DarthHowie
Regular Member
I think the kimony starting clamp is still available for purchase on the kimonyusa site. the sum of trying all the ali express clamps will be a huge dent towards purchasing the kimony/yonex starting clamp.
Badminton Central Guide to Stringing Tools
- Thread starter kwun
- Start date
I think the kimony starting clamp is still available for purchase on the kimonyusa site. the sum of trying all the ali express clamps will be a huge dent towards purchasing the kimony/yonex starting clamp.
kakinami
Regular Member
I kinda learned this from a Youtuber WaRoo a Korean stringer. I saw him pull his first cross and then tie. He would clamp the second cross and then pull and knot. I kinda modified his method, he also wore cool stringers apron so I used a Japanese Hattori, it has big sleeves to hide things.So my 3 spring starting clamp from aliexpress was slipping on a 30lb string job on exbolt 63 when I was using it as an string extended. So I'm deciding to order the yonex look alike from Alpha but $125
Or if its an option, would I just be able to buy this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...6852e6369!12000028530848990!sh!CA!1800917746!
And then if I need to extend a string if I think its gonna slip, just use it in conjuction with my other starting clamps to extend? Kinda like having the starting clamp + fixed clamp when starting mains on the first pull?
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what07
Regular Member
Yup, good point but after long and hard thinking I decided to order the Allpha clone clamp gives me a chance to compare the two as I had practice and training with that one.
It was also in stock at stringersworld and 10% off the next day and now sold out
I remember watching his video before I got my machine and was going to try his method. But then I saw your post about how you modified his method to put full tension on the 2nd cross. Got a bit confuse by the explanation will watch the vid
kakinami
Regular Member
For my crosses, I might weave 3 or 4. Clamp cross 10 at the far side and pull 9 add 10% for the knot and then tie, don't release the clamps. Pull 10 and switch clamps, 10 goes to 9 and 9 goes to 10, the clamp on 10 to 9 is like a safety so your knot does not get pulled into the grommet. When you release the clamp on 9 to 10 you might notice a little slack from your knot, when you pull cross 11, I would release clamp on 9 and then release clamp on 10 and then clamp 11, you are high enough so no tension would be pulled on your knot, but you can also get a little bit of that slack from your knot. This way you can tie 4 finishing knots.Yup, good point but after long and hard thinking I decided to order the Allpha clone clamp gives me a chance to compare the two as I had practice and training with that one.
It was also in stock at stringersworld and 10% off the next day and now sold out
I remember watching his video before I got my machine and was going to try his method. But then I saw your post about how you modified his method to put full tension on the 2nd cross. Got a bit confuse by the explanation will watch the vid
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what07
Regular Member
So just got my two Alpha starting clamps / string extender tools the other day and strung about 4 rackets with them. Love the clean simple minimalistic look. The surface of both rough and provides excellent grip but I can see some people not liking it over some sort of rubber or smoother/softer. Maybe lead to more dry skins in grip areas XD
Didn't expect them to be so small (refer to picture)
While also being small surprisingly light weight.
Yonex Starting Clamp Clone was only 137.7g and the other starting clamp 87.8g. My 3 spring clamp was 165.7g.
Now the pull test, the Yonex Clone works as expected. I found it was way smoother to lock and surprisingly easy to unlock as well, not to the point where you would be afraid of it suddenly release but way more easier then the Yonex starting clamp. The lighter weight made it more of a pleasure to use for knotting.
The two spring starting clamp definitely has less clamp force then my 3 spring but. But the gripping surface was much rougher and the weight savings was definitely worth it for me. Was gonna primarily keep it free of string extenders but I would feel fine using it as an extender after stress testing it. It doesn't really punish you if you don't put the string deep enough into the clamp unless your pulling 28lbs+ on the thinner strings (aerosonic, kizuna z58, exbolt 63).
Tested strings / tensions until slippage with string slight above or under the holes. Strings that are italicized notice slippage unless clamp below the holes / show signs of slippage & stripping of coating / slipped twice in about 8 test pulls.
BG-65 / BG-65ti / Zymax 69 fire / G pro 70 - 35lbs + 10%
Exbolt 65 / BG-80 35lbs + 10%
NBG98 34lbs + 10% (gotta really make sure string is in the right spot for higher tension)
Exbolt 63, Aerosonic, 33lbs + 10%
Kizuna Z58 32lbs +10% (string snap at fixed clamp 3 times in 9 pulls)
Note: some of the more durable strings could probably be pulled higher and the clamp most likely will hold, I'm just too scared to try.
Overall they are pretty pricey and as Darth said if you can afford the Yonex one I think its well worth to have if you only plan to have 1 starting clamp. But for 1/4 savings you can have these two which I think are just as good.
