Strange ping sound from Wilson Pro Staff BLX 90?

[Borrelli]

Stringing with gut mains and co-focus crosses and I'm getting a real pingy noise when hitting. I don't use a dampener which I'm sure would help but my old K90 doesn't make this noise with the same exact set-up. Anyone else experiencing this? Might have to buy a second stick to find out for sure.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Borrelli

Stringing with gut mains and co-focus crosses and I'm getting a real pingy noise when hitting. I don't use a dampener which I'm sure would help but my old K90 doesn't make this noise with the same exact set-up. Anyone else experiencing this? Might have to buy a second stick to find out for sure.

Once in a while I get that ping/buzzing noise in my BLX90. Usually it's accompanied by a bad set of gut, or gut that's about to snap. Because whenever I hear that ping/buzzing noise, the strings go in a few hours after that.

[ramos77]

mine does it too on both of my blx90's. I think it gets worse the more you play with the strings.

no need to worry, same string setup as yours. wilson NG mains and co-focus crosses 54/50

I use a dampener

what's your tension?

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by Borrelli

Stringing with gut mains and co-focus crosses and I'm getting a real pingy noise when hitting. I don't use a dampener which I'm sure would help but my old K90 doesn't make this noise with the same exact set-up. Anyone else experiencing this? Might have to buy a second stick to find out for sure.

Check the trap door in the butt cap. Fix it with a little duct tape.

[UCSF2012]

That's just because the strings are new. That's all it is. Gut/poly does that when it's brand spanking new.

Happens with new gut strings. Natural gut is used in musical strings (violin, bass, cello, viola, etc). When the tension is even and the string gauge is consistent, it produces a musical sound. Once the gut gets old, (different tension in different strings, certain parts more stretched than others) that ping goes away.

Give it 2-3 hours and most of that ping will go away. (Since you don't use a dampener, there will aways be somewhat of a ping. Right now, since the strings are new, there will be a ping even if you use a dampener.)

[LeeD]

Have you broken in the strings?
Bought a TW MicroGelOS that pinged BADLY upon hitting the wall and especially hitting against the palm of my hand, when it was brand new.
Pinging completely disappeared after one hard hitting set, now solid as can be. Some strings need break-in time.
If it still pings after a couple of sets, and you gotta hit hard, then it's another story, and I'd look into loose or unattached grommets first.

[Borrelli]

Originally Posted by ramos77

mine does it too on both of my blx90's. I think it gets worse the more you play with the strings.

no need to worry, same string setup as yours. wilson NG mains and co-focus crosses 54/50

I use a dampener

what's your tension?

53/49 sometimes a tad higher if it's gonna be hot.

Originally Posted by maxpotapov

Check the trap door in the butt cap. Fix it with a little duct tape.

This could indeed be the issue? What's the trap door? Thanks.

Originally Posted by UCSF2012

That's just because the strings are new. That's all it is. Gut/poly does that when it's brand spanking new.

Happens with new gut strings. Natural gut is used in musical strings (violin, bass, cello, viola, etc). When the tension is even and the string gauge is consistent, it produces a musical sound. Once the gut gets old, (different tension in different strings, certain parts more stretched than others) that ping goes away.

Give it 2-3 hours and most of that ping will go away. (Since you don't use a dampener, there will aways be somewhat of a ping. Right now, since the strings are new, there will be a ping even if you use a dampener.)

It does it even when the strings have been broken in. It could be the strings but I'm leaning towards the racquet itself.

[maxpotapov]

Originally Posted by Borrelli

53/49 sometimes a tad higher if it's gonna be hot.



This could indeed be the issue? What's the trap door? Thanks.



It does it even when the strings have been broken in. It could be the strings but I'm leaning towards the racquet itself.

Here,
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=412927

[UCSF2012]

Originally Posted by Borrelli

It does it even when the strings have been broken in. It could be the strings but I'm leaning towards the racquet itself.

Expect it to ping without a vibration dampener.

[Maui19]

That started to happen to me with my old racket. It turns out it was cracked at the throat.

[Borrelli]

Originally Posted by UCSF2012

Expect it to ping without a vibration dampener.

Like I said, my k90 doesn't do it with the same set-up - no dampener.

Originally Posted by Maui19

That started to happen to me with my old racket. It turns out it was cracked at the throat.

This is more along the lines of what I'm thinking. Was the crack noticeable?

[Maui19]

Originally Posted by Borrelli

This is more along the lines of what I'm thinking. Was the crack noticeable?

It was hard to find at first. It was obscured by some dirt where the throat meets the hoop. There were two cracks--one on each side. Once I knew where to look, I find the same cracks on my other (identical) frame.

[UCSF2012]

Doesn't matter that your K90 didn't ping. You still should anticipate a tennis racket would ping without a dampener. Doesn't mean there's a crack in it.

My BLX90 pinged. worse with some string than others.

[Borrelli]

Originally Posted by UCSF2012

Doesn't matter that your K90 didn't ping. You still should anticipate a tennis racket would ping without a dampener. Doesn't mean there's a crack in it.

My BLX90 pinged. worse with some string than others.

It still pings a bit with a dampener. Definitely something else is up. Could be the butt cap or a crack but definitely not a dampener related issue.

[UCSF2012]

Keep searching. You'll find something eventually.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Have you tried replacing your grommets? Worn grommets will ping and buzz.

[Borrelli]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Have you tried replacing your grommets? Worn grommets will ping and buzz.

Can't find any cracks so either this or butt cap is the issue I believe.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Borrelli

Can't find any cracks so either this or butt cap is the issue I believe.

Yeah if the grommets don't sit right, it'll make some noise.