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

[Lakers4Life]

Good Stuff, Drak! Keep up the great work.

[aimr75]

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, i always do as you did, start the cross under the first main which ends up over the last main.. will try it the other way

What did you think of that box pattern variation that you had to do? Any chance to do a youtube clip of how you string it?

great thread btw, thanks for posting

[mdqm]

great job Drakulie,many thanks for sharing.

[MAX PLY]

I will add my thanks for the pics and the info. I know you had a good time--hope your fingers are sufficiently recovering.

[Chace]

Great stuff Drak. That had to be an awesome experience. Thanks for taking the time to post.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

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?

If I'm understanding your description correctly, then Yes, you are correct.

I never thought this would make a difference but it does show a different reading on the ERT. Will have to test it soon to see if I feel a difference.

Originally Posted by dgdawg

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

I'm making OK money, but more importantly, I'm happier than I was at my previous job. I am thinking to give it a year, and see how it goes, and then make a decision from there.

Originally Posted by FloridaAG

Nice report Drak.

Hey, now that I have some extra time, we have to hit. I will give you a call for next week.

Originally Posted by 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.

Bucket, the fee is the same to string all the frames. Took about 15 minutes to complete those frames.

Originally Posted by TenniseaWilliams

Great thread drak! Love all the pictures ...

Glad you enjoyed the thread.

Originally Posted by 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?

Thanks Steve. Nice to know the thread is being appreciated.

As for Isner's frames, it seems many stringers (such as yourself) have figured out that tubing has to be done on these type of frames because of early breakage. Especially as you put it, with natural gut.

As for sleep, I was getting it after the Delray, which is why it took me so long to start the thread.

Originally Posted by scotus

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

Originally Posted by Lakers4Life

Good Stuff, Drak! Keep up the great work.

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by aimr75

Interesting, i always do as you did, start the cross under the first main which ends up over the last main.. will try it the other way

What did you think of that box pattern variation that you had to do? Any chance to do a youtube clip of how you string it?

great thread btw, thanks for posting

aim, email me privately. drakulie@aol.com

Originally Posted by mdqm

great job Drakulie,many thanks for sharing.

Magic Man!!! Soon, you have to join me on these adventures. You still have to come over and check out the Baiardo.

Originally Posted by MAX PLY

I will add my thanks for the pics and the info. I know you had a good time--hope your fingers are sufficiently recovering.

Max, the fingers were really not an issue. My feet were another issue. The shoes I was wearing had the cushioning pop, so they were throbbing on about the fourth or fifth day.

Originally Posted by Chace

Great stuff Drak. That had to be an awesome experience. Thanks for taking the time to post.

You're welcome.

[Lakers4Life]

Ryan Harrison's racket gave me an idea on how to save an old racket I have that needs new grommets.

[mctennis]

Great thread Drakulie. Nice behind the scenes look.

[lwto]

Well Done! Some very interesting stuff Mr Drak. thanks.

Interestingly they charge less for lux to the pros then our local stringers charge for a set of syn gut.

[rdis10093]

hats off sir, nice pics keep up the good threads

[W1L50N=B3A5T]

Anybody know Andreev's specs?

[Macro80]

What an outstanding thread, it's things like this that make these boards worth reading. Cheers Drak! You efforts are much appreciated.

As a stringer I cringe at the thought of 30 18x20 poly frames in one day!

[Irvin]

Originally Posted by drakulie

...The stringing pattern used for the tournament, unless specifically directed to string two-piece or a hybrid was needed, was a variation of a box pattern developed by Craig. This pattern tends to equalize the string bed, and hold tension better than a normal one piece pattern...

I guess since no one else is going to bite I will. What is this variation of a box pattern. For it to work it would almost have to depend on the pattern I guess. I like using a variation of the old Wilson ATW (sort of a box) using the short side for the box and the top cross. It works well on some patterns like mains skip 7 and 9 top and bottom.

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...

Hard to see how it makes a difference but I believe you.

Irvin

[GPB]

I'd like to add one more "thanks" for keeping us abreast of your adventures!

