Electronic stringing machine

W

WNB93

Semi-Pro
Hello everyone,

I am wrecking my head with what's the best thing to do in my situation.
I started a little over a year ago on a DW Pro's pro machine.
It's fine when I was stringing 1 racket a month.
Now I break my strings in about 3-4 hours and I started stringing for my girlfriend which can be up to 3 rackets a day during the rare local tournament and the rare time when she's practicing at home.

She's very happy with my stringing but the fastest I can go on a drop-weight and string good is 28-30 minutes per racket (17 the one time I tried stringing on an electric (old star 5)). It makes an annoying level of noise and it is overall just annoying.
Therefore I am upgrading to an electronic machine.

Here are the choices:

- Update the Pro's Pro Hornet with a Pro's Pro/Wise el. head. My problem with that is that I spend another 450/700EUR on a machine that's not going to be ideal. Total cost (with the machine) would be about 700/1000EUR.
The clamps don't slide as smooth as I'd like (not an issue) and the two towers holding the mounting system bends inwards when pulling tension (issue). I kind of fixed it with a washer underneath. It works but it's not ideal.

- Get a Pro's Pro Tomcat MT-400 machine which I heard good things about but I'm a bit sceptic since the clamps look the same (not a big deal breaker as they are fine) and I saw online the turntable doesn't turn ideally. You get features of a 5000EUR machine for 1100EUR which worries me. There are not a lot of reviews. I want something for years to come. The towers are mounted differently so that is not an issue. The cost for this machine would be about 1100 EUR.

- Get a Gamma X-ELS which will be available end of November (pre-season already in process) for 1700EUR. I have no worries with this machine as I heard good things about Gamma but it is a bit expensive. If I would string 10 rackets a week for the whole year, I wouldn't have a problem with paying 1700EUR but since I'll be traveling with her even more from now on, I am not sure. It also does not have a diablo but a rotational gripper.

- Get a Gamma crank machine for 1000EUR and buy a Wise for 650EUR and combine the two. This way I get a diablo (is it worth it?) and a machine now (before pre-season starts). But I get a frankenmachine again.

Suggestions? Anyone have experience on the Tomcat when stringing more than 5 rackets per year?

Cheers!
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
I would first estimate or do a wild ass guess about racquet volume. Make a guess about seasonality cuz volume should decrease during the wet season. Clamps and mounting system should have 1st priority followed by tension system. Set a cost and time budget. FWIW, posters have stated that the WISE tension head is somewhat noisy compared other eCPs, but you can always invest in ear plugs. If you want speed, then a LO is the way to go. 0.03€ :alien:
 
W

WNB93

Semi-Pro
esgee48 said:
I would first estimate or do a wild ass guess about racquet volume. Make a guess about seasonality cuz volume should decrease during the wet season. Clamps and mounting system should have 1st priority followed by tension system. Set a cost and time budget. FWIW, posters have stated that the WISE tension head is somewhat noisy compared other eCPs, but you can always invest in ear plugs. If you want speed, then a LO is the way to go. 0.03€ :alien:
Click to expand...

As I said above, the volume is about 5-10 rackets a week for a pro player and 2 a week for myself. That's it. I want an eCP because a pro player needs a consistent string job.
 
R

RyDuTennis

New User
if you stay at home for 10 more weeks, that's 100 string jobs worth >2000, then it gets paid off already. when not? go with the gamma+wise
 
M

Merkaffe

Rookie
WNB93 said:
Hello everyone,

I am wrecking my head with what's the best thing to do in my situation.
I started a little over a year ago on a DW Pro's pro machine.
It's fine when I was stringing 1 racket a month.
Now I break my strings in about 3-4 hours and I started stringing for my girlfriend which can be up to 3 rackets a day during the rare local tournament and the rare time when she's practicing at home.

