Tension problem

Hey guys recently i have been having some problems in terms of tension accuracy with my prince neos. I've been stringing my rackets at around 63 or 64 pounds, but they feel a lot looser like in the 50's. Could this be because I'm not stringing the racket right, or just my machine isn't callibrated correctly?

Someone reccomended that I buy a callibrator, but is there any way I can solve the problem without buying one? Thanks.

NebAce1 said:

Hey guys recently i have been having some problems in terms of tension accuracy with my prince neos. I've been stringing my rackets at around 63 or 64 pounds, but they feel a lot looser like in the 50's. Could this be because I'm not stringing the racket right, or just my machine isn't callibrated correctly?

Someone reccomended that I buy a callibrator, but is there any way I can solve the problem without buying one? Thanks.

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You should just buy a calibrator. They're not that expensive. http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-TENCAL.html

You do need to have a callibrator to find out if the tensioner is the problem.

ok for now though would you just recommend stringing the racket tighter

NebAce1 said:

ok for now though would you just recommend stringing the racket tighter

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If you feel that your stringbed is too loose, then string it tighter until you like the stringbed feel. The actual # shouldn't matter since you're stringing your own racquet. Does this make sense?

You imply they have a different feel now; is there a comparison you're making to your own previous stringwork? In lieu of a device you don't have that measures the stringbed--and requires comparison, too--maybe you should just pluck your strings and compare the pitch to that of another racquet strung elsewhere that you can agree is what you are used to. There is also a free program about that does that for you, too, called Freqmess.

Valjean said:

You imply they have a different feel now; is there a comparison you're making to your own previous stringwork? In lieu of a device you don't have that measures the stringbed--and requires comparison, too--maybe you should just pluck your strings and compare the pitch to that of another racquet strung elsewhere that you can agree is what you are used to. There is also a free program about that does that for you, too, called Freqmess.

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i had a few rackets strung a couple of weeks ago at a tournament at 62, and they felt a lot tighter then the ones i am stringing on my own at 64, so this is what im comparing them too. a couple of times i have strung rackets at the same tensions, but they have different pitches which kind of makes me think that it might be my fault, or maybe just a combination of my fault and the callibration, not sure.

psp2 said:

If you feel that your stringbed is too loose, then string it tighter until you like the stringbed feel. The actual # shouldn't matter since you're stringing your own racquet. Does this make sense?

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yea i know what you're saying but i also didn't know if i could keep stringing tighter without damaging the racket and the string, because a couple days ago i was stringing with nxt and it snapped while i was tensioning it at 65. i guess i'll try stringing tighter with the poly and see how it feels.

also i read the feedback for the callibrator on tw, and it didn't seem too great, would this kind of callibrator help me?

thanks everyone

NebAce1 said:

yea i know what you're saying but i also didn't know if i could keep stringing tighter without damaging the racket and the string, because a couple days ago i was stringing with nxt and it snapped while i was tensioning it at 65. i guess i'll try stringing tighter with the poly and see how it feels.

also i read the feedback for the callibrator on tw, and it didn't seem too great, would this kind of callibrator help me?

thanks everyone

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On the gss site they have a digital calibrator that goes to 110lbs. and from what I have heard gets great reviews, and for $40.00 is not much of an investment for a necessary tool to have. Every stringer should have a calibrator, as to check the machine every so often to be sure all is working properly, especially if you are stringing for others.The calibrator that I use is a digital , that my brother has , for checking archery equipment, (he is a judge in the sport),and it works for tennis stringing machine as well , so personally I did not need to purchase one.My machine has electronic self calibration, and I still check it with a calibrator every few weeks.
Bottom line this one on gss, for $40.00 is very inexpensive tool that will keep check on your machine for a long time.I also heard that there are some good electronic digital scales for fishing that work as well, just be sure that it will go high enough to check different tensions.Check out your local sports store for one of those as well.It is a cheap thing to purchase that can keep your accuracy where it should be, as I'm sure that you want to do the best that you can, after all getting the proper job done is the main reason to string your own, as far as I am concerned.

NebAce1 said:

i had a few rackets strung a couple of weeks ago at a tournament at 62, and they felt a lot tighter then the ones i am stringing on my own at 64, so this is what im comparing them too. a couple of times i have strung rackets at the same tensions, but they have different pitches which kind of makes me think that it might be my fault, or maybe just a combination of my fault and the callibration, not sure.

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Make sure your clamps are working properly. Try this, pull string to 64 lbs, after clamping the string put a mark with a sharpie about 1/2 inch from the clamp. Then while releasing the tensioner watch for any string slippage.

The Neos is a nice machine but it still takes some good technique to be able to string constantly. Keep practicing.
cheers

can string slippage lead to a loss of tension

NebAce1 said:

can string slippage lead to a loss of tension

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Absolutely