My friend Matthew, who I hit with in a bunch of my videos, is looking at portable stringing machines. These are some of his options.
Before we look into the various different portable stringing machines on the market, I just want to recommend everyone to consider learning to string. It helps a lot when you want to test new strings or just save money from going to the stringer. It’s also always fun to learn something new. When I started out I just bought a used electronic Alpha stringing machine and learned the hard way, but now there is plenty of content on YouTube as well as professional courses like the one from Nikki (listen to my podcast with him) at Unstrung Customs.
I wish I had a course like that to start me out, but even without it, you can get started stringing in a relatively short time. But first of all, you need a stringing machine and some basic tools.
Sadly, not many online shops like Tennis Warehouse offer many options when it comes to stringing machines. One of the best selections I’ve found at Racquet Depot, where they actually sell two versions of the Pro Stringer.
Pro Stringer
The most premium-looking portable stringer is the Pro Stringer. The sturdy design and the many accessories look like it will do the test also on the pro tour (which the company also claims). The price is a little bit on the steeper side though, around €1000 for the 2.0 and €850 for the 1.0. But if money is no object, I would have gone for this one.
Pro Stringer claims a racquet can be strung in less than 20 minutes. It features high precision constant pull electronic tensioning, where the tension head can be set from 30lbs to 75lbs for tennis only.
The package consists of the machine itself, mounting post, rotation bar, two frame retainers, two flying clamps, pliers, a cutter, power adaptor, and a carry bag.
Check out Racquet Depot or ProStringer.com for more info.
MiStringer
The interesting part about these portable stringing machines is that they have approached it a little bit differently. The best way to find out how they work is by checking out videos on their website. For the MiStringer, click here.
MiStringer comes with a patented EZ-Pull tensioner that allows you to string up to 75 lbs. In contrast to all other systems on the market, EZ-Pull does not use a traditional, compressed spring to adjust the tension and therefore does not need any calibration.
This is from Mi-Stringers website:
When holding a string the patented Lock Clamps of MiStringer are attached to the mounting table. Minimum pressure is required to hold the string tightly, even at high tensions. In all other machines, the clamps are either floating or fixed to the base of the machine and need to put a lot of pressure on the string to hold it.
MiStringer comes with a 6-point mounting system and is made out of high compression aluminum molding and steel. It weighs 3 kg or 6 lbs.
It also comes with a special tool for weaving crosses (the more time-consuming part of stringing) that allegedly speeds up the weaving of the cross strings by 200%.
Comes with a base with integrated EZ-Pull tensioner, a mounting table, 2 Lock Clamps, a table fastener, the String Weaver, 2 Allen wrenches, a carrying bag.
Price: 379 USD (419 USD with the cross-weaver tool).
EasyStringer
Like I wrote above, all these stringing machines come with a slightly different approach. The Easy Stringer is perhaps the most creative one. Where the tensioner is actually looking more like a gun.
The EasyStringer tensioner pulls only the string so it doesn’t need 4 or 6 support systems. EasyStringer has a 3 support systems, 2 in the bracket support and 1 in the tensioner.
The EasyStringer works with a manual constant pull mechanism. The tension meter is connected directly to the string.
EasyStringer set 1 includes
- 1 x Stringer for tennis and badminton (universal)
- 1 x Support Bracket for tennis and badminton (universal)
- 1 x Cocraft Press Clamp
- 2 x EasyStringer Floating Clamp, color black
- 1 x EasyStringer bag
A floating clamp is different when fixing a tennis or badminton racket, so be sure to check which purpose the device comes from.
Price: €319 from Easy Stringer or Functional Tennis
Summary
I’m not sure which one I would have gone for myself of these portable stringers. It would have been fun to review them at some point, but I can’t afford to just buy three machines for this purpose. Maybe I can get a demo somehow? Or maybe you have experience with some of these machines and want to share your thoughts with fellow tennis nerds?
It’s fun to see different portable stringers out there with various approaches and pros and cons. Keen to hear which one you would buy and why.
If you don’t need a portable machine, there are plenty of other stringing machine options to look into. I hope to do so in some future content.
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8 comments
Interesting material, Jonas. I am currently considering buying a new stringing machine and for a second here portable looked like a viable option for me. However, having watched a tutorial video for the Pro Stringer (which seems to be most advanced, or in other words, closest to traditional, “proper” stringing machines), I am not considering this anymore. Main reasons – 1) lack of clamps attached to any base (just free-floating ones), 2) crazy idea of clamping together one of the main strings with an additional piece of a “helping string” and 3) overall weirdness of the process that requires repositioning the racket and adding/removing some gizmo to support the buttcap of the racquet. It doesn’t look quick, or intuitive enough. At the same time, I am not reassured about the quality of such string job.
I’ve got the pro stringer and can highly recommend it. Regarding Jack’s comment, unfortunately alot of the online tutorials are done by bad stringers, however if you watch a Richard Parnell video and apply those techniques to the Pro Stringer it’s a great piece of kit.
Hi Alex, thanks a lot for your input. I will watch some more tutorials on Pro Stringer, but remain cautious for now :).
Hi TN, are you able to get in touch with anyone at MI Stringer? I have been trying for almost a month with no reply.
Hey, they were supposed to send a machine for review many months ago, but I haven’t seen or heard from them…
Hi,
The site now has an even more portabale stringer so looks like they are still trading but strange that no one is able to contact them
MiStringer customer support is non-existent. I have a MiStringer and its only 2 years old. I have been trying to reach someone there for 6 months regarding their warranty on parts since a couple of plastic pieces popped off and the allen wrenches got stripped. No word from them via email or their Facebook page. Not really sure how they even still sell this on Amazon where I tried contacting them there as well with no luck for a response.
This is unfortunate since I do enjoy using the stringer once I got the hang of using it. For a portable stringer this is quite useful for travel and small enough as light enough to transport in your tennis bag. The only difficult part is doing the cross strings at first. If you have big fingers this may be a deal breaker. The tool they give you to weave is slow and tedious. I don’t even bother using it. As for bolting the racket, I wish they had some sort of knob instead of using 2 different allen wrenches for the top and side bolts. It’s also fairly difficult to find the bolt when its located underneath just to tighten to lock the racket in place.
I guess if you’re ok with purchasing something without a warranty, go for it but don’t expect to get your money back for a return if you don’t like the product or have broken parts.
Good luck.
I have a nice WINN PRO stringer for sale.Looks new and strings perfectlý.Pictures upon request. $400 904 307 7194.