Racquet specific string tensions

[Traffic]

I spent yesterday working with my son and daughter stringing racquets. My son wanted to hit with his old Babolat Aeropro Lite. So we strung Cyclone17/OGSM17@ 50/54. But noticed his frame print indicated 55-62 as the optimal range. (or was it 55-65)

In any case, my daughter's Aeropro Jr racquet also wanted 55-62. We strung Xcel 17 @ 54. I didn't bother with differential main and cross tensions.

My son's and my Wilson PS97LS indicates 50-60 as optimal. I'm sure other racquets have preferred ranges. Just wondering what the tribal knowledge is on the slight preferences of the different manufacturers.

The other thought was our PS97LS is 97 with 18x16 while the Aeropros are 100 with 16x19. Would the string pattern impact or surface area?

 

[esgee48]

What's on the frames are ONLY recommendations. The bigger the hitting surface, the higher the range. I have not notice whether string pattern affects range recommendations. If you have been stringing for eons, you would notice that recommended ranges have been coming down since the advent of graphite. When graphite first came out, ranges would be something like 58-70#. You can certainly go lower if that is your preference. [You can actually go higher than those ranges too. However, some warranty issues may arise if the frame cracks.]

If you have absolutely no idea what tension to put on a frame, use the mid point of the recommendation. That's for SG. If using Multis or NG, use the higher tension; if using a polyester, use the lower tension. Adjust the tension for the next string job until you zero in on what you like. Which is why, once you do know what what the client wants, you use the tension requested by the client.

 

[Daniel_K]

what matters is the tension that the person wielding the racquet wants to play at. The number on the frame is merely what the company wants to print. If what you want to string at falls within the numbers on the frame, its fine. If it doesn't, its fine too.

 

[Traffic]

What's on the frames are ONLY recommendations. The bigger the hitting surface, the higher the range. I have not notice whether string pattern affects range recommendations. If you have been stringing for eons, you would notice that recommended ranges have been coming down since the advent of graphite. When graphite first came out, ranges would be something like 58-70#. You can certainly go lower if that is your preference. [You can actually go higher than those ranges too. However, some warranty issues may arise if the frame cracks.]

If you have absolutely no idea what tension to put on a frame, use the mid point of the recommendation. That's for SG. If using Multis or NG, use the higher tension; if using a polyester, use the lower tension. Adjust the tension for the next string job until you zero in on what you like. Which is why, once you do know what what the client wants, you use the tension requested by the client.

Ok. Good rule of thumb.

I think my son had multi strung at 58# before. That's pretty different than the 50/54 of the poly/sgut…or is it?

 

[Steve Huff]

As you've noticed, a lot depends on the string too. When a frame indicates a range of say, 50-60, you wouldn't want to put a poly in at the same tension you'd play with a multi. So, to be safe (with your arm), start a poly on the low side--even lower than what is recommended. After you play with it a few times, you can make adjustments.

 

[CodyZzZ]

As you've noticed, a lot depends on the string too. When a frame indicates a range of say, 50-60, you wouldn't want to put a poly in at the same tension you'd play with a multi. So, to be safe (with your arm), start a poly on the low side--even lower than what is recommended. After you play with it a few times, you can make adjustments.

^That. If you are used to Multi/Guts, the usual recommendation for poly starting point is 10% less or around 5lbs. The general consensus for an "average" tension poly is around 53-54 lbs, I quoted that because it is probably calculated from more people stringing in the high 40s and high 50s, rather than at 53-54lbs.