How much string on the short side ATW

[GarryClarke]

hi guys

am going to have a go at a ATW stringing on my Head Rad MP 18x20

now the million dollar question is how much string do i need on the short side???? using a 40ft set of poly

many thanks in advance

Garry

 

[Irvin]

10.5' should be fine

 

[Dags]

10' is probably enough. However, as you're using a 40' set rather than cutting from a reel, you'll have bucketloads left over so you may as well give yourself more margin rather than dragging it all through the long side. Under these circumstances, I'd probably measure 11' or even 12'.

 

[Irvin]

But here is the kicker. I like to string an even number of crosses with the long side string. MANY other stringers don't. So I would skip the 7th main and run in the 8th main first then come back to the 7th and tie off the short side. Then use the long side to run in all your crosses. The top cross will go over/under the opposite string the bottom cross does. That's assuming you're using a universal ATW.

 

[GarryClarke]

thanks for the speedy reply guys

will defo go on the longer side as i just dont fancy coming up short on the short side:shock:

All the best

Garry

 

[GarryClarke]

But here is the kicker. I like to string an even number of crosses with the long side string. MANY other stringers don't. So I would skip the 7th main and run in the 8th main first then come back to the 7th and tie off the short side. Then use the long side to run in all your crosses. The top cross will go over/under the opposite string the bottom cross does. That's assuming you're using a universal ATW.

Irvin

im bloody lost now and here is your link on how im going to tackle it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-LEiTpNrnk

 

[Irvin]

Irvin

im bloody lost now and here is your link on how im going to tackle it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-LEiTpNrnk

Exactly what I was trying to say. Some people will use the short side to run in one or more crosses. When I have a racket that has an even number of crosses I do not use the short side to run any crosses.

Use the short side to run in mains 1-6, 8, and 7 then tie off. This is known as the Yonex loop. It put the tie off knot closer to the last main strung and keeps tension on the outside mains because there is no drawback on either outside.

use the long side to run in mains 1-9, bottom cross, 9 the main on short side, and the remainder of the crosses from the top down.

Because the top cross (cross #1) is an off cross it will be woven in opposite the bottom cross (cross #20) which is even. All you even numbered string are ran in from the long side to the short side. And all your odd numbered crosses are ran in from the short side to the long side. This makes weaving much easier at least for me using a one ahead method.

EDIT: BTW that picture shows the Yonex Loop on the outside two mains but the outside main in an ATW pattern is ran in with the long side from the bottom up.

 

[bbulla]

I see what Irvin is saying, but this racquet ties off the mains at 7B, so if your last main on the SS is 7, where are you going to tie it off??

I think the better method is to:

a) use two piece as per warranty
b) use ATW Universal tying off the SS 8M at the top after running the top cross, then running the bottom cross from the LS 9M, doing the SS 9M and then running the rest of the crosses from top to the bottom. Just remember the top cross and bottom cross have alternate weaves.

I've always been one to string Head racquets 2 piece, just to avoid any warranty issues.

 

[bbulla]

Oh yeah, and you shouldn't need more than 10' on your short side ...10.5' max

 

[Irvin]

I see what Irvin is saying, but this racquet ties off the mains at 7B, so if your last main on the SS is 7,...

That being the case you could skip the 6th cross and I agree two piece is better.

I just finished string an 18x19 racket w/ATW at 1 piece request. So now I would use the short side to run in the top cross so I can string an even number of mains with the long side (2-19.)

Here is a thumbnail where I ran in the center 12 mains and skipped the 7th:

Then I came back and ran in the 7th main:

Then I ran in the top cross with the short side with no tension, and ran the remainder of the long side mains with tension:

With all the clamps out of my way now I tensioned the top cross and held it with a starting clamp. Because the top and bottom crosses (1 & 19) are both odd numbered the weave is the same and I ran in the bottom cross:

Now it is just a matter of running in the short side outside main and remaining crosses. When I finished I had 7' left over on the long side string and 20" left over on the short side string.

 

[BlxTennis]

Hi, I have been string 2 pieces 4 knots on my racquet so far. I am thinking of trying this ATW pattern. However, I have a question. Please look at the photo where I marked the turns with RED from main to cross on short & long side. Do you think that's too much stress on those two grommet holes with 58lbs?

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[Irvin]

I think it may be, but many stringers (including me) do it. The racket I was stringing earlier skipped 8&10 in the throat so I had a mush wider gap and at the top only 9 was skipped so I had a larger gap there too. The short gap was only from the outside main to the second cross.

If it were me especially with poly I would string 2 piece because of all the hard weaves.

 

[BlxTennis]

I think it may be, but many stringers (including me) do it. The racket I was stringing earlier skipped 8&10 in the throat so I had a mush wider gap and at the top only 9 was skipped so I had a larger gap there too. The short gap was only from the outside main to the second cross.

If it were me especially with poly I would string 2 piece because of all the hard weaves.

