Review the craziest racquets you own

[Autodidactic player]

OK, I'm going off in a different direction. Most enthusiasts have seen wood handled rackets with metal heads:



but how many of you have seen a metal handled racket with a wood head?

[Rock Strongo]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

Pictchez

One question, does the MacGregor can say "The greatest name in Golf"

I actually have a MacGregor golf bag, but enough about that!

[Autodidactic player]

Originally Posted by Rock Strongo

One question, does the MacGregor can say "The greatest name in Golf"

I actually have a MacGregor golf bag, but enough about that!

No, it says "the greatest name is sports" but MacGregor was much better known as a golf club manufacturer. In fact, from what I've read, the shafts on this racket are taken from one of their golf clubs. Similar to the Dunlop International which uses one golf club shaft.

[Rock Strongo]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

No, it says "the greatest name is sports" but MacGregor was much better known as a golf club manufacturer. In fact, from what I've read, the shafts on this racket are taken from one of their golf clubs. Similar to the Dunlop International which uses one golf club shaft.

Is that a graphite or steel shaft? Regular, x-tra stiff or even Ladies??

[Autodidactic player]

Originally Posted by Rock Strongo

Is that a graphite or steel shaft? Regular, x-tra stiff or even Ladies??

It's a good thing I am comfortable with my masculinity or I'd take great offense with you suggesting that I'd buy a ladies racket!

If you are really interested, it's "steel-tube chromium plated" according to Kuebler's book and made from 1972-1976.

[Rock Strongo]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

It's a good thing I am comfortable with my masculinity or I'd take great offense with you suggesting that I'd buy a ladies racket!

If you are really interested, it's "steel-tube chromium plated" according to Kuebler's book and made from 1972-1976.

Like the chrome plating would change its playability! That mono-shaft looks really thin though, not like the Superform or the various Prince frames that came out.

I referred to the fact that golf shafts come with different stiffness ratings, and yes, ladies do exist! it's actually the most flexible you can find after "senior" I think...

Wish I had that many oddball frames...

[VOLLEY KING]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

It's a good thing I am comfortable with my masculinity or I'd take great offense with you suggesting that I'd buy a ladies racket!

If you are really interested, it's "steel-tube chromium plated" according to Kuebler's book and made from 1972-1976.

What a cool idea!!!!

I wonder what it would be like to play with a wood grip and the rest graphite???

That would be the ultimate in feel but the power of a modern racquet.....best of both world?

What do you think?

[Autodidactic player]

Originally Posted by VOLLEY KING

What a cool idea!!!!

I wonder what it would be like to play with a wood grip and the rest graphite???

That would be the ultimate in feel but the power of a modern racquet.....best of both world?

What do you think?

One of the biggest issues manufacturers have when joining two dissimilar materials is weakness at the point where they join. Of course, this is a major problem with tennis rackets which take quite a lot of stress but still need to stay in one piece. I think the wood grip would eventually separate from the graphite head and you'd be left with two pieces of trash; or worse, a lawsuit if they separated at the wrong time!

[VOLLEY KING]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

One of the biggest issues manufacturers have when joining two dissimilar materials is weakness at the point where they join. Of course, this is a major problem with tennis rackets which take quite a lot of stress but still need to stay in one piece. I think the wood grip would eventually separate from the graphite head and you'd be left with two pieces of trash; or worse, a lawsuit if they separated at the wrong time!

Hmmmm? Good point ......

I wonder how Babolat does it? They stick that "cortex "
Thing in the middle of the racquet.

Not a tennis racquet but steering wheels in cars.....classy ones are wood partially for the look but also for the feel.

I think they could do it somehow .....I'm only talking about the handle of the racquet. They can maybe Bolt it in??

The Pro Kennex line actually had wood in the "core"......and of course as you know back in the day they had cimposture racquets.......

( by the way I have the Vilas but not "crazy" )......

Anyway I may be wrong about it but I think making a handle wood is a cool idea....must be a way.

