I have no idea what tension I should string my new tennis racket at?

I have no idea what tension I should string my new tennis racket at?

By Pat Markey   12:14 PM   No comments:

SO now that you decided to upgrade your tennis gear, it is time to figure out what tension to try in your new tennis racket.  Experimentation is fun and part of the process of finding that perfect combination of string and tension.  I am going to give you a few quick tips and suggestions to get you feeling ready on what tension you should start out at for your new racket.
 

KEEP IN MIND:

1.  Your racket is new, the grommets are new so the first string job may feel different even though you may be used to the same tension and / or racket you are stringing for the first time.  Just keep this in mind.

2.  Try to change just one variable at a time so you can start tweeking it for perfection!  What I mean here is if you are used to a 100 square inch frame with NXT 17g at 55lbs, try to change only one thing, so if your new frame is also 100 square inch or very close than either change the string or the tension but not both.  It will be much easier to make adjustments and figure out what is working / not working when only one thing was changed.

YOUR NEW TENSION:

Ok so here is the short of it.  Number 2. above might have answered the question for you but if that did not apply to you then read on.  For the first stringing on your new frame, with a new size frame I would continue using the same string type and install the string at the 'MID RANGE' of what the Manufacturer recommends.  You will find this information in the throat of the frame, it is generally a 10 lb range.  For example if the recommended tension is to string between 55- 65 lbs than string the racket at 60lbs.

So there you have it, start by stringing in the middle and then adjust based on how it feels.  Tomorrow I will discuss tension changes.

Happy stringing!  Email me for questions or comments.  I would also add that your stringing machine also a variable to accommodate for.  If you are stringing your new frame with a different type of stringing machine this can also affect how the 'string job' comes out.

Patrick

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Learn how to string your own tennis rackets in 2019. Here is how to get started.

Learn how to string your own tennis rackets in 2019. Here is how to get started.

By Pat Markey   1:23 AM   No comments:

Learn How to  String your own tennis rackets in 2019.  Yes, it is possible.  This is the best way I know to get you stringing today.  Lets get motivated to start now.  I will take you through the complete process step by step.

SIDE NOTE:  I am currently working on a video series that will break everything down in small steps and you will learn through video and other tutorials demonstrating step by step using the drop weight stringing machine.  Stay tuned for more info on this, I am excited to be sharing this. The reason we are going with the drop/weight system of stringing is due to good entry level pricing.  You can get started stringing for around $200 dollars.   

Before we get started, I am making a few assumptions:  1.  You play tennis and have a tennis racket that you want to string.  2.  You have purchased a stringing machine, and for this tutorial, preferably a drop weight type machine. If you have an electronic machine or lock-out manual type machine many of the principles will still apply, I will be doing a series on these machines sometime this year as well!

LETS GET STARTED!  - First things First.  Learning how to string tennis rackets is more than the mechanics of installing the strings in a racket.  Yes I will teach you that but I will ALSO give you tips, hints and advise on 'best practices' which will be especially useful if you plan on doing this for a business or wanting to string on the professional tour.  I have been stringing rackets for over two decades and have learned a lot of valuable lessons, some were easy but some habits were hard to break.  Once I started stringing for professionals I had to break some of the bad habits because they slowed me down and when it comes to speed and consistency you have to streamline your methods.  If you learn correctly from the start, things are much easier for you down the road.  The ideas is to learn correct habits that later became automatic and save you time!

I will also be including some tips in each step as well. ( I also have available for purchase my extensive stringing tips and tricks ebook if you want them all now!.  )  Some of the tips I provide might sound simple, some might not make sense at first and some you might need to revisit several times to understand, and that is ok... There will be a learning curve but stick with me here.  This is going to be fun.

                               LETS GET STRINGING!

