marc tressard
Rookie
Thesis: It is well-nigh impossible for the recreational tennis player to make any kind of informed decisions when considering string or tension.
Immersing oneself on the net for guidance on gear is useless, though often a harmless diversion. Some sites feature so-called playtester feedback reports. There is reason to suspect that some of this originates from ego driven expert wannabes or hackers who can talk the talk to indulge their goal of attaining “gear gurus” status. So you wouldn’t know if the advice comes from a 5.5 ex-Satellite player or from a 17 year old 3.0 equipment freak with some writing skill.
Some “playtesters” are only speculating about some new mono they’re educating readers about. Whatever string brand or construction you are considering, you’ll find someone assuring you that a hot poly is the most significant development since “mono”theism, while another internet journalist assures you that it is unplayable. Note how these guys are always cutting out new string that’s been found wanting? Some also advise you how string “goes bad” in 8 or 10 or 15…hours of play…”It went bad after 3 sets and I just cut it out.” Really? String loses initial tension; it does NOT go bad, lose resiliency or molecular cohesion. “When stringing this poly at 55 lbs I just couldn’t control the power! Really? How then do the 40% of 7.0’s on tour who string at that or lower tension control the power?
Tension? A review of tensions used on tour reveals that there is absolutely no agreement on what is correct tension for any type of play or any racquet. A major string mfr. recommends: “…take the tension of your favorite player and reduce it by 2 lb for every difference in ranking level between you and your favorite player. Remember that ranking levels go in steps of 0.5. So, if you are a 4.0 player and your favorite player (7.0)is Mr./Ms. X who uses Luxilon Big Banger at 58 lbs, string your racquet at 58 – (6 x 2) = 46 lb.
Remember: Pros restring all their rackets for each match so that tension loss is no factor. The overwhelming preponderance of recreational players, however, restring once a year or maybe a few times each year when a string breaks or is badly frayed. Most tension loss occurs during the first 48 hours where on average 8% to 15% of the starting tension is lost. So 57 lbs. for a recreational player usually means playing with 50 lbs. most of the time. Polys should be strung at 10% lower tension not at the arm ravaging 60- 65 lbs we some self-proclaimed experts advising. True, many U.S. players of note string even “poly” mono at high tensions, certainly much higher than do most Europeans. But you are not Andy Roddick or James Blake!
Immersing oneself on the net for guidance on gear is useless, though often a harmless diversion. Some sites feature so-called playtester feedback reports. There is reason to suspect that some of this originates from ego driven expert wannabes or hackers who can talk the talk to indulge their goal of attaining “gear gurus” status. So you wouldn’t know if the advice comes from a 5.5 ex-Satellite player or from a 17 year old 3.0 equipment freak with some writing skill.
Some “playtesters” are only speculating about some new mono they’re educating readers about. Whatever string brand or construction you are considering, you’ll find someone assuring you that a hot poly is the most significant development since “mono”theism, while another internet journalist assures you that it is unplayable. Note how these guys are always cutting out new string that’s been found wanting? Some also advise you how string “goes bad” in 8 or 10 or 15…hours of play…”It went bad after 3 sets and I just cut it out.” Really? String loses initial tension; it does NOT go bad, lose resiliency or molecular cohesion. “When stringing this poly at 55 lbs I just couldn’t control the power! Really? How then do the 40% of 7.0’s on tour who string at that or lower tension control the power?
Tension? A review of tensions used on tour reveals that there is absolutely no agreement on what is correct tension for any type of play or any racquet. A major string mfr. recommends: “…take the tension of your favorite player and reduce it by 2 lb for every difference in ranking level between you and your favorite player. Remember that ranking levels go in steps of 0.5. So, if you are a 4.0 player and your favorite player (7.0)is Mr./Ms. X who uses Luxilon Big Banger at 58 lbs, string your racquet at 58 – (6 x 2) = 46 lb.
Remember: Pros restring all their rackets for each match so that tension loss is no factor. The overwhelming preponderance of recreational players, however, restring once a year or maybe a few times each year when a string breaks or is badly frayed. Most tension loss occurs during the first 48 hours where on average 8% to 15% of the starting tension is lost. So 57 lbs. for a recreational player usually means playing with 50 lbs. most of the time. Polys should be strung at 10% lower tension not at the arm ravaging 60- 65 lbs we some self-proclaimed experts advising. True, many U.S. players of note string even “poly” mono at high tensions, certainly much higher than do most Europeans. But you are not Andy Roddick or James Blake!
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