String a head. Ultimate Guide to HEAD Tennis Strings: Top Picks for Spin, Playability, Control, and Value

How do HEAD tennis strings enhance your game. Which HEAD string is best for spin. What makes HEAD strings ideal for playability. Can HEAD strings improve your control on the court. Are there budget-friendly HEAD string options that deliver performance.

Unleashing the Power of HEAD Tennis Strings: A Comprehensive Overview

Tennis strings are the unsung heroes of racquet performance, playing a crucial role in how a player connects with the ball. The impact of strings on feel, feedback, and overall gameplay cannot be overstated. HEAD, a renowned name in tennis equipment, offers a diverse range of strings designed to cater to various playing styles and preferences. This guide delves into the world of HEAD tennis strings, exploring their unique characteristics and helping you find the perfect match for your game.

Spin Masters: HEAD Strings That Amplify Your Rotations

When it comes to generating spin, polyester strings reign supreme. HEAD’s lineup includes several options that excel in this department, featuring shaped or textured surfaces that grip the ball effectively. These strings typically boast low-friction surfaces, allowing them to slide and snap back powerfully during impact. The reduced power output of these strings enables players to achieve the high stroke speeds necessary for imparting heavy spin on the ball.

Spotlight on HEAD Lynx Tour: The Spin Specialist

Among HEAD’s spin-oriented offerings, Lynx Tour stands out as a top performer. This co-polyester string has garnered praise from tennis enthusiasts and professionals alike. What sets Lynx Tour apart?

• Exceptional control
• Easy access to spin
• Improved tension maintenance compared to most co-polys
• Relatively comfortable feel for a firm string
• Versatility across various racquet frames

Lynx Tour has proven particularly effective in enhancing spin generation with dense 18×20 string patterns, such as those found in the HEAD Graphene 360+ Gravity Pro. Its performance characteristics and elegant champagne color make it a standout choice for players seeking to elevate their spin game.

Comfort and Power Combined: HEAD’s Playability-Focused Strings

For players prioritizing comfort and power without sacrificing touch and responsiveness, HEAD offers a range of playability-oriented strings. These options are ideal for those with slower stroke speeds or players recovering from tennis elbow or other arm issues. While not as durable as polyester strings, playability strings maintain their tension and playing characteristics more effectively over time.

HEAD Reflex MLT: The Comfort Connoisseur’s Choice

Among HEAD’s playability-focused strings, Reflex MLT shines as a standout option. This multifilament string delivers on all fronts, offering:

• Excellent comfort
• Ample power
• Long-lasting playability
• Surprisingly good spin potential

What distinguishes Reflex MLT from other multifilament strings is its low-friction surface, which facilitates easier addition of RPMs to shots. This makes it an excellent choice for players seeking the comfort and power of a multifilament string with a bit of extra spin capability.

Precision and Durability: HEAD’s Control-Oriented Strings

For players who prioritize control and durability, HEAD offers a selection of strings that excel in these areas. Control strings are typically firm, low-powered, and long-lasting, with the best options coming from the polyester category. While these strings may be too stiff and underpowered for beginners, they have revolutionized the game for advanced players by providing the necessary control to swing bigger and load the ball with unprecedented levels of pace and spin.

HEAD Hawk Touch: The Control Enthusiast’s Dream

Among HEAD’s control-oriented strings, Hawk Touch stands out as a top performer. This string builds upon the foundation of the original Hawk, offering:

• Enhanced feel and comfort for a co-poly
• Ultimate level of control
• Smooth, slick surface for predictable response
• Easy snap-back
• Superior tension maintenance compared to most co-polys
• Excellent hybridization potential

Hawk Touch’s round co-poly construction provides a consistent and reliable performance, making it an ideal choice for players who demand precision and control in their game. Its ability to maintain tension and perform well in hybrid setups further enhances its versatility and appeal.

Budget-Friendly Excellence: HEAD’s Value String Options

HEAD understands that not every player can afford premium strings, which is why they offer a range of value options that deliver impressive performance without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a hard-hitting player on a budget or a comfort seeker looking for an economical option, HEAD has you covered.

HEAD Velocity MLT: Affordable Comfort and Power

For those seeking a high-quality multifilament string at a reasonable price point, HEAD Velocity MLT is an excellent choice. This string offers:

• 1,000 flexible filaments for enhanced comfort
• Luxurious hitting experience
• Easy power generation
• Durable, low-friction coating

Velocity MLT proves that comfort and performance don’t have to come with a hefty price tag, making it an attractive option for players who prioritize a plush feel and effortless power.

HEAD Sonic Pro: Value-Packed Polyester Performance

For players who prefer the control and spin potential of polyester strings but are mindful of their budget, HEAD Sonic Pro offers an impressive package. This string delivers:

• Precise targeting on full swings
• Surprising comfort and feel for a polyester string
• Excellent spin potential
• Aggressive ball pocketing
• Exceptional value for its price point

Sonic Pro demonstrates that high-performance polyester strings don’t have to be expensive, making it one of the best value propositions in the tennis string market.

Customizing Your Setup: Exploring HEAD String Hybrids

While each HEAD string offers unique benefits on its own, many players opt for hybrid setups to achieve a balance of performance characteristics. Hybrid stringing involves using different strings for the main and cross strings, allowing players to fine-tune their racquet’s performance to their specific needs and preferences.

Popular HEAD Hybrid Combinations

Here are some effective HEAD string hybrid setups that players and stringers have found success with:

1. Lynx Tour (mains) / Reflex MLT (crosses): Combines control and spin with added comfort and power
2. Hawk Touch (mains) / Velocity MLT (crosses): Offers precision with a softer feel
3. Sonic Pro (mains) / Velocity MLT (crosses): Provides a budget-friendly blend of control and comfort

Experimenting with different hybrid combinations can help you find the perfect balance of performance attributes for your game. Don’t hesitate to consult with a professional stringer or tennis coach to determine the best hybrid setup for your playing style and racquet.

Maintenance and Longevity: Getting the Most from Your HEAD Strings

To maximize the performance and lifespan of your HEAD tennis strings, proper care and maintenance are essential. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your strings:

• Replace strings regularly: Even if they haven’t broken, strings lose tension and performance over time
• Store your racquet properly: Avoid extreme temperatures and humidity
• Use string savers: These small inserts can help extend string life, especially for players who frequently break strings
• Keep your strings clean: Wipe down your strings after play to remove dirt and debris
• Monitor tension loss: If you notice a significant drop in performance, it may be time for a restring

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your HEAD strings continue to perform at their best, allowing you to play your best tennis every time you step on the court.

Finding Your Perfect Match: Selecting the Right HEAD String

With such a diverse range of options available, choosing the right HEAD tennis string can seem daunting. To help narrow down your choices, consider the following factors:

• Playing style: Are you an aggressive baseliner, a serve-and-volleyer, or an all-court player?
• Skill level: Beginners may benefit from more forgiving strings, while advanced players might prefer control-oriented options
• Physical considerations: If you have arm issues or prioritize comfort, softer strings may be preferable
• Racquet specifications: Consider your racquet’s string pattern and recommended tension range
• Budget: Determine how much you’re willing to spend on strings and how frequently you plan to restring

By taking these factors into account and experimenting with different options, you can find the HEAD string that best complements your game and helps you perform at your highest level.

The Future of HEAD Tennis Strings: Innovations on the Horizon

As technology continues to advance, HEAD remains at the forefront of tennis string innovation. While specific details about future products are closely guarded, we can speculate on potential developments based on current trends in the industry:

• Enhanced durability: New materials and manufacturing processes may lead to strings that maintain their performance characteristics for longer periods
• Improved comfort: Advancements in string composition could result in even more arm-friendly options without sacrificing performance
• Customizable performance: We may see strings that allow players to adjust tension or playing characteristics on the fly
• Eco-friendly options: As sustainability becomes increasingly important, HEAD may develop strings using recycled or biodegradable materials
• Smart strings: Integration of sensors or other technology could provide players with real-time data on their performance

While these innovations are speculative, they highlight the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in the world of tennis strings. HEAD’s commitment to research and development ensures that players can look forward to even more advanced and performance-enhancing string options in the future.

In conclusion, HEAD’s diverse range of tennis strings offers something for every player, from spin enthusiasts to comfort seekers and budget-conscious individuals. By understanding the unique characteristics of each string type and considering your personal playing style and preferences, you can find the perfect HEAD string to elevate your game. Whether you’re a recreational player or a competitive athlete, the right string can make a significant difference in your on-court performance and enjoyment of the game.

Best Head tennis strings

Strings play a huge role in the overall performance of a racquet. The feel and feedback at contact of the ball are largely influenced by the strings since they are what actually connects to the surface of the ball. There is a plethora of options on the market nowadays, and what you choose will depend on the performance qualities you seek. We’ve broken it down into some common categories.

