4 posts categorized "June 2010"
TENNIS.com gear editor Bill Gray and his technical advisers will answer your equipment questions every Friday. Click here to send one of your own.
 As a USTA member and league player, I get regular e-mails from the USTA. Recently they informed me that Arthur Ashe Stadium court has been dug up and completely replaced this year. Will this new surface play faster or slower than the rest of the courts at the National Tennis Center?—Jennifer
All 34 courts at the USTA’s National Tennis Center are meant to be exact clones, Jennifer. The International Tennis Federation and the USTA go to great lengths to ensure that court speeds are identical, otherwise players would have to make small swing and timing adjustments as they move from one court to another during the tournament. The speed of a tennis court depends on how much friction there is between the ball and the surface—more friction results in a higher bounce that slows the ball down. The ITF tests court speed by firing a ball at the court at 67 m.p.h. and using infrared beams to monitor the speed. The DecoTurf hard courts used at the U.S. Open can be fine-tuned for consistency by adding or removing sand between the base asphalt of the court and its acrylic upper layers. The ITF classifies court surfaces into five categories, from the slowest clays to the fastest grass, and the U.S. Open courts are in the middle of the range for hard courts, according to the ITF’s Stuart Miller.
And speaking of courts…
We heard from a couple of backyard grass-court owners who take issue with the idea that their favorite surface is high maintenance (“Field of Nightmares,” TENNIS, July/August 2010). It’s easy being green, say Richard Harton of New Jersey and Todd Dobben of Michigan. Harton uses a rye blend that he says is more durable than bent grass (the kind used at Wimbledon). He also uses diluted white latex house paint for the lines instead of the chalky variety that wears off quickly. Another key to lessen grass-court wear and tear is to cut it to within a half-inch, instead of the usual quarter-inch putting-green length, says Dobben, who runs his own grass tournament each year on his backyard court. “Some people cut their court too short and, hence, it gets dug up,” he says. Both owners say their courts get good bounce and that it gets better the more it’s used. Another thing they like about grass courts: They’re cheaper to build—about $1,500 compared to $12,000 for clay and $15,000 for a hard court.
I really like polyester string but I break it every two to four days. When I use a string saver it only makes the string last one more session. I need something that’s more durable. Any suggestions?—Anant Mundra
You sure somebody’s not using your racquet for batting practice? Polyesters lose tension but seldom break. The only string tougher than polyester is Kevlar, the kind of stuff they make bullet-proof vests from (it’s not exactly easy on the arm). String guru Bob Patterson says you might try switching racquets. “Chances are he is playing with a frame with an open-string pattern,” Patterson says. “The best help for a string-breaker of this magnitude is going to a dense pattern with the thickest and best poly, which, in my opinion, is Luxilon Big Banger Original 1.30 mm.”
TENNIS.com gear editor Bill Gray and his technical advisers will answer your equipment questions every Friday. Click here to send one of your own.
 A lot has been made about polyester strings and how much more spin they generate, especially the new Babolat RPM Blast. I wonder if anybody in the tennis community thinks this kind of technology crosses the line. I'm thinking specifically of the debate over high-tech suits in swimming. Is there is any talk out there like this?—Josh
The suits you’re referring are the neck-to-ankle polyurethane bodysuits that were finally banned by the swimming’s governing body, FINA, because they boosted speed so much that 43 world records were set at last year’s world championship. But there’s been no “string war” over whether poly strings are ruining the integrity of tennis. We checked with the International Tennis Federation, which tests equipment to preserve the tradition of the game, to be sure. “I’m not aware of any question regarding the validity or legality of the string,” says Dr. Stuart Miller, head of the ITF’s Science and Technical Commission. “Our testing is ongoing, but as of yet, there hasn’t been any reason to consider the conformity of this string.” A growing number of recreational players are using some form of co-polyester, largely because it’s the string of choice among most pro players, including all four finalists at the French, three of whom—Rafael Nadal, Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur—had their racquets strung with RPM.
