Why don't pros use their string provider's stencil?

[Alex Mann]

I remember in the 90s and 2000s, the majority of players used to have their string provider's stencilled onto the bottom of the racquet, underneath the stencil logo of their racquet e.g. Sampras used a Wilson racquet so had a 'W' stencilled on his racquet and below was the Babolat stencil lines as he used Babolat strings. Graf had the same, however, with Toalson strings.

In today's game, I only really ever see the Solinco strings 'O' logo stencilled onto players strings.

Any one have any ideas why this is?

 

[1stVolley]

Good question. Maybe it's because most pros don't "sponsor" any particular string. Also, what do you do if you're playing a hybrid with strings from two different mfrs?

 

[Deleted member 768841]

The only string brand that doesn’t make racquets I’ve ever seen make a stencil is kirschbaum. The reason why is that the racquet manufacturer comes first. And plus you can’t layer logos.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Probably a contract thing. Bigger contract-bigger logo. That's how usually things work in sport.

 

[vsbabolat]

Back in the day you didn’t have Babolat in the racquet business. Babolat is seen as a completion now. Seems like just about every string brand is also in the racquet business too. Don’t want to promote another brand.

 

[uk_skippy]

Good question. Maybe it's because most pros don't "sponsor" any particular string. Also, what do you do if you're playing a hybrid with strings from two different mfrs?

It was more that string brands would sponsor players. There used to be a lot of players who were sponsored by Luxilon, and had their logo on their strings, usually. But as luxilon is so heavily use, there are now very few who put the luxilon logo on the strings. 2 i can recall a re Martin Klizan and Lukas Kubot.

It's doubtful 2 different string brands would sponsored a player for each half of a hybrid.

The only string brand that doesn’t make racquets I’ve ever seen make a stencil is kirschbaum. The reason why is that the racquet manufacturer comes first. And plus you can’t layer logos.

By layering, you mean 2 logos on a stringbed, then its possible, but harder with some combo's. Signum is another string only brand; while solinco is primarily a string brand, they do make racquets which strangely enough is a different logo.

On tour Ive seen (rqts/string) Babolat w/Solinco; Babolat w/Pacific; TF w/Solinco; Yonex w/Solinco; Yonex w/Pacific; Yonex w/Kirschabum; Head w/Luxilon; Head w/Solinco; Head w/Pacific; Head w/Babolat; Head w/TF; Head w/Kirschbaum; Head w/Isospeed; Prince w/Solinco; Wilson w/Solinco; Dunlop w/Babolat

 

[Deleted member 768841]

It was more that string brands would sponsor players. There used to be a lot of players who were sponsored by Luxilon, and had their logo on their strings, usually. But as luxilon is so heavily use, there are now very few who put the luxilon logo on the strings. 2 i can recall a re Martin Klizan and Lukas Kubot.

It's doubtful 2 different string brands would sponsored a player for each half of a hybrid.



By layering, you mean 2 logos on a stringbed, then its possible, but harder with some combo's. Signum is another string only brand; while solinco is primarily a string brand, they do make racquets which strangely enough is a different logo.

On tour Ive seen (rqts/string) Babolat w/Solinco; Babolat w/Pacific; TF w/Solinco; Yonex w/Solinco; Yonex w/Pacific; Yonex w/Kirschabum; Head w/Luxilon; Head w/Solinco; Head w/Pacific; Head w/Babolat; Head w/TF; Head w/Kirschbaum; Head w/Isospeed; Prince w/Solinco; Wilson w/Solinco; Dunlop w/Babolat

I’m reminded of when Babolat’s stencil was on every logo in the 90’s due to Touch VS. I’ve never seen a Solinco stencil or Pacific, I rarely see any stringer stencils.

 

[Moonballballer]

I think most racquet manufacturers dont allow the 2nd stencil, except head with luxilon for some guys. I've seen Dodig, Klizan, Kubot and Cuevas with the Lux stencil, Berrettini and youzhny with the Signum and Rubin with solinco.

 

[optimaltennis]

Most racket manufactures prohibit any other stencil besides their own on the racquet; (i.e. Wilson, Babolat, Yonex). Basically, these manufactures also market high end string, strings that pros would use. Head is the lone exception that allows string stencil, hence why all the players listed above use Head racquets as Head doesn't really make a string that competes with other top string brands.

That being said, quite a few players would rather have string sponsors than racquet sponsors, especially if the only benefit received is product.

 

[stringertom]

Most racket manufactures prohibit any other stencil besides their own on the racquet; (i.e. Wilson, Babolat, Yonex). Basically, these manufactures also market high end string, strings that pros would use. Head is the lone exception that allows string stencil, hence why all the players listed above use Head racquets as Head doesn't really make a string that competes with other top string brands.

That being said, quite a few players would rather have string sponsors than racquet sponsors, especially if the only benefit received is product.

Head Hawk Touch is Ash Barty’s string of choice. Same for Jannik Sinner. Same for Alexander Zverev.

 

[JW10S]

Head doesn't really make a string that competes with other top string brands.

Clearly you haven't tried any HEAD strings lately because that is not a true statement.

 

[MRfStop]

I’m reminded of when Babolat’s stencil was on every logo in the 90’s due to Touch VS. I’ve never seen a Solinco stencil or Pacific, I rarely see any stringer stencils.

Solinco

Pacific

Some of those who don’t use Wilson racquets but play with Luxilon will put Luxilon logo on it. Like Seppi with Pro Kennex

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Most racket manufactures prohibit any other stencil besides their own on the racquet; (i.e. Wilson, Babolat, Yonex). Basically, these manufactures also market high end string, strings that pros would use. Head is the lone exception that allows string stencil, hence why all the players listed above use Head racquets as Head doesn't really make a string that competes with other top string brands.

That being said, quite a few players would rather have string sponsors than racquet sponsors, especially if the only benefit received is product.

Clearly you haven't tried any HEAD strings lately because that is not a true statement.

I didn't think Head really 'made' any strings; aren't their strings, like the retail offerings from several other companies, simply rebranded?

 

[uk_skippy]

I didn't think Head really 'made' any strings; aren't their strings, like the retail offerings from several other companies, simply rebranded?

Most, if not all Head poly strings are made by Isospeed, but they are exclusive to Head, and not rebranded Isospeed strings except maybe the cross string in the intellitour is the same as Isospeed Professional Classic. I'm not sure on Head multifilaments; and nylon based syn guts are, well just syn guts


Edit : Having just checked my Head reels, some are made in Austria, others are made in Taiwan. So unless Isospeed have factories in Taiwan (doubtful), then Austrian made strings is from Isospeed, Taiwan strings have may been developed by Isospeed but made elsewhere.