Gear Q&A: The Afterlife

Jon Levey answers your Gear Q&A. Email your question to tennis.comproshop@gmail.com.

I’ve decided to experiment with various polyester strings, and my stringer warned me about not playing for too long with one string job. He said the strings become “dead” and there’s a danger of arm problems. Is this true? Thanks. —Doug P.

Doug,

Nonsense. Sounds like your stringer is trying to manufacture repeat business. Actually, I’m just kidding—you’ve got a knowledgeable stringer that’s looking out for his customers. I’m by no means a string expert, but I’ll do my best to sum up the “dead” issue, which is very much alive and problematic for lots of players.

Although many rec players probably shouldn’t be using polyester strings—that’s a story for a different day—large numbers of them have it in their racquets. One of the more attractive reasons is their durability; they're much harder to break than the typical multifilament. A string job can last numerous months, even with regular play. That equates to lower equipment costs and less hassle. However, this resiliency is both blessing and curse. More on that later.

Another attraction to everyday players is that touring pros champion polys, either in a full string bed or as part of a hybrid. However, this is purely for performance purposes—string longevity has nothing to do with it. Pros won’t go longer than a practice or a match with the same string job; the real finicky ones switch every ball change. Since lifespan is not an issue—it’s quite rare to see a pro crack a string—the staying power of polys is of little value to them. They generally employ the string for two other desirable reasons.

First, the inherent stiffness of the strings offers a greater degree of control. Its firmness deforms the ball at contact more than softer strings, resulting in a loss of energy. This translates into players being able to take bigger cuts at the ball with less fear of spraying the resulting shot. To detractors, the rigidity and lack of liveliness off the string bed is why polys can actually feel dead or powerless right from the start.

The other property players covet is the faster and more reliable string snapback. All strings move at contact, but polys are less abrasive and slide back quicker and more frequently. That’s why, while still in good shape, they rarely need readjustment between points. This characteristic combined with the enhanced swing speed promotes elevated spin production.

Where polys run afoul is their tendency to lose tension and playability much sooner than most other synthetics. The speed of decline will vary depending on string and player. A topspin-happy baseline grinder will age strings much quicker than a flatter-hitting, serve-and-volley doubles specialist. It’s going to be an individual discovery that could be anywhere from a few sets to a few months. There’s also the possibility that a player can consistently break the string before it hits the skids, making it a moot point.

A string job can last numerous months, even with regular play. That equates to lower equipment costs and less hassle. However, this resiliency is both blessing and curse.

But what happens when a polyester string reaches its use-by date and goes dead?

Think of a poly as a piece of plastic, or a spring. When a spring is stretched to appropriate lengths, it snaps back and keeps its form and characteristics. However, when stretched too far it remains straight and ceases to act like a spring. So it goes for a poly that deforms with time and use.

The string becomes softer, which results in a mushier string bed. It may actually feel more comfortable to play with at this point, but the degeneration means less shock absorption at contact, which isn't a positive for arm health. It also diminishes the overall control. There's a less predictable response off the string bed, creating more errant shots long or wide.

The friction between the mains and cross strings also increases, meaning less sliding back into position and reduced snapback. Bunching of the mains can also increase tension on the crosses and why some people believe that dead polyester strings feel boardy, not mushy. Spin is subsequently harder to generate, forcing players to compensate by swinging more violently in the hopes of capturing previous results.

It’s these conditions that your stringer wants you to avoid, because in addition to lowered performance, it can lead to injury. The cumulative effect of hitting the ball with a stiff frame laced with dead strings that don’t absorb much energy can take its toll on wrists, elbows, and shoulders. And since polys are so durable, the strings can function in this afterlife for quite a while before finally breaking.

A telltale sign you’ve waited way too long to restring is if you cut a main string and it gives way rather than snaps with a distinct popping sound. Personally, I use string movement as a barometer. Once I find myself needing to readjust and straighten the strings between points—which is usually around the time I start noticing a change in the shape and consistency of my shots—I know my strings have bagged out.

Remember, you’re always better off cutting out a poly too early, rather than too late.