This is the blog page of Racket Stringing Service Southport - Racket Stringing Service based in Southport, Merseyside, England

One racket back to being a "weapon of mass destruction"

22/11/2015

I know it doesn't look much but this combination for me is the best ever!
A Powerangle Centric 18 x 18 diagonal strung racket and the co poly with the most "bite" and spin ever Pro's Pro Devil Spin If you have never tried either a Powerangle racket or the Devil Spin then you are missing out!
I know because I use my powerangle rackets as test beds for all strings, This is just great for my game.
Cheers!
Daveg

New String to Test: Pro's Pro Gutex Ultra 17

21/11/2015

Discover the feel of natural gut with this soft & arm-friendly multifilament string. Hundreds of fine strands form compressed fibers to make up the core, which is wrapped with a double layer of high-grade monofilaments to increase playability.

This is a really soft multi string very easy to string, no kinking, knots are easy, it is pre-stretched but still a lot of stretching when tensioning.
So how does it play: This really is a soft string but has a little more pop then most multi's, spin is average but depth control is very good, could direct the serves very well and the return of serve was good.
The volleys were ok (soft multi's are not very good for net players normally) Touch shots this is pretty good lot of control. Being a 17 gauge I don't expect the string to last very long but the balance between control, power, touch and comfort make this a very good string.
Played indoors for 2 hours then lent the racket out for people to try out, The combination of the Powerangle racket and the string was a crowd puller. The strings have started to move but I expected that.
Overall another good soft multi that is very arm friendly and plays well very similar to Wilson NXT (but a lot cheaper)
Another reel goes into my stock string list (really do need more space !)

The real cost of your re-string

15/11/2015

Ok here is a simple way of costing your restring,

Polyester will stay in it's tension range for 10 -14 playing hours and costs £16 therefore the cost per hour is £1.20

Peek (Ashaway Monogut ZX ) will stay in it's tension range for 30+ playing hours and costs £24 cost per hour is 80 pence

Nylon based strings will stay in it's tension range for 25 playing hours and costs £16 cost per hour is 64 pence

Natural Gut will stay in it's tension range for 35 playing hours and costs £32 cost per hour is 91 pence

There are other strings that will stay in the tension range for 25+ hours: Luxilon Alu Power Rough, Babolat Origin etc

This I believe is a better way to cost out your restring.
Please note that playing hours is also dependent on your playing style and your rackets string pattern.
(example 18 x 20 string pattern strings should last longer than the 16 x 19 string pattern)

Hope this helps!

Daveg

New string to test Polyfibre Panthera 1.20

14/11/2015

Tennis Warehouse Polyfibre Panthera proves that the polyester universe has come a long way. Unlike traditional polyesters which can sometimes be too firm and underpowered, this new generation co-poly is built with impressive comfort and liveliness. Topspin players looking to hit a heavy ball with an explosive bounce will discover loads of spin potential. This is a great option for advanced big hitters in search of more comfort. It should also work well for strong intermediates who are ready to take the leap into a control string.

OK stringing with the Panthera is easy very slippery and a bit more stretch when tensioned.
Knots are fine and not as stiff as normal poly.
First impression when the restring is complete is how the string "Glitters" it does reflect the light!
First hit: A cold wet and windy night in Chippenham, First hit seemed a bit stiff then after 15 mins wow it just seemed right, control comfort and spin I like it already, didn't have power but I was expecting that but the control and comfort is really really good. I had to keep checking that this was a co-poly string! No need to hybrid this as a full bed is comfortable, you could add a softer mains (natural gut or a synthetic) for a power increase. As always your choice!
This is going to stay in one of my rackets until it breaks or the tension goes.
I will offer a full restring or hybrid for as normal £16 with this string.

(As it is a slippy string it may work in the open pattern spin rackets !)

Hope this helps!

Daveg

Strings of the Month:September 2015

30/9/2015

September 2015 "Your Favourite Tennis String"

It's another Hybrid
Mains Luxilon Alu Power Rough
Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power Rough is the standard for playable durability in co-polyester tennis string, with a textured surface for added spin. Extremely popular on the ATP Tour and ideal for big hitters and string breakers of all playing levels. Allows for a full swing to be taken at the ball without a loss of control. Co-polymer nylon, fluorocarbon resin, and aluminum fiber construction sets Big Banger ALU Power apart from the competition.Big Banger ALU Power Rough has all advantages of Luxilon Strings, plus:

Very high durability for its fineness.
A perfect touch and very good ball control.
Very good resilience.
Loss of Tension: Almost none.
Very stable properties in time.

Cross: Pro's Pro Hexaforce

Pro's Pro Hexaforce is a synthetic tennis string using a hexagonal cross section to deliver outstanding performance.

Hexaforce has a high performance monofilament structure which offers durability and power. Outer wrapped with a twisted monofilament and a nanotechnological coating.

Gauge: 1.30mm / 16
Colour: White

September 2015 "Your Favourite Badminton String"

Pro's Pro B-400

Pro's Pro B-400 is a highly durable all round string constructed from a multifilament nylon co-polymer core, which is wrapped with braided filaments. It offers a combination of good elasticity, high durability and persuasive power.

