Broke the 2 hour mark!!

[TimeToPlaySets]

Start the stopwatch
0:00

Cut, remove, and dispose of strings off old racket
5:00

Mount racket
Clamp it down
8:00

Open string packet,
Unravel.
Measure 9 racket lengths
Cut string
11:00

Line up mains
along center grommet and pull to even length
13:00

String left side of Mains
Tie first Parnell knot
29:00

String right side of Mains
Tie 2nd Parnell knot
Mains are done.
41:00

Begin crosses
Tie starting knot
52:00

Finish weaving crosses
1:38:00

Tie last Parnell knot
1:41


I am ECSTATIC at how fast this one went!!

 

[esgee48]

Kudos. But why does it take you 16 + 12 or 28 minutes to do the mains? There's no weaving, so they should average about 30-40 seconds each with your DW.

 

[loosegroove]

It will get faster. But next time make sure to alternate sides when stringing the mains to minimize stress on the frame i.e. you're not supposed to string the entire left side, and then the entire right side. You can get 3 mains ahead on one side, but I tend to only go 2.

 

[Wes]

It will get faster. But next time make sure to alternate sides when stringing the mains to minimize stress on the frame i.e. you're not supposed to string the entire left side, and then the entire right side. You can get 3 mains ahead on one side, but I tend to only go 2.

^^^
@TimeToPlaySets
You would do well to heed the advice of @loosegroove.

Actually, I even take it one step further... only doing 2 mains in succession/side (which means I'm never more than 1 main ahead at any particular time).

28 minutes is a long time for only the mains.
Even if each main takes you 1 full minute (rather than the 30-40 seconds mentioned above), it should be quite reasonable to finish the mains in 16 (or 18) minutes.

You're currently spending ~1:45/main.
What would you guess to be the primary factor(s)?

• Are you frequently lowering the bar, but yet it remains above horizontal, requiring you to reload the gripper with more slack?

If so, you need to try the "ratchet up" technique, where you start with the bar in the down position (rather than it pointing up) each time you put the string into the gripper.

• Are you encountering tons of friction through the grommets (i.e. thick string & tiny grommet holes)?
• Are the knots still troublesome/time consuming for you?

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

It's not the ratchet part that is taking time. Or the mains threading.
It's the knot part that probably added 5 mins per knot to each side of the mains. At least.

Next time, I will track with better granularity.

 

[loosegroove]

5+ mins per knot!? You should practice just tying knots. Also, what knot are you using? Although I prefer a Parnell, it really doesn't get any easier than a double half hitch.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

5+ mins per knot!? You should practice just tying knots. Also, what knot are you using? Although I prefer a Parnell, it really doesn't get any easier than a double half hitch.

+1
for me the longest part about tying the not, is cutting off the excess string (if any), to be able to weave the knot more easily.
i'm presuming you're using a needle nose plier or something to tighten it?
and you're tightening it by pulling it down?
or are you trying to be perfect by pulling up all slack from the last main or cross? (pro tip (which i don't follow, because i just don't care that much, nor do i think it makes that much of a difference), when weaving the last main or cross, increase tension by 5-10lbs to compensate for the inevitable slack in the line))

just realized, that sometimes it is a pain to thread string through grommets (that have shared strings) when the grommets are new (ie. you might need an awl to widen the grommet hole), especially if you're using 15g string.

 

[Irvin]

You should not be stringing all the mains on one side before going to the other side. I string 2 on one side then 4 on the other never getting more than 2 strings ahead on either side. If I’m stringing using a proportional pattern I never get more than 1 ahead on either side.

 

[chrisingrassia]

5 minutes to cut out old strings?
That's a 20-second operation.

 

[Chotobaka]

You guys are going to feel terrible when the OP tells you he only has one arm.

 

[RVAtennisaddict]

My first one only took 1h40m on an 18x20, rom blast 18g. Strings set were a little looser than when “my stringer” does at same lbs.


Sadly, I thought wasn’t worth it for me. Thought I would enjoy the process. Didn’t. So glad I used a friends stringer instead of buying one for self.

 

[dak95_00]

You guys are going to feel terrible when the OP tells you he only has one arm.

This has me laughing out loud and disturbing the peace in the room.

 

[gmatheis]

You guys are going to feel terrible when the OP tells you he only has one arm.

And he’s Blind.

 

[Wes]

5 minutes to cut out old strings?
That's a 20-second operation.

I certainly wouldn't want someone removing my strings in just 20 seconds.

In my opinion, that would be way too fast. For all the strings to be removed in 20 seconds, one, if not both, of 2 things would have to be occurring.

1. Some improper method of actually cutting the strings themselves. Cutting them correctly, in a systematic manner, should take at least 20 seconds by itself.
After all, you are typically cutting 34, or more, strings.

