We’re a racquet stringing service in Slough, Berkshire, and cater for Badminton, Squash and Tennis racquets. Stringing is performed carefully and thoroughly using branded strings and a tension that’s appropriate to your skill level and racquet construction. By default, we use in-house string preferences and tensions that we feel appropriate to the user. Alternatively, we’ll happily apply customer string and tension preferences. Our aim is a 24 hour turn-round – less, if workloads allow.
We guarantee our racquet re-stringing will make you a
Happy Racqueteer!
If you’ve questions please peruse our FAQ, where you’ll find plenty of information.
Services
How we work.
A Penta Premium 3600 stringing machine with the legendary Wise 2086 electronic tensioning head is used for all of our work – a very superior machine that enables high quality re-stringing to be accomplished, and to a high tension accuracy. We use a 10% Pre-stretch setting to minimise loss of tension over time.
Racquets are first inspected for cracks and defects that may cause failure when re-strung back to the original or higher tension. Badminton racquets, in particular, with their delicate frame, can become warped. This places high, unbalanced stresses on the racquet that can result in the frame collapsing. Such racquets are rejected.
Grommets that are cracked or worn are replaced, as the string, though strong in tension, will quickly fail if it abrades repeatedly on a rough surface during play.
Importantly, we take great care during stringing not to damage the string, as this will leave an inherent weakness and shorten the service life of the racquet.
Each racquet is photographed to guarantee that we replicate exactly the original stringing. And great care is taken to ensure there are no errors in the string weave.
Charges
Badminton racquets: £10 – Tennis Racquets: £12 – Squash Racquets: £11. This includes up to 5 grommet replacements. Additional grommets are charged at 20p each. Handle re-taping is £1. Stringing with customer-supplied string is £7, £8 and £9 respectively for Badminton, Squash and Tennis racquets. Postal Service – add £4 for return by courier.
Collection and Delivery
Racquets can be dropped-off and collected from our address in St Leonards Road, Windsor. Alternatively, we don’t mind picking up and returning to local sports venues if that’s more convenient. We operate a Postal Service – see above for charges.
Strings and Tension
Unless requested otherwise, we’ll re-string as follows:
- Badminton Racquets: 25lb – Yonex ‘Hard Feel’ BG65 0.7mm string.
- Squash Racquets: 25lb – Signum Pro Fibre Power 1.2mm string.
- Tennis racquets: 55lb – Signum Pro Ultra Power SF 1.33mm string.
What String & Tension is best for you?
Badminton Racquet stringing generally incorporates the widest variation of string tensions and string choices to cater for players’ skill levels, personal dynamics and game tactics. We use Yonex strings exclusively unless players specify otherwise. If you’re unsure what to ask for, we’d establish your level of play and also whether you like a high degree of control, or whether you like to smash the shuttle at every opportunity. From there we can suggest a suitable string and tension combination.
Typically we would string within the range 20lbs – 26lbs. Higher tensions are fine, but only for seasoned players who can accurately connect the shuttle with the reduced ‘sweet spot’ area on the racquet, and who are sufficiently fit as to not get shoulder and elbow injuries from the harder impact. And remember, at higher tensions and smaller sweets-spots it’s imperative to connect with the middle of the string bed or miss-hits will occur along with a high likelihood of string breakage. Higher string tensions don’t automatically equate to a higher standard of play.
Strings come in many varieties, and with all manner of manufacturers’ claims. However, they can be distilled into gauge sizes – 0.7mm, 0.69mm and 0.68mm. In addition they will be smooth or rough depending on whether players are into power shots or seek a high level of control.
The only way for a player a player to find out what works for them is to start off with a practical string and tension combination and adjust this until they find the formula that gives the best results. Remember, you can ascribe a reasonable amount of importance to strings and tension, but what will influence your game more than anything else is …. YOU!
Tennis and Squash racquets are a little more straight forward. Yes, there’re plenty of string options and tension variances. However, unless asked otherwise we’ll string Tennis racquets at 55lbs using Signum Pro Ultra Power SF 1.33mm, and Squash racquets at 25lbs using Signum Pro Fibre Power 1.2mm. Experience has shown that most recreational players find these combinations very acceptable.
F.A.Q.
Common questions.
Technical
Questions
My badminton racquet is a little distorted - does it matter?
We won’t restring any racquet that is not in good mechanical order, or has any distortion. Firstly, it could fail whilst we’re restringing it, and secondly it’s a waste of money because the racquet may fail in play and the distortion will affect it’s play characteristics.
Some of my grommets are broken - does this matter?
Grommets are used specifically to prevent the string abrading the frame and breaking and we will never leave a faulty grommet in situ. For badminton racquets we’ll replace a reasonable number of unserviceable grommets, 10 at the very most. But if all of the grommets are in a bad way we charge £10 for total replacement.
Squash and tennis racquets have integrated grommets that have to be purchased as a set, so that one failed grommet will necessitate a complete set, and the price of these varies.
What happens if my racquet breaks during re-stringing?
If this happens, then clearly there was an inherent weakness in the racquet frame and we can’t be responsible for the breakage. To try and avoid this eventuality, we carefully inspect racquets prior to re-stringing.
I want my racquet strung at a very high tension. Is this possible?
We won’t re-string a racquet at a very high tension unless the make and model of racquet is classified as being able to withstand high tensions. Moreover, if the manufacturers state that high tensions are acceptable, the racquet must be in good physical condition.
My racquet strings are a little slack – can they be tightened?
No – it’s not practical. Re-stringing is the only way to restore the tension.
Our
Service
What is the turn-round time on getting a racquet strung?
We aim for a Next-Day turn-round. In emergency situations we’ll try and re-string in a couple of hours or thereabouts. Call us and we can let you know what our current workload is like.
Do I get a discount for several racquets?
We don’t offer discounts for multiple raquets as we are already highly competitive price-wise and don’t have latitude for further reductions.
Can I bring in multiple racquets for other people to be restrung?
We only deal one-on-one with players who need their racquet re-strung as we like to work with the owners in understanding their individual needs. Besides, there’s always the likelihood that requests for bulk restringing will be made by people who see us as a cheap service that will allow them to add on their own profit.
Can I provide my own string?
Of course – in which case we’ll charge £7 for the re-string.
After-Service
Queries
The strings on my racquet broke after just five games, following restringing.
Is this due to faulty re-stringing? Almost certainly not. We take great care with the restringing and can’t be responsible for what happens to the racquet once you’ve collected it. Badminton racquets in particular take a punishing, especially in demanding games, and a number of factors in the way the racquet is handled and used can cause failure, particularly if high string tensions have been applied. If the shuttlecock isn’t hit correctly on just one occasion it can create a weak point in the stringing which will eventually manifest as breakage.
You’ve re-strung my racquet as requested, but the tension isn’t suitable for me.
We’ll happily re-string your racquet at a more suitable tension, but as it was originally re-strung to your requirements, you’ll have to pay the usual re-stringing fee.
Payment
How and when do I pay for the re-string?
By cash on receipt of the racquet. If the racquet is being returned by post, then prior payment is required. This can be done by PayPal or BACS transfer. Details will be given when the order is placed.
More information? – email, phone or text us!
contact@racqueteer.co.uk – 7850 656 675