Pro's pro or exthree?

[gebruikershaes]

Which of these would you considder better and why?
I can buy either of them pretty cheap. (€50 per machine)

Pro's pro Challenger 1

Or
Exthree (I think ex-700)

 

[mutt]

Take the Pro's Pro, you still can buy replacement parts for this machine

 

[Steve Huff]

If its any consideration, the Xthree appears to have badminton clamps on it.

 

[Imago]

With Challenger I, you have a ratchet. 50 bucks is a great price for these machines.

 

[gebruikershaes]

Full story

I posted this yesterday on my iPhone and didn't tell the full story so here goes:

The actual price for the Exthree = 55 euro
It is advertised as a badminton stringer, but I taught it wouldn't make a difference. Steve says it has badminton clamps, but aren't those the same as the challenger's? Just flipped 180 degrees?

This stringer also comes with extra clamps and tools as seen on the picture. I think its an starting clamp, some pliers and grommet tools and one other clamp of which only the handle is visible. Also some cheap(?) string.

Pro's pro actual price = 75 euros
But the seller also includes 150m of MSV Focus HEX string (which I used in the past but wasn't blown away by it. I did string it way to high for my liking so it might be a good string to experiment with).
The string by itself is worth 40 euro's so this is really a bargain!

However i did read that this stringer is quite inaccurate. Discussed here:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=411785

I did not find any of such threads for any Exthree machine. I did find a Dutch where the topic starter says its dead accurate:
http://www.stringforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=7205

So far the pros and cons of both machines:

Pro's pro:
+ replacement parts
+ ratchet (which I think is great)
+ "quality" string

- inaccurate?

Exthree
+ extra tools
+ more accurate?

- older so no replacement parts
- no extra string

Here are better pictures of the machines so you guys can compare the clamps and check if they are both good to string tennis racquets. By the way: this will be my first machine.

 

[Tamiya]

Shouldn't use badminton clamps on tennis string.
Fingers are closer = won't suit weave size
and it'll squash the string too easily.
(I did a badminton few wks ago, 0.7mm @ 18lb!)

When new the machine should come with both size of clamp, if you're lucky...

 

[gebruikershaes]

Ah clamps!! Forgive my stupidity. I taught we were talking about the mounting brackets.

Thank you!

Still universal clamps are easy to come by and if the Exthree stringer is better it might be worth the extra effort?

 

[gebruikershaes]

And I mean thought!! not taught.. :S

 

[Tamiya]

the K shape mounting pads (4pcs) can be flipped around for tennis...

 

[Tamiya]

Still universal clamps are easy to come by and if the Exthree stringer is better it might be worth the extra effort?

don't know what you mean by universal clamps but not totally convinced
if other company's parts will necessarily fit yours properly

Stringer like that is a simple machine and works as perfectly as its worker.
Adjust as required & clean every so often, easier to spot loose screws.

And don't forget o pay your gravity bill! :twisted:

 

[gebruikershaes]

Even tough they look practically the same, my gut feeling tells me to go with the Exthree. Don't know why..

But I'm a rookie and should not trust my gut when it comes to stringing machines. Instead I should listen to you guys, which i will.

So the decision is made! Unless someone has a very good argument to go for the Exthree, I'm buying the Pro's pro!

Thanks!

And hehe if paying my gravity bill is necessary to keep my gravity field consistent, then that's what I need to do

 

[gebruikershaes]

Even though**

This forum needs an editing function!

 

[Imago]

You'll get this privilege after your 50th post.

Anyway, good call.

 

[Tamiya]

if it were me & it was a local seller I'd have grabbed both

get a reel of cheap string and test them out in leisure,
flog off the 1 you like less

 

[gebruikershaes]

Yeah, I was thinking about doing that until I realized I would be needing different clamps for the Exthree.

 

[pvw_tf]

for 50 us a piece just get both.

Peter

 

[Irvin]

1 euro = $1.38 US so for the two machines that would cost $179.40 US, but still a good deal if the machines are OK. BUT that is a good price in the US, maybe not so great a price where the OP is located. Condition, supply, and demand drives price, ever wonder why they are so cheap?

In the US (depending on your location) you could buy them if only to resell them and turn a profit, but maybe not where the OP lives.

 

[gebruikershaes]

I'm Dutch and it's a great price here! Usually they sell for double or tripple that ammount. But every once in a while one pops up where the seller just wants to get rid of it. (I've been hunting a stringer for a few months now, but the cheap ones always escaped me) I have no use for a badminton stringer and I don't know if the demand is high enough to sell it with profit. So I'll be buying just the Pro's pro.