What are the best Head tennis strings for power and control. How do different gauges affect string performance. Which Head string models offer the most durability and spin potential. What factors should you consider when choosing Head tennis strings.
Understanding Head Tennis String Technology
Head is renowned for producing high-quality tennis strings that cater to a wide range of player preferences and playing styles. Their innovative string technology focuses on enhancing power, control, spin, and feel to elevate a player’s performance on the court.
Head offers several distinct string lines, each designed to meet specific player needs:
- Hawk series: Focused on power and spin
- Lynx series: Balanced performance with emphasis on comfort
- Sonic Pro: Designed for durability and control
These strings come in various gauges, typically ranging from 16 to 19, with each gauge offering different characteristics in terms of power, control, and durability.
Head Hawk Strings: Unleashing Power and Spin
The Head Hawk string line is engineered for players seeking maximum power and spin potential. These strings feature a unique co-polyester construction that provides excellent tension maintenance and a crisp feel at impact.
Key Features of Head Hawk Strings:
- Co-polyester construction for enhanced durability
- Textured surface for increased spin generation
- Available in multiple gauges (16, 17, 18, and 19)
- Color options include Black, White, and Platinum
Do thinner gauges in the Hawk series provide more spin? Generally, thinner gauges like 18 and 19 can offer slightly more spin potential due to their ability to bite into the ball more effectively. However, they may sacrifice some durability compared to thicker gauges.
Head Lynx Strings: Comfort Meets Performance
The Head Lynx string family is designed to provide a perfect balance of comfort, power, and control. These strings are ideal for players who want a softer feel without sacrificing performance.
Variations in the Lynx Series:
- Lynx: The original balanced performance string
- Lynx Tour: Enhanced control and spin potential
- Lynx Touch: Emphasizes comfort and feel
How does the Lynx Tour differ from the standard Lynx? The Lynx Tour offers a firmer feel and more emphasis on control and spin, making it suitable for advanced players who prefer a crisper response. The standard Lynx provides a softer feel and more power, catering to a wider range of players.
Head Sonic Pro: Durability and Control
The Head Sonic Pro string is engineered for players who prioritize durability and control. This polyester-based string offers excellent tension maintenance and a firm, responsive feel.
Why might a player choose Sonic Pro over other Head strings? Sonic Pro is an excellent choice for heavy hitters and string breakers who need a durable option that can withstand aggressive play. It offers superior control and spin potential, making it ideal for players with full swings who generate their own power.
Choosing the Right Gauge for Your Game
String gauge plays a crucial role in determining the overall performance characteristics of your racquet. Head offers its strings in various gauges, typically ranging from 16 to 19, with some models available in half sizes like 16L (16 gauge, but slightly thinner).
Understanding String Gauge Numbers:
- 16 gauge: Thickest option, most durable
- 17 gauge: Balanced performance
- 18 gauge: Enhanced feel and spin potential
- 19 gauge: Thinnest option, maximum spin and feel
How does string gauge affect playability? Thicker gauges (16) offer more durability and power, while thinner gauges (18, 19) provide enhanced feel, control, and spin potential. The trade-off is that thinner strings typically break more quickly.
Optimizing String Tension for Head Strings
Selecting the appropriate string tension is crucial for maximizing the performance of your Head tennis strings. The optimal tension can vary depending on the string type, your playing style, and personal preferences.
General Tension Guidelines for Head Strings:
- Hawk series: 50-60 lbs (22.7-27.2 kg)
- Lynx series: 45-60 lbs (20.4-27.2 kg)
- Sonic Pro: 45-60 lbs (20.4-27.2 kg)
What happens if you string at a lower tension? Lower tensions generally provide more power and a larger sweet spot, but may sacrifice some control. Higher tensions offer more control and precision but can reduce power and comfort.
Hybrid Stringing with Head Strings
Hybrid stringing, which involves using different strings in the mains and crosses of your racquet, has become increasingly popular among players looking to fine-tune their racquet’s performance. Head strings can be effectively used in hybrid setups to achieve a desired balance of power, control, and durability.
Popular Head String Hybrid Combinations:
- Hawk (mains) + Lynx (crosses): Power and spin with added comfort
- Lynx Tour (mains) + Lynx (crosses): Control with a softer feel
- Sonic Pro (mains) + Lynx Touch (crosses): Durability with enhanced comfort
How do you choose the best hybrid combination? Consider your playing style and priorities. Use a more durable, control-oriented string in the mains for consistency, and a softer, more powerful string in the crosses for added comfort and pop.
