Specific Strings for
Specific Players

A.J. Chabria

In the past handful of issues, we have had a good time exploring custom rackets (Click Here) and different string compositions (Click Here), and also how they can relate to arm health (Click Here). We have deliberately avoided commercializing things.

But this month, let’s have a look at some suggested products for various types of play. We will look at players in 4 categories.All brands generally carry something worthwhile, especially if you have a feel for what you’re after.

I am also including some tension ranges for typical players in these categories, having seen success with multiple case studies. These are just a jumping off point and you will have to experiment within the ranges to see what really works for you. My experience shows that feel, arm friendliness, and durability are all individual and can vary substantially.

Intermediate Players

First, female or male, intermediate level, with some propensity for arm trouble. A synthetic gut like the many knockoffs of Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex. Every company has it. Though it doesn’t retain higher tensions well, it feels great until it breaks. Examples: Babolat N.vy. Wilson, Head, and Dunlop synthetic gut.

A multifilament, at a few dollars more, can offer more spin, and more shock absorption because of the thousand or so filaments. Also, because of the lack of a core, the multifilament might not hold tension well. Best at moderate tensions. Not very durable, but worthwhile.

Wilson Nxt and Tecnifibre NRG 2 lead this segment. Since these are softer strings, they all ought to be safe to be in the 48-55 pound range. That’s 22 to 25 kilos.

Supermulti

A new word! Sometimes these aren’t even multifilaments. Babolat Origin, Tecnifibre x1 Biphase and Tecnifibre HDX come to mind. These strings are soft, but they slip like a poly.

I feel they do best at low tensions. So lots of good players enjoy these in the high forties or very low fifties--or about 21-24 kilos.

They do notch like a soft poly, so durability is not stellar, but they offer almost as much pocketing as a multi, with almost the slip and spin of poly. This segment seems to have a huge future with juniors, club players, and even aging players who are coming down from poly.

Higher Level Players (Slightly)

A softer co-polyester is excellent for these players, as long as it doesn’t stay in to the point of feeling dead. With a good level of racket speed, a player can deflect the strings enough to enjoy the slip and snapback of a poly. Durability is generally good. If a player has decent touch, she or he doesn’t really miss the feel of a synthetic gut, gut, or a multifilament.

Examples are Tecnifibre Red Code, Luxilon Fluoro, Yonex Poly Tour, Signum Pro Poly, Ytex, Babolat RPM Team.

Some of these players can control the low tensions, and actually love that boingy feel especially with stiffer polys. Not a lot of guys venture below 37 pounds or 17 kilos. Some have the power to warrant the higher tensions, but not too many go above 66 lbs or 30 kilos.

Big Hitters

Big hitters! Generally higher level players with significant racket speed. Fit players. No arm problems.

Try a firmer poly, like Babolat RPM Blast, Head Hawk Touch, or Luxilon Big Banger Alu...either as a main or a full bed. Stan Wawrinka and James Blake are pro examples using firm polys at high tensions. Most pros now use firm polys at lower tensions, as do many college players.

Bigger hitters can really take advantage of the firmness, slip, snapback, and durability of a hard poly. Most big hitters enjoy a range between 48 and 66lbs, or 22.5-30 kg.

Personally?

As an aging 5.0, with no arm pain, I personally do not hit that hard anymore, and I do not need the incredible durability of a firm poly, but I use the hardest poly I can find as a cross, mated with gut mains. These slip best, and offer a lot of spin and control. When I use a softer poly, I do not really notice the benefit to the arm. It just notches more easily and slips less....and maybe allows the gut to last a bit longer.

Textured Poly

Textured polys. The jury is still out on these! Some feel more bite with a textured string. Others feel it slips less.

I believe when a firm poly is textured, it slips and spins more. Luxilon Alu Rough is an example. If a textured poly is soft, I feel it spinning the ball when I hit soft, but just a bit less when hitting harder against a hard hitter.

Players who like textured poly for the slippage, opt to go lower in tension, in the range of 45-52 lbs or 19-24 kilos. The ones who like it for the bite tend to go mid to high 50s or 24-27 kilos.

Let me know your thoughts about all this info in the Forum!