r/RacketStringers

When you get a racket to string from someone and they put tape over the bumper guard what do you do with it? Do you peel it off and throw it away? Or carefully pull it off and try to put it back on when finished stringing?

I hate bumper guard tape and never see serious players use it. A new set of grommets with a new bumper guard is almost the same price as "guard tape" from tennis express. It makes no sense. But every once in a while someone will bring me a racket to string with guard tape on it. It's usually someone who hasn't restrung in years.

Hi, just wanted to check whether is it normal for a racket to bend a little when stringing?

Also, after stringing first racket, I compared it with a second one which didnt have any strings on it and the one with the strings was shorter for like 0.5cm-1cm, but after stringing the second one they were the same height.

Just wanted to check whether it is normal or maybe I am mounting rackets in a wrong way.

I always make sure they are firm but not too tight, but since the frame bends a bit during stringing they actually get very tight on the mounts.

Thanks in advance, appreciate your help

Hi, new to the stringing and one of the first strings I used was a synthetic one. Really easy to string, but the string itself would flex a lot when under tension. Read that some stringers, in this case, put the same string twice or even three times on the tension to avoid flexing it more. Just wondering whether it is a correct way to do it. Thanks, cheers

basically title. I am doing my research on stringing machine grade from my current setup of gamma progression ii 6 point mounting + flying clamp.

what I’d like in my next system is to have *good* fixed clamps (I really don’t like my current plastic flying ones) and be able to rotate 360 degree when adding the wise head. From my reading, this is usually achievable with drilling holes to some plate(?) and adding spacers either 3d printed or homedepot(?). I’d like to have an option of just buying a plate for this purpose instead of modding it myself.

What are my options? I’ve previously got my eyes on Alpha Pioneer DC Plus Gravity but seems like it cannot reach 360 rotation? This is my #1 choice, upon further research, it seems like AEF Adapter plate would fit this perfectly, now I just need to find a compatible stand for it, at my age (or any age really) ergonomic is critical 😂

Also, how much more expensive is a comparable electric unit to this drop weight + wise conversion combo? I see prices all over the place from 2k to 5k+, is this a you get what you pay for situation or more of a diminishing return at at certain price point situation?

Please help a clueless home stringer.

Frames bend and become smaller as you tighten more strings against it. So theoretically the first strings you put on the frame will lose the most tension from the frame shrinking, and generally those are the strings in the middle of your sweet spot. Isn’t this suboptimal?

Thoughts?

I read on some tw forums that some stringers will raise the tension 10-15% on the last 2 mains and last 3-4 crosses (throat and head).

The idea being that that these areas lower tension than the center.

Is this common practice?

I am a 17 year old male looking for a racket with stability but more depth and spin. I have played tennis for around 10 years however I have never played hugely competitively or with much passion until now. I currently have a technifibre tf X1 275g grip size 2, which seems too light and lacks stability on attacking shots or when the opponent hits powerfully, which causes my wrist to twist or the racket to spin in my hand. I have been looking for a new racket to gain a bit more stability and depth with my tennis by getting a new heavier racket. I would like something around the 300g, 100sq inch head, and something with good stability in my hand, to stop it from slipping in my hand or twisting, and easy access to spin and depth. I don't have a specific play style yet as I'm still an improving player, although I'd say my groundstrokes are definitely my strong point and I'm good at hitting consistent shots over the net. I have decent topspin balls which I like using but I want to improve my attacking shots by getting a racket I can plow though with more.

I have quite a limited budget so I hope to find a racket preferably under £160 ISH including strings preferably. So far I have looked into head speed mps like the 2022 and 2024 due to old model discounts, the head boom and head extreme rackets (mostly old models eg 2024 aswell) and more power rackets such as the Dunlop fx 500 (2023 to stay in budget). Are there any other rackets of note or any good deals going on now?

I’ve been playing about once a week in winter and 2x a week during summer for the past 2-3 years and I’m thinking to upgrade my current racquet.

(One of the reasons for the “upgrade” is also the fact that I want to have my current racket in my parent’s house to play when I’m there).

Looking for suggestions on what would be a good step up.

What I currently use:

Head Gravity Team (104 in² / 670 cm², ~285g unstrung, 16x19 pattern, 24mm beam, balanced slightly head-light)

It’s been a great learning frame, super forgiving, big sweet spot, easy on the arm.
But as my swing has developed I’m starting to want a bit more control and stability, especially against faster/heavier balls.
The light weight sometimes feels like it gets pushed around.

A few questions for the hive mind:

What would you consider a natural “upgrade” from the Gravity Team for someone at my level? Stay in the Gravity line (MP?) or branch out?

Should I go a bit heavier (290–300g) and/or smaller head (100 in²), or is that too big a jump for someone still improving?

Any frames you’d recommend demoing?

I play casual/club-level singles and doubles, mostly baseline with some net play.
Comfort matters to me — I don’t want anything that beats up my arm. Open to demoing a few. Thanks!

I have recently bought a used 6-point mount crank machine for stringing tennis racquets. Use case is to string just for my friends/family. Not really looking to do a stringing business anytime soon.

​

I've done some research on calibrating the crank, and I've seen advice to calibrate it using a luggage scale testing at 40-50-60 pounds.

​

My question is, if I only really plan to string racquets between 48-55 pounds, should I only calibrate for those tensions I'm most likely going to use? For example only for 45-50-55, or even my most common at 52 pounds?

​

My friend was arguing that this would be better since from his logic, if we never go as low as 40 pounds, it makes no sense to calibrate at that tension. And thus, calibrating at exactly 52 pounds would yield better results for our use cases. He has never strung before but that is his assumption, which does make some sense to me.

​

What would be your advice? Calibrate at 40-50-60, or "localize" the calibration at 48-50-52-54?