Tension tension

[mtk]

Hi everyone,

I'm a rookie here and thought I could get some info on stringing since I just started to do my own.

I have a new Babolat Pure Storm racquet that has the tension range printed on the frame at a range from 53-57 lbs. On the Tennis Warehouse website, the tension range is listed at 50-66 lbs. Why are there two different sets of tension ranges and which one should I follow?

mtk

 

[10s99]

follow the tension range on the racket set by the manufacturer. i'm not familiar w/ these frames but the tw tension may have been for an older frame . . .

 

[Cruzer]

The graphics on many Babolat frames show comparatively small tension ranges and apparently this has to do with Woofer grommet technology. This has been discussed may times over the past few years and many Babolat users (myself included) have histroically strung our frames at tensions higher than the tension range on the racquet as many users did not care that much about retaining the Woofer effect. I have not noticed any positive or negative effect from the Woofer technology and the Woofer technology is not why I use a Babolat frame.
If you check the Pure Drive page on TW there is a note indicating that while the Pure Drive's tension range is 50-55 pounds Babolat has said that the Pure Drive can be strung up to 65 pounds without voiding the warranty on the frame. There is not a similar note on the TW's Pure Storm page however the tension range they publish I think is quite valid. The caveat is that if you want to retain the Woofer effect then you should stay within the tension range on the frame however if you are not concerned about the Woofer technology then you can safley string using the tension range on the TW page.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

I started somewhere right inside the range printed on the racket.

I have a friend who strings his Pure Drive at 65 lbs and loves it. At this instant my Pure Storm is strung at 57 lbs with a Sythetic gut. Normally I use Luxilon at 54.

I have no idea how their woofer system works, but I think that they know best. I will stay between the printed range. I usually believe the manufacturers of equipment more than the people selling the stuff.

I don't know how much it matters though...

 

[buder]

The ball is on the strings approx .004 seconds. Power is a function of head speed. Spin is a function of angle of attack. Tension affects feel more than rebound speed, which is controlled largely by headspeed.

 

[SteveI]

I started somewhere right inside the range printed on the racket.

I have a friend who strings his Pure Drive at 65 lbs and loves it. At this instant my Pure Storm is strung at 57 lbs with a Sythetic gut. Normally I use Luxilon at 54.

I have no idea how their woofer system works, but I think that they know best. I will stay between the printed range. I usually believe the manufacturers of equipment more than the people selling the stuff.

I don't know how much it matters though...

Hi,

What Cruzer was explaining that if you string outside the tension range printer on the frame.. the "Woofer" system will not be effective. The Bab folks also have stated that it is fine to string over that tension range without possible damage to the frame and voiding the warranty. Cruzer also stated he did not care about the "Woofer" effect. In the case of the manufacturers knowing more than TW .. and the some of the more educated posters here.. Hummmm.. I will go with the posters and TW. Most of the time when you reach a company.. you get a sales or marketing person... who knows little about the products they sell.. other than what the company wants you to know. If you can get to one of the design engineers.. well that is another sorry. When I was working as a design enginner we were not allowed to talk to customers.. as we might say something that was true... but therefore damaging to the sales and marketing effort of the company. In this case.. as an enginner.. the truth did set you free...free to look for a new position...

Regards,
Steve

 

[mtk]

To everyone who responded,

Thank you everyone for your well informed responses. I'm glad that you all know what you are talking about. I think that I will stay within the range printed on the racket for now and experiment with different tensions until I get the feeling that I want. I may even try a little higher tension since I have always liked my tension strung at the max. Thanks again - mtk

 

[armand]

Nice post, Steve.

Anyway, one time I demoed a Pure Drive and hated it. I told the shop the strings felt really, really loose and they told me that they always string the demoes in the middle of the recommended tension range. When he told me that it was strung at 53lbs(?), I laughed! And when I tried to explain to him that 53lbs on a 100sq" frame was useless, he didn't care. He just stood by the shops policy. Tools+fools

 

[Bottle Rocket]

Steve,

I can't really argue with you, for I am only an engineering student right now, but...

I just really don't think tension recommendations are a marketing thing, but whatever. Like I said in my post, I think it's a good starting point. Whatever the player prefers is best.

 

[SteveI]

Steve,

I can't really argue with you, for I am only an engineering student right now, but...

I just really don't think tension recommendations are a marketing thing, but whatever. Like I said in my post, I think it's a good starting point. Whatever the player prefers is best.

Hi BR,

The tension recommendations are NOT created by the marketing and sales departments. These tension recommendations are established by the design and test folks. My point was that if you call say.. the Babolat office asking about the tension recommendations, will in most cases only get a sales and marketing person.. giving you the "company line". If can however, reach a person that really did some of thr design and or testing of the product.. they will have insights that will never be shared with sales and marketing. These insights might include the "Real" or "Effective" tension range, not the "tension recommendation" printed on the frame. Testing data over an expanded tension range for any # of strings.. etc.. etc. On the other hand.. many of the last line of Gamma Frames.. all had the tension range listed at 50-70 lbs... for 95 sq inch frame up to 110..figure that one out??? I guess they were saying... hey.. we tested all these frames.. and one broke at 70 lbs.. and you can guess how the frame plays otherwise. That is why this tennis site is oh... so excellent for technical insights and experience that will most likely never be available to you from the manufactures.

Regards,
Steve