Two Piece Stringing

[TennisPassion5]

Does this just mean that a set of string is cut into two pieces(each approx. 20 feet) and strung that way? I heard that it causes the frame less stress when stringing, so by cutting the set in half, would it help relieve some pressure? And is this also the same thing as the Around the World method. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[diredesire]

Yes, essentially the string is cut in half (depending on the string pattern and requirements, but for people stringing off sets, it's OK 90% of the time just to cut in half).

The mains are done symmetrically, from the center out, and then (generally) the crosses are done top down.

I'm not entirely sure about "less stress," but the tension across the string bed is slightly more "even," since you don't have tension loss on one side due to the knot.

This isn't the same as an ATW pattern, the ATW pattern is a method of one-piece stringing to ensure the crosses go top down on a racquet where they'd normally go bottom up. This theoretically causes less stress on the frame.

 

[TennisPassion5]

Do stringers use ATW or no? And would it be ok to request such a service, or is it something not taken pleasantly?

 

[jim e]

Do stringers use ATW or no? And would it be ok to request such a service, or is it something not taken pleasantly?

An ATW is used on certain racquets that require top down stringing of the cross strings and you want to have the stringing job done as one piece and the main strings end at the bottom, in otherwords where the main strings end at the bottom, and you want to start your crosses at the top because of certain manuf. require stringing patterns with top down stringing of cross strings,(I string most all racquets top down as that places less stress on the racquet than stringing bottom up) an ATW pattern is then required to accomplish this when the main strings end at the bottom or throat of the racquet.
If you string 2 piece then you can easily accomplish this top down with no problem.
Some racquet manuf. like Head requires 2 piece stringing of all of their preformance racquets with no one piece with an ATW, as they said would void their warranty. Many do string Head racquets with an ATW with no problems at all, but I wanted you to know this if you do request this on a Head racquet you take the responsibility if something goes wrong.
Watch a video of an ATW like this one below, and you will then understand more. YULitle does a good job of explaining this concept, and why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-LEiTpNrnk&fmt=18

Also go here and you can see a good # of videos on stringing that should ans. most of your questions.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=172626

Although I string a few racquets with an ATW every so often, just to keep in practice of doing them, as there are a few ATW patterns out there.
The bulk of my stringing is 2 piece due to the following:
All the hybrid stringing(hybrids can only be dome as 2 piece).
The Head requirement of 2 piece on their preformance racquets.(Yonex and Prince lists a # of their racquets to be strung 2 piece as well).
I prefer to string nat. gut as 2 piece, as less wear on the string that way.
I have yet to have a client specify 1 or 2 piece stringing, as most have no idea on stringing at all anyways.

 

[TennisPassion5]

I use a Head racket, so then it shouldn't be done ATW anyway. Thanks for the info....as for the two peice stringing, I guess I'll just cut the sets into two so theres no other way around it.

 

[jim e]

I use a Head racket, so then it shouldn't be done ATW anyway. Thanks for the info....as for the two peice stringing, I guess I'll just cut the sets into two so theres no other way around it.

Don't get me wrong, as many do string Head racquets as a one piece ATW pattern with no issues at all. Its just that Head does specify that they do not warranty it if you string it that way.
Below is an article from the USRSA mag. called RSI mag. Aug. 2008 issue:

HEAD requires that every performance racquet they sell must be strung two-piece, period. With a properly-done two-piece string job, you avoid not only having the crosses installed from the throat to the head, but also any potential problem that might occur with an around-the-world or box pattern, where you might have a 90- or 270-degree turn between a main and a cross, which could break through a section of the frame where the grommets are close together. Because of this, in the unlikely event there was a problem with this frame, Head would have the option of denying the warranty claim due to the one-piece string job.