Re-stringing crosses is not advisable???

[ricardo]

Most stringers state that re-stringing just the crosses may crack the racket head. I find this hard to understand. I realize that replacing just the crosses may affect playability. But how does it increase the risk of cracking/deforming the racket head?

When you install fresh strings, you do the mains first and then you do the crosses. A few seconds, minutes, hour or maybe days later you install the crosses.

when the crosses break (mains are still good), you cut out the crosses. This is exactly the same situation when you just completed the mains for a fresh stringjob.

In both situations, you have the mains without the crosses (both fresh and re-string jobs).

Question:
If a fresh stringjob (mains first then crosses later) does not concern any stringer about racket head deformation/cracking, why would re-placing just the crosses do?

 

[athiker]

I've wondered about this as well, and have thought about asking...looking forward to responses.

I've had no need to do it yet, but if I try some quality gut in the mains in a hybrid I won't be too eager to cut them out if I want to try a few different strings in the crosses. I'm not a stringbreaker so the gut could last me a long while.

 

[Irvin]

I find this hard to understand

Most stringers state that re-stringing just the crosses may crack the racket head. No they don't they say it is bad practice for many good reasons. I find this hard to understand...

When the string breaks they are broken. I find it hard to understand how so many people all the time still think they are half good.

Irvin

 

[baseline_monster]

When a string breaks it leaves uneven tension on the frame. for you to leave the mains in and replace the crosses adds different tensions all over the frame and puts more pressure on it making it more likely to crack than if strung properly. The chances of it actually cracking from this is very unlikely however

 

[uk_skippy]

You asked the same question in another thread, so i replied to it there.

Here's a link to my reply

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=4909726&postcount=5

Regards

Paul

 

[beststringer]

it's not big deal to replace the mains. I've tried to replace crosses only on 1 racket that has a crack so I can't sell it or give it to my friends. It just feels weird. (maybe a mental thing). can't have that in my head in matches so i don't do just crosses no more.

 

[Bottom_Edge]

Finally a good answer we can use! Thanks uk_skippy for the info

 

[Irvin]

it's not big deal to replace the mains...

By golly I think you have it. You are right, especially if you are stringing one piece.

Irvin

 

[kiteboard]

Most stringers state that re-stringing just the crosses may crack the racket head. I find this hard to understand. I realize that replacing just the crosses may affect playability. But how does it increase the risk of cracking/deforming the racket head?

When you install fresh strings, you do the mains first and then you do the crosses. A few seconds, minutes, hour or maybe days later you install the crosses.

when the crosses break (mains are still good), you cut out the crosses. This is exactly the same situation when you just completed the mains for a fresh stringjob.

In both situations, you have the mains without the crosses (both fresh and re-string jobs).

Question:
If a fresh stringjob (mains first then crosses later) does not concern any stringer about racket head deformation/cracking, why would re-placing just the crosses do?

You don't wait for the crosses to break, but lock down the frame, then cut the crosses out, so the frame doesn't collapse, and the mains don't lose tens.

 

[ricardo]

My main strings more expensive than my racket..

This is what i did and i did not notice any deformation/crack in my racket after i did it.

Mains = Babolat VS gut ($30 half-set)
X = Wilson Reaction ($4 half-set)
Days used = 10 hours hard hitting
crosses broke but Mains still looks good and tension seems to be holding good as well.

what i did
Replaced just the crosses at same tension as before. Left existing mains alone. No big deal re-stringing mains but cost ($30) is big deal to me. I am not billionaire.

Result
Well and good. plays fine as usual. did not notice any difference in play.

most importantly, my racket did not deform or cracked.

BTW, i string at a very low tensions (45/42) lbs.

thanks for all the responses...i hope my experiment is useful for at least one of you..

 

[Irvin]

This is what i did and i did not notice any deformation/crack in my racket after i did it...

Great! Just curious what is the length of your racket or did you bother to check it after you string the crosses only?

Irvin

 

[ricardo]

it is still 27"

Great! Just curious what is the length of your racket or did you bother to check it after you string the crosses only?

Irvin

I did not measure it before. i just measured it now out of curiosity. the racket label says it should be 27" long and it is.

Did it collapse when i cut the crosses out and left the mains alone? Apparently it did not. It is still 27" long.

Is this true for all racket frames? I don't know.

