THE RACKET MAN
THE RACKET MAN
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The Racket Man - Your Ultimate Tennis Destination
- Advice and assistance - how to choose the right strings
- Price list - Strings / Grips / Brand stencils
- About me
- Interesting stuff and tennis coach recommendations
Advice and assistance
UNDERSTANDING STRING TYPES -
Polyester – Control, Durability, Spin
Multifilament – Power, Feel, Comfort
Synthetic gut – Value, All round performance
Natural gut – Ultimate playability
Hybrid – Combination of 2 strings
UNDERSTADING STRING GAUGES / THICKNESESS -
Thinner – Power, spin and comfort
Thicker – Durability and control
UNDERSTADING YOUR RACKET STRING PATTERN -
There are several types of string patterns. The most common is the 16×19 (16 vertical and 19 horizontal strings) but you can also find 18×20 string patterns. The fewer strings in the string pattern, the more power and spin your string will provide as well as more chance of breakage.
NATURAL GUT
As the name states this is a natural product made of cow intestines (serosa fibres), Natural Gut is the pinnacle of string providing Excellent Tension Maintenance, Power, Comfort and Feel. There is always a downfall to strings with pure performance and that is the hefty price tag that comes with it.
MULTIFILAMENT
Multiple tiny fibres normally consisting of Nylon wrapped or braided together. This type of string offers more elasticity compared to Monofilament strings and Synthetic Gut allowing for more power and comfort attempting to mimic Natural Gut but at a lower price. But unfortunately, it lacks in tension maintenance and durability.
POLYESTER/MONOFILAMENT
Extruded from one material or a combination of materials to form a single piece of string, some times drawn through a geometrically shaped dye. Monofilament/Polyester tends to be more durable than Multifilament and Synthetic Gut but has less power, comfort and feel. The majority of these types of string have become slightly softer and forgiving due to players demanding more durability, control and spin. Polyesters strings tend to lack in tension maintenance compared to any other string.
SYNTHETIC GUT
Synthetic Gut is a nylon-based string, constructed with one single monofilament core with one or multiple layers. This type of string provides good all-round performance and has been known to be the most economical out of all the strings due to its very friendly price tag. For those who are unsure as to what string to go for Synthetic Gut would be the best string to go for as a starting string.
HYBRID
A combination of two different strings for the mains and cross string. With this setup, you are able to combine two advantages from two different strings. Normally when an evenly tensioned racket is strung the mains would break first, this is due to the mains moving more than the crosses. In theory it is possible to combine any string with any other string.
The majority of players don't know this - your racket string pattern (how many mains and crosses) should be considered when choosing the right string.
TENNIS ELBOW SUFFERERS
A low shock string at a lower tension will help reduce the issue. Lower your string tension. Also have a professional check your grip size is correct. Take professional medical advice.
REASONS FOR STRING BREAKS
Normal wear / Miss hits / Sand infill from artificial grass and artificial clay / Damaged grommets / Hitting things other than tennis balls lol!
Collection and return service
£5 collection £5 return - within 20 mins of Hawkhurst, Kent.
Your favourite Pro player string match
Just tell us your favourite tennis player and we can match the string they use.
Price List -
We can supply every tennis string on the market, so if the one you want isnt in the price list just ask us and we will get it for you!
My recommended Synthetic Gut. Recommend 16 Gauge (1.30mm)
Prince synthetic gut with duarflex 1.30 £20
Babolat Synthetic gut 1.30 £20
Head Syn Gut PPS 1.30 £22
My recommended Polyester / Monofilament Strings – A stiff durable string can be hard on the arm. Not recommended for beginner players. Recommend 16L Gauge (1.25mm)
Luxilon ALU Power 1.20 / 1.25 / 1.30 £26
Babolat RPM Blast 1.20 / 1.25 / 1.30 £26
Solinco Confidential 1.20 / 1.25 / 1.30 £24
Solinco Hyper-G 1.20 / 1.25 £24
Tecnifibre Razor Code 1.20 / 1.25 £26
My recommended Soft polyester – less hard on the arm than regular polyester
Soliinco hyper-g soft 1.15 / 1.25 £24
Luxilon 4G soft 1.25 £24
Luxilon Alu Power Vibe 1.25 £28
My recommended Multifilament Strings – power and comfort. Good for tennis elbow sufferers. Less durable. Recommend 16 (1.30mm)
Tecnifibre X-One Biophase. Power comfort 1.18 / 1.25 / 1.30 £32
Wilson NXT 1.25 / 1.30 £33
Tecnifibre NRG2 £30
Head RIP Control 1.25 / 1.30 £22
Head Velocity MLT 1.25 / 1.30 £25
My recommended Hybrid combinations – mains durable polyester, crosses power and feel multifilament or synthetic gut. Recommend 1.30 mains 1.20 crosses
Solinco hyper-g soft mains / Head RIP control crosses £28
Babolat Rpm blast mains / Tecnifibre X-One Biophase crosses £30
Luxilon ALU power mains / Wilson NXT crosses £30
NOTE – you can choose your own combinations just ask us.
My recommended Tennis elbow sufferers reduced shock strings
Tecnifibre X-One Biphase £32
Wilson NXT 16 £33
Head Velocity MLT £21
Over grips each
Tournagrip – £3 Head - £3 Wilson - £3
Over grips pack of 3
Tournagrip – £8 Head - £8 Wilson - £8
Full grips each
Wilson - £8 Tecnifibre - £8 Head - £8
Your Racket brand string stencil - £3
About Me
John Pearce
...................................................
My Background
LTA level 4 tennis coach
35 years stringing experience
Captain of Essex Men's county 0'35's team for 10 years.
Head coach of Great Baddow LTC for 15 years.
Co Founder and partner of Premier Sports Surfaces Ltd
(FKA Tennis 2000 Ltd) with 35 years of experience building and maintaining tennis courts and sports facilities .
'I've played on every different surface type available in the UK'
Premier Sports Surfaces Ltd
Established in 1989 , Premier Sports Surfaces is one of the leading tennis court and sports surface construction companies in the UK. The company prides itself by delivering the highest standards of workmanship and customer care.
SAPCA Principal Contractors
For advice or assistance on maintenance, refurbishment or installation of any type of sports surface call us on 01245 380158