Main Kevlar Tension compare to natural gut

[enishi1357]

I got some ag kevlar 15l strings. Should I string kevlar at higher or lower tension compare to natural gut. If so how much higher or lower tension?

Thanks!

Edit: I'm stringing Kevlar main and poly cross. My ideal strings would be natural gut main and poly cross but I don't have natural gut so just trying to make sure tension of kevlar match natural gut as much as possible after kevlar tension loss.

I have not ever played with natural gut. I don't know how tension works with natural gut and kevlar. I ask because someone say syn gut needs higher tension compare to poly so prob natural gut and kevlar might need to be string higher as well.

Background: I used kevlar main through out high school and until just a year ago when I started stringing my own racquet with cheap poly strings because that';s the cheapest and syn gut from a guy selling all his strings on FB marketplace . I can remember only twice that I got tennis elbows which after a week went away after stop doing whatever new technique I was doing. No other pains in my tennis life. So if 15l kevlar is giving me pain in any ways I would stop asap and change string. I'm pretty active and in my 30s and have decent techniques so strings is never a problem for me.

 

[penguin]

If you want it to be anything like your natural gut setup, then consider not stringing them at all and getting a multifilament instead.

 

[enishi1357]

If you want it to be anything like your natural gut setup, then consider not stringing them at all and getting a multifilament instead.

I'm stringing with Kevlar because I kept breaking strings by the frame. Longetivity is most important not feel. Someone said syn gut needs to be strung higher so I thought kevlar could be the same.

Edit: I say the main breaks by the frame but it's not touching the grommet. The break is is the center main string always one or two or three cross string away from the top of the racquet. One time the break is at the left bottom cross string. Might be the clamp is too tight.

 

[naylor73]

Honestly if you’re breaking strings very close to the frame, it’s stringer error or you’re mishitting balls badly. That being said, there are plenty of durable poly strings out there I’d recommend before Kevlar.

 

[esgee48]

I would check the conditions of the grommets on your frames. They may need replacement.

To answer you question, Kevlar strings do not stretch much at all compared to other string material. However, they will lose a lot of tension as the braids align. If you do not care about string movement, use as high a tension as the frame recommends. The string will lose at least 15-20% within 2 hitting sessions. If you do care about the position of the mains, you need at least a 10# differential between mains and crosses, with mains initially tighter. Look up the Kevlar/ZX threads. FWIW, I would use Prince Pro Blend unless you are also breaking crosses.

 

[penguin]

I would check the conditions of the grommets on your frames. They may need replacement.

To answer you question, Kevlar strings do not stretch much at all compared to other string material. However, they will lose a lot of tension as the braids align. If you do not care about string movement, use as high a tension as the frame recommends. The string will lose at least 15-20% within 2 hitting sessions. If you do care about the position of the mains, you need at least a 10# differential between mains and crosses, with mains initially tighter. Look up the Kevlar/ZX threads. FWIW, I would use Prince Pro Blend unless you are also breaking crosses.

I can't believe you said to string Kevlar at high tensions to someone coming from natural gut without even mentioning the strong possibility that they could really hurt themself, and especially if they get prince problend without the zx cross. OP by all means string the Kevlar if you want to, it's your choice, but @naylor73 gave good advice here and as esgee48 says your grommets could be cracked too.

If you think it could be off centre hits that are the problem you should get syn gut, which is much less prone to breaking from that. 15 gauge Kevlar is such a extreme response and bad idea that it comes across like you could even be trolling. Even if you are someone could read the thread and copy the idea and hurt themselves so troll about big 4 rivalry instead or whatever please.

 

[enishi1357]

I can't believe you said to string Kevlar at high tensions to someone coming from natural gut without even mentioning the strong possibility that they could really hurt themself, and especially if they get prince problend without the zx cross. OP by all means string the Kevlar if you want to, it's your choice, but @naylor73 gave good advice here and as esgee48 says your grommets could be cracked too.

If you think it could be off centre hits that are the problem you should get syn gut, which is much less prone to breaking from that. 15 gauge Kevlar is such a extreme response and bad idea that it comes across like you could even be trolling. Even if you are someone could read the thread and copy the idea and hurt themselves so troll about big 4 rivalry instead or whatever please.

Not trolling. 15LKevlar is the cheapest kevlar string I could find at $60 for 100 meters. I almost never get tennis elbow or hurt my upper body parts.

I say the main breaks by the frame but it's not touching the grommet. The break is is the center main string always one or two or three cross string away from the top of the racquet. One time the break is at the left bottom cross string. Might be the clamp is too tight. I tried syn gut main and poly main and those all break near the top.

 

[esgee48]

BITD before polyester, Pro Blend was the only viable hybrid for big hitters. I have used it and never had problems with it cuz un pre stretched Kevlar loses tension really fast. The guys I strung it for didn’t have arm issues either. 15 ga Kevlar is going to feel loose vs 17 ga Kevlar at the same tension.

