[Request] Can anyone post a video of stringing synthetic gut/multifilament with a drop weight and floating clamps?

[thatoneguy1992]

I have a the basic 2 point mount Gamma X-2 drop weight stringer and stringing synthetic gut/multifilaments have been unpredictable for me and that's because the string stretches and so the drop weight keeps dropping after leveling the drop weight. In the end it's caused me to sometimes have a very round racquet head afterwards and it bothers me because I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing wrong as even when triple checking that I mounted it correctly and that my floating clamps are nice and firm, it can still deform. I have absolutely no problems stringing poly on the racquets and I'm pretty sure that's because poly doesn't stretch as much. But yeah, I was wondering if anyone could help me out and record themselves stringing a racquet with synthetic gut/multifilaments on a drop weight machine and floating clamps. Like from the start and show me how the drop weight is supposed to act when strung correctly because sometimes the string just keeps stretching and it has me so paranoid lately. All help is very much appreciated! [:


I'm going to try to prestretch the string this time to hopefully remove some of that excess stretch. I usually string Head Velocity MLT.I don't think my issue is with "slack" of the string wrapped around the gripper because that slack usually goes away while dropping the weight.


I have tried searching for videos on this but most videos I've found are stringing poly or not using a drop weight.

 

[TagUrIt]

With a softer strings like synthetic gut and multi it will be difficult to get an accurate tension. You could try raising the tension on the bar to compensate for the stretching. Also clean you clamps with rubbing alcohol every 5-8 string jobs.


Now with all that being said, I'm going to tell you the truth, but probably not what you want to hear about stringing. My stringing journey started with a 6 point dropweight stringing machine with floating clamps. Floating clamps flat out suck, they make stringing more difficult than it needs to be. If you really want to string efficiently, get a crank machine with fixed clamps. I upgraded to a 6 point crank machine with fixed clamps and it was a drastic improvement to what I had before. The stringing was faster and tension was more accurate. After stringing for sometime, you will (like we all do) eventually end up with some form of electronic pulling machine. Just recently I got a Wise Tensioner (electronic constant pull) and I've since realized that ALL non-constant pull stringing machines are pretty much inaccurate when it comes to the string tension. Yes I completely understand that all of the options are more expensive, but you can get a used crank machine or find one on sale. Complete disclosure, I bought my Wise Tensioner as a Christmas gift to myself using the "Afterpay" option from Tennis Warehouse. Afterpay allows you to make 4 payments for an item over time, interest free, but you still get the item shipped to you. Probably more than you asked for and I'm not trying to discourage you about stringing, just sharing my honest opinion and experiences.

 

[thatoneguy1992]

With a softer strings like synthetic gut and multi it will be difficult to get an accurate tension. You could try raising the tension on the bar to compensate for the stretching. Also clean you clamps with rubbing alcohol every 5-8 string jobs.


Now with all that being said, I'm going to tell you the truth, but probably not what you want to hear about stringing. My stringing journey started with a 6 point dropweight stringing machine with floating clamps. Floating clamps flat out suck, they make stringing more difficult than it needs to be. If you really want to string efficiently, get a crank machine with fixed clamps. I upgraded to a 6 point crank machine with fixed clamps and it was a drastic improvement to what I had before. The stringing was faster and tension was more accurate. After stringing for sometime, you will (like we all do) eventually end up with some form of electronic pulling machine. Just recently I got a Wise Tensioner (electronic constant pull) and I've since realized that ALL non-constant pull stringing machines are pretty much inaccurate when it comes to the string tension. Yes I completely understand that all of the options are more expensive, but you can get a used crank machine or find one on sale. Complete disclosure, I bought my Wise Tensioner as a Christmas gift to myself using the "Afterpay" option from Tennis Warehouse. Afterpay allows you to make 4 payments for an item over time, interest free, but you still get the item shipped to you. Probably more than you asked for and I'm not trying to discourage you about stringing, just sharing my honest opinion and experiences.

