Welcome to my Around the World (ATW) tutorial! Many of you may know me from the TW message boards, and for those of you stumbling on this site please feel free to contact me with questions and comments!
This guide is meant primarily for beginning to intermediate stringers, but can be utilized by advanced stringers as well. The idea behind the ATW pattern is that it is safer for the racquet. The ATW pattern is one that allows a stringer to string the crosses (horizontal strings) from the top to the bottom of the racquet even if the mains end at the throat. The theory behind this mentality is that even if you have a solid mounting system on a great machine, a racquet is still susceptible to damage. Even if the damage is not immediate, the graphite fibers in a racquet weaken over time. To prevent immediate/expedited harm to your racquet, it is safest to string the racquet from the top to bottom. The reason for this is that the most extreme curves of a racquet's head are at the two top shoulders of the frame (10 and 2 o'clock if the handle is 6 o'clock). When stringing the crosses from bottom to top, an extraordinary amount of pressure is placed on these most extreme bends, which are the weakest point of a frame. To get around this, we use what is called an Around the World Pattern. This site teaches a modified version of this pattern that i feel is much easier for beginners to learn. I personally use it over the traditional ATW pattern due to it's simplicity and versatility.
The advantages of this type of string pattern are as follows:
Pros.
No Counting Required.
In a normal ATW pattern, you may be required to count crosses in order to decide how the beginning crosses must be weaved.
Arguably easier to weave the crosses.
In a typical ATW pattern, a stringer will have a single cross woven on the bottom of the frame. This creates a "semi-hard" weave every other cross. This can slow many stringers down. The stringer is also required to string one to two hard weaves (weaving against the "grain," or pattern of the strings that have already been tensioned), whereas this pattern uses three to four hard weaves, depending on how you decide to go about using it. The benefit is of course, you have less crosses to string (this will be explained later), and you have ZERO semi-hard weaves.
Less Crosses to Weave
This pattern leaves TWO mains off in the beginning stages of the string job. This means that an 18x20 pattern turns into a 16x20, which is slightly faster to string.
There are less knots.
Compared to a typical 2 piece stringing job that you'd be required to do on these frames normally, the (modified) ATW pattern has less knots to tie. Many beginning to intermediate stringers do not like tying knots, and on top of that, the job looks "professional."
There is less string required.
Compared to the two piece job one would normally have to execute, the ATW pattern saves string by having less string free for just tensioning.
Less Tension loss on the furthest mains.
No matter how you cut it, tension is lost when a stringer ties a knot off. The amount of tension loss can vary depending on the stringer and his/her technique. Of course, you can compensate for this tension loss, but with this pattern, the tension loss on the sides are minimized (you will find out more about this later).
The pattern is safe.
On many modern frames, the main strings end at the throat, and manufacturer specs require the frame to be strung from the top to bottom. Many manufacturers reject RMA (Return Mechandise Authorizations) for improperly strung raquets. Although the ATW is not always recognized as a safe string job, it is much more structurally sound/less structurally damaging as opposed to an improper one-piece string job.
The pattern is flexible.
Even beginning to Intermediate stringers can easily adapt this stringing pattern to meet/accomodate just about any type of frame (that requires an ATW style job, of course).
Of course, with every string pattern, there are disadvantages to these numerous advantages. Some of these include:
Cons.
Hard weaves.
As mentioned before, there are a number of "hard weaves" that can be very difficult for beginning stringers. I recommend the "needle and thread" technique for these crosses. Use the end of the string just like a needle and thread, using the thumb/index finger of your stringing hand to "thread" the string through these hard weaves. Complete about 4 of these weaves, then gently pull the string through.
Many users can get held up on these weaves, and it may slow the beginning/intermediate stringer down. Once adjusted to these weaves, I find that this pattern does not slow a stringer down due to the smaller amount of crosses to be woven.
Requires additional tools.
This pattern will require a starting clamp. Many beginner/intermediate stringers do not own a starting clamp, but may consider investing in one. If you have a spare flying clamp, this will work.
The pattern is fairly tricky the first few times.
