How do you decide the length of string needed?

[dak95_00]

How do you decide the length of string needed?

I usually use the Klipper site and many times back it up w/ the manufacturers site about their racquets. However, I sometimes come across that racquet that is extremely frustrating. Here are some examples:

1) Wilson N Blade says the mains need to be 21' but I've used 20' of natural gut before w/o problems (no real problem here!)
2) Head Ti.S2 says the mains need to be 20' but I had to use 22' of Kevlar to string them. This was a problem because I didn't have enough string to make the last pull or tie off a know and I had to go back and remeasure and cut string.
3) Wilson N Tour (or N Tour 2) says that the cross strings are 16' but I always find that it isn't long enough using synthetic gut and have to go back. There is nothing more frustrating than weaving all of those crosses and coming up short at the end!

The reason I ask is because I've become dependent upon these sites and I know there has to be another way. I was visiting an old established small tennis shop in Cincinnati, Ohio and saw two workers stringing racquets. One of them was just starting and had a meter stick out and was measuring the length of a main and then measuring the pulls he made of the string; he was doing a 1 piece job.

I was taught to pull the string through for the first main and then pull through the first main slot 8 more times to get the short side in a 1 piece job for 16 mains. You'd do it 9 times for 18 mains, 7 times for 14 mains, etc. This method is just fine but I'm talking about cutting off of a reel.

Does anyone know what he was doing?
Does anyone have alternative methods for crosses?

Thanks for your expertise. I apologize if this has been asked before.

 

[Channy]

How do you decide the length of string needed?

I usually use the Klipper site and many times back it up w/ the manufacturers site about their racquets. However, I sometimes come across that racquet that is extremely frustrating. Here are some examples:

1) Wilson N Blade says the mains need to be 21' but I've used 20' of natural gut before w/o problems (no real problem here!)
2) Head Ti.S2 says the mains need to be 20' but I had to use 22' of Kevlar to string them. This was a problem because I didn't have enough string to make the last pull or tie off a know and I had to go back and remeasure and cut string.
3) Wilson N Tour (or N Tour 2) says that the cross strings are 16' but I always find that it isn't long enough using synthetic gut and have to go back. There is nothing more frustrating than weaving all of those crosses and coming up short at the end!

The reason I ask is because I've become dependent upon these sites and I know there has to be another way. I was visiting an old established small tennis shop in Cincinnati, Ohio and saw two workers stringing racquets. One of them was just starting and had a meter stick out and was measuring the length of a main and then measuring the pulls he made of the string; he was doing a 1 piece job.

I was taught to pull the string through for the first main and then pull through the first main slot 8 more times to get the short side in a 1 piece job for 16 mains. You'd do it 9 times for 18 mains, 7 times for 14 mains, etc. This method is just fine but I'm talking about cutting off of a reel.

Does anyone know what he was doing?
Does anyone have alternative methods for crosses?

Thanks for your expertise. I apologize if this has been asked before.

Hi,

This is my experience in stringing about 1 year now.

For 1 piece stringing, to measure the short side I use the length of the racket it self. depending on the main 16 or 18 but usually in 16 or 18 main, the short side is enough about 5 to 5.5 times racket length. the rest is for the long side. all short and long side I measure about 16 times racket length.

Just do the math, 5.5 x 27" (standar length)
short side + long side will be 16 x 27"

1 piece stringing but not ATW Stringing pattern

for 2 piece stringing. in 16 main I use 8.5 racket length, 18 main I use 9 to 9.5 racket length

for the cross 19 or 20 I use 8 racket length. I Usually use 2 piece stringing with starting knot. if you are not using starting knot, may be it need 8,5 racket length.

I use this calculation in my experience, there is no one tell me is this the right thing or not.

Hope this help you.

 

[FLYTYER1964]

If you know anyone who is a member of the USRSA they may have an older copy of the Stringers Digest that they can let you have. That book has a ton of stringing patterns.

 

[jim e]

Different strings stretch more than others, like the nat. gut you can get away with less as it will stretch, kevlar on other hand does not stretch much at all, so it makes it closer to length tolerances of string length published.Most published patterns are generous with the lengths listed, at least with the USRSA Digest, and just adjust accordingly to the type of string you are using, as well as machine types as well, as some machines may take a little more than others to reach tension head.

