Help stringing natural gut

[seanvelasco]

Hello, I’m fairly new to stringing, less than a year experience. I have a gamma drop weight and flying clamps and can get fairly reliable results with poly and syn gut (5-8lbs off reference tension after the racquet settles in). I’ve been having trouble getting a good result with natural gut though. I’m using NGW v5+ and even when I pull 15-18lbs over where I want the tension to rest, I cannot seem to get the result that I want. For example, I pulled at 68lbs in hopes of getting to 50lbs once the racquet settled. Unfortunately no luck and the resultant tension was 43lbs. This has happened the two times that I tried stringing. Any tips on how to close the gap for my third time with natural gut?


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[am1899]

Me, I’ve never had good luck with those econo gut types. Having said that....

• Are your clamps slipping?
• Is there excessive draw back - clamp bases moving a lot after you clamp and release tension?
• Have you tried pre stretching the string?

 

[seanvelasco]

Me, I’ve never had good luck with those econo gut types. Having said that....

• Are your clamps slipping?
• Is there excessive draw back - clamp bases moving a lot after you clamp and release tension?
• Have you tried pre stretching the string?

There is some drawback but I would not say it is excessive. Looks the same as when I string poly or syn gut. I have not tried pre-stretching the strings yet and will probably try that next time. Thanks for the suggestiosn


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[Irvin]

Your clamps are probably slipping and you’re using one clamp to hold your crosses. When you use 1 clamp to hold crosses your DW arm falls more when you move the clamp, do you level the bar again before clamping?

 

[seanvelasco]

Yes, I do re-level the bar after releasing the clamp. The gut takes quite a beating when going through the ratchet already, maybe I should tighten the clamps as well? Or just buy some quality clamps I guess?


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[1HBHfanatic]

OP
question: you mentioned " when the tension settles in", what does that mean?, how long a time do you give it to settle?
I also agree with the suggestion to prestretch the natural gut!!,,

 

[Irvin]

Yes, I do re-level the bar after releasing the clamp. The gut takes quite a beating when going through the ratchet already, maybe I should tighten the clamps as well? Or just buy some quality clamps I guess?


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Use 2 clamps then stringing crosses especialls

 

[seanvelasco]

OP
question: you mentioned " when the tension settles in", what does that mean?, how long a time do you give it to settle?
I also agree with the suggestion to prestretch the natural gut!!,,

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[seanvelasco]

OP
question: you mentioned " when the tension settles in", what does that mean?, how long a time do you give it to settle?
I also agree with the suggestion to prestretch the natural gut!!,,

I measure the tension right off the stringer and then 24 hours after stringing. At the 24 hour mark, I would like my resultant tension to be around 48-50lbs for this particular set-up (measured via racquet tune). I have not been able to get above 42lbs after 24hours either of the two times that I have tried stringing natural gut


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[LOBALOT]

I measure the tension right off the stringer and then 24 hours after stringing. At the 24 hour mark, I would like my resultant tension to be around 48-50lbs for this particular set-up (measured via racquet tune). I have not been able to get above 42lbs after 24hours either of the two times that I have tried stringing natural gut


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Are you sure RacquetTune is giving you proper readings?

What string and gauge are you using when taking the reading on RacquetTune?

I have strung NGW and NGW is not in the database. The options are to select generic gut or some other brand. Moreover, while I hear V5 is better than V4 the gauges were not as reported on the package which would add another variable.

 

[seanvelasco]

Yes, NGW V5+ is not in the database but I did measure it with both the generic gut setting at 16G (1.25mm) and the Babolat tonic 16G as the baselines. The variance was only 1-2 lbs between the two so I feel like I should have a pretty rough idea of where the tension lays. Also when I hit with it I can feel that it is under tension and quite soft. Any suggestions on how to get a better reading?


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[pmata814]

Hello, I’m fairly new to stringing, less than a year experience. I have a gamma drop weight and flying clamps and can get fairly reliable results with poly and syn gut (5-8lbs off reference tension after the racquet settles in). I’ve been having trouble getting a good result with natural gut though. I’m using NGW v5+ and even when I pull 15-18lbs over where I want the tension to rest, I cannot seem to get the result that I want. For example, I pulled at 68lbs in hopes of getting to 50lbs once the racquet settled. Unfortunately no luck and the resultant tension was 43lbs. This has happened the two times that I tried stringing. Any tips on how to close the gap for my third time with natural gut?


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If u get good results with every other string you’ve tried, wouldn’t that indicate it’s a problem with the string and not the machine? Also, how does the racquet play? If it plays good, then don’t worry what racquettune says imo.


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[LOBALOT]

Yes, NGW V5+ is not in the database but I did measure it with both the generic gut setting at 16G (1.25mm) and the Babolat tonic 16G as the baselines. The variance was only 1-2 lbs between the two so I feel like I should have a pretty rough idea of where the tension lays. Also when I hit with it I can feel that it is under tension and quite soft. Any suggestions on how to get a better reading?


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Thanks, you reported tension after the racquet settled. What reading did you get right off the stringer as you still have not reported this?

I know this was asked in a previous post and this may help us figure out what is happening.

One other item is this a full bed or are you stringing a hybrid as you do not indicate this?

Thanks

 

[esgee48]

Econo NG stretches like crazy when pulled to ref tension. With an eCP, it is not an issue. With a DW, you need to let the weight / bar come to rest before horizontal. Wait about 10-15 seconds and watch it stretch and come to rest at horizontal. All the other replies re pre-stretch, readusting bar etc still apply. I strongly suspect you are hitting ref tension, but because the string still has a lot of elasticity, continues to stretch after you clamp off, and that is why you are seeing the softer string bed.

 

[1HBHfanatic]

@seanvelasco yeah, I think its a combination of the greater than expected "initial" tension loss, for that particular string (based on @esgee48 personal input on that string; im not familiar with that nat.gut), and the clamps drawback
both issues can be mitigated by pre-stretching the nat.gut, and keeping clamps clean as much as possible; this will bring the numbers a lot closer to your perfect tension

but i do like what @pmata814 said, if it "feels good",, thats what tension i chose, regardless of the actual number!! imo

good luck finding your perfect tension!!