Different Coloured Yonex Strings

Why Yonex don't sell all of their strings all around the world can sometimes be a mystery to me. There is quite clearly the same market for coloured badminton strings in the UK, so Yonex could be losing a lot of revenue just from not stocking a product that they already sell elsewhere. I know that many people are put off by the fact that Bg80 only comes in yellow, which makes people go for a usually slightly cheaper white string. However, if you look on the Yonex USA website, Bg80 is only available in white over there! This is something that baffles me beyond belief.

I also have many different people (usually girls) ask me if I have a variety of different coloured strings, and I can usually get a string from a different manufacturer that is of the colour they would like, but that is still a sale that Yonex has lost here in the UK. If you look on www.mybadmintonstore.com for example, then they have some Yonex strings in as many as about 7 different colours, so if ever I have a specific request for a particular Yonex string in a colour that is not available in the UK then that is the place I got to first.

Here is the problem though, I should not have to order strings from abroad just because Yonex do not think there is a big enough market here in the UK, there clearly is and after speaking to one of the biggest UK retailers of badminton string, who said that if Yonex did have coloured string in the UK they would happily buy at least a box of reels of each one, it shows that Yonex are potentially losing a huge amount of profit every year by not selling all of their colours of strings everwhere!

Sussex Senior Restricted Entry Form

I know that this is not going to affect the vast majority of people who read this blog, but I will include it anyway. The entry forms for the Sussex Senior Restricted are now available at www.sussexjuniorbadminton.co.uk this is because the main Sussex badminton website is down, so if you want to enter the restricted the forms are available and are due in on the 14th of September!

Bg80 Power Review

Well, my review of Yonex's most expensive string in the UK is finally here and its definitely a bit of a weird one! When I heard that Yonex was going to be releasing a "power" version of one of their top selling strings around the world I have to say that I was extremely excited. Everyone wants that little bit extra power in their game don't they? But does the string live up to all of the hype?

Stringing with Bg80 power is no different to stringing with any other Yonex string, although I did find that the slightly less textured surface did mean that I was able to weave the crosses slightly easier than with Bg80.

When it comes to playing with Bg80 power I am still a little undecided. Of course it is a good quality string coming from a big brand such as Yonex, however I am not quite sure whether it deserves its hefty price tag. It doesn't have quite the same sharp feel that you get with Bg80, or the raw power of Bg66UM, in fact, it seems to fall a bit short in my opinion. I would say that you can get the same repulsion power, with a better feel from Bg80 and I can't see why you should spend the extra £20 a reel on a string that offers very little in the way of increased power or performance.

I am still sticking to my opinion that Bg80 is the best all-round badminton string available in the world today, I'm not sure why Yonex would risk ruining the Bg80 brand by bringing out a different version of the string that doesn't quite match up to the original, but their marketing opinions are their own.

All in all, if you're looking to use a slightly softer, less immediate version of Bg80, then here's your answer, if not, then I would recommend continuing to use Bg80 or try a completely new string entirely!

Types of Tennis Strings Explained

Choosing the right tennis strings for your game can be a complete minefield, however, hopefully with this guide you will know a bit more about the different types of tennis strings available and which one will be right for your game.

Nylon (Synthetic Gut)

Nylon strings are often referred to as synthetic gut strings because of their likeness to the more expensive natural gut. They can be made out of a number of different blends of fibers and are some of the most popular strings on the market, as they are usually used by most club and recreational players due to their excellent balance of playability, durability and price. They are more durable than natural gut, however not as durable as polyester or kevlar strings. A good example of a nylon string is Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex, which has been one of the top selling strings around the world for the past 10 years.

Natural Gut

Natural gut is made from the intestines of usually cows or sheep. Natural gut strings offer the best power, comfort and playability among all types of strings. It is excellent for people with tennis elbow as it has a really soft feel to it, however, all of this does come at a price, and it is a big one! Just one set of natural gut can cost up to as much as £36 and that is without the labor cost of the stringer added onto that! Natural gut is used by many professional players in a hybrid usually with a polyester as natural gut is the least durable string on the market and can be easily affect by environmental factors such as rain or temperature. However, if you are a money no object kind of guy, then natural gut will offer you the best all round playability, although be prepared to be visiting your stringer very frequently.

Polyester

Polyester strings offer lest power and comfort than nylon strings, however, offer a lot more durability. Polyester strings tend to lose tension a lot quicker than other types of strings, so many players string their rackets a little tighter in order to compensate for this drop off. While polyester strings are ideal for frequent string breakers the lack of feel and comfort usually means that they are paired with a multi-filament nylon or natural gut in order to soften up the string bed.

Kevlar

Last but no means least, kevlar strings offer an extremely frequent string breaker a little respite. They are by far the most durable strings on the market, although, offer very little power or comfort. That is why they are not recommended to juniors or adults with arm injuries. A very soft nylon is also usually needed in a hybrid in order to soften up the extremely stiff string.

String Gauge Guide

Strings come in a variety of different gauge sizes, but the way of measuring varies from region to region. This diagram should help out with any confusion cause by the different sizing measurements. And remember a thinner string will give greater power and playability but less durability and a thicker string will offer more durability but less power and control.

Picture courtesy of www.stringingsolutions.co.uk

New Logo!

Hey everyone, just another quick update to say that APB Stringers has a new logo, what do you think?