 

[McLovin]

I can't believe you said to string Kevlar at high tensions to someone coming from natural gut without even mentioning the strong possibility that they could really hurt themself, and especially if they get prince problend without the zx cross. OP by all means string the Kevlar if you want to, it's your choice, but @naylor73 gave good advice here and as esgee48 says your grommets could be cracked too.

If you think it could be off centre hits that are the problem you should get syn gut, which is much less prone to breaking from that. 15 gauge Kevlar is such a extreme response and bad idea that it comes across like you could even be trolling. Even if you are someone could read the thread and copy the idea and hurt themselves so troll about big 4 rivalry instead or whatever please.

I could be wrong here, but is he talking about full Kevlar, or how much tension to drop the Kevlar mains compared to natural gut crosses?

If the latter, then 4-5 lbs was the standard 20+ years ago. And for the record, I used Kevlar/gut as high as 64/68lbs back in college. I eventually settled at 60/64, but never had arm issues, and I used some stiff frames.

 

[dr. godmode]

I can't believe you said to string Kevlar at high tensions to someone coming from natural gut without even mentioning the strong possibility that they could really hurt themself, and especially if they get prince problend without the zx cross. OP by all means string the Kevlar if you want to, it's your choice, but @naylor73 gave good advice here and as esgee48 says your grommets could be cracked too.

If you think it could be off centre hits that are the problem you should get syn gut, which is much less prone to breaking from that. 15 gauge Kevlar is such a extreme response and bad idea that it comes across like you could even be trolling. Even if you are someone could read the thread and copy the idea and hurt themselves so troll about big 4 rivalry instead or whatever please.

Kevlar should be strung tighter for optimal performance or else it becomes like a fishing net. Kev, in my experience, isn’t viciously uncomfortable. It’s not like you use it once and break your wrist. It’s not like it’s dangerous.

 

[Steve Huff]

I would use Laserfiber Eternal Kevlar if you can find it. It's one of the most durable kevlars I've use. You can mix it with a synthetic gut (I'd get 15L for that. I'd then string it at 36/46. It' will work.

 

[enishi1357]

I could be wrong here, but is he talking about full Kevlar, or how much tension to drop the Kevlar mains compared to natural gut crosses?

If the latter, then 4-5 lbs was the standard 20+ years ago. And for the record, I used Kevlar/gut as high as 64/68lbs back in college. I eventually settled at 60/64, but never had arm issues, and I used some stiff frames.

I'm stringing Kevlar main and poly cross. My ideal strings would be natural gut main and poly cross but I don't have natural gut so just trying to make sure tension of kevlar match natural gut as much as possible after kevlar tension loss.

 

[penguin]

BITD before polyester, Pro Blend was the only viable hybrid for big hitters. I have used it and never had problems with it cuz un pre stretched Kevlar loses tension really fast. The guys I strung it for didn’t have arm issues either. 15 ga Kevlar is going to feel loose vs 17 ga Kevlar at the same tension.

Was pro blend the ideal string for hitters who repeatedly miss the sweet spot and base their "I've never had arm problems" on only ever previously using natural gut?

We know very little about this guy. @enishi1357 has not said what natural gut he uses- if it's the Indian/Global Gut that's breaking on him, for example, then the answer would be that breaking unpredictability is normal for that brand. Or perhaps he is subjecting the strings to large temperature changes or moisture that will weaken natural gut. We know nothing. The poly cross OP now mentions could be a super sharp one that cuts through the gut really fast.

@dr. godmode
I thought that too and used Kevlar/zx a lot until I permanently weakened my shoulder- and that was done in one session. If you get it wrong with Kevlar the penalty is severe. It should only be used by people who have already not got enough life/stiffness from the stiffest polys like 4G etc. Those polys should only be used by people who have already not got enough life/stiffness from average stiffness polys. And people who never used poly before should start with soft polys.

We are not dealing with a pro here- just casually saying "yeah go for it" with a jump to the stiffest string possible from the very softest as a first solution to natural gut strings breaking too often when there could be many reasons other than the string type and we know no other history of the person ever using even moderately stiff strings is irresponsible to the point of being unkind. Even starting with Kevlar you don't start with 15 gauge of the cheapest Kevlar you can find and crossing it with poly that will go dead and notch after a while.

"Almost never" getting tennis elbow etc means you get it sometimes- with Kevlar those injuries will be much worse and could actually be a problem. There are so many other options to try first. If you want cheap and you are genuinely a string breaker then try some of the Pro's Pro polys, for example. But if you could afford natural gut in the first place why do you suddenly need it super cheap anyway?

And the "almost never" part still sounds like trolling to me. It's not as if trolls will admit to it.

To be clear *no tension* is going to be anything like natural gut mains in your hybrid. If you wanted something more resistant to breaking you should try technifibre triax, or if that's too expensive hdmx/rpx or the weisscannon one that is similar. Or just string your poly that you were using in the cross as full bed- that will still be more like your natural gut hybrid than this Kevlar thing.

@McLovin the guy is talking about a poly cross with cheap 15 gauge Kevlar, not comparable to you having a natural gut cross, and probably a premium Kevlar, while playing at a high level.

