View Full Version : someone please explain this?
Quote: The number of mains in the throat also decides about which mains you start stringing. If there are 6 mains in the throat you start with the two central main strings, if there are 8 mains in the throat you start with two mains just beyond the center of the racquet
I always start with tensioning the 2 central mains, if not, how else would they get tensioned?
Well, how do you tension strings? Just clamp it on one side and pull on the other side. ;)
I'm sure a little drawing would help; currently I can't do that but I'll try to supply one as soon as possible.
The key is that I tension the first mains at the racquet head only.
Jaypro,
I think that this refers to starting with a flying clamp which clamps 2 strings at the same time. You have 2 possibilities depending on the number of holes in the throat :
- With six holes, your two strings to be clamped at the throat are the 2 central strings.
- With 8 holes, the central strings loop at the head of the frame, so either you clamp at the head, or if you clamp at the throat then you will clamp the 2 strings just left or just right of center. Therefore the explanation :"if there are 8 mains in the throat you start with two mains just beyond the center of the racquet." ;)
With your machine which has 2 fixed clamps, you should use one of these clamps to start, you don't need to use a flying clamp. Just respect one "golden rule" : Never pull a starting string directly from the clamp, always put the clamp on the opposite side of a grommet, for example, if you start at the top of the frame (as you would for your Head), clamp the string at the top on the string right of center, then tension through the throat the string that is left of center, clamp it, then feed it back up to the top, tension and clamp it.
Now you can tension the string right of center through the throat, remove the first clamp once the string is tensioned, reposition the clamp on the same string near the throat, clamp it, then feed it back up to the top, tension and clamp it.
Now you have the 4 central strings under tension, with a clamp on each side at the top of the frame. From here on you just string one left one right alternatively until you finish the mains, etc. etc.
OK JB?
You owe me a big one. :p
Bye,
:cool:
When is Jaypro going to invest in that "starting" clamp ? ;)
I dont know, maybe i jusy didnt understand the way that it was written, but i already do everything that Jay Cee explained. hmm....maybe subconciously i just wanted to ask a question and make a poting? I dont know....weird. but thanks for your help guys.
when i tension the 1st 2 mains, this is what i do. depending head or throat, i loop the string through, clamp at either the head or throat (whichever is farthest away) then tension the unclamped string, tension and clamp. Now, i'll take the 2nd center main (while it is still clamped) and tension it, then reclamp it at the opposite end of where it was clamped before i tensioned it. am i breaking the golden rule Jay Cee spoke of? should i not tension a clamped string? ( i know i probably shouldnt) if not, then how am i supposed to keep the 1st center main tensioned? seems as if i unclamp the untensioned string to tension it, then i lose all tension...any thing guys? thanks
Jaypro,
1) Joe's stringing guide describes a way to always pull tension on the mains from one end of the racquet (i.e. the head). He doesn't pull from the throat therefore, with 8 holes in the throat, you start by pulling on the "next to centre" mains at the head end. You are pulling 2 strings at the same time with this method which does have drawbacks as the guide describes. The guide continues pulling 2 mains at a time from the head. I hope this clears up the 6 hole, 8 hole question.
From my point of view, if you are pulling mains from either end, stick with it dude and tension your centre mains to start as per JayCee.
2) It does appear that you are pulling directly against a clamp in your last question but this is not the starting string and there is already tension behind it. I guess that gets you out of trouble with your golden rules.
3) Alternatively, you could use a starting clamp as follows :
If you loop at the head, use your starting clamp on the outside of the frame at the throat to clamp the centre right string.
Then tension on the centre left string at the throat and clamp normally. (This is the only time I pull against 2 strings at the same time).
Then, thread through your second left main to the head and tension and clamp normally. Now go back to your starting clamp and re-tension the centre-right string before releasing the starting clamp taking care not to damage the string. Re-clamp with you machine clamps and continue as normal.
Quick, easy and no golden rules broken.
Ciao,
kwick
Well thanks for your explanations guys, looks like I won't have to draw a picture anymore. :)
a picture wouldnt hurt Joe hahaha
a picture wouldnt hurt Joe hahaha
Here's an example of using a starting clamp on a pattern where the start loop is in the thoat:
http://www.cim.mcgill.ca/~ericb/starting_clamp/close%20up%20view-small.jpg
http://www.cim.mcgill.ca/~ericb/starting_clamp/close%20up%20view.jpg for a larger image.
Cheers,
Eric
Hey JB,
You sure have a few supporters, it seems that we all want to help you. :D
Just a word on the "Golden Rule" : Kwick gave a perfect answer :
Quote
2) It does appear that you are pulling directly against a clamp in your last question but this is not the starting string and there is already tension behind it. I guess that gets you out of trouble with your golden rules.
Unquote
When the tension is already on the clamp on one side, by tensioning the opposite side you take all the pressure off the clamp, therefore it is easily unclamped, when repositioned at the other end of the string and clamped you are just transferring the point where the tension is being held on the same string. :)
The reason for the rule is that if you pull the starting string (which has no tension behind it) directly onto the clamp, there is a high risk that the string will slip, especially if you use an electric machine with a strong motor. If the string slips it can be permanently damaged and to string the racquet with what is left over is not evident at all. :(
The same reasoning is also valid on the starting knot for the crosses, there is no tension behind the knot so the pressure on the knot can be enormous. An electric "Pro Stringing Machine" pulls very hard until the required tension is applied to the string, if the knot slips a little, or starts to get pulled into the grommet hole, the machine will continue to pull until it stops moving. In some racquets with a thin string this can be a real problem, either you need a bulky knot, or you start the crosses with a starting clamp, then come back and tie-off as if you are finishing the crosses. Another way is not to pull directly on the 1st cross, but start by tensioning the 2nd cross and by pushing firmly on the 2nd cross, with your fingers, to pick up any slack that may remain on the 1st cross. That way you avoid excessive tension on the starting knot, and you don't need to use a bulky knot, the half hitch with a tail is fine. :)
As you use an Ektelon, and you can control the force that you apply to the string, in both cases you can be carefull as to how you apply the tension, if you see that it starts to slip then it is easy to back-off to avoid damaging the string, the risk is lower, but by following the rules you will avoid the problem. With an electric machine, the rule is "golden" because there is little chance of stopping the pull once a string or a knot starts to slip, it's too late. :mad:
Thanks again to Kwick who made a very interesting posting. ;)
Bye,
:cool:
Thanks JayCee.
If I never string another racquet, I will be able to retire happy after the appreciation from a true master :)
Are you still up for that drink in an Aussie bar of your choice ? I'll be heading into Paris soon after my summer visitors have gone home.
Cheers,
kwick
Thanks for all the help guys...lets see now...if i want to pull all the strings from the head, which would be sweet because my machine doesnt have 360 degree rotation...so would i start with the lets say...right center main, and the 1 next to it? or left center and the 1 next to that 1? does it matter? so I'de clamp the outside string, then pull the right center main, then work my way in? am i even close?
Hey JB,
That's fine, no problem at all with that. ;)
Bye,
:cool:
really?? wow i pretty much pulled that outta my a$$ haha
thanks for the help guys, i'll give it a try tonight.
Kwick,
Unwarrented compliments are usually referred to as flattery, knock it of mate, the "Master" here is Joe, I'm just an old stringer giving a few pieces of experience. Thanks for the thought, it's worth at least a good Aussi beer, or 2 (big ones). ;)
Give me a couple of days notice before you drop in and I will take the time off with pleasure. We should get a laugh about some plastic bags and Veri, what do you think ?? :D :D :D
See you soon,
:cool:
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