Pull knots with crank tensioner

GnRFan · 08-11-2008, 11:01 AM

Hey,

I was watching this guy stringing a racket and he was telling me that cranks are just as good as electronic constant pull machines which I thought wasn't accurate, because why wouldn't the pro stringers on the tour string with cranks if that was the case.

Something else I seen him doing though was tightening the knots with the crank tensioner. I think I read somewhere on here that this is not good, and I am just wondering why that is the case.

All the Best.

jim e · 08-11-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GnRFan

Hey,

I was watching this guy stringing a racket and he was telling me that cranks are just as good as electronic constant pull machines which I thought wasn't accurate, because why wouldn't the pro stringers on the tour string with cranks if that was the case.

Something else I seen him doing though was tightening the knots with the crank tensioner. I think I read somewhere on here that this is not good, and I am just wondering why that is the case.

All the Best.

If you use the tensioner to tighten the knot, you can put extra stress on the string that you place the knot on, as well as the string that you tie the knot to, run the risk of breaking either string(the knot string and string tied to). If you learn to tie a good knot, it can be chinched up nicely, made good and tight, and run no risk to break on you, or the player when he 1st hits with it, in that area. I was taught a great knot to tie back in 1968, when I was 1st learning to string, by an old timer back then,he told me he was the only one in our area using that knot back then, (now referred to as the pro knot, or Parnell knot). Learn that one , and you will knot have a problem!!
By the way, I would stay away from that guy to string your racquet! Who knows what else he would do.

10usstring · 08-11-2008, 12:38 PM

Not a good practice to cinch the knots up with the tension head. Not only is it hard on the string itself, it can damage the grommits. Still, it's a quick way to tension a knot and I sometimes do it on my own sticks.

aussie · 08-11-2008, 04:53 PM

The thing is that a knot doesn't have to be pulled super tight to be effective. I generally tie off mains with a double half hitch and just use the needle nose pliers to pull the tail firmly. My knots are cinched up nicely and never come undone.

RakettoKozou · 08-11-2008, 05:15 PM

Sometimes even though it seems that it's really loose, it holds really well.

iplaybetter · 08-11-2008, 05:21 PM

its not good, but its not the worst, if its a crank and your own stick go ahead, it is a minor sin in the world of stringing

oldtimer · 08-11-2008, 06:22 PM

That minor sin would cost a stringer his/her job in my shop.

iplaybetter · 08-11-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldtimer

That minor sin would cost a stringer his/her job in my shop.

i am not saying it is good, i am just pointing it out

RakettoKozou · 08-11-2008, 06:52 PM

Bottom Line:
__________________________

Don't do it.

YULitle · 08-11-2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RakettoKozou

Bottom Line:
__________________________

Don't do it.

word to your mother

BOSSMANBUDDYLEE · 08-11-2008, 09:32 PM

Its one thing to do it when you are stringing your own sticks at home but you really should not risk damaging the grommets or breaking the string when stringing for others, tournaments or a pro shop.

Cup8489 · 08-12-2008, 07:18 AM

yeah, pulling knots with the tensioner is bad form..

cranks do their job of stringing a racquet, but are not as accurate as a high end electronic constant pull. speed wise, though, theyre faster, if you know how to use one.

but pulling knots with the tensioner is laziness and bad form..sign of an undisciplined stringer.

jim e · 08-12-2008, 08:46 AM

I string others as if they were my own, And I would not do that on mine, and certainly not on others.
It is knot right to do that!
One of the main reasons I started to string again, was I did not trust anyone else, as things like that are done, that should not be.If stringers did their own that way, they would most likely do others at times as well.

GnRFan · 08-12-2008, 09:29 AM

Hey,

Ok, thanks for the replies. So basically pulling a knot with the tensioner on a crank machine risks breaking the string or wrecking the grommet, so its a bad idea. This guy seemed to think he knew everything though and even if I told him he would dismiss this. At least he didn't do double pulls...

This is why it's good to string your own rackets.

GnRFan · 08-12-2008, 10:12 AM

Hey,

Also, what do most of you tighten your knots with? I went out and bought a starting clamp from GSS because I heard it was one of the better ones. Also for gut I heard that some people tighten them by hand?

All the Best,

Cody

YULitle · 08-12-2008, 10:13 AM

Starting clamp

rj.laroza · 08-12-2008, 03:22 PM

do u guys have any idea where i can find a starting clamp? TW sold out and pushed back the next time they should be expecting their new shipment. i called and said it might take a while... they never know when itll come in.

think they will have them at a home depot?? what would i call it?

YULitle · 08-12-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rj.laroza

do u guys have any idea where i can find a starting clamp? TW sold out and pushed back the next time they should be expecting their new shipment. i called and said it might take a while... they never know when itll come in.

think they will have them at a home depot?? what would i call it?

Surely not Home Depot. I got mine from GSS and I love it. Try there.

*breaksracquet · 08-12-2008, 04:49 PM

Pardon my asking, what's GSS?

jim e · 08-12-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GnRFan

Hey,

Also, what do most of you tighten your knots with? I went out and bought a starting clamp from GSS because I heard it was one of the better ones. Also for gut I heard that some people tighten them by hand?

All the Best,

Cody

It really is a matter of preference, some like the starting clamp for tightening knots , I use the starting clamp for other purposes, and use a pair of small needle nose pliers for tightening knots, and that works best for me. I use them on all types of strings, natural gut as well . It does not matter if the pliers marrs up the string as that end of the string is cut away anyways.I have a tendency to squeese on the handle as I pull, and the starting clamp you do not want to squeese, as that would release it. (always best to pull in a direction not towards your face for slippage can cause problem of tool in face or eye, I usually pull towards my shoulder, and wrap the string around the pliers as well.)
As I said it really is a matter of preference. Starting clamp is a must have tool anyways as far as I am concerned,after you get one try it out for your knots, as if you don't find use of it for that, you will be using it anyways, I have 3 of them.I like the one from gss the best.
gss is g r a n d s l a m s t r i n g e r s, they have a web site as well

08-11-2008, 11:01 AM	#1
GnRFan New User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 89	Pull knots with crank tensioner Hey, I was watching this guy stringing a racket and he was telling me that cranks are just as good as electronic constant pull machines which I thought wasn't accurate, because why wouldn't the pro stringers on the tour string with cranks if that was the case. Something else I seen him doing though was tightening the knots with the crank tensioner. I think I read somewhere on here that this is not good, and I am just wondering why that is the case. All the Best.

08-11-2008, 04:53 PM	#4
aussie Semi-Pro Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Posts: 792	The thing is that a knot doesn't have to be pulled super tight to be effective. I generally tie off mains with a double half hitch and just use the needle nose pliers to pull the tail firmly. My knots are cinched up nicely and never come undone. __________________ Dunlop Aerogel 500 Tour @ 56; Volkl PB7 @ 56

08-11-2008, 05:15 PM	#5
RakettoKozou Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 258	Sometimes even though it seems that it's really loose, it holds really well. __________________ http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/z7dude7z/?action=view&current=RakettoKozou.jpg Hmm... Nothing else to put here.

08-11-2008, 05:21 PM	#6
iplaybetter Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: behind you, but i have to be somewhere else by the time you look Posts: 3,441	its not good, but its not the worst, if its a crank and your own stick go ahead, it is a minor sin in the world of stringing __________________ saffin, man first, tennis player second I string 75% O3's, and i enjoy every one of them

08-11-2008, 06:52 PM	#9
RakettoKozou Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 258	Bottom Line: __________________________ Don't do it. __________________ http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/z7dude7z/?action=view&current=RakettoKozou.jpg Hmm... Nothing else to put here.