OK, I'm baffled...

[Dogboy]

Ok You guys are just too funny. I love all these posts, you guys are way to smart for me, so I know someone can answer my questions with a little authority.
First of all I string for this guy who hits so hard and with so much wristy topspin I can’t get his strings to last for more than a few hours, it’s unbelievable how he saws thru the mains, I’ve never seen anyone cut thru Kevlar as easy as this guy does, I’ve tried stringing low, stringing high, nothing seems to help, doesn’t seem to matter what racquet he uses, I tried using savers but he said it was like hitting with a 2X4. I told him maybe try string made to not move so much but he’s afraid he’ll be wasting money on a more expensive strings with the same outcome, anyone know of a string that won’t move so much and won’t gut out the wallet to much…I haven't tried Jay Cee's method yet maybe that will help. ??????

Now for my weird experience, reading back thru all these post about Jay Cee’s method of stringing, I don’t really know what it does but I think it really works. Now in all my confusion, (I’m just a Park stringer) I’d never try this on anyone’s racquet but mine, I took out this old Radical Tour that I never liked no matter how I strung it, well I kind a screwed up by mixing Jay Cee’s method along with proportional method with the outside strings still bumped up 8lbs (or whatever kilos that is, I’m from Boston, leave me alone..) with a one piece stringing with pretty cheap syn gut and I swear to god this racquet outplayed my Pure Drive+ with Dunlop Max Comfort 16. I haven’t used it for a week now so I’ll be surprised if it still plays as good. I’m thinking of trying this with my PD+ with a good Multi, hopefully the racquet won’t cave in on me…. Jay Cee you really remind my of a computer friend of mine who’s so smart (about computers)it makes ya sick, but anything he said about computers I listen, but anything other than computers, thick as a brick. Hopefully stringing isn’t your only gift

“Red Sox Forever” the curse is over….
. Thanks Skip (Dogboy).

[Jens]

This guy has a serious problem if even kevlar strings don't impress him. :eek:
Well, you already provided all the hints I would give to extreme string breakers:
- kevlar string (ultimate durability) at least for the mains
- string savers
- racquet with dense string pattern (e.g. 18x20)

If you combined all these hints in one racquet, I would say you can't get any more durability out of it.

Anyway, you should not be looking for a string that "won't move" because all types of strings DO move at each and every stroke. Only some are efficiently sliding back into their original position, so we have the impression that they don't move. If there was a string that actually didn't move, the racquet would feel quite dead.

Hey, just because I'm interested, could you try the following on this guy's racquet (provided that he doesn't have any problems with his arm):
- Kevlar string for the mains
- Big Banger Original 1.38 for the crosses
My theory is that this combination will not create as much friction as a pure Kevlar or a pure Poly job will do, thus the strings will last a bit longer.

[ggtennis]

Dogboy,

Sounds as if you are progressing down a logical path with your customer. Just curious...where is the string breaking??? Is it always near the frame or in the string bed?

Joe's suggestions and comments are dead-on as always. I am only writing because I had a similar issue with one of my customers and wanted to share our experience. My customer broke everything we tried. We have, however, come across an unorthodox/creative solution that is providing him better durability. Thankfully he has no arm issues so we are going with an all poly job. Using Unique Big Hitter 16ga. Here's the secret ingredient...Armour All. Yep, we have been using a very light coating of Armour All vinal protector on both sides of the string bed. Sounds bizarre, but the idea was born as I was cleaning bumper guards and wishing the Armour All wasn't so slippery. Then it dawned on me...perhaps it could act as a lubricant for the strings for my heavy string breaker. So far the experiment has worked terrific. Just dumb luck for us, but might be worth a try for you.

[Double-fault]

Ggtennis
Thanks for sharing the Armour All ideal.
Great ideal.
:)

[Jay Cee]

@ Dogboy

Thanks for the pat on the back, it's good for my ego (GG knows about that one) :D :D

Joe's idea is fine, but I would do the opposite, BB in the mains and Kevler (with 4lbs more) in the crosses. Plays well, it's amazingly confortable and really lasts a long time. I've been doing this for years and have never had a client complain about arm problems. :o

The strongest string would probably be a good poly in 15L in the mains and a Prince Duraflex 15L in the crosses. As usual, when compared to a full restring in a Nylon Synthetic Gut, drop the tension in the mains by -4kgs/8lbs, then string the crosses at +2kgs/4lbs more than the tension strung in the mains. Don't forget to increase the tension by +4kgs/8lbs on the last 2 strings before tying off the knot. :cool:

By the way, the higher the tension, the less the strings move, the lower the abrasion at the intersection of the strings, so reduced notching which leads to premature string breaking. By using higher tension in the crosses than the mains, you can reduce the notching considerably. :o

By using a nylon in the crosses with a poly in the mains the notching is 2-3 times less important than when strung as a nylon/nylon or a poly/poly. All strings cut themselves, by using a hard surface string + a soft string neither of the strings cut the other. That is the secret to the amazing durabilty of mono/multi hybrides. ;)