1.  Get to know your racket, before stringing give it a good look over. Before starting I will inspect the frame, condition of the grommets and remove any residue, dirt.  This may also be a good time to replace your grip, etc.  You are especially looking for any cracks or breaks in the grommets around the hard corners of the frame where the string has the potential to break through grommets and be rubbing up against the frame.  TIP:If you see cracks in the grommets at key points around where the string could be cutting into the frame, use tubing to eliminate the chance of breakage.  I will show how to do this at another point.  TIP:  You also may want to put a plastic covering over the grip before you start the stringing, this may sound somewhat weird but you can eliminate the chance of touching old sweaty grip, and eliminate possibility of ruining the grip.  I have seen where the stringer may be eating a meal like pizza, etc around the racket, pick up the racket by the handle and the racket smells like pizza later.  I hope this makes sense, and it does happen... I admit it may have happened to me a time or two!

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Thinking about Hybrid strings. You can't go wrong with Babolat Tennis string combination.

Thinking about Hybrid strings. You can't go wrong with Babolat Tennis string combination.

By Pat Markey   1:01 AM   No comments:

Babolat VS Team BT7 17: Babolat Tennis String Packages (Holabird Price $32.95) Babolat VS Team BT7 17 tennis string continues to raise the standard for natural gut. This string is even better with the addition of BT7, a new layering structure that increases the durability by 15%. Players will experience a great level of comfort, power or tension.  Recommended tension range: 1.25/17 : 22 kg/48 lbs - 30 kg/66 lbs.

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Top 5 Tennis Strings for first quarter 2017 see the list here.

Top 5 Tennis Strings for first quarter 2017 see the list here.

By Pat Markey   1:38 AM   No comments:

The Ten Racket Strings you need to carry in 2019

Tennis racket strings have not really changed much over the last 20 years.  SHOCKER, I know and some of you may not agree with this statement entirely but from my experience I could carry the same strings I had 20 years ago and would be just fine.  We are going to discuss coming up with a good mix of a strong synthetic, a poly with some playability, consistent natural gut string and some good multifilament options to make up the Top Ten in 2019.

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Roger Federer Q&A - On String Tension and Racquets

Roger Federer Q&A - On String Tension and Racquets

By Pat Markey   12:16 PM   No comments:

Although this video is less than two minutes long.  You can learn a few things about professional tennis players especially as it pertains to stringing.  Watch this and see what Roger has to say about his rackets and strings.  You can see he uses Natural Gut in the Mains, generally has 8-12 rackets at his disposal at any given time and believes in giving to Charities...

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Bethanie Mattek-Sands Shocking Knee Injury - Wimbledon 2017 (Trigger War...

Bethanie Mattek-Sands Shocking Knee Injury - Wimbledon 2017 (Trigger War...

By Pat Markey   12:39 AM   No comments:

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This weeks newsletter is out and a breakdown of Wilson's racket string patterns

This weeks newsletter is out and a breakdown of Wilson's racket string patterns

By Pat Markey   5:42 PM   No comments:

I sent out this weeks newsletter and then spent another few hours finishing up the spreadsheet of 41 current top Wilson tennis rackets and their string patterns.  The findings were somewhat revealing to me.  I am all about breaking things down to steps, letting the basics sink in and building upon that.  Once you learn a racket is strung, the various patterns may throw you at first but will start to make sense as you become more confident.

Breaking down the Wilson rackets you can see a few patterns:

41 rackets break down into 6 different stringing patterns
2 of those patterns have shared holes

The six patterns are as follows

Mains skip 8T, 8H (mostly 16m/19x patterns)
Mains skip 9T, 9H (mostly 18m/19x patterns)
Mains skip 8T,10T,8H,10H (mostly 18m/20x patterns)
Mains skip 9T,8H,10H (mostly 18m/16x patterns) They also have 7T, 8T SHARED HOLES
Mains skip 7T,9T,7H,9H (mostly 16m/18x patterns)
Mains skip 5H,7H,9H,11H,12H (only k factor kzero)

So you can see that by just knowing the patterns of the 6 listed above you can quickly figure out how to string the 41 Wilson rackets out.

Pretty simple right.  You can get this info by going to the 'string-patterns' menu botton (like  shown below )and choose the Racket companies name to see the patterns for those frames. 

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My Random Craigslist Search looking at racket services in........

My Random Craigslist Search looking at racket services in........

