Head rackets deforming if I string the crosses tighter

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
Anyone run into this issue, I've run into this on multiple head rackets. I sometimes string the crosses a few lbs tighter for more control and head rackets turn more oval than any other brand.

It's not that noticeable until I compare it to my friends racket the same model and he strings the cross 4lbs lower.
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Anyone run into this issue, I've run into this on multiple head rackets. I sometimes string the crosses a few lbs tighter for more control and head rackets turn more oval than any other brand.

It's not that noticeable until I compare it to my friends racket the same model and he strings the cross 4lbs lower.
Do you string your crosses from head to throat?
 
Last edited:

dr. godmode

Hall of Fame
With your friend stringing the crosses looser and you stringing them tighter, it makes sense that there would be some variance.

How much squeeze are we dealing with here? A few millimeters or more?
 

Racer41c

Professional
If your a stringer then you notice this with every racquet that comes off the machine. There's 1 racquet i'm currently using where it comes of the stringer very round compared to any other racquet I've strung. And I think we're going to see much more of this as manufactures play around with different weaves and weights.
 

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
With your friend stringing the crosses looser and you stringing them tighter, it makes sense that there would be some variance.

How much squeeze are we dealing with here? A few millimeters or more?
Probably a few mm but you definitely see it holding it up to the same racket. I string the same about 4 lbs tight on the cross on my wilsons and they don't change shape as much. I like your tennis channel
 

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
If your a stringer then you notice this with every racquet that comes off the machine. There's 1 racquet i'm currently using where it comes of the stringer very round compared to any other racquet I've strung. And I think we're going to see much more of this as manufactures play around with different weaves and weights.
Lately I've been using the same differential but Head just seems to change shape more than others
 

jimmy8

G.O.A.T.
I've been doing 40 lbs poly mains, 52 lbs multi cross on a head prestige pro 360+. I didn't measure the length and width before and after stringing. I just play.

I guess if you mishit, you can blame the deformed sweet spot.
 

jimmy8

G.O.A.T.
You know that stringing the crosses further tensions the mains by like 10-12 lbs because of the weave increasing the length of the main. So it might be that your Head rackets are really old and worn out or something. I don't know.
 

dr. godmode

Hall of Fame
Probably a few mm but you definitely see it holding it up to the same racket. I string the same about 4 lbs tight on the cross on my wilsons and they don't change shape as much. I like your tennis channel
Thanks! I'm not too surprised about the few mm deformation, but it's disappointing to see the Head's graphite isn't standing up.

I once strung my 2018 VC95 with Kev/Nylon at 60/40lbs because Shroud was posting about that quite a bit and it deformed by a few mm and was enough to see visually, like you case, however, my differentials were way more extreme.

Could be that the frames are worn out or maybe Head just sucks lol
 

Rysty

Rookie
Old news. Head has been like this for a long time. I remember seeing incorrectly strung, and warped, Radicals and Prestiges about 20 years ago. The reason is Head made them flex at the hoop, which made them prone to deform.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
@2ndServe Head has soft heads and are easy to deform. Try using the Stringway online tension advisor and I think you’ll see a lot less deformation.
 

maciej84

Rookie
I have a similar issue with my Head Speed Pros (18x20). Stringing crosses lower makes the racket visibly shorter (by 3mm for example) and wider, compared to unstrung. Even stringing with even tensions makes the racket a bit shorter, by 2mm or so. I guess I would have to string crosses a bit higher to keep the original shape.

The different shape doesn't bother me when playing, however obviously it affects the swingweight, twistweight and balance, because mass distribution is changed. I have a Briffidi machine and I can clearly see the changes. I have to adjust my customizations between stringjobs, if I play around with the strings/setups.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
What kind of machine are you stringing on?
I believe this is normal, especially on some softer hoops, like Gravity (MP, Tour). My Gravity tour is 27.1" extended and I string mains with gut at 54lbs. The unstrung oval head becomes rounder after strung and my sticks (2 matched) measure exactly 27" when strung. Once I cut the mains, they pop right back to the old shape and length.
I have noticed the "opposite" with someone's PT113B strung with the gut in the crosses -- the hoop was very elongated vs my equivalent sticks
 
Top