Another excellent video. I'm not sure it's ever going to feel exactly the same athough it will be close. I had one of the Wimbledon stringers string my racquet at my normal tension and the overall string bed felt tighter and more consistent over my lockout. I guess its the same reason why pros can often ask for the same person/machine to have their racquets restrung.
Aloha Bojack, Yes, you are right about the same stringer and the same machine. Although the larger tournaments have multiple machines that are the same, the stringer's technique can factor into the overall string job. When I did this experiment, obviously, I was using the same technique on both machines. So, that did help keep the difference in the string jobs between the two machines within the 1 pound. As I mentioned, when I had my Prince P7000, my Prince Neos 1000 was 2 pounds lower when I strung it. I had a friend one day use my Prince Neos 1000 to compare, and the tension was 4 pounds lower. In my opinion, the differences in the string job using a manual lockout machine can vary more than using an electronic constant pull machine. Here are two videos that will help you improve your technique to produce accurate and consistent string jobs. 🤙 Lockout Machine Consistent Tensioning & Streamline Technique - th-cam.com/video/j_E2fxeJRM0/w-d-xo.html Optimum Tensioning of Cross Strings - th-cam.com/video/FFlCqzQPY1E/w-d-xo.html
Alway great videos Albert. Thanks for doing all these tests. Although not a significant difference, at least with an expert stringer like yourself, I was wondering if there’s feature on the constant pull machines where it would do constant pull for say 2 seconds after reaching tension, approximate time to unclamp and reclamp string, then lock-out. Kind of like a hybrid of the 2. In my mind it would be the best of both worlds, as it would take up tension loss of the string, but not overdo if there was inconsistency in the clamping time from string to strings. Seems a simple fix to reduce variability of the stringer. I’m still on a lock-out these correlation studies are very helpful.
Aloha Steven, Thanks for watching! If I'm understanding you correctly, I addressed a stringer's clamping speed technique in this video. th-cam.com/video/bUxaCl2miG4/w-d-xo.html The bottom line is to establish a stringing rhythm and stay consistent with it. 🤙
Aloha, It surprised me that the difference was only 1 pound! However, it's important that your machine is properly calibrated and you have sound technique. If you haven't seen these two videos, make sure you are incorporating this into your technique. 🤙 1) Lockout Machine Consistent Tensioning & Streamline Technique - th-cam.com/video/j_E2fxeJRM0/w-d-xo.html 2) Optimum Tensioning of Cross Strings - th-cam.com/video/FFlCqzQPY1E/w-d-xo.html
@@AMstringing Thanks for the reply & links. I've previously watched those so my machine sb good & hopefully my technique is ok (though could prolly be improved, ha ha).
hi there what I noticed with my Alpha Revo 4000 is that string bed tension (measured with ERT300) depends on how far back the crank head lever release and lock. Say if I calibrate the tension and the crank head locks 10 cm from racket frame at say 50 lbs then the the stiffness of the string bed will be in the range of 50 lbs if most of the pull release was in that range (10 cm) but if I start pulling a bit further and the crank locks say 20 cm away from the frame the tension after stringing is around 1 lb lower. First time I noticed the difference happened when I was calibrating the crank tensioner and the reading on the calibrator was different when the lever released the crank at 10cm distance comparing to 20cm
Aloha Mi, Yes, the distance from which you pull tension on each string does matter. However, interestingly my readings were the opposite. Check out this video - th-cam.com/video/j_E2fxeJRM0/w-d-xo.html
Aloha, Thank you for your kind words. Yeah, sometimes I don't know in advance how many racquets I'll need to string to make the experiment make sense! 🤣
Another factor to take into account is the quality of the lock out machine - they are not all the same quality. You are using a good quality lock out machine (Prince Neos?) but there are cheaper Eagnas / Pros Pro ones where the quality for the clamps, mounts, springs etc may produce slightly more loss of tension / less consistency particularly if they're old machines! That said, 1-2lbs is probably about right assuming everything has been calibrated. Just my 2 cents.
