What's wrong here

**Kiloo** · 11-15-2009, 06:16 AM

Hello All,
I started stringing recently and reached over 60 rackets. Lately some of the rackets I strung before have come back and when examined closed were slightly broken on top (at 12 o'clock). 2 were strung at 23 x 25Lbs. Last week I strung an Ashaway Nano 9675 at 22 x 24 Lbs and the guy played 2 hrs with it and the racket broke at 9 O'clock (and folded).
I am sure of 3 things:
1- the rackets were not broken before
2- the rackets were not broken after or during stringing. I carefully examine all my work before delivery. I once broke a racket and gave the guy a NEW replacement, but that was in my beginning. (and one of mine).
3- the tension I go up so far has not exceeded the 25Lbs.
I have a 6 point machine with constant pull.
Is there something I am not doing right, if yes what is wrong here.
I have followed everything possible from this forum and elsewhere. Thanx.

**Mark A** · 11-15-2009, 06:39 AM

Only thing I can suggest is getting a/some load spreaders

http://www.mybadmintonstore.com/shop...roducts_id=492

and using one at the top of the racket - I do this every time, they really are excellent. While this may reduce stress at 12 o'clock, I can only put the 9 breakage down to bad luck.

**kakinami** · 11-15-2009, 03:50 PM

I would think at 9 o'clock they hit something ( Bird or another racket). You didn't overstreach the frame?

**Pete LSD** · 11-15-2009, 04:33 PM

Do you stretch the frame a bit for any string job over 30 lbs?

Originally Posted by kakinami

I would think at 9 o'clock they hit something ( Bird or another racket). You didn't overstreach the frame?

**kakinami** · 11-15-2009, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Pete LSD

Do you stretch the frame a bit for any string job over 30 lbs?

Just a hair so the racket doesnt come out like a circle

**Kiloo** · 11-15-2009, 09:56 PM

Yes the racket is always slightly stretched lengthwise before stringing and most often comes out by itself when the side clamps are opened. Which I take as a good job following the different strains we put on the mains at first and then on the crosses. Or is it NOT????

**Distanc3** · 11-15-2009, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Kiloo

Yes the racket is always slightly stretched lengthwise before stringing and most often comes out by itself when the side clamps are opened. Which I take as a good job following the different strains we put on the mains at first and then on the crosses. Or is it NOT????

yes always mains before crosses

**Distanc3** · 11-15-2009, 10:02 PM

oh what comes to mind, might be the position of the side supports? also are you using 1 piece of 2 piece stringing method?

**Pete LSD** · 11-15-2009, 10:03 PM

It would be interesting if there is a machine out there that allows the stringer to start the cross first

.

Originally Posted by Distanc3

yes always mains before crosses

**Distanc3** · 11-15-2009, 10:08 PM

I'm pretty sure you can with the LF if you clamp down with lots of padding but you might get a banana racket after. I'm still a true believer in hold-down support

**Kiloo** · 11-15-2009, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Distanc3

oh what comes to mind, might be the position of the side supports? also are you using 1 piece of 2 piece stringing method?

Both, depending on the racket and the client. But the rackets which split were done one piece.

**kakinami** · 11-15-2009, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Pete LSD

It would be interesting if there is a machine out there that allows the stringer to start the cross first

.

Your knots on your crosses would be long tie offs, probably not good for racket either.

**illusionistpro** · 11-15-2009, 11:25 PM

what do you mean slightly broken on top?

**Kiloo** · 11-15-2009, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by illusionistpro

what do you mean slightly broken on top?

Paint 'warped'. Typical of a break, so I scratched one of them to find NOTHING before stringing but a hairline crack after stringing.

Ah! all this on the INSIDE of the frame across the section. On the outside there is nothing visible. But still the racket is broken.

I just delivered 20 new rackets strung the same way. They have all been examined 3 times before delivery and they are all in mint condition (like all the others we delivered in fact).

So my question is: can the stress on the strings break a racket on the game if it has not (yet) broken it on the stringing? If yes What did I do wrong?

I am following all the rules of stringing here and elsewhere.

**illusionistpro** · 11-15-2009, 11:41 PM

Something isnt adding up here. Are you seriously scratching a racket before stringing it and examining it afterwards? If there is no crack before and a crack after then YES you are doing something wrong. You could be doing too much tension on the north and south mounts. you could be over tightening the sides. the sides can be in an incorrect position. I would definitly recommend a tension spreader for you.

**singnflip4life** · 11-16-2009, 12:00 AM

Load spreaders are god sends. Use them well.

**Kiloo** · 11-16-2009, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by illusionistpro

Something isnt adding up here. Are you seriously scratching a racket before stringing it and examining it afterwards? If there is no crack before and a crack after then YES you are doing something wrong. You could be doing too much tension on the north and south mounts. you could be over tightening the sides. the sides can be in an incorrect position. I would definitly recommend a tension spreader for you.

Hang on! let me give U the long story.
1st time my attention was drawn on a racket I FORMERLY strung. String broken, to be RE-strung. Of course I always examine all rackets brought to me, new or not and noticed that this one's paint was 'warped' at 12 O'clock on the inside of frame across the section. I called the guy and told him IMO the racket was broken. So to confirm I scraped the paint a little to find nothing. I got a confirmation to carry out the stringing. After that I examined again and found a hairline.

2nd time same thing as above but I did NOT remove the paint this time. I got instructions to go ahead again.

There was no 3rd time but as I mentioned above a b.new Ashaway nano 9675 broke after 2 hrs play at 9 o'clock. My dilemma (before this gets out of hand) is to rectify if there is anything being done wrong here. Thanx
ps Yes I got a tension spreader from MBS.