Babolat VS starting clamp

[Roger Wawrinka]

^ Hey guys, another quick question. One of my clients just started to string racquets for himself he bought the prince neos 1500. As some of you may know, if you are starting the mains with a starting clamp, the mounting system of the 1500 gets in the way of placing the starting clamp snug, right up against the grommet. I did not watch him string, but he said that he placed the starting clamp on the string with the starting clamp being upside down on the string. Which means the handle of the starting clamp was on top of the frame. When he tried to pull tension he said that the starting clamp would not stay upright and the clamp twisted while he was pulling tension. He tried this again and put the starting clamp with the handle on the bottom of the frame. The same thing happened. Any ideas for me to tell him?

[diredesire]

Originally Posted by Roger Wawrinka

^ Hey guys, another quick question. One of my clients just started to string racquets for himself he bought the prince neos 1500. As some of you may know, if you are starting the mains with a starting clamp, the mounting system of the 1500 gets in the way of placing the starting clamp snug, right up against the grommet. I did not watch him string, but he said that he placed the starting clamp on the string with the starting clamp being upside down on the string. Which means the handle of the starting clamp was on top of the frame. When he tried to pull tension he said that the starting clamp would not stay upright and the clamp twisted while he was pulling tension. He tried this again and put the starting clamp with the handle on the bottom of the frame. The same thing happened. Any ideas for me to tell him?

I haven't worked on the 1500 yet, but the mounting looks extremely similar to the 1000. I'm not seeing why there should be any blockage of the starter in this situation, unless the starting hole is very close to center. Either orientation should work, but unless the clamp is flush, you're going to get some twisting. I'd also make sure that the string's not bending when he inserts it into the jaws.

Edit: I'd also note that all the pictures i saw on google didn't show any indication of blockage around the start holes..

[Roger Wawrinka]

Hey guys, quick question. One of my clients started to string for himself, he bought the prince neos 1500. As some of you may know, the 1500 mounting system gets in the way if you are using a starting clamp to start the mains. You can not get it sung, right up against the grommet as you can see in drakulie's video here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4TpCdIJHeM


With that being said, he told me that when he was stringing his racquet(he used a starting clamp to start the mains) He put the starting clamp on upside down with the handle on top of the racquet as seen in this video. You can see what I am talking about in this video at 0:27.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEVvRxNwmxw



Which is obviously fine to do, put the starting clamp that way, but when he did this he said that the starting clamp twisted as he was pulling tension. He said he could not get the starting clamp to stay competely up right like the video shows. So he tried it with the handle of the starting clamp facing down. He said the same thing happened. He says as he pulls tension the starting clamp is forceing itself to to turn sideways.

Do you guys have any ideas for me to tell him?

[diredesire]

Originally Posted by Roger Wawrinka

Hey guys, quick question. One of my clients started to string for himself, he bought the prince neos 1500. As some of you may know, the 1500 mounting system gets in the way if you are using a starting clamp to start the mains. You can not get it sung, right up against the grommet as you can see in drakulie's video here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4TpCdIJHeM


With that being said, he told me that when he was stringing his racquet(he used a starting clamp to start the mains) He put the starting clamp on upside down with the handle on top of the racquet as seen in this video. You can see what I am talking about in this video at 0:27.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEVvRxNwmxw



Which is obviously fine to do, put the starting clamp that way, but when he did this he said that the starting clamp twisted as he was pulling tension. He said he could not get the starting clamp to stay competely up right like the video shows. So he tried it with the handle of the starting clamp facing down. He said the same thing happened. He says as he pulls tension the starting clamp is forceing itself to to turn sideways.

Do you guys have any ideas for me to tell him?

Ah, I misread the post. I was thinking crosses, for some reason.

I'd recommend: Tensioning both center strings through the throat (or head, or whatever) and using the starting clamp there. Re-pull to release.

Edit: And/or Yusuki method: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw3dHufCNWM

[Roger Wawrinka]

Okay, Thanks a lot Diredesire, I'll tell him that! And I did not mean to post that twice, sorry.

[Roger Wawrinka]

One more thing, what do you guys think is the best starting clamp ever made? I do not mean a line of starting clamps like the VS line, but a single starting clamp?

[bruintennis]

The Babolat starting clamps were out of stock much, if not all, of last year (2012).

That being said, I just received my new Babolat starting clamp, directly from Babloat, about a week ago. Black with eyelets and it's easier to open than my Eagnas and seems to hold better.

Eagnas Pro's pro starting clamp (left) and Babolat Starting Clamp (right):

[zapvor]

how much was it for the babolat clamp?

[Lakers4Life]

When I got mine, two years ago it was $58 plus shipping.

