Device for facilitating application of variable tension to sports

Abstract

A device can be provided in different embodiments for holding different tensions in different length string sections of a sports racquet stringing bed. In one embodiment, a strip of material is applied on the periphery of the head portion of the racquet and is compressed under the string portions extending between pairs of adjacent stringing holes. In another embodiment, the tension holding device is a plurality of cylindrical bands of compressible material which fit about the string portions and within the grommets of the racquet. In both embodiments, the material is compressed by the string portion to generate sufficient frictional force therebetween to prevent slippage of the string portion relative thereto and thereby hold the different length string sections under the predetermined amount of differential tension. Several embodiments of a variable tension applying device can be mounted across the head portion of the sports racquet to provide displaced locations on a beam across which the longitudinal string sections extend so as to divert them into substantially equal lengths of string sections. After substantially the same amount of tension is applied to each of the equal length string sections, the string sections are released from the tension applying device and then the string sections assume their original different lengths across the open region of the head portion of the racquet with each string section having a differential tension which thereby provides a uniform stiffness to the stringing bed made up by the different length string sections.