Pete Sampras playing with a wood tennis racquet??!! - Page 2

hoodjem · 11-22-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borg number one

Hoodjem, that's excellent analysis of the differences in frames as you're speaking from PERSONAL experience.

Yep. No proof, just fallible memory.

helloworld · 11-22-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matchmaker

Any factual proof on that?

I have played with 70s balls before. They are extremely light and quick. The balls today are very heavy, making volleying exceptionally difficult.

borg number one · 11-22-2009, 12:10 PM

Any differences in tennis balls over time are more difficult for me to discern vs. the changes in racquet technology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_ball (wikipedia on the tennis ball)

http://wings.avkids.com/Tennis/Book/ball-01.html

http://www.itftennis.com/technical/rules/history/ (ITF tennis ball history)

From the above, tennis balls look to be about the same weight now as they've always been (about 56-59 grams from 1965 to today), but they seem to use different types of balls in terms of bounce depending on the Surface nowadays. I'm not certain of what they did say in 1965 as to "bounce", though weight seems to have stayed about the same. Perhaps an expert on the history of tennis balls can shed more light on this issue. I'll have to look into it more closely to have a better informed opinion.

dirtballer · 11-23-2009, 04:29 AM

[quote=helloworld;4126865]People don't realize how much heavier the ball today is compared to the 80s or 70s.[/QUOTE

Several years ago I found an unopened can of Penn hard court balls hidden in my basement that I had bought in the late 70s. I tried them out and after a set and a half they were so skinned that they were not playable. The covers just weren't as heavy/durable as today's balls.

Azzurri · 11-25-2009, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quest01

Thats funny that Sampras is playing with a wooden tennis racquet. If you think about the wooden racquet he's using is very similar to what he used during his playing days, the PS85. Both racquets have very similar characteristics.

I assume you read this somehwere...but what do you mean similiar?

Azzurri · 11-25-2009, 05:43 AM

[quote=dirtballer;4132234]

Quote:

Originally Posted by helloworld

People don't realize how much heavier the ball today is compared to the 80s or 70s.[/QUOTE

Several years ago I found an unopened can of Penn hard court balls hidden in my basement that I had bought in the late 70s. I tried them out and after a set and a half they were so skinned that they were not playable. The covers just weren't as heavy/durable as today's balls.

funny I someone mentions old balls. I had a can of Roy Rogers (Penn) tennis balls from the 70's. My 4 year old was playing with the can and opened it slightly...so I took them to the court a couple days later. The balls felt harder, but a tad lighter. I normally play with Wilson or Penn (the cheapies).

JoelDali · 11-25-2009, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azzurri

I assume you read this somehwere...but what do you mean similiar?

This person you quote has no idea what they're talking about again and again.

Its painful to witness and saddens me to no end to think people new to tennis may take his advice or believe what hes saying.

Absolutely devastated.

Azzurri · 11-25-2009, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoelDali

This person you quote has no idea what they're talking about again and again.

Its painful to witness and saddens me to no end to think people new to tennis may take his advice or believe what hes saying.

Absolutely devastated.

isn't it? he never, ever played a wood racquet and Pro staff. While the PS 85 has a solid feel like wood, it shares less characteristics. I think he reads all sorts of stuff, gets evrything mingled in his head and literally (by use of a keyboard) throws up his information on the forum...none of it makes sense.

you should see his facebook page...

JoelDali · 11-25-2009, 09:31 AM

To say a PS85 is similar to a wood Jack Kramer Prostaff is like saying sex with a man feels the same as sex with a woman.

borg number one · 11-26-2009, 07:43 AM

^^^^LOL! JoelDali, now that's funny and a PROFOUND way of putting it, with the caveat that most folks that have played with both frames have NOT also had such varied experiences when it comes to love making. I'd agree 100%.

JoelDali · 11-26-2009, 07:59 AM

Glad you liked it.

I for one, am shocked at what I wrote yesterday.

Pretty gross.

11-22-2009, 12:10 PM	#23
borg number one Legend Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,043	Any differences in tennis balls over time are more difficult for me to discern vs. the changes in racquet technology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_ball (wikipedia on the tennis ball) http://wings.avkids.com/Tennis/Book/ball-01.html http://www.itftennis.com/technical/rules/history/ (ITF tennis ball history) From the above, tennis balls look to be about the same weight now as they've always been (about 56-59 grams from 1965 to today), but they seem to use different types of balls in terms of bounce depending on the Surface nowadays. I'm not certain of what they did say in 1965 as to "bounce", though weight seems to have stayed about the same. Perhaps an expert on the history of tennis balls can shed more light on this issue. I'll have to look into it more closely to have a better informed opinion. __________________ Borg never pointed to himself. He never even seemed to care if anyone read the advertisements. — Tom Callahan

11-25-2009, 09:31 AM	#29
JoelDali Legend Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8,949	To say a PS85 is similar to a wood Jack Kramer Prostaff is like saying sex with a man feels the same as sex with a woman. __________________ There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.

11-26-2009, 07:43 AM	#30
borg number one Legend Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,043	^^^^LOL! JoelDali, now that's funny and a PROFOUND way of putting it, with the caveat that most folks that have played with both frames have NOT also had such varied experiences when it comes to love making. I'd agree 100%. __________________ Borg never pointed to himself. He never even seemed to care if anyone read the advertisements. — Tom Callahan

11-26-2009, 07:59 AM	#31
JoelDali Legend Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8,949	Glad you liked it. I for one, am shocked at what I wrote yesterday. Pretty gross. __________________ There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.

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