Played a set with the T3000

[Steve Huff]

CoachRick--wasn't the t2000/3000 considered "rocket launchers" back when they 1st came out? Come on Rick--think back......way back.

[fridrix]

I've enjoyed hitting with the T3000. Did you know its predecessor the T2000 was actually designed by Lacoste?! The real problem with the stick is stringing it---crazy square stringing pattern. I've strung dozens of racquets myself and decided this one was just too odd to risk messing up.

[gavna]

Originally Posted by Steve Huff

CoachRick--wasn't the t2000/3000 considered "rocket launchers" back when they 1st came out? Come on Rick--think back......way back.

Yes and that was the reason the T3000 and then the T5000 had the bridges on the throat to stiffen them up. Didnt help much as the things were just so powerful - in Europe/Africa the T2000, 3000 and 5000 were sold under the Lacoste brand and in fact the T5000 (and the Lacoste versions) also had the rubber anti vibration damper that was also used in the Equijet series 10 yrs later.

[gavna]

Originally Posted by fridrix

I've enjoyed hitting with the T3000. Did you know its predecessor the T2000 was actually designed by Lacoste?! The real problem with the stick is stringing it---crazy square stringing pattern. I've strung dozens of racquets myself and decided this one was just too odd to risk messing up.

Actually ALL of the T series (2000, 3000 and the 5000) were Rene Lacoste designs.....Wilson made an agreement with Lacoste to sell the frame in the Americas and Asia under the Wilson name.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by Steve Huff

CoachRick--wasn't the t2000/3000 considered "rocket launchers" back when they 1st came out? Come on Rick--think back......way back.

All of the T-series, 2000-5000 were considered very powerful; but we have to consider what they were compared to...conventional wood, horrible extruded aluminum, other 'chromed' steel sticks like the Tensor and Garcia X-15(an actual rocket, I reckon ).

There was a rumor that Wilson stiffened ONE tube in some T2000s to beef up the racket a bit. The throat bridges helped make the 3,4,5000s a little more resistant to twisting, but they were still very springy.

As mentioned, hitting flat and dead center makes this a formidable weapon; but if you hit(as I did) 2-3 mains off-center with spin, the T-series would feel like it was going to wrap around your elbow.

The main 'power-boost' was apparent at lower swing speeds, thus the attraction to those who didn't supply their own raw power. Put a 3000 in the hands of a wood racket 'pusher' and suddenly they are blasting the ball(comparatively speaking). Don't forget how aerodynamic these frames are compared to wood. They weren't all that light, but would cut through the air like butta . They would also cut through the knees and shins of folks trying to serve with a western grip while facing square to the net...LOTS of torn up lower legs back then!

[coachrick]

By the bye, I have a couple of Spalding Smashers...the extruded 'U'-beam aluminum counterpart to the Wilson series. I chose the Smasher as my first 'real' racket, partly to be different, but mostly because I preferred the stiffness of the aluminum vs the steel Wilsons. When they switched to the 'S' shaped throat support and foam injected handle, the Smasher was actually a pretty decent stick for the day...much better than the Chemold rattle-traps that many pros 'endorsed' briefly.

I'd choose my Smasher against my collection of Wilsons if I had to play a match today, that's for sure.

Instead of, or in addition to, the wood tournaments we all talk about; I'd like to see a 1960s METAL tourny---what a hoot that would be!

[gavna]

Originally Posted by coachrick

Instead of, or in addition to, the wood tournaments we all talk about; I'd like to see a 1960s METAL tourny---what a hoot that would be!

We do that here - its more 70's as we use PDP opens, Dunlop Volleys, Head Pro's and Masters, Rawlings, Prince Orig and the Pro and of course someone always seems to show up with a Chemhold (YUCK!!! biggest piece of crap ever) and even a freaking Weed. Once we had a guy show up with a Red Head with a spaghetti string job -

[retrowagen]

I just picked up a T-4000 ... it has some sort of vibration-dampening gizmo under a domed buttcap end. Otherwise, looks like a T-3000 with its throat bridge.

Anyone know anything about this shiny banjo of a racquet?

[Harl Goodman]

Originally Posted by Mick

I took one of them to the tennis courts and a woman there asked me why i was using a badminton racquet to play tennis

I got steal on the auction site a couple years ago.
PDP Open for $0.99
It was a generic listing for a badminton racket

[Harl Goodman]

Originally Posted by michael_1265

Oh, and my arm hurts now.

Hopefully that's just from the extra weight. It must be 13oz, if not 13.5.
That will make you sore, just like increasing the weight on your bench press.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by retrowagen

I just picked up a T-4000 ... it has some sort of vibration-dampening gizmo under a domed buttcap end. Otherwise, looks like a T-3000 with its throat bridge.

Anyone know anything about this shiny banjo of a racquet?

If your 'tuning stub' is intact, take care of that rare thing! Most broke off pretty early in their lifetimes.

Your racket is essentially a T3000 with the added damper. MANY of us dangled a pinkie and a good chunk of the heel of our hand off the bottom of the handle, especially when serving. That 'dome' on the 4 and 5 series was distracting to many folks(who then removed it or just left it off when it inevitably fell off during play). When the damper was exposed, it broke off rather easily.

The black/chrome cosmetics of the 4 and 5 series looked quite a bit more 'sophisticated' than the cream, red, gold of the earlier T-series. I'd say the 4000 enjoyed a good year or so, but the subsequent models were never a factor in 'my' part of the world.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by gavna

We do that here - its more 70's as we use PDP opens, Dunlop Volleys, Head Pro's and Masters, Rawlings, Prince Orig and the Pro and of course someone always seems to show up with a Chemhold (YUCK!!! biggest piece of crap ever) and even a freaking Weed. Once we had a guy show up with a Red Head with a spaghetti string job -

Your idea works much better than limiting to the '60s. Plenty of folks who remember the 'boom' years likely played with the frames you mentioned(Red Head for me, thank you...Yonex original OPS also).

