Senior Player String Experience over the years

[tennisnut1]

Welcome folks. I'm 62, been playing for 50 years and have been ranked in the state and nationally over the years in age and ntrp levels. I'm an old school player, grew up when they taught percentage tennis and I have the strokes and precision to compete well against the field. I don't have the modern game, but if I did, my arm would have fallen off by now, hehe. My game focuses on feel and have used soft strings over the years. I am not a string breaker and my strings can last a year easy. I have been a fan of technifibre for 20 years and progressed up to their biophase, which is an amazing string. I recently tried some hybrid setups with multi in the mains and lux in the crosses. It was a nice change, let me hit harder and enjoyed it. Since I've had arm issues the last 2 years, I've decided to try gut this time around and waiting for my new Angel TC 105. With so many strings out there today, it's crazy trying to pick one. I rely on feel and touch and don't crush the ball, so I can stay away from the poly's. I've lowered my tension a bit over the years from 60 lbs, and that seems to be a good move. Appreciate any feedback from the group, thx !!!

 

[kiteboard]

x1 bi is great with a dyreex whirl main, x1 cross. Or bhbr twisted.

 

[tennisnut1]

thx, I wish the Biophase came in a rough/textured version.

 

[esgee48]

Look inside the Mikeler thread on multis. Also try these multis:
Pros Pro Claycourt
Pros Pro Gutex
Pros Pro King Gut
Wilson NXT Control
Wilson NXT Max (DuraMax)
WIlson NXT Power

 

[tennisnut1]

Thanks man !! I've tried NXT, wore out fast but a very nice string. I found that the red biophase was slicker for some reason, so I have stayed with the natural color. I should be getting my new stick in a couple of days and has Wilson gut in it, so should be interesting to see if it improves my game. If it does, I'll stick with gut going forward.

 

[esgee48]

If you end up liking NG, then also consider hybriding; NG mains and probably Ashaway Monogut ZX. This hybrid will maintain tension and playability provided you pre-stretch the ZX.

 

[CopolyX]

From 60 to ? Lux is a pretty stiff string. Sure the multi in the crosses will soften up a bit but the mains are the domain string. Are you are flat hitter and hit with topspin. What is the copoly giving you other than a change. My only concern for you is your arms but they are not hanging off me. If you chose to stay with copoly, chose it wisely and dont have a hight tension. Keep on dropping the tension with intervals of 3 lbs until you find the lowest that works best. You will surprised.... if you take the time and follow that path.
Tecnifibre makes some nice strings . If you are going to continue to play, please consider softening up your stringbed. TC A 105 great, stick. You can also they Angells Halo string, it is a polyamide (non-copoly) - very arm friendly. Paul is coming out with a Halo 2, which will be a coploy and I have not heard the stiffness. But knowing them, it be a fairly soft copoly. But no matter what...it still is a copoly. But on your list isospeed cream (it is only 40%poly). Try it as a hybird or even straight up. You can beat n gut.....best for the arm,,

 

[tennisnut1]

I actually just started experimenting with the hybrid setup this season. Had some nice experience with the lux alu power rough with biophase. I had 3 rackets so I also got the lux element with biophase, but didn't play as nice as the alu power rough. Since I've had arm problems for the last 2 years which started right after I switched to the head instinct mp 100, I stopped with the poly hybrid stuff. I also should be golden once I get my new Angell TC 105 in a few days, can't wait !!!

 

[tennisnut1]

Hi CopolyX - I had the multi biophase in the mains with lux in the crosses, that actually worked out real good. But like you said, in the end the poly's are just to stiff/harsh for a 62 yr old arm, hehe. I dropped my tension from 60 down to 57 over the years. It's hard for me to get used to the low tensions. Since the TC 105 is larger than my old 100, I went with 58 lbs with Wilson gut. Just have to wait and see !!

 

[kiteboard]

I'm sixty. Po.ly/poly hybrids, don't hurt my arm, much.

 

[tennisnut1]

You are lucky, I think I might have been OK, but when I switched to the head instinct mp my tennis elbow started a month later. So at this point I'm pretty much toast until I get it healed. Looking forward to the foam filled Angel TC 105 with gut, strung at 58

 

[steve s]

Think I would pass on polys, and enjoy the hunt.

 

[tennisnut1]

Yes, I agree, I don't hit the ball 200 mph so no need for the poly's for me.

