new to stringing - question about 19ga string

[Turbo-87]

I am going to try stringing on a Gamma X2 drop weight machine. I plan to experiment on old racquets first so I can get the hang of it. I plan to just use the sample strings that come with the machine so that I am not wasting "good" string on the regular racquets I play with. Once I get the hang of it, I am planning on trying out Tier One Ghost Wire 19ga in my secondary Head Microgel Radical. My question is, do I need to be very gentle when letting the tension arm down to avoid snapping this thin string? In some videos I have watched, stringers like to let the weight drop a short distance as tension builds and other people hold onto the weight all the way to parallel, just letting the tension ease in. Is there a preferred drop weight method for stringing 19ga poly? Just wondering how careful you have to be to avoid snapping it.

 

[Irvin]

You need to be gentle lowering the tension arm all the time no matter what string you’re using. If you allow the weight to drop freely you‘re increasing tension. Imagine gentle sitting a 10 kg weight on you toe as opposed to dropping a 10 kg weight on your toe.

 

[Turbo-87]

Thanks. Rookie question, I know. I just wasn't sure if you have to be extra careful with ultra-thin string, but I see what you are saying in regards to gentle lowering.

 

[eah123]

One thing to watch out for is that the first time you release the first flying clamp from the center mains, there will be a lot of tension released from the string and the drop weight arms tends to fall quickly, enough to break some strings. What I do is set the drop weight arm with tension on the string about 10deg above horizontal. I release the centered flying clamp while simultaneously cradling the drop weight. That allows me to lower the drop weight gently until it’s close to horizontal without undue stress on the string.

 

[LocNetMonster]

Yes, don't let the weight bounce while you are waiting for it to settle. I lower the weight with one finger or the palm of my hand under the weight. If goes past horizontal, I go up two or three clicks, depending on how far past horizontal it drops and repeat the drop process.

 

[Turbo-87]

Thanks a lot for the tips, guys. This will really help me get started. First practice run will be tonight.

 

[Turbo-87]

I strung up my first racquet just fine with 16ga Gamma that came with the unit. It took about 2.5 hours. My second racquet using the 19ga ghost wire was a failure, sort of. I was careful to weave correctly but I somehow did a double over near the hoop on the second to the last cross toward the throat. I got lazy and didn’t check my work on that one before tying off the last cross. I may still hit with it just to see what the strings feel like. Not sure what messing up a weave in that section of the racquet will do to the hit quality.

I will get better…. I learned that attention to detail will save frustration. I did get a little frustrated with tying the knots because it seemed hard to pull it taut and setting the knot close to the grommet to avoid tension loss. I will do some more reading on knots in this forum.

 

[PaddyDutch]

I strung up my first racquet just fine with 16ga Gamma that came with the unit. It took about 2.5 hours. My second racquet using the 19ga ghost wire was a failure, sort of. I was careful to weave correctly but I somehow did a double over near the hoop on the second to the last cross toward the throat. I got lazy and didn’t check my work on that one before tying off the last cross. I may still hit with it just to see what the strings feel like. Not sure what messing up a weave in that section of the racquet will do to the hit quality.

I will get better…. I learned that attention to detail will save frustration. I did get a little frustrated with tying the knots because it seemed hard to pull it taut and setting the knot close to the grommet to avoid tension loss. I will do some more reading on knots in this forum.

It’s not how you want it done, but it will play just fine. It’s unlikely that you’ll hit a lot of balls over there. And even if you would, you’d be unlikely to notice.

If it was someone else’s frame, I’d redo the string job, for my own racquets I’d leave it and look at it as a reminder to pay close attention next time.

 

[Turbo-87]

Well, after a year of stringing my own racquets, I have gotten a lot better. I can finish on a Gamma X2 in about an hour now, which is a lot better than when I started. It's amazing how much you learn by reading threads here and just practicing. The only downside is that I have gotten caught in the string vortex where I am already thinking about trying a different setup a week after a restring. It's so easy when you have the ability to string yourself and you aren't paying someone else to do it. I don't feel so bad about wasting $10 on a set that I ended up not liking.

I was playing with low tension poly for a while (usually Solinco Hyper G or Tour Bite at 44) but recently switched back to multi (Wilson Sensation) around 60lbs. I have yet to try natural gut. I really want to but the price of it has turned me off and I wasn't going to try it being a rookie stringer. I might make that my next trial if I decide to part with $50.

 

[esgee48]

Try Klip instead and hybrid with NG mains. You don’t have to scratch an itch with VS or Lux NG.

 

[LocNetMonster]

I strung up my first racquet just fine with 16ga Gamma that came with the unit. It took about 2.5 hours.

My first one, with a drop-weight machine to 3.5 hours. You are already way ahead of me ... lol ... Fast forward a bunch of years and frames, I can bang out a fresh job in less than 30 minutes on the DW and 4 min less with the LO machine. Just stick with it, it will get easier as you learn your racquet pattern and be more efficient in your movement.