, Vcore 97 310g, V Core 98). However, I have switched to a V Core Pro HD and I am finding that after stringing the racket is around 3/16 of an inch shorter than pre stringing (27 inches pre-string).

This is the first 18x20 frame I have used so I am a little unsure of tension adjustments etc (or whether this is just normal for a flexible, thin frame)

I have tried the following remedies:

• Cleaning stringing clamps to ensure no slippage
• making sure technique is sound and not just me being complacent
• increasing the cross tension to equal tension on mains and crosses (made a little difference, 1/8 inch shorter)
• increasing cross tension to +1.5kg higher than mains (this made the length difference ~1/16 or less)
  • However I did not like the launch angle and performance at this tension
• Stringing with full bed Alu power -1kg difference on crosses (no difference in pre and post stringing racket length)

I have two questions:

1. Is there anything I am missing?
2. Is it ok if I just continue to string at -1kg tension difference and accept the shortening of the racket - long term effects?

All and any input greatly appreciated...

My two Yonex HD frames all distort slightly when stringing. It was as mush a 4 mm in one racquet one one stringing, but I made some adjustments. Now it seems they are get slightly shrunk by about 2 to 3 mm of distortion. Slightly higher tension in the cross strings seemed to helped some, but it seems I still get a minor bit of distortion regardless of the setups and tension differentials I've tried.

 

[Irvin]

thanks for the stringway pointer. I did this and it gave me a tension of 21kg mains; 22.3kg cross (assuming my strings were the right category which I think they were). This felt a little boardy to me and lost dwell time, however, I am a fan of open patterns so likely only my "personal" feel here. Key point - racket was 27" before stringing and measured 27" after stringing. Width measurements were also unaltered

If you find the result too tight (boards) you can always drop the DT value manually in the 3rd page of the app. If one is too boardy and the next lower value is too soft I’ve also split the difference.

It makes sense to me mains @ 21 Kg and crosses @ 22.3 Kg (3.3 Kg higher than your normal -1) may be a little boardy.