Wilson T-2000 Like Racquets???

[WilsonPlayer101]

Here is the story, I have a Wilson T-2000. I like it a lot. Even though it has a small head size for some reason more often than not I hit the sweet spot but I do also hit the frame at times because of the smaller head size.

I think the Wilson T-3000 is a bigger head size, is that true? Or I should ask which racquets are like the T-2000 in feel but bigger head size? Just curiouis.

Also I love the T-2000 because I get power and accuracy something I don't get as much with modern frames for a reason I am unsure of but one issue is the T-2000 gives me arm soreness before one set is even done therefore I don't use the T-2000 much, I stick to my Wilson Pro Staff Classic Tour 6.6 Jim Courier. If there was another T series with bigger head-size with less stress on my arm I'd fine one and buy it. I do much better with the T-2000 but the arm soreness is getting to me.

Thanks,


James

[coachrick]

Welcome to the very small club of players who find the T2000 'accurate'. I believe the only way to get a T-series racket that is larger than your 2000 would be to find a TX-series frame. The oval cross-section of that TX series makes them VERY different from the 'original' T-2,3,4000s. The internal 'suspended' string system might be what you are feeling but you can count on the TX series as playing quite unlike your new/old stick.

I believe much of what is hurting your arm is the tendency of the 2000 to twist like crazy on anything off-center. The 3000 is a touch stiffer and somewhat more resistant to twisting, primarily because of the welded throat bridge. Same bridge on the other T-series rackets(minus the T2000, of course).

BTW, do you have a plan in case you break a string?

[jimbo333]

Could use this!

[Virginia]

Blimey, jimbo, are you sure that diagram is big enough?

I have a TX-6000 and the head is quite a lot bigger. The beam is about one and a half times as wide too.

[mrw]

i own two T3000's. Thanks for posting the stringing instructions. I now know that if I break a string, I will simply buy another T3000. Yousa, that is a complicated string job. One that I would not want to tackle on my Klippermate.

[WilsonPlayer101]

coachrick thanks for the info on the T2000. I do have a plan in case I do break a string. The local shop in my area actually strings these. I asked. There are two pro shops within about 20 minute drive from me and one said they don't string those but the other shop does string these up. They said that maybe once a year someone will bring one in. It takes them twice as long to string one of these than another modern like racquet. The shop said they have the pattern for the stringing and just have to pay attention to what they are doing.

Thanks Jimbo for the diagram of the racquet string pattern. If I ever start stringing my own I'd have to have that. Much appreciated.

[WilsonPlayer101]

Originally Posted by Virginia

Blimey, jimbo, are you sure that diagram is big enough?

I have a TX-6000 and the head is quite a lot bigger. The beam is about one and a half times as wide too.

Virginia does that racquet make your arm sore? I wish this racquet did not sore my arm because it's an awesome racquet to hit with. My arm tires before one set is up so by that time the fun factor is gone. I think I'll have to stick to a modern frame although the T-2000 is amazing. I can see why Connors had a hard time leaving it. I'm sure if Wilson still made it towards the mid '80s and would have paid him to use it he would have gladly but they did not make it anymore and I guess he had to play a different racquet to get endorsement money and free racquets. But definitely he was a big supporter of the T-2000.

[WilsonPlayer101]

coachrick, did you see the video on YouTube of the guy who demonstrates playing his of the T2000? He is a big supporter of it and seems to be hitting well with it. I had my T2000 for 10 years since I got it used on **** and I never used it but the video of that guy prompted me to want to and I used it and found out it's amazing racquet. Too bad the fun factor is sucked right out when the arm gets so sore and tired.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by WilsonPlayer101

coachrick, did you see the video on YouTube of the guy who demonstrates playing his of the T2000? He is a big supporter of it and seems to be hitting well with it. I had my T2000 for 10 years since I got it used on **** and I never used it but the video of that guy prompted me to want to and I used it and found out it's amazing racquet. Too bad the fun factor is sucked right out when the arm gets so sore and tired.

I'll check out the video. We had maybe a half-dozen state top ranked players who stayed with the T-series back in the '70s. I also did much of the stringing for the USC(the original) team during the mid-to-later '70s when 4 of the top 6 players used one T-series or another(usually wanting natural gut!).

On a side note, the first 'Fast Serve Contest' we held was sponsored by Yamaha. The top three servers(all tied at the same speed) used 1)Fischer SuperForm, 2)Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph(wood DEMO) and 3)Wilson T-3000. Talk about moving through the RA spectrum of stiffness!

