After all the tennis stringing machine posts last week, I thought i'd add some variety to the content of this blog by posting a tennis stringing machine video. Although this video does not give you tennis racquet stringing instructions - it does, however, give you an idea of how to use a stringing machine.
Saturday 24 February 2007
Thursday 8 February 2007
Tennis Racquet Stringing Machines: Electronic Machines
Electronic tennis racquet stringing machines are the most sophisticated and consistent available, the more expensive machines such as the Babolat models, are the staple diet of tournament stringers, and all the features on these machines are of the highest calibre.
In this type of tennis racquet strining machine, tensioning systems are controlled by microprocessors and repeatability is excellent. The six point frame mounting is self centering and the 360deg clamping system is second to none.
The previously described manual tennis racquet strining machine uses a cheaper copy of the Babolat mounting and clamping system, but it doesn't have the rigidity or ease of mounting that the Babolat machines have.
There are a number of much cheaper electronic tennis racquet stringing machines on the market now, but often the frame mounting and string clamping systems are of poor quality. Because of this fact, and considering the extra cost involved, there is no real advantage buying electric over the manual version. Many cheap so called, "electronic" tennis raquet stringing machines are not constant pull, depite what is said, so caution is needed when purchasing.
It should also be remembered that if an electronic tennis racquet strining machine goes wrong, you have no machine to use, so it is absolutely essential that there is physical back-up available from the machine dealer to cover this type of emergency.
Electronic tennis racquet stringing machines can cost from £850 to £5000.
In this type of tennis racquet strining machine, tensioning systems are controlled by microprocessors and repeatability is excellent. The six point frame mounting is self centering and the 360deg clamping system is second to none.
The previously described manual tennis racquet strining machine uses a cheaper copy of the Babolat mounting and clamping system, but it doesn't have the rigidity or ease of mounting that the Babolat machines have.
There are a number of much cheaper electronic tennis racquet stringing machines on the market now, but often the frame mounting and string clamping systems are of poor quality. Because of this fact, and considering the extra cost involved, there is no real advantage buying electric over the manual version. Many cheap so called, "electronic" tennis raquet stringing machines are not constant pull, depite what is said, so caution is needed when purchasing.
It should also be remembered that if an electronic tennis racquet strining machine goes wrong, you have no machine to use, so it is absolutely essential that there is physical back-up available from the machine dealer to cover this type of emergency.
Electronic tennis racquet stringing machines can cost from £850 to £5000.
Wednesday 7 February 2007
Tennis Racquet Stringing Machine - Lockout Machine
We recently made a post about a type of tennis racquet stringing machine, the drop weight machine. Another type of tensioning system is the Spring Tension (also known as lockout machine).
This type tennis racquet stringing machine is marketed in many forms with regard to frame support and string clamping configurations. The tension head is wound back by a rack and pinion which is mounted to an extending bar. The desired tension of this tennis racquet stringing machine is set by turning a thimble, this compresses a spring and moves a pointer along a graduated scale.
The spring controls how much linear force is needed before the tension head lifts to releases a lever, which then locks the the mechanism in place. Frame support is usually 6 point, 4 K supports on the outside arms at 2-4-8-10 o'clock , and 2 poles inside the frame at 12 and 6 o'clock. This is generally regarded as the best because the frame is supported, not clamped.
It relies on the action of tensioning the main strings to stabilizes the frame in the K supports, and against the head and throat posts. There should be little or no distortion compared to the unstrung frame shape once the string job is finished with this system.
String clamping will be either glide bar or 360deg rotational clamps, with the latter being the best option for Tennis. Both table top and floor standing models of these tennis racquet stringing machines are available.
This type tennis racquet stringing machine is marketed in many forms with regard to frame support and string clamping configurations. The tension head is wound back by a rack and pinion which is mounted to an extending bar. The desired tension of this tennis racquet stringing machine is set by turning a thimble, this compresses a spring and moves a pointer along a graduated scale.
The spring controls how much linear force is needed before the tension head lifts to releases a lever, which then locks the the mechanism in place. Frame support is usually 6 point, 4 K supports on the outside arms at 2-4-8-10 o'clock , and 2 poles inside the frame at 12 and 6 o'clock. This is generally regarded as the best because the frame is supported, not clamped.
