Category Archives: Players
Where is my power?
Tennis players want power, control, spin, comfort, durability, and fun!
Well, so do we!
We collect data to contribute to your greater enjoyment of tennis, so we are including this video to address some questions about power!
Because we do not know how you are swinging the racquet, fast, slow, or in between, we must rely on data (numbers) to help us help you.
You need to see this!
For years, we have been exploring the properties of materials that make up many of the tennis strings used by players now.
What we found, over fifteen (15) years ago, was that polyetherether ketone (PEEK) is the best string material for preventing arm, elbow, shoulder, and other injuries while enhancing performance.
What!
We love natural gut and use a lot of it; however, PEEK can take more “abuse” than natural gut, environmentally.
If you are joining the Racquet Quest community, you may be perplexed by this statement. And for good reason. If you are not near the world headquarters of Racquet Quest, LLC, you may have never heard of PEEK, marketed by Ashaway as MonoGut ZX and ZX Pro.
Why?
PEEK is a unique fiber that requires an understanding of its properties, unlike most other materials that do not possess the performance properties of PEEK.
Stringing with PEEK requires caring about the player and the racquet!
Jason’s Two (2) month old PEEK 17 gauge!
Previous stringing date: 8.3.25
This is an un-retouched photo of Jason’s Wilson’s RF 01 Pro after many hours of rigorous hitting.
String bed stiffness loss…17.7%!
You need to see this!
Ask your racquet technician to set up your racquet with this string. We believe you will be glad you did.
Players Please…Part Two
Racquet Quest, LLC is for players!
Players’ input helps shape what we do. Now, we would appreciate your help in focusing on what you need, whether you’re a player, parent of a player, coach, or enthusiast.
Racquet Quest evaluates, tests, and reports on anything we can verify.
The Racquet Quest YouTube Channel is a way you can see and hear what we are doing and how it can affect you. So, please spend about 18 minutes with us!
Accuracy Index…What is it?
For several years, Racquet Quest has been testing racquets we have strung for an “Accuracy Index.” Click here to see an example, and then we will discuss it.
For several years, Racquet Quest has been quantifying racquet string bed behavior using our internally developed Accuracy Index. This post was drafted in 2019 but not posted util now. Why now? Players, and us, are even more frustrated with the lack of quality racquet preparations than we were in 2019! We are seeing more and more really bad stuff happening so this post may be a way to address the bad stuff and do better!
The first graph presents the relative stiffness of the main and cross string arrays, as well as the average composite stiffness. On the following page, the Accuracy Index data grid provides a segmented view of the string bed, with each color-coded cell corresponding to a specific impact zone.
This grid allows us to analyze local stiffness variations, where, for example, light blue cells typically correlate with premature failure points in topspin-oriented play. The example shown references a standard 16×19 string pattern, but the analytical framework is applicable to any string configuration.
Why does the Accuracy Index matter?
In performance terms, control is effectively a function of predictability. That is, the extent to which the string bed returns the ball along an expected trajectory with minimal variability. The Accuracy Index quantifies this by comparing actual deflection characteristics across the bed to idealized stringbed behavior. Higher accuracy values imply lower angular deviation and more consistent ball exit vectors.
We also report an Efficiency Index, which assesses how effectively the stringing process preserved the frame’s intended geometric and mechanical properties. A lower efficiency score (e.g., 71) indicates that the racquet had to internally redistribute loads—compensating for distortions incurred during stringing. This can result in non-uniform string tensions and unintended stiffness profiles across the bed, reducing both playability and predictability.
At Racquet Quest, our stringing systems utilize frame stabilization techniques that eliminate distortion during tensioning. As a result, our stringbeds exhibit minimal deviation from target parameters, allowing both Accuracy and Efficiency indices to remain at consistently elevated levels.
Implications for Racquet Technicians
Regardless of the equipment used, technicians can leverage the Accuracy Index as a diagnostic tool to identify inconsistencies introduced during stringing. Adjustments to clamping sequences, pull timing, frame support, or pre-stretch protocols can measurably improve stringbed linearity and reduce compensatory distortion.
In essence, a higher Accuracy Index isn’t just a number—it’s an indicator of a racquet’s ability to perform as engineered, shot after shot.
Racquet Quest, LLC
