The GSS Alliance is the perfect place to find a dedicated racquet technician. The Stringers Directory is a growing resource for tennis players.

Racquet technicians are quickly becoming members of the GSS Alliance and will adding their businesses to the Stringers Directory to serve tennis players in their area. If you know a qualified racquet technician that is not a GSS Alliance member please recommend they take a look at the GSS Alliance.

The Gamma ELS 8800 is an electronic, constant pull, with 6 point mounting. The machine features digital tension setting, string measurement capability, and a unique two drawer storage system for adaptors, etc. This machine is the “flagship” model and includes many technical features that make this a $3,299.00 machine to consider. Gamma has a comprehensive “Earn a Machine Program” to make it easy to get this machine in your shop.

Mounting System

The Gamma 8800 uses a six (6) point mounting system with articulating contact pads. The support mounting table is unique. The table is an extruded aluminum shape. The self centering system is adjusted from either end and moves the major supports (6 & 12 positions) in and out together. There is no other “locking” device for the supports. This system will accommodate racquet heads up to 17 inches long and down to 8 inches long. The supports are sleek but robust. The table allows for 360 degree racquet rotation.

The side supports are activated with a large, easy to use knob at each end and move both sides of the support evenly. The contact pads are articulating so the flat surface is firmly in contact with the racquet. This is a very good design feature. A nice supply of contact pads is included in case of damage or loss.

The supports at 6 and 12 are adjusted using a small knob tucked in under the larger side support knob. You can see it right under the large knob. This is not the most convenient location but OK once you get the hang of it.

The side supports (right) are sturdy, well polished, and easily adjusted. The contact pads must be adjusted to make full contact with the racquet. When I received the machine I could not move these contact pads because they were so tight. By loosening the large knurled knob on the underside of the arm I was able to freely rotate the pads. Just loosen the knob enough to allow the contact pads to move. Don’t let the knobs fall off.

The tension head is housed in a removable module just in case it needs to be returned for service. The linear pull tension head uses a large (.950 diameter) patented “rotating” diabolo (left). The rotating diabolo (they call a roller guide) acts as a pulley so the string is being pulled from the tension head and not the roller guide. The shear size of the tension head, length of the thick, textured, tension clamps, and large activation tab (right) make this an easy and quick setup. A foot switch is included for hands free operation. I wonder what you are doing with your hands?

Setting the tension is easy. The well laid out keypad has every button you would ever need and they are well identified and use actual buttons not membrane switches. The large LED display gives you all the information you could ever want. With so many buttons you may miss the small triangle buttons that change tension by .1 pound instead of the standard 1 pound increment. Obviously, then, you can set the tension to 61.1 pounds if you want. This machine incorporates a memory function that allows for 9 settings in memory. Which memory you are using is displayed in a LED display. There is a pull speed setting, pre-stretch setting, knot tension setting, ponds/kilogrm setting, the string measurement button, and more.

The 8800 also includes another nice feature of the 8800 is a handy string measurement device (right)

String clamps are narrow four (4) fingered ( above right), lever locking, and heavy duty. The action is sure to be durable due to the two (2) rollers that contact the body to make the clamping action smooth and positive. The clamps are adjustable using large knurled knobs ( above left). The new knobs were difficult to turn but should ease up with time. The clamps are the “fit into” configuration which means the clamp shaft slides into the tubular base. The “bumper” is very thin and should be replaced with a thicker one if you can. The clamp faces are textured for a firm grip on the string. The locking action (right) is a lock-over type as opposed to a frictional lock. The throw of the paddle is quite long which, until you get used to it, makes you wonder if it is going too far. It is not. The lock is firm but is easily unlocked when wanted.

I found the clamps to be very effective and easy to use but adjusting them is an issue when brand new. The adjustment knob is difficult to rotate. Use a piece of old string to adjust clamping force. You probably will not need to make many adjustments, however.

Tool Tray

The padded 76 square inch tool try (right) is located exactly where it should be. Right in front of you! It is long and narrow with plenty of room for any thing you need quick at hand. Slightly hidden are two (2) pull out drawers (left) that offer about 30 cubic inches each of storage for items like the many adapter spares that come with the machine and small tool kit (below)

Stand

The machine stand (right) needs some assembly which is easy with the included tools. The assembled stand is a rugged and stable piece with adjusting feet for leveling. A piece of advice: set the height as close to your desire height as possible before you put anything else on the stand. It is almost impossible to adjust the height when the table and tension head is sitting on it. There is a notch on the down tube that allows the SHCS to fit into after it is screwed into the table down tube. A locking knob is included in case you need a height between pre-drilled holes. Each of the four extended stand legs has a leveling knob (left) for easy leveling once your machine is assembled. As mentioned above, you might want to level the machine before completing the assembly.

The table brake is a “toothed” gear (left) attached to the table and rotates with the table. With a small lever (right) you can activate the brake. The lever is small and not conveniently placed but the brake is very effective. It is obvious that this is the only sensible location for the activation lever so it is not a design flaw.

Pretty close to the table brake lever is a small plastic pad that is to be used as a “cutting” board. A cool idea.

The machine comes in three (3) sturdy boxes. As expected the machine components were very well protected. It is not surprising that you will want to assemble the stand. Inside the major down tube will be the four (4) legs tucked away out of view. Great packaging!

There is a small box inside a larger box that contains all the hardware, adapters, spare contact pads, tools, and the owners manual. The included tools should be all you need. Two (2) floating clamps (left) are included for special stringing needs.

