Gamma x-2 w/ Wise or Alpha axis pro

[Jonwj86]

I currently own a Gamma X-2 and found that while I enjoy stringing, I’m not in love with drop weight system. As such I found I could add a Wise 2086 for around $720 or I found a used Alpha Axis Pro for $400 that appears to be in decent shape.

My question, is a Wise better than a 6 pt mounting system, fixed clamps and a crank on a table stand?

 

[Irvin]

A crank won’t give you error codes.There are some things I like about a 2 point mount but my preference is 6 point. Stands are nice but table top machines are portable. I would rather have good flying clamps, like Pro Stringer Claws, than poor fixed clamps.

You need to decide for yourself what machine and options are best for you. I’ve found the better the machine you have the more you’re going to be satisfied.

 

[Jonwj86]

A crank won’t give you error codes.There are some things I like about a 2 point mount but my preference is 6 point. Stands are nice but table top machines are portable. I would rather have good flying clamps, like Pro Stringer Claws, than poor fixed clamps.

You need to decide for yourself what machine and options are best for you. I’ve found the better the machine you have the more you’re going to be satisfied

Ah ya I should have added I did upgrade to the Stringway floating clamps shortly after getting the X-2

 

[Irvin]

Ah ya I should have added I did upgrade to the Stringway floating clamps shortly after getting the X-2

That’s a very good clamp but has a fixed distance between the strings you clamp. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig but I’d go with the Wise

EDIT: If you can afford a better machine I’d get one. Wait for a NEOS to become available at a good price or even better an eCP.

 

[USMC-615]

@Jonwj86 ...check the PM / Conversation I just sent you.

 

[Jonwj86]

That’s a very good clamp but has a fixed distance between the strings you clamp. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig but I’d go with the Wise

EDIT: If you can afford a better machine I’d get one. Wait for a NEOS to become available at a good price or even better an eCP.

Yea I’ve noticed with the crosses at times it can be difficult with the Stringway, along with having enough space to fit the Stringway in for the first and last cross. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Irvin]

@Jonwj86 thats the only reason I’m glad I got the ProStringer Claws instead of the Stringway. When I got my claws I got the early 1.0 version and bought 2 Ms and 1 L. I’ve found when you’re clamping the mains any twisting (causing drawback) is recovered on the next pull except on the outer mains. I use an M Claw on each side all the way to the next to last main. When I clamp the outer main I use the L claw. Works similar to using the triple Stringway except you don’t distort your outer mains.

 

[Irvin]

There’s a local shop here that uses Claws for stringing on a Wilson Baiardo and doesn’t use the Wilson machine clamps. They’ve done this for years. Before the Claws they used Stringway clamps on a Babolat machine.

 

[waterhog]

I currently own a Gamma X-2 and found that while I enjoy stringing, I’m not in love with drop weight system. As such I found I could add a Wise 2086 for around $720 or I found a used Alpha Axis Pro for $400 that appears to be in decent shape.

My question, is a Wise better than a 6 pt mounting system, fixed clamps and a crank on a table stand?

A stringing machine has three separate dimensions that are largely independent of each other: (1) mounting system, (2) clamping system, (3) tensioning system. What choices in each dimension are best or better than others depends on your goals. If you're stringing for others, 6-point mount, fixed clamp, and electronic tensioning may be the required choice in today's environment. If you're stringing for yourself, then economizing is likely a deciding factor.

I used a X-2 for many years to string my rackets, and for 3-4 stringing jobs per month when I was playing a lot it worked fine. Once you get reasonably competent, it's unlikely that for amateurs what stringing machine one uses is going to have noticeable impact one's tennis play. String tension, string type, and racket, yes. Even more so, of course, technique. I only switched to a 6-point Gamma with fixed clamps and Wise 2086 because I wanted to bring down stringing time to around 20 minutes. I was stuck at around 40 minutes on an X-2. I also have a crank style tensioning machine but resultant tension was lower than using either electronic or drop weight although there are ways to compensate.