Should poly-based strings be prestretched?

Today’s blog topic comes from a frequently asked question received via email and telephone from our customers.  We are often asked about prestretching poly-based strings.  While there are varying opinions on the topic, our position is resoundingly firm.  “Poly-based strings should NOT be prestretched.”

Because poly-based strings offer excellent durability from friction wear, the perception is that they are a macho product.

Impervious to beatings…
Strong like a bull…
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…
(You get the picture)

In reality, poly-based strings are more delicate and fragile than most strngers and players realize.  They need to be handled very carefully during the installation process…Especially many of today’s new poly-based strings that include chemicals and additives designed to make them softer. Poly-based strings should be treated as carefully, or moreso, than natural gut during the stringing process.  Failure to treat them properly can result in premature breakage and cause the string not to perform  to its potential.

For poly-based strings elasticity, (the ability to stretch out and return to original form), is supremely important.  Stringing at too high of a tension sucks much of the elasticity out of poly-based strings and prestretching has the same effect.

Proponents argue that tension loss can be reduced by prestretching.  They argue that the 13% – 20% initial tension loss can be reduced/better managed with a prestretch.  This may be true.  However, there is a HUGE FALSE ASSUMPTION lingering around the stringing universe that loss of tension = loss of playability.  In some cases, this can be true, but in most cases it is not.  I believe the perceived relationship between loss of tension and loss of playability is overblown and misunderstood.  In fact, Cross and Lindsey in The Physics and Technology of Tennis found that strings maintained their energy, resiliency and elasticity even after experiencing tension loss.  “We found that the energy loss was not zero, but close enough to zero to make no significant difference in the calculations.” (Chapter 30)

Tension loss can easily be measured with many of today’s tools.  It is perceived to be evil.  While there is no denying that it is a factor that can alter playability of a racquet, we would argue in the world of poly-based strings that tension loss is not as critical of a factor as loss of elasticity.  It is the ELASTICITY of poly-based strings that allow them to offer the desired performance.  PRESTRETCHING can damage/reduce this elasticity which is the main reason we do not advocate prestretching poly-based strings.

As our blog readers know, we could ramble onward ad nauseum.  Our goal was to keep this entry short while providing some context/support for our response.

“No, poly-based strings should not be prestretched.”

Please feel free to leave your thoughts and comments in the designated section below.

What do terms “poly” and “copoly” really mean?

For those who have been following us for years, you may have made use of our “Racquety-Yak” Message Board.  With the advent of the “Racquety-Yak” Blog, we have found discussion board participation declining, even though views have increased.  In a decision designed to better serve the needs of our users by consolidating information and also to reduce our costs we have decided to close the message board and use the blog and our Facebook Fan Page (opening soon) to respond to customer questions.

We will begin answering questions with one posed yesterday. 

Q: I’ve been looking around the web but haven’t found the answer to this: what exactly is a co-poly and how does it differ from a poly? I’ve been experimenting with polys (wilson enduro 16 and 17 and pro hurricane 15L) in my roddick+ and they’re bothering my arm a bit. I’m giving good consideration to switching to a hybrid, but I’m overseas and string selection isn’t great, though at times I can get people to bring me strings from US.

I’m trying to make it affordable and convenient. My first choice is finding a poly (or co-poly) I can use without arm problems, but I’m feeling like that’s unlikely. My second choice is a reel of poly/co-poly and a reel of something else for the crosses. Any recommendations on decent affordable options available in reels or non-pricey packages? Possible to keep the string costs below $10 per job?

A: Thank you for your excellent question!  There is a great deal of confusion with the terms “poly” and “co-poly.”  We will do our best to untangle some of this for you.

