For those worried about starting babolat crosses at the throat, have a look at this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKUEz-XqtvU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKUEz-XqtvU
Starting Crosses At Throat
- Thread starter RetroSpin
- Start date
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Was that supposed to make me not worry? If I thought that guy was going to string my racket I would go somewhere else. Pulling crosses hand over hand through the mains with 15L Babolat RPM is not a good idea.
EDIT: I'd love to watch a testers face as someone taking a certification test strung gut mains like that bottom up. LOL I wonder if they would pass.
EDIT: I'd love to watch a testers face as someone taking a certification test strung gut mains like that bottom up. LOL I wonder if they would pass.
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Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
First and foremost, you should remember that Nadal pays zero for his frames. And if they're strung bottom up and don't hold up, he doesn't care, Babolat will send him new ones. I know the majority of local shops around town here string bottom up if the mains end at the throat. I also know for a fact that the largest one does it with no ill effects. In other words, they don't have any warranty claims on frames due to stringing them bottom up. While I understand it's a no no, I think it's become less of a worry due to the frames being stronger now. I don't do it simply because I wouldn't do it with my frames and the way my luck runs, I'd have the one in a thousand that did break while stringing. 
In my experience, professional tournament players only care if there are two knots or four knots. They don't care how the string gets in there otherwise.
It does appear he's not a big fan of fanning the string out when he pulls the crosses. He does it sometimes, but not consistently. With 15 gauge poly, I don't know that he's hurting that much.
I do like his weaving technique though. I'm trying to convert to that as it seems there is less torque on the string using the technique.
In my experience, professional tournament players only care if there are two knots or four knots. They don't care how the string gets in there otherwise.
It does appear he's not a big fan of fanning the string out when he pulls the crosses. He does it sometimes, but not consistently. With 15 gauge poly, I don't know that he's hurting that much.
I do like his weaving technique though. I'm trying to convert to that as it seems there is less torque on the string using the technique.
How do you string that racquet? If you were doing one piece, would you do ATW rather than bottom up?
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
I suspect that the rqt was for an on-court giving the speed he's 'moving' the strings.
At any tournament that I work at in a 'managerial' role we will always string ATW for 2 knot requests..unless the player specified bottom up.
I would do ATW. I'd never do bottom up unless requested.
Regards
Paul
At any tournament that I work at in a 'managerial' role we will always string ATW for 2 knot requests..unless the player specified bottom up.
I would do ATW. I'd never do bottom up unless requested.
Regards
Paul
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Title says before Monte Carlo, not during a match. Maybe it was a 'speed stringing demo' judging from how close the spectators were taking pictures. One guy almost touched the racket taking a picture at the beginning. Do you let spectators stand that close Paul when you must get the job done for an on court player?
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
Fair point, but there's a reason for his speed. May he's just showing off as I wouldn't expect any stringer under my control to string like that.
Would I let people that close? I wouldn't want people near; but it can depend on the tournament as with some Futures the public can get close.
Cobra Tennis
Professional
Fwiw, nadal requests bottom up stringing...as I recall Parnell saying one time at a usrsa conference.
yan.v
Rookie
No
Although to his defense, he probably does it that way because he was asked to do it bottom up.Definitely agree about fanning the string, it's pretty much mandatory. At least, he's probably gonna cut them the next day anyways.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
I thought I had heard that he likes bottom up or sometimes two piece but not ATW. If someone asks for 2 knots they will more often than not request bottom up or ATW anyway if the mains end at throat.
I have my doubts that was Nadals racket and if it was he wasn't going to play with it. Pulling the crosses through the grommets like that can burn up the grommets.No
Definitely agree about fanning the string, it's pretty much mandatory. At least, he's probably gonna cut them the next day anyways.
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
He usually has 4 knots now. The Spanish DC stringer, who also strings for him at the French has strung Nadal's rqts 4 knots since at least 2011; and at any tournament in the UK its 4 knots.
Of course, he may go to a tournament elsewhere and if not informed, the stringer could string 2 knots.
Regards
Paul
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
If a player request 2 knots, but doesn't request ATW or bottom up; then stringers discretion. But TBH, I'd expect any highly respected stringer to string it ATW. I don't recall any player telling me to string ATW, I would do it as a matter of course.
