One piece or two piece methods

Hey, guys. I started stringing racquets for a while and I don't know very much about it. My question is what are the pros and cons of stringing with one piece method and two piece method? And which is better?
Thanks in advance.

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Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
For a beginner two piece is better by far. Stringing one piece you can and will run into a lot of problems.

Benefits of 1 piece, 2 knots instead of 4 gives you less drawback, you can avoid double blocked holes, and better tension maintenance.

Benefits of 2 piece, more balance frame, no long string to work with (usually,) works for any frame, works with hybrids strings, usually the pattern the racket was designed for, and approved by manufacturer.
 
For a beginner two piece is better by far. Stringing one piece you can and will run into a lot of problems.

Benefits of 1 piece, 2 knots instead of 4 gives you less drawback, you can avoid double blocked holes, and better tension maintenance.

Benefits of 2 piece, more balance frame, no long string to work with (usually,) works for any frame, works with hybrids strings, usually the pattern the racket was designed for, and approved by manufacturer.
Thank you very much. I'll keep that in
mind

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esgee48

G.O.A.T.
One piece will require a little more planning to reduce the problems associated with blocked holes. They are trivial once you realize what you have to do. But they do have the advantage of reducing the amount of string you need to measure out for tie offs since you only need to reach the tension head twice. It can be enough savings for an extra string job if you are using a reel rather than a package.
 

ten11

Semi-Pro
When I started stringing, I feel it is easier to string one piece because I am not good at tie the knot. I also can save few in/ft.
Once I master the knot, I go for the two piece for quite few years. At the time, I felt I only do two piece for every racket, simple and straight forward, nothing to measure the short side. more normalized workflow.
Only until recently, about few months back, I start to do one piece whenever I can after reading a one piece/two piece post here. I thought Irvin is also doing some one piece now, am I right? No particular reason but I felt it is simple to tie two less knots. I don't get bothered but pull more string through one side the main, actually I like it because it let me pre-install all main on one side.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
I thought Irvin is also doing some one piece now, am I right?
Yes I do a one piece with my short side ATW but only if it works for the racket. If it does not work I use 2 piece whether I'm using a reel or set. The way I string 1 oiece not not save extra string.
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
If the client has a preference, they get what they ask for; 2 knots versus 4 knots. If they leave it to me, I always string one-piece (2 knots). IMO, it is aesthetically more pleasing. I think reducing the number of tie offs also lends itself to a better string bed and is easier on the grommets. These days, the majority of folks (including me) use a hybrid, so two-piece is mandatory. I also use ATW on those frames whose mains end at the throat which is accepted for manufacturers who require two-piece.
 

darklore009

Hall of Fame
Two piece for me, but I know how to do the one piece method in case the client ask for it. Some of them like Rabbit says prefer lesser knots than more
 

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
I like one piece. For me it is faster and I like just having two knots. But for my own racquets I do a hybrid so I have no choice.
 

brooker

Rookie
I experimented both on my own racquets and honestly I can't tell any big differences before I restring the racquet.

But I end up almost string one-piece unless I have to do hybrid for friends' racquets. It is kind of personal preferences in my opinion.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
For a beginner two piece is better by far. Stringing one piece you can and will run into a lot of problems.

Benefits of 1 piece, 2 knots instead of 4 gives you less drawback, you can avoid double blocked holes, and better tension maintenance.

Benefits of 2 piece, more balance frame, no long string to work with (usually,) works for any frame, works with hybrids strings, usually the pattern the racket was designed for, and approved by manufacturer.

I generally string two piece just because it's the method that's familiar to me, but I agree that one piece is easy enough as long as it's planned out.

Having done some stringing for a few kids using mass produced (cheaper) racquets, I have run into a couple of cases where these frames are only drilled for one piece stringing - fewer wide grommets/holes than a typical frame that will accept a two piece layout with four knots. After being fooled by these racquets once or twice, I'm always on the lookout now whenever I catch a string job with a frame that looks rather uncommon and sort of rinky-dink.
 

McLovin

Legend
In addition to what others have said, one piece can also use less string. This comes in handy when you purchase a reel of string. Your 'average' frame (16x19, 98 sq in) will take approx 38ft in a 2 piece configuration (20ft for mains, 18ft for crosses). Most reels come in 660ft lengths, so:
660ft / 38ft = 17.3 racquets, or 17 (because what exactly is .3 stringing?)
However, for a 1-piece (after you become accustomed to your frame), you can usually cut that amount down to under 35ft (for the sale of argument, lets say 34.5ft). That gets you 19.1, or simply 19 racquets.

So, you've just gotten 2 free stringings from a reel by doing 1-piece.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
Having done some stringing for a few kids using mass produced (cheaper) racquets, I have run into a couple of cases where these frames are only drilled for one piece stringing - fewer wide grommets/holes than a typical frame that will accept a two piece layout with four knots. After being fooled by these racquets once or twice, I'm always on the lookout now whenever I catch a string job with a frame that looks rather uncommon and sort of rinky-dink.
Yes that is common more often than not any more. I always look to see if the last time the racket was strung if it was 1 or 2 piece first, how it should be, and how I am going to string it.
 

