How many people still play with rackets that are over 20 years old?

Mick · Mar 9, 2011

i can play quite well with the old racquets
but it's quite disappointing that when i switch to the very latest racquets, i don't see a big improvement in my game. so when people see that i use an old racquet, they think that i have a disadvantage but not really so. some of you are probably like this as well

ps2dcgba · Mar 10, 2011

I occasionally whip out my Yonex Rx-37 and Rx-32, these thing are real beauties for strokes, too bad they don't make classics like these anymore, the paint job on those rackets are way more advanced and look more professional done than the Wilson 'K' and 'BLX' series.......nuff said

jimanuel12 · Mar 10, 2011

Mick said:
i can play quite well with the old racquets
but it's quite disappointing that when i switch to the very latest racquets, i don't see a big improvement in my game. so when people see that i use an old racquet, they think that i have a disadvantage but not really so. some of you are probably like this as well

i agree with 100%, i have tried the newest latest racquets, they don't play as well for me as my old ones.
still use the old fischers, prince and they play very good for me.

vwfye · Mar 10, 2011

I was out volleying yesterday with "The Butterfly Net" yesterday (Black Max w/ 48lb tension) and it was amazing how much pop a 13.1oz stick can have with loose strings! When my HS team looks at what I do with the old sticks, then they compare the head size to what they are using, the just shake their collective heads in disbelief.

TheOC · Mar 10, 2011

I still carry a PS85 St. Vincent in my bag just to hit with from time to time. I'd play with the stick if I had more than two, plus extra grommets as I wear through headguards much more quickly than most people. Since I can't get grommets for them, I just play with the BLX tour 90. Usually play with guys from my 5.0 league, who mostly use old mids or the new versions of the mids. But I also practice with the D1 team at the college nearby from time to time, most of whom are all now playing with the Pure Drives and other similar sticks. All those guys are pretty baffled that I can compete and win against them using a stick like I do. The closest any of them has to what I would consider a players' stick would be a Pure Storm Tour, and all of them are using a stick with a 98 sq in racquet head or larger. I've used the pure drive in the past, but nothing can compare to the feel and pop of a nice hefty midsize, or what the young guys call a tree trunk lol

roundiesee · Mar 10, 2011

TheOC said:
I still carry a PS85 St. Vincent in my bag just to hit with from time to time. I'd play with the stick if I had more than two, plus extra grommets as I wear through headguards much more quickly than most people. Since I can't get grommets for them, I just play with the BLX tour 90. Usually play with guys from my 5.0 league, who mostly use old mids or the new versions of the mids. But I also practice with the D1 team at the college nearby from time to time, most of whom are all now playing with the Pure Drives and other similar sticks. All those guys are pretty baffled that I can compete and win against them using a stick like I do. The closest any of them has to what I would consider a players' stick would be a Pure Storm Tour, and all of them are using a stick with a 98 sq in racquet head or larger. I've used the pure drive in the past, but nothing can compare to the feel and pop of a nice hefty midsize, or what the young guys call a tree trunk lol

Wow, kudos to you! You must be very good; at what level do you play, and is it mainly in singles or doubles?

slice bh compliment · Mar 11, 2011

I play with a wooden racquet from 1980.
It's the most fun frame in my bag and it keeps my footwork sort of young, my shot selection disciplined and my swings proper.

Of course I don't play matches with it.
I compete with a thin-beam with a HL balance and a static weight of over 13 ounces. It is made of graphite and it has a headsize in the 90s. I wish I had some new Prince Woodies.

I wish all racquets were wooden. And midsized to midplus.

jimanuel12 · Mar 22, 2011

Hannah19 said:
I pick up any old stick from my collection just about every week.
Recent rackets I've played with: Fischer Superform XL, MAX 200G, 400i, Kuebler R50 & R30, PS 85 (Belgium and China versions), Fin Scorpion and Donnay Thierry Tulasne (wood).

mine are prince os pro 110 - prince spectrum composite and one older wilson os - all 12 oz or better and they play beautifully.
i love them and got them for almost nothing. all like new.

