Stringway Cross Stringing Tool – Some Thoughts and Questions

We have been experimenting with this new and clever tool from Stringway for the past several weeks.  The basic purpose of the tool is to assist with installing the cross strings.

The tool comes in two sizes, one designed for dense patterned stringbeds and the other for open stringbeds.  The build quality of the tools is high quality and properly used they should last a very long time.

Here’s how this tool works.  Once mains are installed the tool is affixed to the stringbed.  The lever is tightened and alternate strings are raised, much like the weaving looms of days gone by.  The cross string is then threaded through a channel on the tool.  Once threaded, it is pulled through (100% friction free) and the tool is released. The top tool housing is shifted and the lever is tightened again.  This time the alternate strings are raised and you are ready to continue the process.  Once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy to use.

In our opinion there are advantages, disadvantages and questions that still need to be answered. Let’s begin with the advantages.

We love using this tool to save wear and tear on our fingers.  It is especially useful when you have a textured poly-based main with any type of poly-based cross string.  We also project a swift and fast proliferation in the new twisted poly-based strings.  (It’ll hit full force next year.) With the coil memory and friction in pulling crosses, the twist strings can prove to be unpleasant to work with.  Using this tool makes the installation of these strings easier on the fingers, which is most appreciated if you are doing a number of these racquets.  The same principle applies to installing the dreaded Gamma Ruff, the stuff is not nearly as dreadful using this tool.

Another advantage can be found when stringing natural gut.  Having no friction when pulling crosses reduces the unraveling of the natural gut and makes for a fairly pleasant experience.

There are, however, some disadvantages.  The tool adds quite a bit of time to the stringing process for those who are experienced and fast.  Constantly moving it, readjusting it and properly setting it is clunky and difficult to streamline.

We also do not like the fact that it can not be used for the final crosses (sometimes the last 2 – 4 depending on racquet head size and shape).  These are where it would be most useful, but it is too large to get into the smaller area of the head.

The tools fit better and thus work easier on some racquets than others.  We understand it is difficult to engineer to fit all racquets perfectly, a feat that would likely require several different sized tools.  As a tool designed to fit a large percentage of sticks, the two available are acceptable, if you can accept that there are a small percentage of frames where it will not work.

Marking the string.  In some cases the process of pushing the mains downward can cause some marks (not really notches, but more like indentions) to occur.  This is most likely to happen toward the end of the stringjob or when the tool is placed close to previous cross string.

CONSISTENCY!!!  This is our biggest concern at this point.  When using this tool our stringbed stiffness readings are generally 2 – 4  DT points lower than when we string without the use of the tool.  This was a bit surprising to us as we surmised the use of the tool would create a stiffer stringbed.

Questions.  We are still learning how to best and most consistently use this tool.  Here are some of the questions we believe still need to be addressed.

What is the optimal way for the unit to be set when tension is applied to the cross string?  Optimal in terms of speed and consistency.

How much stringbed stiffness is lost when using the tool?  Seems to depend on string type.

What is the best way to compensate for this loss?  Should tension be adjusted upward to compensate or is the tool essentially stretching the strings and thus making the initial stringbed stiffness lower, but also reducing tension loss?

Twist strings installed with the tool vs without look different in the stringbed.  Without tool the twist is more pronounced and visible, while with the tool it is not as tightly wound.  Will this impact performance?  If so, to what degree?

What playability impact, if any,  will user experience because the mains are being stretched by the tool and the crosses are not being stretched?

Overall, we believe the tool is most beneficial for helping to prevent finger soreness associated with the installation of textured poly-based string products.  However, our greatest concern is consistency.  We need to develop a greater level of understanding on how the use of the tool may be impacting the performance of the stringjob.  We are looking forward to meeting and discussing these issues with the Stringway representatives at the upcoming Grand Slam Stringers Symposium in October.  In the meantime if you have any thoughts or questions, post them in the comments section below this blog entry and we will try to respond or get responses for you at the symposium.

