Open Throat Racquets

tacoben · 03-12-2009, 05:51 AM

When the Head/AMF first came out with the Head Vilas racquet (woodie), it seems that this was the turning point in the future of things to come in terms of racquet technology....a "game changer" so to speak. Later, Head came out with another open throated racquet, the Arthur Ashe model, while other companies such as Yamaha followed suit introducing their own line, the YFG 20, 30, 50 models. Later Prince came out with the oversize open throat, "Classic". Today, all racquets are open throat.

Researching the internet, I happen to come upon the earliest version of an open throat racquet from 1929.

http://www.driftwaycollection.com/ra...en_throat.html

I'm just wondering why companies such as Wilson, Spalding, Tad Davis, Bancroft and others such as Donnay failed to jump at this advancement any earlier? Tennis history buff, please chime in. Thanks!

Nuke · 03-12-2009, 06:47 AM

The open-throat Wilson T-2000 was introduced in 1968.

vwfye · 03-12-2009, 07:39 AM

and my Prince Mono 650's aren't open throat.

vsbabolat · 03-12-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacoben

When the Head/AMF first came out with the Head Vilas racquet (woodie), it seems that this was the turning point in the future of things to come in terms of racquet technology....a "game changer" so to speak. Later, Head came out with another open throated racquet, the Arthur Ashe model, while other companies such as Yamaha followed suit introducing their own line, the YFG 20, 30, 50 models. Later Prince came out with the oversize open throat, "Classic". Today, all racquets are open throat.

Researching the internet, I happen to come upon the earliest version of an open throat racquet from 1929.

http://www.driftwaycollection.com/ra...en_throat.html

I'm just wondering why companies such as Wilson, Spalding, Tad Davis, Bancroft and others such as Donnay failed to jump at this advancement any earlier? Tennis history buff, please chime in. Thanks!

Actually the HEAD Arthur Ashe Competition came out years before the HEAD Vilas.

Capt. Willie · 03-12-2009, 11:47 AM

The Dayton Steel racquets which I believe first came out in the 1930s had an open throat. They also beat out the Lacoste/Wilson T2000 steel racquet by about 30 years.

jimbo333 · 03-12-2009, 03:29 PM

The Birmal Aluminium racquets came out in the 1920's, some of these have an open throat!!!

I have a few of these

Capt. Willie · 03-12-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbo333

The Birmal Aluminium racquets came out in the 1920's, some of these have an open throat!!!

I have a few of these

Wow, I never heard of those. Is it all alumium or is the shaft wood? The Dayton had the steel head and a few inches down the throat where it than connected to a wood shaft. Post some pics if you can, I'd love to see it.

jimbo333 · 03-12-2009, 07:19 PM

Yeah, they are the same as the Daytons, in that they have wood handles, but have an all aluminium frame, again with the piano wire strings. Oh, and when I said I had a few, realised I only have 2 of these

And don't even get me started on the photos, having a few problems there

However, SOON I will get this sorted, and display my racquets here

joe sch · 03-12-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacoben

When the Head/AMF first came out with the Head Vilas racquet (woodie), it seems that this was the turning point in the future of things to come in terms of racquet technology....a "game changer" so to speak. Later, Head came out with another open throated racquet, the Arthur Ashe model, while other companies such as Yamaha followed suit introducing their own line, the YFG 20, 30, 50 models. Later Prince came out with the oversize open throat, "Classic". Today, all racquets are open throat.

Researching the internet, I happen to come upon the earliest version of an open throat racquet from 1929.

http://www.driftwaycollection.com/ra...en_throat.html

I'm just wondering why companies such as Wilson, Spalding, Tad Davis, Bancroft and others such as Donnay failed to jump at this advancement any earlier? Tennis history buff, please chime in. Thanks!

One of the most famous open throat rackets, and very similar to the standard head woody of the later 1900s, is the Bill Tilden Top Flite circa 1930:

http://www.woodtennis.com/tildenTopFlite1933.jpg

The majority of the wood rackets were mono shaft designs not sure why the open throats really did not become the common design till later in the graphite era.

Capt. Willie · 03-15-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacoben

I'm just wondering why companies such as Wilson, Spalding, Tad Davis, Bancroft and others such as Donnay failed to jump at this advancement any earlier? Tennis history buff, please chime in. Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe sch

The majority of the wood rackets were mono shaft designs not sure why the open throats really did not become the common design till later in the graphite era.

If I could toss my theory out here...perhaps the early open throat wood racquets were not very durable and cracked easily? The latter open throat wood racquets all had inlays of graphite (or boron) which not only made them stiffer and more powerful but also more durable.

03-12-2009, 05:51 AM	#1
tacoben Semi-Pro Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Foggy Town USA Posts: 457	Open Throat Racquets When the Head/AMF first came out with the Head Vilas racquet (woodie), it seems that this was the turning point in the future of things to come in terms of racquet technology....a "game changer" so to speak. Later, Head came out with another open throated racquet, the Arthur Ashe model, while other companies such as Yamaha followed suit introducing their own line, the YFG 20, 30, 50 models. Later Prince came out with the oversize open throat, "Classic". Today, all racquets are open throat. Researching the internet, I happen to come upon the earliest version of an open throat racquet from 1929. http://www.driftwaycollection.com/ra...en_throat.html I'm just wondering why companies such as Wilson, Spalding, Tad Davis, Bancroft and others such as Donnay failed to jump at this advancement any earlier? Tennis history buff, please chime in. Thanks! __________________ "Can we all just get along" Rodney King

03-12-2009, 07:39 AM	#3
vwfye Semi-Pro Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SW Oregon Posts: 628	and my Prince Mono 650's aren't open throat. __________________ PK "Pro Boron" w/Big Hitter 17 Mains/Liberty 16 crosses is money!!! The PK "Copper Ace" w/gut ain't shabby either! Last edited by vwfye : 04-22-2010 at 12:11 PM.

03-12-2009, 11:47 AM	#5
Capt. Willie Professional Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,379	The Dayton Steel racquets which I believe first came out in the 1930s had an open throat. They also beat out the Lacoste/Wilson T2000 steel racquet by about 30 years. __________________ Now fortified with tiger blood and Adonis DNA.

03-12-2009, 03:29 PM	#6
jimbo333 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Windsor, England Posts: 3,993	The Birmal Aluminium racquets came out in the 1920's, some of these have an open throat!!! I have a few of these __________________ :)

03-12-2009, 07:19 PM	#8
jimbo333 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Windsor, England Posts: 3,993	Yeah, they are the same as the Daytons, in that they have wood handles, but have an all aluminium frame, again with the piano wire strings. Oh, and when I said I had a few, realised I only have 2 of these And don't even get me started on the photos, having a few problems there However, SOON I will get this sorted, and display my racquets here __________________ :)