Strings in extreme weather conditions

[phl92]

I know that extreme hot weather needs a higher string tension for same results, and polys go dead faster. I know wet,humid conditions are poison for natural gut. I guess natural gut is in generall more sensitive compared to synthetic materials.
What about playing in very cold, wet conditions? What strings are most reliable in such weather? We have another lockdown, which allows us to play only outside, which is pretty tough in Austria at the moment (around 3-9° Celsius, and mostly a bit wet, windy) Should I go for my Völkl Cyclone Tour or fullbed multifil (I have Wilson Sensation Control here). And what about string tension? 1-2 kilos less than normally?

 

[fuzz nation]

I generally play all year with full beds of synthetic gut in my 98" Volkls and I also routinely play in those colder temperatures that you're describing when I'm coaching a high school boys' team in late March and early April. If I drop tension by 5 lbs. in one or two of my racquets, I regain much of the feel that disappears in the cold.

I'm not a poly player, so I don't quite know how much of a tension drop is necessary to get better feel with that sort of string in colder conditions. I have no scientific findings to back it up, but my suspicion is that poly might become much more stiff in the cold compared with syn. gut or multifiber. You might need an even greater tension drop to get the feel and performance where you want it with the Cyclone Tour.

Hopefully more than just urban legend: I've heard more than once that natural gut can be effectively preserved if it's somehow oiled after being played in damp conditions. I've heard of natural gut users lightly wiping their strings with either baby oil or neatsfoot oil (sp?) after getting their strings damp. One more possibility to investigate in case you prefer to stick with natural gut.

Yes, multifibers are typically more immune to the elements - the cold and damp - but I don't use them so much myself. They seem to steadily degrade as they're played - when I say degrade, I mean they soften up. The one multi I keep on hand for jobs that require that string type is Prince Premier Contol, just because it does have a tiny "triple core" that seems to help it with resisting that tension loss.

 

[phl92]

So I guess your favorite Snythetic gut string is also by Prince?

 

[socallefty]

VCT is pretty soft and comfortable for a poly. Why don’t you drop tension and/or use a thinner gauge first during cold weather and see how you like it? Better to experiment with small changes first instead of doing something major like changing to a non-poly string.

 

[phl92]

I never played with a Völkl string. It's just laying around since a while and I could use it. I love Hybrids but they break fast for me, so I am looking for something more durable

 

[ccmtennis]

I know that extreme hot weather needs a higher string tension for same results, and polys go dead faster. I know wet,humid conditions are poison for natural gut. I guess natural gut is in generall more sensitive compared to synthetic materials.
What about playing in very cold, wet conditions? What strings are most reliable in such weather? We have another lockdown, which allows us to play only outside, which is pretty tough in Austria at the moment (around 3-9° Celsius, and mostly a bit wet, windy) Should I go for my Völkl Cyclone Tour or fullbed multifil (I have Wilson Sensation Control here). And what about string tension? 1-2 kilos less than normally?

I happen to have a lots of experience with volkl cyclone in cold conditions. I actually do the opposite, I string in up. I find the balls are heavier and I need more control plus the poly strings could lose tension easier as well. Try not to keep your rackets for prolonged times in cold place like a garage and that helps too. I recently discover Tourna silver tour strings that also do well in cold weather since the tension loss is minimal for a poly and I string it 7 lbs less than cyclone since it is stiffer