Cracking at the 12 and 6 on a Gamma 6-point mount

[Lakers4Life]

A friend of mine strings his daughters rackets about once a month each on his Gamma 5003. She is USTA Junior player and breaks string frequently. The racket she uses are Babolat AeroDrivePro GT. The inside of the frame is cracking at the 12 and 6 o'clock points where the billards touch. Since the billards on the Gamma 5003 are straight and the frame of the ADP GT are curved, there is a lot of pressure at the contact points.

As Far as I know, the cracking on the paint, or else they would have "Taco'd" a long time ago. I'm just wondering if anyone with an Gamma 6-point has had the same problem, or anyone with a 6 point mount with straight billards, that matter.

I'm recommending shaping the billards to apply more contact area to the frame or use some type of padding like leather. The billards on my Babolat Sensor are curved, so I don't experience the same problem. Also the plastic pads seem to be made of a softer material than the Gamma pads. They tend to deform over time.

 

[jim e]

On a number of racquets I use the so called load spacers on the ends as the billiards are small, and those spacers spread out the forces.
I use them a lot on Princes O port racquets at the 12 oclock position as it holds the racquet better as that racquet is curved as well,and on other racquets that I think it would be best to use as it spreads the load over a greater space.Those are those little plastic pieces that came with my machine (Xtremesportsmachines Pro Master 6 point).I assume that most machines came with those little spacers, as they just fit over the billiards.
Don't know much about the Gamma mounting. It may be different.

Just curious, does anyone else use those load spacers?

 

[Lakers4Life]

I've seen the load spacers but they are for badminton rackets.

 

[jim e]

I've seen the load spacers but they are for badminton rackets.

I do not have a camera at this time, so I just used my scanner and scanned my spacers. I never strung badminton racquets, but these spacers fit tennis racquets nice, and the hole seem to match the tennis racquets, and allows more surface area than just the small billiard.
Below is picture, sorry for poor quality, as I said no camera, just a scan picture. The side with the groove is flat, and other side is curved to contour to racquet.Picture shows 2 sides , as the groove side fits the billiard thats on the one side, other side is contoured to fit racquet although that does not show on these poor pictures.Fits tennis racquets nice.
? if anyone here besides me uses these.

 

[Lakers4Life]

Thanks Jim! I wonder where my friend can get some of those.

 

[cluckcluck]

Thanks Jim! I wonder where my friend can get some of those.

Call up Alpha Sports in Texas or Eagnas. AS has some stringway products that might be modified to work. Eagnas carries many badminton stringing accessories.

 

[Irvin]

I have several different styles of mounting pads that came with my Gamma 6004 but they are all straight. There are two small pins on the back of each pad where they fit into the billiard. You may have trouble getting something from Alpha or Eagnas that matches up.

 

[jim e]

I have several different styles of mounting pads that came with my Gamma 6004 but they are all straight. There are two small pins on the back of each pad where they fit into the billiard. You may have trouble getting something from Alpha or Eagnas that matches up.

Although it is not evident on the pictures I supplied, the straight side has no pins, just a channel that the billiard rests against, (as you leave the normal pads in place, as thats what the spacers rests against) , and the opposite side is curved which is against the racquet. This way, once the racquet is completed and you loosen up the billiards to remove the racquet from the machine, the plastic piece can very easily be removed, as it drops free and you just turn it sideways between the central mains to remove it.
I really like this on some O Port racquets at the 12 oclock position as between some O Ports the frame has a distinct curvature, and with this spacer, there is less chance of a straight billiard against that curved part of the frame to move, as it makes it more stabil and also evens out the forces over a larger area.

Below is another side view picture, I know it is poor picture, but I only have my computer scanner to copy this as no camera at this time, so I had to place these on end on scanner to take image as the long end is 1 1/4 inch long, but is shows the curvature of these.

 

[Irvin]

I wonder if you could use a spare pad and some RTV Silicone to mold a piece that fits a specific racket?

 

[Lakers4Life]

@Jim E: I've found two products. One from MBS for badminton and another from Yonex.

The Yonex Tennis Adaptor is closer to what you have. They only seem to be available from Apollo Leisure in the UK.

 

[jim e]

@Jim E: I've found two products. One from MBS for badminton and another from Yonex.

