Stocks for a small stringing business

[Suna]

TL;DR: As a small stringing business, can I ask clients to provide their own strings? If not, what do you say is good value/performance strings to carry & resell?

I've gotten myself a stringing machine recently and some hitting partners suggested that I turn that into a business.
I think I might want to try it out, at least during the peak restringing period of April-June next year, once I have enough experience to feel OK charging people for the service.

This brought a question in mind which is:
How should I stock strings if I were to do this?

Buying reels would significantly increase the setup cost of my business, but I feel like asking clients to provide the strings is also not great.
From experience shops in my area that offer stringing services make most of their dough on the string resell (they charge €10 to string in ~48h, €20 for next day stringing) but they have to keep stock anyway.
If I were to order strings on demand, it would make it impossible to string a racket in acceptable time so that's not really an option.

So do you think it's acceptable to ask clients to provide the strings along with the racket?
Or if that's a dealbreaker, what would be the most common strings to carry? (I live in France if anyone's got local knowledge)

I'm guessing I'd need a multi for old people (Velocity MLT or smth), and hyper-g or confidential (or anything from Solinco) for normal people would be good starters?

 

[SavvyStringer]

Some will provide strings in my experience, others will want you to provide.

My suggestion is to start with packs. 5 or 6 strings and a couple gauges each. My starting would be a basic syngut in white (whatever your preference is), Multi (again whatever your preference is I would try to keep it as a midgrade multi not a top end like NRG/NXT or X1 as they cost more), and 3-4 poly options with a couple gauges of each. Probably 1.25 and 1.20 if you're going to go Solinco. My starter poly would be Alu power, RPM blast, Tourbite, and HyperG. So 6 strings x 5 packs x 2 gauges you end up about 60 packs and you can see what you sell of that and reorder that way. You can also just look around while you're on court and notice what people seem to be playing with. HyperG/Mach10 have pretty distinct colors so you can spot them from a mile away.

 

[ProStaffFanatic]

If I were to order strings on demand, it would make it impossible to string a racket in acceptable time so that's not really an option.

It would also be much more expensive. A 200m reel gets you enough string for 18 to 20 rackets. Single sets are a lot more expensive. Just to give an idea...
On my local webshop where I order everything, a single set of 12m Lux Element costs €15. A 200m reel costs €170, which would be just €10 for 12m at that price.

So do you think it's acceptable to ask clients to provide the strings along with the racket?
Or if that's a dealbreaker, what would be the most common strings to carry? (I live in France if anyone's got local knowledge)

I'm guessing I'd need a multi for old people (Velocity MLT or smth), and hyper-g or confidential (or anything from Solinco) for normal people would be good starters?

I do some club stringing not as a business but more as a hobby. Money wise I'm happy if my stringing "profit" basically pays for my own tennis consumables (= balls, strings and club membership).

From my own experience at the local club, I classify players in 3 categories for strings:
1. lower levels who have no idea what they play with, could barely tell a multi from a stiff poly and who are just happy if "it looks nice" and doesn't cost too much. These are also the types of people that need to be reminded that their racket could use a restring or they'll play with the same string for years

2. decent level players who have also have no idea what they play with, perhaps not even the tension it is at, and who just trust the stringer to give them something decent (and will instantly be able to tell you gave them something crappy instead of a decent poly)

3. decent to high level players who know exactly what string they want at what tension. Some will even make demands about how many knots, what type of knots, hybrids, etc.


I have all 3 in my client base.
For category 1, I bought a reel of Velocity MLT and Prince Duraflex synthetic gut. Both cheap yet decent strings, which won't give them tennis elbow or whatever with their crummy techniques. And which will actually also help them a bit with power etc. These people have their frames redone about once a year max.

For category 2, I just give them the string I play with (currently Hyper G, to which I recently switched... it was Luxilon Element previously). These people will ask for a string job perhaps once every two-three months. A bit more frequently in the summer.
For category 3, I just told them I'm not a pro-shop but I'm happy to string for them if they get their own reel. Many of these guys want strings done multiple times a month, so buying reels also makes sense for them financially anyway (and I also explained that to them - ALL of them are economically better of with me for that reason, where the pro-shop charged 35 bucks a pop every time... now it's just 12 euro for my work and their own string from a reel).


