Thinking of buying a stringing maching. Need help.

[nikkhasnis]

Hello,

Have never strung before. Thinking of buying a machine so I can string more often and save some money (instead of $18 per stringing job). What should I look for? That is a good machine in the $250 and less range? Is it even worth it or $18 is not bad and I should continue that way?

Thanks

[Lakers4Life]

It's totally up to you. I've met people who would rather pay to have someone else string thier rackets than try to learn how to string. As for price the more you spend the more convienent (easier) it is to string. You can watch the videos to learn how to string, and to give you an idea of what is involved to string a racket. I highly recommend watching YULitle's videos on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/user/YULitle

Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a USED machine with better features than a New machine with less features.

[hyperion99]

Originally Posted by nikkhasnis

Hello,

Have never strung before. Thinking of buying a machine so I can string more often and save some money (instead of $18 per stringing job). What should I look for? That is a good machine in the $250 and less range? Is it even worth it or $18 is not bad and I should continue that way?

Thanks

I would recommend getting an Eagnas stringer.
There are multiple stringers for that price on Eagnas.

http://www.eagnas.com/store/index.php?cPath=23_30


Hope this helps.

[nikkhasnis]

Hows this for starters? Gamma X-2 Tennis Stringing Machine??

[xiaobo]

Originally Posted by hyperion99

I would recommend getting an Eagnas stringer.
There are multiple stringers for that price on Eagnas.

http://www.eagnas.com/store/index.php?cPath=23_30


Hope this helps.

There are too many complains about Eagnas services. It's better to stay away to avoid possible trouble.

Xiaobo.

[Brocolt]

Keep searching craigs list for a good used crank machine. I found a 900$ machine for 300$ in new condition. I put an add in the wanted section when i found mine

[nikkhasnis]

Whats the difference between a drop weight and crank? I did try cl, but nothing at this point...

[nikkhasnis]

I found this on stringing site for my racket

Key:
M = Main String
C = Cross String
T = Top of Frame
B = Bottom of Frame
S = Short Side Main

Racquet Name: AEROGEL 4D 3 HUNDRED TOUR
Tension: 55 - 65
Length Pattern: 21'M - 18'C
Skip M Holes: 8,10T - 8,10B
Tie Off M: 9B
Start C: 8T
Tie Off C: 6T - 6B

What does

Skip M Holes: 8,10T - 8,10B
Tie Off M: 9B
Start C: 8T
Tie Off C: 6T - 6B

mean?

How do I start counting ?

[dak95_00]

T means TOP and B is Bottom of the head of the racquet. You start at the dot at the Top of the frame and count that grommet hole as 1. You'll have a 1 on the left and another on the right. If you look at your current strung racquet, it'll make more sense. Notice how not every hole is used in the mains? Those are the holes you skip while stringing the main strings. Now count where the knots are and it should all fit unless you had some goofball string your racquet last.

[Lakers4Life]

USRSA patterns refer to the TOP as the Head or "H" and the Bottom as the Throat or "T". The pattern previously posted looks like it came from the Klippermate site.

[max]

The Kmate is durable, inexpensive, easy to use and built like a tank. It is an excellent personal stringer and worth exploring.

[g_desilva]

Originally Posted by nikkhasnis

Whats the difference between a drop weight and crank? I did try cl, but nothing at this point...

To answer your question, a drop weight machine uses a lever arm with a heavy weight attached to it to tension the string. The further you move the weight on the lever arm, the higher the tension, and the closer to the pivot point, the lesser the tension. When the tension bar is parallel to the ground, you have achieved your desired tension.

A crank machine uses a spring tensioned crank to pull the string at a set tension. When the spring reaches this tension, the crank effectively "locks out", and you cannot pull the crank any further. Crank machines generally allow for speed and good consistency in each string pull, however, the "downside" is that because all tennis strings stretch as they are being tensioned, the crank does not take this into account, i.e. if you pull tension at 55lbs, the crank machine will lockout at 55 lbs, but the string will continue to stretch and you may lose between 2-8 lbs of tension, depending on the characteristics of the string. However, as many stringers will tell you, the most important thing is having a consistent string pull, and a crank can definitely give you that.

Cranks also tend to be more expensive than drop weight machines, but again, you are gaining speed and efficiency, IMHO, compared to a drop weight machine.

Hope that helps.

[diredesire]

OP, please read the stickies, they're there for a reason. I'm not trying to discourage you, but the types of questions you're asking are repeated here so much, AND there's a FAQ. The types of questions you're asking are actually more complicated than you think. Once you understand the basics, there's going to be many more second level questions, trust me

Short story:
Determine your budget (check)
Determine your needs from a stringer (requires reading)
Do a reality check before purchasing.