Where to tie off mains – does it matter?

[Shangri La]

I just bought a stringing machine and want to start stringing myself. I went though the racquets in my hands to see how they’re strung. On 2 of my racquets, the C10 and V1 silver, I noticed the mains are not tied at the supposed grommet, but rather next one closer to the head.

I also noticed that the supposed grommet to tie off is very close to the first cross – could that be the reason the stringer used the next main grommet instead for some extra space?

Also, does it really matter where you tie off the mains (or crosses for that matter)? As long as you skip a couple of grommets and there’s space for the knot, can’t you tie off anywhere?

I used the stringing instruction here. http://www.klipperusa.com/stringing/manufacturers.php The racquets were strung by TW and an experienced stringer.

Thanks.

 

[GPB]

Nah it doesn't matter. I don't even "skip a few", I try to find the closest one that goes in halfway easily.

 

[Irvin]

When I am doing two piece I tie off the mains as recommended by the manufacturer. When I am doing one piece and there are any skipped holes in the head I do not tie off the main, but only tie off the top and bottom crosses. Doing this makes the tie off hole closer to the clamp and eliminates some of the drawback.

Irvin

 

[Shangri La]

Thanks for the reply guys, that's what I was wondering.

Irvin, what do you mean by 'I do not tie off the main, but only tie off the top and bottom crosses'? Assume the cross starts from the top, then you dont really need to tie off the top cross since its a continuation of the mains?

I did my first string job yesterday on a PSC 6.1. It took me over 2 hours... phew.. but I swear I spent over an hour reading the manual, watch youtube videos, etc. It's always fun learning new things.

 

[SChamp]

Thanks for the reply guys, that's what I was wondering.

Irvin, what do you mean by 'I do not tie off the main, but only tie off the top and bottom crosses'? Assume the cross starts from the top, then you dont really need to tie off the top cross since its a continuation of the mains?

I did my first string job yesterday on a PSC 6.1. It took me over 2 hours... phew.. but I swear I spent over an hour reading the manual, watch youtube videos, etc. It's always fun learning new things.

Yeah, I'd kinda like to know what he was talking about to. That doesn't make any sense. Probably a typo or two different thoughts that ran together in the same sentence.

If you're like me when I started stringing, you didn't quite know what you were doing and you wanted to make sure that you were doing everything right. You can read about and see someone string a racquet, but before you do it yourself, you're not really sure about what's going on. Before long, it will become like second nature and you will move much quicker. Also, different types of string can increase or decrease the amount of time it takes you to string. I just switched from poly, due to elbow issues, to syn gut and/or multi's. I dropped my stringing time by an average of 20 minutes.

 

[Irvin]

Thanks for the reply guys, that's what I was wondering.

Irvin, what do you mean by 'I do not tie off the main, but only tie off the top and bottom crosses'? Assume the cross starts from the top, then you dont really need to tie off the top cross since its a continuation of the mains?...

That is a perfect example. When the mains end at the head I usually string one piece I make my short side 5 racket lengths and the remainder of the set is the long side. I string all the mains as usual then use the short side to run the first cross, the long side to run the second cross, and tie off the short side on the same tie off hole on the opposite side of the racket.

By using the short side for the tie off I can get the clamp closer to the frame, and the string I am tying off closer to the tie off hole because the tie off hole is usually above the first skipped hole. Therefore you have less drawback since there is less untensioned string between the clamp and the knot. I also believe there is less drawback on a cross string that is tied off than a main string that is tied off.

...That doesn't make any sense. Probably a typo or two different thoughts that ran together in the same sentence...

Hope that makes sense now.

Irvin

 

[Irvin]

It would also make even more sense to tie off the top (and bottom) cross if you use floating clamps. It will help if you have a starting clamp to do this but it is not necessary as you can use the floating clamp on the outside of the frame as a starting clamp. There are times when it helps to run the two top crosses with the short side but you will have to determine if you want to do that.

Normally when you use floating clamps to start crosses you have to have two crosses to clamp one to the other. If you run the top cross and clamp it on the outside of the frame and then the second you can clamp on the first two crosses on both side to hold the string for tying off. The mains will also help hold the clamp so you will have less twisting than you do when you clamp and tie off a main because there are no crosses to prevent twisting. I never tie off a main when I do one piece unless the mains do not skip a hole which is rare, and I like to do one piece mainly for this reason.

