Proper methods for stringing Yonex

[Andy05]

I was glad to be there at the AE from QFs to the Finals and agree it was awesome. Also I did observe and speak to the Yonex stringer outside the entrance to block 2 who was stringing for Yonex customers. He was mainly doing them at 24 - 26 lbs on the ES5Pro and was starting out from the centre mains, and doing the crosses from bottoms up. He didn't have the swivel clamps installed and just tended to use either one or two fly clamps. I asked him too about the tension for the crosses but he kept the mains and crosses at the same tension and not at 10% extra poundage. His answer was that it didn't make any difference and that the iso shape was not distorted. Not sure if that perspective applied to the tournament stringers though!

I spoke to a Yonex stringer too and I asked him about the Yonex and Non-Yonex stringing method, he told me he uses 2 flying clamps and uses the non-yonex method as players cannot feel the difference. He was being paid by Yonex to stand and string for them.

I think the main reason yonex specify a patten is because it requires a little extra effort to string their pattern and most stringers can't be bothered. If the racquet breaks yonex can claim the stringing pattern was incorrect and the stringer should have followed the pattern. Just shifting blame to keep more profit. I have sent racquets back to them that broke with the yonex pattern and they told me my tesion was too high. 26lbs on a racquet that had a max of 24lbs...

[Blitzzards]

I spoke to a Yonex stringer too and I asked him about the Yonex and Non-Yonex stringing method, he told me he uses 2 flying clamps and uses the non-yonex method as players cannot feel the difference. He was being paid by Yonex to stand and string for them.

I think the main reason yonex specify a patten is because it requires a little extra effort to string their pattern and most stringers can't be bothered. If the racquet breaks yonex can claim the stringing pattern was incorrect and the stringer should have followed the pattern. Just shifting blame to keep more profit. I have sent racquets back to them that broke with the yonex pattern and they told me my tesion was too high. 26lbs on a racquet that had a max of 24lbs...

When you string a racquet using a 6 point support system such as the (officially used) ES5Protech, the distortions on the frame will be minimised to near zero. If you try to do the non-Yonex pattern while using a 2 point support system (where the frame is free to warp during the stringing process), there will be a very minor change in the frame shape (IME ISO frames look more oval as a result).

Most mistakes that lead to the frame breakage actually happens during the stringing process (which is where everyone wants to avoid). Once the racquet is in play, as long as there are no mishits or fractures/cracks in the frame, the racquet will not break at all, even with a non-recommended pattern.

[yan.v]

I spoke to a Yonex stringer too and I asked him about the Yonex and Non-Yonex stringing method, he told me he uses 2 flying clamps and uses the non-yonex method as players cannot feel the difference. He was being paid by Yonex to stand and string for them.

I think the main reason yonex specify a patten is because it requires a little extra effort to string their pattern and most stringers can't be bothered. If the racquet breaks yonex can claim the stringing pattern was incorrect and the stringer should have followed the pattern. Just shifting blame to keep more profit. I have sent racquets back to them that broke with the yonex pattern and they told me my tesion was too high. 26lbs on a racquet that had a max of 24lbs...

Actually, Yonex has recommended patterns for good reasons. Their patterns often help achieve longer playability (less tension loss), better performances as well as minimal warping risks for the rackets.

To help minimize the tension loss from the knots, the patterns have the knots positioned in such a way that there is a kind of "Tug of War" interaction with the knots. I believe Taneepak has posted about this on these boards.

The Yonex patterns are also useful to maximize the performance of your racket and your stringbed. For instance, starting your crosses from b9 (as opposed to closer to the throat as suggested by several patterns) helps your racket in achieving better aerodynamics. Less friction against the air from having one or two less strings makes a difference. Yonex patterns are also often designed to maximize the sweet spot area of your racket.

As for racket warping, well the patterns are just thought in such a way that a racket shouldn't warp unless it is already damaged, strung at a way too high tension or strung using a machine with bad supports for the racket. You'll also notice that Yonex' patterns advise that you skip the main string before the last and go back to pull tension on the last 2 mains at the same time, which is almost the equivalent of the method that implies pulling your last mains and crosses at a 1-2 lbs tension to prevent racket warping. This doesn't mean that a racket will warp if you're not using the recommended pattern for the racket, however these patterns are generally very safe for your racket.

While Yonex patterns are not the absolute best, they are a good compromise between playability, durability and performance. Professional players will often have their rackets strung in such a way that the risks for the racket to break or warp is increased. However, these players are sponsored for a reason . I am in no way saying that one should only stick with recommended patterns, but I'm just saying that these patterns are more well thought than you would think.

Hope this helps