Aloha, Good extra 2 cents! A few years ago, I acquired two old Eagnes 800 Hawk lockout machines and used the parts to make one working machine to sell to a customer. After calibrating the tension head, I strung a racquet. I tested the RDC string bed deflection immediately after stringing the racquet. Then, I calibrated my Prince Neos 1000 tension head with the same calibration scale and strung the same racquet with the same strings and tension. Finally, I tested the string bed deflection immediately after stringing. RESULT - The racquet strung with the Eagnes machine had a string bed deflection 6 units lower than the one I strung with the Prince machine. Although I adjusted the string clamp bases the best I could, I noticed some drawback on the string clamps - about 3/16” with about 1/16” recovery, resulting in a 1/8” gap. ACTION - I recalibrated the tension head to read 4 pounds higher than the actual tension on the calibration scale. I strung the same racquet again and tested the string bed deflection, but it was still about 2 units too low. SOLUTION - I recalibrated the tension head to read 6 pounds higher than the actual tension on the calibration scale. I strung the same racquet again and tested the string bed deflection; now it was spot on! TAKEAWAY - Drawback and recovery that leaves a 1/16”-1/8” gap will result in a lower string tension. Although this is not the ideal course of action to take for a machine to operate properly, I believe it was necessary to do so to ensure proper tensioning. The other action could have been to advise the customer to simply set the reference tension 6 pounds higher. 🤙
The differences between the Poly tentions , seem to also correlate to the 16x20 pattern which is tighter than a 16x19 . The analysis from an rdc machine would take this into account . Using the same pattern for both sets of tests would have been a better decision , since your comparing Poly to synthetic gut or multi .
Aloha Derek, I understand what you're referring to. However, my intent was to track the stringbed deflection and string tension differences between my constant pull machine compared to my manual lockout machine (using the three stringing methods). So, for the polyester strings, I purposely picked a different racquet, with a different string pattern, and different tension, to see if there was a similar correlation to the synthetic gut readings. I hope that makes sense. 🤙
Aloha Piyush, To be honest, I never received the instructions on how to calibrate the RDC. However, I’ve never had a reason to calibrate my 29-year-old RDC, since I rarely transport it from place to place, and have found that the readings have consistently remained spot on.
![Racquet Stringing Machine [Babolat Evolution Tour Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FMofA0zRRqU/mqdefault.jpg)
![Racquet Stringing Machine [Babolat Evolution Tour Review]](/img/tr.png)
![Racquet Stringing [3 Top Tie-Off Knots]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WLckmF0G4Wg/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks Albert!
You're welcome! 🤙
Another excellent video. I'm not sure it's ever going to feel exactly the same athough it will be close. I had one of the Wimbledon stringers string my racquet at my normal tension and the overall string bed felt tighter and more consistent over my lockout. I guess its the same reason why pros can often ask for the same person/machine to have their racquets restrung.
Aloha Bojack,
Yes, you are right about the same stringer and the same machine. Although the larger tournaments have multiple machines that are the same, the stringer's technique can factor into the overall string job.
When I did this experiment, obviously, I was using the same technique on both machines. So, that did help keep the difference in the string jobs between the two machines within the 1 pound.
As I mentioned, when I had my Prince P7000, my Prince Neos 1000 was 2 pounds lower when I strung it. I had a friend one day use my Prince Neos 1000 to compare, and the tension was 4 pounds lower.
In my opinion, the differences in the string job using a manual lockout machine can vary more than using an electronic constant pull machine. Here are two videos that will help you improve your technique to produce accurate and consistent string jobs. 🤙
Lockout Machine Consistent Tensioning & Streamline Technique - th-cam.com/video/j_E2fxeJRM0/w-d-xo.html
Optimum Tensioning of Cross Strings - th-cam.com/video/FFlCqzQPY1E/w-d-xo.html
Alway great videos Albert. Thanks for doing all these tests. Although not a significant difference, at least with an expert stringer like yourself, I was wondering if there’s feature on the constant pull machines where it would do constant pull for say 2 seconds after reaching tension, approximate time to unclamp and reclamp string, then lock-out. Kind of like a hybrid of the 2. In my mind it would be the best of both worlds, as it would take up tension loss of the string, but not overdo if there was inconsistency in the clamping time from string to strings. Seems a simple fix to reduce variability of the stringer. I’m still on a lock-out these correlation studies are very helpful.
Aloha Steven,
Thanks for watching!
If I'm understanding you correctly, I addressed a stringer's clamping speed technique in this video. th-cam.com/video/bUxaCl2miG4/w-d-xo.html
The bottom line is to establish a stringing rhythm and stay consistent with it. 🤙
Interesting stuff, good to know (since I have a lockout - Prince NEOS 1000). Thanks much for the post!