Maintaining and Caring for Your Head Tennis Strings
Proper care and maintenance of your Head tennis strings can significantly extend their lifespan and maintain their performance characteristics. By following a few simple guidelines, you can ensure that your strings continue to perform at their best for as long as possible.
Tips for Extending String Life:
- Clean your strings after each use to remove dirt and debris
- Store your racquet in a cool, dry place away from extreme temperatures
- Use string savers to reduce friction and wear at string intersections
- Rotate between multiple racquets to distribute string wear evenly
How often should you restring your racquet with Head strings? As a general rule, restring as many times per year as you play per week. For example, if you play twice a week, restring at least four times a year. However, frequent players or those using polyester-based strings like Hawk or Sonic Pro may need to restring more often to maintain optimal performance.
Comparing Head Strings to Other Brands
While Head produces excellent tennis strings, it’s natural to wonder how they stack up against offerings from other major brands. Understanding these comparisons can help you make a more informed decision when selecting strings for your racquet.
Head vs. Other Major String Brands:
- Head Hawk vs. Luxilon ALU Power: Both offer excellent spin and control, with Hawk providing slightly more power
- Head Lynx vs. Wilson NXT: Both focus on comfort, with Lynx offering a bit more durability
- Head Sonic Pro vs. Babolat RPM Blast: Both prioritize control and spin, with Sonic Pro typically being slightly softer
Are Head strings suitable for all levels of players? Yes, Head offers a diverse range of strings that can accommodate beginners to professional players. The Lynx series is particularly versatile, while the Hawk and Sonic Pro lines cater more to advanced players seeking specific performance characteristics.
In conclusion, Head tennis strings offer a comprehensive range of options to suit various playing styles and preferences. By understanding the unique characteristics of each string type, considering factors such as gauge and tension, and properly maintaining your strings, you can optimize your racquet’s performance and elevate your game on the court. Whether you’re a power player seeking maximum spin or a control-oriented player prioritizing precision, Head has a string solution to meet your needs.
Head Tennis Strings | Tennis Racquet Strings
head-hawk-power-17g-platinum-tennis-string 281022-17PT Head
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head-hawk-16g-tennis-string 281103-16 Head
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head-lynx-tour-black-16g-tennis-string 281790-16BK Head
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Head Lynx Tour 17G Grey Tennis String 281790-16 Head
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Why can guitar strings break?
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Guitar strings, like any stringed instrument, are consumable items.
Of course, breaking a string is not a particularly pleasant event. Firstly, a broken string at the wrong time can disrupt the concert or complicate the performance, and secondly, it will require certain financial costs.
In this article we will explain why strings break and how to avoid it.
Why do strings break?
Important: you need to understand exactly where the string broke, and only then you can identify the causes of the defect.
First cause
The most common problem is defective strings. Unfortunately, factory defects are not as rare as we would like – especially in inexpensive no-name kits. This also includes incorrect string storage conditions.
Marriage can occur both on premium strings and budget strings, however, the percentage of marriage on expensive strings, oddly enough, is several times lower.
Break points: anywhere on the string
Second reason: from strong attack when playing the guitar s.
This problem is relevant not only for beginners, but also for experienced guitarists – the former cannot hit the string with sufficient force and sometimes simply start to overdo it, while the latter at concerts in an emotional outburst practically “fight” with the guitar.
Place of break: above the sound hole, above the pickups
Third reason: n faulty electric guitar bridge
probably defective. Expensive guitars rarely cause such a headache for the musician, but it is true for cheap guitars. The solution is quite simple – sharpen the saddles so that they are less sharp or replace them with roller ones.
There is also a string break diagnostic. Diagnostics consists in a visual inspection of the strings: in the event that the string braid under the bridge has a clear deformation, then it may soon burst.
However, if the guitar is not cheap, and the bridge is probably in good condition, then the cause of the malfunction may lie in the predilection for palm mute playing – in this case, the load on the string is slightly increased, and the chance of string breaking increases.
Broken location: on the bridge
Acoustic guitars can also break strings on the bridge, which may be made of poor quality materials.
Acoustic guitar bridges are somewhat easier to deal with as they are easier to sharpen on your own, but we recommend having the bridge sharpened by a luthier.
Fourth reason: in the nut
The nut is also often produced in violation of technology and from low-quality materials. It is worth remembering that the main function of the nut is to separate the strings, as well as to allow the string to move freely along the neck (when tuning, bending, playing with a lever). But in the case of hard materials, the guitar string will not slide in the notch.
Why is this happening? There is too much friction force and as a result the string “gets stuck” and wears out at the point of contact.
There is only one solution – to lubricate the notch with graphite grease (or a regular pencil).
