My bro was playing with his racquet that I strung and the knot came loose!

Deleted member 25923 · Jul 24, 2008

This wasn't the first time he's used that racquet that I strung for him.

I use a starting clamp to tighten knots.

What could have caused this? A shank? Did I cut the tail too short? I've strung his frame before, mine, my cousins, and a customers, and this is the first one that's done that...

2nd_Serve · Jul 24, 2008

Umm...When your stringing, and your tying the knots, the knot portion will inevitably have a lower tension than the rest of the stringbed. But I don't think it's possible for the knot to be so loose that it just slips off...

pro_staff · Jul 24, 2008

It just happens sometimes. Probably because the knot wasn't tied very well. It happened to me on a racket strung at a pro shop. I took it in and they strung it for free.

xtremerunnerars · Jul 24, 2008

Do you feed the extra string on the outside of the frame through? I mean force, I guess. That way you're pulling with all of the remaining string.

Also, do you unclamp as soon as you finish the knot?

azn_lefty_roddick_jr · Jul 25, 2008

This happened to a friend's racquet that I strung for him. One day I looked at his stick as he was playing, and saw that four or five of the mains on one side was moved ALL the way out to the edge of the frame. After a look at it by me and him, we realized that the knot came undone! Our coach said it was my fault, probably because I didn't leave a long enough tail when I cut it. He said that when you start playing with a fresh string job, the knots will get shorter and tighter, until they're settled in. Then again... You shouldn't be hitting balls all the way out there. I went ahead and restrung his racquet again, and made sure I left a longer tail.

My coach said that when you cut the excess string off, place the cutters on the top of the frame, angle it down a bit, and cut it so that it's flush with the frame. Not sure if this is a good rule to go by, but it's what I do now for all the sticks I string.

aussie · Jul 25, 2008

If the knot has come undone, it simply means that you haven't tied off tightly enough. Use pliers to tighten your knots (being careful of course not to over-pull) and as suggested above, leave a tail that's around 1/4 inch long. I always press down on the mains from outside in to the center after the mains are done on a 2 piece to bed down the knots on the mains and push the slack to the center mains. works well.

rasajadad · Jul 25, 2008

Was the string a poly? I ask because extra care needs to be taken when tying them off as it seems they don't take to bending as easily as other materials.

TenniseaWilliams · Jul 25, 2008

Bummer Mansewerz! What kind of knot do you use?

Richard Parnell · Jul 25, 2008

TenniseaWilliams said:
Bummer Mansewerz! What kind of knot do you use?

just what I was going to ask
Richard

consistency wins · Jul 25, 2008

Mansewerz said:
This wasn't the first time he's used that racquet that I strung for him.

I use a starting clamp to tighten knots.

What could have caused this? A shank? Did I cut the tail too short? I've strung his frame before, mine, my cousins, and a customers, and this is the first one that's done that...

How old is the stick and how many times has it been strung? I only ask as some grommets don't last as long as others and can get worn into a pretty big hole where the strings are tied off. It may not have anything to do with your knot, tension, nor technique. It may have everything to do with grommets that are just completely worn out and need to be replaced.

SonRK · Jul 25, 2008

Hah, my friend strung up a racquet on my stringer the other day and during play yesterday his knot came undone. He blamed it on the fact it was 17 gauge.

It was his starting knot that came undone for his Gosen OG Micro crosses with Luxilon Alu Fluoro mains.

Loco4Tennis · Jul 25, 2008

azn_lefty_roddick_jr said:
This happened to a friend's racquet that I strung for him. One day I looked at his stick as he was playing, and saw that four or five of the mains on one side was moved ALL the way out to the edge of the frame. After a look at it by me and him, we realized that the knot came undone! Our coach said it was my fault, probably because I didn't leave a long enough tail when I cut it. He said that when you start playing with a fresh string job, the knots will get shorter and tighter, until they're settled in. Then again... You shouldn't be hitting balls all the way out there. I went ahead and restrung his racquet again, and made sure I left a longer tail.

My coach said that when you cut the excess string off, place the cutters on the top of the frame, angle it down a bit, and cut it so that it's flush with the frame. Not sure if this is a good rule to go by, but it's what I do now for all the sticks I string.

this is good advise imo
i do similar to this
i just cut at the height of the frame, but angling would be ok too

Deleted member 25923 · Jul 25, 2008

xtremerunnerars said:
Do you feed the extra string on the outside of the frame through? I mean force, I guess. That way you're pulling with all of the remaining string.

Also, do you unclamp as soon as you finish the knot?