Yes, I clean my clamps every so often. I've been stringing for over 2 years. It's just stringing synthetic gut/multis that scares me with my stringer. I plan to upgrade to a nicer 6 point mount in the future, just not any time soon because I'm not playing much tennis. It's not so much the tension maintenance that I'm worried about, it's the warping of the racquet. I'll check that the racquet is mounted correctly and the mounts are tightly screwed into the bar but even with that, the synthetic gut/multis still constantly stretch and drops the drop weight. I'm going to string again and stretch my string first and see if that makes any difference

 

[esm]

I have a the basic 2 point mount Gamma X-2 drop weight stringer and stringing synthetic gut/multifilaments have been unpredictable for me and that's because the string stretches and so the drop weight keeps dropping after leveling the drop weight. In the end it's caused me to sometimes have a very round racquet head afterwards and it bothers me because I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing wrong as even when triple checking that I mounted it correctly and that my floating clamps are nice and firm, it can still deform.

sorry to hear that - thats interesting for you with the syn gut/multi.
i came from an X-2 and never had an issue with syn gut/multi - is it possible to check both the top mounts and the side screws for the bottom bracket (where it meets the sliding bar), to ensure both are mounted/screwed tightly enough.
@Irvin has done a couple of X-2 videos, but i think they were with poly.... maybe he can provide some more troubleshooting ideas (or make one more X-2 video for ya)

 

[Irvin]

@thatoneguy1992 any particular tension and gauge string you would like to see used? My first advice would be to get some good clamps. I have Pro-Stringer Claws but I’ve heard Stringway clamps are good.

 

[Irvin]

I have absolutely no problems stringing poly on the racquets and I'm pretty sure that's because poly doesn't stretch as much. But yeah, I was wondering if anyone could help me out and record themselves stringing a racquet with synthetic gut/multifilaments on a drop weight machine and floating clamps. Like from the start and show me how the drop weight is supposed to act when strung correctly because sometimes the string just keeps stretching and it has me so paranoid lately.

Any normal tennis string is going to stretch. As the string stretches the stretch gets slower and slower with time. But for the life of a string once it is stretched out the string will relax over time. Stretch the string and clamp it with a consistent motion. Don’t tension it remove the clamp and watch to see if the DW arm falls because that’s a given. The stiffer the string the slower the fall.

 

[esgee48]

I assume you are
[1] pulling tension on cross until bar stops moving and is level
[2] move cross string down and up, then clamp
If you do not do [2], your cross string is not at ref tension across the length of the string. Friction with the mains prevent this unless you move the cross.

 

[thatoneguy1992]

I assume you are
[1] pulling tension on cross until bar stops moving and is level
[2] move cross string down and up, then clamp
If you do not do [2], your cross string is not at ref tension across the length of the string. Friction with the mains prevent this unless you move the cross.

I'm talking about stringing the mains with synthetic gut or multifilaments

 

[LocNetMonster]

Like @esm I have an X-2. I had zero problems in regards to tension stringing multi, poly and natural gut with it. As @Irvin wrote "The stiffer the string the slower the fall" and depending on its properties, some soft strings will fall more or less than others. Sounds like you need to give the bar more time to settle and make micro adjustments until the bar level before you clamp. If you trying to break speed records, sorry but the X-2 is not the machine to do that on. For a consistent string bed you really want to let the bar hang 3-5 seconds, do its thing (fall slowly until it stops), raise it again and wait, ... repeat until the bar settles at level. Consider posting a video of you stringing so we can see your technique and make recommendations based on what you are doing now.

 

[Irvin]

@thatoneguy1992 Something no one seems to be talking about is the gripper. I doubt the string is causing the stretch so your problem is either the clamps or the tension gripper. Since you cleaned the clamps you may want to take the gripper off for a good cleaning. I'll PM you some videos shortly.

You can test the gripper by holding or marking the slack string coming out of the gripper to see if the string is moving.

 

[struggle]

I've never known a gripper to cause stretch. EVER.

The ONLY thing that can stretch is the string, and it does so based on it's own properties alone.

The clamps or gripper might slip, but they will never cause stretch. EVER.

