We have a gentleman at our club that strings raquets for members and in the sweetspot of the raquet he laces in a square pattern a piece of thin guage string to keep the strings in place. I think this a rules violation whereas the strings must be interlaced in a criss cross pattern and the face of the raquet string should be consistent. What do you guys think of my interpetation? I know I could just e mail my friends in Tokyo but thought it might be interesting to hear your comments.
I know the guy u r talking about. I'm not sure about the IBF rules but i do know that it affects string performance. At first he charges 10$ extra for that weaving, later 5$, i don't know how much extra he charges now. Some people fell for it because they think they got some special advantage over regular string job but those advantages he claimed haven't been proven nor have i seem the benefits as claimed
I'll lay the IBF Smackdown The relevant law would seem to be 4.2.1 The stringed area shall be flat and consist of a pattern of crossed strings either alternately interlaced or bonded where they cross. the stringing pattern shall be generally uniform, and, in particular, not less dense in the centre than in any other area. If the extra string is like the border of a square, around the centre, I would guess it is not legal. (based on the idea that the stringing pattern would be less dense in the centre than in the area with the extra string) If the extra string is filling the whole of a square, I would guess it might be legal.
have u considered being a lawyer I think u would do really well I think if one push it to the letters of the law, it's illegal, that goes to lots of other stringers weaving extra strings on top and bottom of racket.