UKRSA: Bottom to top??

[bbulla]

Out of curiosity I checked out the UKRSA website this morning after hearing about it in another thread in this forum. If you look at the pictures on the homepage, they are stringing a tennis racquet doing the crosses from the throat to head. Isn't that a huge no-no??

Or is it just something that is ok in the UK, like driving on the other side of the road.

Check it out: http://www.ukrsa.co.uk/

[kkm]

That photo is probably from Wimbledon years ago.

Some tournament stringing team leaders tell the stringers to string racquets with mains ending at the throat bottom-up. A stringer does as the team leader instructs.

[bbulla]

The racquet appears to be a Babolat (Roddick??), so it can't be that old. And you can see the starting clamp near the throat, so it is obviously a two piece job.

I would imagine that the UKRSA is following the lead of the USRSA in terms of stringing guidelines. If I took their Certification test and strung that way, I doubt they would give me full marks.

I just think it's odd that a Racquet Stringing Authority would post a picture of an improperly strung racquet....or at least a racquet that doesn't follow the recommended guidelines for stringing a racquet.

[Lakers4Life]

That is an old Babolat racket, might even be a Soft Drive.

Some people are so anal about stringing bottom up, but if the manufacturer allows it, I see no problem. Head will void an warranty if a racket was not strung according to thier instructions. In other racquet sports, bottom up is more common, only in Tennis we are brainwashed into thinking Top Down is the only way to string a racket.

[Irvin]

I have been told by head that their warranty is for manufacturer defects and workmanship, and how the racket is strung does not change or void the warranty. If a stringer damages a racket by stinging it wrong that is the stringer's fault and the stringer should replace it. If there is a manufacturer defect the manufacturer should replace it.

If a customer thinks all Head rackets should be strung 1 piece or the warranty is voided and it could damage the frame then that customer expects the racket to be strung A certain way. If you string their racket 1 piece and it cracks the first time they use it what do you think will happen?

Rule # 1 - If you are not specifically told hold how to string a racket follow the manufacturer's recommendation if it is not your racket.

I used to play with Head PT280s and strung them 1 piece all the time, but those were my rackets. I also don't think bottom up isn't a problem and can't understand why some people (and manufacturers) think it is.

[uk_skippy]

That picture is an old picture, and at the time stringing instructions would have been to strung bottom up where the mains finish at the throat.

Nowadays at Wimbledon we string ATW if the player requests 1 piece stringing and the mains finish at the throat.

The UKRSA is not a racquet stringing authority in the same vein as the USRSA, nor is it affiliated with it. It does not administer MRT certifications, nor professionally recognised certification.

Regards

Paul

[Dags]

Originally Posted by uk_skippy

The UKRSA is not a racquet stringing authority in the same vein as the USRSA, nor is it affiliated with it. It does not administer MRT certifications, nor professionally recognised certification.

Hi Paul,

Would you be able to expand a little on the part in bold? I've seen a lot of stringers who advertise as 'UKRSA Certified'. I obviously understand what that means - they've taken a course and been given a certificate - but I'm not sure what you are describing when you say 'professionally recognised'. Professionally recognised by whom? LTA? ATP? ITF?

[uk_skippy]

Originally Posted by Dags

Hi Paul,

Would you be able to expand a little on the part in bold? I've seen a lot of stringers who advertise as 'UKRSA Certified'. I obviously understand what that means - they've taken a course and been given a certificate - but I'm not sure what you are describing when you say 'professionally recognised'. Professionally recognised by whom? LTA? ATP? ITF?

Hi

I believe that your assumption re: certified is correct. As far as professionally recognised I mean those within the industry which could range from people looking to employ experienced stringers with a solid stringing history & background, to tournament stringing teams to manufacturers. Obviously the most well known certifications are the Certified Stringer & Master Racquet Technician as administered by the USRSA, or affiliate association such as the ERSA & JRSA (European & Japanese). Only those can test stringers for the CS or MRT certifications.

