Place of purchase: Laserfibre

   Date of purchase: 12/2000

   Warranty: 10 years

   Price: $695

   Equipment:

Drop weight table top model, 5 point mounting, 2 glide bar single action fixed clamps. Comes with needle nose plier, wire cutter, hex set & assorted Laserfibre strings.

   Experiences:

Well built, easy to use, excellent customer service and support. A little tricky pulling first 4 mains through the throat area.

   Place of purchase: Laserfibre

   Date of purchase: 06/2001

   Warranty: 10 years

   Price: $695

   Equipment:

Table-top, drop-weight tensioner with single action swivel-clamps on glide bars. The tensioner, while a drop weight, pulls the reference tension regardless of the position of the bar, unlike other drop-weight machines, hence the bar does not have to be horizontal to pull the correct tension. The bar locks in an upright position, when the bar is tilted further up (from its locked position) the tension jaws open to accept the string. The jaws automatically sense the string and will allow the bar to be lowered, pulling correct tension. If no string is placed in the jaws the bar will not lower. After pulling tension and clamping, raise the bar and the jaws open releasing the string. This is a commercial quality machine with cast aluminum turntable, clamps and tension head. The mounting system is a 5 point inside mount, with 3 contact points on the head and 2 in the throat. The clamps can be reconditioned every 3 years as part of the 10 year warranty.

   Experiences:

The mounting system is rather unique but mounts the racquet quickly and very securely while giving excellent access to the grommets. The clamps are smooth, fast and very secure but must be moved from the base to avoid binding. Double action clamps are also available for the same price. The clamps easily accommodate fan shaped patterns. I checked the tension with a gamma tension calibrator at various angles of the weight bar and it was right on in each case. This is a constant pull machine.
The turntable does not have a brake nor does the machine allow 360 rotation of the turntable (it has a stop). This machine is fast, easy and fun to string on. It allows very consistent string jobs. I highly recommend it.

   Place of purchase: Tennis Tech UK

   Date of purchase: 05/2003

   Warranty: 10 years

   Price: $800

   Equipment:

Table top, drop weight with reference tension at all angles. 5 point fixing. 2 double action fixed clamps. Drop weight is split to allow badminton tensions.

   Experiences:

Solid machine. Racquet mounting is secure and supports frame well during stringing. Tensioning system is quick and grips string well without damage. Double action clamps are easy to use but can move slightly when tension is released during stringing of crosses unless positioned correctly. The "sensor" string tensioning system (where weight arm stays elevated until a string is gripped and gripper releases automatically when arm is lifted again after tensioned string is clamped) is excellent. Would choose same machine again but might go for the single action clamps.

   Place of purchase: Tennis Tech, Northwood, UK

   Date of purchase: 02/2006

   Warranty: 10 years

   Price: $768

   Equipment:

Table top, portable, 5 point mounting system, 2 single action fixed clamps

   Experiences:

I have just purchased this machine and it is a dream compared to the Klippermate that I have been using. The racket head seems to be very securely mounted, the single action fixed clamps are fantastic after using floating clamps. It would take me up to 4 drops with the Klipper to get the arm horizontal so each racket restring took nearly 2 hrs to do it properly. Had wonderful tuition at Tennis Tech. Am thrilled with this machine, expect to be using it for years. Would recommend it highly if you cannot stretch to an electronic machine. Also portable to take to tournaments if need be.

   Place of purchase: Alpha Sports

   Date of purchase: 10/2009

   Warranty: 10 years

   Price: $900

   Equipment:

Table top, portable, 5 point mounting system, 2 single action fixed clamps

   Experiences:

I debated between buying the Stringway ML 100 or the Gamma X-Es for a long time before deciding upon the Stringway. The deciding consideration was that the ML 100 had the identical mounting and clamping systems as Stringway's $3000 electronic professional machine. These two things are important to me. Another consideration was that the X-Es had a rotational gripper, whereas the ML 100 has a linear gripper. With nylon this hardly matters, but with gut it does, and natural gut is what I specialize in. The downside of the ML 100 is that you can't do proportional stringing on it. Well, you can, but moving the weight on the bar (to change tension) is difficult and hard on my bad back. I am pleased with my choice of the ML 100. The machine has such a feel of quality that it inspires me to do good work. I paid $100 extra for the 'trick' single action swivel clamps. I don't know if this was really necessary. I just wanted the best, for it is a machine I intend to use for many years.