Last fall I made a purchase on a whim. Turns out it was the most pleasurable $25.00 ever spent. I had strung for years on a thin mat covered by carpet. I thought all was well. Then one day I decided I wanted more cushioning. Sure I could wear crocs, but since I prefer to string in socks or bare feet, I decided to give a 5/8″ thick anti-fatigue mat a try. I purchased mine through U-Line supply where I paid a whopping $25.00. There is a U-Line distribution center near me so I just picked it up avoiding any shipping charges.
This purchase was made last fall. Each day I find myself thinking, “I absolutely can not believe how long I strung without this.” It makes a world of difference and I just can not believe I strung for years without it.
Since I am aware of a number of stringers who visit our blog, I thought I would start of series of entries related to my favorite tools and such. This is a great place to begin. I strongly recommend that if you are a serious stringer you consider purchasing the thickest anti-fatigue mat you can afford. Mine is 2′ x 3′, fits perfectly behind my machine, is 5/8″ of spongy goodness and set me back the approximate cost of one stringing.
Jonathan on said:
I prefer to string in bare feet on a bed of nails. It keeps me on my toes and ready to tackle any stringing pitfalls that may come my way. 🙂
ggtennis on said:
@Jonathan – I’ve heard about people like you. I suspect you are in that elite crowd whose favorite tennis court surface is hot coals. Seriously I string barefoot so that if the string accidentally gets under my feet I will know immediately and not put pressure on it or possibly unknowingly kink it.
PKS on said:
i like to string with just socks on and nothing else. coil memory can be a …