Polys have initial tension loss and then retain the tension very well actually. A string "going dead" is much more noticeable on a multifilament string than a poly. The stringbed deforms when contact with the ball is made, the material then resists deformation and wants to "snap" back into its original shape. What changes over time is how strongly the material snaps back into the non-deformed shape. The process of how the material snaps back to its original shape less and less strongly over time is the process of a string "going dead".
Fernando Vanzela Yes you should be fine waiting until that hybrid breaks. If you are playing frequently you will most likely break the multi main string within a month to a month and a half. Also, the main strings are what you feel the most, and the playability of multis tends to last much longer than most polys. The poly cross will lose more tension, but they are only playing an assisting role to the dominant multi main. You may find control to drop off towards the end of the string life. Cheers, Chris, TW
i string my own strings. i have been practicing a heavy nadal like forehand all week. my strings went dead in about 3 days, i can tell by the clearance im getting from the top spin, its no where near as much as when i first started. usually i can break polys in a week or so, i might have to cut these out soon.
I only restring my racquet when my strings snap. It doesn't bother me at all when the strings go dead. I don't see or feel a difference when I play after weeks of playing without restringing my racquet
The problem with changing the strings that often is the money. Seriously. At least in Brasil, the string i use, wich is rpm blast 1.30mm, is very expensive. Would you guys recomend another type of string that has a similar playability but it''s more durable?
Yonex Poly Tour Spin - best durbility. But IMO loses it's characteristics when strung over 20-22 kg (18x20 and 16x19). Never broke any and strung it more than 20 times now.
Hi Tennis Warehouse, I'm currently going through a string dilemma with my current game. I just graduated college and am waiting for my full-time job start in september, so I am playing tennis an absolute minimum of 4 times a week. I hate playing for a short amount of time, so when I do play I usually play for anywhere from 2-5 hours. I'm a strong 22 year old, 6'3" 215 lbs with a head radical mp, pretty heavy baseline game, one-handed BH and love crushing through the ball and playing a real aggressive attacking game. In order to hit as relatively hard as I do, I do have a fair amount of top-spin to keep my strokes in. I currently use Solinco TB 17 gauge diamond and I do enjoy using it, however I do feel like there can be a better string out there for my game - but - I'd prefer to not end up replacing my strings every week. My rotator cuff and I do appreciate the softer feel on the TB diamond - but TB Diamond is a bit TOO soft. I like the crisp pop/power/spin I get on the ball - but would you have a handful of string suggestions you might recommend for my game? I do string my own racquets so feel free to mention all that comes to mind. You guys are great by the way!
miniovechkin8 Take a look at some of our favorite poly on our new "Improve" page: www.tennis-warehouse.com/Favorite_Strings/catpage-FAVSTR.html We have our favorite "budget" polys as well as our favorite high performing ones as well! We all love Volkl Cyclone around here, and if you really want some extra spin in a super soft package, check out TCS from Tecnifibre. Also, check out Tourna Big Hitter Black and Black Spiky Shark. Hope those are a good starting point, let us know if we can help you out some more! Michelle, TW
Thanks for these great videos, Chris. I'm wondering your thoughts on stringing at a much higher tension than the target tension, in order to accommodate the particular tension loss of the string. I just started playing with polyester strings and stringing at the recommended tension range only to find the string would only play well for about an hour before I lost control over my shots. I later found out that some of these strings lose as much as 20-30% tension over time! TWU has an extensive database with published tension loss percentages for each string so i'm wondering if I should be taking these numbers into account when stringing?
I would highly recommend pre-stretching the string rather than stringing higher. Poly strings are stiff without any tension so we recommend stringing them lower than normal otherwise the stringbed will become uncomfortable. You can either pre-stretch by securing the string around a post, door handle or anything solid and simply clamping the other end and pulling on it for 30 seconds, or you can use the pre-stretch function on your stringing machine if you have one. You can also tension the string slightly above your desired tension, hold for 5 seconds, release tension and then string at your desired tension for each pull -- if you do not have a pre-stretch function on your machine. Please try this before going higher in tension -- it will be healthier for your arm. Cheers, Chris, TW.
I'm reading and watching string content like this. When string goes dead, I start looking at racquet reviews instead of cutting strings. My two sticks with Isospeed Baseline Control (polyester) played okay until this week. They just stopped delivering the same pizzazz and hadn't enough life to ask to be tagged out. One had 10 hours of play, while the other had 20. At a cost of $3 per string set, I can restring earlier. Or maybe use a full bed or hybrid with multifilament.