[themitchmann]

Originally Posted by Roger Wawrinka

^ Hey guys, another quick question. One of my clients just started to string racquets for himself he bought the prince neos 1500. As some of you may know, if you are starting the mains with a starting clamp, the mounting system of the 1500 gets in the way of placing the starting clamp snug, right up against the grommet. I did not watch him string, but he said that he placed the starting clamp on the string with the starting clamp being upside down on the string. Which means the handle of the starting clamp was on top of the frame. When he tried to pull tension he said that the starting clamp would not stay upright and the clamp twisted while he was pulling tension. He tried this again and put the starting clamp with the handle on the bottom of the frame. The same thing happened. Any ideas for me to tell him?

I have a 1500 and know exactly what you are talking about (I think): the surface on the top of the mounting system is fairly large, and therefore the stringer is unable to clamp with the handles facing downward.

I start mains with the Yusuki method. When using the starting clamp, I pull the 2 center mains and clamp on the outside of the frame. In situations where I have to clamp at the throat, I simply position the clamp so that the handle rests on the frame. In situations where I have to clamp at the head, I position the clamp so that it is parallel with the floor, then rest it on the top surface of the mounting system. In both situations, the handles are supported by something else (the frame or the mounts), which will keep it from twisting. Does that help?

[zapvor]

damn $60......should i?

[Lakers4Life]

Originally Posted by zapvor

damn $60......should i?

If you do, don't leave it laying around for the "other" stringer to take or use.

[diredesire]

Originally Posted by Lakers4Life

If you do, don't leave it laying around for the "other" stringer to take or use.

Nah, it'll be deemed as a non-essential tool, and it'll get banned by the shop because management doesn't understand that double half-hitch knots aren't a qualified/proper starting knot

(but IMO $60 is an easy investment for a quality tool that will last you a lifetime. I'd be harder convinced if it was, say.... $100, but the RAB/Alpha models are both pretty beastly for a BIT cheaper, if you're worried about the extra few bucks... I really like the RAB, the Alpha is a LITTLE aggressive, but VERY strong clamping force [and texture!]).

[Lakers4Life]

A friend of mine is getting a set of Green handled Siobasi starting clamps from China. I can't wait to check them out. I should of had him order me a set, since they are only $15 more or less.

I have the VS clamp that Drakulie was talking about earlier in this thread. It's ok, but not great IMHO. The black handle over white, pictured in Bruin's photos is just like mines. Thought the texture is pretty rough and much wider than the VS version. It tends to mar string, so I only use it as a starting clamp, and rarely as a bridge.

[anubis]

+1 for Alpha clamps.

[tbuggle]

seems alot is made of starting clamps.

i have an eagnas and a gamma. eagnas has much stronger (3) springs so i use it to start crosses etc.
mostly snug up knots with the gamma, although it's suitable wherever as well. the gamma was "free" with machine.

not sure i could stomach the VS price for similar function although i'm sure they are nice.

[tbuggle]

anyone ever WORN OUT a starting clamp?

i don't mean broken, but just worn out so it won't hold anymore whether it be surfaces or springs worn out.

[zapvor]

Originally Posted by Lakers4Life

If you do, don't leave it laying around for the "other" stringer to take or use.

Originally Posted by diredesire

Nah, it'll be deemed as a non-essential tool, and it'll get banned by the shop because management doesn't understand that double half-hitch knots aren't a qualified/proper starting knot

(but IMO $60 is an easy investment for a quality tool that will last you a lifetime. I'd be harder convinced if it was, say.... $100, but the RAB/Alpha models are both pretty beastly for a BIT cheaper, if you're worried about the extra few bucks... I really like the RAB, the Alpha is a LITTLE aggressive, but VERY strong clamping force [and texture!]).

haha yea.

dd....i know your post is in jest, but yea pretty much. i have no starting clamp. hence my question. i am going to email babolat

[Irvin]

Originally Posted by tbuggle

seems alot is made of starting clamps.

i have an eagnas and a gamma. eagnas has much stronger (3) springs so i use it to start crosses etc.
mostly snug up knots with the gamma, although it's suitable wherever as well. the gamma was "free" with machine.

not sure i could stomach the VS price for similar function although i'm sure they are nice.

I like the Gamma clamp because it does not crush the string as bad as my VS clamp. When I start crosses I clamp the top cross w/staring clamp and double pull the top two crosses. That way you are not double pulling the top cross.

[Cfidave]

Not sure if this Babolat clamp is available anymore, but I have used it for years and found none better. I've tried GSS, Alpha, and Gamma, and always come back to this guy.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...03000/Bab1.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...03000/Bab2.jpg