Del Potro wants his balls to land in the court; not burning a hole through the back fence without bouncing! The main obstacle in my path is my blasted rotator cuffs with a history of tendinitis. For example, if its 50-60 lbs, youd start at 55 lbs, then adjust up or down based on your preference. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 9, 2015. In other words, the speed of the ball as it leaves your racquet stays the same with higher or lower tensions. However, players often feel like the balls have more pop because the air is thinner and the humidity is lower, causing them to increase their strings tension in this scenario. This guide will share insight into how tension impacts all aspects of racquet performance with clear explanations, a helpful chart, and a list of pro string tensions you can reference and compare. For example, Babolats RPM Blast recommends 48 66 lbs or 22 30 kg, a rough guide for understanding where they have determined the string performs its best. However, many players will keep one or more racquets strung a few kilograms or pounds tighter for added control and looser for extra power. I am leaning towards choosing same string i.e., Element but lower tension to compare? Strings can lose up to 10% of their tension within 24 hours, so some players ask their racquet technicians to pre-stretch their tennis strings to prevent excess tension loss. I use 35 lbs tension on at least 7 of my rackets. Elbow tendinopathies and bursitis. Below, Ive broken apart the broader tension ranges to align with these performance characteristics. I returned to the game after 25 years. Learn with comprehensive resources to help you improve your game. As you work to find the ideal string tension, I recommend you stick with the same string and gauge or thickness as you adjust. what is a good tension for the strings to start with. If using a stiffer Hopefully, the information contained in this resource has helped lay a foundation for better understanding tennis string tension while guiding you to select a tension confidently for your racquet. Always factor in your racket when deciding a string tension. Thanks in advance String tension, gauge, and resiliency: Looser, thinner, and/or more resilient strings are definitely easier on your arm, as they stretch more and thus spread the force If youre in a situation where you are using a low powered racket with a high-powered string, find a happy medium. Its worth noting that the tension your tester shows will not match the reference tension you asked your stringer to use when you pick up your racquet, as a racquets final tension will always differ. Although not as popular as they used to be, Kevlar strings are highly durable yet offer a very stiff feel. Of course, if you eventually move to a new string, you may need to adjust your tension to accommodate the change. Laskowski ER (expert opinion). I was thinking to have him cut out the strings. Im have 6yrs work experience as a racquet stringer.. WebMikes recommended natural gut is Babolat Touch VS Natural Gut. Whats equally unbelievable is that Jack strings his Babolat Pure Aero at 40lbs, sometimes going as low as 38lbs! They already have a lot of their own natural power, so an additional boost in power by lowering the tension and thus the strings elastic trampoline effect would likely send the ball over the back fence! Isnt Control and Power reversed on your chart? If you love polyester strings, you should know they lose tension faster and should be restrung more frequently. For example, after one or two weeks of hitting with one tension, cut the strings out and switch to the new tension to get the closest possible comparison. Conceptually, the premise of adjusting your string tension to align with the type of tennis youre playing is practical, especially if it leads to the performance you want to achieve. For example, an individual might increase tension by ten pounds for more control. If you have a powerful racket, string higher in order to dilute some of the rackets power and maintain control of the ball If you have a low powered racket, try stringing a little looser. Its common for players to opt for varying tensions for each of the strings, with the poly typically featuring a slightly lower tension of 2 to 3 kilograms or pounds. They have topspin-enhancing qualities, and more importantly, they allow the player to swing harder to increase spin without losing control. Remember, the type of string you choose also influences power, i.e., a multifilament strung at the same tension as polyester will offer more power. AskMayoExpert. Thanks for any suggestions. Yes you read that right! Pro Tennis Heres a little chart for how I would look at the recommended string tension for your tennis racquet: [Power] 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 [Control]. I am a racquet stringer here in dubai. I am 45 years old, and played tennis as a kid (started at the age of 13 and played till the age of 18-19) and then hung up my racket until a year ago when I started again. If using a stiffer string like polyester, drop the tension to avoid arm injuries. Tennis Ol Guy. Generally, I recommend players string loose for power and tight for control. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Touch style players will love the pocketing effect of a lower tension, whereas a powerhouse player will most likely hate it and crave control. How close you string to your preferred number will depend on how often you are prepared to string your rackets. Tennis elbow often gets better on its own. Hopefully, if you check a few of these out, theyd turn up something for you. However, a lower string tension can also reduce the power and control a player has. For example, a strong, powerful player wielding a sledgehammer of a racket would most likely choose a higher tension, rather than a low tension. I used go 57 lbs. 5 Point Friday Also, it provides more easy swing power, while not taking away too much from maximum swings. From there, you can zero in on a few racquets that provide comfort, then hunt down those within that category that are lower powered, while providing plenty of spin (this seems to be important to you). Which string will be BETTER for me ..At present using company prestrung String.. mainly baseline player . The specs of the TFight 315 and the Yonex vcore are very similar and I would like to replicate the feeling of the TFight in the Yonex, therefore I was thinking of stringing it to 25 kg approximately and testing it out. However, the information in this guide will help you determine an ideal tension to ensure you get the most out of your racquet and perform your best on the court. I had it strung with Luxilon Element at mid-point tension. Ive provided you with some useful guidelines to follow when you come to getting your racket strung next time, but there are always those who dont fit the mould. Best String Tension For Tennis Elbow If your elbow hurts, replace the thinnest gauge possible if you can afford to do so, and use at least one thinner string Another factor to consider is how you want your racket to perform in terms of feel. I had a racket that had been strung too tight by someone else. Check out this section of the article for more detail. The dwell time, or the amount of time the ball remains in contact with the strings before being pushed away, is the most important Thanks for the catch, Ron. That end of the spectrum is pretty much trampoline territory and well get on to that later! http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00068. If you live in an area with prominent seasons and the weather changes substantially throughout the year, youve likely experienced how the ball is a bit more lively during a hot day, while it can feel almost dead on a cold day. Whenever you switch the tennis on TV, you wont have to watch for very long until you see a player swap a racket for a different one in their bag. Calibrators and tension test tools are two common instruments to help with string tension measurement. Its also worth noting that each type of string loses tension at different rates, and some strings are better at holding their tension. tension; it's a 98 sqinch head. Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment. Of course, that can be confusing, so its unsurprising to suggest players string lose for power and tight for control, especially considering thats how most players perceive changes in tension. 6. Generally, patterns fall into the following categories: Dense A denser pattern means that more strings impact the ball. 2011;39:1200. Since their strokes are not yet fully developed enough to access true power, then this choice of tension would provide a welcome boost in mph! The grip size of a racquet can affect the power and control, as well as the risk of injury. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by and sharing. Helpful Tip He plays flat and is in between intermediate to advanced player. String tension becomes more crucial and nuanced as a players skill level improves and they compete at higher levels. Tennis elbow can be a frustrating injury, as it can take months to heal and can be difficult to manage. All rights reserved. The last comment and 38 other comment(s) need to be approved. Typical tensions range from around 40-65lbs, but most players tensions fall well within that range of extremes! Youre absolutely right to think that as theres certainly a lot of LESSES on there! In order to play you must be a registered user. Can you add any more detail around his style of play, i.e. I came back and played a bunch of Doubles and Mixed doubles for a couple of years. Thanks, Rick Lucas, Thats awesome to hear! I was trying the demo and it came with Head Velocity and I found that my backhands are going deeper (good) but my forehands are going long (bad). A few weeks ago however, I ordered a Babolat AeroPro Drive GT with the same string and the same tension. Here are a few things to keep in mind when reviewing these: To view the entire data set for the chart below, you can scroll or swipe left to right. Similarly, while pro model racquets, like. Not only was the gut a poor choice of string for the racket and my game, the racket itself is an absolute rocket launcher. When we talk about the best options for tennis elbow, natural gut and multifilament strings seem the best ones. For example, Babolat RPM Blast or Luxilon Alu Power. In a match play scenario, suddenly a ball that landed 10cm in previously before the tension loss would no land 10cm out. After stringing, measure the tension of your strings as soon as possible and then continue measuring it periodically until the frame has lost roughly 10-15 pounds of tension. 4th ed. Conversely, higher humidity puts an extra drag on the ball and slows pay tennis balls can even hold moisture from the air and sweat from players. He wants to have more control than what babolat gives. However, while its correct that increasing tension enhances perceived control, theres a diminishing return on overall performance. Instead, how fast you swing your racquet influences the balls speed, as studies have shown. Regarding your question, my main concern regarding your move to the VCORE 98 and TFight 315 are the stiffness ratings because you mentioned youre looking for a new racquet due to arm tension. Although these racquets are slightly less stiff, theyre still on the higher end of the spectrum. Youll notice softer strings, including natural gut and nylon synthetic gut, and multifilaments have higher tension ranges. Hey Curiosity, thx for the info. Lateral elbow tendinopathy. Pro Tennis If so, what types of sports do you play and has your technique ever been evaluated? Generally, a string tension of between 45 and 55 pounds is recommended for those looking to reduce their risk of tennis elbow. Does professional tennis have a dress code? Often overlooked, tennis string tension can be a powerful tool for the savvy tennis player and wreak havoc on the game of players who arent paying attention to its influence on performance. Put in string dampeners. Youve probably experienced this yourself. If you find that your strings are breaking too frequently, you may want to increase the tension slightly. Hi there Mrugesh! Sir I am deeply grateful to you for providing such useful information in a brief and crisp way. However, the higher price and lack of durability tend to price most players out of using them. Consider what you like and dislike about your strings, then read these guides to learn more about each type of string to feel out which best suits your needs. A high string tension would be anything from around 55lbs to 65lbs. Understanding string tension also allows savvy players to identify an optimal tension that enhances their game and helps with other factors, such as arm injuries and match-day nerves. Depending on the difference reported by the calibrator and the machines settings, a stringer can dial in their stringer. As a point of reference, youre prestrung string is almost certainly a synthetic gut, which is a great place to start for less expensive options providing all-around performance. JavaScript is disabled. Gut does cost a lot more, a minimum of 40 for stringing and labour in the UK, but it could save you in physio trips and arm pain. Required fields are marked *. Here are a few questions that would help me provide a more useful answer: Hi, If you were looking for more control I might suggest you try a tension at the upper end of the recommended stringing tension such as 61-63 lbs. Hence, players must feel out the weather to determine how best to adjust tension for the current or expected conditions. However, although I can provide general recommendations, whats best is ultimately player-specific. On tension, If you know youd prefer a little lower, also consider that tension loss is going to occur pretty quickly and that 53lbs will turn in 48lbs before you know it! My favorite part of what youre sharing is the experimentation, which most players shy away from or dont consider. I hope you enjoy the resources. Looks like you and Ron both have a great eye :) Thanks for mentioning. These are the most powerful strings in the world and can really put some mph behind your shot. A downside to stringing really high is youre going to lose a lot of the strings elastic qualities. Hi, Brown AY. Too low a tension will leave you hitting the back fence; too tight and youre looking at a power outage, and possibly a bad case of tennis elbow. In: DeLee & Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. Here are three questions to help determine the best string tension for your needs. Helpful Tip Before your stringer installs strings, theyll set their machine to the clients desired tension. Since the pros are dealing with such fine margins during their rallies, its critical to maintain perfect precision (well as close as they can get) throughout a match.