Crack problem with Yonex rackets

**Yong** · 06-09-2002, 05:13 PM

Hi all,

I have this 'crack' problem with yonex rackets :
My iso 600 power and TI-6 were recently restrung with
resp. bg-65ti and bg-80, both at a tension of 20-21 lbs.
After the restring job, a crack appeared on both rackets,
between the to main strings in the middle.
(see picture : iso 600 power)
According to the stringer, the crack only concerns the paint
job, no harm to the frame itself. After two weaks of play,
i didn't notice any inconvenience, so he is probably right.
Because the crack appeared on both rackets, the stringer,
who by the way is experienced badminton stringer, asked
the distributor about it, and he did a statement where my
quenstion to you all is about :
He stated that it is very common, when stringing yonex rackets older
than 1 year, that a crack in the paintjob will appear between the two
main strings in the middle. This sounds new for me, and i wondered if
anyone has experience with this crack thing occuring all the time.

Yong

**Winex West Can** · 06-09-2002, 06:22 PM

I have an ISO 600 SP strung at 24lbs and no problems with cracks along the two mains.

Your grommets looked worn out and I am surprised that your stringer didn't replace them.

Can't really tell from the picture that it was just the paint job. If that is the case, you should be able to see past that to the actual graphite frame (greyish in colour).

Given that the cracks appear on both your racquets after the stringing job, I would be leery of the stringer.

***kwun*** · 06-09-2002, 06:30 PM

here is my old SR. after stringing it at 26+lbs numerous times.

notice the crack spans multiple holes, like 6 of them!

**Marky** · 06-09-2002, 06:31 PM

I thought I have the same hair-thin crack appearance on the inside frame about the 7 o'clock position of my grand-fathered Cab 20. It appears in the inside frame only between the two holes. It seems the racket is nothing wrong and still playable. What a coincident.

**Yong** · 06-09-2002, 06:42 PM

Sounds like this is happening more frequently than I thougt.
I was surprised that the cracks occured, as the stringer has 30 years
experience, and uses a 4 point stringing machine.

WWC, the grommets look really bad in the picture indeed!
Even the paint job looks spoiled with all kind of stains, but
i think the angle of which the photo was taken, emphasizes
the minor worn grommets, as they look pretty fine when i look
at the racket itself.
The stringer has painted the inside of the racket with some
sort of black marker, so i can't see if the frame is gray...

Thanks all for fast respond !

**Winex West Can** · 06-09-2002, 10:23 PM

Looking at Kwun's SP, you can see the graphite beyond the cracks in the paint job.

I guess, all in all, if the racquet is playable, then it just the paint.

I'm just surprised that the cracks would appear just like that. I will be checking all my racquets to make sure.

**cooler** · 06-09-2002, 10:48 PM

http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/sho...n&pagenumber=2

yong, the crack is real and it's not just the paint job.
it is unethical to paint over and try to hide the cracks, and doing a lousy job at that too. Sorry to tell you but your racket got the high noon disease and it will die soon and i don't mean from clashing

Sorry kwun, your SR caught the infection too.

**Yong** · 06-10-2002, 12:33 AM

That's bad news, cooler.

Curious how long these injured rackets gonna last.
Seems like this isometric-like desease is an argument
for switching to muscle power rackets. I didn't allow myself
buying one cause of my stock of isometric rackets.
Well, since some of them are ill, i guess that not a reason anymore.

I have been thinking about buying a stringing machine for a while
Maybe i should do that too .. can't blame someone else stringing jobs
anymore

***kwun*** · 06-10-2002, 03:51 AM

i think the stringer has everything to be blamed. i was the stringer for my SR. and i have to admit that that must the second or 3rd rackets i have strung, and at extrememly high tension for such a light racket, the SR is equiv 4U.

Yong, i was wondering what that color patch was as well. the Iso600 is a very strudy 2U racket. (i have 2 of those myself). i don't think Iso rackets in general are to be blamed, and nor would Muscle Power rackets be any stronger, they may in fact be the contrary.

i haven't heard of any other racket failed in simliar ways, and i must admit mine is a special case as describe above. so you may just be unlucky or your stringer was having a bad day...

