Starting Loop - Flying Clamps

Flying/Floating Mains Starts

For more information on flying/floating clamps, return to the Flying/Floating Clamp Overview. Please help our PATTERN PROJECT by sending historical info, corrections, variants, new patterns, pattern naming corrections, etc to the email address patterns at this domain name.

Flying Start Quick Index

Pre-start

After old string removal and racquet mounting, there are still a few steps before tension can be applied. For beginning stringers, here is a quick review:

Step 1: Starting Loop Orientation

Starts at throat
Tennis racquets with the number of grommets not evenly divisible by 4 means loop is on bottom. The most common configuration is 6 grommets in the throat, or 3 loops - the middle loop is starting.

Starts at head
Tennis racquets with the number of grommets evenly divisible by 4 means loop is on top. The most common configurations are 0, (no split throat) 4, or 8 grommets in the throat.

To begin string installation, it is necessary to determine the starting loop orientation for each racquet. The number of grommet holes within the split throat limits which way the loop faces, since it is not good technique to pass string around the shaft to get to the next grommet.

Starting Loop orientation is important in determining pattern selection, which needs to be done immediately to determine string measurements, and to make sure tie-off grommets are ready and in the right locations.

If the number of mains is evenly divisible by 4, the tie-off(s) and starting loop would normally fall on the same side. In example, 16 main (one of the most common) would have the starting loop and main tie-off(s) on the same side. Using starting loop orientation method above, a racquet with six grommet holes in the throat and having a 16x19 string pattern would have the first loop in the throat, with main tie-off(s) at the throat. This would (for this example) eliminate standard pattern one piece (2 knot) stringing unless crosses installed bottom to top, usually a situation to be avoided.

Step 2: Pattern Selection

This can get complicated. A tutorial and pattern finder might be in the future scope of this website.

Step 3: String Measurement

Once the starting loop orientation has been found, and the pattern has been identified, measure the appropriate length of string. As a general rule of thumb, standard 2 piece uses 21 feet for mains, 19 for crosses, while standard 1 piece uses 10 foot short side, and a 30 foot long side. Exact measurements depend upon the racquet and may need to be modified for additional pattern requirements.

Step 4: Pick a starting method

Now that the starting loop has been threaded facing the right way, with the right amount of string on each side, choose one of the starting methods out of the quick index at the top of this page and away you go. It isn't necessary to have starting clamp(s) and/or starting pin, but there are advantages to using them.