My finding of Power Pads effects on poly hybrid

[hangzhou]

(Raining all these days.... so have more time left to report my findings)

Here are some of results from my experiements with my home made power pads:
1. Decreased or eliminated the initial board or stiff feeling for poly hybrid, which is very natural for the first couple hours or sessions.
2. Made string bed more live, i.e. increased sweet spot, or more elastic.
3. Reduced injury risks for poly hybrid.
4. Can gain more control via increasing tension without stiff string bed.
5. A little bit more power, however cann't quantify the increases.
6. No effect on tension maintenence.
7. Possiblely more spin due to more pocketing effect.

I use POG mid, Gosen Polylon 17, Gosen OG Sheep 16 for this experiment. My own power pads are made of used window shield wipe rubber blade refill, which are very elastic than other materials and I believe that acting like woofer system for the string bed.

Before applying power pads, I strung POG at 54 lbs, and for the first couple of hours the string bed are quite stiff and have board feel. After 1 or 2 sessions, the board feeling will go away, which is normal for almost poly strings. Higher tensions, such as 56, 58 lbs, the board feeling are terrible, just like hitting wall, which normally will cause injuries.

Afer applying my power pads, I have increaed tension starting from 54 lbs to 56, 58 and finally 60 lbs while the initial board feeling disappeared. Until 62 lbs, I started to feel the stiffness coming back. 60 lbs is the normal tension I used for synthetic gut strings. So that's very significant increases in tension, i.e. I don't need go down 5 to 10% for poly anymore.

I have really enjoyed with power pads and high tension setup.

If you use different material for power pads, your mileage may vary since the elasticity should play a great role.

Now I guess I can understand why Peter and other Pros, who use power pads, can go such high tensions...


PS: I use Laserfibre ECO with fixed clamps.

 

[eagle]

Hi hangzhou,

I also use powerpads and like it. Before I strung my own racquets, my pro stringer (strings for Grand Slam events) he always used these on my racquets. So, I've adopted it and use it whenever I string.

Thanks,
eagle

 

[Gaines Hillix]

hangzhou, at which locations on the frame do you use the power pads? Do you use them between all of the pairs of holes where the string returns or only at the shoulders or ?? Or just on the poly strings?

 

[scarnley]

Hangzhou,

I'm with Gaines, kinda curious and sounds like something I might like to try. Can you describe how you made them and what the finished pads look like, how big they are and where you put them? A picture would be most awesome, but any info. would be appreciated.

 

[hangzhou]

Gaines, Scarnley: I put 5 pads in the poly mains at bottom, 3 inside shoulders, and 2 out side of shoulders. POG Mid has 14 mains, so only last two out mains have no power pads. No pads for crosses. I guess I can put some for the crosses also, but the gains might be limited, I am not quite sure.

Scarnley: I took out rubber refills, cut it into two layers using regular knife since they are bridged by tiny rubber together. Then I cut into some blocks which match with the span of grommot holes. Other materials such as leather belt can be used also, but the elasticity of power pads will play significant roles. My friend uses leather belt on his Wilson ncode and found less effects, I guess that might be caused by low elasticity. Sorry I don't have image for you at this time. The rubber pads doesn't look as good or beatiful as leather pads.

Eagle: good for you of using power pads, have you tried with different tensions and any difference on your tests?

 

[USCfan]

Hangzhou,
Thanks... I'd had power pads on my C10 pro for awhile (my buddy Power Game put them on) but I never knew what they did. I don't need them anymore though, since they come already built on to my new stick.