Results of 2005 USRSA Survey

[themightysock]

Could someone PLEASE post more results of the 2005 USRSA Survey? I only know this much:

2005 USRSA Survey results (top 10 only):

Playability:
Babolat VS Team Thermogut 17 9.81
Babolat VS Touch Thermogut 16 9.62
Babolat Tonic+ Thermo Ball Feel 16,17 9.6
Babolat VS Touch Thermogut 15L 9.33
Gamma Professional 17 9.32
Wilson NXT Tour 17 9.28
Gamma TNT 18 9.05
Gamma Professional 16 9.04
Babolat Xcel Premium 17 9
Gamma TNT Pro Plus 17L 9

Durability:
Luxilon Big Banger ALU Rough 16L 9.46
Prince ProBlend w/Duraflex 16 9.35
Gamma Infinity 15L 9.33
Luxilon Big Banger Original 16 9.16
Luxilon Big Banger ALU 16L 8.79
Ashaway Crossfire II 16 8.73
Gamma Marathon 15L 8.73
Gamma Dura Blast 16 8.73
Prince Let'R Rip Polyester 16 8.67
Wilson Enduro Tour 16 8.63

(thanks to bookem)

Comfort:
X-One Biphase 4.03
Klip Screamer (gut mains) 3.89
Klip Screamer (gut mains) 3.89
Gamma ESP 3.83
Klip Screamer (nylon mains) 3.83
Klip Screamer (nylon mains) 3.83
Wilson Reaction 3.82
Tecnifibre 515 Gold Prestretched 3.80
Volkl Power-Fiber 3.74
Wilson NXT Max 3.70
Wilson Sensation NXT 3.70


In addition, the USRSA currently has it rated as the most comfortable string they've ever tested. Strings are tested for five weeks by 35-40 USRSA playtesters with NTRP ratings from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind tests.

(thanks to ChicagoJack)

Someone PLEASE post the other ratings.
Thanks!

 

[ace of spades]

wish i knew

 

[A Defenseless Creature]

Hate to poo-poo an effort to educate stringers, but this survey, IMO, is seriously flawed. It can be argued it is a popularity contest. No science behind this survey. Take results with grain of salt.

 

[bookem]

It's not the full poster but here's a link to some results:

http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/issues/200501/200501string_survey.html

 

[Valjean]

Hate to poo-poo an effort to educate stringers, but this survey, IMO, is seriously flawed. It can be argued it is a popularity contest. No science behind this survey. Take results with grain of salt.

Couldn't agree more; been that way for the longest time.

There is a grid of playtest results I find much more helpful.

 

[ChicagoJack]

Hi all... a few things

1.The USRSA does several different kinds of testing. One type is with machines, frames clamped down and struck with steel hammers and what not. I've noticed that if you bring this kind of laboratory data into a conversation, the reponse is often "this does not translate into the actual player on the court." To an certain extent, I agree. But as far a I know, this is the very best lab testing available(maybe the only) to the average joe at the present time. If somebody knows of a better source, I'd be more than happy to hear about it.

2. The other type of testing involves blind play testing, Strings are tested for five weeks by 35-40 USRSA play testers with NTRP ratings from 3.5 to 6.0 they are sent unmarked packages, and are asked to rate the string based on certain qualities. The totals of all these categories are then added up and tossed into a sortable search engine to help you find the balance of qualities you are looking for. What I find really interesting is reading the play testers comments, people say all sorts of things about the same string, but If 30 out of 40 are saying that the string is comfortable, then I assume the string is comfortable. There are times I bring this sort of thing into a conversation and people will say there is no real science here. To certain extent I agree.

3. Then there are the Members Choice Awards, I think this is what is being mentioned and linked here. Yes this is a sort of popularity contest. For a string to qualify for a rating, the respondent must have strung at least 20 sets of that string in the past year. This 20-set minimum ensures that respondents are rating a string they know something about and that has some vitality in the marketplace. They add the scores from each respondent to obtain a sum for that string, then divided the sum by the number of respondents who rated it.

4. The USRSA is a member only website, you can get a monthly for $9 .00 dollars or do a whole year. From time to time, I will offer a sliver of info, and quote my source to illustrate a point. To offer anymore than a sliver now and again feels like plagarism to me. I don't know the legal issues but I am operating from my personal sense of integrity on the matter

5. There are way too many strings on the market for any one person to get a handle on. I could playtest 24/7 and not keep up with all the new stuff. How I use the USRSA is this. I create a short demo list of 5-10 strings that are the best of the best according to a mix of play testing, lab data and personal preference. Then I buy those 10, forget about the USRSA, forget about message boards and buy what I darn well like.

6. This works for me. It's really only a way of getting my demo list down to a reasonable number. I don't agree with them on everything, but I agree more often than not. My hat is off to them for at least attempting to separate myth from fact. Separating myth from fact is a dangerous business indeed, people often do not like their myths busted.

Best Regards
-Jack

 

[Rockyrock]

Babolat Powergy ?

