Best items you found at thrift stores (Goodwill)?

[dak95_00]

Picked up a Head Edgewood and a Wilson T2000 for $1.91/each at Volunteers of America. Both came w/ the original covers and are in good playable condition. I've wanted the Edgewood for some time as I've been collecting woods and like the open throat models.

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by dak95_00

Picked up a Head Edgewood and a Wilson T2000 for $1.91/each at Volunteers of America. Both came w/ the original covers and are in good playable condition. I've wanted the Edgewood for some time as I've been collecting woods and like the open throat models.

I love the open throat woods. Nice find.

I found a nice Yonex steel(correction: aluminium) OPS model today. I don't know the model, but it is brown metallic with an orange insert. Also, I found a Fin Genius Graphite in excellent condition. This is a nice-looking stick. From what I gather on this site, it is Australian from the 1980s. $5.25 apiece.

I also got a new Snauwaert Ergonom in the mail today, but that wasn't a Goodwill purchase......

Edited to add: I guess the Yonex is a YY7500

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by michael_1265

I love the open throat woods. Nice find.

I found a nice Yonex steel OPS model today. I don't know the model, but it is brown metallic with an orange insert. Also, I found a Fin Genius Graphite in excellent condition. This is a nice-looking stick. From what I gather on this site, it is Australian from the 1980s. $5.25 apiece.

I also got a new Snauwaert Ergonom in the mail today, but that wasn't a Goodwill purchase......

Edited to add: I guess the Yonex is a YY7500

Well, that's quite a day! A thousand pardons, sir michael; but no STEEL from Yonex. It sounds like you're describing the 8700 ALUMINUM racket...essentially the same hairpin shape as the 7500/8500 but with the screwed in throat. YY also made the 'square' version in mid-size. The little ones hit fine, IMO...the big ones---not so much.

[treo]

I bought a Wilson Sting OS 110 with PWS today for $6.95 in practically new condition with a perfect cover at Goodwill today. It's my grip size also, 4 1/4 so I'm going to hit with it tomorrow.

It has a dense 18x19 string pattern which is hard to find in an OS these days. It weighs 12.2 oz making it the same weight as a POG. It even has a crossbar like a POG but the beam is wider at 25mm.

Does anybody know when it was made? Stringing tension? There's nothing printed on it about tension.

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by coachrick

Well, that's quite a day! A thousand pardons, sir michael; but no STEEL from Yonex. It sounds like you're describing the 8700 ALUMINUM racket...essentially the same hairpin shape as the 7500/8500 but with the screwed in throat. YY also made the 'square' version in mid-size. The little ones hit fine, IMO...the big ones---not so much.

Thanks coach. That's not a mistake I should have made. The fingers were typing and the brain was turned off. I really like the Fin also. Nice looking stick, and hardly used.

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by treo

I bought a Wilson Sting OS 110 with PWS today for $6.95 in practically new condition with a perfect cover at Goodwill today. It's my grip size also, 4 1/4 so I'm going to hit with it tomorrow.

It has a dense 18x19 string pattern which is hard to find in an OS these days. It weighs 12.2 oz making it the same weight as a POG. It even has a crossbar like a POG but the beam is wider at 25mm.

Does anybody know when it was made? Stringing tension? There's nothing printed on it about tension.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=263494

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by michael_1265

Thanks coach. That's not a mistake I should have made. The fingers were typing and the brain was turned off. I really like the Fin also. Nice looking stick, and hardly used.

I understand...sometimes, I type so fast, I post things I haven't thought of yet!

I've only seen a couple of Fins...back in the '80s. Pretty cool rackets.

I've got 10-12 YY aluminum sticks from the '70s and '80s. My favorite is my brother's YY8500 that he used in the mid-'70s. I last restrung it in '95 and it still hits great. Shame the mid-size didn't hit so well...I have a few of the oval models as well as the YY 'square' versions. A mid-size version of the Glaflex would have been interesting(but they didn't ask MY opinion ).

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by treo

I bought a Wilson Sting OS 110 with PWS today for $6.95 in practically new condition with a perfect cover at Goodwill today. It's my grip size also, 4 1/4 so I'm going to hit with it tomorrow.

It has a dense 18x19 string pattern which is hard to find in an OS these days. It weighs 12.2 oz making it the same weight as a POG. It even has a crossbar like a POG but the beam is wider at 25mm.

Does anybody know when it was made? Stringing tension? There's nothing printed on it about tension.

That's a later version of the Sting. The original was a thinner profile, 16 x 19 pattern, no PWS. The higher tensions would likely be appropriate for the early model, given the more open pattern and the higher tensions used in the early '80s for similar models.

In theory, yours would have more power to be harnessed compared to the early models; but I'd go with a less-lively string rather than higher tensions.

Off the top of my head, I'd put your 'wider body' model ca 1990, give or take.

Make sure there are no cracks around the PWS 'bubble'. A few of those models were sensitive to the 'breathing' of the frame while stringing.

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by coachrick

I understand...sometimes, I type so fast, I post things I haven't thought of yet!

I've only seen a couple of Fins...back in the '80s. Pretty cool rackets.

I've got 10-12 YY aluminum sticks from the '70s and '80s. My favorite is my brother's YY8500 that he used in the mid-'70s. I last restrung it in '95 and it still hits great. Shame the mid-size didn't hit so well...I have a few of the oval models as well as the YY 'square' versions. A mid-size version of the Glaflex would have been interesting(but they didn't ask MY opinion ).

