What is the appropriate string tension for tennis rackets? Higher or lower what is the significance?

Question

What is the appropriate string tension for tennis rackets? Higher or lower what is the significance?

Thanks for your replies. James B & Truthyness your answers are exactly the opposite of each other. Lower tension means more power according to truthyness but lower power according to James B. Whiich is correct.

Answer 1

Ok Yahoo, I will give you the straight facts based on my being a college coach and being around the pro tour and have spoken with several racket stringers including the one for Pete Sampras. First there is the frame, different frames have different tension recommendations based on the materials used in the construction of the frame and based on playtests from the racket manufacturers. Most all Rackets will fall somewhere on the 50 lbs to 70 lbs scale with the majority not being any higher than 65 lbs. Next we have the types of strings. You have natural Gut, Multifilaments, and mono core synthetic guts. Then you have Nylon, polyester, and Kevlar. Kevlar and Polyester strings have less resilency or Stretch so the tension doesn't need to be as high as a synthetic to get similar playing characteristics. Kevlar and polyester strings also last longer than synthetic gut, nylon, and natural gut. As a general rule the tighter you string the racket the smaller the sweetspot and less of a trampoline effect for the stringbed...less suprises means more control on off center hits. Lower tensions allow for more of the surface area to play live, or creates a larger sweetspot area producing more power. Of course this doesn't hold true with different types of strings. Example: Natural Gut the most Lively string at 60 lbs will play more lively than Kevlar: the least lively at 58 lbs. That means you will get more power from the natural gut even though it is strung tighter because the string has more resilency or stretch. But the basic rule of thumb is that of the string materials are the same, the lower tension will provide more power. Exception: When you string at extrememly low tensions like 46 lbs , it will not provide more power than a racket strung at 49 lbs. same thing on the other end of the scale. Such as a racket strung at 73 lbs will not provide more control than a racket strung at 68 lbs. At these high of tensions you are likly to develop tendonitis. i wouldn't recommend stringing a racket higher than 66 lbs unless it is a widebody super oversize with a 115 square inch head. Then you might have to string a little tighter to tame all that power. Most professionals string their rackets at around 58 lbs, but this does vary widely as plenty of them string higher and lower than this, but the majority are closer to 58 lbs. Also most Pros are using a Polyester string for the mains and a softer synthetic for the crosses.

Answer 2

that racquet has the mid range tension at 60, which is right where you're at. a tension of 60 is usually on the high side for other player's frames, but as the aeropro offers a little more power, the mid range is higher than the lower powered ones. But if you feel that the tension is too tight after you break in the strings by playing with them for a couple sets, consider lowering the tension a bit to test it. Remember that playing with the strings will lower the tension naturally as time passes by. keep testing the strings and good luck

Answer 3

Different racquets should be strung at different tensions. Each manufacturer will tell you the recommended string tension & you can decide within that range what's best for you. The first answer had it exactly backward, however, as far as what higher or lower tension does. Higher tension will give more control, and that's why power players usually string racquets at high tension (however, well above recommended tension could make the racquet play more like a board & strings will break far more often). Lower tension creates more of a trampoline effect, giving more power but less control, which is why weaker players with good control sometimes string their racquets at lower tension (however, well below recommended tension could make the racquet play more like a butterfly net -no power).

Answer 4

Higher tension gives you more control.
Lower tension gives you more power.

If your game is imbalanced, using the appropriate tension may help you compensate.

Answer 5

It depends on your style of play. A lower tension keeps the ball on your strings a tad longer giving you more control of your shots. Finesse players who like to hit slice and topspin usually string their rackets at a lower tension. Power hitters prefer the higher tensions since their game is based on brute strength. Each racket company has their recommendations on string tension and unless you are a well seasoned player, I would follow those recommendations.