Originally Posted by drakulie

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.

I don't get it. Does this have anything to do with the box pattern you were using? Otherwise, I am having a hard time explaining this to myself. Like Irvin, I believe, you... I just don't understand.

I know you said it's hard to explain, and gave it your best shot. But... do you mind having another go at it?

[Irvin]

Yes it seems to me if I have 16 mains my cross will go over and under 8 mains and the two grommet holes on each side should be on a parallel plain to the string bed so no matter which strings in go over and under as long as they alternate I will have the same amount of friction.

If you use an ATW pattern where there are only 14 mains when tensioning crosses and you do the outside mains at the end I can see it, maybe.

I would think most tensioners are below the string bed so if you were to go over the last mains instead of under you would have less angle and friction on the frame but you are saying the opposite. I believe you but I just don't understand the physics behind it.

As an afterthought if I go under the last main with my cross and push my clamp up on the cross string is it possible there could be less drawback on the clamp? Maybe the cross being held by the clamp (outside and inside the main) makes a difference but I would assume the same would happen if you went over that last main.

Irvin

[bigmatt]

Drak:
Interesting post, to say the least. What was the most troublesome moment at the event? Harrison's prototype? On-court Prestige w/ Luxilon, perhaps?
Got to get down to that tournament one of these days.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Irvin

Yes it seems to me if I have 16 mains my cross will go over and under 8 mains and the two grommet holes on each side should be on a parallel plain to the string bed so no matter which strings in go over and under as long as they alternate I will have the same amount of friction.

If you use an ATW pattern where there are only 14 mains when tensioning crosses and you do the outside mains at the end I can see it, maybe.

I would think most tensioners are below the string bed so if you were to go over the last mains instead of under you would have less angle and friction on the frame but you are saying the opposite. I believe you but I just don't understand the physics behind it.

As an afterthought if I go under the last main with my cross and push my clamp up on the cross string is it possible there could be less drawback on the clamp? Maybe the cross being held by the clamp (outside and inside the main) makes a difference but I would assume the same would happen if you went over that last main.

Irvin

All good thoughts Irvin. Thinking out loud, if the last cross goes under the main, you should have a little bit longer string length (the distance between the end main and the next one) to pull since the tensioner is below the racket. That would seem to make it looser but the stringers are saying the friction with the cross above the last main is pulling less tension. I'm still not understanding why it makes a difference, but like you I believe it. I just wish I could wrap my head around it better.

[Irvin]

Originally Posted by mikeler

...Thinking out loud, if the last cross goes under the main, you should have a little bit longer string length (the distance between the end main and the next one) to pull since the tensioner is below the racket...

I can't see that either. The string goes through a grommet over and under x strings or under and over the same number and out the grommet on the other side. Same distance no matter where the tensioner is. The only change I can see is if the number of mains strings changes. If say you were doing an ATW and coming back to weave in the outside mains and the cross string get deflected after you have already tensioned them the tension could go up.

This one has me scratching my head and wondering how it happens.

Irvin

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Irvin

I can't see that either. The string goes through a grommet over and under x strings or under and over the same number and out the grommet on the other side. Same distance no matter where the tensioner is. The only change I can see is if the number of mains strings changes. If say you were doing an ATW and coming back to weave in the outside mains and the cross string get deflected after you have already tensioned them the tension could go up.

This one has me scratching my head and wondering how it happens.

Irvin

I think I'd need a picture to explain my thought process and since I'm not 100% inclined to believe in my theory, I'll let it go without one.

[drakulie]

OK, guys,,,I'll give it another shot.

You want to start your crosses in a way that the majority of your pulls on the crosses are going under the last main on the outside of the string bed.

This has nothing to do with the last cross string, rather, with most of the crosses.

For example, on a Youtek Prestige Pro, which has a 16 x 19 pattern, and I'm stringing a normal one piece pattern, my first cross would go under the first main I encounter. This ensures that crosses 2-18 are being pulled under the last main string on the outside of the string bed.

The theory is, that by going under the outer main on the pulls, there is less friction, and as a result, a tighter string bed.

Hope that helps.