If you want to move forward into stringing for tournaments then being an MRT is becoming a default requirement. As for those associations you've mentioned, the LTA 'may' in part because it's from the UK however as the LTA has a contract with Babolat to supply a stringing team for tournaments thru the UK, one requirement being that stringers are MRTs; as for the ITF & ATP, I doubt they are aware of the UKRSA certification.

Hope that helps

Regards

Paul

[Dags]

Thanks for your insight Paul.

I find it quite interesting how stringers advertise. Stick something that looks official on the poster, and people think, well, that it's something official. 99% wouldn't have a clue about any of the organisations, or what they represent.

Perhaps I should have a business card made up with 'DFTT Certified' on it, and see if anyone asks what it stands for. (Dags From Talk Tennis, for those of you that did.)

[tennisnut123]

Well, if Stringing bottom to top is a no-no, then how would you string babolats pure storms when stringing a hybrid? The mains finish at the top, and there is no second tie off hole at the top if im correct..and i may not be. So technically you would have to start at the bottom and then when you finished tie off on the second or third cross from the top I think right?

[Irvin]

Originally Posted by tennisnut123

Well, if Stringing bottom to top is a no-no, then how would you string babolats pure storms when stringing a hybrid? The mains finish at the top, and there is no second tie off hole at the top if im correct..and i may not be. So technically you would have to start at the bottom and then when you finished tie off on the second or third cross from the top I think right?

There is a second tie off hole @ 11H I think.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by tennisnut123

Well, if Stringing bottom to top is a no-no, then how would you string babolats pure storms when stringing a hybrid? The mains finish at the top, and there is no second tie off hole at the top if im correct..and i may not be. So technically you would have to start at the bottom and then when you finished tie off on the second or third cross from the top I think right?

Use a starting clamp to go from top to bottom. I owned the PST for a year and it worked great.

[Irvin]

I am thinking from another thread he does not have a starting clamp but uses a flying clamp and fixed glide bar clamps. He could run in the second and third crosses and clamp them on the side where the string goes from the second to third cross but inside the frame. Then pull tension on the third croos down to the bottom then come back up and finish.

[tennisnut123]

Ahh...thanks. Need to up my arsenal and get starting clamps. Appreciate the feedback Mik/Irv.

[Liam Nolan]

Originally Posted by uk_skippy

That picture is an old picture, and at the time stringing instructions would have been to strung bottom up where the mains finish at the throat.

Nowadays at Wimbledon we string ATW if the player requests 1 piece stringing and the mains finish at the throat.

The UKRSA is not a racquet stringing authority in the same vein as the USRSA, nor is it affiliated with it. It does not administer MRT certifications, nor professionally recognised certification.

Regards

Paul

Can I clear up a few things here.
That racket was being strung bottom up by myself, way back in 2001 probably, when I was head stringer at Wimbledon. It needs to be removed, will get that done next week! Thats the way we did things then, virtually no ATW asked for or offered. After Santoros racket went out of shape I decided that we needed to change things and I eventually developed the UKRSA ATW pattern, now widely used by tournament stringers, email me for a copy if you wish on liam@ukrsa.com
Paul Skipp is an ex member of my tournament stringing teams and has used the UKRSA pattern on my events.
I formed the UKRSA back in 2002, the same year that I resigned as Wimbledon head stringer, higher peaks to climb, fresh challenges. 10 years later we have trained 2000 stringers in the UK and abroad. The Professional Stringer award is different from the MRT award, a lot more hands on, less focus on manufacturers latest string/racket innovations. We then have the Racket Technician award that deals with racket customising.
The UKRSA is recognised by companies throughout the world and we are proud to helped form the Italian Racquet stringers Association (IRSA)
The USRSA is the most famous for sure and I have been a member of that fine body since around 1985. However it does not mean that there cannot be other legitimate providers of knowledge and skills.
This year the IRSA and UKRSA combine to run a Wimbledon Stringing Service in the heart of Wimbledon Village. This is apart from the Official Stringing Team within the AELTC grounds. This 5 man team (has one lady though!) caters for all those players and coaches who have been asking me for years to set up a stringing and customising facility nearer to where they live and socialise. Sometimes it only when you are about to eat dinner that you realise you need some rackets for the match next day!
We are there for the full three weeks, a very costly venture but one that has been too long on the backburner. The IRSA are sending three top class tournament stringers that I have personally trained in Italy. I feel privileged to have them with me. ITS ALL VERY EXCITING!!
MRT as default certification for Wimbledon? That seems to have been the case as the European Racquet Stringers Association was involved, but they have now apparently gone back to Dusseldorf, no ERSA workshops happening in the UK. 2013 may bring some changes! The MRT certification is not enough in itself to prepare a stringer for serious tournament stringing.
Good luck to all stringers working hard at whatever level, its a small world and we need to be supporting each other at every opportunity, Liam

