String tension query

Discussion in 'Badminton Stringing Techniques & Tools' started by vienly, Dec 4, 2013.

  1. vienly

    vienly Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2004
    Messages:
    226
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Networking
    Location:
    London
    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.
     
  2. DarthHowie

    DarthHowie Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2003
    Messages:
    1,161
    Likes Received:
    187
    Occupation:
    Software Developer & Assistant Coach @ GBC
    Location:
    Toronto & Vancouver, Canada
    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.
     
  3. Trinhity

    Trinhity Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2004
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Toronto
    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. :)
     
  4. mater

    mater Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2009
    Messages:
    514
    Likes Received:
    24
    Occupation:
    Nomad
    Location:
    Badminton Central
    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.
     
  5. kwun

    kwun Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2002
    Messages:
    41,043
    Likes Received:
    2,066
    Occupation:
    BC Janitor
    Location:
    Santa Clara, CA, USA
    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.
     
  6. mater

    mater Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2009
    Messages:
    514
    Likes Received:
    24
    Occupation:
    Nomad
    Location:
    Badminton Central
    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.
     
  7. kwun

    kwun Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2002
    Messages:
    41,043
    Likes Received:
    2,066
    Occupation:
    BC Janitor
    Location:
    Santa Clara, CA, USA
    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.
     
  8. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2005
    Messages:
    7,170
    Likes Received:
    695
    Location:
    St Helens, UK
    23/25.3 doesn't average to 24. The mains gain tension when the crosses are pulled; they don't stay at 23.
     
  9. kwun

    kwun Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2002
    Messages:
    41,043
    Likes Received:
    2,066
    Occupation:
    BC Janitor
    Location:
    Santa Clara, CA, USA
    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.
     
  10. _Rav_

    _Rav_ Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2010
    Messages:
    209
    Likes Received:
    10
    Occupation:
    Gofer
    Location:
    UK
    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...
     
  11. atypical

    atypical Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2013
    Messages:
    210
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Systems Analyst
    Location:
    Singapore
    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 ....
     
  12. aqua26

    aqua26 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2012
    Messages:
    112
    Likes Received:
    10
    Occupation:
    Sports Shop Owner
    Location:
    Mumbai, India
    I prefer 7%-8% Difference since I have experimented on many rackets & 7%-8% maintains the length to width ratio properly.
     
  13. ucantseeme

    ucantseeme Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2010
    Messages:
    5,053
    Likes Received:
    2,401
    Occupation:
    Z-Force II
    Location:
    Z-ForceII
    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.
     
    #13 ucantseeme, Dec 29, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2013
  14. beermonstertw

    beermonstertw Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2009
    Messages:
    128
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Taipei/Taiwan
    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.
     
  15. Ferrerkiko

    Ferrerkiko Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
    Messages:
    3,530
    Likes Received:
    45
    Occupation:
    audit assistant
    Location:
    Singapore
    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!
     
  16. beermonstertw

    beermonstertw Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2009
    Messages:
    128
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Taipei/Taiwan
    It means a top player to me.
     
  17. aqua26

    aqua26 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2012
    Messages:
    112
    Likes Received:
    10
    Occupation:
    Sports Shop Owner
    Location:
    Mumbai, India
    Well yesterday I strung a racket 35:38 lbs
     
  18. beermonstertw

    beermonstertw Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2009
    Messages:
    128
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Taipei/Taiwan
    Another pro here we've got.
     
  19. Exert

    Exert Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2013
    Messages:
    210
    Likes Received:
    10
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    Canada
    28 pounds?
     
  20. ucantseeme

    ucantseeme Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2010
    Messages:
    5,053
    Likes Received:
    2,401
    Occupation:
    Z-Force II
    Location:
    Z-ForceII
    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.
     

Share This Page