As usual, he wanted to change only one variable at a time so he decided to start with a reference tension of 60 lbs, and test how it would play on the RD7.
With different tensions applied on different strings, frame warp comes to mind. So length and width measurements are taken before and after stringing to monitor if changes are within tolerances. If the measurements change too much, I will cut out the strings and re-string.
Length before and after are 34.0cm and 33.9cm respectively.
Width before and after are 25.6cm and 25.2cm respectively. Still within my limits.
Here's a pic of the last string being tensioned.
Playtest:
- M likes this 60lbs proportional stringing.
- From my receiving end, I can see that initially he had some problems with the stringbed rebound angle. It is vastly different from ELT which gives a much higher rebound. So, a lot of his practise serves and groundstrokes could not clear the net.
- In less than 10 minutes, M has adjusted to the new string tension.
- We played a game to determine how M would perform with proportional stringing.
- The massive spin from ELT disappeared. His serves and groundstrokes were back to those "normal" spin days. None of his serves "kicked off" at odd angles when it hit my stringbed.
- Most of his shots were flatter compared to the previous loopy curving path that the ball used to take.
- Power has definitely increased. His shots were all harder and deeper although quite a few went out due to the lesser topspin.
- Control increased a lot. His drop shots are so accurate it cleared the net by mere inches! Even most of his volleys were very confidently directed and landed only inches away from the side lines.
- Given this is only the first session after stringing, it is still preliminary to conclude whether ELT or 60lbs proportional is better. Clearly, each has its merits.
19Jul2013 update:
- It is an understatement to merely say M's control increased.
- His accuracy with this stringbed gave him so much confidence to go for the extremities on court. Deep crosscourt baseline shots I hit were dropped crosscourt at the net so accurately I could not even get to the ball!
- His volleys from mid-court sent me from extreme left to right over and again. And I was already keeping my shots low, clearing the net by 8-10 inches at most!
- Somehow, with deliberate brushing, M was still able to summon extra spin at will. He did that on second serves and baseline topspin shots. It was still little spin compared to ELT though.
- This is the second session of use and the strings have developed a dark patch of wear on the sweetspot and also started to notch.
- Durability and tension holding is the next thing to watch.
A close-up of the notching below.
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