Many years ago string manufacturers found that POLYESTER was a material that offered a great deal of durability and control in tennis strings.  Early POLYESTER strings were extremely stiff, lost tension rapidly and did not really develop much of a following.  These strings were referred to as “POLY” strings.  In the 1990’s manufactures began reducing the amount of actual polyester used in the string and began blending them with different chemicals and elements.  The result was more comfortable playing strings that held playing properties longer.  When the percentage of actual polyester decreased many, myself included, began referring to these strings as “Co-Polys.”  The thought was to designate it as having more elements than just polyester so the customers would recognize that it was not the same as the old “Poly” strings.

While the thought made sense, it failed to take into account that synthetic gut string manufacturers sometimes used the term “co-poly” to describe the core and other parts of their strings.  When used in the context of synthetic gut strings the term “co-poly” does not refer to polyester, but rather polymers which are generally not the same and may not consist of polyester.  The use of the term “co-poly” in two entirely different contexts began to get confusing.  Afterall when a synthetic gut string with copoly core was being described, what would consumers think?  Would they believe the core was polyester based and thus stiffer and more durable, or would they know it was a term used to blanket the use of multiple polymers?  Add to this confusion of manufacturers actually adding polyester blends into the synthetic and welcome to “Camp Confusion!”

To put and end to this confusion we have changed our terminology.  We were the first to do so and are hoping our naming convention makes sense and catches on.  We have noticed some in the tennis world using our terminology and we are proud to have made this contribution to clearing up some of the confusion.

The term we now use for strings that are composed of polyester blended with other elements is “POLY-BASED.” This serves to let the consumer know that the string does have a polyester base.  We think it makes sense for these strings to have their own reference name, rather than sharing the term “co-poly” with polymers…that’s just too confusing.

Now, as far as your situation, the poly-based strings you are using in your Pure Drive Roddick are problematic.  The racquet itself is not very arm friendly, being so stiff and light.  Couple that with POLY-BASED strings with a high % of polyester and the arm pain is no surprise.  Some of the new poly-based strings use a lower percentage of polyester and are indeed much more comfortable.  There are a number of great options out there.  Our favorites are described on our web site.  The poly-based strings we carry are ALL softer and better playing than the ones you have been using.

You can try a softer poly-based string in a full set-up and see how your arm does.  While they are softer than what you have used, they may not be soft enough in the context of Pure Drive Roddick.  In that case we would strongly suggest a hybrid.  Use one of the newer and more technologically advanced strings in your mains at a low tension and cross it with a soft synthetic gut (something like Forten Sweet or WeissCANNON SuperString) and you will likely find a combination that offers much better playability and performance at a cost of well under $10.00 per stringing.

Good luck!

Email updates now available!

For those of you not wanting to miss any exciting updates, especially the “Secret Sales,” we invite you to subscribe to our blog.

Earlier in the day we had a customer contact us and asked “how can I be notified via email when your blog is updated?” We did some checking and located a free service to which you can subscribe. There is now a new link, the first on the right hand column of our blog. Should you wish to receive notice of each new blog entry you can simply click on the link, enter your email address, decipher the secret code word and submit. Once submitted you will receive an email message with a link in it. Click on the link to verify you are who you say you are and you will be subscribed. That’s all there is to it. Simple. Easy. Free. Secure. Safe.

Each time future blog entries are posted on the site, you will be notified via email. Isn’t technology marvelous?  NOTE:  the email is not instantaneous, rather it is a single update per day.

Another option for those wishing to keep close tabs on updates is to scroll down to the bottom of the right menu column.  Here you will find a category called “Feeds.”  Under this category you can select the “Entries RSS” option and it will give you the option to add a bookmark.  You will need to name it, I recommend “GGT Blog” which is short and what I am using.  This will update to show the 10 most recent entries when you scroll over it on your PC.  If the title is not something you recognize, it may be new and worth checking out.

We hope you continue to enjoy our blog and of course we welcome your participation should you ever have anything to add.

Are Poly-Based strings more powerful than synthetics?

We are frequently asked about the inherent power of strings. Some people believe that poly and poly-based strings offer greater power than synthetics and some believe they offer more power than natural gut. Is this belief true or false? The belief that poly and poly-based strings are more powerful is 100% false, however there is a GIANT “BUT”…read on!

