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Troublesome two-piece stringing

Q: I am being asked to perform ever more two-piece string jobs on racquets that specify one-piece stringing only. The problem I often have is finding a large enough grommet hole to tie off the start of the crosses, because most racquets only have two tie-off holes at the top for the mains. Some people have recommended using an awl to enlarge another hole prior to starting, but I haven’t had good luck with this. I’m sure that experienced stringers have dealt with this problem many times. Could you recommend the best way to enlarge one of the existing grommet holes, or in the alternative, pass a second string safely through one of these small holes?

In addition, I always tell these customers that this type of stringing technique violates the manufacturer’s recommendation for the racquet. Even so, I’ve never had anyone change his mind after this warning. I was curious if people have been reporting increased racquet damage or breakage in one-piece racquets, with the increased popularity of this hybrid stringing technique?

A: There are some racquets that don’t have enough holes, and for them you just have to pick a grommet and make it bigger. It’s easier with a little lube on the awl, and some stringers heat the grommet with the heat gun first. You won’t have to make the hole as large, and you’ll have an easier time getting the tie-off string through the hole, if you pick a grommet where the string is going to be pulled away from one side of the grommet. The string lies at an angle in some grommets, effectively blocking that grommet hole so other strings are more difficult to get through, unless you really enlarge the grommet. So, choose your new tie-off hole wisely.

There are other racquets, however, that have the holes you need for two-piece stringing, but they are farther down on the hoop. (Many of the Babolat racquets are like this.) With these racquets, use a starting clamp instead of a starting knot, install the first few crosses (until you get past the point where the tie-off hole is). Then go back and re-tension the first cross, clamp as normal, and use a tie-off knot.

Also, as long as you are stringing the crosses from the top to the throat, you’re probably not endangering anyone’s warranty. There are very few racquets that specify one-piece stringing only. Even when the Digest shows only stringing instructions for the one-piece method, it is virtually always permissible to string the racquet with two pieces of string. The problem, as you’ve noted, is in finding the tie-off holes.

From the September 2006 issue
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