String suited for spin

The best spin strings come from the polyester community, and they tend to have shaped or textured surfaces for gripping the ball. They also typically have low-friction surfaces that enable them to slide and snap back powerfully during impact. Finally, their low power levels make it easier for the player to achieve the vicious stroke speeds required for heavy spin.

Our pick: Lynx Tour

“The high degree of control, easy access to spin and better tension maintenance than most co-polys make Head Lynx Tour one of my favorite strings to play with. It also has a relatively comfortable feel, considering it is a firm string. Lynx Tour has worked well in every frame I have paired it with, but specifically it has increased the level of spin I can generate with a dense 18×20 string pattern, such as my Head Graphene 360+ Gravity Pro. Not only the color, but the overall performance makes this string the champagne of co-polys!” – Mark, TW Playtester

String suited for playability

Specializing in comfort and power, the best playability strings also deliver great touch and responsiveness across slower stroke speeds. Although not as durable as polyester, playability strings hold their tension and playing characteristics much better over time. They also tend to be the best option for players who want to maximize comfort or have experienced tennis elbow or other arm issues.

Our pick: Reflex MLT

“Reflex MLT delivers the hallmark performance features a multifilament string, offering plenty of comfort and power as well as long-lasting playability. What sets it apart from its counterparts is its spin potential. While not as spinny as a polyester string, Reflex MLT’s low friction surface makes adding RPMs to shots easier than other multis. Players who want the comfort and power of a multi but with a bit of extra spin potential should check out Reflex MLT.” – Tiffani, TW Playtester

String suited for control

Control strings are typically firm, low powered and durable. The best control strings come from the polyester category. Although too stiff and underpowered for beginners, polyester strings helped revolutionize the game of tennis by giving advanced players the needed control to swing bigger and load the ball with unprecedented levels of pace and spin.

Our pick: Hawk Touch

“Hawk Touch is based on the original version of Hawk but provides added feel and comfort for a co-poly without sacrificing the ultimate level of control. I have always been a big fan of round co-polys. With a smooth, slick surface, they deliver a very predictable response and easy snap-back. Hawk Touch provides me with just that, and it also holds tension better than most other co-polys. I also find it to be a great string to hybrid with since it creates a low friction reaction with a softer string material.” – Troy, TW Playtester

Value strings

Whether you are a big hitter on a budget or a comfort seeker who doesn’t want to break the bank, the Head string lineup has great options. Here are two of our favorite value strings.

Our pick for value multifilament: Velocity MLT

“Packed with 1,000 flexible filaments, Head Velocity MLT offers a luxurious hitting experience. Bargain hunters looking for high comfort and easy power cannot go wrong with this string. The durable, low-friction coating is a nice bonus.”
– Jonathan, TW String Guru

Our pick for value polyester: Sonic Pro

“In addition to giving you surgical targeting on full swings, Head Sonic Pro packs impressive comfort and feel for a poly. It also has the kind of spin-potential that brings the ball down hard. The fact that you can pick up a set for under $10 makes it one of the best value polyesters at Tennis Warehouse.” – Jonathan, TW String Guru

Amazon.com : HEAD Primal 16g Dark Grey/Black Tennis String : Sports & Outdoors

No Import Fees Deposit & $17. 72 Shipping to Russian Federation

Details

• Make sure this fits
  by entering your model number.

• Length-Main 20 ft., Length-Cross 20 ft

• Gauge Weight – Main 1.30mm / 16g, Gauge Weight – Cross 1.30mm / 16g

• Color Dark Grey/Black

HEAD Experimental Tour Preview – Tennisnerd.

net

I have been testing a new string from HEAD called HEAD Experimental Tour. It will be released in January as “Lynx Tour” (as far as I know).

HEAD Experimental Tour is a champagne-colored string with a hexagonal profile. It plays with a nice blend of control and spin. Some players who have tested this string have called it quite soft and powerful, while I think it is more crisp and controlled – similar to a Luxilon 4G. But it often depends on what racquets you test a string with. I have been playing around with this string for a couple of months in racquets such as my HEAD LM Radical Tour, the HEAD Gravity Pro, and a Prestige.

Not a string for beginners…

If you like control-oriented, firm strings, I am pretty sure you will like the HEAD Experimental Tour. In a softer racquet, it firms up the string bed just enough and gives you a crisp, controlled and spin-friendly feel. In a stiffer string bed, for example in a tighter 18×20 string bed, I think it can get a bit stiff. I would then use it as a hybrid with a multifilament string such as HEAD Velocity MLT.

If you are a beginner or early intermediate player, my recommendation would not be to use a full bed of polyester (monofilament) strings at all but to look at hybrid options or a more control-oriented multifilament. But if you are an advanced player and you need a string to provide you with a nice, crisp feel, good control, and spin, HEAD Experimental Tour is as good as they get.

How it plays

I like this string best in a full bed on a softer racquet such as the HEAD Gravity Tour or Pro (click the link for my review). I also used it in my heavily-leaded up Babolat Soft Drive and it played great. In a tighter string bed such as my 95 sq inch Radical Tour, I would go with a softer multifilament in the mains and the Experimental Tour in the crosses. Then you get a softer response, but still sufficient control and spin.

Due to my elbow and wrist issues, I am trying to avoid a full bed of poly (unless it is for testing purposes) and if you suffer from arm pain, I would much rather go with a full bed of HEAD Velocity MLT (link to Amazon) than this string. But if you have no arm issues, you possess nice strokes and can hit with power – then you should definitely give the HEAD Experimental Tour a go. I really recommend this string for big hitters.

Have you tried the HEAD Experimental Tour? What did you think about it?

Head Hawk String Review – peRFect Tennis

“Have you thought,” my coach started with an air of gentle inquiry, “about changing the strings?”

After recommending Head Hawk, I played with the strings in his racquet and was instantly converted.

Hawk is punchy, even aggressive, but still controlled (on most surfaces). If you wanted an extra boost of power while maintaining precision and topspin, this is a great choice to have in your racquet.

Want more details? Read on for this full Head Hawk playtest and review.

Head Hawk Specification

When the perfect balance of control and explosive power comes together in a string, we call it HAWK…Highly durable and with high spin potential, these strings are the perfect weapon for the high-level Tour and tournament player. How Head pitches their Hawk String

String Specs:

• Co-poly monofilament
• Round cross-section
• Gauges – 1.20 mm/18 g, 1.25 mm/17 g, 1.30 mm/16 g
• Colours – Previously there was just white and grey. But during this year’s Australian Open a black version has been released.

Racquet Setup For Testing

I play with a Head Prestige S from 2018. Prestige racquets are Head’s series for precision and control and typically come with a smaller head size as a result. Mine has a 95 square-inch head with a 295 g unstrung weight.

It also has a 16×19 string pattern and is 0.66 points head-light. I string white Head Hawk at 55 lb with a 1.30 mm gauge and place it with Head’s medium level dampener – Pro Damp.

I went through a period of experimentation, where I asked for higher tensions. At 55.5 lb it was a bit rigid but tolerable. At 56 lb the power was suddenly sucked out, and it was like playing tennis with a plastic tea tray. 55 lb was ideal for me, though I suspect anything below 53.5 lb will cause the ball to become too wild.

Part of the reasoning for wanting to try Hawk was an extra injection of power. Initially, I felt the racquet provided me with great aim, but a smaller head size came with a relative diminishment in power. With the tweaking of Hawk, I felt the racquet now had the perfect balance of control and power.

It may be something to bear in mind as racquets on the larger end of the head size scale may become too powerful and again result in an uncontrollable ball. Going for a string that offers a faster ball regardless is tempting, but make sure it won’t come to disadvantage your game later on down the road. Your own topspin and timing are needed with Hawk to keep the ball within the lines.

How Head Hawk Plays

Initial Thoughts and How It Felt

Once I got Head Hawk in my racquet, I excitedly dashed out to the court to give it a go. I was surprised at how much punch it had. The power was almost effortless, and I found no problem with swinging with a complete follow-through.

The racquet did not shudder and stutter with the impact of the ball. Though the outside is hard, Head cites the inner crystalline core or “crystal core” technology, which is responsible for the softness and control that sits alongside the power features. Indeed, the hitting sensation is not abrupt, and the string offers great touch and feel for more delicate moments at the net.

Head Hawk is a very shiny, reflective string, even with the white colourway. I never had to move the strings back as they had great snapback. As a result, the opportunity for topspin is abundant and had no issue generating it off the rounded cross-section. It’s certainly not a stiff string to play with and provides moderate levels of comfort.

