Want to try Ashaway Kevlar mains but need advise

[sittingduck]

I'm a decent 4.0 player, started playing and stringing last October. I pop strings too often (every 2-3 months), I play about 6 hours a week so I get about 50 hours of playtime until they break. I'm also hitting with heavy topspin and generate my own power so I'm not concerned about power or spin (my semi-eastern grip give me enough spin). I use the Babolat Pure Aero and have been stringing it with a 17g Yonex pro poly tour. I get notches maybe 3rd day of play which is another thing I'd like to avoid with kevlar.

My inclination is to use a 16g Ashaway Kevlar with 17g pro poly or 17g RPM blast because I don't want to use synthetic gut for durability reasons (and I have those two reels already). My arm is fine and have good form so I'm not stressing my tendons to the aching point. What are your thoughts and experiences with Kevlar and copoly combinations, do they need to be the same gauge? Does it matter?

Regarding tension: I have found I like to tension the Yonex at 48-50# and found very good balance with control and power. Currently I've strung it at 54# and am even more accurate though I've lost a little power, but nothing I'm concerned about. Hopefully that information will help you hone in on a recommendation for the tension. I realize the mains will be pulled at a different tension than the crosses, so I'm looking for suggestions for both.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and share your thoughts.

 

[travlerajm]

I'm a decent 4.0 player, started playing and stringing last October. I pop strings too often (every 2-3 months), I play about 6 hours a week so I get about 50 hours of playtime until they break. I'm also hitting with heavy topspin and generate my own power so I'm not concerned about power or spin (my semi-eastern grip give me enough spin). I use the Babolat Pure Aero and have been stringing it with a 17g Yonex pro poly tour. I get notches maybe 3rd day of play which is another thing I'd like to avoid with kevlar.

My inclination is to use a 16g Ashaway Kevlar with 17g pro poly or 17g RPM blast because I don't want to use synthetic gut for durability reasons (and I have those two reels already). My arm is fine and have good form so I'm not stressing my tendons to the aching point. What are your thoughts and experiences with Kevlar and copoly combinations, do they need to be the same gauge? Does it matter?

Regarding tension: I have found I like to tension the Yonex at 48-50# and found very good balance with control and power. Currently I've strung it at 54# and am even more accurate though I've lost a little power, but nothing I'm concerned about. Hopefully that information will help you hone in on a recommendation for the tension. I realize the mains will be pulled at a different tension than the crosses, so I'm looking for suggestions for both.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and share your thoughts.

Kevlar/poly is a great alternative to poly, and is in my opinion more comfortable because the crosses won’t notch, especially if you use a dent-resistant poly.

I highly recommend prestretching both the kevlar and the poly for improved tension stability and playing characteristics.

 

[graycrait]

@sittingduck ,

I've strung a lot of Ash Kev mains, from 18g thru 16g, mostly 16g. But at least one reel of 17g. I think you can use 17g Ash Kev with about as much success as 16g. I just use 16g because it lasts longer.

Using both Racquet Tune and Tennis Tension apps I am pretty sure if you string Ash Kev at 62lbs it will drop tension and then stay around 48lbs after 24hrs off the stringer and some break in hitting.

If you don't manually prestretch Ash Kev or at least pull tension on each main 3x your tension loss will be greater.

 

[sittingduck]

thank you both, sounds like this is a good option with prestretching and high tensions for the kevlar, i will try it and let you know my thoughts

 

[travlerajm]

thank you both, sounds like this is a good option with prestretching and high tensions for the kevlar, i will try it and let you know my thoughts

I would suggest weighing your frame with your current string before you start. The kevlar mains will be 2-3g lighter than the poly mains. That way you can add back the lost mass to the hoop so that the swingweight and plow through is the same, for an apple-to-apples comparison.

 

[sittingduck]

I would suggest weighing your frame with your current string before you start. The kevlar mains will be 2-3g lighter than the poly mains. That way you can add back the lost mass to the hoop so that the swingweight and plow through is the same, for an apple-to-apples comparison.

I will do that, hadn't thought about that, thank you