Stringing Junior Rackets

[manirban]

Hi all - wondering if all the knowledgeable folks on this forum wouldn't mind weighing in on this topic. I am a DIY stringer and have strung for myself and a few friends off an on for the better part of 20 or so odd years, and currently work off of "Old Faithful" - a 1996 Gamma 6000 glide bar with retrofitted mounting points (which I designed and had machined at a local shop) powered by a Wise tension head. But that's not the point of this post. I'm also a tennis dad with a very active 8 and 10 year olds who are just starting to get to the cusp of hitting with some good spin, and are going through various iterations of 25" and 26" rackets. As we all know, at this stage these are all "off-the-shelf" factory strung rackets with crappy string.

So, these rackets, as far as I can tell, fall into 2 generic categories - the lighter aluminum frame rackets, and the higher end name brand but smaller size (i.e. - a 26" Blade 98). Between myself and a handful of other parents, a recurring topic is if and when to change out strings for our kids and what to use / not use.

Given the crappy factory string job, I do want to restring these rackets pretty much within a week of my kids getting their hands on them, but follow a general set of rules - first, no poly whatsoever till much much later in life, second, at this age, no point of plopping $18 down for a quality multi-filament, where a $5 syn gut will do, and lastly, the string job itself - I get a little antsy about restringing the cheaper but lighter aluminum frame rackets and tend to string on the lower end of range (like a 25" aluminum frame strung at 40lbs) whereas the higher end rackets I tend to string on the upper end (based on the kids ability and spin they are generating) like the aforementioned Blade 98 at 56 - 58 lbs, but all with syn gut. And I should mention these are all orange ball, green ball, just barely starting to hit yellow ball type of kids, but at the same time, starting to hit consistent spin and slice off the ground.

At any rate, what I guess I'm asking is validation of (or tearing apart of) the arguments above on poly / multi / syn gut, and alum vs higher end frames, and whether it makes sense to even pay attention to strings at this early age.

Thoughts / comments / emotional outbursts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[esgee48]

String the aluminum frames one piece (bottom up, top down, ATW) depending on number of tie off holes available. No more than 35#. Use 16 Ga or 17 Ga SG since the sluggers can't break the stuff anyway. Kids' version of adult frames are made of graphite. Check that this is true and you can use the ranges for normal frames. You might go up to 45# using 16/17 Ga SG. If/When the kids are around 15/16, sooner if there is a growth spurt and they're still playing, get them on adult size frames. 3 cents.

edit: Exceptions do occur. If they're playing 12U, get them to adult size frames sooner. Still no polyesters until their form is correct.

 

[Steve Huff]

I'd just use Gamma Syn Gut, Prince Syn w/Duraflex or Gosen OG Micro. I generally string kids' aluminum rackets at 45-48# on an electronic constant pull machine. 25" rackets a little less.

 

[onehandbh]

Instead of getting a kids’ racquet that is shorter (e.g. 26”), I’m considering using @Shroud’s stringing method.

Kevlar Mains at 120 lbs, Zyex crosses at 2 lbs.

The beauty of this method is that if I need the racquet even shorter then I just up the tension in the mains.

 

[esgee48]

[/sarcasm] What machine goes up to 120 lbs of ref tension? If you know of one, Shroud would be all over it. [/end sarcasm]

 

[Karma Tennis]

[/sarcasm] What machine goes up to 120 lbs of ref tension? If you know of one, Shroud would be all over it. [/end sarcasm]

This machine can be adapted to string up to 500lbs of Reference tension ...

https://www.real-world-physics-prob...ult_trebuchet.jpg.pagespeed.ic.koFyaguF8U.jpg

Is a bit tricky to get the bar level at times though.

Back on topic ... Personally, I would rather string decent junior racquets with decent Mutifilament string. IMO, most synth guts are over-rated when it comes to kids. Decent multi takes care of the growing bodies. It is the ideal string to allow juniors to develop various aspects of their games I tend to string it at around 56lbs.

 

[pvw_tf]

At any rate, what I guess I'm asking is validation of (or tearing apart of) the arguments above on poly / multi / syn gut, and alum vs higher end frames, and whether it makes sense to even pay attention to strings at this early age.

I would stay away from the aluminum rackets as soon as they start hitting a decent ball.
The pre-strung rackets are mostly done badly. There are exceptions, sometimes on individual level.

But considering the string breakage will be low it would be advisable to give then the best available multifibre. Thin, 1.24 or if possible even 1.18. Give them great grip on the ball (learn to spin), very soft on their arm and shoulder. Will give them a bigger sweet spot so more motivation because they can hit more balls.

Strings to think about, Tecnifibre NRg2 1.18 (How about the red color) Tecnifibre Bi-Phase 1.18, Wilson NTX, Babolat Xcel.

Peter

 

[manirban]

Hmm... food for thought. I used to personally use NRG2 in my crosses on the hybrid setup with ALU power, so have been a long time fan of this string (until I happened across some VS for my crosses and have been in a touch more love but poorer in the pockets ever since). I will give put some multi on one of the "adult" kids rackets and let them have a go.

 

[NMTennis]

Thanks for bringing this up. I've had the same questions too as my 9 and 10 year olds have progressed from 25 to 26 inch racquets. Using Pure Aero and Pure Drives 26 inches - which, for all intents and purposes look like 1 inch shorter versions of the adult racquets, just lower reference tension ranges. I have been using medium grade multis (technifibre multifeel, prince premier attack/control) in 17 G, which the kids seem to like. However, when I ask about the strings, they seem to comment more on the color (i.e. the clear strings don't "go" with the racquet as much as the black ones...etc.). Generally stringing at the lower end of reference ranges 46-48 lbs.

 

[manirban]

@NMTennis yes, hear you! My younger one (daughter) was only concerned with having a set of pink strings and an Angry Birds dampener. The older one did notice (or at least commented) on changing out the factory strings to a set of syn gut and that it felt like he could swing harder. Will be putting some multi on his 26" Blade over the weekend so lets see if that amounts to anything.