Hi there, seems like there is not a topic on this. I found out that racquets come in both 72 and 76 holes. So would like to ask what is the difference between a 72 and 76 hole grommet racquet. Which is better and what are the pro's and con's of each? Would like have your views and experience if any. Thanks alot!!
There's not a lot to be said about it really. The additional holes mean strings don't need to share grommet holes so its a lot easier to string, less stress on the racquet and less string wear.
I was thinking more along the line of string bed density affecting the repulsion but my physics is too rusty
There are 80 holes racquets in the market for sometime already. I'm asking more in term of string tension. If your regular tension with 72 holes reacquet is 24lbs ( for example), what would your tension be with 76 holes, 80 holes racquets? Will it be 23lbs and 22 lbs respectively?
The extra holes are indeed to prevent them from sharing. It should be easier to string, but the way I string rackets, I prefer the old method. In the classic way, the main strings are denser on the top. That's because the oval shape is not realy an oval, but an egg shape. So at the top of the head, the main strings will become denser. It's marginal, but the repulsion with denser string is different compared to the lower string bed. By splitting the shared holes, the main strings becomes more alligment parrallel to eachother. The extra holes should weaken the frame, but be aware that the holes are also smaller. Also, because they don't share the holes, the tension is more distributed. I do not experience any differences in string wear between the two methods. So I think it's mainly for getting the main strings parrallel for better sweet spot/feel off center. As for the higher number of wholes for more strings, it's a different kind of story. Because there are more lines with the same surface, the power of impact is distributed over more lines and making the string more durable. Also, it's not needed to string it at high tension to get the same results of repulsion. But the repulsion is different and I can imagine that the feel of the denser string bed is not for everyone and some dislikes it. But it is really a fact that the string last longer on these type of rackets. To put it easier: the difference between 72 and 76 holes, is 4.
i was going to say 4 as well, but i don't want to piss the moderators off. anyway, after going to my rackets and counted the holes in my rackets, i realized that it would have been a lot easier if i had just searched for the info online. anyway, after thinking about it for a few minutes and digging deep into my long term memory, i feel that the 76 holes gave me a stiffer stringbed, and i don't know why....
You would get a stiffer string bed if there's a higher string density, i.e there are more strings per unit area if the tension is the same. This is because when the shuttle strikes the strings, the load is shared over more strings, so each string is doing less work - which gives the feeling of it being stiffer. However, I'm sure some people will probably tell you that there comes a point when aerodynamics will be a problem with a high density of strings.
I thought 76 holes has just as many strings going thru the head frame as 72 holes and just that there are less shared holes? So the number of strings should still be the same, so why is it denser???
I didn't want to mention any brand, but the denser string bed is especially the case with some FZ Forza rackets which has up to 96 holes. For the 76 holes vs 72, it is not denser. Maybe a little only the main strings at the top.
Yes that's right. I wasn't saying that 76 holes had more strings than 72, it doesn't. I was just saying that if it did, then it would make the string bed feel stiffer.
oh i see, thank you for the clarifications. but it still begs the question, at least in my head, why it felt denser, stiffer, when it's 76 holes than 72 holes???
my n50ii has 70 holes. lol. used a forza ti550S, 96 holes, bg66 at 27lbs managed to last over 2 months, compared to my usual 76 hole rackets which are around 1 month on bg66 ultimax which is more durable than the bg66. but broke the frame while stringing.