Why you need to try the Wilson Clash

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Contributor

Let's talk Clash! What is it? How is it different? Why do I need to play with? How can I get my hands on one?

Now available for purchase & demo at Towpath Tennis Center.

What is the Wilson Clash?
Short answer: Wilson's new revolutionary racquet. Long answer: The Clash is not only Wilson's new buzz-worthy racquet, but its pushing boundaries with its innovative technology making a racquet that has both ultimate power AND control.

How does the Wilson Clash compare to other racquets?
The current carbon fiber racquets on the market right now are either suited toward control or power. The Clash has both! Wilson has worked its majic in creating Freeflex and Stablesmart technologies making the Clash twice as flexible as other racquets. And why do I want a more flexible racquet you might ask? Because it allows for longer 'pocketing' of the ball, so the racquet bends with each stroke for maximum power and control.

Why are there two versions of the Wilson Clash?
The Wilson Clash 100 and Clash 100 Tour are designed with NO specs on the racquet. This was an intentional decision made to eliminate preconceived notions on a racquet before trying it. The main difference is in the weight, so make sure to demo both to find which works best with your game.

Who will want to play with the Wilson Clash?
Anyone looking for an arm-friendly racquet! If you didn't know comfort and speed could be combined in one racquet without too much shock on your arm, then you're in luck! The Clash offers significant feel compared to other leading racquets without compromising power. Also, the stability/flexibility features in this racquet are demonstrated nicely when adding a soft touch to a volley winner or cranking a groundstroke from the baseline. Compatible with all playing styles!

How can I play with the Wilson Clash?
Demo the Wilson Clash 100 or Wilson Clash 100 Tour for free at Towpath Tennis Center during your next lesson or clinic, or make court-time at our demo rate to see what everyone's talking about. Also, Wilson is now offering the Clash Confidence Guarantee if you buy a Wilson Clash by April 15. If you aren't 100% satisfied, return it within 2 months of purchase for a full refund that can be used toward other Wilson gear and equipment that better complement your game.

Do vibration dampeners work?

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Legit Tennis Fanatic

Do you really want to find out if vibration dampeners work?

Well let's go into the inner workings and physics of how they operate--ha, yeah right! We're tennis players not physicists, so we're going to go ahead and skip all that scientific mumbo jumbo and tell you what we know. You see, there's a lot of debate on whether dampeners work: They don't reduce shock, they do nothing but change the sound of your racquet when hitting the ball, they solve tennis elbow, etc. Two things we know for sure: They DO rid of that annoying 'ping' sound when you hit the ball, and they do NOT solve tennis elbow-sorry hopeful victims!             

                                             

So the big question is do dampeners reduce string vibration? Let's point out the obvious--they call them vibration dampeners and shock absorbers for a reason. No matter how much scientific data states they do not reduce shock, we say they DO reduce string vibration even if it's only by a small percentage, but that leaves the frame to fend for itself. It's nearly impossible to prevent us players from feeling the shock that our racquets produce when hitting a ball. However, there are ways to reduce it like lowering your string tension or playing with a heavier racquet (wooden racquets never had this problem), but the quickest and least expensive solution is to use a dampener.

But many ask, how does it reduce shock if the dampener is only between 2 strings? Because that's where you're generally going to hit (unless you're a true beginner who regularly shanks the ball). Utilizing a worm shock absorber is best for covering a wider sweet spot but are less popular because they are more prone to breakage. What's great is even if you don't have a dampener, something as minuscule as a thick rubber band (a trend that Andre Agassi used) will do the same job.

So I guess the bigger (and more important) question is how does it feel to you? Try playing with and without a shock absorber, and feel the difference yourself. Our guess is the majority of you will prefer playing with one, but we encourage you to put more thought into your strings and tension first before depending too much on the use of a dampener. And whether you feel it reduces string vibration is up to your discretion but lets face it, we know the real reason players use dampeners is just to add some fun personality to your racquet.

(*fyi-If your dampener were ever to fly off during a point, remember it does not warrant a let and it's not the end of the world if you can't find it.)

*If you like what you see here, then don't forget to comment or subscribe!*

String dating

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Legit Tennis Fanatic

We want to finish our stringing posts with answering a question that many players try to ignore--what string do you want in your racquet? This could be a very overwhelming topic but we tried to simplify it in terms that anyone can understand. Welcome to string dating! There are plenty out there to choose from (some you wouldn't dare to use again) but once you find that special 'spring,' you just know you've found "the one."

