String tension for the winter

[Fighting phoenix]

Texas "winter" is upon us, and since it's nice enough to play outdoors all year round, I'm starting to play in temps in the 50s Fahrenheit, probably as low as 40s coming up in a month or so. I typically string my full poly set up 51 mains / 49 crosses during the summer, but I'm noticing right away that my racquet is feeling boardier than usual now that the temps have dropped. My question is how low should I go for a similar level of playability? 50/48 doesn't seem like it will be enough - maybe something like 48/46? Does anyone else notice this difference with the weather changes?

 

[esgee48]

I use 2 Kg per 10 degrees C or 5 # per 10 degrees F. Most times my clients will just come in and tell me their new tension based on expected temperatures. Then they blame me when the weather forecasts are messed up.

 

[dmtree]

I am thinking 2lbs per 10 degrees F, with the baseline at 75 degrees. So if I am playing at 45 degrees, I drop it 6 lbs. I am also considering keeping a racquet strung with soft poly for when it's below 50, since I blew out my elbow last spring playing stiff poly in 40 degree weather.

 

[dmtree]

I use 2 Kg per 10 degrees C or 5 # per 10 degrees F. Most times my clients will just come in and tell me their new tension based on expected temperatures. Then they blame me when the weather forecasts are messed up.

Do you mean roughly 5lb per 20 degrees F? A 10 degrees drop from 20C to 10C is an 18 drop from 68F to 50F.

 

[esgee48]

Depends on what the string is. If Nylon, SG or NG (I have nutcases that use it at <50 °F) temperature changes do not have to be that drastic assuming they also don't ask for change in string diameter. If you are using something very stiff, then the change needs to be more drastic.But generally it's 5# max unless they ask for a bigger change. My records show that the largest change was a 10# change going from 60 °F to 80 °F for Multi/NG) and smallest was 2# using a 1.15mm poly (from 1.20) going from 60 °F to 50 °F.

 

[USPTARF97]

Couple of lbs in either direction seems to be plenty whether I’m using gut/poly or full poly in RF97’s or Wilson Blade Pros (H22).

 

[fuzz nation]

Texas "winter" is upon us, and since it's nice enough to play outdoors all year round, I'm starting to play in temps in the 50s Fahrenheit, probably as low as 40s coming up in a month or so. I typically string my full poly set up 51 mains / 49 crosses during the summer, but I'm noticing right away that my racquet is feeling boardier than usual now that the temps have dropped. My question is how low should I go for a similar level of playability? 50/48 doesn't seem like it will be enough - maybe something like 48/46? Does anyone else notice this difference with the weather changes?

I coach a high school team in the spring and we'll be out there in late March/early April with temps in the low-mid 40's and occasionally even the high 30's (southern New England). I don't have a specific number for poly in terms of dropping tension because I play almost exclusively with syn. gut in my own frames and I string at home. For those cold conditions, I drop tension by 5 lbs. in at least one of my racquets to get some feel back and once temps trend toward the mid 50's and low 60's, I'll go back to my regular tensions.

 

[Chairman3]

Poly main, syngut cross.
At most tensions, in the cold, poly will feel wirey and not great