Spin

[Shroud]

Which combo produces the most?

I have heard full poly, gut/ poly, and kevlar/ zx with some tension differential.

Also can a "locked" stringbed produce great spin? I have used strings that "BITE" like Ashaway Blue Dynamite and they seem to just grab the ball more than round poly.

So what the winning combo or is it really in the mechnics and strings really wont make a difference?

 

[corners]

Which combo produces the most?

I have heard full poly, gut/ poly, and kevlar/ zx with some tension differential.

Also can a "locked" stringbed produce great spin? I have used strings that "BITE" like Ashaway Blue Dynamite and they seem to just grab the ball more than round poly.

So what the winning combo or is it really in the mechnics and strings really wont make a difference?

Locked strings can spin the ball great, but about 30% less than the most spin-friendly setups. As far as which string or hybrid provides the most, you'll get lots of opinions that contradict. If you want the straight dope, I would look at section 2B-4 in this paper from TW University. This study was set up to most realistically replicate real world conditions and features the greatest variety and number of patterns and strings, including a "faux spaghetti" for comparison purposes. The only really crucial thing the study lacks, in my opinion, is a gut/poly setup. There is still no objective evidence on whether gut/poly is better or worse at spinning the ball than full poly.

All the graphs in that section (spin, rebound angle, ACOR, total kinetic energy, etc.) represent the best objective info we have on how different string types and patterns compare with each other.

 

[Shroud]

Thanks Corners.

I had read that many times. Honestly I find it really confusing.

How is anyone supposed to use that to make a choice on strings?

From looking at it it seems like the Gosen Polylon 16 is the best spin setup for a non spin racket or spaghetti pattern. But I dont know for sure.

Those things always read like "we did a bunch of testing, made some pretty graphs, hedged our bets, and are no closer to an answer".

Is the Polylon 16 the one with the most spin out of what they tested (besides the gut/ poly that was excluded?)

 

[KaiserW]

Have never tried full poly but I have used gut/poly two sessions now and I am getting crazy amounts of spin. The only issue I am having is trying to control the power. I find that it is much easier to launch a ball with this setup vs my old setup of full syn gut. If I can cut down on launching balls it will be my new setup.

 

[SpinToWin]

it depends on your stroke style Shroud.

Some people will produce more spin with a string that grabs the ball well and others will produce more spin with a string that snaps back well. It's all about the player, there is no magical "best" setup.

 

[travlerajm]

I've tried just about every combination of strings out there.

If maximizing rpm is your goal, the spinniest string combo is kevlar mains with superslick dent-resistant poly (like Prince Tournament Poly) with large tension differential between mains and crosses. Nothing else comes even close.

I stumbled into this inadvertenetly a few years ago. When I strung up my shortened, leaded-up and flexible POG LB with kevlar 16 mains and Prince Tournament Poly in the mid 50's, and then broke in the strings until the poly tension was much lower than the kevlar, this was the result:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=279680

This was before I started pre-stretching strings. I didn't realize then that i was effectively ending up with a 20-lb tension differential after break-in because the poly loses so much more tension than the kevlar.

It was like hitting with spaghetti strings. But cartoonish spin has it's drawbacks if it comes with a long dwell time and high launch angle.

My current setup doesn't give as much spin as that (because it's much tighter), but I prefer a crisper feel for better directional accuracy and control.

 

[torpantennis]

Got some crazy spin with monogut zx mains/ALU cross hybrid. The setup was feeling kinda springy in a way, with zx mains aggressively snapping back to produce spin. But something was wrong with the setup, my arms couldn't tolerate it, and after just couple of hours I went back to my mylti/poly hybrid. Curiously enough, I have no arm problems with full poly.

 

[Shroud]

Thanks everyone for trying to help.

I appreciate the advice.

Will try some of the mentioned combos.

Though perhaps I am silly to try to get spin in a 16/20 racket?

All the spin rackets will have more for sure according to the link corners offered.

Currently using VS gut 16/ Weiss Cannon Mosquito bite (18g) at 55/50. Its great though I dont think it is all that spinny.

You you need a thicker poly for the crosses?

 

[danotje]

My PK 7G is 16x20, and it produces great spin--enough to make opponents remark about it.

 

[SpinToWin]

Thanks everyone for trying to help.

I appreciate the advice.

