Tips and Techniques
January 2008
Avoiding coil memory
I'm sure that all stringers become frustrated from time to time with coil memory when measuring out a length of string. I've found that by using a simple countertop paper towel holder, you can eliminate that problem. Simply place the...
Tying off natural gut
I use a dead man's knot whenever the anchor string is natural gut. The version I use is a double half hitch tied around a separate string and the anchor string. I've taken a page from the racquet manufacturers, which...
Investing in Pre-stretching
Investing one minute in pre-stretching could be one of the most profitable and enjoyable investments a stringer can make. Our shop realizes big gains with pre-stretching: 1) It saves us at least 10 percent of the time it takes to...
Wrap it backwards
It seems that I often get caught on court with a student who needs my help replacing her overgrip, but neither the grip tape nor the grip band are anywhere to be found. Rather than go back out to the...
Stronger clamp cleaner
Cleaning clamps and other stringing machine parts with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol may promote rusting because it contains a percentage of water to begin with, and it's hygroscopic so it absorbs moisture from the air. When the alcohol evaporates, the water...
November 2007
Measuring the short side
I know you've published numerous ways to measure string, but here's how I measure the short side. I bought a 5-foot fabric tape measure for $1. They now come in vinyl, too, but I got mine 30 years ago. Most...
Rubber grip stand
I have found the perfect rubber grip display. I found an ice stick tray (top photo) at Wal-Mart, flipped it over, and put it to better use (bottom photo). 5 sets of Yonex Tough Brid 130 to: Carter Green, Virginia...
Another ATW method
After reading Liam Nolan's around-the-world (ATW) stringing method, I'd like to pass along mine, which also eliminates misweaves, counting crosses, and skipping multiple crosses. I also find my method a bit faster. For frames that are candidates for ATW (that...
Prevent stencil slip
To make my stenciling easier I use two identical stencils and a pair of ratchet clamps from Sears. I simply align the stencils, and clamp them in place in one easy operation. 5 sets of Wilson Enduro Mono 16L to:...
Build your own bone yard
From time to time it is necessary to discard a cracked racquet. Before you throw it out, though, remove everything from the racquet that could be useful to you in the future. This includes the dampener, butt cap, trim tape...
September 2007
Easily end coil memory
I hate fighting coil memory, so I found a way to get around it. I hang the string out straight with a three-pound lead weight attached as a load. If you don't have a 40-foot-long room, attach one end of...
Overgrip removal
I have gotten feedback from several of the players that I service that the overwrap they use tears the grip as they remove it. Perforated grips seem to be the biggest problem. I now install only smooth grips for these...
Colorful labels
I have a "low-tech" tip for those of us who don't like the rather large labels provided to us by string manufacturers. I use colorful self-adhesive labels. They are available at all office supply stores and they are very inexpensive....
Restoring leather grips
This is the method I've been using to clean leather grips. I've been using this method for a while now, and it works well. Wet a cloth in methylated spirits (denatured wood alcohol) and rub down the grip to remove...
Easy machine moving
For those people who have their string machine on a carpeted surface, they may find it very easy to move it with the aid of "furniture movers" placed under the feet. The machine is stable and it is a breeze...
Don't Forget to Reset
Before tying off the last main, some stringers add a few pounds to the reference tension to mitigate the normal loss of tension when tying off. The only problem is, if you forget to go back and reset the tension...
August 2007
Increase your gripworthiness
When installing some strings, the humidity and string lube can combine to reduce your grip when pulling the crosses. I found that using PrinceGrip Plus grip enhancer on my hands helps me grab the string when otherwise it would be...
Logging racquets
I like to keep a record of the racquets I string. I had been keeping track of the customer's name, the date, the racquet, the string(s), the tension, and the price. Now, I keep track of the racquet weight, too....
Clamp adjustment samples
I keep scraps of string that I use most frequently, put masking tape on them and mark the gauge with a felt tip pen. This way when I am stringing and readjusting my clamps to fit a different gauge, I...
Organizing hybrid strings
I have been experimenting with different "homemade" hybrids. I enjoy playing with them and our customers love trying them out. The problem I ran into was all the half sets of string left over. My wife, who is an organizational...
Take a strap to it
On occasion when stringing on Babolat machines one can get the racquet stuck in the very firm six-point support system. Babolat suggests you loosen one of the 6 or 12 o'clock supports and tighten the other. Babolat says under no...
Don't poke your customers
No string job is complete in our shop until the tie-off string ends have been smoothed. This only requires about ten or fifteen seconds to do four ends. We use a small electric soldering gun that heats in about three...
July 2007
Shallow bumperguards
Regarding Jeremy Plumley's February 2006 tip on the shallow bumpers on the Head i.Radical and Ti Radical, it turns out that the deep, well-made bumpers from the Liquidmetal Radical are interchangeable with the older bumperguards. 5 sets of Prince Tour...
Handle weighting
When you need to add weight to the handle, some racquets make it much easier, via a trap door that can be removed separately from the butt cap. All it takes is a small screwdriver to pry it out. Once...
Getting started as a stringer
I have found that a good way for a beginning stringer to gain experience is to volunteer to string the store demo and recycled "grassroots" racquets, such as those that will be donated to youth programs. The store owner is...
Quick Box Pattern
I know there are more exotic box pattern stringing techniques out there, but the one I use comes from RSI Stringer of the Year Bob Patterson. Leave the last short side main unstrung and tie off at the head. With...
Perfect nippers
I've been stringing for almost 40 years, and have the tool collection to prove it, but Tim Sullivan of Laserfibre recommended my new favorite tool to me: The end nippers from Sears (item 45698). He calls them grommet nippers, but...
June 2007
Cutting out strings
Before I cut out the strings, I mount the racquet in my machine as for restringing, and then cut the strings out in the reverse order that they were installed. I then check the racquet mountings for tightness before restringing....