 

[kiteboard]

Get a green flex theraband bar.

 

[gvsbdisco]

Welcome folks. I'm 62, been playing for 50 years and have been ranked in the state and nationally over the years in age and ntrp levels. I'm an old school player, grew up when they taught percentage tennis and I have the strokes and precision to compete well against the field. I don't have the modern game, but if I did, my arm would have fallen off by now, hehe. My game focuses on feel and have used soft strings over the years. I am not a string breaker and my strings can last a year easy. I have been a fan of technifibre for 20 years and progressed up to their biophase, which is an amazing string. I recently tried some hybrid setups with multi in the mains and lux in the crosses. It was a nice change, let me hit harder and enjoyed it. Since I've had arm issues the last 2 years, I've decided to try gut this time around and waiting for my new Angel TC 105. With so many strings out there today, it's crazy trying to pick one. I rely on feel and touch and don't crush the ball, so I can stay away from the poly's. I've lowered my tension a bit over the years from 60 lbs, and that seems to be a good move. Appreciate any feedback from the group, thx !!!

Two strings that might be worth a try that are soft and have a bit of texture are:

- Head Rip Control
- the new Gamma Ocho XP (never tried it myself but it is a textured multi....recently play tested by TW community....there is a thread on it at the top of the "strings". Section of the boards

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk

 

[tennisnut1]

Get a green flex theraband bar.

Funny you should say that, I actually ordered one earlier in the year. I have to say it did help quite a bit, really amazing. I did hurt my wrist using it during the loading stage, was a bit too aggressive maximizing the twist. It really isolates the area of your arm that needs stretching, I also told several of my tennis friends about it who also had tennis elbow pain.

 

[tennisnut1]

Two strings that might be worth a try that are soft and have a bit of texture are:

- Head Rip Control
- the new Gamma Ocho XP (never tried it myself but it is a textured multi....recently play tested by TW community....there is a thread on it at the top of the "strings". Section of the boards

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk

Yes, the gamma ocho does look interesting. I actually used gamma strings for a long time early in my game. Gamma blue star was so cool and ahead of its time. Gamma rough was a killer string for me back in the day, then gamma TNT until gamma livewire came out. That was the only one I didn't like so much. I guess that is when I discovered technifibre and NRG2, which was magical for me. Biophase simply blew that string out of the water, and have used that for about 10 years I guess. Plays so much like gut without the cost. I'm going back to gut in my new Angel TC 105 which should arrive today or tomorrow, so that could change everything. Appreciate your comments, thx

 

[JetFlyr]

I'm only 45, but I suffered from Golfer's elbow for a year and here's what I've learned:

-Theraband exercises are great! My elbow has completely healed, but I still use the Theraband to loosen things up before I start my warmup.

-The racquet is far more of a contributor to elbow issues than the string. After I started having pain, I completely stopped with the poly and started using softer strings at lower tension. This helped some, but I still had some nagging pain. Eventually, I went back to a more flexible frame (Original Pro Staff 95). The pain went away completely. Now, I'm back to 19g polys at 58# in the Pro Staff with no pain and I'm hitting the ball as hard as I can (for my age).

-Shockwave therapy is awesome. Ask a physical therapist about it. The key is NOT to use anti-inflammatories during the six weeks you're on the regimen. Your body needs the inflammation produced by the shockwaves to promote the healing process.

Good luck. If you truly have classic strokes, I can't imagine the poly string being the problem. I would definitely focus more on the racquet and get one with a low stiffness number. Pro Kennex 5g comes to mind and some of the Volkls are known to be good candidates.

 

[tennisnut1]

I'm only 45, but I suffered from Golfer's elbow for a year and here's what I've learned:

-Theraband exercises are great! My elbow has completely healed, but I still use the Theraband to loosen things up before I start my warmup.

-The racquet is far more of a contributor to elbow issues than the string. After I started having pain, I completely stopped with the poly and started using softer strings at lower tension. This helped some, but I still had some nagging pain. Eventually, I went back to a more flexible frame (Original Pro Staff 95). The pain went away completely. Now, I'm back to 19g polys at 58# in the Pro Staff with no pain and I'm hitting the ball as hard as I can (for my age).

-Shockwave therapy is awesome. Ask a physical therapist about it. The key is NOT to use anti-inflammatories during the six weeks you're on the regimen. Your body needs the inflammation produced by the shockwaves to promote the healing process.

