String Tension During Winter and Summer Time

The tension loss of a tennis racket's strings can vary significantly between seasons due to differences in temperature and humidity.

In today's post we will explain how these weather conditions affect string tension in winter and summer.

Winter

 

Temperature:

• Colder winter temperatures can result in less tension loss over time and cause strings to remain stiff and less responsive.

Impact on performance:

• Less flexibility in the strings can reduce power and spin, as there is less "return" of the strings in contact with the ball. It may be necessary to string at a lower tension.

Moisture:

• In dry winter weather, strings maintain tension better, while in wet winters, moisture can affect strings, especially natural gut strings, reducing their durability.

Summer

 

 

Temperature:

• Summer heat can cause strings to expand, leading to greater loss of tension over time.

Impact on performance:

• With less tense strings, there may be more power and spin, but less control. Players often set a higher tension to compensate for the rapid decrease in tension.

Moisture:

• Summer is a very dry season, but in places with high humidity, the same thing happens as in wet winters.

General Recommendations

 

 

Tension Adjustment:

• In winter, it may be necessary to string with less tension, while in summer, a higher tension may be preferable.

Choosing Strings:

• Synthetic or hybrid ropes can offer a more consistent response in varying weather conditions.

 

Check String Tension Regularly:

• Regardless of the season, it's a good idea to check with a specialist your string tension regularly and adjust it to your desired playing feel.

Know Your Game:

• Understand how it responds to different stresses and adapt as necessary, taking both comfort and performance into consideration.

 

 

Making these adjustments helps maintain optimal string performance year-round by adapting to natural weather changes that affect string tension.

At Racket City you can always count on the best advice when choosing the string and its tension, so you can get the best performance in your game, regardless of the season.