A few balls did land far beyond the baseline, but after 10 minutes, I was able to adjust and could really ramp up the pace of the rally without making too many unforced errors. You still need to give the racquet a good swing, and no power can come from Hawk with minimal effort, but it does noticeably give the ball additional speed.

How It Played

The dual ability of power and spin make the string great for transitioning through the stages of point construction. Trading high topspin shots on artificial clay from the baseline was easy. On hard courts as well, the advantage of Hawk was that I was not compromised on the depth and length of the ball.

With a lesser-powered string, I would have given my opponent more opportunities to come forward on shorter balls. But the string managed to keep my shots landing close to the baseline and avoided putting myself in a defensive position. If I wanted to build or attack, I could easily change to hitting a flatter ball.

The best aspect of Head Hawk is hitting down the line with a flat racquet, right on the sweet spot. The strings give a satisfying “pop”, and the sudden input of power either ends the point or gives you great dominance in the exchange.

Even far behind the baseline, Hawk allows you to hit hard and deep. This makes turning defence into offence easy, as the speed increases the effectiveness of passing shots.

On the return of serve, the string bed’s punch and stability made deflection and redirection simple. Hawk coped well with stepping forward and converting an out-wide serve down the line with a block return. For the same reason, Hawk is also great for volleying and deflecting any passing or attacking shots into open space for a winner while at the net.

The only criticism I would have is on slicing. Though great for topspin, Hawk is still decent, though not as good, when it comes to the backhand slice. There was just not as much grip on the ball as I would have liked.

Similarly, attempting a slice drop-shot requires a more acute angle on the racquet face to get the revolutions up enough for the ball to come to a stop. A flat serve is eminently achievable, though a slice serve is relatively less so. Hitting a hard, flat serve down the “T” with Hawk is very satisfying.

If you pay on real grass, artificial grass or “Astro”, then you need to have excellent technical control of the ball if playing with this string. With the increased rally speeds, there is a temptation to swing for the fences on faster courts.

In the early stages of the string, I sometimes found Hawk problematic here as it is less natural to hit with heavy topspin on a slick grass court. The power becomes harder to tame, and my unforced error count hitting balls beyond the baseline increased.

Be sure to come to the ball early, otherwise hitting from below without any spin at the end of the decent will surely send the ball out with Hawk’s speed. It may take a while to get used to, but being able to play aggressively with this string on faster, lower-bouncing courts is a joy.

Hybrid Stringing and Variants

Hawk is a great foundation string to have in the mains to further customise with a different string in the crosses. I had no problem with Hawk’s comfort and control, but my period of experimentation led me to add Babolat Xcel in the crosses. Being a multifilament, Xcel was able to add a touch of softness and gave great feel when at the net.  

After 8 months, I went back to using pure Hawk from missing the speed. But Hawk’s stability and power served as a good platform for the more subtle characteristics of Xcel. This experience has definitely left the door open for potential hybrids in the future.

If you try Head Hawk but want more spin or control, then another option is the same string variants. Head Hawk Rough is the same internal makeup, but with a grooved cross-section. The edges help create a more significant spin potential. Hawk Touch is the original round shape, but is more responsive inside with a larger crystalline core, offering greater control. 

Durability and Price

I probably need to change the strings every three to four months from the loss of tension, playing four days a week in normal times.  The cost of the string is $14.95 (~£11.00) for a 12 m set.

This is not extortionate and seems a reasonable price for the quality of the product. As a co-poly, I have found no problem playing with this string in the rain if caught in a shower outdoors.

Spontaneous breakages without warning occur rarely – perhaps once or twice a year; more likely due to force than the elements. The slick coating and resultant lack of friction make for a string with great integrity and durability.  

Who is this String For?

Due to its punch, I would recommend Head Hawk to the mid-level intermediate and above. Though the string itself does offer control, more importantly, reasonable control in your playing technique will be needed to make sure you don’t hit the ball out of the court.

A beginner could try the string if they wanted, though would probably struggle if playing on fast grass courts. Again, I would advise not putting the string with one of the larger head sizes, as it would be overpowered.

Hawk would certainly suit the counterpuncher and the aggressor player. It’s useful for keeping in the rally while maintaining pressure on your opponent and keeping points short. Casual, defensive players or “pushers” are not likely to get much out of this choice.

Final Thoughts

I love the sudden burst of power Hawk can bring. It’s really good to support a flat, aggressive playing style, but I like the potential for topspin. For a polyester string, the comfort is excellent.

Though there is one issue with not being able to grip on the backhand slice as well as it can for topspin, it’s not a major problem and it’s still my favourite string to-date.

Benefits

• Easy power
• Smooth comfort
• Great topspin generation from the snapback
• Boosts flat, attacking shots
• Good control, especially at the net
• Superb deflection capabilities
• A good foundation for hybrid setups

Drawbacks

• Probably not suited to the beginner
• Backhand slice not as easy as topspin
• Takes a while to get used to on grass but eventually resolves itself

Have you tried Head Hawk? Have any questions about it? Let me know in the comments below.

Power – 8

Control – 7

Comfort – 8

Touch / Feedback – 7

Spin – 6

Snapback – 9

Durability – 9

7.7

Great power with little downside

Head Hawk offers a great boost of power with superb opportunities for topspin. No compromise on comfort is required. Going for a co-poly is also a durable choice giving lively, enjoyable play for counterpuncher and aggressor playing styles.

CHECK HEAD HAWK PRICE

User Rating:
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String Playtest: Head Gravity – Tennis Industry

Home » TI magazine » Playtests » String Playtest: Head Gravity

Head Gravity is a polyester/polyester hybrid string that uses the same Crystal Core technology Head introduced in Head Hawk a little more than a year ago. According to Head, Crystal Core technology is a unique manufacturing process that utilizes a complex, multistep heat treatment, which allows its engineers to create different material properties in the core than in the outer region of the string.

With this process, highly oriented molecules on the outside of the string generate stiffness and energy efficiency for power. In the core of the string, the more crystalline structure adds dampening and touch. The molecular variations in the cross-section create the highest possible energy efficiency with optimized control.

The result, says Head, is a string that maximizes spin potential, allowing the player to control the trajectory and direction of every shot. The triangular main strings increase the friction between the ball and the string bed, while the cylindrical cross strings allow for faster “snap back.”

Head designed Gravity for the player who likes polyester and wants maximum spin and control. Head Gravity is available in 17/18 in white mains and anthracite crosses. It is priced from $16 (with an MSRP of $32) for sets of 5.5 meters (mains) and 6.5 meters (crosses), and $220 (with an MSRP of $440) for 304 foot (mains) and 356 foot (crosses) reels. For more information or to order, contact Head at 800-289-7366, or visit head.com.

In the Lab

The coils measured 24 feet 1 inch (mains) and 19 feet 7 inches (crosses). The mains measured 1.41 mm per side (the equivalent gauge in a cylindrical string would be 1.25mm, but with 25 percent less cross-sectional area), and the crosses diameter measured 1.18 mm prior to stringing. After stringing, the mains measured 1.37 mm per side and the crosses diameter measured 1.16 mm.

We recorded a string bed stiffness of 79 RDC units immediately after stringing at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pull machine.

After 24 hours (no playing), string bed stiffness measured 72 RDC units, representing a 9 percent tension loss. Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immediately after stringing and 71 RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut Original has a stiffness of 217 and a tension loss of 11. 67 pounds, while Head Gravity has stiffnesses of 193 (mains) and 182 (crosses) and tension losses of 15.31 pounds (mains) and 17.99 pounds (crosses). Gravity added 15.9 grams to the weight of our unstrung frame.

The string was tested for five weeks by 38 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages. Average number of hours playtested was 24.4.

Out of the package, the Head Gravity mains feel to be the thickest 17-gauge string ever, and you’ll want to adjust your clamps accordingly. Head recommends using a little more care during stringing. Installing the triangular mains wasn’t an issue for us — aside from getting the string through some of the tighter grommet barrels — but weaving the crosses reveals just how aggressive those three apexes are. Don’t forget to readjust your clamps between the mains and the crosses!

One playtester broke the sample during stringing, five reported problems with coil memory, nine reported problems tying knots, one reported friction burn, and nine reported other problems.

On the Court

Our playtesters were effusive in their acclaim for Head Gravity. Twenty-seven of the 37 playtesters (73 percent) had great things to say about Gravity, usually praising the amount of spin they were able to generate. Consequently, Head Gravity was ninth best of the 183 strings we’ve playtested for publication in Spin Potential. Our playtesters also rated it well above average in Durability, Resistance to Movement, Tension Retention, Control, Power, and Playability. Not surprisingly, Head Gravity rated well above average overall.