Cause fifth : frets
Strings can break due to frets in two cases: if they are old or poor quality frets. In the first case, only a replacement will help, and in the second, it is quite possible to get by with sharpening the frets.
How to identify the problem? Look carefully at the frets – they can be scuffed up and even scratch your hand if you touch them. If the frets are old, then you can see a flat surface on them, as if the string had cut off part of the fret plate. As a result, the guitar string wears out faster.
The sixth reason: to pins
Pegs – it is in this structural element of the guitar that the greatest loads act on the string. The most common cause of string breakage due to tuning pegs is frequent tuning changes.
The solution to the problem in this case is to lubricate the pegs or completely replace them with better ones. Well, decide already with the system!
The seventh reason: ways of playing
We have already written about palm mute above, but there are other ways of playing the guitar that are more harmful to the strings.
Techniques such as using tremolo systems, arching the neck to simulate tremolo, and aggressive bending lead to rapid string wear.
All of the above methods increase/decrease the string tension for a short time – and then the tension returns to its usual state as well.
Imagine that you have to break a wire. The most effective way to break it is to bend it a certain number of times. The same thing happens with strings.
Eighth reason: e natural string wear
Nothing in our world lasts forever, strings are no exception. The older the strings, the more often you play the guitar, the greater the chance of them breaking. Of course, the better the strings, the less they wear out, however, even the most expensive and high-quality sets break sooner or later due to the “fatigue” of the material.
Reason nine: string retensioning
It’s no secret that a certain gauge of strings is designed strictly for a certain tuning.
For example, 12-60 gauge strings can break if you try to tune your guitar to E-standard tuning. But such strings will feel quite “comfortable” in the D-standard tuning (one tone lower from the E-standard) or C#-standard.
It is also worth knowing that you should avoid accidentally overstretching the strings when tuning your guitar – worn strings will not be able to survive elementary tuning.
This also includes frequent changes in the tuning of the guitar – which is why many guitarists who prefer drop tunings break the 6th or 7th string.
Reason ten : and with a thick or metal pick
Remember: the thinner the string, the easier it is to break it. Especially if you are used to playing with a thick or metal pick.
How to prevent string breakage?
- Practice your playing technique and play with sufficient strength – picking, vibrato and pull-ups require a certain amount of strength “no more and no less” and therefore should be controlled;
- Keep your guitar in good condition – frets, nut and bridge;
- Use special string care products to minimize natural string wear;
- Change strings in time.
What should I do if a string breaks during a concert?
First, you need to tune the guitar, because due to a broken string, the load on the neck has decreased, as a result of which the guitar’s tuning has “floated”.
Secondly, you should get out of the awkward situation as soon as possible and return to the performance of the song.
Third, install locking pegs on your guitar to help keep your guitar in tune more securely.
When should I change my strings?
The answer to this question is rather subjective. For example, if you are an amateur guitarist and play only at home and with clean hands, sitting under the air conditioner, the strings on your guitar will live for quite a long time. If you conduct active concert activity, the strings on your guitar will live much less.
The most obvious signs that literally scream to you that the strings need to be changed are rust, black deposits and dull sound.
It is also recommended to change the strings before a concert and before a studio recording.
Can strings be brought back to life?
Of course, you can solder them, but there will be little point in this action. The first way to bring the strings back to life is to weld them.
The method is barbaric, but effective. Cooking allows you to clean the strings of dust, dirt and hardened sweat, which will allow them to ring almost like new.
String recipe:
- Bring water to a boil
- Dip strings in boiling water
- Boil 15 minutes
- Add a couple of spoons of soda and stir
- Cool to room temperature
The second barbaric way is to use WD40 to get rid of the dirt. After using the product, wipe the strings with medical alcohol.
But we highly recommend using not the “old-fashioned”, but special string cleaners, which can not only revive old strings, but also maintain a new set in proper condition.
Remember that diagnosing and monitoring the health of the tool will avoid a number of problems.
Tension-type headache – treatment, symptoms, causes, diagnosis
Tension-type headache is usually diffuse, mild to moderate in intensity, and is often described as a feeling of a “stretched band” around the head. Tension-type headache (THT) is the most common type of headache, and yet the causes of this type of headache are still not well understood.
Treatment of tension headache is quite effective. Tension-type headache management is often a balance between a healthy lifestyle, the use of non-drug treatments, and the administration of adequate medication.
Symptoms
Tension headache symptoms include:
- Dull, aching headache
- Feeling of “tightness” or pressure in the forehead or on the sides of the head and in the back of the head
- Soreness of the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles
Tension headaches fall into two main categories – episodic and chronic.
