Gamma Progression ST II vs 602 FC

[Fr3nch]

I am buying my first stringing machine, should have bought one 10 years ago and Im not waiting any longer. I'll be stringing a personal racquet once every 2 weeks and probably a 2-3 / month for friends. I want a fixed clamp machine for better accuracy, but am not sure if the drop weight on the 602 is enough or if the spring tensioner on the ST II is worth it ($250 is a lot of money for me right now).

I have read that the spring tensioner on the ST II has to be turned very slowly to get the right tension because it doesnt account for string stretching before it locks which makes me think the 602 would be better for accuracy.

How much time would the spring tensioner actually save? Are there other advantages to the more expensive machine?

The ones Im looking at:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gamm...AMMA-STII.html

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gamm...MMA-602FC.html

[ARON]

Cranks are a lot faster than a dropweight, by at least 10 seconds per pull. Stringing with a crank is faster and more enjoyable.

I suppose the extra time you spend adjusting the dropweight means more time for the string to stretch and thus give a more accurate pull.

[Irvin]

Cranks are a lot faster, if you are stringing a 16x19 it may make a difference of 5 minutes or more. Cranks are also extremely accurate. Many say you get a lower tension but that is not the complete truth. With a calibrated crank you get exactly what you set it at. If you set it to 60 lbs you get 60 lbs every time it locks out. The problem is it happens so quick the string does not have time to stretch. if you want a higher tension set it higher or pull twice simple as that.

[rich s]

Originally Posted by Fr3nch

I am buying my first stringing machine, should have bought one 10 years ago and Im not waiting any longer. I'll be stringing a personal racquet once every 2 weeks and probably a 2-3 / month for friends. I want a fixed clamp machine for better accuracy, but am not sure if the drop weight on the 602 is enough or if the spring tensioner on the ST II is worth it ($250 is a lot of money for me right now).

I have read that the spring tensioner on the ST II has to be turned very slowly to get the right tension because it doesnt account for string stretching before it locks which makes me think the 602 would be better for accuracy.

How much time would the spring tensioner actually save? Are there other advantages to the more expensive machine?

The ones Im looking at:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gamm...AMMA-STII.html

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gamm...MMA-602FC.html

as others have said, the ST II would be more enjoyable and quicker to string on.... their turntables are virtually identical.. the difference is the tensioning mechanism....

$250 can be a large sum but if you look at it from the following perspective you might be able to justify it......

if you charge friends between $12 and $15 (above and beyond string cost) to string their racquets and you string 2-3 friends' racquets per month you will offset the $250 difference in price in about 7-8 months....

$250 / ($13.5 per racquet x 2.5 racquets per month) = 7.4 months

[Fr3nch]

Thanks for the input. I watched a bunch of youtube videos showing how to string on each machine and it doesnt look like the drop weight is much of a hindrance at all once you get good with it. 90% sure I'm going with the 602 FC at this point.