Broccoli bands
I use overgrips, but I flip them over to get wear on both sides before I'm done with them. This means I can't use tape to secure the overgrip, because removing the tape tears the overgrip. Instead of buying grip...
Calibration locking
To help my lockout machine stay in calibration longer, I use a small dab of thread locker on the calibration adjustment screw. I happen to use Loctite. Pay attention when purchasing thread locking fluids or gels, though, as they come...
Pointless stringing
After cutting off the excess string near the knot on polyester string jobs, I take an emery board and sand off the sharp point. I find the emery boards in packs of 20 in the cosmetics section (some people use...
Slick bumperguard trick
We have each struggled from time to time with the installation of bumperguards. I use suntan lotion (any SPF!) applied with my finger along the inside of the bumper guard. This allows the guard to slip into the grommet holes...
Custom string selector
To help my customers select the correct string, I created a string list of all the strings I stock, separated into one of three categories: Power, Mid-range, and Controllable/Durable. This allows them to look over the list and then ask...
May 2007
Upper tool tray
I love my machine, but I needed more storage for my tools and stringing accessories. Believe it or not, I made one from a toothbrush holder. A company called Homz makes the one I bought, which I found at Wal-Mart...
Customer education
I put together a two-page flyer entitled "TENNIS STRINGS 101." I pass it out to all my customers, as well the general public. Comments are very positive and it adds to the professional image of our work. 5 sets of...
Easy ATW stringing
Box and ATW (Around the World) stringing are techniques you can use when stringing with one piece of string and where you wish to have the crosses coming down from the head, but where the existing pattern has the main...
Gripping consistency
In order to maintain the consistency of the feel of a replaced grip with the previous grip, make sure to notice where the old grip starts on the base of the grip and begin wrapping the new grip at the...
April 2007
Non-slip gripper
I had a problem with my string gripper slipping even after it was cleaned. I took the two halves of the gripper to an auto repair shop that had a glass bead blaster to lightly treat the surface. It took...
Pathfinding Needle
An inexpensive sports ball-inflating needle can be modified to perform many of the tasks of an expensive pathfinder awl. Simply saw off the tip of the needle with a hack saw and smooth the tip with emery cloth. The modified...
Tangle-free uncoiling
To keep string from becoming tangled as you unwind it from the coil, try looping the coil over a smooth door handle. This also makes it easier to divide the string for two-piece stringing: After uncoiling, I loop the string...
Racquet mailing
One way I get my customers to restring is to send out humorous reminder postcards. To make them, I print the front and back of Avery 8387 white postcard stock in my inkjet printer. On the front, I address each...
Getting more mileage from hybrids
Whenever you string a hybrid for your own racquet, use different string colors for the mains and crosses. I've used red and orange, orange and white, and blue and white in my racquets, and other players will almost always ask...
March 2007
Mark the middle
Many racquets come without a mid-point marking inside the head. This is easily fixed by marking the correct spot with a permanent marker. A small dot or hash mark will help you mount the frame properly, and will last for...
Protect the frame
The tension head of a lockout machine can hit the throat of some frames, potentially causing damage. Using some excess from a replacement grip, I placed a short piece on each side of the linear gripper. The adhesive backing of...
Quick Rattle Removal
When my tennis racquet developed a rattle, rather than poke and prod with an awl, I simply located the offending particle and removed it with a pair of Xuron needle-nose pliers. These pliers are narrow enough to reach into tight...
Volkl Big Holes mounting technique
Volkl racquets with the Big Hole technology can be difficult to mount on most 6-point machines because the mounts at 6 and 12 don't fit between the grommets. I have found that if I take a leather power pad (or...
Soften grommets for easy installation
Before I try to install a new grommet strip, I place about two inches of water in a large frying pan, bring it to a boil, and remove it from the heat. Then I drop the top grommet into the...
February 2007
Ever-lasting stringbed tension
After years of being plagued with tension loss, I have found a method of tensioning that gives racquets months of consistent string bed stiffness. Here is how I reduce tension loss to a minimum: a. Reduce reference tension 10 to...
Colorizing lead tape
Lead tape works wonders when customizing sticks. Unsightly as it may be on a racquet's hoop, we just accepted its drab gray color because there was no other choice. Not anymore. I found a way to dress up lead tape...
Clamp slippage checker
I finally have a device to detect any string slipping through the clamp after tensioning. I disassembled a spring-loaded clothespin and filed down the clamping areas to create two flat surfaces. I then took some scraps of replacement grips that...
Stenciling with toothbrushes
I gave up fighting with worn stencil ink applicator tips, and now use toothbrushes, which distribute ink to the very edges of the stencil. Toothbrushes also prevent excess ink from being deposited on the side of the stencil that will...
Replacement stencil tips
A couple of years ago, you ran a tip that started out with the words, "Is there any one else out there who dislikes stenciling racquets as much as I do?" At the time, I was thinking I could give...
January 2007
Finding facts fast
Finding the stringing pattern for common frames in the Stringer's Digest is a step that can be made a little quicker. Instead of just putting plain tape on the page I want to mark, I use my own string labels,...
Careful cleaning
When using rubbing alcohol to clean a stringing machine, keep the bottle away from the machine! Bottles can tip over and spill, damaging your machine. My advice is to apply the alcohol to the cloth and walk the cloth over...
Bumperguard Storage
I keep my bumper guards in a smallish box that forces them into the shape of a mild arc. This way when I need to install them, they are pre-formed to follow the form and shape of the racquet. It...
TLC for the RDC
I was getting varied swingweight readings on my Babolat Racquet Diagnostic Center (RDC). I took the cover off and found that there is a ball bearing system on top that is exposed to dust from outside the machine. I blew...
