Atw question

[tennisnoob1949]

i have a gamma x2 with flying clamps only and no starting clamp. I'm trying to string a Wilson k90 (16/19, mains skip 7,9). I have done 2 pc before but having to get string through double blocked grommets is not much fun. So I am trying to figure out the best atw pattern with minimum blocked holes. Also given I only have flying clamps some of the suggested atw patterns don't work well. Also it seems like it's better to tie off on crosses due to drawback so I'm trying to figure out a pattern with crosses being tied off (as opposed to mains).

Here's what I was thinking: on short side, do 8 mains and then bottom 2 crosses and tie off (doing the last two allows me to double pull these two, the only possibility with flying clamps). On the long side, do 7 mains, then do the 2nd cross and then on down to the last undone one ( which will be 3rd from bottom), do the last main and then do the last cross and tie off.

Anyone see any issues with this pattern ?

 

[esgee48]

No, do not see anything wrong with what you are proposing. I would do the bottom 2 crosses to tie off on 6 Throat so maybe do 9T, then 7T then go to 6. Just make sure you have enough space between holes 10 and 11 to support the tension as you run the main up. If the spacing is too narrow, you could collapse the frame there.

 

[Irvin]

Wilson allows bottom up stringing on that racket, why complicate things with an ATW pattern? With the ATW you mentioned you are going to have several hard weaves. If you are going to run in the bottom two crosses with the short side you double blocked hole is gone. Run in all mains on the other side and tie off. String the remaining crosses top down.

 

[tennisnoob1949]

No, do not see anything wrong with what you are proposing. I would do the bottom 2 crosses to tie off on 6 Throat so maybe do 9T, then 7T then go to 6. Just make sure you have enough space between holes 10 and 11 to support the tension as you run the main up. If the spacing is too narrow, you could collapse the frame there.

Thank you ! For the comment about the space between 10 and 11, is there a way to tell how much space there should be for a given tension ?

 

[tennisnoob1949]

Wilson allows bottom up stringing on that racket, why complicate things with an ATW pattern? With the ATW you mentioned you are going to have several hard weaves. If you are going to run in the bottom two crosses with the short side you double blocked hole is gone. Run in all mains on the other side and tie off. String the remaining crosses top down.

Agreed that Wilson allows bottom up, but this is quite an old frame that I got used, and I want to prolong the life by stringing top down if that is an option.

It was a little unclear what you were suggesting. When you say run in all the mains on the other side and tie off, are you suggesting a 2 pc, but stringing all crosses but the last 2?

 

[jim e]

For blocked holes and double blocked holes, just place a scrap string under the string blocking the opening ,
then you can either lift up or pull down with needle nose pliers on the scrap string to open the blocked opening.
I typically string most racquets 2 piece, especially with all the hybrid string jobs as 2 piece is only option. Plan ahead and use a scrap string.

 

[tennisnoob1949]

For blocked holes and double blocked holes, just place a scrap string under the string blocking the opening ,
then you can either lift up or pull down with needle nose pliers on the scrap string to open the blocked opening.
I typically string most racquets 2 piece, especially with all the hybrid string jobs as 2 piece is only option. Plan ahead and use a scrap string.

Good suggestion. The other requirement I was trying to fulfill is only tying off crosses (other threads in this forum say that's better than tying off mains from a stringbed tension perspective). A traditional 2pc would tie off both mains, which is another reason for my original suggestion (other than double blocked holes).

 

[esgee48]

Thank you ! For the comment about the space between 10 and 11, is there a way to tell how much space there should be for a given tension ?

I personally like to see at least 5 mm, but sometimes the manufacturer does not give you that much space. You normally see tight spacing near tie offs. For you, it probably is OK, but you should always be aware of this if you string creatively.

FWIW, I do 1 piece only and use scrap pieces of string to allow access to blocked holes. Hybrids and client requested 2 piece are my only exceptions.

 

[Irvin]

Agreed that Wilson allows bottom up, but this is quite an old frame that I got used, and I want to prolong the life by stringing top down if that is an option.

It was a little unclear what you were suggesting. When you say run in all the mains on the other side and tie off, are you suggesting a 2 pc, but stringing all crosses but the last 2?

No I was suggesting an ATW? Tie off the short side 7th main at the head. Then after stringing all the mains on the long side you end up at the bottom. String your ATW (bottom cross to move string to short side and the last main. You then end at the top and you can string all remaining crosses top down.

If you string the top cross with the short side hold the string on the outside of the frame with your flying clamp and a scrap string in the vacant side of the clamp. Then when you string the 2nd cross you have something to clamp to and you will be tying off only crosses.

 

[tennisnoob1949]

No I was suggesting an ATW? Tie off the short side 7th main at the head. Then after stringing all the mains on the long side you end up at the bottom. String your ATW (bottom cross to move string to short side and the last main. You then end at the top and you can string all remaining crosses top down.

