We took the time to review this product properly, stringing approximately 100 racquets on it before writing this review.

Firstly we were impressed that this machine comes standard with a foot pedal which can come in handy to keep your hands free when stringing, decreasing the stringing time. The machine cosmetics are sharp and smart. Unfortunately this machine doesn't come standard with a stand, but it can easily be added for $249.

We pulled the tools out of the packaging and were amazed by how many tools were provided. Even offering obscure tools like a path finder awl. We were disappointed to find that the tools didn't include angled cutters which should be standard. Instead a cutting knife was provided. Whilst angled cutters will only cost you $15, simply ask us when purchasing this machine and we'll switch over the knife for a brand new pair of angled cutters. How could they forget those!

When mounting racquets we noticed that the machine held the racquet very firmly giving us confidence that the racquet would not move or be warped in any way. Unfortunately this machine does not have the faster mounting system of the IKON K5 or other advanced models, but what can you expect for this price! This is the same mounting system on most entry level machines, where the side supports are controlled individually, meaning there are 6 knobs instead of 4. So the extra time to mount racquets was a bit frustrating for us since we are used to stringing on $5,000+ machines, but for home stringers, the extra few minutes to mount and dismount a racquet won't be an issue.

We tested the machine with an electronic tension calibration scale and found it was very accurate. For testing purposes, we calibrated it by opening the panel on the front of the machine. By following the instructions in the detailed manual we were able to fine tune it, even though it was not required. It was a little bit tricky, but we got there in the end. The more advanced models have easier ways of calibrating the tension, but it can still be done on this machine.

The rotational tension head is another thing we were not used to, again because we are used to more expensive machines with linear pull, but it certainly didn't slow us down. The string needs to be wrapped around the tension head and then through the center of the head. The string held well and did not seem to kink the difficult polyester strings. Whilst we prefer a linear pull, we found this very acceptable.

We tried some soft synthetic strings like Wilson Sensation and watched the constant pull in action. Constant pull is where the machine continually pulls the string. For example, if you set the machine to pull 60 pounds, it will do so and then as the string starts to stretch, it keeps pulling it tighter to make sure it's at 60lbs. It's not until you clamp off the string and release the tension head that it stops pulling. We used our electronic tension calibration scale to test this properly and we were slightly disappointed with the time it took for the constant pull to kick in. For example, we tried setting it to 60 pounds, and noticed it could drop right down to 57 pounds before the machine tightened up the string back to 60 pounds. More advanced machines will not let the tension drop more than a pound before tightening it again. For fast stringers, this is generally not a big issue because you've clamped off the string before the machine even has time to lose tension and be restrung. Slow stringers will still find this tension mechanism much more accurate than a manual crank / wind back machine.

One of the most positive things about this machine was the clamps. These are the same clamps found on Klips IKON K5, their most advanced machine. We could easily see the diamond dust coating inside the clamps and noticed how well it gripped onto the string. This was great on soft strings because we didn't have to tighten the clamps too much to hold it adequately. The only negative we found was that if we didn't tighten the clamp enough and the string slipped through the clamp, it tended to really shred the string making it unusable. Other clamps don't do this, so it's something that needs to be watched. After doing this once, it never happened again to us as we always made sure it was tight enough. The clamps are quite large and bulky making it hard to get them close together. This is only an issue when starting the racquet on the centre two strings.

The base clamps have large levers on them which make them easy to use. We could imagine that they would be easier to accidentally knock undone, but it's not something that happened to us while stringing on it. They are also spring loaded which means that they are easier to release with a fairly simple touch. To summarise the clamps, whilst they are big and bulky the diamond dust coating is simply excellent and holds the string better than any other clamp we've seen.

We found the stand to be slightly wimpy in appearance, but surprisingly adequate to do the job. There was no issue with the stability of the machine. As mentioned earlier the stand is an extra $249 but we think it's worth it unless you have a suitable work bench to place the machine on. The reel holder can hold 7 reels and helps keep your floor clean and tidy.

In summary, we believe this is the best entry level electric stringing machine on the market. There are definitely better machines but at $2,295 this machine really is a winner.

Features

• New 6 point mounting system (10 point supports)
• Electronic tensioning "constant pull" system
• 360 degree dual action diamond coated quick lock alloy string clamps
• LED tension display in kgs & lbs with increments of 0.5 units
• Tools included
• Full 360 degree turntable Rotation
• 2 year warranty
• Optional stand - $249*

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