Keeping the machine in “tip-top” form

Ever walk into those big box sporting good stores or even the local tennis club and take a look at the machine?  In many instances you will notice an untidy appearance.  This can be indicative of them not being routinely cleaned and maintained.

Each week our machine gets at least 2 thorough cleanings.  Keeping the dirt and grime away is not only pleasing to the eye, but it keeps the machine in tip-top operating condition.  A dirty machine can indicate clamps that are not routinely cleaned.  Dirty clamps can cause strings to slip and inconsistencies in string jobs.  We want to stay as far away from that as possible.

When cleaning the base, housing and tensioning units of our machine we use regular rubbing alcohol as pictured in the large bottle above (which can be purchased economically at warehouse clubs…it lasts forever!)  It dries fast, cleans well and leaves no residue.

Many advocate using rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush to clean the clamps.  Our clamp cleaning process is a bit different.  We do NOT use rubbing alcohol.  Rather we have two stiff bristled brushes we use to begin the process.  The smaller brush pictured above is a copper brush we picked up at a hardware store, while the yellow brush is stiff bristled nylon that we picked up at a Bar-B-Q store.  After brushing the clamps we will then use non-acetone (VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO USE ACETONE!!!) polish remover as a solvant.  This can be applied with either a toothbrush or shoestring, either will work fine.  The advantage the non-acetone polish remover offers is that is disolves the polyurethane build-up (which comes from strings like NXT, NRG etc…) which can accumulate on the clamps.  Alcohol is not as effective in breaking down and removing build-up of this material.

Our machine is checked to make sure it is in perfect calibration as a matter of routine daily.  It is cleaned at obsessively regular intervals to assure our customers the best string job available.  For our stringing friends who read our blog, we invite you to try the non-acetone polish remover, especially if residue build-up on clamps is an issue. (It is usually found in the girl section…nail polish, files, hand lotions etc. in stores like Target and WalMart).

$25.00 well spent

Last fall I made a purchase on a whim. Turns out it was the most pleasurable $25.00 ever spent. I had strung for years on a thin mat covered by carpet. I thought all was well. Then one day I decided I wanted more cushioning. Sure I could wear crocs, but since I prefer to string in socks or bare feet, I decided to give a 5/8″ thick anti-fatigue mat a try. I purchased mine through U-Line supply where I paid a whopping $25.00. There is a U-Line distribution center near me so I just picked it up avoiding any shipping charges.

This purchase was made last fall. Each day I find myself thinking, “I absolutely can not believe how long I strung without this.” It makes a world of difference and I just can not believe I strung for years without it.

Since I am aware of a number of stringers who visit our blog, I thought I would start of series of entries related to my favorite tools and such. This is a great place to begin. I strongly recommend that if you are a serious stringer you consider purchasing the thickest anti-fatigue mat you can afford. Mine is 2′ x 3′, fits perfectly behind my machine, is 5/8″ of spongy goodness and set me back the approximate cost of one stringing.

Get a Grip!

It can be successfully argued that the grip is the most neglected piece of equipment in tennis.  It’s absolutely true. Improperly sized racquet grips can lead to racquet twisting and potentially an arm injury. Excessively worn and tattered grips can also lead to racquet twisting and arm injury, not to mention an annoying discomfort.  Why not forego the medical expenses, anti-inflammatory drugs and elbow pain devices and instead make sure your grip is properly sized and in good condition?

We recommend replacing your grip after approximately 40 – 60 hours of court play.  The actual grip (not the overgrip) consists of cushioning materials.  These materials serve to help absorb shock, which is your enemy on the court.  As the cushioning becomes worn, the ability to absorb the shock is reduced.  We want all of our customers and blog readers to play as much tennis as possible and to do so in complete comfort.  Toward this end, we encourage you to replace your grip frequently.

We are happy to provide free racquet grip size evaluation and inspection for our local customers, just ask!  And always remember, if you show your grip some lovin’ it will truly become a “handle with care.” (It’s okay to groan.)

