Diaries of a New Hobby Stringer

Jor3lBR

New User
@Jor3lBR Congratz! Have you strung a racket with it yet? I'm also thinking about buying a Tomcat or maybe a Tennisman StringMaster Pro 50 LE. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Hey buddy, yes I did 3 so far and I’m about to do 2 Babolats!
I love this machine so much, it’s much faster than my old crank. Its built like a tank. I still believe this machine wins over the StringMaster but I’m biased because of the mounting system (this is cheaper also).

My only critique is that the clamp base needs finishing or you will need to break in with a few rackets before it’s smooth.


Rich (BB code):
 

Jor3lBR

New User
Getting ready to do this Babolat Pure Storm on a Hybrid, hopefully I can make a video and post to get some feedback.

Rich (BB code):
 

Wes

Hall of Fame
Getting ready to do this Babolat Pure Storm on a Hybrid, hopefully I can make a video and post to get some feedback.

@Jor3lBR,

I hope you have a starting clamp (to hold the top cross).
I think maybe you told me that you do. :unsure:
The top cross tie-off location is at 11H, so a Starting Knot will not work for this particular frame (and a few others).

Good luck!

Oops, nevermind... I now see the starting clamps in your photo.
 
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Jor3lBR

New User
@Jor3lBR,

I hope you have a starting clamp (to hold the top cross).
I think maybe you told me that you do. :unsure:
The top cross tie-off location is at 11H, so a Starting Knot will not work for this particular frame (and a few others).

Good luck!

Oops, nevermind... I now see the starting clamps in your photo.

Thanks Wes, I do. Saw a few of your videos on it. Hopefully I can do an ok job haha open for your words of wisdom after I post the video.
 

Turbo-87

G.O.A.T.
I'm a little jealous of that machine. I don't mind my Gamma X2 for just me, but if I was looking to do racquets for friends, this looks like a nice one! Time to change your signature.
 

Jor3lBR

New User
I'm a little jealous of that machine. I don't mind my Gamma X2 for just me, but if I was looking to do racquets for friends, this looks like a nice one! Time to change your signature.

Thank you, yes it’s really well put together, I went w/ the Tomcat because it was reasonably priced and the entire machine looks great as a whole. Other stringers like the Gammas looked like they had to be pieced together from different parts to be complete.

My stringing quality went up exponentially but I’m nowhere near close to paying it off yet which would be between 55-60 rackets at $20/ea.
 

Turbo-87

G.O.A.T.
Thank you, yes it’s really well put together, I went w/ the Tomcat because it was reasonably priced and the entire machine looks great as a whole. Other stringers like the Gammas looked like they had to be pieced together from different parts to be complete.

My stringing quality went up exponentially but I’m nowhere near close to paying it off yet which would be between 55-60 rackets at $20/ea.
With the number I string for myself, my $250 machine will pay for itself in 7 years. I do find it relaxing to string and it is fun to be the one in the group who strings his own racquets. Now that my knot quality has improved, it is more fun and professional looking.
 

Jor3lBR

New User
With the number I string for myself, my $250 machine will pay for itself in 7 years. I do find it relaxing to string and it is fun to be the one in the group who strings his own racquets. Now that my knot quality has improved, it is more fun and professional looking.

Really!? Haha I have 6 rackets myself and just by stringing them this month I saved around $180 (labor plus string markup around $10, not including the value for the string itself).

I too find it super relaxin, I’m living the Parnell knots now and can finish with 3 of them looking exactly the same.
 

Jor3lBR

New User
I haven't done any new rackets but still having trouble w/ the cross knot area, I couldn't get the syringe or ribbons in so had to use the guide awl... Posting video soon.
 

Dags

Hall of Fame
I haven't done any new rackets but still having trouble w/ the cross knot area, I couldn't get the syringe or ribbons in so had to use the guide awl... Posting video soon.
You'd have got it through the grommet more easily if you'd used the manufacturer designated tie off spot! On the old Pure Drives, it's the penultimate cross. The grommet there is wider, so the string should have just slid in like it did on your other three knots.

