Tennis Industry magazine

 

String Selector Map 2005

Customize your stringbed for optimum performance and feel.

By Crawford Lindsey

(Article adapted from the new book Technical Tennis: Racquets, Strings, Balls, Courts, Spin, and Bounce, by Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey)

Every choice concerning properties or features of string (except durability) comes down to how they will affect stringbed stiffness. Material, construction, gauge, and tension all influence string stiffness, which in turn affects stringbed stiffness, which affects power, control, and feel. The String Selector Map helps you navigate the quagmire of over 400 strings to choose what works and feels best for each player.

String Stiffness

Table 1: Effect of Stringbed Features on Stringbed Stiffness
String Description Effect on Stringbed Stiffness
Long/short strings Softer/stiffer
Thin/thick gauge strings* Softer/stiffer
Open/closed string pattern Softer/stiffer
Loose/tight string tension Softer/stiffer
Soft/stiff string material Softer/stiffer
Big/small grommet/string holes (support system) Softer/stiffer
* About half of all thin strings are stiffer than thick versions of the same string. The reason is that the stress (tension per square inch) on the thin string is larger and that the stiffness of most strings increases quickly when the stress increases above a certain value. A thin string will generally stretch further than a thick string when it is strung at 60 pounds, but it often stretches less than a thick string when the tension rises above 60 pounds during a shot.

String stiffness is a combination of material, gauge (i.e., string diameter and, thus, amount of material), length, and tension. But it is not a single number that is the same all of the time such that you can say, “This string has a stiffness of such and such.” The stiffness of the string changes depending on what the tension is before you start stretching it. A string at 50 pounds will stretch more for each pound of impact force compared to a string at 70 pounds. In other words, the string is stiffer at higher tensions, not just because of the tension, but also because of a change in the material property itself. This is a property of all common string materials. A steel string would not act that way. It would stretch lengthwise the same amount for each pound of impact force whether it were strung at 40, 60, or 80 pounds, and you could say that the steel string has a definite value for lengthwise stiffness. Fortunately, in the normal stringing range of 50-70 pounds, different string materials don’t change stiffness radically compared to each other as tension is altered. So, if one string is stiffer than another at 50 pounds, it is, for all practical purposes, safe to say that it is stiffer by about the same proportion at 70 pounds. Each string will feel about the same relative to the other at each tension. However, they will each feel stiffer than they did at the lower tension. The one exception is gut, which is stiffer at lower tensions compared to nylon, but the stiffness stays relatively constant at the ranges of higher tensions caused by ball impact, and it is less stiff than other strings at these tensions as a result.

string cross sections

As the String Selector shows, there are only four different string materials in common use. In order from softest to stiffest they are: gut, nylon, polyester, and aramids, such as Kevlar. These groups have very little, if any, overlap in measured stiffness values from one group to another. There is beginning to be a tiny bit of overlap between nylon and polyester (but only for a very few strings), as new manufacturing processes have allowed polyester to be softened. Within each category, there is a range of variance, but nothing as significant as the leap between separate categories.

Tension Loss

The Selector Map also plots tension loss. This is a property of the material and is related to stiffness because it determines the consistency over time of the stringbed stiffness. Every string loses tension from the second it is installed and with every hit of a tennis ball. The rate of tension loss determines how much and how quickly the stiffness of your stringbed will change and, with it, the performance and feel. The tension loss was measured by pulling the string to 62 pounds, waiting 200 seconds, and then impacting the string five times with a force comparable to hitting a 120 mph serve. The tension loss is thus a combination of static time tension loss and dynamic impact tension loss. Polyester loses the most tension and gut the least.

The rate of loss slows to a mere creep after a couple of days and remains “perceptually” about the same for a few weeks. This means different things to different players. If you are a typical recreational player, the feel you are looking for is the stabilized feel that you experience after a couple of days and then for weeks after. If you are a pro, you need your racquets to feel exactly the same every day. That is why high level players restring so frequently.

String stiffness and tension loss are just two variables in overall stringbed stiffness. Table 1 summarizes the effect of additional variables that affect that stiffness, and Table 2 summarizes the resulting affect on performance.

