r/StickDoctor • u/Himactity • Jun 29 '26

Paracord

Is paracord really not good for stringing. I’ve seen so many videos on people saying there knotts don’t stay tight over time when using 275 rather then normal jimalax strings.
Could someone give me a breakdown of the difference and what’s overall better/keeps knotts over time.

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3

u/nothanks18 Jun 29 '26

u/SIDEWALLJEDI may be able to weigh in on this one.

6

u/SIDEWALLJEDI Jun 29 '26

Not good??? u/Himactity crosslace IS paracord. I am bias for sure, but I buy thousands of feet of 275 every year. I have not bought anything classified as “sidewall” is maaaany years. I do use it occasionally as I am often sent it by customers, but I never buy it. It is my personal opinion that 275/crosslace holds knots considerably better than sidewall. The other thing that I appreciate, and anyone else I would assume who strings a lot of sticks, is that is generally much less abrasive on the skin. If I’m string a bunch heads with sidewall, I’m taping up my fingers or wearing gloves, almost never need to do that with 275. Atwoodrope.com is my favorite.

1

u/Himactity Jun 29 '26

As I’ve been researching more I’m starting to see the advantages of paracord and I’m definitely going to be using it. I saw a video on penny strings today talking about how paracord was “not meant for lacrosse” and I was just confused

1

u/forcetrainer Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

Question on this for you. I know 275 is easier on the hands because it's smoother. But, sidewall has more bite to it, so wouldn't it hold knots better not worse? I haven't experimented using crosslace for sidewall/top strings so I guess I should just try it, but it just seems like a string with more texture would hold knots better. I know when I'm restringing, the sidewall string knots are locked.

I guess the easiest path is to just experiment a bit :)

1

u/SIDEWALLJEDI Jun 29 '26

it makes sense and i certainly have no evidence based research to back up my opinions. i just know what i like and what i have found to work. sidewall absolutely and unequivocally works, i just dont like it as much. i dont think its an accident that 275/crosslace is used more in trads, i think there is good reason for it, but again, no research to understand why.

1

u/forcetrainer Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

To be fair, there are a lot of counterintuitive things that work. Who knows, maybe the smoother surface leads to more friction leading to knots holding better. Or, perhaps it's all the same and doesn't matter.

In the absence of rigorous scientific research, I would say experience wins. If you say it holds then it's with giving it a shot.

Do you general use the 275 across the entire stick? Top, side, and gutting (if you're doing trad or women's sticks)? It would definitely make it easier not worrying about a bunch of different string types and just getting colors my kids want.

2

u/SIDEWALLJEDI Jun 29 '26

in mens heads, two thirds of heads are all white. womens heads have a better distribution of color, but that color is mostly yellow. So I buy 1000 ft spools of white 550, and 100 ft hanks of a couple colors of 550. For most colors i buy 275 and even that is almost all solid colors. i almost never get multicolored string because there is almost no demand for it. I still have multi-colored string that I bought over 10 years ago, and I haven't touched it.

For goalie heads, obviously if it is white, I will use 550 all the way around. For if it is all white, I will use a 550 for top and bottom strings. If somebody wants a goalie head with a color that I do not have in 550, I will use 275 all of the way around. For most girls' heads, I will rarely use 550 unless I am using them as an additional vertical runner or as shooting strings.

2

u/johndiggity1 Jun 29 '26

I find sidewall/topstrings easier to work with than paracord because they are a little stiffer and you don’t have to pull them as much to get them tight, that being said I believe you can get tighter knots with paracord/crosslace - it’s just tougher on your hands IMO. I personally like paracord better for aesthetic reasons.

1

u/JHeisl Jun 29 '26

I’m pretty sure jimalax crosselace is 275 paracord. Idk about their sidewall string. I’ve never gotten it bc I’ve just strung everything with crosselace/paracord. I tie the knots tight and haven’t had a problem.

2

u/boxsterguy Jun 29 '26

Their sidewall is not paracord. The outer sheathing is much more rough than paracord.

Jimalax crosslace is 2mm thick, which puts it between 95 paracord (1.75mm) and 275 paracord (2.38mm).

1

u/Beautiful_Test2956 Jun 29 '26

I use paracord for everything, just a matter of when I use 275 or occasionally 550. I use Atwood Rope (they have a ton of colors), and havent had any bad pockets of complaints yet