"Burning" Strings

db10s · 01-21-2013, 12:53 PM

I've heard a little bit about it. It causes the strings to not last as long... But what causes it?

mikeler · 01-21-2013, 12:58 PM

Friction is an enemy of tennis string.

tbuggle · 01-21-2013, 01:03 PM

fan and pull, not too fast but i don't sweat speed.

you'll be fine.

diredesire · 01-21-2013, 01:07 PM

pinch a string in between your fingertips as hard as you can, and then have a friend yank it as fast as (s)he can. Learn it the old school way

As the other two have succinctly said, avoid friction burns. Tennis strings have friction due to tension --> (mains) resisting movement (crosses). If you pull the cross strings across the mains quickly enough, the mains will pit and have burned (melted) pits from the friction created by the crosses.

tbuggle · 01-21-2013, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diredesire

pinch a string in between your fingertips as hard as you can, and then have a friend yank it as fast as (s)he can. Learn it the old school way

As the other two have succinctly said, avoid friction burns. Tennis strings have friction due to tension --> (mains) resisting movement (crosses). If you pull the cross strings across the mains quickly enough, the mains will pit and have burned (melted) pits from the friction created by the crosses.

haha, not so sure. code is more like it, but hey...

basically, don't rip the crosses across the mains
fan them them toward the non strung (crosses) end of
the racket as you pull the working end of the string in
prep to tension the next cross.

also, make sure you're stringing "one ahead". weave the next cross,
before you tension the previous one, leave a loop to do so (tension).

fortun8son · 01-21-2013, 02:43 PM

It is also possible to burn strings (and grommets), especially with thicker gauges, by pulling mains too quickly.

Irvin · 01-22-2013, 04:35 AM

Friction will cause heat and enough heat will cause a fire. Imagine fire starting using a spinning piece of wood, but done try it it takes forever to create enough heat. Burning (friction burn) has become the term used to describe excessive wear on strings. Twisting, smashing, and sawing could just as easily be used to describe the results from poor stringing methods.

TWISTING - Have you ever noticed the top / bottom few crosses appear to be twisted more than any other strings in the racket? Let's assume you are stringing a racket and a cross grommet hole is covered by a tensioned main string. If it is a snug enoug fit and there is any texture at all on the string, like the twist of a multifilament, when you pull the string through the string will twist on the outside of the frame (and twists the opposite way on the inside if you are pulling the string through the crosses) and causes kinking. To avoid that pre-weave the cross before tensioning the main. When you get down to the bottom it is a little more difficult but way to avoid twisting. Also when a main is very close to the grommet it tends to twist the string inside the frame and even if you fan the strings as you go the string still runs over/under that main and can cause notching so be careful. Using the fins built into grommet or scrap string can help here.

SMASHING - Clamps can cause a lot of damage to string if not adjusted and well maintained. The opposite here is a clamp not tight enough. If the string slips any in the clamp it really eats the string up. Crushing strings by having the clamps too tight weakens the strings too and could cause premature breakage.

SAWING - A real good example of the sawing action can be seen when pulling poly crosses over a soft main. Fist time I stung Xcel main with hurricane crosses I could see right off it was going to be a problem. The poly will saw into the soft tension main very fast especially on the outside mains. Be very careful with this combination. Tis sawing action is probably what you're referring to when you mentioned burning. Weaving one ahead helps, but many people to to speed up the process by not pulling through that one string and leave the tip only pulled through so they don't have to look for the end. That method only increases friction when pulling the cross through.

Rabbit · 01-22-2013, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diredesire

pinch a string in between your fingertips as hard as you can, and then have a friend yank it as fast as (s)he can. Learn it the old school way

Dude! That's just mean....

mikeler · 01-22-2013, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabbit

Dude! That's just mean....

And a little twisted. I now have even more respect for DD.

themitchmann · 01-22-2013, 09:09 AM

Their is another method I picked up at the GSS stringer symposium called the "V method." Anyone here use it? I like the way it minimizes friction while pulling crosses.

tbuggle · 01-22-2013, 09:17 AM

as long as you spread the wealth (fanning, v-method, etc) and don't pull too fast, you'll be fine.

diredesire · 01-22-2013, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabbit

Dude! That's just mean....

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeler

And a little twisted. I now have even more respect for DD.

OK, OK. I only ACTUALLY reserve this treatment for people who "don't believe" in fanning. See a stringer that's yanking crosses without fanning? Explain the situation to them. If they don't believe you, have them hold the string between their fingers, and demonstrate

(Much nicer, no? At least they deserve it? Trial by... fire?