Better Clamp Cleaner
Instead of using an alcohol-soaked cloth or a regular pipe cleaner, I've found using decorative pipe cleaners packaged as Chenille Stems found in craft stores much better. They are longer and have a sturdy core wire with soft bristles. Bend...
Starting without Slippage
As others have pointed out, pulling tension on the first center main puts a lot of stress on the clamp holding the other center main. With no string tension behind it to help, that first clamp can and will move....
Cleaner Stenciling
I use my workbench to stencil. It can be messy but, before starting, I spread out pages from my local newspaper. When I am done, I discard the top sheet of the newspaper, and have a clean work surface for...
November 2006
Professional Prince Stencils
After stenciling the strings using the Prince stencil, remove the stencil and fill in the non-inked portions of the "P," where the support bars are for the inside of the "P." Not only does the finished stencil look as if...
Long-term Racquet Storage
If you have racquets that you're no longer using but wish to hang on to, you don't have to worry about cutting out the strings first (unless you have wooden racquets), because the strings will eventually lose so much tension...
Marking Demo Racquets
If you have a racquet demo program, it is important to be able to identify your racquets when they are out on loan. Stickers and tape are removable, so the local Head rep turned me on to his solution. I...
September 2006
Racquet Labeling
I have used engraving in the past to identify racquets, particularly when doing a batch of four to six racquets for professional players. Recently, though, I purchased a Brothers labeling machine, and now use this in place of engraving. The...
Stapler Recommendation
I had been seeking an adequate staple gun for attaching grips and butt caps. My regular staple gun did not penetrate grips well and although it used narrow crown heavy-duty staples, they were still pretty wide. After searching around, I...
Customizing Lighter Racquets
For adding weight inside the handle of lighter racquets, you don't need lead tape: Scrap string is the thing. And with my method, there is no danger of losing weights inside the handle. You will need: fishing weights of various...
Stencil Storage
I stencil my fair share of racquets, and every time I would have to figure out what do to with the wet stencil to avoid making a mess. Now, I use hanging folders to store my stencils. The folder material...
Open Sesame
Those rubber grippers -- designed to cushion and protect your hands when you open jars -- are handy to keep next to the stringing machine. I use one to protect my hands and fingers when loosening machine mounts after I'm...
August 2006
Stencil Applicator Tips
I read with interest the tip from Mark Campanile regarding stenciling. He ends his tip by saying, "My next task is to figure out how to make the ink applicator last as long as the ink in the bottle." This...
Cap-Ease
For me, one of the worst things about stencil ink bottles is getting the cap off without pulling the applicator tip out of the bottle. When the bottle is fresh and new, it's no problem, but after the stencil ink...
Simple Spot Cleaning
I realize that I probably get more carried away than most when it comes to cleaning racquets before stringing, but I'm always looking for ways to make cleaning quicker and easier. My latest discovery is that recycled stencil ink bottles...
Cleaner Stenciling
I do quite a bit of racquet stenciling and currently I use my workbench to stencil. It can be a messy job but I merely use my local newspaper unfolded to do my stencil work on. When I am done,...
Good Practice
One small piece of advice I was given when I first started stringing was to always string racquets in the same way. On "one-piece" jobs it is very apparent, not so much on two piece! However, whenever I string a...
Take the tube
I take a small piece of Teflon tubing and temporarily insert it into the hole that I know will become blocked. This allows me to slide the string through the tubing without having to use an awl or other techniques,...
July 2006
Racquet Reconditioning
I try my best to recondition every racquet I re-string, and I've come up with a procedure that really works for me. First, I clean the racquet with Goof-Off to get rid of grime and stray spots of stencil ink....
Preventing Box Pattern Misweaves
I use a different method to catch misweaves on "box" patterns as discussed in the Tips & Techniques section of the May 2006 issue. After installing the first cross(es), and then the next outside main, I count the remaining number...
Lining up Your Clamps
One key to consistent string jobs is clamping each string so that it is in alignment with the grommet hole. Aside from not forcing the clamp into position regardless of the location of the string, there is another big factor...
De-tangling
When you're first starting out, tangles can take what seems like forever to undo, and can be especially frustrating if you got the string out of the package properly to begin with, only to find the long side snarled after...
June 2006
Measuring for Hybrid Sets
I do a lot of hybrid string jobs, using strings from full sets of string. This means cutting each set in half, which can be a pain because the string wants to stay coiled up, and then it invariably tangles...
Frame protection
I own an Ektelon/Prince Neos. As you know, when pulling strings from the racquet throat, it is necessary to pull over the frame throat. The manual suggests using a business card or similar thing to protect the string and frame....
Poly Knotting
Some of the heavier-gauge polys really resist snugging up tightly during knotting, and there’s only so much you can do with adding tension to the tie-off string. I’ve found that the way to tame them is to purposely “kink” the...
Getting to Know Natural Gut
I know a lot of stringers are afraid to try stringing up natural gut due to its cost and reputation. One way to break into stringing with natural gut is to start out with a poly hybrid set, with the...
Have Grip, Will Travel
I play on public courts a lot, which means there is no pro shop readily available. My stringing customers seem to enjoy being able to give me a racquet right there at the court, and get it back the next...
License Plate Advertising
I have found a way to call attention to my small stringing business that’s fun and easy: I purchased a personalized license plate for my vehicle. It was relatively inexpensive, and no one else in my state can have the...
May 2006
Use the Dark Side
Thank you, Prince, for marking both sides of your newer frames with dots that show which grommets and grommet holes get main strings, but on the two-tone racquets, the dark dots on the side with the light background are not...
Blocked hole stand-off
When you are stringing the mains, and realize that you are going to block a hole, instead of looping a string around the string that blocks, try this: Take a piece of string and make a loop. Place this loop...
Catching Box Pattern Misweaves
When stringing a racquet using a box pattern, you weave at least one of the bottom crosses before you weave the first cross at the top. If you're not paying attention, it's easy to weave that top cross incorrectly compared...
