Strings displacement - Should I spin my frame between strokes?

[Dartagnan64]

I've heard that some people spin their frame a la Federer between strokes to keep their grip from tightening. But I wonder if it has the effect of minimizing string displacement especially when using nylon or gut based string setups.

Basically if you are hitting low to high with the same edge of the racket up, then you are going to displace strings in one direction with every topspin groundstroke. By the end of the rally, these strings could be way out of place if there is a lot of string to string friction. But if you are spinning your racket between strokes, you are likely to hit groundies with different edges up and the displacement direction will be more random leading to high likelihood of strings getting pushed back into place during a rally.

So I was wondering if chronic racket spinners that use nylon based strings have as much problem with string displacement during a match. Anyone out there?

 

[travlerajm]

One more thing to worry about between points.

 

[gold325]

I am 99.9% sure people spin the racket to relax the muscles of the hand and avoid death grip and concrete arm. To spin correctly you must let get of any stress of the forearm arm and wrist muscles. Try it!

 

[LOBALOT]

I think this will only work if you toss with spin between shots.

You also will kind of have a confident swagger/style when you play!

 

[jmacdaununder2]

I've heard that some people spin their frame a la Federer between strokes to keep their grip from tightening. But I wonder if it has the effect of minimizing string displacement especially when using nylon or gut based string setups.

Basically if you are hitting low to high with the same edge of the racket up, then you are going to displace strings in one direction with every topspin groundstroke. By the end of the rally, these strings could be way out of place if there is a lot of string to string friction. But if you are spinning your racket between strokes, you are likely to hit groundies with different edges up and the displacement direction will be more random leading to high likelihood of strings getting pushed back into place during a rally.

So I was wondering if chronic racket spinners that use nylon based strings have as much problem with string displacement during a match. Anyone out there?

Apparently Fed has a feature on his molded handles so that he can feel which orientation his racquet is in with his pinky finger, enabling him to always hold the racquet the 'same' way - grip changes notwithstanding.
Personally, apart from any twirling, I always end up holding my racquets the same way 'up', as the grips get molded from my hand pressure, and so feel 'wrong' held the other way.
Additionally, depending on how OCD one is with their replacement grip and overgrip starting points, the grips feel better held one way.
I agree that string displacement would also vary depending on topspin vs. underspin tendencies on both forehand and backhand, with the most displacement coming from consistent topspin or backspin on both sides pushing the strings in one direction. (The most 'sawing' back and forth of strings would occur with consistent topspin on say, the forehand, in tandem with correspondingly consistent slice on the backhand.)
Like you, I'm also curious whether any 'spinners' out there can get past/are not bothered by the apparent need to always hold the racquet 'one way' - and so spin and regrip with random abandon - and what effect, if any, the resulting randomness of racquet face orientation might have on string movement and wear.

 

[socallefty]

How would you know how your string displacement is compared to others? Are you supposed to go around checking the strings of other players? Should you focus on that on court?

 

[Arak]

I spin the racket after each shot. Nobody taught me that and I don’t do it intentionally. It just happens subconsciously almost like a tick. I don’t know if it helps with string movement, but logically it must help somewhat.

 

[gold325]

I spin the racket after each shot. Nobody taught me that and I don’t do it intentionally. It just happens subconsciously almost like a tick. I don’t know if it helps with string movement, but logically it must help somewhat.

It relaxes your wrist and hand muscles.... tense muscles dont work for tennis.

 

[Rosstour]

I've heard that some people spin their frame a la Federer between strokes to keep their grip from tightening. But I wonder if it has the effect of minimizing string displacement especially when using nylon or gut based string setups.

Basically if you are hitting low to high with the same edge of the racket up, then you are going to displace strings in one direction with every topspin groundstroke.

This is true--provided you are only hitting FHs. lol

 

[AceyMan]

I'm a spinner, too, even while I'm bouncing the ball before the service.

But I don't—and can't—twirl it like Fed does when waiting on returns. That sh** is just voodoo .

/Acey

 

[Diablo XP]

I get what OP is asking and yes, I do it. Normal stock grip with Tourna so feels the same in both orientations to me.
If you hit forehands with a lot of topspin your strings will "curve" all one direction. You can kind of correct that and keep them more-or-less centered by using the opposite side every other point or whatever. It does work.

 

[MasterZeb]

Nah you’re thinking too much imo. And besides, even if they spin, most people hit with the same side of the racquet most of the time as that position of the hand becomes and feels more natural.

 

[Dartagnan64]

It relaxes your wrist and hand muscles.... tense muscles dont work for tennis.

im sure that’s the reason. I just wondered if it had a side benefit of less strung movement.

 

[gold325]

im sure that’s the reason. I just wondered if it had a side benefit of less strung movement.

Sorry should have read your initial post correctly! Personally I feel full scale rainbowing only when strings are getting older. Till then I get random movements... Some strings rainbow more like PSGD and some have more random movement like OGSM in my personal experience.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Poly that rainbow need to be cut out. Nylon that rainbow were strung WAY too low.

I don’t spin the racket unless it’s a rainbowing poly that needs to be cut out.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Poly that rainbow need to be cut out. Nylon that rainbow were strung WAY too low.

I don’t spin the racket unless it’s a rainbowing poly that needs to be cut out.

I can get rainbows with nylons strung at 58/56 pounds. That's generally not "way to loose".

 

[ChanterRacquet]

I can get rainbows with nylons strung at 58/56 pounds. That's generally not "way to loose".

Do they pop back in place or just slide when you straighten them? Weird that you’ve got multiple high tension mains deflected together in big arcs. No snapback?

 

[rafazx10]

I would be surprised if people that spin the racket actualy hit with different sides of the strings.
There is definitively a difference in the way the grip will feel from one side to the other.

String displacement is not something I would worry about.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Do they pop back in place or just slide when you straighten them? Weird that you’ve got multiple high tension mains deflected together in big arcs. No snapback?

Typically only after a long rally. Obviously not snapping back at that stage and I need to reposition them between points. They don't pop back as usually the crosses aren't notched due to the constant sliding of mains. They get thinned out and start to fray eventually. The mains are notched by the crosses and do pop back if they ever get out of alignment.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I would be surprised if people that spin the racket actualy hit with different sides of the strings.
There is definitively a difference in the way the grip will feel from one side to the other.

String displacement is not something I would worry about.

Interesting. I don't think I ever notice how the grip feels other than what bevel I'm on with my index knuckle. No idea if I ever hit the same edge up form rally to rally. Now I'm going to check that out next time I'm on the court.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Interesting. I don't think I ever notice how the grip feels other than what bevel I'm on with my index knuckle. No idea if I ever hit the same edge up form rally to rally. Now I'm going to check that out next time I'm on the court.

Well I paid attention to how I hold the grip and I did notice that about 90% of the time when I looked down I had the same edge of the racket up. Without even really trying to do so. SO I guess the brain does get used to how a grip feels and tries to get back to that as often as possible.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Typically only after a long rally. Obviously not snapping back at that stage and I need to reposition them between points. They don't pop back as usually the crosses aren't notched due to the constant sliding of mains. They get thinned out and start to fray eventually. The mains are notched by the crosses and do pop back if they ever get out of alignment.

So…I got out my old PD 2015 strung with Sensation 17. Strings were getting stuck everywhere in arcs and all sorts of nonsense. I had forgotten what playing with multis is like. I pray they never stop making cyclone tour.