Pros Pro Starting Clamp and Tension Calibrator
- Thread starter Hill
- Start date
I had both. They worked perfectly well and had no issues. I bought a couple of 2nd hand machines and inherited some more expensive tools with them so use them now but I'd have no issues with buying them again.
Other makes of starting clamp like babolat are better, feel stronger and more robust and the longevity of the clamp may be an issue depending on stringing volume but for most folk a pros pro will last for years. For the price i think they are spot on.
I have a Pro's Pro starting clamp. It slips all the time.
Recently my Gamma starting clamp lost the textured insert so I switched the springs from the Gamma to the Pro's Pro and while still not as good it did work a little better.
General consensus seems to be that the Babolat starting clamp is one of the best you can get.
I will say this … for a couple years I strung with no starting clamp … now that I have one I think it's a wise investment for any stringer. They are handy all the time, they are life savers some of the time.
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
Pro's Pro works, but can slip if you're not careful. You really have to put the string very close to the hinge.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
I have about a 35+ year old VS clamp (Babolat,) about a 10+ year old Gamma, and ~1 year old Pros Pro. The VS really holds well, but it is hard to open, and can crush the string. The Gamma is great (my favorite,) easy to open, never slips, and I think gentler on the string. The Pros Pro is easy to open but it can slip. If I were buying a new clamp today hands down it would be a Gamma based on my experience using it to string thousands of rackets over the last 10+ years.
If you’re going to use the VS clamp for starting crosses it could damage the string squeezing it too tight, and if you were starting a cross with the Pros Pro it could damage the string by slipping. Not saying either would damage the string but I just have more faith in the Gamma.
If you’re going to use the VS clamp for starting crosses it could damage the string squeezing it too tight, and if you were starting a cross with the Pros Pro it could damage the string by slipping. Not saying either would damage the string but I just have more faith in the Gamma.
Have you tried not putting the string as far down in the clamp when using the babolat ? just curious if this would help keep it from crushing the string but still hold well.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
I did not say the VS clamp crushed the string, I said it can / could crush the string.
The question applies regardless … do you think placing the string a bit higher in the clamp (maybe right in the middle) would lessen the risk of it crushing the string while still holding.
Of course this is assuming that your regular practice is to place the string at the bottom of the clamp, closer to the hinge.
As a one off purchase (ok, twice off because I wanted a second one and a man can never have too many starting clamps), I decided to go mid range and haven’t regretted it. Both of mine are by RAB, neither has ever slipped. I may have had the same results with a cheaper clamp, but don’t know. One day I must try to get my hands on a more expensive clamp to see if I can perceive a difference. One of mine if slightly stiffer than the other, so perhaps ease of operation? But if it doesn’t slip and doesn’t crush, then I’m happy.
Znak
Hall of Fame
I have their LO machine, starting clamp and calibrator. Their calibrator funny enough wasn't calibrated, it was off by 10lbs, but zero issues with the starting clamp. They refunded me the money on the calibrator. I have only good things to say about their customer service, willing to sort out problems
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Yes
Thanks for all the valuable input...really appreciate it! Since I'm only stringing 1 to 2 rackets a month I decided to try out the Pros Pro. I used to not even use a starting clamp so this will be my first. I string my rackets in the low 50s and high 40s so hopefully in this range the Pros Pro starting clamp holds.
If you could find a spring to put around the installed spring it may be decent. Kind of like this older Babolat clamp has. Without it the clamp just doesn't have enough pressure.
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
If you could find a spring to put around the installed spring it may be decent. Kind of like this older Babolat clamp has. Without it the clamp just doesn't have enough pressure.
When I was doing higher tension, I stole a spring off an old RC truck shock to do this exact thing.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Odd, my starting clamp has three springs. Like the Gamma but with black vinyl handle covers
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gamma_Stringers_Starting_Clamp/descpageGAMMA-GCLAMP.html
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
Yeah, some have two springs others have three. My cheap Pro's Pro only has two.
Karma Tennis
Legend
Regardless of which clamp you use. Always remember to clean it every now and again to keep it in tip top shape.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
I have cleaned my starting clamps (I think) and I think it is a very good practice. I know I clean my machine clamps at least every 50 string jobs. But I can’t remember the last time I cleaned my starting clamps, my guess is not in the last 5+ years. For a long time I was just waiting for one to slip but I’m not sure it is ever going to happen. Some day I may take them apart to see if there is any build up, but I’m thinking it is going to be a while if ever.
Ive heard the Gamma clamp has a diamond coated pad glued inside and I did not want to loosen it. That’s the reason I’ve not cleaned them for a while, and when I do it won’t be with alcohol.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Most of the time I used my Pros Pro I used it just to tie knots and it has slipped off on me. But when I go right back it works fine. I think you need to make sure the string is straight through the jaws. If the string it not straight then only the lower portion is holding the string and I can see where that could cause problems.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
I have owned 5 starting clamps.
- RAB - purchased from TW and given to a friend of mine
- Gamma - purchased from TW
- GSS Alliance - which I believe is a copy of the Babolat @gmatheis posted above
- VS - this is the blue handled without the bridge holes
- Babolat - their new clamp
My Gamma starting clamp was slipping on me today used as a bridge.
Soaked a shoelace in 91% aclohol and clamped it, finished the job with my eagnas (no slip).
Never had any problems with the Gamma before so hopefully it'll cleanup and hold ok again.
But what the hell, I went ahead and ordered a Babolat clamp today!! Yay me!!
Soaked a shoelace in 91% aclohol and clamped it, finished the job with my eagnas (no slip).
Never had any problems with the Gamma before so hopefully it'll cleanup and hold ok again.
But what the hell, I went ahead and ordered a Babolat clamp today!! Yay me!!
check to be sure one of the textured plates didn't fall out of your gamma clamp , happened to mine.
Just out of curiosity I looked at the gamma clamp at my club and sure enough it was missing one also. Seems to be a common problem.
A little Gorilla Gel Superglue fixed it up though.
Yeah, they are intact although one is more prominent than the other (sticks out a tad more proud).
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