Hybrid Clamping
Hybrid jobs are nice because you have two shorter pieces of string to work with, instead of one long piece. However, you also have two different strings, which means you might have two different gauges. You might even have different...
Multipurpose Stickers
We have press-on stickers featuring our store logo, which we can apply to anything from racquet bags to shoe boxes. One of their many uses is on racquet butt caps after customizing a racquet. Under normal conditions, when customizing or...
April 2006
Protect your investment
The owner’s manual for my stringing machine recommends using a surge protector to help prevent electrical line problems from causing expensive damage to the machine electronics. However, rather than using just a surge protector, I purchased a UPS (Uninterruptible Power...
Prince O3 tie-offs
Here's one for those who use multifilament string in the Prince O3 frames that tie off the crosses on a cross. The difficulty comes from pushing the end of a soft string through the tie-off hole at the throat. First,...
Mentoring
I enjoy the opportunity to string racquets at home. Now my 15-year-old daughter has become a great stringer. It all started years ago when she asked if she could cut and pull out the strings. Her interest will be a...
Stencil bottle clean-up
Once your stencil ink has been opened and used a few times, you have to be careful when taking the cap off, so as not to find the sponge stuck to the cap and you are in danger of emptying...
Prevent grommet strip pull-out
When stringing the last mains and the grommet tries to pull out, I have found an easy way to keep it in place. Normally you would pull the string parallel with the hole. Instead, try turning the frame so that...
Measuring the short side
A quick and easy way to measure the short side is to measure 4½ lengths of a standard-length racquet. This should give ample length for the short side with enough left on the long side to do the rest of...
Stringing extras
When a customer comes in for just a string job, I usually install a free overgrip if the overgrip is dirty. It takes almost no time, the cost to me is minimal, and my customers have been very appreciative. 5...
February 2006
Wilson nCode racquetball restringing
The Wilson nCode racquetball racquets have the three channel rails at the throat of racquet, and three grooves at the butt of the handle. The handle and alternating strips of the grip are transparent, exposing the string in the handle....
Serious height adjustment
Because of my height (I'm 6 feet 6 inches tall), my stringing machine was too low even at its maximum height of 48 inches. Rather than prop the machine up on a riser and risk it tipping over, I took...
Label removal
I have found that if I soak a tissue with Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil and place it in contact with the old label prior to stringing the racquet, label removal becomes very easy. The label absorbs the Avon Skin-So-Soft during...
Shallow bumperguards
If you or any of your customers play with the Head i.radical OS, you know that the groove between the bumperguard and the grommet strip is shallow, allowing the string to come into direct contact with the court very often....
Balancing act
When the need arises to balance a racquet, I have discovered that my balancing board mounts nicely on my stringing machine. I place the board between the four frame supports and tighten the moveable mounting arms, securing the board base...
Easy string measuring
Many of my customers have more than one frame of the same type, and I have them pretty well trained to rotate the amount of playing time they put on each frame, so they can bring me all of their...
Positive re-enforcement
Whenever I introduce a client to a new string, I wrap the package insert with all the technical and promotional information around the handle of the racquet. This reinforces what I've said, helps to justify the decision, and often results...
January 2006
Wrong side short side revisited
I wanted to expound on the tip offered by Albert Lee in the February 2005 RSI. The tip, titled "Wrong Side Short Side," can also be used when using the Around-the-World (ATW) technique. When I string one of the Rollers...
Fix a drifting Stringmeter
If you're one of those stringers who uses a Stringmeter, you know that after years of use, your Stringmeter can start to slip, and gauge settings drift when you twist the tool to take a reading. The solution is to...
Checking for cracks
When inspecting a racquet for problems before stringing, always run your hand around the frame of the racquet. Cracks are often hard to see, but are always easy to feel. 5 sets of Ashaway Composite XT Pro 1 to: Kane...
Stringer's gloves
I don't like using pliers on tie-off knots. I tried wrapping the string around my forefinger twice, but quickly learned that is a mistake. So I tried a leather work glove, which is loose fitting and slips on and off...
Help your starting knot
The knot at the start of the cross strings, when two-piece stringing, can sometimes get pulled into the grommet when you tension the first cross string. This especially happens if you're using a 17- or 18-gauge string. Before you apply...
Tracking stringbed stiffness
I find that serious tennis players are beginning to realize the importance of a racquet's stringbed stiffness. As Crawford Lindsey noted in the February 2005 RSI, there are two problems with establishing a universal stringbed standard: The cost of an...
November 2005
Finger Protection
If you string a lot with poly, your fingers can really take a beating. Rather than using tape or bandages, I now use Nike Finger Sleeves. Developed for football linemen, the sleeves are lightweight yet offer great protection. They are...
Heavy-duty Stencils
If you're like me, you want heavy-duty stencils that can be tossed around without worrying about breaking or tearing. I use the plastic covers from old three-ring binders. The material lies flat, and can be cut with a razor knife....
Speed up your Crosses
String sets these days are much longer than they used to be, averaging 40 feet, and sometimes they're even longer. This is much more than you need for a normal racquet, which means you're dragging a lot of extra string...
Bumperguard Savers
For years I've recommended to my customers that they use head tape on their racquets, as it would save them a lot of bumperguard replacements. Typically, however, they never get around to buying the head tape, let alone putting it...
Bigger Build-ups with Bevels
Building up grips one full size is no problem, as the grip maintains its shape, and the player can still feel the edges between the flats and the bevels. But sometimes I have to build up a grip two sizes....
Easier cross starting
Weave your first cross string before you tie off your main string(s). It's easier to start the crosses this way, because oftentimes the first cross string hole becomes blocked as you tie off the mains. 5 sets of HEAD FiberGEL...
Free String Samples
After stringing a racquet, I normally have two or more feet of string left over. Instead of throwing the string away, I cut the string into six-inch sections. I then place these samples into containers labeled by string brand. When...
