How to pre-stretch Ashaway Monogut ZX or ZX Pro

[TypeRx]

While there are multiple ways to do this, here is a step-by-step on how I pre-stretch this string.

You should aim for about 10% stretch with ZX/ZXP (e.g. 22-24" out of a 20' run). If using Kevlar mains, I also recommend pre-stretching (you can get 2-3” out of 20 ft pretty easily).

Hope you find this helpful.

 

[travlerajm]

While there are multiple ways to do this, here is a step-by-step on how I pre-stretch this string.

You should aim for about 10% stretch with ZX/ZXP (e.g. 22-24" out of a 20' run). If using Kevlar mains, I also recommend pre-stretching (you can get 2-3” out of 20 ft pretty easily).

Hope you find this helpful.

Nicely done.

 

[LoboR1]

Thanks man...very informative! I really like how you used the lever (bat) to stretch it out...smart! I will be giving this method a try. Cheers!

 

[tomato123]

Awesome, thanks for this!

 

[tennisbike]

Nice job! I want to try using clove hitch knot instead, perhaps then the string won't have sharp turns.

 

[Irvin]

Nice job! I want to try using clove hitch knot instead, perhaps then the string won't have sharp turns.

I think you should because it seems like a strong knot. Let us know how it works for you.

EDIT: The clove hitch may be too small and the tag end may not lay against the frame, but it would be easy to tie.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

I've always supplemented the knot for ZX with a starting clamp far additional support.

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[TimeToPlaySets]

I cut my ZX to 20 feet.
I tied the 2 ends to a doorknob and a racket throat

I pulled and learned back with all my body weight, being careful to brace my knees if case the knot slipped and I fell over.
This feels very dangerous, and could lead to serious injury if I fell. Or if the knot slipped.
I don't even know what the correct knot to use it. I just tied it like a shoelace.

I was able to pull harder on the racket than on a hand help clamp. It was like doing curls.
This time, I pulled for a solid 4 mins straight and got almost one foot of stretch !

For the other half of the ZX, I tried the pipe lever trick outlined by @TypeRx
I tied the ZX to a doorknob and a long pipe and planted the pipe on the floor and pulled the pipe towards me to tilt the pipe.
This was a GREAT mini WORKOUT. My legs were burning and I broke into a full sweat.
I pulled for 4 straight minutes and I got 13" of stretch !!

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Snapped the ZX in only 4 days.
This string is weak as hell !

At least I am getting practice with my stringing !

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Snapped the ZX in only 4 days.
This string is weak as hell !

At least I am getting practice with my stringing !

With the prestretch you do thin out ZX quite a bit.

If used as a cross it still shouldn't break that quickly, though.

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[TimeToPlaySets]

Full bed ZX.
I do not use Poly

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Wow, ZX is a cross only string. I thought you used klip gut mains?

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[graycrait]

@TimeToPlaySets , Could you tell me/us how old you are within a few years and what your height and weight are. I see that with your body weight you only get 13" permanent stretch of ZX in body weight pull yet you can break it playing in 4 days.

I have a picture of a 15yr old 105lb 5'2 person that has Nadal Academy-like lessons since age 3.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Where did you get the idea that ZX is a cross string only?
Most people use ZX main, Poly Cross.
I think many people use ZX full bed as an alternative to Full bed gut.
There are tons of players that refuse to use Poly.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Let's put it this way, I have yet to meet a 4.0 that hits as hard as I do.
I am also stronger than most people on this forum

 

[graycrait]

Let's put it this way, I have yet to meet a 4.0 that hits as hard as I do.
I am also stronger than most people on this forum

You are a true enigma. Have a nice life.

 

[NDStrings]

I have never used or strung ZX or ZX Pro. This seems like a string that many people do such an aggressive pre-stretch. Is it consistent from string job to string job? Do stringers with CP machine just use a machine pre-stretch?

 

[tomato123]

Hard to imagine there are too many zx users out there, and I'm pretty sure it's safe to assume this forum has the largest collective group of people who have used it, and I'm also pretty sure I can assume with virtually 100% certainty that the most common use for monogut zx is cross string for kevlar mains. The fact that Ashaway sells the Crossfire ZX hybrid packs should give an idea of how this string was intended to be used, and the amount of people who have posted on the kevlar/zx thread compared to the niche posts of people trying out variations like zx mains or full bed... and the fact that everyone on this forum who has used zx as a cross can attest to how ridiculously durable it is to the point that it will saw off kevlar, and the only way zx breaks fast is if it slides against itself...

I'm sorry I just can't. I'm going to unfollow this thread, much thanks to the OP again for sharing your method.

 

[Irvin]

I have never used or strung ZX or ZX Pro. This seems like a string that many people do such an aggressive pre-stretch. Is it consistent from string job to string job? Do stringers with CP machine just use a machine pre-stretch?

My guess would be most people use a manual stretch. I use a machine 10% pre stretch and generally use 16-17' of string for the crosses in a racket.

 

[travlerajm]

My guess would be most people use a manual stretch. I use a machine 10% pre stretch and generally use 16-17' of string for the crosses in a racket.

You could probably do a racquet with only 15’ of zx with manual stretch, due to the extra length created.

 

[Irvin]

The longer a string is stretched the thinner the gauge, the more chance there is to damage the string, and if it is manually stretched the less likely hood the process is repeatable. Machine pre-stretching at 10% has worked for me and so has starting knots and is easily repeatable and I think the easier it is to repeat the more consistent the string jobs will be.