Most popular: Nylon is synthetic gut, synthetic gut is nylon. People used to bash nylon for its poor playability, but it's been much improved since it was first introduced. In fact, the majority of recreational players use a nylon string since it's the most versatile in regards to playability and durability.

What we say: We call this the default string. There's nothing wrong with having the default string but you're basically settling. It really limits your choices and if you want to improve your game it helps to find what's optimal for you by stepping outside of your safety zone. Let's put it this way, would you continue dating somebody if they're just so-so? If you must, you can try such synthetics as Prince Lightening, Dunlop or Gamma guts but lets be honest, we know you can do better.

Best playability: Natural Gut may be on the pricy side but it's pricy for a reason-it's the best! Often used as a cross string, natural gut has great control and feel, and because of its texture it creates a good bite for spin. Also, natural gut is less stiff so it's ideal for those suffering from tennis elbow or a shoulder injury.

What we say: Because natural gut isn't the most feasible string because of its price (around $60), we recommend going for one of the ultra playable synthetics such as Wilson Sensation, Gamma Livewire, or Prince Premier. It may not be your Prince Charming but it's almost just as good.

Best durability: Polyester may not have much power and may feel like a dead weight to some BUT it does have the added durability that the professionals love. Poly is ideal for string breakers, but because of its added stiffness it is not recommended for beginners or those with arm stress. To reduce stiffness, many players use poly as a hybrid string by adding a softer nylon or natural gut as a cross string.

What we say: You're dating the elite-you know the type of guy your dad wants you to date. It may not be for everybody but take a risk and find out why the pros love their poly. Such top recommended poly strings include Babolat RPM Blast, Gamma Moto, and Luxilon Big Banger.

(The deal with string gauge: The smaller the gauge number the thicker the string. String gauges range from 15-19 (thick-thin or durable-playable) but we typically see 16/17, which we recommend as the average.)

For your convenience, the next time you're in to restring check out our stringing chart that gives you a list of strings to choose from and their benefits. We hope your search proves valuable for your game and you never know, you might find something you truly love.

*If you like what you see here, then don't forget to comment or subscribe!*

What tension do you want to string at?

Kristianne Bontempo | Contributor

In our last post about stringing, we discussed when to restring. In this post, we're following up on your quest to become a stringing expert by giving you some stringing tips for the next time you drop off your racquet. One question you'll certainly be asked is "What tension do you want to string at?"
 
Racquet tension is just as important as string selection. Whatever tension you choose dictates how the ball will respond on your strings. All players serious about their game can appreciate how tension can affect their power, spin, and control so it's important to understand what tension works best for your racquet and style of play.
 
For those new to the game, you can find your racquet tension along the racquet head or inside the throat by searching for the small writing indicating head size, weight, balance, etc. You will come across one that states the tension, which indicates the racquet’s recommended tension range. In this example, we'll use a Wilson Juice which has a tension between 53-63lbs.
 
Now that you’ve found your tension range, it's time to choose your tension. We typically recommend to players who are not sure what they want to stick with a medium tension. So with the Juice, the mid would be 57/58. But we want to guide you in how tension can work for or against you in case you were ever to venture outside of your comfort zone.
 
If you feel your shots are flat or running wild, then a higher tension may be the right solution. Going above the medium range will help create less springiness and will  give you more control. Of course it’s important to note, that going over the recommended range will result in a tension that is too tight which hinders your power and may feel like your swinging with a wooden board rather than a $180 racquet. Also, for those that suffer from tennis elbow beware--higher tension may create more stress on your arm. 

However if it's power that you want, a lower tension is the way to go. Going below the medium range will give you the extra punch you're craving and might also ease any tennis elbow/shoulder pain. Roman Prokes (professional stringer to the pros) says, "People are used to seeing 60lbs and then you suggest stringing at 45 lbs and they think it’s crazy. But it’s easier on everybody’s shoulders and just works better.” Unfortunately, there's going to be a downside. Unless you can hit a good target, like really good, you might be hitting over the back fence. 

One last point we'll bring up about tension is how it changes over time. If you're a player that waits more than 5-6 months to restring, you're tension will loosen. You may hate this and can't wait for a fresh string job, or you might love how it plays at the time of restringing. If that's the case, try a lower tension from what you last strung at and you should barely notice the difference.

So take a moment to look at your racquet tension and if possible find out what it was last strung at. If it feels great after restringing then obviously leave it, otherwise maybe it's time to venture outside the medium. If you're still unsure, ask the stringing pros at the tennis desk. Tension and strings go hand in hand so we will follow up with an upcoming discussion on the importance of string selection.  

*If you like what you see here, then don't forget to comment or subscribe!*