Wilson will shut down Vortex - Page 6

Ronaldo · 10-10-2012, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaolin

Hey Breakpoint, in your avatar you have a picture of a guy who is using a more powerful/tech assisted frame from what he used for 20+ years. Just thought you should know.

Ps, he's using a Luxilon hybrid now.

The Darkside is seductive and lucrative.

sureshs · 10-10-2012, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themitchmann

If everything is standardized regarding racquets, then we would loss a number if racquet companies (and therefore jobs) in the process.

Offering variety adds to the marketplace.

Is there any need for so many racket companies? A pro shop owner told me recently that he would be happy if Prince did not succeed after its bankruptcy filing, as its models were just more burden on him and there was nothing too special about them.

The Dark Knight · 10-10-2012, 10:31 AM

Guys,

What is the big deal....there's no big technological breakthrough .....they are simply changing the damn string pattern from 16x19 to 16x15......

This is not revolutionary.

Pitmiksovic · 10-10-2012, 10:39 AM

I don't see how this is any different than just stringing your crosses a few lbs lower than the mains.

SFrazeur · 10-10-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dark Knight

Guys,

What is the big deal....there's no big technological breakthrough .....they are simply changing the damn string pattern from 16x19 to 16x15......

This is not revolutionary.

While it is nothing new, it symbolizes what some people think is wrong with Tennis.

The Dark Knight · 10-10-2012, 10:40 AM

Video for the new Wilson looks pretty cool :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO_-CanuoQ8

themitchmann · 10-10-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureshs

Is there any need for so many racket companies? A pro shop owner told me recently that he would be happy if Prince did not succeed after its bankruptcy filing, as its models were just more burden on him and there was nothing too special about them.

Well, it's good for the economy...more companies mean more jobs. And Prince is an American company.

I'm surprised that that pro shop owner felt that way. Prince is one of the few companies that has tech that is actually visible. I've been using Prince my entire tennis career, and I have really enjoyed playing with a number of Prince frames (Rebels, SP Tour, O3 Tour Mid).

BreakPoint · 10-10-2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themitchmann

If everything is standardized regarding racquets, then we would loss a number if racquet companies (and therefore jobs) in the process.

Offering variety adds to the marketplace.

Not true. There were more racquet companies back during the days of wood racquets than there are today even though most wood racquets were essentially the same, i.e., much less differences between them than there are today with racquets. They pretty much were all the same size, weight, string pattern, etc. In fact, most of the companies that made wood racquets are no longer around today or are no longer making tennis racquets, e.g., Snauwaert, Davis, Spalding, Bancroft, Rossignol, Garcia, Slazenger, Le Coq Sportif, Fila, Donnay (the original company), etc. And making wood racquets was more labor intensive so they provided even more jobs than making graphite racquets today.

BreakPoint · 10-10-2012, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartelby

The shift to the larger framed, topspin oriented game is a positive development but I'd watch old-style tennis if it were available.

If it's a positive development, why are fewer Americans playing tennis today than in the 1970's when everyone played old style tennis?

BreakPoint · 10-10-2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaolin

Hey Breakpoint, in your avatar you have a picture of a guy who is using a more powerful/tech assisted frame from what he used for 20+ years. Just thought you should know.

Ps, he's using a Luxilon hybrid now.

So? What is his opponent using? If his opponent was using a wood racquet, I'm sure Sampras would have no problem using one also. In fact, Sampras did use an old Donnay wood racquet to play an exhibition match against Lendl (who was using graphite) like a year ago. Sampras still won.

And did you see that Champions Tour match in which Todd Martin took out an old wood racquet and proceeded to spank his opponent with it? He was hitting winners all over the place with that wood racquet as if he never switched. He might have played even better.

themitchmann · 10-10-2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Not true. There were more racquet companies back during the days of wood racquets than there are today even though most wood racquets were essentially the same, i.e., much less differences between them than there are today with racquets. They pretty much were all the same size, weight, string pattern, etc. In fact, most of the companies that made wood racquets are no longer around today or are no longer making tennis racquets, e.g., Snauwaert, Davis, Spalding, Bancroft, Rossignol, Garcia, Slazenger, Le Coq Sportif, Fila, Donnay (the original company), etc. And making wood racquets was more labor intensive so they provided even more jobs than making graphite racquets today.