By Pat Markey   12:02 AM   No comments:

I like to do random searches to see what stringing options are available, and what prices stringers charge for their service in various geographical locations.  Although I live thousands of miles away, I can learn a good amount from other markets.  Be sure to look at your local market from time to time.  I looked at Fort Wayne, Indiana and found no results for racket stringers.  SO IF YOU LIVE NEAR there, take notice, you might want to advertise.

I continued my search on Google for the Fort Wayne area and found a few results, If this is your market, contact the websites, ask about their stringing, prices, what strings they offer.  Be assertive.

Keep up to speed of what is going on around you.  Keep learning, research your market.  I show you this in my mentoring class.

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You don't need a retail location to have a great tennis stringing business

You don't need a retail location to have a great tennis stringing business

By Pat Markey   10:39 AM   No comments:

It can be daunting sometimes to compare yourself to the 'BIG' guys and not think that you can make it without a 'location'.  The main take-away here is 'Know your competition' , 'Know your market' , 'Know your strengths', and especially 'Know what your competition is doing in your market!"

This being said.  You can position yourself and your strength can be their weakness.  Here is an example.  The store down the street has 24-48 hour stringing turnaround, so you come in and offer same day service or 'money back' guarantee!  Yes this will mean work for you setting this up but if you deliver on this, you will get business and word will spread.  The 'players' that need quick turnaround will be the ones that keep coming back.

Another quick tip - make sure you know what your market wants.  It is easy to get caught up in the hype from the racket companies on all the 'latest' strings.  Just know what works in your market and have that ready.  Know your strings, the technology behind them and you will drown out your competition!.

If you enjoy these tips, please sign up for my weekly stringing tips newsletter.  It is packed with things you can start using now.

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Wilson Pro Staff RF 85 Ltd. Edition - What you need to know for stringing.

Wilson Pro Staff RF 85 Ltd. Edition - What you need to know for stringing.

By Pat Markey   9:41 PM   No comments:

The New Wilson racket ships 6/1/17. Stay in the know on what may be important for stringing.

Wilson Pro Staff RF 85 Ltd. Edition Tennis racket:

Traditional 16 Mains / 18 Crosses
Mains skip: 7T,9T,7H,9H
You can do 'One Piece' (top down) stringing
No Shared Holes

Keep in mind with only 85 square inches, tension may feel tighter.  Adjust accordingly.

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Sign-up to get this weeks Pro Racket Stringing tips newsletter

Sign-up to get this weeks Pro Racket Stringing tips newsletter

By Pat Markey   1:22 AM   No comments:

Don't wait, sign-up now so you don't miss tomorrows issue of the Pro Stringing Tips and resources.  Some stuff in here you don't want to miss.

String On!

Patrick

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Your closest competition can be your best resource for racket stringing-LEARN FROM YOUR COMPETITION!

Your closest competition can be your best resource for racket stringing-LEARN FROM YOUR COMPETITION!

By Pat Markey   8:10 PM   No comments:

Let me explain this in detail.  I was doing my daily research and ran across "Dick's Sporting Goods - racket stringing services".  And I remembered back to a time I had a stringing service and how having a large 'box' store near by helped me out.

LET ME EXPLAIN. ! Stay with me here....

According to Statista.com as of 05/27/2017 Dick's Sporting Goods is the no.2 sporting good retail behind Walmart.  Although this is not all that important for my illustration, I just wanted to point out the credibility of this competition in the US Market Place.  As of March 2016 there were 610 Dick's sporting goods stores in 47 states ( I just happened to live in one of the 3 states that does NOT have one!). I found the Racket Stringing Services page on their website here.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?  Well let me expain.   DICK's sporting goods will have a large inventory of strings , stringing accessories.   First off, it is a way to gauge what the mainstream  competition is and how you can position yourself to be better.  The other takeaway here is the fact that in tight situations you can buy your string from them.  You want to offer fast reliable service and knowing what your local competition has on hand can help you fill in and expand your string choices without the extra $$ to carry large inventory.  NOW I do want to say this with caution because you will pay more getting your string from your competition (lowering your gross profit ) but I have found this to help me on more than one occasion. 

So check out what they have too offer, their prices and experience.  If you feel you lack experience, you may see if you can join their stringing team.... 

Hope this was helpful.  Be sure to let me know and remember to sign up for the stringing tips email.
 

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