Category Archives: String – New

New string information

New Head Graphene 360 Radical! Here Now!

May 14

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The new Head Graphene 360 Radical has arrived and I have already chosen the one for me!

The four (4) racquets in this series cover every possible player style and the new graphics package will appeal to most players.  This is a win-win Radical Series!

Head Graphene 360 Radical Series

Just in case you are wondering which one I have chosen it is the Radical S!   Why?  I handle a lot of racquets each day and this racquet just “feels” good when I pick it up!  Plus the 102 square inch head size fits me fine.

This series is the most impressive Radical Series I have seen in a few years.

You can read the reviews of each of these racquets on this site but you really should come by and take a look and “feel” for yourself.

My setup is going to be this racquet strung with PEEK at 52 pounds.  I am going to increase the weight to 315 grams and the swing weight to 315 kg/cm² as well.

I am anxious to start playing again and this is just the racquet to motivate me!   Motivate yourself, too!  Get one!

This is a comparison sheet of the four (4) models so you can get some idea as to which racquet may suit you!

Image 4-11-19 at 11.02 AM

Head Graphene 360 Radical Series Strung

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The Rebel Backpack and Radical 6 Racquet Combi add to the excitment of the new Radical racquets!  Complete the package with these bags!

Posted in Bags, Demo, Good News!, Graphene 360, head, Juniors, PEEK, Racquet Demo, Racquets, Racquets - New, String, String - New, Technology

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Is This the Perfect Combination?

Aug 19

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It seems like Ashaway had this very racquet in mind when they developed their Dynamite Soft 18 string!  This blue string is a perfect match to the blue accent color on the Ultra 100 CV and Ultra Tour!

And, the gauge, a very thin 18, is a perfect match to the very stiff frame (73 RDC, 70 FF stiffness).

I think the 18 gauge string may not be durable enough for hard hitters but this combination could be very good for many players.

You can be the judge of that, of course.

The string tension of 48 lbs (21.7 kg) combined with the racquet stiffness returns an effective stiffness of 30.3 which is a very comfortable number.

This stiff, 100 square inch racquet, should pack a powerful punch with a weight of 318 gr (11.2 oz) and swing weight of 318 kg/cm^ (11.2 oz).

Posted in Good News!, Racquets, Racquets - New, String - New, Technology, Tension

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Ashaway Monogut ZX/ZX Pro – Update

Oct 21

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As most of you know I am a big fan of Ashaway Monogut ZX (16g) and ZX Pro (17G) string.  These models are PEEK mono filament strings that resemble polyester strings but these contain no polyester!

Here is the latest PR from Ashaway for your review.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and of course if you want to try this string.

Ashaway, RI – In a recent article on the growth and use of its popular MonoGut® ZX family of monofilament tennis strings, Ashaway Vice President Steve Crandall noted that, “it seems we’ve done something more than simply make a successful product.” While the company’s initial goal was to produce “a synthetic string to rival the performance of natural gut,” MonoGut ZX has emerged as a viable — and healthier — alternative to today’s arm shock inducing polyesters.
 
Says Crandall, “testing has shown that MonoGut ZX is indeed closer to natural gut in dynamic stiffness than any other synthetic string material. But it’s in the context of the current craze for polyester, and the need for more and more spin, that MonoGut ZX has made the greatest mark. These days everybody wants to improve their ‘up and down’ game, and play like the top pros with ‘heavy balls’ that drop like stones just inside the baseline. To generate that spin they think they need to use those so-called ‘high-tech,’ high-performance polyester strings, and many are paying a high price in impact related injuries.”
 
Not only do MonoGut ZX and ZX Pro strings generate spin as well as polyester, claims Crandall, but they do so without generating the same arm jarring, injury causing impact shock as the polyesters, and even help players recover from their impact related injuries. In the article, Crandall provides comments and testimony from a number of players and noted stringers on why they switched and continue to use the Zyex® based Ashaway string. These include two rising junior players, Clare McKee and Aditya Srinivasan; expert technician and recent Tennis Industry Racquet Stringer of the Year, John Gugel (www.racquetquest.com); well-known stringer and MRT Geoffrey Jones; and veteran player/stringer Eric Burke (www.hardcoretennis.net).
 
Crandall reports that while players initially switch to MonoGut ZX (or ZX Pro) for its ability to eliminate their arm pain — “its ‘healing power’ if you will” — they stay with it because it provides other playing benefits as well. “They love the power and control,” writes Crandall, “the ‘softness,’ comfort and overall feel of the string.” 
For example: Of his daughter Clare, stringer/coach Geoff McKee said, “since the switch [to MonoGut ZX], my daughter has had no elbow or wrist problems for four years.” And Clare herself: “I get good pop with these strings and good control. It helps me get more spin, especially on my serve and forehand.”
 
