Stringing help!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I learned how to string a racquet a couple months ago and I can string my racquet in about 45 minutes(I know that stinks). I saw my friend (a top player in the country) pre-string the main strings on his racquet without puting tension on the strings. I would ask him but I have not seen him in a while and can not contact him. I need help. How did he put tension on the strings after he pre-strung the main strings. I tried doing it but I can only put tension on the first couple strings when I do it. Please help.

Thanks,

Upcoming Professional Player

[asharpe]

The time it takes to string a racquet has no bearing on the quality of the string job (except negatively, if you go too fast, and are careless). It is not a worthy goal to decrease the time it takes to string, simply for the sake of decreasing the time (unless you are a professional stringer, where time is money).

It is also not necessary to prestring the racquet before stringing. But if you want to, just leave enough string (perhaps a foot or so) at the beginning so you will have enough string to reach the tensioner.

[Anonymous]

I don't like prestringing the mains, but here's what you do: when prestringing, leave enough slack between the 1st and 2nd string from the center (on each side) to reach the tensioner. After prestringing all the mains, come back and use that slack to tension the center strings. As you tension and clamp each string, pull the slack through to tension the next string.

-jeb