Tips For Maximizing Your On-Court Performance and Selecting Your Strings
L-TEC strings are completely unique. They are shattering conventional paradigms and blazing new trails in the world of string technology.
The L-TEC string system is designed to allow players to easily customize their stringbed to take full advantage of their skill set by mixing and matching strings of various compositions, diameters and profiles to create a custom hybrid setup that takes less energy to generate better results. Properly selected and installed L-TEC strings will make tennis infinitely more pleasurable and raise the level of on-court performance.
L-TEC will be identifying and training stringers and tennis facilities across the USA to assist players with the selection and preferred installation for optimum performance. We strongly suggest that those interested in finding the best combination of strings use approved and trained L-TEC resellers as they become available in your area. Until such time, this page will provide data and links to resources to help with the selection and installation of L-TEC strings.
SELECTING YOUR L-TEC SETUP
Because poly/poly hybrids are a new concept in string selection, it can be challenging to determine which setup or hybrid combination to explore. We have set up an L-TEC section on the GGT Discussion Forum as a resource so that you can post your specific questions and also read about the experiences of others. We have put together a GENERAL guide (see below) to highlight some of the more popular L-TEC combinations. (Combinations will list recommended mains first followed by recommended cross strings.)
1. Players seeking traditional full-poly playing characteristics similar to the most popular brands with touring professionals that will provide increased feel and extended performance time.
L-TEC Premium OS 16/L-TEC Premium 4S
Variations:
L-TEC Premium OS 17/L-TEC 4S (Increased ball speed)
L-TEC Premium OS 16/L-TEC Premium OS 17
L-TEC Premium OS 17/L-TEC Premium OS 18 (More inherent power)
L-TEC Premium OS 16/L-TEC Premium OS 18 (Blend of power and control)
*Note – L-TEC Premium OS Neon offers the same performance characteristics as the L-TEC Premium OS sterling and can be substituted/mixed for visual appeal.
2. Players putting a premium on spin production.
L-TEC Premium 5S/L-TEC Premium 3S Black
Variations:
L-TEC Premium 5S/L-TEC Premium 3S (Slightly crisper and lower powered)
L-TEC Premium 5S Black/L-TEC Premium 3S Black (Added comfort and power)
L-TEC Premium 5S/L-TEC Premium 5S Black
3. High level tournament players and touring professionals.
L-TEC Premium OS 16/L-TEC Premium 4S
Variations:
L-TEC Premium OS 16/L-TEC Premium 3S (Slightly greater spin)
L-TEC Premium OS 17/L-TEC Premium 4S (More power)
L-TEC Premium Pro/L-TEC Premium 3S or 4S (More power and comfort)
4. Players putting a premium on comfort while seeking the desirable performance characteristics of poly strings.
L-TEC Premium 4S/L-TEC Premium Gut
Variations:
L-TEC Premium 3S Black /L-TEC Premium Gut (Increase in spin)
L-TEC Premium Pro/L-TEC Premium Gut (Greater tension maintenance and durability)
L-TEC Premium 5S Black/L-TEC Premium Gut (Increase in spin, lower durability)
L-TEC Premium Black OS/L-TEC Premium Gut (Increase in power)
*Note – Any of the above hybrids can replace the L-TEC Premium Gut with L-TEC Flex. This reduces control and spin, but also reduces cost while offering a similar level of comfort)
5. Players seeking performance of full poly with a premium on ball speed.
L-TEC Premium 4S/L-TEC Premium 3S Black
Variations:
L-TEC Premium 4S/L-TEC Premium OS 18 (Greater ball speed)
L-TEC Premium 5S Black/L-TEC Premium 3S Black (Greater spin)
L-TEC Premium 3S Black/L-TEC Premium Black OS (Speed and spin)
L-TEC Premium 5S Black/L-TEC OS 18 (Solid blend of speed and spin)
General L-TEC hybrid color/construction principles:
A. Sterling colored poly strings offer professional-level performance/responsiveness and control.
B. Yellow colored poly strings are interchangeable with the sterling colored offerings in terms of overall performance.
C. Natural colored poly strings offer professional–level performance with an increase in feel.
D. Black colored poly offerings will add comfort and power.
E. Round sterling strings in mains yield longest lasting/most durable options.
F. Non-poly offerings are designed to be used as cross strings with poly-based mains. They will increase comfort/enhance feel and add power when combined with poly mains.
Youthful players who hit hard and seek spin are likely to enjoy the L-TEC Premium 5S/L-TEC Premium 3S Black setup.
Adult league players of all genders will likely appreciate the L-TEC Premium 4S mains with L-TEC Premium Gut crosses or for those seeking more spin the 3S mains may prove more satisfying.
L-TEC Technical Information
(For L-TEC technicians and those who desire to learn more about the strings)
For more than a year prior to launch, L-TEC strings underwent significant playtesting. They have been tested as full setups as well as a variety of hybrids. While the performance received from a full setup was often rated as superior to other premium strings on the market, the hybrid setups were what received the highest reviews.
At the top and bottom of this page you will find a link to a .pdf file that shows the results of the playtesting. At the top of the spreadsheet you will find that each copoly string was rated on its own as a full setup in the categories of power & speed, precision & control, capacity to spin the ball, capacity to hold tension, and overall durability/string life.
On page two of the .pdf file you will find ratings for 30 of the most popular hybrids that were tested. (NOTE: While there are many additional combinations that may offer excellent performance we were not able to generate enough significant data to rate additional hybrid combinations.)
To make best use of this resource, we suggest determining which characteristic of performance is of greatest importance to your customer and seek the top rated string or hybrid in that category. You can then look beyond the main characteristic and focus on the supporting characteristics to select your string or hybrid.
Sterling: The most crisp playing of all L-TEC strings. When strung at low tensions they offer excellent comfort. Players of all levels can enjoy and benefit from the sterling line, but it is the professional-level and tournament players who will really be able to appreciate the high level of control and long-lasting performance. Clearly designed to meet the demands of the highest level players.
Neon Yellow: Slightly softer than the sterling strings, these strings offer greater comfort without sacrificing any of the durability, control or tension maintenance.
Beige: Softer than both Sterling and Neon Yellow, the beige offering (L-TEC Pro) feels quite rigid to the touch, but the actual performance is another step softer than the Neon Yellow offerings. This string is an excellent option for those players seeking professional quality performance with a somewhat softer feel.
Black: The softest copolymers in the L-TEC lineup. Like many black strings in the marketplace, these strings excel in providing an exceptionally comfortable performance. They are more powerful and do not hold tension/playability quite as well as the other colors in the line, BUT they do offer longer lasting playability than many of the other "soft" copolymers in the market.
Here's another helpful tip. When using full copoly setups we have found a combination of mains paired with a thinner cross string offers outstanding performance. Therefore if you were thinking of trying a full L-TEC Premium OS setup you might choose a 1.28mm main and cross it with either the 1.23mm or 1.18mm version of the same string.
Finally, while the strings themselves offer premium performance, it reaches remarkable heights when combined using the JET Method of stringing. This method will be made available to our L-TEC resellers who wish to set themselves apart by learning the system. For those without access to the JET Method, we strongly suggest you make use of the installation suggestions made in the Stringing System section of this site.
Note: In addition to the performance guide, the L-TEC insert cards have been intentionally designed to help players understand how the strings rate in key areas of performance. This attached .pdf file will display the cards for each string and gauge and is being included as an aid to help educate our online customers about the characteristics of each string.