What type of string do you use?

[Coolhand Texas]

I use a 16G. I do feel like my balls tend to fly long more so than short. I play pretty well with these strings, and like them a lot, but I can always test out new ones.

I will string it lower next time and see how I like it.

Ive been using it for about a year now and either I have gotten really used to the string, or I like it

[Rob ITST]

I have a demo racquet strung at 38/35 that I use only for people to test what really low tension is like. The idea was simply to show people that you don't need to string poly at 60+ to get control.

The result is something I never expected - more than half the people who try it come back to get their racquets strung at 40 or lower.

[Emil]

Poly. Luxilon. 23 kilos. (bit above 50lbs)

[Vieira151]

If I was to buy RPM Blast strings, which gauge of string would do you recommend?

[djarvik]

If I was to buy RPM Blast strings, which gauge of string would do you recommend?

16.


This is a shaped string meant to be swung fast. Thinner gauge will die faster, will move slightly more, and you wont get a lot of benefit from the added feel.

They are plenty powerful in you have a fast swing.

[Vieira151]

Well, if I had muscle my swing would be faster but it is a fairly relaxed technique. Been using Iain's BLX Prostaff 95 recently, and he had that strung at 53lbs with the RPM Blast, but I wasn't sure which gauge though I was playing the best I have in possible ever, at least Doubles wise.

So was just wondering, but thanks. I'll see if I can get some videos of me up, I have yet to get a video where I was feeling ok while recording(only times we took videos recently was after my long absence, so I was a little out of practice).

[Rob ITST]

I like 18 in the crosses with a hybrid, 17 for a full set. By far, most of my customers prefer the 17 (Djarvik never seems to like what most other people like ).

The new RPM Team is also nice. It has better feel and less power than the Blast.

There's also a new Luxilon, called 4G - so far, very nice. Soft, and holds tension very well. Will be waiting for a review from Djarvik soon.

[djarvik]

I think most people pick 17 for psychological reasons its the middle ground. They "think" that thicker gauge will give them less feel and thinner will be too "jumpy" and will break fast - so they settle for best of both worlds so to speak. The tendency is to have both cant blame them.

BTW - spot on with me not licking what everyone else does, hence I play with Volkl. I like to find my own way rather then follow the crowd.
I know that the crowd in this case is likely "right" but still, I am having fun finding things on my own.


Soft and holds tension - perfect! Can't wait man! Is it shaped or smooth?


BTW - strung yesterday Prince Beast - broke the string about 2 hours into hitting. But by the looks of it, I must have messed up the stringing job, it broke around 11 o'clock near the frame. Stringing it was a bitch too. Coil memory was the worst I have experienced so far, thank god this was not shaped string...

[Coolhand Texas]

Al, the beast string should not have broken within 2 hours? I have broken only 2 strings this summer with the beast and mind you I have been playing 3 plus hours 5 days a week.

But the stringing is a pain at first with the beast, but after a few times it becomes like other strings.

[Moralspain]

I have broken only 2 strings this summer with the beast and mind you I have been playing 3 plus hours 5 days a week.

It may has nothing to do with the strings but with the way you hit the ball, 2 guys using same racquet, tension and strings but with different types of spin (more flat etc..) will have different duration.

[Rob ITST]

Soft and holds tension - perfect! Can't wait man! Is it shaped or smooth?

The shape is exactly like the Blast. I guess I never sent you a set of it..... will do so next time.

According to Babolat, the Team is the Blast with "microscopic air bubbles".

But by the looks of it, I must have messed up the stringing job, it broke around 11 o'clock near the frame.

Did it break on a miss-hit? Poly is tough, but breaks pretty easily on shots hit near the frame. It's also easy to damage by clamping to tight - keep your clamps clean and clamp only as tight as needed to avoid slipping. Also check for a bad grommet.

It may has nothing to do with the strings but with the way you hit the ball, 2 guys using same racquet, tension and strings but with different types of spin (more flat etc..) will have different duration.

Exactly. I've seen people go a year without breaking a string, and a different player will break the exact same string in less than an hour.

[djarvik]

Yeah, it broke on a miss-hit. My clamps were clean I clean them every time before stringing. I hate even the microscopical marks on the strings from clamps. It has to be perfect, I am stinging for myself

I think it might be a case of a bad grommets. Will investigate further, did really have time to do it yet.

[Rob ITST]

Poly breaks on mishits - more than other strings. Close to the frame, there is not enough string to stretch. It's either the string breaks or the frame..... luckily it's usually the string.

If it broke on a mishit, I doubt there is any other problem.

There is something you can do to prevent it though - you can put nylon tubing in every hole, especially near the tip. I have one high ranked junior that insists on using a very soft synthetic. She hits very hard and flat, and will break her strings every match if I don't put tubing on the top 12 grommets. The girl hits insanely hard - to the point that she actually shattered the grommets on a racquet once, and they were new grommets. That's something I have never seen before.

[djarvik]

Indeed, gromets are fine.

If I would brake another frame I would be pissed man

[Rob ITST]

I've only seen a frame break from a mishit maybe 1-2 times. Of course, you never seem to be like most people, so you'll probably be number 3.