Single fiber observations indicate that reversals in wall microfibril orientation affect cotton fiber strength. To obtain a more precise understanding of reversal distribution and their influence on fiber strength, we have examined frequency of reversals in cotton samples of known fiber strength (as measured by HVI). Our observations indicate that reversals are distributed unevenly along the fiber, with significantly larger numbers of reversals in the fiber tip region. There appears to be no direct or simple correlation between reversal frequency and fiber strength. Fiber samples with very different strength measurements did not differ significantly in reversal frequency; whereas high strength cotton samples had reversal frequencies which differ by several fold. These observations indicate that many characteristics of the fiber cell wall, in addition to reversal frequency patterns, may function in concert to affect fiber strength.