Design flaw, incompetence or conspiracy at Prince?

Sometimes you just have to wonder. Prince, claiming to be the company to produce the most technologically advanced racquets on the planet seems to continually fall short. In previous years technologies that were not ready for prime time were rushed to the market. The grommetless Air series is an example. Strings shanking all over the place. Oops!

Next came the O Ports followed by the Speedports. When the O Ports were first introduced there was a problem with the channels in the head being too shallow. This resulted in strings not having the proper protection, being scraped and breaking prematurely. Surely the world-class engineers at Prince would recognize this petty issue and correct it with deeper channels on future models. Guess what, they designed an ineffective grommet enhancement that wears down quickly on the 1st generation Speedports. At least this indicated to us that Prince recognized the problem. The solution was far from perfect, but it was addressed in a remedial way.

Surely the next generation Speedports would have a long-term fix. Today I received a Speedport Black to restring and it served to remind me that Prince has failed miserably to address this known issue.

My customer purchased it less than two weeks ago. She had it strung with the uber-expensive Prince Recoil. The string had snapped at the head. The reason, abrasion wear from lack of protection. The design flaw has still not been properly addressed and it is costing customers money.

In the case of the Speedport black, the inserts are ridiculous! There is no reason why these could not allow the strings to be further recessed. While fractionally deeper, the channels on the racquet head are still too shallow!!! This is absurd. It is a design flaw that should have been addressed before any of the port-style racquets were put into the marketplace, but to have it remain unaddressed for years is questionable. It makes one wonder if the shallow channels are PURPOSEFULLY designed knowing they will lead to more frequent string breaking and greater string sales. At this point a conspiracy theory is well warranted. What do you think? Feel free to comment in our blog.

Stringbed stiffness…some thoughts

At Guts and Glory Tennis we use an ERT 700 tennis computer to measure the stringbed stiffness on each frame we restring for our customers. The data collected from this equipment is then entered into our customer database to help us provide the most consistent stringing service to our customers.

The ERT 700, (and newer but less sophisticated ERT 300 model), each provide a measurement known as the “Dynamic Tension (DT)” or as we prefer to call it, “stringbed stiffness.” This number tells us how stiff the stringbed is given the context of the racquet. For instance, in general, racquets with denser string patterns provide a stiffer stringbed than those with more open patterns. Likewise stiffer frames provide a stiffer stringbed than more flexible frames when strung at identical tensions.

This number is extremely important because it is this number that represents what the stringer is trying to achieve for the player. This number determines the feeling and playability of the racquet. The reference tension, (what most players provide the stringer), is a guide to get to this number. If the player switches string-type or gets a new racquet, the stringer who uses this equipment can help the player get to this desired end-point.

At Guts and Glory Tennis we make sure that all racquets strung for our local players measure the same (+/-1 SDDT) with each stringing. The racquets are measured the moment they are removed from the stringing machine and checked to make sure the desired stringbed stiffness is achieved. If not, the racquet is restrung at no additional charge to the customer. In fact, the customer will never know the racquet was restrung because whenever he/she receives the racquet from us it is guaranteed to be the same as prior stringings. It is all part of the overall of quality service that our customers can expect from us.

In addition to being recorded in our database, the DT is listed on the bag tag we provide you.  This way if you see us at the courts we can take a measurement to see how much the stringbed stiffness has dropped.  (You are also welcome to stop by our shop for a personal reading).  When the loss reaches 20% or higher (note:  for some players a little higher and some a bit lower) it may be time to restring in order to maintain the desired on-court performance.  Note that in 2009 we intend to begin recording your DT information in a portable device that we will have with us so that we can take your readings and have a sense of what it means whether you have your bag tag with you or not.

Top notch professional stringers will invest in quality equipment and products for their customers. They will possess the expertise to use the equipment and products to provide the most benefits to their customers. At Guts and Glory Tennis we are proud of the equipment we have invested in and even more proud of our ability to maximize it to bring the best possible service to our customers.