This is why we can use much thinner strings and optimise the playability without sacrificing the durability. A mono/multi in gauge 17 hybride will play better and last longer than any mono or any multi in gauge 15L, and probably cost less. :)

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
:cool:

[Dogboy]

This is so cool :cool: , I've printed all these replys out and I'm gonna try each one on this guy, something is gonna work I just know it, think I'll try the Kevlar on the crosses on myself with BB, that sounds really good. Amour All Huh? :eek: You know I'm trying that. Thanks guys for your help I'll let ya know what works and what doesn't. And by the way:

Jay Cee... I've been stringing for people at the park with your method of stringing and really not telling them what I've done and just watched them play from the side and I really don't think they know why their playing so good, but knowing the feel I get from <u>my</u> racquets now I know what their feeling..but anyway when I finally tell them I think I need a name for this method, is their an offical name we can go by like JC's French Connection :cool: or...I don't know :confused: I only wish I'd been strining like this years ago. First I heard of it was when I posted a few months ago about losing tension that you answered so good. I just came back a while ago and read your answer, now I'm hooked again.
A little story of this friend of mine that breaks strings, a couple of years ago he use to raise rattle snakes,(30 years he's done this) got a little careless one day, spooked one while it was sleeping and got bit on the back of his hand, his hand turned all deformed and claw like to this day and he can open it just enough to get a racquet in his hand but this has to be where he gets this wicked(Boston word) wristy topspin, I hand it to him for sticking with the game, I just hope a new string type is gonna help him.
Again thanks one and all and I promise not to ask <u>too</u> many question, usually someone already asked them but they were BJC (before Jay Cee) and I love his impression on things,Thanx GG, Thanx Joe.. Bye

GG ..Forgot to mention the stringing usually break just out of center usually on a miss hit, but when you look at the main their 1/2 to 3/4 sawed thru.....

[Jay Cee]

@ Dogboy,

So far today has been a bit shitty mate, but you just made my day. :D

Thanks a lot, I mean it, I'm about to string 5 or 6 sticks and that puts me into the right frame of mind to do a damned good string job (or 2). :cool:

Let me know how the endurance of the strings goes with Snake hand. I've seen some pretty good string breakers in my time, and so far always found a good solution, but I never had a player with a problem like your guy. It would be nice to sort him out. :(

I have a complete stringing instructions in French An Initiation to 2 Piece Stringing, when it is available in English (I will get stuck into it one day - there are 8 pages and lots of photos) I will let you know and give you a thread so that you can download it in PDF. That way you won't have to go back through all those postings on the Forum to find what you need. Anyway, I'm pleased that your players are happy with my method which doesn't have a name. Here they just say, "I string like JC". Even Babolat has copied my way, you can see it on the following thread :

http://www.babolat.com/hybrid/

How's that one grab you?? :p

Cheers,
:cool:

[Dogboy]

Jay Cee, Thanks, Good link to Babolat there, they even show my racquet, how cool, is there a better kevlar to use or are they primarily all the same.
I'll gladly take your instructions even if they are in French, my next door neighbor is this little old French lady and she'd love to do a little translating for me. If you don't have a link to post it here I'll can give you another e-mail that will take large files. "I string like JC".. I like Mike....(Michael Jorden commerical) OK, got a good ring.. I can do that..

Later

[Jay Cee]

@ Dogboy,

Quote :
. . . is there a better kevlar to use or are they primarily all the same ?
Unquote

Ashaway make the best kevlar strings, they are more expensive but the quality is there. Like with all types of strings from one manufacturer to another there are differences, the problem is today is that often different brands are selling strings coming from the same manufacturer, kevlar strings from Ashaway are produced by Ashaway and they use specifications that are different (and better) than some of the other cheaper kevlar strings available. ;)

Personally I rarely use kevlar strings because of there total absence of elacticity, I prefer monos and polys as a main string, but some hybrids with kevlar in the crosses give interesting results. Apart from that a braided kevlar string has some other applications which are great, I use it to hang picture frames, its strong, doesn't stretch and is easier to install than wire. It must have lots of other possibilities as well, so you might as well keep it handy. Don't throw it away yet. :D

I sent you the file with the method, hope your little old lady knows some of the technical french words, if not just look at the pictures, you'll get the hang of it. :o

Cheers,
:cool:

[Dogboy]

JC,
:cool: Exactly what she said, "so many technical terms" :eek: . I guess I'll have to wait for your translated version, she's getting all shook up because she don't understand," it's like no French she ever knew" But if it's your method I have it down pat.
Next time I string one up for snakebite, I got a few things I'm gonna try on him before I put a kevlar on him again, (I'll save it for my weed wacker) good ideas, good combinations of strings to try, maybe even some Amour All, heh? I can't wait, I really looked at his racquets today and their all over sized (110's), ones one of those long Is Head racquets 14 mains,17 crosses, I'll bet that's got a lot to do with it too, the open string beds, huh? Were gonna fix him up for sure.. We'll have to find him a light racquet with a denser string bed....
Thanks again, -Dogboy-