2. The strings (that have now been cut) being RIPPED out of the frame at some feverish rate of speed.
This is going to melt/damage grommets from friction burns. After all, they're made of mere plastic and not impervious to the friction/heat generated.

If I had to spend time/money replacing grommets, because of some careless stringer burning/damaging them, I know I'd be more than upset.

Personally, my approach to stringing racquets for clients, is much like that of a physician who has taken the Hippocratic oath... "First, do no harm".

 

[chrisingrassia]

You are being dramatic. It's a 20 second operation. Stop acting like the racquet is a fragile newborn baby that needs to be coddled.
Once strings are cut, you push them out from the inside-out, you don't grab one string end and drag it out

I certainly wouldn't want someone removing my strings in just 20 seconds.

In my opinion, that would be way too fast. For all the strings to be removed in 20 seconds, one, if not both, of 2 things would have to be occurring.

1. Some improper method of actually cutting the strings themselves. Cutting them correctly, in a systematic manner, should take at least 20 seconds by itself.
After all, you are typically cutting 34, or more, strings.

2. The strings (that have now been cut) being RIPPED out of the frame at some feverish rate of speed.
This is going to melt/damage grommets from friction burns. After all, they're made of mere plastic and not impervious to the friction/heat generated.

If I had to spend time/money replacing grommets, because of some careless stringer burning/damaging them, I know I'd be more than upset.

Personally, my approach to stringing racquets for clients, is much like that of a physician who has taken the Hippocratic oath... "First, do no harm".

 

[brownbearfalling]

Maybe take a video of your stringing then pray that someone on the internet is patient enough to watch the full thing to give tips on how to improve. Or even better is to watch some videos of good stringers to try to pick up on the little details to improve your technique.

It's been a while since I have taught someone how to string but I believe I can "talk someone through" or a combination of demonstrating and instructing on a string job in less than 2 hours. And that's for someone who has never done it before.

 

[jga111]

I use Parnell knots for most and Wilson pro knots for areas with less space. I use a starting clamp - never looked back

 

[Traffic]

Congratulations on breaking into 2hrs. I think it took me a few racquets to get there.

I think tying knots has two challenges that could eat up time initially.
1) Which hole/string do I tie off my knot at/to? I think your first couple of stringings will spend lots of time here including watching a few extra Youtube videos. Since you are only stringing your own racquet, once you've found what works, it should be easier subsequent times since grommets are enlarged and you can set up clamps to be out of the way, etc.
2) I'm with @loosegroove, I just use a double half-hitch. It's simple and effective. I try to do a good job of removing slack and synching with quick motion and less torque. Works well even on nat gut and ashaway zx.

You should probably get your mains down to under 1min each. I'm probably around 30sec each and that is including keeping slack free of tangle, threading string through the head, rotating racquet to face the tensioner, wrapping the tensioner, ratcheting 2-3 times, clamping. Now, I don't know if there is extra motion with a flying clamp.

But I think with each time you string a racquet, you'll get more confidence and will improve your speed.
*edit* I think I spent at least 5min detangling the string after I took it out of the package. I need to find a better way to cut the string in half...

 

[CosmosMpower]

I'd watch some youtube videos on knot tying. I use the Wilson pro knot exclusively and can tie a knot in about 30-45 seconds unless it's in a really tricky spot or I don't have quite enough string.

Your time will drop from 2 hrs to 1 hour in no time. Dropping from 1 hr to 30 mins will take longer especially if you're stringing a thicker poly on a tight pattern. I've done probably 30-35 racquets and I still can't get below 45 mins putting 1.30 poly in a 95 sq inch 18x20. I can do syn gut/multi in a 16x19 in about 30 mins total with my Neos 1000.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

.........
It's been a while since I have taught someone how to string but I believe I can "talk someone through" or a combination of demonstrating and instructing on a string job in less than 2 hours. And that's for someone who has never done it before.

I wont teach anyone how to string anymore, lost my patience for it
it took me countless years/months/hours (like everything in tennis), to learn to do the things I know now (and im still learning new stuff, never ending); and giving cliff.notes version of it to someone that won't appreciate all the time it took me, does not settle well with me
Ill guide someone to the same materials i used to learn to string, but their on their own, like I was.
IMO, the path to stringing nirvana is a long one, only the dedicated will attempt it..

namaste, yall...

 

[1HBHfanatic]

OP, BTW your on that path I mentioned
I remember making this same time table you made, when I first started.. my first string job was 3hours, nervously loved every minute of it..

 

[Tennis_Monk]

^^^
@TimeToPlaySets
You would do well to heed the advice of @loosegroove.

