String Patterns

[sunflowerhx]

Ok, we all know that a denser string pattern (18x20) offers more control but less power and spin than a (16x18 ).

But what advantage does a (16x20) offer??
Obvious answer is something between (18x20) and (16x18 ) but why denser in the mains and not the cross?





My sticks.
Prostaff HPS 6.0 (16x18 )
Dunlop Classic Revelation (16x20)
Donnay Pro One Mp (16x18 )

 

[YULitle]

Denser crosses cuts back on the power. Leaving the mains at 16 is an attempt to maintain high levels of spin.

 

[Alafter]

as a not so spinny player, i'd say no diff. just a harder vs softer feel. i like em both tho!

 

[sunflowerhx]

Denser crosses cuts back on the power. Leaving the mains at 16 is an attempt to maintain high levels of spin.

That makes sense. Quote from tennis.about.com

Definition: The strings that run parallel to the long axis of the racquet. The main strings carry most of the burden of biting into the ball to produce spin. Small areas on each main string tend to rub against much longer sections of the intersecting cross strings, and this concentrated friction tends to make the mains break before the crosses.

 

[anirut]

Denser crosses cuts back on the power. Leaving the mains at 16 is an attempt to maintain high levels of spin.

Agreed.

I think that control is also determined from the positions of the cross strings across the string bed, esp the first top and the last two bottom ones. (Take a good look and you'll understand.)

I believe that the racket designers have properly calculated the optimum string positions of a racket, taking into account its properties, to allow for optimum performance.

 

[YULitle]

^^ correct. Just cause it has 18 crosses instead of 20, doesn't mean that the crosses aren't just a dense in the sweet spot on an 18 as on a 20. Look at the K6-1 95. The top and bottom two crosses are very far apart, making the rest of the crosses much more dense in the center of the string bed.

 

[sunflowerhx]

Ok, now I understand why in a hyrid setup, you have a poly in the mains for power & durability and gut in the crosses for feel.

But what would the effect be if you put poly in the crosses and gut in the mains instead??

 

[Zachol82]

You would get the exact opposite I'd assume.

Poly in mains; gut in crosses = More power and durability with a little bit more feel.

Gut in mains; poly in crosses = More feel with a bit less power and durability.

 

[0d1n]

You would get the exact opposite I'd assume.

Poly in mains; gut in crosses = More power and durability with a little bit more feel.

Gut in mains; poly in crosses = More feel with a bit less power and durability.

Gut in mains will actually be more powerful with less durability and presumably more "feel" (although feel is EXTREMELY subjective...as somebody who likes the feel of poly will probably say that poly has "more feel" than gut).

 

[YULitle]

Gut in mains will actually be more powerful with less durability and presumably more "feel" (although feel is EXTREMELY subjective...as somebody who likes the feel of poly will probably say that poly has "more feel" than gut).

99% of the claims on this particular board are subjective.

 

[rorschack]

99% of the claims on this particular board are subjective.

I second that! I would say 99.999% of all claims on this Forum are BS! Just experience things yourself and come to your own conclusion!

 

[ChappyOnIce]

99% of the claims on this particular board are subjective.

I agree. That said...

If we also agree that the mains are what provide most of the power, and we also agree that gut tends to be more powerful and elastic than polys, then we can conclude that gut in the mains provides a more powerful setup, can't we? Polys in the mains should (theoretically and subjectively ) temper the power and allow for faster/harder cuts at the ball. Of course, this is all subjective, hahaha

 

[theone]

The one thing I like about some dense patterns is the extremely low, flat ball I can hit with them. I think its more of an effective, offensive weapon than trying to apply heavy topspin.

 

[sunflowerhx]

Gut in mains will actually be more powerful with less durability and presumably more "feel" (although feel is EXTREMELY subjective...as somebody who likes the feel of poly will probably say that poly has "more feel" than gut).

I am confused.
My local stringer recommend me Big Bangers in the mains because I lacked power, and gut in the crosses to retain some feel.

Now you saying I should go all gut for more power???



Personally I have to say I prefer the Hybrid setup.
PS I am not a string breaker.

 

[0d1n]

I am confused.
My local stringer recommend me Big Bangers in the mains because I lacked power, and gut in the crosses to retain some feel.

Now you saying I should go all gut for more power???



Personally I have to say I prefer the Hybrid setup.
PS I am not a string breaker.

Yes, an "all gut" setup should be more powerful than a poly hybrid (even an Alu Power hybrid ... :shock: ). Your local stringer probably gets money from Luxilon if he recommends it over gut "for more power". Either that ... or he's full of sh1t.
If you can afford/control an all gut setup and it lasts you enough I would say there is no better setup from a power perspective.

99% of the claims on this particular board are subjective.

Yup, I'm aware of that

 

[YULitle]

Yup, I'm aware of that

I wasn't calling you out in particular. Just had to get it off my chest.

 

[louis netman]

I am confused.
My local stringer recommend me Big Bangers in the mains because I lacked power, and gut in the crosses to retain some feel.

Now you saying I should go all gut for more power???



Personally I have to say I prefer the Hybrid setup.
PS I am not a string breaker.

IMO, gut in the crosses is a big waste unless you get free strings and labor. The crosses will retain tension, while the Lux loses tension much more rapidly. If you're not playing for hours daily and breaking strings frequently, you'll end up cutting out the Lux, along with the gut. Further, the crosses only contribute 15-20% of the feel. Gut will soften the poly stringbed better than anything else, however...

 

[Shangri La]

I always wonder how string pattern affects volley. It looks many people think dense string pattern is better for volley and the factors I can think of: dense - better directional control, more stable; open - more power for better depth. What else?

 

[sunflowerhx]

If you can afford/control an all gut setup and it lasts you enough I would say there is no better setup from a power perspective.

In that case what type of synthetic gut would be the most powerful?
Multi or Soild core?

Any particular brand?

Not a stringer breaker and want more power without compromising on feel.

Thanks!

 

[YULitle]

In that case what type of synthetic gut would be the most powerful?
Multi or Soild core?

Any particular brand?

Not a stringer breaker and want more power without compromising on feel.

Thanks!

Multis are known for more power than solid-cores but I'd like to see if anyone has some sort of research reflecting that.