Pulling/Tightening String

[clxtennis]

Last night I strung 5 racquets with polyester and synthetic gut.

This morning, my hand feels like I ran it through a meat grinder.

I used to use pliers to pull & tighten strings, but after having a couple of strings break on me, I decided this wasn't the best option. I read somewhere that with parnel knots all you really need to do is tighten by hand, so ever since, I have been doing that. So far, no real complaints.

Now, a complaint. My hand hurts. I'm wondering if I should start wearing a glove, or something, when I string. Is there something I'm missing? Am I doing something wrong? Any tips?

What do other people do?

[bad_call]

if your hands are hurting from pulling knots then suggest you use long nose pliers and pull snugly (not overly).

hand tightening stiff string?...not for me.

[Loco4Tennis]

this is normal, initially anyway, specially after 5 racquets
you could i guess rap some tape arround the fingers that really hurt, i have this problem with the pinky finger on my right hand when i pull the knot, in between the knuckels, i tried using a bandaid at one point and it kinda cumbersom, but it worked
wearing gloves would provably be very unconfortable, specially when trying to weave

[crazyrange]

i use a starting clamp like in yulitle's video. you don't have to pull so hard that the strings break and it gives a good grip

[jswinf]

I think there's such a thing as a "tensioning dowel." Back in the old wood racket days it was common for a stringer to saw off the handle of a broken or despised racket. Wrapping the string around it 2 or three times the string will hold well and you have a good grip, plus you can sort of roll the handle against the frame you're working on when it's helpful. I don't know about sawing off a modern racket handle, though, probably carcinogenic.

[clxtennis]

Originally Posted by jswinf

I think there's such a thing as a "tensioning dowel." Back in the old wood racket days it was common for a stringer to saw off the handle of a broken or despised racket. Wrapping the string around it 2 or three times the string will hold well and you have a good grip, plus you can sort of roll the handle against the frame you're working on when it's helpful. I don't know about sawing off a modern racket handle, though, probably carcinogenic.

That sounds like a really good idea.

Wouldn't any piece of wood work (as long as it want sharp on any edge)?

I'll try that out the next time I need to string a racquet.

[jswinf]

You could fix up lots of things to work, sure. I was thinking about a 6" piece of PVC pipe with an overgrip wrapped around it. It makes a good tool, but might slow some of you slick stringers down. Nothing can slow me down, I define slow.

[steve728]

Originally Posted by crazyrange

i use a starting clamp like in yulitle's video. you don't have to pull so hard that the strings break and it gives a good grip

+1. I had the same problem. Now I use the starting clamp and there have been no issues. You don't need to don't pull too tight.

[chaddles]

I was taught the parnell/pro knot from the beginning and have never needed to use anything else to help tighten the knot. Works well on all string types and doesn't require mucking around with other implements - and also looks very professional to the customer.

[clxtennis]

Originally Posted by chaddles

I was taught the parnell/pro knot from the beginning and have never needed to use anything else to help tighten the knot. Works well on all string types and doesn't require mucking around with other implements - and also looks very professional to the customer.

I also use the parnell knot. I've noticed that sometimes when I use polyester, it doesn't seem to tighten as well as I'd like (on the last string of the crosses). Sometimes there's also a little tiny spacing between the knot and the grommet. Is this normal? Is there any problem with it? Or is it just an aesthetic thing?

[Loco4Tennis]

i agree, i like the way the parnell knot looks also, but making sure you take the slack from the string is important, if you do it right you'll need the help of pointed tool to widen the opening for the last follow through on the knot
yulittle got a video where he shows how to take the slack away, by first pulling up along the string and then back down on the string as you tighten the first loop
but like the OP menitoned, pulling with your hands will tear up your hands, until you build up some wear and tare calasses on your hand from doing this so much, until then tape up your fingers or the spots that hurt the most to reduce further damage on your hands
using tools to tighten knots,, not a great idea, this has been atlked about here and people have snapped the string while tightening the knot,,, possibly the worst place where it could happen

[chaddles]

Originally Posted by clxtennis

I also use the parnell knot. I've noticed that sometimes when I use polyester, it doesn't seem to tighten as well as I'd like (on the last string of the crosses). Sometimes there's also a little tiny spacing between the knot and the grommet. Is this normal? Is there any problem with it? Or is it just an aesthetic thing?

I can't recall having a space between knot and grommet - when I pull the loop it usually pulls the knot up against the grommet. Especially with poly's, I need a decent amount left over to really get a good pull on the string to tighten the knot right up. Also I would think as the racquet is used, the knot will creep towards the grommet on the crosses any way to close down the small gap - just a guess anyway.

I agree with loco, last thing that you want is the knot to break right at the end of a job, especially if you are doing a one-piece . I did 3 poly & 2 syn gut jobs in a morning a couple of weeks ago, and my hands were stinging all arvo from it but came good the next day.

[LeeD]

Stringers get "stringers wrists", which can be forearms and elbows too.
Like anything, you gotta get into shape.
Takes most stringers several months before they can string 10+ jobs a day, 5 days a week.

[Ripper014]

I have used a dowel since the 70's in fact I am probably using the only one I ever had. It is just a 1 inch diameter piece of doweling with a synthentic grip wrapped around it. The secret is to not pull the knot too tight... with the dowel it is easy to break the string at the knot.

[jmjmkim]

Man, poly is real tuff on the hands. My finger hurts when I do the crosses, and I notice that I get some minor cuts. I don't thing I can ever pull a knot with my bare hands.... maybe if I was Popeye the sailor.