The Yonex Tennis Adaptor is closer to what you have. They only seem to be available from Apollo Leisure in the UK.

I have 2 of both of these.
The one on the bottom is the one I use the most.
Most racquets you can use the one pictured on the bottom at the head of the racquet, and a decent % can also use at throat at times, depending on racquet. These will spread out the forces over a larger area, and especially on some O Port racquets where the frame is convex at the top and the 12 oclock billiard is flat then there is a chance of the billiard slipping off center on the curved racquet where that piece (the bottom one pictured) keeps it in place the way it should.Some stringers probably do not use them, but in reality no one can fault you for taking precautions of the racquets saftey, as these will do no harm, and can even out forces over a larger area as the tip of the billiards are very small, so it contacts just a small area.

 

[firefox]

You can fabricate your own plastic adapters fairly easily using Friendly Plastic. For example, Prince Neos 1500 doesn't come with any adaptors for racquets with thin bridge (APD, old Max 200G), so I made my own pieces instead of using leather shims.
Friendly plastic softens at 120F, so you can form any shape you want with it. Once cooled, it hardens to Teflon-like hard plastic.

 

[Irvin]

@Jim E: I've found two products. One from MBS for badminton and another from Yonex.

The Yonex Tennis Adaptor is closer to what you have. They only seem to be available from Apollo Leisure in the UK.

On my 6004 they have plastic pad that go on the billiards. Look to see if there are two small hole in the billiards where the pad prongs go in. They are black pads on the billards. You can see them in the picture.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gam..._Stringing_Machine/descpageGAMMA-50036SC.html

 

[Lakers4Life]

I have 2 of both of these.
The one on the bottom is the one I use the most.
Most racquets you can use the one pictured on the bottom at the head of the racquet, and a decent % can also use at throat at times, depending on racquet. These will spread out the forces over a larger area, and especially on some O Port racquets where the frame is convex at the top and the 12 oclock billiard is flat then there is a chance of the billiard slipping off center on the curved racquet where that piece (the bottom one pictured) keeps it in place the way it should.Some stringers probably do not use them, but in reality no one can fault you for taking precautions of the racquets saftey, as these will do no harm, and can even out forces over a larger area as the tip of the billiards are very small, so it contacts just a small area.

He only needs it for one model racket (APDGT), so he's not too concerned with other model rackets. I'm hoping YonexUSA will tell me if this was sold in the US.

You can fabricate your own plastic adapters fairly easily using Friendly Plastic. For example, Prince Neos 1500 doesn't come with any adaptors for racquets with thin bridge (APD, old Max 200G), so I made my own pieces instead of using leather shims.
Friendly plastic softens at 120F, so you can form any shape you want with it. Once cooled, it hardens to Teflon-like hard plastic.

I was thinking of using Delrin which can be milled like metal.

On my 6004 they have plastic pad that go on the billiards. Look to see if there are two small hole in the billiards where the pad prongs go in. They are black pads on the billards. You can see them in the picture.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gam..._Stringing_Machine/descpageGAMMA-50036SC.html

I know what the pads look like. I used to own this machine. They look like this.

 

[struggle]

i'd buy some new billiard "pads" and carve or dremel them into the desired shape/roundness.

i have yet to run into the cracking problem (I have a 6004), but can see the concern.

 

[Lakers4Life]

i'd buy some new billiard "pads" and carve or dremel them into the desired shape/roundness.

i have yet to run into the cracking problem (I have a 6004), but can see the concern.

The problem with the Gamma Billard pads, is that there not much material to work with. Jim E's suggestion with the load spreaders seems to be the best option, ATM.

Unless you string the same racket monthly, you probably won't see the cracking.

 

[Lakers4Life]

My friend recently purchased a machine, and these were included.

 

[Irvin]

The problem with the Gamma Billard pads, is that there not much material to work with. Jim E's suggestion with the load spreaders seems to be the best option, ATM.

Unless you string the same racket monthly, you probably won't see the cracking.

I strung my Prince Hybrid O3s monthly if not weekly for over two years and did not have any cracking.

 

[zapvor]

gamma states that for babolat frames when you clamp you have the place the clamp beyond the throat onto the handle itself to maintain the same height

 

[Lakers4Life]

I think that's for Gamma 2 point mounts. I've never heard it for 6-point mounts.

