The Mystery of Fading String Tension

[llll]

i should have posted this first. the above come from usrsa (racquet stringers assoc.) as you see all strings lose tension during and after stringing. if you string at 55 for example you have gotten used to playing at a lower tension thinking you are playing at 55. at some point the loss of tension gets to where the strings dont play as well for you so you restring assuming you are not a string breaker. measuring the tension will give you a number to follow and may help in changing strings before they do not play well but i think for most of us non pros it may not be necessary.

[llll]

Static Tension Loss
Tension vs time after clamping at 28.0 kg (61.7 lb). All strings lose tension rapidly during the first 100 sec, and then more slowly after that. All strings were held at 61.7 lb for 10 seconds before clamping. Aramids had a wide range of tension loss with time, but most lost tension severely in the impact tests.

As seen below, the rate of loss,though different for each string, becomes constant after the first 100 or so seconds when viewed on a logarithmic scale.





Static tension loss
BRAND STRING TYPE TENSION
LOSS (lb)
Babolat VS Fiberblend XL 16 Aramid 5.6
Bow Brand Natural Gut 16 Gut 6.1
Babolat ATP Tour Pro 16 Multi 6.2
Babolat VS Power 16 Gut 6.4
Babolat Fiberace 16 Multi 6.7
Ashaway Vantage Elite 16 Multi 6.7
Gosen Arammix Pro 16 Aramid 6.8
Tecnifibre 515 Gold Prestretch 16 Multi 6.8
Wilson Extreme Control 16 Nylon core 7.0
Prince Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 7.0
Prince Problend 16 (mains) Aramid 7.0
Forten Thin Blend 16 (mains) Aramid 7.0
TOA Gold 16 Nylon core 7.0
Gamma TNT 16 Nylon core 7.0
Gamma TNT Pro Plus 16 Nylon core 7.0
Tecnifibre NRG^2 SPL 16 Multi 7.0
Wilson Syn. Gut Extreme 16 Nylon core 7.1
Head Rip Ti.Fiber 16 Multi 7.1
Prince DNA Helix 16 Nylon core 7.1
Ashaway Composite XT Pro 16 Vectran 7.1
Alpha Alpha Gut 2000 16 Multi 7.1
Gosen OG Sheep Tour 16 Nylon core 7.2
Wilson Sensation NXT 16 Multi 7.2
Wilson Sensation 16 Multi 7.3
TOA Gold Power 16 Nylon core 7.3
Tecnifibre TR Pro 16 Nylon core 7.3
Gamma Live Wire 16 Multi 7.4
Forten Dynamix 16 Nylon core 7.4
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro Super JC 16 Nylon core 7.4
Gamma TNT RX 16 Nylon core 7.5
Head Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 7.5
Forten Sweet 16 Nylon core 7.5
Klip Tournament XL 16 Nylon core 7.5
Head Tournament 15L Nylon core 7.6
Forten Fiber Flex 16 Multi 7.6
Bow Brand T2000 16 Multi 7.6
Prince Perfection 16 Multi 7.7
Velociti Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 7.7
Wilson Hammerlast 16 (mains) Technora 7.9
Yonex Tour Super 850 Ti 16 Multi 7.9
Gosen Biogut Multi Oil 16 Multi 7.9
Tecnifibre Top Seed 16 Nylon core 7.9
Ashaway Dynamite WB 16 Zyex 7.9
TOA Silencer 16 Multi 7.9
Velociti Velociti Plus 16 Nylon core 8.0
Forten Tiegut 16 Multi 8.1
Yonex Tour Super 850 16 Multi 8.1
Head Rip Control 16 Multi 8.1
Gosen Tecgut Power 16 Multi 8.2
Tecnifibre E-Matrix 17 Multi 8.2
Gamma Live Wire XP 16 Multi 8.3
Alpha Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 8.3
Alpha Viper 16 Nylon core 8.3
Klip Challenger SG+ 16 Multi 8.3
Forten Dual-Force 16 Aramid 8.4
Head Rip Blend 16 (mains) Aramid 8.5
Alpha Claycourt Plus 16 Multi 8.5
Yonex Tournament 70 16 Nylon core 8.5
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 16 Nylon core 8.5
Prince Synthetic Gut Orig. 16 Nylon core 8.5
Klip Tournament XL+ 16 Nylon core 8.5
Yonex Tour Super 850 Soft 16 Multi 8.5
Bow Brand Synthetic Gut XT 16 Nylon core 8.6
Bow Brand Micro Tournament 16 Nylon core 8.6
Ashaway Liberty 16 Nylon core 8.6
Bow Brand Calibre 16 Nylon core 8.6
Prince Sweet Perfection 16 Multi 8.6
Alpha Firecable 16 Multi 8.8
Wilson Sensation ICE 16 Multi 8.9
Ashaway Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 9.1
Tecnifibre Polyspin 16 Poly 9.1
Velociti Turbo 16 Nylon core 9.1
Babolat Titanium Gut 16 Nylon core 9.2
Klip Hardcore 16 Poly 9.5
Gamma TNT Fusion 16 (mains) Aramid 9.7
Babolat Strong Play 16 Poly 9.8
Tecnifibre 515 SPL 16 Multi 9.9
Babolat Fiberfeel 16 Nylon core 10.0
Gamma Dura Blast 16 Poly 10.1
Klip Atomic 16 (mains) Aramid 10.1
Ashaway Aramid 16 Aramid 10.3
Bow Brand Response XT 16 Multi 10.3
Wilson Polylast 16 Poly 10.9
Forten Poly-Blast 16 Poly 11.1
Gosen Polylon 16 Poly 11.6
Ashaway Monofire 16 Poly 12.8
Bow Brand Bowstar 16 Poly 13.6
Prince Let'r Rip 16 (mains) Poly 15.0
Alpha Polycable 16 Poly 15.1

