Isn't that a multi?
Low, low tensions. 30lbs feels great. 20lbs pretty good, too
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Isn't that a multi?
Xenakis
Hall of Fame
That's right. It's a bold move I like to think. Quite a special low power multi that plays a bit like a poly in my opinion though. Lasts ages too.
2handsbothsides
Semi-Pro
I predict a feeling like rubber bands.
Ljubicic for number1
Hall of Fame
GoDawgs2011
New User
I'll join the party.
Just strung up my leaded Yonex RDS 003 with Spiky Shark 17 at 35 lbs. I should have a review by Tuesday.
Just strung up my leaded Yonex RDS 003 with Spiky Shark 17 at 35 lbs. I should have a review by Tuesday.
(K)evin
Rookie
recommend genesis too! I don't like buying from other places other than TW it's weird
Bud
Bionic Poster
Yeah... predict you won't like it too much
Do you really think RIP Control plays like a poly? I thought it played like a mushy multi.
Ljubicic for number1
Hall of Fame
Had a hit with the low tension this afternoon,
Normal set up:
Prince Exo3 Rebel
Port inserts
5gms at 12 o'clock
Full big ace micro 50lbs
Test set up:
Prince Exo3 Rebel
Port inserts
5gms at 12 o'clock
Full cyberflash at 30lbs
I decided to go with cyberflash instead of BAM as I thought the micro would be too soft and springy.
First thoughts just rallying were its very comfortable, not over powered and not really that different from my normal set up. I did notice that when I used the low tension my hitting partners consistency went down and he started mishitting balls and making unforced errors.
After 15-20 minutes of warming up we decided to play some first to elevens in which I was rotating from normal set up to low tension stick.
During playing actual points I found the low tension to serve very well, I could get effortless power on first serves and good spin on 2nd serve.
Return of serves were inconsistent and hard to control, I hit the back fence on the full on about 4 occasions:evil:
Topspin was not really any different from my point of view but my opponent informs me that he was having to make contact much higher as my ball had bigger bite.
Slice shots were a little better with more penetration and skidding lower off the court.
All up I lost some confidence with the lower tension and didn't really find any large improvements anywhere. I might give one of my other rebels a go with blue gear at low tension and will try the cyberflash a bit further.
Normal set up:
Prince Exo3 Rebel
Port inserts
5gms at 12 o'clock
Full big ace micro 50lbs
Test set up:
Prince Exo3 Rebel
Port inserts
5gms at 12 o'clock
Full cyberflash at 30lbs
I decided to go with cyberflash instead of BAM as I thought the micro would be too soft and springy.
First thoughts just rallying were its very comfortable, not over powered and not really that different from my normal set up. I did notice that when I used the low tension my hitting partners consistency went down and he started mishitting balls and making unforced errors.
After 15-20 minutes of warming up we decided to play some first to elevens in which I was rotating from normal set up to low tension stick.
During playing actual points I found the low tension to serve very well, I could get effortless power on first serves and good spin on 2nd serve.
Return of serves were inconsistent and hard to control, I hit the back fence on the full on about 4 occasions:evil:
Topspin was not really any different from my point of view but my opponent informs me that he was having to make contact much higher as my ball had bigger bite.
Slice shots were a little better with more penetration and skidding lower off the court.
All up I lost some confidence with the lower tension and didn't really find any large improvements anywhere. I might give one of my other rebels a go with blue gear at low tension and will try the cyberflash a bit further.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
Intersting last statement Ljub especially after what you have written above. I generally had the same playtest. My problem was volleying and not return of serve but as everything else felt like it improved to a small degree I will stick at it and work on the volleying.
What is cyberflash like ?? I used Mantis which is a really nice stiff-ish string which i think complements the low tension.
Ljubicic for number1
Hall of Fame
Yeah I found some advantages here and there but overall not enough to outweigh the service return issues and a few balls flying here and there. I haven't given up on it though (early days) plus the fact I have bad tennis elbow and cant test as thoroughly as I would like.
