Graphene Speed Pro, one piece or two?

tennytive

Hall of Fame
I have a brand new Speed Pro that one of my hitting partners just gave me to string. He told me it doesn't matter to him whether it's a one piece or two piece job. It's an 18 by 20 pattern that starts at the head.

I would normally use a one piece if it was my racket, but since it's his and brand new, I don't want to make any mistakes, especially since he gave me a set of gamma ocho (octagonal) 17g strings to use.

There are no skipped holes for the mains, but are there any blocked holes one way or the other that would make one pattern a better choice? I'm leaning toward two piece, but would like to hear other's thoughts about this. Racket needs to be done in 2 days.

Thanks in advance for any input.
 

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
Racquet,Range,Lengths,Pattern,Skips,MTO,1st X,XTO (T=tip,B=throat)
YOUTEK GRAPHENE SPEED PRO,48-57,21'M-19'C,18MX20C,NONE,7B,8T,7T-10B
GRAPHENE XT SPEED PRO,48-57,20'M-19'C,18MX20C,NONE,7B,8T,7T-10B

Shouldn't be any bad blocked holes. If you think they will be a problem, leave a scrap piece of string in the hole and pull it out as you insert the real string. Mains tie off at the throat, so 2 piece would be easier unless you want to do an ATW.

There are shared holes, so plan to have the strings lie in the channels neatly. Since the frame is brand new, you may want to increase tension by 2-3# to offset tension loss when grommets seat. 2 cents.
 
Single piece would be easier since you only have two knots but is harder to manage or won't be possible if you go with hybrid setup.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
I have a brand new Speed Pro that one of my hitting partners just gave me to string. He told me it doesn't matter to him whether it's a one piece or two piece job. It's an 18 by 20 pattern that starts at the head.

I would normally use a one piece if it was my racket, but since it's his and brand new, I don't want to make any mistakes, especially since he gave me a set of gamma ocho (octagonal) 17g strings to use.

There are no skipped holes for the mains, but are there any blocked holes one way or the other that would make one pattern a better choice? I'm leaning toward two piece, but would like to hear other's thoughts about this. Racket needs to be done in 2 days.

Thanks in advance for any input.
Mark my words, it's possible to string one piece but with shared holes you will have issues. Follow Heads 2 piece stringing instructions and you won't have any issues.
 

tennytive

Hall of Fame
Thanks, when I realized there were shared holes, I decided to go 2 piece. Appreciate everyone's comments.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
Thanks, when I realized there were shared holes, I decided to go 2 piece. Appreciate everyone's comments.
LOL good idea, I think I remember someone asking once how to do a one piece on one of those frames but I'm not sure.
 

Bluefan75

Professional
Just make sure to give yourself enough string on the mains!! 18x20 is brutal to string without some slack....
 

tennytive

Hall of Fame
This gamma string is 8 sided. I hope I don't damage/ghost it with the clamps/gripper, but it should have tested by gamma to withstand that.

They say 20 feet for the mains, 19 for the crosses. I thought I would give myself 21 for the mains just to be safe.
 
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Bluefan75

Professional
This gamma string is 8 sided. I hope I don't damage/ghost it with the clamps/gripper, but it should have tested by gamma to withstand that.

They say 20 feet for the mains, 19 for the crosses. I thought I would give myself 21 for the mains just to be safe.

That should work. May also be one of the advantages to an electronic machine: don't need as much slack to get the mechanism to pull tension. I have to not only get to the dropweight, but also have enough to wrap around and create the grab. Learned the new trick of using starting clamp and some spare short piece, but still not the best way to get it. With electronic the puller is almost right there, and doesn't require a loop.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
They say 20 feet for the mains, 19 for the crosses.
If you're working from a set of string I would cut the set 1' at least from the center. That will get you 21' for mains and 19' for crosses which will be plenty especially if you use a starting knot.
 

tennytive

Hall of Fame
Done. I cut 6 inches extra for the mains and had just the right amount, but yeah, if I was using a drop weight it might have been short. If I do it again, I'll cut an extra foot just to be safe.

Not a fan of shared holes, the string wants to go where it wants, not lay in the channel right, so esgee48 makes a good point about checking as you go.

Cross weaving was slower than usual as the ocho string wanted to kink and coil through the tighter pattern than I'm used to. I had to fan and pull through slower to minimize the extra friction from the 8 sided string design which dragged a little pulling against the mains.

Otherwise no worries. Should see how it hits tonight if the weather holds up. :)
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
I cut 6 inches extra for the mains and had just the right amount, but yeah, if I was using a drop weight it might have been short. If I do it again, I'll cut an extra foot just to be safe.

You can get by with the same amount of string assuming your cutting your string from a reel. Just cut it in 1 piece not two. Run in the mains with a long and short side, where the short side is 6" long that what you just used. After tying use the tail from the short side and a starting knot for the crosses. Saves all the waste from the long side knot and the top cross if you used a starting clamp.