Actually, I even take it one step further... only doing 2 mains in succession/side (which means I'm never more than 1 main ahead at any particular time).

28 minutes is a long time for only the mains.
Even if each main takes you 1 full minute (rather than the 30-40 seconds mentioned above), it should be quite reasonable to finish the mains in 16 (or 18) minutes.

You're currently spending ~1:45/main.
What would you guess to be the primary factor(s)?

• Are you frequently lowering the bar, but yet it remains above horizontal, requiring you to reload the gripper with more slack?

If so, you need to try the "ratchet up" technique, where you start with the bar in the down position (rather than it pointing up) each time you put the string into the gripper.

• Are you encountering tons of friction through the grommets (i.e. thick string & tiny grommet holes)?
• Are the knots still troublesome/time consuming for you?

What’s a Ratchet up technique?

 

[Karma Tennis]

I am ECSTATIC at how fast this one went!!

Well Done and Keep Going.

My first one took about 2.5 hours. These days I just take my time and am perfectly happy to beat 60 mins every time. Taking it to my local stringer is going to be at least 90 minutes even for an Urgent job and I have to pay them money to do it. So even at an hour, I'm still saving myself 30 mins and money. (Machine paid for itself years ago!)

If you like stringing racquets there are few better pastimes in the world where the product of you labours is immediately apparent.

 

[MasturB]

I average about 17 minutes for 2 piece. When I really am going speedy I can get it at about 14-15 minutes.

One day I hope to string on tour. I used to string for a local college here. Would have to string 6-12 racquets on most days. Full poly. Boy that was fun.

 

[mikeler]

My first string job took 4 hours but I was watching TV and some drinks may have been consumed as well. The next one was 2 hours and then I think by the 4th string job I was down to the hour mark. The hardest part for me was remembering to tension every string. I'd forget, unclamp and have to start over. I'm still not very fast compared to many others on here.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Strung again.
Took me EXACTLY the same amount of time.
1:42

It took me 7 mins. just to cut off the strings and remove them.
Anyone who strings in 20 mins. is a flat out liar.

 

[esgee48]

1-2 seconds to cut each string. 16x19 to 18x20 s/t ~ 1 minute to cut the strings. Pushing them out from the inside is ~2 minutes. You do this before mounting the frame because you want to check for damage, etc. before mounting. If you average 30 seconds/main [8-9 min] and ~1 minute/cross [19-20 min], you would break the 40 minute mark. There's no need to go that fast, but 20 sec/main and 40 sec/cross is under 20 minutes. The DW slows you down, but an eCP is just put the string in the gripper and push a button.

 

[mmk]

1-2 seconds to cut each string. 16x19 to 18x20 s/t ~ 1 minute to cut the strings. Pushing them out from the inside is ~2 minutes. You do this before mounting the frame because you want to check for damage, etc. before mounting. If you average 30 seconds/main [8-9 min] and ~1 minute/cross [19-20 min], you would break the 40 minute mark. There's no need to go that fast, but 20 sec/main and 40 sec/cross is under 20 minutes. The DW slows you down, but an eCP is just put the string in the gripper and push a button.

I'm slow and use a crank, which is faster than a drop weight, but not as fast as a good electronic machine. The last racquet I did took me 48 minutes from the time I started cutting out the strings through taking it off the stringer. And that includes having mis-measured the mains and having to pull them out and start over. I'm sure with a good electronic machine and using multi instead of full poly I'd be a fair amount faster. I fully believe 20 minutes or less is possible, although I'd never get there.

 

[esgee48]

I am talking about just the stringing. Add 10 minutes for pre and post work. Betcha your overall stringing time is probably about 35-40 minutes, which is about mine. It generally takes me longer because I pull for a set period and am watching the TV. LO needs attention.

 

[mmk]

I am talking about just the stringing. Add 10 minutes for pre and post work. Betcha your overall stringing time is probably about 35-40 minutes, which is about mine. It generally takes me longer because I pull for a set period and am watching the TV. LO needs attention.

Well, to be fair, I use 16X16 racquets, saves some time.

 

[gmatheis]

Strung again.
Took me EXACTLY the same amount of time.
1:42

It took me 7 mins. just to cut off the strings and remove them.
Anyone who strings in 20 mins. is a flat out liar.

Then all the stringers at grand slams are liars!

 

[richardc-s]

.

*edit* I think I spent at least 5min detangling the string after I took it out of the package. I need to find a better way to cut the string in half...

From start to finish i take about 1 hour 30mins, but half that time must be spent untangling the birds nest of string that comes out of the packet!!

