Strings moving is driving me crazy

[HitItHarder]

Ok I am still a pretty big novice when it comes to strings. I have only been playing tennis for about a year and a half, so my experience with a variety of strings is limited. In fact, my stringer is the Head Rep and so I have only used Head strings. I use a couple MG Radical OS (18x20) and they are typically strung at 57lbs on both the mains and the crosses.

My problem is that my strings are moving so much that I have to fix them after every rally. It doesn't matter if I am hitting my 2HBH or a FH. My ground strokes just move the strings around (a lot) and it is making me crazy.

I currently have Head PPS 17 synthetic gut in the crosses and Head FXP 17 in the mains. I don't break strings that often, maybe once a month, and only play about three times a week for two or three hours at a time. I like the way my current strings feel and play, but I hate how much they move.

I have also tried a full set of Head PPS (not enough feeling); a PPS hybrid with FXP Power (FXP Power was too soft and broke to fast); and Head Intellitour (ball seemed to fly unless I took off pace in favor of topspin). All of these seemed to move a good bit too, so maybe it isn't just the strings.

Is the string movement just something I have to deal with, or are there other alternative strings that don't move as much and still give me good control and feel? Would increasing tension help? Since I don't break strings too often I am most interested in quality. I supply my own power so I don't really need a power string, and elbow friendly is a real plus because I am just now getting over a bout of TE.

Thanks.

 

[TonyB]

Why do you worry about it? I'm a solid 4.5-5.0 level player and use plain old syn gut. It moves all over the place constantly, but I've never, EVER, thought for one minute that it actually affected my shots.

The ONLY reason to change your strings should be if they don't suit your game or you want something MORE in terms of performance from them that your current strings aren't providing. But you say you like your strings except for the movement, so my advice is to just live with it. Trust me, the movement is NOT affecting your game.

String movement should account for less than 1% of your string-choosing criteria. Look at the bright side: rearranging your strings between points gives you something to do and helps keep your mind on the match.

 

[gameboy]

Polys move substantially less than syn gut. They move even less when you up the tension.

I have Luxilon M2 on Prince OS frame (at 62lb) and it hardly ever moves. The previous Prince Syn Gut setup used to move like crazy.

 

[sureshs]

That is why I use Recoil

 

[TonyB]

Polys move substantially less than syn gut. They move even less when you up the tension.

I have Luxilon M2 on Prince OS frame (at 62lb) and it hardly ever moves. The previous Prince Syn Gut setup used to move like crazy.

But again, what difference does that make? "Moving like crazy" is pretty meaningless if it doesn't affect your game at all.

Fact is, it seems completely counterproductive to change strings AWAY from something that you already like just because you don't like to see uneven strings on your racquet between points.

 

[honz]

I actually miss having strings that move. I still constantly look down at my racquet and try to fix the strings between points only to realize that they are straight as an arrow. :lol:

 

[W1L50N=B3A5T]

Try using "String Savers" (Babolat Elastocross2) they reduce string movement, increase spin, and increase string longevity. They do increase tension, and feel a little different, but the positives outweigh the negatives.

Or try head poly strings.

 

[ClubHoUno]

If the string moving drives you crazy, try some other strings, or do a hybrid of poly/synth gut. Poly strings do not move and a hybrid with these could minimize movement somewhat.

Try using string savers in a pattern around the sweetspot and use them so that the strings will have to 'follow eachother' meaning that you use a string saver pattern, that sort of locks the strings to each other, so the movement is minimal.

Try using a somewhat higher tension, if it doesn't affect your strokes. Higher tension means less string movement.
And when your strings start moving all over the place, it's a good sign that your synth gut strings are beginning to die on you and you should change them.

Hope these advices will help you

 

[nikkhasnis]

Currently (and for the 1st time) I am using a hybrid setup with MSV 17 in mains (55lbs) and Forten 17 in cross (60lbs). The MSV move a lot and do not return to their original position.

Previously I have used (in full poly setup) Luxilon, SPPP and Kirschbaum Pro Line II. I did not notie any string movement. Either they did not move or they returned to their position. Also, I had them strung at 60 lbs.

I am surprised to see a poly/copoly move this much.

 

[charliefedererer]

If the string moving drives you crazy, try some other strings, or do a hybrid of poly/synth gut. Poly strings do not move and a hybrid with these could minimize movement somewhat.

Try using string savers in a pattern around the sweetspot and use them so that the strings will have to 'follow eachother' meaning that you use a string saver pattern, that sort of locks the strings to each other, so the movement is minimal.

Try using a somewhat higher tension, if it doesn't affect your strokes. Higher tension means less string movement.
And when your strings start moving all over the place, it's a good sign that your synth gut strings are beginning to die on you and you should change them.

