tennis racquet stringing question

[bigalt]

Since everyone's doing it, I figure I'll give it a whirl.

I bought a couple reels, one cheapo nylon set and another nicer one for the crosses.

I was just pondering through-- when the nylon ones break, do you necessarily have to snip off the cross strings, or could you try just weaving a new set of mains in? Or would it be too hard to get the right tension (especially with my cheapo klippermate).

This would of course be desirable because the nylon ones are 30 bucks for a reel, while the nicer synthetic gut ones are 120.

 

[MasterAndCommander]

If you strung the racquet as a 2-piece job, I guess you could just re-string the crosses...if that's the one that breaks...but usually your main string breaks...at least in all the years I have been playing tennis. I think I only broke a cross string once. I don't recommend it though. By the time your main or cross string broke, you string bed will have developed notches where each string rubbed against each other. It's best to just re-string the entire racquet...I have a Klippermate too...I feel your pain . It's a good enough stringing machine, so long as you don't have to string racquets for a living.

 

[bigalt]

jeez anandtech is awesome, there's always someone who knows what the heck you're talking about.

i guess if i just go to polyester for the main strings, they'll last as long as the cross ones stay useful.

 

[MikeMike]

Master, from everything ive heard, theres no reason NOT to do a 2-piece job, its just overall better.
and when ive had mine restrung its always both, just because of the groves, and its already loose so restringing will be best.

MIKE

 

[MasterAndCommander]

Originally posted by: bigalt
jeez anandtech is awesome, there's always someone who knows what the heck you're talking about.

i guess if i just go to polyester for the main strings, they'll last as long as the cross ones stay useful.

I've tried the poly mains and synthetic gut crosses on a couple of frames and it had very good solid feel to it. I found that the polys don't stretch as much as synthetic gut, so I recommend allowing yourself and extra foot or foot and a half of string for the mains so you will have enough to tie your mains.

I'd say the stiffness of the polyester reminds me of kevlar strings, but doesn't have the harshness to wreak havoc on your elbow. It took me about 30 min to get used to the feel of the hybrid poly/syn gut string job.

Mike - yeah I used to exclusivley string 2-piece jobs. But now I only do it if I'm gonna mix 2 different type of strings for crosses and mains. I like doing one-piece jobs now just for asthetic reasons...fewer knots to tie
But overall, I feel no difference when playing with either a one or two piece job.

Another beauty of doing a 2 piece job is once you finish tying off the mains, you can take a break and have a few :beer: :beer: :beer: before finishing the rest.

 

[mrrman]

it all depends on the tension that is left on the intact string....if its decreased alot I would do a whole restringing job..just played my 1st outdoor match of the year...3 1/2 hrs

 

[bigalt]

Originally posted by: MasterAndCommander


Another beauty of doing a 2 piece job is once you finish tying off the mains, you can take a break and have a few :beer: :beer: :beer: before finishing the rest.

laugh, nothing quite like a few beers to steady the nerves before setting to the weaving bit

i figured i'd try poly a few times by buying the single packs before committing to a reel. i've got too many reels sitting around of string i don't like much.