Im thinking of buying this stringing machine for 'badminton' and not sure whether all the tools that I need are included. I've emailed Atssports.com several times and they said that all the tools are included to string a badminton racquet. I just need confirmation from someone here that they are telling the truth. Do I need to buy any additional equiptment to string a badminton racquet or is everything already included like they have said. (This machine is for tennis racquets I think) http://www.atssports.com/ats/reference_product.asp?dept_id=9010&parent_dept_id=9007&pf_id=MGXS# (and yes i voted that we should have a stringing section on the left) Thanks
the clamps in the picture are tennis floating clamps when I got my Progression II from ATS I had to get the badminton floating clamps extra. I also got a starting clamp from them. I have since got some badminton floating clamps from Eagnas and another starting clamp. I would recommend the Eagnas clamps. The ATS floating clamps are OK-ish, but only up to about 23 lb The starting clamp from ATS is OK, but the Eagnas has stronger springs. I'll put some pics of the floating clamps up in a while. The Eagnas floating clamps are like those you can see on the Gefen Sports website (but only 14USD rather than 25GBP) http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/street/xnf37/tools.html
The Eagnas clamps have a plastic centre and metal outside. The Gefen site says theirs are steel and aluminium, so maybe that's why they cost more.
Im in a bit of a stick here... so they tennis clamps would not work at all or just not suitable enough to use for badminton racquets? Im guessing the machine doesn't come with a starting clamp either... Wouldn't the delivery from Eagnas be expensive? just for the clamps.... I think everything at Gefen's is way overpriced... (The more I ask about this the more I get confused...)
So what you're saying is that what I need extra is 2 badminton floating clamps and 1 starting clamp? Do you know where I can buy some from the UK just incase I decide not to order it from Eagnas, btw how long does delivery take from Eagnas and how much?
Hey thanks for all the info Neil Nicholls, I've decided on what I want now... it's going to be the Gamma X-2 Stringer from - ATS sports Yonex double string clamp, spring action, for badminton, 5x8 cm, made in Japan - Gefen (£15 each x 2) That sounds just about right now right...? I don't need a starting clamp do I? lol so many questions... I'll place an order tonight, and when I get my machine I'll go to gefens directly and buy the 2 clamps
Starting clamp is handy, but not absolutely necessary. (do a search in the stringing forum...doh!) If Atssports.com said "all the tools are included to string a badminton racquet" Then maybe they are including the badminton clamps for you. It's hard to tell until you actually get the machine. You cant use the tennis clamps for badminton because they will not fit into the small gap between badminton strings. They are made for the larger gap between strings on a tennis racquet. Shipping cost from Eagnas was about 10USD and they got to me inside a week. Dunno any other UK places off the top of my head
Reh thats well cheap and quick... haha change of mind then, looks like I'll order it from Eagnas. Did you have to email them and give your credit card details? Because they don't seem to have an online order form.
Personally, I wouldn't choose that clamp either. (you can also get that from Central Sports for 15 GBP) I don't know, but I expect it wouldn't perform much different to the ATS clamps. Dunno how strong the springs are though.
I emailed them to get a price confirmation, but I phoned them to order and give credit card details, because I didn't want to email my card number
Oh I thought only gefens had that... I've emailed ATS back and forth and for some reason they said that if I email them my credit card details it would be $15 cheaper than ordering it through their website which sounded a bit strange. They said that that the $15 extra shouldn't be but insisted that I gave them my credit card details through email. Although the emails are coming directly from ATS sports and are authentic it sounds a bit dodgy to me. Can you give me a feedback on what you think? Should I email them my credit card saving details saving $15 or just buy it directly from their website for an extra $15? Its the same for Eagnas sports isn't it? If I wanted to buy something from them I would have to email them my credit card details? Is it safe...? I don't really want to phone them up because phone call would cost a bomb.
you shouldn't have to email your card details. With ATS, I arranged everything by email, but phoned to finalise the order and give credit card number. I dealt with someone called Leah. Nice and helpful. I might not have cared about the cost of the phone call because I might not have been using my own phone... San Diego Badminton Supply is another funny website, where if you place an international order through the web it gets the shipping cost very wrong.
Haha yea, the same person I'm dealing with is called Leah Goldberg... she sounds very friendly... I have pretty much arranged everything by email now and all I need to do is send my credit card details..... I'm thinking I can trust this person so I'll just hope everything will go ok.... (fingers crossed)
I used both Yonex clamps and Klipper clamps (like Eagnas) before. For my own experience, I think Yonex clamps work way better than the other one. The Eagnas/Klipper type of clamps have the adjustable screw, which is handy if it works. However, after about 50 string jobs, the clamp will not strong enough to hold 25+ lb, especially for thin or Ti string. However, the Yonex clamps I got are the old logo ones (from a store clearance), not sure about the new ones quality.
The floating clamp I got from Eagnas is all metal (cast aluminum?) with 5 or 6 fingers. Seems to hold well.
