The industry's drive for product differentiation has resulted in a large selection of high-performance racquets. Currently, most tennis players can only differentiate racquets through professional players. However, most of these racquets are designed for better players, whose strokes are faster and more consistent than the average player. Vortex, however, is able to differentiate itself through it unique and patented string patterns. The string pattern is the most important aspect of the tennis racquet.
The strings recoil rapidly enough to return energy to the ball whereas the frame fully recoils only after the ball has left the string bed. Vortex has designed its racquet around how long a ball spends in contact with the strings (dwell time)and the velocity at which the ball leaves the racket. The looser string tension leads to slightly higher ball rebound velocities (more 'power'). This is due to the fact that tennis balls have a rather low coefficient of restitution and a dwell time on the strings which is short.
Strings have relatively little loss of energy when they are deformed. If the strings can take up a larger fraction of the energy, the ball will deform less and lose less energy. Consequently, the ball will rebound with more energy (fed to it by the strings) and will have a higher velocity. The less tension in the strings, the more they deform, the larger fraction of energy they store (and subsequently give back), the less the ball deforms, the less kinetic energy the ball dissipates. However, this also results in a decrease in control.
Vortex's unique designs result in ball-path correction of off-centers hits, more power, longer dwell time, reduced impact shock and increased control.
Low Tension Dynamics
The Vortex "Low Tension Dynamics" takes advantage of the benefits behind the increase in power through lower string tensions. The basic premise behind the "Low Tension Dynamics" is that while the racquets are strung at traditional string tensions the unique string count and pattern create an actual surface tension 12-25 pounds less than our competitors' racquets. This lower tension allows the ball to pocket more on the string bed and allows higher amount of energy to be transmitted back to the ball. Additionally, it allows the ball to stay longer on the racquet allowing more time for the racquet to recoil thereby increasing the benefits of the frame design.
String Count
Vortex uses three strings counts:
14 (mains) by 15 (crosses) for a total of 29 strings
14 by 16 for a total of 30 strings
14 by 17 got a total of 31 strings
Currently, most of our competitors use a 18 by 20 for a total of 38 strings or a 16 by 18 for a total of 34 strings. Vortex's total string count provides greater string bed elasticity and reduced dynamic loss.
Our unique string counts open up the spacing between the strings, which translates into more bite on the ball, which increases the control. When acting in conjunction with our Low Tension Dynamics system, the player is able to increase their power through the lower surface tension and increase control by providing more bite (spin) on the ball.
Pyramid String Pattern
Out patent pending Pyramid String Pattern features main strings that are spaced closer together at the top of the racquet and further apart at the bottom. The decreased space between strings at the top of the racquet reduces the elasticity of the strings and thereby increases the amount of control over the ball-path. The increased space between strings at the bottom of the racquet increases the elasticity of the strings which increase the velocity of the ball. When balls are hit at the top of the racquet, the player has maximized the power zone of the racquet. By reducing the elasticity of the strings in this area, we have increased the amount of the control the player will have over the bath-path as it ball leaves the string bed thereby providing the maximum amount of control where the racquet has the maximum amount of power. Two thirds of all mis-hits occur at the bottom of the racquet. This occurs because the player is usually jammed and/or over ran the ball which reduces the players power. However, by increasing the elasticity of the strings in this area allows the ball to leave the string bed with more energy and thereby increasing the velocity of the ball.
The Vortex Advantage
Players who use a Vortex racquet will have an advantage over the competition through ball-path correction of off-centers hits, more power, longer dwell time, reduced impact shock and increased control. This is accomplished through:
Low Tension Dynamics increasing the overall elasticity of the string bed and thereby increasing power,
Vortex's unique string count increasing the spacing between strings and thereby increasing spin and control of the ball while it is on the string bed, and
the patent pending Pyramid String Pattern increasing control and power over off-centered hits.