Hope these advices will help you

Good advice.

 

[nikkhasnis]

And when your strings start moving all over the place, it's a good sign that your synth gut strings are beginning to die on you and you should change them.

My polys are moving from the first time I hit after stringing. I'll use string savers and see.

 

[gameboy]

But again, what difference does that make? "Moving like crazy" is pretty meaningless if it doesn't affect your game at all.

Fact is, it seems completely counterproductive to change strings AWAY from something that you already like just because you don't like to see uneven strings on your racquet between points.

Tony, he has been playing only for a year and a half. I doubt that changing strings to poly, gut, kevlar, or whatever is going to effect his game much.

Most definitely, he should not be married to any single string at this point as he sounds like he hasn't tried much. If the string moving is driving him crazy, he certainly should try others. He may find that he will like the new strings even better.

 

[JediMindTrick]

Prince Recoil doesn't move.

 

[TonyB]

Tony, he has been playing only for a year and a half. I doubt that changing strings to poly, gut, kevlar, or whatever is going to effect his game much.

Most definitely, he should not be married to any single string at this point as he sounds like he hasn't tried much. If the string moving is driving him crazy, he certainly should try others. He may find that he will like the new strings even better.

My point is that changing strings JUST BECAUSE you don't like the movement is ridiculous. If you want to evaluate other strings to see if you can improve your game, then that's a valid reason. But to say "I absolutely love how my strings play, but I want to switch because I don't like the way they look" is a bit absurd.

I can think of a lot of things in this world that "drive me crazy." Wavy strings in my racquet isn't one of them, and it shouldn't be for anyone else who's sane.

 

[callen3615]

Polys move substantially less than syn gut. They move even less when you up the tension.

Yeah. My 95 is the 20 x 18 version with pro hurricanes and I never seen them move.

 

[Blade0324]

I for one am a person that cannot stand strings that move. Contrary to what TonyB said it actually distracts me during a match between points as I have to straighten the strings. I know it has little to no effect on the performance but in a round a bout way it does. Since I am thinking about the strings I am not focused on the next point etc. I have found that Babolat Addiction do not move much for a full multi string job. Same can be said for Pro Supex Spiral Flex syn gut. Those are the best that I have found other than poly. The other thing that helps significantly is stringing your crosses about 3 lb. higher than your mains. You may need to drop the mains a pound to counter this but higher tension on the crosses certainly help. I for one will not play with a string that moves much at all, I simply kept looking until I found one that didn't move and that I liked how it played.

 

[kpfoto]

babolot string savers. i use them with my nat. gut/poly mix. it saves my strings and they don't move. can't tell the difference when they're in or not. enough said.

 

[gameboy]

My point is that changing strings JUST BECAUSE you don't like the movement is ridiculous. If you want to evaluate other strings to see if you can improve your game, then that's a valid reason. But to say "I absolutely love how my strings play, but I want to switch because I don't like the way they look" is a bit absurd.

I can think of a lot of things in this world that "drive me crazy." Wavy strings in my racquet isn't one of them, and it shouldn't be for anyone else who's sane.

Dude, again, he has ONLY PLAYED YEAR AND A HALF! He has probably only tried one or two strings. How would he know if he "loves" how his strings play if he has not tried others??? That is like a guy who had sex once saying how great that sex was. How do you know it cannot be better?

If you have played only year and a half, switching strings doesn't really matter. I guarantee you will see almost zero change in his game with any string he picks up. So, if the string moving around bothers you, you should most DEFINITELY CHANGE!

If we were talking about Roddick and he has his game fine tuned to his strings, changing that setup just because it was moving around, THAT would be ridiculous. But to say that a beginner HAS to stick with a string makes no sense.

 

[TonyB]

Dude, again, he has ONLY PLAYED YEAR AND A HALF! He has probably only tried one or two strings. How would he know if he "loves" how his strings play if he has not tried others??? That is like a guy who had sex once saying how great that sex was. How do you know it cannot be better?

If you have played only year and a half, switching strings doesn't really matter. I guarantee you will see almost zero change in his game with any string he picks up. So, if the string moving around bothers you, you should most DEFINITELY CHANGE!

If we were talking about Roddick and he has his game fine tuned to his strings, changing that setup just because it was moving around, THAT would be ridiculous. But to say that a beginner HAS to stick with a string makes no sense.

Why does everyone keep missing the point???

My point, and I've made it at least twice so far, is that you've gotta be absolutely NUTS to change strings based ONLY on the fact that they move.

Stop saying he has only played a year and a half. What does that have to do with his strings moving??? If he had said he wanted to look for other strings to PLAY better, then I'm all for it.

