To retain the racket's shape. If you string 2lbs more on the cross, your racket will break or look like a circle.
?? I was replying to magiadam who said what if he strung the cross > than the mains. Mains are always tighter than crosses. I do that too.
no he didn't maybe you have mains/crosses the wrong way round. Mains run in the same direction as the shaft, throat to head. mains are longer than crosses, so higher tension on the mains than the crosses might make the strings work better together. I've used mains>crosses and not had any distortion problems (using my 6-pt machine)
ok I got a little confused after being out of touch for 2 years plus yeah I always string the mains (vertical), 1lbs tighter than the cross (horizontal).
Is there a difference between where the extra pounds go? If yes, what are they? More advantage on the crosses or mains?
Having higher tension on the main strings than the cross strings or even having the same tension for both will distort the racquet frame. You can do a search on why having 10% higher tension on the crosses than the mains will keep the frame with minimal distortion. You can do a qc check on your racquet after each stringing job. There are two ways of doing this and they are very precise. One way is useful for those who have a few brand new racquets of the same model. After stringing one racquet, just compare it with a new unstrung racquet of the same model. There are two comparisons to check. One is to compare the frame shape, the other the total length of the two racquets (one strung, the other unstrung). A second way to check is to place the unstrung racquet you are going to string against a flat wall, with the butt end standing on the flat floor. Get a piece of Scoth or 3M Paste-It paper and stick it on the wall at the top of the racquet head. Use a thin pencil and trace the outline of the racquet top (head)-a 4" long outline will do. Now go and string your racquet. After stringing, bring it back to the wall and compare with the outline tracing. It is unlikely that short of the 10% higher cross tension any other tension combinations will not distort the frame.
My regular stringer usually weave the mains and crosses first before stringing. But I notice some stringers only weave the mains and start stringing. Would it make a difference in the tension?
I doubt it. Or, rather, I can't think of a reason why it would. One prestringing activity that would affect the final stringbed stiffness is prestretching (the string).
Here are my deductions/observations: 1. Mains > Crosses Wider frame Increased torque tollerance (or accuracy) from off center hits on either side of the sweet spot Crosses tend to move around 2. Mains < Crosses Minimal distortion Mains tend to move around 3. Mains = Crosses Longer frame Greatest string bed stiffness Minimal string movement Reduced accuracy from off center hits on either side of the sweet spot The described characteristics become more pronounced as the tension used is increased. Choose these according to your needs.
Except for 2 above the others will distort the frame. See my earlier post #11 on how to qc and measure frame distortion with more precision. If you string at high tension both mains and crosses will not move.
Yeah, man. 16.75/16.75lb and 16/16lb didn't move. 15/15lb moved only slightly. Like you said, you don't know man .
Also, a distorted frame will move strings less than a non-distorted frame, AOTBE. BTW, strings also move a lot if you cut smash.
