Sardines
Hall of Fame
This is a sneak peak first impressions of the just launched Pr-Stringer CybeX (I believe launch date is the 20th or 21st of June). We've had it for about 6 days now and we've strung up 8 sticks with it. I was first shown the test unit by Rubin Statham, the boss of Pro-Stringer, who happened to be a sometimes doubles partner to mutual touring pro friend of mine. My previous reviews of the Platinum 2 was considered decent feedback about their products, that they started telling me about new products before launch, like the new X mount, which I was the first customer of. My kids love the P2 with X mount and were beginning to fight over who could bring the machine to which tournament. With one kid going to a tennis academy soon, it was time for me to buy a 2nd machine, but also something that worked for me as well, when I hit the ITF Masters circuit. I'd spoken to Pro Stringer about the PSX, which had a digital display, something I wanted as my presbyopia kicked in. That PSP2 needle gauge was tiny, and I overcame that with stickers and markers, but it was messy. When I saw the pre-production Cybex, I liked it a lot, especially with all the features it had, like programmable tension sequences for Sergetti/Proportional stringing, pre-stretch, electronic constant pull, 10-70lbs tension range etc, all on a 3.5" LED touch screen.
Sorry but there'll be no personal pics cos I don't want to start an Imgur account just to do this review. The Pro-Stringer Cybex page has all the pics and info.
Full Disclosure: Due to my various product feedback and now being a friend of Rubin, I was given a "mate's rate" discount that's a little more than the 10% codes available online through their sponsorships.
The Cybex shipped with the new Claw 3.0 and a redesigned X2-4-6 mount. The Cybex weighs 1.347kg, is shorter than the PSP2 by more than 15%, but the new Claw 3.0 are about 50g heavier than the 2.0, and the X-6 mount is over 1kg heavier over the X2. The entire package, Cybex with X6 mount, starter clamp, Claw 3s weighs in about 5.6kg, minus the multi-purpose pliers (which are not cabin luggage approved). I use a machine rounded titanium bent fishing plier as my travel plier, has gone through many airports without issue, even those nit picky security at LHR and HKG!
The Cybex interface:
Coming from the analog 2.0, the GUI on the Cybex was quite intuitive and self explanatory. The touch screen sampling rate isn't super fast, but worked fast enough. Tension is prominently shown on the screen and is adjusted by tapping tension display, then scrolling the graphic dials down to 1 decimal place of tension choice in both KG and lbs. There are 2 colored circles above the tension display, the blue inner circle is the selected tension and the green shows the progress as it pulls. There is small LED display that shows the tension pulling in numbers as it increases, and the button goes from blue (standby), red (tensioning) to green when tension is reached, then the ECP does its fidgety thing.
The GUI allows you to choose the different string sports of Tennis, Squash or Badminton, type of strings like Poly, Gut, Multi or Kevlar, and has tie off/knotting function in % or tension in 0-10lbs in 0.5 increments. It allows adjustments for pull speed, and one of these tension features: pre-stretch, multi-pull (1-4x) and extended pull (holding the pull from 0-30 seconds). Only one of those features can be used. ECP is always on.
The Cybex firmware is updated via wifi web server mode, and the Sergetti file is also uploaded through this webpage interface. The internal clock is updated via WIFI.
There is a Performance feature, which adjusts how sensitive the machine is to tension changes. It's predominantly for the Storm battery operation. I just kept it at maximum sensitivity as I was plugged in.
Setting Up:
The X-6 setup is here so I won't cover that.
I will add to lock the tension guide to the machine with the dial/hex screw so it doesn't spin. And of course set the height of the butt cap on the tension head, without too much of a gap, using the mount holes to adjust.
The changes are mainly in the table mount. The new mount has 2 height adjustments, a high for main throat pulling, and a low setting for normal/cross pulling. My original X mount also had a nut/bolt head lock down, which has been replaced with a flat or K piece, which they claim to make it easier to release the strung racquet.
