The 10 Best Tennis Stringing Machines
Editor's Notes
November 25, 2020:
In this latest update, we have incorporated a range of designs to try and suit most budgets and users to ensure that everyone can set up their tennis racquet just how they like it. Essentially, there are three main types of stringing machines, each with a distinct price range that's dictated by the accuracy of tension that they produce and how easy it is to use them.
At the lower end of the scale, ideal for players who only need to string a racquet a handful of times a season, you'll find the drop-weight machines. As the name suggests, these create pressure by using a weight on a long rod, which can be placed close to or far away from the pivot to create low or high tension, respectively. They are relatively straightforward to use and satisfactory for most seasonal players, but they're not as accurate as other designs. The main difference to look for in this design is the mounting system. Lower-priced options, such as the Klippermate M100 and the Gamma Progression II 200, secure the racquet in place at 2-points, which is less stable than the 6-point mounting system adopted by the Gamma X-6 and the Gamma Progression II 602FC. This last one in the list also offers swivel clamps, which are faster to work with than the floating clamps that come with the others, however, you'll need to decide if that little time saved is worth the extra cash.
Another type of machine is the manual tension winder, for which we have selected the Gamma 6004 and the Tourna 300-CS. Both are mounted atop an adjustable floor stand and can produce very accurate results. Although both are simple to use, this type of stringer will require a little more effort than the electronic versions, but they are still worth a look as some people prefer the feel of a manual option. The drastic price difference between these two selections made us favor the Tourna 300-CS at this moment in time.
Finally, for country clubs and professional tennis stores, an electronic model is the fastest and most precise design you could opt for. Of course, these will set you back a pretty penny, but they are worth it when you're stringing multiple racquets on a daily basis. We retained the Gamma 6900 ELS from our previous listing, opting not to update it to the Gamma 9900 ELS as it's nearly double the price and doesn't offer many significantly better features, though if you are looking for a linear gripper you may want to check it out. We introduced the Gamma Progression II ELS and the Tourna 600-ES as they have exceptional levels of accuracy and can be operated with ease and speed, which are basically the requirements when you're stringing racquets as a profession.
There is one more option for those who travel around to play tennis. The MiStringer Personal is an innovative design that weighs less than 6 pounds and can fit in your racquet bag. Once you get used to the style the results are surprisingly good and the fact that it's portable might be a game changer for some people, literally.
November 25, 2018:
The ability to produce consistent results was one of our top priorities when identifying the best stringing machines. A racket with inconsistent tension on its strings doesn't allow a player to perform at the top of their game. We also wanted to make sure to include models suited for home and country club use.