For a home stringer, I don't think it makes much sense to invest in all kinds of reels... it would cost me more then my machine did and it would take ages to empty that stock. Perhaps if my volume would go up big time I might change my mind about that. But at the current rate it just makes no sense. I'm also not looking to drastically increase that volume. It's mostly through word of mouth that new players reach me. I think I could up the work a lot if I would actively advertise my services though. But I'm not sure if I want to... I'm please with the workload as it is... it basically pays for my own tennis, that's enough for me.

 

[MaxSwing]

I am a low volume home stringer but have advertised locally with a small number of people contacting me. When I first started I followed the rules like @ProStaffFanatic and bought the following reels:

1. Really cheap syn gut in white (primarily for testing but also for player style 1)
2. Babolat Syn Gut in natural (used across style 1 and 2)
3. Babolat RPM blast (style 2 and 3 to an extent)
4. Wilson Sensation (primarily for a couple of club members who fall into style 3)

Since then I have bought:

• a few single sets for players who I didnt think would return and wanted specific string
• a yellow cheap syn gut reel (for style 1 but sometimes me too when I fancy it!)
• a soft poly reel (for a couple of customers who were worried about tennis elbow but still wanted poly)
• a cheaper shaped poly - according to tennis warehouse uni string comparison it is very similar to RPM Blast but hex shaped, mainly for style 2 as its cheaper than RPM blast

I would love to carry more variety of string but dont think my volume is high enough to warrant it. I have one customer who keeps changing what string is his style and he now brings me the reel of the month or sets and I charge minimal effort to string.

 

[Jpipes8787]

1. lower levels who have no idea what they play with, could barely tell a multi from a stiff poly and who are just happy if "it looks nice" and doesn't cost too much. These are also the types of people that need to be reminded that their racket could use a restring or they'll play with the same string for years

Like 75% of the people i string for fall into this category.....Prince Lighting Pro/Wasabi X (or any other round slick poly) is my go-to setup

 

[Suna]

Thanks for the insight, so what I gather is if I want to start this business, I'm still looking at spending ~€400-€500 that I'd need to recoup throughout the season, but if I'm charging €25 for the job + strings, I'd be in the money after ~30 orders.
Is that correct? And is it likely that I'd get that many rackets to string just from word to mouth working ~3 months in the summer ?

 

[ProStaffFanatic]

Thanks for the insight, so what I gather is if I want to start this business, I'm still looking at spending ~€400-€500 that I'd need to recoup throughout the season, but if I'm charging €25 for the job + strings, I'd be in the money after ~30 orders.

I charge 20 or 25, depending on the string. With their own string I charge 12. Find out what they currently pay in your area.

Is that correct? And is it likely that I'd get that many rackets to string just from word to mouth working ~3 months in the summer ?

Well, it depends how easy it is to convince them to give you there frames. Over here, there aren't many stringers. Most people did a 15min drive to a pro shop where it usually takes several days before the job is done. There is one club stringer but people kind of agree he doesn't do a good job.

I started doing the frames of my hitting partners. They were pleased with my work and told there friends. But some are simply loyal to the guy they were already with.

For most, giving me their frames is primarily convenience. I live close to the club, am often at the club and they know that their strings are done within 24h. And they are also pleased with my work.

At another club I also play at, they have a high quality in house stringer who does nothing else. There is nearly no way to convince people there to let me do their frames. The in house dude is simply too convenient.

 

[Suna]

In my club, most people that care go to a shop that's ~10-15min away from the club. But you have to wait around 3 days or more at the start of the outdoor season. They charge €10 for the labor, and another shop close to this one charges €15.

The club itself doesn't have a stringer, so I was thinking of proposing my services to the people I see often around the club that seldom restring and my regular hitting partners. Though that might not be a very steady stream of clients if I don't advertise online.

 

[ProStaffFanatic]

The club itself doesn't have a stringer, so I was thinking of proposing my services to the people I see often around the club that seldom restring and my regular hitting partners. Though that might not be a very steady stream of clients if I don't advertise online.