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
. Your 'average' frame (16x19, 98 sq in) will take approx 38ft in a 2 piece configuration (20ft for mains, 18ft for crosses).
I string my Tecnifibre rackets 95-98 si 16x19 with two pieces of string and use 33' 9" and have plenty of string without using a bridge to pull tension. Just have to know the tricks.

EDIT: 33' 9" is 15 racket lengths and I can get 19 string jobs out of a reel that way.
 
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Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
One big advantage of stringing 1 piece is your ability to work around blocked holes.
 

McLovin

Legend
I string my Tecnifibre rackets 95-98 si 16x19 with two pieces of string and use 33' 9" and have plenty of string without using a bridge to pull tension. Just have to know the tricks.
Are you referring to measuring out for 1 piece, but cutting the long side after tying off & starting the crosses w/ what remains?
 

Muppet

Legend
If I'm using a soft, elastic string, I'll use a 1-piece or ATW pattern. But on the transitions from main to cross, where there's a 90 degree path for the string, a stiff or thick string will have a tendency to bow out more toward the frame than it does for a 180 degree bend. With a thin soft-ish poly (Mosquito Bite red) I can use a 1-piece. On 1-piece patterns, I like to find a way to tie off after the top and bottom crosses so that the outer mains will be straighter.
 

MathieuR

Hall of Fame
(almost) always 2-piece.
- mains "straightforward", using a yonex-loop if that brings me closer to the tie-off.
- I always balance/tension-transfer between the mains after tie-off.
- crosses, also "yonex-loop" to get closer to the tie-off (many Wilsons, which tie-off on the 3rd cross)
 

Jster

Professional
You sacrifice the integrity of the strings(wear and tear) by doing an one piece stringing. You hurt the grommets more that way too... according to reliable sources, at the link below.

http://www.tennisindustrymag.com/articles/2012/07/19_the_stringers_file_lucien_n.html

On top of that, I don't think it is ideal for doing a one piece job if the owner of the racket requested two different tension on the mains and crosses because it will cause discrepancy on the string tension on the mains or cross when that particular strand of string is on the verge of switching from mains to crosses, or crosses to mains depending on how you are going to do your job.

HOWEVER, the only modern performace racquets in planet Earth that require only and only one piece stringing are powerangle frames.

So.... there is no 100% right or wrong answers .

The only time I might seriously consider doing one piece stringing is ... the length of the string is a few inches too short for two piece job and tension on the mains and crosses, is the same.


*happens if you forgot to do a inventory check*
 

am1899

Legend
There are other reliable sources who I suspect wouldn't see it the same way.

There's advantages and disadvantages to stringing both ways - 1pc or 2pc. One isn't universally better than the other IMHO.

And it seems to me a bit short sighted to declare 2pc is better than 1pc. There are some real benefits to stringing 1pc, under some circumstances. And likewise for 2pc. It just depends.

On top of that, I don't think it is ideal for doing a one piece job if the owner of the racket requested two different tension on the mains and crosses because it will cause discrepancy on the string tension on the mains or cross when that particular strand of string is on the verge of switching from mains to crosses, or crosses to mains depending on how you are going to do your job.

The relevant discrepancy apparent to me is created when, on a 1pc job, one of the 2 outside mains is tied off, and the other outside main goes to, say the top cross. In this case, your 2 outside mains would not be equally tensioned. Of course, there's ways around that - depending on the racquet.
 
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Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
...The relevant discrepancy apparent to me is created when, on a 1pc job, one of the 2 outside mains is tied off, and the other outside main goes to, say the top cross. In this case, your 2 outside mains would not be equally tensioned. Of course, there's ways around that - depending on the racquet.
Seems like every one has an opinion of how a 1 piece ATW is ran. I occasionally use 1 piece but I never tie off an outside main when I do (with the pattern I'm using now) no matter what racket I'm using. My preference is to string two piece when I can because it is easier and less complicated, and I can string two piece with about the same amount of string as I can with 1 piece. The only real benefit of 1 piece is there are two less knots (and associated drawback) and knots/drawback are not a non-issue for me.
 

am1899

Legend
Nothing wrong with a preference to string one way or the other (1pc or 2pc).

I just take issue with how the gentleman answered the relevant questions in the posted article - he points out (correctly) some of the disadvantages of stringing 1pc...but without acknowledging that there are sometimes downsides to stringing 2pc, or even pointing out that customers sometimes explicitly request "2 knots."

FWIW - the scenario that I outlined, where the short side outside main would be tied off...I wouldn't do that either. I would either find a way to have the short side go to a cross before tying off, or I would string the racquet 2pc. But this 1pc scenario was the only one I could think of where there would be a "discrepancy" in tension, as the other poster was talking about, no?
 

degrease

Rookie
I always string two piece. Never needed to try one piece. If you do string multiple type rackets or different string options two piece covers all bases. No need to worry about stringing crosses starting at the throat(unadviseable) hybrid stringing works same as full beds....it just less complicated
 
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