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Racquet strength

Q: Here in southwest Florida we get lots of seasonal guests (the new, politically-correct terminology for snowbirds) who play recreational tennis for the two to six months they visit. Many string on arrival and leave the racquet in their condo or in storage when they leave. Does a strung racquet distort, or does the flex change more when left strung, or should I have them cut the strings before they leave?

A: One potential issue is that if the racquet is improperly strung, leaving it improperly strung could permanently deform the frame. However, with today’s modern carbon-fiber frames, such an improperly string job can create internal damage right away, so cutting out the strings two to six months later is not going to be of much help.

Leaving the strings in a properly strung racquet appears to have no ill effect on the frame. However, if you can get them to cut out the strings before going home, they definitely will need to restring on their return, and that’s a good thing.

See all articles by Greg Raven

From the June 2009 issue
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