Yeah, I think you are right. I think I am going to stick with 2 piece

 

[PCS_Super]

yonex loop is a cool idea but im not sure why you wouldnt just run the top cross with the short side... is there any advantage with stringing an even amount of crosses? If you use the yonex loop you will get a tie off on main number 7 and the 2nd last cross (assuming uni ATW)... if you run the top cross you will get a tie off on the top cross and the 2nd last cross which to me is better because the outtermost crosses are less important than all other strings so why tie off on a main if you dont have to i would rather direct tension on all my mains... further to this i always string the 2nd last cross first with my long side because this way i have tie offs on the top cross and the bottom cross... doing it this way means you have your tie offs on the two least important strings in the racquet because no matter if you use a knot button and tie your knots perfectly a tie off will always sit a bit higher in the string bed than a string with direct tension pulled on it... doing it this way means your not going to have strings sitting up higher in the string bed... last thought you could still achieve stringing an even amount of crosses with the longside by running two crosses at the top with your short side and still achieve everything i mentioned above (just say we are stringing this 18x20 radical)... run the 2nd cross first with the short side then run the top cross with the short side then run the 2nd last cross up the last main and the rest of the crosses... you will end up stringing even crosses with the long side and have tie offs on the outtermost crosses.

Post back Irvin because another stringer (MRT with 2 AO, 5 brisbane international and countless challengers) taught me that and it makes sense to me but nevertheless i would like to hear your thoughts on it vs the yonex loop.

 

[Irvin]

I like the Yonex Loop a lot and use it when I can. But I also like to always string an even number of crosses. When I string with an ATW pattern my long side (always on the right side for me) is used to string the bottom cross from the right to left. If there is an even number of crosses I'll try to use a Yonex loop to finish the short side. If I have an odd number of crosses I'll try to string the top cross with the short side.

If I'm using the short side for the top cross (odd number of crosses) I will string the top cross the same as the bottom because they're both odd. All remaining odd crosses will be going under the mains held up by the bottom and last tensioned cross because they're all odd numbered, and over the strings held low. When I string an even cross (using one ahead method) I'm again going under the high mains and over the low one because of the last tensioned even cross. There are no hard weaves even though you're using an ATW.

If I have a frame with an even number of crosses I string all even cross strings right to left and all odd strings left to right. Again I'm going under high main and over the low ones. Never a hard weave.

If you string a frame using the long side to string an odd number of crosses when you get to the bottom especially you're going over high mains and under low mains. That makes it harder to weave and puts more stress on the strings because of greater friction.

Hope that makes sense and not too much rambling.

 

[PCS_Super]

i knew there must be some advantage... i will try it out thanks for explaining, that would be much easier on the fingers for tournament stringing i would imagine.

 

[Irvin]

But my first preference is usually 2 piece but not always. Take for instance you're string Tecnifibre 320. That's a 16x19 frame where the mains end at the bottom and skip 7&9 head and throat. The mains tie below the skipped grommet holes and the bottom cross ties off above the outside main. If you've ever strung a frame like that you know what will happen grommet hole 7T is blocked by two strings on both sides when you tie off the mains. This (and customer request for 1 piece) is when I turn to ATW.

 

[Irvin]

i knew there must be some advantage... i will try it out thanks for explaining, that would be much easier on the fingers for tournament stringing i would imagine.

I'd think so too but in tournaments it's usually dictated what pattern you use for ATW and you don't have a choice. This keeps all frames being strung the same no matter who strings the frame.

 

[PCS_Super]

i dont know if i will use the yonex loop but will certainly try it... i just hate having tie offs inside the string pattern sitting up high

 

[PCS_Super]

I'd think so too but in tournaments it's usually dictated what pattern you use for ATW and you don't have a choice. This keeps all frames being strung the same no matter who strings the frame.

Lol the aussies dont care haha they just say 4 knots or 2 knots... did you know hewitt only had one racquet done for the Brisbane Int final against Fed, crazy

 

[Irvin]

i dont know if i will use the yonex loop but will certainly try it... i just hate having tie offs inside the string pattern sitting up high

You lost me there, I always use the normal tie off locations and if you don't look on the outside to see how the string was routed you can't see a difference. The longer string on the outside the frame is always under tension and the tie off is always closer to the tie off grommet.

EDIT: It strengthens the frame and reduces drawback.

 

[PCS_Super]

example... if i string the last cross first with the long side and tie off on the 2nd last cross... then look down from the top of the head at the string bed the 2nd last cross sits higher in the weave than the rest of the crosses... i hate the look of that hence why i string 2nd last cross first then tie off on last cross... it sits higher because its a tie off so slightly less tension even with knot button and a good parnell or wilson pro with no slack outside frame... tied off main between two direct tension mains will be the same although will be less noticeable or not at all because it is being weaved over but still has less tension

 

[PCS_Super]

say its a 16x20 pattern... you would do a yonex loop and end up with main 6 on the short side as a tie off... main 6 takes a fair load especially with more western grips and is not under direct tension... wouldnt be as much of an issue in a 18x20... i spose its a trade off ease of stringing and less stress during tensioning on latter cross if you use a yonex loop... or having a main string that gets direct use all the time with a tie on it... probs doesnt really matter... but i will test both and see if i can tell a difference in feel

 

[Irvin]

say its a 16x20 pattern... you would do a yonex loop and end up with main 6 on the short side as a tie off... main 6 takes a fair load especially with more western grips and is not under direct tension... wouldnt be as much of an issue in a 18x20...

Yes I would if the top cross tie off is 5H, it all depends where the tie off is. Also I would not tie off the short side until I'm finished stringing. Until then I hold it with a starting clamp.