Table 2: Effect of String Stiffness on Performance
Stringbed Shock & Rebound
Property Power Control Vibration Spin Angle
Soft More Less Less Same Higher
Stiff Less More More Same Lower

The Geography of ‘Feel’: Finding Your ‘Feel Good’ Location

To find the string that goes with the dot, note the dot’s coordinates and look them up in the table.

String selector — all strings

Nylon Poly Aramid Gut Once you find your current string:

Hybrids: to look up a hybrid combination, you must look up each string separately. If it is a pre-packaged hybrid, most packaging indicates the name of each string.

Test Procedure

We tensioned each string to 62 pounds and allowed to sit for 200 seconds. Then we hit the string five times with a force equivalent to hitting a 120 mph serve. The tension loss represents the total amount of the relaxation over both time and impact. The stiffness value is a calculation derived from the amount of force created at impact to stretch the string. Lower values represent softer strings and lower impact forces. Higher values represent stiffer strings and higher impact forces.

Nylon, Zyex, & Polyolefin (Sorted by Stiffness)

Nylon, zyex, and polyolefin
Company String Material Gauge Stiffness
(lb/in.)
Tension loss (lbs)
Head RIP Feel 17 Polyolefin 1.28 136 15.14
Pro Kennex IQ-Element Z 17 Zyex 1.21 137 14.38
Isospeed Platinum 16 Polyolefin 1.27 138 16.62
Head RIP Comfort 16 Polyolefin 1.31 140 15.77
Pro Kennex IQ-Comfort 17 Polyolefin 1.27 142 14.75
Head RIP Feel 16 Polyolefin 1.33 143 14.77
Pro Kennex IQ-Element 2 16 Zyex 1.30 145 13.12
Power Angle Duo-Color TNT Fat Core 17 Nylon 1.26 145 15.02
Ashaway Dynamite 17 Zyex/nylon 1.24 147 13.72
Isospeed Professional 17 Polyolefin 1.27 152 15.06
Blue Star Stargut 17 Nylon 1.27 160 14.20
Pro Kennex IQ-Element 2 15L Zyex 1.40 161 12.22
Head RIP Protect 16 Polyolefine/Nylon 1.32 163 11.57
Isospeed Platinum 16 Polyolefin/Nylon 1.32 165 12.46
Wilson Reaction 18 Nylon 1.20 165 12.81
Ashaway Dynamite WB 16 Zyex/nylon 1.37 165 13.21
Gamma Live Wire Professional 17 Nylon/Zyex 1.29 168 12.37
Pro Kennex IQ-Comfort 16 Polyolefin 1.37 168 14.90
Gamma Live Wire Professional Nylon/Zyex 1.33 174 13.28
Gamma Prodigy 17 Nylon 1.25 175 11.16
Prince Premier w/softflex 17 Nylon 1.25 175 11.97
Wilson Reaction 17 Nylon 1.27 175 12.00
Volkl Fire Nylon 1.31 175 16.80
Head Synthetic Gut PPS 18 Nylon 1.16 176 11.93
Prince Premier w/Softflex 16 Nylon 1.31 176 11.97
Head RIP Tour 17 Nylon/Polyolefin 1.30 177 10.87
Head RIP Control 17 Nylon/Polyolefin 1.28 178 10.25
Head RIP Power 16L Nylon/Polyolefin 1.32 178 10.91
Pacific PowerTwist Nylon 1.35 179 11.78
Isospeed Energetic Plus 16 Nylon/Polyolefin 1.32 180 10.41
Head Perfect Power 16 Nylon 1.35 180 11.84
Head FiberGel Power 17 Nylon 1.26 180 12.28
Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 18 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.19 181 8.96
Tecnifibre NRG2 18 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.17 181 9.86
Wilson Reaction 16 Nylon 1.30 181 11.00
Head RIP Tour 16 Nylon/Polyolefin 1.37 181 11.51
Gamma Prodigy 16 Nylon 1.30 181 11.67
Babolat Xcel Premium 17 Nylon 1.25 182 10.01
Pacific FiberTwist 17 Nylon 1.25 182 11.71
Gamma ESP 17 Nylon 1.28 182 12.68
Tecnifibre 515 17 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.27 182 13.05
Prince Sweet Perfection 17 Nylon 1.25 182 14.00
Blue Star Laser 130 16 Nylon 1.31 183 10.94
