Babolat Bumper Guards/Grommets

W

Wikky

Rookie
I've heard a lot of complaints about these, never realized how hard it is until I actually had to do one! Grommets normally take me maybe 10 or 15 minutes but these were really frustrating. Took me about 25 and I had to tape them down to keep the top guard in place.

Does anyone have any advice on how to make the process a little easier, I have to do another 1 or 2 this week. Thanks.

Wikky
 
Advice??

Patience.

When you have done enough of them, you'll get better at putting them in.
 
Last edited:
They go in and out easier with a blow dryer or heat gun. If you have extra awls, you can use them to hold sections down through the grommets.

One other trick to hold them in place is too use zip ties, until you are ready to string, then cut them out afterwards.
 
the babolat gromments are really frustrating,. if you feel frustrated, walk away from it for a few minutes before coming back. if you continue to work while your frustrated, then there's a chance that you might break the gromments and have to buy another one.
 
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=457756
https://www.youtube.com/user/diredesire

Watch from bottom to top, that's roughly the correct order. I was intending to cut the video and stitch it together, so there's a lot of repetition because I never got around to it.

Summary: look at the bumper guard. Don't force it, move on if anything sticks. I don't use a heat gun or warm the bumper up, and they go in fine... It can help, but I very rarely have those tools available to me when I'm "at work" (although all my stringing is now done at home, so maybe I'll try it).
 
Irvin said:
DD don't you have a direct link to your video the link you gave is just your channel
Click to expand...

No, unfortunately, I don't. The video was supposed to be stitched together into a 10-15 minute walkthrough, but I never got around to it :)

Edit: P.S. I don't think you'll pick too much up from it, Irvin :) I'm sure you're adept at BG replacements.
 
diredesire said:
No, unfortunately, I don't. The video was supposed to be stitched together into a 10-15 minute walkthrough, but I never got around to it :)

Edit: P.S. I don't think you'll pick too much up from it, Irvin :) I'm sure you're adept at BG replacements.
Click to expand...

No problem I have some Babolat grommets I just ordered from TW today. When they come in I will make a video.

Woolybugger said:
my fingers hurt like heck after doing one set.
Click to expand...

What racket were you replacing the grommets on. I have some aeroprodrive grommets on order?
 
Dire Thanks a lot for the link. I definitely went the grommets first when I did mine which made it a lot more frustrating. I think I'm putting in the other set tomorrow I'll follow your advice it should go a lot better.
 
I can, I cut the strings out once with the wrong grommets in hand. Thankfully the customer supplied the OS grommets for his MId racket.

I once had a Wilson hammer and ordered the grommets to replace them. Same everything EXCEPT the version. Same racket two different grommets sets.
 
I have been thinking about this for a while. Many people like to tie a cross on a cross and a main on a main. Because this cachet has 19 crosses the two knots are on opposite sides of the racket. I wonder how it would work if you installed one of the side grommets upside down for two piece stringing. The mains both tie off on a main. 10H on one side could then be used for the top cross tie off and 10T could be used for the bottom tie off and you never have to force an awl in the grommet to enlarge the grommet hole.
 
Most grommet sets I see have longer tubes for the holes near the throat. Installing them upside down would not work as the shorter tubes don't clear the frame.
 
esgee48 said:
Most grommet sets I see have longer tubes for the holes near the throat. Installing them upside down would not work as the shorter tubes don't clear the frame.
Click to expand...

That's true for most grommet sets. Most grommet sets are also different.
 
Irvin, thanks for the video. I've been replacing bumper guards on my kids APD and the toughest part for me is pressing the grommets in - they are hard to line up, and don't want to go through all the way (and stay there!). I see using the philips screwdriver as a pry bar is ingenious! I'll have to try that next time.
 
Another thing I did down on the side bottom pieces is make a little L snapped too. I took about 6" of a piece off a flag they use for utility markers and bent a 90* angle. Then I insert the wire through the grommet from the outside and pull with pliers. It helps to push the grommet in and also align the inside tip so it comes through the frame. The bottom grommet was quite long and the tip of an awl bends because the awl does not go it the grommet far enough.
 
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