Stringing machine for high school cosch

[CoachEdwards]

I am a rural ******* High School tennis coach. My players currently have to drive nearly an hour 1-way to get new strings. I want to buy a stringing machine to use for my players. I anticipate string approx 15-20 rackets per year.

I will have to use booster money (from fundraisers) and I think I can justify spending about $1,000 or maybe a little more if necessary.

Any advice?

 

[Jor3lBR]

Tomcat MT 400 but I'm biased. It has the best qualities of some much more expensive machines and costs $999. Pros Pro Tomcat MT400

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBtAHupwjb_248QoFqftVpg

 

[USMC-615]

Gamma Progression ST II or Gamma X-ST (same machine, different color and base/tool tray area is laid out different) tabletop, spring tension/LO machine…and I’m a little biased with my recommendation as well. Purchase a Gamma Premium stand for another $160 and you got it made in the shade, or leave it as a tabletop/more mobile machine.

 

[LOBALOT]

I grew up in a rural community in the middle of the west and admire the coaches who work to grow our sport. You are to be commended.

I will suggest the Alpha Revo 4000 or the Alpha Axis Pro.

 

[esgee48]

Very nice of you to support the game. A simple crank type machine is what I would recommend. They will be fast, easy to use and little to no maintenance. With electronic tension heads, you have to make sure the machine is protected from voltage spikes. Just get a machine with good fixed clamps. I lean more towards the Alpha models than the Gamma ones. Crank/LO tension head design is simple and robust, so do not overthink this. It is actually the same with eCP tension heads, but you can blow out electronics if you are not careful.

How handy are the prospective student stringers? Or do you plan to string for the team?

 

[USMC-615]

Very nice of you to support the game. A simple crank type machine is what I would recommend. They will be fast, easy to use and little to no maintenance. With electronic tension heads, you have to make sure the machine is protected from voltage spikes. Just get a machine with good fixed clamps. I lean more towards the Alpha models than the Gamma ones. Crank/LO tension head design is simple and robust, so do not overthink this. It is actually the same with eCP tension heads, but you can blow out electronics if you are not careful.

How handy are the prospective student stringers? Or do you plan to string for the team?

Good points on the eCP tension head. I didn’t mention an eCP option in my post above because first thing I thought was a crew of rambunctious kids possibly getting their hands on it.

 

[Steve Huff]

I'd go with a good crank machine too. As Esgee pointed out, very little maintenance. If you ever wanted to go electronic, there's always the Wise tension head. I love my Wise, but at 20 rackets/year, it's a bit of overkill. On the other hand, you may turn out to be the only stringer for miles, and other players may get word of you. Before long, you may have more customers than you though you'd have. Tourna CS-300, Alpha Apex. Gammas are a little overpriced in my opinion, but the 6004 is a good machine (but at almost twice the cost).

 

[esgee48]

Good points on the eCP tension head. I didn’t mention an eCP option in my post above because first thing I thought was a crew of rambunctious kids possibly getting their hands on it.

Ha! I had a handyman type father and grandfather, who would not let me touch any tool with an electric motor! I can imagine a HS kid destroying the machine by turning it on and saying "what does this combination of buttons do?"

 

[USMC-615]

A machine that I didn't mention that might just fit the bill...a Tourna 300-CS crank, spring tension/LO that comes with a stand. Current price $945. I spoke with Tourna (Unique Sports) last week and the lady said they should be back in stock with their respective distributors on or around Oct 15. I was looking at getting one prior to the Gamma ST II purchase. I wanted to just drive to their business (north of where I'm at in mid-Ga, 2.5 hr drive), buy, load it in the truck, and head back home. Was wanting to avoid possible rough handling/any shipping damage coming from distributors, most all several states away...they won't sell direct though.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

I’ve only ever used a borrowed table-top Alpha crank but it has ensured any deficiencies in my string jobs are my own.

 

[dachness]

Tourna 300-CS has my vote. You have the option to add a Wise at a later date.

 

[bobleenov1963]

I am a rural ******* High School tennis coach. My players currently have to drive nearly an hour 1-way to get new strings. I want to buy a stringing machine to use for my players. I anticipate string approx 15-20 rackets per year.

I will have to use booster money (from fundraisers) and I think I can justify spending about $1,000 or maybe a little more if necessary.

Any advice?

