Double pull starting technique

Starting a 4 knot stringing job

This technique provides a quality start by avoiding unnecessary abrasion on the strings. It looks like a lot of steps, but with practice this will become second nature. It does require:

• a fixed clamp stringing machine
• a starting clamp

Steps

assuming a pattern with the initial bend at the throat

1. Take your main string ends, and pass them through the two middle grommets at the throat of the racquet.

2. Pass the two ends through the corresponding grommets at the tip. You now have two ends, 1L and 1R.

3. Wrap both ends L and R on your machine's pulling head at the same time, and pull your preset tension, e.g. 50 pounds. Each string is now under half of the nominal tension, e.g. 25 pounds.

4. Place a fixed clamp on the L string close to the throat, where you have your initial bend.

5. Place the starting clamp on the same L string, at the opposite end, just outside and against the bumper guard at the tip. This string is now clamped at half the necessary tension. We'll fix this at step 7.

6. Pull the second end R at the nominal tension, and clamp normally, just inside the racquet hoop, with your second fixed clamp. R is at the correct tension.

7. Finally, pull the L string again. Because the string was at half tension, the starting clamp will slowly pull away from the frame, and you can now remove it without damage to the string. Clamp the L string normally with your first fixed clamp.

Done! You can now proceed with the rest of the main strings.