Knots: tying off

P

pkshooter

Semi-Pro
What's the best knot to tie off with? I've been using a Wilson pro knot but I had someone critique my tie off knots recently so I'm looking for a better one. He suggested a Parnell knot, but it got me wondering what else. So I am asking for your favorite knot
 
im pretty sure i've been taught wrong on my knots...

basically everyone that strings at club I work at does, over under through, tighten, then over under through once tighten
 
i guess we can't edit our posts?

meant to say, over under through, tighten it up, then do it again, over under through, tighten it up

not sure if that's acceptable way or not
 
osutennis24 said:
im pretty sure i've been taught wrong on my knots...

basically everyone that strings at club I work at does, over under through, tighten, then over under through once tighten
Click to expand...

Someone has been taught wrong. Here is an excerpt from a USRSA Stringer's Digest.

001_crop.jpg


Notice the two tags ends that go through on the USRSA's double half hitch go through in opposite directions. I hate the DHH knot with a passion.
 
taurussable said:
why not wilson pro knot exclusively?
Click to expand...

It really does not matter but the reason for using the Wilson knot in tight places is because you only need to go around the anchor sting one time whereas with the Parnell knot you have to go around two times.
 
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Irvin said:
It really does not matter but the reason for using the Wilson knot in tight places is because you only need to go around the anchor sting one time whereas with the Parnell knot you have to go around two times.
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sorry for digging this, so Wilson pro knot has one advantage: better in tight spaces.

what's the advantage of Parnell knot? maybe it is better in other regards?..
 
taurussable said:
sorry for digging this, so Wilson pro knot has one advantage: better in tight spaces.

what's the advantage of Parnell knot? maybe it is better in other regards?..
Click to expand...

i prefer more bulk to the knot (parnell), but use the pro knot when the racket manufacturers make like tougher.
 
taurussable said:
sorry for digging this, so Wilson pro knot has one advantage: better in tight spaces.

what's the advantage of Parnell knot? maybe it is better in other regards?..
Click to expand...

They are both very good knots.


taurussable said:
i think the size of the knot is a good reason. Maybe bigger size implies less stress on the knot?..
Click to expand...

The only difference is the tag end goes around the anchor string twice both knots are nothing but overhand knots.
 
going around the anchor string twice (parnell) makes
it abit bulkier. it just makes me warm inside knowing it
won't want to pull into the frame/grommet (unlikely, ever).
 
Irvin said:
Someone has been taught wrong. Here is an excerpt from a USRSA Stringer's Digest.

Notice the two tags ends that go through on the USRSA's double half hitch go through in opposite directions. I hate the DHH knot with a passion.
Click to expand...

I had a feeling I was being taught wrong after reading this forum


Question, I am now starting to do like the Wilson Pro knot (especially on those babolot racquets when there are tight spaces). I did (or at least I felt like I did) exactly what you showed in the video, but the knot still just seems loose to me, I tied it, and pulled with some very slight tension, but when I let it go, I could see the knot loosen just a little bit. I'm not sure if that's normal, or if I am gacking it up

I was able to undo the knot the first time (which I dunno if it should be possible either if done correctly), and followed the vid once again, and did what you showed, and same result, I cut the rest of the string off and finished up

Any advice? thx, just trying to become a better stringer
 
I am not sure if you're messing up or not. I know if I tie a Pro or Parnell knot and remove the clamp I can not untie the string without doing some serious damage to the string.
 
Irvin said:
I am not sure if you're messing up or not. I know if I tie a Pro or Parnell knot and remove the clamp I can not untie the string without doing some serious damage to the string.
Click to expand...


Yikes... I would never even considered doing that (untying (sp?) a knot).

You would have to retension the string and clamp it in a way to provide some slack... otherwise the string side opposite the tail would just keep pulling the string into the knot, right?

If you were trying to undo the knot because I skipped a weave... I'd either restring the whole thing or just let it go (if it was my racquet)... and if you were trying to undo the knot because you were worried about the knot itself (and you had unclamped it already), I'd either hit the knot with a dab of superglue (or nail polish) to lock it, or tie another knot over the top (it would look fat, but would hold).