No playtester reported premature fraying or peeling, two reported buzzing, and nine reported notching. Seven playtesters broke the string during the playtest period, one each at 2, 6, 9, 10, 15, 27, and 44 hours.

Conclusion

Although there are now special racquets designed to maximize spin, Head Gravity can help maximize the amount of spin from existing frames. The uncompromising profile of the mains should also impress those players seeking a geometric string.

Playtester comments

“I thoroughly enjoyed hitting with this string. It gave me more power and more spin than any string I’ve hit with. My regular opponents had to stand further back to return my groundstrokes. My serves had more motion and kick. Although this string broke in six hours of hitting, I would definitely hit with it again, and it just may become my new favorite string.” 4.5 male all court player using Babolat Pure Storm Tour + strung at 55 pounds CP (Yonex Poly Tour Pro 16)

“This string loves low tensions! Super spin, super feel, super response on snap back. Can strings get any better than this?! This string has found the magic space between durability and playability! Although I wouldn’t recommend this string to intermediate or beginners, it would be perfect for 4.0 plus players especially for those who play an open string pattern racquet. This string has so much going for it, spin, feel, durability, and comfort. Now I know what powers a Star Wars light saber!” 4. 5 male all court player using Head Graphene Instinct MP strung at 50 pounds CP (Solinco Tour Bite/Solinco Vanquish 18/16)

“This co-poly hybrid was a game changer with the triangular-shaped mains and smooth crosses. The spin I was able to generate was awesome. Average effort produced magnificent spin results due to the excellent bite on the ball. The power for this co-poly was above average for a poly. Loved the controlled power of this test string. I would recommend this string to any customer looking to get tons of spin and control with outstanding durability. I loved this string.” 4.0 male all court player using Dunlop iDapt Force strung at 43.6 pounds CP (Wilson Sensation/Prince Synthetic Gut 17/18)

“This was another excellent test string. It took a few hits to get accustomed to its feel, but I loved it after a while. There was no movement of strings, but with much more spin potential. The thick main strings were difficult to pass through the grommets at #4T on both sides of the Steam 105. Despite the main string’s girth, the thinner cross strings slipped through rather easily. The mains exhibited a unidirectional tinting, some appearing whiter when viewed from the head to the throat and swapping this trait when viewed from the throat toward the head. The apparent poly in both directions (mains and crosses) in this hybrid was a strange combination.” 4.5 male all court player using Wilson Steam S strung at 56 pounds CP (Tecnifibre Pro Red Code 1.20/Gamma Synthetic Gut 18/16)

“The string hit really well! The shape really bit into the ball and the thicker main should last longer than other shaped polys. Definitely worth a try!” 4.0 male baseliner with heavy spin using Babolat Pure Drive Roddick strung at 60 pounds LO (Solinco Tour Bite 16L)

“Good, soft feel with good power and satisfactory spin. A top-tier string. I would use it, recommend it, and sell it.” 4.0 male baseliner with moderate spin using Wilson Steam S strung at 60 pounds CP (Tourna Big Hitter Blue 17)

“Literally rips the fuzz off the ball. Terrific spin, though a little firm for first two weeks. Then, it was terrific. Balanced power and control until it became too loose.” 3.5 male baseliner with moderate spin using Prince O3 Speedport Black strung at 47/45 pounds CP (MSV Hex 1.1 19)

“Great playing string with excellent feel. Little or no vibration so it should be easy on the elbow. No string movement to speak of, which should contribute to durability.” 4.0 male baseliner with moderate spin using Wilson BLX Steam strung at 52 pounds CP (Wilson Sensation 17)

“Mains were interesting — looked like a 15 gauge triangular cross section poly. Crosses looked like a 16 or 17 gauge poly. This string had good power — almost too much. If I hit flat the ball was more likely to go out. However, this string really shone when I put topspin on the ball. Many times my opponents let the ball go by thinking it was out, only to see it drop in!” 4.0 male all court player using Wilson Steam S strung at 60 pounds CP (Ashaway Monogut 16)

“I’m totally impressed with the performance of this string in all aspects — cosmetics, performance, spin, and control. I suspect this is a premium string with a premium price, but well worth the cost due to its capacity to maintain consistent feel and power.” 4.0 male all court player using Head Youtek Graphene Speed PWR strung at 50 pounds CP (Gamma Moto 17)

“Really liked this string. Loaned my racquet to some of my younger, weaker students and they didn’t want to give it back!” 4.0 male all court player using Babolat Pure Drive strung at 60 pounds CP (Luxilon ALU Power 16)

“This string was unbelievable. I absolutely loved it. The touch and feel along with the control and playability were top notch. If you like a poly that holds tension and does not move, along with excellent spin potential, this string is for you.” 4.5 male all court player using Babolat Pure Drive strung at 45 pounds LO (Babolat RPM Blast 16)

“Although this string felt more on the stiff side when being installed, there was no issue with tying knots or any other installation issues compared to other poly strings I have used. I could really feel the angled texture of the string so I was anticipating great spin potential when I got on the court. I was not disappointed with the bite on the ball. I give this a 5 out of 5 for spin potential. Although the string was stiff, it still seemed to be able to pocket the ball a fair amount since I only strung this at 50 pounds. Although the playability didn’t seem to be up there compared to multifilament strings, this made up for it with the feeling of control and the spin.” 4.0 male all court player using Wilson Pro Staff 97 LS strung at 50 pounds CP (Solinco Tour Bite/ Head Fibergel Power Hybrid 16)

“A stiff durability string. Great for banging balls with not a lot of power. Good spin and control. String looser for elbow ease.” 4.5 male all court player using Wilson Steam S strung at 45 pounds CP (Wilson Optimus 16)

“Great string if you are looking for control and spin. This is suited for all-court players who like to control the ball in long rallies and with accurate passing shots. Must generate power for serving.” 4.5 male serve-and-volley player using Head Graphene Radical MP strung at 53 pounds CP (Luxilon ALU Power Feel 18)

“From the stringer’s point of view, there is coil retention. However, it was reasonable for a polyester or copolymer string. Some difficulty on the stringer’s fingers. The crosses were laborious to install. I liked the string somewhat. I was able to hit good serves and the topspin was good. Being a baseliner, the string was a little rough on the arm. Power was good from both the baseline and on overheads. Groundstrokes to the opponents backhands, along with the spin that I was able to put on the ball was through to be difficult for opponents to return. Played reasonably well with this string. Typical of many strings of this apparent type it is expected that the string’s durability will continue to prove to be good lasting 50, or 60 or more hours … as was perhaps indicated in the visual inspection of the bed.” 4.0 male all court player using Head Seven Star strung at 55/58 pounds LO (TierOne FireWire 17)

“I was convinced that I would not like this string before installing it in my racquet. I was wrong. The spin potential is off the charts. It is not as comfortable as my usual string, but it did not hurt my arm. Personally, I really like the 18 gauge cross string. For really big hitters, however, it probably won’t be durable enough.” 4.5 male serve-and-volley player using Wilson Steam S strung at 56 pounds CP (Tecnifibre Black Code/Tecnifibre NRG2 18/16)

“I found the hybrid to play much more comfortably than expected. Both the triangular mains and round crosses seemed soft to me. This is a full poly set up that I could actually see myself using in the future.” 4.5 male all court player using Prince Tour strung at 49 pounds CP (Solinco Tour Bite/Prince Premier Control 18/17)

“Initially I found the string to be dead and a bit boardy, but as it broke-in, I found I liked it more and more. Although the power level was a bit low, I did enjoy the spin aspect of the string. My kick serve certainly hopped a bit more, and I could place the ball just about anywhere I wanted. Liked playing with this string, but not so much teaching as it was tough on the arm during long periods of feeding.” 4.5 male all court player using Babolat Aero Pro Drive strung at 54/57 pounds LO (Babolat RPM Blast 16)

“Shots were lacking power and harder to penetrate court. Huge spin from this string! One of the best in this category. Touch and feel were well above average for a polyester. I like the idea of a two-polyester hybrid. The characteristics of each string provide a solid overall stringbed that ranks up there with the best in terms of spin, feel, and durability.” 5.5 male baseliner with heavy spin using Wilson BLX Pro Open strung at 58 pounds LO (Luxilon ALU Power 1.25 17)

“This string was stiff but I had good control and good bite on the ball. Overall, I would say it is a good to very good string.” 5.5 male all court player using Babolat Pure Drive strung at 60 pounds CP (Babolat VS Gut 16)

“Thick gauge triangular-shaped mains offered some spin potential, but lacked crispness and resilience. A thinner gauge main would improve playability and spin. Durability would be a high point of this string.” 4.0 male baseliner with heavy spin using Dunlop Aerogel 4D 100 strung at 40 pounds LO (Volkl Cyclone 16)