Hi @ Chris &/or TW, Could you please apply the exact same topics as discussed in this video to Natural Gut, especially if hybrid with (round-smooth-soft) Poly? THANKS!!
Natural gut holds tension very, very well compared to other string types. If you play a set of natural gut you will likely break it before it loses playability. In a hybrid it will hold tension and playability longer than the poly string it is paired with. The issue in that scenario is that the gut will still be holding tension whereas the poly will have dropped off and you'll have a big difference in how the strings are performing in comparison to each other. If you don't break a string expect to cut them out when the playability becomes unacceptable. Cheers, Chris, TW
nice video! Quick question Tennis Warehouse why does that 6.0 85 head size look so big? Is that a custom frame and so bigger than 85 inches or is it just the camera angle?
The person at my local tennis store told me that the minimum amount of stringing per year is by the amount of times you play per week. If you play once a week or less, changing strings once a year is fine. But if you play 7 days a week, you should at least change them 7 times a year.
Allan Yang That's good advice. Fresh strings are super important and don't have to break the bank. There are many great options at great prices. Learning to string is also highly advised if you are a tournament player. Just stringing your own racquets will pay for the machine, plus you can string for friends for a small fee and pay off the machine cost even faster. Best, Chris, TW
I am a high slice user, and hit all shots with alot of spin. I am not a string breaker. My racket is a 2013 Babolat aeropro drive gt, would you recommend rpm blast, and wilson nxt in the crosses? It would also helpful if you could recommend gauges for a balance between durability-performance.Thanks
CDs Nutz ,If you're not a frequent string breaker, I'd actually recommend using NXT in the mains and the RPM Blast in the crosses. That'll maximize your spin potential and feel while the RPM in the crosses adds a bit of control. Try the NXT in a 16 gauge and the RPM in a 17 gauge and see how it works out for you. Andy, TW
I play with Head Sonic Pro 1.25 mm on a Blade 93 racket. I play with heavy topspin and even though my racket and string setup isn't ideal for my gameplay, I've always played like this and enjoyed it. Do you recommend any string around the same pricepoint that would last me more than 12 hours of playtime? I'm a stringbreaker breaking more than 1 string each week (around 8/10 hours of playtime)
I am a student I have 2 head radical pro. How can I tell if my strings are dead and also what are some polyester strings that have better play ability? I currently use Head Sonic Pro.
James Lu ,It's simply going to come down to your personal preference and your own perception of your strings. If you don't notice a difference in playability over time, then there's no reason to restring your racquet unless your strings break. As for other polyester string options, I'd recommend giving Volkl Cyclone or Y-Tex Quadro Twist a try. Andy, TW
In my experience, poly strings groove in after two to three weeks of play. The cross cuts into the main so the string is not moving against each other, the result is lost of power. Is that you called dead poly?
The string notching you are referring to, is part of the play-ability loss. The dead feeling can also be from the string losing its elasticity, or bagging out as some call it. Troy, TW
How often would you recommend restringing a racket if I'm playing five days a week using Cyclone or a Cyclone hybrid? Sometimes I loose playability really quickly if I'm playing that much.
+Sid Gowda , As soon as you feel like you lose playability should be when you want to start thinking about restringing. If you're using a poly we typically recommend restringing every 4-6 weeks. However, it really comes down to personal preference, so whenever you feel like the performance of your racquet is dropping then that's when you should restring. Andy, TW
Hi tennis warehouse. I have a couple of questions. Im new to the game (about 2 years) so bear with me :) 1. What's the difference between multifillament, poly and natural gut strings in terms of durability and tension loss? 2. Which one would suit my racket of choice the wilson juice 100 lite? (I'm a baseliner with a one handed backhand 25yo, semi-western grip) I would like to add more spin to my shots and I would take durability over performace any day but if I can have the best of both worlds I wouldn't mind. Thank you in advance!
bob gonzalez ,Natural gut will offer the most comfort and best tension maintenance of any type of string. Multifilaments are synthetic alternatives to natural gut that also offer great comfort, power and feel, but not quite to the level of natural gut. Polyester strings have the least amount of power and will lose tension quicker, but they offer much more control, spin and string durability. For you, I think you should try a livelier co-poly string (lively compared to other polys) because that'll give you a boost in spin and durability. Try Dunlop Black Widow or Double AR Diablo at a fairly low tension - try 52 lbs - and see what you think! Andy, TW
juan david velasquez ,The strings will go dead over time regardless of whether you are playing with them or just storing them. Storing them with or without strings won't affect the integrity of the racquets, so it's up to you. Andy, TW
So a racket freshly strung at 45lbs would feel different to a racket that was strung at 50lbs and went dead at 45lbs because it stretched rather than strung at 45lbs?
