What are the best Head tennis strings for your playing style. How do different string gauges affect performance. Which Head string models offer the most control, power, and spin.
Understanding Head Tennis String Technology
Head is renowned for its innovative tennis string technology, offering a wide range of options to suit different playing styles and preferences. Their string lineup includes models designed for power, control, spin, and comfort.
Some key technologies in Head strings include:
- Lynx: Provides excellent tension maintenance and a crisp feel
- Hawk: Offers a balance of power and control with enhanced durability
- Sonic Pro: Known for its lively response and spin potential
How do these technologies translate to on-court performance? The specific materials and construction methods used in each string type influence factors like power generation, control, spin potential, and overall feel.
Comparing Head String Gauges: 16, 17, 18, and 19
Head offers their tennis strings in multiple gauges, typically ranging from 16 to 19. The gauge of a string refers to its thickness, with lower numbers indicating thicker strings.
Here’s a breakdown of the general characteristics of each gauge:
- 16 gauge: Thickest option, most durable, less spin potential
- 17 gauge: Popular all-around choice, good balance of durability and performance
- 18 gauge: Thinner for enhanced feel and spin, slightly less durable
- 19 gauge: Thinnest option, maximum spin and feel, least durable
Which gauge is right for you? It depends on your playing style, string-breaking tendency, and performance priorities. Power hitters may prefer thicker gauges for durability, while spin-focused players might opt for thinner strings.
Head Lynx Series: Versatility and Consistency
The Head Lynx series is one of the brand’s most popular string lines, known for its versatility and consistent performance. It includes several variations:
Head Lynx Tour
Available in 16g and 17g, the Lynx Tour comes in black, orange, grey, and champagne colors. It’s designed for players seeking a balance of power and control with excellent tension maintenance.
Head Lynx
The standard Lynx is offered in 16g, 17g, and 18g, with color options including yellow, green, and anthracite. It provides a slightly softer feel compared to the Tour version.
Is the Lynx series suitable for all player levels? While it’s versatile enough for a wide range of players, intermediate to advanced players tend to appreciate its performance characteristics most.
Head Hawk: Power and Durability Combined
The Head Hawk string line is engineered for players who demand both power and durability from their strings. Key features of the Hawk series include:
Head Hawk Touch
Available in 17g, 18g, and 19g, the Hawk Touch offers enhanced feel without sacrificing durability. It comes in red and anthracite colors.
Standard Head Hawk
Offered in 16g, 17g, and 18g, with color options including black, white, and platinum. The standard Hawk provides a crisper feel compared to the Touch version.
How does the Hawk series benefit big hitters? Its durable construction helps maintain playability even under high-stress conditions, while still offering respectable power and control.
Head Sonic Pro: Spin and Responsiveness
The Head Sonic Pro is designed for players who prioritize spin potential and a lively string response. Key characteristics include:
- Available in 16g and 17g
- Offers excellent spin generation
- Provides a crisp, responsive feel
- Good durability for a spin-oriented string
Why might spin-focused players prefer the Sonic Pro? Its textured surface and responsive nature allow for enhanced ball bite, facilitating greater spin production on groundstrokes and serves.
Choosing the Right Head String for Your Game
Selecting the ideal Head tennis string involves considering several factors:
- Playing style (aggressive baseliner, all-court player, serve-and-volleyer)
- Power vs. control preferences
- Desired level of spin potential
- String durability needs
- Comfort and arm-friendliness requirements
How can you determine which string suits you best? Consider demo’ing different options or consulting with a knowledgeable racquet technician who can assess your game and recommend suitable string choices.
Hybrid Stringing with Head Strings
Hybrid stringing, which involves using different strings in the mains and crosses of a racquet, has gained popularity among players seeking customized performance. Head strings can be effectively used in hybrid setups:
Popular Head Hybrid Combinations
- Hawk mains with Lynx crosses: Balances durability and feel
- Lynx Tour mains with Sonic Pro crosses: Enhances spin potential
- Hawk Touch mains with standard Hawk crosses: Provides a mix of comfort and crispness
What are the benefits of hybrid stringing with Head strings? It allows players to fine-tune their racquet’s performance characteristics, potentially combining the strengths of different string types.
Maintaining and Caring for Head Tennis Strings
Proper care and maintenance can extend the life of your Head tennis strings and maintain their performance. Consider these tips:
- Clean strings after play to remove dirt and debris
- Store racquets in a cool, dry place away from extreme temperatures
- Use string savers to potentially extend string life
- Replace strings when tension loss becomes noticeable or breaks occur
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 (e.g., play 3 times a week, restring 3 times a year). However, this can vary based on playing style and string choice.
By understanding the characteristics of different Head tennis strings and considering your individual needs, you can select the optimal string setup to enhance your game. Whether you prioritize power, control, spin, or durability, Head offers a string solution to match your playing style and preferences.
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-hawk-18g-tennis-string 281103-18 Head
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head-lynx-tour-black-16g-tennis-string 281790-16BK Head
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head-lynx-tour-black-17g-tennis-string 281790-17BK Head
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head-lynx-tour-orange-16g-tennis-string 281790-16OR Head
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Head Lynx Tour 17G Grey Tennis String 281790-16 Head
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head-lynx-16g-tennis-string 281784-16 Head
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head-sonic-pro-tennis-string 281028-16BK 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.
