tension lost after stringing.

[R2022]

Hello,

I am new to stringing and recently started (few days ago) stringing my own racquets. I am currently using an Alpha Revo 4000. I am confused as to how fast you are supposed to lose tension. Yesterday I strung my Pure Aero 98 with RPM Blast 16 at 57lbs, 3 more pounds from normal weight 55lbs, since I was reading for crank machines you should add a couple of pounds. I also was finishing the knots with 60lb since I am new and I did not want to lose too much tension doing knots.

Today my racquet is at 37-38 pounds(racquettune + Tennis Tension Apps), after playing 4 games yesterday, not even a set... Is it normal or I did the knots incorrectly or something else? I am doing double half hitch knot. I see people losing like 1kg or 2kg after playing a set or something.

Can someone please explain me how tension works? If I string at 60 pounds after using it a couple of times it settles down at 50pounds or what? I just want my racquet to stay at 50 pounds at least a couple of days minimum...

 

[LOBALOT]

First check it right after stringing before using the racquet as a comparison step. Did you do that and what tension did it show? If you didn't it is really hard to tell.

Just because your stringing machine said 55 lbs doesn't mean that is what you got when it came off the machine. For all we know at this point is it could have been 37-38 pounds then too or perhaps a tad more.

 

[Standupnfall]

Congrats on getting started.
-I am not sure how accurate those tension apps can be. What tension did it tell you right after you strung it? Maybe it was already reading something far lower than you thought.
-Have you calibrated your machine?
.-57 is only 2 more LB than 55.
-every string will have it's own tension loss rate, it is also very difficult to accurately measure tension in a racquet (similar to my note about the app).

 

[R2022]

I will probably do that next time, but what is supposed to be the normal rate of tension change and what does settling down means? or tension will keep going down forever?

 

[R2022]

Congrats on getting started.
-I am not sure how accurate those tension apps can be. What tension did it tell you right after you strung it? Maybe it was already reading something far lower than you thought.
-Have you calibrated your machine?
.-57 is only 2 more LB than 55.

I did not calibrate it because its brand new..

Sorry, I got confused my normal tension is 54.

 

[Standupnfall]

I did not calibrate it because its brand new..

Sorry, I got confused my normal tension is 54.

Brand new is the best reason to calibrate

 

[LOBALOT]

I will probably do that next time, but what is supposed to be the normal rate of tension change and what does settling down means? or tension will keep going down forever?

Again we don't really know what you had to begin with. It is like asking how quickly a car decelerated if they are now traveling at 50 kmh. I don't know what rate were you traveling before that. if you started at 200 kmh you decelerated a lot (lost a lot of tension). If you started at 52 kmh you didn't decelerate that much (lost little tension). You really need to know what tension you had off the machine.

Note: What we are saying here is we are trying to determine if you lost tension in stringing the racquet which is probably the case. That will tell us if the issue was before it came off the stringer or after.

If is before then we can start talking technique (which it probably is).

 

[Rabbit]

@R2022 - question - when you played with your newly strung racket, did it feel right?

If it did, I wouldn't worry about anything else.

 

[Irvin]

The are many reasons you tension is lower. But the string bed looses tension quickly no matter what. The best thing to do is you want to track of tension with RacquetTune is to measure it when you take it off the machine the after each time you play.

The best option is don’t measure tension just play with it and it’s to you liking keep doing what you’re doing if not adjust the reference tension the next time you string.

 

[LttlElvis]

I’m with Rabbit. Bottom line, how did the racket feel?

I’m pretty ignorant to how the racquettune app works. Does it take into account specific racquets and the sound it makes with specific strings?

In other words, if I strung each string of my classical guitar at the same tension, would it not give different readings since each string has a different gauge? And then the same tension on a bass guitar and violin, would it not give you different readings for all?

Intuitively, every single pull on the mains shortens the racquet and the note changes each time. Using tunes for accuracy doesn’t make sense to me because there are so many variables.

Have those who use it find it to be a trustworthy app? Not knocking it, just curious.

 

[alfd]

There is a very good explanation of factors that have an influence on tension in the RacquetTune app under the Guide and Q&A menu.

I would also recommend calibrating your stringing machine. My Gamma crank was 5 lbs off when it was new.

I think RacquetTune is a good app, but don’t be too obsessed with tension measurements. Follow Rabbit’s advice and go by feeling!

 

[LOBALOT]

There is a very good explanation of factors that have an influence on tension in the RacquetTune app under the Guide and Q&A menu.

I would also recommend calibrating your stringing machine. My Gamma crank was 5 lbs off when it was new.

I think RacquetTune is a good app, but don’t be too obsessed with tension measurements. Follow Rabbit’s advice and go by feeling!

I think you are making a few leaps here. We don't even know the settings for racquettune he used so how can we assume it is simply a racquettune issue.

Yes he may like the feeling at that makes sense so Rabbit's point is a good one.

The OP initial question is on tension loss after stringing / with use and you don't know what tension loss you had if you don't know what it was off the machine.

 

[esgee48]

Lobalot, I stopped replying to threads like this due to lack of details in the opening posts. As stated, there is no info about starting conditions, which means OP has no idea if it is him or the machine when racquet is finished. There is no info about whether he provided RT with the correct data either.

