New fixed clamps in 2025

[Singles]

If you had decent base clamps for 12.2 mm clamp shafts and wanted new swivel clamps, which clamps would you be considering in 2025?

It seems like Alpha and Gamma clamps are pretty similar these days, and both use diamond inserts. Tourna's newest clamp has no insert and also has the 'ratcheting' feature on the adjustment knob. Both of these sound like worthwhile features, but I have to consider the extra slop (12.0 vs 12.2 mm shafts.) It doesn't sound like all that much and maybe it's easy to compensate for it with technique?

One of my alpha clamps lost the diamond insert. I can get a replacement, but now I realize I should have a spare clamp or two, so I figure why not upgrade if one exists.

I guess I'm leaning toward the 'Tourna CNC Precision Universal Clamp' but I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Thank you.

 

[loosegroove]

I don’t have much input for you. But I would recommend against going with clamps with a smaller diameter. .2mm might not sound like a lot, but the extra slop is definitely noticeable. At least too noticeable for my OCD ways.

 

[shadow10]

I use the "Tourna String Universal Clamp", and it is great; However, as @loosegroove mentioned, I wouldn’t advise to go with it considering the .2mm deficit.

 

[kkm]

The Tourna clamp price isn’t bad. Don’t worry about the 0.2 mm.

 

[MikeCrowChip]

i bought a couple of sets from aliexpress. they customized it for my alpha and two different gammas. they were automatic clamp bases with 12mm...but they also had 12.2. also had all metal clamps too. dm me if you want info...or over on sansait's discord.

 

[Singles]

Thank you. It's tough to decide what's really an 'upgrade' - would I like using the Tourna clamps with a little extra slop more than I like the clamps I have now? Idk. I'd probably like the Tourna clamps with new bases but don't really want to spend that kind of $$$ right now.

After a nice cleaning, adjusting, and re-adhering the diamond tooth plate my clamps are working well. They're a little bulky to use, there are places where they don't get super close to the frame, and sometimes they are just too big to fit next to each other on the table at certain times. But I'm familiar with them, they hold the string fine, and at the end of the day I like how my rackets feel and play. If I strung rackets for other people this might be a no-brainer (I'd get new bases and clamps), but for just me it seems like there are better places to put my money.

I was wondering how interchangeable the clamp posts are - like, can a Tourna clamp be disassembled and mounted on my Alpha 12.2 mm post? I might start a 'clamp compatibility thread' about this.