If tennis strings are doing what they should, they will wear out!
What happens between the time strings are installed and the time they need to be replaced?
- Strings are under tension (stress)
- Strings are subject to fatigue due to hits
- Strings are subject to frictional notching due to sliding
- Strings are elastic but will lose tension
- Strings break
All of the above actions are subject to many variables, of course!
- String Bed Pattern (16×19, 18×20,,,)
- Sring Bed Size (90, 95, 98, 100, 110… square inch)
- Racquet head speed
- Racquet head angle
- String wear
- Environment (wet, dry, hot, cold…)
What does this actually look like, though?
This will give an idea of what a really good wear pattern will look like
after about ten (10) weeks of use. This is a 17-gauge multifilament in a 98-square-inch head size at a reference tension of 55 pounds (24.9kg).
In fact, the COF (coefficient of friction) is greater than when the string was fresh!
COF_ M: 23%, X: 31.5% greater! This means if you have the nerve (no fear of breaking string), you can continue to play and enjoy the grabbing of the ball by the tiny tentacles that get caught in the ball fuzz.
This will not last forever, though!
COP View
This wear pattern is typical of high-quality multifilament strings.
When making a string selection, think about how long you want the string to perform well, not necessarily how long it will stay in your racquet.
If you need some ideas, go to our String Frequency Calculator. This will give you some high performance stringing cycle recommendations.
Have fun … and use up your string!