The string reel holder (right) is handy and really useful when using the measuring function. The measuring procedure starts with selecting that function with the “string length” button. It can be sent to feet or meters. Once the string is inserted into the receptacle the procedure is manual. Simply pull the string through until the meter tells you that you have pulled enough. While pulling the string two felt pads “cleans” the string.

The clamp bases can be removed easily for cleaning or repair by removing the plastic inserts at the end of the table and simply lift out the clamp base.

Click HERE for Racquet Support data

Click HERE to view tension data

Click HERE for feature summary

The Babolat Pure Drive Roddick returns for 2012 with a great looking, but menacing, cosmetic re-do!  The gloss black shaft turns into a mat black head with the new “Pure Drive” name all over the racquet.  The graphic is not the only thing that is menacing, the overall weight and swing weight can be menacing in the right hands!

This racquet is no wimp, weighing in at 335 grams (11.82 ounces) with a swing weight of 327 grams (11.53 ounces) makes the stiffness of 71 an asset.  The GT Technology integrated throughout the head adds torsional stability for enhanced control.  The Cortex system will trap any unwanted frequency however the “Open Core” (my term) construction will allow enough feed-back for the accomplished player.

As I mentioned in a previous review the First Moment (.852 Nm) makes this racquet “feel” sort of un-friendly when first lifted off the hook at the store.  However, don’t let this dissuade you from trying this racquet, especially if you want to power the ball from baseline to baseline with ease!  This model is also available in a “plus” version that adds about 1.27 cm (.500 inches) to the length which increases the swing weight.  You will see that in the Pure Drive Roddick + review.

See the GSS specification sheet HERE

Any time you see the word “Team” on a Babolat racquet it means that particular model is lighter than the non “Team” version.  But, don’t let the “Team” keep you from trying, or recommending, this racquet because it still carries a weight of 295 grams (10.41 ounces).  If the word “Team” doesn’t identify this racquet the white synthetic will.

The hybrid shape uses the proven elliptical cross section through the head and the trapezoidal cross section through the shaft.  The beam is nearly straight but does have a slight increase in the middle of the head.  This is a stiff racquet which will contribute to power potential but do not string this racquet too tightly.  The weight distribution of 49.8 percent toward the head makes this nearly evenly balanced.

The Cortex system adds a feeling of solidarity of the “Open Core” (my term) construction but does not eliminate all “feeling”.  The GT Technology is concentrated in the head at the three and nine o’clock positions for added torsional stability.

The yellow and black cosmetic identifies this as a Nadal style racquet, which as you know is a very popular style.

My player profile for this racquet is the aggressive, improving, junior tournament player.

Click here for data for this racquet

2010 GSS Symposium Speed Stringing Competition from Tim Strawn on Vimeo.

This is the video from the speed stringing competition held at the 2010 GSS Symposium in Orlando, Florida sponsored by Prince Sports. Speaking at the beginning of the video is Steve Davis of Prince. The contest was officiated by Dave Bone of the USRSA.

Jim Downes had the winning time of 11:16.7 using a Prince P5000 stringing machine, Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 racquet with an 18×20 string pattern, and Prince Twisted 16L poly string. Certainly not the easiest racquet/string combination but the idea was to give these contestants a real challenge. In our opinion, they each rose to the occasion.

Vasiliy Guryanov – Runner-Up (and the 2009 winner) with a time of 12:31.4
Jeff Wiedeman – Third place with a time of 14:56.6

Other participants were:
Sean Teeter, Martin Anand, Adam Hunter, Mark Tarentino, David Kurvink.

Prince & Tim Strawn of GrandSlamStringers.com sponsored the event.

This morning I have spoken with Frances Davies of Bow Brand and have now set up a direct line of communications for news from the Wimbledon stringing cabin. Frances will be back at SW19 on Saturday and has agreed to supply us with some tid bits of information as the tournament progresses. So what’s the big news for stringers this year? The Isner-Mahut match was a topic of interest for me and I’ve asked Frances to find out as much information as possible regarding the stringing. We all know this match has set new records but someone is doing all the stringing for these guys and my guess is that they’ve broken stringing records as well. I think it would be interesting to see how many racquets were strung for each of these players by the time the match is complete.

So far I know that Mahut is being strung by Vaclav Smat from the Czech Repuplic and he is stringing at 21kg. I believe Isner may possible be a client of P1 now so I’m waiting for info on that. I’ve just tuned into the match and it is now tied at 68-68 in the 5th set–absolutely incredible stuff!

The GSS symposium has attracted International attendees over the last two years.  In 2009 Myoung Yong Koo and Young Hoon Lee traveled all the way from South Korea and that’s pretty impressive when you consider the calculated distance is 7,528 miles. The symposium has also had stringers and seminar leaders from Brazil, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, Canada, France, Spain and of course the United States. The goal is for the trend to continue for future symposiums.

Myoung Koo & J.C. Carpentier

Mark Gonzalez & Myoung Koo

Recent photos provided by Ron Rocchi & Todd Mobley of the Wilson stringing team, official stringers for the Australian Open

Rod Laver Arena in the background

Watching the AO matches!

Inside the AO stringing room

In case you get lost!

Aerial view of the AO complex

Rod Laver Stadium

Todd Mobley (left) & Toru Yusuki (center)

Stringing Room

Front Desk

Completed Racquet

The women’s field seems to be opening up more an more these days so who do you think will be the real news maker in 2010? Will Wozniacki surge ahead and capitalize on her 2009 successes? Will the Williams sisters prove that they’re still a force to be reckoned with? What about the return of Justine Henin? Can she dominate the womens game again?