The Cybex interface is really very user friendly. My kids 12 and 14, and I had no problems running through the menus to select what we wanted. The first thing I did was to set up my trusty digital luggage scale with a piece of poly string to test tension accuracy, and do a calibration if needed. Pro-Stringer says the units are calibrated to 0.25lbs accuracy out of the factory. Given that digital scales aren't super accurate, I've tested mine to about +80g accuracy for something up to 5kg, Using the calibration process (despite Bryan from Pro-Stringer telling me to trust the factory setting), the calibration process showed there was a .45lbs under. With my 0.18ish lbs off scale, it was within spec, but I decided to calibrate the new spec. Then I tested the tension from 35lbs to 65lbs in 10 lbs intervals. Each time it was within 0.21lbs of set tension, but skippy due to the ECP. I thought it had great accuracy for our needs. I would need a more accurate calibration scale for finer testing, but for us it was more than enough.
The kids strung their weekly sticks first, using the slowest pull speed, and no other feature. The new tension head requires the string to wrap around ¾ way to slot into the locking mechanism, otherwise it pulled just like the other Pro-Stringer models. The release is a little less constant, with a slow initial release followed by an accelerated burst then back to normal speed tension release.
I decided to try stringing my gut hybrid with Pacific Prime 1.25mm, with a prestretch of 10% and G-Tour 3 1.18mm prestretch of 3%. I did not do a manual stretch uncoil as I normally would, to see the difference. I set the Cybex to Gut profile for the mains. The prestretch is basically a 10% pull then a set tension pull. I finished racquet in 37 minutes, because I wasn't accustomed to using the X6, my muscle memory prefers using my modified original version mount than the X versions. The weaving took longer for me. Otherwise, it was a straight forward job, and the stick played as per normal. Figuring out a new weaving technique will come naturally, and the rhythm for the height adjustment will get a bit faster.
Impressions:
The Cybex is leaps and bounds ahead of the Platinum series in features but also commands a steep price for those features. For the advanced player seeking a portable machine, it's a very advanced tool. I certainly am happy with the purchase. I also appreciate that Pro Stringer is innovating the machine at a fast pace, and taking in feedback from various sources. I certainly gave my 2 cents to Rubin and his team, some which I'll cover here, since they are design features.
For instance, the tension sensor is aluminum. There is a hex screw that fastens the sensor to the mount. I didn't see it and I think most people won't do it as it's another step to set up. My forgetful kid picked up the Cybex and it slid off the mount, and could've caused some pain, being 200g and angular. The audio beep for tension is pretty soft. But those things can be improved on, and Pro-Stringer has shown a willingness to improve their products, and quickly. Some may not like having V1 but I'm fine with it. For my presbyopic eyes, to have such an advanced stringing machine I can easily travel to tournaments everywhere and restring as needed, is wonderful. It's like a portable Wise Head, but even more advanced and much smaller.
The downsides
Sorry but there'll be no personal pics cos I don't want to start an Imgur account just to do this review. The Pro-Stringer Cybex page has all the pics and info.
The Cybex shipped with the new Claw 3.0 and a redesigned X2-4-6 mount. The Cybex weighs 1.347kg, is shorter than the PSP2 by more than 15%, but the new Claw 3.0 are about 50g heavier than the 2.0, and the X-6 mount is over 1kg heavier over the X2. The entire package, Cybex with X6 mount, starter clamp, Claw 3s weighs in about 5.6kg, minus the multi-purpose pliers (which are not cabin luggage approved). I use a machine rounded titanium bent fishing plier as my travel plier, has gone through many airports without issue, even those nit picky security at LHR and HKG!
The Cybex interface:
Coming from the analog 2.0, the GUI on the Cybex was quite intuitive and self explanatory. The touch screen sampling rate isn't super fast, but worked fast enough. Tension is prominently shown on the screen and is adjusted by tapping tension display, then scrolling the graphic dials down to 1 decimal place of tension choice in both KG and lbs. There are 2 colored circles above the tension display, the blue inner circle is the selected tension and the green shows the progress as it pulls. There is small LED display that shows the tension pulling in numbers as it increases, and the button goes from blue (standby), red (tensioning) to green when tension is reached, then the ECP does its fidgety thing.