Head RIP Control 16 Nylon/Polyolefin 1.38 184 11.02
Forten Tiegut 16 Nylon 1.32 184 12.08
Alpha Firecable 16 Nylon/Polyester 1.31 184 14.73
Pacific Graphite Braid TX 17 Nylon/graphite 1.30 184 15.75
Head Perfect Control 16 Nylon 1.38 185 10.70
Head RIP Ti.Fiber 16 Nylon 1.33 185 11.23
Yonex Tough Brid 125 Nylon/Vectran 1.35 185 12.02
Babolat Attraction Power 17 Nylon 1.26 186 9.84
Babolat Syntronic Brio 17 Nylon 1.25 186 10.41
Blue Star Fibergut XL 15L Nylon 1.39 186 11.71
Volkl Power-Fiber II 17 Nylon 1.25 186 12.20
Gamma ESP 16 Nylon 1.32 186 12.64
Wilson Stamina Spin 16 Nylon 1.29 186 12.68
Blue Star Stargut 16 Nylon 1.36 186 12.94
Gamma Revelation 17 Nylon 1.26 186 13.08
Babolat Xcel Premium 16 Nylon 1.31 187 10.12
Alpha Gut 2000 Nylon 1.33 187 11.23
Gamma Gut 2 Nylon 1.34 187 12.00
Prince Sweet Perfection 16 Nylon 1.31 187 13.05
Babolat Pro Hurricane 18 Nylon 1.21 187 22.29
Prince Lightning XX 16 w/Powerfoil Nylon/Polyester 1.32 188 10.96
Silent Partner Filament Frenzy 16 Nylon 1.31 188 11.55
Gamma Live Wire 17 Nylon/Zyex 1.24 188 13.74
Volkl Power-Fiber II 18 Nylon 1.19 189 10.39
Head RIP Ti.Fiber 17 Nylon/Polyolefin 1.23 189 10.56
Alpha Element 16 Nylon 1.32 189 10.89
Wilson Reaction 15L Nylon 1.35 189 10.94
Pacific Futura TXT 16L Nylon 1.29 189 11.16
Head FiberGel Power 16 Nylon 1.31 189 11.62
Tecnifibre NRG2 17 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.24 190 9.55
Head Synthetic Gut PPS 17 Nylon 1.22 190 11.38
Unique Tournafiber Irradiated 17 Nylon 1.27 190 11.62
Klip Kicker 17 Nylon 1.24 190 11.68
Gamma Live Wire XP 16 Nylon/Zyex 1.32 190 12.04
Gamma Live Wire 16 Nylon/Zyex 1.31 190 12.87
Ashaway Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.26 190 14.93
Gamma TNT2 Rx 17 Nylon 1.26 191 10.96
Gamma Live Wire XP 17 Nylon/Zyex 1.25 191 12.35
Gamma TNT Fat Core 17 Nylon 1.27 191 13.36
Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 1.30 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.31 192 10.08
Tecnifibre X-One Biphase 1.24 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.28 192 10.12
Prince Lightning XX 17 w/Powerfoil Nylon/Polyester 1.24 192 10.94
Gamma TNT2 Pro Plus 17L Nylon 1.25 192 12.74
Kirschbaum Touch Multi-Fibre Nylon 1.31 192 14.07
Tecnifibre TRC 17 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.25 193 11.20
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro Super 17 Nylon 1.24 193 11.51
Forten Omni Spin 15L Nylon 1.37 193 12.44
Wilson NXT 17 Nylon 1.24 193 12.99
Babolat FiberTour 16 Nylon 1.32 194 10.45
Head FXP 17 Nylon/Polyester 1.25 194 10.59
Prince Lightning XX 16 Nylon 1.29 194 10.76
Volkl Power-Fiber II 16 Nylon 1.30 194 11.20
Prince Lightning Power 17 w/Powerfoil Nylon/Polyester 1.25 194 11.40
Silent Partner Ultimatum 18 Nylon 1.19 194 12.04
Forten Sweet 17 Nylon 1.27 194 12.62
Gamma TNT Fat Core 16 Nylon 1.31 194 12.77
Ashaway Liberty 16 Nylon 1.33 194 12.90
Alpha Claycourt Plus 16 Nylon 1.32 194 13.80
Tecnifibre Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.27 194 13.96
Volkl Power-Fiber 18 Nylon 1.19 195 9.57
Unique Tournafiber SpinPlus 16 Nylon 1.32 195 11.14
Klip Excellerator 16 Nylon 1.30 195 11.44
Klip Excellerator 17 Nylon 1.30 195 11.66
Gamma TNT2 Ruff 16 Nylon 1.52 195 11.95
Gosen Super Tec AK Speed 17 Nylon 1.24 196 10.87
Gamma TNT2 Pro Plus 16 Nylon 1.32 196 11.16
Head Synthetic Gut PPS 16 Nylon 1.31 196 11.69
Alpha Prodigy 16 Nylon 1.32 196 11.95
