RacquetTune helped me find a bad string job

[ultradr]

Originally Posted by scotus

Machine types and prestretch make a noticeable difference in resultant stringbed stiffness.

Yes, I always request 10-15% prestretch.

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by ultradr

I have tried 1.32 mm also. I saw a similar differences in tensions.
String factor is not crucial factor in my case.
Note that I'm only interested in differences in tension.

Note that no tension meter in this world can measure absolutely accurate tension.
I am using it just as a "Reference Tension" to compare 3 identical frames with
3 identical strings.

In my experience, the number of stringers who rush through jobs so they can do over 10 racquets in one day outnumbers the people who care about their work. If you have 3 string jobs and one of them is an outlier, it's very possible that the outlier is the only good one out of the 3. Tonic was a bit of an outlier for me because the RacquetTune readings were unusually high.

[ultradr]

Originally Posted by Ramon

In my experience, the number of stringers who rush through jobs so they can do over 10 racquets in one day outnumbers the people who care about their work. If you have 3 string jobs and one of them is an outlier, it's very possible that the outlier is the only good one out of the 3. Tonic was a bit of an outlier for me because the RacquetTune readings were unusually high.

ah! that is certainly possible. And I didn't really think about that possibility.

But it's been 6-7 months since I had it strung as I recall. And it felt dead
and unplayable immediately after it's got strung. Now after 6-7months, it is registering
66 lbs and that is so wrong. I mean it is more wrong than other.
So I conclude that is the outlier.

BT7 does register pretty high. for string bed #1,#2 in my OP, registering
#52 and #56 seem pretty high...

[corbind]

I just bought that app so I'll check into it...

[nightfire700]

Originally Posted by UCSF2012

I advocate a performance-based decision to replace strings. When the ball starts to not do what you want it to do, (you miss your targets more, more shots going long, hooking shots wide) then you replace your strings. Tension matters less than loss of resiliance.

Totally agree but in case the players are very young kids (true in my case as its my 9yr old who plays), its very difficult to make that judgement especially if they are still learning to control the ball well. I find RacquetTune helps well here to keep a track of how the tension is going down. Not the best method I guess but being pretty new to all this, it made the most sense to me.

[bbulla]

Not to sound too harsh, but if you are relying on Racquet tune to judge a good vs bad string job, then you don't know much about racquet stringing.

There is no way an app on an iPhone can come even close to accurately measuring the strung tension on a racquet.

[tbuggle]

Originally Posted by bbulla

Not to sound too harsh, but if you are relying on Racquet tune to judge a good vs bad string job, then you don't know much about racquet stringing.

There is no way an app on an iPhone can come even close to accurately measuring the strung tension on a racquet.

but banging it on your palm or another frame is much more accurate....???
it's a great tool, actually. but i don't believe it gives ACTUAL tension, no.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by UCSF2012

It's just some software some guy made up. No indication of any scientific method to it. No measuring tension (because you can't). No account of head shape on sound (because it's too complicated). Just randomness someone made up to make quick cash.

Completely false and disparaging. I have never seen a post where you are not attacking someone or something.

Try therapy.

I use Rtune with my stringway and it is always very accurate on it's readouts. Great app. More importantly it will show tension loss for a stringjob if you log the results over time.

[db10s]

Originally Posted by ultradr

Finally installed RaquetTune on my iPhone and iPad and measured tensions
of string beds on 3 identical Head Prestige's, all with Babolat BT7 guts.

#1: measured 52# (requested 59/60# a few month ago, played a few weeks).
#2: measured 56# (requested 58# 2 weeks ago, have been playing since then)
#3: measured 66# (requested 62# 6-7 month ago, played only once)

I know these are only reference tensions but #3 clearly was a bad one, I concluded.
I requested 62# but I think the stringer( person or machine ) probably pulled it at 70+ lbs.
It felt dead and I stopped playing with it. BT7 with this high tension is probably unusable.
There goes $43(string) + $22(stringing fee) wasted.

At shops around here you can get a good string job done for <$15... I personally charge $8 labor, but I get a fair amount in tips.

[bbulla]

There are too many factors to consider for a micropohone on an iPod to accurately measure tension. As UCSF2012 eluded to in an ealier post. Head size, string type, gauge of string, density of string pattern, racquet material, head shape....the list could go on. All of these will have a different effect on the 'sound' of the strings resonating in the racquet....which is how this app is measuring tension.

A good example would be a Head Microstring racquet (circa the 90s). If you strung that racquet at 30lbs it felt like 60lbs. Do you think your iPad app would say 30 or 60??

[db10s]

Originally Posted by bbulla

There are too many factors to consider for a micropohone on an iPod to accurately measure tension. As UCSF2012 eluded to in an ealier post. Head size, string type, gauge of string, density of string pattern, racquet material, head shape....the list could go on. All of these will have a different effect on the 'sound' of the strings resonating in the racquet....which is how this app is measuring tension.

A good example would be a Head Microstring racquet (circa the 90s). If you strung that racquet at 30lbs it felt like 60lbs. Do you think your iPad app would say 30 or 60??

I might not get the tension that the machine was stringing at, but if I string 3 rackets on the same machine, RT reads the tensions of 1 racket within 2-3 lbs of the other 2 rackets.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by bbulla

There are too many factors to consider for a micropohone on an iPod to accurately measure tension. As UCSF2012 eluded to in an ealier post. Head size, string type, gauge of string, density of string pattern, racquet material, head shape....the list could go on. All of these will have a different effect on the 'sound' of the strings resonating in the racquet....which is how this app is measuring tension.

But yet the app has settings for headsize, string type and gauge.

If it didnt work, then I guess I am lucky because if I string at 50/53 it always pings out at 51.5 or 52.

Also, once you have a reference tone, you can still measure tension loss, which is the main benefit of the app.

[ultradr]

Originally Posted by Power Player

But yet the app has settings for headsize, string type and gauge.

If it didnt work, then I guess I am lucky because if I string at 50/53 it always pings out at 51.5 or 52.

Also, once you have a reference tone, you can still measure tension loss, which is the main benefit of the app.

Now I try echoing the sound with my vocal cord. I feel like I can tell it
by its sound if 50-65#. "ah-ah^-ah-ha".

65# really hits the limit of my vocal cord. ha ha ha.

[Ramon]

Originally Posted by bbulla

There are too many factors to consider for a micropohone on an iPod to accurately measure tension. As UCSF2012 eluded to in an ealier post. Head size, string type, gauge of string, density of string pattern, racquet material, head shape....the list could go on. All of these will have a different effect on the 'sound' of the strings resonating in the racquet....which is how this app is measuring tension.

A good example would be a Head Microstring racquet (circa the 90s). If you strung that racquet at 30lbs it felt like 60lbs. Do you think your iPad app would say 30 or 60??

Have you ever tried RacquetTune? Judging from your post, I don't think you have.

[sansaephanh]

hmm how do i tell true gauge and calibrate my stringer? I'd like to start fixing my stringing tensions.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Ramon

Have you ever tried RacquetTune? Judging from your post, I don't think you have.

The app is easily worth the $2 price tag.

[corbind]

Originally Posted by mikeler

The app is easily worth the $2 price tag.

Yep, we spend more than that for a can of balls or a cheap lunch.