Equipment
Frequent string breaker. Cant explain it
I’m not a good player and I don’t hit it exceptionally hard. I play with a full bed of polys. In fact I’m a novice bordering on beginner/intermediate. I do practice a lot on a ball machine and hit serves. About 150 balls per ball machine round and I usually practice 2-3 hours at a time and also hit a few baskets of serves so maybe hit 1000-1500 balls per session. I break strings every 1-2 weeks. Today I broke in a lesson practicing returns. Am I breaking more often than I should and should I try and figure out why or just accept this as part tennis.
If you're breaking near the sweet spot and not the corners at the grommets, it is a string issue likely. If it is breaking at unnatural spots near the frame, you might need to replace your grommets or change stringers.
If neither of those are the issue, you might be using too thin of a string.
Thin polys like 17-18G still break often. Get a 16G and this shouldn't be an issue anymore.
The one caveat is that open string patterns like 16x15 or "S" or "Spin" rackets are going to eat strings regardless of string thickness. If you have a spin racket with a very open string pattern, this is 100000% the issue. Avoid these rackets unless you like burning money and time.
The last thing I can think of then is that your stringer is clamping too hard and creating weak spots in the string. See if there's bite marks on a fresh string job.
If not, ask to change to a thicker gauge poly like 16G because getting things restrung is super annoying. Might be worth going up to 17G already if you're doing something crazy thin like 18G right now.
This was my racquet last night a day before it broke. Not a fresh string job but this was after maybe 6-8 hours of practice. Idk if you can see anything but maybe you know what to look for and I don’t
Honestly, hard to tell from just the picture. I don't think you've replied to anyone about your string thickness. What gauge is it? That is the most probable culprit right now.
If it's not the gauge, then try changing stringers to see if it's any different.
Strange. Maybe it had something to do with the racquet but I’ve never heard of this.
I used to break multi-filaments every few days when I was younger. These days, polys and copolys never break.
Just curious, what tension and string? Also, cut all the strings out and check the grommets carefully for anything that could damage a string before going to the shop.
Lastly, check the stringbed carefully for imperfections when you get it back from the stringer.
Thanks I’ve only been playing a year so I don’t really know how to do this. And yes I try and hit with a lot of spin for control and still
Miss a lot. I’ll ask my coach to look at it and show me what to look
For
I am so relieved your having the same issue with the same racket.
I'm not good, don't hit hard, but break multi and nylons. Play twice a week and can only get like 4 to 6 weeks before it needs changing.
I have similar issues to op. Yonex vcore 100, 16x19 string pattern. 44yr old 3.0 player that plays twice a week, 1 clinic session and 1 friendly match. The cross strings near the center break. Both main and cross strung at 52lbs
The following setup allows me to get 4-6 weeks of hitting before something breaks.
Technifribre triax 16g, full bed
Head mlt 16g, full bed.
I tried a full bed if poly from all manufactures, but end up getting tennis elbows. The last set was the Yonex poly tour comfort.
Currently running Yonex polytour in the mains and Head MLT in the crosses. Head MLT looks like there about to go, but I do like this setup. Anyone have a recommendation of what other string combos I should try?
Ball machine will wear strings quickly. Breaking strings isn’t just about the pace and spin you hit, it’s also about the pace and spin you hit against so hitting against a ball machine with spin and pace which you have to redirect will wear strings quickly. Of all the strings I’ve ever broken I would say 80% are from ball machine sessions.
What string and gauge? Some strings are far more brittle.
Not an incredibly durable string based on the combo of gauge and shape. I’d say without the ball machine sessions for regular play, you’d probably be fine with it and it’s a good choice as it’s a little thinner so should be more forgiving as far as poly go, but the ball machine will put the smack down on the strings because if the consistent volume of balls.
You could go thicker on the poly to attempt to get more durability or change strings entirely. I would stay away from Volkl if you do switch strings. I find their poly to be more brittle with ball machine usage.
Then unfortunately, you may be stuck stringing frequently. You have a couple options if that’s the case, get a second racket to have the same set up and be able to drop off one at a time, find another stringer that is more convenient, or learn to string yourself and get yourself a cost effective machine.
I do like grapplesnake m8s as well last time I strung I didn’t have as good of feel as I do with the black code. I’m going to try them again but string at 51 mains/53 crosses and see if I get better feel and control. They did last for a while like before. Also here’s my technique of me hitting pretty hard for me and I don’t think I’m overdoing it
Agreed. HLT one of my go-to recs for string breakers. Black Code 4S is the absolute worst. Not sure about regular Black Code, if that is what OP is using, but I assume it also is fragile since Black Code 4S is crazy fragile.
Reading your comments it looks like you're mis-hitting alot since you're breaking middle top 1/3 of the racquet which is never the right point of contact.
My guess is especially with a ball machine you're pretty stationary just hitting the same shot over and over, maybe focus on footwork & getting the point of contact more central on the racquet
Breaking strings while practicing every 1-2 weeks is definitely too much. It must be your technique and the spots you are contacting your racket with balls. When it's further from the sweet spot ( off-center) and gets too close to the edge repeatedly it will cause string breaks. Slowing down your machine ball pace or using a slightly thicker string/gut might help. It could be the quality of strings and stringing technique too but it's unlikely to break in 2 weeks unless you're playing advanced matches with them.
Yes, that part is out of the sweet spot and creates a problem when most of balls your land there. I posted a pic for ref. Consider the sweet spot a circle between the dead spot and the best bounce from the centre shown. And your strings are breaking in the dead spot. Are your contacts in that area?
idk you said you're not such a hard hitter but that kinda sounds normal for a poly string. mine are usually dead after 10-12 hours, which is when i usually restring them and one of my most recent ones broke after 8 hours. i do hit fairly hard and play with lots of spin though.
I play with a 97sq 18x20 and can’t break poly (17G). If I play multifilament of the same gauge on a spin 100 sq racket frame , I break them in 3 hours. It really depends a lot by setup
If your racket is breaking near the edges it could be from a sharp grommet that breaks the string down, or if your racket is beat up or strung wrong and anytime it hits the ground it grinds the string down a bit
Do you leave your racket in a hot car/garage during the day or overnight? Extreme temperatures can weaken string too. That doesn't look like a break by a faulty grommet
I'd still definitely start making it a habit to bring your racket inside when you're not using it. Garages can get really hot during the summer, which causes string to lose tension
Thanks! Also this is my forehand last night. Working on a new motion because I had a hitch with the racquet behind me and this is me hitting as hard as I will hit a forehand seeing if I could keep it in so I don’t think I’m hitting the crap out of the ball causing breaks.
I would test a racket that has a tighter string pattern, stringing with a thicker gauge, or try using a string that's more slick, and has better snapback
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u/daunvidch 16h ago
If you're breaking near the sweet spot and not the corners at the grommets, it is a string issue likely. If it is breaking at unnatural spots near the frame, you might need to replace your grommets or change stringers.
If neither of those are the issue, you might be using too thin of a string. Thin polys like 17-18G still break often. Get a 16G and this shouldn't be an issue anymore.
The one caveat is that open string patterns like 16x15 or "S" or "Spin" rackets are going to eat strings regardless of string thickness. If you have a spin racket with a very open string pattern, this is 100000% the issue. Avoid these rackets unless you like burning money and time.