Stringing Babolats at very Low Tensions

F

flex

Semi-Pro
One of the biggest knock against Babolats seems to be the stiffness. Can't really change that variable, but what if you strung it very low, say 25-35lb?

It's extreme, but does doing this extreme measure of stringing it so low counteract the extreme inherent stiffness of the frame?

Lastly, does anyone have practical playing experience with using a Babolat frame (Pure Drive, Aero) at such low tension/what was it like?
 
If you put a pure drive or aero at 30 lbs you better be ready to climb the fence to retrieve your balls. You’d probably save your arm from having to slow down your swing let alone the string tension.
 
Most people do fine with low tensions in those types of racquets, provided they play enough spin on their typical shots. Flat drives can spray and launch. You might have to experiment to find your sweet spot.

Here's a vid of some guy rocking RPM @ 20#.

 
I string my Pure Drive Plus with Head PPS syn guy at 47 lbs for around 55-60F ambient temps. If using poly I suspect I'd string at around 35-40 lbs at the same temps. Keep in mind ambient temps have a big effect on string stiffness.
 
Read this

Low, low tensions. 30lbs feels great. 20lbs pretty good, too

Over the last couple of days I've been experimenting with low tensions. Pro player Volandri is around 26lbs, so I started at 30lbs yesterday and then dropped to 20lbs today. Here's my blog on my hitting experiences if you'd like to check it out: http://blog.tenniswarehouse.com/?p=1154 Chris, TW
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com
This is a long thread. Most of the players ended back up in the mid-40's or higher.
 
All else created equal, the lower the tension, the lower the string bed stiffness. That result *could* help tone down the stiff feel of the frame. But that won’t directly change the stiffness of the frame.

The problem that usually rears it’s ugly head is control. Unless you never hit a flat ball, this is likely to be a problem.

The other thing I’ve noticed...the lower I’ve gone with tension...the more the racquet seems to buzz and vibrate - especially on anything hit off center. This is totally anecdotal, so take it with a grain of salt. YMMV.
 
Not a wives' tale, that buzzing! At those low tensions, the string can vibrate at a harmonic or multiple of the frame's natural frequency and it is really nasty. That's why many ended back up with higher tensions.
 
My sweet spot for string tension on my Babolats are around 52-53#. Any lower and I start to lose control. Props to those who can string in the 40s and keep the balls in play.
 
Doesnt Jack Sock use a Pure Aero VS with Luxilon poly at 35-38lbs? Then again he hits about as much RPM as Nadal or Berrettini. Doesnt the poly have less power when you get below the 40s? Kind of want to try it once just to see what its like. 42lbs is the lowest Ive gone with Tourna Silver7 and it was way too launchy.
 
Or you can play with a Babolat with less stiffness like the Pure Strike Tour. Aeros and Drives are not the only racquets they make - they have made even softer racquets than the PST like the Pure Control and Storm product lines in the past.
 
I think poly tension is irrelevant since it is the lack of resilience and shock absorbing potential of the string that is harmful to some people's arms. It's more important to re-string poly frequently than string it at low tensions.

And because of this lack of resilience poly is always less prone to rocket launching than nylon or gut. So poly at 30 lbs will control far far better than Biphase or VS at 30 lbs. With poly at low tension you get pocketing but no trampolining.
 
Stringing a pure drive or aero low will definitely give it a more forgiving feel especially on off center contact. I’ve experimented in the mid 30lb range. My personal experience is better feel and higher launch. The higher launch can create control issues if you play a flatter style but for those how shape the ball with spin, it’s a minor adjustment to dial in depth of shot. With that being said, stringing really low can be troublesome for rec players . 35lbs right off the stringer feels good but if you’re not a pro changing racquets every 7 game ball change, the tension drop on poly may be an issue.
 
Just to check in again after I talked crap... I just restrung my Pure Aero at 40 lbs with Kirschbaum Poly.

I’m playing in a couple hours. I’ll see how it goes. The idea I’ll have extra dwell time to create spin is what got me to cave. Sure flat shots and volley punches may be hard to control, but I love baseline bashing with spin anyways. Only weird thing is my final cross feels like there is almost 0 tension on it. I upped my drop weight to about 44# to make up for the knot tie but now that I’m done it feels like it’s really only hand tight. I guess the final cross won’t matter all that much.
 
