Hi guys: Sorry if this has appeared before somewhere else in this forum, but I need to know the answer quickly. With respect to the two knot method, do people generally begin to tighten the strings from the point of the starting knot or from the centre to out to the side of the starting knot and then tie it?
I think the de facto standard method is to start from the centre and work your way out to the sides, alternating sides every 2 or 3 strings. Pretty much all stringing instructions I've come across are this way, although I know a few stringers here on this board who string mains from one side to another. FWIW, HTH.
Ahhhh, I get it now, yes, alternatiing sides from the center out. The ones I know that do left to right are old school stringers.
Sorry for not being very clear about what I mean. The way Mr Quasimodo has described it is the way that I restring my rackets. Do anyone work from centre to out, complete the knot side without alternating, and the carry on as normal with the standard two know method stringing? Thanks for your comments guys, even though my customers range from beginners to pros, this is a question that I have been getting quite a bit recently. Need some help to answer it.
I would imagine some use this method. I do not. I try to balance and spread the tension evenly as possible (within reason). In a perfect world, you would alternate every string from the center out. However, I find this unnecessary and time consuming. I do something like this (all tensioning going from the center out, total 22 strings, 11 left, 11 right, I have the bottom tie-off on the right side): Assuming 25/27.5lbs. 1) Tension the 3 center strings on left side (8 strings left on left side) 2) Then alternate to the right side and tension the 6 center strings (5 strings left on right side) 3) Back to the left side 4 strings (4 strings left on left) 4) Then right side tension 4 strings (1 string left on right for tie-off) 5) Then tension last 4 string on left (0 strings left) 6) Now tension the first two bottom cross strings at the same tension as the mains (25lbs.) 7) Go to 29-30lbs. and tension the last string on the right (tie-off) 8) Adjust back to 27.5lbs. and tension the third cross string from the bottom 9) Keep going until you finish.
I'll do a detailed post with pictures of my 2 and 4 knots stringing methods one of these days. The 4 knot is Yonex compliant! ...
Dang! Is there a fee to be EC? I'm sure it's tougher than Yonex's Master Stringer requirements. Where do I sign-up?
One piece, 2-knot stringing has some merits, one of which is that saves the stringer some money if he uses bulk string reels. However, 0ne-pc 2-knot stringing is not good in preventing or minimizing frame distortion, irrespective of whether you start the mains from the middle, alternating or otherwise, or from one side. I have covered this one-piece stringing weakness in another thread.
So could one of you experts i.e. Sir DinkAlot or Taneepak offer detailed instructions regarding the 4 knot method? Although I did not enrol into any kind of a professional course to learn how to string a rackets, I would like to think that I am at least competent at it compared to some of the master experienced stringers who visit this forum.
Sir DinkAlot: Two questions for you. 1. Last string on the right, why the much higher tension? Also, my coach and I play at 29 lbs, what do we do on this instance? 2. For the first two string across, why stay at 25lbs and not straight to 27.5lbs? Again, what would be the relevant tension if I normally play at 29lbs? Thank you for your advice.
Answers: 1. The last string on the right is the tie-off string. I go higher to account for the tension loss when you tie-off. If 29lbs., go to 32-33lbs. 2. Balance. If I immediately switch over to 27.5lbs. on the first cross string, it'll transfer over, even out with the last main string (higher tension on the last main string). There will be a slight imbalance with the other side (right tie-off) which is already usually lower in tension. To try and keep the tension balance as close as possible on both of the last main strings, I keep the tension at 25lbs. on the first two strings then switch over to the 10% difference on the third string. I know the third string will creep over to the 2nd and very remotely to the 1st cross string, but that's why I do it. Otherwise, I'd just switch over to 27.5lbs. on the second cross instead of the third. For me it works really well, I get very close to 2-piece stringing results with 1-piece speed and convenience. I'm still waiting for Eepak to comment on or any opinions he has on this method. I've discussed with with some other local stringing experts, a couple of them Yonex Certified and they find my method very interesting and think it's just fine. I'll post the 4-knot method in a moment, it's very easy too...
What about my 1-piece method, 25 mains, cross 27.5. The first two bottom cross I stay 25lbs., on the third cross I switch over to 27.5lbs. and there on.?
I'm no expert like PeteLSD, Eepak, LazyBuddy or Cooler when it comes to stringing but I've conversed with a few experts including 2 or 3 Yonex Certified stringers so I know I'm at least adequate, won't give wrong/bad advice. I can do a few 4-knot methods. The easiest/best way for me is: 1) Same as my 2-knot method (pre-string then pull) up to the point where I do the right tie-off. 2) Instead of transitioning over to the mains from the left side bottom, I pull the last left main (add 3-5lbs.), clamp, cut and tie-off. 3) Now I go to the top and tie-off at A5. 4) I add 10% of the main string tension for the cross (if main 25, then cross 27.5) and pull from the second top cross to minimize stress on the tie-off. You can pull the first cross but I like ot minimize stress at the top. 5) Continue to pull to the last string on the bottom, add 3-4lbs. Tie-off at B6 or B8 (depending how you did the main tie-off).
DinkAlot : I would imagine some use this method. I do not. I try to balance and spread the tension evenly as possible (within reason). In a perfect world, you would alternate every string from the center out. However, I find this unnecessary and time consuming. I do something like this (all tensioning going from the center out, total 22 strings, 11 left, 11 right, I have the bottom tie-off on the right side): Assuming 25/27.5lbs. 1) Tension the 3 center strings on left side (8 strings left on left side) 2) Then alternate to the right side and tension the 6 center strings (5 strings left on right side) 3) Back to the left side 4 strings (4 strings left on left) 4) Then right side tension 4 strings (1 string left on right for tie-off) 5) Then tension last 4 string on left (0 strings left) 6) Now tension the first two bottom cross strings at the same tension as the mains (25lbs.) 7) Go to 29-30lbs. and tension the last string on the right (tie-off) 8) Adjust back to 27.5lbs. and tension the third cross string from the bottom 9) Keep going until you finish. Chilefeu : Dinkalot, do you still break 7 racquets in 2 months ??? I suggest you trying my method at least once. I'll try yours too . I guess my english is quite well and therefore, there is no misunderstanding in your explanations -Tension : your tension, 25 X 27,5 for instance. (ISO racquet) -Racquet : 22 mains, 23 crosses. (you can use this method on a 20 mains/22 crosses racquet as well, just need to change tension on 1 or 2 string.) 1) Start on the main, tension 5 strings on left side at 25 lbs. 2) Go on the right side, tension 5 strings at 25 lbs. 3) back on the left side. Tension 3 strings at 23 lbs. 4) back on the right side. Tension 3 strings at 23 lbs. 5) then, go on the left side again, finish the 3 remaining strings at 21 lbs, without adding tension on the last string !!! 6) In a second time, start crosses from the middle is my preference. You can start from the botton too, I think It's less dangerous than starting from the top . So, from the middle to the top, Tension 5 strings at 27.5. 7) From the middle to the bottom, Tension 5 strings at 27.5. 8) Next, back on top, Tension 3 strings at 25 or 25.5 (according to your preference) 9) Again, back on bottom, Tension 3 strings at 25 or 25.5. 10) To finish with stringing, Tension the 3 remainings strings at the top at 23 or 23.5, and Tension the 4 remainings strings at 23 or 23.5. Don't add tension on the last top and bottom strings. This method is recommended by many stringers in France. According to them It's safest ever, and it enables the sweetspot to be more efficient and playable for a longer time. You'll tell me how it performs ...
