Help with Nat Gut stringing for 18x20

[matchpoint9]

Hi,

I have a Yonex 18x20 and I normally cut 21' for mains. I have a Gamma electronic machine. Thinking about doing gut / poly so the challenge is... is it possible to cut a set of gut in half (20' each) so that I can use it for 2 string jobs with the gut as mains? If I cut 21', what's left is good just for crosses and that would be a waste.

I know about doing a bridge using starting clamp to reach the tensioner if the string is too short, but I've damaged or even broken a string when doing that with a soft string like multi. Gut is too expensive to experiment so I want to do it right. Any tips? With the starting clamp, would double-clamping the string reduce the chance of the string slipping?

Thanks much

 

[esgee48]

Prestring all the mains without tension. Make sure that the short side has just enough length to reach the gripper. You could shorten it by about 3-4" since you know the NG will stretch. Now tension the mains. Tension and tie off the short side. Tension and clamp the long side. Now cut the NG and you should have at least ½ set left. Tie off the last main.

 

[struggle]

I often did this with my microgel radicals 18x20. I also used the cheap india gut so there is no extra.

It worked, but just barely. Sometimes i had to forego the diablo and had to bridge a few times, but i
always got it done.

 

[kkm]

I would just cut it in half.

 

[Irvin]

DO NOT GUT THE STRING IN HALF if you have a starting clamp. String all the mains with a 10' short side. Use a bridge if needed to tension the short side of the mains and use what you cut off the long side to string the mains in the other racket.

 

[struggle]

Or just cut it in half. ^^^^

(you could try it with some cheap syngut first, to be sure).

If you are using premium NG you likely have more than 40 feet. (The cheap stuff i'd guess not)

 

[Irvin]

Or just cut it in half. ^^^^

(you could try it with some cheap syngut first, to be sure).

If you are using premium NG you likely have more than 40 feet. (The cheap stuff i'd guess not)

Bad idea SG and Gut do not stretch at the same rate, and if you have VS Touch it come in 40' sets.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Have done 1/2 klip legend (least stretchy nat gut out there) on a speed pro (biggest headed 18x20 out there) at a fairly low tension and could still reach the gripper for the last pull but did have to hand pull the knot.

 

[Rabbit]

I'm with @struggle. Just cut it in half. I have also taken a page out of @jim e 's book. I am a big fan of one-piece whenever and wherever I can do it. But not with natural gut. I now cut it in half and string it two-piece. Doing so does definitely save wear and tear on the crosses and makes for a better end product.

Cutting it in half should be fine. Even finer if you've got a starting clamp to use as a bridge, just in case.

Good luck

 

[Irvin]

Have done 1/2 klip legend (least stretchy nat gut out there) on a speed pro (biggest headed 18x20 out there) at a fairly low tension and could still reach the gripper for the last pull but did have to hand pull the knot.

Then depending on what Gamma machine @matchpoint9 has it may or may not work. If his machine has a rotational gripper it will take much more string than a linear gripper.

 

[Rabbit]

Ahhhh…. @Irvin, the eternal nay sayer….devil's advocate to the devil himself......

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Then depending on what Gamma machine @matchpoint9 has it may or may not work. If his machine has a rotational gripper it will take much more string than a linear gripper.

Last main did just barely make my linear gripper. Good point.

But you can just kind of "hand close" a rotational in a pinch.

 

[10shoe]

First off, if it's VS Touch a full set is less than 39.5 ft. Nevertheless, I am with those who say cut it in half. But it sounds like you need a better quality starting clamp. My bridge is an Alpha clamp with a length of Kevlar. Never slips. If you only have a Gamma starting clamp, yeeech.

 

[matchpoint9]

I have the blue Gamma X-ELS table top with rotational gripper. I think I understand what was suggested by @esgee48 and @Irvin. Interesting because I always do 2 piece and symmetrically string my mains so never really thought about short / long side. Thanks much.

 

[matchpoint9]

First off, if it's VS Touch a full set is less than 39.5 ft. Nevertheless, I am with those who say cut it in half. But it sounds like you need a better quality starting clamp. My bridge is an Alpha clamp with a length of Kevlar. Never slips. If you only have a Gamma starting clamp, yeeech.

And that's what I have

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

And that's what I have

Then you're in luck! Vs stretches a ton.

Do a prestretch before install and then take your time on the first couple of mains.

 

[Irvin]

@matchpoint9 since you have a rotational gripper and only 40’ of string you may need to use a bridge. I find on my X-2 it is hard to get 2 strings in the gripper so I clamp the string I’m tensioning with my starting clamp then tie a knot in a scrap piece of string, insert the scrap in the eyes of the starting clamp towards the frame until the knot stops the string then go back through the other set of eyes towards the tensioner.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

im with @Irvin and others who say "do not cut"!!, your gonna end up short on the next racket if you do; "been there, done that"!!
babolat vs gut does no give you the full 40', they give you 12 meters which is 39.3700787 feet
post #2 from @esgee48 gives you directions

but just so we are all clear, the OP mentioned this is a 18/20 frame and he wishes to use the left over gut for 1 more racket after this one!!

 

[10shoe]

And that's what I have

Then consider adding an Alpha starting clamp to your collection. I also have a Gamma starting clamp and yes, it's essentially worthless. Found out the hard way, same as you.

 

[matchpoint9]

Then consider adding an Alpha starting clamp to your collection. I also have a Gamma starting clamp and yes, it essentially worthless. Found out the hard way, same as you.

Man... and it wasn’t cheap either. Thanks for the recommendation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Then consider adding an Alpha starting clamp to your collection. I also have a Gamma starting clamp and yes, it essentially worthless. Found out the hard way, same as you.

@Irvin says it will hold 90 lbs[emoji848]

 

[10shoe]

@matchpoint9

While the Alpha clamp works exceptionally well as a bridge I think others will agree with me that it isn't the gentlest clamp. It can crush a soft string. I ONLY use it as a bridge.

I have never used a Babolat starting clamp but based on what I have read here, if you want one starting clamp that will handle everything well, that's the best.

 

[Irvin]

@Irvin says it will hold 90 lbs

I've never had an Alpha starting clamp, and have no idea what it will hold. My VS and Gamma starting clamps held at max tension on the Wise I had though (86 lbs) unless I did not put the string down in the throat of the clamp far enough.

 

[Irvin]

While the Alpha clamp works exceptionally well as a bridge I think others will agree with me that it isn't the gentlest clamp. It can crush a soft string. I ONLY use it as a bridge.

If the clamp crushes the string too much place the string more towards the tip or change out the strings for weaker ones.

 

[matchpoint9]

When using starting clamp as a bridge, has anyone ever clamped the string and then looped it around the back of the clamp and tie a knot onto the string itself? I'm just wondering if that could prevent slipping.

 

[Irvin]

When using starting clamp as a bridge, has anyone ever clamped the string and then looped it around the back of the clamp and tie a knot onto the string itself? I'm just wondering if that could prevent slipping.

Seems like if you had enough string to do that you would not need a bridge. If you loop and knot the string there is a better chance of breaking it then you would have a hard time tying off.