September 2005
Shoehorn for Shrink Tubes
Getting one of those grip-enlarging shrink tubes onto a racquet handle can be difficult, especially after it has shrunk a bit due to age. I use a strong plastic shoehorn to pry the end of the tube open and get...
BYO Stick-Em
For those over-wraps that do not have starter tape, use a touch of glue from a glue stick. It will hold the grip in place as you begin to wrap the handle and won't leave any residue. 5 sets of...
No Fan of Floating Clamps
Some people think it's okay to string all fan-patterned racquets with floating clamps, but it most definitely is not okay when there are shared holes in the throat (as there are on the Head i160 squash racquets, for example). Apart...
Grommet Pullout
When stringing a new racquet or one where the grommets and bumpers have been replaced, the outside mains have a tendency to pull the grommets out of the frame, especially near the throat. This often exposes the string to the...
Stopping Drop-Weight Guesswork
I recently purchased a drop-weight machine, and became concerned regarding the subjectivity of when the weight rod was truly horizontal (and thus, pulling tension most accurately). It occurred to me that a line level attached to the end of the...
Marketing with Flying Colors
Each year before the start of the high school tennis season, I make fliers promoting one of my special racquet stringing services—hybrid strings featuring each local high school's school colors. With one color for the mains and another for the...
August 2005
End Strip Searches
Whenever a customer of mine buys a new racquet from me or anywhere else, I encourage them to buy extra grommet kits right away. I try to carry some kits, and there are others I can order, but in time...
Quicker Crosses
The currently-available 40- to 44-foot string sets are much longer than they used to be, and they usually have much more string than is needed to complete the normal racquet. After I weave the first few cross strings, I count...
Become a Stringing Doctor
Sometimes when weaving the cross, I find the strings either slip or they are too hard to pull through the mains. The answer is very simple: I purchased some surgical gloves that fit my hand perfectly. They allow me to...
Hand me that stat, stat!
I recently purchased a set of military surplus medical hemostats from a discount store and found that they are very useful tools for stringing racquets. The large ones are "beefy" enough to pull strings that have a lot of friction...
Generating New Business
Helping maintain public tennis courts in your community is one way to increase your customer base, gain exposure, and generate new business. Clean, well-maintained courts are an enticement to play tennis. I stop by my local courts regularly, pick up...
July 2005
Silicone handle weighting
I have customers who like the racquet they already have, but need more mass to help them hit bigger shots. Even though I'm adding mass, I often have to keep the balance the same, which means some of the additional...
Reattaching butt caps
We do a lot of racquet customizing, especially at pro tournaments, and in most cases the butt cap has to be removed. To reattach the butt cap after making the modifications, I've found that the best product is SEM Flexible...
Easier string straightening
I like to straighten the strings while the racquet is still mounted in the stringing machine, but it can be difficult to get the strings really straight because the background—the turntable of the stringing machine, the housing of the stringing...
June 2005
Installing Tubing
It is often difficult to insert tubing through regular (that is, non-tie-off) grommet holes. Even after stretching it a little, as recommended in Racquet Service Techniques, it is still hard to push it through. I found that if I take...
String Breakage Failure Analysis
In the past I told customers to cut the strings in a racquet after a string breaks, to relieve stress on the frame. I even told them the proper method for cutting out the strings. However, not having the stringbed...
Adding Another Stringing Location
This tip works well for professional stringers working from a shop or from their home. You can increase your business by offering convenient drop-off and pick-up at multiple locations. To add a location, develop a partnership with an established business...
Combining Tasks
When a customer asks for a new bumper and grommet strip to be fitted to the racquet, it is easy to fall into the normal habit of cutting and removing the strings, and then taking out the old bumper and...
Installing Load Spreaders
I use the Prince load spreaders between the frame and the head and throat billiards on my stringing machine. I found that if I thread the two center mains first, then put the adapters in and tighten the billiards, I...
May 2005
Crack Repair
I have come up with a method of salvaging a cracked racquet. Scrape all paint from around the cracked area. Mix a batch of 10-minute golf epoxy adequate to cover the area cleared of paint. (Regular epoxy is brittle and...
Making Tabs for the Stringers Digest
I made index tabs for my Stringers Digest, which help me quickly find the stringing instructions I am looking for. You can make them by writing the manufacturers' names on pieces of paper, but I go one step further and...
Mounting Narrow-throat Racquets
It can be difficult to mount frames where the holes at the throat become blocked by the mounting post at 6 o'clock. I tried various techniques to produce a post that was thinner than the one on my machine until...
Securing Bumperguard Ends
Page 39 of the 2005 Racquet Service Techniques shows the basic procedure for securing a bumperguard end when the manufacturer calls for it. This procedure does work to secure the bumperguard end, but it forces you to weave one of...
Preventing Grommet Strip Pull-out
Many stringers hold the grommet strip in place with their thumb to prevent the strip from sliding out from the frame during tensioning. I use a miniature flat-head screwdriver for this purpose. I find it does a better job of...
Selecting Stringing Tools
Always use the smallest awls, pliers, and clippers that you can comfortably handle — you are, after all, doing precision work. I recently had to use someone else's machine. The machine itself was fine, but none of his tools were...
Monthly Demos
To make certain that the newest racquet technology gets into the hands of my customers, I select one of our demo racquets to be the "demo of the month." I do a short writeup about the frame in the club...
April 2005
Tighter Tie-Offs
In order to get as much slack out of the tie-off knot as possible, I insert the end my awl through the loop of the knot, and while pulling on the end of the string with a pair of pliers,...
Sealing Natural Gut Knot Ends
The free end of knots tied in natural gut will unravel over time. This is unsightly and can be prevented by putting a small amount of clear fingernail polish on the end of the trimmed string end to seal the...
