String broke while stringing, cut my hand!

[splink779]

I was stringing my racquet with my Klippermate machine, and all of a sudden on about the 10th main, as I was moving the tension lever into proper position, the string snaped for no apparent reason. The backlash made a 2 or 3 inch cut on my hand. I checked where the string broke and it was not at the grommet or at the tension lever, it was right in the middle! Has this ever happened to anyone? I've strung many racquets before and never had a problem like this. The strings were Babolat Hurricane 18s, which I have been stringing in my mains for a while now. Perhaps in was just a weak point in the string, as it was absolutely frayed where it broke. I did not apply too much tension as the lever was not even level yet (it was at about 2 o clock). Plus I only string at 53lbs. Any input? I'm scared to string again with the second half of the hurricanes.

 

[dmastous]

I've had this happen a few times. Never gotten cut from a string though. That's pretty unusual.

 

[legolas]

that sux man

 

[jj300]

how were you moving the arm to proper positon? I hope you don't mean pressing it with your hand until it was horizontal. If you did than I wouldn't be suprised y it snapped...if you didn't do this its possible the string was defective, I had that happen a few times but only when people gave me strings to string that they had in their tennis bag for who knows how long

 

[fishuuuuu]

Don't cry about it.

String up the other set ... and cut it back!

 

[scotus]

You would also want to wear safety glasses just in case. I usually wear contact lenses, but when I string racquets, I wear glasses instead. I feel safer.

 

[splink779]

how were you moving the arm to proper positon? I hope you don't mean pressing it with your hand until it was horizontal. If you did than I wouldn't be suprised y it snapped...if you didn't do this its possible the string was defective, I had that happen a few times but only when people gave me strings to string that they had in their tennis bag for who knows how long

No I wasn't doing that. That would be slightly dangerous, not to mention a very incorrect way to string. Perhaps the strings became slightly britle since they were shipped from TW and it is winter. Anyway, I tried again with the other half and it worked just fine. I wore gloves this time because I was paranoid!

 

[RacquetDoctor]

The reason it broke is most likely because the tension head damaged the string on an earlier pull. Look to where it broke to check for visible crimping...

 

[diredesire]

Yep, a few reasons, The string may have gotten damaged from a previous pull as klippermate's grippers are known to have slight rough edges. The string may have gotten kinked unraveling or pulling through a grommet. It's easy to miss these sometimes. With a thinner string like that it is possible.

String defects typically aren't that common, especially on an extruded poly. Not much room for error. I'd e-mail or contact either TW or babolat about it, I would not be surprised if they replaced it for you no questions asked.

 

[splink779]

The reason it broke is most likely because the tension head damaged the string on an earlier pull. Look to where it broke to check for visible crimping...

This is quite possibly what happened

 

[RacquetDoctor]

Don't feel bad about it splink...My Sensor used to do that when it was new years ago...(mine was one of the first in the USA...)the grooves in the tension head were too rough. I had to have a machine shop smooth them out a bit...It was precision work, but kept the polys from premature breakage in stringing...