 

[Karma Tennis]

I am talking about just the stringing. Add 10 minutes for pre and post work. Betcha your overall stringing time is probably about 35-40 minutes, which is about mine. It generally takes me longer because I pull for a set period and am watching the TV. LO needs attention.

Ah! I've never looked at it in those terms. I would think if one is a Professional Stringer that charges for their labour on a time basis, the total restringing time would be the duration from the moment you pick the racquet up in your hand to string it, to the moment you set the final product aside for collection.

 

[esgee48]

There are videos of Pro stringers at work at tournaments. Many times, they have unstrung rackets stacked up ready to be strung. They charge by the frame and not by time. Most shops that I am aware of also do it this way, by the frame, not by time. They're labelled with string (attached) and tension. That's why I am only concerned with time doing actual stringing. I take my time prepping the frames and will lay them aside until 1 day before pickup. That's when I do them. So for me, when I say 35-45 minutes, it is time spent getting the string and stringing. Variance is because I may need to do an ATW. Add 5-10 minutes max for pre and post stringing work.

 

[meltphace 6]

Anyone who strings in 20 mins. is a flat out liar.

 

[LocNetMonster]

My first couple of racquets took me 3 hrs. Stringing my own take on average about 35 min from cutting out old strings to tying the last knot. Client racquets generally take me 10-15 minutes longer depending on frame and string. I spend more time on figuring out what string combination and tension I want to try than I do stringing.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

Well, to be fair, I use 16X16 racquets, saves some time.

Haha, these are my favorite rakets to string, 16x16,,,
Before I even realize, the racket is done, and their is cashhhola in my pocket.. haa

 

[1HBHfanatic]

Strung again.
Took me EXACTLY the same amount of time.
1:42

It took me 7 mins. just to cut off the strings and remove them.
Anyone who strings in 20 mins. is a flat out liar.

Your trying to compete against world class sprinters,, when your still in your onezzy....
You must learn to crawl, before you can run,, grasshoper!

but dont give up, work on consistency and proper technique
the time will take care of itself..

 

[Karma Tennis]

Anyone who strings in 20 mins. is a flat out liar.

Spoken like a man who has never observed a Professional Stringer doing racquets at a Major Tournament (ie Grand Slam Tournament). Many of them can string a racquet in less than 20 minutes and it is a sight to behold for some of us mere mortals.

Know your string lengths.
Use a decent electronic machine with a fast racquet mounting system and decent automatic clamps.
Be able to thread cross strings like playing a piano.

20 minutes is a piece of cake.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

Here it is, 8min string job

ohh and this can happen when going too fast:
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/it-can-happen-even-to-a-pro.590950/#post-12032618

 

[rchjr2091]

You guys are going to feel terrible when the OP tells you he only has one arm.

This is the excuse I have to use ....but it’s usually cause my other arm has a Corona attached to it !

 

[Irvin]

This is the excuse I have to use ....but it’s usually cause my other arm has a Corona attached to it !

Ain't no way. It is almost impossible to weave a Corona bottle through the mains. I'm not going to call you a liar but how do you keep the lime from falling off?

 

[MathieuR]

It's a 20 second operation.

@chrisingrassia , post that video, please.

 

[norcal]

@chrisingrassia , post that video, please.

 

[Irvin]

Here’s a good start posted by drakulie

 

[MAX PLY]

^^^to be fair drakulie's actual cutting time was about 6 seconds--pulling the strings out would likely take 15-20 seconds--putting him at 21-26. I'll time myself next time using my non-electric bed cutters--I would guess its still about 30 seconds max from first snip to last string out of the frame.

 

[mmk]

I use poultry shears to cut the strings, takes a few seconds. Pulling them out probably takes me another minute, but as I noted earlier, I'm slow.

 

[rchjr2091]

Ain't no way. It is almost impossible to weave a Corona bottle through the mains. I'm not going to call you a liar but how do you keep the lime from falling off?

I learned the secret because I closely follow your tips and tricks in the stringing section!

Plus I’m a strong 7.0 when it comes to drinking Corona !

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

Strung again.
Took me EXACTLY the same amount of time.
1:42

It took me 7 mins. just to cut off the strings and remove them.
Anyone who strings in 20 mins. is a flat out liar.

Not sure if youre being sarcastic or not, but at the pro events, we had a guy bust out 45 rackets in 1 day, on occasion doing 4 rackets in an hour.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

Not sure if youre being sarcastic or not, but at the pro events, we had a guy bust out 45 rackets in 1 day, on occasion doing 4 rackets in an hour.

thats impressive 45rkts 1 day, that's min 10-11hrs work
whats more impressive to me is that these rakets are not 16x16 patterns.. with syn.gut
provably most all.poly and lots of them with 18/20 patterns
tnx for sharing..

ohh and no mistakes.