Hi all, Not myself but I seen on some players rackets, thin string is used on the bottom cross (see attached pictures). What is its purpose? Is it to minimise string movement in the mains? Also if it is beneficial, where can you buy this string from? It seems to be quite thin and very plastic like. Anyone that can help shed further light on the matter, would be welcomed. (apologies for poor camera pics, its 1am here and I am using mobile phone camera) Kindest regards, -Ajay- Quote of the Day Nothing happens until you move.
I have never seen like that.. but I think it just to minimize string movement.. I always do normal string to all my racket.. -aldow-
I believe That is the service line to decide who to serve first, a bit old school. If you run your finger over it, one side is smooth and the other side is rough. Your opponent calls out 'smooth' or 'rough' before you spin your racket then run your finger over it to check who to serve first.
the process is very very old. when string probably tensioned by hand. the process is called "trebling", partly for decoration and partly for keeping the string in place. remember that the tension will be much lower than today and there will be more string movement. unfortunately i think it also means that the feel of the string will be dampened.
Interesting, thanks. I always wondered about it, so I don't need to bother doing it to my string jobs, that's good to know. Kindest regards, -Ajay- Quote of the Day Nothing happens until you move.
I am old enough to remember "rough or smooth"... Kill me. We went from that to the racket spin "right or wrong" logo landing.
"Carlton arrow up or down" arg. Played with a guy last night that still has that style. I want to cut them out when he isn't looking.
There you have it. Rough or smooth. I was just a kid those days... Do you remember Hy-sheep and Hy-O-Sheep When I got more experienced, I saw people would throw the shuttle up and decide the serve by which end the cork would point to.
Man... That was so nostalgic to see that again on a racquet. Thanks for sharing it!! So tempted to try and put that on my racket when I next string them.
I think I may know the stringer, he is in a different city but if I next bump into him, I will ask him more about it. He is in his 60's, ex national player and a decent coach, I think he has been stringing probably over 40 years plus and maybe it is a habit of his. It's like a trademark I suppose now as I know whose racket he has strung from this bottom cross. Like I say I don't see many that do this. I would love to try it out but don't have a clue where to buy that small thin string from, any ideas anyone? Finally I still spin the racket and decide who goes on court when I do my sessions by the logo on the butt cap but during my clubnights and matches we throw a shuttle in the air and determine the server by the direction the cork is facing. Sometimes it is funny as I have had a record of 4 times in a row once where the shuttle landed cork facing upwards, lol. In the end I just served as I guessed I deserved it by doing so many flukes! Kindest regards, -Ajay- Quote of the Day Given a choice between two theories, take the one which is funnier.
I'm not old enough or played long enough to remember all these other methods, interesting though, I guess it shows up depending on the region and players involved. I just pop the shuttle up, which side the cork points to serves, if it is in between, opponent, if it is standing, mine. Simple enough, don't need to pop it up multiple times if it points half way or standing.
Hahaha, I see it all the time, players on the court turning their bodies and tilting their heads looking at the "indeterminates", trying to figure is it ours, is it theirs, should we toss it again....
They are just fishing lines that you can get from any shop that sells angling gears or hardware shops. Or just use the off cuts from the string you're stringing with.
Thanks Alan I will try a fishing shop. Normal offcuts are too thick, these string are noticeably thinner and more flexible. Kindest regards, -Ajay- Quote of the Day Use soft words and hard arguments.