Real Tennis Players - Like You! - Asking For, and Offering, Advice on the Sport They Love
Player to Player is USTA.com’s regular feature in which everyday tennis players are given a forum to ask advice on the sport they love – and their fellow players will dish out advice. We’ll post a number of the best responses we receive to our question of the week. Please send any questions you’d like answered, or responses to other player’s questions, to
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This week's question from TM of Los Angeles, CA | "I'm a senior captain on a top-ranked high school tennis team, with several nationally-ranked players. A good, but not great, freshman is coming onto the team who is a well-known cheater. Mostly, she just cheats about line calls, which isn't an unusual problem, but she does it a lot! My teammates are worried that she will cause our team's reputation to suffer. What should I do and what should our coach do?" | Please share your advice with TM by e-mailing Player@USTA.com and include your name and hometown.
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Last week’s question from Mark in Alabama
(Please note: There's no need to send additional responses to this question)
"I am a 4.5 player and am frustrated by the drop in my string tension over time. It can make a significant difference in my game. What string is best to hold its tension? I string my own rackets at 64 lbs."
PLAYER RESPONSES
From Rick M.
I have just discovered a string line that is "advertised" to do just the thing you are asking about. It's Gamma's Zo line and features several different models. As I understand this, here’s what happens:
I purchased two models -- one called "True," the other called "Sweet." These strings are to be strung at 10 percent less than the tension you want because they don't stretch very much under the tension! In other words, if you like 65 lbs., string "True" at (65 - 6.5 lbs.), or (round up), 7 lbs. less, which would be about 58 lbs. "True" is supposed to hold that tension, whereas regular string loses about 3 or 4 lbs. within the first few days of hitting.
The "Sweet" is a hybrid string and gives a little more durability and is longer lasting by combining two different string types for the mains and crosses. Only the mains are to be strung 10 percent less then the wanted tension. The crosses are strung to the desired tension. Again, if you want 65 lbs., string the mains at 58 lbs. and the crosses at 65 lbs.
I have tried these two for over a week now and have noticed quite a difference. However, since I'm new to them, I'm still experiencing their capabilities. Hope this helps! Good luck!
From Lindy L., Bensalem, PA
I do not know the exact answer about string tension, but I can offer this suggestion: Go to your match with three or four rackets strung. That way, when you feel the tension going, switch to another. Or switch regardless after every six or seven games. Some of the pros have their rackets strung at different tensions depending on what they feel they need at various times during a match.
From Susan B., Houston, TX
Many things affect string tension -- humidity, your style of play, type of racket, kind of balls used, how you store your racket and the type of surface played on. Also, the number of times you play will also affect your string tension. (If you play five times a week, you should string your rackets five times in a year, etc.)
Research what your racket manufacturer has to say about string type(s) and tension, talk with a stringing professional, get an opinion from them and demo different types of string. Then you can make an informed decision as to what suits you.
From Scott, Chatham, NJ
Without a doubt, the best string to hold its tension is natural gut. It is the most expensive string to purchase, but it also has the best playability. I have found that whatever string tension you like, string the gut three pounds higher, and after approximately two to three hours of play the tension will be exactly what you like. Gut will hold that tension for the life of the strings. You can always count on just what you like to play with until the strings break.
From Ray L., MI
In my experience, the Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power does well with tension maintenance. It is also quite durable.
From Greg B., Renton, WA
I'm a 3.0 player, but I am very hard on my strings; lots of hard-hitting topspin. I’m also very sensitive to my string tension -- just one pound makes a real difference.
For durability reasons, I used to play with Kevlar on my mains and synthetic gut on my crosses, but I was getting concerned about the wear and tear on my arm. The reason I went to the Kevlar combo was mainly due to cost. Otherwise, I would be restringing my racket every week or two.
After trying out (and going through) several types of strings, my stringer suggested I try string savers -- little plastic inserts to keep the strings from rubbing against each other. I found that these not only made my strings last longer but also extended the playable lifetime of the strings.
One combination I have found that works for me (on my Prince O3 Tour racket) is using a Prince Synthetic Gut 17 gauge with Babolat Elastocross II string savers. I've tried Gamma's string savers but found them to not work as well as Babolat's -- the Gammas were more difficult to install, they would pop out, and they didn't slide as well. Also, I would have never thought that a 17 gauge would stand up to my game, but with the string savers, I can play for about four to six weeks before I need restringing, or it breaks.
The other critical thing you need to do is find a good, consistent stringer and stick with him. One stringer's 58# is another's 59 or 60#. One thing my stringer told me, why his stringing is so much different from others, is that he lets the string settle into the tension longer, rather than rushing through the job. After he explained it to me, it made perfect sense. I hope this helps, and good luck finding your perfect stringing combination!
*Please note that any advice given out in this forum should in no way be confused with actual medical advice. Before starting any new exercise regimen or altering your existing one, we strongly urge you to consult with your regular physician.
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