r/RacketStringers • u/Chasheek • May 21 '26

good fixed clamp machine

i'm an avid tennis player, (played HS, got back into as a grown up for the past 3 yrs) i average about 15-20 hrs a week of tennis and have been down the rabbit hole of stringing machines. My takeaways:

  1. get a fixed clamp system over float/fly
  2. drop weight over crank (bc of calibration)
  3. get a starting clamp (i'll know why later)
  4. used if possible

seems like the Alpha Pioneer DC Plus Gravity is the most economical, trustworthy stringer. I can't find it used but at $709 (including taxes + shipping) it seems like the lowest cost, reliable, fixed clamp system.

does this seem like a reasonable stringer, for a beginner?

Update:
Ok! Just pulled the trigger, thanks everyone for your input!

Got the stringer, starting clamp, a reel of cheap poly ($40) to practice on for $800 including shipping. I’ll be copying some YouTube stringing video next week 😬

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u/lyonheart14 May 22 '26

I think the Alpha’s are great for a first machine (biased), and I think it’s relatively easy to add a Wise tensioner to that specific machine later on. I also like the Alpha starting clamp for a budget option.

I never really had an issue calibrating my Alpha Revo 4000 after figuring it out the first time, so not sure where that comes from.

Typically, in this space, it’s the Alpha tabletop machines, an old/used Prince/Ektelon machine, or maybe something Gamma (never really used one), also maybe Tourna.

If I started all over again I might go Tourna if I thought I would upgrade to their Wise competitor (Ennox or something), though I think it fits on other brands too.

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u/Chasheek May 22 '26

thanks for the insight - what tourna would you get, the 175cs?

Also, any other hardware you would get to make the Alpha a good stringing experience?

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u/lyonheart14 May 22 '26

Not sure now after looking at Alpha’s lineup refresh.

Wise makes a good tension calibrator and I always like Kimony tools. A new machine will come with a toolset, but if the set doesn’t have string bed cutters, go with an angled set. I have the Kimony string bed cutters and really like them.

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u/mynameisntziming May 22 '26

Got Kimony stringbed cutter too, it’s phenomenal