Tension loss in the crosses

JavierLW

Hall of Fame
This is probally newbie question, but Im wondering if it's normal that your crosses are going to lose tension before the mains?

Ive been using all Tonic+ Natural Gut lately and I am not a string breaker and that's what I have been noticing

Once I hybrid it with NXT 17 in the crosses as well, and I noticed the same thing, the NXT lost a ton of tension after awhile and the Gut in the mains probally would of been fine. (at the time I just blamed it on the NXT although in the past I had used 100% NXT and hadnt noticed a ton of tension loss)

If this is common, is it worth stringing the crosses a little tighter? I cant imagine going to another string to combat this since NG has the lowest tension loss.
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
It depends on which string type you place in the crosses and whether you pre-stretch the string.

Assuming no pre-stretch and the same string... I would think the mains would lose tension faster because of their longer length. Usually, the crosses are tensioned a few lbs. less on a hybrid, too (even more if it's a kevlar or very stiff poly). This would be consistent with the mains losing more tension, too. After a few hours, they should be equal. I'm relatively new to stringing so I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong :-D
 
Last edited:

fastdunn

Legend
I would think it's proportionally same for both mains and crosses
(assuming same string for both).

But note that the actual tension on crosses will be much much lower
than main (even if you use same tension) largely due to frictions.
 

Gmedlo

Professional
Having the gut in the mains probably just made the tension loss you get from NXT more evident.

Most tension loss I can feel on the strings happens in the mains. Can't move the crosses more than a quarter of an inch even if I try.
 

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
You are correct when you see a little more tension loss in the crosses. As you pull tension on the crosses, you have some tension loss due to friction. The closer to the tension head, the less the tension loss is from friction (fewer main strings to pull across). So, every other cross is tighter on one side,while every other opposite cross is tighter on the other side. There's no getting around it. Over time, as the tension evens out, that tension loss due to friction is slowly overcome. But, as you've noticed, they lose some tension. The mains don't have that problem. They're the ones causing the friction. If you want to test this, tension the string, then use your finger to move that string back and forth on the side closest to the tension head, and again on the side that's opposite the tension head. The string will be noticably tighter on the side that's closest to the tension head.
 
Top