What tension to use when going from W-Sensation 16G to 17G

[jomiller]

I like the Wilson sensation 16G but would like a bit more bite on the ball for more topspin and stronger kickserve. Have bought Wilson sensation 17G to try and achieve these objectives.
I string 16G at 62 lbs in LM-Pres MP.
What should I do with respect to string tension with 17G to
a) get the same feel as 16G
b) get comparable life time to 16G from this new 17G

Have been told that thinner 17G will feel much tighter at 62 lbs
than 16G at 62 lbs hence give a totally different feel.
( would this mean that I should string at maybe 60 lbs with 17G)

Also apparently the balls would tend to go further with 17G than with 16G due to more stretch on impact of ball
( this would mean I would need to string it tighter than 16G to compensate against that, or is this only theory?)

Someone else told me W-sensation 17G strung at 62 lbs would not
last one set as it was much too fragile at such tension in an LM-Pres-MP.

What are your valued comments on the above dilemma

 

[Jerry Seinfeld]

The LM Prestige has a dense string pattern, if you are not a chronic string breaker the 17ga should be just fine. It's an ideal racquet for a 17ga string.

Wllson Sensation is a poor string choice, IMO. They lose tension/playability fast and the durability is certainly less than stellar. As an alternative you may consider the Unique Tournafiber Irradiated or Alpha Gut 2000 in a 17 ga.

Many on this board suggest changing only one variable at a time. I am a member of this choir. If you are changing the string, don't change the tension too! If you notice a difference in play when you've changed multiple variables, which change will you attribute the change to??? Change string type, see how it plays and then adjust tension if necessary. The Sensation may not break, but they will lose playability quickly so you will be restringing fairly soon anyway.

 

[SW Stringer]

To get the same feel you want the "stress" to be equal between the two gauges. The stess is the pounds per square inch trying to rip the string apart. Divide the tension by the cross sectional area of the string to get the stress. An easy way to get the new tension (for the thinner string) is to multiply the old tension by the square of the ratios of the string diameters. If you're going from a 1.30 mm string to a 1.25 mm string then multiply the old (16g) tension by .925 (1.25*1.25/1.3*1.3). So if you strung at 62 pounds, then try 57 for the 17 gauge (assuming I guessed correctly at the diameters).

 

[Ryoma Kun]

are u kidding???

i swear sw has the craziest stuff, he's like mister science!!! which is cool

 

[jomiller]

Thanks SW , just found the other topic which was simmilar dated 15Nov which has a lot of this info allready on it and which I overlooked when I searched the site for the info I am looking for.
I will try and string at 60 to start, considering that thinner strings will loose tension faster and more of it than thiscker ones.

 

[Gaines Hillix]

If you follow the method of using stress as a guide to determine what tension to use, IMO you will often end up with a stringbed that is more powerful than you expected. Some 17g strings are stiffer and less elastic than their 16g equivelants, but about 60% are not. In general 17g strings are more elastic and powerful than 16g strings. Since they stretch more they do not use up as much energy from the ball strike and more of it is returned to the shot. I am like Jerry, since there is no way that everyone agrees with to determine what tension to use, it is best to only change one thing at a time when switching strings or gauges.