Vitas.

J011yroger · 03-29-2007, 02:26 PM

Hey there oldtimers.

What racquet did Vitas G. play with? I was really little back then and don't remember.

Thanks in advance.

J

slice bh compliment · 03-29-2007, 02:32 PM

Good solid woods, man. A Wilson Stan Smith with a nice big grip and that towel-ish thing over it. Later on, I think he used the Snauwaert Vitas Gerulaitis. Man, I would love to find a mint one of those to hit with.

Kirko · 03-29-2007, 03:02 PM

He also used the Kramer Auto. after the Smith was discoed. and a Snauwaert mid-size wood I think it was called the La Grande?

AndrewD · 03-29-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slice bh compliment

Later on, I think he used the Snauwaert Vitas Gerulaitis. Man, I would love to find a mint one of those to hit with.

Slice,

Keep your eyes open because they do often turn up on the auction site. I know TW was selling them at one point (including some made for Vitas to use) and that's only a couple of years ago.

Kaptain Karl · 03-29-2007, 04:11 PM

That "towelish" stuff was simply white guaze. He was famous for "regripping" his stick on changeovers.

(I really suspect he got "some" inventor-type to come up with the guaze tape which was ubiquitous in the late '70s and '80s.... Remember? It came in green or orange rolls.)

- KK

slice bh compliment · 03-29-2007, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewD

....TW was selling them at one point (including some made for Vitas to use) and that's only a couple of years ago.

Thanks, yeah, I remember, and I felt just sick that they were sold out by the time I saw those listed. Vintage/Bosworth collection.

KK, really, it was just gauze? I used gauze, too. His looked more porous, like what BGilbert used later on. Maybe I'm just imagining that 'cause it looked cartoonishly fat, that grip.

Well, anyway, God bless ol' Vitas. Tennis player, disco 'king', owner of a yellow Rolls Royce .... and mensch.

I will check the auction site for a good one. But if any of you who beat me to a Bosworth Snauwaert VG feel like selling or trading for something more valuable, I'm here for you.

classic tennis · 03-30-2007, 01:49 AM

The Kramer Autograph is what I remember him playing at the NSW Open with way back & then a Snauwaert Vitas Autograph.

jaggy · 03-30-2007, 10:56 AM

I remember reading long ago an interview with him where he claimed he suffered from some condition that gave him extra sweaty hands so he was always towelling.

Tchocky · 03-30-2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaggy

I remember reading long ago an interview with him where he claimed he suffered from some condition that gave him extra sweaty hands so he was always towelling.

Most likely he suffered from Palmar Hyperhidrossis. They didn't have overgrips back then. Tournagrip was several years away from being developed. Some players used sawdust, like Lendl, or wore a glove.

slice bh compliment · 03-30-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirko

...and a Snauwaert mid-size wood I think it was called the La Grande?

Maybe you're right. If so, I feel good -- I've got a LaGrande. Brown and tan graphite composite.....mostly wood. So sweet. A little too headlight if you're playing a big hitter, but so sweet nonetheless.

AndrewD · 03-30-2007, 01:47 PM

Slice,
Head over to the 'Wood Tennis' site and see what they've got available.

NoBadMojo · 03-30-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaptain Karl

That "towelish" stuff was simply white guaze. He was famous for "regripping" his stick on changeovers.

(I really suspect he got "some" inventor-type to come up with the guaze tape which was ubiquitous in the late '70s and '80s.... Remember? It came in green or orange rolls.)

- KK

Never saw the orange stuff..lots of guys used the green..it was called 'GauzeTex' I do believe, and the stuff was nasty..it was very rough . We used Fairways and if they got slick during a match we'd rough them up by rubbing them against the fencing.

Kaptain Karl · 03-30-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoBadMojo

...it was called 'GauzeTex' I do believe, and the stuff was nasty..it was very rough.

That's *it*. I used it once. After it sheered an entire hunk of callous off my hand, I never used it again.

Quote:

We used Fairways and if they got slick during a match we'd rough them up by rubbing them against the fencing.

Ditto. Then I started putting my grips on inside-out. I liked that way best. (Just a while ago I learned that some Aussie Great used to do that too. And here, I thought I'd "invented" it....)

- KK

slice bh compliment · 03-31-2007, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaptain Karl

That's *it*. I used it once. After it sheered an entire hunk of callous off my hand, I never used it again.

Ditto. Then I started putting my grips on inside-out. I liked that way best. (Just a while ago I learned that some Aussie Great used to do that too. And here, I thought I'd "invented" it....)

- KK

Upside down / Inside out leather grips. I did it too. I thought for sure my grandfather had 'invented' it. And Diana Ross wrote a song about it.

Who was the Aussie great?

Kaptain Karl · 03-31-2007, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slice bh compliment

Who was the Aussie great?

Sorry. I've totally *blanked* on who it was.

AndrewD...? OrangeOne...?

- KK

NoBadMojo · 03-31-2007, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaptain Karl

Sorry. I've totally *blanked* on who it was.

AndrewD...? OrangeOne...?

- KK

naah.....I dont think either AndrewD or OrangeOne qualify as Aussie greats...surely there were some players from downunder who are better than these two

Craig Sheppard · 03-31-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slice bh compliment

Upside down / Inside out leather grips. I did it too. I thought for sure my grandfather had 'invented' it. And Diana Ross wrote a song about it.

Who was the Aussie great?

After hearing this--I'm wondering how come a sueded leather grip never caught on? Would think it'd give you a great gripping surface and not get as hard as smooth leather.

Ronaldo · 03-31-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Sheppard

After hearing this--I'm wondering how come a sueded leather grip never caught on? Would think it'd give you a great gripping surface and not get as hard as smooth leather.

Its not tacky IMHO

Ronaldo · 03-31-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Slice,

Keep your eyes open because they do often turn up on the auction site. I know TW was selling them at one point (including some made for Vitas to use) and that's only a couple of years ago.

http://web.archive.org/web/200308182...BOS-VITAS.html

Kirko · 03-31-2007, 04:52 PM

Bob Lutz turned his grips inside out.

03-29-2007, 02:26 PM	#1
J011yroger G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 11,429	Vitas. Hey there oldtimers. What racquet did Vitas G. play with? I was really little back then and don't remember. Thanks in advance. J __________________ I'm your huckleberry...

03-29-2007, 04:11 PM	#5
Kaptain Karl Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The High Country of Colorado Posts: 5,245	That "towelish" stuff was simply white guaze. He was famous for "regripping" his stick on changeovers. (I really suspect he got "some" inventor-type to come up with the guaze tape which was ubiquitous in the late '70s and '80s.... Remember? It came in green or orange rolls.) - KK __________________ Join PUT-OFF: Players Unwilling To Overlook Foot Faults .. .. .. .. .. The MAN -- Monster At Net .. .. .. .. ..

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