Best Starter 6pt Machine

[vincent_tennis]

Hey guys,
If you're wondering why is the stringing noob getting a 6pt machine as his first machine? Its cuz I live in the land down under and all tennis equpitment is very over priced so i can either buy a cheap machine worth about 1/2 the price I'm going to be paying or get one shipped from the States. Also I heard something about racquets' warranty would become void if one was to string a racquet on a 2 pt machine.

I've got a budget of $500USD (the AUD dollar is strong rite now ) and I'm deciding between the Gamma X-ST or the Gamma X-6FC or i could save up for a while longer to get the Gamma X-Els which is about 1k USD

(incase u're wondering why all the machines are gamma ones, it because i cant seem to find another company that will ship string machines overseas other than ATS)

Could anybody help me pick a machine? Which would be best for an at home stringer who strings only their own racquets? I break every 10hrs to 2 month depending on what type of setup I string on my racquet. I've read the "Guide to buying string machines" but still cant make a choice.

Thanks in advance
Vince

 

[rich s]

Each of the stringers you mention are at different price points and each are different types of machines.

The X-FC is within your $500 USD budget and is a drop weight.

The X-ST is about $660 USD and is a crank. It is slightly over your budget.

The X-Els is over $1000 USD and is an electronic (load cell) machine. It is twice your budget.

All are solid machines... but at different price points because of their tensioning mechanism.

I'm more partial to constant pull than lock out so I would consider the X-FC and the X-Els...

If you are willing to take more time to save a larger sum or money I'd go with the X-Els. If that is too much of a stretch you need to decide between a drop weight and crank.

 

[Technatic]

Choosing a stringing machine

Hi Vince,

Some advises:
Base your choices on basic systems first and choose the type of machine based on these choices:
- For racquet protection: Compare multipoint Direct (inside) with multipoint Indirect (outside) systems.
- For accuracy: Do you want Constant pull or not? Automatic drop weight or Lock out?
- For the clamps: Take top quality clamps.

If you are going to use the machine for a long time, go for the long therm fun in stringing, instead of saving on price. That is cheaper than upgrading in some years again.

Good luck Technatic

 

[vincent_tennis]

Each of the stringers you mention are at different price points and each are different types of machines.

The X-FC is within your $500 USD budget and is a drop weight.

The X-ST is about $660 USD and is a crank. It is slightly over your budget.

The X-Els is over $1000 USD and is an electronic (load cell) machine. It is twice your budget.

All are solid machines... but at different price points because of their tensioning mechanism.

I'm more partial to constant pull than lock out so I would consider the X-FC and the X-Els...

If you are willing to take more time to save a larger sum or money I'd go with the X-Els. If that is too much of a stretch you need to decide between a drop weight and crank.

Thanks Richie, btw I saw some of pictures of ur Gammma Progression II 602 FC fitted with the wise tensioner (http://www.photostringer.com/gamma_progression_ii_602fc_01.htm) I was wondering how you manged to fit it on as "Gamma_Tech" said it shouldnt be possible. I'm planning on the same approach (Drop Weight First, then save up some more for the WISE.

Hi Vince,

Some advises:
Base your choices on basic systems first and choose the type of machine based on these choices:
- For racquet protection: Compare multipoint Direct (inside) with multipoint Indirect (outside) systems.
- For accuracy: Do you want Constant pull or not? Automatic drop weight or Lock out?
- For the clamps: Take top quality clamps.

If you are going to use the machine for a long time, go for the long therm fun in stringing, instead of saving on price. That is cheaper than upgrading in some years again.

Good luck Technatic

Thanks for ur Advice Tech,
I'm probably gonna go for the cheaper of the constant pulls which will be the drop weight then up grade to the WISE like Richie did

 

[rich s]

Thanks Richie, btw I saw some of pictures of ur Gammma Progression II 602 FC fitted with the wise tensioner (http://www.photostringer.com/gamma_progression_ii_602fc_01.htm) I was wondering how you manged to fit it on as "Gamma_Tech" said it shouldnt be possible. I'm planning on the same approach (Drop Weight First, then save up some more for the WISE.

If you remove the drop arm and it's support and remove the black pad from the red plastic tray and cut a slot in the red plastic tray you can fabricate a mount that will attach to the Wise and to the existing holes that attach the original drop arm mount.