Well, you have to start somewhere. That the club doesn't have a stringer is in your benefit.
It might be as easy as leaving a few folders / business cards at the club. Doesn't it have some notice board or something alike? Or just hand them out.

If you are really looking to up the volume, you have to ask yourself what you bring to the table also. Why should they give you their frames instead of the shop where they currently go?
You say you just recently got a machine. I take it that means that you haven't done a lot of rackets yet and thus might be lacking in experience? As a player at your club, that's what I would question: a lack of experience, will it be good?
Trying to become the club stringer, reputation is everything. Mess up a job and word will spread quickly.

You're trying to break into a space where you are not "needed". After all, every player at your club has strings in their racket with or without you
So why should they come to you instead? It's an important question.

Convenience will certainly be a factor with many: not having to go to the shop, not having to wait 3-4 days. Price will be another. Quality of work will also be important.

For myself, I play the convenience card a lot. A priori trust is something I have gotten "for free" tbh. I played the finals of the club championships, play in the first interclub team, won the club tournament,.. so people know who I am and I made sure everybody knows I've been stringing my own rackets since I was 12 years old. So they think "well, if his string jobs are good enough for him...."
I also started coaching at the club and try to be involved in club events etc. All those things help. The more people know you, the easier it becomes.

 

[McLovin]

And is it likely that I'd get that many rackets to string just from word to mouth working ~3 months in the summer ?

One thing I’ve found (and it goes to @ProStaffFanatic ’s “type 1” player) is that it is feast-or-famine. I’ll go 3 months with maybe 1 or 2 requests, then in a week I’ll have 8-10.

What I suspect happens is a player breaks a string (after having it in there for a year), and contacts me to drop it off. The other 3 ladies (it’s almost always the ladies) on the court think “huh…I haven’t had mine restrung in a while…”, and also drop theirs off.

Then they go out & play with a different bunch of ladies, and play well (maybe due to the new string, maybe not). They mention how they had their racquet recently restrung…wash, rinse, repeat.

 

[MaxSwing]

Agreed with all that. Similar for me that there are very few 'local' shops that string, I only started stringing because of this - having to wait days for a return was painful. Plus with no club stringer it made some sense. I played social sessions, was in the 1st teams for mens and mixed and took part in the internal champs winning a couple of times so very similar people 'knew' me in the club.

I started with just a few friends and other 1st team players then once I was more confident I opened up to rest of club and word spread quickly, one of the coaches then started using me for all their customers which helped. I started with low costs and saying if any breaks early then I restring for free to gain experience. Now my prices are ok but can usually string same day or within 24 hours. About the only issue is that I live in the next village over from the club but I regularly am passing through due to kids activities so generally swing by to collect / drop off.

In UK but I charge £15 for syn gut, £25 for poly, £15 for labour if strings provided.

I dont think I have quite yet broken even after 4 years but as mentioned many times I am low volume as the club is not big and I have counted the cost of the stringing machine in there. However realistically I could sell that as almost same price I purchased so I am guessing I have technically made money so far... at least that is what I tell the wife

 

[Suna]

Same as you, I'd push the convenience factor to get clients to come in, from what I can tell, the majority of the people in my club don't think about strings that much, if ever.

I'm not looking to get into the business just yet, I'm not happy enough with the quality of my job to bill people for it, but I'm confident that in ~ a year that will be solved.
At the moment I'm stringing for myself ~2-3 rackets a month, and it's getting closer and closer to proper stringing and fast enough for this not be a total waste of my time.

This whole thread is also to get some knowledge around what it would cost me to seriously go down that road, even at a small scale.

 

[ichaseballs]

TL;DR: As a small stringing business, can I ask clients to provide their own strings? If not, what do you say is good value/performance strings to carry & resell?

I've gotten myself a stringing machine recently and some hitting partners suggested that I turn that into a business.
I think I might want to try it out, at least during the peak restringing period of April-June next year, once I have enough experience to feel OK charging people for the service.

This brought a question in mind which is:
How should I stock strings if I were to do this?