@Isaac Lambe, You should be able to notice the difference. The freshly strung 45 pounds should feel like you are getting better pocketing, and energy return. The one that was strung at 50, and has dropped, should have a deader response as the strings have lost some of the elastic qualities. Troy, TW
the confusing part of this, is that Chris wrote a blog post about the wonders of low tension stringing recently. In that blog, I think he indicated that lower tensions surprisingly provided no loss of control, especially with Poly strings....So if I string at 40 lbs. and I lose 3 pounds, I should only do better. I always thought strings "going dead" had more to do with the elasticity of the string, rather than just tension loss. Care to comment on what "going dead" means...and if tension loss is always bad?
@ Steven Klurfeld, Going low with your tension is different than your stringbed "going dead". Strings do lose tension over time, but they also lose their elasticity over time as well like you mentioned. Both of these things are happening over time, and it's the "net effect" of these two things happening that you ultimately feel. Also like you mention, some people DO prefer their strings once they lose a few pounds in their racquet as opposed to how it feels immediately off the stringing machine. This all comes down to personal preference. However, if you have found a tension that you like that's offering you an ideal blend of power and control, then once those strings lose tension you'll then be getting more power and less control than you originally intended. Andy, TW
Hi TWE From with tension loss should i cut my strings ? If i play with 24kgs with Razor code, when do i have to cut my strings ? 20%, 30% loss or more ? I ve just bought a string tension meter in your site, and i m wondering when to cut my strings when its plays dead...
I would likely try and use a combination of the meter, and your preference for feel. I will say that those string meters don't always give an accurate tension number, based on how the machine will read the tension, so maybe write down the number of what the meter reads when the strings are fresh, and then use that as a reference point for how much it drops over time. It is hard to say if you will want to cut it out at 20% or 30%, but you should have a good idea based on feel, as to when the strings start to feel dead. Troy, TW
I have a couple of brand new Prince Tour 100 18x20 racquets that I got from TWs Australian shop (not tenniswareshouse.com.au). I got injured before I could use them. They're freshly strung with Cyclone 18g. I won't be playing for several months. Will they stay "fresh" if I don't hit a ball with them?
MrCloudAtlas , Like we talk about in the video, polyester strings will go dead within 3-4 weeks whether you're playing with them or not. But again, these are your racquets, and if you pick them up in a few months and don't notice any difference in playability from what you're used to, then by all means keep using the string. According to our lab tests though, the strings will be "bagged out" a bit and won't have the same liveliness they had when they were freshly strung. Andy, TW
I strung my Pure Aero+ with RPM Blast Rough 17 in mains and VS Team 17 in crosses and after just an hour or two hours max the strings were getting so sticky! I was aligning the strings after every point and the string bed felt dead. I play with a western forehand and semi western backhand (tons of spin and big cuts at the ball), how come my strings go "sticky" so fast with POLY mains and what can I do to help this problem? Are the gut crosses to blame?
@ Justin Mark, Since your racquet is horizontal at contact and your most typical swing path is low to high, it's the main strings that slide on the crosses at impact. If you have a sticky string like the gut as your crosses, it's difficult for the main string to slide on it because the friction is so high. I'd suggest flipping your setup and putting the gut in the mains - that way, the gut will have the more slick polyester string to slide on and it won't get stuck out of position as much. Also, by putting the softer string in the mains, you will get more power and your strings won't go "dead" so quickly. Andy, TW
Interesting observation! I put the Poly in the mains to "increase durability", it just shows that the normal rules do not apply to everyone! Thanks for the input! My only concern is that the gut mains will break very quickly though, how much playtime can you realistically expect from this setup with gut mains and my high topspin style game? If durability is appalling would full poly be the only realistic choice for my game? Many thanks.