The Cybex firmware is updated via wifi web server mode, and the Sergetti file is also uploaded through this webpage interface. The internal clock is updated via WIFI.
There is a Performance feature, which adjusts how sensitive the machine is to tension changes. It's predominantly for the Storm battery operation. I just kept it at maximum sensitivity as I was plugged in.
Setting Up:
The X-6 setup is here so I won't cover that.
The changes are mainly in the table mount. The new mount has 2 height adjustments, a high for main throat pulling, and a low setting for normal/cross pulling. My original X mount also had a nut/bolt head lock down, which has been replaced with a flat or K piece, which they claim to make it easier to release the strung racquet.
The Cybex interface is really very user friendly. My kids 12 and 14, and I had no problems running through the menus to select what we wanted. The first thing I did was to set up my trusty digital luggage scale with a piece of poly string to test tension accuracy, and do a calibration if needed. Pro-Stringer says the units are calibrated to 0.25lbs accuracy out of the factory. Given that digital scales aren't super accurate, I've tested mine to about +80g accuracy for something up to 5kg, Using the calibration process (despite Bryan from Pro-Stringer telling me to trust the factory setting), the calibration process showed there was a .45lbs under. With my 0.18ish lbs off scale, it was within spec, but I decided to calibrate the new spec. Then I tested the tension from 35lbs to 65lbs in 10 lbs intervals. Each time it was within 0.21lbs of set tension, but skippy due to the ECP. I thought it had great accuracy for our needs. I would need a more accurate calibration scale for finer testing, but for us it was more than enough.
The kids strung their weekly sticks first, using the slowest pull speed, and no other feature. The new tension head requires the string to wrap around ¾ way to slot into the locking mechanism, otherwise it pulled just like the other Pro-Stringer models. The release is a little less constant, with a slow initial release followed by an accelerated burst then back to normal speed tension release.
Impressions:
The Cybex is leaps and bounds ahead of the Platinum series in features but also commands a steep price for those features. For the advanced player seeking a portable machine, it's a very advanced tool. I certainly am happy with the purchase. I also appreciate that Pro Stringer is innovating the machine at a fast pace, and taking in feedback from various sources. I certainly gave my 2 cents to Rubin and his team, some which I'll cover here, since they are design features.
For instance, the tension sensor is aluminum. There is a hex screw that fastens the sensor to the mount. I didn't see it and I think most people won't do it as it's another step to set up. My forgetful kid picked up the Cybex and it slid off the mount, and could've caused some pain, being 200g and angular. The audio beep for tension is pretty soft. But those things can be improved on, and Pro-Stringer has shown a willingness to improve their products, and quickly. Some may not like having V1 but I'm fine with it. For my presbyopic eyes, to have such an advanced stringing machine I can easily travel to tournaments everywhere and restring as needed, is wonderful. It's like a portable Wise Head, but even more advanced and much smaller.
The downsides
- The new X module and Cybex combo does add a few more steps to the stringing process, from the butt cap pull height adjustments, to the tension head dial (screw) lock. It actually strings slower than the X2 and Platinum with single tension stringing. However, the different pulls features does make the stringbed much better with playability.
- The old Platinum had sealed ICBs and simple electronics, so I didn't do much special storage other than a cool dry room. With the LED and CPU in the Cybex, I would store it in my camera dry cabinet to try preserve it as long as possible. Also it ran quite hot, over 122°F/50°C after stringing 4 sticks, so I think the longevity of the unit may not be like the Platinum. Moreover, the LED screen means it is not going to be as tough as the old machine.
- Now all these great features comes at the price of added weight. The new package is quite a bit heavier at 5.6kg, and it is bulkier too. I can cut 500g off by using the X4, or even the X2, just for the kids travel and bring it along as cabin luggage.
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I have the PSX tensioner, so the same above applies? I sort of figured the tensioner mechanism hadn't changed between these various models.