No
It is/was Rafa's rqt as his name is on the side of the frame.
Cobra Tennis
Professional
Paul,
I do believe Richard P said the bottom up thing in 2009/10 or so, it makes sense. Maybe he should go back to bottom up.
I do believe Richard P said the bottom up thing in 2009/10 or so, it makes sense. Maybe he should go back to bottom up.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Was just looking around and found this thread where R Parnell is debating Rafas string of choice. Almost comical if you're interested.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/inde...the-day-when-nadal-used-the-pure-drive.35909/
I think the last post was pertinent to this thread though it is 10 years ago:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/inde...the-day-when-nadal-used-the-pure-drive.35909/
I think the last post was pertinent to this thread though it is 10 years ago:
Cobra Tennis
Professional
Boy, that thread is comical. Some clown not believing Richard Parnell...hahahahahah. I'm sure RP got a big laugh at that.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
You did notice his login was Rafa Nadal. Maybe he thought some other clown used Richard's name for a login.
The Tecnifibre machines' towers are adjustable, most machines' towers are fixed. If they're adjusted properly adjustable towers probably allow less distortion than fixed towers, depends on how long the support arms are.
The stringer's technique, looks like he might be putting speed ahead of consistency.
The stringer's technique, looks like he might be putting speed ahead of consistency.
yan.v
Rookie
That is the case for most ATP stringers, although they try to reach speed AND consistency. At the US Open, the Wilson stringing team has to pump out a racket per stringer every ~10 minutes. There is an overwhelming amount of stringjobs to be done and they have no choice but to string as fast as possible.
corneliuscobb
Rookie
I'm not a pro stringer but to me that sounds pretty dumb. What's the point of getting everybody to rush? Surely at this level, quality is more important than quantity. They need to hire an extra person or two - it's not like the USTA are short of money.....
yan.v
Rookie
They get hundreds of rackets a day and there is probably not enough stringers that meet the criterias to string there that they could hire (this is just hypothetical). The situation is probably different for players' stringing teams though.
Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
That's why if I was a pro, I'd have my own personal stringer, or just be in charge of stringing the rackets myself. Because then that way, if something is off the blame is on me and it removes relying on random people from that equation.
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
I know the Wilson teams go thru a lot of rqts, but I don't expect my stringers at Wimbledon to do that. 20 mins per rqt, yes; 15 - 17 mins better; 10 mins (continually and consistently, no. It comes down to planning, prioritising, and managing players expectations.
And then there are the differences in rqt & string combos. A Jack Sock's Aero Storm in 2 piece poly would be quicker than Serena's Blade in gut/4G hybrid.
norcal
Legend
He has more spectators than a WTA semi final in China!
chrisingrassia
Professional
I've seen this debate over and over and over on here, but don't think I've actually seen the reasons WHY a racquet shouldn't be strung bottom-up (.....other than the obvious "X company says to"). I'm perplexed by some stringers that argue against a 1pc stringing....why would someone want 4 knots vs 2?
Wheelbuiilder
New User
As far as "...why would anyone want 4 knots vs 2", please let me know when you figure out how to string a hybrid or a racquet with different tensions in the mains and crosses with only two knots .
chrisingrassia
Professional
Well obviously, bruh. I realize that. That's kind of a redundant response. A client wouldn't ask for 2 knots if stringing hybrid. Same goes for different tensions.
But if a client wants just 54# for a co-poly job, why would a stringer choose 4 knots if the mains end at the bottom?
It's these two comments that got my mind churning.
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
When stringing the crosses, the stress of doing so is pushed in the direction you're stringing. So if you string from the bottom to the top, then the stress on the frame goes towards the top. Vice versa, string top to the throat and the stress moves towards the throat.
The throat is stronger than the top so it makes sense to string towards the strongest point. Some companies don't mind stringing bottom to top, while others require stringing down the frame; and these may void any warranty if strung incorrectly. While I've not seen any frames crack when they've been strung bottom to top, continually doing so may end up cracking the frame.
Also, Yonex frames can be a little more fragile due to the shape of their frames, and they def void warranty if strung bottom to top or even 1 piece (where the mains finish at the top).
