Should I Get a Stringing Machine?

[Liv3 For It]

Hi, I have been breaking my strings 3 times every 2 months and have been getting them strung at $30 each time. I have never strung a racket before but I'm willing to learn how to.

First, Should I even get a stringing machine? I plan to play tennis for a long time but, Is it even worth it to buy a stringing machine? If I'm spending around $90 dollars every two months for strings.

Second, If I should get a stringing machine because it would save me money, which one should I get? What stringing machine would be worth the money but wouldn't be a waste because if it was too expensive then I could just get my racket strung professionally for less.

So breaking 3 strings every 2 months. Is it worth it to buy a stringing machine? Is it worth the money? If so, Which one should I get?

Thx in advance.

 

[Booyah]

at the rate you are breaking strings, you should be fine without a machine because its not frequent. But by buying a machine you could definitely save money. For starters and quick way to start saving money, id recommend the Gamma X-2. Its about $160. and by the way it sounds for you after maybe stringing 8-10 times you basically paid off the machine. definitely worth the money in my opinion. However, time wise? thats up to you.

 

[Nuke]

Whenever I see a topic title like this, I always know the answer is "yes," without even reading the first post, and this is so in your case. If you only need to string for yourself, a $135-$200 drop-weight machine will pay for itself in six months. Of course you should buy it.

Do a search for Gamma X-2, Klippermate, and Silent Partner Swing. Those are the most popular basic machines, perform the task as required, and they get discussed to death here.

 

[T1000]

Yes, get a klippermate

 

[Irvin]

No you should not get a machine for yourself keep paying us!!!

But if you do decide to go against my device, which one you get depends on how long you think you would feel comfortable stringing a racket.

Floating clamps will increase the time it takes to string a racket and sometime you will not be able to clamps your strings securely.

Glide Bar clamps are not good for fan type rackets but they are the fastest.

Drop weights are constant pull but are slow and the least expensive. Lockout machines are inexpensive and fast. Some say the lockout are not as accurate.

You get what you pay for usually.

Irvin

 

[Speedygonzalez]

Besides saving you money, stringing yourself has several other advantages:

- String whenever you want, no more hassle of bringing to a shop, waiting, and picking it up. You are a free man =).

- You can experiment with types of strings and tension more easily to suit your individual needs and you will learn a lot about stringing and strings if you are interested.

- Earn some pocket money by stringing for your friends.

So if you are willing to learn stringing and think that you will enjoy it, just get a machine. If you don't like it, you can sell it, no problemo. I would start with a simple dropweight, like the others have suggested.

 

[Gottabekin]

Buy it now! You can even string for other people to cover some of the expense.

 

[MagPro]

Yes.

Silent Partner Swing is plenty of machine for most. Its almost kind of fun to string!

 

[aussie]

Whenever I see a topic title like this, I always know the answer is "yes," without even reading the first post, and this is so in your case. If you only need to string for yourself, a $135-$200 drop-weight machine will pay for itself in six months. Of course you should buy it.

Do a search for Gamma X-2, Klippermate, and Silent Partner Swing. Those are the most popular basic machines, perform the task as required, and they get discussed to death here.

Entirely agree with Nuke. Witout even reading the post, you know the answer is "yes". If you are half serious about tennis and get your racquets strung every couple of months and possibly have friends who share your enthusiasm for the game, there is no doubt what the answer is. Just a matter of determining which machine aligns best with your budget and stringing intentions/ambitions and away you go. Best advice is - don't delay cause you'll wonder why you didn't do it years ago.

 

[Liv3 For It]

What is the best stringing machine to get? A more expensive one or a cheap one? Which machine gives you the BEST DEAL?

 

[jim e]

What is the best stringing machine to get? A more expensive one or a cheap one? Which machine gives you the BEST DEAL?

Your 1st question, for best machine... there are a # of high end good machines.Very subjective on the best! Eyes of the beholder.(Babolat, Gamma, Xtremesportsmachines, Tehnifibre,and Wilson)
2nd question, expensive, is better,but a question is how much is needed for your situation.the more you spend, the more options, type of turntable, clamping system, diablo, linnear tensioning clamp,breaking system, the list can go on and on.
3rd. best deal... I found mine on big auction site, but that was timed just as I was looking, and I was fortunate, if that did not come by, I most likely would have got a Babolat star 5. Most usually you will get what you pay for.


There is a nice buyers guide in the August issue (Racquet Sports Industry Magazine) August 2008 issue.
The article compares the machines in the following categories:
Sports(Tennis, squash badmiton),
Height, Stand, etc.
Mounting types (2-6 point) , locks, 360 degree, etc.
Tensioning type, and tension clamp type.and features,Nosecone diablo, linear, coated tension head, keypad, etc. etc. long list of features here.
Clamping and clamping types.
Extra features.
Weight.
Tools included.
A very nice article, covers a lot of machines out there (no eagnas listed, but eagnas seem to have a copy of most out there, ), along with the retail price.has a nice comparison chart of the machines listed, and you can see that you get what you pay for.