@ Justin Mark, It's impossible to say how long a stringjob will last for you because it depends on so many different factors. If you aren't getting enough durability though then yes, I would opt for a full bed of a softer-feeling poly like Y-Tex Quadro Twist or Volkl Cyclone Tour. Andy, TW
@Santiago jose Chacon, You can go low tension, with a soft co-poly string like Polyfibre TCS, or Double AR Diablo. For more comfort, you may want to go with a hybrid, with one of these soft co-poly strings, and a multifilament like Tecnifibre NRG2, or Head Velocity MLT. Troy, TW
Santiago jose Chacon: elbow problems? Try Pro Kennex Kinetic Series Rackets. I use the Kinetic 5g Classic. Those are rackets with micro carbon balls inside the frame that absorb socks. Many players with past elbow problems (including me), find these rackets excellent for that issues.
@Miguel Pessanha, Hyper-G has great tension maintenance for a co-poly, ALU Power Rough is not so good for tension maintenance. Solinco Tour Bite, Luxilon 4G, and Kirschbaum Max Power, along with Hyper-G are all great options. Since they hold tension very well for co-poly, and they are also on the stiff side of the spectrum, you may want to consider dropping tension by a pound or two. Troy, TW
***** Not really, if you are not breaking poly within two weeks or let say 12 hours of play you should probably not be using poly. Most people would benefit from not using poly or at least not in a full bed. Go with a good nylon or multifilament string or if you really aren't a string breaker go with natural gut. Since its playability will not drop you will never need to restring it untill it actually breaks. As a matter of fact natural gut is quite durable, at least indoors.
Adrian Cerps iv tried nylon and it was horrible. natural gut is ok but quite expensive and very breakable, unless you play indoors or in some magical country where it never rains and the temperature stays around 18 degrees celsius. its just that restringing every 2 weeks is nuts, unless u got the money to spend or u play every day.
Adrian Cerps i don't break them often, like once on 6 months. but thats not the issue; the issue is they said u have to cut them after 2 weeks because they go dead and i said thats impossible to do every 2 weeks buying new strings. i use luxilon feel 1.20, slink tour bite 1.10 or babolat rpm blast 1.20
***** Two to three weeks would be ideal. If that is not economically possible, consider getting a reel of less expensive poly (if you have to use poly). I love Isospeed Baseline and a reel of that (660 feet so around 17 string jobs) is only $39.99. Gosen Polyon reels are the same price. Wilson NXT Control is a multi that you can play with till it breaks and is around $19 a set. Hope that helps. Chris, TW
"why your tennis strings go dead over time" Shouldn't it be 'over use' instead? Unless you also intended to tell us that time by itself also affects the performance of the strings.
Matt Sattah ,Time is actually the main factor here. Whether you play with the racquet or not, the strings will go dead over the same amount of time. We have actually found in TW University lab tests that how often you use the racquet does not affect the amount of time it takes for the strings to go dead. Andy, TW
When I was a tournament player I would break strings every 3 weeks. Now, after rediscovering tennis after a 25 year hiatus, I am playing with racquets purchased off of eBay with strings that are years old and they feel fine. Maybe we need to age strings for 2 years like cyclists used to do with their tires to get the rubber hard! :)
Still using syn gut, strung in 1991 in a St Vin prostaff. Might be in the high twenties now, still love it.
Very helpful tutorial, Chris. Thanks.
Polys have initial tension loss and then retain the tension very well actually. A string "going dead" is much more noticeable on a multifilament string than a poly. The stringbed deforms when contact with the ball is made, the material then resists deformation and wants to "snap" back into its original shape. What changes over time is how strongly the material snaps back into the non-deformed shape. The process of how the material snaps back to its original shape less and less strongly over time is the process of a string "going dead".
Very good explanations
Fernando Vanzela Yes you should be fine waiting until that hybrid breaks. If you are playing frequently you will most likely break the multi main string within a month to a month and a half. Also, the main strings are what you feel the most, and the playability of multis tends to last much longer than most polys. The poly cross will lose more tension, but they are only playing an assisting role to the dominant multi main. You may find control to drop off towards the end of the string life. Cheers, Chris, TW
i string my own strings. i have been practicing a heavy nadal like forehand all week. my strings went dead in about 3 days, i can tell by the clearance im getting from the top spin, its no where near as much as when i first started. usually i can break polys in a week or so, i might have to cut these out soon.
I only restring my racquet when my strings snap. It doesn't bother me at all when the strings go dead. I don't see or feel a difference when I play after weeks of playing without restringing my racquet
Any info on synthetic gut?
