Improve Your Tennis Knowledge: String Patterns Explained 🤯

[@b.shankarrao9149]

Explained smoothly nice.

[@danfischbach3549]

The number of mains in the throat will also effect spin. There are 16x19, 16x20 & 18x20 patterns with both 6 and 8 mains in the throat. The 6 main frames will have a bit more spin, but technique and swing speed are the most important factors

[@vwievincent5253]

I think it also depends on the racquet throat construction. E.g. the Head Speed MP (Graphene 360; and probably also the Graphene 360+) has 8 mains in the throat but also has a relatively open string pattern for a 16x19 with relatively wide string spacing on the mains.

[@TennisTrollChannel]

Good explanation. Thank you.

[@92edro]

i notice a huge difference between a 16x20 97sq in frame and my current 18x20 93in. super interesting how these small margins have such a huge effect! with the 16x20 i would blast a lot of balls but get surprised when they dropped in near the baseline...i prefer the more predictable response of the 18x20 that doesnt leave me holding my breath every time i unload on a shot. it really gives you a better sense of your own strength and power when swinging big in my opinion. like chris and others have said, its mostly about mechanics. cheers TW, best in the biz!

[@LagartoChicloso]

maybe you open the racquet`s head too much

[@hoaluu572]

Could you guys do a synthetic gut strings review, I want to know which one is best for my game aswell as everybody's else

[@fvni]

Love my Wilson Six.One 95S (Spin Effect) with 18x16! Can hit loopy shots that sink just beyond the net on top spins. Slices feel great coming off either forehand or backhand with solid under or side rotation. Flat ground strokes pose no problems as I take the ball off the bounce half step early. TW is also correct on the Prince Textreme Warrior, as I demo'd one and it felt very supple, especially on serves. Wonder what I should try next to retain the same feel/control....???

[@tenniswarehouse]

As far as feel, and control, the Yonex VCORE 95 is a great choice, and is fairly close in weight, and maneuverability to the Six One 95S. That said, the VCORE 95 has a 16x20 pattern which is a bit more control, and a lower launch angle compared to the 18x16 spin effect pattern. If your main concern is the string pattern, and the spin potential, then the Prince Phantom 93P 14x18 might be a fun one to try, although it is heavier, it has a ton of feel and control, and the pattern makes for a very spin friendly response and easy lift or launch angle. Troy, TW

[@roman2374]

What string pattern do you prefer for a heavy hitter with a sensitive wrist? I’ve been playing 16x19s for the past years and light racquets around 285 gr unstrung but now tried a 300 gr racquet and felt it much more stable for my wrist. Now I wonder if 310gr AND a closed string pattern might support my wrist best or if I should stick with open string patterns. Any opinion is welcome - thank you!

[@nozemsagogo868]

I wouldn't say that string pattern directly affects wrist impact. I would be most worried about wrist strength, technique, as you mentioned a higher static weight or twist weight for stability, and perhaps stiffness of the frame. The string pattern will affect your launch angle, but that does not mean one option will necessarily be easier on your wrist. You can only test and see what is best for you and your body.

[@Escorpio123PS]

Thank you Sr. I love this information.

[@vujanic88]

Hi Tennis Warehouse. Can you please tell me if 18x20 can have the same power like 16x19 if on 18x20 I am using the lower tension? for example Head Speed Pro 18x20 with lower tension and 310grams of weight can it have the same power like Speed MP 16x19 300grams with medium tension? Thanks

[@tenniswarehouse]

Yes, you can gain some added power from lowering tension on the 18x20. The main difference in the patterns, is the launch angle, where the 16x19 will have a bit higher launch angle, or it makes it a bit easier to achieve net clearance, and with the 18x20 the ball comes of the racquet with a slightly lower launch angle. Troy, TW

[@jefflegresley7106]

@tennisWarehouse I recently gotten back into Tennis and have been using a Babolat Evo drive with a 16x17 pattern which I don't see in any other racquet. where does the 16x17 pattern fall compared to the others in this video?

[@tenniswarehouse]

16x17 will be very spin friendly, so lots of spin and good ball pocketing, but not the most control or feel. Troy, TW

[@ossikaijanen3277]

How do the patterns work in relation to the head size? I play now with the Radical OS LTD (the bumblebee), and it has an 18x19 pattern on a 107 head size. Eventually, I have to get a replacement racquet, and I guess a more traditional 98-100 head size. Also there isn't that many 18x19 patterns out there. So should I demo for a 18x20 or 16x19 pattern when the time comes? Which would give me the same kind feel that I have now? Or is it just demoing and trying to dial in the feel with string tensions?

[@tenniswarehouse]

The 18x19 pattern on the Radical OS plays fairly open. If you were to go down to a 98 or 100 headsize, I would consider mostly 16x19 patterns. I would say most 18x20 patterns in the 98-100 headsizes will play more dense, and yield a lower launch angle. Troy, TW

[@ossikaijanen3277]

@@tenniswarehouse Thanks Troy again for your quick response and two cents!

[@ivanpalaca6230]

Does spin affect power? Is 16×19 allows you to be more powerful and have faster balls than the 18×19?

[@tenniswarehouse]

@Ivan Palaca, Great question! We should let the TWU Professor take this one :) Michelle, TW

[@ivanpalaca6230]

@@tenniswarehouse well okay let me know. Thanks

[@natsaavedra5198]

Should tension for main strings be higher than cross strings? Or vice versa?

[@tenniswarehouse]

Usually if you are using a full bed of the same string, then we usually go the same tension on both mains and crosses. Some players, when using a full bed of poly, will go a couple pounds looser on the crosses to help with spin, and string movement/snap-back. If using a hybrid, it is pretty common to go a bit tighter with the softer string, like the multi or natural gut, maybe like 2 to 3 pounds difference. This is just to balance out the inherent stiffness of softer string like a multi or gut, compared to a stiffer string like a poly. Troy, TW

[@natsaavedra5198]

@@tenniswarehouse thank you for the reply! Greatly appreciate it! Learning a lot !

