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Zero Poly tennis strings from Ashaway

Ashaway, RI - Disenchanted with the arm numbing impact and dull performance of so-called high tech polyester monofilament strings, more and more tennis players are finding that newer “Zero Poly” alternatives like Ashaway’s MZX strings (MonoGut® ZX and MZX Pro) are able to generate as much spin as the polyester monofilaments, but with much less impact shock and more power. The reason, says Ashaway’s Steve Crandall, has to do with stiffness and friction.

“The good news about polyester monofilament strings is that they are very slippery,” Crandall said. “This allows the mains to slide along the cross strings and then snap back to impart spin to the ball. The bad news is that they are very stiff. This not only causes their shocking impact, but also limits their ability to stretch and snap back. This reduces power. So while they do generate spin, players have to work very hard — and hit the ball very precisely — to get it.”

Newer materials like the high performance Zyex® polymer monofilament used in Ashaway’s Zero Poly™ MZX and MZX Pro are also quite slippery. They also have a much greater ability to stretch and snap back. This softens the impact when hitting the ball and increases the power of the shot while still generating spin. Crandall calls this “Dynamic Spin” and says you can get “more spin with less work.”

“Low impact, high spin Zero Poly MZX monofilament strings benefit players at all levels,” Crandall reported, “but we’re hearing the most from performance players. These are the ones — especially junior and senior players — who find monofilament polys the most difficult to play with. They don’t necessarily have the skills of top players and tend to suffer more from heavy strike impact. We’re getting calls and emails weekly from these folks saying that not only has their game improved, but they feel better as well.”

“In short,” Crandall added, “high performance poly strings work for top players because they are top players. They swing harder and faster, hit at better swing and racquet angles, and are more likely to hit with the sweet spot on the racquet. They are able to do things with these strings that the rest of us can’t. But even these pros have their limits with polyesters. Many are stringing at lower tensions or going to hybrid set-ups to reduce stiffness and impact shock. Many, too, are finding the best of both worlds with Zero Poly MZX and MZX Pro.”

Ashaway Racket Strings are made by Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co., the only U.S. manufacturer of string for squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton. Operated by the Crandall family since 1824, Ashaway has been making racquet strings since 1949, and is responsible for several important technical innovations. Ashaway has been the Official String of USA Racquetball for more than ten years. Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. also makes braided products for medical and industrial applications. For more information visit ashawayusa.com. Zyex is a registered trademark of Zyex Ltd.

For additional product information, contact:

Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co.
PO Box 549
Ashaway, RI 02804 USA
Tel: (800) 556-7260 (U.S. only) or +1 (401) 377-2221
Fax: +1 (401) 377-9091
Website: http://www.ashawayusa.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ashaway/
Twitter: @Ashaway1824
Email: sales@ashawayusa.com

Posted on February 24, 2017
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