Stringing aerpro drive gt curious

[rjw]

In that a had this racquet strung while I waited, and no less than 4 young guys participated, along with the fact that my son (hard hitter) broke the 17g wilson sensation after hitting 1 shank, I thought that I would ask some questions.

In the specs, under string pattern, it states 'two piece'

does this mean that the string should have been done with 1 piece for the mains and another for the crosses, resulting in at least 4 knots?? Or is that just if using a hybrid?

Curious, and not overly happy that they kept shuffling guys over to string the racquet. I would have preferred 1 guy from start to finish.

Or is my son just an animal?

 

[tperrott]

Yes, 2-piece would result in 4 knots. Being that there are 16 mains, 6 holes in the throat, and the mains "end" at the throat, 2-piece is generally recommended. It's not a difficult racquet to string, so I truly don't know why 4 people had to participate.

 

[rjw]

the shop was busy and they just kept shuffling around while trying to serve other customers. I guess that a girl needing socks was more important to the first guy.

I will look for a better shop to re-string..they do some wierd stuff at this one, including stabbing at the strung bed with a phillips screwdriver.

I'm not a stringer, but I am a mechanical engineer and that kind of stuff doesn't inspire a lot of confidence...or am I missing something?

Should I be insisting that this racquest be strung with 2 pieces/4 knots?

 

[Donny0627]

the shop was busy and they just kept shuffling around while trying to serve other customers. I guess that a girl needing socks was more important to the first guy.

I will look for a better shop to re-string..they do some wierd stuff at this one, including stabbing at the strung bed with a phillips screwdriver.

I'm not a stringer, but I am a mechanical engineer and that kind of stuff doesn't inspire a lot of confidence...or am I missing something?

Should I be insisting that this racquest be strung with 2 pieces/4 knots?

find another stringer

 

[tperrott]

I agree, I would go elsewhere. The usual way of stringing that racquet is 2-piece, with 4 knots. There are other ways out there like Around-the-World, etc. But if I were you, I'd go elsewhere and would insist on 2-piece whether it's a hybrid or not.

 

[bigmatt]

I think that the "Phillips screwdriver" you saw was a setting-off tool. It's a tool made for the job of straightening the strings, and should be totally safe (in the hands of a qualified stringer).
Sensation 17 is not a very durable string, whether on sweetspot or off-center hits, especially for your average topspinning junior. You might want to increase your gauge or go to a stronger string.
As far as using 4 guys to string your racquet, I'd go to a shop that cares enough about you to put a single person on the job. Everyone strings (at least) a little differently, and you get a horrendous job that way, let alone how it might play if it sat for any amount of time while the bullpen was called up.

 

[Irvin]

Here is a link to the stringing instructions for that racket.

http://www.babolat.com/media/tennis/stringing_pattern/Aeropro_Drive.pdf

While Babolat recommends you string the racket 2 piece, 1 piece is also ok. The stabbing at the racket with a phillips screwdriver was probably their method of straightening the string when they are done. I like to keep the strings straight as I go. By the way 17 gauge Wilson Sensation would not be tops of my list for a string breaker. If you recommended it for you, and you go back to them, you may want to try another string.

Irvin

 

[rjw]

I never break strings....it was my son who is a chronic string breaker I thought that if he only hit for a few minutes that it would survive.....not a chance...one shank and pop!!!

I demo'd and then bought the racquet. They included the wilson string in the price.

I just wanted to know if how they strung it was acceptable and whether I should try for a freebee, or bite the bullet.....and maybe find a new place.

Also, they use these Babolat machines, and work them very quickly....not sure if that's the best....remember I don't know much about all this....

 

[rjw]

On a side note, can anyone recommend a good stringer in the South Miami area?

thx

 

[Radicalized]

Just my own sketch of the racquet from a previous post, but if this helps any:

 

[Radicalized]

Time to get the son a stringing machine. You're in FL. He doesn't have to shovel any snow! Put him to work . If you shank it, and get those shearing forces just right, you can break any string.

