Should you string your own racquets?

Now this is something I've been pondering for a while now. As I began to m\play tennis more often i found myself breaking more strings than I care to admit. Some from natural use, others from a tad bit of rage, but nonetheless stringing can get costly.

I prefer to buy multifilament strings for the feel, but they aren't the most durable string. A set of multis can be anywhere from $15-$30. That coupled with the cost of labor for stringing begins to be a bit much for someone who owns 3 racquets.

So I asked myself, "How hard would it be to string my own racquets?" The thought really hadn't crossed my mind until recently, but I scoured the internet for stringing machines at an affordable price range. Man are the expensive! Alas, I found some entry level stringing machines around my price range. Check them out below:

• Klippermate Stringing Machine ($159.00, Shipping not included)

• Gamma X-2 ($180.99)

• Gamma Progression 200 ($194.00)

After searching, reading reviews and watching many demonstrations I ended up purchasing the Klippermate stringing machine. Now the candidates are nearly identical, so I've heard, but this machine came with free strings and that's what drew me in. These machines are all drop weight stringing machines, meaning you pull the lever to tension the strings. This is standard for cheaper machines.

If you play tennis occasionally, then it is most likely perfectly alright to skip buying a stringer and just have someone else do it. For the rest of you who play frequently and break strings like me, this may be a wise investment that will pay for itself quickly. 

Now I've never actually strung my own racquet, so this should be an interesting experience to say the least. Reading stories from first time stringers, it could take me anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 1/2 hours to string my first racquet. We'll see how it goes. My stringer should arrive in the next week, so I'll be updating you with my experience in the near future.  

Choosing the Right Tennis String

Your choice of string can greatly impact your performance on the tennis court. This is why it's important to know what options are available. There are strings that cater to the needs of all types of tennis players. It's only a matter of testing out what works best for you.

To begin there are four main string types. These are synthetic gut, multifilament, polyester and natural gut.

Synthetic

Synthetic gut strings are the most basic string on the market. They are low cost and will be the most common string when purchasing pre-strung racquets. Synthetics are considered an all-around type of string. They offer a solid hold of tension, crisp feel and a decent amount of spin. This is achieved with a solid core that is surrounded by smaller synthetic filaments. I would recommend these strings as the go to string for beginner through intermediate player. They aren't the greatest in terms of durability, tension holding, spin and feel, but they give a decent performance in all areas.

Multifilament

Multifilament strings are as the name states. Many single filaments are taken and intertwined to form the multifilament string. These are also nylon-based, but offer improved comfort and can add power to the racquet. Multifilaments are great for players who suffer from tennis elbow or who wish to have a similar feel to natural gut without the high cost. Some things to look out for though are that these strings lose tension rather quickly and tend to break much faster than synthetic guts. A good indicator of when the string is close to breaking is when you see the strings begin to fray from hitting.

Multifilament fraying

Polyester

Polyester strings are monofilaments, that is they are a string composed of one solid core. Typical monofilament strings are made with polyester, but less popular strings are also made of kevlar. Polyester strings offer greater durability than the previous strings, but lack power and can be uncomfortable. These strings are geared more toward players who can generate their own power and utilize the spin potential of polyester. Many pros on tour utilize a full or hybrid set-up of strings using polyester.

Natural Gut

Natural gut strings are made of single strands of cow intestine, hence the name "natural". These strings are the most expensive you can buy and for a good reason. They offer the greatest feel in strings and give a very lively hitting experience. Natural gut is also known for holding tension quite well. Be weary though, these strings aren't the most durable strings out there. Pros can afford to break them on a daily basis, you may not be able to. I certainly couldn't.

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There are numerous tennis brands that sell their own strings, so test out different strings and see what works best for you. Check out Tennis Warehouse or Tennis Express for a selection of hundreds of different strings. I personally use Technifibre NRG2 multifilament strings.

Vamas Rafa, Can he win again?

When considering some of the greatest players of the open era, one would be foolish not to consider Rafael Nadal somewhere on their list. Winner of 14 grand slams and numerous titles beyond that, he has made his mark on modern tennis. At only 29 years old, some say that he has been experiencing a premature exit from tennis stardom. Early exits from Wimbledon and the US Open, second and third rounds respectively, seem to be the focal points of his struggles this 2015 season.

With the conclusion of the US Open, it marked the first time in 10 years that he hasn't won a grand slam. Now this may be alarming to some, but 10 years of consistent winning will most definitely take its toll on a player. Now that doesn't mean he hasn't had some success this season. He has 3 titles between Argentina and Germany. Granted these titles were 250 and 500 level tournaments, they still show a potential that Nadal can live up to coming into the ATP World Tour Finals. We'll have to wait and see.

Tennis Tournament Journeys: The Citi Open, Washington D.C.

This past Summer, 2015, I went with a few friends to my first professional level tennis tournament. The Citi Open in Washington D.C. was held from August 3rd - 9th. This is a 500 level tournament, meaning that the winner generates 500 ranking points going toward their world ranking.

For this tournament we decided to buy tickets for the the finals. You can purchase tickets on a day by day basis or for a week long package. Our tickets allowed access to the facility grounds and the doubles, men's and women's finals. Well worth the price, we got our fix of tennis that day. 