However... whilst it's easy to get through the grommet, that tie off space is very tight. To make it easier for yourself, you want the penultimate cross to be on top of the outside main - this will allow you to slide the knot along the anchor as you tie it. As it happens, you did have it set up this way. I don't know if that was deliberate, but make a note that on this particular racquet you started the crosses on the right and went under the first main.

A comment on your knots - you're pulling *really* hard. Sooner or later, you'll probably break the anchor. It really doesn't need to be so tight. A tip to help the tightening more naturally - release the clamp whilst you're still holding the tail end of the string. You can see Mr Parnell doing it in this video:

 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
@Jor3lBR a couple of knot tips for tying off mains:

  1. If you’re stringing a racket with a single skip at the end you’re tying off consider using a tennis Yonex loop.
  2. If you want the tag end of the string under the anchor string, start the knot from inside the anchor string. If you want the tag end on top do opposite.
  3. Don‘t pull too hard when tying knots especially on the second half hitch. It is very easy to break some strings.
  4. Clip you tails off with flush cutter handle pointing inside the frame just above knot. I don’t have long pointed tips of string sticking out above knot.
 

Jor3lBR

New User
Thanks all for the tips, working on them!


@Jor3lBR a couple of knot tips for tying off mains:

  1. If you’re stringing a racket with a single skip at the end you’re tying off consider using a tennis Yonex loop.
  2. If you want the tag end of the string under the anchor string, start the knot from inside the anchor string. If you want the tag end on top do opposite.
  3. Don‘t pull too hard when tying knots especially on the second half hitch. It is very easy to break some strings.
  4. Clip you tails off with flush cutter handle pointing inside the frame just above knot. I don’t have long pointed tips of string sticking out above knot.
@Irvin
What's the 'yonex loop method' do you have video? Is it this one:
 

Jor3lBR

New User
You'd have got it through the grommet more easily if you'd used the manufacturer designated tie off spot! On the old Pure Drives, it's the penultimate cross. The grommet there is wider, so the string should have just slid in like it did on your other three knots.

However... whilst it's easy to get through the grommet, that tie off space is very tight. To make it easier for yourself, you want the penultimate cross to be on top of the outside main - this will allow you to slide the knot along the anchor as you tie it. As it happens, you did have it set up this way. I don't know if that was deliberate, but make a note that on this particular racquet you started the crosses on the right and went under the first main.

A comment on your knots - you're pulling *really* hard. Sooner or later, you'll probably break the anchor. It really doesn't need to be so tight. A tip to help the tightening more naturally - release the clamp whilst you're still holding the tail end of the string. You can see Mr Parnell doing it in this video:


@Dags

Thanks for the tips, where can I find the chart with manufacturer designated tie off spots? I just went with the locations the grommet was already big from previous knots...
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
What's the 'yonex loop method' do you have video? Is it this one:
Deleted Parnell loop video
Yes but I don’t use the Parnell loop or flatten the cut end of the string with my flush cutter. The Parnell loop is where Richard looped the tie off string around the anchor string to lock it behind the anchor string.
 
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Jor3lBR

New User
OK, now I think I did a much better job, followed the advice here, what do you think?

Mains '19 Yonex Vcore 97 PRO 310


Crosses '19 Yonex Vcore 97 PRO 310
 
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dachness

New User
@Jor3lBR Congrats on the new machine. A few comments to consider.
  • When pulling your mains, line up the two ends of string and pull them through together at the same time. Skip extending them fully and evening them out. They will be close enough by pulling them through equally.
  • Starting your mains, consider clamping the starting clamp 2nd. This will hold more tension and have less string movement when you release. Likely not a true impact to the string job since it isn't a final tension.
  • Tie off knot, improvement on not pulling as hard. On the 2nd hitch don't pull away from the frame, only pull it tight towards the frame and hold it tight while you release the base clamp. The 2nd knot is only a backup to the first so pulling it away from the frame doesn't help tighten the knot.
  • When pulling your crosses, treat it as a two part pull to reduce notching. First, pull the cross strings towards the handle, 2nd release the crosses and pull from outside the frame and then repeat. You are building and taking up slack in two different places while doing this and varying the string location while pulling. (In your Yonex video you held the cross string by the throat while pulling, this is better than pulling straight across but doesn't vary the location. That was a multi so you may not have been concerned about notching).
 
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