September 2015 "Your Favourite Squash String"

Pro's Pro Dura Ace

Pro's Pro Dura Ace is a high performance squash string for demanding players, providing excellent control, efficient power and excellent durability.
The multifilament string core of high quality micro fibre is wrapped with 2 layers of woven micro fibres

Babolat Origin as a full restring

27/9/2015

Here is what Tennis-warehouse says about Babolat Origin: resists easy classification. For starters, it is a monofilament, which is the construction most commonly associated with polyester. Unlike polyester, Origin is made from a "natural polyamide," which is a very pliable material similar in structure to nylon. This pliability helps explain why our playtesters were so impressed by the comfort. Even more impressive was the feel, which our team found to be wonderfully crisp and precise, as opposed to mushy or overly muted. We also found this string to be quite powerful, but with no reports of an unruly "trampoline effect" or unpredictable launch angle, two common afflictions of soft strings. Perhaps the most outstanding quality was the tension maintenance, which bordered on unbelievably good. With the exception of natural gut, Origin holds its playability longer than strings with comparable comfort and power. Ultimately, Origin's comfortably crisp feel, superior tension maintenance and impressive all around playability makes it one of the better soft strings we've hit in a while.

Ok I restrung my Powerangle (as above) on the 29 sept 2015 at 52 Ibs, played men's doubles, mixed doubles and 45 mins on the ball machine. 3 days later the tension was 51 Ibs wow only 1 pound loss!
It is now 12 Oct 2015 retested the tension it is now 48 Ibs, that is amazing.
This string feels great, has good power, has lots of control, the only thing I miss is the amount of spin but the tension maintenance is so good I can get used to this string.

You can get a set of this string for about £12, this string keeps it's tension so well that you may be able to get 2-3 months play out of it, well over 30 hours playing time.

Go and get a set ! Try it !
If you like playing with Natural Gut this is as close as I have seen or played with.
You will not be unhappy with this string.

Cheers!

Daveg

Hybrid's

20/9/2015

A hybrid to try:
Take your favourite poly as the mains, now add Babolat Origin as the cross.
Babolat Origin holds it's tension almost as good as Natural Gut and gives the power and the feel.
It is a great combination.

Interesting Tennis - Badminton Hybrids this month

30/8/2015

Tennis:
Luxilon Alu Power Rough 1.25 Mains, Pro's Pro HexaForce 1.30 Cross
(all the qualities of the Alu Power Rough (Read) with the hexagonal HexaForce for a softer feel)
must of worked ED won the County U12's with this set up!

Pro's Pro Strategem 8 Mains, Pros Pro Synthetic 130 Cross
(Again with the latest high-tech poly in the mains and the synthetic in the crosses, good combination of Power, Spin and Feel)

Badminton:
Pro's Pro B-400 (black ) mains
Pro's Pro B-400 (Yellow) cross
The badminton one is just a colour change looked striking!

MSV Focus Hex Plus 38

2/7/2015

MSV Focus Hex plus 38 Black is a great string for players who want soft feel with excellent spin and playability. This new formulation is 38% softer than the original Focus Hex string which results in unmatched comfort while retaining the spin, power and playability characteristics found in the original version of the string. The strings unique elongation and elasticity properties gives it better comfort, power and playability than other leading polyester strings. This string also utilizes the hexagonal profile of the original version which results in a string that creates tremendous spin and excellent bite, allowing players hit with the confidence that they can control the ball. MSV Focus Hex plus 38 Black is a well balanced string that offers ample spin and power in a soft and playable package.

I have been playing with this string now for the past week, yes it is at lot softer and still retains some of the properties of a polyester string, This string can be strung at the same tensions as a Synthetic so no need to adjust your tension by 8% to 10%.
So if you find you don't like a normal polyester string, give this string a go you might like it's spin and control properties!
This string is now part of my stock range and will be £16 per restring.

Strings of the month: June 2015

1/7/2015

Your favorite Tennis string for June 2015 is: Luxilon Alu Power Rough
Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power Rough is the standard for playable durability in co-polyester tennis string, with a textured surface for added spin. Extremely popular on the ATP Tour and ideal for big hitters and string breakers of all playing levels. Allows for a full swing to be taken at the ball without a loss of control. Co-polymer nylon, fluorocarbon resin, and aluminum fiber construction sets Big Banger ALU Power apart from the competition.Big Banger ALU Power Rough has all advantages of Luxilon Strings, plus:

Very high durability for its fineness.
A perfect touch and very good ball control.
Very good resilience.
Loss of Tension: Almost none.
Very stable properties in time.

Your Favorite Badminton String for June 2015:
Pro's Pro TOUR 75

Pro's Pro Tour 75 is an excellent, powerful badminton string, with a multifilament core of high quality micro fibres, wrapped with 2 layers of woven micro fibres.
Combining durability, speed, control and excellent playability

Your Favorite Squash string for June 2015 is:
Pro's Pro Dura Ace

Pro's Pro Dura Ace is a high performance squash string for demanding players, providing excellent control, efficient power and excellent durability.
The multifilament string core of high quality micro fibre is wrapped with 2 layers of woven micro fibres