No, polyester is NOT bad

How often have you heard this statement? “Polyester string is bad for you. It causes all kinds of arm problems”. You hear TV announcers and other uninformed people talking about the “new” string and the incredible “up & down” effect the pros are getting from that string and naturally it peaks your interest. As a consumer  I’m betting that you’re telling yourself “Hey, I need to get some of that stuff for myself” and then when you start your research that’s when you see all the chatter about how bad that string is for you.

For starters, polyester is not “new” so lets clarify that. It’s been around for quite some time. Strike one on the TV announcers and so called experts. Next, polyester is not bad for you. In the hands of the wrong technician installing the string yes, it can be bad for you. Your racquet technician has to understand the application and if they do they can put polyester string in any players racquet with success. Strike two on the TV announcers and all others who push this false narrative.

This boils down to nothing more than  the experience of the person stringing the racquet. An experienced racquet technician understands how to use polyester string and knows the players who will benefit the most from it. They also understand that there are certainly some instances where poly is not the right choice.

USES:
Juniors.….you have to be very careful recommending poly for very young players. If we feel it’s an option we won’t start that player off at the same tension they’ve been using with a softer synthetic string. In fact, I will personally start at a very low tension and then ramp up from there until the player feels comfortable at a specific tension.  Tensions in the 35-45 lb range are not unheard of for players using poly for the very first time. This can certainly vary depending on the level of play for the player. Physical size and strength should also be taken into consideration because some junior players are much bigger and stronger than others.
Adults-recreation & club level…..there are a vast majority of adult players who can use polyester string. USTA players rated at 4.0 or higher can use polyester string with great success when strung properly.
Seniors…..Most are using oversized racquets with larger sweet spots and when those racquets are strung with poly string at lower tensions the result can be quite impressive. Many of these players can play some pretty lively “junk” ball and when you string their racquets with poly at lower tensions they can produce some wicked spin and power
D1 college & tour level…..here is where poly can be most beneficial to a player due to the tremendous racquet head speed these players can generate and the snap-back effect of poly string. This is where poly string really shines and it’s also, IMHO, the only level of play where you see the full benefits of poly on display.

So, is poly right for you? Maybe. Maybe not but the only way you’re going to know is to have a serious conversation with a qualified racquet technician. Go HERE on this website and look for one of our IART members in your area and have a chat. You can sort that data base by location so give it a try. IART members have access to a comprehensive data base where they can see exactly how stiff the string is and they can compare one brand to another, a very helpful tool to discern between one poly’s stiffness to another.

Again, the key is in your technicians experience and knowledge so reach out and set up a short consultation session. Who knows, maybe you’re in for a nice surprise and a new twist or some wicked spin in your game.