Witches and Witch Hunts in Early Massachusetts

By admin

Witchcraft in Massachusetts refers to the infamous witch trials that took place in the colonial state of Massachusetts Bay in the late 17th century. The trials, which occurred between 1692 and 1693, have become a dark chapter in American history and are often seen as a prime example of the dangers of hysteria and mass paranoia. The events leading up to the witch trials began in the town of Salem, where a group of young girls claimed to be afflicted by witchcraft. These girls accused several women of casting spells and causing their symptoms. The accused were interrogated and many were held in jail while awaiting trial. The trials were conducted in a highly prejudiced and biased manner.



Genesis Black Magic

I used to use this string for many years and remember it was a GREAT and soft poly and very popular too. Thinking about going back to it since it's a great bang for the buck.. For those that use Black Magic, what gauge and tension are you using?

I saw the RSI report from a while back and it doesnt really state what the optimal tension is for it as I have enjoyed lower tensions with many of the stiffer poly's out there but not sure what I should try now:
http://www.tennisindustrymag.com/articles/2011/08/15_playtest_genesis_black_magi.html

Reactions: Chace

Big Bagel

Professional

Last time I used it in the 17 gauge at 48 pounds. Very solid string, great bang for your buck, although I wouldn't say it was a soft poly. Softer than traditional poly, but not soft compared to what you can get today.

Chace

Hall of Fame
Awesome! Good to see TW carrying black magic. It’s a good all around poly.

darklore009

Hall of Fame

I used to string my high school tennis team with it as my coach was promoting the hell out of it. Black Magic is in the middle of the road where it doesnt have something to good/bad about it. However, when he switched to Twisted Razer, I hated stringing it as it it goes out straight instead of staying in a circle. Also, the string tends to chew through the cross gromments whenever I pull it through the mains. End up taking much more time stringing than I normally would.

tennistomcat

Semi-Pro

I picked up a used 2015 Blade 16X19 strung with black magic 16. The racket felt awesome and solid - great pop and control. My only gripes was that it didn't give crazy/easy spin & it felt a harsh on full swing flat shots in the sweet spot - kind of like making a solid hit with an aluminum bat - wasn't sure if it was the racket or strings.
The string had several hours of hitting on it previously. I thought the occasional harshness on hard struck shots may be due to that it might be going dead but was unsure since I had no clue what it felt like fresh. It still played solid & I used it for the next 5 months.
With this string, my blade felt like a more controlled pure aero (1st edition) - solid feel on nearly every shot on contact but less spin & pop on shots - but much more control on where my shots would land. I still had no trouble flattening out my shots for mid-court putaways though - there was ample power in reserve when I wanted to take offense.

Over the Christmas break, I decided to cut it out & string it up with Luxilon Alu soft which had similar TWU testing attributes at the same tension of 50 lbs hoping to get better results. It's been a long time since I've used luxilon due to the costs.
In doing this, I lost all the great things I liked about hitting with my racket.
My shots were all landing short & sitting up. When I got mid-court floaters, I had trouble hitting winners. I had problems getting depth & penetration on my shots - my racket felt anemic. I occasionally switched to my tweener racket in my bag to avoid getting pushed around.

I recently had my racket restrung with Genesis black magic 17 @ 48 lbs & my blade has come to life again. I didn't know how this string would feel on a fresh job but it feels mostly the same. It has a perfect blend of good power and great control that I have rarely seen in a poly. It is surprisingly powerful for a poly - the difference was like night & day.
The spin is good - not exceptional but not lacking. I feel I get better feel & spin with the 17 gauge vs the 16 and don't notice the harshness when flattening out shots for winners like with the old strings (could be the thinner gauge or the old stings could have been on the dead side).
I feel like I can hang with my hitting partner again in rallies without having to resort to the 24-26 mm tweener frame.

I had very little experience with this string before but at this price point & the great power and control it provides. It has become my new go-to string.
I'm going to string up my blx blade 98 18X20 to see if it also gives it that extra juice on shots and makes me switch back to it again. I've got quite a few 19-22 mm player's frames that I think would get a much needed power boost with these strings.
This is an old sleeper string that is worth a try for those who like to flatten out their shots & don't like the trajectory/feel of the shaped strings.

