Best Value in Racquets....

[El Zed]

While understanding an appreciation or even preference for the new, is there a better value in tennis racquets than the Austrian made Pro Tours 280/630s?

I know this frame is very well liked on this board, but trying to foster discussion in another way - that is cost effectiveness of these sticks. Here, in the U.S., I haven't found a better stick for the $100-125.00 these go for in 8.0+. Anyone else actually prefer these to the PT57As, either on its own or in full consideration that they cost 1/4 the cost of the latter?

So what do you guys think? Any other uber-value/performance suggestions?

[zapvor]

ok. you need to do your own research. this board is full of tennis snobs who all play with 90in rackets and classic austrian made frames that haas or monfils or hewitt have personally blessed. buy what suits you. period.

[The Meat]

Bought a used Dunlop 4d 200 Tour for $25 on TW, added leather grip and put lead tape at the head and handle to polarize it. Bumped it up to 13oz, feels like a dose of awesome.

[El Zed]

Originally Posted by zapvor

ok. you need to do your own research. this board is full of tennis snobs who all play with 90in rackets and classic austrian made frames that haas or monfils or hewitt have personally blessed. buy what suits you. period.

I don't quite think you get the point of my message, so you might want to ease back on the directive to "do my own research." Looking for some thoughtful responses, not a whine about the rest of the board and a glib comment to play with what "suits" me.

So, back to the rest of the board...

[El Zed]

Originally Posted by The Meat

Bought a used Dunlop 4d 200 Tour for $25 on TW, added leather grip and put lead tape at the head and handle to polarize it. Bumped it up to 13oz, feels like a dose of awesome.

Lead on the Tour 200? Impressive... do you feel your shots are improved in terms of pace or heaviness? or even both?

[The Meat]

Originally Posted by El Zed

Lead on the Tour 200? Impressive... do you feel your shots are improved in terms of pace or heaviness? or even both?

Heavy and head light, I have a fast swing so it helps me more with both pace and heaviness.

[El Zed]

Originally Posted by The Meat

Heavy and head light, I have a fast swing so it helps me more with both pace and heaviness.

Man, tons of times that I've almost purchased that frame... an open pattern with those specs sounds awesome... Good value too if you can find them.

[Andyroo10567]

There is 4 Dunlop 4D 200 Tours at $35 a piece. 4 3/8. Grade C. That's quite a deal there. Do you have anything specific in mind other than uber-value/performance?

[El Zed]

Originally Posted by Andyroo10567

There is 4 Dunlop 4D 200 Tours at $35 a piece. 4 3/8. Grade C. That's quite a deal there. Do you have anything specific in mind other than uber-value/performance?

Thanks for the reply. I guess I don't - I'm just interested in peoples' thoughts as to the best racquet - dollar for dollar (which is obviously distinct from a discussion of the best racquet). Whereas you can hardly find the old Prestiges for a relatively "cheap" price, the Pro Tours are notably more cost effective. Another example - I know the old Donnay Pro 1s are highly thought of, and can be often captured for well less than $100....

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by El Zed

Thanks for the reply. I guess I don't - I'm just interested in peoples' thoughts as to the best racquet - dollar for dollar (which is obviously distinct from a discussion of the best racquet). Whereas you can hardly find the old Prestiges for a relatively "cheap" price, the Pro Tours are notably more cost effective. Another example - I know the old Donnay Pro 1s are highly thought of, and can be often captured for well less than $100....

I appreciate your info. Don't let some here dampen your enthusiasm. I'm checking out your racquet model on the auction site

[El Zed]

And new for near SV money - which I'm willing to bet is due to the Agassi effect, therefore firmly driving it out of the value category.

[sundaypunch]

They can be a good deal if you want a flexy, low powered racquet and don't mind the hassles of finding them. The obvious problem with them is that you will be buying an older, used racquet. If you are looking to get three of them with similar spec's in excellent condition it will not be a quick process.

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by El Zed

Thanks for the reply. I guess I don't - I'm just interested in peoples' thoughts as to the best racquet - dollar for dollar (which is obviously distinct from a discussion of the best racquet). Whereas you can hardly find the old Prestiges for a relatively "cheap" price, the Pro Tours are notably more cost effective. Another example - I know the old Donnay Pro 1s are highly thought of, and can be often captured for well less than $100....

The best deals out there are for soft.. low powered players frames. TW has quite a few listed. How about the Dunlop AG 4D 200...??

[Fuji]

Where have you been able to find them so cheap? They are one of my favorite frames to play with, but finding them under 250$ has been a tough task for me. That being said I did get my bumblebee rad tours cheap which I find play very similar.

-Fuji

[RackofSlamb]

Originally Posted by The Meat

Bought a used Dunlop 4d 200 Tour for $25 on TW, added leather grip and put lead tape at the head and handle to polarize it. Bumped it up to 13oz, feels like a dose of awesome.

This guy nailed it. I bought a used Dunlop AeroGel 4D 300 off "an auction website" and it is fantastic. Good bang for the buck racquet which you can buy brand new on TW for about 80 dollars I believe. Another one on sale right now is the Babolat Pure Drive GT (the older version the light blue one) I bought one of these and its one of the best all around racquets I have ever used. I don't mind paying a premium for new racquets, its fun getting new racquets and I don't think I am a good enough player to be able to tell a real difference between all the racquets, but these are two that I have been very impressed with. For further reference I also have a brand new pure drive, aeropro drive, and wilson k factor that i am also very happy with, but for sale racquets, the dunlops and the babolat pure drive gt have been some of my favorites

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by SteveI

The best deals out there are for soft.. low powered players frames. TW has quite a few listed. How about the Dunlop AG 4D 200...??

yeah man, the 4d200 is awesome..!

[Hankenstein]

The best value frame available is the Head Microgel Radical MP. That is virtually a pro-stock hairpin if you remove the strings and grip.
It just screams "CUSTOMIZE ME!!!"
It´s a solid, flexible, good quality frame with a pretty low start weight.

[maggmaster]

Except that the head guard is about as durable as a crystal wine glass.

[El Zed]

Originally Posted by Fuji

Where have you been able to find them so cheap? They are one of my favorite frames to play with, but finding them under 250$ has been a tough task for me. That being said I did get my bumblebee rad tours cheap which I find play very similar.

-Fuji

$250.00? The closest I've come to that is for what the seller has termed as a nearly new PT630 (Austrian/Czech)... Honestly, Fuji, I've purchased 3 in the past 6 mo. for no more than $130.00 per racquet (the best one being in 9.0+ for $100.00) on the electronic bay. Beyond that, recall a few on the auction site sitting there for $100.00 (or there abouts) with no buyers. That being said, during this period, also recall a few going for $150.00+ for the same racquet, in worse condition. So, I guess, you have to be somewhat patient - but not overly so thankfully.

[El Zed]

Originally Posted by Hankenstein

The best value frame available is the Head Microgel Radical MP. That is virtually a pro-stock hairpin if you remove the strings and grip.
It just screams "CUSTOMIZE ME!!!"
It´s a solid, flexible, good quality frame with a pretty low start weight.

Very good call, Hankenstein. While not to the level of the PT280, it is cheaper and - more importantly - readily available in new condition.