The design of the Fin is interesting. There are four PWS-like protuberances, and two of them are close to the top of the hoop, with the other two being just north of 9:00 and 3:00. They are labeled "PCF". Also there is a vibration dampening device embedded in the bridge. Here is a similar Fin: http://media.photobucket.com/image/r...acquets002.jpg

[coachrick]

IIRC, the throat bridge is actually 'detached' at the shock absorber. I could be wrong. I hit so much topspin on the forehand 'back then', I would be twisting the heck out of that throat since I made contact 1-3 mains off-center routinely.

[ctromano]

i got a stan smith autograph wood for $4.99

[_skunk_]

Adidas:
2 GTX-PRO Ivan Lendl

Found this 2 babies brand new, i think in 1996 or 1997.
Not exactly cheap for the stardards of this thread but they charged me around 25$ each and to be honest i paid the price with the smile in the face.

Don't use them anymore and never really used a lot, my return soffers too much, but it's a fun hit time to time.

[treo]

Originally Posted by coachrick

That's a later version of the Sting. The original was a thinner profile, 16 x 19 pattern, no PWS. The higher tensions would likely be appropriate for the early model, given the more open pattern and the higher tensions used in the early '80s for similar models.

In theory, yours would have more power to be harnessed compared to the early models; but I'd go with a less-lively string rather than higher tensions.

Off the top of my head, I'd put your 'wider body' model ca 1990, give or take.

Make sure there are no cracks around the PWS 'bubble'. A few of those models were sensitive to the 'breathing' of the frame while stringing.

Yes, mine is called a "High Beam". I hit with it today with what I think are the original strings that are probably at least 15 years old! I read somewhere that they came with Babolat Fine Play strings installed and that is what I have in them. I like this racquet a lot and I think it will be my primary stick. Lots of power and spin and the dense pattern gives control. I'm going to string it full poly tonight in the low 50s.

[slice bh compliment]

Originally Posted by _skunk_

Adidas:
2 GTX-PRO Ivan Lendl

Found this 2 babies brand new, i think in 1996 or 1997.
Not exactly cheap for the stardards of this thread but they charged me around 25$ each and to be honest i paid the price with the smile in the face.

Don't use them anymore and never really used a lot, my return soffers too much, but it's a fun hit time to time.

Those are so cool.
Is that different from the GTX Pro Lendl actually used?
Did he ever use these...right before going to essentially the same thing painted as a Mizuno?
Well, re: your return suffering, I bet the guy on the other end suffers, too. I bet you can knock the heck out of the ball with those things. I feel that with my old Lendl GTX.

I know what you mean, though....on tough serves, the head's a little small.

Well, good find there. Well done. If you ever want to sell at only a slim profit, I am in.

[michael_1265]

Prince Power Pro 110 and Wilson Graphite 95 (not the FPK, but a nice stick nonetheless), Both 8.5/10, $4.25 each

[michael_1265]

Those GTXs are awesome!

[jimanuel12]

Originally Posted by flashfire276

I know at my local Goodwill and some other thrift stores, you can actually find a few classic racquets.

But at my biggest shock, my friend and I were browsing Goodwill, and found a 6.0 85 in probably 9/10 condition. It just had some minimal wear on the bumper, but not a scratch on the frame itself! Bought it for a measly $5.

i picked up a nice pro kennex silver ace this weekend for $5.50 at Good will.
i would say a 7.5/10 or better.

[Fearsome Forehand]

Originally Posted by _skunk_

Adidas:
2 GTX-PRO Ivan Lendl

Found this 2 babies brand new, i think in 1996 or 1997.
Not exactly cheap for the stardards of this thread but they charged me around 25$ each and to be honest i paid the price with the smile in the face.

Don't use them anymore and never really used a lot, my return soffers too much, but it's a fun hit time to time.

You make me sick.

I think that is probably the best find ever. Those go for like $500 new on the auction site, I believe.

Rackets like that make you appreciate the more modern/forgiving rackets. They were basically an upgrade over the typical 65 sq in woodie.

[ctromano]

got a chris evert rally aluminum with cover for $3.49 yesterday at goodwill.

[retrowagen]

Originally Posted by slice bh compliment

Those are so cool.
Is that different from the GTX Pro Lendl actually used?
Did he ever use these...right before going to essentially the same thing painted as a Mizuno?
Well, re: your return suffering, I bet the guy on the other end suffers, too. I bet you can knock the heck out of the ball with those things. I feel that with my old Lendl GTX.

The GTX Pro-T was just a graphics refresh on the superceded GTX Pro. Underneath the paint, everything was the same.

Lendl himself had his racquets tweaked a bit by Warren Bosworth & Co. to add a bit of weight. The Man from Ostrava also favored a kind of luxo suede leather grip, specially made by Linea Zeta of Italy. Likely infused with a skin-absorbed performance-enhancing drug, activated by sawdust contact!

(I played the GTX Pro myself for a season when it was new, switching from the similar but different Kneissl White Star Pro Master. The Adi was noticably heavier than the Kneissl, in its stock form, and had no Kevlar in its mix. I liked the Kneissls better and switched back after clay season. )

Those Pro-T's sure do go for a pretty penny on the 'bay. Not sure it's entirely worth it, but they are kinda rare, especially in the States - adidas' tennis racquet division really didn't make any discernable effort to sell or support them stateside.