Irvin

 

[meowmix]

My two cents on tie offs...

The closer to the last main/cross you tie off, the better. Longer distances decreases the amount of tension you have remaining on your last tensioned string.

 

[Irvin]

A picture says 1000 words

I just strung a racket today 1 piece and the mains ended at the top. Mains skip 7 and 9 at the head and throat and the mains tie off at 8H and 8T. You can see from the picture below the top cross is closer to the tie off hole (with diagonal string) than the last main pointed out with a screwdriver. This makes the clamp (on top cross) closer to the knot than it would have been on the outside main. Usually I am able to get the clamp closer to the frame on the top cross than the outside main but not this time because of the 6th main they're about the same.

Irvin

 

[Shangri La]

Thanks a lot for your help, Irvin! After reading your posts backwards, they make perfect sense now : )

Normally when you use floating clamps to start crosses you have to have two crosses to clamp one to the other. If you run the top cross and clamp it on the outside of the frame and then the second you can clamp on the first two crosses on both side to hold the string for tying off. The mains will also help hold the clamp so you will have less twisting than you do when you clamp and tie off a main because there are no crosses to prevent twisting. I never tie off a main when I do one piece unless the mains do not skip a hole which is rare, and I like to do one piece mainly for this reason.

Irvin

Wow... this is exactly what I need. I have a silent partner swing which uses floating clamps. When I tie of the mains and start the first cross from the long side, only the mains are holding the clamp and there was a lot of twisting (and tension loss to I believe). The way do you it is simply beautiful, the first cross will help hold the clamp for the 2nd cross. This is fun stuff, cant wait to do my 2nd string job.:neutral:

 

[Irvin]

...This is fun stuff, cant wait to do my 2nd string job.:neutral:

The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a Friend.

Well then what are you waiting for (you fool) string one for a friend.

Irvin

 

[Shangri La]

Didnt notice my smiley turned into a neutral until just now : O

 

[Shangri La]

Well then what are you waiting for (you fool) string one for a friend.

Irvin

I bought some synthetic gut to practice. I'll probably practice a few times and then re-string a Vantage 95. Bought one here but the strings are long dead so never really hit with it. Also have some polys to try...

I'm thinking how to tie off the 1st cross... I believe I need to do the 3rd corss, then tension the 1st cross again, move its clamp to inside the frame then tie off. But that way the 2 clamps are on the same side and are both clamping on the 2nd cross so cant get then close enough to the frame. So I'll probably do the 4th cross then tension the 1st cross and move its clamp inside and the knot... I know I should just go try and figure out myself...

 

[Irvin]

...I'm thinking how to tie off the 1st cross... I believe I need to do the 3rd corss, then tension the 1st cross again, move its clamp to inside the frame then tie off. But that way the 2 clamps are on the same side and are both clamping on the 2nd cross so cant get then close enough to the frame. So I'll probably do the 4th cross then tension the 1st cross and move its clamp inside and the knot... I know I should just go try and figure out myself...

I am not following you. I am not sure why you want to string the third cross. If I were doing it and the clamp were capable of reaching the first and second cross I would do it this way. String the top cross, adjust your clamp for one string, and clamp the top cross on the outside of the frame. Then string the second cross with the long side and clamp the first and second crosses on the inside of the frame with your other clamp. Now pull tension on the top cross again, adjust your clamp back for two strings, and clamp the first and second crosses on the inside of the frame. You will now have both clamps on the first two strings but on opposite sides of the racket and you can tie off the top cross and continue stringing the crosses.

Good luck,

Irvin

 

[Shangri La]

I am not following you. I am not sure why you want to string the third cross. If I were doing it and the clamp were capable of reaching the first and second cross I would do it this way. String the top cross, adjust your clamp for one string, and clamp the top cross on the outside of the frame. Then string the second cross with the long side and clamp the first and second crosses on the inside of the frame with your other clamp. Now pull tension on the top cross again, adjust your clamp back for two strings, and clamp the first and second crosses on the inside of the frame. You will now have both clamps on the first two strings but on opposite sides of the racket and you can tie off the top cross and continue stringing the crosses.

Good luck,

Irvin

oh, yea.... forgot that you'd tension the first cross again before moving the clamp to inside - that way the 2nd cross is not affected, my bad... Thanks again, Irvin!