What effect can the stringing pattern of a tennis racket have on your game and why are there so many different stringing patterns?
What different stringing patterns are there?
The stringing patterns of tennis rackets can actually be divided into three groups, namely: closed, normal and open. They are highlighted below, where the first number is the number of length strings (mains), and the second number is the number of width strings (crosses).
- Close/compact: 18/20, 18/19, 18/21, 16/21
- Normal: 16/19, 16/18, 16/20
- Open: 16/15, 16/16, 14/16, 14/18
The control frame par excellence from Head: the Graphene Prestige MP with its compact 18/20 stringing pattern
What does which stringing pattern do?
- Dense/compact: The closer the strings are, the more control and durability, but less spin and ball acceleration
- Normal: good ratio between power/spin and control
- Open: the further apart the strings are, the more grip on the ball for spin and slice, but less control. With a more open stringing pattern, the strings wear out faster due to the extra freedom of movement of the strings. The open stringing patterns provide more trampoline effect and therefore power
Head has now introduced a number of rackets with an ASP (Adaptable String Pattern) stringing pattern to the Speed racket family: By placing a different tubing edge at 3 and 9 o'clock in the frame, the regular 16/19 stringing pattern can be adjusted to a more open 'Spin' stringing pattern of 16/16.[/caption]
Which stringing pattern is suitable for which type of player?
- Close/compact: player who is looking for extra control and very regularly removes his/her string. This player already generates enough spin himself
- Normal: the largest group of tennis players
- Open: player who generates little spin and would like to have more spin and grip on the ball
An extremely open 14/16 stringing pattern vs. a regular 16/19 stringing pattern. The former delivers up to 30% more spin, ideal for players who want to play with more spin.[/caption]
Which type of stringing fits well with which stringing pattern?
A tension remains very personal: what works well for one person may not work at all for another. However, a number of tips can be given here regarding the properties of the different stringing patterns.
- Close/compact: because a close/compact stringing pattern already offers a lot of control, this stringing pattern can easily be played with a more elastic (often thinner) string for extra comfort and dynamics
- Normal: depending on how long someone normally uses a string, stringing advice should be given
- Open: polyester or thicker strings are often chosen for open stringing patterns because of their higher wear resistance