Alpha Mounting Adjustments
I have an Alpha Blu-DC Plus stringing machine that has individual tightening knobs for each side of the mounting arms. I find it clumsy to tighten each knob independently, and have found a way to tighten both at once. I...
Selling ATW Stringing
I include a sheet with each around-the-world (ATW) string job I do. This calls attention to something the customer may never have noticed, and helps establish me as a stringing expert. 5 sets Silent Partner Original Syn Gut to: Justin...
Computerized Stringing Records
I have created a Microsoft Excel workbook containing different spreadsheets to keep track of various aspects of my stringing business. It features: An invoice template to generate and print a final invoice. An order form. This is set to...
March 2005
Speed Search
To increase my stringing speed, I always start my crosses so that the weave is over the top of the first main string, similar to the tip from David Haskins’ that you published in August 2003. On two-piece string jobs...
Pre-lacing
On one-piece string jobs, I pre-lace all the mains starting from the long side, leaving extra string at the center mains to start my pulling. There’s a bit of science involved in leaving the minimum amount of string to be...
P-200 Racquet Protection
The most common P-200 throat adaptor used for tennis racquets is the "H" adaptor. For racquets that have a thin throat bridge and a thicker frame, the back of the adaptor can make contact with and push into the side...
Nuke 'Em
Older leather grips can be difficult to wrap around the angles of the butt cap, as well as those at the top of the handle. Using double-sided tape helps hold it in place, but doesn’t make the wrapping any easier,...
Pre-forming Replacement Grips
When you remove a replacement grip, you will notice that the butt-cap end of the old grip has taken on a spiral shape. Duplicating this spiral on the new grip will make for easier installation and a smoother job. This...
Keeping Posted
I tape two 3x5 Post-It notes together and use them to highlight stringing instructions in the Stringer’s Digest for the racquet I’m working on. The Post-Its last many weeks, and when they finally lose their tackiness, I simply replace them...
February 2005
Dense Dampeners
After 11 years of stringing, it jut now hit me how to handle putting dampeners in racquets with dense string patterns. I simply put the dampener in as soon as I have the center mains tensioned and the clamps out...
One-Man Pre-stretching
I like multifilament strings and they benefit greatly from pre-stretching. The best way to pre-stretch a string is to tie a small knot in each end and have a friend help you stretch it between two starting clamps. Unfortunately, I...
Neat Babolat Stenciling
While applying the two-line stencil to the Babolat Pure Drive and Pure Control racquets I noticed that the ink often splatters onto the white part of the frame adjacent to the stenciled area. To keep the frames free of ink...
Wrong Side Short Side
Situation: When you start the short side on the wrong side of frames with a unique shortside, such as Wilson Rollers, Mitt Rockers, Fischer, or the new Prince O3 frames. Solution: String the first cross with the short side. This...
Eliminating Sharp Ends
With the growing popularity of polyester based strings, a hazard exists with the tag end of the knots. Most of us trim the string with diagonal pliers (side cutters) which will leave a sharp edge on each side of the...
Dangerous Tips
Don’t whip the string through your hands too fast. The end of the string can hit you in the eye. When you get near the end of the string, slow down. Also, when trimming the string near the knot, don’t...
January 2005
Flat Spiral
While I love the new format of this year’s Stringer’s Digest, the volume with the stringing instructions does not lay out flat as did the previous Digest in the 3-ring-binder. To remedy this, I took my stringing instructions volume to...
Slick Grommet Installation
Over the years I have tried heating grommet strips with a heat gun and prying them into place with awl, but the way I currently install them works quicker and easier for me. I spray the grommet strip with a...
Increasing String Life
I string racquets at 60 pounds using 17-gauge string for a high school player who was breaking strings twice each week in a climate that is often times cold and damp. We have been able to more than double string...
Pre-stretch pole
There’s no reason to put up with string kinking or excess coil memory. Whenever I open a package of string that seems to have too much coil memory, I pass the string around a floor post in my basement. The...
Power Holes Power Stringer
The biggest problem with stringing a Wilson racquet with Power Holes is that it is difficult to get the string through the frame on the far side after weaving a cross. The solution is to put a light down level...
Wax on, wax off
Try using wax paper instead of a block of wax or some other lubricant to prevent friction burn between strings, or between the string and parts of your machine. You can rub the wax paper over the strings for an...
Checking for Misweaves
Right before I do the final tie-off after installing the last cross string, I perform two quick checks for misweaves, which together take about 30 seconds. First, I get my head down to racquet level and scan the string bed...
Customizing Kids’ Racquets
Kids love to be different, and they can be if you customize their racquets with stencils. The kids can come up with their own ideas, or you can show them simple designs. (A good source of designs is the clip...
November 2004
DIY Butt-Saver
I designed my own simple gadget to pull that last string when it’s too short to reach the tension head. Go to a hardware store and purchase one ½-inch by 1½-inch bolt, two ½-inch washers, and two ½-inch nuts. Drill...
Major SP-11 Shoulder Supports
If you have a Major SP-11, there is a way to update the mounting system. I made an adapter plate from -inch aluminum plate that bolts into the holes in the uprights. On the SP-11 this plate made the top...
October 2004
Ravel-free Racquetball Regripping
Some racquetball players have a chronic problem keeping the grip from unwinding at the butt end. The butt end is a critical area because these players hold the racquet on the lower part of the handle for additional wrist action....
Non-slip Ektelon Regripping
New Ektelon MORE Performance racquetball racquets have a staple in the butt end of the grip, creating a point at which the grip can wear. The more you play and the sweatier your hands are, the more likely it is...
Replacing Slip-on Racquetball Grips
Installing slip-on rubber replacement handles is a routine task that can become a major chore. Although some are replaced with very little effort, others can be a real challenge. With larger 3-7/8-inch grips, it can be tough just to get...