The problem with changing the strings that often is the money. Seriously. At least in Brasil, the string i use, wich is rpm blast 1.30mm, is very expensive. Would you guys recomend another type of string that has a similar playability but it''s more durable?
HI Chris, what about a mix of poly on the crosses and multi on the mains? Would the playability lasts untill it breaks either?
Yonex Poly Tour Spin - best durbility. But IMO loses it's characteristics when strung over 20-22 kg (18x20 and 16x19). Never broke any and strung it more than 20 times now.
Hi Tennis Warehouse,
I'm currently going through a string dilemma with my current game. I just graduated college and am waiting for my full-time job start in september, so I am playing tennis an absolute minimum of 4 times a week. I hate playing for a short amount of time, so when I do play I usually play for anywhere from 2-5 hours.
I'm a strong 22 year old, 6'3" 215 lbs with a head radical mp, pretty heavy baseline game, one-handed BH and love crushing through the ball and playing a real aggressive attacking game. In order to hit as relatively hard as I do, I do have a fair amount of top-spin to keep my strokes in.
I currently use Solinco TB 17 gauge diamond and I do enjoy using it, however I do feel like there can be a better string out there for my game - but - I'd prefer to not end up replacing my strings every week. My rotator cuff and I do appreciate the softer feel on the TB diamond - but TB Diamond is a bit TOO soft. I like the crisp pop/power/spin I get on the ball - but would you have a handful of string suggestions you might recommend for my game?
I do string my own racquets so feel free to mention all that comes to mind. You guys are great by the way!
Tennis Warehouse or any recommendations on hybrid combos/string material change etc!!
miniovechkin8 Take a look at some of our favorite poly on our new "Improve" page:
www.tennis-warehouse.com/Favorite_Strings/catpage-FAVSTR.html
We have our favorite "budget" polys as well as our favorite high performing ones as well! We all love Volkl Cyclone around here, and if you really want some extra spin in a super soft package, check out TCS from Tecnifibre. Also, check out Tourna Big Hitter Black and Black Spiky Shark.
Hope those are a good starting point, let us know if we can help you out some more!
Michelle, TW
I used the mono hyper g and I played amazing the 2 or 3rd day but now it’s been about a week in it’s terrible
Lol. He measures it in weeks. I measure it in years lol. I got an old Dunlop that has strings likely from the 80s and it hits pretty darn good.
Thanks for these great videos, Chris. I'm wondering your thoughts on stringing at a much higher tension than the target tension, in order to accommodate the particular tension loss of the string. I just started playing with polyester strings and stringing at the recommended tension range only to find the string would only play well for about an hour before I lost control over my shots. I later found out that some of these strings lose as much as 20-30% tension over time! TWU has an extensive database with published tension loss percentages for each string so i'm wondering if I should be taking these numbers into account when stringing?
I would highly recommend pre-stretching the string rather than stringing higher. Poly strings are stiff without any tension so we recommend stringing them lower than normal otherwise the stringbed will become uncomfortable. You can either pre-stretch by securing the string around a post, door handle or anything solid and simply clamping the other end and pulling on it for 30 seconds, or you can use the pre-stretch function on your stringing machine if you have one. You can also tension the string slightly above your desired tension, hold for 5 seconds, release tension and then string at your desired tension for each pull -- if you do not have a pre-stretch function on your machine. Please try this before going higher in tension -- it will be healthier for your arm. Cheers, Chris, TW.
I'm reading and watching string content like this. When string goes dead, I start looking at racquet reviews instead of cutting strings. My two sticks with Isospeed Baseline Control (polyester) played okay until this week. They just stopped delivering the same pizzazz and hadn't enough life to ask to be tagged out. One had 10 hours of play, while the other had 20. At a cost of $3 per string set, I can restring earlier.
Or maybe use a full bed or hybrid with multifilament.
Hi @ Chris &/or TW,
Could you please apply the exact same topics as discussed in this video to Natural Gut, especially if hybrid with (round-smooth-soft) Poly?
THANKS!!
Natural gut holds tension very, very well compared to other string types. If you play a set of natural gut you will likely break it before it loses playability. In a hybrid it will hold tension and playability longer than the poly string it is paired with. The issue in that scenario is that the gut will still be holding tension whereas the poly will have dropped off and you'll have a big difference in how the strings are performing in comparison to each other. If you don't break a string expect to cut them out when the playability becomes unacceptable. Cheers, Chris, TW
nice video! Quick question Tennis Warehouse why does that 6.0 85 head size look so big? Is that a custom frame and so bigger than 85 inches or is it just the camera angle?
