cut the strings and get the racquet restrung No, every couple of months. That time may vary between different players.
Before I play a game, I use this little technique. I take the racquet I will be playing with, and I will yell at the strings for a minute or so. Yelling and screaming is known to increase tension. Try yelling as hard as you can, maybe you can increase the tension upwards to 30 or more pounds! Give it a try next time...
hahah!! people might think that you are crazy yelling at the racket. So far there is no way that you can tighten the same string after games. Unless if you change the whole string.
i use a corkscrew. i usually have one ready at my back pocket. between points, i will stick the cork screw into each of the grommet holes and then start twisting. the interation of the screw and the strings tightens it. i always have 5 rackets in my bag just in case i use too much force.
how do you do it kwun? do u have any pic to show us. This is new to me. never knew you can use a cork screw.
Ok Kwun. When you turn the corkscrew, the tension increases. Good. But to keep it at that tension you would need to play with the corkscrew attached, which looks silly, does it not? :S
You can try wedging matchsticks in the grommets and sticking the racket in the freezer, obviousley the strings are so tight they appear to be solid It seems easier to break strings if you use this method, but only for the first hour or so
Just curious, what do you guys use to cut the strings? My scissors at home are a bit too big. I know it's a bit off topic, but I don't think this warrants a new thread.
hahah - I scream at the strings until they finally snap.... hahaha.... smaller scissors - hahahah corkscrew - hahahah - yeah, extra racquets really will help... hahahaha there really has been no known or proven way to tighten a string once it has been strung up. the main problem is that most strings will stretch over time, and constant playing only speeds this process. any method you can think of to tighten a string on the racquet without removing the string would also likely cause damage to the racquet head - as Kwun described in his post.
Machine wash warm with detergent Funny, i've always dumped my rackets in the washer with warm water and soap after each game. The washing usually shrinks the strings(just like it shrunk my trousers) and increases the tension considerably. You get nice clean and fresh smelling rackets(and towel grips) at the same time re-tension your strings.
Re: Machine wash warm with detergent First time i hear bout this funny idea. Dump your racket with warm water and soap? I wound nver want to try it. too risky for me.
i use corn starch instead of soap. you know corn starch has this effect of "thickening the sauce"? it does the same, makes the string shrink a little bit so the tension increases. i do that when i find out after stringing that the string is too loose for my taste. if the string is too tight however, i use baking soda along with some yeast. that has the reserve effect of expanding the string.
are you sure these remedies are not old wife tales? I would understand if the string is natural guts but for synthetic nylon? hmmm
Sandman: Just wondering about your technique... Do you also add some softener so that it reduces static cling? I'd hate to smash after the wash, only to find the shuttle has stuck on the strings.... Although would certainly fake out the opponents... wha? where da bird gone?
aren't you supposed to only dry-clean natural guts? don't forget your ticket though, you might never get back your racquet if the drycleaner is also badminton fanatic!
Is it just me or do some of your string-tightening solutions seem really ironic? Well especially badrad's LOL. I mean, how long does he have to scream at his strings to male them break... My method is to leave the racket in a cold place all the time (e.g. your car boot if you live in Sweden or your fridge if you live in Singapore). The lower temperature will mean the strings contract, thus increasing the tension. Thanks to BRL for mentioning the idea in the first place.
i think it's a dumb (idiotic) idea to extend string life by few days but risk wrecking your 200$ racket. Real...dumb. Be forewarn that rackets been subject to abnormal cold (or hot) temperature will VOID your warranty. I'm sure our inhouse yonex person eggroll will confirm this. I'm sure WWC won't cover this type of mishap either.