)

Rabbit · 01-22-2013, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diredesire

OK, OK. I only ACTUALLY reserve this treatment for people who "don't believe" in fanning. See a stringer that's yanking crosses without fanning? Explain the situation to them. If they don't believe you, have them hold the string between their fingers, and demonstrate

(Much nicer, no? At least they deserve it? Trial by... fire?

)

Can we get the mod to delete this post? I much prefer the previous one. I would also suggest that in the previous one, a length of 6 inches be added as a recommendation of how much to go in before pinching.

db10s · 01-22-2013, 12:56 PM

Haha, thanks guys, I wasn't worried about it, just wanted to know the cause.

BMC9670 · 01-22-2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbuggle

also, make sure you're stringing "one ahead". weave the next cross,
before you tension the previous one, leave a loop to do so (tension).

Curious what this achieves. I don't currently do it. Should I be?

diredesire · 01-22-2013, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMC9670

Curious what this achieves. I don't currently do it. Should I be?

It makes your life easier, it reduces wear and tear on the string. The previous string "holds the pattern open" to make weaving easier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0FPGEBcBHo
I believe this YULitle video demonstrates this technique. Excellent camera angle to really see what's going on.

Lakers4Life · 01-22-2013, 04:52 PM

I c/p this from Radicalized's thread.
----
FULL CREDIT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The following image is from "YULitle" on this TT page:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showt...eave+one+ahead
08-24-2008, 02:36 PM #19
YULitle
Hall Of Fame

01-21-2013, 01:03 PM	#3
tbuggle Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 1,882	fan and pull, not too fast but i don't sweat speed. you'll be fine. __________________ I got some rackets, and I got a stringer.

01-21-2013, 01:07 PM	#4
diredesire Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,933	pinch a string in between your fingertips as hard as you can, and then have a friend yank it as fast as (s)he can. Learn it the old school way As the other two have succinctly said, avoid friction burns. Tennis strings have friction due to tension --> (mains) resisting movement (crosses). If you pull the cross strings across the mains quickly enough, the mains will pit and have burned (melted) pits from the friction created by the crosses. __________________ 2x Babolat Pure Storm Tour +s // Gamma 5800 ELS (2pt) Help me on my quest to clean-up the boards, report abusive posts!

01-21-2013, 02:43 PM	#6
fortun8son Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: The Desert Posts: 2,996	It is also possible to burn strings (and grommets), especially with thicker gauges, by pulling mains too quickly. __________________ Neos 1000, Eagnas Combo 810(home),Prince 5000(work) Member USRSA

01-22-2013, 04:35 AM	#7
Irvin Legend Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Marietta, Ga Posts: 6,971	Friction will cause heat and enough heat will cause a fire. Imagine fire starting using a spinning piece of wood, but done try it it takes forever to create enough heat. Burning (friction burn) has become the term used to describe excessive wear on strings. Twisting, smashing, and sawing could just as easily be used to describe the results from poor stringing methods. TWISTING - Have you ever noticed the top / bottom few crosses appear to be twisted more than any other strings in the racket? Let's assume you are stringing a racket and a cross grommet hole is covered by a tensioned main string. If it is a snug enoug fit and there is any texture at all on the string, like the twist of a multifilament, when you pull the string through the string will twist on the outside of the frame (and twists the opposite way on the inside if you are pulling the string through the crosses) and causes kinking. To avoid that pre-weave the cross before tensioning the main. When you get down to the bottom it is a little more difficult but way to avoid twisting. Also when a main is very close to the grommet it tends to twist the string inside the frame and even if you fan the strings as you go the string still runs over/under that main and can cause notching so be careful. Using the fins built into grommet or scrap string can help here. SMASHING - Clamps can cause a lot of damage to string if not adjusted and well maintained. The opposite here is a clamp not tight enough. If the string slips any in the clamp it really eats the string up. Crushing strings by having the clamps too tight weakens the strings too and could cause premature breakage. SAWING - A real good example of the sawing action can be seen when pulling poly crosses over a soft main. Fist time I stung Xcel main with hurricane crosses I could see right off it was going to be a problem. The poly will saw into the soft tension main very fast especially on the outside mains. Be very careful with this combination. Tis sawing action is probably what you're referring to when you mentioned burning. Weaving one ahead helps, but many people to to speed up the process by not pulling through that one string and leave the tip only pulled through so they don't have to look for the end. That method only increases friction when pulling the cross through. __________________ Irvin - I wish Facebook would notify me when people delete me so I can 'Like it' Last edited by Irvin : 01-22-2013 at 07:13 AM.

01-22-2013, 09:09 AM	#10
themitchmann Hall Of Fame Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,023	Their is another method I picked up at the GSS stringer symposium called the "V method." Anyone here use it? I like the way it minimizes friction while pulling crosses. __________________ Prince Rebel 95 PTR Certified Pro / USRSA Certified MRT