I only string for myself or family/friends and don't charge anything... but if it was for a customer.... that's different. You might have to restring the whole thing.
 
Mongolmike said:
Yikes... I would never even considered doing that (untying (sp?) a knot).

You would have to retension the string and clamp it in a way to provide some slack... otherwise the string side opposite the tail would just keep pulling the string into the knot, right?

If you were trying to undo the knot because I skipped a weave... I'd either restring the whole thing or just let it go (if it was my racquet)... and if you were trying to undo the knot because you were worried about the knot itself (and you had unclamped it already), I'd either hit the knot with a dab of superglue (or nail polish) to lock it, or tie another knot over the top (it would look fat, but would hold).

I only string for myself or family/friends and don't charge anything... but if it was for a customer.... that's different. You might have to restring the whole thing.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more ... If I seen something wrong with a knot or string job I would cut the strings out and start over.
 
osutennis24 said:
I had a feeling I was being taught wrong after reading this forum


Question, I am now starting to do like the Wilson Pro knot (especially on those babolot racquets when there are tight spaces). I did (or at least I felt like I did) exactly what you showed in the video, but the knot still just seems loose to me, I tied it, and pulled with some very slight tension, but when I let it go, I could see the knot loosen just a little bit. I'm not sure if that's normal, or if I am gacking it up

I was able to undo the knot the first time (which I dunno if it should be possible either if done correctly), and followed the vid once again, and did what you showed, and same result, I cut the rest of the string off and finished up

Any advice? thx, just trying to become a better stringer
Click to expand...

I've been stringing my own for about 10 years (nothing commercial), so others with more experience might have a different POV, but if I would say that if you have a question about a knot you just tied and didn't think it will hold... here are two things you can do:

-like I mentioned before, hit the knot with a dab of super glue. I like the gel stuff better, you can smear it exactly where you want. The liquid-y stuff tends to run/seep more and I don't want to get any on the grommet. You can also use fingernail polish... easy to brush on AND a variety of colors.... unless you are a Goth. Then your color pallete is quite limited.

-second thing, take a fine point Sharpie and place a small mark on the tail of the string (the end where you made your final cut to finish the job)... make a small mark on the tail as close to the knot as you can. You can use this mark to monitor the knot... if after an hour, or after a hitting session you can still see the mark... you are good to go. If the mark has disappeared there is a chance that the tail has slipped into the knot... bad news- something was wrong.
 
ok, here's a video i attempted to show me doing a parnell knot. This is probably the 2nd or 3rd time I attempted the knot, it is on a demo racquet that we have so if it's messed up no biggie. After i finished it I unclamped it, and it looked like the knot moved a bit, almost looks like it got sucked into the grommet a bit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5df1TtkNy0

feel free to give me suggestions, this is why I posting it, I want to become better
 
Sorry, I cannot comment on the video at this time. Work ****'s say nyet to viewing youtube during work hours. I hate it when work interfers with my social interests.....


edit... ha ha... who knew that making a reference to a certain German National Socialistic party with master race tendancies is verboten on this site... more IT heavy handedness at work. I'd call them the same name too, but it would only get censored. Scoreboard- IT for the victory.
 
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osutennis24 said:
ok, here's a video i attempted to show me doing a parnell knot. This is probably the 2nd or 3rd time I attempted the knot, it is on a demo racquet that we have so if it's messed up no biggie. After i finished it I unclamped it, and it looked like the knot moved a bit, almost looks like it got sucked into the grommet a bit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5df1TtkNy0

feel free to give me suggestions, this is why I posting it, I want to become better
Click to expand...

That is not a Parnell knot and it was not cinched up properly. I dont think that knot will tighten up good no matter what you do. As a matter of fact it is not any named knot that I have seen. A Parnell will go around the anchor string two times you only went around the anchor string once.
 
