A Couple of Stringing Basics
Racquet Quest is happy to welcome our new clients!
If you stop by the World Headquarters, we can discuss anything you’d like to know about stringing in general, as well as what we do and why. If you can not stop by, you can take a look at our YouTube Channel for this information.
Either way is good, and we welcome questions and suggestions about anything we do.
Please leave a comment on this page below the post, or you can text us @407.491.4755
Nordic Dots
A friend is visiting from the UK and was kind enough to bring along a Nordic Dots Model 99 tennis racquet.
Nordicdots 99
We don’t see many of these here. I was delighted to have the opportunity to go through the specs!
The first thing you will notice is the incredible gloss black finish! The only adornment is the silver name, Noricdots, and model 99… that’s all!
Next comes the head shape, which is not dramatically different but is notable with the broad top portion.
Then the string pattern is 16 x 20 with a twist (little). The pattern is really dense through the 13th cross string, then begins to open up as it nears the throat
The expanded string spacing around the periphery is not unusual, but the density at the upper portion is “tight”.
This model 99 is foam-filled and uses a standard foam grip pallet. The butt cap has an access door for those who want to mess around back there!
Model 99
Nordicdots
| Manufacturer | Nordicdots |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Model 99 |
| Reference Tension | 46 |
| String | MonoGut ZX Pro Black |
| Machine Used | True Tension Pro |
| String Bed Stiffness - RDC | 43 |
| String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour | 52.9 |
| Strig Bed Stiffness - SBS | 44.7 |
| String Bed Stiffness - ERT | 30 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 62 |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 38.3 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 423 |
| Weight, Grams | 325 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.46 |
| Balance, mm | 323 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.72 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.0 |
| Head Width | 9.59 |
| Head Length | 12.904 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 614.8 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 95.3 |
| Beam Height @ Grip, mm | 23.8 |
| Beam Height @ Mid, mm | 23.2 |
| Beam Height @ Tip | 23.2 |
| Beam Width @ Grip, mm | 11.5 |
| Beam Width @ Throat, mm | 10.5 |
| Beam Width @ Mid, mm | 10.5 |
| Beam Width @ Tip, mm | 12.9 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio | .583 |
| Main String Grid Inch/mm | 7.31/185.6 |
| Cross String Grid Inch/mm | 9.93/252.2 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .762 |
| Average Cross String Space | .497 |
| Average Main String Space | .457 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 30 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 167.8 |
| First Moment, Nm | .807 |
| Polar Moment | 337 |
| Torsional Stability | 16 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm^2 | 321 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.32 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 339.1 |
| Power, RDC | 51 |
| Control, RDC | 47 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 73 |
| Power, Calculated | 1915.4 |
| Head Points | 6.30 |
| Head Weight, % | 47% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.37 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 7.14 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 25.39 |
| K, Lb/In | 137.82 |
| Recoil Weight | 161.7 |
| Twist Weight | 216.1 |
| End Weight | 132.7 |
| Tip Weight | 191.2 |
| 9 O'Clock | 90.6 |
| 3 O'Clock | 90.6 |
| Butt End | 143.5 |
| COF, Main | .358 |
| COF, Cross | .311 |
Dunlop MaxPly Fort? Yes…for real
At the World Headquarters, we have a bunch of “classic” racquets, from wood to graphite; however, the most classic of classics arrived yesterday.
The Dunlop MaxPly Fort signed by John McEnroe.
This racquet is new, with the original grip and plastic protector! This racquet had never been strung, so it was perfectly straight, and still is! Click on this image to see the beautiful features of a wooden racquet.
We were asked to string it for inclusion on the client’s “racquet wall”.
Dunlop MaxPly Fort
The time with the racquet gave us a chance to get all the “properties” and include them here.
As you consider these properties, think about the Weight, Racquet Flex, and Swing Weight compared to current racquets.
| Manufacturer | Dunlop - England |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Dunlop MaxPly Fort |
| Reference Tension | 40 |
| String | Head Reflex MLT |
| Machine Used | True Tension Pro |
| String Bed Stiffness - RDC | 28 |
| String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour | 52 |
| Strig Bed Stiffness - SBS | 51.8 |
| String Bed Stiffness - ERT | 28 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 40 |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 49 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 307.9 |
| Weight, Grams | 385 |
| Weight, Ounces | 13.58 |
| Balance, mm | 342 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.46 |
| Length, Cm | 69 |
| Length, Inch | 27.16 |
| Head Width | 8.16 |
| Head Length | 10.8 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 445.7 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 69.1 |
| Beam Height @ Grip, mm | 35 |
| Beam Height @ Mid, mm | 16 |
| Beam Height @ Tip, mm | 16 |
| Beam Width @ Grip, mm | N/A |
| Beam Width @ Throat, mm | N/A |
| Beam Width @ Mid, mm | N/A |
| Beam Width @ Tip, mm | N/A |
| Number of Main Strings | 18 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio | .717 |
| Main String Grid Inch/mm | 6.25/158.8 |
| Cross String Grid Inch/mm | 8.20/208.3 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .742 |
| Average Cross String Space | .432 |
| Average Main String Space | .347 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 28 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 156.6 |
| First Moment, Nm | 1.027 |
| Polar Moment | 380 |
| Torsional Stability | 14 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm^2 | 366 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 12.9 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 450.3 |
| Power, RDC | 35 |
| Control, RDC | 64 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 43 |
| Power, Calculated | 1031.8 |
| Head Points | .94 |
| Head Weight, % | 49.6% |
| Center of Percussion | 19.40 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.84 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 16.5 |
| K, Lb/In | 89.74 |
| Recoil Weight | 1434.5 |
| Twist Weight | 127.2 |
| End Weight | 139.6 |
| Tip Weight | 245.6 |
| 9 O'Clock | 137.2 |
| 3 O'Clock | 131.9 |
| Butt End | 117.5 |
| COF, Main | .388 |
| COF, Cross | .318 |
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.
Racquet Quest, LLC