Good luck. If you truly have classic strokes, I can't imagine the poly string being the problem. I would definitely focus more on the racquet and get one with a low stiffness number. Pro Kennex 5g comes to mind and some of the Volkls are known to be good candidates.

Great post. I totally agree with you. My arm issues started one month after I switched from my Volkl to the head instinct mp. It was terrible because I never had tennis elbow issues in my whole life. After suffering for 2 years and playing thru the pain, I knew I need to switch rackets. After a ton of research, the constant which came up was Angell rackets due to their foam core. I was pleased after hitting with the demo over 3 days and pulled the trigger, should arrive in a day or two and strung with gut. So good-bye tennis elbow, good riddens !!!

 

[Frankc]

Yes, frame is everything... let us know. Mid-sixties here, age not string tension, and a few supposedly "soft" new age frames had my wrist and should really tender. Switched to a vintage composite and "poof" all tenderness gone in two weeks. Old school flat game here - love to vary the speed and angles - settled on an almost modern 97" frame with 62 flex or so...I still like that firmish stringbed for feel and straight line control. For me, the multis lose that firmishness pretty quickly... the new natural guts are too stiff in a smaller frame... Like a very tight tight multi fullbed or a Hybrid of firm syn gut mains(Alpha Hardcourt) and a firm multi cross(Dunlop Sylk) - fairly tight in a 16X20 frame.
I agree, the frame is everything for the flatline, more neutral grip game - enjoy the search. You are right, you will need a different approach to strings. Good old "feel." The new framed design and string patterns, imho, are not a great fit for "feel" and old school straight line play.

 

[tennisnut1]

Yes, frame is everything... let us know. Mid-sixties here, age not string tension, and a few supposedly "soft" new age frames had my wrist and should really tender. Switched to a vintage composite and "poof" all tenderness gone in two weeks. Old school flat game here - love to vary the speed and angles - settled on an almost modern 97" frame with 62 flex or so...I still like that firmish stringbed for feel and straight line control. For me, the multis lose that firmishness pretty quickly... the new natural guts are too stiff in a smaller frame... Like a very tight tight multi fullbed or a Hybrid of firm syn gut mains(Alpha Hardcourt) and a firm multi cross(Dunlop Sylk) - fairly tight in a 16X20 frame.
I agree, the frame is everything for the flatline, more neutral grip game - enjoy the search. You are right, you will need a different approach to strings. Good old "feel." The new framed design and string patterns, imho, are not a great fit for "feel" and old school straight line play.

Great post, thx for sharing. Where do you live? Sounds like we could have a good match together. I used a volkl catapult for over 10 years and just needed to upgrade the stick. It was a 24mm straight beam, back then most of the sticks were all straight beam and then the tapered beam took everything over. Still pretty much that way today. I had great control but no power from the volkl. Tried new ones but they had even less power. Since I don't generate alot of pace on my own, I needed to find a more powerful racket that works with compact strokes like mine. Took forever to find something I liked, demoed tons of rackets but couldn't find anything better. Tried hard to like Babalot, but didn't feel right. I'm hoping the natural gut will add some more power to my game and keep the feel factor alive.

 

[Frankc]

Thanks - good thread for straight-line players. To join you on your courts, I'd need to rent a porsche and drive SW for a good long day's drive - cold up here. I've tried many new frames and, imho, there is no doubt that they are made differently, or different materials. I currently enjoy a frame made in 2000 or so - just feels softer and you can hit straight-line aggressively and the precision and feel are there. Hard to describe - but very different feel. Loads of controllable power - yet you can also feather a slice or hardline a real flattened out slice. And flat volleys... gorgeous! Soft, slice lobs...I know that you know all that feel. The older frames, imho, just do all that better. And like you said, the right feel - you know it when you have it in your hands. Gut might really matter for the power that you want. I find the new guts pretty stiff - a lot of plastic. Just me, I found a modern thin gut with a very soft syngut cross worked. Can be tough to play the flat game with today's frames for this old school player. And that is fine with me...