This pattern can be a very confusing one, with lots of details to remember. However, this guide will help you through it, and once you've executed it a few times, it's hard to forget.
The string makes a few sharp turns.
In this pattern, a few sharp turns are involved. With experience, and careful planning, these sharp turns can be avoided altogether.
NOTE: For those of you stringing Prince Triple Threat frames, please read this guide though once before attempting to use it. Sometimes the string may be forced to go straight through a double barrel grommet, which is NOT recommended. Plan ahead in this case.
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The following portion is just notes about the site, how to navigate and what to look for in my descriptions. If you just want to get started, feel free to move to the next page.
Navigation: Navigation links are provided on the top and bottom of the page. If the PREVIOUS or NEXT link is blacked out, it means you are either at the first or the last page.
Sections of this site are as follows:
Section Breakdown
Introduction
The page you are currently on. It briefly describes the site and it's contents. What the ATW pattern is is discussed here.
Racquet Preparation
This section shows what preparation is needed to string this pattern. It also shows the beginning stages of the string job.
Stringing the Mains
This section briefly covers the stringing of the mains.
The Tricky Part #1
The first of two "tricky" areas of the modified ATW pattern. This shows in detail how to execute the first of two major parts that make up the bulk of the ATW pattern.
Stringing the Crosses
This is a brief overview of how to string the crosses in an ATW pattern.
The Tricky Part #2
This shows the final stages of the string job, and the tricker/time consuming parts of weaving.
Finishing up
This shows the final stages of the string job, and how it looks when completed.
Various notes:
Ease of Use
This guide is BEGINNER FRIENDLY. This site does not attempt to go in depth in string/stringing theory, the basic ideas and concepts that lead to the design of this pattern are discussed shortly, I don't feel like they need to be covered in depth. The steps shown here may be confusing at first, but a step by step picture tutorial is very easy to follow.
Layout
Navigation is discussed above. The remaining layout more or less consists of 3 pieces. A title that briefly describes the following picture. The picture, and below it, a caption that in detail describes what is going on.
Tools
Although the tools will be described in detail later, it should be noted that my usage of these tools may not be how you use them. For instance: I use my starting clamp as an anchor for my first pull. The first pull of the job is very rough on the string (in my experience), thus, I use a starting clamp as an anchor. You may not, this is fine. Follow this guide as closely as you find is comfortable.
Pictures & Usefulness
The picture are meant to be a complement to the caption/instructions, not the other way around. If the picture confuses you, look at the caption first. The caption will explain step by step what is going on. Once you've read the caption, THEN look for what I am explaining in that step in the attached picture.
Enlarging pictures
Each picture that is featured in a medium sized image can be expanded to a larger size. Simply click on the image, and the image will be opened inside the current browser window (unless you have changed the settings of Internet Browsing). Simply hit the back button to return to the page you were previously at.
Technique Notes
Many users may be confused at certain technical/technique related things that I do. At the time of the picture taking, I was stringing on the floor of a dorm room. I laid out a blanket so the floor wouldn't reflect light/distract/detract from the photos. Please keep this in mind. I weave ahead before tensioning. Weaving ahead is a technique used by stringers to ease the process of weaving. To weave once ahead means that you weave a string, and then weave the next before tensioning the first one. This gives you a separated string bed, which allows for easier weaving. Obviously this is not a very good description, but that is not the point of this guide. To learn more about weaving once ahead, please visit the Tennis-Warehouse message boards. Feel free to search the board for threads describing this technique and it's usefulness.
Tennis Warehouse's Message Board can be found here.
Another technique that others might not use is pre-lacing the mains. Pre-lacing the mains means that I (obviously) lace the mains (on the long side at least) before I start stringing. In a crowded dorm room, or confined space such as one I am working in, string tends to get caught on surrounding objects. I pre-lace the mains to help me get some string off the floor. This doesn't necessarily give a speed advantage, but is useful in my situation.
Other technique issues will be discussed as they are presented. If you have questions or concerns please contact me and I will edit the tutorial accordingly. This is obviously a work in progress!
Now, onto the guide!
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