Tw String Comparison (Tennis)

The racket used to play tennis comes with a unique design of strings stretched out across a frame. The design of the racket is the reason for better performance during play. And as such, you must always choose proper string tension. This refers to how tightly the strings will be pulled within the frame and significantly impact your game performance. Let’s talk about tw string comparison.

tennis-player

Sneak peak at our latest article about best 2021-2022 tennis players and rankings.

For instance, a too low tension will impact your performance, and you will often hit the back fence. In contrast, the tension that is too tight means that you will be more likely to develop a bad case of tennis elbow. You must know how your string compares and the best tension to match your tennis playing.

At the same time, there are a lot of factors that you have to consider. such as the type of string you are using, whether you need more control or more power, and your level of playing. This will usually determine the tension you need in your string and what impact this will have on your performance when you are out on the field.

Must adequately inform to make a better decision whenever you look for a string to use for your tennis racket. With a good choice of string and the right amount of tension, you will achieve better performance on the field and a show that people will remember long after.

What is tennis string comparison?

Tennis string comparison compares the performance of different types of strings to choose the best option for a particular player. Several factors can be considered when comparing strings, including stiffness, energy return, tension loss, peak impact force, and impact tension.

This is the process of placing different aspects of a string into comparison to determine the better choice between the two options. Several factors are used in the comparison, but the main idea behind the process is determining which string is better to use for playing and which might hinder performance due to certain features. TW string comparison uses numbers to make the process more accurate and effective. Some of the measurements that are usually considered include:

– Stiffness

A stiff string is known to reduce the trampoline effect while crushing the energy out of the tennis ball. It is also known to hit a slower shot since the rebound tends to be much slower. Higher numbers indicate greater stiffness of the string.

– Tension Loss

Strings tend to lose tension after several hits, but more significant impact tends to cause greater losses. The tension loss number indicates how long the strings will stay at the stiffness value that you would like for your performance.

– Energy Return

This measures the amount of energy that returns from the energy that goes into the string. A higher return is usually an indication of higher efficiency. Higher efficiency is always essential in tennis, especially when you need to spin the ball.

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– String coefficient of friction

This is a measure of the grabbiness of the strings on the ball. This is known to add to spin, and the number indicates the ratio of grabbiness to the slipperiness of the string.

In a TW string comparison, two strings are compared using the metrics that have been described above. The two strings are compared using the percentage difference of one string to the other. The results are then tabulated into a format that will make the comparison much more straightforward.

How to compare tennis strings?

The strings on a tennis racket determine the usability of the racket. By comparing tennis strings, you can quickly improve your performance on the court and make a more accessible selection of a tennis racket. Whenever you are comparing tennis strings, the most important things that you will need to keep in mind include:-

– The material that is used in the string

Natural gut is the most playable, but it does not perform as well in durability. Nylon is suitable for all-round performance, while durable polyesters are the best for string breakers.

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– Thickness of the string

Thicker strings are more powerful and effective than thinner strings. Thinner strings are more feeble and will easily break when you play for long.

– Playability

A playable string is known to snap back quickly upon impact with the ball. This makes it easier to play. And it will also feel more effective in the hand of the player who will not have to stress too much to put on an excellent performance.

– Durability

Someone who keeps breaking their tennis strings will require a more durable one. They will ensure that the player can maintain their performance for longer in addition to playing without the need to change rackets constantly.

There are a few different ways to compare tennis strings. One way is to ask your coach or another experienced player for their recommendations. Another option is to use a tennis string compare tool like the one offered by String Lab. This tool allows you to input your playing style and preferences to receive customized recommendations for the best strings for you.

Best-tennis-string-compare-tool

Best tennis string compare tool

There are some different tennis string compare tools available online. However, the String Lab tennis string compare tool is one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly options available. This tool lets you design reports on string stiffness, energy return, tension loss, peak impact force, and impact tension. This information can help make an informed decision about which strings are right for you.

TW University has an online tool that you can use to compare strings. This is quite an advanced tool with all the features you need to compare in a string. It is also easy to use and can be accessed over the web. This means that as long as you have a browser that you can use to access the website, tennis TW string comparison will be easier to make.

Accessing the website also gives you access to more information about tennis strings and the many exceptional properties that make them effective at enhancing your performance while playing.

If you are looking for a reliable string compare tool, the tool from TW university is one of the best options for you and will significantly enhance your research. You find a tool at Compare strings. 

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Conclusions

The firmness and strength of your tennis string determine how effectively you will be playing on the field, and whenever you have a good string, you will be able to play better, but you will also be able to play for longer. Strings that are firmer and or higher strength will be more durable, and as such, they will perform your performance for much longer.

