Reliable racquet stringing with an optional fast turnaround in and around the Newbury area
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Interplay between String Gauge & Tension
String Gauge & Tension
String gauge and tension have a very direct interaction with each other and are thus worthy of considering together. Why guage and tension have the impact they do is considered elsewhere - This page lays out how they interplay with each other without trying to justify why. Those not interested in the "why" can still use this page to choose a gauge/tension combination to suit their requirements.
As usual the considerations below assume the string tension remains within its elastic limits (no stringer is going to string your racquet outsdie these limits!) and all other factors remain unchanged. I advise sticking with the combinations with grey backgrounds in the table and avoiding those with red backgrounds unless you have strong reason to want to try these - ie: unless you really want an extreme configuration. Narrative to further explain the summary in the table is given below.
| Gauge/Tension combination | 1 thin gauge with low tension | 2 thin gauge medium tension | 3 thin gauge with high tension | 4 medium gauge low tension | 5 medium gauge medium tension | 6 medium gauge high tension | 7 thick gauge with low tension | 8 thick gauge medium tension | 9 thick gauge with high tension |
| Power | Control | Durability | Durability |
| String snap | String wear | ||
| very high | very low | medium | very low |
| high med | low med | low med | low med |
| medium | medium | very low | medium |
| med high | med low | med high | med low |
| medium | medium | medium | medium |
| med low | med high | med low | med high |
| medium | medium | very high | medium |
| low med | high med | high med | high med |
| very low | very high | medium | very high |
1 Thin gauge with low tension: Thinner string and lower tension each increase power but each decsrease control. Yes this will generate extreme power but at extreme expense of control - any slight directional errors or mishits are likely to be accetuated making it difficult to place the ball where you want. Additionally the low thickness of string with high propensity for string on string wear will mean the strings wear out quickly. Not an advisable combination.
2 Thin gauge with medium tension: Thinner string will increase power. This is the ultimate power enhancing combination but at slight expense of control, string snap resilience and string wear resiliance. If you want the string configuration to enhance your power this is the one for you. A good finesse player's configuration. Yes your string may wear out slightly sooner but they'll probably start going dead through creep if they don't wear out so you're not losing anything anyway.
3 Thin gauge with high tension: Thinner string and higher tension cancel each other out failing to enhance power or control. The strings will be very prone to snapping (either through impact overload in the middle of the stringbed or where they bend round the grommets protecting the frame holes) for which reason this is not a recommended configuration. The strings are unlikely to wear out before they snap.
4 Medium gauge with low tension: Lower tension will increase power and argauably there will be a compensating loss of control. Strings are unlikely to break from overstsrtech but reducing tension increases string on string wear but not to an extreme extent. If you'd like to try a configuration that adds a little power to your game then this is the one for you.
5 Medium gauge with medium tension: This is the middle of the road configuration that optimises the compromise between power, control and string breakage through overstretch or string on string wear. This suits more than 80% of players and unless you ask for something specifically different this is what you'll get.
6 Medium gauge with high tension: Higher tension will enable more control and arguably there will be a compensating loss of power. Strings are less likely to break through string on string wear and more likely to break through overstsretch. If you generate enough power on your own but would like a string configuration to help with your control then this is the one for you.
7 Thick gauge with low tension: Thicker string and lower tension cancel each other out failing to enhance power or control. This configuration is likely to feel dead and lack any significant sweet spot (for anyone except a serious slogger) for which reason this is not a recommneded configuration. The strings are very unlikely to snap through impact load but may wear over time.
8 Thick gauge with medium tension: Thicker string will improve both aspects of durability and control at slight expense to power. This is the "sloggers combination" - if you generate plenty of power on your own and want a string combination to aid control with enhanced durability this is it. One could argue you'd be better calming your power and allowing a different string combination to do the work for you but if its an uncurable habit this is the string combination for you.
9 Thick gauge with high tension: Thicker string and high tension add together to remove any power enhancement but leave plenty of control and durability. Like configuration 7 this is likely to feel dead and lack any significant sweet spot for which reason it is not a recommneded configuration. Such strings are however unlikely to snap or wear out for a long time.
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