Racquet stringing frequency for mid/low-tier pros?

[Cochise]

Yeah, I know that top pros can enter each match with at least 6 freshly-strung racquets at various tensions for a single match. This is like NBA players using a new pair of sneakers for each game of the season (some really do do this). I'd imagine that these top pro tennis players will have freshly strung racquets available for training as well. What about the other players? The fact that poly strings can lose their freshness fairly quickly, I've been curious to know what the mid to low tier men and women do in terms of racquet stringing frequency in training.

What do the normal (not god-tier) pros do in training (not just matches)? Do they string up a fresh racquet or two for each training session? Or do they play with a days/weeks-old stringbed until the freshness/pop wears off?

Do they string their own? I'm sure they know how, but do they actually do it?

Any insight would be...insightful

 

[bigmatt]

I've strung for a lot of these guys at Futures events, and almost all of them string at least one racquet per day, whether for practice or matches. Believe it or not, that same stick will often come back broken at the end of the day.
It's a huge investment for a guy who loses money almost every week.

 

[Cochise]

I've strung for a lot of these guys at Futures events, and almost all of them string at least one racquet per day, whether for practice or matches. Believe it or not, that same stick will often come back broken at the end of the day.
It's a huge investment for a guy who loses money almost every week.

I assume they either have string sponsorships or pay out of pocket for reels. But, is it customary to pay or tip the stringers at these events? Or does the tournament cover the labor fees?

 

[PBODY99]

I assume they either have string sponsorship or pay out of pocket for reels. But, is it customary to pay or tip the stringers at these events? Or does the tournament cover the labor fees?

People don't string for free at these events. At a low of 15 dollars and up per frame for labor, it adds up to a sizeable chunk of the small payouts on the futures & Challenger level.

 

[Cochise]

People don't string for free at these events. At a low of 15 dollars and up per frame for labor, it adds up to a sizeable chunk of the small payouts on the futures & Challenger level.

I didn't assume people worked for free. I just didn't know who pays them, the players or the organization sponsoring the event.

Whenever I see interviews or videos of a stringing room, I never see money or credit cards changing hands. Never noticed a cash register. So, I wondered if the stringers just log their work then are paid a flat daily rate or per job. Either way, by the tournament organizers.

When they say "Rafa just sent a racquet back to be strung!" they don't mention his credit card going back there with it

 

[Seth]

I didn't assume people worked for free. I just didn't know who pays them, the players or the organization sponsoring the event.

Whenever I see interviews or videos of a stringing room, I never see money or credit cards changing hands. Never noticed a cash register. So, I wondered if the stringers just log their work then are paid a flat daily rate or per job. Either way, by the tournament organizers.

When they say "Rafa just sent a racquet back to be strung!" they don't mention his credit card going back there with it

I think I've read that each player has something like a credit account with the stringing room. At the end of the tournament their stringing fees are subtracted from their winnings.

 

[Seth]

By the way - good thread, OP.

 

[PBODY99]

I didn't assume people worked for free. I just didn't know who pays them, the players or the organization sponsoring the event.

Whenever I see interviews or videos of a stringing room, I never see money or credit cards changing hands. Never noticed a cash register. So, I wondered if the stringers just log their work then are paid a flat daily rate or per job. Either way, by the tournament organizers.

When they say "Rafa just sent a racquet back to be strung!" they don't mention his credit card going back there with it

Per job,generally. It is rare that the tourney pays, but some may hold the prize money until the
player clears their tab. One way is to run a credit card at the start of the event,hold it along with any string they may leave with you. When they are out they settle up.

 

[wings56]

I think you're going to have a lot of variance with the lower level guys. Outside the top 200 or 300 these guys are pretty much spending more than making. These players are traveling together and sharing rooms and doing whatever they can for minimal cost. Unless sponsored by a tennis federation obviously. It is an extremely non glorious life.

Many of these guys will string their own for day to day but will make sure to have plenty of frames for matches. You'd be surprised at how unprofessional some of these types of players are.

 

[bigmatt]

I assume they either have string sponsorships or pay out of pocket for reels. But, is it customary to pay or tip the stringers at these events? Or does the tournament cover the labor fees?

They pay me directly at these tournaments. Higher-level events can deduct stringing fees from the player's winnings (at a Futures, you may not win enough to cover your stringing costs).
I've never had a tournament pay me for a player's stringing expenses.

 

[West Coast Ace]

What do the normal (not god-tier) pros do in training (not just matches)? Do they string up a fresh racquet or two for each training session? Or do they play with a days/weeks-old stringbed until the freshness/pop wears off?

Do they string their own? I'm sure they know how, but do they actually do it?

Any insight would be...insightful

One of our fellow board members just did an event - he provides some answers:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/stringertoms-secret-mission.561823/

 

[prestigeww]

I was wondering how this works. I am playing my first future in Spain next month and was wondering if they had a stringer on site and at what cost.

 

[Cochise]

They pay me directly at these tournaments. Higher-level events can deduct stringing fees from the player's winnings (at a Futures, you may not win enough to cover your stringing costs).
I've never had a tournament pay me for a player's stringing expenses.

Thanks! That's what I was wondering.

One of our fellow board members just did an event - he provides some answers:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/stringertoms-secret-mission.561823/

Reading now...

 

[Moonballballer]

I was wondering how this works. I am playing my first future in Spain next month and was wondering if they had a stringer on site and at what cost.

Probably 15-20 euros per frame if you bring your own strings.

 

[RDS001]

Probably 15-20 euros per frame if you bring your own strings.

It isn't that expensive, my stringer usually strings at Futures events here in Croatia and he charges not more than 10 euro for labour

Btw these Futures players mostly know less about their equipment then an average tt poster here, some of them have couple of racquets that have way different spec, some don't even know what racquet they are using, others change brands more frequently than average tt hackers and so on.....there is obviously a reason they are where they are, they have great talent, but little to no dedication, knowledge and profesionalism to become great players

 

[bigmatt]

I've always had to charge less at a Futures (usually $15-18) than I could at higher-level events simply because none of these guys are making much money. Catering to the market, you could say. Oh, how I'd love to be able to get Grand Slam rates!
To address the post above, I'd agree that a lot of these guys are less in tune with their stuff than the more highly-ranked players, but there are a few who are quite sensitive. A small number don't even come to the tournament with their own string, so I always carry some with me.