You can get them imported from Malaysia and the USA for those prices! Ashaway Supernick XL Pro works out at £3.73 per set (when you buy 9 sets) including shipping (from Squashgear.com), and Tecnifibre 305 (1.3mm) works out at £6.03 per set (when you buy a reel - 110) shipped.

 

All you have to do is shop around for the best prices possible! A lot of the US based companies are VERY cheap compared to the UK, but you might get stung with imports tax if you buy them for business use and buy too many in one go!

 

Perhaps people should start making lists of cheap places to buy equipment on another thread? I've got a list of about 6 places based in the UK and a further 6 based elsewhere in the world!

Adz

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"I can get sets of strings (of good quality) for as little at £1.50 per set and I can get top of the range stuff (Tecnifibre 305 and Ashaway Supernick) for as little as £4 per set"

Hi Bizarreco, where are you getting you're strings from for these prices?

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Correction: We've had a further development!

I got bored of waiting and used all of my Xmas Money to buy a machine and have now strung 6 racquets (all my own). The first took my around 1hr 20 mins and I've gradually got the time down to around the 35 min mark for my last racquet (which I have to say is PERFECTLY strung for my playing style!).

Now I'm ready to start experimenting with different string types and tensions (and I'm still waiting for get my hands on a Prince O3 racquet just for the challenge of something new!). From a string type point of view, I'm contemplating going for something durable in the mains (maybe babolat pro hurricane 17 guage), with something more touch orientated in the crosses (probably Ashaway Supernick XP Pro). Cost is definately something I can relate to when it comes to stringing my own racquets. I can get sets of strings (of good quality) for as little at £1.50 per set and I can get top of the range stuff (Tecnifibre 305 and Ashaway Supernick) for as little as £4 per set. This is stuff that I've been offered for £25 a set from some stringers!

Adz

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Ah we've had a development!

I've decided that I'm going to take the plunge and re-string my own rackets as of early next year (when I can finally afford to buy the machine!). I've had my racket restrung on the weekend and was lucky enough to watch the process all the way through. Now I'm dying to have a go myself!

Any suggestions on a good machine? Electronic would be preferred, but with only a budget of about £400-600 I'm not certain of what to get!

Adz

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Yeah, it might not be worth it for you. I usually use the 18 gauge Tecnifibre, which frays and breaks fairly quickly for me. I use it more for its comfort than performance -- it is really soft and easy on my arm.

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See the common theme here is people who restring their rackets, or those of others REGULARLY. Simply put: I don't!

 

Although a lot of people suggest that you should restring a racket every 2 to 3 months (even if they haven't broken), I've found the strings I use last for months at a time (probably due to the 16 guage!), with very little in the way of tension loss after the initial period. I tend to go for 25lb tension which beds-in after around 2 hours of play.

 

Unless I start breaking strings more regularly, it probably doesn't make much sense to do my own stringing.

Adz

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dont worry darren you will get faster

i used to take about 30 - 35 minutes when i was doing a 1 or 2 every week. my employee who did most of them (3 - 8)would normally take about 20 - 25 minutes . the full time pros are even faster.

just like squash - it is all relative.

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Having your own stringer is great. It takes me 45 minutes to an hour to do a racket, but usually I have a television on so that slows me down. It is really simple after you get the hang of it. The things I like about it:

- I can buy my own string at the best price over the internet. If I go to a local stringer chances are they don't even have the string I like or if they do charge full retail price for it.

- I can string the racket when I need it done, not when somebody can get to it. If I break a string a day before a tournament, I know I'll have my racket restrung by then.

- I don't need to drive my racket to somebody elses house or shop to get it strung. That time savings alone is worth the time it takes me to string the racket myself.

- I can string the racket the way I like it. If I want gut on my mains at 58lbs and synthetic on the crosses at 54 lbs (tennis example), I can do it that way and know that it will be done right. I hate getting rackets back at the wrong tension, with clamp marks on the strings, scratches on my frames, sloppy knots leading to tension loss, etc, etc.

Since I also play a lot of tennis and string a racket at least every other week, buying my own stringer has been totally worth it.

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well, its not too difficult, depending on the stringing machine etc, but like anything, there is some little tips and tricks that you need to know.

 

I've been reading up a lot on stringing lately and finding out some interesting stuff. For instance - you're using 16's, that is thick for a squash string, most people use 17 or 18 for squash(the string gets thinner as the number goes up). So the thick string will be more durable and good for control. But the thinner string will have more power, but may break easier. Also, string loose for power(trampoline effect) string tight for control. 

Some good info here http://www.ashawayusa.com/

and here http://www.stringforum.net/stringingguide.php for anyone interested

 

Sounds like you're happy with your stringing Adz, so thats cool. For me I think stringing your own racquet gets you to know your equipment and therefore your own game even more. Its just another facet of the game to learn and a good learning experience.

 

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my first racquet took a couple of hours too, the person who taught me told me that if i did my first racquet quicker than that i probably made a mistake. you get the hang of it quickly though, i've done about 20 for other club members and 3 of my own and i've made a bit of money with it but i wouldn't do it if your club already does restrings or you'd have to lower your prices a fair bit

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I've been contemplating it for a while. How difficult is it to do?

The downside for me is that I don't break strings often enough to make enough money back out of it only doing my own strings, so I'd have to start doing them for other people and I'm not sure I can be bothered (not that I'm lazy - Honest )

 

As things go, I get my rackets picked up and dropped off at my club, and it costs my £14 a time to get them restrung with great feeling strings (Head Ti-Boast 16). Not sure if I want to have the difficulty!

ADZ

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anyone else here stringing their own?

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