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Look at Richard Parnell as he ties off with his Parnell knot.

http://youtu.be/lj8ITKjnfHc

notice how he goes below the string bed on the right side of the anchor string two times and come up on the left (around the anchor string two times.) also make sure the second time when you come up that you go through both loops.
 
thanks Irvin, one thing I noticed I didnt do was go through both loops, was only going through once

I just did another racquet, and I felt the knot came out A LOT better than my previous ones
 
is there any trick that I'm not seeing with the wilson pro knot as well? Can't seem to get it small like i've seen in your vids

Basically it's just O-U-T, then through the loop that was created, correct?
 
osutennis24 said:
is there any trick that I'm not seeing with the wilson pro knot as well? Can't seem to get it small like i've seen in your vids

Basically it's just O-U-T, then through the loop that was created, correct?
Click to expand...

Yes I think so but here is video that shows the knots.
 
feel like I'm getting better with the parnell knots, I think my problem before was not going through that 2nd loop...Next time I do one, I'll try to get someone to record it again to see if it looks right..

Last question I promise

Is it normal that when I unclamp the string after I tie it off, the knot moves a bit, and that string that was clamped moves a little bit (i'm assuming it moving is meaning it's losing some of that tension). I'm just not sure if it's the machine not being able to hold the tension well or if it's something in my knot...I've noticed it in the old way I was doing knots before as well (the O-U-T tighten, O-U-T tighten on top of the first one)
 
That is a Prince 1500 assuming you have a lockout machine. It is normal there may be some movement with some strings. The better you get at knots the less the movement. As far as the last tensioned string moving it should only move away from the knot. When you clamp the string make sure you clamp the string first and then lock the base without twisting or pushing the clamp.
 
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I use Parnell for tie offs. Sometimes clients will hand me some 15G string and there is just absolutely no space to tie off their crosses (depending on their frame). In that case, Wilson Pro.
 
Try using a starting clamp to tighten your knots. Also, pull forward and rock back to get rid of the slack. Great video on this by YULitle,aka, Master Racquet Tech Mike.

BTW, does OSUtennis mean you are a Sooner or a Buckeye?
 
yea, unfortunately we don't have any starting clamps, need to see if we can get one, would make it a lot easier..

and I'm a Buckeye
 
PGlock said:
GO BUCKS! I am in Columbus as well.
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Yes. GO BUCKS!!

OSU alumni here!

I have 3 starting clamps, but I typically cinch up my knots with fingers only, and they work very nice.Once you rock out the slack properly and pull the tail , you are done, as by overpulling after that really does nothing but stresses the string.
BTW if anyone uses pliers to cinch up knots, it is best to pull in one set direction only like your shoulder and get in that habit, as if pliers slip. or string breaks it could end up with pliers in face or eye.
 
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I like @Irvin , @Rabbit , @Wes , @uk_skippy , etc, etc. However, I find that the lack of enthusiasm for using the Cam and Jam method of knot tying using Babolat Cam Action Pliers, awl and Wilson Pro Knot naive at best, slow and inaccurate at worst. Come on folks! It is a knot on a tennis racket string, not the combination of a nuclear warhead. Tie the darn thing and quit arguing about the efficacy of the varieties of knots unless they just plain don't work.
 
graycrait said:
I like @Irvin , @Rabbit , @Wes , @uk_skippy , etc, etc. However, I find that the lack of enthusiasm for using the Cam and Jam method of knot tying using Babolat Cam Action Pliers, awl and Wilson Pro Knot naive at best, slow and inaccurate at worst. Come on folks! It is a knot on a tennis racket string, not the combination of a nuclear warhead. Tie the darn thing and quit arguing about the efficacy of the varieties of knots unless they just plain don't work.
Click to expand...

I agree with @graycrait here which is why I sat on the sideline on this thread. It is a knot after all.

OK, I have to admit my favorite is the bowlin because I could never tie one in Boy Scouts. Let's see "The rabbit does what?"
 
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I am a buckeye fan as well. Did not go there but watched many a Woody vs. Bo football game with my dad as a kid.

I also would collect Buckeyes when I was a kid from a giant old tree and recall my mom thinking I was nuts.... So to speak.
 
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