 

[tennisnut1]

Thanks - good thread for straight-line players. To join you on your courts, I'd need to rent a porsche and drive SW for a good long day's drive - cold up here. I've tried many new frames and, imho, there is no doubt that they are made differently, or different materials. I currently enjoy a frame made in 2000 or so - just feels softer and you can hit straight-line aggressively and the precision and feel are there. Hard to describe - but very different feel. Loads of controllable power - yet you can also feather a slice or hardline a real flattened out slice. And flat volleys... gorgeous! Soft, slice lobs...I know that you know all that feel. The older frames, imho, just do all that better. And like you said, the right feel - you know it when you have it in your hands. Gut might really matter for the power that you want. I find the new guts pretty stiff - a lot of plastic. Just me, I found a modern thin gut with a very soft syngut cross worked. Can be tough to play the flat game with today's frames for this old school player. And that is fine with me...

So what is the name of the frame you are using? Is it a straight beam? Back then most of them were I think. My experience that my volkl catapult was keeping me from creating better shot making. And I was right because when I switched I was able to hit these awesome forehand sharp angle cross court winners, just couldn't do that with my old racket. Have you ever heard of the Angell rackets? There is a post dedicated to it in the racket forum. I think the TC 105 could be a great racket for you as well. One of the older frames from my past was a yonnex rdX (not sure which one), but it had some Kevlar in it and made the racket play magical. Played so soft and the feel was amazing, nothing like it on the market at the time. What level player are you? I've competed at 4.5 and currently at 4.0. Of course the players I come across in the tournaments are all like 5.0's. So much sand-bagging in this sport.

 

[junior74]

Three arm-friendly strings that have great feel and very good all-round quality:
Wilson NXT Control
Babolat Origin
Pro Supex Maxim Touch

 

[tennisnut1]

Three arm-friendly strings that have great feel and very good all-round quality:
Wilson NXT Control
Babolat Origin
Pro Supex Maxim Touch

Have you played with any of the technifibre multi strings?

 

[Zavist]

Have you played with any of the technifibre multi strings?

Yes NRG2 and HDX Tour and Biphase. I've also hit with both Ocho's and NXT. Right now I have Luxilon Element in 2 of my Pure Aero's and I love it. Been hitting it since the first of August, so far it's everything I want in a string.

 

[tennisnut1]

Yes NRG2 and HDX Tour and Biphase. I've also hit with both Ocho's and NXT. Right now I have Luxilon Element in 2 of my Pure Aero's and I love it. Been hitting it since the first of August, so far it's everything I want in a string.

It's all about finding that magical feeling and building confidence. Up to this season, I always used a full bed of biophase. I tried to experiment with the hypbrid setup and put in 2 of my rackets, biohpase in the mains and lux power rough in the crosses and the other one with the new lux element. I found the poly to allow me to hit the more aggressive shots and keep the ball in. However, the element was just not powerful enough. But it felt like an awesome poly, very soft overall so I can see why you like it.

 

[Zavist]

I found it by luck I guess. One of the Pro's where I play wanted me to hit with a Blade 98 because I kept going back and forth between my Aero and my Pro Staff 97LS. The Blade had Element in it and I kept hitting with it and liking it. The Blade got loaned out so I missed hitting with it I decided to put Element in the Aero and loved it. I kept getting so strong with the combo that my Pro made me promise to stick with it.

 

[tennisnut1]

I found it by luck I guess. One of the Pro's where I play wanted me to hit with a Blade 98 because I kept going back and forth between my Aero and my Pro Staff 97LS. The Blade had Element in it and I kept hitting with it and liking it. The Blade got loaned out so I missed hitting with it I decided to put Element in the Aero and loved it. I kept getting so strong with the combo that my Pro made me promise to stick with it.

Wow, cool story !! The lux element just came out a little while ago. I really an unusual feel for poly, nice and soft. It also did not notch on my multi's the way lux power rough did. I tried so hard to like something in the babalot line but just couldn't find anything that felt as good as my current racket. My new Angell TC 105 should show up at my door today, have a big tourney match tonight !!!

 

[tennisnut1]

My experiment with a full bed of natural gut did not go well. I've played 3 times now and just cannot tame this beast. Spraying shots all over the place. So I'll cut it out and go back to the biophase in the mains and lux power rough in the crosses. That setup played magical, guess I shouldn't have messed with a good thing. The multi does notch and will break after a couple of months, but I think it's worth it in the end.

 

[speedysteve]

My experiment with a full bed of natural gut did not go well. I've played 3 times now and just cannot tame this beast. Spraying shots all over the place. So I'll cut it out and go back to the biophase in the mains and lux power rough in the crosses. That setup played magical, guess I shouldn't have messed with a good thing. The multi does notch and will break after a couple of months, but I think it's worth it in the end.