[@vanshagarwal2362]

Between a 16x20 and 18x19 which one do you recommend is a more middle of the road type of pattern that gives you the benefits of power and control? Thanks.

[@tenniswarehouse]

We usually prefer the 16x20. Troy, TW

[@mikedonovan2470]

Awesome! Any way to lower the launch angle other than my form?

[@tenniswarehouse]

You could try a thicker gauge of string, which is in a slight way like making the string spacing a little more dense. Troy, TW

[@thescarlettpotato]

How would an 18x19 pattern fair against a 16x20?

[@mr.e5501]

same question here

[@tenniswarehouse]

The headsize, and the string spacing can play a part, but in general we find the 18x19 to play a bit more dense, or control oriented, closer to an 18x20, and the 16x20 to play a bit more open, and spin friendly, like a 16x19. Both are great options for an in between pattern. Troy, TW

[@devinotero1798]

I have a 18x19 rn and i gotta say its still pretty tough to use. I usually play with open string patterns and i say that 18x19 is pretty much the same as 18x20 with a bit more spin. I would prefer a 16x20 myself but those are rare. If control and spin are in the top priorities for a racquet you want, 18x19 would be perfect

[@jamesotto7884]

Good video, well explained

[@TheAmedeo621]

Does a 16x17 string pattern help or hurt a 3.5 player?

[@tenniswarehouse]

Its really a matter of preference and not necessarily related to the player's level. That said, the 16x17 is pretty openly spaced, so it will help with spin and a higher launch angle, but probably harder to control the ball than with the common 16x19 pattern. Personally, I would probably recommend going with a string pattern a bit more dense than the 16x17, so closer to a 16x19 as I think it would just help with overall control and consistency. Troy, TW

[@TheAmedeo621]

@@tenniswarehouse Thanks much. I agree. I reason I asked was that it does seem to give me more power, especially with my serve, but the ground strokes are a bit less precise and hurt my chances of moving to 4.0

[@jazibmjs]

i am 18 years old .....which pattern do you suggest 16 x 20 or 18 x 20 ......i am confused which racket i should choose between head graphene gravity pro or head graphene gravity mp.....i am a baseliner....

[@tenniswarehouse]

The Gravity Pro offers a heftier feel, more stability, plow through, and a bit more control from the 18x20 pattern, and thinner beam. The Gravity MP is more maneuverable, more spin friendly, and provides a bit easier power. Troy, TW

[@jazibmjs]

@@tenniswarehouse thanks

[@paulkim5699]

I understand that it is still very possible to generate a lot of spin with an 18x20 string pattern, but does a 16x19 string pattern give you more spin? Thanks.

[@tenniswarehouse]

Yes, the more open pattern, or less strings, will make it easier to generate spin. Troy, TW

[@paulkim5699]

Tennis Warehouse Thanks, Troy! I always enjoy watching your lefty footage on racquet reviews haha.

[@tenniswarehouse]

@@paulkim5699, thanks for the support. Grip n' rip! Troy TW

[@antoniusharyono]

My kid racket 23" length is 12x16. Which better with 16x19 ?

[@tenniswarehouse]

Not sure what you are asking but if your kid is using a 23" racquet, I wouldn't worry too much about string pattern until they get older! Michelle, TW

[@antoniusharyono]

@@tenniswarehouse thank you

[@semidios3994]

What about a 18x16(don't know how these kind of string patterns are called) vs a 16x18? Thanks in advance.🎾

[@tenniswarehouse]

That particular string pattern is found on some of the Wilson Spin Effect racquets, such as the Blade 98S, and Burn 100S. It depends on how the strings are spaced apart, but that type of pattern actually provides a lot of spin, as there are large spaces between the strings, and the lower number of crosses allows for the mains to move easily. 16x18 is a ore traditional open pattern, for example the Prince Textreme Warrior 100, it offers a lot of spin, but with better control. The 18x16 patterns can be somewhat erratic, and hard to control at times. Troy, TW

[@semidios3994]

@@tenniswarehouse Thank you Troy.👌🎾

[@cylesarmiento8212]

How would u describe a 16x16 racket?

[@tenniswarehouse]

Typically very spin friendly, at least from the 16x16 patterns that we have sold in the past. It really comes down most importantly on how the string are spaced apart, which is usually pretty evident when comparing two different racquets. That said, a 16x16 should be very spin friendly, and gives a high launch angle if the main strings are spaced evenly, but maybe not the best for control on flatter strokes. Troy, TW

[@homosapien5156]

My racquet : 16×15

[@willj2368]

What would be considered an ideal string pattern for doubles players?

[@tenniswarehouse]

It is more based on personal preference, rather than specifically for doubles. A 16x19 pattern is pretty traditional, offering easy spin, and launch angle. If you want to maximize feel for the ball, and like maximum control, then maybe 18x20 might be best for you, or 16x20 might be a good middle ground. Troy, TW

[@mrfrog235]

Nice

[@balaji21121109]

18 20 for flat lovers.

[@SirPhillyLeong]

My racquet: 8x10

[@ampecsu]

sorry but you lost me when you used the phrase "those ones"

[@tenniswarehouse]

He said those ones, as in those strings, as most could assume he was talking about the strings. He did that when explaining the cross strings, and then moved his hand across the face of the racquet, in the direction that the cross strings are oriented. Troy, TW

[@rburen]

Tennis Warehouse I don’t think I’ve ever commented on a KZbin video EVER but just wanted to say god bless your patience with these people 😂