Mounting Racquetball Frames
In our tennis shop, we do a lot of racquetball stringing on an Ektelon Model H. For some time I encountered a problem mounting racquetball racquets on this machine because many of them have long stringbeds and a thin profile...
Grommet Strip Hold Down
When putting a new grommet strip on tennis or racquetball racquets, I sometimes use "finishing" tape to hold down the end of the bumper guard, which tends to pull up as you install the grommet strip(s). It's easy to remove...
September 2004
Grommet Removal
Every once in a while when replacing a grommet, the old one breaks off and just won't come out. I've been successful with this problem by carefully screwing a 3-inch dry-wall screw a couple of turns into the stuck grommet...
Rattle Remover
To get a loose, but still partially attached, piece of graphite out of a hollow racquet handle, I run a narrow bottle brush in and out of the handle after removing the butt cap or the "trap door." 5 packs...
Seating Grommet Barrels
Installing bumper guard and grommet strip kits can be daunting or as easy as "falling off a log," depending on the frame. There appears to be no logic as to which are easy or difficult. Often with difficult frames, the...
Protect Your Hands
I have started bandaging my first and little fingers to prevent calluses and skin irritation from the oils and other chemicals on string. I use sheer extra large bandages, designed for larger cuts and scrapes (4 inches long and 1.75...
August 2004
Lubricate the Blocking String
When working with natural gut or other fragile strings, I put a little lubricant on the blocking string before pulling the cross string through. This is a prime area for friction, and a little lubrication can prevent the creation of...
Starting Clamp as a Starting Clamp
A lot of stringers use the starting clamp to back up the machine clamp on the first main, or put the starting clamp on the outside of the frame. But I use my starting clamp on the inside of the...
Natural Gut Protection
I recently installed some natural gut in my racquet. The strings are great, but I was worried about how they would hold up under the conditions here on the Florida coast. I play on green clay surfaces that are constantly...
Neater Tie-offs
After running the end of the string through the tie-off hole, I “dress” the string so it lays the way I want it to relative to the other string going to that hole. Sometimes, though, pulling the knot tight will...
July 2004
Bumperguard Restoration
I string a lot of racquets for people who play on Har-Tru courts and the bumperguards always seem to pick up a gray-green color from the clay. I apply a coat of an automotive trim detailer product such as Armor...
Off-center Center Spot
I recently came across an issue I feel I need to warn others about. At the tip of most frames, many companies place a small dot to signify the center of the main strings. Don't automatically assume this dot is...
Wrap around the Short Side
When stringing fan-pattern racquets such as the Head Ti.S8, the Wilson Triad 2, or racquets with two or three crosses above the mains, I add string length to the short side to weave the crosses above the outside main. This...
Babolat Frame Mounting
The section in the manuals for the Babolat Star 3, Star 4, and Sensor tell you to mount the frame by bringing in the side-support arms before tightening the supports at 6 and 12 o'clock, but it's tough to get...
Worm Weaving
When I know I will be installing a "worm-type" dampener after restringing, I wait until just after I have tensioned my next-to-the-last cross. I then install the "worm" by weaving in the same under/over pattern. I then weave and tension...
Replacement Grip Tabs
I've discovered a way that makes it quick and easy to start a replacement grip under the tab that now comes on some butt caps. I cut a 3/8-inch piece of the wax paper sheet that protects the sticky side...
Awls for Easy Grommet Replacement
I've seen other stringers heat grommet strips before replacement, and some even cut off a bit of the end of the grommet, all because they have difficulties getting the grommets into the holes. I've never had to resort to these...
Finish the Finishing Tape
To keep grip finishing tape from starting to come undone, I put a small drop of clear nail polish on the end where it wraps around the under layer. Klip hat, wrist bands, and decal to: Roger Hansen, Orange, CA...
June 2004
Pick a Tool
I have discovered a great addition to any stringer’s toolkit. It’s a curved pick from Snap-On ($10) that I use to snag a string when a hole is blocked. I haven’t tried other similar tools sold at normal auto parts...
Avoiding Poly Folly
We are all well aware of the difficulty of stringing with polyester strings especially when we have to weave the crosses. I've found that when you start the crosses always pull all of the string through the grommet before you...
Shared holes
It is said that a string will go into a shared hole if you keep trying. This is probably true, but it has its disadvantages. It takes up time, and the more difficult the process, the more friction there is...
Carpet Protector
Stenciling racquets over a large trash can works great as long as everything is handled perfectly, but if you drop a wet stencil onto the floor or the top pops off of the tube of stencil ink, your carpeting will...
Babolat Pad Modification
For years I've extended the pads at 6 and 12 o'clock on my Babolat machines, because there are so many frames where the normal pads are just ever-so-slightly too short. Using the smallest "slide-over" adaptor can create some issues with...
Short Side Marker
With one-piece stringing I tried several ways to mark the short side, include a black marker, bending the string, etc. When installing the string, though, I always struggled to find the mark, which ate up valuable time. To solve this...
Personal Touch
Over the years, I've found that the personal touch is the key to customer satisfaction. Providing the personal touch doesn't have to be costly. One of the ways I achieve this is by inking the customer's initials on the strings....
May 2004
Slamming the Trap Door
To keep a loosened butt cap "trap door" from vibrating, apply small drops of clear nail polish to a couple spots on the inside ridge before snapping it back on. 5 sets of Volkl Power-Fiber 18 to: Roger Hansen, Orange,...
Securing Build-up Sleeves
After installing build up sleeves I noticed that they will sometimes move during play. I have used glue beneath the grip, but it takes time and can be messy. I still have to glue some grips but wherever possible I...
Traveling Workbenches
At home I have a permanent station for my stringing machine, but at my club and on the road I have two great ways to mount and stabilize my portable stringers. At the club I use a sturdy audio-visual cart...
