Copoly Strings: How Do They Really Work?

It's been almost 15 years since Guga first won the French using "copoly" strings. Since Gustavo Kuerten won the French Open in 1997 with the aid of Luxilon copoly strings, the material has gradually displaced traditional natural gut and other synthetic strings in nearly every racket on the ATP tour. The strings are essentially polyester with various-often slippery--chemical additives, and most accurately described as copolymers. The "luxilon shot," the characteristic, diving flight path associated with heavy topspin, has now become a characteristic of the professional game itself. There is no doubt that copoly strings have taken their place amongst the most important equipment innovations in the history of tennis. Fundamental Change Following his victory in the 2007 US Open final, Roger Federer explained that copoly strings had forced a tactical shift in the men's game, pushing attacking players away from the net and back onto the baseline. "If you come into the net you're dead these days," says Nate Ferguson, who famously strung Pete Sampras' rackets for many years and is now the personal racquet and string technician for Federer, Djokovic, Murray and 13 of the ATP's top 30 players. The incoming spin from players like Rafa makes volleying far...