Didn't expect them to be so small (refer to picture)
While also being small surprisingly light weight.
Yonex Starting Clamp Clone was only 137.7g and the other starting clamp 87.8g. My 3 spring clamp was 165.7g.
Now the pull test, the Yonex Clone works as expected. I found it was way smoother to lock and surprisingly easy to unlock as well, not to the point where you would be afraid of it suddenly release but way more easier then the Yonex starting clamp. The lighter weight made it more of a pleasure to use for knotting.
The two spring starting clamp definitely has less clamp force then my 3 spring but. But the gripping surface was much rougher and the weight savings was definitely worth it for me. Was gonna primarily keep it free of string extenders but I would feel fine using it as an extender after stress testing it. It doesn't really punish you if you don't put the string deep enough into the clamp unless your pulling 28lbs+ on the thinner strings (aerosonic, kizuna z58, exbolt 63).
Tested strings / tensions until slippage with string slight above or under the holes. Strings that are italicized notice slippage unless clamp below the holes / show signs of slippage & stripping of coating / slipped twice in about 8 test pulls.
BG-65 / BG-65ti / Zymax 69 fire / G pro 70 - 35lbs + 10%
Exbolt 65 / BG-80 35lbs + 10%
NBG98 34lbs + 10% (gotta really make sure string is in the right spot for higher tension)
Exbolt 63, Aerosonic, 33lbs + 10%
Kizuna Z58 32lbs +10% (string snap at fixed clamp 3 times in 9 pulls)
Note: some of the more durable strings could probably be pulled higher and the clamp most likely will hold, I'm just too scared to try.
Overall they are pretty pricey and as Darth said if you can afford the Yonex one I think its well worth to have if you only plan to have 1 starting clamp. But for 1/4 savings you can have these two which I think are just as good.
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the generic spring-loaded starting clamps can hit or miss due to inconsistent quality control. The one is got many years ago from aliexpress worked great and I had no issues with slippage but I have seen many others they were terrible and were so loose. The alpha one looks pretty decent considering it is 1/2 - 1/3 the price of the Yonex Toyozouki ones. Would be interesting to compare them with the yonex / toyozouki ones. I just picked up the yonex one recently (got a great deal on the AC620 tool kit that comes with it) and it feels way more secure in situations where you have to hold the string for a while but there are situations where the string-loaded one is more convenient to use and work better (due to the thinner profile) so I can see keeping both
awesome write-up, glad you like them! very impressed you had not stripping with the exbolt strings, i've found them to be super fragile especially when extending.
what07
Regular Member
Ya the Alpha one I would say offers the same security as the Yonex one for extending. I like how the adjustment dials has the little marks as well so I kinda have my 3 adjustments set so I can readjust and I'm good to go after doing my stress test. Its quite durable as I was also pulling like 36lbs during a test and the string snap and the clamp got fling to the side and now has a small indent where the lever is :S I'm just happy how lightweight and easy the lever is to activate over the Yonex/kimony.
Tbh I did notice slipping but it's only if something is just a bit too loose. So if the string isn't snug in the right spot or not enough clamp force then it either slides smoothly and strips or it literally jerks the string and most likely snaps from the stress. Seems to happen with black exbolt over the white. (No yellow)
The Alpha 2 spring I'll just use primary for knotting, so light and small and less cumbersome then the other style clamp, but the other clamp once activated u know it'd got a firm grip.
I'll update my test results as I only had so much scrap strings to test so some pulls were parts of the string that may have stripped or been clamped multiple times. In general the results are much better on thinner strings.
kakinami
Regular Member
What string broke, the string you were pulling or the string you were using as an extender? Maybe find a local tennis shop and ask them for some scrap tennis string? Maybe some poly, then you won't have to worry about string breaking in your testing =)
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what07
Regular Member
Oh yes the string I was pulling
so like Exbolt 63, aerosonic, BG-80 etc. My extender strings are scraps of something XD. Ya I was gonna ask my friend who does tennis string for some loose ones so I can use. But so far I been using the same extender strings for about 35+ rackets so far seems to be ok. Offtopic but I am strictly using your new method for starting crosses, felt right at home then my old way with the double pulling two crosses + starting clamp on the knot cross :S
kakinami
Regular Member
I was just curious about rhe weight of my starting clamps. I think 1st is version 2 of Yonex starting clamp, 2nd is version 1 of Yonex starting clamp and then Babolat starting clamp.So just got my two Alpha starting clamps / string extender tools the other day and strung about 4 rackets with them. Love the clean simple minimalistic look. The surface of both rough and provides excellent grip but I can see some people not liking it over some sort of rubber or smoother/softer. Maybe lead to more dry skins in grip areas XD
Didn't expect them to be so small (refer to picture)
While also being small surprisingly light weight.
