September - October
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Ashaway Mains & Crosses
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A New Phenomenon: Cross String BreakageString breakage used to be almost entirely confined to the main strings (the vertical ones); the problem virtually never affected the cross strings (the horizontal ones). But since the introduction of new racquets with oversize faces and unusual stringing designs, cross-string breakage has become a problem for some players. And its a conundrum for stringers (and string manufacturers, too), because even the pros arent sure whats going on. So this column is actually a request for help, as youll see below. In a past column (March/April 1997), we discussed the four typical causes of string breakage. Sawing or cutting occurs when the mains and crosses shift and pound against one another, so that eventually the crosses cut right through the mains. A particularly hard smash especially if its a mis-hit outside the sweet spot and close to the frame may stretch the string beyond its tensile limits and cause catastrophic breakage. Cracked grommets may cut through the string right near the frame. And frequent wall-bangers may abrade the string where it passes outside the head of the frame, but only if the racquets bumper strip is absent. Only the first two causes are common. At this point, information about cross-string breakage is still mostly anecdotal, and we dont have enough data to even know where the strings are breaking most often. One stringer tells me that its occurring in crosses three through five (from the top), close to the centerline of the racquet. Another reports that its mostly confined to crosses two and three, close to the frame. One finds it affecting a variety of strings, while another says it mainly shows up in Kevlar/nylon hybrid sets. They all agree, however, that thinner strings are more susceptible to the problem, so theres your easy answer. If you dont care why its happening, shift from a thin 17 gauge string to a thicker 16 gauge one. Be forewarned, however, that you will trade off some playability. For those of us who do wonder, here are some speculations as to why. The bigger the racquet, the more open the string pattern in other words, the string spacing is wider. (This is especially so in racquets with a fan-shaped pattern, where the mains radiate out from a point near the handle.) This seems to allow the strings to shift around more against each other, but why it should suddenly represent a problem for the crosses, as opposed to the mains, is still a mystery. Along with making racquets larger, the manufacturers have (amazingly) made them lighter as well. Light weight means players can swing the racquet faster, to hit the ball harder. If were really hitting harder than before, that might explain an increase in breakage. But again why the crosses? Could players be swinging so hard now that theyre losing control, and making more mis-hits? Or maybe the larger racquet heads encourage mis-hits in some other way? The Kevlar® aramid is a fairly abrasive material. In hybrid sets consisting of Kevlar and nylon strings, the Kevlar is always the main string. This seems to explain why the crosses are breaking in these hybrid sets, but it doesnt help us when it comes to all-nylon string jobs, or other hybrid combinations. You might try changing the tension of your strings, or using different tensions for the mains and the crosses in hybrid sets, and see if that has an effect. So we dont know why cross strings are breaking, but wed like to, so that we can address it. What we need is data about breakage. Next time you break a cross-string, please send me as much of the information shown below as you can. For providing valuable input for this article, special thanks to: Don Barrington of the River Bend Athletic Club, Peace Dale, RI; and Rex Lawler, Lawler Court Products, Terre Haute, IN. |
cross-string breakage survey |
Racquet type:
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How often do you play? _________________________ String type: ___________________________________ Gauge ______ Tension ______ Make _______________ How long did the string last? Hours _______ Matches ______ Days ______________ Are you satisfied with this level of durability? Yes | No Where did the cross-string break occur? Near centerline of racquet | Near side | At the grommet How many from the top? ______ Player level: Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced What type of Player are you? Power | Control | Equal power & control Feel free to include your own suggestions and hypotheses. You can reach me at: Ashaway Racket Strings, P.O. Box 549, Ashaway, RI 02804. Fax: (401) 377-9091. E-mail: ashawaysales@edgenet.net. Web site: www.ashawayusa.com |
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