String Shape Research

[GrahamIsSuper]

I just was doing a search of TW for my next reel of poly, and noticed something interesting in the review for Unique Big Hitter. It says:

"The variation of the diameter of the string suggests that Tourna Poly is purposely made oval. This seemingly insignificant out-of-roundness is important, however, as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is investigating whether oval strings give the player an unfair advantage in producing spin, as lab tests indicate. "

This is interesting to me, because, if the ITF is actually doing research on oval strings and its effect on unfair spins (read: the banning of spaghetti strings), you would think that signum pro poly-speed would already have been outlawed since it is pyramid/triangular-shaped. I can imagine that the triangular shape would provide a significant increase in the abillity to play heavy, heavy spins; spins that no other player could produce.

The problem with this is that if oval and triangular-shaped strings are banned from atp play, then why wouldn't any rough or textured strings be banned as well? I am concerned that the newest string technologies are going to be banned, even if they improve the way players can play. But then again, these strings simply encourage the use of heavy topspin (but at the same time ANY spin, so volleys/slice/serves would be improved as well) and the power game.

Has anyone had any experience with either of the afore-mentioned strings and, more importantly, did you notice a significant advantage to using either of these odd-shaped strings in comparasin to traditional round shapes?

 

[Steve Huff]

Let's see, next you'd have Ashaway's Kevlar Gear, with its gear-cog outer layer. Then you'd have the triangle shaped poly's from a couple of manufacturers,and square ones too, as they both have sharp edges. How about the old Leoina Spinex--with a single strand of string wrapped around the core string. It put nasty black lines on the ball on every hit. ProKennex had a string called Eclipse. It was 2 strings, side-by-side and twisted. The advantage they gave was NOT more spin, but was less STRING MOVEMENT. It was basically a "double wide" (like a trailer) string.

 

[PBODY99]

ProHex had a hexagonal string, Forten< not Ashway> has the various GEAR strings, GammaRuff/TOA SpinX,& Blue Star had Fighter a flat string. I have used them all and the non-movement of the strings are why some of my customers used them , not increased spin. They would tear up the nap of the balls !
I've tried seveal polysl including the Unique Big Hitter, and I have not seen any real difference in spin production in this type of string at the same gauge.