She's very happy with my stringing but the fastest I can go on a drop-weight and string good is 28-30 minutes per racket (17 the one time I tried stringing on an electric (old star 5)). It makes an annoying level of noise and it is overall just annoying.
Therefore I am upgrading to an electronic machine.

Here are the choices:

- Update the Pro's Pro Hornet with a Pro's Pro/Wise el. head. My problem with that is that I spend another 450/700EUR on a machine that's not going to be ideal. Total cost (with the machine) would be about 700/1000EUR.
The clamps don't slide as smooth as I'd like (not an issue) and the two towers holding the mounting system bends inwards when pulling tension (issue). I kind of fixed it with a washer underneath. It works but it's not ideal.

- Get a Pro's Pro Tomcat MT-400 machine which I heard good things about but I'm a bit sceptic since the clamps look the same (not a big deal breaker as they are fine) and I saw online the turntable doesn't turn ideally. You get features of a 5000EUR machine for 1100EUR which worries me. There are not a lot of reviews. I want something for years to come. The towers are mounted differently so that is not an issue. The cost for this machine would be about 1100 EUR.

- Get a Gamma X-ELS which will be available end of November (pre-season already in process) for 1700EUR. I have no worries with this machine as I heard good things about Gamma but it is a bit expensive. If I would string 10 rackets a week for the whole year, I wouldn't have a problem with paying 1700EUR but since I'll be traveling with her even more from now on, I am not sure. It also does not have a diablo but a rotational gripper.

- Get a Gamma crank machine for 1000EUR and buy a Wise for 650EUR and combine the two. This way I get a diablo (is it worth it?) and a machine now (before pre-season starts). But I get a frankenmachine again.

Suggestions? Anyone have experience on the Tomcat when stringing more than 5 rackets per year?

Cheers!
Click to expand...
If you're ordering from Europe I would choose the TennisMan StringMaster Deluxe LE Elektronik instead of the Gamma. For same price
 
W

WNB93

Semi-Pro
Merkaffe said:
If you're ordering from Europe I would choose the TennisMan StringMaster Deluxe LE Elektronik instead of the Gamma. For same price
Click to expand...
Looks like a great machine. I cannot seem to find information on the clamps. Why do you think they're better than the Gamma?
I'm only looking at Gamma because theres a lot of reviews and stuff online and people seem to like them.
 
S

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
Personally, I wouldn't get the Gamma with the rotational gripper. If you go with Gamma, splurge and get the next model up. Or, look at TennisMan machines.
 
W

WNB93

Semi-Pro
Steve Huff said:
Personally, I wouldn't get the Gamma with the rotational gripper. If you go with Gamma, splurge and get the next model up. Or, look at TennisMan machines.
Click to expand...
I am more and more inclined to that. But from what I saw I do not like the Wise that much. For example the Tomcat (PP) seems to pull tension more like even a Star 5 I tested not too long ago. The wise seems kind of slow and noisy.
 
M

Merkaffe

Rookie
WNB93 said:
I am more and more inclined to that. But from what I saw I do not like the Wise that much. For example the Tomcat (PP) seems to pull tension more like even a Star 5 I tested not too long ago. The wise seems kind of slow and noisy.
Click to expand...
It is a bit noisy, even with sounds turned off. Worried to hear my neighbours knocking on my door when stringing late in the evening..
 
USMC-615

USMC-615

Hall of Fame
I recently removed my crank/lo tensioner and added a new Wise 2086 series 14 to my Gamma Progression ST II and I’m not following the ‘noisy’ comments at all. Mine hardly makes any operation noise at all…but I make a living in C-17 aircraft hangars 5-7 days a week, where running hydraulics/flight controls, day to day operations, etc, etc is a crazy loud environment. And the hangar noises don’t hold a candle to engine runs at Functional Test. I might just be a little hard of hearing I guess because I don’t notice hardly any noise whatsoever with my Wise.
 