 

[VGP]

Also I heard something about racquets' warranty would become void if one was to string a racquet on a 2 pt machine.

Is there a racket company's product(s) to which this applies?

 

[[d]ragon]

The Alpha Pioneer DC Plus has got some great reviews. It should be abit cheaper than any of the ones you are currently considering ($429)

 

[Kyle7286]

Gamma Progression ST II very good crank machine.. $640

 

[000KFACTOR90000]

Thanks Richie, btw I saw some of pictures of ur Gammma Progression II 602 FC fitted with the wise tensioner (http://www.photostringer.com/gamma_progression_ii_602fc_01.htm) I was wondering how you manged to fit it on as "Gamma_Tech" said it shouldnt be possible. I'm planning on the same approach (Drop Weight First, then save up some more for the WISE.



Thanks for ur Advice Tech,
I'm probably gonna go for the cheaper of the constant pulls which will be the drop weight then up grade to the WISE like Richie did

Just be aware TW USA doesn't ship the wise or stringing machines down under (last I heard).

 

[kimbahpnam]

I got my Gamma 5003 off craigslist for $500 w/ extra strings/accessories. Great buy.

 

[vincent_tennis]

If you remove the drop arm and it's support and remove the black pad from the red plastic tray and cut a slot in the red plastic tray you can fabricate a mount that will attach to the Wise and to the existing holes that attach the original drop arm mount.

LoL thats gonna take quite some time for me to attatch the wise tension head then btw do u think the WISE will work on the X-6FC? I recall reading that Gammatech said it wouldnt work on either the Progressison of the X-6 in a theard where u said u wanted to attatch them LoL

Is there a racket company's product(s) to which this applies?

@ VPG I rmb reading it here in this very same fourm :S or maybe its just me

Just be aware TW USA doesn't ship the wise or stringing machines down under (last I heard).

O_O I thought they didnt ship the String machines cuz they're too heavy... TWA (the trashy, expencive website) sells the WISE for $845~ AUD with the foot pedal and that wheel thingo as $50 options per item -__-" I guess no WISdom for me machine =/ (LAME PUN )

And tennis australia is wondering why tennis isnt that popular in aus -,- I think I know why -__-

 

[Technatic]

I do not follow the strategy completely:
So you buy a cheaper machine to upgrade it later with an expensive part \
while that part of the machine is actually the least important.

Even when you take a non-automatic dropweight the accuracy does not depend on the tensioner, it depends on the clamps and the stringer.

This is different when you take a LO because these loose much more tension (up to 18 lbs on 66) than a normal dropweight.

Being so far away from service I would go for simplicity, either the normal dropweight without the complicated tensioner or go for an automatic dropweight right away.

 

[vincent_tennis]

Drop weight first cuz i dont plan to update till i get tnough for the WISE whih will take erm.. atleast 2 years? =/

 

[Technatic]

Why

So the possibility is there that you spend money to go down in CP accuracy?

 

[Standupnfall]

So the possibility is there that you spend money to go down in CP accuracy?

Both a drop weight and the Wise 2086 are constant pull

 

[vincent_tennis]

WISE 2086 is both but i dont think anyone would use its lock out function

 

[Technatic]

Constant pull and constant pull.

Standupnfall Quote:
Originally Posted by Technatic
So the possibility is there that you spend money to go down in CP accuracy?

Both a drop weight and the Wise 2086 are constant pull

The difference is not in being constant pull or not the difference between the automatic dropweight and an electronic unit is the fact that the E-unit has difficulties to make small “compensation” pulls.
On the dropweight the tension line is 100 % straight, while an electronic machines pulls in a “ “saw-teeth” .

That is the reason that most electronic machines overshoot the adjusted tension.

The cheaper the machine the bigger the saw teeth.

Even an high end electronic unit can not match the CP accuracy of a dropweight.

Simplicity beats complexity!

 

[vincent_tennis]

ah well its like talking about Analog and digital signals..
We'll live

 

[vincent_tennis]

http://www.************************/store/equip/spinfire/spinfire-flame-wise-tension-head.html
what do ya'll think?

http://www.tennis warehouse .com .au/sto re/eq uip/sp infire/spinfire -flame-wise-tension-head .html