Alternating Mains
When starting the mains, I do three on one side and then three on the other to balance the stress on the frame. To make it faster to find the end of the side on which I start, after clamping...
Replacing bumper and grommet strips
Some strips have flared grommets that make it very difficult to remove the strip easily from the frame. A short cut is to use a grommet grinder from the inside of the frame to "break" the grommets from the strip....
Space-Saving Storage
If you want to keep your back issues of the magazine but have little storage space, cut out the articles that you want to save and discard the rest of the magazine. Separate your clippings into categories so later you'll...
Hold the Grommet Strip
Sometimes when I am tensioning the last main string the grommet wants to move out of position, exposing the string to the frame. The string could break on the sharp edge of the frame, or the frame could become damaged...
Use Tags Instead of Labels
The labels that come with sets of string don't work well for me. The string type, gauge, and tension information either fades or rubs off, and my customers don't like them on their racquets in the first place. Fortunately, I've...
Stencil-less stenciling
If you don't have your stencil ink handy, use a permanent-ink marker to stencil in your strings. Permanent markers are also good for touching up your strings after the ink begins to rub off. You don't even have to worry...
April 2004
Stenciling Made Easy
Is there any one else out there who dislikes stenciling racquets as much as I do? For me there were two major difficulties: Trying to align the stencil on the opposite side of the stringbed after stenciling the first side,...
Tournament Footing
When I string at tournaments, players and spectators often come up to talk. If they happen to step on the string on hard flooring, it could be detrimental to the string job and potentially cost me money, not to mention...
Pre-Stretching
Although pre-stretching isn't as prevalent as it used to be, it is still a good technique when stringing gut, or other strings that have such a strong coil memory it would be beneficial to straighten them out before installation. Pre-stretching...
Dampener Retention
When I receive a racquet to restring I remove the vibration damper and secure it under the rubber band that is provided as a cover for the tape on the grip. If a rubber band is not in place I...
Tool Tray Organization
It seems that tool trays are never big enough. To save myself from having to dig through all my tools looking for the desired one, I use organization and color-coding. Each of my tools has a different color on the...
String Measuring
I measure string from a reel by using my body measurements. My wingspan hand-to-hand outspread is 6 foot 1 inch. I have not used a tape or measuring rule for over 15 years. 5 sets of Gamma Flex Core Control...
Selling Customization
I am a "home stringer" who does about 250 racquets a year. I do not have time to string too many more racquets, so I avoid traditional forms of advertising, and rely on recommendations from existing customers. To keep the...
March 2004
Calibrating the Calibrator
There is always a big discrepancy with those “spring loaded” tension calibrators. Unless you work for a calibration center, it is difficult to find one that is accurate. I use a force gauge, but they are a bit pricey. This...
Calibration vs. Technique
I have a drop-weight stringer. For best tension accuracy, the manufacturer recommends keeping the tension arm level to within plus or minus five degrees when tensioning a string. I created a template that allows me quickly and easily to measure...
Shoe Goo Grommet Strips
I have found a solution for old racquets with worn-out, unobtainable head guards. My first step is to try and get the member to purchase a new racquet that will allow them to take advantage of the more modern technology....
Alpha Clamp Pinning
I used to have a problem with the clamps on my Alpha Revo 3000 stringing machine. The problem was that over time the hinge pins in the clamps would slowly work their way out of the clamp and I would...
Speedier Crosses
When weaving crosses, I work one ahead of course, and I do so in such a way that the previous string, which is ready to be pulled, is already positioned next to the tension head. I don't rotate the racquet...
Minimizing Tangles
Because of my diverse customer base I buy individual packets of string rather than large coils. The convenience of a reel is that the string rarely tangles as do individual packets, depending on the amount of coil memory in the...
Handling the Long Side
If you have wondered what to do with that long, loose end on a one-piece job, try tucking it under the grip band at the top of the grip. It may or may not save you any time, but the...
A Restringing in Time
A promotion that has worked well for me involved giving our customers ten percent off if they bring their racquets to us before the strings break. Not only does it make us more money, it helps customers pay attention to...
Power of E-mail
I know that several members have already discussed the power of e-mail; however, here may be a slight variation of some of the common marketing uses of e-mail. Prior to placing an order with my supplier, I'll send an e-mail...
February 2004
Creating New Tie-Off Holes
Sometimes the tie-off hole for a racquet isn’t very well placed. You may have three strings crammed next to each other on the grommet strip, all of which are blocked when you go to tie off. Rather than fight with...
Grip Wash
I play in warm, sunny, central Florida outdoors where I’ll match the sweat drenching summer heat and humidity index with any other place. An overgrip is essential. But oil and other grime can quickly overwhelm even a brand new overgrip,...
Soft String and Blocked Holes
Sometimes with a soft string it is really difficult getting through a blocked hole. Needle nose pliers don’t grab well enough and you “smush” the end of the string. After cutting the end of the string to form a “plastic...
Short-side Short-cut
It is weird reading about the different ways stringers measure their short-side string, because the method I use is so fast and fool-proof that I can’t imagine doing it any other way. Run the string through the first main on...
Storing Stencil Ink
Here’s a tip to keep the stencil ink tip from drying out. Place a little plastic wrap over the tip before you screw the cap on. The plastic wrap forms a seal and prevents the drying process. 5 sets of...
Photographic Evidence
Recently I was inspecting a racquetball frame and noticed a crack. I took a picture of the frame before cutting out the strings, and called the owner to advise him that while the frame might be okay, I couldn’t be...
Sharp Stenciling
A clearly stenciled logo makes a very nice finishing touch to a freshly strung racquet. The key to good contrast with the strings is to make sure you get good ink coverage. Unfortunately this almost always means that there...
Circle of Quality
I wanted a distinctive way to mark racquets to indicate that they had been serviced at my store. I came up with a colored stencil in the shape of a ball in an area of the racquet outside the...
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