Prince Perfection 17 Nylon 1.25 196 12.42
Ashaway Liberty L15 Nylon 1.41 196 16.25
Tecnifibre NRG2 16 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.31 197 8.05
Babolat Syntronic Brio 16 Nylon 1.34 197 10.52
Forten Spin Gear 15 Nylon 1.43 197 11.22
Gamma Revelation 16 Nylon/Zyex 1.32 197 11.88
Wilson Sensation 17 Nylon 1.25 197 11.91
Wilson NXT 16 Nylon 1.30 198 10.69
Head FiberGel 16 Nylon 1.34 198 11.97
Ashaway Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.34 198 12.12
Forten Dynamix 18 Nylon 1.21 198 13.01
Blue Star Original 15L Nylon 1.43 198 13.92
Wilson NXT OS 16L Nylon 1.32 199 10.43
Tecnifibre 515 16 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.35 199 10.58
Pro Kennex CS-Elite 16 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.29 199 11.42
Dunlop Max Comfort 17 Nylon 1.23 199 11.78
Yonex Tough Brid 130 Nylon/Vectran 1.40 199 11.90
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 17 Nylon 1.24 199 12.35
Prince Tournament Nylon 15L Nylon 1.40 199 13.19
Wilson Stamina 18 Nylon 1.22 200 9.81
Babolat Xcel Premium 15L Nylon 1.39 200 10.17
Dunlop Max Comfort 16 Nylon 1.32 200 11.07
Bow Brand Micro Tournament 17 Nylon 1.24 200 12.50
Blue Star Focus 130 16 Nylon 1.33 201 10.76
Bow Brand t2000 15L Nylon 1.37 201 11.38
Forten Dynamix 15L Nylon 1.33 201 11.82
Wilson Stamina Spin 15L Nylon 1.38 201 12.15
Silent Partner Ultimatum 17 Nylon 1.28 201 12.66
Alpha Sensor Fibre 16 Nylon 1.35 202 11.02
Gamma Challenger 17 Nylon 1.27 202 11.33
Klip Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.25 202 12.87
Pro Kennex CS-Qualifier 16 Nylon 1.31 202 12.96
Pacific PremiumPower X 16 Nylon 1.33 202 13.67
Gamma Synthetic Gut 17 w/Wearguard Nylon 1.26 203 9.15
Gamma Synthetic Gut 18 w/Wearguard Nylon 1.21 203 9.68
Gamma TNT2 Rx 16 Nylon 1.36 203 9.81
Prince Lightning Power 16 w/Powerfoil Nylon/Polyester 1.31 203 9.95
Prince Synthetic Gut 18 w/Duraflex Nylon 1.20 203 11.51
Wilson NXT Tour 17 Nylon 1.27 203 12.46
Klip Screamer Titanium Nylon/Titanium 1.30 203 12.54
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro 16 Nylon 1.29 203 12.96
Prince Perfection 16 Nylon 1.31 203 14.24
Gamma Dura Spin 15L Nylon 1.37 204 9.63
Gamma Synthetic Gut 16 w/Wearguard Nylon 1.31 204 10.03
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro Super 16 Nylon 1.30 204 11.29
Unique Tournafiber Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.22 204 11.31
Unique Tournafiber Irradiated 16 Nylon 1.33 204 11.44
Forten Sweet 15 Nylon 1.36 204 11.55
Pacific Syntec 16L Nylon 1.32 204 12.37
Klip Excellerator 15L Nylon 1.34 204 12.68
Silent Partner Head Spin 15L Nylon 1.38 204 13.18
Silent Partner Titanium 16 Nylon 1.32 204 13.19
Gamma Zo Plus 16L Nylon 1.32 204 13.56
Wilson Extreme Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.28 205 10.30
Dunlop Tour Performance 16 Nylon 1.34 205 10.85
Wilson Supreme 17 Nylon 1.29 205 11.07
Forten Dynamix 17 Nylon 1.26 205 11.14
Blue Star Serve and Volley 16 Nylon 1.31 205 11.20
Head Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.29 205 11.27
Pacific Power Spin 16 Nylon 1.38 205 12.48
Tecnifibre TRC 16 Nylon/Polyurethane 1.31 206 10.50
Bow Brand Ballistic 15L Nylon 1.35 206 10.59
Silent Partner Ultimatum 16 Nylon 1.33 206 12.81
Klip Scorcher 17 Nylon 1.27 206 13.51
Prince Lightning XX 17 Nylon 1.26 207 9.68
Pacific Futura TXT 16 Nylon 1.39 207 11.51
Silent Partner Original Syn 16 Nylon 1.33 207 13.89