With the information provided in this article, it will be a lot easier for you to compare strings and determines the exact type of string that is ideal for your uses. Hopefully, you will be able to choose tennis rackets more carefully once you understand the importance of having high-strength strings on your tennis rackets.

Best Donnay Tennis Racquets

These days, with all the stars of the ATP tour kitted out with gear from Prince, Wilson, Babolat and Head, Donnay doesn’t get much of a look in. But turn the clock back to the 1980s and Donnay was producing the most tennis rackets of any manufacturer in the world. Andre Agassi, Bjorn Borg, Margaret Court, and Rod Laver all ran onto the court with a Donnay racket in their hands.

Why Buy a Donnay Tennis Racket?

Some of those were back in the day when rackets were made of wood, of course. After that, Donnay failed to make the switch over to graphite frames and couldn’t keep up with the latest technology. Other brands pulled ahead and Donnay, for a while, looked on the way out.

Now though, they’re making some great modern raquets and slowly turning their fortunes around. In 2010 they launched their innovative “x-series” of rackets, which offered an alternative design to the traditional hollow-framed racket, dampening vibrations and shocks by up to 35%. There’s a lot that’s impressive about their rackets, and reviewers are increasingly taking notice of the consistent build quality and excellent dampening. Even without a celebrity endorser, Donnay are certainly on the up.

 

Best Donnay Tennis Rackets

Donnay rackets are thin beamed and stiff, but (most importantly) cushioned and comfortable for volleys and groundstrokes. That’s a godsend to any players prone to, or worried about, wrist and elbow injuries. These distinctive and slightly stiff rackets may not be ideal for beginners, but an intermediate or advanced player with a powerful swing can find an awful lot to like.

Unlike many companies, Donnay don’t do the usual trick of making super expensive, high-tech rackets for pros, and then progressively worse and cheaper offerings for everyone else. All Donnay rackets come in at about the same price point, but which of these you’ll prefer will depend on your taste and play style. So, if you have the opportunity, pick one up and see what you think.

Donnay Allwood 102

Many tennis fans have fond memories of Bjorn Borg wielding his heavy wooden racket like a club, and this gorgeous retro recreation has all the stylings of the 70s original. Although not made from wood any longer, it is designed to replicate some of the feel of the original whilst being lighter and faster, like the graphite frames that modern players are used to and benefits from a much larger sweet spot.

Built with Donnay’s patented Xenecore technology, the Allwood 102 is super maneuverable, with one of the lowest swing-weights of any racket being produced today. Usually, that involves a sacrifice in power and stability, but the Allwood doesn’t have that problem. The large head size of the 102 comes with a correspondingly large sweet spot to play with, while the flexible and light design of the head negates the air resistance you’d expect to deal with as a result.

Features:

  • Frame Weight: 285g
  • Frame Material: Hexa XēneCore™, fortified solid core
  • String Pattern: 16×19
  • Grip: Cushion
  • Head size: 102 square inches
  • Unstrung Balance: 325mm
  • Unstrung Swing Weight: 263
  • Stiffness (RDC): 50
  • String Tension: 45lbs (+/- 10)
  • Beam Width: 22mm
  • Length: 27

Due to its design, this racket won’t help you generate a lot of power if that’s an aspect of your game that you struggle with, but you equally don’t need to be 6’11” inch giant with the reach of Ivo Karlovic to benefit from what the Allwood 102 has to offer. This is great for players who like smashing balls down the baseline, or for recreational doubles players.

Donnay Pro One Penta 97

Like most of Donnay’s rackets, the Pro One Penta 97 is a heavy-hitter, which doesn’t feel like it. Most players (unless their name rhymes with Foger Rederer) can’t hope to drag a heavy racket through their air and make it look elegant, except maybe with a Donnay Pro One Penta 97.

The 18×20 string pattern makes this much easier to wield and has more power than near-equivalents like the Wilson Pro Staff 97. However, unlike the Pro Staff, the Pro One is also a good option for players who don’t rely wholly on strength. For its size, this racket has a very low swing rate and is easy to control.

Donnay have also added a fifth, foam core to the center of their frames, increasing the ability of Donnay’s rackets to absorb vibrations and shocks. As a result, this is an incredibly comfortable racket to play with, and a great choice for anyone prone to wrist, arm or elbow strain.

Features:

  • Frame Weight: 305g
  • Frame Material: Penta XēneCore™, fortified solid core
  • String Pattern: 18×20
  • Grip: Cushion
  • Head size: 97 square inches
  • Unstrung Balance: 315mm
  • Strung Weight: 317.5g
  • Strung Balance: 5 Points HL
  • Stiffness (RDC): 57
  • String Tension: 45lbs (+/- 10)
  • Beam Width: 21/21/21mm
  • Length: 27

This is a fantastic racket for strong hitters who don’t want to have to pay the price in comfort or playability when it comes to their heavyweight style. The 18×20 string pattern also makes this a perfect racket for those who have a more closed stance and like to serve and volley, and those who only make use of moderate spin. If it’s spin you want, check out the 16×19 variant.