Other than Kevlar, poly and poly-based strings are the lowest powered strings on the market. In general almost all synthetics and natural guts are more powerful in and of themselves. However, taking this information out of context can be misleading.

Because poly and poly-based strings are lower in power, they tend to offer a greater level of control than traditional synthetics. With today’s high-powered frames that the racquet manufacturers continue to introduce, the lower powered strings are much sought after because they can be easier to control and allow the player to keep the ball in the court.

Herein lies the confusion. Because the strings are lower powered, they allow the player to take a much bigger swing. The player can swing harder with these strings and still keep the ball in play. A much enjoyed by-product of the lowered powered strings is their propensity to produce spin. Western grip players can take HUGE CUTS at the ball, (ala Nadal), and still the ball manages to find its way into the court.

The Poly and Poly-based strings are NOT  as powerful, but because the player can swing harder and still keep the ball in play, the power of his/her game INCREASES even though the power of the string itself is lower.

So in some cases lower powered strings can lead to a power increase. However, if the swing speed remains constant, synthetics will provide greater power and more lively response every time. An interesting paradox.

Questions or comments? Please feel free to comment using our blog and we will be happy to respond.

Copoly Hybrids – How to Choose a Cross String

Each week we receive questions from customers seeking advice about hybrid string setups, specifically with poly-based strings. This post seeks to provide a general guide to those who are considering a poly-based hybrid.

Generally the first decision to make is whether to use the poly-based strings as the main or the cross. The answer to this will depend on what the player is seeking to accomplish. If s/he is seeking greater durability, in most cases the mains will be the poly-based string with a synthetic gut cross string. (This can vary according to hitting style, but the majority of players we serve break the mains before the crosses.) If the player is seeking to add additional control to an existing synthetic gut or natural gut setup, then the poly-based string is sometimes used as a cross string.

Many who approach us already know where they want to use the poly-based string. The more important question to them, is what to use as a complimentary string? One advantage of using a hybrid over a full poly based string setup is a softer partner in the stringbed can result in greater comfort. Because the goal is often adding increased comfort, the thought is to use an ultra-comfortable multifilament string. The question is which one is most durable?

We believe the concept of using a multifilament string in hybrid with a poly-based string is flawed thinking. There are two primary reasons behind this belief.

1. Multifilament strings do not hold up well at all in a hybrid with a poly-based string. Either as a main or a cross, the poly-based string, being infinitely stiffer, will act like a saw, cutting through the multifilament in a relatively short period of time.

2. The playing characteristics of the poly-based string will dominate the stringbed. The poly-based strings possess very distinct playing properties and while they can be softened with a synthetic stringbed partner, they will still dominate the stringbed.

Because the poly-based string is dominant, we believe it is extremely difficult for even advanced recreational and league players to be able to distinguish a difference between a hybrid consisting of a soft solid core synthetic gut or a multifilament string. (NOTE: We do believe a hybrid does offer a more comfortable and different playing stringbed than a full poly-based setup.)

Since a stringbed consisting of a soft solid core synthetic gut and poly-based string will play nearly identical to a hybrid of a multifilament and poly-based, we believe the soft solid core synthetic is definitely the way to go. There are two key advantages:

A. The softer synthetic gut string will last longer.
B. The softer synthetic gut will cost less!

We are currently playtesting a variety of hybrid setups and will post results when there is enough data to be of interest. In the interim we will list some of the soft solid core synthetics that we recommend.

Klip Scorcher
Klip Kicker
Forten Sweet Synthetic Gut
Signum Pro Ultra Power SF
Yonex Tournament 80 Spin
Signum Pro Topspin SF
WeissCANNON SuperCable

Guts and Glory Tennis offers our customers another advantage. Our stringing professionals play and understand string products and how they relate with one another in different frames. We are uniquely positioned to make recommendations related to equipment (string choice) that others frankly can not match. Take advantage of our experience and realize that if we make a recommendation that you do not enjoy, we will replace it for you at no additional charge. Satisfaction is always guaranteed.

