hobl4
Rookie
I made a (possibly useless) comparison between different string setups and their effects on drag. I did the calculations in Excel and I set it up so that it could be easily used by anyone to compare any setup, but this forum doesn't allow me to post an image of it, let alone the Excel file.
Some points:
- I calculated the difference in drag in % because I don't think it's useful to calculate the actual value for drag in this case. We can assume every variable in the drag equation to be similar between the setups, except the share of stringbed covered in string (which is what this calculation is based on). We could maybe factor in string skin friction but I couldn't find any values for that.
- Nadal's setup creates a relatively high drag. This coupled with the relatively thick beam (not taken into account in calculations) of the Pure Aero means that Nadal had to cope with about 8% more drag compared to Federer back when Fed was using a small frame. Compared to Nadal, Federer seemed to have a flatter racquet path on the forehand side as well which would eliminate even more drag caused by strings. Please tell me if you have a different opinion or if you think this matters in any way.
Some points:
- I calculated the difference in drag in % because I don't think it's useful to calculate the actual value for drag in this case. We can assume every variable in the drag equation to be similar between the setups, except the share of stringbed covered in string (which is what this calculation is based on). We could maybe factor in string skin friction but I couldn't find any values for that.
- Nadal's setup creates a relatively high drag. This coupled with the relatively thick beam (not taken into account in calculations) of the Pure Aero means that Nadal had to cope with about 8% more drag compared to Federer back when Fed was using a small frame. Compared to Nadal, Federer seemed to have a flatter racquet path on the forehand side as well which would eliminate even more drag caused by strings. Please tell me if you have a different opinion or if you think this matters in any way.
| Racquet # / name | Head size (area of stringbed) | String pattern | String pattern | String material | String material | String diameter (gauge) | String tension | String tension | String tension | String diameter (gauge) after tensioning | String area | String area | String area | String area | Comparison of string setup's effect on drag (air resistance) | Comparison of string setup's effect on drag (air resistance) |
| Mains | Crosses | Mains | Crosses | Mains | Crosses | Mains | Crosses | Mains | Crosses | Mains | Crosses | Mains & crosses | Against average drag | Against setup with worst drag | ||
| (inch²) | (mm) | (mm) | (kg) | (kg) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm²) | (mm²) | (mm²) | % | % | |||||
| Federer PS90 | 90 | 16 | 19 | NatGut | Poly | 1,30 | 1,25 | 22,5 | 22,5 | 1,23 | 1,10 | 7171 | 6424 | 13595 | -3,8% | -7,7% |
| Federer RF97 | 97 | 16 | 19 | NatGut | Poly | 1,30 | 1,25 | 27,0 | 25,5 | 1,21 | 1,08 | 7357 | 6548 | 13905 | -1,6% | -5,5% |
| Wawrinka Yonex | 95 | 16 | 20 | Poly | Poly | 1,30 | 1,30 | 27,0 | 25,0 | 1,13 | 1,14 | 6958 | 7037 | 13996 | -0,9% | -4,9% |
| Djokovic | 95 | 18 | 19 | NatGut | Poly | 1,26 | 1,26 | 26,8 | 28,0 | 1,17 | 1,07 | 7513 | 6894 | 14408 | +2,0 % | -2,1% |
| Nadal | 100 | 16 | 19 | Poly | Poly | 1,35 | 1,35 | 25,0 | 25,0 | 1,20 | 1,20 | 7361 | 7361 | 14722 | +4,2 % | 0,0% |
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