The deep freeze has enveloped sections of the United States as oppressively as the Bryan brothers blanket the net. Battling the elements of the summer—choking heat, gusting wind—is one thing, but how do you prepare your gear for the cold, dark days of winter? We spoke to leading racquet technicians and coaches for their top tips on combating the cold. Their advice should warm your gear—and might heat up your game.
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Strings
*Before your racquet responds to you like a jackhammer and your strings feel as flexible as frozen rope, change them to prevent arm pain and add sting to your shots.
“Dead strings are harder on the arm in the wintertime than in the summertime,” says Drew Sunderlin, a USPTA Master Professional and Master Racquet Technician. “People make the mistake of leaving the racquet in the car or garage, which is not good for the strings or the frame because you’ve got expansion and contraction issues. In cold weather, strings will contract more and they’re not going to have the same resiliency as they will in warmer weather.”
Because strings lose some elasticity in cold conditions, Sunderlin suggests stringing for spring in the winter—that is, string at a slightly lower tension than you would in the summer.
“One of the reasons you string about two pounds lower in the wintertime is to compensate for the slower speed of the ball in the winter,” says Sunderlin, who runs Strings ‘n Things at the Fort Washington Swim & Tennis Club. “String lower and you’ll give yourself a little more spring off the string bed, and it’s also easier on your arm.”
If you play significantly less tennis in the winter, then you may want to consider playing with a softer string.
“Because it’s cold, the balls are going to feel heavier as it is, so stringing at a lower tension or moving to a softer string will help,” says Richard Lucas, USRSA stringer for Tennis Express. “That decision depends on how often you play. For instance, if you play five days a week in the summer and only one day a week in the winter, then consider trying a hybrid or a string perhaps not as durable, but more comfortable than all-polyester string.”
To maximize playability, put your strings on the clock.
“People leave strings in their racquets way too long, especially in the winter when many are not playing as much,” says Sunderlin. “One reason the pros can rip the ball so well—and this is something sometimes TV commentators fail to tell the public—is the pros have the strings cut out every day during a tournament and re-strung. People fail to understand that and…leave the polyester in too long and hurt their arms playing with dead strings—a problem that is exacerbated in winter.”
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Frames
*Just as drivers in the northeast are accustomed to winterizing their cars with oil and anti-freeze changes, tuning up your frame before taking your game indoors can be beneficial.
“Any time you re-string, the stringer should inspect the frame to make sure it’s solid and there are no hairline cracks,” says 40-year USPTA Pro 1 and long-time USRSA member Pat Rogers of the Yonkers Tennis Center. “Check your bumper guard, and if it’s worn out or has deteriorated, change it, because that’s your frame’s protection from cracking when you scrape shots off the court.”
Grips
Whether you’re playing in an indoor facility or beneath a bubble, cold winter air can create drier conditions that can make retaining your grip a challenge. For that reason, re-gripping or changing your over grip often is a good idea.
“When your hand is a little moist the grip will regain some of its tack, however when it’s very cold it tends to be less humid, so there’s less moisture and the grip gets worn and dries faster,” says Lloyd Emanuel, long-time senior pro at Sound Shore Tennis in Port Chester, NY. “Changing the grip can alleviate that issue and help players feel responsiveness from the racquet, so it helps on both practical and comfort levels.”
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Balls
*Back in the days when he lived in Mt. Kisco, NY, Hall of Famer Arthur Ashe once gave a sensible and timeless winter tennis tip: play with six balls rather than three.
“Think about it: You’re paying for court time, so time is precious when you play indoors in the winter,” Ashe said. “Buy two cans of tennis balls and play with six balls rather than three and you’ll have more fun by spending more time playing tennis and less time running around picking up balls.”