String bed response?

[Racer41c]

So I re-strung the racquet on Friday and played Saturday. The ploy main was a new string to me, the cross string something I know very well. This is the 4th poly hybrid with the same racquet, tension and cross string. Here's the situation:

This string bed is non-linear: Touch shots are impossible to control and place, like a very stiff poly would be. But on full strokes, the power is very high and generates above average spin. So it seems that if I swing hard enough to get the string to flex, it responds with a lot of power, but if I don't the bed is just stiff and it's hard to massage the ball. Anything in-between and it's a total crap shoot.

My question is what string characteristic is this related to?

Stiffness?
Guage?
Tension (56 mains, 58 crosses on a 100sq in frame)?


Or is it something like a combination of stiffness and elasticity? That's my guess but the problem is, no one publishes elasticity.

 

[kiteboard]

Stiff hard polys are not good for touch/volleys, period. Gut is best for that.

 

[Racer41c]

Stiff hard polys are not good for touch/volleys, period. Gut is best for that.

So your answer is just the stiffness rating? I was thinking the same, except it generates tremendous power when I take a fuller swing...

 

[kiteboard]

The stiffer and harder the string is, the more injury it will cause, the less touch, the less connection except at high swing speeds. Touch shots call for lower swing speeds, and volleys as well. The uber hitters don't come to net much. They don't need touch shots often. If you like to come in and volley well, use a gut main with a poly cross for the best of both worlds, although the tension main. of the strings will not be the same, you can restring the crosses once they loosen, and keep the great touch/pow. combo feel.

 

[Keifers]

So I re-strung the racquet on Friday and played Saturday. The ploy main was a new string to me, the cross string something I know very well. This is the 4th poly hybrid with the same racquet, tension and cross string. Here's the situation:

This string bed is non-linear: Touch shots are impossible to control and place, like a very stiff poly would be. But on full strokes, the power is very high and generates above average spin. So it seems that if I swing hard enough to get the string to flex, it responds with a lot of power, but if I don't the bed is just stiff and it's hard to massage the ball. Anything in-between and it's a total crap shoot.

My question is what string characteristic is this related to?

Stiffness?
Guage?
Tension (56 mains, 58 crosses on a 100sq in frame)?


Or is it something like a combination of stiffness and elasticity? That's my guess but the problem is, no one publishes elasticity.

Interesting question. Seems like an issue of dynamic elasticity to me, and, you're right, no one publishes elasticity, let alone dynamic elasticity. (Don't know if TW Professor might have some data, or comments.)

I'm thinking changing to a thinner gauge could help. More than lowering the mains tension. Alternatively, what would you think about lowering crosses tension?

 

[kiteboard]

Most lower it by a few lbs, due to the crosses are shorter in length, which creates a higher pitch/freq. return than the mains, so lowering the tension tends to equal. the bed. Gut has more elasticity than poly, so it has to be strung tighter to prevent long shots.

 

[Keifers]

Would be great to read your assessment of the 4 poly hybrids at some point.

Is your cross a syn, or multi, or ... ?

 

[Racer41c]

Would be great to read your assessment of the 4 poly hybrids at some point.

Is your cross a syn, or multi, or ... ?

Thanks Kiefers, The poly I'm referring to is a new one, and it's a 17g. I thought maybe about dropping tension for the touch shots, but I'd be affraid the ground strokes will be all over the place.

I use a very simple 17g syn gut cross...

 

[Kevo]

Anytime you hybrid, you run the risk of getting a variable dynamic response. In your case, hitting hard probably gives the cross an opportunity to contribute to the hit more by stretching the poly further. Since the poly is stiffer at low speed, the ball is probably only interacting with the poly offering little to no feel for the ball.

This can be dealt with by altering tension on the crosses or mains only to adjust the dynamic response, but it's a game of tradeoffs. With some many good poly choices out there, I find myself hybriding much less these days and simply going with softer more all around capable polys.