Hey Guys,

Did an Ektelon O3 White last night and I guess being sleep deprived I didn't look at the other patterns in the USRSA book. I did the racquet with the 12x17 pattern. I told the customer to give it a try and if he didn't like it to return it on Monday for a free restring.

Anyway I told him that he'll probably get more power from this pattern since the cross strings can flex more with one less main on each side, but honestly don't know what the different patterns do for people. Anyone have a take on the different string patterns and why you use them?

Thought the power plugs and patterns were both very innovative ideas. Sorry Head--just speaking as a stringer here.

Later,
--Joe.

joedel

Hey Guys,

Did an Ektelon O3 White last night and I guess being sleep deprived I didn't look at the other patterns in the USRSA book. I did the racquet with the 12x17 pattern. I told the customer to give it a try and if he didn't like it to return it on Monday for a free restring.

Anyway I told him that he'll probably get more power from this pattern since the cross strings can flex more with one less main on each side, but honestly don't know what the different patterns do for people. Anyone have a take on the different string patterns and why you use them?

Thought the power plugs and patterns were both very innovative ideas. Sorry Head--just speaking as a stringer here.

Later,
--Joe.

You're right, that pattern gives more power and a little less durability. The stringer upside is you can do the pattern with 30 feet of string - so more jobs from a reel. I've been using a 12 X 15 pattern. One third of a pack of natural gut covers 15 crosses and allows me to string a hyprid concoction on my Triple Threat Warrior at a reasonable cost. Great performance too.

TTWar

You're right, that pattern gives more power and a little less durability. The stringer upside is you can do the pattern with 30 feet of string - so more jobs from a reel. I've been using a 12 X 15 pattern. One third of a pack of natural gut covers 15 crosses and allows me to string a hyprid concoction on my Triple Threat Warrior at a reasonable cost. Great performance too.

12x15 :-) Interesting, so now the mains can flex more too?

Anyway he didn't find 12x17 with more power logical, but we'll see. Anyway thanks for the info.

--Joe.

I just got a O3 white to restring for a friend and was wondering if there are really any differences he might notice between the 14 (normal) mains and the 16 mains. I will be using 16 guage string and he uses all the power plugs on the head of the racquet.

Will he lose power ?

Will he gain more control ?

Will the racquet be stiffer ?

Etc ........

I want to use the 16 main 2 string version, to avoid having a single string going from the right to left side and tying off both mains on the left side. I can an have done the 14 mains method many times, but if I can, I just like having both sides the same and each side having it own tie off point.

Thanks

I can't say from experience but more stings should mean less power since each string is flexing less thus less trampoline effect. Also, since there would be less trampoline effect I would expect more control and a stiffer racquet feel.

Now I can't say how much a difference it would make but I'm interested in hearing from those that have used the different string patterns.

WMcBride

. . . Now I can't say how much a difference it would make but I'm interested in hearing from those that have used the different string patterns.

I've used the 16, 14, and 12 mains pattern and if compared side by side I think many players could tell the difference and then again many couldn't. So it's basically a metter of personal preference. If you want a softer stringbed (more trampoline) you could just reduce the tension a few pounds, but reducing the number of mains at the same tension does the same thing. It does take less string by about 2 feet each time you eliminate two mains, which will add up if you're using reels. One thing that has occurred a few times since switching from 16 mains to 12 mains is "catching" the ball between the crosses in the space previously occupied by the two outside main strings on way off center hits. Just a little bit of comic relief in a hard fought rally!

TTWar

One thing that has occurred a few times since switching from 16 mains to 12 mains is "catching" the ball between the crosses in the space previously occupied by the two outside main strings on way off center hits. Just a little bit of comic relief in a hard fought rally!

Haha, that's always funny when that happens. Thanks for the input though. I don't play with ektelon but I'm always looking to learn more about all the brands which can help when I string for other people. And yes, using less string is always nice.

What is the stock stringing? I'm assuming 16 mains?

Looking at the O3 White I got for restringing and it's factory string job, I believe they use 14 mains with 2 strings as standard. I believe it came with Ektelon Lightning 17 guage.

Hopefully the chance to catch the ball in the strings on 12x17 is remote. Think the customer would come back and that would be the end of the 12x17 experiment. He used it on Friday and he was having a tough time then he got more used to it.

Had nothing to do with the pattern and had everything to do with NRS (New Racquet Syndrome) so many of my customers wait until the strings break to restring and then are all over the place adjusting to new ones.

Either way it was cool to try out and glad he didn't want me to restring it.

Way to go Joe! Using a new innovative string pattern for the users' benefit is a bold and thoughtful way to extend the ways a player can improve without changing his/her playing style. I learned the 12 main pattern from Roland G at the US OPEN in 2006 and have been stringing it as often as I could to everyone that would take a chance on something out of the ordinary. I've only had two clients out of over a hundred that want to go back to the 14 main patterns and NONE want to go back to the 16 main pattern. The players who have "caught" a ball in the string had to admit it was a desperate swing and would have been an errant shot regardless, but it gave a bit of humor to the rally when they looked for the ball and found it stuck in the strings. I've played around with the crosses too but have found that less than 14 crosses seems a bit loosey goosey to me. I've been doing the 12 x 15 pattern in most of the frames for so long its just an automatic for me now.
When I get a new racquet for myself I want to cut it out and put in the 12 main pattern, but I am too frugal to do it so I play it till the string gets worn down then go for it. I've always been glad when my string needed restringing haha.
TomKat

Thanks TomKat.

Funny thing is just redid his racquet and he wanted the 16x17. He didn't say anything bad about the old config, think he was just uncomfortable about the extra holes being open.

The 16x17 just looked too weird, but that's what the customer wanted. I haven't heard any feedback yet about the work. He's been on vacation.

Some nice options on that racquet and I'm not sure how much play they actually give, but always good to have options. 12x15 sounds interesting, but don't think I get him to try it.

Later,
--Joe.

Hey Joe,
I have had clients who went back to the factory pattern and then told me what a difference they felt, and wanted to restring soon to go back to the 12 main pattern again. It's a learning experience and it may take awhile to get used to less strings.
Like talking a frequent string breaker into doing exercises, bouncing the ball in the stringbed while walking, or using a premium string, Recoil, to help with the premature string breakage. It doesn't happen over night. So many players resist tricking out their racquets in any way other than the factory way. But once they learn about a better string or pattern or maybe just a better grip, they loosen up and can be more interested in experimenting with more aspects of racquet customization.
All of my lender racquets are strung with the 12 main pattern with Recoil string. I know it will come back to me with unbroken string and at least gotten the players attention for the next restring he/she needs.
Its very gratifying to know you have helped a player explore the possibilities and hopefully opened the door to a better experience.

tomkat3120

Its very gratifying to know you have helped a player explore the possibilities and hopefully opened the door to a better experience.

I like that part of the business too and I like to think most of my customers are happy with the work I do for them.

Sometimes it's a tough sell compared to these corporations that offer free stringing with the purchase of a package of string...and I wish I was faster at stringing sometimes. But I do like having their trust and doing a good job.

Anyway I'll check with the customer and see what he likes better. He should be back from vacation and playing again.

Later,
--Joe.