Vintage Stringing Machines.

[MAX PLY]

Originally Posted by coachrick

We had a Serrano and a near-identical Oliver(with a busted pedal brake...had to e-a-s-e the tension on to keep the string from snapping)...took about twice as long to string on the Oliver. This was in the mid-'70s until we got our first Ektelon. Got spoiled for a few years until I moved to Atlanta and worked at a shop that had FIVE Serranos(before switching completely to Prince P-100/200). Fortunately, the club where I strung had Ektelon and I bought one for myself. Then Babolat came along with the Star, Star 2 and Star 3...great machines.

True Tension sold quite a few machines in North Carolina in the '80s, but I don't recall seeing them in Atlanta. Maybe it was the same sales rep that sold the gahd-awful turf and sand courts all over the Carolinas.

Ditto on the turf/sand (I believe they were called Omni courts)--unsuitable for playing tennis while upright. I, likewise, was in the Carolinas in the 70s-mid-80s, almost universally Ektelons with an occasional Serrano or TT. Strung a lot of Blue Star, Gold Twist and Leoina 66 in those days in woodies, Head Masters and Pros, and Yonex greens and golds.

[Irvin]

Coachrick yes they had some of the AstroTurf/sand courts at the old Marietta CC here and they were called Omni courts.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by Irvin

Coachrick yes they had some of the AstroTurf/sand courts at the old Marietta CC here and they were called Omni courts.

I think I played on those once. Blackburn had at least a half-dozen of those with a few that stayed in the shade. Those courts were wet ALL the time!

When I traveled through North Carolina, 'they' said the turf courts were a way to get a clay court 'cushion' without worrying about freezing. That may have been all they were 'good at'. In addition to Omni-Court, it seems like one brand was called Tennis-Turf or some such. Nasty stuff

[PBODY99]

Originally Posted by coachrick

I think I played on those once. Blackburn had at least a half-dozen of those with a few that stayed in the shade. Those courts were wet ALL the time!

When I traveled through North Carolina, 'they' said the turf courts were a way to get a clay court 'cushion' without worrying about freezing. That may have been all they were 'good at'. In addition to Omni-Court, it seems like one brand was called Tennis-Turf or some such. Nasty stuff

Willingboro, NJ replaced their Omni courts a few years ago. Astro turf shoes worked to keep you upright.

[tbuggle]

PLayed alot on Omni Courts in the mid 80's, Durham, NC.

Easy to slip on and get road-rash/strawberry from the loose sand. The amount of sand applied affected the court's speed, footing, etc.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by PBODY99

Willingboro, NJ replaced their Omni courts a few years ago. Astro turf shoes worked to keep you upright.

I think the turf courts had about half a chance IF you groomed them every other game! I played on one that was groomed 'to exact specs' and it wasn't too bad until they showed some 'wear' from play...sand shifting, exposed turf that was grabby when dry but slick when wet, etc. Also, it seemed folks installed them over less than perfect base courts in an attempt at a 'band-aid' re-furb of inferior courts. Any inconsistency in the base surface was magnified by the addition of the turf/sand. There was a time in my tennis life that "any court is better than NO court"; but I'd rather not play than have to play on turf . Feed a lesson? no worries...practice quick volley drills? fine...actually PLAY on the stuff...no thanks. I'm glad the turf courts virtually disappeared in the late '80s and '90s....kinda like stringing on a Serrano!

[tbuggle]

The Omni Courts i played were nice, well groomed and maintained. I didn't mind them, it was kinda fun and different
but at the same time, I'd rather have been on hard or clay.
any day.


edit: they were kinda rough on strings too.