Does anyone know the USRSA figures (playability, durabilty, comfort) for Babolat Powergy ? It's one of the popular strings that's missing from the list.

 

[Valjean]

....3. Then there are the Members Choice Awards, I think this is what is being mentioned and linked here. Yes this is a sort of popularity contest. For a string to qualify for a rating, the respondent must have strung at least 20 sets of that string in the past year. This 20-set minimum ensures that respondents are rating a string they know something about and that has some vitality in the marketplace. They add the scores from each respondent to obtain a sum for that string, then divided the sum by the number of respondents who rated it.....QUOTE]

The membership survey would be more interesting--or helpful, to consumers too--if most USRSA members had a similar inventory and customer base, and if the choices made for building and stocking it were even remotely as objective as yours.

 

[rfederer32291]

i am surprised luxilon bb alu power 16L beat prince problend 16g in durability.

 

[NoBadMojo]

what do they mean by durablity? how long it takes to break or how long it takes to become unplayable....being unplayable is subjective, so i assume they play a string like alu until it breaks....but even though lots of polys dont break for a long time, they can sure become unplayable pretty quickly, and to me that is the same as NOT being durable or even worse. also, lots of good strings are excluded from testng and comparison making these surveys and tests very flawed, skewed, and biased in my estimation.

 

[rfederer32291]

probabbly until it breaks

 

[HappyLefty]

The highest average score is for Tonic+ Thermo Ball Feel but I can't find it at Tenniswarehouse.com !!!!
Where can I find a set?
TW staff, am I wrong?

 

[Safina]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageACBAB-BTGUT16.html

 

[mary fierce]

Defenseless Creature
Try a book called "The Wisdom of Crowds" published last year, I believe. Results of a survey will be as valid as a technical assessment (maybe moreso, as the technical assessment may not truly assess playability or comfort, for example) as long as a relatively large number of people are surveyed. Doubt there's a reliable scientific method to assess comfort presently.

 

[ChicagoJack]

Hi Mary, regarding comfort levels...

Results of a survey will be as valid as a technical assessment (maybe moreso, as the technical assessment may not truly assess playability or comfort, for example) as long as a relatively large number of people are surveyed. Doubt there's a reliable scientific method to assess comfort presently.

Hi Mary Firece - You have a good point here. I would add that The USRSA conducts lab testing to determine, 1. string stiffness 2. impact shock 3. dwell time. Most people would agree these factors do contribute to what we describe as comfort. As stated in my previous post, they also do play testing to determine what players feel is comfortable or not comfortable. What I do is look at both of those things together, and compare them. What I find is that occasionally there are strings that 30-45 players will rate as comfortable, but the lab data would seem to indicate the opposite. This seems to occur more frequently in the Multifilament Nylons category. Mostly the lab testing does seem to confirm the player testing. I find the most confirmation happening with the Natural Gut, and Kevlar, with an occasional puzzler with the Polys.

I know I'm starting to sound like a cheerleader for these guys, It's not my intent, honest injun. I'm just saying You've got the lab testing, and you've got the play testing, I look at both. I think this is this a good way to get a demo list down to a managable number. That's my viewpoint, I simply cannot state it any better than I already have. I'm not trying to convert anybody to my way of doing things, I think if I stay in here much longer It's going to appear as though I am.

Adios Amigos, I'm outta here - Jack

 

[HappyLefty]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageACBAB-BTGUT16.html

Thanks Safina

 

[Joe12]

Why the hell is Gamma the favourite string brand? No one here uses Gamma! (Overpriced, low playability compared to other strings in every catagory)

 

[A Defenseless Creature]

Mary,

Point well taken and agreed...except in this survey I see the potential for inherent bias. The sample is not random. It is a sample of USRSA members who string a certain number of racquets. The survey only permits you to rank strings which you string a certain # of in a year.

I suspect many of the respondents are small shop owners or those operating a small stringing operation in a club. At this grassroots level, advantage goes to Gamma. Their sales reps are aggressive while the points program and high mark-up on the strings make them especially attractive to these shop owners. Of course they are going to respond favorably to these strings. It's in their best interest and helps their bottom line. Gamma and Wilson have incredible reps and the best marketing, but perhaps not the best strings.

It's amazing how Gamma and some other highly rated USRSA strings lose their influence in other surveys with a different sample. Would love to see a survey of stringers who do not own shops, but focus on identifying quality strings to sell to their customers. I suspect the results would be MUCH different. I stick my my statement that this data is a popularity contest and should be viewed with a skeptical eye. I appreciate the USRSA providing this data and all they do for their members, but this particular survey, IMO, is not helpful for me. Other may choose to interpret differently and that is fine. More power to them.

 

[Joe12]

Yeah but in every catagory of string, Gamma and Wilson are outmatched by some little string company.

Examples.

Synthetic Gut

Gosen OG Sheep Micro VS. Wilson Extreme Synthetic Gut & Gamma Synthetic Gut

Luxilon Big Banger ALU-Power VS. Wilson Enduro Tour & Gamma Zo