Stringing a rqt 1 piece with different main & crosses tension is easy. Simply change the tension when you start the crosses.
Regards
Paul
chrisingrassia
Professional
So if you can't string bottom to top, but the mains end at the top, why couldn't you string this 1pc?
Would definitely like to know why some mftr's refuse bottom-to-top, but then some are like, "meh.....do whatever, it's cool".
I don't know about that. As soon as you start playing with the racquet, the string tension will start to shift from the higher tension strings to the lowers, particularly the outside mains/crosses.
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
You 'can' string it 1 piece but the mfr may say it still needs to be strung 2 piece.
Some frames are softer than others. Babolat & Wilson tend to be stiffer, while Head and Prince can be softer. So stringing softer frames even if they don't crack could go out of shape.
If you want to know some do and others don't I suggest you ask them if my explanation isn't good enough.
Do you have evidence to support your last statement? Even if that were the case, any relaxation would affect a few strings and not the ones central to the frame.
I'll just ask Richard Gasquet next time I see him as he strings at 24/23kgs with 1 piece.[/QUOTE]
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am1899
Legend
To my knowledge, there is no evidence to support your claim. I'll keep an open mind though...enlighten me.
chrisingrassia
Professional
Not a claim, just an opinion. Hence the "I don't know" portion
If that's true, then there is literally zero reason to ever string something two-piece unless it's hybrid setup. I'm still not convinced that an outside main at 58# wouldn't equalize somehow with a top cross at 51# throughout the longevity of play. I realize those outermost strings are pretty irrelevant during the course of play, but still....
uk_skippy
Hall of Fame
If the frame is softer, and the mains finish at the bottom, then there's a good reason to string 2 piece.
If the string finish at the top, you could string 1 piece; but again some mfr will void warranty if the frame is strung like that
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
If you took an 18 main racket and only strung the center 16 mains I would expect the frame to play softer and possibly have a little more spin. I've often theorized that if you strung two piece, did not increase the tension on the outside mains, and tied off the outside mains you'd have a softer string bed. Of course you could adjust the softness of a stringbed by just adjusting tension. Increasing tension on tie off strings, using one piece patterns, and other means of maintaining tension maintenance can all be achieved by tension adjustment and machine pre stretching. Whatever your method do it the same time after time unless the customer specifically asks for something different. Then if you keep records and know what the customer wants always do it the same unless you're given specific instructions.
am1899
Legend
Not a claim, just an opinion. Hence the "I don't know" portion
The "I don't know about that" portion of your statement served to refute uk_skippy's previous statement (see below)...NOT to indicate what YOU were going to say was your opinion.
Then, your next sentence was this:
There's nothing in that statement that indicates it should be interpreted as opinion. Oh and
chrisingrassia
Professional
Ultimately, my question though is if the mftr's only place that warranty req't of stringing 2pc on the racquet, is it done so since the mains end at the throat? They don't want their racquets strung bottom-up. That's what I'm gathering it sounds like it. So if that's the case, why not string ATW? I don't see why a mftr would deny a warranty claim if the racquet was strung ATW.....unless it's because they can't tell it was done so?
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Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
When you string ATW you have to transition from mains to crosses and vice-a-versa. When you do you end usually end up with a short section of the frame somewhere supporting two strings with full tension on each string. That put a lot of pressure at the weakest part of the frame the top two corners. There are ways to get around it but if the manufacturer says don't do and there really nothing to gain why do it?
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
I don't agree. I don' t know which ATW you're referring to, but typically, you leave the last main open on the short side. Then you can either tie off using the leftover short side or as I do, leave enough short side to string the first cross and then tie off. Then you take the long side main (which is at the bottom of the frame and string one cross at the throat. You then string the last short side main and then string all the crosses from top to bottom, 1st or 2nd cross depending on either of the above methods.
What you have, in effect, is the same as a two-piece save for the fact that you've string the last cross. The last cross, at the bottom of the hoop, is at the strongest part of the frame and of no consequence in your description. The strings strung from top down then apply the same pressure as if you'd strung two-piece.
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Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
What new? You pick a racket and a pattern.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Maybe @chrisingrassia can come up with a racket that he wants to string with an ATW pattern and @Rabbit can tell him what ATW pattern to use.
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