Do you know how fast the disc moves? I'm skeptical that it moves fast enough to provide anything but a measure of static stiffness, which correlates poorly with dynamic stiffness.- "real" measurement. Measure-disc is simulating real bal-impact,
- the only thing you can't measure is the swingweight; but this can be calculated with the balance and the weight.
If you're more interested in the dynamic stringbed stiffness, maybe the ERT300 is a better suited tool for you. It measure the DT (Dynamic Tension) which is the required force in kilopond to deflect the stringbed 1cm.Do you know how fast the disc moves? I'm skeptical that it moves fast enough to provide anything but a measure of static stiffness, which correlates poorly with dynamic stiffness.
Do you know how fast the disc moves? I'm skeptical that it moves fast enough to provide anything but a measure of static stiffness, which correlates poorly with dynamic stiffness.
Balance, weight and swing interval.
The frame and frame+string bending stiffness functions look very cool.
Most people don't care about DT variations at different spots across a stringbed because it takes a lot of time to map these variations on the stringbed and in the end they probably just want to know the single "average" number anyway. Or they're more interested in the number right in the middle of the sweet spot only. A pro stringer is not going to bother wasting time doing this for every string job because his clients are not going to want to spend extra money to pay him to get this information. Most clients only want to get 1 DT number for reference to track tension loss so 1 DT measurement is good enough for them.The ERT300 can only calculate "one" DT, and does not give you any clue on the DT diversity of the stringbed!
My ERT300 gives DT reading pretty consistently right after stringing and the DT reading translates back to the tension strung pretty accurately. If you get "error" when using the ERT, maybe you haven't clamped the 3 legs of the device onto the string properly. Try reclamping or maybe move the device around a little bit to find a spot (still in the middle) that gives more secure footing on the string. Then you should be able to get rid of the "error".Ánd the ERT is gives erratic resulrs (or just plain "error") right after stringing. (But the beauty of the ERT: it is super-compact)
I'm also a big fan of Stringway and I have the LaserFibre MS200 DX.@KKM: " The Stringway clamps were finicky and would not hold/adjust well. Additionally the build/finish of the Stringlab 2 were disappointing, what I saw up close vs what one sees in photos and videos."
Well well, looks you are a bit sour with SW
I must confess: I am a big fan of StringWay. They are not the cheapest, but they deliver "solid" quality. And with respect the quality o their clamps: take a look at the different threads where the machine and the clamps are discussed. But of course, everyone is entitled to have his deviating opinion.
@KKM: " I do not like devices which deflect the stringbed since the deflection will loosen the stringbed"
This is correct, from a pure theoretical point of view. I have to check, but I think the deflection caused by the SL2 is ~3mm (1/8"). First balcontact gives a larger deflection!
And if you would be right, 10 subsequent measurements with the SL2 would give subsequent lower readings. And this is not the case. The 10 readings are within 0.05 when performed correctly.
" Trust me, better players may feel the difference" I would like to make this a challenge. This sounds like total crapp.
And by the way: did you ever use the StringLab2 yourself, or did you just see the video?
If you're more interested in the dynamic stringbed stiffness, maybe the ERT300 is a better suited tool for you. It measure the DT (Dynamic Tension) which is the required force in kilopond to deflect the stringbed 1cm.
The ERT300 does it by creating a vibration after it's attached to the stringbed and measures the frequency response from the stringbed due to this vibration for its calculation.
To know approximately what kind of stringbed tension from this DT value, it has a little wheelie chart (similar to the one that comes with the Stringlab) to convert from the DT value to the tension value based on the size of the racket (in 3 groupings, up to 95 sq.in, between 95-105, and above 105).
I own an ERT300 and from my experience with it, the DT reading is fairly accurate. Meaning that if I take the DT reading right after I'm done stringing a racket, it converts back pretty accurately to the tension I've strung the racket with, within just a couple of lbs.
@KKM: " I do not like devices which deflect the stringbed since the deflection will loosen the stringbed"
This is correct, from a pure theoretical point of view. I have to check, but I think the deflection caused by the SL2 is ~3mm (1/8"). First balcontact gives a larger deflection!
And if you would be right, 10 subsequent measurements with the SL2 would give subsequent lower readings. And this is not the case. The 10 readings are within 0.05 when performed correctly.
You're probably right. I bought the ERT300 more than 10 years ago and at the time Racquet Tune wasn't available.I think the Racquet Tune app made the ERT300 obsolete.