Ronaldo · Mar 22, 2011

ps2dcgba said:
I occasionally whip out my Yonex Rx-37 and Rx-32, these thing are real beauties for strokes, too bad they don't make classics like these anymore, the paint job on those rackets are way more advanced and look more professional done than the Wilson 'K' and 'BLX' series.......nuff said

Still use that Yonex RX-32, when was it sold?

pistolphil · Mar 23, 2011

2x Donnay CX Graphite... 25y/o

chippy17 · Mar 23, 2011

roundiesee said:
Do you guys ever get tired of being teased by fellow players? Especially those who use the latest Prince and Wilson rackets? I know I do (eg, here comes the "dinosaur"....)......

I play with PS 6.0 95s and have done since I was about 17 so yes about 20 years and yes I get called that sort of thing even by guys at my club who are older than me!

I bought some lighter Ncodes a couple of years ago and I immediately got tennis elbow (never had it before ever) took me a fair while to figure out that it might be the slightly head heavier Ncodes, so switched back to my old boys and tennis elbow gone within a few sessions

only have 2 left now and actively seeking to add 1 or 2 before they all dissappear

but would also like to try to find a new racquet that I like to add to these as they are getting on a bit, like their owner

Virginia · Mar 23, 2011

I don't even own any modern racquets (except the Becker 11 mid) and often try different ones. My latest love affair was with the Yonex R-271, but I always go back to my Chris Competition, of which I have three. FWIW, the Chris is the best designed racquet ever made - such a shame it never really took off. Impossible to get tennis elbow with this frame.

Ronaldo · Mar 23, 2011

Virginia said:
I don't even own any modern racquets (except the Becker 11 mid) and often try different ones. My latest love affair was with the Yonex R-271, but I always go back to my Chris Competition, of which I have three. FWIW, the Chris is the best designed racquet ever made - such a shame it never really took off. Impossible to get tennis elbow with this frame.

Chris Competition is that 5-Star racquet with a huge open throat? One just sold for $25 on Fleabay, item #110656997899 . What makes it so great?

heftylefty · Mar 23, 2011

I am making a move from my Babolat PST to Prince CTS DB26 MidPlus. I have found I’m more accurate; and I am not giving up too much power. And I am experiencing less vibration

Cesare · Mar 24, 2011

i'm currently playin' with the Head graphite radial 22x23. Imho one of the best racquet ever. 22x23 string pattern. great control and feel.

purple-n-gold · Mar 24, 2011

break out my jack kramer prostaff( the one w/diamonds) at least a couple of times a year, pure butta

Ronaldo · Mar 24, 2011

purple-n-gold said:
break out my jack kramer prostaff( the one w/diamonds) at least a couple of times a year, pure butta

All good till you need to re-string it

purple-n-gold · Mar 24, 2011

i've got a buddy that loves stringing woodies

Ronaldo · Mar 24, 2011

purple-n-gold said:
i've got a buddy that loves stringing woodies

Does he also tattoos himself?

Virginia · Mar 29, 2011

Ronaldo said:
Chris Competition is that 5-Star racquet with a huge open throat? One just sold for $25 on Fleabay, item #110656997899 . What makes it so great?

its stability and the fact that no matter where you hit the ball on the frame, there is absolutely NO vibration. It's impossible to get tennis elbow with this frame. It's also a spin master, as well as being able to really smack the ball.

treblings · Mar 29, 2011

Cesare said:
i'm currently playin' with the Head graphite radial 22x23. Imho one of the best racquet ever. 22x23 string pattern. great control and feel.

interesting. there´s one on fleabay at the moment.

beeveewee · Mar 29, 2011

wilson sting mid

Currently playing with a pair of Wilson Sting Mids.

Aps1987 · Mar 29, 2011

My main frame is a new one, but for fun sometimes I play with an old PK Silver Ace. Great feel, tons of spin for a mid. A bit heavy for me to play full matches with, though.

