How to Tie My Racquet Strings

Rackets are strung with either one long piece of string or with two pieces. Two double half-hitch knots are commonly used to end a one-piece stringing pattern or, in the case of a two-piece stringing pattern, four knots are tied. One knot starts the second piece of string and is referred to as a starting knot. The exact place to tie the string depends on the stringing pattern and requirements for your racket.

Things You'll Need

  • Tennis racket
  • Racket string
  • Pliers
  • Clippers
  • Starting clamp
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Instructions

  1. Double Half-Hitch Knot

    • 1

      Take the end of the racket string and thread it through the correct grommet hole to tie the knot. Rackets have a plastic strip attached to the racket's frame with holes to guide and protect the string. The holes in the strip are referred to as grommet holes. If you do not know the stringing pattern for your racket and you are not sure what the correct grommet hole is, it is usually larger than the other holes.

    • 2

      Pull 6 inches of the string to the right of the anchor string. This is either a main or cross string. The main strings are the long strings that run from the top of the racket's head to the throat and the cross strings run in the opposite direction across the main strings.

    • 3

      Hold the string in place with the fingers of your right hand and loop the end over and down the left side of the anchor string using your left hand. This creates a loop around the anchor string. Thread the end of the string up through the loop.

    • 4

      Pull the string with your hands to remove any excess slack in the string. Lock onto the end of the string with pliers and pull it away from the racket's frame to continue removing the slack. You may have to do this a few times before all of the slack has been removed. While pulling, rock back and forth against the knot to snug it close to the frame.

    • 5

      Repeat Steps 3 and 4. Trim off the excess string with clippers. Leave a 1/4-inch tail at the knot.

    Starting Knot

    • 6

      Take the end of the racket string and thread it through the correct grommet hole to tie the knot. Pull 6 inches of the string to the right of anchor string.

    • 7

      Hold the string in place with the fingers of your right hand and loop the end over and down the left side of the anchor string using your left hand. This creates a loop around the anchor string. Repeat this a second time to form a second loop. Hold the loops loosely with the fingers of your right hand.

    • 8

      Take the end of the string and bring it up to the opening of the first loop. Thread the string through both loops along the anchor string. Pull the string with your hands to remove any the slack and to snug up the loops.

    • 9

      Lock onto the end of the string with pliers. Pull the string away from the frame of the racket and along the anchor string to continue removing the slack. You may have to do this a few times before all of the slack has been removed. While pulling, rock back and forth against the knot to snug it close to the frame. To keep the rest of the string from pulling through while you tighten the knot, clamp the string on the outside of the racket's frame with a starting clamp.

    • 10

      Cut off the excess string with clippers. Leave a 1/4-inch tail at the knot.