Introduction
Stiffness
Peak Force
Tension Rise
Peak Tension
Duration
Deflection
Static Tension Loss

[llll]

Impact Tension Loss
The graph shows tension vs time while each string was subject to 10 impacts. The tension rise during each impact was not properly recorded*. The loss in tension after each impact is clear, especially after the first impact.



The table shows the total loss in tension resulting from the 10 impacts. It does not include the tension loss during the 1000 sec period immediately after clamping.

One impact with the hammer is roughly equivalent in effect to 6 very fast serves since one hammer impact lasted about 6 times longer than a normal impact of the ball on the strings.

*Note: for this test, data was only recorded every 2 seconds and whether or not the impact itself (the spikes in the graph) was captured was just a matter of chance. It was not relevant to the test at hand and should be ignored.

IMPACT TENSION LOSS
BRAND STRING TYPE IMPACT
LOSS(lb)
Bow Brand Natural Gut 16 Gut 1.1
Babolat VS Power 16 Gut 1.2
Klip Tournament XL 16 Nylon core 1.2
Alpha Alpha Gut 2000 16 Multi 1.4
Tecnifibre NRG^2 SPL 16 Multi 1.4
Bow Brand Calibre 16 Nylon core 1.5
Babolat ATP Tour Pro 16 Multi 1.6
Head Tournament 15L Nylon core 1.6
Tecnifibre Top Seed 16 Nylon core 1.7
Bow Brand T2000 16 Multi 1.7
Wilson Sensation 16 Multi 1.7
Bow Brand Micro Tournament 16 Nylon core 1.7
Tecnifibre 515 Gold Prestretch 16 Multi 1.7
Velociti Turbo 16 Nylon core 1.7
Wilson Extreme Control 16 Nylon core 1.8
TOA Silencer 16 Multi 1.8
Tecnifibre E-Matrix 17 Multi 1.9
Ashaway Vantage Elite 16 Multi 1.9
Gamma TNT 16 Nylon core 1.9
Babolat Fiberace 16 Multi 1.9
Klip Tournament XL+ 16 Nylon core 1.9
Alpha Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 1.9
Velociti Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 1.9
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro Super JC 16 Nylon core 2.0
Prince Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 2.0
Ashaway Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 2.0
Klip Challenger SG+ 16 Multi 2.0
Head Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon core 2.1
Yonex Tournament 70 16 Nylon core 2.1
Tecnifibre TR Pro 16 Nylon core 2.1
Yonex Tour Super 850 16 Multi 2.1
Forten Dynamix 16 Nylon core 2.1
Gamma TNT RX 16 Nylon core 2.2
Forten Fiber Flex 16 Multi 2.2
TOA Gold 16 Nylon core 2.2
Wilson Syn. Gut Extreme 16 Nylon core 2.2
Prince DNA Helix 16 Nylon core 2.3
Prince Synthetic Gut Orig. 16 Nylon core 2.3
Ashaway Liberty 16 Nylon core 2.4
TOA Gold Power 16 Nylon core 2.4
