Same here. The traditional style SC is good for me for the knots
Kimony vs. Made in China (LOL)
- Thread starter esm
- Start date
You talking about Jack Nicklaus?
I’m surprised that Irvin didn’t spell it “Nicholson.”
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
My Allpha SC came in today. The functionality of the Toyosouki SC (Yonex) and the Allpha SC is totally different. The Toyosouki clamp moves the pivot side of the clamp down and in as it closes. Seems like it would roll the string very slightly. The Allpha clamp just pulls the pivot side in. I haven’t actually used the Allpha SC yet but it looks promising. I did clamp both clamps down on VS gut and ALU Rough and the Allpha clamp left less of a mark but that could be the adjustment. I talked to Mark Gonzales and he said Allpha is in no way associated with Alpha. Maybe it should be referred to as the China SC to avoid confusion.
Congrats.
yeah, the small/pivot part is on the different side for both the Kimony/Yonex and the MIC SC.
look forward to watching your YT review on these ones.
The Allpha store on AliEx is not an official store me thinks. The official Alpha China store is on Taobao (China's Amazon) & it sells the same Toyo clone as well. Its cheaper too at about $55 but it doesn't do international shipping.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
if Mark Gonzales never heard of the store it can’t be Alpha’s official store.
I tried to buy an accuswing from some store once and they said that couldn’t send to the states because Alpha was the sole distributor in the states. In hind sight I’m happy with the SW1.
Aside from these boards, it's likely that no one has ever heard of it, so i doubt the name is a huge deal to anyone (else but you).
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
You know I put a call into Babolat about that Mighty Sensor Diabolo. I mean surely since the Star 5 had a Diabolo the Mighty Sensor would too. But what they told me was that the Star 5 wasn't quite the machine the Mighty Sensor was and the Mighty Sensor's superior design and build negated the need for a Diabolo. Now this may enrage some diablo's using Star 5's that have Diabolos because they'll reason, wrongly, that if the Star 5 has a Diabolo, every machine must then have a Diabolo. Their ire at the prospect not being true about the Diabolo is what made them into virtual diablo'.
Regarding the clamp.....I'm keeping a close eye on all my financial accounts at present. IF/when the thing shows up, it may become pass around to a few fellow boarders (you know who you are) for an evaluation period.
am1899
Legend
I’d be happy to throw it in the rotation at work for a day or two - to see if it holds up to scrutiny in a retail environment.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
I strung an RF97 with NRG2 17 mains and ALU Power Rough 125 crosses. I use the China SC to start the mains and crosses. I found the China SC produced minimal marks / ghosting on the NRG2. Less than the Yonex SC I have maybe, and less than a spring type SC. There was no slipping at all. To start the mains I ran in 3 center crosses and put a starting clamp on main 2 with no machine clamp. This is the way Ron Yu starts the mains on Federer‘s rackets, except that I used a leather pad between the frame and the SC.
For the crosses I used the China SC outside the frame with no leather pad between the bumper and SC, and pulled tension on the second, then the third crosses, before moving back up to tie off the top cross. Again this is identical to how Ron Yu starts the crosses for Federer’s rackets. When I removed the SC the string pulled out 1/8” but the area where the SC was stopped before entering the tie off grommet. There was no evident crushing or marking left by the SC on the ALU Power Rough I could see.
I will continue to use my spring loaded clamps because I believe they are easier to use for knots & bridging. YMMV Overall I would say the China SCs are functionally every bit as good as the Toyo clamps, but the Toyo clamps have a better finish.
For the crosses I used the China SC outside the frame with no leather pad between the bumper and SC, and pulled tension on the second, then the third crosses, before moving back up to tie off the top cross. Again this is identical to how Ron Yu starts the crosses for Federer’s rackets. When I removed the SC the string pulled out 1/8” but the area where the SC was stopped before entering the tie off grommet. There was no evident crushing or marking left by the SC on the ALU Power Rough I could see.
I will continue to use my spring loaded clamps because I believe they are easier to use for knots & bridging. YMMV Overall I would say the China SCs are functionally every bit as good as the Toyo clamps, but the Toyo clamps have a better finish.
After reading all of this thread, I'm positive that i don't need either of them.....the stupidly expensive one or the overly expensive chinese unit.
My current quiver of SC's is fine (Eagnas, Gamma, Babolat). I've yet to hear a reason that these newer style units are preferable.
Change my mind.
My current quiver of SC's is fine (Eagnas, Gamma, Babolat). I've yet to hear a reason that these newer style units are preferable.
Change my mind.
You are right. You don’t need either of them - IMO the traditional SC style is more than enough.
I got both because I was bored…. Lol
Peppershaker
Rookie
Was really tempted, simply because it looked like a nice tool/toy but I think I will follow your suggestion. Have four SCs (I have 2 machines) that I've picked up over the years more for convenience (ok lazy don't want to walk over to the other machine and take off the cover) but even the lower $ unit seemed a bit high. The higher $ model....way out of my budget.
Thank You.
Raiontzukai
New User
Hi!Congrats.
yeah, the small/pivot part is on the different side for both the Kimony/Yonex and the MIC SC.
look forward to watching your YT review on these ones.