Formula Lite Pentacore 100

The Pentacore light exists for players who want the fantastic playability and comfort of the Penta, but prefer it in a lighter, more easy to handle package. Super light and evenly balanced, this moves through the air with enjoyable speed, whilst maintaining accuracy. The open string pattern (16×19) allows for lots of spin, too. Once again, this Donnay racket excels at vibration absorption, allowing you to generate lots of power and momentum, without feeling the shock running up from your wrist to your shoulder.

The Trademarked Xenecore tubing contained in the frame allows the racket to bend back slightly as it strikes the ball, but then to snap back into position in a nanosecond, launching the ball forward. This creates great power and accuracy, with marvelous stability.

Features:

  • Frame Weight: 275g
  • Frame Material: Penta XēneCore™, fortified solid core
  • String Pattern: 16×19
  • Grip: Cushion
  • Head size: 100 square inches
  • Unstrung Balance: 335mm
  • Strung Swing Weight: 300
  • Stiffness (RDC): 62
  • String Tension: 45lbs (+/- 10)
  • Beam Width: 20/27/24mm
  • Length: 27

A great racket for players interested in something like the Babolat Pure Drive Light, but wanting more power and control. If you’re a beginner or intermediate player, who likes the sound of Donnay rackets, but find their heavy-hitting credentials a bit intimidating, then the Formula Lite Pentacore 100 may be a good route in.

Donnay Superlite 114

Enough of the big hitters, what if you can’t generate the sort of power that Donnay rackets seem to demand? Well, the Superlite 114 was specifically designed for juniors, lower level and senior players, who can’t generate the sort of heavy swing employed by a pro in their prime.

The solid core of the Superlite 114 generates a huge power boost, and – thanks to its foam-filled Xenecore – still gives you the great vibration and shock absorption that Donnay is known for. Get the big punch you really want, without the painful shocks and jolts along the arm that usually come with it. The foam core also helps to keep everything incredibly airy, so that the Superlite 114 lives up to its name and checks in at a minuscule 240g unstrung. Even with a plus-sized head (114 square inches), you still end up with a maneuverable racket that has a fairly unbeatable swing weight in its class.

Features:

  • Frame Weight: 240g
  • Frame Material: Lite XēneCore™
  • String Pattern: 16×19
  • Grip: Cushion
  • Head size: 114 square inches
  • Unstrung Balance: 365mm
  • Strung Weight: 252.3g
  • Strung Balance: 6 Points HH
  • Mains Skip: 8T,7H,9H One Piece
  • Stiffness (RDC): 67
  • String Tension: 50lbs (+/- 10)
  • Beam Width: 30/30/28mm
  • Length: 27.25

The Superlite 114 is ideally suited to lower-level and senior players looking for a racket that can give their game a much-needed power boost. That said, Donnay reckons that a hard-hitting pro could take real advantage of the Superlite’s power and open-string pattern, and generate some impressive topspin. Why not give it a go?

The Last Word

Donnay are certainly the underdogs of the Tennis world; two breaks down in the final set. But after being outstripped technologically in the 90s, they came back with a wave of innovations that put them in a category all of their own. Donnay rackets certainly aren’t for everyone, and their designs have a distinct bias towards heavy-hitters, but there are plenty of powerful players about. More importantly, for a small and emphatic minority, the vibration absorption and cushioning provided by their rackets is a godsend for those who suffer from tennis elbow or any similar condition.

If you’ve never tried a Donnay racket before, have a look. They may well surprise you.

Best Prince Tennis Racquets

Founded in Atlanta, Georgia, Prince stormed onto the tennis scene in the 1970s when they invented the tennis ball machine. It was the first of their cunning innovations, created by putting a vacuum cleaner into reverse, and they’ve been innovating ever since.

Prince’s biggest success came in the 90s when brand ambassador and tennis legend Pat Rafter stormed to success after success. At that time, Prince tennis rackets were the top selling tennis rackets in the world, and who can really be surprised? Although sales have declined a little in recent years, facing stiff competition from Wilson, Head and Yonex, Prince are still a brand with a storied history, producing some of the most advanced rackets on the market.

Why Buy a Prince Tennis Racket?

Prince are a great brand with some fantastic rackets. They combine excellent build quality with an ethos of innovation that has produced some seriously impressive sports technology over the years. Their O3 technology in particular has created tennis rackets with enormous sweet spots, and people have taken notice. It’s no wonder that ATP Tour players like David Ferrer, John Isner, and Jelena Jankovic are all Prince fans.

