Hot Sports How-Tos

How To: Build up a grip using a heat-shrink sleeve

Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use a heat-shrink sleeve to build up your tennis racket's grip. To do this you'll need a heat gun such as a standard blow dryer to warm the heat-shrink sleeve. Be sure not to heat it at one point, you'll want to heat it all over evenly. You should never use more than two sleeves, otherwise the bevels will completely disappear.

How To: Get mains started on a 1-piece string job for a racket

String a tennis racket yourself. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to lace your mains on a one-piece string job for your tennis racket. The number of grommets in the yoke of the tennis racket determines where to start off. After dividing the number by two, if you yield an odd number, you would start from the throat. If you yield an even number, you start from the top of the racket.

How To: Lace the mains for a 2-piece tennis racket string job

String a tennis racket. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to lace your mains for a two-piece string job for your tennis racket. To find out where you start is by counting how many grommets you have on your racket. By dividing the number by two, you can determine where to start, top or bottom. If the number you yield is odd, you start from the bottom. If the number you yield is even, you start from the top.

How To: Replace the grommet strips on a tennis racket

Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to replace your bumper guard/grommet strips. This should be done for a number of reasons. One reason is if the bumper guard has worn through and you are now hitting graphite when you scrape it on the ground. Another is if the grommets are coming apart and the string has a chance at touching the frame. Or if you wish to add lead tape in a more conspicuous manner, replacing the strips and guards will help.

How To: Weave crosses on a tennis racket

String a tennis racket yourself. Take a look at this instructional video and learn what to do and what not to do as you weave your crosses on your tennis racket. When pulling the strings across the mains, don't just pull it straight across. Always move your hand and the tennis string.

How To: Start crosses on a tennis racket with a starting knot

Check out this instructional video and learn how to start your crosses(two-piece) with a starting knot when stringing your tennis racket. Once you have your first cross in, you need to find where your starting knot is going to go. Whichever starting knot you choose, you need to pull it tight from both sides to make the knot as bulky and tight as possible.

How To: Start crosses on the tennis racket w/ a starting clamp

Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to start your crosses(two-piece) with a starting clamp when stringing your tennis racket. Keep in mind that when you get to the other side where the knot's going to be, make sure that there's enough string sticking out to get through your tension head and then clamp it on the outside with the starting clamp.

How To: String a tennis racket - O3

Want to know how to string an 03 tennis racket? The O3 is not that different from your standard tennis racket save for the fact that the O3 racket always starts at the top when you string it and secondly, when you get to the crosses at the regular grommets you ought to use a table lock during the tensing. It's a little time consuming but this is the best way of going about it.

How To: Use & operate swivel clamps to String a Tennis racket

String a tennis racket. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use and operate swivel clamps. The two main components of the swivel clamp are the tightening teeth and locking down the clamp. The clamp keeps it from moving along the side bar, some are spring assisted, some are not. The tightening teeth is used to keep the clamp attached to the string.

How To: Use a guide Awl on your tennis racket

Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use a guide Awl to pass string through blocked grommets on your tennis racket. Wax or chapstick can help the guide Awl ease through the block grommet. When attempting this, try spinning it as it'll help reduce the friction.

How To: Remove the rattle in a tennis racket

The rattle coming from your tennis racket may be loose graphite that didn't get cleaned off when the grommets were being punched in. Take a look at this tutorial and learn how to rid your tennis racket of that rattling noise. Don't confuse the vibration sound of your strings as a rattle in your racket. If you can hear the sound only on impact, it may be the strings. Try adding a vibration dampener first.

How To: Stencil a tennis racket

Want to stencil the strings on your tennis racket? Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to stencil. The things you'll need for this process are paint, a protective backing, a stencil, and naturally, your tennis racket. Pay particular attention when picking out your paint as some paint can be detrimental to the strings.

How To: Widen a tennis grommet

Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to widen your grommets on a tennis racket in order to use it as a tie off hole. In this tutorial, the instructor uses an Al screwdriver and chapstick to widen his tennis grommets.

How To: Understand main skips and cross weaving on the racket

So you just picked up a tennis racket. Have any idea what main skips are? How about cross weaving? These are two things you'll need to know if you decide to restring your tennis racket. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to tell when to skip by counting the grommets. This tutorial also covers cross weaving.

How To: Perform a northern style Kung Fu combination

In northern style kung fu, practice the rising block, reverse punch, shin kick, side kick and side punch combination to add power to a martial arts arsenal. Perform this unique attack combo with tips from a professional kung fu instructor in this free martial arts video. Perform a northern style Kung Fu combination - Part 1 of 20.