 

[Lakers4Life]

I strung my Prince Hybrid O3s monthly if not weekly for over two years and did not have any cracking.

The cracking seems to occur between the center grommets. It done not happen on all the rackets, maybe half. Some on the top and some at the throat. Also these rackets are used by a Junior tennis player on an almost daily basis.

 

[zapvor]

I think that's for Gamma 2 point mounts. I've never heard it for 6-point mounts.

good point i think you are right

 

[Lakers4Life]

Another friend of mine has this load spreader.

 

[jim e]

I see the load spreaders are now for sale on the big auction site and cheap.
I use them a good amount, especially at the 12 oclock billiard where some racquets like Prince has convex curved inside wall, as this keeps the racquet straight without slipping and spreads out the forces.

 

[ARKustom93]

I do not have a camera at this time, so I just used my scanner and scanned my spacers. I never strung badminton racquets, but these spacers fit tennis racquets nice, and the hole seem to match the tennis racquets, and allows more surface area than just the small billiard.
Below is picture, sorry for poor quality, as I said no camera, just a scan picture. The side with the groove is flat, and other side is curved to contour to racquet.Picture shows 2 sides , as the groove side fits the billiard thats on the one side, other side is contoured to fit racquet although that does not show on these poor pictures.Fits tennis racquets nice.
? if anyone here besides me uses these.

Made a few(they look like the top 2 in your pic) by criss-cross laminating four layers of Maple veneer, cutting patches about that size, and 'dremeled' the grommet cut-outs. They work great, and last for years.

 

[Irvin]

If you want to make some you could use plastic grocery bags. Fold them over about 7 times and iron them between two pieces of wax / parchment paper. Then you could cut out the shape you want and glue / laminate them together in the shape you want.

On some machines the supports are contoured to spread out the pressure on the frame and the load spreaders may / may not help. Maybe it would be a good idea to make load spreaders to match your stringer & racket combination if you ever experience problems with any cracking between the center grommets where the 6 & 12 supports touch the frame.

 

[jim e]

If you want to make some you could use plastic grocery bags. Fold them over about 7 times and iron them between two pieces of wax / parchment paper. Then you could cut out the shape you want and glue / laminate them together in the shape you want.

On some machines the supports are contoured to spread out the pressure on the frame and the load spreaders may / may not help. Maybe it would be a good idea to make load spreaders to match your stringer & racket combination if you ever experience problems with any cracking between the center grommets where the 6 & 12 supports touch the frame.

Yes you are no doubt correct, its that now you can order 2 of them on the big auction site for $10.80 shipped. I have a couple that came with machine and I use them frequently, but for that price I ordered a couple extra as things do get misplaced. Just thought that others here may want to know.

 

[mountanddo]

This the latest design, I have a few, and you can find them on the big auction site.

 

[lukebarnes0511]

This the latest design, I have a few, and you can find them on the big auction site.

Hi guys, having similar queries about these spreaders - as you can see above, the spreader is resting on top of the pads. If the 6 o'clock/12 o'clock supports are extended such that the spreaders cant actually sit on the pads, is this a problem? And should I at that point simply adjust the column positions so that the load spreaders DO sit on the pads?

It seems that if the spreaders are not sitting on the pads, it raises up my rackets so much that the shoulder k clamps cannot actually clamp the racket correctly...

Thanks in advance for any help from anyone!

 

[diredesire]

Hi guys, having similar queries about these spreaders - as you can see above, the spreader is resting on top of the pads. If the 6 o'clock/12 o'clock supports are extended such that the spreaders cant actually sit on the pads, is this a problem? And should I at that point simply adjust the column positions so that the load spreaders DO sit on the pads?

It seems that if the spreaders are not sitting on the pads, it raises up my rackets so much that the shoulder k clamps cannot actually clamp the racket correctly...

Thanks in advance for any help from anyone!

I prefer my 6/12 on this style of machine to extend into open space, so I understand your problem. You'd just adjust your side mounts first to get the frame roughly centered, and slip on the pads after (provided you have enough thread on the rod to do so). I don't believe you should have any issues with centering if the adapter isn't sitting on a pad.