Broke last cross tie off! Is this OK to do?

[JackB1]

OK, I am finnishing up my crosses on a hybrid 2 piece job and I pulled too hard on the knot and it broke. I still had the previous cross clamped, so I went back to that string and tied it off. Then I added another piece of string for the last (bottom) cross and tied off 2 more knots on both sides of that last cross. Do u guys think this is OK to do? I am sure that last cross will have lower tension because it was clamped and tied on both ends and I only used normal knots outside the clamps (Not starting knots). So now I have 6 knots with the 2 extra on the last cross.

Should I just cut the crosses out and redo the crosses? or is it OK to leave it "as is"? How crucial is it to have that last (bottom) cross proper tensioned? Is it OK to cutout the crosses and leave the mains intact and just redo the crosses? The racquet was done last night.

 

[struggle]

who's racket is it? if it's yours and you value your time and money, i'd roll with it until time to re-string.

if it's for someone else, re-do it.

edit: might depend on your tie-offs, but i wouldn't sweat the racket itself.

 

[JackB1]

who's racket is it? if it's yours and you value your time and money, i'd roll with it until time to re-string.

if it's for someone else, re-do it.

edit: might depend on your tie-offs, but i wouldn't sweat the racket itself.

Yes, it's mine. I guess I'll roll with it for a bit. Seems OK when hitting against a wall.

I tend to break the strings a lot when pulling UP on the knots. This string was cheap Head syngut and seemed to break very easily. I guess I could have also just left out the bottom cross?

 

[HitItHarder]

OK, I am finnishing up my crosses on a hybrid 2 piece job and I pulled too hard on the knot and it broke. I still had the previous cross clamped, so I went back to that string and tied it off. Then I added another piece of string for the last (bottom) cross and tied off 2 more knots on both sides of that last cross. Do u guys think this is OK to do? I am sure that last cross will have lower tension because it was clamped and tied on both ends and I only used normal knots outside the clamps (Not starting knots). So now I have 6 knots with the 2 extra on the last cross.

Should I just cut the crosses out and redo the crosses? or is it OK to leave it "as is"? How crucial is it to have that last (bottom) cross proper tensioned? Is it OK to cutout the crosses and leave the mains intact and just redo the crosses? The racquet was done last night.

Jack,

If it is your racquet, I would say leave it as is and you likely won't notice the difference. This same thing happened to me stringing a set of gut a couple weeks ago on one of my racquets and I did exactly what you did. Essentially, I made it a three piece string job with the last cross at the throat being the third piece. It played fine and I didn't notice any difference between that racquet and my others.

 

[coachrick]

I tend to break the strings a lot when pulling UP on the knots. This string was cheap Head syngut and seemed to break very easily. I guess I could have also just left out the bottom cross?

Would have been fine to leave out the bottom cross but it 'might' look better with the add-on you installed.

I would recommend 'adjusting' the way you tension your knots...I doubt I had more than one incident like yours every couple of years(thousands of rackets, in other words). Especially if you are dealing with a fragile string(is Head syn really that fragile?), extra care should be taken to avoid breaking the final tie-off.


I'm sure there are plenty of vids showing tie-off techniques that are less likely to damage the string. Sometimes the grommet can cause problems, sometimes you're stringing with mouse-gut, sometimes the string is nicked already...but breaking the final tie-off string is NOT something I would want to experience very often .

 

[jim e]

Very important if you use pliers to pull that last knot tight, that you pull the pliers away from your face. If the string snaps, or pliers slip, you can end up with pliers in face, or eye.
If you use pliers, then get into the habit of pulling towards something, like your shoulder each time you pull, that way you can avoid an accident.
I don't use pliers, or even a starting clamp to pull knots, and only use my fingers to tighten my knots, and you can tie a good cinched up knot with just your fingers. Break a set of VS gut a couple times with the tie off over pulling with pliers, and then you will see what I mean.

 

[drummerdan]

I used to always use my hands only but too many string jobs in a row was too hard on them - especially poly. I only use a starting clamp so the string doesn't slip and use a parnell knot for every knot. That knot doesn't require as much pressure on the string (imo) and I have never broken a string. You don't need to pull it so hard that you break it.

 

[dancraig]

I call it "ye ole three piece string job".

 

[Bud]

Jack,

If it is your racquet, I would say leave it as is and you likely won't notice the difference. This same thing happened to me stringing a set of gut a couple weeks ago on one of my racquets and I did exactly what you did. Essentially, I made it a three piece string job with the last cross at the throat being the third piece. It played fine and I didn't notice any difference between that racquet and my others.

This. Fine if yours.

Looks bad if you were to give it to a customer even though it will have no noticeable effect on the feel or performance.

 

[JackB1]

Is it harder to break a parnel knot as compared to the regular double half hitch?

 

[bcart1991]

Is it harder to break a parnel knot as compared to the regular double half hitch?

Either way, you're pulling WAY too hard if you're breaking any synthetic string while tensioning the knot.

 

[JackB1]

Either way, you're pulling WAY too hard if you're breaking any synthetic string while tensioning the knot.

I really dont think I pulled THAT hard :???:

 

[Irvin]

I really dont think I pulled THAT hard :???:

Problem is you probably pulled with pliers. Pliers have a sharp edge around the sides and they tend to cut the string. You don't have to pull too hard that way. I like to use a starting clamp that has round edges or use 'jim e's' method where you only use your fingers.

It really depends on where the string broke. If they broke at the knot you pulled too hard. If they broke at the pliers then it was the sharp edge.

Irvin

 

[Bud]

I really dont think I pulled THAT hard :???:

Pulling with your hand is fine and the safest method. The minimal tension lost will never be felt in the area of the racquet bed which strikes the ball.

 

[BobFL]

I really dont think I pulled THAT hard :???:

You are not aware of your strength then, Mr. Hulk!

 

[JackB1]

Problem is you probably pulled with pliers. Pliers have a sharp edge around the sides and they tend to cut the string. You don't have to pull too hard that way. I like to use a starting clamp that has round edges or use 'jim e's' method where you only use your fingers.

It really depends on where the string broke. If they broke at the knot you pulled too hard. If they broke at the pliers then it was the sharp edge.

Irvin

I use a starting clamp and it broke at the knot. This exact same thing happened to me a few times, so I guess I'm pulling to hard. I think this Head Syngut I have is especially brittle. I used it for 2 hours and it is already showing a lot of wear.

 

[struggle]

i yank pretty hard with a starting clamp and have yet to snap a string (syngut).
pliers? no problem, i can snap one off in no time. lemme at it!

 

[athiker]

I think the Pro knot is the simplest to tie and is especially the easiest to tighten. I always had difficulty with the tightening process with the Parnell and the Double-Half Hitch. It seemed like no matter how hard I pulled I couldn't really get any slack out (Parnell) or would lose it before tightening the 2nd bight (Double Half). Actually, w/ the Double Half I just didn't like the way the 2nd hitch looked...didn't always seem tight.

Now I do the rock out motion like YuLiltle does in his Parnell video to snug up the slack but use the Pro knot instead. I don't use the awl like Drakulie shows in his video...just rock the first knot loop "handle" out and back in with either linesman's pliers or by hand. Then its simple to pull the "bitter end" that has already been fed back thru the loop and snug up the knot.

No broken knots or slipped knots yet...crossed fingers.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mr10sStringer#p/a/u/0/mGQW_ONBPPo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDwAnjSYcxQ

*begin at 1:35 in the last video.