It relies on the action of tensioning the main strings to stabilizes the frame in the K supports, and against the head and throat posts. There should be little or no distortion compared to the unstrung frame shape once the string job is finished with this system.
String clamping will be either glide bar or 360deg rotational clamps, with the latter being the best option for Tennis. Both table top and floor standing models of these tennis racquet stringing machines are available.
Monday 5 February 2007
Tennis Racquet Stringing Machines - Drop Weight Machine
Drop weight machines are a type of tennis racquet machine that uses tensioning systems.This tennis racquet machine relies on the forces of gravity to apply the tension. It has a pivoting graduated bar on which a sliding weight runs, the higher up the bar the weight is positioned the higher the pulling forces and therefore the tension.
The string is clamped to the lower end of the pivoting bar on the tennis racquet stringing machine, and the bar and weight allowed to swing downwards to apply tension.
It is important that the bar hangs within 3 deg either side of the horizontal, or the pulling tension will not be accurate. This type of tennis racquet stringing machine is usually sold with flying clamps and has minimal frame support.
The disadvantage of this tennis racquet stringing machine is that it's slow to use and can be notoriously inaccurate.
These tennis racquet stringing machines are aimed at people who want to get started in stringing, but in true fact, a good level of experience and knowledge is required to obtain any degree of accuracy and consistency.
Usualy light in weight, these tennis racquet stringing machines lack stability and rigitdity. Recently, some drop weight machines have been produced with 6 point mounting and dual 360 deg rotational clamping systems. This makes the accuracy and frame mounting much more reliable, and therfore, a more attractive proposition for the occasional tennis racquet stringer.
The string is clamped to the lower end of the pivoting bar on the tennis racquet stringing machine, and the bar and weight allowed to swing downwards to apply tension.
It is important that the bar hangs within 3 deg either side of the horizontal, or the pulling tension will not be accurate. This type of tennis racquet stringing machine is usually sold with flying clamps and has minimal frame support.
The disadvantage of this tennis racquet stringing machine is that it's slow to use and can be notoriously inaccurate.
These tennis racquet stringing machines are aimed at people who want to get started in stringing, but in true fact, a good level of experience and knowledge is required to obtain any degree of accuracy and consistency.
Usualy light in weight, these tennis racquet stringing machines lack stability and rigitdity. Recently, some drop weight machines have been produced with 6 point mounting and dual 360 deg rotational clamping systems. This makes the accuracy and frame mounting much more reliable, and therfore, a more attractive proposition for the occasional tennis racquet stringer.
Tennis Racquet Stringing Machine
Tennis Racquet Stringing Machines are vital tools for creating stringbeds for tennis racquets that can instantly transform a player's game due to the added deflection power an effectively strung racquet can provide.
Due to this, it is no wonder that most players are spending thousands on buying tournament tennis racquets. However, tennis racquet stringing may sound like a simple job, but there's actually quite a few ways to string a racquet.
There are many tennis racquet stringing machines available and each type has different effects on the stringbed. These tennis racquet strining machines types are:
Tensioning systems - There are basically three methods of pulling tension, Drop weight, Spring tension and Electronic tensioning. Drop weight and Electronic are classified as being constant pull. Spring tension is referred to as a lockout machine.
Clamping systems. Like tensioning there are basically three methods, Flying or Floating clamps, Glide Bar clamps and 360 degree Rotational clamps.
Flying or Floating clamps: This type is not fixed to the machine bed, instead they rely on clamping over two strings at a time to hold tension. They have poor tension holding qualities, especially for Tennis as they tend to twist when the tension head is released.
Glide Bar clamps: Two sliding bars on which the string clamps are located, run back and forth in side grooves in the machine bed, the string clamps can be positioned and locked anywhere along the bar to give you bi-directional clamping in straight lines only. Only one glide bar and clamp is needed to install the crosses. It is positioned in the machine bed grooves 90deg to the angle of the main strings.
360 degree Rotational clamps: The bases run in slots in the machine bed and can be locked in place anywhere along it, they also swivel a full 360deg. The clamp shafts fit into tubes attached to the base and can also swivel 360deg, this gives multi-directional, multi-angle clamping.
In the next post, we'll talk about specific tennis racquet stringing machines in each category.
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