“I’m not a huge fan of polyester strings, but this was very good. Excellent tension holding, good spin potential, and it didn’t hurt my wrist, elbow or shoulder. Very good all-around performer!” 4.5 male all court player using Head Graphene Speed S strung at 44 pounds CP (Tourna Big Hitter 7 17)

“Definitely more spin produced when hitting with either Eastern or Semi-Western grip. Same for backhand. More bite on slice and pop on topspin. Nice string!” 4.0 female all court player using Babolat Pure Drive strung at 50 pounds CP (Natural Gut 16)

“It lasted longer than my usual string, but didn’t give me the feel and bite I usually get. I’d recommend it for heavy topspin, 4.5 plus players who break string often.” 5.0 male all court player using Babolat Pure Drive with Cortex strung at 41 pounds LO (Luxilon ALU Power/Babolat Pro Hurricane 16)

“This was the first hybrid I have experienced. I liked how soft the strings felt. Stringing the racquet was easy and having the thinner gauge offered more feel. String had good ball pocketing since it was soft, which concerns me on durability.” 4.0 male all court player using Pro Kennex Kinetic Pro 7G strung at 55 pounds CP (Luxilon Big Banger ALU 16)

“One of the better strings I have playtested out of the box, but I lost it about a third of the way in. At that point it no longer held the same pop or feel that it had in the first 10 hours or so. Pretty common characteristics for a 17 gauge poly, great on control, allowing some really nice racquet head speed, lacking somewhat on the touch, although not enough to take it off my Christmas list and I do a great deal of net play. Nice spin potential with the rough edges, though I am not a huge fan of the value such features generally. Perfect for those looking for a playable thin poly and wanting to feel the emotional confidence that the sharp edges are providing them with additional bite. ” 5.0 male all court player using Wilson Blade strung at 55 pounds LO (Wilson NXT 16)

“The white main string was so thick it took a long time to pull it through the holes, so stringing time was increased. I would not want to string a lot of these. I lost my ERT, but it seemed as though tension loss was very slight. Played well, and I would choose to play with it if it was faster to string.” 4.5 male baseliner with moderate spin using Head Graphene Prestige MP strung at 50 pounds CP (Head Sonic Pro 17)

“Middle of road string. Notched right away. Did not generate as much spin as anticipated given edges. Interesting look. String visibly edged. Not much feel or power. Good wearability, good tension maintenance. I would string 15% looser to start next time.” 6.0 male all court player using Wilson Steam strung at 56 pounds CP (Wilson NXT 16)

“I’m predicting this well be popular with players, not so much for stringers. My fingers still hurt! At least the nine I have left!” 4. 0 male touch player using Head Graphene Extreme MP strung at 55 pounds LO (Genesis Hexonic 16)

“This hybrid shines from the baseline. It has a lot of power and enough spin to keep the ball in court. Unfortunately, performance fell off dramatically after about 8 hours, to the point where I was relieved when the string broke. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the remainder of the playtest. I’m not sure I’d recommend this string to my customers. The durability is poor enough that it wouldn’t be a good value to most players.” 4.0 male baseliner with heavy spin using Wilson SixOne 95 S strung at 50 pounds CP (Luxilon ALU Power Spin 16L)

“Not a string I would use.” 4.0 male all court player using Volkl strung at 52/48 pounds CP (Wilson Synthetic Gut 16/17)

“Overall, not really impressed with the string. Average on comfort. Lacked the feel and touch I need for my game.” 4.0 male all court player using Head Graphene Speed PWR strung at 51 pounds CP (Solinco Tour Bite Soft 17)

“I found this string interesting for about two hours. After that, all I had was the pain. This string just doesn’t fit my game. I had some great serves and groundstrokes at first, but then the string seemed to lose its pop and I couldn’t find anything to like about it. I question the theory behind a triangular string. The white mains are laying on one of the three sides and then slightly tip to one side or the other as they follow the rise of the cross string. I’m not convinced of the purpose and effectiveness of that design, or that it works any better than a five-sided string. I struggled to make myself play 15 hours with this. It felt like a board eventually.” 3.5 male baseliner with moderate spin using Wilson Blade 98 (18×20) strung at 50 pounds CP (Solinco Tour Bite/Gamma TNT2 17/17)

“Stringbed wrapped the ball, but felt mushy and forced me to swing harder to get depth. I felt like a sloppy player with these versus my normal string. Expected more bite with the shape of the white main, but didn’t feel it.” 4.0 male all court player using Wilson BLX Six One strung at 58 pounds LO (Ashaway Monogut ZX Pro 17)

“Sub-par string. The triangle shape made it difficult to tie knots. Limited feel of the ball when struck, the string itself felt plastic-y and cheap compared to the average poly string. Upon breakage, the string splintered/split at the ends. Low cost poly feel with low durability. One star.” 4.5 male all court player using Wilson Steam strung at 58 pounds CP (Luxilon 4G Rough 17)

“Thickness and stiffness of mains made it difficult to string. From a player’s perspective, not responsive. The mains did break during play. Break occurred at L2 in middle of racquet.” 3.5 male all court player using Head Youtek Graphene Speed PWR strung at 54 pounds CP (Babolat RPM Blast/Wilson Sensation 17)

(Strings normally used by testers are indicated in parentheses. For the rest of the tester comments, visit tennisindustrymag.com.)

Playtester Ratings

Ease of Stringing (compared to other strings)
much easier	0
somewhat easier	1
about as easy	18
not quite as easy	13
not nearly as easy	6
Overall Playability (compared to the string played most often)
much better	1
somewhat better	10
about as playable	10
not quite as playable	13
not nearly as playable	3
Overall Durability (compared to other strings of similar gauge)
much better	7
somewhat better	10
about as durable	14
not quite as durable	3
not nearly as durable	3
Rating Averages
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability	3. 4
Durability	3.9
Power	3.5
Control	3.5
Comfort	3.1
Touch/Feel	3.1
Spin Potential (9th overall)	4.0
Holding Tension	3.6
Resistance to Movement	3.8

Commentary: Sideline incident the latest in string of bad decisions damaging UW football coach Jimmy Lake’s reputation

As far as reputations go, Washington Huskies football coach Jimmy Lake is experiencing an extreme make-under.

Life has come at him with the speed of the Concorde backed by the jet stream.

Highly touted when he took over the program from Chris Petersen after the 2019 season – and then validated by posting the best record in the Pac-12 North last year – his image has been sullied by poor performances and even poorer decision-making. And the more one examines his situation, the harder it is to think he can bounce back.

On Monday, Washington announced that Lake will be suspended for Saturday’s game against Arizona State following an investigation of a sideline incident involving him and walk-on linebacker Ruperake Fuavai. Cameras showed Lake striking Fuavai on the face mask after separating him from a scrum, then pushing him in the back when he turned to walk away.

Could he have hurt a fully padded college football player who was still wearing his helmet? Highly doubtful. But the optics were bad enough that, for a minute, it seemed like Lake could lose his job.

“While we do not believe that his actions were intentional or deliberate, we can have no tolerance for a coach interacting with a student in the manner Coach Lake did,” Washington athletic director Jen Cohen said in a statement. “We have high expectations of conduct for our coaches, and we will not shy away from those expectations.”

But it wasn’t just the sideline incident that made Lake’s future at Washington seem ever so tenuous. That was just the latest – and perhaps most egregious – occurrence tied to his tumble.

Other shortcomings and questionable choices have caused Lake’s seat to come to a boil. Examples?

Well, first there’s recruiting. The Huskies simply aren’t landing many highly coveted prospects. Petersen would incessantly downplay the significance of recruiting rankings, and perhaps Lake views them similarly. But when 24/7 Sports has the Huskies’ 2022 class ranked 54th in the country, it is cause for concern.

This suspension won’t help in that regard, particularly given the reason. Certain images will stand out in recruits’ minds, and a coach striking a player – regardless of intent – is one of them.

Coaching acumen goes only so far in college football. Talent still rules the day – and based on early commitments, the Huskies will be conspicuously short on it in the future.

Next, there was Lake hiring John Donovan as his offensive coordinator. Donovan was let go Sunday after the Huskies’ offense again stagnated in a 26-16 loss to Oregon. UW had seven first downs in the game. It had 166 yards of offense compared with the Ducks’ 427. Perhaps that’s what one should expect from a team ranked 10th in the Pac-12 in total offense this year.

No, you can’t put a team’s offensive woes squarely on the OC. But Donovan’s hire was a head-scratcher from Day 1. The man’s previous gig was running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, yet Lake gave him the keys to an offense for a team regularly challenging for the conference title. Is it really that big of a surprise that he failed?

