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String Stiffness

Q: Is there a specific string stiffness that is considered as a limit? For example, if the stiffness of the string is above that number it is considered a stiff string, while if the stiffness is below that number, it is considered soft? According to USRSA lab tests, the stiffness of natural gut usually is 110-120, whereas some synthetics such as Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex have a measured stiffness of 210. Does this make PSGD a stiff string? Do I also need to factor in which racquet the strings are going into? I’m trying to figure out which strings will cause arm problems.

A: The dynamic stiffness we measure in our lab tests is an important characteristic of tennis string, but it is still just one characteristic. There are plenty of players using stiffer strings, and doing just fine with them.

If you are seeking a soft string to help prevent arm problems, go with gut. If you want to use nylon, start at the “soft” end of the list of nylon strings and try a few. If PSGD looks attractive, you can buy sets all day long for less than four bucks, so it costs next to nothing to give it a try.

The racquet does matter, aside from any arm issues that derive from the racquet itself, due to size variations in the racquet head, and the stringbed density. A more open pattern — that is, one with fewer strings per square inch — is naturally going to be softer than one with a dense string pattern, everything else being equal.

See all articles by Greg Raven

From the November 2008 issue
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