[skuludo]

I found the Dunlop polygon for sale in Japan. I think you can still buy it from the Rakuten site.

[Autodidactic player]

Tonight's contribution, the Fischer Superform Tuning:

[Migelowsky]

Nice thread Autodidactic, do you have one of the early babolats? I remember in the 80´s, my friend´s dad had one. It was before the widebody revolution,
the thing I remember is that it was heavy, midsize and very expensive, $300 from about 1989 , and it had de VS logo.

[VOLLEY KING]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

Tonight's contribution, the Fischer Superform Tuning:

Omg is that cool!! Please tell us about it. Can you change the tension yourself? Is that the idea?

[Autodidactic player]

Originally Posted by VOLLEY KING

Omg is that cool!! Please tell us about it. Can you change the tension yourself? Is that the idea?

That's the plan but as with most of these rackets the idea is better than the execution. The key fits in the butt cap and you turn it to add or subtract tension from the six center main strings. Since most of the control, power and feel on shots comes from the main strings, as opposed to the crosses, the thought was that you could add a bit of tension to the center mains for added control if shots were flying on you or take away some tension for added power and depth if that's what you needed. In theory this makes some sense. In practice - not so much!

Like the MacGregor Bergelin LongString in post # 164, after a couple of adjustments, you tend to wind up with strings of varying, unpredictable, tension and a loss of both power and control.

[Autodidactic player]

Originally Posted by Migelowsky

Nice thread Autodidactic, do you have one of the early babolats? I remember in the 80´s, my friend´s dad had one. It was before the widebody revolution,
the thing I remember is that it was heavy, midsize and very expensive, $300 from about 1989 , and it had de VS logo.

I don't have a single Babolat in my collection. Did they ever make any unusual rackets? I'm not aware of any - although I do remember being jealous of the rich kids who got their rackets strung with Babolat gut with the unusual name of "Africord" back in the day. Any of you old-timers remember Africord?

[VOLLEY KING]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

That's the plan but as with most of these rackets the idea is better than the execution. The key fits in the butt cap and you turn it to add or subtract tension from the six center main strings. Since most of the control, power and feel on shots comes from the main strings, as opposed to the crosses, the thought was that you could add a bit of tension to the center mains for added control if shots were flying on you or take away some tension for added power and depth if that's what you needed. In theory this makes some sense. In practice - not so much!

Like the MacGregor Bergelin LongString in post # 164, after a couple of adjustments, you tend to wind up with strings of varying, unpredictable, tension and a loss of both power and control.

That's my Mcgregor below . Sadly The tightening tool is missing and even more sad is that there's a broken string and no way to restring .

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

I don't have a single Babolat in my collection. Did they ever make any unusual rackets? I'm not aware of any - although I do remember being jealous of the rich kids who got their rackets strung with Babolat gut with the unusual name of "Africord" back in the day. Any of you old-timers remember Africord?

Autodidactic,

Do you have a little museum or anything or do you ever display your rackets at any events? I'm in SC and it may be worth a little road trip if you have them on display ever.

[Autodidactic player]

Originally Posted by VOLLEY KING

That's my Mcgregor below . Sadly The tightening tool is missing and even more sad is that there's a broken string and no way to restring .

The MacGregor was designed to be home strung without a stringing machine. If you are reasonably handy you can give it a try. You can tighten the strings with any 3/16 hex (Allen) wrench. Here are the stringing instructions from the 1989 Stringers Digest:

[Autodidactic player]

Originally Posted by gmatheis

Autodidactic,

Do you have a little museum or anything or do you ever display your rackets at any events? I'm in SC and it may be worth a little road trip if you have them on display ever.

Thanks for the complement. No museum, just a small den and a really understanding wife!

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by Autodidactic player

Thanks for the complement. No museum, just a small den and a really understanding wife!

Isn't there an ATP event where you live now? I wonder if they would pay you to have them on display during the tournament or something.

That's a lot of great racket history you have there.