Have a Question for Me?

[airforce1]

Thanks, Airforce1
I'll try 57lbs in mains and 55lbs in crosses this time(I use the same set of strings for both mains and crosses). Is that what you recommend?

But how to determine to move up in tension range or move down in tension range?
Thanks
Honchao

You are welcome. The tensions you mention sound very reasonable. At least a good starting point. Understand that after 2 -3 weeks the strings will be much looser, so some string a little tighter at the beginning to have the string stay playable longer. Just depends on your arm and how often you intend to go between stringings or string breaks.

[airforce1]

Must admit, it's a tough balancing act, especially for some. The more powerful your swing (including serves) the more "tighter" strings aid accuracy, particularly if you employ lots of spin.

And of course, Tight is a very relative term.

Then on the other hand, tighter strings can sap power, requiring you to need to swing harder, which compounds the other problem with tighter strings. They are more harsh on the hand, arm and shoulder.

For me the key is to match the tension to your normal swing. To try to find a tension where the ball does not tramp much and then mostly keep your swing closer to this speed, even when you feel the need to hit big- try not to up swing speed too much. You can see so many misses like this where a club player really loads up on one, only to miss. Have you done this?
Often what has happened to this normally consistent player is that the extra power they add has pushed the string into a major tramp, and the ball is launched long.

If you have a first serve that is way bigger than your groundies, then you can go flatter on the first serve (what most do) and save the big spin for the second serve where the swing speed is often lower or the brush is such that the strings still don't deform too much and tramp. Since I like to hit with a power serve, but lots of spin as well, this forces me to string tighter than I would like for my groundies or the serve control really suffers.

New 3rd gen polys have helped me, as they are more accurate than other types of strings, but these softer polys are not so harsh on the arm, even when strung about the same tensions as a multi. I usually go about 2-3 lbs less than what would be good with a multi.

So to answer, you must go up or down based on how your arm feels first and control as a close second. down in tension to ease up on the arm and up in tension to get more control for your power spin shots.

Hopefully your arm will tolerate a tension that give you excellent control of your strokes.

[vespasianvs]

Tension

Thanks, Airforce1

I'll try 57lbs in mains and 55lbs in crosses this time(I use the same set of strings for both mains and crosses). Is that what you recommend?

But how to determine to move up in tension range or move down in tension range?

Thanks

Honchao

[airforce1]

Hi, John

You suggest experimenting the string tensions to find out the right one. My racquet's tension range is 52 lbs to 62 lbs.

1. Should I start from the higher end, lower end or the middle?

2. How many pounds should I change every time I experiment a new tension?

3. Should the crosses be strung 2 lbs less than the main?

Thanks Hongchao

I think
#1 yes, start in middle, unless you Know you prefer tighter strings, then 2-3 lbs from the top.
*also you "may" like 2-4 lbs less tension in cold weather

#2 change 2 lbs each time till you get real close on tension

#3 yes to crosses 2lbs lighter,
except if hybrid with poly mains

[vespasianvs]

Got it.

Thanks, John.

I found the video and the your article about it in Your Strokes.

I am gonna try it out when I got my re-strung racquet.

Hongchao

[johnyandell]

Don's in the stroke archive. I'd start in the middle. The only difference in tension would be if you went poly on one and syn gut on the other. Really though I'm out of my element here--maybe someone else can jump or just talk to an experienced stringer.

[vespasianvs]

Racquet Stringing

Hi, John

You suggest experimenting the string tensions to find out the right one. My racquet's tension range is 52 lbs to 62 lbs.

1. Should I start from the higher end, lower end or the middle?

2. How many pounds should I change every time I experiment a new tension?

3. Should the crosses be strung 2 lbs less than the main?

Thanks

Hongchao

[vespasianvs]

Strokes

Thanks, John.

I just found Scott Murphy's The High Backhand in the Classic Lessons quite helpful. It is a very detailed especially with those video demonstration.

As for the slice, I can't find that Don Budge article. Could you specify the location or give me the link?

I love this website.

[johnyandell]

On the racket I really have very little idea! Sounds like the strings could be too loose. This is not a question to answer over the internet but more one to figure out through experimenting. When I went to poly hybrid strings I tried about 5 combinations of strings and tensions before finding the right one.

On the slice, go to the archive and watch Don Budge hit the slice drive and also read Trey Waltke's article in classic lessons. Depth comes from extension on the swing and also a flatter swing plane.

Unless you go to an extreme backhand grip it's very difficult to drive a high one-hander. That's not really recommended for recreational players.

[vespasianvs]

[help!] Uncomfortable Strokes

Hi, John,

I have three questions: first about racquet, second about backhand slice and third about topspin backhand on high balls

1. I have been playing tennis for a half year but never feel uncomfortable with my stroke. When I hit the ball (especially the new ones), I can not hear the crisp "Pang" sound as I hear on tennis TV or your videos. Instead, I hear a muffled sound of strings rubbing each other even when hitting on the sweet zone. The ball also does not spin well as I feel it should. The racquet I am using now is a Head ExtremePro Min Plus given by a friend. It is my first one and all set up when I got it (I don't know its strings and tension). I am thinking about making some adjustment to it. Could you give some recommendation, especially on the stringing?

2. What is the ensentials to hit a backhand slice flat and deep instead of high and shallow?

3. Does one-handed backhanders always have to slice when the ball that jumps high around shoulders on their backhand? Is there any effective way to hit topspin one-handed backhander on high balls? Which professional players can do it excellently?
Thanks

Hongchao

[johnyandell]

85 mph is big!

[uspta1704381969]

zennis

I was in the zone. Attacking the net. Didn't care about my errors. Hot day. Shadowy court, lots of sweat. Attacked down the line with my forehand to my opponent's back hand corner, righty. Played this guy a lot, so I knew his game. All of a sudden, my field of vision wavered. I was now looking at me, seeing me come in through his eyes and feeling his body move, and deciding where to hit the ball, cross court passing shot. Then I came back into my own body, knowing exactly where the pass was going to be hit. I pivoted to the spot and crushed a back hand volley inside out, at about 85 mph.

Anyone else ever had a similar experience?

[johnyandell]

Uh, that's why it says Tennisplayer CLASSIC Lesson. I get so many questions that are addressed in detail in various articles and we have so many good ones, we note a classic one each month on top of the new material.

[mdhubert]

Hi John,

I love your site and learn a lot through it, but I've observed lately that you tend to publish articles that were already online (i.e. inside out FH, Eliot Teltscher's shot tolerance). Am I wrong or is it so ? If it is the case, could you precise which are new articles and which are not in order to avoid re-reading them, even if they are interesting.

Thanks and keep on the good work,

Mat

[johnyandell]

Age 7?? You're kidding right? I think age 7 is a little early to worry about this too much. You can definitely create some negative mental currents by being too concerned about anything that happens on the court at that age.

Some players win by being more conservative and building their confidence. As confidence grows they will naturally want to become more agressive. Apparently Sampras was a consistent backcourt player in his early junior career. Some players, maybe Becker is an example just always went for it no matter what which was why he wasn't considered a great prospect in Germany.

In any case playing style will evolve over time and be in large part a function of the player's personality and confidence level, not what a coach or parent thinks the kid should do.