Then, of course, there were Lake’s disparaging comments about Oregon before Saturday’s game. Earlier in the week, he dismissed the Ducks as a recruiting rival because they lacked “academic prowess” – adding that more revered academic institutions such as Notre Dame and Stanford were the Huskies’ true competition.

Candor and smack-talk are usually appreciated, but those remarks were unwise and unbecoming. And when you combine all this with the fact that Washington is 4-5 with a loss to Montana of the FCS this season, it makes one wonder whether Lake – a prodigious defensive coordinator and defensive-backs coach – was cut out to be the man in charge.

To be fair, Lake seems like a genuinely good guy. He conducts himself with dignity, stands up for his players and assistant coaches, and treats the media with respect. His Oregon comments and Saturday sideline antics weren’t consistent with his general behavior. But they still happened, and he has to live with that.

It wasn’t long ago that Lake was a rock star – the man rumored as Nick Saban’s top choice to be Alabama’s next defensive coordinator. His star has dimmed since.

On Saturday we saw him strike a player. Now it seems that one more strike – physically or figuratively – and he’s out.

Belichick: “We’ll Just Keep Trying to String These Weeks Together” and More Following Patriots Victory Over Panthers

The New England Patriots are above .500 for the first time in the 2021 regular season. New England collectively rushed for 151 yards while cornerback J.C. Jackson intercepted Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold twice, including an 88-yard pick-six as the Patriots defeated the Panthers 24-6 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick met with the media, both postgame on Sunday, and again on Monday morning. Here are some of the highlights from Belichick’s meets with the media:

Postgame: Sunday, November 7

Opening Statement

“I thought it was a good effort by our team tonight – players and coaches. Thought we did a really good job of rallying after the trip back from California. With the preparations and the way we played out, I just thought they did a good job, came out and played with good energy this afternoon. Kind of hurt ourselves offensively with some penalties and turnovers. We moved the ball. We left some things out on the field. Defensively, we got a real strong effort in the running game, forced them into some passing situations and we were able to convert on a few of those. Tough for Carolina losing two starting linemen in the first quarter. That’s never a good thing. But I thought our guys played hard. Obviously, the pressure on the quarterback, J. C. [Jackson’s] interceptions, the play Jamie [Collins Sr.] made – I don’t know how many players in the league could make that play, not very many, but it was a tremendous play. I thought, overall, we covered well in the kicking game. We’re solid there. Good to come down here and get a win. Good to beat an NFC team and we’ll just keep trying to string these weeks together.”

On how the defense played on Sunday:

“It was great. I thought the d-line did a good job, linebackers had good pressure on the quarterback. They had a couple runs on us there, they had a couple of wildcat runs, and a bounce out there. They’re a good tough, hard-nose football team and they showed that defensively. Those two guys on the edge are really fast, really explosive. They’re a problem. [Brian] Burns and [Haason] Reddick and [Derrick] Brown inside, those three guys are hard to handle but we kind of stood in there and battled them. But defensively, it was a good effort. We were able to put the quarterback under some pressure. Two of the turnovers we batted a couple of balls but both of J.C. [Jackson’s] interceptions both looked like they came with some pressure on them, just a couple of balls [Sam Darnold] had to throw away. He’s a tough guy to get down, we missed him a couple of times in the pocket, but that’s the way it’s going to be with Sam [Darnold] – he’s a big, strong kid that you’ve got to wrap up back there. But I thought our defense came to play today and played well, helped our offense out and saved some points on the two turnovers – held them to three points on both of those. Those were both good kicks by [Zane] Gonzalez. We pushed them back a little bit but not quite far enough.”

On how important Brandon Bolden has become:

“He has a big role – pass protection, route running, some of the carries that he’s taken – he’s done a good job and he’s still continued to keep his role in the kicking game which has been good as well. We’ve had good depth in the backfield. Some years we’ve had to use it, some years we haven’t, but when we’ve had it, generally those guys have stepped up and done a good job for us – going all the way back to [Cordarrelle Patterson] in 2018, we needed him during a point in the season. But yeah, Brandon has stepped up every week, and Rhamondre, and obviously Damien, and J.J. [Taylor] last week, so hopefully those guys will continue to come through for us.”

On what stood out about Jamie Collins Jr.’s interception:

“It was just the catch. It was like five yards away from the quarterback who threw it as hard as he could. That’s a pretty tough catch.”

On J.C. Jackson’s performance after being sick this week:

“Yeah, I talked to him about that. I hope that’s not a sign of things to come – to think that we don’t have to practice and then go out there and be a star of the game. But J.C. played well and honestly when you miss a couple of days like that, if you’ve had all the other ones that lead up to it then those aren’t as – they’re important but you have a better chance of overcoming it because of all the practices that you’ve bankrolled. But it was a great job by him. He came out there on Friday and he was on things and actually had a good day on Friday. He practiced well and then obviously had a couple big plays today, a couple of which – especially the first one – came with some pressure but he made a great play on a great run. When I saw Robby Anderson chasing him, I wasn’t sure how that was going to come out because I know Robby can go, but J.C. beat him to the goal line so that shows you what he can do too.”

On how much Christian Barmore has grown this season:

“Oh, a lot from where he was in the spring. He’s worked extremely hard. I’ve got to give that kid a lot of credit: he comes in early, he stays late; he works on his flexibility, his strength, his technique. He’s really applied himself and he’s just gotten better and better every week in the running game, in the passing game, more discipline, use of hands, recognition of plays. He’s done a good job for us and he’s a big man.”

On what he did on defense to fluster Sam Darnold:

“Credit goes to the players. They’re the ones that are out there making the plays. I didn’t do anything – I didn’t touch any passes or cover anybody. We don’t want that.”

On whether he’s concerned about the number of pre-snap penalties:

“Yeah, that’s not what we’re trying to do.”

On whether the running backs settled down the game after an unsettled beginning

“There are 11 guys out there, so when we were able to work well together, we had more production. We put ourselves in some long-yardage situations with the penalties which are definitely a problem. First-and-15, first-and-20, second-and-25. Those are tough situations. Those pre-snap penalties are definitely our fault. There’s no other way around it, we’ve got to coach better and we’ve got to be able to run plays without that stuff happening.”

Monday, November 8

On the performance of the defense, as a whole, in Sunday’s win:

“The defense played well and the players deserve a lot of credit. They read their keys well, and took advantage of the matchups. The two big stops after the turnovers..I thought those were really important series for us…especially the turnover from J.C. [Jackson] were point-saving plays. Jamie’s [Collins] play was just a tremendous play. I dont know of many athletes can make that catch. But, consistency was a big key for us yesterday. They played well on all three downs. The players did a great job.”

On whether the Patriots have been playing more zone coverage [as opposed to man coverage] as of late:

“Well, we play both…those decisions are game-plan- based. As the game dictates, we will go in one direction or another based on what their offense is doing. Steve [Belichick] does a good job of mixing things up on the call, whether it be zone or pressure. I think our players are comfortable in playing all three types of calls and they work hard in all three phases…in all downs and distances. Depending on what the matchups are, we’ll adjust to whether the opponent runs.”

On the contributions of linebacker Jamie Collins

“The interception was a remarkable play, but the forced fumble he had on [Christian] McCaffrey was another amazing play. He does so many things well on defense. He helps us in the kicking game. He contributes in a lot of different ways…plays on the ball, off the ball…in zone, or in man…he sets a good edge and is solid in the run [defense] game. Jaime does a great job of doing what we ask him to do….and he does it well, both oth on and off the field.”

On his thoughts regarding Mac Jones’ hold of Brian Burns:

“What I said on the radio is what I thought. ”

On whether he was surprised by the Panthers’ strong reaction to it:

“I don’t know…just telling you what I saw on the play”

Earlier in the morning, Belichick made his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” where he was asked about his reaction to Jones’

“I think he thought Burns had the ball,” Belichick said of the incident when asked what he saw. When asked a follow-up question, Belichick simply replied, “I think he thought he had the ball.”

On the Patriots ability to contain the Panthers defense:

“The Panthers are a well-coached, fundamentally sound team. Defensively, they have three dynamic players up front…great linebackers behind them. They are well-prepared and disciplined, they don’t make many mistakes. They compete on every down. I think our o-line had some solid stands on both run and pass protection, and they made some pretty good plays. What hurt us yesterday were the negative plays…the miscommunications, false stats, delay of game penalties…they put us in too many long yardage situations. That has to get better. But, we have seen a lot of tough looks over the past few weeks and I think our guys have done a good job.” 