It does take some taming and I guess is not for everyone.
I played in damp conditions today with my synth gut strung frame and it was great. I have some extra lead at 12 o'clock to account for the fact nylon is lighter than nat gut. I have some lead at 3 & 9 too. Allows me to hit back more powerful players shots better.
Played nicely. When it had dried I went back to the nat gut and enjoyed that no problem.
Nat gut is quite a bit heavier than synth strings esp full bed of course, could that be playing in for you?

 

[tennisnut1]

The gut just had this completely different feel, very "springy", not muted like my multis. Even with a long vibrasorb, I just couldn't deaden the feel of the ball. I'm going to replace it next season in any case. I still have 3 other rackets to use.

 

[speedysteve]

Hmm, could try upping the tension, I use Pacific guts now, I found the Babolat Team VS stuff felt pretty hard compared. That might be an option for you.

I liked some of the multis I tried, esp. Head rip control.
Does not last that long though
My Pacific classis gut is fraying up but still feels great and is keeping tension feel wise and according to racquet tune. I like that about Nat gut.

 

[tennisnut1]

Hmm, could try upping the tension, I use Pacific guts now, I found the Babolat Team VS stuff felt pretty hard compared. That might be an option for you.

I liked some of the multis I tried, esp. Head rip control.
Does not last that long though
My Pacific classis gut is fraying up but still feels great and is keeping tension feel wise and according to racquet tune. I like that about Nat gut.

Well, I strung it at 58 lbs which is pretty high. It was a $40 mistake.

 

[comeback]

Well, I strung it at 58 lbs which is pretty high. It was a $40 mistake.

The NG also adds extra weight to the head..which also hurts control

 

[tennisnut1]

The NG also adds extra weight to the head..which also hurts control

I never would have thought that, but a couple of folks have said the same thing. What threw me was the springy trampoline feeling, was not prepared for that at all. I just need to go back to the hybrid setup and if arm issues continue, use a full bed of biophase, which is what is was using for 10 years before I experimented with the hybrid setup. Great feedback all !!!

 

[drak]

simply loving the a Kevlar/Monogut zx hybrid in my 98S, this is using 64lbs mains and 45lbs crosses. The spin frame makes this racket arm friendly as does the tension differential. I am 60 yrs young and rated 4.5. The spin and control on this combo is fantastic for me

 

[tennisnut1]

simply loving the a Kevlar/Monogut zx hybrid in my 98S, this is using 64lbs mains and 45lbs crosses. The spin frame makes this racket arm friendly as does the tension differential. I am 60 yrs young and rated 4.5. The spin and control on this combo is fantastic for me

Wow, that seems so unusual, 64/45 ? The Kevlar is super firm and great for big hitters and string breakers. I don't have those kind of strokes so I can use the mult's

 

[comeback]

I never would have thought that, but a couple of folks have said the same thing. What threw me was the springy trampoline feeling, was not prepared for that at all. I just need to go back to the hybrid setup and if arm issues continue, use a full bed of biophase, which is what is was using for 10 years before I experimented with the hybrid setup. Great feedback all !!!

I didn't read closely enough that you had a full bed of NG..Maybe try a NG hybrid first

 

[tennisnut1]

I didn't read closely enough that you had a full bed of NG..Maybe try a NG hybrid first

I guess I don't want to spend the money for natural gut after my negative experience. I was really fine before, I just bought a new Angell TC 105 racket so I thought I would splurge and maybe find the holy grail. My bad, oh well.

 

[comeback]

I guess I don't want to spend the money for natural gut after my negative experience. I was really fine before, I just bought a new Angell TC 105 racket so I thought I would splurge and maybe find the holy grail. My bad, oh well.

you can reuse that gut in the mains, it's probably still good..Just leave out the last string so you have enough.. and use your biophase as a cross

 

[esgee48]

tennisnut1: Try putting a whole pack of string savers in the frame with NG. That may deaden the bed, but YMMV.