With all the racquet companies putting comfort technologies on the front burner the past couple of years, has it decreased the number of tennis elbow incidents?—Mike
In theory, all those bells and whistles should help ease our pain, but there are no studies to prove it, says David Geier, Jr., M.D., the director of Sports Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Adds Todd S. Ellenbecker, director of Sports Medicine for the ATP tour and author of The Elbow in Sport: “There have been advances in vibration-dampening, and racquet manufacturers have made positive advances using lighter materials and new and innovative designs to optimize the sweet spot of the racquet. But there are no studies that have identified an ideal frame or frame characteristics that can minimize the risk of humeral epicondylitis [tennis elbow].”
I’ve noticed that the weight specs on the racquets you review are usually heavier than what the manufacturers list for the same racquets on their websites. Why the difference?—Richard
That’s easy. We list racquet weights after they’ve been strung; most racquet brands show them as unstrung on their sites, and it’s usually a difference of about 1/2 ounce. To us weighing a string-free racquet seems like weighing a car without the motor.
How can I figure out the best string tension for my game?—David
By trial and error, David. Start with the tension in the middle of the manufacturer’s recommended range (which is printed on the frame, usually on the inside of the yoke) and try it out. If you feel you need more control, have your stringer increase the tension (but don’t exceed the top of the range; it could cause damage to the racquet). If you want more power, have the tension lowered.
TENNIS.com gear editor Bill Gray and his technical advisers will answer your equipment questions every Friday. Click here to send one of your own.
 Have Maria Sharapova and Prince split up? I noticed she was using a blacked-out racquet with no “P” on the strings at the French Open.—Nancy Sharp eye you’ve got there, Nancy. Sharapova was indeed yielding a logo-less stick with no stencil on the stringbed in Paris. But while they may not have Paris, both Prince and Sharapova say they’re still going steady. However, Sharapova is using some “experimental frames over the next few months in practice and actual competition,” according to an e-mail response from a Prince representative, adding that it “may actually include her testing frames and technologies that we currently do not carry in our line.” Her longtime racquet sponsor declined to elaborate on what frame(s) she used at the French Open and wouldn’t confirm that the racquet she used in Paris was even a Prince model: “Sorry, can’t comment on any products/technologies that Prince is having Maria test as part of our playtest program with her,” the rep wrote. But as you can tell from the photos at right, the frame doesn't look like the Prince EXO3 Black that Sharapova launched for the company at this year’s Australian Open; it doesn’t have the sculpted grooves of Prince’s EXO3 Energy Channel technology on the sides of the head.
I’m looking for a maneuverable racquet because, as I get older, I’m hitting the ball a little late with my current 12-ounce player frame. What’s more important, the actual weight of a racquet or its swingweight?—Jon Swingweight wins by a long shot in determining a frame’s maneuverability. It’s not determined by its pick-up weight alone, but a combination of that plus racquet length and balance. A racquet that feels like a bird in the hand when you first pick it up (its stationary weight) can feel like you’re dragging around a tiger by the tail when you put it in motion (its swingweight). If a 9-ounce racquet is longer than the standard 27 inches and has an extreme head-heavy balance, it won’t feel as light through the air as your 12-ouncer if it has a regular length and a head-light balance. Case-in-point: The beefy 12.2-ounce, 27-inch, 7/8-inch head-light Head YouTek Prestige Mid has 3 percent less swingweight than the 10-ounce, 27.3-inch, 7/8-inch head-heavy Head YouTek Five Star. In short, that means the Prestige, with its lower swingweight, has more maneuverability than the Five Star.
