COMPLETE RESTRINGING

Southland Times, Issue 23652, 29 October 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

COMPLETE RESTRINGING

To restring a high-quality tennis racket requires considerable skill, because the strings must not only be drawn tight, but they must be even In tension. An uneven tension would deflect the ball into a different path from that Intended by the player. Then the shape of the frame must be carefully preserved, as any irregularity would upset the balance of the racket with so disastrous results to the game. Special machines have been devised to hold the frame in place while the stringing Is being done and an Ingenious swinging machine draws the gut to exactly even tension. An expert player with a firstclass racket cannot do better than have his repairs done by a man fuly trained in this skilled work. To begin a complete restringing, first remove carefully all the old ends from the holes in the frame and begin at the centre-by the handle, putting in the long strings first. Fig. E shows these' long strings threaded in loosely. Watch carefully to see that the proper holes are '■d or the strings will not be par; el. Next place a piece of half-inch board in the centre of the' racket, extending from the handle to the tip of the racket. This piece is called a spreader, and its purpose is to prevent the long strings from pulling the frame out of shape when they are drawn tight. Proceeding to tighten the long strings begin on the double ones in the middle. Tighten them one at a time, stopping each time with the awl. Work both ways at once, doing one on one side of the centre, then one on the other side, until the whole is tight, and fasten off the ends as shown in the drawing. Try to keep an even tension, remembering that it is practically imnosslble to make the strings too tight by hand. Fig. F shows the crosp strings loosely in position. Put in a spreader across the frame this time, and begin’ at the ' centre by the spreader, weaving the strings in and out through the long strings or mains as they are called. Tighten each one, as it is put in, keeping it tight by stopping with the awl. Again it is necessary to work both ways from the centre, one string at a time on each side of the spreader, to preserve as much as possible the shape and balance of the racket. Finish off as shown and cut off the loose ends as close as possible to the work.

Often the cross strings do not fill up the ends of the racket, in which case some short strings of thinner gut are woven in. These arp called trebling strings, and being ornamental rather than useful, no particular skill is required to put them in. First secure one end to one of the mains and proceed by taking one complete turn round each main in succession until the other side is reached and return in the same way back and forth until the required amount is filled in, which is usually about three rows.