Yonex Tour Super 850 Ti 16 Multi 2.4
Wilson Sensation ICE 16 Multi 2.5
Babolat Titanium Gut 16 Nylon core 2.5
Forten Tiegut 16 Multi 2.5
Babolat Fiberfeel 16 Nylon core 2.5
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 16 Nylon core 2.5
Gosen Biogut Multi Oil 16 Multi 2.6
Forten Sweet 16 Nylon core 2.6
Yonex Tour Super 850 Soft 16 Multi 2.6
Alpha Claycourt Plus 16 Multi 2.7
Velociti Velociti Plus 16 Nylon core 2.7
Gosen Tecgut Power 16 Multi 2.8
Wilson Sensation NXT 16 Multi 2.8
Head Rip Control 16 Multi 2.9
Tecnifibre 515 SPL 16 Multi 3.0
Gosen OG Sheep Tour 16 Nylon core 3.0
Bow Brand Response XT 16 Multi 3.5
Prince Sweet Perfection 16 Multi 3.5
Wilson Hammerlast 16 (mains) Technora 3.7
Gamma TNT Pro Plus 16 Nylon core 3.8
Prince Perfection 16 Multi 3.8
Ashaway Dynamite WB 16 Zyex 3.8
Alpha Firecable 16 Multi 3.8
Head Rip Ti.Fiber 16 Multi 3.8
Gamma Live Wire 16 Multi 3.9
Bow Brand Synthetic Gut XT 16 Nylon core 3.9
Tecnifibre Polyspin 16 Poly 4.0
Ashaway Composite XT Pro 16 Vectran 4.0
Forten Dual-Force 16 Aramid 4.2
Gamma Live Wire XP 16 Multi 4.6
Klip Hardcore 16 Poly 4.7
Alpha Viper 16 Nylon core 4.8
Babolat Strong Play 16 Poly 5.0
Gamma Dura Blast 16 Poly 5.1
Wilson Polylast 16 Poly 5.7
Forten Poly-Blast 16 Poly 6.0
Ashaway Monofire 16 Poly 6.1
Alpha Polycable 16 Poly 6.3
Gosen Polylon 16 Poly 6.7
Bow Brand Bowstar 16 Poly 6.7
Gamma TNT Fusion 16 (mains) Aramid 7.2
Forten Thin Blend 16 (mains) Aramid 8.4
Prince Let'r Rip 16 (mains) Poly 8.9
Prince Problend 16 (mains) Aramid 10.3
Head RIP Blend 16 (mains) Aramid 11.6
Gosen Aramix Pro 16 Aramid 13.2
Babolat VS Fiberblend XL 16 Aramid 14.5
Ashaway Aramid 16 Aramid 17.0
Klip Atomic 16 (mains) Aramid 18.5

Introduction
Stiffness
Peak Force
Tension Rise
Peak Tension
Duration

[airforce1]

I think he is trying to say those gadgets are not considered very reliable. That seems to be the concensus on them, but I guess there is little better out there yet.

[uspta146749877]

2 busy

re "Stringmeter does NOT work"

Hey, USPTA, I was surprised when my friend with the meter showed that it was about right-on with his new strings, right after it had shown my RIP at 40 lbs. and another friend's expensive Banger polyester at about 35! Must mean something, although hard to believe, I must say.

BTW, wish you would contibute more than WWW links and one-sentence negative remarks. Would like to know what goes into your responses. You have a notable credential. Be good for the forum if you helped out more, like Eric M., who is a hell of a contributor.

