Hi, I am putting together an informational site based on photos of all types of racquet stringing machines and am looking for more contributors to the photo "image base" (or photo library). Generically, it is a "Stringing Machine Photo Reference Library." Although this started out as a tennis-related, research/information site, I came to realize that much of the equipment that I am documenting has applications over a broader range of racquet sports, including badminton. Since many of the stringing machines in this photo library cross the boundaries between the racquet sports, I'd like this resource to be known to the players here as well as in the tennis communities on the Internet. I'd like to request permission to post a link to the site as well as a "request for photos" from anyone who would be interested in participating. And...if it's OK to post the link and the photo request, I'd like to identify the best forum in which to make the post. General Forum? Equipment Forum? Stringing Techniques? Thanks for reading and I hope this request is not considered an intrusion. I really do look forward to feedback, visitors to the site, and contributions anyone would like to make in terms of new photo submissions. If given permission to post, I'll make the link available as soon as I can. Al Ruscelli vruscelli@houston.rr.com al@ruscelli.com
Your handle sounds familar . Are you from the tennis forum? Just checked your profile. Yes, I strongly believe I have seen your posts on TT Tennis Forum. Welcome to Badminton Forum!!! BTW, I am a LaserFibre MS 200 TT user with modified single-action clamps. Check out this linky if you haven't already: http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22331&page=7
Yes, but I basically stick to using the same name wherever I go to avoid confusion on anyone's part. Worldwide, I'm known by the same "varuscelli," -- or, the same "Al Ruscelli" when using my real name. Al "varuscelli" Ruscelli
Ahh, you are the infamous Al . As an aside: there are too many nice electronic machines out there but none of them really fit badminton except for badminton specific electronic machines from Victor and Exthree.
Ahh, then you're exactly the kind of person I need to reach here, too. One of the interesting things I've found in my research for tennis is how much crossover there is between the sports in terms of stringing machines. It seems like half of the searches I did related to "tennis racquet stringing machines" led me to hits on "badminton" as much as tennis. It took me a while to figure out (from the beginning, that is) that some of the tools were shared across the sports. Thus, when I got my stringing machine and started doing research for this photo project, a lot of the research took me to badminton sites (among other racquet sports). So...that's also why I'm looking here for contributors. And with the LaserFibre, you're a prime candidate to contribute, if you should be so inclined. Part of the goal on the site now might be to add somethings that are specific to badminton and see if the two could mix successfully. Personally, I don't see why not. But then again, I'm not familiar enough with the badminton community to know...so I'm asking in order to find out. What do you think -- if you've seen the photo project site, do you think the two share enough commonality in the stringing machines and associated tools used to share some of the same space in sort of ... hmmm ... "documentary" format as I'm doing with the site? Al Ruscelli
That's the kind of thing I need to know. I'm in very unfamiliar territory here, so really needed to ask the experts. And yes I'm infamous. Al Ruscelli
Great! No rush, though, as the project looks to be very long-term. But do contact me. This kind of effort takes a lot of contributors and I appreciate every one of them. Thanks, Pete. Al Ruscelli
main gripe i have is most machines were designed with tennis application in mind. Badminton clamps and proper frame anchors are hard to come by for badminton string and racket frame. I haven't come across a machine that i'm all happy with yet.
Well...since no one has raised an objection so far, I'll put a quick link here. I don't think this is the right forum to post it to, but if anyone objects, it's easy enough to delete the post or the link. Here's a link to the stringing machine photo library project, if anyone wants a look: http://www.photostringer.com Al Ruscelli
Wow, this is cool! I've had a few stringing machines and experience with a few more. Like Cooler, I have a few gripes about universal stringing machines. They are mainly focused for tennis, not badminton. I had to make modifications to my existing stringing machine to get it more badminton compliant (Eagnas Combo 910). I'll take pictures of my machine in the next few days. I've been searching for an upgrade (badminton racket stringing only, need 0.1lbs. increments) for a while but haven't found one that I like ideally other than the Babolat Star 5. I'm trying not to spend more than $2,500. Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Al: nice website! You have a wealth of information there. I have already bookmarked it and will go through it tomorrow when I have more time. Thanks so much, we stringers need a reference like the one you have created. Best Regards, Dan
Thanks for the nice comments, Dan. I was hoping that people in the badminton community might find the site of interest. I think the only machine that I've put on the site as a badminton stringer was one of the Klippermates, but I know the Klippermates are rather simple machines, like this: The idea that I'm considering is whether it would be feasible to put out at least one page on the site (more, if applicable) to machines that can be best used for badminton or that have been most successfully modified (?) for use in badminton. I know that there are others out there, and perhaps a page showing them all (all known ones) would be of some benefit to people doing research in acquiring a badminton stringing machine. Does that sound workable or desirable? Al Ruscelli
Gonna Do a Badminton Stringing Machine Page OK...after looking at my image archive, I'm gonna do it. I'll have my first badminton-related machine page up on the site before the end of the day. I'll post a link back later. I'll welcome any photo additions others would like to contribute, especially of their own machines. This is gonna be a fun addition. Al Ruscelli vruscelli@houston.rr.com www.photostringer.com
Absolutely Al! The badminton specific racket stringers that I know of: +Eagnas Hawk 15 ($85) +Eagnas ST-200 ($279) +Eagnas ST-250 ($319) +Eagnas Easy-3 ($299) +Yonex ST-250 ($699) +Yonex ES5Pro ($7,500) I'm sure there are a few more, PeteLSD can fill in... Most of the rest are a hybrid tennis-badminton stringing machines. This will take me some time to list, can't do it this morning, maybe this afternoon or night...
Great! I had the Eagnas machines (just not categorized yet), but not the other Yonex. I have the Yonex ES5Pro listed under tennis, and for that price tag, I'd hope it would accommodate badminton as well... . Those will make great additions.
This is the machine I've been using for quite a few years, and I believe at least 3-4 other BFers are also using this machine for their job. With personal experience and research, I think the simpler the machine, the more "universal" it could be achieved, if with proper modification and accessories. The ones with all kinda fancy features might be great for 1 kinda racket, but once it comes to modification for another sport, there are always way too many factors you need to adjust, and sometimes, backfired.
I have tentatively posted a bunch photos for badminton stringing machines on the photostringer.com site on this page: Badminton Stringing Machine Photos or http://www.photostringer.com/badminton.htm Many of these seem like they are meant for badminton and many might be tennis racquet stringing machines merely being used for badminton racquets. The items on this page are in very rough form, mostly just placed in a table for labeling. I'm working on the labeling part, but will likely have a bunch of blanks to fill in. If anyone wants to e-mail me with info to fill in (or more images to post), please feel free to do so. Any help I can get is a good thing. Thanks! Al Ruscelli www.photostringer.com vruscelli@houston.rr.com