 

[tennisnut1]

Picked up the new string job yesterday, replaced the gut with biophase in the mains and lux power rough in the crosses. Feels amazing, a bit still but after a few more matches should settle in. Racket weighed in at 11.1 oz strung, a bit heavier than I prefer, hope I get used to it. It really feels massive. Got another tournament in October, looking forward to that one. I have the #2 ranking in Alabama locked up at ntrp 4.0 with 1200 ranking points, not enough events left for players to catch me. When I lived in Atlanta, GA, we had tournaments every single weekend, Birmingham has only a few, pretty lame. At least I live next door to a great clay court tennis club, so I get to play all the time.

 

[drak]

Wow, that seems so unusual, 64/45 ? The Kevlar is super firm and great for big hitters and string breakers. I don't have those kind of strokes so I can use the mult's

I still like to hit hard with top and slice and this allows me to generate a lot of racket head speed with excellent control/spin, it lasts well and importantly plays well for the duration

 

[LeeD]

No matter what string you play with, try lowering the tension a LOT, like 20 lbs. to start.
I get the chance to hit with several former A/Open level player's, guys who were 5.5+ when they were in their 20's, but now aged to close to 70. I"m 67, a B player back then, or 4.5, so never played against them in their prime...or mine.
Every single one of them lowers their string tension by at least 20 lbs., and every single one of them uses a bigger racket NOW.
Most use some kind of cheap nylon, at around 42 lbs, plus or minus depending on racket size and need of the day.
The few who choose poly string it at the high 20's, or low 30's and get the benefit of increased ball bite, durability, and consistent control with super low tensions.
ONE former A/Open (NorCal) player uses 60 lbs. on his Babalot 107 Lite, but he used to use wood racket's at that tension, and wood was around 67 sq in, and he uses 18 guage now.
Easy power is what you're looking for, and not give up on maximum serve speeds, which have dropped by over 25 mph.

 

[tennisnut1]

No matter what string you play with, try lowering the tension a LOT, like 20 lbs. to start.
I get the chance to hit with several former A/Open level player's, guys who were 5.5+ when they were in their 20's, but now aged to close to 70. I"m 67, a B player back then, or 4.5, so never played against them in their prime...or mine.
Every single one of them lowers their string tension by at least 20 lbs., and every single one of them uses a bigger racket NOW.
Most use some kind of cheap nylon, at around 42 lbs, plus or minus depending on racket size and need of the day.
The few who choose poly string it at the high 20's, or low 30's and get the benefit of increased ball bite, durability, and consistent control with super low tensions.
ONE former A/Open (NorCal) player uses 60 lbs. on his Babalot 107 Lite, but he used to use wood racket's at that tension, and wood was around 67 sq in, and he uses 18 guage now.
Easy power is what you're looking for, and not give up on maximum serve speeds, which have dropped by over 25 mph.

Wow, I can't imagine playing with strings so low in tension. I used to string at 60-62 and have moved down to 58-56. Just don't have the control otherwise. Tried the hybrids this year for the first time in 20 years and think it does give me a bit more fire power pulling the trigger.

 

[LeeD]

ALL those guys including me used to string at around 62 lbs. in our Head Pros, Yonex OPS 850's, Dunlop Max Ply's, or Wilson Pro Staff, Stan Smith, or Kramers.
We all kept the same tension when carbon and fiberglass frames arrived, but around 2010, polyester strings came popular, and we noticed Leyton Hewitt stringing at 38 lbs. WHY would he do that? Some Euros also, well under 40 lbs., and hitting as hard as ATP PROS hit, without misshits even.
Should be consult the internet?
Of course not, we tried it ourselves! Low tensions work just fine if you hit through the ball. Talking sub 40's. Even Fed, Nadal, and DJ was using around 50 lbs., and they mostly use gut strings. That's TEN pounds under what we used to use with 67 sq in rackets, same strings. When you increase racket size by 25 sq inche's, the common thought is to UP the tension to keep the same feel, yet they LOWERED their string tensions.
I've been using 35 lbs SolincoTourBite16 on 7 of my racket's for the past 3 years. I can hit 100 mph flat serves, and maybe 75 mph forehands, and a low 4.0. I hit and play against several ex USTA NorCal OPEN level player's, all now around my age, 67, and they seem to be using the same tensions, arrived at separately. They play and win at age group tournies, which translates to around top of the 4.0 range.
Of course, if you're a kid swiping at the ball with an exaggerated low to high motion, just brushing up the back, it doesn't work. It rolls and double hits.
Seeing you're 62, you probably don't swing nearly as hard as you did when you were 20, just like all those guys I"m talking about, and myself.

