String Types, Impact on the Body and Injury Correlation

Key Points

• Stringing for Injury Prevention – Summary Key Points
  
• Identifying Injury Triggers
  – First, determine when pain occurs:
  During swing motion → Less string-related
  On ball contact → Strings may be a contributing factor
  Multifilament or natural gut are best for shock absorption
  Full beds are rare due to cost (gut) or durability (multi), so hybrids are common:
  More comfort → Multifilament in mains, polyester in crosses
  More control → Polyester in mains, multifilament in crosses
• Hybrid Setup Pros & Cons
  – Polyester mains = More control, firmer feel, slight increase in spin
  – Multifilament mains = Softer, more power, better shock absorption
• Two Critical Factors for Injury Prevention
  Match the string type to frequency and level of play
  Players who hit less often need softer strings to manage load
  Match string type to racket weight
  Light rackets (<270g) with stiff strings create high injury risk
  Impact shock from the ball goes into the arm instead of being absorbed
• Golden Rule to Avoid Injury
  – Avoid: Light racket + stiff strings + tight tension
  This combo transfers more shock to your body
  – Do: Light racket + soft string setup at lower tension
  Strings absorb impact and reduce injury risk