@andrew storm,
That's a Pro Staff Classic 95, not the 85.
Andy, TW
The person at my local tennis store told me that the minimum amount of stringing per year is by the amount of times you play per week. If you play once a week or less, changing strings once a year is fine. But if you play 7 days a week, you should at least change them 7 times a year.
Allan Yang That's good advice. Fresh strings are super important and don't have to break the bank. There are many great options at great prices. Learning to string is also highly advised if you are a tournament player. Just stringing your own racquets will pay for the machine, plus you can string for friends for a small fee and pay off the machine cost even faster. Best, Chris, TW
i played with one year old string (on racket), it is just fine for me.
I've haven't changed the strings (I'm using Volkl Cyclone 16g) on my racquet since last November.....lol
Justin Talioaga You are due for some fresh strings!Cheers, Chris, TW.
I recognize it all, it's time for other strings (after 2 year)
I am a high slice user, and hit all shots with alot of spin. I am not a string breaker. My racket is a 2013 Babolat aeropro drive gt, would you recommend rpm blast, and wilson nxt in the crosses? It would also helpful if you could recommend gauges for a balance between durability-performance.Thanks
CDs Nutz ,If you're not a frequent string breaker, I'd actually recommend using NXT in the mains and the RPM Blast in the crosses. That'll maximize your spin potential and feel while the RPM in the crosses adds a bit of control. Try the NXT in a 16 gauge and the RPM in a 17 gauge and see how it works out for you.
Andy, TW
I play with Head Sonic Pro 1.25 mm on a Blade 93 racket. I play with heavy topspin and even though my racket and string setup isn't ideal for my gameplay, I've always played like this and enjoyed it. Do you recommend any string around the same pricepoint that would last me more than 12 hours of playtime? I'm a stringbreaker breaking more than 1 string each week (around 8/10 hours of playtime)
William Boogert ,
Sonic Pro Edge would be a great one to try along with Topspin Cyberflash.
Andy, TW
I am a student I have 2 head radical pro. How can I tell if my strings are dead and also what are some polyester strings that have better play ability? I currently use Head Sonic Pro.
James Lu ,It's simply going to come down to your personal preference and your own perception of your strings. If you don't notice a difference in playability over time, then there's no reason to restring your racquet unless your strings break. As for other polyester string options, I'd recommend giving Volkl Cyclone or Y-Tex Quadro Twist a try.
Andy, TW
Dope jacket
What's your favorite multifilament string?
Glenn De Block ,A few of our favorites include Babolat XCel, Tecnifibre NRG2 and Wilson NXT.
Andy, TW
In my experience, poly strings groove in after two to three weeks of play. The cross cuts into the main so the string is not moving against each other, the result is lost of power. Is that you called dead poly?
The string notching you are referring to, is part of the play-ability loss. The dead feeling can also be from the string losing its elasticity, or bagging out as some call it. Troy, TW
How often would you recommend restringing a racket if I'm playing five days a week using Cyclone or a Cyclone hybrid? Sometimes I loose playability really quickly if I'm playing that much.
+Sid Gowda ,
As soon as you feel like you lose playability should be when you want to start thinking about restringing. If you're using a poly we typically recommend restringing every 4-6 weeks. However, it really comes down to personal preference, so whenever you feel like the performance of your racquet is dropping then that's when you should restring.
Andy, TW
What level play? Hitting or matches? Probably every 2 weeks, Restring
Hi tennis warehouse. I have a couple of questions. Im new to the game (about 2 years) so bear with me :)
1. What's the difference between multifillament, poly and natural gut strings in terms of durability and tension loss?
2. Which one would suit my racket of choice the wilson juice 100 lite? (I'm a baseliner with a one handed backhand 25yo, semi-western grip)
I would like to add more spin to my shots and I would take durability over performace any day but if I can have the best of both worlds I wouldn't mind. Thank you in advance!
bob gonzalez ,Natural gut will offer the most comfort and best tension maintenance of any type of string. Multifilaments are synthetic alternatives to natural gut that also offer great comfort, power and feel, but not quite to the level of natural gut. Polyester strings have the least amount of power and will lose tension quicker, but they offer much more control, spin and string durability.
For you, I think you should try a livelier co-poly string (lively compared to other polys) because that'll give you a boost in spin and durability. Try Dunlop Black Widow or Double AR Diablo at a fairly low tension - try 52 lbs - and see what you think!