Liam Nolan
Technical Director
UK Racket Stringers Association www.ukrsa.com
Master Racket Technician USRSA
liam@ukrsa.com 07861 380981

[uk_skippy]

Originally Posted by Liam Nolan

Paul Skipp is an ex member of my tournament stringing teams and has used the UKRSA pattern on my events.

1 team, 1 time; and for clarification I did that pattern because that's what you instructed. I wouldn't have used it by choice. It's not good using it when stringing gut @74lbs and having to weave the outer mains with the end of the string which has already gone the biggest part of the string bed.

Originally Posted by Liam Nolan

MRT as default certification for Wimbledon? That seems to have been the case as the European Racquet Stringers Association was involved, but they have now apparently gone back to Dusseldorf, no ERSA workshops happening in the UK. 2013 may bring some changes! The MRT certification is not enough in itself to prepare a stringer for serious tournament stringing.

MRT is still the default certification, and in fact there are numerous stringers who also have the ERSA Pro Tour stringer certification.

There has been a ERSA workshop in this country earlier this year.

Originally Posted by Liam Nolan

Good luck to all stringers working hard at whatever level, its a small world and we need to be supporting each other at every opportunity

Isn't that a bit hypocritical considering your actions in 2011 where you sort to undermine several other UK stringers.

Looking forward to seeing you at Wimbledon, with pics and reports of 'your' team.

[mikeler]

Ooh, this thread just got good.

[esgee48]

.....Hmmm......

[Liam Nolan]

Ouch! Very tempting to spill the beans ..... you are right about appearing just once for one of my teams. Life plays us an assortment of cards, the skill is in choosing how to play them. There is an art attached to stringing with natural gut, sorry to hear that you still find it difficult. Things will improve I am sure.
BTW its not "My" Wimbledon team, I am just one stringer. The IRSA stringers will form the backbone, top class people. We then also have some top UK stringers coming and going. We are not up against the Official Team within the grounds, rather we are catering for the players who have left it a bit late to walk down the hill and wait. We may get a lot of rackets or we may get very few, the first year will always be awkward as its hard to get the word out to all the players before they arrive. But we WILL have fun!
Best of luck to you and the others during Wimbledon, be careful with that gut.... Liam

[RJYU]

Originally Posted by Liam Nolan

Ouch! Very tempting to spill the beans ..... you are right about appearing just once for one of my teams. Life plays us an assortment of cards, the skill is in choosing how to play them. There is an art attached to stringing with natural gut, sorry to hear that you still find it difficult. Things will improve I am sure.
BTW its not "My" Wimbledon team, I am just one stringer. The IRSA stringers will form the backbone, top class people. We then also have some top UK stringers coming and going. We are not up against the Official Team within the grounds, rather we are catering for the players who have left it a bit late to walk down the hill and wait. We may get a lot of rackets or we may get very few, the first year will always be awkward as its hard to get the word out to all the players before they arrive. But we WILL have fun!
Best of luck to you and the others during Wimbledon, be careful with that gut.... Liam

Wow. Those were a couple of cheap shots you took there, Liam. You and I both know that Paul is a very qualified stringer, and is quite proficient at handling any and all string types.

Thought you were above that sort of thing. How disappointing to discover that I was wrong.