Not a fan of shared holes, the string wants to go where it wants, not lay in the channel right, so esgee48 makes a good point about checking as you go.

Avoid that presweaving the top 3 crosses after runing in the first 14 center mains. Then make sure you get the mains either above or below the cross on each side when running in the four outer mains.

Cross weaving was slower than usual as the ocho string wanted to kink and coil through the tighter pattern than I'm used to.

Avoid most of that by pull weaving instead of push weaving.
 

chrisingrassia

Professional
Done. I cut 6 inches extra for the mains and had just the right amount, but yeah, if I was using a drop weight it might have been short. If I do it again, I'll cut an extra foot just to be safe.

Not a fan of shared holes, the string wants to go where it wants, not lay in the channel right, so esgee48 makes a good point about checking as you go.

Cross weaving was slower than usual as the ocho string wanted to kink and coil through the tighter pattern than I'm used to. I had to fan and pull through slower to minimize the extra friction from the 8 sided string design which dragged a little pulling against the mains.

Otherwise no worries. Should see how it hits tonight if the weather holds up. :)
Stick your awl in the grommet either above/below the string to keep it in place when you pull tension. Leave it there until you tension completely the following main, otherwise the clamp drawback may allow it to pop into an unwanted place. Then just do that consistently around the frame.
 

Bluefan75

Professional
Redid one of mine last night. Put Luxillon 123 Alu Power on. Had a set, so measured out 21 feet, then cut. Was able to mostly pull tension on the last mains, but needed to take the spare piece of string I had laying around and use the starting clamp. Didn't turn out too bad, but I still have a good 2 feet left over from the crosses string. I think I could get away with 22 for the mains next time. Assuming I don't have a hybrid set, where it's 20 and 20. While I still prefer 16x19 for stringing, 18x20 isn't as bad as originally thought(other than it takes quite a while...)
 

chrisingrassia

Professional
Redid one of mine last night. Put Luxillon 123 Alu Power on. Had a set, so measured out 21 feet, then cut. Was able to mostly pull tension on the last mains, but needed to take the spare piece of string I had laying around and use the starting clamp. Didn't turn out too bad, but I still have a good 2 feet left over from the crosses string. I think I could get away with 22 for the mains next time. Assuming I don't have a hybrid set, where it's 20 and 20. While I still prefer 16x19 for stringing, 18x20 isn't as bad as originally thought(other than it takes quite a while...)
try doing 18x20 ATW with full poly :)
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
try doing 18x20 ATW with full poly :)
I've done it many times and if you use the right pattern it is no more difficult than stringing two piece. Stringing poly in a small frame 18x20 is not fun no matter how you do it, but anytime I can eliminate all blocked holes, two knots, no hard weaves, and not use a pattern that is bad for the frame I'm going to go with 1 piece every time. But I don't think 1 piece is for every racket.
 

Bluefan75

Professional
So either I can't measure, or Gamma Stinger Hybrid string is much different from Luxilon. Had a pack of the Gamma that I had picked up for $5 on clearance from Dick's Sporting Goods. Two sets, 16G poly and 17G syngut. Poly was 22', syngut 20'. Strung the mains, and had plenty of string left over to not only pull tension on the last string, but to also pull tension to tie the knot, on both sides.

What I also found real strange, and this may point to there being no real standard as to a particular gauge(and I will fully admit I have not looked up the specs for each), but the 17 syn gut moved through the 16G poly much easier than the 17G Luxilon.
 

Bluefan75

Professional
@Bluefan75 So what's the issue explaining why you can't measure?

Well I had a set of Luxilon, 40'. I was positive I measured out 22' for the mains when I cut it. I did not have nearly as much left over for the last main and the knot with that one. I had to do the "starting clamp with a spare length" trick to pull tension there. Whereas with the 22' Gamma said was there, I had plenty.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
Either you made a big error in measuring or there is a big difference in stretch. 22' is 22' and if the stretch is same the length of string wil be the same after a 22' section is stretched.

EDIT: Another reason for a big difference is you made a bad assumption. For instance you assumed a string was 40' long and you measured 1' from the center and assumed that was 22'. It's true one string will be 2' longer than the other but that does mean it 2' longer than half of 40' if it was 40' to begin with.
 
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Bluefan75

Professional
Either you made a big error in measuring or there is a big difference in stretch. 22' is 22' and if the stretch is same the length of string wil be the same after a 22' section is stretched.

EDIT: Another reason for a big difference is you made a bad assumption. For instance you assumed a string was 40' long and you measured 1' from the center and assumed that was 22'. It's true one string will be 2' longer than the other but that does mean it 2' longer than half of 40' if it was 40' to begin with.

If I messed up it would have been due to stopping at 21, not assuming 2 feet. I have a yardstick I use to measure out. Possible I didn't add the extra foot. As I said, maybe I can't measure....lol.
 

ppt3

New User
I plan to string Youteck Speed pro in hybrid using one set of kirschbaum strings (40').