I've always been confused by the writings of Stringway on string characteristics and behavior. I don't think they really understand the physics of it. I get the impression that they have kind of made up their own "physics" as they went along.
Measuring static (slow) deflection of the string bed is not very analogous to the dynamic stiffness the ball encounters at realistic impact speeds.
I've always been confused by the writings of Stringway on string characteristics and behavior.
Since the ERT labels their reading Dynamic Tension (DT value), I always assumed that its calculation factors in other dynamic components beside the static tension somehow. But I think you're probably right that it really doesn't, because if you can use a look up table to translate from the DT value back to the tension value being strung, then there's probably no dynamic component in their calculation except for the static tension. If that's the case, then the ERT Dynamic Tension name is a misnomer.There may be a wrong idea about the dynamic tension as measured by the Stringlab 1, the ERT and racquet tune. There is nothing dynamic about it except that it uses the vibration to calculate the static stiffness. Therefore the measured values of a static system as the ST2 are the same as measured with the vibration systems, only more accurate because it is a direct test without a calculation.
Actually, dynamic "tension" is probably not even the right term we're looking for
I'm curious. What do they measure when they drop a hammer on a tensioned string? String deflection? And it's just on a single string and not a whole stringbed? I also question how useful that result is because a hammer is not a ball travelling at high speed. A tennis ball will deform greatly upon impact with the stringbed and will have a different result than a hard hammer which wouldn't deform anyway.The USRSA measures this kind of things by dropping a hammer on a tensioned string.
The practical question is: What is the use of knowing this complicated figures for the stringer.
The SBS is an more understandable figure which is also easier to measure
What do they measure when they drop a hammer on a tensioned string? String deflection? And it's just on a single string and not a whole stringbed?
@Geoff: and, did you find the info you were looking for between all these postings![]()
I have ordered one of the first SL2 and I use it. Trying to build a database of my work and re-work continually. I put DT value on the label after stringing, but my customers are stone age, they hardly recognize poly from Nylon, so this is more information for me than for them. SL2 is solid build, I will be more clever when rackets start to return for restring (if unbroken strings) to see how strings are losing tension.
@yan.v: I'm a "huge" SW-fan. I use an almost 30 year old SW-machine, and since a year I use the SL2, which opened my eyes how I can improve my stringing results.
Before we start argueing about reliability and repeatability, we should agree on "what do we want to measure". We want to measure thé StringBedStifness, as DT, in kilo's/cm; we want to know the force (in kilo's) to deflect the stringbed one centimeter. (Yes folks, no lb's or inches in this definition, just plain modern dimensions; allthough not really true, we should use "Newton" for force).
But there you immediately see the problem: the more you deflect the stringbed, the more relative force you need to push for the next cm.
You need to use the SL2 with care. Important is the positioning of the measuring-disc. What also helps is to note the "zero-force", the value you read doing the pre-stretching; you should aim to get this value in a small range.
I think the Racquet Tune app made the ERT300 obsolete.
I was able to somewhat solve that problem by using a disc with a full threaded hole.
This way, my zero pressure is the same every time and I can directly compare all my results with a maximum variation of about 1%
Do you think that we should supply the disc with the full thread, that we supplied to you, instead of the disc with the “fast lock system”?
Or only as an extra?
Does this not show how accurate the system measures?
The difference in DT value on different depth is also actually as it is.
Perhaps we should add more information about the many DT values of a string bed in the manual?
Most people "just want a number". What units/dimension it has, or how it is derived: they couldn't care less!
A perfect example is the TA, the racket-stiffness. "A number", and nobody can tell me how the measurent is done. The RDC spits out "a number" , and everybody is happy ( of course I know that a low number means more flex, and that you can compare/classify frames with the TA. But the exact meaning is a mystery)
Therefore the ERT is perfect for most people: a nice gadget, that spits out "a number".
The SL2 is a totally different measuring device. Actually it is in the same category as the Babolat/Prince RDC's.
...But maybe as side- line you can explain the TA?
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By switching the lever the system creates a certain deflection of the string bed.
The force transducer measures the force needed to create that deflection.
The system is calibrated to translate the test result into string bed stiffness.
The electronic system is the same simple system as in a digital scale.
The Stringlab can be recalibrated mechanically with a screw but that is never necessary because the electronic system does not shift at all.
If you have questions let me know.