Andy, TW
Thank u so much for the free tennis lesson! ;)
if you were to store rackets for collectiong purposes would you cut the strings? or just leave them like they are with their old string?
juan david velasquez ,The strings will go dead over time regardless of whether you are playing with them or just storing them. Storing them with or without strings won't affect the integrity of the racquets, so it's up to you.
Andy, TW
So a racket freshly strung at 45lbs would feel different to a racket that was strung at 50lbs and went dead at 45lbs because it stretched rather than strung at 45lbs?
@Isaac Lambe,
You should be able to notice the difference. The freshly strung 45 pounds should feel like you are getting better pocketing, and energy return. The one that was strung at 50, and has dropped, should have a deader response as the strings have lost some of the elastic qualities.
Troy, TW
Tennis Warehouse thank you very much!
the confusing part of this, is that Chris wrote a blog post about the wonders of low tension stringing recently. In that blog, I think he indicated that lower tensions surprisingly provided no loss of control, especially with Poly strings....So if I string at 40 lbs. and I lose 3 pounds, I should only do better.
I always thought strings "going dead" had more to do with the elasticity of the string, rather than just tension loss.
Care to comment on what "going dead" means...and if tension loss is always bad?
@ Steven Klurfeld,
Going low with your tension is different than your stringbed "going dead". Strings do lose tension over time, but they also lose their elasticity over time as well like you mentioned. Both of these things are happening over time, and it's the "net effect" of these two things happening that you ultimately feel.
Also like you mention, some people DO prefer their strings once they lose a few pounds in their racquet as opposed to how it feels immediately off the stringing machine. This all comes down to personal preference. However, if you have found a tension that you like that's offering you an ideal blend of power and control, then once those strings lose tension you'll then be getting more power and less control than you originally intended.
Andy, TW
Hi TWE
From with tension loss should i cut my strings ? If i play with 24kgs with Razor code, when do i have to cut my strings ? 20%, 30% loss or more ?
I ve just bought a string tension meter in your site, and i m wondering when to cut my strings when its plays dead...
I would likely try and use a combination of the meter, and your preference for feel. I will say that those string meters don't always give an accurate tension number, based on how the machine will read the tension, so maybe write down the number of what the meter reads when the strings are fresh, and then use that as a reference point for how much it drops over time. It is hard to say if you will want to cut it out at 20% or 30%, but you should have a good idea based on feel, as to when the strings start to feel dead. Troy, TW
Porsche tracksuit. Sweeeeeeeeet!
I have a couple of brand new Prince Tour 100 18x20 racquets that I got from TWs Australian shop (not tenniswareshouse.com.au). I got injured before I could use them. They're freshly strung with Cyclone 18g. I won't be playing for several months. Will they stay "fresh" if I don't hit a ball with them?
MrCloudAtlas ,
Like we talk about in the video, polyester strings will go dead within 3-4 weeks whether you're playing with them or not. But again, these are your racquets, and if you pick them up in a few months and don't notice any difference in playability from what you're used to, then by all means keep using the string. According to our lab tests though, the strings will be "bagged out" a bit and won't have the same liveliness they had when they were freshly strung.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse Thanks for the reply Andy. I'll see how they feel when I get back on the court.
I strung my Pure Aero+ with RPM Blast Rough 17 in mains and VS Team 17 in crosses and after just an hour or two hours max the strings were getting so sticky! I was aligning the strings after every point and the string bed felt dead. I play with a western forehand and semi western backhand (tons of spin and big cuts at the ball), how come my strings go "sticky" so fast with POLY mains and what can I do to help this problem? Are the gut crosses to blame?
@ Justin Mark,
Since your racquet is horizontal at contact and your most typical swing path is low to high, it's the main strings that slide on the crosses at impact. If you have a sticky string like the gut as your crosses, it's difficult for the main string to slide on it because the friction is so high. I'd suggest flipping your setup and putting the gut in the mains - that way, the gut will have the more slick polyester string to slide on and it won't get stuck out of position as much. Also, by putting the softer string in the mains, you will get more power and your strings won't go "dead" so quickly.
Andy, TW
Interesting observation! I put the Poly in the mains to "increase durability", it just shows that the normal rules do not apply to everyone! Thanks for the input! My only concern is that the gut mains will break very quickly though, how much playtime can you realistically expect from this setup with gut mains and my high topspin style game? If durability is appalling would full poly be the only realistic choice for my game? Many thanks.