**Yogi** · 06-10-2002, 05:10 AM

The answer is simple! ur racket is Broken and it can cave in anytime!I haev seen Millions of racklets and i break some like these every 3 months. They are playable yes and they can be repaired easily also.

**Yong** · 06-10-2002, 05:53 AM

Kwun, i looked up some threads about stringing, and maybe this crack
occured because the stringer uses to add 1-2 lbs on the cross compared to
the main on his 4 point machine, instead of 1-2 lbs less as adviced by YY fan in
the following thread :

http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/sho...&threadid=4703

But then again the 20-21 lbs tension is not that high. Most intermediate players here in the surroundings don't concern too much about tensions, so most stringers
do not encourage stringing above 18 lbs and therefore have not much experience
with the higer tensions.

Yogi, i'm very curious, my broken racket can easily be repaired ?
I'd like to know your medication method

**AKFT** · 06-10-2002, 09:51 AM

It looks from Yong's picture that there is a linear crack running towards the right of the picture starting from the right hand side grommet. I would suggest stringing your own rackets from now on. It's fun, and you can experiment with different strings and tensions, and even different stringing patterns. Other than the initial cost of the machine, experimenting with the strings is quite cheap.

**Marky** · 06-10-2002, 11:11 AM

Dear Yogi:
I am grateful if you can us how the crack can be repaired? All I can think of is to put lots of instant glue onto the crack. Thanks.

**Matt Ross** · 06-10-2002, 05:12 PM

Hi,

Well i have never seen this before. Is it because the racket is strung so tight the frame can't take it that it cracks under the pressure? You say there is a cure. Yes it will be a cure in the short term, you wont be able to see it, but it would be no real cure.
The racket fram would be weak and therefore it is likeley to snap if abused. Anyway, what is the cure? Kwun's racket seems to be very bad, and as i said to be honest i have never seen this happen to a racket.

Matt

**Yogi** · 06-10-2002, 07:17 PM

I shoudl tell u all this

Our Friend peter asked me abt this a long while back and i sat down to pen what i thought was something very simple.

But the fact is i find it very very difficult to explain it to u guys!All it requires is a Just a Piece of String(badminton).The Only downside is that Ur racket Head weight will go up and prob The whole racket by abt a gram.

The string(preferably Black) will be Binded in a certain manner ober the frame after the Strings are cut and then Strung again. AS to how to explain the certain manner i am still finding the correct terms and hey i can teach u all if i ever get to meet u guys.I dont know wether i can explain it or not.

I so this Practise sometimes when i want my Slim 10 to be more head heavier. I guess depending on what i play in one particular session or series of session.Sometimes i Just play offence one whole week and sometimes defence. I guess it is a training module that we use. Actually helps

So if i can elucidate using diagrams and stuff like that i can let u guys know. I dont even have a damn Camera to show u guys.

**Yong** · 06-11-2002, 03:08 AM

Dear Yogi,
I understand what you mean, imagining how to clearly describe with words
to knot a necktie for example, that would be a real puzzle already.
As Cooler and you already mentioned in your posts, there is
written more in this forum about cracks in the past … well .. this forum is so
filled with good stuff .. a big thump up to Kwun and the staff.. hope this
thread did add something to the crack subject.. at least some pictures of
ill rackets.

But Yogi, when you instantly get a nice brainwave about how to describe this
crack-cure, with me I think a lot readers will be interested.
For my Iso 600, adding a weight to the already very head-heavy 2u racket will transform it into a real smash-gun! I think I will stick to hoping not to die soon
for that racket. But for the TI-6, that one could use a bit more head-heaviness.

AKFT, I made up my mind, been thinking about this stringing machine for a
while, I will definitely buy one. It will be a 4 point. Have to decide yet if it will
be a crank or drop-weight. I think its fun indeed to experiment with the
stringing.

Thanks all for reply’s on this crack thing !

***Cheung*** · 06-11-2002, 09:49 AM

Do you mean the string is tightly coiled around the frame thus binding it together?

The pattern of coiling I am referring to is rather like how an electromagnet is formed with a central iron core and wire spirally wrapped around it.