90,000 In Chechnya, the head of the murdered amir was strung on a bayonet and placed in the center of his native village

Chechen Republic,
August 4, 2006, 18:11 – REGNUM The North Caucasian edition of REGNUM received a message from the organization “Chechen Committee for National Salvation” , based in Nazran and headed by human rights activist Ruslan Badalov. The report cited facts of blatant vandalism committed by Russian servicemen and police officers:

“On July 28, 2006, residents of the village of Kurchaloy, Kurchaloyevsky district, were shocked by what they saw.A human head was displayed in the center of their village, and blood-stained trousers were hung on a pipe. From the information provided by the information source, it was possible to find out that on the night of July 27-28, 2006, an unequal battle broke out in this village between officers of the local security forces and two militants who were ambushed by an organized ambush. One of them was detained. It turned out to be Adam Badayev , a resident of the village. Avtury. And the second was shot during the battle. It turned out to be a resident of the village of Kurchaloy Khozh-Akhmed Umarovich Dushaev , who was beheaded after his death, and his head was put in the center of the village.Then the security forces filmed the severed head for a long time with video cameras and cameras of mobile phones. And the next day, the head was brought into the ROVD building, where it was sewn to his body, most likely for investigative measures. ” IA REGNUM emphasizes that our correspondent in Chechnya was removed from participation in this investigation for security reasons.According to information received from a source in the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Kurchaloevskiy ROVD took part in the operation to destroy two militants on the night of July 27-28, together with officers of the special police regiment No. A. Kadyrov. One of the militants, Khozh-Akhmed Dushayev, was the emir of the jamaat of the Kurchaloyevsky region, the second, Adam Badayev, was the emir of the village of Avtury. According to eyewitnesses, the head of Khozh-Akhmed Dushayev was strung on a bayonet and taken through the center of Kurchaloy. The relatives of the killed militant are silent. Officials – the district administration and the ROVD – also refuse to comment.

Do-it-yourself unusual snowdrops by March 8 – Rambler / Saturday

And may spring come in your room on the morning of March 8 and bring a festive mood!

You will need: wooden beads with a diameter of 30 mm green wooden beads with a diameter of 12 mm white silk floral paper transparent film with an adhesive base on both sides acrylic matt paint in white, flesh, blue and black fine wool green embroidery thread green satin ribbon long 20 cm and 3 mm wide grass green paint blotting sponge raspberry and dark brown watercolor pencils

In addition: scissors undulating scissors tailor’s pins darning needle or hand sewing needle hot glue gun flat brush no. 12 and bristle brush no. 2

How to sew tulips with your own hands

A snowdrop will consist of a flower and a flower fairy.For one flower you need 4 petals and 1 pistil. For each petal, cut two 9 x 5 cm rectangles out of silk paper, and two 5 x 3.5 cm rectangles for the pistil. Cut out a rectangle of the same size from the adhesive tape. For one petal, remove the protective layer from one side of the film, place it on silk paper and glue it down with light pressure. Turn the part over to the other side and glue the second rectangle made of silk paper. Do the same for the pestle.

According to the motives, cut 4 petals out of silk paper from a sheet of motives, and one sepal with a diameter of 4 cm and two details of a hat for a flower fairy from fleece. Shade the edges of the petals with green paint. Cut the part of the pistil on one longitudinal side with wavy scissors, shade with green paint, twist and glue at one end.

String a green wooden bead onto a long thread so that the thread is the same length on both sides. Using a needle, place the bead into the sepal, pulling the needle out in the center of the sepal.Glue the fleece circle to the bead. Glue the pistil to the bead in the center, and then the petals.

Paper flowers by March 8: master class

Paint a wooden bead with flesh-colored acrylic paint and let dry. Draw facial features with acrylic paints and colored pencils. For a blush, shade crumbs of red lead, put glare on the eyes with white paint. Glue both parts of the cap along the edges.

String the head on a thread, then stick the needle into the cap, glue the cap to the head.Make bows from a narrow ribbon.

12 DIY gift ideas for March 8: kids and dads can handle it!

Source and photo: Burda. My favorite hobby 1/2018 The material was prepared by Yulia Dekanova

A man in Chelyabinsk strung his leg on the bars of a two-meter fence

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06. 05.2015

A man in Chelyabinsk strung his leg on the rods of a two-meter fence. The incident took place in the Kurchatovsky district. A 50-year-old resident of the city decided to take a shortcut home. He tried to climb over the fence, but stumbled and pierced through his right leg with metal rods. The man hanging upside down was noticed by passers-by. They called rescuers and doctors.The arrived employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations with the help of a hydraulic tool bit the rods, […]

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Result of insertion

06. 05.2015

A man in Chelyabinsk strung his leg on the rods of a two-meter fence.The incident took place in the Kurchatovsky district. A 50-year-old resident of the city decided to take a shortcut home. He tried to climb over the fence, but stumbled and pierced through his right leg with metal rods. The man hanging upside down was noticed by passers-by. They called rescuers and doctors. The arrived employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations with the help of a hydraulic tool bit the rods, […]

read more ”

90,000 7 mistakes when building a summer house that will prevent you from creating a stylish country house

When we think about the dacha, then some kind of dusty and dull bad taste immediately comes to mind, on which we need to endlessly dig potatoes. And we certainly can’t imagine cozy European or American country houses from movies and TV series.

But is it possible in Russia to build a dacha that will not resemble a typical crooked hut or a temporary house for builders? We believe that nothing is impossible, and in this text we will tell you about 7 common mistakes that prevent you from building a modern and stylish country cottage.

Homemade fence

A dozen rotten boards of various sizes, siding or a two-meter wall made of sharp iron bars – this, according to many owners of country houses, is an ideal fence for a summer residence.But, oddly enough, these are not the worst options yet.

Some even string barbed wire from some unknown source on their fences, making the territory of their dacha look like a secure facility.

Will she help protect the house from thieves? Unlikely.

Will it scare away the owners themselves and their friends from relaxing in the summer house? We are confident of this.

What you need to do: when building a summer house, set a budget for a high-quality and not too high stone or iron fence.Thanks to this, there will be no impression that you have fenced off the whole world with a multi-meter wall.

And if the territory of your summer cottage is guarded, you can completely abandon the fence.

Abandonment of ornamental plants

Cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini – many still use the dacha as a kind of plantation or a raw material appendage that provides owners with fresh vegetables.

There is nothing wrong with this approach, but you should not forget about the aesthetic side of your site.Just imagine how much nicer it will be to dig potatoes surrounded by tulips and daffodils.

What you need to do: do not give up ornamental plants, find out which flowers are the most unpretentious, buy seeds at the nearest store and plant them on your site.

Besides:

• watch the lawn so that weeds do not take over your area;
• Lay paths so as not to walk on open ground and not carry dirt around the site and the house.

Too bright facade and clumsy design of the house

Towers with fake loopholes, golden domes and acid-colored facades – when building and arranging a summer cottage, it is better to bypass such kitsch elements. All markers are different in taste and color, but you hardly want your dacha to be confused with the residence of a gypsy baron.

In fact, such a facade is more likely to evoke a smile than admiration.

What you need to do: If you are in doubt, then it is better to completely entrust the development of the design of the facade and the whole house to professionals.

Cheap double-glazed windows

Poor quality materials, poor heat and sound insulation, permanently broken handles – these are only a small part of the problems that the most affordable windows will bring.

In a house with such windows it will be possible to freeze even on not the coldest spring night, and the thought of living in a country house all year round can be safely put out of your head.

And we are not talking about the fact that manufacturers of cheap plastic windows often save on the design of their products.

What you need to do: Do not save on plastic windows and choose more expensive solutions.

“ZhKKH-art” – senseless and merciless

Tire swans, tea mugs from old tires, plush toys tied to trees – no, this is not a description of the scenery for the next horror. Thus, many decorate their yards and suburban areas.

Source: tema.livejournal.com

Needless to say that by bringing such “art” to your dacha, you will not make it more stylish and more modern, but only go back 15–20 years in time? This “decor” makes sense only if you want to scare off the neighbour’s children who like to steal your cherries or apples in the evenings.

What you need to do: Hire a landscape designer and think together with what elements you will decorate your summer cottage.

Filling the site with rubbish

A broken refrigerator, bicycles that are already too small for children, a broken sofa – some things are too pity to throw away, but they can no longer be used. Therefore, they have a direct road to the dacha, which is already filled with various garbage.

What you need to do: Before building a summer house, develop its design project and buy new furniture and household appliances for it.Moving all unnecessary things and other trash from the apartment will quickly turn your country house into a typical Russian dacha in the worst sense of the word.

Outdoor toilet

We all know what it looks like: a small rickety rectangular structure that can be “felt” from afar.

You don’t want your summer cottage to be associated with the Shrek swamp from the cartoon of the same name?

What to do: Make sure that the architect allocates space for the toilet and bathroom during the planning phase of the house.Thanks to this, you do not have to “enjoy” all the joys of a street toilet.