For the doubles final, Bob and Mike Bryan faced off against Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo. It truly is a different experience to witness the level of play from professionals in real life. A television could never compare to watching a tournament in person. I took the photo below of some match play. Notice the cameraman filming, this was being filmed live for television. 

Bob and Mike Bryan

Bob and Mike Bryan turned out to be the victors that day. It was fast-paced. I found myself looking back and forth so often that watching the match felt like a workout. It was worth the strain.

Next on the schedule was the men's singles final. I was ecstatic when my favorite player on tour, Kei Nishikori, made it through to the finals. I was also excited to see John Isner through. Being one of the tallest players on tour combined with having a godly serve, this was something I surely would be in awe of and I wasn't disappointed.  

Nishikori (left) and Isner (right)

Nishikori mid-serve

Trophy Ceremony

The match was definitely exciting. John Isner pulled the first set, but Nishikori came back to win the next two sets for the match. It was a beautiful day for tennis and I couldn't have asked for a better match-up. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay for the women's final because it was a long drive back home, but I'm planning to stay the entire day next time. In the future I will be going to more tournaments. I have my eyes set on Toronto, the Summer of 2016.

Oh look, it's me!

I recommend that anyone who is a fan of tennis make the trip out to see a tournament. The lower ranking tournaments are very affordable and if you have the extra money, a grand slam is most likely well worth it. Until next time!

The Overhead Smash

This may come as a surprise to some, but the overhead smash technique is arguably the most difficult technique to master on the tennis court. Even top professional tennis players struggle with the smash. Novak Djokovic is currently ranked number 1 in the world, but even then has shown that smashing is not as easy as it looks:

Even the mighty fall sometimes, but that doesn't mean you should fear the overhead smash. With a bit a practice and preparation this technique can be a mainstay in your arsenal of shots.

How to: Overhead Smash

Step 1: Ready Position

The ready position will make or break your overhead smash. Begin by pivoting your body with your back parallel to the left or right baseline. Your toes should be pointed in the direction of the ball once you have pivoted.

As you are pivoting your body you will naturally ready up the arm to receive the descending ball that has been lobbed. It will feel very similar to your service motion, but note you sometimes may not be at the baseline. Ready your smash based on your position on court.

Step 2: SMASH

Once you have gotten into the ready position you are halfway towards a successful overhead smash. Your arm will be cocked and not it is time to strike the ball.

As the ball descends toward you keep your eye on it until after you have made contact with the ball. Most botched smashes will be because the player looked away from the ball too soon. Once you have made contact make sure to follow through in a forward, then downward motion. If you've made it through to this stage, you have most likely hit a winner straight passed your opponent. One can hope.

Now let's give Mr. Djokovic a shot a redemption for having done so poorly at smashing.

As we see in the video, even in a tight spot Djokovic follows these steps to perform a phenomenal overhead smash. Being closer to the net, notice how he follows through and then downward very quickly to keep the ball in. I would say you've redeemed yourself Djokovic.

The Djoker: Novak Djokovic

The 2015 US Open champion Novak Djokovic reigns supreme this year. Winning 3 of the 4 grand slam titles, there's little in the way of stopping him. Despite a stunning loss to Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros, Novak stayed positive to carry out a win in the US. This marks his 10th grand slam title. At 28 years old, there's no doubt that he will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

This begs the question. Will Novak one day be able to surpass the great Roger Federer in grand slam titles? Federer, currently at 17 slams, is still fighting for another, but Djokovic is steadily making his rounds to the top.

Novak's game and health habits contribute to his longevity in tennis. Taking stretching to new degrees for tennis players, he is one of the most flexible you will see on the tour.

This coupled with his gluten free diet has transformed him into a tennis machine. Follow the link to read up on the strict diet that he has said is responsible for his improvement over the years. From a menacing double backhand to immense recovery speed, Novak is geared with the the skills and ability to make a real shot at matching or even surpassing Federer's all time slam titles.

Check out some of the highlights from the 2015 US open and see how some of the greatest champions in the game fare off against one another.

Roger Federer: The Sabre

Now that the US Open has made its conclusion let's take a look at the living legend and fan favorite, Roger Federer. With 5 US Open titles under his belt, Roger is no stranger to the high degree of competition and athleticism it takes to make it to the top. 

Age seems to be no deterrent to the game of Federer, as he has two title wins over current world number 1, Novak Djokovic, in Cincinnati and Dubai. Unfortunately for Fed fans Djokovic has triumphed once again for a title win. Fans should't worry though, as Federer is constantly reviving his game and it seems he is here to stay for the near future.

Something some may have noticed is that en route to the final Federer employed a surprisingly cheeky tactic on player's second serves with varying degree. A seemingly normal preparation for return of serve at the baseline quickly transitions when the opponent begins their ball toss. Federer rushes toward the service box and split steps for a fast paced return of serve. The intention is to place pressure on the server and take control of the point. Now let's take a look at Federer using this tactic.

Federer boldly tackles Kevin Anderson's big second serve, often over 100mph. The video shows the mixed success in tournaments before the US Open, but as Fed tinkers with it, he will surely make this a deadly weapon in his arsenal. Although he suffered a defeat at the US Open, he is still a force to be reckoned with, constantly working new elements in his game.