Yonex Starting Clamp Clone was only 137.7g and the other starting clamp 87.8g. My 3 spring clamp was 165.7g.
Now the pull test, the Yonex Clone works as expected. I found it was way smoother to lock and surprisingly easy to unlock as well, not to the point where you would be afraid of it suddenly release but way more easier then the Yonex starting clamp. The lighter weight made it more of a pleasure to use for knotting.
The two spring starting clamp definitely has less clamp force then my 3 spring but. But the gripping surface was much rougher and the weight savings was definitely worth it for me. Was gonna primarily keep it free of string extenders but I would feel fine using it as an extender after stress testing it. It doesn't really punish you if you don't put the string deep enough into the clamp unless your pulling 28lbs+ on the thinner strings (aerosonic, kizuna z58, exbolt 63).
Tested strings / tensions until slippage with string slight above or under the holes. Strings that are italicized notice slippage unless clamp below the holes / show signs of slippage & stripping of coating / slipped twice in about 8 test pulls.
BG-65 / BG-65ti / Zymax 69 fire / G pro 70 - 35lbs + 10%
Exbolt 65 / BG-80 35lbs + 10%
NBG98 34lbs + 10% (gotta really make sure string is in the right spot for higher tension)
Exbolt 63, Aerosonic, 33lbs + 10%
Kizuna Z58 32lbs +10% (string snap at fixed clamp 3 times in 9 pulls)
Note: some of the more durable strings could probably be pulled higher and the clamp most likely will hold, I'm just too scared to try.
Overall they are pretty pricey and as Darth said if you can afford the Yonex one I think its well worth to have if you only plan to have 1 starting clamp. But for 1/4 savings you can have these two which I think are just as good.
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SIM YUN KIAT
Regular Member
I tried the metal one vs plastic one, the hook on the metal one is rounder and sharper, probably easier to get behind the covered main blocking the cross. So might recommend the metal handle rather than save a few Yen on the plastic handle.
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i stopped using these hooks after it broke a few of my string job
apparently its actually corroded on the inner hook after a few months.
so reverting back to the safest way which is using spare string.
an extra few second work is better than wasting entire 15 mins job.
s_mair
Regular Member
Thanks for the warning. I'll have a close look on mine regarding any corrosion. So far, everything looks fine.i stopped using these hooks after it broke a few of my string job
apparently its actually corroded on the inner hook after a few months.
so reverting back to the safest way which is using spare string.
an extra few second work is better than wasting entire 15 mins job.
Tbh I'm only using the hook as an emergency tool in case I forgot to insert the scrap string at any point. I just don't like the extra risk of scratching the frame with the hook.
what07
Regular Member
No corrosion on mine either but then again i only had it for 2 months. I use it on every string job as well, if I feel I'm putting way too much pressure and can't get the string to move enough I use it to easily insert a scrap of string.
I ordered another 2 as extras and they look slightly different then the original. Granted from a different seller. Will take Pic when home.
Middle one is my first one, the flanking left and right are the two spares, slightly longer hook. But still rounded so shouldn't damage string.
I ordered another 2 as extras and they look slightly different then the original. Granted from a different seller. Will take Pic when home.
Middle one is my first one, the flanking left and right are the two spares, slightly longer hook. But still rounded so shouldn't damage string.
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Rittersport
Regular Member
None on mine too. I've been using it on every string for almost a year
PoopNoob123
New Member
I just did that as well! The cutters are so nice. Hopefully they don’t dull out too quickly tho.
what07
Regular Member
Oh yes the string I was pulling
Offtopic but I am strictly using your new method for starting crosses, felt right at home then my old way with the double pulling two crosses + starting clamp on the knot cross :S
Update:
Alpha 2 spring mini starting clamp/knotting clamp. 3 jobs in the last week had slippage with exbolt 63 and bg66ultimax. The tension was around 29lbs to 32lbs it would be able to pull for atleast a few seconds then you will hear a clunking sound as it slips. After the first slip I brushed it down with a toothbrush and tried to clean whatever is in between the clamping area with alcohol as some of the string coating for stuck.
Even after restoring it to what I deem was fresh, it still slipped on a 2nd and 3rd job. I probably restrict it now to just knotting or extending at tensions lower then 27lbs and or higher tensions with thicker strings.
Allpha has like 3 different maybe 4 versions of this with 1 or 2 strings and at larger sizes then this "mini" But the prices sure are significant so I would recommend the Yonex starting clamp clone over the other versions of this style unless your going with my mini for some extending / knotting. If your only gonna use it as a light weight knotting clamp, I would get a 1 spring one in a mini if its available for the additional weight savings.
Just wanted to say thanks for the thumbs-up recommendation on the Yonex clone clamp. I pulled the trigger and have been very happy with it.