 

[rjw]

ball machine just purchased..waiting for it to arrive.....stringing machine not on current budget..

the store restrung the racquet with nrg2....$12 total ....different guy and no funny stuff. i requested that he do it in 2 pieces.....just need to keep the boy away or now!!

 

[coachrick]

It would be of some interest to note where the break occurred. If it was on a tie-off knot, it's 'possible' that the stringer is as culpable as the shanker . On the other hand, it's not necessary to shank shots as a matter of course. As Radicalized mentioned, you can break darned near any string if you jam the ball in the corners hard enough. Sounds like an expensive way to play tennis .

Minus any absolute screw-up by the stringer(s) on the Sensation, the twelve bucks for the NRG restring is very fair.

I have a very rounded Phillips screwdriver that 'could' be used as a setting off tool. Wouldn't be my first choice and there is little advantage to 'stabbing' at the string bed while straightening the strings. My Babolat setting off tool is from 1984 and probably hasn't seen 30 minutes of total action in all that time.

This is a long-winded way of casting another vote for a personal stringing machine...perhaps a 'co-op' with another player until 'Boomer' can pay for his own.

 

[rjw]

my son, the shank, simply shanked it....I didn't go in and blame the stringer, just pointed out that Iwould have preferred to have had it strung by one person rather than the whole team. Ialso requested that they string it in two pieces, which they did and all the knots seem to be where they are supposed to be.

they do string a LOT of racquets and should know what they are doing. They have 5 Babolat machines that are being used all day long...

Considering tha the NRG2 alone is a couple of dollars more online, I think that they were more than fair....bottom line is my son is an animal. We played again tonite and he broke the string in his racquet (2 weeks old and strung by another shop 17g Excel in a Head radical mp). I should mention that he is almost 24 years old and has a need to kill every ball. I stand across the court and try to return hem....lol

 

[rjw]

Based on your story you were either at the fancy and loud shop at about 6000 south dixie or a competitor on SW 57th (Steve's place). If so you can try a shop at 9479 south dixie that's been there for years. I used to work with him when he expanded into Texas in the late 70's. Mom and pop operation and he still does excellent work. If you are wiling to drive I work with two shops one in Davie and the other in Oakland Park (both are well known and do good work) if u are willing to drive 25 or so miles.

fancy loud..... I know of the shop further south, but needed to get it strung and go out and hit, so at the moment I'm ok. I just bought another racquet, so now I have a backup and can afford the time to let one of the other shops restring them down the road

thx

 

[rjw]

Not surprised at all.....I get the impression that no one over 19 works there...hahaha. Both GT on S Dixie or S Tennis on SW 57th have been around for years (I remember getting stuff strung by Steve back when I was a junior).

I spoke with Steve today....how is his work? One of my hitting partners recommended the place further sout, but the kids on Dixie pump stuf out quick, fast and in a hurry....????!!!

 

[rjw]

On the other hand, they do have some of the best machines on the planet.

I've been researching stringing techniques and machines for personal use, etc. and they sem o have done a decent job on the last two stringing jobs..not that the one that broke was faulty, but i didn;t have near the knowledge to check it.

In that my son needs to have his racquet strung every 2 weeks, and mine perhaps once a month or so (x2 sticks) and my interest in playing with different strings, I may invest in a econo stringing machine. Looking at the auction site and the list....unless a good deal comes up, I am just torn between the various clamping systems...float vs not.

 

[coachrick]

Both Strickly Tennis and GT do good work. Old school service, and for a small fee get "rush" service as well. as for the folks further north on Dixie fast and in a hurry does not equate to quality and service in my book.

Wow! Is this the GT Sports that reached as far as Atlanta +-1990? Hadn't thought of them in YEARS! Same with Tampa Sports Unlimited...in/out of Atlanta and other SE cities pretty quickly. Nevada Bob's...in/out. Herman's World of Sport...in/out. Hey! It's TOUGH out there! Of course, most of this action was in the '80s and early '90s...I hope the whippersnappers will forgive me for reminiscing.