Buying reels would significantly increase the setup cost of my business, but I feel like asking clients to provide the strings is also not great.
From experience shops in my area that offer stringing services make most of their dough on the string resell (they charge €10 to string in ~48h, €20 for next day stringing) but they have to keep stock anyway.
If I were to order strings on demand, it would make it impossible to string a racket in acceptable time so that's not really an option.

So do you think it's acceptable to ask clients to provide the strings along with the racket?
Or if that's a dealbreaker, what would be the most common strings to carry? (I live in France if anyone's got local knowledge)

I'm guessing I'd need a multi for old people (Velocity MLT or smth), and hyper-g or confidential (or anything from Solinco) for normal people would be good starters?

Stringing is not very profitable. But its a great way to get people in the store. (A bit like the Costco hot dog & chicken)
Obviously there is the stringing time, but you will also spend time talking to, advising, and meeting people.

What machine are you using?

Figure out your turnaround time and if to charge for rush service. This will be your biggest question from most people (besides cost). A lot of people expect you as a home stringer to turn it around immediately.

Many people will not have strings. So it is highly recommended to carry a few. You can earn a little bit of extra money selling the string.
A lot of people want you to help recommend a string anyways, so whatever you carry should be fine.
look into finding wholesale distributors for better prices. being a home stringer should qualify.
Buying a reel is ideal, and easier to work with string that has less tight coil memory

string suggestions:

• Syn Gut (Babolat or Tecnifibre)
• Low Power Multi (firm) ex: Multifeel
• High Power Multi (soft, comfort) ex: NRG2
• Hyper G, RPM Blast, Yonex PTP (in this order)

 

[Suna]

Stringing is not a very profitable business. But its great to sell tennis merchandise and to get people in the store.

That's what I gather, the margins are low, most of the cash really comes from the string sells.

What machine are you using?

A Pro's Pro Challenger dropweight machine

 

[ichaseballs]

think of stringing as a public service and you will be okay.
you will be shocked how little profit there is. your time is not free, and you will be surprised the amount of time required outside of the literal 'stringing' part.

 

[MaxSwing]

Yeah definitely not making money doing this, unless you happen to be in a major city or with very large sports clubs on your doorstep but then you need to be a 'pro shop' with high end machine and lots of stock.

I just like it as a hobby, it pays for my tennis uses (membership, restringing, new frames once in a blue moon etc) and I am helping friends and other members in the club.

 

[Suna]

it pays for my tennis uses (membership, restringing, new frames once in a blue moon etc)

This is what I mean by "making money".
I'm not looking to make this my full time job, but if I can absorb some of the money I spend on tennis anyway by using some of my time after work, that's good with me

 

[MaxSwing]

Absolutely, you will have to charge less when you start as you learn the processes. Make sure you watch the videos on here to learn from the 'masters' and be careful on what videos you try and learn from on YT as some offer really bad advice! Then once you are confident and your customers are happy then you can start to increase pricing. I think I started at £10 for a basic syn gut restring, £12.50 for hybrid and £15 for poly.

Ironically I started on a challenger drop weight machine but it was 2nd hand when I bought it and not well looked after and after solving a few mechanical niggles on it I just found it slowed my process once I got better. It does the job but at some point you have to spend some better money to get a machine that makes it easier / more enjoyable.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...chniques-machines-sticky-consolidated.349814/

 

[ProStaffFanatic]

Yeah definitely not making money doing this, unless you happen to be in a major city or with very large sports clubs on your doorstep but then you need to be a 'pro shop' with high end machine and lots of stock.

I just like it as a hobby, it pays for my tennis uses (membership, restringing, new frames once in a blue moon etc) and I am helping friends and other members in the club.

Totally. I just like fiddling around with frames. And there is something about stringing I find very relaxing.
For myself, it's even a semi-ritual pre match. I always carry at least one frame with fresh strings and fresh overgrip in my bag.
I feel "naked" when I don't lol.

I never start the match with it though. It's like my "mental reset" button when things aren't going my way. Fresh frame, fresh strings, fresh grip = fresh start.