If you stretch ZX to 110% of its normal length you’re changing ZX to ZXP. If you stretch ZXP to 110% of its normal length you’re changing it to an 18 gauge string. More often than not I use ZX and not ZXP so I see no reason to pre-stretch manually. The string is coming off a reel so there is no coil memory to contend with. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

 

[skydog]

For what it’s worth, I use 15% machine pre stretch on my crosses with ZX and let the machine continue to pull until the tension settles a bit before clamping. Normally this is a 30 to 40 second process waiting for the tension to settle. I also use the 16g ZX and use only 15 feet of it to string my crosses on my Prince Tour 98 ESP’s which leaves enough of a string end to comfortably reach my stringer’s head.

 

[Shroud]

The longer a string is stretched the thinner the gauge, the more chance there is to damage the string, and if it is manually stretched the less likely hood the process is repeatable. Machine pre-stretching at 10% has worked for me and so has starting knots and is easily repeatable and I think the easier it is to repeat the more consistent the string jobs will be.

If you stretch ZX to 110% of its normal length you’re changing ZX to ZXP. If you stretch ZXP to 110% of its normal length you’re changing it to an 18 gauge string. More often than not I use ZX and not ZXP so I see no reason to pre-stretch manually. The string is coming off a reel so there is no coil memory to contend with. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Irvin. Certainly you can see how stretchy it is when you string it right?? How do you manage tension loss if you don't prestretch? If people are getting 10% elongation from prestretching what kind of tension loss will there be when stretching 10% in the racquet? Thats 2ft of stretch in the racquet....

 

[Shroud]

Let's put it this way, I have yet to meet a 4.0 that hits as hard as I do.
I am also stronger than most people on this forum

Bet you hit harder than ATP Pros too....

 

[Shroud]

While there are multiple ways to do this, here is a step-by-step on how I pre-stretch this string.

You should aim for about 10% stretch with ZX/ZXP (e.g. 22-24" out of a 20' run). If using Kevlar mains, I also recommend pre-stretching (you can get 2-3” out of 20 ft pretty easily).

Hope you find this helpful.

nice job man!! That is essentially how I do it too though I use a long thick dowel rod.

 

[Irvin]

Irvin. Certainly you can see how stretchy it is when you string it right?? How do you manage tension loss if you don't prestretch? If people are getting 10% elongation from prestretching what kind of tension loss will there be when stretching 10% in the racquet? Thats 2ft of stretch in the racquet....

I generally use about 2’ less for ZX than I normally use. Normally I use 18-20+’ for a mid+ racket. My guess is ZX stretches about 4-5” each pull but I’ve never really measured it.

 

[travlerajm]

I generally use about 2’ less for ZX than I normally use. Normally I use 18-20+’ for a mid+ racket. My guess is ZX stretches about 4-5” each pull but I’ve never really measured it.

Once fully prestretched (by permanently lengthening 10%), a 20-ft segment of zx stretches 9" or so elastically under my body weight lean. A manual stretch is a lot more repeatable than one who hasn't done it might expect, because strings like zx only lengthen plastically by a certain amount that is the same each time. As long as you max out that plastic stretch every time, you will get very consistent results and very stable tension.

For zx, that amount is about 10%. For poly, it's about 3%. For kevlar, it's about 1%.

 

[scotus]

For what it’s worth, I use 15% machine pre stretch on my crosses with ZX and let the machine continue to pull until the tension settles a bit before clamping. Normally this is a 30 to 40 second process waiting for the tension to settle. I also use the 16g ZX and use only 15 feet of it to string my crosses on my Prince Tour 98 ESP’s which leaves enough of a string end to comfortably reach my stringer’s head.

I use 20% pre-stretch setting and let my Star 5 continue to pull for about a minute until it beeps.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

You wait for one minute on each pull ?

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

You wait for one minute on each pull ?

Weave the next cross during that time.

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[Shroud]

Weave the next cross during that time.

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same here. I prestrech manually, do minute pulls and when possible use the prestretch on the machine.

 

[Ultra 2]

Do any of you guys pre-stretch Kevlar? I thought the consensus was that that it had almost zero elasticity. When I was in the process of cutting out the bed and re-stringing my frame with Kevlar/Syngut and there is no way that it is even close to the 65lbs. that it was originally strung at (I am speaking to the Kevlar mains only).

 

[travlerajm]

Do any of you guys pre-stretch Kevlar? I thought the consensus was that that it had almost zero elasticity. When I was in the process of cutting out the bed and re-stringing my frame with Kevlar/Syngut and there is no way that it is even close to the 65lbs. that it was originally strung at (I am speaking to the Kevlar mains only).

Yes, prestretching will help a lot to reduce the large initial tension drop of kevlar. A 20-ft segment will only stretch another 2-3”, but it’s worth doing in my opinion.

 

[Ultra 2]

Yes, prestretching will help a lot to reduce the large initial tension drop of kevlar. A 20-ft segment will only stretch another 2-3”, but it’s worth doing in my opinion.

All this time I thought it was the syn gut that lost most of the tension.. but when I just cut the crosses out the Kevlar mains also lost a significant amount of tension. Need to do more trial and error.

 

[tennisbike]

Like you, I observed lowered tension on Kevlar main between 1st, 2nd and third cross repulled. Yes, I actual recorded lower and lowered SM number. The good news is that after you tension cross strings, the main tension can go up to pretty respectable number. Yes, there is main/cross differential there still.( after strung not before strung as generally discussed)