dont smash hard after newly strung racket?

[E.Cheng]

I've been hearing alot of people breaking their strings like 15 strings in 6 days, and I once, when I was really nooby, heard some person say that after you string a racket, you shouldnt smash hard, or do full on clears, because the strings have to settle into the racket.

This might be true because I once broke BG66 strings in my first week using them and in that week I was training hard smashes and clears.

So for those people who go though packs of strings a month, maybe you should leave the strings to settle into the racket before enduring hard hits?

I just realized my title doesnt make much sense =/

[taneepak]

A racquet plays at its best when newly strung with new strings. Smashes and almost any stroke do not come any better than with new strings. New strings break because of mishits.

[LazyBuddy]

Break 15 strings in 6 days mostly due to bad gromments or powerful mis-hit. Of course, if he's LD, that's another story.

Seriously, I don't think there's any durability difference between a 3 hrs old string and a 2 weeks old string. Many players like to let the string to "settle in", mainly due to control reasons, but not durability.

[phandrew]

Break 15 strings in 6 days mostly due to bad gromments or powerful mis-hit. Of course, if he's LD, that's another story.

Seriously, I don't think there's any durability difference between a 3 hrs old string and a 2 weeks old string. Many players like to let the string to "settle in", mainly due to control reasons, but not durability.

There is definitely a difference because the tension would have decreased

[Matt]

E. Cheng,

Lol, sounds like that stuff is all made up. So using this concept mention, put that into perspective of the pro players. Makes absolutely no sense because the players would get their rackets stringed before their actual match.

[phandrew]

Why wouldn't you play with a newly strung racket? Leaving it over time will only reduce the tension making you play different.

[E.Cheng]

Why wouldn't you play with a newly strung racket? Leaving it over time will only reduce the tension making you play different.

No, I meant by like playing it softly, then after about 2hrs of play, do whatever you like. But it seems its not true, but anyway I've never been strong enough to break strings within a week of playing.

[LazyBuddy]

There is definitely a difference because the tension would have decreased

In theory, yes. However, in theory I can also argue there's a difference in durability in between a newly strung racket, and a racket being used just for 3 hrs, as the tension tends to drop with the highest rate (play or not) at the beginning.

When we talk about the string durability, we need to look at the overall life span. Whether the string lose 0.2% or 0.5% or even 50% of the "life" after your 1st smash, I don't know.

[phandrew]

Would you want the string to break in as fast as possible or slowly over time?

[E.Cheng]

In theory, yes. However, in theory I can also argue there's a difference in durability in between a newly strung racket, and a racket being used just for 3 hrs, as the tension tends to drop with the highest rate (play or not) at the beginning.

When we talk about the string durability, we need to look at the overall life span. Whether the string lose 0.2% or 0.5% or even 50% of the "life" after your 1st smash, I don't know.

YES THAT IT, thats what he told me, he was like because your string loses tension faster if you play hard and when it losses tension too quickly it may break. When the strings settle in, its harder to lose tension. Well I think thats what he said.

[LazyBuddy]

when it losses tension too quickly it may break.

I really don't understand what kinda theory is that. Isn't the lower the tension, the "safer" it is for not breaking the string?

[phandrew]

I really don't understand what kinda theory is that. Isn't the lower the tension, the "safer" it is for not breaking the string?

Lower tension on the same string will last longer than higher tension.

[Matt]

Well all the strings would go through the break-in period before they stabilize after the string elongates as the tension drops.

For the professionals, that is a different story as mentioned earlier they would get the strings stringed before their actual match so they will have a fresh set of strings when they play.