Pro's Pro vs. Alpha

Hi guys,

So I am wanting to get a stringing machine. Not just to save money in the long run, but it is also something I have wanted to be able to do for quite some time.

After doing quite a lot of research, the idea of a manual machine + a Wise 2086 tension head sounds like a good setup.

I wan't to start out with just the manual machine though. I'm leaning towards starting out with a dropweight machine, but my big question is between the two brands Pros Pro and Alpha.

On this forum everyone praises the Alpha, and some people have been less than impressed with Pros Pro.

When I look at the pictures of these two machines, it appears obvious that they are simply the same unit rebranded.

Look at the mounting system for each. Virtually everything is exactly the same down to the shape of the fittings, the type of knobs, the yellow ascents on the mounts, the tool tray, the dropweight fittings, the exact shape of dropweight mount etc etc... The only difference appears to be the clamps, which I can always change.





What makes the Alpha better than the Pros Pro if they appear to be exactly the same?


I'd go an Alpha without question under normal circumstances, however I live in Australia and getting a Pros Pro would be significantly less expensive.

Let me know your thoughts, thanks!

These machines also appear to come under the names of Eagnas and AEF as well, again they all look identical. I think Eagnas and AEF may be formally associated with Pros Pro, but I am not sure.

From what I have seen and read, Alpha machines are built to tighter tolerances - better QC, than Pro’s Pro machines (and Eagnas). That being said, many forum members have or currently own Pro’s Pro and Eagnas machines, and some seem happy with their purchase. YMMV.

They are probably manufactured by the same factory. What the price difference may entail is manufacturing tolerances, e.g. .05 mm vs 0.1 mm. Finish of the parts, how well they mate to each other. Think the old Kia vs the new Kia after they were taken over by Hyundai. If you do high volumes, then the way the machine work will matter. If you only do 1-2 frame/day, it won't. If your intent is to just learn how to string and eventually go full electronic, then get something else. A WISE would be a nice addition after you have a few frames under your belt.

I am in the camp that says 'Go for the Pros Pro' mainly because of volume and parts.

I have the Pros pro with Wise. Nothing wrong with it, but I mainly string for myself. I updated to the better? Pros pro clamps, though don't know if they make any difference. They're very cheap.
With this machine and Wise you probably will lose the 360 option without slight modification of raising the racket supports.

I bought an old green Alpha second hand for the price of a set of natural gut strings, and I have never had a problem.

Just because they look alike doesn't mean they are the same.

The only reason I would consider the others is if my budget was so tight that I couldn't afford the Alpha.

OP is in Australia. That means that European has a much bigger advantage over USA unless Alpha also has a European Subsidiary. You should do a search on Siobasi and check that thread out. The poster obtained an eCP very similar to a Ghost (?) from them. I think they are a manufacturer for others.

esgee48 said:

OP is in Australia. That means that European has a much bigger advantage over USA unless Alpha also has a European Subsidiary. You should do a search on Siobasi and check that thread out. The poster obtained an eCP very similar to a Ghost (?) from them. I think they are a manufacturer for others.

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Alibaba research leads me to believe that Siobasi is the origin factory for these pictured machines, as well as many other generic tennis equipments. Strangely though on Ali they are about the same price as through the brand names above.

Alpha would cost an enormous amount to get sent to Aus, more than a Stringway or Gamma.

Those 3-pronged clamps on the PROs Pro look good, but in reality, the metal is too soft. I had those clamps custom made for my machine. Strings began to slip even when clean before 100 string jobs. I like their design, they just need to be made of harder metal.

Steve Huff said:

Those 3-pronged clamps on the PROs Pro look good, but in reality, the metal is too soft. I had those clamps custom made for my machine. Strings began to slip even when clean before 100 string jobs. I like their design, they just need to be made of harder metal.

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I have the same clamps and have strung nearly 200 racquets with them, mostly with medium stiff poly to 64lbs ref. tension. Never had any problems with them slipping string. But I do clean them with isopropyl alcohol and pipe cleaners every 20 string jobs. They still look and work like new.

Ok update time.

I found a used Gamma Progression II 602FC for $500 Australian an hour and a half away so I have comitted to buying that. $300 savings off brand new, and it has been used 10 times.

These are $800 new in Australia so I am pretty happy with the purchase, and it leaves some extra cash for the Wise upgrade too.

Bennis3037 said:

Ok update time.

I found a used Gamma Progression II 602FC for $500 Australian an hour and a half away so I have comitted to buying that. $300 savings off brand new, and it has been used 10 times.

These are $800 new in Australia so I am pretty happy with the purchase, and it leaves some extra cash for the Wise upgrade too.

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I think you'll be pretty happy with that as long as you're not stringing a whole lot.

Order a good starting clamp (Babolat or Gamma) and you'll be good to go!

gmatheis said:

I think you'll be pretty happy with that as long as you're not stringing a whole lot.

Order a good starting clamp (Babolat or Gamma) and you'll be good to go!

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Purchased a Babolat starting clamp just now so hopefully that comes in the next week or so. The plan is to use the drop weight for a little while so I can learn the best practices slowly. I think once I get my tax return I may entertain the idea of the Wise upgrade!

Bennis3037 said:

Purchased a Babolat starting clamp just now so hopefully that comes in the next week or so. The plan is to use the drop weight for a little while so I can learn the best practices slowly. I think once I get my tax return I may entertain the idea of the Wise upgrade!

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To get a Wise or not really is a function of how much you are going to be restringing racquets.

I got my hands on a very inexpensive LO Crank machine a few years ago with the intention of upgrading it to a Wise. I thought, Yeah!, the Wise will make my life much easier and I will produce better quality string jobs.

In the end, I only string about 2 racquets a week, and once the LO Crank was mastered, I can produce very consistent string jobs now. If I was doing more than 10 racquets a week, I might look at getting a Wise tensioner. Otherwise, the LO Crank works well for me, does not require electricity, and has a lot fewer bits and pieces that might fail.