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Fear of flying

Q: I have often wondered about the effects of flying on a strung racquet. Does it matter to the strings if the racquet is carried on or if the racquet is packed in a suitcase and put in the cargo hold? People have asked me this and I’ve read and heard conflicting answers.

A: People who fly with strung racquets at some time or another notice that the stringbed is different on arrival than it was on departure. There are two potential factors to consider when transporting a racquet in a jet aircraft: air pressure and temperature. As far as we know, air pressure has no effect on either racquets or strings, which leaves just temperature. If you take your racquet with you in the passenger compartment, the temperature differential is minimal. However, if you check your racquet as baggage, the temperature extremes can and will affect the stringbed. Therefore, you should either carry on your racquets, or plan on having them restrung once you reach your destination.

Of course, temperature extremes are not found only in airplane cargo holds. The temperature in the trunk of your car can also kill your strings, as we showed in “The Effect of Temperature on String Tension,” published in March 1985. This article is available to USRSA members on-line at http://www.racquettech.com/ members/strings/198503temperature.html.

From the August 2005 issue
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