Tension too tight

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Turnertennis

New User
Hi! I have been stringing for a few months now using a Gamma Progression 2 crank machine. I also have a string calibrator. I have been mostly setting the tension around the 55lb mark, give or take a few lbs. and every time I finish and check it, the tension registers in the high 60's. I keep checking clibration and it's dead on. Just wondering what I'm doing wrong? This is happening on all types of strings. Is it possible that strings will tighten differently? I have been checking it on an app called "tennis Tension" After setting all the specs of the racket and strings, it reads tension via tapping. It has a 5 star rating, and gives very consistent readouts. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions.
 
S

struggle

Legend
If you're checking the calibration via solid methodology and a solid gauge/scale, then i would far more
trust that than a phone app. I tried the racquet tune app in the past and don't care for it. I've got an ERT-300
which I like, but rarely use.

If you are using it for consistency or tension loss over time, then it's fine. My 2 cents...
 
LOBALOT

LOBALOT

Professional
Right, this sounds like an anomaly with the app....

My experience with a crank is the opposite... One needs to go up in tension.
 
Karma Tennis

Karma Tennis

Hall of Fame
Turnertennis said:
I have been checking it on an app called "tennis Tension"
Click to expand...
Seek out and download the App called "RacquetTune". Configure it up and measure your racquets with that one for comparison. That Android version of the App doesn't cost anything and works fine if configured properly.
 
J

jim e

Legend
If your calibration is dead on as you said, I would go by that, as that is a more accurate way to measure tension with a string end. Once strung, any app is an approximate gauge of tension depending on string length and string type, etc.
It is more a measure of string bed stiffness and not actually the exact reference tension.
I would go by your tension calibration , and just adjust your tension from there.
The reference tension is what your machine is pulling, and as long as that is accurate, go with that and adjust your game from that as to what reference tension you like.
 
T

Trinity110

Rookie
I would not obsess over the app either. Are the dimensions of the hoop changing? Is it always the same racquet, yours perhaps, and compared to unstrung, are the crosses making the hoop narrower and and longer. Deformation like that could increase tension in the mains. But it sounds like a bogus # to me, more than likely
 
Karma Tennis

Karma Tennis

Hall of Fame
Turnertennis said:
I set it for around 54, and it ends up reading around 67 when finished. And the readings I get on the phone app are very consistent. It will say the same thing 10 times in a row.
Click to expand...
Other thing you can do is to compare a racquet you string on your machine with one strung at the same Ref Tension by a competent Stringer on a decent electronic CP machine. Do your measurements, and compare the results.
 
S

struggle

Legend
jim e said:
If your calibration is dead on as you said, I would go by that, as that is a more accurate way to measure tension with a string end. Once strung, any app is an approximate gauge of tension depending on string length and string type, etc.
It is more a measure of string bed stiffness and not actually the exact reference tension.
I would go by your tension calibration , and just adjust your tension from there.
The reference tension is what your machine is pulling, and as long as that is accurate, go with that and adjust your game from that as to what reference tension you like.
Click to expand...
jim e says it all right here.

The app is not useful in the way you are trying to apply it.
 
LOBALOT

LOBALOT

Professional
struggle said:
up in tension compared to what, and for what reason?
Click to expand...
I think it depends on the stringing machine. For example, my son hit for quite some time with Lux 4G 16L. On my ghost 2 he has me string it at 53 lbs. Back when I was stringing it on an old Eagnas Crank I was stringing it at 62 lbs (single pulls). Now that machine was garbage and the clamps were awful so I needed to tighten the clamps pretty tight to avoid having them slip so I wouldn't be surprised if there was some none-the-less. When I bought the ghost he eventually indicated 52 lbs felt about the same as when I strung them on the crank.
 
A

alfd

New User
Don’t think you are doing anything wrong. I get the same high readings with that app, especially with multis. I like the app, but I use it mainly to register tension loss.
 
S

struggle

Legend
what man would let their son hit with Lux 4G 16L at #62??

Anyhow, if the machine is calibrated against a solid "known", i'd roll with
that versus any phone app. They all suck (kinda).

If you're serious and need to know better info, get a ERT-300.
 
LOBALOT

LOBALOT

Professional
struggle said:
what man would let their son hit with Lux 4G 16L at #62??

Anyhow, if the machine is calibrated against a solid "known", i'd roll with
that versus any phone app. They all suck (kinda).

If you're serious and need to know better info, get a ERT-300.
Click to expand...
Right, it is a crank so it would end up dropping down to 53.

Also the machine was actually calibrated with a luggage scale and would measure to the set tension. It is a lock-out machine and as you know the machine locks at the tension and the tension drops vs. an ECP machine where there is less drop after clamping.

Not sure about the rest of your reference but that is ok. The key thing is your reference to setting the tension lower on a lockout vs. a constant pull is not correct.

Thanks
 
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