 

[esgee48]

"Round racquet head" was described in opening post. That can be caused by not mounting the frame properly at 6 and 12. Do you have problems taking strung racquet off the the machine when you are finished? If you do, you did not mount the frame correctly because the hoop is collapsing. The other normal cause is when you do NOT get enough ref tension on your crosses. [See post#7]

Clean your gripper if you think the string is stretching too much. Mark the string and see if the mark moves from the gripper. The string could be slipping thru the gripper.

 

[jugheadfla]

I have an X-2 and never had a problem tensioning multi's nor NG. If you let the bar drop slightly, while still holding it you can tell when the string isn't going to stretch any more. Typically, when all of the slack is out of the string and I start feeling some tension I will usually let the bar go and it will very slowly stretch some more. Usually the very next gripper click will be the one to keep it level without stretching. My biggest issue is usually the knots. Can't tell you how many times I get to the very last main knot and pop, then anguish. Just have to be gentle and not pull the knot too tight.

 

[Rabbit]

I've never known a gripper to cause stretch. EVER.

The ONLY thing that can stretch is the string, and it does so based on it's own properties alone.

The clamps or gripper might slip, but they will never cause stretch. EVER.

Yeah, unless the gripper is two pieces and one piece moves independent of the other, there is simply no way a gripper can cause stretching.

 

[taylor15]

Not my video, but this guy is putting gut in the crosses on this PP

 

[thatoneguy1992]

[SOLVED] Ok so I found the error. After wrapping the string around the gripper, I wasn't rotating enough to remove the slack. After rotating the gripper more I was able to tension after dropping the weight once with few adjustments AND the drop bar no longer constantly drops after leveling. A HUGE shoutout to @Irvin for helping me out and showing me his stringing process with a Gamma X-2 drop weight! [:

 

[jugheadfla]

[SOLVED] Ok so I found the error. After wrapping the string around the gripper, I wasn't rotating enough to remove the slack. After rotating the gripper more I was able to tension after dropping the weight once with few adjustments AND the drop bar no longer constantly drops after leveling. A HUGE shoutout to @Irvin for helping me out and showing me his stringing process with a Gamma X-2 drop weight! [:

yup, I posted about this type of issue last year https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/gamma-x-2-gripper-slip.675017/

 

[Irvin]

When stringing with a drop weight you are going to run into a catch-22. I made some videos for @thatoneguy1992 using multi, syn gut, and ZX strings. When stretching ZX I believe I noticed the real problem. ZX offers a lot of resistance to stretching when the bar is > 45 degrees up from level. But as you leave the bar to drop from a high level the ZX string just stretches slowly. As the bar is up around 50 degrees the pulling force is about 60% of reference tension but the string still stretches. As the bar falls closer to level the leverage force of the DW increases and the string stretches. And the more elastic the string the more it stretches and stretches. Sitting any waiting for a minutes on each tension pull IMO is completely out of the question.

Then you have the issue of holding the gripper with your hand. If you want to build up your grip and forearm I suggest getting a DW. The higher the tension the harder that drum is to hold. If your DW bar is just a little low and you can’t hold nearly 60# of tension with the drum you must lift the bar higher which lowers tension but while the tension is still high the drum turns too. If you have to raise the bar too high you’re taking away a lot of leverage by dropping the torque force. Like I said it’s a catch-22.

At first I thought it would be a good idea to put a bolt head on the drum to hold the drum from turning. Ruled that out pretty quick though. I wondered if a strap wrench would work. So off to Harbor freight I went to buy a set of 2 strap wrenches for $5. Wow even using the small strap wrench with finger pressure I think I can torque a string tight enough to break the string.

Now I can put the string in the gripper and using the strap wrench get enough tension on the string with strap wrench so I never have to lift the bar over 1 or 2 clicks above level. Holding the drum with the strap wrench the drum never turns. If the bar falls below level I lift it again and allow it to fall slowly. This keeps the pulling force on the string constantly closer to reference tension and maximizes the time required to tension the string.

If you’re using a stiff string like poly which stretches less you really don’t need a strap wrench.