Will try some of the mentioned combos.

Though perhaps I am silly to try to get spin in a 16/20 racket?

All the spin rackets will have more for sure according to the link corners offered.

Currently using VS gut 16/ Weiss Cannon Mosquito bite (18g) at 55/50. Its great though I dont think it is all that spinny.

You you need a thicker poly for the crosses?

No, you're not silly Shroud. Try raising the differential in tension between mains and crosses next time (mains higher and crosses lower). This should improve string movement and spin.

I personally believe that thicker (stiffer) strings do work better as crosses in a gut/poly setup, the reason being that they can be strung lower without making the stringbed mushy. Lower tension leads to a higher launch angle and more spin as you adjust to this (as you have observed in a previous thread of yours).

However, this goes hand in hand with a decrease in directional control (IMO), so you'll have to find the right balance for yourself.

The question really should be if you need more spin and how much spin you actually need. Too much spin is a disadvantage, as it leads to sitters in the middle of the court and an inability to play a flat/penetrating shot.

 

[Shroud]

No, you're not silly Shroud. Try raising the differential in tension between mains and crosses next time (mains higher and crosses lower). This should improve string movement and spin.

I personally believe that thicker (stiffer) strings do work better as crosses in a gut/poly setup, the reason being that they can be strung lower without making the stringbed mushy. Lower tension leads to a higher launch angle and more spin as you adjust to this (as you have observed in a previous thread of yours).

However, this goes hand in hand with a decrease in directional control (IMO), so you'll have to find the right balance for yourself.

The question really should be if you need more spin and how much spin you actually need. Too much spin is a disadvantage, as it leads to sitters in the middle of the court and an inability to play a flat/penetrating shot.

I was really worried about the gut mains being too mushy and me not being happy so I when higher on the crosses. I think I can do more differential this time. We will see.

I get ok spin but I think I could use some more. My slice is wicked and I can get good kick on serves and my backhand is "heavy" they say. But the forehand while having spin just isnt excessive. Probably more technique related than strings but the last time I thought I was getting some more spin was from a "locked" stringbed. My current one definitely has snapback but I dont seem to be getting any more spin than usual. The only comment I have had with the new string bed is about the slice returns being hard to handle.

Oh and I agree about the stiffer thicker strings. The most spin I recall getting was with Beast crosses (15g I think) with kevlar mains but some of that perception was just the higher launch angle.

 

[travlerajm]

I was really worried about the gut mains being too mushy and me not being happy so I when higher on the crosses. I think I can do more differential this time. We will see.

I get ok spin but I think I could use some more. My slice is wicked and I can get good kick on serves and my backhand is "heavy" they say. But the forehand while having spin just isnt excessive. Probably more technique related than strings but the last time I thought I was getting some more spin was from a "locked" stringbed. My current one definitely has snapback but I dont seem to be getting any more spin than usual. The only comment I have had with the new string bed is about the slice returns being hard to handle.

Oh and I agree about the stiffer thicker strings. The most spin I recall getting was with Beast crosses (15g I think) with kevlar mains but some of that perception was just the higher launch angle.

Don't forget, if maximum spin is your goal, then string setup is only half of the equation. The racquet weight distribution is the other half.

You can significantly boost the rpm level of your shots by increasing the dwell time on the strings by by adding weight in a way that reduces the shock at impact.

Adding mass to the butt of your racquet will reduce shock and increase spin potential. For maximum effect, start with a head-heavy hammer-weighted racquet weighing less than 10 ounces and having very little mass in the handle in stock form. Add enough weight at 3 and 9 to make sure you have enough weight on the sides of the hoop to get the swingweight at least into the 340s (or 350s is better). Then concentrate multiple ounces of lead in the butt region of the frame, with placement not exceeding an inch from the end of the racquet (extreme tailweighting) until the weight is up to 12.5 or 13 ounces, and the balance is extremely headlight.

This type of weight distribution will have such long dwell time that a "locked" stringbed with this weighting will provide more spin than a sliding snapback stringbed on a normally balanced racquet. This weighting trick even works on very stiff granny-style racquets that would ordinarily be difficult to generate spin with.

The downside is that it's impossible to hit a flat shot - volleys and blocked returns don't work that well with long dwell time.

 

[Egoista]

its all stroke mechanics