Tuesday 31 January 2017

Frivolous Demands for Perfection

Since the 1990s, when I first starting stringing tennis rackets, I have not met nor heard of anyone who restrings multiple rackets daily.

Not even someone who does so every few days. Only a few restring every week.

And all these refer only to those who are using the same rackets with same strings and same tensions.


Conversely, there are plenty who play till the strings break, or restring only once every few months.


Ironically, it is this group of infrequent re-stringers, that is the most unreasonably demanding of stringjobs.


They purport to have exactly matched rackets from special sources. So the strings must all have identical tensions, frequency and stringbed stiffness.


Else the inaccuracies would cause a complete derail and loss of control of their otherwise perfect strokes. 


If a Wilson Pro Knot was used instead of their regular Parnell knot, they cannot serve aces anymore. Or if tension was applied for half a second longer on one string than the other racket, they could not clear the net.


What these folks do not understand is that all rackets are strung one at a time. The moment each string is clamped, tension starts dropping via string creep. And the mains are always completed first before the crosses.


Even within strings from the same reel, there are tolerances. I have seen differences that could even be picked up by the naked eye. For some brands, the start of the reel snaps easily while others may play stiffer nearer the end of the reel.


If one is fussy enough to measure the string gauge with a pair of vernier calipers, you would find the differences in gauge unsettling. All these within the same reel.


Obviously, different batches from different reels fare much worse.


As for rackets, everyone knows the manufacturing tolerances are getting wider compared to the 80s. Total weight, swingweight and balance tolerances seem to be getting wider than before.


From my experience, the general pattern appears to be, the better skilled the player, the less fussy about the equipment. And vice versa.


If anyone still expects perfect stringjobs from me, they would first have to:
(1) send in 100% identical sticks and strings, and 
(2) send in video proof that you can hit ten consecutive serves that are exactly 100mph, clears the net tape over the same spot by exactly 3.5", have a ball spin rpm of precisely 2500, and leave only ONE ballmark on the ground due to your immaculate accuracy.

I look forward to meeting you!