Wilson NXT Max 15L Nylon 1.35 208 9.88
Wilson Supreme 16 Nylon 1.32 208 10.34
Bow Brand Synthetic Gut XT 16 Nylon 1.33 208 10.85
Forten Dynamix 16 Nylon 1.34 208 10.95
Babolat Superfine Play 17 Nylon 1.25 208 11.49
Klip Scorcher 16 Nylon 1.31 208 12.83
Wilson NXT Tour 18 Nylon 1.24 209 9.53
Wilson Stamina 17 Nylon 1.25 209 9.68
Gamma TNT2 17 Nylon 1.27 209 9.85
Prince Topspin Plus 16 Nylon 1.29 209 10.06
Head FXP 16 Nylon/Polyester 1.34 209 10.83
Prince Synthetic Gut 15L w/Duraflex Nylon 1.35 209 11.13
Gamma Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.26 209 11.51
Wilson Sensation 16 Nylon 1.32 209 11.55
Prince Topspin 15L Nylon 1.30 209 11.92
Klip Kicker 16 Nylon 1.32 209 12.55
Gamma TNT2 16 Nylon 1.31 210 10.34
Wilson Extreme Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.25 210 10.39
Head Extreme Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.24 210 11.27
Bow Brand Tournament 16L Nylon 1.32 210 11.97
Tecnifibre Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.34 210 12.70
Babolat Superfine Play 16 Nylon 1.32 210 12.76
Wilson NXT Max 16 Nylon 1.34 211 9.71
Gosen Tecgut Super Tec AK Speed 16 Nylon 1.32 211 10.45
Forten Competition Nylon 15L Nylon 1.41 211 10.89
Gamma Marathon DPC 16 Nylon 1.32 211 11.51
Unique Tournafiber Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.34 211 12.76
Babolat Powergy 16 Nylon 1.34 211 13.10
Prince Synthetic Gut 17 w/Duraflex Nylon 1.26 212 10.69
Forten Sweet 16 Nylon 1.33 212 10.78
Gosen OG-Sheep Micro Super JC 16 Nylon 1.30 212 11.05
Gosen Tecgut Super Tec AK Pro 16 Nylon 1.34 212 11.64
Alpha Viper 16 Nylon 1.29 212 12.35
Prince Synthetic Gut 16 w/Duraflex Nylon 1.30 213 12.04
Prince Synthetic Gut Original 17 Nylon 1.24 214 10.59
Klip Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.33 214 10.98
Gamma TNT2 18 Nylon 1.18 214 11.05
Klip Synthetic Gut 15L Nylon 1.37 214 13.76
Babolat Razor Spin 16 Nylon 1.30 214 13.76
Gamma Synthetic Gut 15L w/Wearguard Nylon 1.38 215 11.18
Gamma Ruff 16 Nylon 1.48 215 11.33
Unique Tournafiber Nylon 16 Nylon 1.32 215 12.33
Klip Twister 15L Nylon 1.43 215 12.53
Dunlop Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.31 215 13.21
Pacific Syntec 16 Nylon 1.37 216 12.15
Alpha Sphere 16 Nylon 1.31 216 14.88
Gamma Dura Spin 16 w/Wearguard Nylon 1.37 217 8.95
Gosen Nanocubic 16 Nylon 1.32 217 10.81
Gamma Challenger 16 Nylon 1.32 217 10.95
Prince Synthetic Gut Original 16 Nylon 1.30 217 11.67
Babolat Conquest 16 Nylon 1.33 217 14.99
Gamma Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.30 218 9.86
Wilson Ultra Synthetic Gut 16 Nylon 1.32 218 10.28
Gosen OG-Sheep Proform Tuff 15L Nylon 1.38 218 11.16
Bow Brand Super Pro 15L Nylon 1.43 218 11.42
Bow Brand Calibre 15L Nylon 1.36 218 12.28
Babolat Conquest 17 Nylon 1.27 218 12.64
Babolat Conquest Ti 16 Nylon 1.33 218 16.23
Wilson NXT Tour 16 Nylon 1.31 219 8.98
Dunlop Synthetic Gut 17 Nylon 1.24 219 10.04
Wilson Stamina 16 Nylon 1.32 219 10.10
Gamma Marathon DPC 15L Nylon 1.44 219 10.80
Gamma XL 16 Nylon 1.29 219 11.40
Head Master 15L Nylon 1.39 219 11.58
Head Master 16L Nylon 1.31 221 9.57
Gamma Synthetic Gut 18 Nylon 1.22 221 10.14
Gosen Tecgut Power 16 Nylon 1.31 221 14.58
Bow Brand Superspin Nylon 1.43 222 11.29
Gamma Dura Spin 16 Nylon 1.39 223 8.93
Gamma Synthetic Gut 15L Nylon 1.37 224 11.42
Gamma Advantage 15L Nylon 1.39 227 9.90
Gamma Marathon DPC 17 Nylon 1.27 228 9.42
Gamma Dura Spin 15L Nylon 1.41 230 10.23