Aloha,
It surprised me that the difference was only 1 pound! However, it's important that your machine is properly calibrated and you have sound technique. If you haven't seen these two videos, make sure you are incorporating this into your technique. 🤙
1) Lockout Machine Consistent Tensioning & Streamline Technique - th-cam.com/video/j_E2fxeJRM0/w-d-xo.html
2) Optimum Tensioning of Cross Strings - th-cam.com/video/FFlCqzQPY1E/w-d-xo.html
@@AMstringing Thanks for the reply & links. I've previously watched those so my machine sb good & hopefully my technique is ok (though could prolly be improved, ha ha).
@@vnishpt7036 Great, I wish you continued improvement in your technique! Happy Stringing!! 👍
hi there
what I noticed with my Alpha Revo 4000 is that string bed tension (measured with ERT300) depends on how far back the crank head lever release and lock.
Say if I calibrate the tension and the crank head locks 10 cm from racket frame at say 50 lbs then the the stiffness of the string bed will be in the range of 50 lbs if most of the pull release was in that range (10 cm) but if I start pulling a bit further and the crank locks say 20 cm away from the frame the tension after stringing is around 1 lb lower.
First time I noticed the difference happened when I was calibrating the crank tensioner and the reading on the calibrator was different when the lever released the crank at 10cm distance comparing to 20cm
Aloha Mi,
Yes, the distance from which you pull tension on each string does matter. However, interestingly my readings were the opposite. Check out this video - th-cam.com/video/j_E2fxeJRM0/w-d-xo.html
You are the man. Thank you. 8X stringing is a lot for a video. 😅
Aloha, Thank you for your kind words. Yeah, sometimes I don't know in advance how many racquets I'll need to string to make the experiment make sense! 🤣
Another factor to take into account is the quality of the lock out machine - they are not all the same quality. You are using a good quality lock out machine (Prince Neos?) but there are cheaper Eagnas / Pros Pro ones where the quality for the clamps, mounts, springs etc may produce slightly more loss of tension / less consistency particularly if they're old machines! That said, 1-2lbs is probably about right assuming everything has been calibrated. Just my 2 cents.
Aloha,
Good extra 2 cents!
A few years ago, I acquired two old Eagnes 800 Hawk lockout machines and used the parts to make one working machine to sell to a customer.
After calibrating the tension head, I strung a racquet. I tested the RDC string bed deflection immediately after stringing the racquet. Then, I calibrated my Prince Neos 1000 tension head with the same calibration scale and strung the same racquet with the same strings and tension. Finally, I tested the string bed deflection immediately after stringing.
RESULT - The racquet strung with the Eagnes machine had a string bed deflection 6 units lower than the one I strung with the Prince machine.
Although I adjusted the string clamp bases the best I could, I noticed some drawback on the string clamps - about 3/16” with about 1/16” recovery, resulting in a 1/8” gap.
ACTION - I recalibrated the tension head to read 4 pounds higher than the actual tension on the calibration scale. I strung the same racquet again and tested the string bed deflection, but it was still about 2 units too low.
SOLUTION - I recalibrated the tension head to read 6 pounds higher than the actual tension on the calibration scale. I strung the same racquet again and tested the string bed deflection; now it was spot on!
TAKEAWAY - Drawback and recovery that leaves a 1/16”-1/8” gap will result in a lower string tension.
Although this is not the ideal course of action to take for a machine to operate properly, I believe it was necessary to do so to ensure proper tensioning. The other action could have been to advise the customer to simply set the reference tension 6 pounds higher. 🤙
The differences between the Poly tentions , seem to also correlate to the 16x20 pattern which is tighter than a 16x19 . The analysis from an rdc machine would take this into account . Using the same pattern for both sets of tests would have been a better decision , since your comparing Poly to synthetic gut or multi .
Aloha Derek,
I understand what you're referring to. However, my intent was to track the stringbed deflection and string tension differences between my constant pull machine compared to my manual lockout machine (using the three stringing methods).
So, for the polyester strings, I purposely picked a different racquet, with a different string pattern, and different tension, to see if there was a similar correlation to the synthetic gut readings. I hope that makes sense. 🤙
I'm curious, does the RDC machine ever need to be calibrated?
Aloha Piyush, To be honest, I never received the instructions on how to calibrate the RDC. However, I’ve never had a reason to calibrate my 29-year-old RDC, since I rarely transport it from place to place, and have found that the readings have consistently remained spot on.