W

WNB93

Semi-Pro
USMC-615 said:
I recently removed my crank/lo tensioner and added a new Wise 2086 series 14 to my Gamma Progression ST II and I’m not following the ‘noisy’ comments at all. Mine hardly makes any operation noise at all…but I make a living in C-17 aircraft hangars 5-7 days a week, where running hydraulics/flight controls, day to day operations, etc, etc is a crazy loud environment. And the hangar noises don’t hold a candle to engine runs at Functional Test. I might just be a little hard of hearing I guess because I don’t notice hardly any noise whatsoever with my Wise.
Click to expand...
I heard the V14 is much quieter and smoother overall. I checked out some videos to compare V12 and V14 and the V14 works like every higher class eCP I ever saw. So thats not an issue for me anymore.
 
M

Merkaffe

Rookie
WNB93 said:
I heard the V14 is much quieter and smoother overall. I checked out some videos to compare V12 and V14 and the V14 works like every higher class eCP I ever saw. So thats not an issue for me anymore.
Click to expand...
I have the newest model V14. Anyway unless stringing late at night in an apartment I guess you will be fine.

My base clamps are silent btw.
 
W

WNB93

Semi-Pro
Merkaffe said:
I have the newest model V14. Anyway unless stringing late at night in an apartment I guess you will be fine.

My base clamps are silent btw.
Click to expand...

I am sure it's not as loud as the ratchet mechanism on a drop-weight haha :)

Yes, I saw the videos and the base clamps run smooth. That's a big plus.
 
USMC-615

USMC-615

Hall of Fame
WNB93 said:
I heard the V14 is much quieter and smoother overall. I checked out some videos to compare V12 and V14 and the V14 works like every higher class eCP I ever saw. So thats not an issue for me anymore.
Click to expand...
Never ran nor been around any earlier version(s) of the Wise other than my version 14, so Wise obviously toned them down some compared to previous generation models.
 
Rabbit

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
As someone who owned an earlier/later version of the Wise, the later versions are much quieter. They are not, however, as quiet as the tension mechanism on a purpose built ECP.
 
W

Wes

Hall of Fame
Rabbit said:
As someone who owned an earlier/later version of the Wise, the later versions are much quieter.
Click to expand...

Yep. This seems to be the general consensus.
I've only owned a v11/v12 version, which seems to be quieter than earlier versions (based on videos that were, clearly, older models).
Since I've yet to be in the presence of the current v14, I couldn't speak as to how much quieter they are now.

Rabbit said:
They are not, however, as quiet as the tension mechanism on a purpose built ECP.
Click to expand...

Yep. Also true.
For those that want to hear a direct, side-by-side, comparison, click here...

Wise 2086 v14 vs Gamma Rotational (X-ELS) vs others (loudness)

Hey everybody, I currently string on a Stringmaster Pro 50 drop weight machine https://www.tennisman.de/en/Other/Stringing-Machines/stringing-machine-TENNISMAN-StringMaster-Pro-50.html but my stringing is way more than expected. Reason A) I simply restring more often and experiment with...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com
 
W

WNB93

Semi-Pro
Wes said:
Yep. This seems to be the general consensus.
I've only owned a v11/v12 version, which seems to be quieter than earlier versions (based on videos that were, clearly, older models).
Since I've yet to be in the presence of the current v14, I couldn't speak as to how much quieter they are now.

Yep. Also true.
For those that want to hear a direct, side-by-side, comparison, click here...

Wise 2086 v14 vs Gamma Rotational (X-ELS) vs others (loudness)

Hey everybody, I currently string on a Stringmaster Pro 50 drop weight machine https://www.tennisman.de/en/Other/Stringing-Machines/stringing-machine-TENNISMAN-StringMaster-Pro-50.html but my stringing is way more than expected. Reason A) I simply restring more often and experiment with...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com
Click to expand...

That's great. I am guessing the quieter sound is mostly due to a better and bigger casing insulation. There's noise but it's muted.
Maybe I'm wrong. Because the latest Pros Pro also pulls very quiet compared to the Wise and let's be honest it cannot be much better in quality.
 