I’m always curious about low tension I’m in low 40s poly for now but tried my friends Ultra Tour (low power) strung in low 30s 1.15 poly. It felt great for the few rallies I tried. A bit like @Dartagnan64 said definitely more pocketing feel without a trampoline feel. I was swinging hard and it was good
 
Nate7-5 said:
Doesnt Jack Sock use a Pure Aero VS with Luxilon poly at 35-38lbs? Then again he hits about as much RPM as Nadal or Berrettini. Doesnt the poly have less power when you get below the 40s? Kind of want to try it once just to see what its like. 42lbs is the lowest Ive gone with Tourna Silver7 and it was way too launchy.
Click to expand...

Sock may well be still using the Aerostorm - the predecessor to the previous PAVS (2016?). Either way, both are notably different frames than the APD, PA, PD, etc. - denser pattern, more plush, not as stiff. I suspect the overall setup works for Sock because of the relatively softer feel of his racquet, coupled with how he plays - almost never flattens the ball out from the baseline (except for maybe a throw away point here and there).

I don’t really believe that the poly itself has “less power” under 40lbs. To me it’s more that at that tension I usually don’t have the confidence to swing out on ground strokes - for fear the ball will sail. To your point, the lower you go, the more launching can be a problem. I have compensated for the launching by increasing string gauge - with 16g poly I can dip down into the low 40’s. But that’s usually when the buzzing comes. :rolleyes:
 
dgoran said:
Isn't that what Mannarino does. Apd with alu power at very low tension.
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Yes, last i knew ALU 20kg / ~44lbs. Not that my level is comparable at all, but for the sake of conversation, the lowest I can go with ALU is about 48lbs. And my stick is a fair bit lighter than his. I’d have to go even higher with tension if I weighted mine up more like his. No idea how he does it!
 
Why don't you use a thick gauge multi/syn-gut at higher tension that will still be arm friendly and have give decent control ?
 
Me? I blow through multi too quick. Syn gut is meh...ok. But I can do a lot more with the ball w FB poly.

Edit: Also I’m usually not a fan of most multis in terms of spin potential.
 
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am1899 said:
Me? I blow through multi too quick. Syn gut is meh...ok. But I can do a lot more with the ball w FB poly.

Edit: Also I’m usually not a fan of most multis in terms of spin potential.
Click to expand...

Sorry @am1899, my comments were directed towards the OP not towards you. You're right about the spin potential of multis, but Head Velocity does have decent spin until the coating wears off. I've heard Triax and PPC have good spin too but ymmv .
 
I had never tried low-tension poly until TW kept sending me demos strung with poly at 35 whether I wanted that or not. My comments on this are littered in other threads ... but moving along, I actually found the Pure Drive to be very playable at this tension. On the flip side, I didn’t like it at all in the Head Speed MP. I think it works better in frames that are either stiff and muted, or have 18x20 string patterns.

I tried a Gravity Tour at 35 and also liked it. I tried the same Gravity Tour at about 42 and I liked it less. It felt actually a bit more lively and less controllable in the low 40s than it did at 35. The power does start to drop with the tension at some point in my experience.
 
abhi_trip said:
Sorry @am1899, my comments were directed towards the OP not towards you. You're right about the spin potential of multis, but Head Velocity does have decent spin until the coating wears off. I've heard Triax and PPC have good spin too but ymmv .
Click to expand...

Head Velocity is one of the better ones, yes. Haven’t tried Triax. It’s been a while, but from what I remember PPC is also a cut above the rest.
 
flex said:
One of the biggest knock against Babolats seems to be the stiffness. Can't really change that variable, but what if you strung it very low, say 25-35lb?

It's extreme, but does doing this extreme measure of stringing it so low counteract the extreme inherent stiffness of the frame?

Lastly, does anyone have practical playing experience with using a Babolat frame (Pure Drive, Aero) at such low tension/what was it like?
Click to expand...

You can't change stiffness, but you can change weight.

My 2019 APD has some lead at 3+9, V throat and right above grip...feels very comfortable with a 50lb poly stringjob after break in.
 
am1899 said:
Yes, last i knew ALU 20kg / ~44lbs. Not that my level is comparable at all, but for the sake of conversation, the lowest I can go with ALU is about 48lbs. And my stick is a fair bit lighter than his. I’d have to go even higher with tension if I weighted mine up more like his. No idea how he does it!
Click to expand...
Keep in mind Manarino plays with older denser pattern aero pro
 
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