I play alot as a hitting partner for a 12yr old who is nr. 8 in the country in his age bracket. He plays with a soft racket and sonic pro at 24 kg. I think the only reason to switch to sonic pro is if its cheaper, you need to switch it out faster than 20 hours. He is sponsored as well.
It’s complicated to put forward such arguments. I'm not sure that all 12 year olds have the ability to play with Sonic Pro, I'm not convinced that all 12 year olds have a technique that allows them to play with Sonic Pro!
it's as if I told you that a 9 year old child played with a 27' racket weighing 300g, it is possible, but in no case a generality!
To return to the main topic, I think we need to be able to define the issues, the needs, the risks, the choices, the compromises.
if your son is performing well, you will have to accept the fact that the strings will last less and less time.
that a string that can last 20 hours, with maximum comfort, power, arm-friendly control, and cheap does not exist, and will never exist!
the main problem with strings is that you have to compromise!
either your son plays a lot, more than 6 hours a week, and the strings will wear out, and it will get worse over time. and from there, either he has a sponsor who pays for his strings and installs it, or you invest in a machine!
anyway, strings that last more than 15 hours, at a certain level, whether it's synthetic gut, multi or poly, they simply don't exist!
1) because fragile s-gut will break quickly, but will not cost much
2) because poly will be dead and will cause injuries beyond 6 to 12 hours, even if we continue to be able to play, it's like cigarettes, once we realize that it is harmful, it is too late! an injury due to poly death occurs suddenly! and once installed, it's difficult to go back in a short time. So, ask yourself if you are ok for your son to stop playing tennis for 2 months because of poly death! (you will save money!)
3) because multi will cost much more than s-gut and will also lose its tension (playability) or will largely break in less than 20 hours.
if you count quickly, a thong job will cost (without the strings) around $10 n if you count 2 stringjobs per month, that will quickly make you $280 per year! and the more time passes, the more your son will progress and the more strings he will break! It's that simple!
a small stringer machine will cost you around $400, and using decent S-gut (not the top prices, but I'm sure it's very similar for 90% of players) will cost you $40 for around 18 rackets ! that is to say that to reimburse the purchase of the machine, it is as if 18 stringjobs will cost you approximately $440, or $24 per stringjob!
When you cover the first 18 strings it will cost you more than $2.20 per stringjob!
I don't know what more to say.
on the example of the 12 year old who plays with sonic pro, I could also tell you of players who use msv focus hex plus 38 at low voltage who manage to get injured, even though they are in their thirties, and play with 290g frames, there are no absolute rules!
I think it’s time to have to make a choice! trying to find the miracle string that lasts a long time, does not lose its tension, protects the arm, does not cost much and is efficient, it simply does not exist! you are forced to make compromises, and give up certain parameters and qualities.
, but for the moment we keep just thinking year by year..., this is why maybe too early to think about buying a stringing machine....
