STRINGING EQUIPMENT - Unique Stringway Developments

STRINGING EQUIPMENT

Unique Stringway Developments All Stringway products are our own developments. Unique developments are a cross stringing tool, a drop weight tension system with automatic lock, a foot-operated machine, and the most "racquet-friendly" support system on the market.

Racquet-friendly The racquet-support system is a "hot item" in the stringing world. With the help of computer calculations Stringway has developed a racquet support system which offers maximum protection for the racquet during stringing.

Wide range of models Stringway offers drop weight machines (table-top models and on a floor stand), foot-operated and electronic stringing machines with floating clamps or with fixed clamps.

Completely Dutch made All Stringway products are manufactured in the Netherlands, offering a guarantee for good quality and quick service.

High quality-price ratio Stringway products are manufactured in the Netherlands but the prices are compatible thanks to cost effective manufacturing methods.

10 year guarantee Because Stringway offers high-quality products, we offer a 10-year guarantee on parts.

STRINGING TECHNOLOGY

Stringway has researched the mechanics during and after the string job. An important point is the ability to adjust the stringing job to the type of play and specifications of the racquet.

Type of play, racquet, string and stringing tension Choosing the right tension for every racquet and player is very difficult for a stringer to ascertain. Stringway has developed a system for which the type of string and the stringing tension can be adjusted to every type of racquet and different types of play. The result is the combination of the tension adviser and a range of strings.

STRINGING INFORMATION

Besides the development and manufacturing of stringing equipment, Stringway devotes time to research on stringing "know-how" topics. Stringway keeps abreast of various stringing techniques and updates and publishes articles in various tennis magazines.

DROP WEIGHT MACHINES

Two types of drop weight tension systems are available on the global market for stringing machines:

1. Ratchet Systems:	2. The Stringway System "Maximum Accuracy without a Ratchet System."
With most drop weight systems it is necessary to get the drop weight lever horizontal to tension the string at the adjusted tension. Most of these machines features a ratchet system that makes it easier to position the lever horizontally. The biggest drawback of a ratchet system is that the stringer has to maintain the tension in the string "by hand" while the lever is lifted for the next stroke. The use of a ratchet system costs time and loss of accuracy.	In order to tension the string at the adjusted tension with the Stringway Drop Weight System, it is not necessary to position the lever horizontally, the tension in the string is the same for every angle of the drop weight lever irrespective of the drop weight position.
What makes it necessary to keep the drop weight lever horizontal?	Why is it NOT necessary for the lever of the Stringway System to be horizontal?

The tension depends upon the angle, because "H" is different for every angle while "R" remains the same.	The tension is the same for every angle, because the distance"V" and the distance "H" both change and therefore the ratio between "V" and "H" remains the same.

TENSION SYSTEMS

MECHANICAL TENSION SYSTEMS

The mechanical machines that are mostly used by professional stringers have a completely different tension system: The linear tension system works with a crank and a reference spring. In the tension system of the foot-operated Stringway MS 200 a heavy spring pulls tension. The main difference between the two systems is that the Stringway machine works with a "constant pull" action, the importance of this is described below.

ELECTRONIC TENSION SYSTEM

Electronic stringing machines have a measuring system that "tells" the drive system to stop pulling when the tension in the string has reached the adjusted tension. When the measuring system works accurately enough it keeps the tension constant during the slow elongation of the string.

NO ACCURACY WITHOUT "CONSTANT PULL ACTION"

A string that is tensioned needs time to elongate. A string that stretches more needs more time (up to 10 seconds) than a string with less elongation. A "constant pull" tension unit keeps the tension CONSTANT during the elongation of the string.

The figure in the top right column shows three graphs, two without and one with constant pull action (Stringway MS 200)

"CONSTANT PULL" ACTION

Graph 1 : The string is tensioned fast to 30 kg., the actual tension drops to 23.1 kg.

Graph 2 : The string is tensioned slowly to 30 kg. and the tension drops "only" to 25.5

Graph 3 : The constant pull action of the Stringway MS 200 keeps the tension during the slow elongation of the string

Conclusions : Without "constant pull" action tension loss can be up to 7 kg. A stringer who strings quicker strings "softer".

RACQUET SUPPORT

THE MOUNTING TABLE WITH A RACQUET SUPPORT SYSTEM

The mounting table has been designed to support the racquet minimizing the risk of breaking or damaging the racquet. The "tube" of the much lighter racquets of today has a very thin wall which truly tests the racquet support system making the quality of the mounting table much more important than ever before.

Sustains forces up to 600 kg
The most critical situation occurs when all main strings have been tensioned. The total force of all main strings together (up to 600 kg) tries to make the racquet shorter by bending the racquet table. A stiffer more rigid mounting table results in less deformation of the racquet.

Most Important Factor of the Stringway Mounting Table: It does not Blend!

TWO TYPES OF RACQUET SUPPORTS

The tension in the main strings tries to make the string area of the racquet shorter, and when it gets shorter, it will also get wider. Modern stringing machines apply one of two different racquet support principles:

1. DIRECT SUPPORT

Direct Racquet Support
When the racquet frame does not get shorter it does not get wider either. The main strings pull the racquet frame inwards making it shorter . Direct supports push the frame outwards and prevent it from getting shorter .

2. INDIRECT SUPPORT

An "indirect" support system has four supports supporting the outside of the racquet frame. Outside supports prevent the racquet frame from distorting wider. Because getting shorter is the main problem, a racquet support with outside supports prevents it from getting wider with an indirect racquet support.

3. "RACQUET FRIENDLY" WITH WIDE SUPPORTS

The force between the supports and the racquet is very high. Wide supports result in a lower pressure between the support and the racquet and a less chance for damage to the racquet.

4. THROAT-SIDE: THE BRIDGE IS VULNERABLE

Bridge Support
The bridge is a separate part, glued in between the throat of the racquet. The main strings try to pull the bridge away from the handle. Therefore it is very important that the bridge is supported thoroughly with the added security of wide supports.

CLAMPING SYSTEMS

FIXED CLAMPS: THE EASIEST TO USE

Bad clamps lose more tension than good ones and flying clamps lose more tension than fixed clamps. Besides, fixed clamps are easier to use because a fixed clamp grips only one string at the time and it is easier to start stringing the main strings from a fixed clamp.

CRITERIA

A good fixed clamp must meet the following criteria:

The clamping force must be sufficient to hold the string at high tensions.
The teeth must be wide with rounded edges so that the string does not become damaged.
It must be easy to adjust the clamp to the gauge of the string.
A single-action clamp system works much easier and faster. With many machines two actions are needed to clamp a string; first of all you have to clamp the string and secondly the clamping system has to be locked on the machine with much force.
A double-action clamps should move around very easily and should be locked on to the machine without the use of much force.