2 busy

[ochi]

re "Stringmeter does NOT work"

Hey, USPTA, I was surprised when my friend with the meter showed that it was about right-on with his new strings, right after it had shown my RIP at 40 lbs. and another friend's expensive Banger polyester at about 35! Must mean something, although hard to believe, I must say.

BTW, wish you would contibute more than WWW links and one-sentence negative remarks. Would like to know what goes into your responses. You have a notable credential. Be good for the forum if you helped out more, like Eric M., who is a hell of a contributor.

[uspta146749877]

Stringmeter does NOT work

I tried a friend's Stringmeter on a spare Volkl C-10 the other day and was shocked to find that it read 40 lbs. How could that be, since I'd had it strung somewhere in the 50s a few months ago and had not used it more than a few times since? When I plucked its Head RIP Control strings ("the closest you can come to natural gut"), they gave off a ping that sounded to me like at least 50 lbs., and the racquet was not trampolining balls all over the place.

So I Googled the question and learned almost nothing about tension loss at dozen tennis sites, including one that is devoted to strings and stringing.

At a British site, I read that the Stringmeter measures "relative loss of tension over time," but relative to what? My stringer told me it's relative to what a racquet was strung at, but I'd like to know more than that about it. He also claimed that a string job will soon lose 10% (how soon for what strings?), and might go down a total of 15% or more (how soon for what strings?). I wanted 52 lbs., so he strung the C-10 at 58. I will use a Stringmeter on it tomorrow, if I catch up with a friend who has one. The stringer's expensive state of the art machine will not measure tension after a string job has been finished, he said.

At the British site, I also found a little information about Racquet Technic's ERT 300 tester, which electronically measures "dynamic tension," rather than tension measured in kilograms or pounds. I will have to look into dynamic tension, find out what it means.

Have any of you tried the Stringmeter or ERT 300? Are they helpful? Accurate? How else can one predict or determine tension loss? I could not find an evaluation of the tension retention properties of individual strings. Has anyone come across a chart? Probably not -- there are hundreds of strings out there, but maybe someone has compared the best, or most popular, of them.

Stringmeter does NOT work

[ochi]

I tried a friend's Stringmeter on a spare Volkl C-10 the other day and was shocked to find that it read 40 lbs. How could that be, since I'd had it strung somewhere in the 50s a few months ago and had not used it more than a few times since? When I plucked its Head RIP Control strings ("the closest you can come to natural gut"), they gave off a ping that sounded to me like at least 50 lbs., and the racquet was not trampolining balls all over the place.

So I Googled the question and learned almost nothing about tension loss at dozen tennis sites, including one that is devoted to strings and stringing.

At a British site, I read that the Stringmeter measures "relative loss of tension over time," but relative to what? My stringer told me it's relative to what a racquet was strung at, but I'd like to know more than that about it. He also claimed that a string job will soon lose 10% (how soon for what strings?), and might go down a total of 15% or more (how soon for what strings?). I wanted 52 lbs., so he strung the C-10 at 58. I will use a Stringmeter on it tomorrow, if I catch up with a friend who has one. The stringer's expensive state of the art machine will not measure tension after a string job has been finished, he said.

At the British site, I also found a little information about Racquet Technic's ERT 300 tester, which electronically measures "dynamic tension," rather than tension measured in kilograms or pounds. I will have to look into dynamic tension, find out what it means.

Have any of you tried the Stringmeter or ERT 300? Are they helpful? Accurate? How else can one predict or determine tension loss? I could not find an evaluation of the tension retention properties of individual strings. Has anyone come across a chart? Probably not -- there are hundreds of strings out there, but maybe someone has compared the best, or most popular, of them.

Is this worth looking into? Not for pro's and serious lower level tournament competitors, of course -- they go through strings fast -- but there are plenty of good and not so good recreational players who want to get as much mileage as they can from their strings. They must adapt to seemingly imperceptible lower tensions that produce more power and less control as months go by, but not realize it.

So, should they have their racquets strung at, say, 10% higher than they want, then put them aside for a week, or use them just for practice to break them in? That's what my stringer recommended, and I think he's right. But if I had not asked about it, I am sure he would have strung at what I wanted, not what I wanted it to wind up at.