But there is no big money in it. Perhaps if you are a pro among the pro's and string at ATP events or alike? Even then it's not going to make you rich.
I think that for most shops who provide string service, more often then not it's mostly to lure people to the shop hoping they'll buy other things while there.

 

[SavvyStringer]

Yeah definitely not making money doing this, unless you happen to be in a major city or with very large sports clubs on your doorstep but then you need to be a 'pro shop' with high end machine and lots of stock.

I just like it as a hobby, it pays for my tennis uses (membership, restringing, new frames once in a blue moon etc) and I am helping friends and other members in the club.

I'm glad someone has finally said it. Particularly if you're not incredibly efficient at stringing and don't get great deals on string, it's not necessarily a money making venture. I string college, pro, and for regular folks at home. I have two Baiardos, a PTC, a Head 3-in-1, and a Baiardo Tune Pro. It typically takes me far less than 20 mins a frame. Last year on pure labor fees at home I "made" just over 4k. I live in a very oversaturated area as far as basement stringers (I guess technically I am one too since I string out of my house). There are guys I play with on some of my league teams stringing on 20 year old crank machines doing far more rackets a year for local players than I do.

You can for sure recoup some cost but as a home stringer as a true money making venture, it's unlikely unless you have something like a college or club you're stringing for to give you really consistent volume. That's how I ended up with so much equipment to begin with. I was stringing for men's and women's college tennis teams and it made sense for me to sacrifice some profit to purchase top end equipment because I would recoup it. If I were doing it off my regular clients it would take years to recoup equipment cost alone.

 

[ProStaffFanatic]

I'm glad someone has finally said it. Particularly if you're not incredibly efficient at stringing and don't get great deals on string, it's not necessarily a money making venture. I string college, pro, and for regular folks at home. I have two Baiardos, a PTC, a Head 3-in-1, and a Baiardo Tune Pro. It typically takes me far less than 20 mins a frame. Last year on pure labor fees at home I "made" just over 4k. I live in a very oversaturated area as far as basement stringers (I guess technically I am one too since I string out of my house). There are guys I play with on some of my league teams stringing on 20 year old crank machines doing far more rackets a year for local players than I do.

You can for sure recoup some cost but as a home stringer as a true money making venture, it's unlikely unless you have something like a college or club you're stringing for to give you really consistent volume. That's how I ended up with so much equipment to begin with. I was stringing for men's and women's college tennis teams and it made sense for me to sacrifice some profit to purchase top end equipment because I would recoup it. If I were doing it off my regular clients it would take years to recoup equipment cost alone.

I'ld sooner make my investment for my machine back on the money I save of not having to let my own frames done, then from the money I make stringing for others, tbh
As said I could go for more volume if I really wanted to, but frankly it's sh*tty pay if you look at it as a "job".

To be somewhat competitive with other stringers in the area, and after subtracting the cost of the strings - and not even counting the cost of the machine itself - I'ld be averaging about 20-25 euro per hour. That's just ridiculous.
But not looking at it as a job and instead a hobby, then that's pretty great. Like for @MaxSwing it's enough such that it pays for my own tennis + some extra cash on top of that in the summer season. And that's pretty neat I think. I get to have 2 fun hobbies, and one is paying for the other. Pretty cool!

 

[cks]

There are guys I play with on some of my league teams stringing on 20 year old crank machines doing far more rackets a year for local players than I do.

wow

You can for sure recoup some cost but as a home stringer as a true money making venture, it's unlikely unless you have something like a college or club you're stringing for to give you really consistent volume.

Yep. I'm a home stringer and looking to offset my tennis hobby costs. Like others, I have a day job that pays the bills, but I do enjoying strings by buddies rackets for a few extra bucks.

That's how I ended up with so much equipment to begin with. I was stringing for men's and women's college tennis teams

You sound like Herb. He put out a youtube video explaining how he got into stringing, and how he increased it. He was stringing for the local college team, and had contacts to string for some of the visiting teams.

 

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

I usually provide my own string whenever I get a racket done. Even at a pro shop since I usually get strings for cheaper on my own. But if I had to choose it would make more sense to provide string for someone's side hustle given that an actual shop usually has what I'd prefer.