Cyberflash is a great string which used to be refereed to as a soft poly but is now quiet stiff in comparison to all the new softies out there.
Xenakis
Hall of Fame
Yeah... predict you won't like it too much
Do you really think RIP Control plays like a poly? I thought it played like a mushy multi.
It's the best multi I've used out of TF BiPhase X1, Bab Xcel, Yonex 850, Wilson Sensation, Wilson NXT Tour, and some cheaper ones like Pros Pro Hi-Tec Multifiber.
It's definitely got that control element that the above expensive soft polys lack. It's crisper, not as much as fresh poly but pretty good. And it seems to last for ages as the string stays slippery instead of going brittle (as you often see with factory installed Wilson Sensation on racquets that haven't been restrung since new, not nice.)
Only downside is you have to straighten the strings a fair bit as they slide over one another rather than stay in place/notch into one another.
Fine by me.
UCSF2012
Hall of Fame
Can we ask that you try out the full tension range? I'd love to hear your opinions on it. You've done 10, 30, 50-something, but you havn't done about 40. Perhaps there's an optimal tension somewhere in the 20-50 range where you get the increased kick without the loss of placement.
Perhaps, TW (TW prof) could measure the ball resiliancy with different string tensions, in search of the optimal tension. Granted, it'll be different for different strings, players, etc but it'd give us all a guideline.
I had a K90 strung up at 35 with Signum Pro Poly Plasma, and the increase in kick was comparable to changing to the next lower guage string. I'm undecided on control issues.
I would love to hear how this plays...
ronalditop
Hall of Fame
This low tensions work great with very low powered racquets or racquets that have great control. For example, I have two racquets, in one of them I use 45 lbs and on the other 50lbs. Both racquets have about the same power, but the 45lbs one feels softer.
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just strung my PB9 at 32 with full Cyberflash and will hit in a few hrs, will report back later today.
Drak
JT_2eighty
Hall of Fame
Interested to hear your thoughts. I've used RIP intellitour only, which looks to be similar to rip control, and strung at 52 it lasted over 18 hours and played nicely throughout. Even towards the end it started to really soften up but I never lost the pinpoint accuracy it had when fresh. I would estimate it was at least in the low 40s by the end of it's life, so would be curious how the other rip string feels to start that low. The rip tour is soft like multi with control like a poly. In a category of its own.
That said I've strung up some pro hurr 18 (normal) at 28 lbs to try tomorrow. Have always been a fan of the lower tension ranges, can't wait to see!
William Bedford
Rookie
I felt compelled to try some low tension poly in one of my AG100's. I usually use Pacific Poly Force Original as a cross with Kgut or Gut mains.
I tried a set of full Poly Force 17 at 42 lbs on the main and 40 on the cross. Spin was crazy, and comfort is really good considering the PFO is one of the stiffest poly strings out there. Feel is not the same as with Kgut or Gut mains, but I have to say the control is insane.
You guys may be on to something...
I tried a set of full Poly Force 17 at 42 lbs on the main and 40 on the cross. Spin was crazy, and comfort is really good considering the PFO is one of the stiffest poly strings out there. Feel is not the same as with Kgut or Gut mains, but I have to say the control is insane.
You guys may be on to something...
martini1
Hall of Fame
So at 20-30 lb range do the strings (poly) keep the tension longer or shorter, say vs 50-60lb range?
Do u need to adjust the string position often as if you are playing with syn gut or something?
I am not ready to go that low yet but next time I am going to sting my K88 and K90 at the hi 40's range. Must be a great soft touch feeling! I got 52lb on an APDC now and it is great!
Do u need to adjust the string position often as if you are playing with syn gut or something?
I am not ready to go that low yet but next time I am going to sting my K88 and K90 at the hi 40's range. Must be a great soft touch feeling! I got 52lb on an APDC now and it is great!
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
HAd LTA comp today and struggled with the low tension. It was a doubles match and my second serve was a struggle. This is not necessarily a tension thing but maybe due to a change in string as i usually get loads of grip with Alu.