If you string the top cross with the short side hold the string on the outside of the frame with your flying clamp and a scrap string in the vacant side of the clamp. Then when you string the 2nd cross you have something to clamp to and you will be tying off only crosses.

Got it, thank you!

I assume the advantage of this approach compared to what I was suggesting is less hard weaves.

 

[Irvin]

Got it, thank you!

I assume the advantage of this approach compared to what I was suggesting is less hard weaves.

That's true the outer main and top cross are eliminated and the top cross give you some to clamp to with a flying clamp for the second cross. You're also weaving all odd string right to left and they are the same as the bottom cross. And you're stringing all even crosses left to right same as the previous tensioned cross. This assumes you are weaving 1 ahead.

EDIT: If you string a racket with an even number of crosses it is not so easy because all the weaves are hard again. Then I would not use the short side main for the top cros. Then again all the weaving are easier again.

 

[tennisnoob1949]

That's true the outer main and top cross are eliminated and the top cross give you some to clamp to with a flying clamp for the second cross. You're also weaving all odd string right to left and they are the same as the bottom cross. And you're stringing all even crosses left to right same as the previous tensioned cross. This assumes you are weaving 1 ahead.

EDIT: If you string a racket with an even number of crosses it is not so easy because all the weaves are hard again. Then I would not use the short side main for the top cros. Then again all the weaving are easier again.

Got it. To recap so I understand right, your approach is:
1. Short side, do 7 mains and the top cross, clamp outside the racquet using a flying clamp (+scrap string).
2. Long side, do 8 mains, bottom cross, 8th main on short side and then crosses down starting the second cross.

Did I understand that correctly?

 

[Wes]

Got it. To recap so I understand right, your approach is:
1. Short side, do 7 mains and the top cross, clamp outside the racquet using a flying clamp (+scrap string).
2. Long side, do 8 mains, bottom cross, 8th main on short side and then crosses down starting the second cross.

Did I understand that correctly?

What you just described, to a T, is simply the Universal ATW.
The tricky part you'll have to contend with - how to clamp that single bottom cross before putting in that 8th main on the short side.

 

[tennisnoob1949]

What you just described, to a T, is simply the Universal ATW.
The tricky part you'll have to contend with - how to clamp that single bottom cross before putting in that 8th main on the short side.

Good point. What are my options, given I only have flying clamps ?

 

[Irvin]

Good point. What are my options, given I only have flying clamps ?

Double pull the bottom cross and outside main

 

[tennisnoob1949]

Double pull the bottom cross and outside main

Makes sense. For the double pull, should I set the tension a little higher? If so, how much higher would you recommend?

 

[Irvin]

Makes sense. For the double pull, should I set the tension a little higher? If so, how much higher would you recommend?

I wouldn't don't worry about the loss of tension on the bottom cross. All my rackets now I'm using a proportional pattern on and the bottom cross is about half the longest cross string.

 

[tennisnoob1949]

I wouldn't don't worry about the loss of tension on the bottom cross. All my rackets now I'm using a proportional pattern on and the bottom cross is about half the longest cross string.

Got it, thank you! I'll definitely try it out and see if the racquet plays any differently (I doubt it will, to your point).

 

[tennisnoob1949]

This worked out quite well, thanks for all the tips. To be honest, I wasn't completely following Irvin when he was talking about not having hard weaves with odd number of crosses, but I strung my k90 yesterday and I see what he meant

 

[tennisnoob1949]

This worked out quite well, thanks for all the tips. To be honest, I wasn't completely following Irvin when he was talking about not having hard weaves with odd number of crosses, but I strung my k90 yesterday and I see what he meant

I went ahead and bought a starting clamp today. Starting the mains using YuLitle's method for flying clamps works, but for the flying clamp not to slip, I needed to tighten it quite a bit, to the point where I think I bruised the string itself. A starting clamp will be more useful with that kind of thing I think.

Hopefully this fixes the string bruising issue.

 

[tennisnoob1949]

i have a gamma x2 with flying clamps only and no starting clamp. I'm trying to string a Wilson k90 (16/19, mains skip 7,9). I have done 2 pc before but having to get string through double blocked grommets is not much fun. So I am trying to figure out the best atw pattern with minimum blocked holes. Also given I only have flying clamps some of the suggested atw patterns don't work well. Also it seems like it's better to tie off on crosses due to drawback so I'm trying to figure out a pattern with crosses being tied off (as opposed to mains).

Here's what I was thinking: on short side, do 8 mains and then bottom 2 crosses and tie off (doing the last two allows me to double pull these two, the only possibility with flying clamps). On the long side, do 7 mains, then do the 2nd cross and then on down to the last undone one ( which will be 3rd from bottom), do the last main and then do the last cross and tie off.

Anyone see any issues with this pattern ?

Turns out my original suggestion is the same as the UKRSA ATW pattern! Just saw the video and other than the order of doing things, it's the same pattern.