I know everyone does it slightly different and depends on your machine but as a general question if someone asks you to string a racket at 24lbs, do you; a) Strings the Mains at 24lbs then cross 26.4lbs (+10%) or b) String the Mains at 23lbs then cross at 25.3lbs (+10%) getting an average of 24.15lbs all round I've read around this particular Technique and tools thread, but just wanted an all round view, and adjust if I need to.
I do B, and make sure I tell the person the main and cross tension used. If they want it as 24 x 26 or 22 x 24 then i will adjust.
It all comes down to customer service. You can let them know how you normally string it and let them decide. Record it so in the future, if they like something different, then you know what tension was used before and adjust from there.
I agree, I would ask if they meant 24/24, 22/24, 24/26, 23/25? I would also record the name/date/string/tension/racket/frequency for my own note keeping.
if someone ask you to string 24lbs, that means he probably doesn't know nor care if it is 23x25, 24x24, 22x24. etc, etc. he just want to have a end product that feels around the same tightness that he is used to. my suggestion is to do the tension ratio that works best for your technique and your machine. reason being: 1. asking him would be confusing him even more. 2. you should already know what is the ratio that give the best playability given your technique and machine already. maximizing that should be the goal.
I do agree that the person is more than likely not aware of the options but that's part of the reason I ask, in doing so, if they are curious, they will ask what's the difference, or why the difference. This way I can hopefully help educate them a little so they can in turn teaching others. If even giving them the options and they don't show any interest, then yes, I just do what I think is best for the best and the player.
imho, the most important is to find the one optimal for your stringing. if they ask about it, explain that the ratio you are doing give the optimal playability. if they insist on any other ratio, then you just have to explain that it won't play as good.
23/25.3 doesn't average to 24. The mains gain tension when the crosses are pulled; they don't stay at 23.
which is also a very good point. "24lb" (or whatever tension of choosing) is just a reference, ball park figure. at the end of the string job, with all the friction and tensioning and clamping and zigzagging, i'd be surprised if more than 1cm of the string segment are at 24lbs! which brings back to my point, string it whatever feels good and best playability, and feels around 24lbs.
In the long run, one stringer's 24lb job won't be the same as another due to technique and machine differences. The important thing is to be able to do a requested tension the same every time of asking, so once the customer finds a stringer/tension they like, they can get what they want. Of course it helps when the customer uses the same stringer each time, unless the stringer can't replicate his/her job from one racket to the next...
One of my local stringer does it the following way. I can't remember the exact number of mains string count, but the tension I'm sure. Assuming the requested tension is 23 lbs,: Cross = 23 lbs Mains, from edge of the frame, from both sides, inwards, First 3 mains, 21.5 lbs Next 4 mains, 22 lbs Next 3 mains, 22.5 lbs Middle 2 mains, 23 lbs. 2 knots. I actually questioned whether a stringer will pay such attention to details, but, her jobs do play differently, in quite a good way ... Hmm ....
I prefer 7%-8% Difference since I have experimented on many rackets & 7%-8% maintains the length to width ratio properly.
I do it this way: X is asked tension for anything below 28lbs: mains: X -1 lbs 1st and 2nd bottom and 1st and 2nd top cross: X-1 lbs 3th to 4th bottom and 3th to 5th top cross: X lbs rest cross: X + 1lbs 4 knots for anything above 28lbs: first 5 mains X - 1lbs rest mains X - 2lbs 1st and 2nd bottom and 1st and 2nd top cross: X-1 lbs 3th to 4th bottom and 3th to 5th top cross: X lbs rest cross X*1,1 4 knots IMO the best option to get a strung racket out of my machine which is nearly the same to a unstrung one.
That's not gonna happen to me because I don't want to string racquets except mine.Say if someone asks me to string his/her racquets,I'd just show them how to use my stringing machine and strings.I've got some cheap strings like twenty American dollars per reel that they can actually "play"with;I don't really care much.Once they've tried and tested the tension they like,they can come back with their expensive strings and do their own racquets.I'll be happy that way.
Hi Bros: I would like to check , If I want to string 27/29 : what does it mean ? Sorry i ask such questions and being a frog I the well!
it means that the stringer will do your job in exactly 27mins and 29 seconds. For Lee Chong Wei he will do it in 30 mins and 33 seconds.