Reactions: mctennis

mctennis

Legend

I picked up a used 2015 Blade 16X19 strung with black magic 16. The racket felt awesome and solid - great pop and control. My only gripes was that it didn't give crazy/easy spin & it felt a harsh on full swing flat shots in the sweet spot - kind of like making a solid hit with an aluminum bat - wasn't sure if it was the racket or strings.
The string had several hours of hitting on it previously. I thought the occasional harshness on hard struck shots may be due to that it might be going dead but was unsure since I had no clue what it felt like fresh. It still played solid & I used it for the next 5 months.
With this string, my blade felt like a more controlled pure aero (1st edition) - solid feel on nearly every shot on contact but less spin & pop on shots - but much more control on where my shots would land. I still had no trouble flattening out my shots for mid-court putaways though - there was ample power in reserve when I wanted to take offense.

Over the Christmas break, I decided to cut it out & string it up with Luxilon Alu soft which had similar TWU testing attributes at the same tension of 50 lbs hoping to get better results. It's been a long time since I've used luxilon due to the costs.
In doing this, I lost all the great things I liked about hitting with my racket.
My shots were all landing short & sitting up. When I got mid-court floaters, I had trouble hitting winners. I had problems getting depth & penetration on my shots - my racket felt anemic. I occasionally switched to my tweener racket in my bag to avoid getting pushed around.

I recently had my racket restrung with Genesis black magic 17 @ 48 lbs & my blade has come to life again. I didn't know how this string would feel on a fresh job but it feels mostly the same. It has a perfect blend of good power and great control that I have rarely seen in a poly. It is surprisingly powerful for a poly - the difference was like night & day.
The spin is good - not exceptional but not lacking. I feel I get better feel & spin with the 17 gauge vs the 16 and don't notice the harshness when flattening out shots for winners like with the old strings (could be the thinner gauge or the old stings could have been on the dead side).
I feel like I can hang with my hitting partner again in rallies without having to resort to the 24-26 mm tweener frame.

I had very little experience with this string before but at this price point & the great power and control it provides. It has become my new go-to string.
I'm going to string up my blx blade 98 18X20 to see if it also gives it that extra juice on shots and makes me switch back to it again. I've got quite a few 19-22 mm player's frames that I think would get a much needed power boost with these strings.
This is an old sleeper string that is worth a try for those who like to flatten out their shots & don't like the trajectory/feel of the shaped strings.

Just a quick question. How does it really last before it needs to be cut out? I am getting tired of strings only lasting me 8 or so hours before they need to be replaced.

Genesis black magic string set

Construction: Co-Polymer Monofilament

Color: Black

Gauge: 16G (1.29mm) | 17G (1.23mm)

Length: 40 feet | 660 feet

Test Racquet / Tension
Wilson BLX Juice 100/16G @ 58 lbs

Intro
Genesis is one of the newest companies in the tennis industry, but it has certainly taken off. This is an American based company that specialize in the development, marketing, and production of high-end tennis products. In 2009, the company launched two new polyester strings and has not looked back ever since. Black Magic was one of the first strings the company made and it’s still popular to this day. I was first introduced to this string in 2011 and have continued to play with it ever since.

Power/Spin/Control
This string gives you a great deal of power and spin right away. Although it is recommended to be used at a lower tension, you can certainly use this string even at 60 pounds or higher. This polyester string is very unique in its making and really gives you a good balance when playing. For being a round polyester string it gets a great amount of spin. I found it easy to generate consistent net clearance with the string as well as create low bouncing slices. This string also allows to really go for power shots without worrying about how to control the ball.

Feel / Comfort
The feel with this string is top notch and unlike any other polyester I have played with. Genesis truly did make this string with comfort and feel in mind. I could feel the ball on my strings every time I would hit. The best part is that you don’t have to take off any pace or change your game to accommodate for the string.

