Pro's Pro Challenger X vs Gamma Progression II 200

[WNB93]

HI,

I am basically down to these two machines as a first machine.
Plan to string 2-3 rackets per month.

Advantage of Challenger X has 6 point mount and fixed clamps.
Gamma has better build quality from what I've heard.

Price is the same, both around 300EUR. Access to spare parts for both seems reasonable.

Hebelarmmaschine Challenger X jetzt bei Pro‘s Pro!

Challenger X ✓Hebelarm ✓Zahnkranz mit Kupplung im Spannhebel ✓Geteiltes Gewicht Tennis, Squash & Badminton ✓hochwertige Haltezangen ➤Jetzt informieren

www.pros-pro.com

Gamma Stringing Machine Progression II 200

Great entry level machine! This stringer has the same easy to use features of more expensive models.

www.gamma-europe.com

What are your thoughts?

 

[jim e]

If your choice is those two, then I would go with the fixed clamp machine.

 

[shamaho]

seconded ! I would also choose the Challenger X

 

[Irvin]

I would prefer a machine with fixed clamps, 6 pt mounting, and a linear gripper. The Pros Pro machine has all three of those, but if the quality and support of the Pros Pro is up to par you could be better off with the Gamma. Seems like price is important, in that case I would also check into a Pros Pro with the features of the Gamma.

 

[WNB93]

I would prefer a machine with fixed clamps, 6 pt mounting, and a linear gripper. The Pros Pro machine has all three of those, but if the quality and support of the Pros Pro is up to par you could be better off with the Gamma. Seems like price is important, in that case I would also check into a Pros Pro with the features of the Gamma.

Pro's pro do not have a 2 pt mount with floating clamps.

They have the Hornet (looks the same to me) for a slightly higher price and the Combat for a much higher price. But all look the same to me.
Do you notice any difference?

Pros Pro Hornet

Pros Pro Hornet ✓ Stringing Machines & Tools, Stringing machines, Manual stringing machines, Vorschau 2024 ✓ Pro's Pro Versand GmbH ➤ Jetzt informieren

www.pros-pro.com

Combat Bespannmaschine jetzt bestellen bei Pros Pro!

Combat ✓6-Punkt-Rahmenfixierung ✓diamantpulverbeschichtete Zangen ✓Selbstzentrierende Auflagearme ✓halbautomatische Zangenbasis ➤Jetzt informieren!

www.pros-pro.com

 

[Irvin]

Pro's pro do not have a 2 pt mount with floating clamps.

They have the Hornet (looks the same to me) for a slightly higher price and the Combat for a much higher price. But all look the same to me.
Do you notice any difference? ...

The Hornet has V or C type side support rather than the K side supports. Those make it much easier to string with. The Combat has C / V side supports and a single adjustment for the side supports. The single adjustment makes the machine self centering like you will see on a lot of higher end machines. The self centering single adjustment Make the mounting easier and faster.

EDIT: @WNB93 The single adjustment for the upper and lower side supports is a big deal but hard to explain in words. I can make a quick video that should explain it if you want me too.

 

[jim e]

The Hornet has easier to use side arm supports, as one knob on each end brings them together equally rather than adjusting each side arm separately.

 

[shamaho]

The Hornet has V or C type side support rather than the K side supports. Those make it much easier to string with. The Combat has C / V side supports and a single adjustment for the side supports. The single adjustment makes the machine self centering like you will see on a lot of higher end machines. The self centering single adjustment Make the mounting easier and faster.

EDIT: @WNB93 The single adjustment for the upper and lower side supports is a big deal but hard to explain in words. I can make a quick video that should explain it if you want me too.

That would be grand @Irvin - all this talk about V, C & K stuff and their impact in User Experience (UX) is completely new to me (I gather too many as well).

 

[shamaho]

The Hornet has easier to use side arm supports, as one knob on each end brings them together equally rather than adjusting each side arm separately.

Is there that really that much of a difference in convenience ? wait that was what @Irvin was alluding too as well... please ignore

 

[jim e]

Is there that really that much of a difference in convenience ?

Yes
Plus the V type side supports makes more convenient as well.

 

[shamaho]

The Hornet has V or C type side support rather than the K side supports. Those make it much easier to string with. The Combat has C / V side supports and a single adjustment for the side supports. The single adjustment makes the machine self centering like you will see on a lot of higher end machines. The self centering single adjustment Make the mounting easier and faster.

EDIT: @WNB93 The single adjustment for the upper and lower side supports is a big deal but hard to explain in words. I can make a quick video that should explain it if you want me too.

and... the Hornett has Gravity clamps - that's 200€ right there

 

[WNB93]

The Hornet has V or C type side support rather than the K side supports. Those make it much easier to string with. The Combat has C / V side supports and a single adjustment for the side supports. The single adjustment makes the machine self centering like you will see on a lot of higher end machines. The self centering single adjustment Make the mounting easier and faster.

EDIT: @WNB93 The single adjustment for the upper and lower side supports is a big deal but hard to explain in words. I can make a quick video that should explain it if you want me too.

that would be great if you could spare the time please. I could never understand the difference.

 

[WNB93]

Thanks for all the explanations guys! There’s so much to choose from so it’s not the easiest decision. It seems like another 50€ adds so much it’s hard to draw the line at a set budget.

 

[Irvin]

that would be great if you could spare the time please. I could never understand the difference.

Just made a video and it should be loaded on YouTube shortly here is a link that will work once the video is published.

 

[WNB93]

Just made a video and it should be loaded on YouTube shortly here is a link that will work once the video is published.

Thank you so much! That video is amazing in explaining the supports. Nobody focuses on that in stringing videos. Thanks for helping me understand the benefits!

 

[shamaho]

I must make a second message to thank @Irvin - some details in there are absolutely illuminating ! many many thanks!

Besides watching the advantage of the single knob for controlling both arms, and the advantage of the V/C vs K ( I got to know that my machine has V type (Lol) - I also got to watch another important part - was actually watching how you mount it - I do it the opposite way...

I sort of... fix the 12 & 6 locations first (very lightly), then push the arms to support the frame ! So that pointing out comment on how the 6 and 12 just touch the frame, hmmm that was extremely valuable as well.

NOW, my question I find that when supporting my racket by the non 6,12 supports, I find many times they don't initially touch the racket on top & bottom parts of the V support, it usually touches on one of the parts (and I have to carefully orchestrate and whiggle the racket over each of the 4 supports so that contact is made on top & bottom parts of the it making the racket secure) - And I don't think my POG is warped.... because I found that with many different sticks

Maybe I'm mounting this completely wrong ?

 

[Irvin]

@shamaho Nothing wrong i see in the way you mount the racket. If you mount the frame with the 6 & 12 first you have fixed the position of the racket in the machine because more often than not you cant move the racket up and down relative to the side mounts. If you have C / V type side mounts that really does not present a big problem, I string for years that way with mine. I had a 6004 and would adjust the 6 & 12 in to touch the racket then move in the side support. I did block a few grommets in my day (under statement - LOL) but nothing I could not work around.

If you adjust the side supports first then use the 6 & 12 micro-adjustments you never need to block a hole.