Want More Comfort

Do you have arm trouble or just want a more comfortable feel when you hit the ball? There are some things that you can do to achieve more comfort, mainly with strings, but also with rackets.
The best way to get a more comfortable feel is through strings and/or tension. Using a more elastic, multifilament string will absorb more of the impact and return it to the ball. You can also reduce tension, which allows the string more give, and ability to absorb impact. 
Where rackets are concerned, most these days are pretty good at reducing shock. Having a racket with the right weight and power for your swing will help make it more comfortable.
Bring in your current racket and we can give you options to make playing tennis easier on your arm.

Want More Spin?

Spin.
It seems like everyone wants more, but how to get it?First of all, unless you are doing the right things in your swing, equipment really won't help you much. Assuming that you can already generate some spin, there are some ways that you can increase it.For some players, a softer string will increase the amount of time the ball stays on the stringbed. This additional dwell time can increase your spin potential. For other players, a thinner or textured string can help. Both will increase the bite on the ball, adding spin potential. The only downside is many of the textured strings are polys, which can reduce power for some players.
Spin potential can also be increased with a racket change. Rackets with open string patterns allow more string movement for longer contact with the ball, adding spin potential. Also, finding a racket that fits your power needs can help. A racket that is too powerful or not powerful enough can decrease spin potential.
Stop by the store and we can see what you using now, and help you find rackets or strings that can get you the spin you need.Spin potential can also be increased with a racket change. Rackets with open string patterns allow more string movement for longer contact with the ball, adding spin potential. Also, finding a racket that fits your power needs can help. A racket that is too powerful or not powerful enough can decrease spin potential.Stop by the store and we can see what you using now, and help you find rackets or strings that can get you the spin you need.

Want More Power?

Want more power?
There are three key elements, equipment-wise, that can add depth to your shots. Your racket. Your string. Your tension.
The easiest thing to change is your tension. Going lower will increase the trampoline effect, transferring more energy to the ball, and adding depth and power.
Changing your strings to something softer or thinner will also increase depth and power. Like a lower tension, softer strings will and "spring" to your shots.
Finally, if you want more power, a racket change may be necessary. A larger head on your racket will increase the potential depth on your shots and add power. You can also go to a stiffer racket. Often, the stiffer frames also have the larger heads, which together, add power for those who need it.
Bring your current racket in and we can make some suggestions on how best to increase power to your shots.

A Unique Reality in Tennis

Tennis has a reality that is unique, and a tough one to accept for some players. The better you get, the more often you will break strings.

In golf, as you get better, you will lose fewer balls. In tennis, as you get better, you tend to hit harder and with more spin. Hitting harder and with more spin will cause more wear and tear on the strings, causing them to break more often. Also, as you get better, the players you will be hitting with will most likely be hitting harder and with more spin. This also will cause more wear on your strings.

There is good news. The harder you hit, the more durable poly strings become a better option. Where weaker hitters will find poly strings very stiff and hard to generate depth with, harder hitters can overcome this and get good results with the added durability of the poly strings.

One thing to keep in mind with poly strings. While they may not break as often, they will go dead after a while.  At some point, you will notice a drop off in performance, signaling time to restring.

Stop in and we will be happy to go over the string options that would be best for your game.

Tennis Myth - Poly "Lasts" Longer

The number one reason we hear for why people use poly is that it lasts longer.

This assumption is true, but only up to a point.

A poly string is likely to take a longer amount of time to break, but that is only telling half the story. While a string may not break, all strings suffer from tension loss. Given enough time, all strings lose their ability to perform and return energy to the ball. When the strings don't perform to their potential, neither will you.

So what strings should you use?

For those who are likely to break strings in a short amount of time, poly strings are a good option. Chances are, those players are hitting the ball with a good amount of power and can benefit from the added durability and control poly strings offer.

If you are playing more than once a week, and can not break a poly string in under six months, they are probably not a good option. For those players, when you get to six months, a poly string will have lost a good deal of tension. This will result in loss of power, spin potential, and overall performance. True, while they have not broken, they are not "lasting" as long as other options might.

Multifilament strings and even basic synthetic gut strings will lose less tension over the same period of time and will perform better, longer. For players who don't break strings often, these strings will also add power and have a better feel than the stiffer, poly strings.

A good rule of thumb for restringing is to replace your strings as many times in a year as you play in a week. If you play twice a week, this means every six months. For those who do not tend to break strings, the softer, non-poly strings will maintain more of their performance at the six-month mark. For a non-string breaker, this may actually buy you a little more time before the string performance drops to the point of becoming a hindrance to your game.

Again, for those that break strings often, you will likely break the string before the tension loss becomes an issue. For the rest of us, a multifilament will be a more arm-friendly, better performing and very likely, longer lasting option when you re-string.

Stop in and we'll help you pick a string that best fits your needs and your game.

Tennis Myth - Tighter Strings = More Power

We hear it all the time at our tennis store.

“I want more power, so make the strings tighter:”

The problem with that is that tighter strings do not make for more power. I know what some of you are thinking, “(insert pro’s name here) strings with really tight strings, and he hits hard”.

It is not the strings. The person in question already hit the ball with plenty of power, no matter the string tension. Often times, those players string tight for more control, not power.

Here’s a good way of explaining it.

Think of someone standing at the top of a ladder. They drop a bowling ball onto the floor. They repeat the drop, only this time onto a bed.

Which ball bounced higher? Most likely, the one dropped on the bed. Imagine the same test using a trampoline. Bringing it all back to your tennis racket, the more the strings can give (think trampoline), the more energy they will return to the ball. More energy to the ball, more depth, and power on the shots.

There are two ways to increase power and depth. String tension and string type.

String type - the more elastic a string is, the more it will give and return that energy to the ball. This will make hitting the ball deep with less effort easier to do, not to mention that all that give in the string absorbs shock. Players with arm issues will reap the benefits of the reduced shock and added comfort on their arm. The additional give in the string can also increase spin potential.

String tension - A current trend on the tour is the use of a stiff string, strung at a low tension (sometimes as low as 40lbs). This allows for more give in the string, more spin potential, and more power and depth. Reducing the tension on stiff, poly strings can also reduce shock at impact. Some players like the more elastic strings at a slightly higher tension. Tension is the way to fine tune the right string to your needs.

Now, what is the right combination for you?

If power is the main concern, a softer, multifilament string will be a very good way to go. Many players moving from a poly string notice the difference right away in added depth and comfort.

For those who need durability due to strings breakage, a poly string at a lower tension would be a good start. Going all the way down to 40lbs is probably not the way to start, but dropping tension 5lbs or so should be noticeable. There are also poly strings that are softer than others, offering added power and comfort.

Something to keep in mind. As with so many things, there is a balance that must be found. Power and depth are only a good thing up to the point you're hitting too many shots long. There is going to be some trial and error, but usually, a balance can be found between string type and the right tension for you and the string you're using.

One last thing...

If you are in need of power, fresh strings are required. Over time, strings will lose their ability to return energy to the ball. The more you play, the quicker it will lose that ability. A good rule of thumb is to restring as many times in a year as you play in a week. The harder you hit, you may want to increase the frequency of restringing.

Even strings that haven't been used much will lose their pop. After about a year, the difference will be noticeable.

Stop into our store and we can help you select the string and tension that best fits YOUR game and needs. We can see what you have in your racket now and with a few questions, give you some options that will have you hitting the ball with more pop and depth.