I wouldn't think much about asking prospective clients to supply their own string, it's not uncommon in your situation. It would also help to ask around your local prospective client base what they use and you can make educated choices for what reels to stock. In time and after enough clients you'll know what makes sense to provide. If I had to think about it I don't think my tennis network (40+ players) use more than 7/8 different strings altogether so stocking a wall full of options won't make sense if I were a stringer.

Also, if this is a word of mouth business within your group that's one thing. But if you want to actively market your services on Marketplace or Craigslist, etc. you could ask them to state their preference and then go get that string yourself and charge them for it. Again, in time you'll have a good feel for what you should keep reels of. Be patient, don't overthink it.

 

[LOBALOT]

I started out from nothing to stringing quite a bit with a substantial inventory of string all grown incrementally from proceeds from pervious stringing I have done. My recommendation is like all businesses first make sure you have a customer base and then ask/understand your target audience and then stock for that audience otherwise you will have string no one who comes to you wants.

Someone here suggested I start out with a good synthetic gut like Gosen OGSM which I bought reels of in 16G and 17G and which I still have 8+ years later as no one wants to use it.

I string very little RPM. I stock it now but it is an older string and most players who that string would be a target moved on long ago to Solinco and other brands. Same with Luxilon. TF multis are nice but costly so I would start out with cheaper multis.

If you are stringing for older players then it makes no sense to have an inventory full of Solinco Hyper G, Confidential, Tour Bite, etc. which young tournament kid and advanced younger players predominately use. Likewise if you predominately will string for junior players I would stock those types of strings and not softer setups that favor older rec players.

For older adults as a primary audience I would buy a few packets of Head Velocity 16G and Icospeed Cream/True Pro Ghostwire 17G for hybrids and a few packets of 16L Hyper G Soft and16G Cyclone for full bed poly users and perhaps some Hyper G 16L in case a kid rings your doorbell.

Evaluate and adjust based on your customers but I would stock thoughtfully and cautiously at first based on expected demand and then expand and cover your base as you grow.

 

[Dags]

My sentiment is the same as @LOBALOT - understand what your local crowd uses and start small. My experiences (some of which are the same as the above, some of which are different... and that's kind of the point that you need to understand your local market):

- RPM is my most popular string, and it's not even close. I go through more of that than everything else put together.
- Head Velocity has become consistently requested.
- Certain polys go in and out of fashion quickly. I think colour matters more than people would care to admit. I try to avoid the bright colours unless there's proven demand for that string, people tend to get sick of it and want to try something else far more quickly than they do with black.
- I rarely string synthetic gut now. I still have a reel, but the handful of people who use it grew up with it and don't restring all that often. I actually quite like synthetic gut, but with softer polys now available and multis like Velocity at a good price point, I've found people view it as old technology. I doubt I'll replace the reel... if I ever finish it.
- Hybrids used to be quite popular, but I don't do many now.
- The little spike in natural gut has also quietened. It's a combination of price increase and Roger retiring... and probably the British weather.
- I have some players who want a cheap option, but most will gravitate towards a brand they know. Even a growing brand like Solinco is often unheard of by people who don't spend time on message boards or watching YouTube reviews.

Start small. I'm pretty sure we've all been stuck with a few reels over the years when we picked up something at a good price or because it was flavour of the month. It might be one of those unteachable lessons that we have to experience first hand, but maybe if enough of us warn about it we'll eventually save someone!

 

[blai212]

get the strings that you like. Pluck the one you like best of every type. Carry at least 2 gauges. First of all, let’s set things straight, RPM is overpriced garbage. Gosen OGSM 16g/17g is the go-to synthetic gut. ALU great for playability, 4G good for durability. HG 1.25/1.20 good for spin/control/playability duration. SPPP 1.18 is amazing round poly cross thats cheap and pairs well with shaped main. X-1 biphase or NXT for comfort multi (I prefer X-1). Probably stay away from yonex strings because $23 per pack is quite absurd.