Like and add the article to “Favorites” in order to avoid similar mistakes in the future. And if you have something to add, write about your experience in building and arranging a summer residence in the comments.

Question # 35102 from the user alexryabkov in the lesson “Branches in Git”, course “Introduction to Git”

Aleksei Pirogov

user-3e3b58b86dd1c8a1 , in the general case only adding to the “head” is possible, because only it is feasible without changing the existing “tail”.The ability to go to the end of the list and change pointers is just a feature of some singly linked list implementations.

You can change “always” to “usually”, then there will be fewer such questions 🙂

alexryabkov

Aleksei Pirogov , thank you, yes, I think it is worth replacing “always” with “usually” so as not to confuse newbies. Could you explain:

• What does it mean “in the general case, only adding to the” head “is possible, because only it is feasible without changing the existing” tail “”? In the case of Git, keeping the tail intact seems to be justified by its architecture, but this is just a special case. I’m just trying to understand the possible use cases (well, except for the banal gain in insertion speed, of course). Again, I’ve seen cases where the addition went exactly to the end of the list.
• > The ability to go to the end of a list and change pointers is just a feature of some singly linked list implementations.

Wikipedia C singly linked list

  typedef struct s_list
{
  int field; // data field
  struct s_list * next; // pointer to next element
} list;
  

With this implementation, we can do anything.To be honest, I could not find other implementations. Maybe there are languages ​​that already “out of the box” provide such data structures as a singly linked list, and there it is forbidden to add to the tail by the language itself?
Explain, if not difficult.

Don’t think I’m a verbalist, I’m just trying to learn from the mentors how to do it 🙂

Aleksei Pirogov

Here you are, a singly linked list in any language of the ML-family. On links instead of pointers. Nothing can be changed in the middle.

  data List a = Cons a (List a) | Nil

l :: List Int
l = Cons 1 (Cons 2 (Cons 3 Nil))
  

Here is a singly linked list on tuples in Python. Nothing can be changed in the middle:

  l = (1, (2, (3, ())))
  

A singly linked list on any Lisp (specifically, this is Clojure). In many implementations, the middle cannot be changed.

  (cons 1 (cons 2 (cons 3 nil)))
  

Here is a bunch of implementations in different languages: https: // rosettacode.org / wiki / Singly-Linked_List_ (element) Not all implementations imply mutable links.

Aleksei Pirogov

So, a singly linked list is a pair of a value and a reference to the tail. Special cases allow changing the reference to the tail without recreating the head. But only special cases.

Aleksei Pirogov

I’m just trying to understand the possible use cases

A singly linked list implements a stack, or LIFO (last in first out). This is the main use case.

alexryabkov

Aleksei Pirogov , thanks for the comment.

• Regarding Python: in terms of usage, l = (1, (2, (3, ()))) is more of an imitation of linked list behavior, albeit a visual one. I don’t want to get into the jungle, just briefly: I’m not 100% sure, but if a tuple in Python is structured the same way as a list, then its internal structure is somewhat more complicated. It seems to me that the example in Python at your link, where the list is implemented through a class, is more descriptive.
• About the stack: the stack is rather just a special case. When implementing the correct stack, the programmer must prevent the possibility of writing to the “tail” of the stack in principle, even if it is implemented in such a “free” language as C. But the usual singly linked list is not obliged to impose such a restriction, although, in general, it can.

Anyway, thank you, you answered my remark-question. I just wanted to clarify so that newcomers had a more correct opinion 🙂

Aleksei Pirogov

is not 100% sure, but if a tuple in Python is structured the same as a list, then its internals are somewhat more complicated.

The essence of a tuple is that the links in it cannot be changed. Therefore, the only option for modifying the list assembled from a tuple is to rebuild with new values. And it’s still a singly linked list. “Immutable singly linked list”, if you like 🙂 Git also has an immutable singly linked list 🙂

90,000 Volumetric miniatures. Figurine crocodile

Volumetric miniatures.
Figurine “Crocodile”.

Target:

– Introduce
the technological sequence of making figurines in a paired way.

Tasks:

– Form Skill
plan your work;

– contribute to development
independence, patience, hard work;

– Form Skill
plan your work.

Organizational part.

Announcement of the topic. Organization
workplace. Safety precautions.

Theoretical part.

Crocodiles are large animals,
living in rivers of different continents. All crocodiles are excellent swimmers.Long
the powerful tail wriggles and gives a push for movement. Crocodiles swim, exposing
eyes, ears and nostrils outward. When diving, the eyes are closed transparent
protective film. All crocodiles are covered with horny scales on the outside, which
protect the body from drying out and from predators.

Crocodiles are
favorite motive for beading. Extremely loved this little figurine
a crocodile that can be used in different ways: as a talisman,
brooches, pendants for chains, key chains.By making and giving these crocodiles, you kind of
thereby contributing to the spread of this endangered species. Work requires
patience, but exercising, each time these animals get everything
more attractive. If you clearly follow the instructions step by step, then you must
this little figurine will work.

Note: since the crocodile has an upper and a lower side,
the number of beads is indicated first for the top side, then for the bottom.
The exception is the initial and final beads for the paws, which are simply strung on.

Recommendation: if you take the beads for the larger top side,
than the lower beads, the crocodile’s back will be slightly swollen and will look
convex.

Materials: fishing line 0.3mm 150cm, green, yellow, black beads.

Product analysis. For one
string the end of the line with a black bead, fix it with the other end of the line and
place in the middle. Thus, you get the crocodile nose. Then string
on one end of the line, place the two upper beads to the nose, the other end
insert the lines into these two beads in the opposite direction and tighten the line.The result of your work should look like a triangle. Need to pull
line so that the nose is in the center. Next, string the two lower beads (
crocodile belly beads), the other end of the line in the opposite direction
pass through these two beads. Important: you need to ensure that both
the upper beads lay on the lower ones and the threads were well stretched. Similar
way to complete the head of a crocodile, following the schematic map. For the first
paws string four beads of the top color and one black, then black
move the bead and return in the opposite direction with the same end of the line
through four beads, while the line must be well pulled.Same
way to perform the second foot. After completing the crocodile torso,
in a similar way, perform the second pair of legs. Completes production
figurines tail, also made in a paired way. When the figure will be
completed completely, tie the ends of the fishing line with a knot.

Display of work methods,
used for the manufacture of the product.

Physical education “Warm-up”.

Along the track, we jump along the track
we are on the right foot.

And we will jump along the same track
we are on the left leg.

Let’s run along the path, until
we will reach the lawns.

On the lawn, on the lawn we
let’s jump like bunnies.

Stop. Let’s get some rest and
let’s go home on foot.

Practical part. Work according to the graphic scheme.

Gymnastics for the eyes “Circle”. Imagine a circle. Circle
with his eyes first clockwise, then counterclockwise.

Practical work
(continuation).

Final part. Lesson summary: discussion of what happened
done, what difficulties arose during the work.

90,000 Japan will test a new way of cleaning up space debris

December 9, 2016

Photo author, Science Photo Library

Photo caption,

More than 5000 spacecraft launched by mankind into orbit left behind a lot of trash

Japan launched a cargo a ship that will try to remove at least a small part of space debris from Earth’s orbit with the help of a huge seine.

By means of a 700-meter cable made of aluminum filaments and steel wire, experts expect to slow down the movement of debris and gradually pull it out of orbit.

The innovative device was developed with the participation of a company that manufactures fishing nets.

It is estimated that more than 100 million orphan objects are orbiting the Earth, including broken old satellites, spent spacecraft equipment, tools and rocket fragments.

Photo author, AFP

Photo caption,

The unmanned transport ship was named “Kounotori”, translated from Japanese as “stork”

Most of this rubbish revolves around the Earth at a tremendous speed (up to 28 thousand km / h), creating a constant threat to space flights, as well as damaging the work of the worldwide space communications network.

Garbage has been accumulating in orbit for almost six decades of human exploration of near-Earth space, starting with the launch of the first Soviet satellite in 1957.

Collisions of artificial satellites, as well as testing of anti-satellite weapons, further complicated the problem.

An unmanned cargo ship called “Stork” (or “Kounotori” in Japanese), which carries a garbage collector, was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in the Pacific Ocean and is now en route to the International Space Station.

Researchers believe that a lubricated electrodynamic cable can emit an electromagnetic field of sufficient power to change the trajectory of a space object, directing it towards the Earth – so that it begins to fall and burns up in the dense layers of the atmosphere.

As reported by Bloomberg in November, Nitto Seimo Co., which has been making fishing tackle for 106 years, took part in the development of mesh material for the garbage collector.

Photo by Getty Images

Caption,

Nitto Seimo Co., which has been producing fishing tackle for 106 years, helped to make the net.