D

dachness

New User
Add the Tourna 300-CS and Wise Tension Head to the list for for consideration. My only complaint about the Wise is not have a knot feature.
 
Stevo Karlovic

Stevo Karlovic

Rookie
If you can find one (could be very challenging), definitely get the Gamma X-ELS ($1599.99). A Gamma Progression ELS ($1549.99) is nearly identical and just as good (also could be hard to find in stock anywhere). I got my X-ELS in November 2012. This is the greatest piece of machinery I have ever owned. Over 2,000 racquets strung and the only service it ever needed was a fixed clamp replacement in 2017. Consider yourself very lucky if you can find either one of these machines and buy it without delay.
 
Last edited:
W

Wes

Hall of Fame
dachness said:
Add the Tourna 300-CS and Wise Tension Head to the list for for consideration. My only complaint about the Wise is not have a knot feature.
Click to expand...

Either of the two memory buttons (M1, or M2) can easily be used as a "knot button".
See my writings here...

Debating on getting Wise 2086 and had some questions.

Hello! I currently have a Prince Neos 1000 and am lately receiving more racquets to string. It’s an absolutely great machine so I was hoping to make it a bit better with the wise. My only gripes with it was how often the string got caught in the crank and I’d like to just get more consistent...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com
 
W

Wes

Hall of Fame
Stevo Karlovic said:
If you can find one (could be very challenging), definitely get the Gamma X-ELS ($1599.99). A Gamma Progression ELS ($1549.99) is nearly identical and just as good (also could be hard to find in stock anywhere). I got my X-ELS in November 2012. This is the greatest piece of machinery I have ever owned. Over 2,000 racquets strung and the only service it ever needed was a floating clamp replacement in 2017. Consider yourself very lucky if you can find either one of these machines and buy it without delay.
Click to expand...

:unsure:
Hmmm.
The X-ELS/Prog. ELS has fixed clamps, not floating clamps.
 
D

dachness

New User
Wes said:
Either of the two memory buttons (M1, or M2) can easily be used as a "knot button".
See my writings here...

Debating on getting Wise 2086 and had some questions.

Hello! I currently have a Prince Neos 1000 and am lately receiving more racquets to string. It’s an absolutely great machine so I was hoping to make it a bit better with the wise. My only gripes with it was how often the string got caught in the crank and I’d like to just get more consistent...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com
Click to expand...
Yes, that is what I do. I use different tensions on mains and crosses so I have to set 4 tensions as a result of not having a knot feature. With a knot feature I would set two tensions and activate the knot feature as needed.

I suggested to Wise to implement a knot feature through the Pre-stretch button. They will be implementing my suggestion however it won't likely be implemented until well into 2022 and it's uncertain on being able to implement into existing units.
 
W

WNB93

Semi-Pro
To give you guys an update.
The best bang for the buck that I came upon would be the Tennismann machine with a Wise.
So what I did was get the Wise tension head and put it on my machine (because it is somewhat portable compared to the Tennismann machine).
For home use we'll be getting the Tennismann parts later.

Why I chose that machine was because the components seem much better than on other machines, including Gamma.
What bothers me with Wise is that it's a bit slow even on the fastest setting and requires me to hold the gripper when pulling tension. Compared to some other machines where that is not necessary this slows me down by 2-3 minutes per racket.
Not a big deal but still a negative.
 
D

dachness

New User
What do you mean by the wise requiring you to hold the gripper? Are you using one hand to close the gripper and the the other to activate the switch?

If so, you just need two work on your technique. One handed gripper/activation is possible with multiple techniques. I personally hold the string ,slide the gripper then activate the pull with one hand. Another technique is to hold the string between your figures directly above the switch activate the switch and continue to hold the string. The machine will pull and your fingers will push the gripper closed while it pulls.
 
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