 

[Dags]

get the strings that you like. Pluck the one you like best of every type. Carry at least 2 gauges. First of all, let’s set things straight, RPM is overpriced garbage. Gosen OGSM 16g/17g is the go-to synthetic gut. ALU great for playability, 4G good for durability. HG 1.25/1.20 good for spin/control/playability duration. SPPP 1.18 is amazing round poly cross thats cheap and pairs well with shaped main. X-1 biphase or NXT for comfort multi (I prefer X-1). Probably stay away from yonex strings because $23 per pack is quite absurd.

This post is a good example of why the local market is so important.

Gosen OGSM would cost me £80 for a 200m reel. PSGD is much a better prospect at £70 for anyone wishing to still carry synthetic gut in 2026, coming in both cheaper and with brand recognition. Yonex PTP is reasonable value at £85. Some may consider RPM Blast garbage, but the £125 over here isn't terribly overpriced compared to the competition.

Buying the strings that you like is sound advice. Sometimes if you get stuck with a reel, the best way to get rid of it is to use it yourself.

 

[ichaseballs]

OP is in France, and I remember hearing somewhere that French players love using Babolat and TF. (both brands making most of their strings in France)
Hence why I suggested those brands for his local market.

 

[JW10S]

I know a teaching pro who started stringing as a side hustle, it has now become much more than that. He strings racquets every day, I know a few pro shops that don't do that. He carries 2 strings; Wilson NXT multifilament and a polyester, I forget which brand, but the poly is white because that and the near white NXT will go with most any racquet colors. There are too many brands and options for a small-time stringer to carry a large stock to please everyone. He strings for his clients and others are by word of mouth. He encourages his rec players to use NXT because he does not feel poly works for most rec players. Plus, NXT has a big mark-up. So, if you go to him, you'll get full NXT, full poly, or a hybrid of both. If you want something else you have to bring it to him, which he will happily string up for the cost of labor. He may be an extreme example, but I think if you keep things simple it can work. 'This is what I offer, take it or leave it'.

 

[ProStaffFanatic]

I know a teaching pro who started stringing as a side hustle, it has now become much more than that. He strings racquets every day, I know a few pro shops that don't do that. He carries 2 strings; Wilson NXT multifilament and a polyester, I forget which brand, but the poly is white because that and the near white NXT will go with most any racquet colors. There are too many brands and options for a small-time stringer to carry a large stock to please everyone. He strings for his clients and others are by word of mouth. He encourages his rec players to use NXT because he does not feel poly works for most rec players. Plus, NXT has a big mark-up. So, if you go to him, you'll get full NXT, full poly, or a hybrid of both. If you want something else you have to bring it to him, which he will happily string up for the cost of labor. He may be an extreme example, but I think if you keep things simple it can work. 'This is what I offer, take it or leave it'.

I pretty much do the same thing. I carry a prince syngut, velocity mlt and the poly I play with myself. Want something specific - bring it yourself. I have two players who just gave me their reels and I store it for them.

I'm also of the opinion most lower level recs should stay clear of poly. They don't have the strokes to take advantage of those strings anyway. On top of that, they restring once a year max so they just end up playing most of the year with dead poly and kill their elbows.

 

[SavvyStringer]

wow


Yep. I'm a home stringer and looking to offset my tennis hobby costs. Like others, I have a day job that pays the bills, but I do enjoying strings by buddies rackets for a few extra bucks.

You sound like Herb. He put out a youtube video explaining how he got into stringing, and how he increased it. He was stringing for the local college team, and had contacts to string for some of the visiting teams.

I got into college stuff while I was still in college and kept at it for 10 years. Took a couple years off from college after a career change and went back last fall for just the men's team. I did 479 for our men's team this spring, 57 for the women's team when their stringer was out of town or needed some help, and 279 for visiting teams. I didn't track visiting teams previously I just did whatever came but decided to track them this year to see how much I actually did. I was very surprised at the total volume. Typically the home stringer strings for the visiting teams so I've been doing that for years but based on being with both teams for so long and actually working full-time with the teams for 4 years in a position where I was communicating with other teams coaches, most of them call to check my availability before they come. I had calls the last couple years even while I was technically out of college tennis to still string for some of the visiting teams because it's what their coaches wanted.