Hard weaves vs easy weaves

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
Many new stringers have a problem weaving cross strings. When weaving crosses I like to use a one ahead method of weaving. Notice in the picture below the lower cross is straight and the one above it is pretty distorted. This is the reason I string one ahead.
Dont you think it would be easier to string the lower cross than the upper one?

I do the same thing on the next cross. Because all cross strings alternate (distorted to straight) after tensioning, the distorted cross that was straight is now distorted. Therefore, if I weave one ahead again I have and easier weave.
Which way would you prefer to weave crosses?
 
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Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
any reason not to weave 2 or 3 ahead? I tend to do that early in the crosses
If you’re weaving poly crosses poly tends to stay straight no matter what. So if I’m weaving one ahead I pull the next string to be tensioned as close the last tensioned cross as possible. This allows me to weave under high strings and over low strings. If you weave more than one ahead with poly the main strings flatten out and it makes weaving harder, creating more friction, and putting more wear on the strings.

The only exception is when weaving the top crosses. I generally start by weaving the first cross below the grommet for the outer main and go up the racket. If I‘m stringing a frame with Prince O ports, I start on the right side of the racket on the lowest grommet above an O port.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
any reason not to weave 2 or 3 ahead? I tend to do that early in the crosses
Also I have a tendency to string across the racket to my left. So when stringing L-R I tend to string toward the top of the racket, and when stringing R-L I string towards the bottom of the racket. The main strings going through the grommets in the bottom of the racket keep the strings flat also if the string are flat you have what I consider a semi hard weave where you’re going up and down through the mains instead of having an easy weave which goes under high main strings and over low main strings.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
any reason not to weave 2 or 3 ahead? I tend to do that early in the crosses
I strung a Wilson W2 Spivey Ruby racket today. Old and weird 16x19 racket that skips 6, 8, 10, & 11 at the head. I normally preweave 2-3 top crosses starting at the highest cross below the outer main. For this racket that would be the 5th cross which I don’t like doing. But I did it any way. I was using a pink Babolat SG string which is a little stickier than most.

The strings are harder to fan through the mains and because of the extra crosses woven in below the cross I’m fanning there is less room to fam. The loops outside the frame have a tendency to get pulled into the grommets making is a little more time consuming pulling the longer portions of string through the mains. This all creates a lot more wear and tear on strings and does not say any time.
 

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
Your title asks about hard weaves vs easy weaves (soft weaves). These are generally terms used when a person strings an Around-The-World pattern. When the mains end at the bottom and you're doing a 1-piece, you have to string one of the bottom crosses to do an around the world pattern. When the bottom cross and the top cross you just tensioned are weaved the same, the next cross becomes a hard weave. Both the top tensioned cross and the bottom cross (also tension) raise the string. The hard weave is when you are going over the high part and under the low part. The soft weave is when you are going under the high string and over the low string (as Irvin mentioned).
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
Your title asks about hard weaves vs easy weaves (soft weaves). These are generally terms used when a person strings an Around-The-World pattern. When the mains end at the bottom and you're doing a 1-piece, you have to string one of the bottom crosses to do an around the world pattern. When the bottom cross and the top cross you just tensioned are weaved the same, the next cross becomes a hard weave. Both the top tensioned cross and the bottom cross (also tension) raise the string. The hard weave is when you are going over the high part and under the low part. The soft weave is when you are going under the high string and over the low string (as Irvin mentioned).
If your’re weaving near the top cross one ahead it is an easy weave just like in the pictures above whether there is a bottom cross tensioned or not. Because you’re still going over low strings and under high strings.

EDIT: Actually for me on a hybrid string job it is easier for me to weave one ahead nearer the top rather than to my left going down the racket because the strings are flat going through the grommets. This requires more of an up and down weave Causing more friction.
 
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Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
@Steve Huff a hard weave was also common when you would loop the ends of a bumper guard to tie down each end of the string. Or the old Prince rackets with offset grommets. The crosses went over high string and under low string until you were past the outer mains. Then weaving closer to the last tensioned string made it easier.

You have hard weaves too when racket have no grommets in the throat and you must loop around the throat bridge.
 

Wes

Hall of Fame
When the mains end at the bottom and you're doing a 1-piece, you have to string one of the bottom crosses to do an around the world pattern.


Not necessarily.
For some ATWs, you do. For other ATWs, you don't.

The (so-called) Universal ATW, the Parnell ATW, and Box patterns do involve one (or more) bottom cross(es) to be installed/tensioned before the majority of the remaining crosses are installed.

The UKRSA ATW, the DireDesire ATW, the Short Side ATW, and the "generic" ATW (no starting clamp needed) patterns do not involve the tensioning of a bottom cross early on in the process.
 

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
@Steve Huff a hard weave was also common when you would loop the ends of a bumper guard to tie down each end of the string. Or the old Prince rackets with offset grommets. The crosses went over high string and under low string until you were past the outer mains. Then weaving closer to the last tensioned string made it easier.

You have hard weaves too when racket have no grommets in the throat and you must loop around the throat bridge.
Yes. Have seen that done too.
 

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
Not necessarily.
For some ATWs, you do. For other ATWs, you don't.

The (so-called) Universal ATW, the Parnell ATW, and Box patterns do involve one (or more) bottom cross(es) to be installed/tensioned before the majority of the remaining crosses are installed.

The UKRSA ATW, the DireDesire ATW, the Short Side ATW, and the "generic" ATW (no starting clamp needed) patterns do not involve the tensioning of a bottom cross early on in the process.
Yes, I know some ATW patterns don't use a tensioned bottom (or 2nd from bottom) cross. The one I use does. I like it best, even with the hard weaves. I don't care for patterns where a main is weaved, even if it is only the last one on one side.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, I know some ATW patterns don't use a tensioned bottom (or 2nd from bottom) cross. The one I use does. I like it best, even with the hard weaves. I don't care for patterns where a main is weaved, even if it is only the last one on one side.
Even though some ATW patterns do not have a tensioned cross at the bottom they do have hard weaves. When you have to weave an outer main at the end and / or top and bottom cross you have a hard weave. Like the UKRSA, DireDesire, or my original short side ATW all had hard weaves. I see no hard weaves in the photos above.
 

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
Even though some ATW patterns do not have a tensioned cross at the bottom they do have hard weaves. When you have to weave an outer main at the end and / or top and bottom cross you have a hard weave. Like the UKRSA, DireDesire, or my original short side ATW all had hard weaves. I see no hard weaves in the photos above.
I didn't mean to infer the pictures had a hard weave. I was responding to the title of the thread, and then his question. It seems the author was confusing the term hard weaves and "easy" weaves with something that was occurring in his string job.
 
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