@ Justin Mark,
It's impossible to say how long a stringjob will last for you because it depends on so many different factors. If you aren't getting enough durability though then yes, I would opt for a full bed of a softer-feeling poly like Y-Tex Quadro Twist or Volkl Cyclone Tour.
Andy, TW
I have elbow problems but also Im hard spinner... what should I do with my strings
@Santiago jose Chacon,
You can go low tension, with a soft co-poly string like Polyfibre TCS, or Double AR Diablo. For more comfort, you may want to go with a hybrid, with one of these soft co-poly strings, and a multifilament like Tecnifibre NRG2, or Head Velocity MLT.
Troy, TW
Santiago jose Chacon: elbow problems? Try Pro Kennex Kinetic Series Rackets. I use the Kinetic 5g Classic. Those are rackets with micro carbon balls inside the frame that absorb socks. Many players with past elbow problems (including me), find these rackets excellent for that issues.
Hi guys, what are the best tension maintenace polys?
I was thinking about stringing my PS97 with either Hyper G or Alu Power Rough. Thanks!!
@Miguel Pessanha,
Hyper-G has great tension maintenance for a co-poly, ALU Power Rough is not so good for tension maintenance. Solinco Tour Bite, Luxilon 4G, and Kirschbaum Max Power, along with Hyper-G are all great options. Since they hold tension very well for co-poly, and they are also on the stiff side of the spectrum, you may want to consider dropping tension by a pound or two.
Troy, TW
Yonex Poly Tour Spin of course. The "durability" category at stringforum.net says everything about it.
What if you don't have enough money to switch every month
Crazy cram some polyester strings last a much longer time than others. Volkl Cyclone 18 comes to mind.
I'll cut every two weeks once you send me some of that tennis warehouse money
what happened to chris' eye?
ratherbsleepin45 I had some skin cancer removed. Chris, TW
Tennis Warehouse Hope you're recovering well Chris!
A month!? It depends on your swing speeds, hitting vs match play, play time and weather. #govegan #compassion
Im sorry but every two weeks?? Thats impossible for the average amateur player
***** Not really, if you are not breaking poly within two weeks or let say 12 hours of play you should probably not be using poly. Most people would benefit from not using poly or at least not in a full bed. Go with a good nylon or multifilament string or if you really aren't a string breaker go with natural gut. Since its playability will not drop you will never need to restring it untill it actually breaks. As a matter of fact natural gut is quite durable, at least indoors.
Adrian Cerps iv tried nylon and it was horrible. natural gut is ok but quite expensive and very breakable, unless you play indoors or in some magical country where it never rains and the temperature stays around 18 degrees celsius. its just that restringing every 2 weeks is nuts, unless u got the money to spend or u play every day.
But how often do you break your strings and what are you currently using?
Adrian Cerps i don't break them often, like once on 6 months. but thats not the issue; the issue is they said u have to cut them after 2 weeks because they go dead and i said thats impossible to do every 2 weeks buying new strings. i use luxilon feel 1.20, slink tour bite 1.10 or babolat rpm blast 1.20
***** Two to three weeks would be ideal. If that is not economically possible, consider getting a reel of less expensive poly (if you have to use poly). I love Isospeed Baseline and a reel of that (660 feet so around 17 string jobs) is only $39.99. Gosen Polyon reels are the same price. Wilson NXT Control is a multi that you can play with till it breaks and is around $19 a set. Hope that helps. Chris, TW
When you say 2-3 weeks how many hours of play is that?
Probably somewhere in the ball park of like 15-20. Troy, TW
1:30 is when he gets to the point
"why your tennis strings go dead over time"
Shouldn't it be 'over use' instead? Unless you also intended to tell us that time by itself also affects the performance of the strings.
Matt Sattah ,Time is actually the main factor here. Whether you play with the racquet or not, the strings will go dead over the same amount of time. We have actually found in TW University lab tests that how often you use the racquet does not affect the amount of time it takes for the strings to go dead.
Andy, TW
Tennis Warehouse then why are you telling us "if you only play twice a week, change your strings twice a year?"
When I was a tournament player I would break strings every 3 weeks. Now, after rediscovering tennis after a 25 year hiatus, I am playing with racquets purchased off of eBay with strings that are years old and they feel fine. Maybe we need to age strings for 2 years like cyclists used to do with their tires to get the rubber hard! :)