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Stringing a Wooden Racquet

Q: Does the USRSA have string patterns for some of the classics? I have been contacted by a client who has a wooden racquet and a package of natural gut. Talk about a challenge! I’ve used gut before (usually as hybrids, which makes the job easier) but I have never strung a classic. I use a Prince Neos 1000. Do you know if I will have a problem mounting it? Is there anything I need to be aware of when stringing a wooden racquet? I am looking forward to it, but I want to be sure I am prepared and equipped.

A: Check your Racquet Service Techniques book for the section called “Stringing the Conventional Wood Frame.” You shouldn’t have any trouble mounting the frame on your machine. Probably the biggest difference between a wooden racquet and the typical modern graphite racquet is that the wooden racquets have a lot of shared holes. You should also check with your client to see if he is going to use the racquet for play or display. If he’s using it only for display, restring the racquet with the lowest possible tension to prevent warping.

If he’s going to be using for play, check the racquet thoroughly for defects and warpage. You might also remind your customer that for the price of restringing his racquet with natural gut, he could easily purchase a pre-strung racquet that will out-play and out-last his wooden racquet.

From the January 2005 issue
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