French open stringing room

[Virtua Tennis]

Wow step 4 logo zone that dude was horrible at stenciling. He got more ink on the racquet then the strings.

[lilxjohnyy]

^^ saw that
what was the can that the 2nd station was using to clean the rackets?

[jazar]

Was going to find out how many rackets we have done overall, but forgot. You'll just have to be content with learning that I've done 278.

[uk_skippy]

Originally Posted by Virtua Tennis

Wow step 4 logo zone that dude was horrible at stenciling. He got more ink on the racquet then the strings.

Having just looked at the video, I think you'll find that the ink on the frame was not put there by the staff member, but either by someone previous or when the player themselves stencil the racquet. This is more common where the racquet is a Babolat and the only marking is the 2 lines. Certainly the staff here (at Roland Garros) do a good job of stencilling all racquets, and 1 main objective of the way the process is set up is to provide an excellent final product for the customer/player.

Regards

Paul

[Adidas_Anderson]

Do you collect any specs of the players racket ...

[ihearit1st]

Paul, could you answer me these 3 questions in terms of methodology:

1. Why does Babolat string team use bottom-up technique on crosses? This has been discussed at length on the boards, with arguments made for and against this method. I know RPNY, P1 and Wilson use an ATW pattern. I am not sure of Pacific. Technifibre also used the bottom-up method. So I'm not asking your personal preference, but more of what would Babolat say to a player who wanted to know why you use that method? Someone higher up obviously made the decision to use that method instead of ATW.

2. On the stenciling video, it shows a closeup of your knots(someones knots) and the crosses were tied off at the 2nd to last cross, even though it was rubbing against a main. I was always taught to use a double-back and tie-off 3rd to last cross in that situation as otherwise the main strings path is bent by the tie-off. Can you explain please?

3. I see Babolat uses stringers that also work with other stringing companies. How intensive is the training process to do it 'Babolats way?' I've done a training program with a stringing company that was incredibly intensive to assure that each stringer is inhaling and exhaling in unison. I am curious whether the stringers that work with other companies have a preference or try do it all the way Babolat has it laid out and to what extent stringing patterns are laid out.

[drakulie]

Really great stuff UK_skippy!!!

As always, thanks for sharing!!! 'Hope you're having a great time.

Cheers!

[edogofhe]

funny videos, learnt alot of stringer.
And lots strings to choose.

[Meaghan]

Great stuff Paul wish i was there.......great tournament with lots of nerds stuff for us racketaholics!

I think jazar said he's strung 285 rackets so far. This does include pre tournament practise. I think he's got a day off today to put his fingers in ice

[origmarm]

Nice link Paul, many thanks

Orig

[anhuynh16]

Originally Posted by your name

BEAST SHOES!!!!!!

[uk_skippy]

Originally Posted by ihearit1st

1. Why does Babolat string team use bottom-up technique on crosses? This has been discussed at length on the boards, with arguments made for and against this method. I know RPNY, P1 and Wilson use an ATW pattern. I am not sure of Pacific. Technifibre also used the bottom-up method. So I'm not asking your personal preference, but more of what would Babolat say to a player who wanted to know why you use that method? Someone higher up obviously made the decision to use that method instead of ATW.

Without going into too much detail due to you mentioning that this point has been discussed many times over, I will reply as follows -

While some racquets have been string bottom up, most have been either ATW or hybrid/2-piece. Where the rqt has been strung bottom up chances are that it was due to it being an on-court rqt, or it needed to be done asap. As it is an accepted practice the Wilson & Babolat's can be strung bottom up there is no problem here. Standard practice given to us was to do ATW where approriate, but circumstances may change that to a particular reason.

Originally Posted by ihearit1st

2. On the stenciling video, it shows a closeup of your knots(someones knots) and the crosses were tied off at the 2nd to last cross, even though it was rubbing against a main. I was always taught to use a double-back and tie-off 3rd to last cross in that situation as otherwise the main strings path is bent by the tie-off. Can you explain please?

The tie-off you refer to is the correct position for this rqt. Personally on this type of rqt I would trim the grommet so that there's less chance of the knot touching the main, and I feel would be a better alternative to the double back method. The knot you refer to seems ok, but possibily a little close. I can't comment on the why it was finished as it was.

Originally Posted by ihearit1st

3. I see Babolat uses stringers that also work with other stringing companies. How intensive is the training process to do it 'Babolats way?' I've done a training program with a stringing company that was incredibly intensive to assure that each stringer is inhaling and exhaling in unison. I am curious whether the stringers that work with other companies have a preference or try do it all the way Babolat has it laid out and to what extent stringing patterns are laid out.

In my experience when working with different stringing teams is that you follow what is directed by them, or the head/lead stringer. At this level all stringers should be experienced to be able to do different stringing methods, and apply those as required by each team.

regards

Paul

[mikeler]

Paul,

I'm really digging this thread. Thanks so much for posting during these long days of stringing.

[jazar]

Originally Posted by Meaghan

I think jazar said he's strung 285 rackets so far. This does include pre tournament practise. I think he's got a day off today to put his fingers in ice

I hit 300 today. Done 13 days. Started 2 days before qualifying.

[G&G]

uk skippy;

Did you string the racquets of Cuevas at RG?

[namartens]

Really like this thread and the info that is posted. Keep up the good work (both at RG and in this thread ).

[uk_skippy]

Originally Posted by G&G

uk skippy;

Did you string the racquets of Cuevas at RG?

No, but Jazar did. I'm sure he'll post the info here soon

Regards

Paul

[TennezSport]

Thanks for sharing Paul, nice to see a well oiled machine running well. Please let us know what the final racquet count was after the tournys done. Thanks again.

Cheers, TennezSport

[jazar]

Originally Posted by G&G

uk skippy;

Did you string the racquets of Cuevas at RG?

I was stringing for Cuevas (or cheesy, as we nicknamed him). Prestige MP (can't remember any TGK or whatever markings in the throat). Big Banger Original. Two piece. 23kg.

[tennisguy7482]

Originally Posted by uk_skippy

Without going into too much detail due to you mentioning that this point has been discussed many times over, I will reply as follows -

While some racquets have been string bottom up, most have been either ATW or hybrid/2-piece. Where the rqt has been strung bottom up chances are that it was due to it being an on-court rqt, or it needed to be done asap. As it is an accepted practice the Wilson & Babolat's can be strung bottom up there is no problem here. Standard practice given to us was to do ATW where approriate, but circumstances may change that to a particular reason.

the pattern was changed when the racquet needed to be done quickly? wouldn't this then be different from all other racquets previously done for the player?

anyhow, thanks for the great thread, uk_skippy! nice to see for sure!