stringing advise

[north4t]

hey guys I need some advise on stringing. I recently bought a stringing machine and I was wondering how some of you guys started and how you guys got people to come to you. I moved states a month or two ago and was just wondering how you guys got started. Thanks for any advise. It would be very helpful.

[Northpaw]

Knowing exactly what model and type of stringer it is would help. Drop weight? Crank? Electric? If it happens to be a Gamma X-2, look for xtremerunnerar's videos in the stringing section.

[north4t]

I already know how to string. I figured out how by watching some videos and then actually doing it. I was asking for advise on how to get the word out that I am stringing rackets (how to get stringing clients).

[JMS]

try going to some local, public courts and telling people there and putting up some flyers

[IanRichardson]

make sure you are good at it first, please. In all honesty you shouldnt charge people to string for them until you have a lot of racquets under your belt and really know a lot about how to string different types of string effectively. Im not sure how many people on here purchased their stringer to turn a profit with, but personally i just string for myself and close friends. If you want to string as a business you need to make sure you are really good at it. (I know everyone on this forum is a 7.0 tennis player and a stringer at all the major pro tournaments) but seriously, make sure you know what you are doing before you give someone a cheap string job.

If you really feel confident in your stringing ability then just advertise and people will come to you. Make sure you have a variety of string on hand, gut, synthetic gut, polys so that if you do manage to get people to pay you to string for them you can make them happy.

I give this warning because i tried to do something similar with cell phones and taking them apart/ changing the cases and it really didnt work out and when i got people to pay me i found i really wasnt as good as i thought.

[north4t]

so should I string for people for free. Like they just pay for the string or something until I get really comfortable stringing with different kinds of strings and with different kinds of rackets.

[IanRichardson]

if you insist on stringing other peoples racquets tell them you are fairly inexperienced, dont charge anything but for the string, and let them know you are still learning. It will pay off in the long run if you are serious about stringing for money later on. If they are happy with the job and want to "tip" you, that is always acceptable.

[north4t]

Thank you for the advise, I will do that

[aeroman]

Welcome to the world of the stringing business. I would get some experience under your belt first before you start stringing. Most people do not like misweaves on their racquets. I strung for my family for 1 or 2 years and now I am starting out my own business. I would just string your own racquets, I don't know why you want to string other peoples. Good luck with your stringing. After 1 or 2 years you'll be able to string racquets in 30 minutes.:D
Aeroman

[north4t]

no I didn't want to string for other people right away. I just wasn't sure what the best way to get experience was. I thought that that would be the only way to get a lot of experience with different kinds of rackets.

[User Name]

this should be in the strings/stringing section

[dancraig]

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[MIGHTY MANFRED THE WONDER]

some ideas
READ everything under stringing forum- some may be repetitive BUT very, very good start

You are going to want to "cop" a copy of stringer's guide (somehow) it has all the rackets- you can't go any further without it-
put an ad into "WANT TO BUY" and see how far you can push it with the forum police- or- find a stringer in business and see if you can buy a set

Once you are really practiced- really uindercut competition price with that
proviso- still GREEN- be ready to (maybe) have to go as far as replace a racket if you bust one- don't take ANY one-of-a-kind ireplaceable business-

Flyers in all the windshields- notecards on all the bulletin boards- get a cheap set of business cards printed up and carry at all times- OFFER pick up and delivery- something to make yourself stand out- clever name, you be creative

Do only what business you can handle- don't over promise then don't deliver
maybe get into "used" rackets as a side line

You can really start rolling- just keep it fun, or you will end up with a JOB-
but still better than working for Weenie on a stick at the mall

[robmachado23]

I am 15 and string all the racquets in my city. I believe that before you do it for money, you must get it down consistantly. My dad strang before me, and i would learn from him. Also go to tennis stores and see if you can string their racquets for free as practice.

[aeroman]

I strung my families racquets after my father taught me how to string. Make sure you don't misweave. If you can do 10 racquets at a good pace (45 min.) then you shouldn't have any problems. I wonder if my club will get mad at me for doing a business... Too late to have second thoughts, it's up and going now.
Aeroman

[north4t]

I strung my 5th racket in 40 min. but I think that I still need some more practice. I will take your advise after I feel comfortable stringing rackets in a half an hour or so.

[jamauss]

my advice:

make sure you know different patterns (2 piece is easy but 1 piece ATW is a little more advanced). Make sure you know how to get a string through even the toughest grommet hole, make sure you're good at not damaging the string (kinking, friction, divits left from clamp depressions, etc.) and then I guess move on to things that cut down the amount of time it takes you (measuring string, weaving crosses, etc.)

[north4t]

Thanks, I am going to order a reel of Cheap string and continue practicing.

[Jackie T. Stephens]

Search google, it tells you, search for stringing rackets how to's.

[north4t]

^^^^ huh!!