Best Prince Tennis Rackets

Whilst Prince’s built quality is really very good, you really get what you pay for. Their entry level rackets are extremely affordable and get the job done, but they’re very bare bones as a result. Companies like Yonex might throw in some high tech design features just to be nice, but Prince are trying to get you to buy their better rackets if you can afford them. Of course, if you’re willing to pay, Prince’ s high-end rackets are some of the most advanced sports tech around.

Time to run you through some of the big hitters:

Prince TeXtreme Warrior 100L Tennis Racket

Best for Beginner/Intermediate Players

The TeXtreme Warrior 100L is a light racket, designed for long, heavy baseline rallies. A supremely light frame (255g) with a mid-large head size of 100 square inches, allows for excellent spin and power without sacrificing precision.

The headline here is the technology for which the racket is named: TeXtreme. This unique feature of Prince rackets involves stiffening the frame through the use of extremely thin, straight carbon fibres, to create a composite material that is 20% lighter than usual, as well as being more resilient. The resulting frame twists up to 25% less when it strikes the ball, increasing both strength and accuracy. As a result, TeXtreme rackets are well-suited to aggressive play.

With great power comes great vibration… all the way down your racket arm. Players susceptible to wrist and elbow strain may want to have a look at this racket, which generates a lot of power whilst dampening most of the forces involved.

Features:

  • Frame Weight: 255g
  • Frame Material: TeXtreme
  • String Pattern: 16×18
  • Grip: ResiPro
  • TeXtreme technology, for a lighter, stiffer racket
  • Compatible with Sony Smart Tennis Sensor

The TeXtreme Warrior 100Lis a solid choice for regular players. Its cost won’t break the bank, but it has some innovative design features that really help the player to get a great balance of weight, size, power, and control. Reviewers say that this racket is particularly suited to play styles with more compact strokes, so club players may find The Warrior ideal.

Prince TeXtreme Premier 105 Tennis Racket

Best for Professionals

Powerful, large and light – that’s the Prince TeXtreme Premier 105 in a nutshell. The 105 square inch head is combined with Prince’s O3 technology, a grommetless innovation that expertly dampens sudden vibrations, whilst increasing the size of the sweet spot by an enormous 54%. This means that the TexTreme Premier 105 boasts one of the most impressively large sweet spots ever made.

As with the Warrior 100L (above), TeXtreme technology has stiffened the racket through use of extremely thin, straight carbon fibres, creating a composite material that is 20% lighter than usual. The resulting frame twists up to 25% less when it strikes the ball, increasing both strength and accuracy. As a result, TeXtreme rackets are well-suited to aggressive play.

Features:

  • Frame Weight: 255g
  • Frame Material: 100% Graphite/TeXtreme
  • String Pattern: 16×19
  • Grip: ResiSoft
  • TeXtreme technology, for a lighter, stiffer racket
  • O3 Technology, increasing the sweet spot by 54%

The largest, lightest, most powerful racket in the Prince armoury, with a credible claim to having the largest sweet spot on a racket ever seen. This will be particularly rewarding to any players with shorter strokes, whilst the head size and open string pattern should allow players who love to spin and slice plenty of leeway. When it comes to volleying, the TeXtreme Premier 105’s surface area and stability make it impressive, and the extra reach of the head makes serving a cinch.

Advanced players looking for comfort and power need to look no further than the TeXtreme Premier 105.

Prince Warrior Elite Junior Tennis Racket

Best Prince Tennis Racket for Juniors

Young players don’t need to be about to turn pro in order to take advantage of a little high-tech quality. The Warrior Elite Junior boasts a good-sized 104 square inch head, with a great sweet spot.

The GraphAlu (Graphite/Aluminium) composition of the Warrior Elite keeps the racket nice and light, and it is strung using Extreme String Pattern (ESP) design, which can increase spin on the ball by up to 30%. With more spin you can get better clearance over the net, as well as excellent shot penetration.

Features:

  • Frame Weight: 8.7oz
  • Frame Material: GraphAlu (Graphite/Aluminium)
  • String Pattern: 14×16
  • Grip: TechniGrip
  • ESP (Extreme String Pattern)

Big, light, and just fun to play with. This is a great junior racket for a young player who’s taking their tennis a little more seriously. The GraphAlu and ESP design are great features, and they don’t add so much to the price that the Warrior Elite ESP becomes unaffordable.

The Last Word

Despite a fall from their 90s heyday, Prince are still one of the biggest Tennis brands in the world. They have an ethos of forward thinking and innovation, and they’re still putting out some of the best rackets you can buy. You get what you pay for, though, so don’t expect too much from their lower-end offerings.