 

[LOBALOT]

Lobalot, I stopped replying to threads like this due to lack of details in the opening posts. As stated, there is no info about starting conditions, which means OP has no idea if it is him or the machine when racquet is finished. There is no info about whether he provided RT with the correct data either.

Thanks that is wise advice.

 

[Irvin]

In other words, if I strung each string of my classical guitar at the same tension, would it not give different readings since each string has a different gauge?

If you had different gauge strings all at the same tension they would vibrate at a different frequency because of each string’s density (string factor.) In RacquetTune uses string factors instead of string density. So if you had different gauges of the same string they would have different string factors because of their density.

RacquetTune also takes into around the length of strings in the string bed by know the area of the head, but it does not account for the different lengths and widths of the head. One racket could be longer and narrower than another and still have the same area. This will also change the vibration frequency. Therefore RacquetTune’s accuracy is suspect because you get different reading using the same string on 2 different 98 si rackets.

 

[R2022]

I just stringed my racquet with Head Lynx Tour 16, setting the machine at 62lbs. After removing it from the machine the tension came up at 51lbs. Is that normal?

How much weight should I add to get around 55lbs? 67pounds on my machine?

 

[R2022]

@R2022 - question - when you played with your newly strung racket, did it feel right?

If it did, I wouldn't worry about anything else.

It didn't not it felt like a rocket launcher.

 

[Trinity110]

@R2022 - question - when you played with your newly strung racket, did it feel right?

If it did, I wouldn't worry about anything else.

This this and THIS^^^^^^^^^

 

[R2022]

Lobalot, I stopped replying to threads like this due to lack of details in the opening posts. As stated, there is no info about starting conditions, which means OP has no idea if it is him or the machine when racquet is finished. There is no info about whether he provided RT with the correct data either.

I am using two apps to measure my string tension and using the database on the app for Racquettune. Also using tennistension app with the standard settings.

I also bought calibrator for the machine.

I am just trying to find where is the issue with my tension after stringing.

 

[Trinity110]

Honestly, there will always be a tension loss. How much is unusual, that is the question, and what you are concerned about, I guess. I just want to assure you that this is true of all of our string jobs. The first main will give a different reading from the sixth main, too. This is normal. That is what the phrase "reference tension" means: what the machine is set at, for repeatable results. When Djokovic gets his strung at 70 by a stringing god, he isn't playing with a bunch of strings at 70. But it will be the same feel every single day.

In fact, even that god of a stringer can string two really different racquets, say a Yonex vs a Head, same reference tension, and the two racquets will test differently from one another two hours later. The various hoop shapes react differently.

Make sure you are calibrated (you are doing that) have confidence in your technique (or ask for advice) and know that things are reacting as they will.

IMHO

 

[jimmy8]

You might not be stringing correctly. For example, you might not be clamping strings correctly.

You might not have calibrated the machine, or correctly calibrated the machine.

Did you string it, then play right away? The tension goes down with time even without playing. It can go down 5 lbs in one day without even playing.

 

[EggSalad]

Hello,

I am new to stringing and recently started (few days ago) stringing my own racquets. I am currently using an Alpha Revo 4000. I am confused as to how fast you are supposed to lose tension. Yesterday I strung my Pure Aero 98 with RPM Blast 16 at 57lbs, 3 more pounds from normal weight 55lbs, since I was reading for crank machines you should add a couple of pounds. I also was finishing the knots with 60lb since I am new and I did not want to lose too much tension doing knots.

Today my racquet is at 37-38 pounds(racquettune + Tennis Tension Apps), after playing 4 games yesterday, not even a set... Is it normal or I did the knots incorrectly or something else? I am doing double half hitch knot. I see people losing like 1kg or 2kg after playing a set or something.

Can someone please explain me how tension works? If I string at 60 pounds after using it a couple of times it settles down at 50pounds or what? I just want my racquet to stay at 50 pounds at least a couple of days minimum...

Welcome to stringing! When I first learned, I had the same issues. Aside from the machine itself, the most likely causes are:

1. Are your clamps tight enough to hold the string at tension? If they aren’t, you’ll lose tension. You’ll pull at 55lbs but could lose 5-10 pounds from the strings slipping through the clamp.
2. When you tension the crosses, move them straight while under tension then clamp off
3. Knots. What knots are you using? When you go to tie off, use a starting clamp to pull any excess string that might be on the outside of the frame. If needed, use an awl to wedge into the grommet from the outside to keep the string tight. Then just learn to tie really tight knots up against the inside of the grommet. The Wilson Pro knot is a very easy one to learn. Use the starting clamp to really synch it up.

I imagine the above technique is the cause and not the machine itself. It was with me and just took some time to get really dialed in.

 

[Rabbit]

It didn't not it felt like a rocket launcher.

OK, so if it felt too loose, check your machine with your calibrator. Ensure it's at the right tension. Then, bump your tension up. You'll find your number. If you just started stringing, you'll get better with practice. Don't sweat it too much. Your first string job is ALWAYS your worst string job. Keep practicing.

 

[SpinControl]

What was the tension right after stringing on the RacketTune?

I use a Stringmeter gauge...been doing so for 30 years. It seems pretty accurate to me although it is analog.

Have you thought about prestretching the string? I have a reel of string that I have been stringing, and no matter the clamp strength or technique, I keep losing 10% (final tension is lower than constant pull machine preset). I have decided to prestretch to see if it will solve that issue.