Liquidmetal Prestige Mid

[aznbum]

Hi, Im new to stringforum, and im also a new stringer, i recently bought a Gamma X-2. Anyway, ive been having trouble stringing my LM prestige Mid, the last cross string is right between two main strings. So as a different method ive asked my friend to string it as a one piece last weekend, and he did but he skipped the last hole, im guessing because it was too hard to get into. Any suggestions? :confused: and also if I should string it as a one-piece how would i do so?. Thank you.

[Jay Cee]

@ aznbum
Hi man,

Welcome to the board, hope you enjoy your visits, I'm JC I try to help those who want to learn something more, or sort out the little technical problems that can turn stringing a racquet into a real pain in the butt when you can't find a way out. :confused:

As Jaypro would probably agree with me, being a good stringer has little to do with intelligence (I was not inferring anything JB :D ), just a lot of experience and learning by your mistakes. So even the most elementry infos (check out JB's 1st 100 postings :D ) can be important and the worst mistakes (even breaking a racquet) have to be accepted, and if possible not repeated. So much for the intro :o

So back to your problem with a Prestige, probably one of the most difficult racquets to string correctly for precisely the reason that you have explained in your posting. Like most things it's easy when you know how.

The problem is quite simple, you must put in the last 2 crosses at the bottom of the frame, before you tie off the mains, if not with most strings it is very difficult to finish the crosses (with natural gut it is impossible). :mad:

There are at least 2 methods that can be used :
- ATW this is a box shaped pattern for ONE piece stringing. ;)
- TWO piece stringing, where each of the last TWO mains finishes as a cross string, last main right becomes last cross on the bottom, last mains left : becomes the 2nd last cross. Then you start the crosses from the top and finish on the 3rd last cross, but you need to skip the 4th last then come back to it after having threaded through the 3rd last. This is because the bigger grommet hole to tie off is located on the 3rd last cross. : ;)

Both methods need to be explained in detail and there are comprehensive explanations on previous postings on this forum by Kwick for the ATW and by me for 2 piece stringing (yeh).

Check it out and keep us updated.
Cheers.
:cool:

[aznbum]

Thanks Jay Cee, :D I'll consider stringing the bottom two strings because it sounds like a good idea, to try it i guess ill get some cheap nylon string to try it out at first to test lengths, then ill put my real string after, since I do have a bit of time on my hands. Thanks again :cool:

[aznbum]

Sorry its me again, disappointing, yes i know, but after loooking at my racquet ive noticed something, you said:



Then you start the crosses from the top and finish on the 3rd last cross, but you need to skip the 4th last then come back to it after having threaded through the 3rd last. This is because the bigger grommet hole to tie off is located on the 3rd last cross.

but there is one problem my tie off is actually at 5T or 5 bottom if u prefer that way, its actually on a main string and not a cross. Thanks[/QUOTE]

[Jay Cee]

It's curious that the same models sold in Europe have different string patterns. :(

Tie off where it fits best, if the grommet to tie off is on a main then it can be easier, just be sure to leave vacant the big hole closest to the last cross, to tie off the final cross string. That means that you should tie of the last and 2nd last crosses near the throat (those following the mains) on the bigger holes that are closer to the throat. ;)

Sounds complicated but it's quite easy when you get the hang of it all.

Go for it mate,
:cool:

[aznbum]

hmm, alrite...but one last problem...if i string it with the last 2 i actually have to go from the number 12 grommet to the number 5 grommet, would this be a bit too far?

[Jay Cee]

That doen't look good to me, you should be able to finish off the knot much closer than that.
:cool:

[kwick]

Hi aznbum,

I think you've used the wrong tie-off holes for the last two crosses at the end of your mains. If you follow JayCee's guidelines, for this frame, they should finish at 8T and 10T respectively and you tie those both off at 5T either side. I suspect you tied these off at 7T ?

Now you can finish you last actual cross which comes from 12T by tying it off at 7T :)

NOTE : you could finish the string from 10T and tie it off at 7T but you have to make sure you start the crosses so that they finish at 12T on the opposite side of the frame. You can't use 7T to tie-off twice on the same side if you understand.

Regarding your mate, I suspect that he tried to string this one piece and was attempting an ATW pattern but he forgot to skip the first cross at the top of the frame. It's not that he couldn't get the last cross in but if he had, he would not be able to finish his last main on one side of the frame. If you mess this pattern up at the start of your crosses, you can't finish.

Check out the following link which may help :

http://www.head.com/tennis/img/files/Stringing_ENG_DEF_0904.pdf

You will see Head doesn't actually support a 1 piece pattern for this frame because if you did it without an ATW pattern you would string your crosses from throat to head which would invalidate the frame warranty for Head. You can do it 1 piece ATW but you have to get the pattern right and you still have to contend with feeding your bottom cross through a blocked hole between two strings. I manage it with an awl covered with a bit of candle wax to push the blocking string to one side, leave it there for a minute to create a preference then quickly remove the awl and push my string through. You need a good point on the string but it ain't easy....
You can get pathfinder awls but I don't like them myself and they are really fragile.

Although I posted the ATW diagram elsewhere, I don't think I ever posted the rules/guidelines to go with it. Someone told me it was too complicated - No names ;) Let me know if you think it will help.

cheers,

kwick.

[Jaypro]

JayCee is right aznbum...take it from me, it aint rocket science! haha...good luck with the LM Prestige. I used them for a while before i swithed back to Wilson Pro Staff Originals. The LM's are a pain in the butt at first to string, but you'll get it soon enough. Just use the standard ATW pattern i.e kwicks explanation and you'll be fine.

[aznbum]

alrite, thanks guys for all your help, i will try the methods once i get my string. Thank ya for all ur help