Starting Out
By Joseph Delgado
Stringing is not rocket science, but I can write after seven years...there are techniques and combinations that help my customers get the most performance. There's a lot of variables between racquets, strings, and players that what works for one person may not work for others.
For example, I string most E-Force Racquets at 34 lbs. with Ektelon Lightning 16g. String, but a customer provided me with a synthetic gut string that broke quickly. Frustrated he came to me trying to save the reel of string he bought. Dropping the tension to 30 lbs. added about six months to the string life and he was happy with the performance.
Record keeping is very important to me and it's something I pass on to my customers. I want to keep track of what works, what doesn't, and how long a string job lasts. Then I can suggest recommendations to my customers to play better, hit harder, or get more string life. Each racquet and invoice has a service tag. Every job is assigned to that tag and over time helps build a history.
Also keep a pretty good inventory on hand for players looking for value, performance, or durability. Upfront you know what to expect. Also try to carry different gauges of the same string to offer more options. People looking for more durability can start with a 16g. string. If they want more power, if the racquet supports it, can do a hybrid string job using 16 and 17 gauge strings. For pure performance, can string the racquet with all 17g.
Lastly, I do enjoy following up and hearing from my customers and getting feedback to both improve their game and my company.
Hope look over our inventory, our articles, and other parts of the site. If there's anything I can answer for you feel free to send email or give me a call 732-917-0549.
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Copyright 2010, 2009 by Enchanted Quill Press LLC. Updated on 7/8/10. Ashaway, USRSA and Racquet Manufacturer Logos are copyrights and trademarks of their respective companies.