 

[gameboy]

TonyB, answer me this.

Based on what you know about novice players, does changing strings make ANY APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE in their play?

The performance differences between strings are within inches. Most novice players are so inconsistent that they will never notice those minute differences.

And if it is unlikely that this player won't even notice the string change (in performance), but WILL NOTICE the string staying put, why would you not change?

Why do you keep saying it is NUTS to change strings? What difference does it make to a novice? Are you seriously worried that the shots he hits the baseline consistently will start sailing out? At least give us a decent reason why it is NUTS, instead of just saying it. Give me a break...

 

[TonyB]

It's nuts because it makes no difference to how the strings play.

If you're so intently focused on how wavy your strings are to the point where you're being "driven crazy", then you're probably not focusing on your game or your strokes at all.

Concentrate on PLAYING tennis, not your strings. Changing strings probably will not help your game anyways. Learn the strokes, improve your game, ignore your strings moving.

 

[gameboy]

Dude you need to chill. It is just tennis. We play for fun.

I don't like strings moving on me either as I need to straighten them between points instead of concentrating on the next shot.

There is a lot of little things that could distract you during a game. Sure, it would be great to ignore it, but if it is so simple as this to get rid of the distraction, I don't see why you wouldn't do it.

 

[meowmix]

TonyB, while you are right in that when considering a perfect setup, string movement shouldn't be a major concern, they do factor into things. Personally, I wouldn't switch strings simply because they move too much, but that's just me. I also completely agree that strings moving isn't affecting the op's game, but I guess it's just annoying to the op.

First thing I'd recommend is just plain old stringsavers. They cost 3 bucks a pack, and you can just pop them into your bed. They'll help you out quite a bit. If you want to try another string, try Prince Revenge. IMO, the only soft string that does not move one iota.

 

[Blade0324]

I just can't see how TonyB thinks it's nuts to change based on string movement. I know it makes no difference in the actual performance of the strings or racquet, but I also know that for me as well as most of the customers that I string for they do not like the strings moving and prefer something that stays put well. For me and many others we cannot just ignor the movement of the strings. You say it's nuts to worry about them moving. I say it's nuts to not want them straight. Different strokes...

 

[The_Question]

Strings moving is driving me crazy

This sounds like a personal issue, like ADHD. Ignore the strings, focus on the game instead.

 

[HitItHarder]

Thanks for all the responses

Thanks for all the responses. I am going to try out the string savers. I may play with the tension on one of my racquets too. I realize the string moving is not affecting how the string plays, so I see where TonyB is coming from and completely get his point.

I guess the real problem I have is that it has affected the mental part of my game a couple times when I am returning serves and my opponent is moving at a quick pace. It distracts my concentration when I am trying to think about the last point, getting ready for the next point, and setting up for the service return. I guess I just need to work on the mental part of my game. Of course, the strings not moving may help my OCD mind focus. Thanks again.

 

[JediMindTrick]

Thanks for all the responses. I am going to try out the string savers. I may play with the tension on one of my racquets too. I realize the string moving is not affecting how the string plays, so I see where TonyB is coming from and completely get his point.

I guess the real problem I have is that it has affected the mental part of my game a couple times when I am returning serves and my opponent is moving at a quick pace. It distracts my concentration when I am trying to think about the last point, getting ready for the next point, and setting up for the service return. I guess I just need to work on the mental part of my game. Of course, the strings not moving may help my OCD mind focus. Thanks again.

I know exactly how you feel, sure string movement doesn't affect how you play IF you don't think about it, but if you think about it then it will affect your play.

I also hate string movement and I tried most of the non-poly string that are supposed to have good resistance to movement like Yonex 850 spin, Babolat Addiction and others and, yes, they don't move for 3 hours or so but after that they will start to move. Still they are better than your average multi like NXT or NRG which start to move in the first hour.

I haven't tried the old school solutions like string savers or stringing at a higher tension, or stringing the crosses higher because these solutions will probably make the stringbed stiffer. Since I didn't try them I can't say if they solve the problem or not, but at this point I don't need to try them, because now we have Prince Recoil which does exactly what is supposed to do, it doesn't move. Also most polys don't move.

 

[cadfael_tex]

I'm with TonyB for the most part on this. But try some different strings if you like, that's part of the fun of tennis is seeing how different things affect the game.

However, don't just go try poly because the don't move. That's probably the worst advice I've heard through this thread. If you've only been playing a year and a half you probably don't have the type of long stroke that will take advantage of those strings. You'll just be making a change to something that won't help your game and possibly may impact your health. Don't do it please.

Try stringsavers and different multis to experiment.