six clamp machines

[sion]

when stringing with six clamp machine i leave a very small amount of movement in the side clamps. Ive noticed when you start to pull mains the four side clamps tighten straight away surely as you do more mains the pressure on the frame builds . if you have these clamps to tight to start with will there be more pressure on the racquet. Are these clamps to stop the racquet moving or to stop racquet going out of shape.

[Jens]

@sion
You should also tighten the side clamps such that they prevent the racquet from distortion.

[sion]

I have the clamps tight up to the racquet but i leave the slightest bit of movement before i start .I dont have them so there pressing hard on racquet , its just that there was a drop weight machine and it had no side clamps , what stops the racquets from distorting on these machines If you tighten these clamps to hard as you string mains will there be a lot of pressure on racquet where clamps are.

[Jens]

@sion
As long as the clamps have contact to the frame it's perfect. Of course, screwing them too tight will be no good to the frame either.
There are machines that only have two supports on the inside (racquet head and throat), they do the job, but it's much better to have 6 supports, the pressure is distributed on 6 spots instead of 2.

[sion]

Thanks Joe fantastic site by the way , a wealth of information and people willing to help others.