Episodic tension headaches
Episodic tension headaches can last from 30 minutes to a week. Episodic tension headaches occur on less than 15 days per month for at least three months. Frequent episodic tension headaches can become chronic.
Chronic tension headaches
This type of tension headache lasts several hours and may be continuous. If headaches occur 15 days or more per month for at least three months, they are considered chronic.
Tension headaches and migraine
Tension headaches are sometimes difficult to distinguish from migraines. In addition, if a patient has frequent episodic tension-type headaches, they may also have migraines.
Unlike some forms of migraine, tension headache is usually not accompanied by blurred vision, nausea or vomiting. And if, with migraine, physical activity increases the intensity of the headache, then with a headache, stress loads do not have such an effect.
Hypersensitivity to any light or sound can sometimes occur with tension headaches, but these symptoms are uncommon.
Causes
Causes of tension headache are not known. Medical experts believed that tension headaches are due to problems in the muscles of the face, neck and scalp, which in turn are due to strong emotions, excessive workload or stress. But studies show that muscle spasm is not the cause of this type of headache.
The most common theories are that people who have tension headaches and may have stress sensitivity are hypersensitive to pain. Increased muscle soreness, which is a common symptom of tension-type headache, may be the result of an increase in general pain sensitivity.
Triggers
Stress is the most common trigger that causes tension headaches.
Risk factors
Risk factors for tension headache include:
- Gender. Women are more likely to get this type of headache. One study found that almost 90 percent of women and 70 percent of men experience tension headaches during their lifetime.
- Mean patient age. The frequency of tension-type headaches peaks at age 40, although this headache can develop at any age.
Complications
Due to the fact that headaches can be quite frequent, this can significantly affect productivity and quality of life in general, especially if they become chronic. Frequent pain can disrupt the usual way of life and overall performance.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of tension-type headache is primarily based on clinical history and symptoms and neurological findings.
The doctor may be interested in answers to the following questions:
- When did the symptoms start?
- Did the patient notice any triggers such as stress or hunger?
- Were the symptoms continuous or episodic?
- How severe are the symptoms?
- How often do headaches occur?
- How long did you have a headache for the last time?
- What does the patient think reduces symptoms and what makes symptoms worse?
In addition, the doctor is also interested in the following details:
- Characteristics of pain. Does the pain throb? Is the pain dull, constant, or sharp?
- Pain intensity. A good indicator of headache severity is the amount of time a patient can work during a headache attack. Can the patient work? Are there episodes in which the headache led to awakening from sleep or sleep disturbance?
- Localization of pain. Does the patient feel pain in the whole head, only on one side of the head, or just in the forehead or eye sockets?
Does the pain throb? Is the pain dull, constant, or sharp?Instrumental methods of examination
If the patient has unusual or severe headaches, the doctor may order an additional examination to rule out more serious causes of headaches.
The two most commonly used diagnostic methods, such as CT (computed tomography) and MRI, allow visualization of organs and tissues and detect morphological changes.
Treatment
Some patients with tension-type headache do not go to the doctor and try to treat the pain themselves. Unfortunately, repeated self-use of painkillers can itself cause severe headaches.
Medications
There is a wide variety of medicines, including over-the-counter medicines, to relieve pain, including:
- Painkillers. Simple over-the-counter pain relievers are usually the first line of treatment for headaches. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), and naproxen (Aleve). Prescription drugs include naproxen (Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin), and ketorolac (ketorolac tromethamine).
- Combination preparations. Aspirin or acetaminophen, or both, often combined with caffeine or a sedative in the same medication. Combination preparations may be more effective than single-drug preparations.
- Triptans and drugs. For people who have both migraine and tension headaches, triptans can effectively relieve the headache. Opioids, or narcotics, are rarely used because of their side effects and the high risk of addiction.
Preventive drugs
Other drugs may be prescribed to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks, especially if the patient has frequent or chronic headaches that are not relieved by pain medication.
Prophylactic drugs may include:
- Tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants, including amitriptyline and nortriptyline (Pamelor), are the most commonly used drugs for preventing tension-type headache. Side effects of these drugs may include weight gain, drowsiness, and dry mouth.
- Other antidepressants. There is evidence that antidepressants such as venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and mirtazapine (Remeron) are effective in patients who are also not depressed.
- Anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants. Other drugs that may prevent tension headaches from developing are anticonvulsants such as topiramate (Topamax) and muscle relaxants.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Rest, ice packs or long, hot showers can often relieve headaches.
Non-pharmacological treatment
- Acupuncture. Acupuncture can provide temporary relief from chronic tension headache.
- Massage.