As in all experiments, you take the risk of the consequences. my racket is more 10 years old and maybe worth $25. I bought it used 3 years ago. I think more current rackets are stronger and can take more pressure.

will i do this on a new racket ($200)? i don't know. however, given enough experimentations, i might.

 

[jim e]

This is what i did and i did not notice any deformation/crack in my racket after i did it.

Mains = Babolat VS gut ($30 half-set)
X = Wilson Reaction ($4 half-set)
Days used = 10 hours hard hitting
crosses broke but Mains still looks good and tension seems to be holding good as well.

what i did
Replaced just the crosses at same tension as before. Left existing mains alone. No big deal re-stringing mains but cost ($30) is big deal to me. I am not billionaire.

Result
Well and good. plays fine as usual. did not notice any difference in play.

most importantly, my racket did not deform or cracked.

BTW, i string at a very low tensions (45/42) lbs.

thanks for all the responses...i hope my experiment is useful for at least one of you..

You had 10 hours of hard hitting, so you have no idea what the tension of the remaining main strings are. According to USRSA lab tests VS gut will lose from 8.31-8.45 lbs. after approx. hit with the force of 5 serves (depending if 16g. 0r 17g. ) , what would be the tension after 10 hours of hard hitting?? Now you install new cross strings, now you like this but will unable to duplicate as not only is the tension lost but also some elastic qualities of the gut(even though gut retains a good amount of its qualities over time).

Even if you don't hurt your racquet, which is always a possibility, as even stringing normally stresses a racquet, it is not the best for your game.
Bottom line this is a non duplicating set up, as the gut has changed since it was 1st installed, and consistancy is what stringing is all about, even for yourself as you should want the strings to feel as consistant as the last string job to help your game so you do not have to change your way of hitting to accomodate the strings playability. If it is for saving a few $ it may be best to string the entire racquet with a more economical set up, so the consistancy can be there.

If you want to save some $, and hit with the same set up, then purchase a complete set of VS gut at TW for $42.95, cut it in 1/2, and there is enough for 2 racquets at $21.48 each, rather than the $30.00 that you pay, and you have a fresh predictable string job.

 

[DownTheLine]

I did this to two of my old APDCs about 3-4 times each and yes they deform. Not a good practice at all.

 

[ricardo]

Is this a permanent deformation?

I did this to two of my old APDCs about 3-4 times each and yes they deform. Not a good practice at all.

When your racket deformed, were they permanently deformed or they went back to their original shape when you did a complete re-string job?

 

[jmverdugo]

There is a local stringer here in my town that couldn't be more careless about proper stringing procedures, he does all of the stringjobs one piece. He starts left to right the mains and starts the crosses wherever the mains ended, one could guess that at least half of the time he does it from bottom to top, as far as I know not a single frame has crack inside his store on while stringing, but I do know a lot of cases of racquet strung by him that out of nowhere cracked while on the owner's bag or while hitting. These racquet usually crack in the same corner where the final tie off knot is. My point is that visually you may not see anything wrong with the frame, maybe your frame will not crack but I am sure some of them will, and my guess is that it would be on the top of the racquet and it could happen while cutting the strings (this is actually just a guess!). There is no way that you can cut the crosses that will not create additional stress on the frame, even if you cut them on the machine you wil have aditional stress.

 

[Irvin]

When your racket deformed, were they permanently deformed or they went back to their original shape when you did a complete re-string job?

FYI, I just got an old Head racket a few days ago to string. He said the guy who originally had the racket had not played with it in 5 years. It was 26.5" long and looked deformed to us. I took the strings out and it went back to 27". I strung it up and all is well.

Irvin

 

[DownTheLine]

Mine stayed distorted.

 

[ricardo]

sorry to hear that...

Mine stayed distorted.

I will be doing full string/half string jobs based on cost/benefit analysis.

If my racket is more expensive than my existing mains, do a full string job.

if my racket is less than cost of existing mains, then replace the cross only.

at my game level (mostly re-creational rallies for fun), duplicating my previous tension setup is not a significant concern.

In addition, i will buy a full set (cheaper) rather than a half-set (more expensive) of babolat vs gut and just cut it in half (20 ft). this way i will save a few bucks.

thanks to all of you for suggestions/pointers/tips...

 

[masterxfob]

i know it's silly, but i'd rather play with a cheaper string i could afford on every new string job.

 

[genius24]

i know it's silly, but i'd rather play with a cheaper string i could afford on every new string job.

me too....