socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Off the court, my gear matters
Stop saying that gear doesn't matter
- Thread starter lucky44
- Start date
I reckon it's a very personal thing. It matters to me but I know a couple of really good players who just get their rackets strung with whatever poly the coach has in stock and they play until it breaks. A lot of the young kids at our centre do this and it doesn't seem to affect their games at all
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
Why don't we just play an RF 97 with 57-59 lb gut mains and 54-56 lb alu rough crosses like Federer then?
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Because the tension drops off precipitously after 20 minutes so it becomes an uncontrollable trampoline, and we are too cheap to change to fresh racquet with fresh strings after 7 games and every 9 thereafter.
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
I just want something that can play great in inferior conditions like things do in good conditions. For example my 50 lb desert bronze 4G v14 PS 97 played amazing the other day in midday lively hot sunny conditions so much perfect sweet floaty spin, generous sweetspot/pocketing, great control etc. but today exact same thing around 6 pm sun going down played like crap it becomes so unforgiving extremely hard to get good shots going, completely lacks the sweet floaty spin and great forgiving ball response from before etc. I freaking hate this about tennis!!!!!!!
BenC
Hall of Fame
get another PS 97 strung 1 lb lower?
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
I wish it was that simple, same thing generally happens to all racquet/string setups although I have had some rare great night time experiences for some reason
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Try prestretched kevlar/poly instead of full poly. It feels more similar at different tensions because the kevlar slides along the poly regardless of temp.
Aestheticsaboveallelse
Legend
I will have to take master travler's advice I am desperate, if this works I will force you to accept me as your apprentice then go become world champ and make us both filthy rich. And ur gonna like it.
Does Ashaway kevlar come prestretched or would I have to find a stringer who does that? Do most tennis center stringers do prestretching? Does the poly also have to be prestretched? Would it still work if neither is prestretched?
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Ashaway does not come prestretched.
Most stringers do not know how to prestretch properly.
Poly should also be prestretched.
All strings still work without prestretching, but the playability remains high for 10x as long if you prestretch.
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
Do you suppose Medvedev is paid by his sponsors to say things like that? Reminds me of how Tiger Woods used to say how much he loved his Buick.
jmacdaununder2
Legend
It is possible to prestretch by hand if you’re very good at judging the relative string length, but unless your stringer is guru level they really should use a machine with a prestretch function.
