Anyone using rackets that are 10/20+ years older ?

JayP

New User
Used to use a blx six one tour 95, loved it for its spin and feel then found a pog os "1977" at a bootsale for 5 pounds so i decided to give it a go. Strung it with alu power at 58, added 14 grams of lead to it to bring the sw up to 355 my normal sw and damn, i honestly play better with it than my "newer" frame?! I get just as much spin, more power and alot more forgiveness of this frame than my 95. Feel and confort is top notch too, Makes me wonder if theres pros out there using older models with paintjobs. Gonna stick with my pog and give the misses my 95.
 

dak95_00

Hall of Fame
Used to use a blx six one tour 95, loved it for its spin and feel then found a pog os "1977" at a bootsale for 5 pounds so i decided to give it a go. Strung it with alu power at 58, added 14 grams of lead to it to bring the sw up to 355 my normal sw and damn, i honestly play better with it than my "newer" frame?! I get just as much spin, more power and alot more forgiveness of this frame than my 95. Feel and confort is top notch too, Makes me wonder if theres pros out there using older models with paintjobs. Gonna stick with my pog and give the misses my 95.

We’ll forgive you since you are new.

There’s a million (very slight exaggeration) threads on these topics; pro paint jobs, older racquets, etc. Welcome to the classics section. They’re classics for a reason.
 

v-verb

Hall of Fame
Love the KPS88, Prestiges, and am playing with a pair of Prince CTS Thunderstick Mid Plus frames strung with poly at 30 lbs
 

Robbnc

Rookie
Still using my 1948 Wilson Jack Kramer with full bed of Victor Imperial Blue Spiral at 60#. Great plow through!
 

Robbnc

Rookie
Still using my 1948 Wilson Jack Kramer with full bed of Victor Imperial Blue Spiral at 60#. Great plow through!
 

Antónis

Professional
Used to use a blx six one tour 95, loved it for its spin and feel then found a pog os "1977" at a bootsale for 5 pounds so i decided to give it a go. Strung it with alu power at 58, added 14 grams of lead to it to bring the sw up to 355 my normal sw and damn, i honestly play better with it than my "newer" frame?! I get just as much spin, more power and alot more forgiveness of this frame than my 95. Feel and confort is top notch too, Makes me wonder if theres pros out there using older models with paintjobs. Gonna stick with my pog and give the misses my 95.

Yes sir, lots of ATP pros use old school frames

Andy Murray, Gilles Simon, Tommy Haas and many other use the old Head Pro Tour 630/280 under modern paint jobs and pro stock denominations, like pt54a or e

Robin Haase is one of the last PC 600 users. I believe Tobias Kamke still rocks the PC 600 too

The 6.1 classic, or any of its itineration, and/or clones are very common racquets on the tour, specially the 18/20's .

My beloved 6.0 95 is also there. Stephen Robert still uses it, and there should be some more like him

Even Babolat still produces old models with softer layup for their players. Fognini is a clear example. Rafa's Aerodrive is the 1st. generation from 2006 (???).
 

AggieJason

Semi-Pro
I’ve got a POG and a Puma Becker that I’ll play with for kicks. The Puma does a number on my shoulder but it looks so freakin cool! :)
 

joe sch

Legend
I’ve got a POG and a Puma Becker that I’ll play with for kicks. The Puma does a number on my shoulder but it looks so freakin cool! :)
Im guessing its to much weight for you ? You probably playing the Super which is very close to the Winner in specs being over 13oz. It is pretty flexible at 55.

Puma Boris Becker Winner 378/13.33/55/341

Compare to a racket like the Prince Graphite, which is about 1oz lighter.

Prince Graphite Pro 110 351/12.38/49/335
 
I played a couple practice matches with my Jack Kramer Pro Staff last week. I could hit kick serves reasonably well so I just serve and volley'd. Did reasonably well
 

Robert Krug

New User
Wilson Graphite Aggressors from early 90's. But admittedly just bought some "new" reissued Six One 95's. Still hit with my Ultra II's from the mid 80's though the 85sq inch head is not ideal for my game anymore... they're just so much fun to hit!
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
Wilson Graphite Aggressors from early 90's. But admittedly just bought some "new" reissued Six One 95's. Still hit with my Ultra II's from the mid 80's though the 85sq inch head is not ideal for my game anymore... they're just so much fun to hit!
Dang...I think you would have to glue two Aggressors together to come up with the stiffness of the Ultra II :)
 

Robert Krug

New User
True. But the head size is tough to use beyond a casual game now and then. The Aggressors are fun, heavy, and well cheap. They've held up well for a long time, but time to cone into a newer era sou to speak. My new six one 95's aren't exactly super new technology but they're the first "new" racquets I've bought in over 25 years.
 

Cam24

New User
Racket of choice nowadays is a Rossignol F250. I've used the Prince Tour Diablo mid for the greater part of the last 10 years (even bought a fresh one after so many stringjobs on my original) but somewhat wish I'd been using the Rossi all along (closest thing to feeling like an extension of my arm, & I've been using it for the past few months. F200 is also solid but too much flex imo, not as much power). Solid racket, does all you need it to do
 

georgeyew

Semi-Pro
I have a prokennex silver ace 90 from 1988. It is amazing how solid they feel compared to today's racquets. It also makes me chuckle to hear the term "foam technology" on modern racquets....almost all the racquets were foam filled back in the 80's. There is nothing innovative about it.
 

USMC-615

Hall of Fame
I still hit on occasions with Wilson T2000's, Kennex Golden Aces, Kennex Black Aces, Prince Woodies, Dunlop Black Max's, etc, etc...most I bought myself back in the late 70's/early 80's.
 

georgeyew

Semi-Pro
1987 Kneissl White Star Pro Masters. I have two. They see regular play. I never string them at higher than 50 lbs, because long ago I collapsed the frame of one stringing it at "Lendl" tensions. Silly teenage me...
The frame is so small, it would be hard to get any power if the tension is above 50.....unless you were using gut like Lendl.
 

chrischris

G.O.A.T.

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Had a decent singles session with my pair of Ti Radical OS tonight.
I believe these were still the twintube, closer to original, classic, etc etc (not an expert though)
The feel is so nice and smooth and such great control from an OS frame.
Poly Tour Strike is a bit dampened to complement how good they feel but man do these racquets work.
Handle very well in stock form, albeit a leather grip.
 
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slipgrip93

Professional
k-factor prostaff 88 (17mm beam) currently for 2 years after I got it unstrung preserved from the bay.
It's now 14 years old..

An alternate is the 2012 prostaff six one 95 blx with the "candy cane" gold/black stripes (17.5mm beam). 11 years old now. Time flies.
 
Lately been buying playing with older racquets because of the weight and smaller head size. New lighter frames w larger head sizes don’t fit my style of play. Vintage RF
 
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