Are some racquets sold at Walmart better than others?—Carsten Carsten, Walmart’s racquets aren’t the “real thing” next to the costly premium frames with all their high-tech bells and whistles. It’s like comparing an abacus to a calculator—both will help you balance your checkbook, but one will give you much faster and more convenient results. Most of the racquets at Walmart are dumbed-down frames constructed out of aluminum. They’re OK if you just need a racquet for a two-week gym-class program, but they won’t stand the test of time if you take the game up long term. So what’s the best of the Walmart lot? I took the Wilson Federer Signature Oversize out for a test drive and it reminded me of the Tata Nano, a tinny, mini car they sell in India for something like $2,500. Like the Nano, the $19.95 Federer special, with its 110-square-inch head and light weight got me from Point A (hitting the ball) to Point B (over the net), but without the spin, depth and comfort I’ve grown accustomed to with premium racquets. The best part of the mini playtest was when I missed a shot and was able to break the Federer Signature Oversize into smithereens with just a short stroke. Is it good to put a dampener on my strings?—Ronnie Sure, if you want to hear a resonant “thunk” instead of a “ping” on contact. But rubber string dampeners are too small to absorb the impact and lessen frame vibration. Besides, bad vibes are pretty much a thing of the past with all the creature comforts in today’s racquets. Of course, there are exceptions, like the Wilson Federer Signature Oversize above.
 TENNIS.com gear editor Bill Gray and his technical advisers answer your equipment questions every Friday. Click here to send one of your own.
Does the new Babolat RPM string actually produce more topspin? Rafael Nadal has been hitting with less spin since he switched.—Sam
I think Gianni Mina, Horacio Zeballos, Lleyton Hewitt, Thomaz Bellucci and Nicolas Almagro would probably disagree with you. They were all on the receiving end of Nadal’s looping shots in Paris and none could manage to take as much as a set off the spinster. In addition to more spin, Rafa says the string allows the ball to “stay more time on the racquet, so [it] is easier to have control.” RPM must also be working for surprise finalist Samantha Stosur. Here’s Jelena Jankovic, after Sam thrashed her in the semis: “To be honest, she kind of has like almost the game of a man. That's what it feels like…. She has a very good kick, which not many women have. It's a very heavy, you know, spin.”
I usually leave my racquet in my car during the workday in the back seat or trunk. As summer heats up here in Texas, should I be concerned about any adverse effects of prolonged, extreme heat on my racquet and strings? Should I bring my tennis bag in the office with me?—Jay P.
Jay’s question has been asked and answered a thousand times, but it’s worth revisiting since we still see a lot of gear bags emerging from car trunks at club and park parking lots. Racquets, like milk, go bad fast when left to bake in a hot car. The worst-case scenario: The heat can soften the graphite and allow the tension from the strings to pull the face out of shape, making it look like it’s something out of a Salvador Dali painting. Everyday should be take-your-racquet-to-work day, especially in the summer.
I'm in my mid 50s and a 4.0 singles baseline player. I have been using oversize racquets since the ’80s, but I’m wondering if I should switch to a mid or mid-plus. Also, what do you think of Tecnifibre X-One BiPhase 1.30 gauge 16 strings?—Harold
It depends on your priorities, Harold. What’s more important to you, power or control? A mid or mid-plus will give you the latter, but at the expense of giving up the big sweet spot of the oversize. As for the BiPhase, we think it comes closest to gut for comfort, power and the ability to maintain its resiliency and tension longest. The 16-gauge version is more durable, but the ultra-thin 18-gauge BiPhase will increase spin.
I'm a junior in the 16s who plays tournaments and I'm looking for a racquet to replace my Wilson [K] Factor 6.1 95 18x20 with something that will let me hit with more spin for consistency. I string with Luxilon Alu Rough in the Mains and synthetic gut in the crosses. I've playtested the Wilson BLX Pro Open and I like it, but I’m wondering if there’s something better for me. Any suggestions on other racquets I should try?—Ji-Ho Park
I’m wondering why you’d stray from the racquet that helped you groove your strokes for competition, Ji-Ho. Rather than re-inventing your mechanics with something like the Pro Open, a fine hybrid for spin but much lighter than what you’re used to, why not try the latest incarnation of the 6.1, Wilson’s Six.One 95 BLX 16x18? It has the same specs, but a more open string pattern that will give you more bite on the ball for spin.
What's the difference between multifilament and hybrid strings?—Sel
Hybrids are a combination of two different strings, one for the mains another for the crosses. A lot of players these days are opting for something like a co-polyester in the mains for spin and gut or a multifilament in the crosses for comfort. Multifilament is a kind of string made of different materials twisted together, a kind of poor man’s gut.
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