Hey, we've got 40mph winds here in Austin today...how's the weather over there?

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by Steve Huff

CoachRick--wasn't the t2000/3000 considered "rocket launchers" back when they 1st came out? Come on Rick--think back......way back.

Stevie, I've got one of those 'zero' birthdays next year...I've been thinking WAY back a lot lately!

[gavna]

Originally Posted by coachrick

Your idea works much better than limiting to the '60s. Plenty of folks who remember the 'boom' years likely played with the frames you mentioned(Red Head for me, thank you...Yonex original OPS also).

Hey, we've got 40mph winds here in Austin today...how's the weather over there?

Today partly sunny and 72.........we live north of the big airport very little wind. I forgot about the Yonex OPS frames.

[retrowagen]

Originally Posted by coachrick

If your 'tuning stub' is intact, take care of that rare thing! Most broke off pretty early in their lifetimes.

Your racket is essentially a T3000 with the added damper. MANY of us dangled a pinkie and a good chunk of the heel of our hand off the bottom of the handle, especially when serving. That 'dome' on the 4 and 5 series was distracting to many folks(who then removed it or just left it off when it inevitably fell off during play). When the damper was exposed, it broke off rather easily.

The black/chrome cosmetics of the 4 and 5 series looked quite a bit more 'sophisticated' than the cream, red, gold of the earlier T-series. I'd say the 4000 enjoyed a good year or so, but the subsequent models were never a factor in 'my' part of the world.

Thanks for the useful info. On this particular specimen, it's in great shape, and the "radar dome" is intact. However, there is a rattle inside, like the proverbial jelly bean in the plastic Easter egg... I'm guessing this is not how the dampener works? It appears that the "dome" should unscrew from the bottom of the butt cap, but it only spins in place with some resistance, and no evidence of it wanting to unthread. Does it snap off? I don't want to damage it.

The frame has its original stickers still, including the one stating that it is only sold in Pro Shops! One wouldn't have found this on "Blue Light Special" at K-Mart!

Also, the previous owner of this frame (I found it in a thrift shop, of course) must have been a connoisseur of the finer things in life: it was strung in natural gut, with string tubing at every wire loop where the string touched it! Double super bonus points to whoever strung it; a T-series looks difficult enough to string up without tubing at every point of frame contact!

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by retrowagen

Thanks for the useful info. On this particular specimen, it's in great shape, and the "radar dome" is intact. However, there is a rattle inside, like the proverbial jelly bean in the plastic Easter egg... I'm guessing this is not how the dampener works? It appears that the "dome" should unscrew from the bottom of the butt cap, but it only spins in place with some resistance, and no evidence of it wanting to unthread. Does it snap off? I don't want to damage it.

The frame has its original stickers still, including the one stating that it is only sold in Pro Shops! One wouldn't have found this on "Blue Light Special" at K-Mart!

Also, the previous owner of this frame (I found it in a thrift shop, of course) must have been a connoisseur of the finer things in life: it was strung in natural gut, with string tubing at every wire loop where the string touched it! Double super bonus points to whoever strung it; a T-series looks difficult enough to string up without tubing at every point of frame contact!

Wow, that IS quite a find! I'm almost certain the dome just pops off(more easily when you DON'T want it to, of course)...might even have a little indent to take a small screwdriver or similar to wedge it off. I'm afraid the rattle you hear is likely the end of the tuning stub, broken at the insert through the metal spacer at the bottom of the hairpin. Sorry I think it would be a rare animal indeed to have survived all this time(unless simply stored and never used/strung). You might be able to re-attach it with ShoeGoo or similar non-brittle adhesive.

Those came with a pretty nice perforated calfskin grip(black) if I recall correctly. The grip tended to overlap the 'equator' of the dome, sometimes even sliding off.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by retrowagen

However, there is a rattle inside, like the proverbial jelly bean in the plastic Easter egg... I'm guessing this is not how the dampener works?
!

Now that I think about it...maybe you have one of the new-fangled 'wireless' models!

[Steve Huff]

Don't feel bad. I'm getting more and more advertisements from AARP lately. It's a conspiracy.

[frinton]

Originally Posted by michael_1265

I found a decent user T3000 at the Goodwill, and I decided to give it a try.

Me: Lower-end 3.5, all-court game. My "regular" stick is the Microgel Extreme Pro.

Opponent: Middle of the road 3.0 baseliner.

For the record, it's typically 6-0, 6-1 with us.

The racquet: Feels heavy. It has a leather grip that is two sizes too small for me, so that is a factor. Strings may be old, but they're not terrible.

The serve: Can't hit it really spinny, but it is easy to drop a nice flat one in. Very controllable, but not quite the "pop" that I am used to.

Volleys: Very nice, with pinpoint control and less penetration than I am accustomed to

Groundstrokes: A mixed bag. When I commit and step in, it is as good or better than my regular racquet. My 2HBH is fantastic with this stick! When I am on the run or can't set up, though, the T3000 falls flat. You have to commit to generating power with this thing, or you get nothing, unlike my Microgel, which does not penalize laziness.

Result: I lost 6-4. With a correct size grip, new strings, and a bit more time to get acclimated, I think my performance would be a lot better.

An experience like this makes me realize that the bulk of technology improvements in the last 40 years have provided benefit to those who don't hit the ball firmly. For me, at 6'4" and 240, it is less of an issue, and sometimes even a benefit.

Oh, and my arm hurts now.

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