Professional Stringing Room; A Behind the Scenes look of the Delray Beach ATP 250

[laboule]

Great thread Drakulie. Thanks for sharing.

Harrison's prototype fram does not look like a PS Ltd at all... Maybe a softer PS Tour?

[sixone90]

The Babolat prototype looks a little like a Yonex head shape to me. Or maybe it's just me?

[junk]

Drak, awesome thread! Many thanks for sharing the info, pictures, experiences... True "inside" view!

[mikeler]

Can you share the tips that you learned from the other stringers? This thread is even cooler than I anticipated. Thanks for taking the time to do the detailed write-up.

[pingu]

This is great! Another THANKS to Drakulie!

[Rabbit]

Let me add my kudos as well. A great thread and I'm sure (albeit tiring) a great experience!

[beernutz]

Nice thread Drak, it was almost like being there.

[jmverdugo]

Hey Drakulie! nice thread!, why did they choose Prince for the stringing machines? Better Price? What are the plans for those machines? - sorry if these questions are to bussiness oriented!

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by your name

Thanks Drakulie, glad to have someone like you on the forum!

Do you have any information on Berdych, Verdasco, Hewitt, Djokovic, Murray or Monfils?

Unfortunately, none of those players attended this event, so I don't know. Sorry.

Originally Posted by andtapes

It is the swingweight of the racquet.

By the way what is the weigth for DelProto's racquet?

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Delpotro's frame unstrung is approx 355 grams.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by sixone90

The Babolat prototype looks a little like a Yonex head shape to me. Or maybe it's just me?

Definitely a Babolat shape. Looks like the new storm mold.

Originally Posted by mikeler

Can you share the tips that you learned from the other stringers? This thread is even cooler than I anticipated. Thanks for taking the time to do the detailed write-up.

Hey Mikeler, glad you enjoy the thread. One tip I got was how to make the string bed tighter/looser when stringing.

hard to explain, but I'll try........

When I string a frame, I always start my first cross by going under the first main I encounter. This typically results in most of my pulls going "over" the main I'm pulling the cross string. As a result, there is more friction, and a looser string bed. By changing my technique where most of my pulls on cross strings are under the main, one gets less frcition, and tighter string bed. I tried it out at home and was consistently getting a variation of one to two points higher or lower reading on a DT depending on how I started the crosses.

Originally Posted by jmverdugo

Hey Drakulie! nice thread!, why did they choose Prince for the stringing machines? Better Price? What are the plans for those machines? - sorry if these questions are to bussiness oriented!

JM, Craig use to head up the Prince String Team, and they would exclusively string for anyone sponsored by Prince at all the tourneys. The machine developed and used was the Prince 4000. There are only 4 in existence, and Craig owns all 4.

Although the machines looks beat up, they still do their job, and are fantastic to string on. The center clamps are awesome, as they get right up against the frame no matter what string you are working on. The base clamps and rails are like those of the babolat star 3 and 4's, and the towers are similar to those of the prince 5000. Very easy to string on, and are definitely built for speed.

[drakulie]

Here are some photos of the Tipsy frame. He left one behind (had a small crack), so I put it on the tuning center at the pro shop.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Definitely a Babolat shape. Looks like the new storm mold.



Hey Mikeler, glad you enjoy the thread. One tip I got was how to make the string bed tighter/looser when stringing.

hard to explain, but I'll try........

When I string a frame, I always start my first cross by going under the first main I encounter. This typically results in most of my pulls going "over" the main I'm pulling the cross string. As a result, there is more friction, and a looser string bed. By changing my technique where most of my pulls on cross strings are under the main, one gets less frcition, and tighter string bed. I tried it out at home and was consistently getting a variation of one to two points higher or lower reading on a DT depending on how I started the crosses.



JM, Craig use to head up the Prince String Team, and they would exclusively string for anyone sponsored by Prince at all the tourneys. The machine developed and used was the Prince 4000. There are only 4 in existence, and Craig owns all 4.

Although the machines looks beat up, they still do their job, and are fantastic to string on. The center clamps are awesome, as they get right up against the frame no matter what string you are working on. The base clamps and rails are like those of the babolat star 3 and 4's, and the towers are similar to those of the prince 5000. Very easy to string on, and are definitely built for speed.

Very interesting stuff. Since I only string for myself, I'll keep going under the first main but that is surprising that it makes a difference in the final tension.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by drakulie

When I string a frame, I always start my first cross by going under the first main I encounter. This typically results in most of my pulls going "over" the main I'm pulling the cross string. As a result, there is more friction, and a looser string bed. By changing my technique where most of my pulls on cross strings are under the main, one gets less frcition, and tighter string bed. I tried it out at home and was consistently getting a variation of one to two points higher or lower reading on a DT depending on how I started the crosses.

interesting...never thought this would affect the DT. since the first and last cross at the head and throat of the racquet have 2 less mains to cross, i guess these pulls go "under" while the rest of the "over". is this correct?

[dgdawg]

Nice thread, drake.
Now, the perk would be if a stringer could make money doing this!!
String on, homie!!

[FloridaAG]

Nice report Drak.

[Buckethead]

Drak, amazing thread.
Congrats.
I am sorry you and the others have to go through all of that to string Isner, Harrison and some others' frames.
Do you guys extra charge for the extra job??
How long does it take to string Isner and Harrison's frame?
thanks.

[TenniseaWilliams]

Great thread drak! Love all the pictures ...

[Jerry Seinfeld]

Originally Posted by drakulie

I tried it out at home and was consistently getting a variation of one to two points higher or lower reading on a DT depending on how I started the crosses.

Interesting. A variance of 1 or 2 DT points can actually equate to somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 - 6 pounds. I strongly suspect there is something going on other than how the weaves were started.

[Steve Huff]

Drak, let me say, rarely does anything on these threads impress me any more. This thread did. Very nice.

I noticed the tubing on Isner's frames also. I do that for some of my customers that use natural gut in their OPorts. It does seem to extend its life.

Again, very nice pics. Did you ever get any sleep?

[scotus]

Originally Posted by Steve Huff

Drak, let me say, rarely does anything on these threads impress me any more. This thread did. Very nice.

+1
This board would be so boring without Drakulie's contributions.