Notching way above sweetspot

[AdamKJor]

Hi,

I usually track how notched my strings are to know what I should expect on the court. I’ve noticed that they are somehow similarly notched closer to the top of the racquet and by the sweetspot. There’s also very little notching below the sweetspot, relatively speaking, which is good.

I find this odd as when I break strings it’s usually ~ 2-3 mains fron the centre and maybe one cross above. I also checked a video of me playing and it looks like I am hitting the sweetspot on most shots (as it feels like). Yet the mains are most notched by the 5th cross from the top!

Does this make any sense, or do I need to work on where I hit the ball?

 

[esgee48]

Could be due to where you make contact when serving. Nothing to worry about since you break your strings near the center.

 

[SlowTiger]

Yeah, just means you're hitting above the sweet spot. I tent to like hitting near the top of the hoop too

 

[AdamKJor]

Thanks. Happy to hear. I generally find the feedback off the ball to be good, and it doesn't feel like I miss(hit) the ball, so I was just a bit worried for my instincts.

 

[PRS]

Thanks. Happy to hear. I generally find the feedback off the ball to be good, and it doesn't feel like I miss(hit) the ball, so I was just a bit worried for my instincts.

Hitting slightly high in the zone doesn't mean you're mis-hitting. Lots of players hit slightly high in the zone, which is one of the reason some players, myself included, love Yonex racquets; they extend the sweet spot up a little in the zone.

Also, it's more common to hit up in the zone on the serve, so even if you're not doing it on your groundstrokes, you could be doing it on the serve.

Either way, it doesn't seem to be an issue for you, so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Shroud]

Yeah, just means you're hitting above the sweet spot. I tent to like hitting near the top of the hoop too

Me too. Its the deadest spot on the racquet.

 

[Trip]

@AdamKJor - Not this matters a huge amount, but what is the racquet, string(s) and reference tension?

Apart from simply making more contact above the sweetspot, you could also get accelerated notching if you have a frame that promotes a large amount of string movement, and/or string that isn't very notch-resistant, and/or a hybrid where the two strings have different-enough surface hardness and/or gauge.

 

[AdamKJor]

@AdamKJor - Not this matters a huge amount, but what is the racquet, string(s) and reference tension?

Apart from simply making more contact above the sweetspot, you could also get accelerated notching if you have a frame that promotes a large amount of string movement, and/or string that isn't very notch-resistant, and/or a hybrid where the two strings have different-enough surface hardness and/or gauge.

I'm using a Prestige Pro Auxetic, so I'm usually really going through the ball, and whipping the forehand a lot. For strings I'm currently experimenting, but I especially noticed it on my full bed of Alu Power at 48lbs.

So one of the least string-movement promoting frames, and a decently stiff string hahah.

 

[Trip]

Haha, very interesting. Good thing you don't use a VCore or an Aero is all I can say!

 

[AdamKJor]

Haha, very interesting. Good thing you don't use a VCore or an Aero is all I can say!

Using an Aero sounds expensive hahah

 

[Steve Huff]

Also, the strings move more as they get closer to the top of the frame. When you swing, the racket head will be moving faster the further from the axis (your hand) that you get. Even if you don't hit in the upper part of the string bed much, when you do, you'll get more movement, thus more notching.

 

[what_army]

Having recently changed to the blade 98 18x20, I am suddenly noticing this too. As the string spacing is very dense in the sweet spot, those strings move less and the notching occurs mainly towards the hoop (around the 5th cross counting from the top in my case).