Say you were starting out and had one clamp to buy, would you get the Allpha one or a traditional SC? I plan on stringing tennis and badminton racquets. Will be stringing for myself and maybe one or two friends (unless my kids finally catch the bug
). I've already bought a stringer with fixed clamps; just waiting for the snow to melt...I'm in Canada, so every clamp is around $100.
Thanks!
Hi mate - i think the traditional SC would be a good idea. It’d be easier to operate when tying the knots too.Hi!
Say you were starting out and had one clamp to buy, would you get the Allpha one or a traditional SC? I plan on stringing tennis and badminton racquets. Will be stringing for myself and maybe one or two friends (unless my kids finally catch the bug
I'm in Canada, so every clamp is around $100.
Thanks!
have fun.
Raiontzukai
New User
Agreed. An adjustable SC like the Allpha is useful when you string a lot of sensitive strings or natural gut where you don't want to mar the strings with over/under pressure. If you starting out & only doing it for yourself & few others, I don't see a point in it. Since you want to do badminton as well make sure the SC has flush gripping surface as badminton strings are much thinner. They not going to tolerate gaps in the SC.
I ordered mine 23Nov and it cleared customs on 13Dec, but hasn’t arrived yet
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Mine took 35 days (Nov 21 - Dec26) to get from China to USPS. That 35 days is the transportation / customs portion of logistics. I don't think AliExpress can see where in the transportation / customs process a parcel is being held up or when it clears customs. I wish you guys the best of luck, it must be frustrating.
graycrait
Legend
Yesterday, 2 months after my initial order, Aliexpress told me that they complained to their logistics company. Mine has not made it from wherever it clears customs (cleared customs 11/30) to the USPS. I'm pretty sure I will never see it. Then the issue will be to see how fast if ever Aliexpress refunds.
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
AliExpress is actually quite good about refunding for undelivered or damaged goods.
Hi!
Say you were starting out and had one clamp to buy, would you get the Allpha one or a traditional SC? I plan on stringing tennis and badminton racquets. Will be stringing for myself and maybe one or two friends (unless my kids finally catch the bug
I'm in Canada, so every clamp is around $100.
Thanks!
Regular SC, no doubt. (get two for the price of one of these "gimmicks", you can use two but one is enough).
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Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
@graycrait Yahoo!
Got it today. Will give it a whirl tomorrow
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
Mine showed up today. Ordered 12/23/21 delivered via USPS 2/5/22. Not too bad. Mine was also packed with a used roll of finishing tape.
I strung a couple of frames this morning and used the new clamp. I have to say I am impressed. It is smaller than I pictured in my mind. It does its job and is unobtrusive while stringing. All in all, it's probably worth $75. I for sure wouldn't pay $250 for one, but at $75 it's not bad. I'd put this in the category of "Hey mom/dad, what do you want for you(r) birthday/Christmas." It's for the stringer who has everything and doesn't know what to ask for the holidays or birthday.
I strung a couple of frames this morning and used the new clamp. I have to say I am impressed. It is smaller than I pictured in my mind. It does its job and is unobtrusive while stringing. All in all, it's probably worth $75. I for sure wouldn't pay $250 for one, but at $75 it's not bad. I'd put this in the category of "Hey mom/dad, what do you want for you(r) birthday/Christmas." It's for the stringer who has everything and doesn't know what to ask for the holidays or birthday.
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Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Good thing my birthday is in June or I may not get it in time. LOL
I like the size of the China starting clamp for starting mains but for bridging and tying knots I still use my standard starting clamps. if the Toyosouki starting clamp were the same price I would go with the Yonex or Kimony starting clamp. It's like comparing my old 80s Babolat starting clamp to my Gamma. They both do a great job but I would out a Gamma clamp in 1/3 the time I had my Babolat and the Babolat is still a better clamp than a new Gamma.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
S(he) (Wes) is taking my statement out of context. Comparing the Toyo SC to the China SC is like comparing a Babolat SC to a Gamma SC. I prefer the Toyo over the China, SC but the price was higher. I prefer my Babolat clamp I purchased back in the 80s for $40 over a new Gamma SC.it means he uses one more often than the other one...? me thinks.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
I too was befuddled by @Irvin 's statement and to some degree still am. However, I agree that using a standard clamp for bridging is better (since you can't do it with the Kimony-style). I would also use my Parnell or GSS old-style clamp to cinch knots. I must say that I liked my Babolat SC so much in comparison to my GSS and Parnell SC's that I sold it. I also have a blue Babolat SC, given to me by a friend who strung on tour for a number of years, and was told I'd better hang onto it as it's the best Babolat ever made. Alas, it doesn't bridge but it's a keeper nonetheless.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
I’m glad you told me the Kimony style won’t work for bridging I Alway though I could. Maybe I should make a video.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Maybe my post was a little confusing. The SC I bought in the 80s was not a Babolat clamp it was the old VS starting clamp.
EDIT: https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/babolat-vs-starting-clamp.440627/
EDIT: https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/babolat-vs-starting-clamp.440627/
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Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Why do you think I need the same gauge for both strings? If the string in the racket is poly, gut, multi, Kevlar, Zyex, or SG and whether the string pulled by the tensioner 15-18 gauge makes no difference.
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