Step 1 of 3: Prep Work
Prep work is the first stage of my four step system to stringing racquets. This is where I meet with the customer, go over the frame for problems, and discuss stringing tension and options. Most players know what they want, but things change and I ask questions about the feel of the racquet and if the customer wants any improvement. I also ask about any changes in arm fatigue or pain.

Normally I cut the strings on the spot if the customer hasn't already done so and when I get home take off the old string and put any dampners in a bag for safe-keeping. If the service requires a re-grip I normally strip the old one off at this time.

I also give my customers an estimate of what they'll expect to pay.

Stringing and Service Fees
There's only one real constant in my pricing for restringing. $12.00 for Labor. There's additional charges for my string, sales tax, and other accessorices and services. Customers have also provided me with string they've purchased separately which will save them money. Normally my customers pay between $21.00 and $24.00 per racquet depending on the string type and length used.

How Often Should I Restring?
If only I had a dollar each time...Customers have come up to me and asked me do I need to restring this? Does this look right or feel good to you? I normally look at the notching, push on the string bed a little, and see if the strings are terribly loose or vibrating excessively. I usually turn the tables and ask them how does it feel?

The standard text book answer is to restring number of times you play per week per year. So if I play four times per week (I wish) I would restring about once every three months. I also restring before tournaments.

Regretfully about 99% of my customers wait until the strings are broken. Strings are often dead long before they finally give up the ghost and break. Pro Players bring a lot of racquets to a tournament they use it for a game or two and toss it in the bag. For them, they are so precise with their mechanics that even the slightest change in feel could mess them up. If we're trying to perfect a shot, we have to compensate for slight changes in the racquet over time. Any changes are bad when learning a new skill.

So to finally answer the question, restring when the feel of the racquet has changed for the worst.

Thanks for Reading
Just send me an email and we can you back on the courts or improve your game with a string and feel you love.

Back to Racquet Service or Next Step String and Tension.