Hybrid Tensions

[leog]

Okay, so conventional wisdom has you string the mains a couple pounds tighter than the crosses.

Let's say I'm hybriding, though, and I'm using a poly in the mains and a soft multi in the crosses. The tension range for the racket is 55--65lbs, and I'm stringing the poly mains at 54. I would normally do the mains at around 60 but since they're poly I drop them ~10% to make up for their stiffness. Now, what should I string the soft multi crosses at?

I had been putting them at 57, but now I'm thinking maybe 53 or 52?

Basically, should the crosses always be a couple pounds lower than the mains, even if the mains are a harsh poly that you dropped the tension on, and the crosses are a soft multi?

 

[downdaline]

Actually i dont think that's right. The tension u use shouldnt depend on whether or not it's a main or a cross - it should depend on the string itself. But then again, this isnt really a rule set in stone, so yeah, u can string whatever tension u want.

For my case, the last time i did a hybrid with poly in the mains and a soft multi in the crosses, i had the mains at 54lbs and the crosses at 60lbs. It played fine.

 

[bmichaelia]

No, don't string the crosses lower, string them higher than the poly mains, 2-4#.

 

[leog]

thanks; everyone else agree?

 

[Jonny S&V]

thanks; everyone else agree?

Yeah, I string my Cyberflash mains at 58 lbs and my Babolat SuperfinePlay crosses at 62 lbs.

 

[LPShanet]

thanks; everyone else agree?

Yes. There is no rule that says you should string mains tighter than crosses. The goal is always to have the effective tension of both be the SAME. (A few racquet companies, such as Yonex, will suggest a slightly lower cross tension because of notable differences in string length, but they're aiming for the same EFFECTIVE tension.) Since polys play tighter than their tension, you should string the poly side of the hybrid a few pounds (2-4) lower than the multi side, as others have said.