Yesterday i felt really comfortable with the low tension in my singles match and will continue with it tmoro. Probably due to getting into a rythym quicker in singles and feeling less restricted.
Yesterday i felt really comfortable with the low tension in my singles match and will continue with it tmoro. Probably due to getting into a rythym quicker in singles and feeling less restricted.
So would this low tension thing therefore work in a PT630?...
What strings would ppl advise for a low tension string-job too in the PT630?
And how low a tension?
Thanks,
R.
JT_2eighty
Hall of Fame
^^^The assumption is yes. But not sure if any other PT630er has tried. I have a match tomorrow, and strung up my PT with PH18 at 28lbs to see (one of the most elastic polys out there, so I'm going for extremes). I'll let you know tues night. I've been using this stick for about 15 years, give or take, so I think I'll have a decent gauge on comparisons.
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How interesting, just got done with a long hit and then played a set of singles with PB9 at 32 with Cyberflash. I don't know where to begin, first thought is PLUSH feeling bigger sweetspot, this guy I played hits huge and I never had any shock or vibration. What a nice soft feeling when hitting but control was just as good with my 58lb norm, I switched frames a few times and my hitting partner said my ball with the soft strings definitely had more zip. It was really hard mentally telling myself to really hit out, but I hit no more balls long than normal and overall depth and spin were better, slices were solid.
I really thought there was little adjustment, way less than I thought there might be. I actually served a little better than normal and no adjustments at all there, volleys were no problem, returns were fine. Overheads were better - larger sweetspot.
Here's the deal for me, if I play the same or better with these soft strings its a big time plus for a 54 yr old 4.5 who had major rotator cuff surgery 14 months ago - the comfort is fantastic!
Much more play and experimentation lies ahead for me, especially as I have a bunch of old Poly lying around. But this really is a huge surprise that I played as well or better the first time out with a racket strung at 32 lbs! Note that I also play at 3600 ft altitude and control was just fine - very good topspin.
Drak
I really thought there was little adjustment, way less than I thought there might be. I actually served a little better than normal and no adjustments at all there, volleys were no problem, returns were fine. Overheads were better - larger sweetspot.
Here's the deal for me, if I play the same or better with these soft strings its a big time plus for a 54 yr old 4.5 who had major rotator cuff surgery 14 months ago - the comfort is fantastic!
Much more play and experimentation lies ahead for me, especially as I have a bunch of old Poly lying around. But this really is a huge surprise that I played as well or better the first time out with a racket strung at 32 lbs! Note that I also play at 3600 ft altitude and control was just fine - very good topspin.
Drak
Further thoughts. I wonder how the low tension works in different head sizes: 90-95-98-100-105-110? I have a feeling more low string tension benefits might go to the smaller head sizes because of increased sweetspot and less mishits perhaps - just a guess. Be interested to hear replies from those with low 90's or 105 or 110 head sizes.
Drak
Drak
Yeah, I had the same thought, especially as some of the old ones are the most durable and best at tension maintenance.
drgreenthumb
Rookie
I have a stringer and I had the pleasure of modding my rackets (Babolat APD non-cortex) with varying tensions, strings, strings gauges, weights, weight positions, weight balance, etc...
I agree with a lot that certain rackets will feel "alright" at 40ish tension BUt this can depend on other factors too besides just tension.
Im usually 55-50mins and 47-53 cross. The APD with BB rough or original for example will vibrate at <45lbs paired with a <45cross than Ksix one tour 90 or 95 with the same string configuration.
You'll just have to do a lot of experimentation to find the sweet spot.
I agree with a lot that certain rackets will feel "alright" at 40ish tension BUt this can depend on other factors too besides just tension.
Im usually 55-50mins and 47-53 cross. The APD with BB rough or original for example will vibrate at <45lbs paired with a <45cross than Ksix one tour 90 or 95 with the same string configuration.
You'll just have to do a lot of experimentation to find the sweet spot.
