I did a search on "breaking in.." but just recieved results about actually broken rackets, however that's not what i meant:D

I am about to get a new mp99 soon and was wondering what tension i should use to break in the racket before going to a higher tension (or if i should even break in the racket at all sticking to my regular 23 to 24lbs). My friend bought a mp99 and at first strung it at 21lbs then soon after moved back to his normal of 26lbs which was quite surprising.

Anyways, I've heard that breaking in the racket with a lower tension at first is good to set up the racket for higher tensions just to be safe from breaking right off at the bat. I however am not quite sure of the recommended tension of the mp99 yonex has put on it and realize that what they say, you can do higher.

But like i mentioned, let's say the "recommended" max is 24lbs (pls if anyone, correct me cause i'm most likely wrong?!), would it be a good idea to string it at 24lbs?

That's my whole question, better to break it in? (IF SO, recommend what tension from my REGULAR 23lbs?)...or just go with the 23lbs knowing that this is within the recommendations anyways?

*and yes, i know that there is always a chance that the racket will beak..but this is a new racket and i'm wondering about the FIRST tension

I used BG-85@21x22 as the first set of strings for my new mp-99 and I think it's pretty OK for a new racquet.

As the first set of strings, I would say around 20 pounds is a very good tension.

yeah..20 lbs sounds a little low for me though, but thanks

interesting. i have never heard of breaking in rackets. i have heard of breaking in other things, like shoes, stereo equipment, people's homes.... ;)

but i guess it does make some sense. the composite structure of a racket should be allowed time to settle. but i wonder if there is much difference between 20 and 23lbs. for many's standard 23lbs would be medium low tension. 23lbs would be the minimum tension i would use for any rackets, and 20lbs would be hardly stressing the racket at all. so i wouldn't worry about 23lbs if i were you.

23lbs is pretty safe, at 24lbs you will start to see the corners of the isometric head suffer from metal fatige and weaken. Also there might be some bizarre way to string it so that it can go higher.

Start low with cheap priced strings like BG 65 or lower, then move on to BG85 (or Cyber100?) at a much higher tension. This way it won't hurt so much (the wallet that is...).

It should 'survive' the recommended tension by Yonex, else you could just get a replacement if it breaks.

Never heard of breaking in either - strung my Cab 20 at 24lbs BG85 once I paid for the racquet. The shop owner said that Bg85 must be strung at minimum 24lbs, else the string will move too much. Is this true?

yeah, i was thinking of stringint the new racket with bg 85..cept i'm going with ti bg 68...probably at 22 lbs for now

New concept for me as well.

Composite materials in a raquet do not break in. If they are weak they just break. Sometimes a frame may have some epoxy residue on the inside of the frame from the molding process that when you first string it will give a minor cracking sound when initially put under tension. This is quite common and is not an indication the frame is about to break.

If you have a clash with another raquet sometimes the raquet actually will break from inside the frame then just fold or snap later for no apparent reason. Graphite fibers will sometimes shatter then each fiber next to it shatters and so on until whamo. End of frame. Therefore I cannot see any reason you would want to try to break in a new raquet except with a new frame you may want to start at a low string tension then work up to where you find the right tension for the new frame. Or of course start high and work to low tension. Feel is everything.

oic, thanks for the info

Just follow Yonex's stringing recomendation after all they're the ones who made the rackets. No one knows better than them in regards to their racket...

uhh..yah, but like most of us know, ppl can usually string a couple pounds higher then their recommendations...

i agreed with eggroll, the racquet is broken in on the first stringing, before it is even played. The strongest frame integrity is at the beginning, then it degrade with time thru multiple plays and re stringing. One bad string job is worst than 1 year of playing. If you want to speed up the racquet breaking in, just give your racket to a lousy stringer. Some even break it, i'm not kidding. A new player in my club showed me a aerotus 80 strung by my competitor(a very good player too), frame is distorted and cracked in 12 o'clock which cooler coined the term 'high noon disease' because i see it so many times.

yes, i agree now..at first when i mentioned "breaking in".. i heard it from a person but he probably didn't know what he was talking about and i took it in like "breaking in a shoe", etc...however, like i said, it all makes more sense

Breaking in? Hope I'm posting the right reply.

IMO, yes, we need to prepare a new racquet before putting a higher tension string. I once bought a new Cab9Tour and set the tension on 25lbs. Nothing happened until I used it for 3 times (soft playing) and a friend of mine used it 2 times for hard playing (smashes and sort) and the frame bent!

It might not be because of the strong tension. It can be because of the racquet itself that might be already damaged from the first time. But I'd reckon that if I set the tension around 19-21 lbs at the first time, it would be better.

I got a new MP99 and strung it at 28lbs with BG80 so far so good :D My old MP99 was first sturng at 24 and now is at 28 also. I dont think with these new technology in racket construction you need to "break-in" a racket. - IMO only

yeah, i guess there's two sides...in a way, it seems like there's reason to "break it in"...on the otherhand, like others have mentioned, there are reasons to prove otherwise...i guess if you feel confident enough knowing that nothing will happen first time..then go right ahead and string the racket at what you like. however, i still have the idea of "breaking in" the racket just because i've heard so many stories about how other ppl's rackets have broke due to stringing their rackets at high tensions right away.

when i first bought my mp99 i had it strung at 21lbs because the person whom i purchased the raquet from kept warning me that if i broke it at anything higher he would not be held repsonsible and couldnt help me send it back to yonex. but after i broke the strings (or cut them)... i dont remember...:confused: but after i replaced the strings with bg65 at 27-28lbs and had my coach string my raquets for me the raquet has been fine till today.

I've just purchased a AT700 , and i have already strung it at 25lbs. Wanted to string it at 28 lbs at first.. but since its a new racket...i rather take it slow. 25lbs is fine with me. But you can string your racket at Yonex recomended tension. And i don't think your racket will have any problem with high tension , since the racket techonolgy nowdays is getting better and better. IMHO