Polyester (Sorted by Stiffness)

Polyester
Company String Material Gauge Stiffness
(lb/in.)
Tension loss (lbs)
Tecnifibre Promix 1.25 Polyester 1.27 199 13.72
Tecnifibre Promix 1.30 Polyester 1.29 204 14.99
Gosen Polylon SP 17 Polyester 1.25 215 20.70
Kirschbaum Competition 1.20 Polyester 1.19 219 19.09
Klip K-Boom 18 Polyester 1.19 223 18.88
Wilson Enduro Pro 18 Polyester 1.21 224 17.02
Gamma Zo True 18 Polyester 1.13 224 17.55
Babolat Pro Hurricane Polyester 1.25 226 16.83
Toalson Thermaxe 123 Polyester 1.23 226 17.97
Silent Partner Roly Poly 17 Polyester 1.27 229 19.62
Kirschbaum Turbo Touch 1.25 Polyester 1.25 229 21.41
Unique Tourna Poly Big Hitter 17 Polyester 1.26 231 18.15
Pacific Poly Soft 16 Polyester 1.29 231 19.16
Luxilon Big Banger Ace 18 Polyester 1.16 232 17.05
Yonex Tough Brid 125 Polyester 1.24 232 20.95
Ashaway MonoGut 17 Polyester 1.22 233 20.20
Klip K-Boom 17 Polyester 1.23 234 17.99
Volkl V-Rex 16L Polyester 1.24 234 18.32
Kirschbaum Competition 1.25 Polyester 1.28 235 19.07
Kirschbaum Super Smash 1.20 Polyester 1.21 235 19.98
Gosen Polylon SP 16 Polyester 1.29 235 21.06
Wilson Enduro Tour 18 Polyester 1.20 236 21.89
Wilson Enduro Tour 17 Polyester 1.24 236 23.68
Gamma Zo Plus Polyester 1.25 238 17.42
Forten Pro Select 17 Polyester 1.20 238 18.92
Wilson Enduro Pro 17 Polyester 1.25 239 15.77
Gamma Zo Power 16L Polyester 1.20 239 17.29
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power Rough 16L Polyester 1.25 240 18.98
Luxilon Monotec Zolo Rough 16L Polyester 1.25 240 19.56
Wilson Enduro Tour 16 Polyester 1.30 240 24.52
Babolat Pro Hurricane 16 Polyester 1.31 241 13.61
Luxilon Big Banger TiMO 18 Polyester 1.15 241 16.91
Unique Tourna Poly Big Hitter 16 Polyester 1.29 241 17.62
Luxilon Monotec Zolo 18 Polyester 1.25 241 17.86
Forten Poly-Blast 17 Polyester 1.23 241 18.41
Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power 16L Polyester 1.23 242 17.13
Ashaway MonoGut 16L Polyester 1.27 242 19.40
Klip Hardcore 17 Polyester 1.24 243 17.05
Luxilon Monotec Zolo 16L Polyester 1.24 243 17.64
Luxilon Big Banger XP 16L Polyester 1.25 243 17.78
Babolat Ballistic Polymono 17 Polyester 1.25 244 20.89
Alpha Vengence 16L Polyester 1.29 244 22.05
Pacific PolySpin 16 Polyester 1.32 245 20.29
Prince Polygut 16 Polyester 1.31 246 20.09
Prince Polygut 17 Polyester 1.24 246 21.52
Yonex Tough Brid 130 Polyester 1.30 247 22.42
Luxilon Big Banger Original 16 Polyester 1.28 249 17.11
Tecnifibre Polyspin 1.275 Polyester 1.27 249 19.87
Prince Tour 17 Polyester 1.25 249 21.37
Luxilon Monotec Supersense 16L Polyester 1.26 250 19.21
Gamma Zo Life 16 Polyester 1.28 251 15.50
Forten Flexion 16L Polyester 1.24 254 15.53
Gosen Polylon 16 Polyester 1.30 254 21.23
Klip K-Boom 16 Polyester 1.31 255 16.96
Head UltraTour 17 Polyester 1.22 255 19.29
Forten Flexion 16 Polyester 1.28 256 16.76
Forten Intimidator 16 Polyester 1.30 256 17.91
Gosen Polylon Comfort 16 Polyester 1.30 256 19.65
Prince Tour 16 Polyester 1.28 256 21.57
Kirschbaum Super Smash Spiky 1.25 Polyester 1.26 256 22.02
Kirschbaum P2 Polyester 1.25 257 15.48
Kirschbaum Super Smash 1.25 Polyester 1.25 257 19.55
Babolat Ballistic Polymono 16 Polyester 1.30 257 20.31
Alpha Polycable 16 Polyester 1.33 257 23.44
Wilson Enduro Gold 16 Polyester 1.32 258 17.60
Klip Hardcore 16 Polyester 1.27 258 19.42
Volkl Fire Polyester 1.25 258 20.22
Ashaway Monofire XL 17 Polyester 1.26 259 17.13
Luxilon Big Banger LTS 16 Polyester 1.30 259 18.57
Wilson Enduro Pro 16 Polyester 1.30 260 14.33
Luxilon Big Banger TiMO 17 Polyester 1.23 261 16.29
Luxilon Poly-Blast 16 Polyester 1.29 261 18.08
Toalson Thermaxe 127 Polyester 1.27 261 18.99
Pacific Force 17 Polyester 1.25 262 13.47
Head UltraTour 16L Polyester 1.27 263 17.97
Gamma Dura Blast 17 Polyester 1.26 264 16.82
Pro Kennex CS-X 17 Polyester 1.23 265 18.43
Luxilon Big Banger Original Rough 16 Polyester 1.28 266 19.21
Gamma Zo True 17 Polyester 1.24 267 14.58
Unique Tourna Poly Premium 18 Polyester 1.21 271 15.39
Ashaway Monofire XL 16 Polyester 1.29 278 16.14
Luxilon Monotec Super Poly 16 Polyester 1.25 288 17.28
Luxilon Big Banger 5-Star 15L Polyester 1.37 290 17.94
Pacific Poly Force 17 Polyester 1.24 294 13.41
Prince Let R’ Rip 16 Polyester 1.33 299 16.71
Gamma Dura Blast 16 Polyester 1.30 303 12.68
Pacific Poly Force 16L Polyester 1.30 320 17.84

