How To String A Tennis Racket

Tennis Restringing Guide ATW Method (1 Piece Stringing)

This is the stringing guide for 1-piece stringing using the Universal Around The World (ATW) method for a racket with a 16x19 string pattern. The ATW method only works for specific rackets.

Here are the specifications of rackets that could likely be strung using the ATW method:

1. Mains that end at the bottom.

2. 6 grommets at the bottom of the frame.

3. Stringing pattern that skips both the 7th and 9th grommet (must have adequate distance

   in between the grommets going to the crosses).*note: Rackets with 18x20 string pattern to skip the 8th & 10th grommet*

Please note that this is not a full-proof guide. You should always check the string pattern and the position of the grommets to decide how you need to string the racket.

Our machine is the Prince P-7000 electronic 6-point stringing machine. There are 6 points to secure the racket while stringing: the top and bottom points for the top and bottom of the racket head, and 4 other points to secure the sides of the racket.

How To Correctly Mount The Racket On The Machine

1. Start with the top and bottom points of the racket; tighten the points with the knobs at the side of the machine just enough to hold the racket in place.

2. Move to tighten the knobs for the other points / mounts to hold the sides of the racket.

3. Make sure that the racket is secured tightly enough so that it does not move around

   whilst stringing.

If you have a 2-point stringing machine with only the top and bottom point, please do the same but skip the second step.

Please note not to over tighten the racket onto the machine, as doing so might cause the racket to warp or crack, even before you start to string!

Strings come in mainly two different forms: in reels or pre-packed.

If you are using pre-packed strings you do not need to do any form of measurement or cutting before stringing. Pre-packed strings usually come in 12.2m or 40ft in length, which is more than sufficient for a 1-piece string job.

If you are using strings from reels you will need to measure out and cut 11-12m for the string job depending on the head size of the racket. You can use any measuring tape.

Pro Tip:
Once you have the length that you want, you can take reference of that length in comparison to the length of your arms and you can just measure the length of the strings using your arms for your future stringing jobs.

Once the racket has been secured and its string has been measured out, you can proceed to string. You should follow the steps in order:

1. Pull the string through the center 2 grommets (for the ATW method we have a long and short side; the short side should be about 3m/10ft and the longside about 9m/30ft).

Pro Tip: You may apply a light coat lubricant like vaseline on the strings to reduce friction between the strings while pulling them across one another.

2. Clamp the string on the longer side (could use a starting clamp for additional support if your swivel clamp slips).

3. Start to pull tension of the mains on the short side and alternate after 3 main strings have been pulled. Always string on alternate sides after a few pulls to make sure the pressure on the head is evenly distributed.

Pro Tip: Always try to clamp the string close to the racket frame to minimize uneven tension on the mains.

4. String all the mains on the long side and leave the last main on the short side for the top cross.

5. Weave and pull the tension of the top cross using the short side, but hold the tension with a starting clamp as we will need the other two clamps for the crosses moving forward.

6. Weave the bottom cross with the long side of the string.

Pro Tip: Always check the weave pattern of the racket before cutting off the strings. Generally, a racket with an odd number of crosses will have the same weave for the first and last cross while a racket with an even number of crosses will have opposite weave for the first and last cross.

7. Put the string through the grommets for the last main on the short side, pulling the tension.

Pro Tip: Leave enough space between the clamp and the grommet for the 4th cross so that you will be able to string one-ahead without hindrance moving forward.

8. Now that we have gone around the racket, we can start to string the crosses from top down.

Pro Tip:
Always push the strings upwards while passing the strings though the mains. Also, try to string one-ahead so that you would not be hindered by the clamps while weaving for the next cross. Try to straighten the string as much as possible while pulling tension on the crosses to ensure a more dynamic and consistent tension throughout the racket. You may cut off excess strings, reducing the length of strings passing through one another.

9. Once all the crosses have been completed it is time to tie-off with the knot. Always pull an additional 10% tension on the tie-off string to reduce tension loss. You can use any knot you are comfortable with as long as the tie-off is secure.

Pro Tip: Find the tie-off grommet, usually one that has a bigger opening.

10. Once the tie-off on the last cross is completed, release the clamps on the bottom and move to clamp the 2nd cross before releasing the starting clamp to pull tension on the 1st cross and tie-off.

Pro Tip: You may tie-off the top cross after stringing a few (3-5) of the crosses on top as long as you have at least 1 clamp holding the tension of the cross.

11. Lastly, straighten the strings one last time before releasing the racket from the machine.

The Pros & Cons Of 1-Piece Stringing

Pros:

1. Uses less string as compared to 2-piece stringing (advantageous if stringing off the reel).

2. As there are fewer tie-offs you are less likely to lose tension on the strings.

3. You only need to measure the string once.

Cons:

1. The long side of the string may be prone to tangle and can be a hassle to deal with.

2. The application of 1-piece stringing may slightly differ for each racket.

3. Not all rackets can be strung using the 1-piece stringing method.

4. There may be uneven tension on each side of the racket if the tie-offs are on the same

   side.

5. You will not be able to string two different tensions on the mains and crosses. Even if you could, the tension will even out after a few plays.

Generally, most stringers prefer using the 2-piece stringing method due to the need to pass through a lot of strings while stringing 1-piece. Also, the 2-piece stringing method is applicable to any racket while it is not the case for the 1-piece stringing method.

It is a matter of personal preference and also what kind of rackets you are stringing. Anyways, the gist of stringing any sort of rackets is the same throughout. Once you get it, it improves as you string more rackets.

Register for our restringing course if you are interested in becoming a certified stringer.

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