Like someone already mentioned the USRSA has a digest that is updated twice/ year with all the patterns and lengths needed, as well as an online digest to look up patterns when needed.Their online digest has some newer patterns at times where the manuf. do not even list theirs as yet.

The USRSA is a great org. to join.

 

[SwankPeRFection]

I try to find the specs on the manufacturer's website and go with that. After the first job, I measure how much I have left and subtract 3 feet from it (1.5 for each side) on the tieoffs. Then I subtract what I have left from whatever the original amount was on the site I got the specs from. That gives me the exact string length I need. I then usually see how close to an even amount I am for it to give a nice even split for stringjobs out of an entire reel. For example, contrary to what people think, I can string my 90 with 33 feet of string (9 feet for the short side). This allows me to get the perfect amount of stringjobs out of a 330 or 660 ft reel with no waste.

 

[struggle]

Since i string mostly off of a OGSM 17 reel, i barely worry about it. Most of my $$ strings come in sets, so no worries there.

I do try and make notes so as to save as much as possible, but i'd rather burn a foot or 2 than have to re-string due to "being stingy", no offense intended.

 

[zapvor]

i take a wild guess

serious though i used to measure it over the frame itself, but now i can either use the string meter on the gamma 5800 or use my arm lengths

 

[latershow]

Usually I just make a call depending on the size of the head and also the string pattern. So a POG Mid 14 x 18 would need less than 20 feet, whereas a 115 sq in racket with an 18 x 20 pattern might need around 22 feet to be safe.

Or you can thread the mains all the way through and just cut the string at that point, but I always prefer to measure string if cutting from a reel as that is what works best for me. Do what's easiest for you.

 

[beepee1972]

I always measure the racquet size. Say a racket has a string pattern of 16 x 19 and a head size of 36 x 25 cm (measured outside the frame). I then calculate the string length 16 x 0.36 + 19 x 0.25 = 10.5m. I then add an extra 30cm for tie off purposes. Ofcourse this only goes for 1 piece stringing.
For 2 piece stringing, I calculate the length for mains and crosses as above and add an extra 30 cm for both.

This rule-of-thumb hasn't let me down so far.

 

[7zero]

I just checked klipper site and in racket pattern there is: Length 20'M - 17'C

just to be sure does it mean mains have 20 feet and crosses 17 feet? just to be sure

 

[TennisCJC]

I just checked klipper site and in racket pattern there is: Length 20'M - 17'C

just to be sure does it mean mains have 20 feet and crosses 17 feet? just to be sure

yes.

Klipper site is excellent source for lengths and patterns. Take it at your own risk but I find Klipper lengths to be about 1 foot generous. But, I would go with their recommendation the first time I string a racket and then shorten the length based on experience. Klipper has my volkl v1 pro at 20'm, 19'c and I use 19'm, 18'c and still have a comfortable margin even with poly strings.

 

[gmatheis]

yes.

Klipper site is excellent source for lengths and patterns. Take it at your own risk but I find Klipper lengths to be about 1 foot generous. But, I would go with their recommendation the first time I string a racket and then shorten the length based on experience. Klipper has my volkl v1 pro at 20'm, 19'c and I use 19'm, 18'c and still have a comfortable margin even with poly strings.

If you are really organized this works well. Keep notes after the first time you string any frame and then you can save a couple feet or more every time you pull from a reel.

 

[eelhc]

I keep notes (actually a spreadsheet) on the frame, tension, string, how much I cut (reel) and how much tail I have left after tying off. I guess conservatively on a new frame but for most frames I string often I've gotten to where there's 6~8" of tail left.

 

[bluegrass_stringer]

Even the stringers digest overshoots the string length by about a foot.

 

[Wes]

Like gmatheis, eelhc and others - I too, keep detailed notes for later reference."

However, for unfamiliar or very new frames, if you don't really like using (or trusting) the lengths suggested (or aren't even listed/published yet) you can use the formula, described in detail, found here:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=8494810&postcount=5

2023 Edit:
The above link now gives a "404 Not Found" error.

So, here is a new link that will take you to the very same posting...

Just got some open pattern 14x16 frames. Length of string needed?