Gut (Sorted by Stiffness)

Natural gut
Company String Material Gauge Stiffness
(lb/in.)
Tension loss (lbs)
Pacific Prime Gut Imperial 17 Natural Gut 1.17 90 9.85
Pacific Classic Gut 17 Natural Gut 1.22 97 8.76
Pro Kennex Heritage 16 Natural Gut 1.27 99 10.25
Grand Slam Gut Grand Slam Gut 15L (coated) Natural Gut 1.36 100 8.58
Wilson Natural 16 Natural Gut 1.31 102 8.43
Babolat VS Team 17 Natural Gut 1.26 102 8.45
Wilson Natural 17 Natural Gut 1.26 103 8.13
Pacific Tour Gut 17 Natural Gut 1.24 104 9.13
Grand Slam Gut Grand Slam Gut 17 (uncoated) Natural Gut 1.28 105 7.87
Pacific Prime Gut 17 Natural Gut 1.22 105 8.45
Pacific Classic Gut 16 Natural Gut 1.3 106 11.01
Babolat VS Touch 16 Natural Gut 1.3 107 8.31
Wilson Natural 15L Natural Gut 1.34 110 9.28
Pacific Prime Gut 17L Natural Gut 1.25 110 9.44
Bow Brand Championship 16 Natural Gut 1.3 111 7.36
Klip Legend 1.30 Natural Gut 1.28 113 8.77
Grand Slam Gut Grand Slam Gut 16 (coated) Natural Gut 1.41 113 9.28
Klip Legend 17 Natural Gut 1.27 113 9.31
Babolat Tonic+ Ball Feel Natural Gut 1.35 114 8.84
Bow Brand Championship 15L Natural Gut 1.34 116 8.53
Babolat VS Touch 15L Natural Gut 1.35 118 8.68
Unique Tourna Gut 16 Natural Gut 1.3 119 9.06
Babolat Tonic+ Longevity Natural Gut 1.38 119 9.26
Grand Slam Gut Grand Slam Gut 15L (uncoated) Natural Gut 1.48 129 11.22