Durability
Durability and tension are also great features with Black Magic. This string will usually last me 3-4 weeks at a time even when hitting relatively hard serves and groundstrokes consistently. The tension maintenance is very good with this string and nothing to worry about. Towards the end of its lifespan the spin, power and tension level didn’t change much which is much appreciated for players.

Overall
It doesn’t matter what type of player you are, you will definitely love this string by Genesis. This string is great for all levels of players and all types of racquets. The company has really done its research and it shows it in this string. If you are new to polyester strings, I would recommend using the 17G before switching to the 16G.

About the Reviewer: Chris Virk-Brown currently works at Tennis Express on the Content Marketing team. He previously played at Neumann University and coached at the collegiate level for 3 years. He is an active USTA League and Tournament player.

Genesis Black Magic String Set

Genesis Black Magic leads the pack among co-poly strings today. Offering superb power and control in perfect balance.

Makes up for the major flaw most polyester strings have today which is no feel! Genesis Black Magic is the answer.

Softer than most co-polys, this is a great string for players that are looking for a comfortable poly offering serious punch. Tension maintenance is top notch.

Specifications:

- Construction: Co-Polyester Monofliament

- Key Characteristics: Power and Control
- String Gauge:

- Colour: Black

- Length: 12m/40ft

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The trials were conducted in a highly prejudiced and biased manner. The legal system at the time allowed for spectral evidence, or testimony based on dreams, visions, and supernatural occurrences, to be used as evidence against the accused. This resulted in the conviction and execution of 20 people, mostly women, who were accused of practicing witchcraft.

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Witchcraft in massachusetts

The hysteria spread throughout Massachusetts, with many towns conducting their own trials and executions. The trials began to lose support when the governor's wife was accused of witchcraft, which cast doubt on the validity of the accusations. Eventually, the governor disbanded the court and pardoned those who were still imprisoned. The Salem witch trials have been studied extensively and have been the subject of numerous books, plays, and films. Scholars have attributed the trials to a combination of factors, including religious fervor, economic tensions, and social unrest. It is believed that the accusations and trials were a way for the community to exert control over individuals who represented a threat to the status quo. In recent years, efforts have been made to recognize and memorialize the victims of the witch trials. Memorials and plaques have been erected in Salem to honor those who were unjustly accused and executed. The trials serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of due process and evidence-based justice. Overall, the witch trials in Massachusetts were a dark period in American history, serving as a cautionary tale of how fear and hysteria can lead to the persecution of innocent individuals. The events of the trials continue to captivate and intrigue people to this day, reminding us of the importance of vigilance and fairness in the pursuit of justice..

Reviews for "The Salem Witch Trials: A Lesson in Mass Hysteria"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Witchcraft in Massachusetts." While the subject matter is fascinating, I found the book to be too dense and difficult to follow. The author seemed to assume that the reader already had a deep understanding of the history of witchcraft in the region, which made it difficult for a newcomer like me to fully grasp the concepts. Additionally, I found the writing style to be dry and lacking in engaging storytelling. Overall, I would not recommend this book to someone looking for an accessible and enjoyable exploration of the topic.
2. Emily - 1 star - I couldn't finish reading "Witchcraft in Massachusetts." Despite my interest in the Salem witch trials, this book failed to capture my attention. The author went into excruciating detail about every minor event and person involved, which made the narrative feel overly bogged down and tedious. Additionally, the book lacked structure and coherence, often jumping between different time periods and events without clear transitions. Overall, I found this book to be a dry and disjointed account of witchcraft in Massachusetts, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a compelling and well-organized exploration of the subject.
3. Sarah - 3 stars - "Witchcraft in Massachusetts" was an underwhelming read for me. While the topic is undeniably intriguing, I found the author's writing to be overly academic and inaccessible. The book was filled with complex language and jargon that made it difficult for me to fully comprehend the historical events and context. Additionally, I felt that the author's perspective was somewhat biased, often presenting only certain aspects of the story while ignoring others. Overall, I think this book could have been more engaging and inclusive for readers who are not already well-versed in the subject of witchcraft in Massachusetts.

Witchcraft Trials in Colonial Massachusetts: Causes and Consequences

The Accused: Profiles of the Women Accused of Witchcraft in Massachusetts