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Fed Kennedy
Legend
Hey corners, what are some of those old school polys with good tension holding you are speaking of?
thebuffman
Professional
i went ahead and strung up my prestige pro with global gut @ 48# (main) and ALU BB @ 44# (cross). i plan to hit tomorrow and will let everyone know how it plays. my normal setup is 57# global gut full bed or global gut (or gaucho gut) & OG Micro Sheep cross.
My guess here is 44 or 47 is not low enough and you'll get more of a trampoline effect as opposed to the control many of us are getting at 30-35, again just my guess. Hopefully over the next several weeks as folks experiment we'll find a general tension range where the benefits of very low tension is maximized.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
This is what I found with a softer, more elastic poly like Polystar Energy. Just had a hit with it at 35lbs and i had much better control than at 45lbs. Im stringing up Alu and wil see what thats like at 32lbs, really looking forward to seeing how Alu plays at this tension as it has the best spin/power/control ratio at my usual 45lbs of any string ive played.
Great feedback and thanks, this will help us find tension levels where different strings perform better. The Cyberflash at 32 worked very well for me, I think I have some stiff Pacific Poly force around and I may try that in my other frame.
Drak
I developed SEVERE carpel tunnel at 20 and 30.
Whole palm was tingling and it was difficult making a fist after 5 minutes of hitting. Obviously the vibration is doing something.
I don't recommend this for people with repetitive stress syndromes like Carpel Tunnel and Tennis Elbow.
Whole palm was tingling and it was difficult making a fist after 5 minutes of hitting. Obviously the vibration is doing something.
I don't recommend this for people with repetitive stress syndromes like Carpel Tunnel and Tennis Elbow.
Meaghan
Hall of Fame
depends on racket i suspect, i thought there would be more vibration but no, my racket doesnt know the meaning.......
schenkelini
Semi-Pro
That seems backwards. I would think that low tension would lead to less vibration not more.
I had none and if felt plush. Not saying on a certain racket and a certain tension it "might" happen but IMO in general a soft tension like 30-35 lbs is more likely to be very comfortable.
Drak
swedechris
Banned
My baseline game improved with lowering the tension of the strings to the lower 40s . I used to have 50lbs as a rule in my TF tFight 335 16/20 bat.
Volleys were a bit more wobbly and my serve was a bit less of a force as the power was a bit too amped up.
Volleys were a bit more wobbly and my serve was a bit less of a force as the power was a bit too amped up.
I just strung up my daughter's 105 Vantage at 34lbs with Cyberflash 1.25. I used to play with this frame so I'll now get a good idea how it works on a 105 head size, she has another one with a Poly hybrid at 58lbs so I can do a solid comparison. We are hitting this afternoon, I'll update later.
LMAO, Wait a minute here, you are at university where pretty coeds abound, and "soft stringing" gets you horny? What can I say?
Haha
On the serious note, when I get home I will try 30lb on the n90. I was gonna revert to nxt to something, but it might be worth going low low tension with blackcode.
SplitStepper
Rookie
what a fabulous quote. thanks for getting me thru the work day.
thebuffman
Professional
hmmm....it seems that the rules are a bit different with natty gut in the mains. if i put natty gut at 35....i shutter at the thought.
WHOA there amigo! Most all successful low tension experiments have been done with POLY, which makes sense as Poly's are way stiffer than gut and seem to play well if not better at low tensions. I would not be surprised if nat gut is equivalent to a Shuttle launch at low tensions!
thebuffman
Professional
i think you might have missed some of the earlier post in the thread drak. some of us have had unpleasant arm experiences with poly. [the last time i put poly mains in my racquet my arm left home for 3 weeks and it took me sending 8 text messages to convince it to come back.] so we are dropping the tension on gut but not as low to see what kind of results we get.
i just got back from hitting about 150 practice balls with this setup (global gut @ 48# & Alu BB @ 44#) and the pop was very nice on flat. I've been nursing golfers elbow as well and the experience was virtually pain free. we will see tonight when i practice ground strokes. so far so good though.