Cesare · Mar 30, 2011

treblings said:
interesting. there´s one on fleabay at the moment.

it's a 1987 racquet, 102 sq. inch. , but the real head size is 99. If you want to buy the frame, you'll never regret, especially if you are a serve and volley player. it can be used as a very precise scalpel, just remember that you had to string the frame (with a 18-19 gauge multifilament) at this tension: 15 kg mains, 14 kg crosses!

Devilito · Mar 30, 2011

Im about to switch back to my old PS85s. Went from the PS85, quit tennis for 10 years, came back, got a Technifibre 320, then Dunlop 100, then KPS88, now back to PS85. Full circle. I cam back thinking after 10 years that new racquets would be somehow magical. How wrong I was. The strings however, wow. Couldn’t believe how good poly was compared to my old Kevlar, syngut problend

treblings · Mar 30, 2011

Cesare said:
it's a 1987 racquet, 102 sq. inch. , but the real head size is 99. If you want to buy the frame, you'll never regret, especially if you are a serve and volley player. it can be used as a very precise scalpel, just remember that you had to string the frame (with a 18-19 gauge multifilament) at this tension: 15 kg mains, 14 kg crosses!

15/14???

That´s how Nastase used to string his adidas woodies.
You serious?
Talking about scalpels, i´ve been playing the elite pro for a week now, and that´s as scalpel-like as they come

Cesare · Mar 30, 2011

treblings said:
15/14??? That´s how Nastase used to string his adidas woodies.
You serious?
Talking about scalpels, i´ve been playing the elite pro for a week now, and that´s as scalpel-like as they come

Sure, i'm serious . This was the Head stringing recomandation when the frame come out in 1987. Obviously because of the very dense 22x23 pattern.

treblings · Mar 30, 2011

Cesare said:
Sure, i'm serious . This was the Head stringing recomandation when the frame come out in 1987. Obviously because of the very dense 22x23 pattern.

i thought it was a typo

i make sure to try that set-up. the rackets not mine yet, though

retrowagen · Mar 31, 2011

treblings said:
Talking about scalpels, i´ve been playing the elite pro for a week now, and that´s as scalpel-like as they come

vwfye · Mar 31, 2011

he would be correct. the PK Micro Mid's highest recommended tension was 45lbs and that way, way, way, way, way too tight!

Hannah19 · Mar 31, 2011

treblings said:
15/14??? That´s how Nastase used to string his adidas woodies.
You serious?
Talking about scalpels, i´ve been playing the elite pro for a week now, and that´s as scalpel-like as they come

The Head Radial is comparable with the Pro Kennex Micro rackets.
Thin strings, dense pattern = low tension.
The opposite of the Snauwaert HI-Ten': thick string, open pattern=high tension.

treblings · Apr 1, 2011

Hannah19 said:
The Head Radial is comparable with the Pro Kennex Micro rackets.
Thin strings, dense pattern = low tension.
The opposite of the Snauwaert HI-Ten': thick string, open pattern=high tension.

it seemed very low to me in comparison to a 20/18 racket that i would string with about 25 kg.
i´ve got a pk micro from a garage sale but never restrung it, so the question didn´t arise.
how hard would you string a Hi-Ten?

Rorsach · Apr 1, 2011

treblings said:
it seemed very low to me in comparison to a 20/18 racket that i would string with about 25 kg.
i´ve got a pk micro from a garage sale but never restrung it, so the question didn´t arise.
how hard would you string a Hi-Ten?

I've strung a Hi-Ten at 90 lbs (40 kgs) and i had my PK Micro Ace strung at 30 lbs (14 kgs).

treblings · Apr 1, 2011

Rorsach said:
I've strung a Hi-Ten at 90 lbs (40 kgs) and i had my PK Micro Ace strung at 30 lbs (14 kgs).

as an experiment or for optimum results?
how long did the strings last on the hi-ten?

Rorsach · Apr 1, 2011

treblings said:
as an experiment or for optimum results?
how long did the strings last on the hi-ten?

For optimum results. The stringbeds of both the Hi-Ten and the Micro have the same firmness at those extreme tensions as a normal racquet strung at 24 kgs because of their open/dense pattern.