However, distribution is completely different these days. If we were to switch at this point, I'm certain we would lose some companies.

Manufacturing jobs would probably stay oversees.

themitchmann · 10-10-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

If it's a positive development, why are fewer Americans playing tennis today than in the 1970's when everyone played old style tennis?

Tennis is less popular then during the big boom...there are many more options to play other sports these days.

The Dark Knight · 10-10-2012, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themitchmann

Tennis is less popular then during the big boom...there are many more options to play other sports these days.

The big boom happened not because of technology bit because of the personalities ....Mcenroe , Connors , Borg.

Next to the big boom , Tennis today is more popular than its ever been.

themitchmann · 10-10-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dark Knight

The big boom happened not because of technology bit because of the personalities ....Mcenroe , Connors , Borg.

Agreed.

Tennis has been gaining in popularity again in recent years. In fact, there was a Wall Street Journal article that stated this fact...it was written this summer (sorry, I don't know the specific date).

sureshs · 10-10-2012, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themitchmann

Well, it's good for the economy...more companies mean more jobs. And Prince is an American company.

I'm surprised that that pro shop owner felt that way. Prince is one of the few companies that has tech that is actually visible. I've been using Prince my entire tennis career, and I have really enjoyed playing with a number of Prince frames (Rebels, SP Tour, O3 Tour Mid).

More companies does not always mean more jobs in the long term. For example, Wilson could sell more rackets to replace Prince rackets. And a company which is employing people but losing money is simply making owners and shareholders poorer and taking out loans it may not pay back. Prince filed for bankruptcy. In such cases, entities like creditors and vendors typically get a fraction of what they are owed, which is not good for the workers in those companies.

The pro shop owner speaks from experience because in his shop, Prince does not sell much. He also used to stock Volkl, but got away from it. Wilson, Bab, Dunlop and Head are what he focuses on.

themitchmann · 10-10-2012, 12:49 PM

Selling more racquets doesn't provide more jobs in the US...it just means an increase in production (so, possible more work in China).

The management, sales force, customer service, etc are all jobs here in the states (for American companies at least). Prince is in NJ.

The Dark Knight · 10-10-2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themitchmann

Selling more racquets doesn't provide more jobs in the US...it just means an increase in production (so, possible more work in China).

The management, sales force, customer service, etc are all jobs here in the states (for American companies at least). Prince is in NJ.

We need obamatennis care .

. He needs to jump In like he did for GM.

.....

Print more money ! Problem solved.

BreakPoint · 10-10-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dark Knight

We need obamatennis care .

. He needs to jump In like he did for GM.

.....

Print more money ! Problem solved.

Printing more money doesn't solve any problems. It just kicks the can down the road and eventually leads to even greater problems.

The Dark Knight · 10-10-2012, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Printing more money doesn't solve any problems. It just kicks the can down the road and eventually leads to even greater problems.

I know break....I was joking .

Ronaldo · 10-10-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dark Knight

We need obamatennis care .

. He needs to jump In like he did for GM.

.....

Print more money ! Problem solved.

We don't need the Gov't. Just buy more racquets. And balls. Buy till it hurts.

10-10-2012, 10:31 AM	#103
The Dark Knight Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,640	Guys, What is the big deal....there's no big technological breakthrough .....they are simply changing the damn string pattern from 16x19 to 16x15...... This is not revolutionary. __________________ If you take the "FED" out of "FEDAL" all you have is "FED" "We're in a golden era right now"......ROGER FEDERER...

10-10-2012, 10:40 AM	#106
The Dark Knight Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,640	Video for the new Wilson looks pretty cool : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO_-CanuoQ8 __________________ If you take the "FED" out of "FEDAL" all you have is "FED" "We're in a golden era right now"......ROGER FEDERER...

10-10-2012, 12:49 PM	#116
themitchmann Hall Of Fame Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,023	Selling more racquets doesn't provide more jobs in the US...it just means an increase in production (so, possible more work in China). The management, sales force, customer service, etc are all jobs here in the states (for American companies at least). Prince is in NJ. __________________ Prince Rebel 95 PTR Certified Pro / USRSA Certified MRT

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