How to Tie My Racket String

If you are into playing tennis or racketball, or any other sport that requires hitting a ball with a racket, at some point you will need to learn how to restring your racket. This may become necessary due to age, damage from a particularly intense game or match, or because you want to restore the performance it had when it was new. There are a number of specific steps that you will need to follow in order to do it properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Racket
  • String
  • Tensioning machine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Free-string the vertical strings on the racket. First, cut about 15 feet of string and string it through the up and down loops in the racket so there is enough leftover string to attach to a tensioning machine. After you have installed these first loops, loop them over and run the string back loosely through the other eyelets until you have used up all of the string you allotted for the vertical run.

    • 2

      Clamp the left hand side of the racket head into the tensioning machine, following the instructions specific to the machine. There will usually be a clamp or a vice to use for this purpose. Pull the two left-hand loops that you made initially, loading the proper amount of tension into the racket head. This can vary depending on how tight you like your strings, but they should be pulled fairly taut. Pull the free end of the string around until it is at the top of the racket, and tension the other side of the racket using this string. Once you have done this, you will be able to move the racket symmetrically around in the machine so that you can work around the racket from top to bottom.

    • 3

      Skip the eleventh grommet from the bottom when you are tightening. Once you get to the bottom of the racket, the eleventh grommet should be skipped so that you do not over-tension a string, and you can still weave the side strings in.

    • 4

      Repeat the process with the side strings. When you repeat the process, start with the bottom side strings, working towards the top.

    • 5

      Clamp each string and knot it off. When you knot everything off, use the tensioner to hold the other strings in place at the proper tension. Knotting simply means tying a knot by looping the strings and drawing the bottom through the loop, just as you normally tie a knot, except using the tensioning machine to pull very tightly.