@CoachEdwards: Please PM me. I know someone who is about to unload a 3 years old Alpha Ghost machine because his kids are now in college and he wants to clean out the basement. He might be willing to sell it for less than $500USD or give it away for free for a good cause, if he can get a $3000USD tax write off for it.

 

[USMC-615]

@CoachEdwards: Please PM me. I know someone who is about to unload a 3 years old Alpha Ghost machine because his kids are now in college and he wants to clean out the basement. He might be willing to sell it for less than $500USD or give it away for free for a good cause, if he can get a $3000USD tax write off for it.

Wow...sweet deal there!

 

[bobleenov1963]

Wow...sweet deal there!

His machine is exactly like mine. I bought mine in 2017 and he bought his in 2018:

https://imgur.com/a/Fnj7Q4J

 

[USMC-615]

His machine is exactly like mine. I bought mine in 2017 and he bought his in 2018:

https://imgur.com/a/Fnj7Q4J

Nice!

If things don't quite work out for CoachEdwards here, you just let me know. I'll burn a few days leave, could stand a break from the airplane business anyhow...and drive from Ga to wherever it is, for $500. Knowing my luck, it'll be in the farthest reach of the US...stuck off somewhere in the northwest corner of Washington state. From one coast to the other. Lol

 

[Soundbyte]

Can I be third in line for that Ghost, depending on where's its located! Crazy nice machine. My Head electronic tensioner just kicked the bucket and I've been looking at the Alpha Ghost (among others)

 

[stapletonj]

definitely look into a used machine. could get a $3000.00 machine for less than $1000.00

 

[Rabbit]

Just be aware when looking at used machines that they are probably a) as is and b) unsupported. As long as you're good with this, they are a great option. I am the proud owner of a Babolat (Mighty) Sensor.

 

[struggle]

Call Tennis Machines dot com. Explain your situation. Bet they'll help you out.

 

[Rabbit]

Great call, @struggle

 

[struggle]

I grew up in a rural community in the middle of the west and admire the coaches who work to grow our sport. You are to be commended.

I will suggest the Alpha Revo 4000 or the Alpha Axis Pro.

If buying new, I also think these machines are the best bang for the buck in the US market.

 

[struggle]

It would be nice, yet almost a crime, to snag that Alpha Ghost and only string 20 frames/year on it.

Now, I'm positive that once you get a stringer, your players will restring more often but i'm not sure
such a machine is necessary. It's also not "portable". But still, it would be hard to resist, understandably.

Just a couple thoughts on the issue.

I wish you the best, i played HS tennis, but we were more fortunate (mid 80's). I had a Kmate (Court and Slope)
and many players were CC types etc.... We played rural schools and it was always a pleasure. Usually a win, but
the comradery was always much better than playing the (other) "rich" schools. It was fun to play and "help" them
get better, if you will. I was lucky to have a cool team and those types of experiences. Cheers!

 

[ryushen21]

I am a rural ******* High School tennis coach. My players currently have to drive nearly an hour 1-way to get new strings. I want to buy a stringing machine to use for my players. I anticipate string approx 15-20 rackets per year.

I will have to use booster money (from fundraisers) and I think I can justify spending about $1,000 or maybe a little more if necessary.

Any advice?

I'm in a similar situation to yours. I have a smaller team but I am getting players into the habit of restringing more frequently. The Alpha Axis Pro is what I have currently and I'm about to add the WISE unit to it. It's a great machine and will get the job done. If you can justify the added expense, the Alpha Apex Speed is another good option that has some nice upgrades that make it a little easier to use.

 

[norcal]

Update? Hopefully @bobleenov1963 is hooking @CoachEdwards with the stringer?

 

[tennisbike]

I am a rural ******* High School tennis coach. My players currently have to drive nearly an hour 1-way to get new strings. I want to buy a stringing machine to use for my players. I anticipate string approx 15-20 rackets per year.

I will have to use booster money (from fundraisers) and I think I can justify spending about $1,000 or maybe a little more if necessary.

Any advice?

I am cheap and I am part of a coaching team for HS. I string up to 50 rackets a year and I use 6-point fixed clamp a drop-weight Gamma FC-602. Works great.

 

[Mark Poole]

Another consideration is a used Prince NEOS 1000 stringer. They are bulletproof, somewhat portable, last forever, and keep their value.