 

[tennisnut1]

ALL those guys including me used to string at around 62 lbs. in our Head Pros, Yonex OPS 850's, Dunlop Max Ply's, or Wilson Pro Staff, Stan Smith, or Kramers.
We all kept the same tension when carbon and fiberglass frames arrived, but around 2010, polyester strings came popular, and we noticed Leyton Hewitt stringing at 38 lbs. WHY would he do that? Some Euros also, well under 40 lbs., and hitting as hard as ATP PROS hit, without misshits even.
Should be consult the internet?
Of course not, we tried it ourselves! Low tensions work just fine if you hit through the ball. Talking sub 40's. Even Fed, Nadal, and DJ was using around 50 lbs., and they mostly use gut strings. That's TEN pounds under what we used to use with 67 sq in rackets, same strings. When you increase racket size by 25 sq inche's, the common thought is to UP the tension to keep the same feel, yet they LOWERED their string tensions.
I've been using 35 lbs SolincoTourBite16 on 7 of my racket's for the past 3 years. I can hit 100 mph flat serves, and maybe 75 mph forehands, and a low 4.0. I hit and play against several ex USTA NorCal OPEN level player's, all now around my age, 67, and they seem to be using the same tensions, arrived at separately. They play and win at age group tournies, which translates to around top of the 4.0 range.
Of course, if you're a kid swiping at the ball with an exaggerated low to high motion, just brushing up the back, it doesn't work. It rolls and double hits.
Seeing you're 62, you probably don't swing nearly as hard as you did when you were 20, just like all those guys I"m talking about, and myself.

Great post and insight. Since I am not a big hitter, very short and compact strokes, I need the control feeling produced by tighter stings. But the trend is for sure going in your direction.

 

[kiteboard]

ALL those guys including me used to string at around 62 lbs. in our Head Pros, Yonex OPS 850's, Dunlop Max Ply's, or Wilson Pro Staff, Stan Smith, or Kramers.
We all kept the same tension when carbon and fiberglass frames arrived, but around 2010, polyester strings came popular, and we noticed Leyton Hewitt stringing at 38 lbs. WHY would he do that? Some Euros also, well under 40 lbs., and hitting as hard as ATP PROS hit, without misshits even.
Should be consult the internet?
Of course not, we tried it ourselves! Low tensions work just fine if you hit through the ball. Talking sub 40's. Even Fed, Nadal, and DJ was using around 50 lbs., and they mostly use gut strings. That's TEN pounds under what we used to use with 67 sq in rackets, same strings. When you increase racket size by 25 sq inche's, the common thought is to UP the tension to keep the same feel, yet they LOWERED their string tensions.
I've been using 35 lbs SolincoTourBite16 on 7 of my racket's for the past 3 years. I can hit 100 mph flat serves, and maybe 75 mph forehands, and a low 4.0. I hit and play against several ex USTA NorCal OPEN level player's, all now around my age, 67, and they seem to be using the same tensions, arrived at separately. They play and win at age group tournies, which translates to around top of the 4.0 range.
Of course, if you're a kid swiping at the ball with an exaggerated low to high motion, just brushing up the back, it doesn't work. It rolls and double hits.
Seeing you're 62, you probably don't swing nearly as hard as you did when you were 20, just like all those guys I"m talking about, and myself.

Djokovic strings at 61/59 and fed raised his tension when he went up to the 97 sq. in. frame. He was at 48/46 with the smaller frame and now he's in the high 50s: 57 -59. The reason why Raonic and Sock can't beat those guys is that they string too low: 42/44, and can't hang in the longer rallies and miss returns under pressure: too loose to control. Nadal is at 54/52. Murray at 62/60. You do the math. Seems like you don't know what you are talking about re: top pro tensions.

 

[LeeD]

Djokovic strings at 61/59 and fed raised his tension when he went up to the 97 sq. in. frame. He was at 48/46 with the smaller frame and now he's in the high 50s: 57 -59. The reason why Raonic and Sock can't beat those guys is that they string too low: 42/44, and can't hang in the longer rallies and miss returns under pressure: too loose to control. Nadal is at 54/52. Murray at 62/60. You do the math. Seems like you don't know what you are talking about re: top pro tensions.

I'd consider the reason Sock and Raonic can't hang with the top 3 is not at all related to string tension, but to myraids of other things.