Customer Question. RE: Topspin and WC Comparison

Q: Hi, John, The SilverString has been a good experience. Before purchasing a reel, I wanted to compare it to Cyber Flash or Cyber Power. My understanding is that Cyber Power, in addition to more power than Cyber Flash, has better tension maintenance. Is this true? And what else can you tell me about these strings? Your thoughts are most appreciated! Thanks! – Dave

A: The Topspin copoly strings you mention, IMO, are decent strings. You get solid performing strings at reasonable prices.

The CyberFlash is a stiffer string and while not nearly as stiff as ALU, many choose to use it as a less expensive alternative to the ALU. CyberFlash does a decent job of holding tension and playing properties. While it outlasts many of the older copolys, I would rate it as “competitive, but not necessarily the leader” when compared to the newer versions on the market. Initial loss is not bad and it holds well for the first 8 – 12 hours of play. At that point a dip in performance becomes noticeable to many, but not all.

The CyberPower as you have correctly read, is much livelier. It offers greater comfort and while the initial tension loss is very similar to other copolys, including CyberFlash, it tends to hold playing properties a bit longer. Most won’t note a performance slip until 12 – 15 or more hours of play. Even then, the rate at which performance declines is acceptable. No cliff diving with this string.

Other than that it is hard to compare the two Topspin offerings. I would be more inclined to introduce the CyberFlash to customers who have used copolys like ALU, Hurricane, etc., and are seeking a lower cost and a better overall performing alternative. If this will be the first time with a copoly, I would be more likely to introduce them to the CyberPower as it offers comfort more similar to synthetics. It is powerful and I do not drop the tension with this one.

The WeissCANNON Silverstring, by comparison, is a different animal. It is targeting the advanced player who has some experience with copolys and whose game is fine-tuned enough to feel and appreciate the quality difference you get with premium strings. It is a luxurious copolymer that tops the performance and satisfaction charts. Best of all it costs less than most of the so called “premium” copolys out there while offering superior performance.

The bottom line is all 3 are excellent choices. It just depends what you are seeking as all 3 will most likely appeal to different groups of players.

Customer Question. RE: WC Scorpion

A local stringing customer proposed the following question to us today. It is an excellent question and we believe others can benefit from the question as well as our response.

Q: My son is currently using WeissCANNON Scorpion and he loves it. However, my husband wants to know what is the next step up?

A: The WeissCANNON line of tennis strings are premium in nature. They may cost slightly more than many competing brands, but our customers will tell you the quality difference is evident. In short, WeissCANNON strings are top of the line and it is difficult to find superior products. Your son is already playing with a top-of-the line power copolymer.

Specifically the Scorpion is a powerful copolymer that provides excellent comfort. In terms of powerful copolymers, we have not found any better product currently available. The Topspin CyberPower is an excellent string, perhaps even a bit more powerful, but while it is good, it is hard to say definitively that it is superior. The Scorpion and CyberPower are clearly the top 2 strings in the power copolymer category. Honorable mention to the Signum Pro Poly Deluxe and Pro Supex Big Ace which also fall into this same category of copolymer. We do not however find them to be superior to the WeissCANNON Scorpion.

The WeissCANNON Silverstring is the benchmark by which many comfort copolymers should be measured, but it is not as lively as the Scorpion. It is consistent and excellent in all areas, but it plays differently and fills a different niche than the Scorpion.

Q & A

Welcome Y’all! The Guts and Glory Tennis Blog, “Racquety-Yak” aspires to be helpful, friendly, informative and interactive. Toward that end we invite you to post in any of our categories and we will attempt to share our expertise with you. The great thing about the blog is that you will also be able to read a collection of opinions and thoughts on a variety of tennis topics. When you post a question in this category we will respond to the best of our ability for you and you may get some additional useful feedback from your fellow bloggers as well.  ENJOY!!!