How long does it take to string a racquet?

With a little experience an operator will string a racquet in 30 to 45 minutes. By going at full speed very experienced professionals can string a racquet in as little as 12 minutes, but they seldom do so because the quality of the string job invariably suffers and because they are left gasping for air at the end of it. Ironically, it is simple things that slow a beginner down. Things, for example, like new strings that get tangled the moment they are taken out of the package (to avoid this, it is advisable to hold the coil in one hand and to use the other hand to unwind the full length of the string on the floor). Initial uncertainty about a racquet's stringing pattern will also slow a beginner down. One area where experienced stringers really shine compared to beginners is in weaving the crosses (see instructions below for the definition of "cross" and "main" strings). Weaving is usually done by placing one hand over the string bed and the other below it. The leading edge of the string being weaved is pinched between the middle finger of each hand and is pushed up and down in alternation across the mains. Good operators make this process look so effortless that the string appears to glide magically across the mains.