Poly string has snapback but it's dead?

[DaylightBlue]

Currently using Blade V7 18x20 with Max Power @ 40#

I think clocked in about maybe 14 to 18 (or more, didn't count) hours on it and before you grab your pitchforks I was really considering cutting it cuz I felt like my game is gradually becoming more and more off.

I definitely noticed there is less spin and more power. Balls were sailing long so I kept adjusting my swing to become more upward/brush than drive which sometimes led to balls with spin but not a lot of pace. I pulled the center mains with a finger and they do snap back to the middle so that's why I continued using it. The mains and crosses that are off the middle are displaced.

Played with a fresh racquet and immediately I noticed the spin was back but I can't help feeling that maybe I just needed better technique to adjust for the tension loss.

So the question is it really dead (my answer is yes) but could it just be my technique?

 

[blai212]

once poly strings go dead, they start feeling like noodles. If you’re able to adjust, that’s great but from what you described, that setup was long past it’s lifetime. I usually only get 5-7 good hours out of my strings (4.5 hard hitter w yonex vcp97 full bed poly hybrid) so 14-18hrs is actually pretty good. Usually the 10 hr mark is the equivalent of a car going 5,000 miles and needing an oil change. If it feels ok, keep playing...feel no good, switch it out. What I like to do is warmup with my oldest/loosest setup and work my way up if I feel that I need that extra control...a good reason to have plenty of racquets (4-5) so u can rotate.

 

[DaylightBlue]

once poly strings go dead, they start feeling like noodles. If you’re able to adjust, that’s great but from what you described, that setup was long past it’s lifetime. I usually only get 5-7 good hours out of my strings (4.5 hard hitter w yonex vcp97 full bed poly hybrid) so 14-18hrs is actually pretty good. Usually the 10 hr mark is the equivalent of a car going 5,000 miles and needing an oil change. If it feels ok, keep playing...feel no good, switch it out. What I like to do is warmup with my oldest/loosest setup and work my way up if I feel that I need that extra control...a good reason to have plenty of racquets (4-5) so u can rotate.

Totally get that. I'm not at your level of hitting so I couldn't rule it that it's my technique that's at fault. I got 3 sticks to rotate but I tend to just keep using one until it becomes unplayable the next time I play. If I only I can break strings so I don't have to worry about dead poly.

 

[Louis33]

More than likely the strings just lost too much tension instead of “going dead.” Have you tried stringing higher than 40 pounds? Perhaps if you were able to bump the tension up to 43-44 lbs you could increase your playability duration.

 

[Dartagnan64]

This will happen to almost all poly string beds after that much time. They lose both resilience and tension. If you want to always have perfect strings you swap out every 5 hours. The pros swap every couple sets or less.

Most of us just learn to live with the tension loss for monetary reasons. if I’m in a tournament I’ll get a couple rackets strung to last me through the tourney. Then play with them until they break or the next tourney.

For social play I just adjust my targets not so much my strokes.

 

[WNB93]

If your technique is fine for the first 10 hours and then it suddenly isn't anymore...it's the strings.
I can still play with 15-20 hour old strings. But the feel is gone and I don't enjoy it that much because as you said, I have to adjust my strokes to make it playable.

 

[Aretium]

Are you a flatter hitter? Maybe your game tires out the crosses more than mains

 

[DaylightBlue]

More than likely the strings just lost too much tension instead of “going dead.” Have you tried stringing higher than 40 pounds? Perhaps if you were able to bump the tension up to 43-44 lbs you could increase your playability duration.

That's a good point. I did string another full bed once at 45 pounds and really liked it more than 40 pounds. The main strings in the middle did indeed have less snapback and I felt there was more friction. than the 40 pounds. I was going for more playability duration so I kept lowering the tension. Since 18x20 is a much stiffer stringbed I thought it would've been fine.

Are you a flatter hitter? Maybe your game tires out the crosses more than mains

I'm more a topspin hitter, I never hit flat when the ball is below the net.

 

[Louis33]

That's a good point. I did string another full bed once at 45 pounds and really liked it more than 40 pounds. The main strings in the middle did indeed have less snapback and I felt there was more friction. than the 40 pounds. I was going for more playability duration so I kept lowering the tension. Since 18x20 is a much stiffer stringbed I thought it would've been fine.

I'm more a topspin hitter, I never hit flat when the ball is below the net.

14-18 hours is pretty good playability duration for polyester strings so if your happy with 40 pounds as your tension I would keep it at that and it’s normal for performance to degrade during this time even with good technique. It all comes down to what your looking for with your setup. Personally I string slightly tighter than what I like best so when the strings initially settle I can get longer playability duration. That might be around 43 pounds for you, or you could try stringing the mains around 45 pounds and drop the crosses 2-3 pounds to lower the friction and increase topspin. Another option is to string tighter around 45 pounds in your mains assuming your playing 17g max power hybrid it with 18g max power as your cross at the same tension to increase spin.

 

[DaylightBlue]

14-18 hours is pretty good playability duration for polyester strings so if your happy with 40 pounds as your tension I would keep it at that and it’s normal for performance to degrade during this time even with good technique. It all comes down to what your looking for with your setup. Personally I string slightly tighter than what I like best so when the strings initially settle I can get longer playability duration. That might be around 43 pounds for you, or you could try stringing the mains around 45 pounds and drop the crosses 2-3 pounds to lower the friction and increase topspin. Another option is to string tighter around 45 pounds in your mains assuming your playing 17g max power hybrid it with 18g max power as your cross at the same tension to increase spin.

I am using 17g! I will be trying your suggestions! What do you think about stringing lower than 40?

 

[Louis33]

I am using 17g! I will be trying your suggestions! What do you think about stringing lower than 40?

I tried it once with max power 16g and did not like it. Vibration increased for me but surprisingly it was not overpowered. I did not like the inconsistent response from the stringbed when taking the ball early. I think low tension works best for people who can hit with a greater amount of spin and have a flat follow through. The higher trajectory helps these players with consistency, and also might benefit players who do not hit the ball as hard. The strings will snap back easier giving more free spin compared to someone who hits much harder they are able to generate enough snap back at tighter tensions.