What questions do I ask new customers?

[RF_PRO_STAFF]

I started stringing in July 2021. I'm now starting to string for more people now besides my friends and people I know well (and their games). I think I'm doing well so far getting the right combinations (string/tension) in people's racquets and getting positive feedback. But I don't have much experience working with players of who I do not know their game or equipment preferences.

What questions do I ask new customers to get a well rounded profile of them and their game, so that I have a good basis to recommend a setup?

 

[g4driver]

Here my start:

1) how long have you been playing tennis?
2) any history of TE, wrist or shoulder injuries?
3) what actual level of play? USTA , UTR
4) aversion or preference of colors?
5) how frequently do you break strings or restring if you never break strings? For breaks, what string breaks first main or cross?
6) what make , gauge and tension do you currrently use?
7) how many frames do you have ? And how do you rotate through them?

 

[eah123]

I used to ask these questions, but then realized that the vast majority don’t know anything about even the strings they are currently playing with. So the simple thing is: do you like what you have now, or do you want something different?

Then warn them - no matter what, it will feel different because you haven’t restrung in 2 years so the tension probably dropped 10-20 pounds.

 

[g4driver]

Many of my new clients are 4.5C and 5.0C former collegiate players so my questions narrow my choices. Those questions help greatly when dealing with higher-level players. Some restring frequently, some play to breakage, some have TE history. When players are trying strings and labor free on my dime as part of my blind playtest process, the last thing I am doing is just tossing a dart blindly at a board.

When my question #1 gets answered "I just started or I am a 3.0 or 3.5", my choice is like a Luke Bryan song, "Down to One" = Tecnifibre Multifeel 1.30mm / Head Velocity 1.30mm

MF/Velocity is cheap, doesn't hurt them, and doesn't stick out of place like syn gut which means I don't get those complaints

 

[CosmosMpower]

What tension do you want and how do you want to pay. If I have to ask more than that I’m not stringing your frame.

 

[esm]

All good questions.
I always ask when is he/she playing next, if this/these are their only racquet(s).
I sometimes ask if he/she knew which stringing machine the last job was from if he/she is the first timer.

 

[RF_PRO_STAFF]

Here my start:

1) how long have you been playing tennis?
2) any history of TE, wrist or shoulder injuries?
3) what actual level of play? USTA , UTR
4) aversion or preference of colors?
5) how frequently do you break strings or restring if you never break strings? For breaks, what string breaks first main or cross?
6) what make , gauge and tension do you currrently use?
7) how many frames do you have ? And how do you rotate through them?

Great questions to ask them, thanks for that.

MF/Velocity is cheap, doesn't hurt them, and doesn't stick out of place like syn gut which means I don't get those complaints

Yeah I carry Velocity 1.30 as well, great string for the purposes it has.

What tension do you want and how do you want to pay. If I have to ask more than that I’m not stringing your frame.

That's not how I personally like to go about it.

 

[Crimsonchen]

Most of my customers don't know what they like or prefer. I'll usually ask if they have arm/wrist issues, what setup they're using (full multi, poly or hybrid), and what they're looking for in a string (comfort, control, spin). That also ties in with tension because some people don't know what tension they prefer. Once they find a sweet spot, theyll usually just tell me to do the same string and tension as the last job

 

[kinsella]

1. Where was your racquet strung (to figure out if a crank, constant tension or drop weight was used). 2. What tension? 3. If you could wave a magic wand to change your racquet what would you want (more comfort, more or less power, more spin, more or less control, better string durability). 4. How often do you break strings? 5. Did you have any complaints about your prior stringer?

With this information, I can make suggestions about gauge, tension, string type and hybrid set ups. The customer also might benefit from customization if he/she is not 100% happy with the current frame and string set up.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Great questions to ask them, thanks for that.


Yeah I carry Velocity 1.30 as well, great string for the purposes it has.


That's not how I personally like to go about it.

I am only willing to string for about 4-5 people outside myself. I lose money charging 20 a frame and doing it in 20 mins.