Guess I have to cut the string at 21' for main as below?
YOUTEK GRAPHENE SPEED PRO,48-57,21'M-19'C,18MX20C,NONE,7B,8T,7T-10B

That means I can't use the 19' left for another main in the future any more, any one succeeded with 20' main? esp with kirschbaum is pre-stretched.
 

jim e

Legend
String the racquet as a one piece to start and when done with long side mains tie and cut at knot, then you will have more string remaining for your next job. You should also shave off a few inches on short side when you measure if you have a starting clamp to jump a bridge string to tension last main on that side. That should give you enough for stringing another
 
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Wes

Hall of Fame
^^^
Do exactly what @jim e has suggested above. You should be able to save enough string (by minimizing waste) to have enough leftover, to do the mains on another racquet.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
^^^
Do exactly what @jim e has suggested above. You should be able to save enough string (by minimizing waste) to have enough leftover, to do the mains on another racquet.
Totally different racket this is a Graphene Speed Pro, I would not string this racket 1 piece. See my reply #4 from 2 years ago.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
^^^
Do exactly what @jim e has suggested above. You should be able to save enough string (by minimizing waste) to have enough leftover, to do the mains on another racquet.
If you do as @jim e suggested it may work but the racket calls for 21’ mains. So let’s say your short side is 10’ 6” long. When your done do you think what you cut off the long side will be 21’ long? That means you used 9’ 6” of string for half of your 18 main racket using a poly string.
 
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Wes

Hall of Fame
Totally different racket this is a Graphene Speed Pro
It's not a different racquet. He stated that here...
Guess I have to cut the string at 21' for main as below?
YOUTEK GRAPHENE SPEED PRO,48-57,21'M-19'C,18MX20C,NONE,7B,8T,7T-10B

I would not string this racket 1 piece.
He made it clear that he's using a hybrid.
I plan to string Youteck Speed pro in hybrid using one set of kirschbaum strings (40').
 

ppt3

New User
String the racquet as a one piece to start and when done with long side mains tie and cut at knot, then you will have more string remaining for your next job. You should also shave off a few inches on short side when you measure if you have a starting clamp to jump a bridge string to tension last main on that side. That should give you enough for stringing another

That is a good suggestion. How do I measure length for the short side? Need to do some homework on one piece stringing.

Totally different racket this is a Graphene Speed Pro, I would not string this racket 1 piece. See my reply #4 from 2 years ago.
Yes, it is Youtek version, and required 21" for main. But I guess that includes extras for tie-off. Jim's method might work since it will save as much string as possible. What I understand is he suggested to use 1 piece method for main but cut off the string after long side is tied to save string, then do the 2nd piece. So it doesn't end up with 1 with piece.

If you do as @jim e suggested it may work but the racket calls for 21’ mains. So let’s say your short side is 10’ 6” long. When your done do you think what you cut off the long side will be 21’ long? That means you used 9’ 6” of string for half of your 18 main racket using a poly string.
I don't know how much for short side is practical? I guess a little bit over 10' but not much. I have a starting clamp so bridging might help as Jim suggested. The other half of the main could be a little shorter since I can cut off right after the finish knot, so minimum will be wasted on that end.
The goal is to use 20' for the main.

Hopefully I got you guys right.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
@ppt3 if mains are 21’ divide by 2 for short side 10’ 6”

EDIT: Are you assuming your original string length is 40’? It does not matter for the first racket but it makes a big difference as to how much string is left over for the next.
 

Wes

Hall of Fame
He made it clear he is using a hybrid?
Yes, he did.
I even provided (quoted) his own words. Re-read. I can't change the fact that you've chosen to ignore the word "hybrid", so I'm not going to change your mind. :rolleyes:
What a troll.
 
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Wes

Hall of Fame
How does it matter what @tennytive said??? He got that racquet taken care of TWO YEARS AGO!!!
Why would any of us be offering advice to him???

It's crystal #&*%ing clear who is currently asking for help.
 

SavvyStringer

Professional
I have a brand new Speed Pro that one of my hitting partners just gave me to string. He told me it doesn't matter to him whether it's a one piece or two piece job. It's an 18 by 20 pattern that starts at the head.

I would normally use a one piece if it was my racket, but since it's his and brand new, I don't want to make any mistakes, especially since he gave me a set of gamma ocho (octagonal) 17g strings to use.

There are no skipped holes for the mains, but are there any blocked holes one way or the other that would make one pattern a better choice? I'm leaning toward two piece, but would like to hear other's thoughts about this. Racket needs to be done in 2 days.

Thanks in advance for any input.
Make sure all of the strings are sitting in the same part of the grommet with no crossovers. Crossovers on the top of the speed frames will lead to a broken string on a slice. I string those rackets one piece but it’s a specialty ATW that only works on those frames.
 
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