 

[esvc]

Not trolling. 15LKevlar is the cheapest kevlar string I could find at $60 for 100 meters. I almost never get tennis elbow or hurt my upper body parts.

I say the main breaks by the frame but it's not touching the grommet. The break is is the center main string always one or two or three cross string away from the top of the racquet. One time the break is at the left bottom cross string. Might be the clamp is too tight. I tried syn gut main and poly main and those all break near the top.

I used to break string near the top of the racquet all the time, which I think because I put too much lead tape at the top of the frame from 10 to 2 o'clock, making the sweet spot to move up near the top of the frame.

 

[esgee48]

Pro Blend was installed in frames used by A/B level players. They broke strings in the center and not due to mishits. Longevity using SG or NG was less than 4 hours. Today their NTRP would be 4.5+ to 5.5.

 

[yonexRx32]

I got some ag kevlar 15l strings. Should I string kevlar at higher or lower tension compare to natural gut. If so how much higher or lower tension?

Thanks!

Edit: I'm stringing Kevlar main and poly cross. My ideal strings would be natural gut main and poly cross but I don't have natural gut so just trying to make sure tension of kevlar match natural gut as much as possible after kevlar tension loss.

I have not ever played with natural gut. I don't know how tension works with natural gut and kevlar. I ask because someone say syn gut needs higher tension compare to poly so prob natural gut and kevlar might need to be string higher as well.

Background: I used kevlar main through out high school and until just a year ago when I started stringing my own racquet with cheap poly strings because that';s the cheapest and syn gut from a guy selling all his strings on FB marketplace . I can remember only twice that I got tennis elbows which after a week went away after stop doing whatever new technique I was doing. No other pains in my tennis life. So if 15l kevlar is giving me pain in any ways I would stop asap and change string. I'm pretty active and in my 30s and have decent techniques so strings is never a problem for me.

Yoh..don't listen to nay sayers.. Go Kevlar bro'! Full bed.. no compromise.. take no prisoners. It will shave the felt right off.. the balls will look like comets over the net.. sampras used natural gut and was stringing at 70lbs.. Start there.. and go up.. but use a Babolat Pure Drive to match the string.

 

[veelium]

Why do you say that natural gut/poly would be your ideal setup?

Just for curiosity as it doesn't make much sense to me in the context of what you wrote.

 

[Shroud]

I got some ag kevlar 15l strings. Should I string kevlar at higher or lower tension compare to natural gut. If so how much higher or lower tension?

Thanks!

Edit: I'm stringing Kevlar main and poly cross. My ideal strings would be natural gut main and poly cross but I don't have natural gut so just trying to make sure tension of kevlar match natural gut as much as possible after kevlar tension loss.

I have not ever played with natural gut. I don't know how tension works with natural gut and kevlar. I ask because someone say syn gut needs higher tension compare to poly so prob natural gut and kevlar might need to be string higher as well.

Background: I used kevlar main through out high school and until just a year ago when I started stringing my own racquet with cheap poly strings because that';s the cheapest and syn gut from a guy selling all his strings on FB marketplace . I can remember only twice that I got tennis elbows which after a week went away after stop doing whatever new technique I was doing. No other pains in my tennis life. So if 15l kevlar is giving me pain in any ways I would stop asap and change string. I'm pretty active and in my 30s and have decent techniques so strings is never a problem for me.

even at 15L AG kevlar is one of the softest kevlars. You played in highschool so you know what you are getting into. IME it will be hard to make it feel like natural gut at all, but the best would be to string the kev 10lbs higher and the poly 10lbs lower than normal. That would give a good chance at a softer stringbed with good spin but the durability of kev.

 

[Shroud]

Yoh..don't listen to nay sayers.. Go Kevlar bro'! Full bed.. no compromise.. take no prisoners. It will shave the felt right off.. the balls will look like comets over the net.. sampras used natural gut and was stringing at 70lbs.. Start there.. and go up.. but use a Babolat Pure Drive to match the string.

full bed of kevlar will break pretty fast so best to use string savers in it.

 

[yonexRx32]

full bed of kevlar will break pretty fast so best to use string savers in it.

Yup.. a lot of them.. one per cross..

 

[Shroud]

Yup.. a lot of them.. one per cross..

yep a whole pack at least

 

[enishi1357]

I will just tension as high as the racquet recommends as I don't want to break the racquet..

 

[Shroud]

I will just tension as high as the racquet recommends as I don't want to break the racquet..

FWIW I routinely exceed max tension by 20lbs or more with no broken racquets. Maybe there are some primadonna brands out there but if its a wilson frame I wouldn't worry. Heck I even did a babolat at 86lbs and even my oport prince was at 86lbs. If you have good stringing technique it should be fine.

Said another way those frames are built stronger than those max tensions are, and pretty sure those are just ranges, not MAX where the racquet will explode. A great example is Sampras. His 6.0 85 had a range from 50-60 IIRC and he was stringing it at 75lbs I recall.