Aramid/Kevlar/Technora/Vectran (Sorted by Stiffness)

Aramid/Kevlar/Technora/Vectran
Company String Material Gauge Stiffness
(lb/in.)
Tension loss (lbs)
Ashaway Composite XL Pro 15 Kevlar 1.38 444 16.36
Ashaway Composite XT Pro Vectran 1.30 470 14.34
Forten New Age 18 Kevlar/Nylon 1.13 511 18.43
Forten Aramid Composite 18 Kevlar/Nylon 1.11 516 15.04
Prince Perfection Control 17 Nylon/Technora 1.24 530 11.71
Prince Perfection Control 16 Nylon/Technora 1.28 530 13.72
Forten Ultra Thin Blend 18 Kevlar 1.12 545 15.12
Forten Thin Blend 18 Kevlar 1.15 557 14.33
Wilson Hyperlast Spin Technora 1.21 562 13.72
Head RIP Blend 17 Kevlar 1.24 574 15.73
Dunlop Max Touch 17 Kevlar 1.22 586 15.08
Forten Aramid Composite 17 Kevlar/Nylon 1.17 597 11.27
Forten Aramid Gear 16L Kevlar 1.42 610 10.43
Forten Aramid Composite 16 Kevlar/Nylon 1.28 619 9.55
Silent Partner Gutsy Aramid 17 Kevlar 1.15 623 11.38
Forten Aramid Gear 15 Kevlar 1.45 627 11.84
Pacific Gear 16 Kevlar 1.43 629 11.73
Forten Sweet Aramid 16L Kevlar 1.27 632 11.60
Gamma TNT2 Fusion Plus 19 Kevlar 1.23 640 17.33
Gamma Infinity 18 Kevlar 1.17 641 17.00
Gamma Infinity 17 Kevlar 1.24 641 20.57
Ashaway Crossfire 18 Kevlar 1.08 671 27.21
Gamma TNT2 Fusion Plus 16 Kevlar 1.28 674 16.36
Gosen Arammix Pro 18 Kevlar 1.09 697 17.03
Wilson Hyperlast 15 Technora 1.41 709 13.15
Prince Pro Blend 17 Kevlar 1.24 720 16.39
Gamma Infinity 16 Kevlar 1.30 736 17.90
Ashaway Crossfire 17 Kevlar 1.22 757 28.37
Klip Atomic 16 Kevlar 1.29 758 28.36
Forten Sweet Aramid 15L Kevlar 1.36 761 13.01
Ashaway Crossfire II 16 Kevlar 1.29 764 26.68
Prince Pro Blend 16 Kevlar 1.30 981 15.88

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About the Author

Crawford Lindsey  is co-author of The Physics and Technology of Tennis and Technical Tennis

 

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