The right way to cut the string bed

Discussion in 'Badminton String' started by Wingu, Jan 27, 2013.

  1. Wingu

    Wingu Regular Member

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    Hi everyone,

    I've got a fairly simple question, how does everyone cut their string bed after the string goes bad or breaks?

    The thing I always worry about is that when I cut my strings that the racket will deform.
    I usually cut it like a X or + as fast as I can and haven't had any problems with that so far.
     
  2. Randomlegend

    Randomlegend Regular Member

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    I was told (or read here I can't remember) to start from the middle and work outwards, cutting each string in turn, to try and even out the tension change across the frame as you cut.
     
  3. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    I just cut from the middle diagonally out wards, trying to snip a vertical and a horizontal string with the same snip (if that makes sense) works fine for me :)
     
  4. Cillu

    Cillu Regular Member

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    This is what I was taught too and I do believe its the best way to relieve the stress on the racquet from the remaining tension of the strings. However, most of the time I'm too lazy and I just cut the crosses first from the bottom all the way to the top and then all of the mains from the left to the right (I'm left handed). You just have to be quick about it or else you're going to warp your racquet.
     
  5. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    Start from the middle, cut three crosses upward, then three mains to the right, then three crosses down, then three mains left, in a clockwise pattern.

    The idea is to keep all the stresses balanced in both the E-W and N-S directions.
     
  6. Alex82

    Alex82 Regular Member

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    if the string is not breaked i cut in the middle of the racket a main and a cross string at the same time. after that the same way as Mark A...
     
  7. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    Yes - if a main goes, cut the middle cross first, and vice versa.
     
  8. Randomlegend

    Randomlegend Regular Member

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    If you are just cutting a stringbed which hasn't had a breakage in order to replace it, would the best idea to be to mount it on the machine first and then cut it?

    Seems sensible to me but I might be missing something.
     
  9. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    Actually, no - the racket will want to spread out slightly when the strings are cut out, and mounting in a machine will prevent that spread.

    It'd be like freezing a glass of water (which my father has actually done) - the water wants to spread out.
     
  10. Randomlegend

    Randomlegend Regular Member

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  11. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    get the biggest and sharpest pair of scissors you can find. start from 4 o'clock, and cut diagonally as fast as you can manage.

    helps to keep your eyes closed during the process and keep your finger away from the blades.
     
  12. visor

    visor Regular Member

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    ^^ biggest sharpest scissors...
    going as fast as you can...
    with your eyes closed?! :eek:
    and you want him to avoid cutting his own fingers?! :p:D
     
    #12 visor, Feb 12, 2013
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2013
  13. Randomlegend

    Randomlegend Regular Member

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    I think that's just so if he does cut them, he does it properly :D
     
  14. kwun

    kwun Administrator

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    as with everything in life: practice makes perfect. :D :D
     
  15. Accordaz

    Accordaz Regular Member

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    May I ask if that really matters that much how and where to start with cutting? :confused:
    When I cut the strings, mostly when string is broken, I just start in the middle of the lowest cross. That must be completely wrong accordings all these posts here? :p

    But on the other hands: Does it matter? I mean there are just a few seconds. If you don't string the racket with 20Kg or something like that, it shouldn't be a problem? I really can't imagine that the way of cutting strings matters in such a short moment. Or did someone here ever had a deformed racket head cause by cutting it wrong?
     
  16. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    Tbh, if you do it fast enough there won't be a problem whichever way you go, but I would still

    a) keep the left-right situation symmetrical, and
    b) not cut all the mains first or all the crosses first - if you're using, say, 32 lb, cutting all the mains first will leave seven hundred pounds of force trying to crush the racket.
     

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