Stringing Customers: Your Preference?

This question and poll is primarily directed towards customers who use stringing services.

Do you have a preferred stringing technique when ordering a string job or do you have no idea how your frame is strung job after job?

Choices include fixed reference tension across all strings, special techniques such as JET, JayCee, or proportional stringing which varies tension on certain strings, or you have no idea how your frame is strung job to job.

I voted for Option D.

Well, the poll option seems to have failed...

Well, you didn't actually avail yourself of the embedded poll option when you started the thread, which would have made the intent to poll better known as part of the listed topic.

But, I think a prior question should be polled as well--to wit, how many stringers, including those counted on, can actually perform those special techniques you list, advertise it, and are prepared/able to where they are employed.

I think most people don't have access to stringing services that even know about the existence of the techniques you mentioned. Usually, they take it to a pro shop or sporting goods store that puts the racquets in a pile for a stringer to do them. The stringer could often be a kid in high school who got trained to do these jobs in a standard way and to get them done in the quickest way possible (which is also the most profitable way). The actual tension you get from a crank machine when someone is working as quickly as possible is so much lower than the setting that it's not even worth specifying the tension you want because you're not going to get it.

Another option is to ship your racquet to a professional stringing service that does know about these techniques and takes pride in their work. I'm scared to even ask about the cost of shipping and the service combined.

That's why I decided to get my own stringing machine.

I think there are four options now for stringing if you don't do your own, and they are ranked below, from low- to high-confidence:

1. Multi-sport box store (examples would be Sports Authority and Dick's Sporting Goods).

2. Two-sport retail storefront (typically running and racquet sports).

3. Local tennis shop, in particular one associated with a solid tennis club.

4. Home or professional stringing service.

Then a separate matter is having/acquiring the ability to distinguish the service you need and providing the related input to the stringer. Of course you can learn as you go along too.

Just to put things in perspective; this question begat a firestorm of opinions in the stringing techniques forum.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=442674
For those who are interested.

TimothyO said:

This question and poll is primarily directed towards customers who use stringing services.

Do you have a preferred stringing technique when ordering a string job or do you have no idea how your frame is strung job after job?

Choices include fixed reference tension across all strings, special techniques such as JET, JayCee, or proportional stringing which varies tension on certain strings, or you have no idea how your frame is strung job to job.

Click to expand...

Is this for real?

JackB1 said:

Is this for real?

Click to expand...

Yes, it is a legitimate question.
See the above link.
More than half of my customers have no clue as to string or tension.
...until I educate/confuse them, of course. 8)

The OP lives in an area that has a veritable plethora of stringers to choose from (including GG, the ambassadors of JET/L-Tec)
Even they offer a 'standard stringing', JET/JayCee is at an extra cost.