Using too much string for mains, not enough leftover for crosses

[ATXtennisaddict]

do you all ever encounter a time when you use 40 feet of string but need let's say...22 feet for mains and only 18 for crosses...only to find 18 feet is not long enough to finish stringing the crosses? (might not be long enough to reach the tension clamp on the final run just before tying the knot)

How would you deal with that? That would be a waste of string if you had to throw it away.

 

[Gaines Hillix]

Sure, it's happened to just about everybody I know of that's strung very many racquets. You have to have at least enough string to get to the tieoff grommet hole and do a single half hitch. If you do, then you can use your starting clamp as a string extender. You wrap a loop of scrap string through the holes on the sides of the starting clamps head. Then you put the piece of string that's too short to reach the tension head into the clamp and the two ends of the loop of string that you installed goes into the string gripper. Then pull tension and clamp off as normal. As I recall, a poster with the handle of Eagle had posted pictures of this on his website.

 

[yourserve]

if you go on mutualpower dot net under the stringing guide there is a picture
of how to use starting clamp as a "jumper".
i think this is proper terminology. i have run into this problem before when
trying to get the most out of a reel of string. its at that point that you wish
you had just cut the extra foot and been finished.
but, as gaines stated its no big deal, and happens to everyone.


reason for edit: correct some of my poor spelling

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

Found it : www.keohi.com/tennis

I might need to invest in a starting clamp...no way to do it without one?

 

[yourserve]

starting clamp is a very handy tool to have around.

 

[dmastous]

I used a piece of string tied to what's left over to extend to the tension head. It wasn't easy, but I came upon a knot that held.
Desperation IS the mother of invention.

 

[dancraig]

You can also do it with a good floating clamp. Tighten up the clamp, it won't matter if you dent the string. Work quickly, before it has a chance to slip.

 

[CheapStrings]

Floating clamp

ATX,
I've used a Klippermate floating clamp like this a couple of times. As long as your clamps weren't slipping during your string job they shouldn't slip here. For safety, be sure to watch the clamped strings as you lower the tension arm and if you see the clamped strings start slipping raise the arm and tighten the clamp.

One of the reason I do 1 piece is it'll take at least a foot less string. That's because there is only 1 main that you have to tension and tie off. The other main string goes into the first cross. I know I'm not explaining this too clearly but if the racquet specs call for 22' and 18', I only cut 38.5' of string from a reel. It's been tight a couple of times with non-stretchy strings, like poly. Usually I've had too much extra string on one side and not enough on the other and that's when I've had to use a scrap piece of string and the floating clamp to extend the length. Happy stringing.

 

[diredesire]

If you're stringing 2 piece, save that extra 6-12 inches of string that are left for the tensioner and learn an ATW pattern if necessary. What racquet are you stringing? I haven't seen a racquet in a long while that needed over 20 feet for the mains, but i haven't strung any radical OS's in a while.

 

[jhp49]

Quoted from Racquettech.com tips - tool section
Can be used if you don't have a starting clamp or $35-50 to purchase a good one.

The original author designed a simple gadget to pull that last string when it's too short to reach the tension head. Go to a hardware store and purchase one ½-inch by 1½-inch bolt, two ½-inch washers, and two ½-inch nuts. Drill a 1/8-inch hole in the middle of the bolt. Assemble it as shown in the illustration. Put the end of the short string through the hole from one direction, and a scrap piece of string through the hole from the other direction, and tighten the nut.

 

[CheapStrings]

jhp49,
Nice idea. If the 2 nuts were wing nuts do you think hand tightening would be tight enough? Just trying to avoid the hassle of getting out wrenches.

 

[jhp49]

jhp49,
Nice idea. If the 2 nuts were wing nuts do you think hand tightening would be tight enough? Just trying to avoid the hassle of getting out wrenches.

I'm not sure. I'm going to try it with the one I made when I can get to Home Depot and pick up the wing nuts. I have modified the idea. I put another hole at the very end of the bolt. I then put a gromet (a peice of tubing would work) in the hole and tied a piece of poly in the hole. Now I only have to thread one piece of string in the whole between the washers and tighten it. The poly goes in the tension head to tension the string. It makes it easier. I had to build one becaues my starting clamp quit holding.

 

[CheapStrings]

Improvements

I'm not sure. I'm going to try it with the one I made when I can get to Home Depot and pick up the wing nuts. I have modified the idea. I put another hole at the very end of the bolt. I then put a gromet (a peice of tubing would work) in the hole and tied a piece of poly in the hole. Now I only have to thread one piece of string in the whole between the washers and tighten it. The poly goes in the tension head to tension the string. It makes it easier. I had to build one becaues my starting clamp quit holding.

jhp49,
I like the modification. This string extender tool is better than having a starting or floating clamp clanging around the stringing machine plus it's cheap and easy to make.

 

[Gaines Hillix]

jhp49,
I like the modification. This string extender tool is better than having a starting or floating clamp clanging around the stringing machine plus it's cheap and easy to make.

This is a good, cheap idea for use as a string extender/jumper, but there are many other uses for a good starting clamp.