And i used something like a 14 or 13 gauge string in the Hi-Ten and there are a couple of folks on this forum that used weedwhacker string in theirs.

bcart1991 · Apr 1, 2011

I broke out my POG that is circa '87 or '88-ish (4-stripe) at practice last night. She's hefty, but hits sweetly.

Hannah19 · Apr 1, 2011

treblings said:
it seemed very low to me in comparison to a 20/18 racket that i would string with about 25 kg.
i´ve got a pk micro from a garage sale but never restrung it, so the question didn´t arise.
how hard would you string a Hi-Ten?

Restringing a PK Micro today would be virtually impossible because the thin gauge string is so hard to find.
That goes for the Hi-Ten strings too, although, would a heavy duty Marlin type fishing line do the trick?

Hannah19 · Apr 1, 2011

Rorsach said:
For optimum results. The stringbeds of both the Hi-Ten and the Micro have the same firmness at those extreme tensions as a normal racquet strung at 24 kgs because of their open/dense pattern.

And i used something like a 14 or 13 gauge string in the Hi-Ten and there are a couple of folks on this forum that used weedwhacker string in theirs.

Well, so much for premature replies....Here's the answer: Weedhacker string!!
How well does that play?

Ronaldo · Apr 2, 2011

Hannah19 said:
Restringing a PK Micro today would be virtually impossible because the thin gauge string is so hard to find.
That goes for the Hi-Ten strings too, although, would a heavy duty Marlin type fishing line do the trick?

Can you string the PK Micro 2-piece with badminton strings?

mad dog1 · Apr 2, 2011

Ronaldo said:
Can you string the PK Micro 2-piece with badminton strings?

i believe the PK Micro uses 19 or 20g string. badminton string is 22g so it's much thinner. i've got a PK Micro that i'm going to restring w/ 18g syn gut.

jimanuel12 · Apr 15, 2011

jimanuel12 said:
so far:

3 fischer pros 105
3 fischer pro 98
2 prince os 110 spectrum
1 prince pro graphite 110

and still i want more!!!!

update:
3 fischer pros 105
3 fischer pro 98
2 prince os 110 spectrum
2 prince pro graphite 110
1 wislon 110 os (older racquet - heavy) graphite

jimanuel12 · Apr 15, 2011

pshulam said:
Good luck in your upcoming revenge.

got my revenge yesterday - beat him 6-1 6-0 with my trusty prince pro 110's.
loved it but today i am very sore.
that was the first time out this year playing a match.
but used my old prince pro 110s - over 25 years old!!!!!

Roadway · Apr 19, 2011

I like the old-school feel of 80's racquet.
I've got several Wilson, Donnay and Head midsize racquets made at that time.
Very sweet traditional feel!

mctennis · Apr 27, 2011

I've got a yellow Estusa Pro Legend like Conners used at the US Open I still play with.

tenapasi · May 1, 2011

I just wondering.
Do you feel differences in feel when you 1st swing it about 10-20 years and now ?
Or they just feel the same ?

vwfye · May 2, 2011

Mine brought my game right back into form. If you were grooved on an older stick and the swing style they require, your game will be just like it was... everything else considered.

gloumar · May 3, 2011

mad dog1 said:
i believe the PK Micro uses 19 or 20g string. badminton string is 22g so it's much thinner. i've got a PK Micro that i'm going to restring w/ 18g syn gut.

hi I got one (Micro Copper) and that's precisely the jauge that's mounted on it : a synth gut 18g. GO !

mad dog1 · May 3, 2011

gloumar said:
hi I got one (Micro Copper) and that's precisely the jauge that's mounted on it : a synth gut 18g. GO !

how does it play? i haven't gotten around to restringing mine yet.

jim e · May 3, 2011

Hit with my old Tad Davis woodie the other day. Even the sound of it striking the ball brings back memories. I strung that one back in 1971 with Bow brand nat. gut, and it still is playable after all these years.How is that for a 40 year old nat. gut string job.

VGP · May 3, 2011

^^^^ good stuff!

How many people still play with rackets that are over 20 years old?

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