Babolat Pure control two piece pattern?

[DanN]

I was stringing a hybrid job in a Babolat Pure Control MP (the standard length, 100 sq in. model). I looked everywhere online and in my USRSA references and could not find any mention of how to perform a two peice string job on this racquet. I strung the mains as usual, and tied them both off at 6H. I then wove the crosses as usual also, starting with 8H, and tied off the bottom cross at 7H. I could not figure out which hole I should use to tie off the top cross though. I ended up just using an awl to sort of widen the 4H grommet and tied it off there, but it was clearly not designed that way. Looking at the racquet now, it sort of looks like maybe the 12H grommet is designed to handle a knot. Do you guys think my tying off the top cross where I did will harm the racquet in any way?

Has anyone actually ever seen the pattern babolat intends to be used for this racquet if doing a two piece job.

Any insight would be great.

Regards,

Dan

[Jay Cee]

Hi Dan,
I agree with you, the Pure Drive has not been concieved for 2 piece stringing, but it can be done without any problems. ;)

I am not sure that I understant what grommets you are referring to :
please explain 4H, 6H, 7H, & 12H. :confused:

With that info I can probably answer you.
:cool:

[DanN]

Sorry for the confusion. I was using the nomenclature that is in my USRSA digest. 4H would be the 4th grommet from the center at the Head of the racquet, counting either of the two center mains as 1. 7T would be the seventh grommet counting from the center at the throat of the racquet in a similar fashion. I think I made a typo in my original post when I said I tied off the bottom cross at 7H (instead of 7T). I tied it off at the throat obviously :).

Here's the only pattern that I have for this racquet (from USRSA):

BABOLAT Pure Control MP Team
Lgth 1pc: 38'
Short Side Lgth: 10'
Tension: 50-55
Pattern: 16x20
Start M's: H
Mains Skip: 8T & 8H
Tie Off M's: 6H
Start 1pc X: 8H
Last 1pc X: 8T
Tie 1pc X: 7T

Usually, they'll also list information on tie offs and where to start crosses for a two piece pattern, but they don't have it for any of the babolats.

[ericb]

I found this on the Babolat site a while ago - I think under the Hurricane string section:

Pure Drive Team 2 piece
----------------------------
Start loop: T
Mains skip: 8T, 8H
Tie-off mains: 6T
Starting knot: 7H
Start crosses: 8H
Tie-off crosses 10T

I've used it before without trouble; 10T is already a bit wider to accomodate tying the knot. 7H is obviously already big enough since it's normally used to tie off the crosses.

Cheers,

Eric

[DanN]

Thanks Eric!

[Shawn]

I just strung one of the Babolat Pure <u>Control </u> racquets and I had the same problem as DanN. There's no place to tie the starting knot for the cross strings. I ended up stringing the crosses from bottom to top. The wasn't any deformation of the racquet, but I don't want to keep taking my chances. The 6H grommet is used to tie off the mains. The 11H grommet is big enough to tie a knot, but there's no string going through it yet to tie the knot with. I have one idea now that I think about it. Before tying off the mains. I could start the crosses at 8H without tensioning and tying starting knot. Then I might be able to tie off one of the mains at 8H and make the starting knot for the crosses at 6H. If anybody knows what I'm talking about please reply. Is it ok to create a tie off knot around a string that hasn't been tensioned yet? Also, I don't think what Eric posted earlier works, because the starting loop is at the head and the mains tie off at the head.

[DanN]

If you use a starting clamp to start the crosses, then you can use the 11H tie off, since by the time you go back to tension the first cross, you will have already weaved and tensioned all of the other crosses, and there will be a string present to tie off on. If you don't have a starting clamp, then you're right :(. You can try using an awl to enlarge one of the grommets at the head enough to use it, which I've done, but it was still an awfully tight fit, and I think I had to use both a regular awl and a pathfinder awl to finally squeeze the cross through it to tie off.

Dan

[ericb]

Also, I don't think what Eric posted earlier works, because the starting loop is at the head and the mains tie off at the head.

You're right Shawn. The pattern I posted is actually for the PD Team, and not the Control. I didn't realize they they had different patterns.

I would not create a starting knot on a string which is not tensioned, you're much better off using a starting clamp as DanN suggests, then you can tie a normal knot. This is the way I always do it, and it works very well, and is in fact neater than using a bulky starting knot who's string end won't lie flat in the frame. Just make sure to tension at least 3 crosses before going back to re-tension the first cross in order to remove your clamp and tie the knot. And of course, the standard disclaimer about added tension on the previous 2 crosses to accomodate the tension loss from tying the knot.

Cheers,

Eric