Did a quick search and could not find anything... I just got 3 14x16 Frames: Prince Warrior 100 ESP Prince Premier 105 ESP Prince Premier 105L ESPWhat do the folks here generally cut from a reel for these open pattern frames? It might be nice to have a running list of string lengths needed...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

 

[bluegrass_stringer]

If it is a racquet I haven't strung before or am less familiar with, I will usually go with 19 feet for the mains, and 18 feet for the crosses, for a 16x19 frame. 20 feet for 18x20 mains, and around 18 feet again for the crosses.

 

[Irvin]

Wow am I the only one that uses primarily sets? 5.5 racket lengths is good enough for almost every tennis racket and the rest will do the long side.

 

[bluegrass_stringer]

Wow am I the only one that uses primarily sets? 5.5 racket lengths is good enough for almost every tennis racket and the rest will do the long side.

I go 2 piece for most. But yeah, I prefer reels for some string. Easier to manage, and more value. I am pretty good at knowing how much string I have left. If you have packs/sets of string, then you can be generous with the string measurements. If I use a set of string, I will usually measure out the mains, then take a foot or two away from the remaining string.

 

[Irvin]

I go with reels too for some strings but I cut off more than enough to string the racket. If I'm going two piece (from a reel on a 16m racket) I cut off 37' and use 5 racket lengths (11+') for the short side. After tying mains the long side tail is more than enough for the crosses. If I have an 18m racket 39' is plenty usually maybe 40'..

 

[Muppet]

http://www.klipperusa.com/stringing/manufacturers.php

These numbers depend on what type of string you're using and how much elongation the string will have. For polyester, use a foot more. For multi or syngut, go by the numbers. For gut, you can use a foot less.

 

[osutennis24]

we have our stringer setup in a positon where we can wrap it around the poll, and to the door is about what we need to cover the mains, so I just measure from there. If it's a 18 main racquet with poly strings I'll go a couple of inches further past the door. Hasn't failed me yet...but it's come close lol

 

[Jster]

i now pull out (number of mains + 3/4 length of the racket).
What i mean by number of mains is 'trace out' the mains from grommet hole to grommet hole.

meaning that you will be doing a 'pull and release' motion 16 times on a pro staff 90 on the mains with 8 different length(because there will be a pair identical length of strings on the mains)

same goes for the cross.( shorter>short>long>short>shorter)

usually save a bit more on the reels esp dealing with Spin technology racquets ( wilson 's' and prince "esp")

 

[bluegrass_stringer]

http://www.klipperusa.com/stringing/manufacturers.php

These numbers depend on what type of string you're using and how much elongation the string will have. For polyester, use a foot more. For multi or syngut, go by the numbers. For gut, you can use a foot less.

Most of these numbers are all a little high. If you use these numbers, you will hardly ever have to increase the length, even using a string with very little elongation. If you have never strung a certain type of racquet, you can use these numbers as a guide. For many of the popular racquets, I am pretty familiar with how much string I need for them (depending on the string used too). So in summary:
- If you haven't strung a certain type of racquet before, use the stringer digest or that site. Even then, I have found that you can probably measure a foot less than what they recommend
- Once you string lots of racquets, you can take notes to indicate the minimum amount of string required to comfortable string the racquet. For example, if you measure 19 feet for the crosses, but have a couple feet leftover at the end, you can make a note to use 18/17.5 feet next time...

 

[Jster]

for very extreme cases ,
where you just have under 6m of string in a reel OR under 5.5 meter of string in the reel and wondering whether to chunk them into the bin or not.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=486312


oh please use a 1.30-1.40mm Kevlar to thread through the holes of a starting clamp to make it a jumper

what is a jumper?
http://www.keohi.com/tennis/misc/startingclamp.htm

Let me highlight again.

EXTREME CASES.

 

[GlenK]

I use the USRSA guide for the first time I string a racquet. Then I just keep notes on the actual stringing needs for future reference.

 

[gchen]

Most of the time I cut the package of 40 feet into half.
I use the klipper site, but if I get burned then I take note for that racquet.
USRSA stringer's digest, I have a few years of those, but often too lazy to get it out.

 

[Sparkyovcov]

For me an average racket of 16x19 is 3 wing spans plus a little, then for crosses 3 wing spans and just under. Any bigger racket head or tighter pattern I adjust accordingly.