The parents of East Boys 12-year-old division player Aditya Srinivasan wanted a string that was durable but not a polyester that might injure him. Well-known stringer Geoffrey Jones said, “With Ashaway Monogut ZX Pro they found a soft durable string that almost has the same resilience, softness and safety as natural gut.”
 
John Gugel says, “The high elongation of the Monogut ZX series almost guarantees no arm issues… It is well known that natural gut is the string to use if there is an arm issue, but now Monogut ZX is an option.” That’s why MonoGut ZX strings have become his “primary strings.” MonoGut ZX, “works and looks like the “other” black string,” he said, “and is a perfect string for the player looking for comfort, spin, power, and durability.”
 
National level player/stringer/coach Eric Burke said: “Ashaway MonoGut ZX is the ONLY string that provides durability, feel, power, comfort, and tension maintenance. It is by far the best string to use as the crosses for hybrid stringing in those popular new ‘spin-enhancing’ racquets.”
 
Writes Crandall, “the MonoGut ZX bottom line for us is more than the business bottom line (which is OK, too!); it’s the satisfaction of knowing that we’ve been able to develop a string that is not only fundamentally healthier than the current injury causing polyester offerings, but one that disproves the conventional wisdom and beats those strings at their own game.”
 
He also notes that many people still want, “More… They want the same ‘healing’ properties as MonoGut ZX in a softer multifilament string bed. So,” he concluded, “stay tuned for some MonoGut ZX Multifilament news in early 2016.”
 
To read the complete article, ” Users Praise the Playability, Spin Generation, and ‘Healing Power’ of MonoGut® ZX Strings,” visit the Racket Stringing Tips section at www.Ashawayusa.com
 
Ashaway Racket Strings are made by Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co., the only U.S. manufacturer of string for squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton. Operated by the Crandall family since 1824, Ashaway has been making racquet strings since 1949, and is responsible for several important technical innovations. Ashaway has been the Official String of USA Racquetball for more than ten years, and is also the Official String of Professional Tennis Registry. Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. also makes braided products for medical and industrial applications. For more information visit www.ashawayusa.com. Zyex is a registered trademark of Zyex Ltd.
 
For additional product information, contact: 
Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co.
PO Box 549
Ashaway, RI 02804 USA
Tel: (800) 556-7260 (U.S. only) or +1 (401) 377-2221
Fax: +1 (401) 377-9091
Twitter: @Ashaway1824

Posted in Business, Learning, Pain, PEEK, String, String - New, String Review, Tips

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Head Graphene XT Extreme MPA

Jul 17

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As you know Head has made incredible strides in terms of racquet technologies and important players using them!

The racquets I received recently  are the new Head Graphene XT Extreme MPA.  Richard Gasquet, a talented and great player to watch, has been using the “Extreme” model for several years and has been making it into the late rounds at more tournaments!

The bright yellow finish with bright red and black certainly makes a statement!  The black grip is a slight departure from the more usual white synthetic grip used on many racquets.

Head Graphene XT Extreme

Head Graphene XT Extreme

The new model incorporates the ASP technology that allows the racquet to be strung either in a 16 x 19 pattern or a 16 x 16 pattern!  One racquet two string pattern options!  Great idea, I think!

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ASP Insert

This model weighs in at 319 grams (11.25 ounces) with a swing weight of 322 (11.36 ounces) with a RDC flex of 60 (compare to 71 for the Babolat Pure Drive).

I installed a new Head string that is not polyester!  The new string is Velocity MLT, a multifilament polyamide (nylon) with about 10.2% elongation.  The string bed stiffness is a comfortable RDC 61 and DT of 38.

If you are considering a new racquet consider this one for sure!

Posted in Racquets, Racquets - New, String, String - New, String Patterns, String Review, Technology

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Acelon Wildfire Hex String

May 8

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For several months, as you know, we have been discussing “shaped” strings.  Most of the current shaped strings are polyester based but now there is a new, or actually two (2), shaped strings that are primarily nylon material.

You all know the difference between polyester and nylon string so I am excited to have a “soft” option available.  This option allows more serious players to experience what shaping can do (maybe contribute to spin) and the high elongation of a multi-filament string.

I have been using the standard round Acelon Wildfire for a long time and it is one of the best “value” oriented multi-filaments I have found.  What is “value”?  Of course it is different things to different players but I assign “value” to a string that will play well, protect wrist, arms and shoulders, and be reasonably priced.  Most multi-filament strings are in the $35.00 range, so the Acelon Wildfire Hex at $31.00 does represent value.

To make this string even more valuable I am going to make it this periods “special” and offer either the 16 gauge or 17 gauge Acelon Wildfire Hex for $24.99 while this supply lasts.

Try it!

 

 

Posted in Good News!, String, String - New

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