Racquet recommended tension range vs string material

[kblades]

Consider this scenario - Someone asks you to string their racquet with poly but has no idea what tension they want. The recommended range of their racquet is 60 +\- 5 lbs. What would you string it at? Do you stay towards the lower end of the recommended range (ie 55-57 lbs) or do you go even lower (ie 48-50 lbs) because it’s poly?

I’ve been stringing for myself and friends/playing partners for a few years and I’ve had similar situations like this occur several times. Folks will hand me their racquet and a pack of strings but have no idea what tension they want it strung, they rely on me to decide whatever I think is best. In my own racquets, I don’t like to string poly above 50 lbs, but my racquets are also smaller head sizes and the recommended tension range is more around 45-55lbs. I’ve just always wondered should I be paying attention to the recommended tension ranges on a frame since it accounts for the head size of the frame, or do I just approach it the same based on the type of string regardless of the frame?

 

[golden chicken]

I would ask them what their old setup is, and go from there. If they're using multi at 50, then you probably want to do poly in the 40s, right? If they're doing multi at 60, then maybe poly in the low 50s?

 

[kblades]

I would ask them what their old setup is, and go from there. If they're using multi at 50, then you probably want to do poly in the 40s, right? If they're doing multi at 60, then maybe poly in the low 50s?

Most of the time they have no idea, they are at the opposite end of the spectrum as us enthusiasts that nerd out on racquets, strings, etc and participate in an online forum discussing them Most of the time they can’t even remember the last time their racquet was strung, they will just happen to break a string while playing and I’ll offer to restring it for them. So they have zero information as a starting point that’s why they ask me to just go with whatever I think is best.

 

[emhtennis]

For poly especially i would always err on the lower side. No higher than 50lbs in almost any frame.

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[Arak]

Imho, half the head size is a good starting point for poly.

 

[golden chicken]

Most of the time they have no idea, they are at the opposite end of the spectrum as us enthusiasts that nerd out on racquets, strings, etc and participate in an online forum discussing them Most of the time they can’t even remember the last time their racquet was strung, they will just happen to break a string while playing and I’ll offer to restring it for them. So they have zero information as a starting point that’s why they ask me to just go with whatever I think is best.

I guess if they've been playing with it so long they can't remember, whatever was in it was probably pretty dead/soft, so I'd err on the soft side.

 

[Dartagnan64]

If people have no idea what tension they want it strung, that usually means they aren't hitting 90 mph forehands that need high tension stiff poly. So string it low to achieve similar power levels to mid tension multi. Half the head size as Arak suggests is an awesome starting point. I'd also add in dial back 5 lbs lower for flex rating <65.

 

[Steve Huff]

I like that--half the head size. Never heard it before. Good rule of thumb.

 

[LocNetMonster]

My rule of thumb is if they have been playing with the same string for a year or more with a soft string, to recommend stringing 10% under the lowest recommended tension.

 

[Rabbit]

I like that--half the head size. Never heard it before. Good rule of thumb.

I like that too and I've never heard it.