Yes, i do unclamp as soon as I finish the knot. I do my best to push the slack through with a finger and tighten with a starting clamp.

azn_lefty_roddick_jr said:
This happened to a friend's racquet that I strung for him. One day I looked at his stick as he was playing, and saw that four or five of the mains on one side was moved ALL the way out to the edge of the frame. After a look at it by me and him, we realized that the knot came undone! Our coach said it was my fault, probably because I didn't leave a long enough tail when I cut it. He said that when you start playing with a fresh string job, the knots will get shorter and tighter, until they're settled in. Then again... You shouldn't be hitting balls all the way out there. I went ahead and restrung his racquet again, and made sure I left a longer tail.

My coach said that when you cut the excess string off, place the cutters on the top of the frame, angle it down a bit, and cut it so that it's flush with the frame. Not sure if this is a good rule to go by, but it's what I do now for all the sticks I string.

Yea, I think the tail was too short.

TenniseaWilliams said:
Bummer Mansewerz! What kind of knot do you use?

Richard Parnell said:
just what I was going to ask
Richard

Parnell knot. (Used a starting clamp to start the crosses, and tied off with the parnell.

consistency wins said:
How old is the stick and how many times has it been strung? I only ask as some grommets don't last as long as others and can get worn into a pretty big hole where the strings are tied off. It may not have anything to do with your knot, tension, nor technique. It may have everything to do with grommets that are just completely worn out and need to be replaced.

Not too old. It's like 7.5 condition. I dunno the exact age or how many times it's been strung because it was bought used (FS/Trade section)

I've strung it at least twice.

Could a shank have caused this?

I'll leave more of a tail next time.

Bud · Jul 25, 2008

Mansewerz said:
This wasn't the first time he's used that racquet that I strung for him.

I use a starting clamp to tighten knots.

What could have caused this? A shank? Did I cut the tail too short? I've strung his frame before, mine, my cousins, and a customers, and this is the first one that's done that...

You can also use a double knot if you find it's happening frequently. Just add an extra loop to a starting knot. On a tie-off, instead of performing an action twice, do it 3 times.

Also, if you end up cutting the tail too short, I've read a drop of clear nail polish directly on the knot will prevent the knot tail from slipping through and unraveling the knot.

I like making the tails of my knots about 1/10 to 1/8 of an inch long. Also, try to have them pointing into the frame if possible and cut them straight across... as opposed to a point.

consistency wins · Jul 25, 2008

Mansewerz said:
Yes, i do unclamp as soon as I finish the knot. I do my best to push the slack through with a finger and tighten with a starting clamp.

Yea, I think the tail was too short.

Parnell knot. (Used a starting clamp to start the crosses, and tied off with the parnell.

Not too old. It's like 7.5 condition. I dunno the exact age or how many times it's been strung because it was bought used (FS/Trade section)

I've strung it at least twice.

Could a shank have caused this?

I'll leave more of a tail next time.

In theory--I guess anything is possible. There is the possibility the knot was not perfect and one super hard swing that was a shank right on the string in returning a massive serve or forehand may pop it free. Like I said--anything is possible. I would think though, that with a proper knot and proper length of the tail--a shank would only tighten the knot.

When you put two pieces of string through the grommet hole as it is now, how much space is there still surrounding the strings? Just curious. If you can fit three strings in there--time for new grommets.

Richard Parnell · Jul 25, 2008

Hi Mansewerz,
I have been using the Parnell knot for the last 15 years approx (maybe longer) and have never had one come undone. Even if you cut the tail of the knot within a millimetre you should not have a problem. I would check that you are doing it correctly, you should see a pretzel shape or an X shape.
Good luck
Richard

Bengt · Jul 25, 2008

I've been using the Parnell for over 5 years, trim very close, and have never had one come undone. Back when I relied upon the diagram, I recall having trouble tying it if the strings didn't match the diagram exactly.

ARNICOLINI · Jul 25, 2008

Bengt said:
I've been using the Parnell for over 5 years, trim very close, and have never had one come undone. Back when I relied upon the diagram, I recall having trouble tying it if the strings didn't match the diagram exactly.

I was never in the boy scouts but they probably would have thrown me out anyway!

Even with the diagram and videos I cannot tie the Parnell knot! It looks so darn easy, and I feel like a moron, but I cannot do it. So its double half hitch for me all the way. That being said I tighten them using a starting clamp and cut them off even with the frame (on an angle) and I have never had one come un done.

Go with what you know.

BallBeemer · Jul 25, 2008

What's it called when a person is tying off a note and an extra piece of string is put in it to maintain tension?

My bro was playing with his racquet that I strung and the knot came loose!

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