Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Flying clamps

Not sure what the concerns are regarding stringing badminton racquets using flying clamps. Been doing so myself for over a decade.

The following are some examples of the flying clamps available in the market today.

Example - Yonex aluminium clamp
Example - Gamma composite clamp
Example - Generic floating clamp

I believe the concerns apply more to stringing tennis (or above 33lbs for squash) racquets, as the tensions in-use are much higher.

Suggest the following if you want to be sure your flying clamps are adequate for the tension you are stringing at.

- Take note when you are clamping near any logo or print on the string. If the area of the string with the logo slips a lot after you release the tensioner, your clamps are inadequate for the tension inuse
     - Work around (till you can obtain replacements) is to use 2 such clamps in-series

- If you retry the tensioner after securing a string and the tensioner does moves quite a bit... OOPS
    - Work around as per before

- Purchase a tension meter - an analogue unit will do. For verification purposes after completion


There's even a YOUTUBE of someone stringing a Panda badminton racquet at 40lbs tension using 2 flying clamps in-series without issues.