VIDEO: Alan Kakinami strings a racket in 14mins 45secs!!!

***kwun*** · 04-06-2012, 11:17 AM

boy do we have a treat today. i went to visit AK in Synergy last night and took a video of him stringing a racket.

the total time of 14 minutes 45 seconds includes mounting, cutting string, string, and then dismounting the racket.

i will let the video do the talking. enjoy!

***jamesd20*** · 04-06-2012, 11:32 AM

How come i cant see some videos posted here?

***kwun*** · 04-06-2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by jamesd20

How come i cant see some videos posted here?

are you on an ipad?

***jamesd20*** · 04-06-2012, 11:39 AM

Yes...dont have standard laptop anymore

***kwun*** · 04-06-2012, 11:44 AM

see if this link works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCsjl...TewPL_DI0ou4U=

***jamesd20*** · 04-06-2012, 11:46 AM

It does. I take it ipads can't see the embedded videos?

**phili** · 04-06-2012, 11:47 AM

Wow.
How long has he been stringing?

**yan.v** · 04-06-2012, 12:04 PM

What's that starting knot ?

And what's that finishing knot ? wtf!

Also, I wish I had that much space between the racket and the N/S towers! Making knots is a pain with so little space.

***kwun*** · 04-06-2012, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by yan.v

What's that starting knot ?

And what's that finishing knot ? wtf!

that's his new fancy knot. looks like a sausage bun. maybe ak you can demo it on another video?

***kwun*** · 04-06-2012, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by jamesd20

It does. I take it ipads can't see the embedded videos?

yeah. ipad has some limitations...

**yan.v** · 04-06-2012, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by kwun

that's his new fancy knot. looks like a sausage bun. maybe ak you can demo it on another video?

That'd be awesome, those knots look like they could resist a truck pulling the string :P

**HappySachs** · 04-06-2012, 12:19 PM

First thought is ...wow

I'd not thought of using my teeth to hold the end of the string

It seems where he really saves time vs Kwun is in the weaving. He must have amazing finger strengh (in addition to his great technique) as I can normally make it 3/4 of the way across the string bed before having to stop and pull some slack through.

Was that an awl he used to blitz the shared holes?

Interesting to see him march the clamps up frame on the crosses (i.e. both attached at the same time). I used to do that but unfortunately not all the teeth of my cheap and badly make clamps would grip the string fully thus allowing a little bit of slippage, or at least that's what I was worried about.

I also didn't notice him threading string whilst the tensioner was active.

I think if I pulled the slack string through the grommets as hard as he did (on the crosses) I'd shred my hands.

PS: His T-shirt had me chuckling from the start, lol

**Fidget** · 04-06-2012, 12:23 PM

Whoa, we are not worthy!
That is a mighty demonstration of stringing prowess. I feel like I should be bowing or making a sacrifice to AK's altar of speed.

***cobalt*** · 04-06-2012, 12:50 PM

This video is proof that aliens/advanced beings exist.

**wanchai97** · 04-06-2012, 01:58 PM

Awesome. Just approx. 10 minutes for the crosses!

Eager to see the details of the knot he used in this video.

**AlanY** · 04-06-2012, 02:09 PM

thanks for the video.
i never believe time is a factor of a good stringing job but if you have quality and speed, why not!

***kwun*** · 04-06-2012, 02:23 PM

i agree that time should not the most critical factor. quality should be. it is also a show of skill and composure when one can do a really fast string job. as for people like AK, he needs to be fast as that's his profession. we actually made two stringing videos last night. at the end of it he was genuinely sweating!