When do you change your strings?

**ALI** · 11-16-2002, 11:29 AM

Hi. I play using a Ti10 and BG68Ti strings at 22lbs. I don't play that often, I normally just play once a week for 2 hours. Because of that, my string normally lasts for at least 6 months.

Recently, I broke my string and restringed it. Wow, the new string just feels so powerful. The sound is so nice and it's really repulsive.

Now, the question: for a user like me whose string only breaks after such a long time, do you cut the string before it breaks? And when's the best time to cut the string?

There is a doubt on me when to cut the string: How am I that sure that I start to lose power because of the string, not because it's one of my bad days in badminton?

I don't mind to cut the string eventhough the string might be expensive. I'm willing to sacrifice a little bit to get the best out of badminton.

And, do pros cut their string frequently??? Or do they restring only after their strings break?

**LazyBuddy** · 11-16-2002, 04:34 PM

I believe "change string"depend on various factors, here are my list:

1. string broken (what else u can do?)

2. string loose (depend on what kinda string, how good the string was strung, how hard u hit, how often u use, etc)

3. string dead (how long u been use this string, did u take proper care about string (I mean, don't put racket in trunk in cold weather all the time, etc))

4. try out some other model (u need to have a little bit $$$, probably someone with "cheap labor" to do the job for u)

5. find out string not fit for the racket, change it (while, better change it, since the model does not really fit for ur racket. get several $, and pray for the better next time)

**^shaz^** · 11-16-2002, 07:11 PM

I normally can tell when my strings need changing as i feel the impact off the shuttle become less solid and more "bouncy" which shows that strings are losing tension...

Also u can sometimes see strings fray a bit which shows wear and tear and might be time to change...

I seem to have the worst luck with breaking strings tho...

3 times i broke my strings bang in the middle of the rackets (RIGHT In the middle) doing the same shot (jump smash) lol.... "touch wood" hasnt happened for a while tho

As u said tho if u dont play that regularly u might not be able to notice the deterioration in ur strings as much as those who play 3-4 times a week.

**Californian** · 11-17-2002, 12:40 AM

If you're cheap or poor or both (like me), you finally get new string after you have so many patch jobs that you don't have any open places left to tie off the next patch.

**bigredlemon** · 11-17-2002, 01:42 PM

Originally posted by Californian
If you're cheap or poor or both (like me), you finally get new string after you have so many patch jobs that you don't have any open places left to tie off the next patch.

I have no idea what a patch job is but it sounds funny for some reason (LOL!) I'm imagining you put a bicycle tire patch on your racquet

**^shaz^** · 11-17-2002, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by bigredlemon
I have no idea what a patch job is but it sounds funny for some reason (LOL!) I'm imagining you put a bicycle tire patch on your racquet

If im right then patch job = just replacing the broken strings rather then a full restring...

So he has knots all over his racket as he jus keeps replacing broken strings rather then full restring which would give you 2 or 4 knots dep on how u get it strung

**Californian** · 11-17-2002, 02:40 PM

From what kwan said in the other broken string post, it looks like this new generation of players who get their rackets strung at 25+ lbs. don't use patches.

Shaz is correct. You pull out the loose ends and tie them off, then weave a replacement string where the broken one was and tie it off. You use special tools for this work.

The grommet holes are only large enough for two strings to go through, so if you keep patching broken strings, what eventually happens is that you have knots at virtually every grommet hole so and you have no place to put a new one without running the string along the frame past several holes. Or, the string you tied your knot around breaks, so you have do undo other patch jobs to replace that string.

**^shaz^** · 11-17-2002, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by Californian
From what kwan said in the other broken string post, it looks like this new generation of players who get their rackets strung at 25+ lbs. don't use patches.

I cant play very well with lower tensions anymore it seems, my MP99 is at 25lbs and still holding tension v well, but i had a hit with my ti10 and that is probably at 20-21 lbs and felt too bouncy and no control lol... and using patches is risky there cos to retain the high tensions you cant use patches, and also i take strings straight off when they break as i dont want the frame to be warped or damaged.

**ronk** · 11-17-2002, 03:49 PM

I used to repair the broken strings as oppose to restringing the entire racket, when I was using my wooden racket and was poor (still in school then). Anyway, it is very expensive to restring rackets in the US if there is no local stringing service. Shipping and handling can cost more than the entire stringing service so restringing a racket with shipping and handing will cost US$30 to $45. I can understand why Californian repairs the racket, but unless the tension is low, this can result in cracks in the frame and lousy feel because of the uneven tension.

Anyway, one gets used to the lower tension as the racket tension decreases and it is not all that critical. When comparing a newly strung racket with a racket that was strung a while back, one notices the differences immediately.

Ron

**^shaz^** · 11-17-2002, 04:11 PM

Originally posted by ronk

Anyway, one gets used to the lower tension as the racket tension decreases and it is not all that critical. When comparing a newly strung racket with a racket that was strung a while back, one notices the differences immediately.

Yep totally, if like me, you are used to high tensions (and even restring racket when strings are fine but tension has dropped below ur norm [considering gettin those to-10's restrung now lol]) then yeah you do notice the difference in tensions etc etc, but if u normally do repair the strings and the resulting drop in tension then you will be used to it i guess and it doesnt pose a problem...

**bigredlemon** · 11-18-2002, 12:59 AM

Originally posted by ronk
I Anyway, it is very expensive to restring rackets in the US if there is no local stringing service. Shipping and handling can cost more than the entire stringing service so restringing a racket with shipping and handing will cost US$30 to $45.
Ron

Wow that is expensive... I guess i'm lucky to be in a big city... can get my racquet strung with bg85 for $30 CAD. Actually, $45 USD converted to CAD is $72... so the price to get yours restrung is almost the price of my racquet! Ouch, that is expensive

**jwu** · 11-19-2002, 02:02 PM

You can change your strings whenever you like, just depends on your wallet size. Usually after a few "off" days and feeling that the feel of the string is gone, I'd change it. It's a little easier for me since I string myself so it's just the string cost for me. Another thing I do is I try to get the colored string so you can notice the wear and tear on the string easier than the white strings. When you start to see more "scars" on your strings then you'd like, it's time to change.

**ronk** · 11-19-2002, 03:17 PM

If you can restring the racket yourself or if there are competent stringers in the area, then restringing on a regular basis makes sense. I do not have access to a local stringer and will have to send my racket off to be restrung. Shipping and handling will run about $20+ and stringing may run from $15 upwards. I will pass on restringing my rackets on a regular basis until I have my own stringing machine.

Ron

**jwu** · 11-19-2002, 03:28 PM

Just think about all the restringing cost and figure that into how much a string machine cost. You can get a machine as cheap as $90 from Eagnas or up to $300 USD and still get a decent string machine that's fit for personal use. I bought my machine from www.klipperusa.com and the model type is the M140. After shipping it comes to $160 USD. I've own the machine around 2 months now and I've done something like 50 racquet stringing job by now. Figure about $12 each string job, that's $600 USD I just made. Minus the machine, minus the string cost, that's still $200 USD profit there. If you just do stringing for yourself, a machine like the M140 would earn its worth after 4-5 stringing job at the rate ronk and other people are paying for their string jobs. So if you have no competent stringer around you, you could be that new competent stringer.