String breakage...

[MTZ]

I got a friend who breaks strings about every 2 weeks. Usually the same spot on the mains. He usually has his strings restrungs at a local racquet shop. I have been in the shop and the owner has a very sophisticated stringing machine, I beleive it was a Balabot. the owner does all the stringing, and strings lots of racquets for lots of different people, so he has lots of different strings. He has tried a bunch of different string types/brands/guages, usually either 16, 15, or 15L gauges, with same results. This has been going on for years.

He was in a bind and asked me to string his racquets for him, I have a $500 crank machine and usually do my racquets and a few other people's racquets. I have been stringing, mainly for myself, for about 10 years, and dont claim to be a better stringer than the shop owner. I also dont have a bunch of different strings and tools as the shop does. I used 16g with the same tension as the shop on two racquets, and they strings lasted just about 2 months before breaking. He says the racquet felt just the same as when he has it done by the shop.

We were talking and he seems to think that I may be stringing a little different than the shop. I was trying to figure out what I could be doing different. I know one difference is the machine, his being an electronic and my a lock-out.
I was also thinking that maybe his clamps are tighter and causing a weakness in the string.

Any opinions?
TIA.

 

[Virgilio]

But you didn't use the same string than the local shop, did u?

I am not a breaking strings expert since I might be a world guinness recordmen...never broke a string in my life...I don't generate much spin but heck...I know for sure it isn't the local tennis shop stringer at least...

 

[MTZ]

But you didn't use the same string than the local shop, did u?

I am not a breaking strings expert since I might be a world guinness recordmen...never broke a string in my life...I don't generate much spin but heck...I know for sure it isn't the local tennis shop stringer at least...

Thanks for the reply.

No it wasnt the same string, but I would bet the string that I used was much cheaper than his normal string. I used the freebie, syn. gut 16 guage from Eagnas that I got when I bought my stringer. I too thought that it would be the string as well, but my buddy claims he has tried almost every string out there.

 

[topspin_05]

Yeah there are many things that could be different. Your machine might be calibrated differently so the tension might be different, you already said you're using freebie string, so if the shop is stringing with something a little more top-notch then that would make a difference too. As long as your technique is good and your racquets are holding tension then you don't really have anything to worry about though. Without knowing all of the variables it's difficult for any of us to say what you might be doing "differently."

 

[Valjean]

MTZ, you wrote: "[My friend] says the racquet felt just the same as when he has it done by the shop."

But then said:

"We were talking and he seems to think that I may be stringing a little different than the shop....." Why is that?

 

[MTZ]

MTZ, you wrote: "[My friend] says the racquet felt just the same as when he has it done by the shop."

But then said:

"We were talking and he seems to think that I may be stringing a little different than the shop....." Why is that?

My buddy says the strings feel as tight and doesnt notice a difference when he hits with the racquet. the strings dont feel softer or harder.

When I said he seems to think I string it different, we were trying to figure out what could be different. strings, tension, machine, ...
Like I said, i dont have as sophisticated system as the shop does or have the years of exp. as they do, and I dont claim to be a better stringer.

 

[Valjean]

If there is no difference in play, why is he worried and what made him ask you what you do, too? I'd like to help you out but need to know what his interest originated from more than I do now.

 

[Ljubicic for number1]

Just because your string is cheaper than the shops doesnt mean that it is weaker. The shop is probably using high end multi's which break quicker than a eagnas syn gut. Its all in the string.

John.