Power Cord is a relatively soft polyester tennis string. This is not to say that it feels like a multi-filament string, its still a polyester and as such has an inherently firm feel.

If you have come to enjoy the performance benefits of polyester strings but have wished for a livelier more forgiving (softer) feel, then Power Cord is a tennis string you should try.

If you have found that a 'full' (non-hybrid ) polyester setup is too harsh on your arm, Power Cord may be the answer. Its higher elasticity produces a livelier and softer string-bed that is easier on your arm. As far as spin generation is concerned, nothing beats a 'full' polyester setup and a 'full' Power Cord setup is no exception.

For tension , start off with whatever tension has worked well for you with other polyester tennis strings.

First off, if hitting harder with more spin appeals to you, then you should at least try a polyester tennis string. Thanks to its softer more elastic feel, Power Cord is an ideal polyester to start off with. Transitioning from a non-polyester to a polyester string will almost invariably result in a string bed that is stiffer than you are used to. Employing a softer polyester like Power Cord will achieve a string-bed stiffness that is closer to what you are already familiar with.

In the spirit of making the transition as gradual as possible, start off with a hybrid setup. Pairing Power Cord (usually in the mains) with a string like Golden Set Synthetic Gut (usually in the crosses) will achieve a string bed stiffness that is closer to what you are already comfortable with. If this works well and you are open to a further increase in stiffness, THEN try a 'full' (non-hybrid) setup with Power Cord on its own. You will find that a hybrid Power Cord setup provides impressive spin generation. Even more impressive is the spin generation of a 'full' Power Cord setup.

For tension , you should start off stringing a polyester at about 10% less tension than your preferred tension for non-polyester string.

Power Cord, with its increased elasticity, might just change your opinion of polyesters. While it shares the incredible spin generation inherent to the polyester family of tennis strings, you will find it to be noticeably softer and more lively. Going back to a non-polyester setup may be difficult after trying Power Cord.

Since your avoidance of polyesters stems from their higher stiffness, you should NOT be using Power Cord on its own in a 'full' (non-hybrid ) setup. Nor should you be stringing it at the tension you prefer for non-polyesters. A noticeably softer feel will be achieved by stringing Power Cord in a hybrid (combined with a softer string like Golden Set Velvet or Synthetic Gut) and at 10% less tension than you prefer for non-polyesters.

Take whatever tension you have been using for a non-polyester and lower it by 10%. If that is still a bit too stiff, further reduce the tension for your next restring. It is often surprising how far you can lower a polyester's tension before loss of control becomes an issue.

Start off with whatever tension has worked for you with other polyesters.

To maximize your access to spin and feel, choose 17, the thinner gauge of Power Cord.

16, the thicker gauge , is going to offer the most durability. 17, the thinner gauge, may maximize your spin and feel but at the cost of lower durability. You need to make a decision between the performance benefits of 17 versus the extended durability of 16 gauge. How much durability are we talking about? The life expectancy of a 17 gauge string is about third less than that of a 16 gauge string. A good compromise can be achieved by installing 16 gauge in the mains and 17 gauge in the crosses. A hybrid setup like this will give you the durability of 16 gauge plus some of the performance benefits of 17 gauge.