WHO'S STRINGING YOUR RACQUET, AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? {2003}

By Vince Chiarelli, PTR, MRT and Owner of String Along With Vince in Largo

You most likely own one of the racquets introduced over the last four or five years. You probably invested $150 to $350 in your "dream stick." My guess is you chose it because it gave you something your old racquet didn't have, such as more power, more comfort, more control, new shape, new fibers, new metals...whatever. What you may not have been told, however, is that many of the newer frames come with special stringing requirements.

For example, the Rollers frames from Wilson require special weaving and tensioning techniques. The TripleThreat Ring model from Prince has a bar at the throat for strings to go around instead of grommets for the strings to go through. This racquet requires another special technique to be strung properly. Some other models from Prince feature "double grommets," where one grommet has two sections and it makes a difference which section is used for which string. Some of the newest racquets on the market are from Power Angle which require a very distinctive diagonal stringing technique. Furthermore, their tension requirements are based on a manual stringing machine which gives a lower overall result than an electronic (constant pull) machine would at the same requested tension. Several of the early Head Intelligence models have grommet strips that have to be held in position while stringing to keep them from popping out. Many Head racquets REQUIRE two-piece stringing to avoid damaging the frame. Yonex racquets often call for different tensions between mains and crosses. WEED racquets have a special variable tension requirement. Blackburne racquets have two string planes for extra challenge.

Most manufacturers consider the racquet warranty void if the frame is damaged by improper stringing, which includes technique as well as tension. Yet, in my experience, many manufacturers seldom give enough consideration to restringing in their racquet designs. Many stringers (even Certified ones!) only know and use a one-piece, one-tension technique that gets all the holes filled, but does not necessarily meet manufacturers requirements. Wilson has even started packaging string with a pre-measured "short-side" piece which further feeds this "one-way-fits-all" myth.

Your racquet will only play as well as it is strung. Make sure you know who is actually stringing it--not who checks it in. Find a stringer who knows how to treat YOUR racquet correctly and has measuring equipment to assure that you get consistent results. It pays to protect your investment.

Copyright 2003 (Previously published in FLORIDA TENNIS - Dec., 2003

Vince Chiarelli, PTR, MRT, Owner of String Along With Vince, Largo, FL