What is the average tension for a tennis racket

Also know that the types of strings react differently to changes of weather and temperature. Gut, for example, suffers little from the bad weather, just like multifilament, while polyesters suffer more from cold temperatures. Many players in professional tournaments explicitly demand that their racquets be strung the very morning of their match, so that they do not have time to lose tension during the night. The "static effect" has to be taken into account and in other words, when you reopen your tennis bag to hit the ball after a long break, your strings are naturally loosened.

It is then necessary to tighten it again in order to get your good sensations back, and to avoid tiring your arm. Many tennis players think that a string only has a small impact on the game.

A little more comfort in multifilament, versus better durability in polyester, and that's it. Well, no. Choosing the right tennis string is not trivial. A bad choice and we can end up playing with a string that does not suit us, that does not match the characteristics of our game. Home Tecnimag Coaching What tension to choose for your tennis racket strings? However, the strings of this material wear more quickly and thus will need to be replaced more often.

Unfortunately, heat and weather conditions will adversely affect string tension for natural gut materials. That said, if you notice less responsive play from your natural gut-strung racket, it may be because of temperature or weather conditions as opposed to strings that are overworn and in need of replacement.

Nylon strings, one of the most common options, are much more durable than natural gut strings, and hold tension longer because of increased resistance to wear.

Kevlar stringing has a considerably stiffer feel. The lower tension will help offset the added stiffness of a kevlar string. Just keep in mind that polyester strings are known for stretching and losing some of their tension when first being strung so you may want to adjust for that slightly too. In general, the recommended level of tension will vary depending on material type, as they act differently under a load. Be sure to note and follow the instructions that come with your strings, and install them according to the tension rating in pounds that they indicate.

Different types of strings will have a dramatically different feel at the same tension. For example, if you were to string your racquet at 55 lbs with a nylon string, and then switch to a kevlar string and use the same tension, it will become clear how different they feel and play. Learn More Tennis strings explained Hybrid tennis strings explained Best tennis strings gear guide.

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Different types of strings can have a dramatically different feel and performance at various tensions. If you eventually move to a new string, you may need to adjust to your tension to accommodate the change. Many players ask what the best string tension is for their racquet, which is entirely understandable. Often, players looking for more control or power will attempt to adjust their string tension to achieve a more pronounced effect. For instance, a player would benefit from improving their technique, fitness, and selection of string or racquet to substantially increase control or power.

After you string your racquet, it will begin to lose tension. To prevent this, some players will ask their racquet technicians to pre-stretch their tennis strings. Furthermore, each type of string loses tension at different rates, and some strings are better at holding their tension.

Beyond finding an ideal tension, players will fine-tune their tension according to the conditions for optimal performance. Typically, this happens during practice leading up to a match where the players will have a good sense of what to expect.

Keep in mind that the tension changes for the following conditions are usually minor, i. To accommodate, some players will adjust their tension up slightly during warmer conditions for more control and decrease tension on cooler days for added power. During warm, dry conditions, a tennis ball will fly through the air with little resistance, which speeds up play.

However, higher humidity puts extra drag on the ball and slows down pay. Tennis balls can even hold moisture from the air and sweat from players. Once again, some players sometimes will increase tension during drier conditions to improve control, while they may decrease tension slightly to increase power. Hence, players have to feel out the conditions to determine how best to adjust tension for the current or expected conditions.

Each court surface plays slightly different, with grass being the fastest being grass, hard courts falling in the middle of the spectrum, and clay courts playing the slowest. Once again, players will adjust their tension accordingly. When playing on faster surfaces like grass, players might increase tension for a bit of added control.

However, on a slower surface like clay, where the ball also tends to retain a bit of debris, players tend to drop tension a few pounds to increase power a bit. Last but not least, altitude can also influence the tension a player selects. At higher elevations, tennis balls are bouncier, hence the reason for high altitude balls.

However, players still often feel like the balls have more pop because the air is thinner and the humidity lower. Different types of tennis strings feature different materials and construction and, as a result, can exhibit dramatically different feel at the same tension.

In other words, a tension that works for one string may be a poor choice for another. Some of the most expensive strings on the market, natural gut strings are made from cow intestine and feature excellent power, comfort, and feel. Due to their elasticity, they do a fantastic job maintaining tension and perform exceptionally well at higher tensions. Frequently, players that move to natural gut from synthetic materials will be inclined to string at slightly higher tensions for more control.

Typically made from nylon, synthetic gut strings are a cost-effective choice for a wide range of players and offer average all-around performance. In addition, synthetic gut strings perform well at various string tensions, depending on player preference. Multifilament tennis strings seek to replicate the performance of natural gut by weaving thousands of fibers together. As a result, they feature similar characteristics, including power, comfort, and feel.

Multifilaments perform well at mid to upper range tensions, with many players stringing slightly higher due to their higher power. Due to their monofilament construction, they also offer excellent durability. Most players will reduce the tension of polyester strings to increase the snapback effect and comfort while allowing them to swing faster to generate added topspin.

Although not as popular as they once were, Kevlar strings are highly durable yet offer a very stiff feel. As a result, if you experiment with one of the few Kevlar strings still available, you may want to lower the tension to offset the stiffness.

Typically, when you find Kevlar strings, manufacturers will pair them with a softer string as part of a hybrid setup. Popular hybrids include natural gut or multifilament combined with polyester.

Frequently, players with arm injuries will benefit from reducing the tension of their strings to create a softer, more forgiving string bed. It can also be worth evaluating your string selection, type of racquet including its weight , and grip size to achieve the highest comfort level. However, the higher price and lack of durability tend to price most players out of using them.

The good news is that multifilaments offer comparable and sometimes better comfort, as is the case with Prince Premier Touch.

First, if you break a string, you want to have at least one additional backup at the same tension to continue play. However, many players will keep one or more racquets strung a few kilograms or pounds tighter for added control. Some of the pros carry upwards of ten freshly strung tennis racquets with them to every match. In competitive situations, players will often overhit.

The excitement of the match, nerves, and determination to win can make players tighten up or get overly excited and subsequently miss their shots by a small margin. In this case, it can be beneficial to have a racquet strung tighter to regain control. Despite string tension being highly personalized, many players are keen to learn how the pros string their frames. A few things to keep in mind when reviewing these:.

Tension calibrators are simple spring-loaded devices that help racquet technicians ensure their machine is pulling tension accurately.

You simply measure the tension of your strings as soon as possible after stringing and then continue measuring it periodically until the frame has lost roughly pounds of tension. Helpful Tip The pound threshold can be adjusted based on your preference after using a tension tester for a while. Instead, they help gauge relative tension over time as a reference point to determine when to restring.

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. In comparison, stiffer strings like polyester and kevlar are lower to improve comfort. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend players string loose for power and tight for control. Beginners will also benefit from higher tension for enhancing control but should avoid stringing too tight to prevent a reduction in comfort.

Take control of your string tension to maximize your performance and gain an edge over a less prepared player.