(Official) Wilson Sting Fanclub

[pshulam]

Originally Posted by Bengt

I recall from my youth having a Sting which was 50% Graphite and 50% Fiberglass. Did I dream this or is that how they were made?

You were dreaming.

The Wilson Matrix is probably 40/60 (fiberglass/graphite).

[Superman1272]

Well, sign me up, I guess.

I just got through playing a tournament this past weekend and used my old Wilson Sting Midsize (non-PWS) racquet in the finals. I was a great experience winning with that racquet!

I have three non-PWS midsize racquets and two PWS Midsize versions.

I have decided that I will play with these racquets EXCLUSIVELY for the next 6 months or so and then (and only then) will I venture out into the worlld of new raquets.

I feel that playing with these racquets makes you a better player than just swinging wildly and letting the 100+ sq in head do the work. Makes you really concetrate on the ball and your technique.

I am really looking forward to playing around with strings and a little customizing here and there.

[plasma]

I'm out, that's right the founder is quitting...moving on...moving back to the ps 85. You guys with the whippy sting are brave. I could only use it well against a 5.5+ power hitter, when the whippiness ko'ed those musclechimps like a ko counterpunch.
I will use the Sting against a buddy named Sean though, He makes a lot of money and is very inside the box. Looks his age unlike me, although we are the same age. Has more annoying criticisms than matched racquets in his bag, and he has plenty of both ...He used to use a sting as a kid and actually almost screamed at me for beating him with it, as he used to hate it. Beating someone with a vintage racquet is like beating someone with your intelligence, uniqueness and spirit....
like in boxing when you wear white shorts into the ring, or wear your belt on your waist on not your shoulder before the fight, or just fight a guy with both your hands down... a total psyche job...an emotional win. When I win with a ps 85 or sting I am beating the spirit of greed, conformism, and consumerism. Ok so I'm not quitting our club since everyone here rocks, just stepping down as Sting Fanclub chairperson to do some more grassroots work.
The sting Fanclub is the largest professional organization of it's kind...See us online at tw forum dot com slash Official sting Fanclub...
this is where we need a LOGO people!!!

[pshulam]

Who will take over your role as chairman of the Sting club?

[Tennis Man]

Originally Posted by tandayu

MIne says 100% graphite

Could you post a picture of it? I can't figure out which Sting version has 100% graphite in it. I have one without the bridge inside the throat and it's almost perfect like PS 85 mold and it says .....

"100% graphite reinforced epoxy resin composite" on it.

The butt code is FW, Made in Taiwan, white W on black.

[pshulam]

"100% graphite reinforced epoxy resin composite" on it.

That's the NOT same as 100% graphite as no racket is made of pure graphite material. 100%, in this context, means that it does not contain other materials such as fiberglass, ceramic, or Kelvar.

[Tennis Man]

What I meant is that I stayed away from Sting altogether b/c I thought they were all "composite" frames (with fiberglass or silicone carbide?). I didn't even pick one up at a thrift shop b/c I saw fiberglass sticking out on the top.

The one I have is non-PWS midsize version and I have no idea if there are more of them 100% graphite.

Are they pre-PS 85 production or concurrent? When are they made?

[pshulam]

^sorry about the misinterpretation. I have both versions. They both indicate "Mid size Graphite" on top of the handle. I am not sure that means 100% graphite.

[Tennis Man]

here's a picture of mine:

[pshulam]

Both of my rackets do not have any text on the side. Instead of saying "Sting Midsize", it shows "Midsize (first line) Graphite (second line)".

[FedererClone]

How does the Sting with the throat bridge compare to the version w/out throat bridge? Thx...

[FedererClone]

Originally Posted by pshulam

You were dreaming.

The Wilson Matrix is probably 40/60 (fiberglass/graphite).

FYI Wilson came out with the "Graphite Matrix" in two versions, with and w/out PWS and the "Pro Matrix."

The Graphite Matrix was first described in "Stringer's Assistant" October 1985 as 15% Graphite / 85% Fiberglass composite. Specs - 85 sq in, about 12.5 oz, medium flex, 55-65 tension, head light balance. The original model did not have PWS, it was added later.

I also have the "Pro Matrix" that actually feels like a brick. It is a thin beamed 16/18 in 85 size that feels great in your hands, but on the court it is difficult to maneuver. Feels very stiff, but unfortunately have no specs... is this the frame of which you refer to as 40/60? Not sure if this one came out w/ PWS later or not?

[Don S]

Just out of Curiousity, where were the Blue stings made? Are they St. Vincent racquets?

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Don S

Just out of Curiousity, where were the Blue stings made? Are they St. Vincent racquets?

I believe Taiwan... I've yet to run across a SV Sting

[pshulam]

Originally Posted by FedererClone

I also have the "Pro Matrix" that actually feels like a brick. It is a thin beamed 16/18 in 85 size that feels great in your hands, but on the court it is difficult to maneuver. Feels very stiff, but unfortunately have no specs... is this the frame of which you refer to as 40/60? Not sure if this one came out w/ PWS later or not?

No, I was referring to the black Graphite Matrix 85, which you said that its composition is mostly fiberglass.

[Don't Let It Bounce]

Originally Posted by pshulam

^sorry about the misinterpretation. I have both versions. They both indicate "Mid size Graphite" on top of the handle. I am not sure that means 100% graphite.

The blue/blue 110 and blue/grey 85 Stings were always 100% graphite. Wilson introduced them to compete against the Prince Graphite, by offering 100% graphite, a similar design (crossbar, etc), and retailing for US$100 less. They used to run what I thought were really effective ads in Tennis magazine showing a Sting + a $100 bill vs a nondescript racquet that was obviously a Prince Graphite!

[MAXXply]

Hey fellow old-skoolers, any info would be appreciated for my particular Sting 2:
It's a "Sting 2" midsize 85 *with* PWS - I mention this because my initial search seemed to indicate this was one of the rarer (or lesser?) iterations? Same black/blue/grey PJ, markings seem no different to other Sting 85s
Butt code is GUS - where is this?

Can anyone shed light on my version? Also, which Sting version did Stefan Edberg use pre-PS85 ? Thanks for any info.

[psp2]

Originally Posted by MAXXply

Hey fellow old-skoolers, any info would be appreciated for my particular Sting 2:
It's a "Sting 2" midsize 85 *with* PWS - I mention this because my initial search seemed to indicate this was one of the rarer (or lesser?) iterations? Same black/blue/grey PJ, markings seem no different to other Sting 85s
Butt code is GUS - where is this?

Can anyone shed light on my version? Also, which Sting version did Stefan Edberg use pre-PS85 ? Thanks for any info.

"GUS" is a China code.

[Don't Let It Bounce]

Originally Posted by MAXXply

Hey fellow old-skoolers, any info would be appreciated for my particular Sting 2:
It's a "Sting 2" midsize 85 *with* PWS - I mention this because my initial search seemed to indicate this was one of the rarer (or lesser?) iterations? Same black/blue/grey PJ, markings seem no different to other Sting 85s

The Sting 2 Mid I remember came out in the U.S. in late '85 or early '86 and had red/grey markings on black. Perhaps yours was put out in another market?

[MAXXply]

Originally Posted by Don't Let It Bounce

The Sting 2 Mid I remember came out in the U.S. in late '85 or early '86 and had red/grey markings on black. Perhaps yours was put out in another market?

Here's mine: any ideas about this one? As I mentioned above, it looks no different to the usual Stings...