I have a few T-2 and 3000 sticks around...some with apparently original strings. I'll pull one out each time I hit but I never cared for that much flex in a racket. I remember many guys wanting to string the heck out of them, trying to 'crisp up' the feel...no chance, the flex was the nature of the beast!

BTW, if you're getting a lot of vibration through the handle, try to carefully remove the pallets, apply a thin bead of Shoe Goo(or similar) to the contact area between the hairpin and pallet and allow to dry before re-wrapping the grip. Might also try a synthetic grip to absorb some vibration, as well. Best of luck!

[retrowagen]

The closest thing I've experienced was the cast aluminum alloy Midland STR. It too had a novel stringing concept, and was equally round in the head:

[WilsonPlayer101]

retro, man that thing looks heavy!

[retrowagen]

Originally Posted by WilsonPlayer101

retro, man that thing looks heavy!

Surprisingly, it is not much moreso than a T-2000. Its cast aluminum is fairly porous. Definitely not an idea whose time had come; I defy anyone else to name any other cast aluminum tennis racquets...

[WilsonPlayer101]

retro, where did you get that? Are you the original owner? When was it made? Do you like that one? Go on the court and show some 17 year old playing with a Nadal Babolat what a real racquet is like!

[WilsonPlayer101]

coach thanks for the info on the pallets. I'll give that a go and see how that is. That sounds like a fine idea.

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by retrowagen

Surprisingly, it is not much moreso than a T-2000. Its cast aluminum is fairly porous. Definitely not an idea whose time had come; I defy anyone else to name any other cast aluminum tennis racquets...

That would be the "Pro Am"...ca. 1971. I am the proud owner of one thanks to Don T. http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...boy/proam1.jpg

Seems to be a less than 'ideal' way to craft a racket. Nice looking, however

[retrowagen]

Originally Posted by WilsonPlayer101

retro, where did you get that? Are you the original owner? When was it made? Do you like that one? Go on the court and show some 17 year old playing with a Nadal Babolat what a real racquet is like!

To answer your questions: on my travels; no; sometime in the early 1970s; I find it technically intriguing, but not so pleasant to hit tennis balls with; thanks, but no thanks (although I did wield a T-2000 with old strings for a set against a good 4.5 doubles team last season, held serve twice with it, and with my partner won the set!).

Originally Posted by coachrick, who must have seen it all and strung it all

That would be the "Pro Am"...ca. 1971.

Well, that'll teach me to defy probably the only guy on the planet who remembers those wacky metal frames of the 70's with an actual degree of fondness! Well done!! (and I have lernt something new today myself, thank you!)

[120mphBodyServe]

I really think you should move on.

[Leelord337]

Originally Posted by WilsonPlayer101

Here is the story, I have a Wilson T-2000. I like it a lot. Even though it has a small head size for some reason more often than not I hit the sweet spot but I do also hit the frame at times because of the smaller head size.

I think the Wilson T-3000 is a bigger head size, is that true? Or I should ask which racquets are like the T-2000 in feel but bigger head size? Just curiouis.

Also I love the T-2000 because I get power and accuracy something I don't get as much with modern frames for a reason I am unsure of but one issue is the T-2000 gives me arm soreness before one set is even done therefore I don't use the T-2000 much, I stick to my Wilson Pro Staff Classic Tour 6.6 Jim Courier. If there was another T series with bigger head-size with less stress on my arm I'd fine one and buy it. I do much better with the T-2000 but the arm soreness is getting to me.

Thanks,


James

it really is a great racquet, actually its a funny story i have about the t2000...4 years ago my friend 'n i were hanging out at the tennis center and i'm a 4.5 player, he's an open player and there were all kinds of vintage racquets hanging on the wall, (and being that i was friends w/the runner of the tennis center) he said he could beat me w/any of those racquets on the wall, i said okay! how about that steel one! thinking it was crap! and he beat me about 6-2 in a set. i hit with it afterwards in disbelief (as i was using the tecnifibre t fight 325) and was surprised how crisp it felt

[coachrick]

Originally Posted by retrowagen

Well, that'll teach me to defy probably the only guy on the planet who remembers those wacky metal frames of the 70's with an actual degree of fondness! Well done!! (and I have lernt something new today myself, thank you!)

I humbly accept the 'wacky' moniker(Oh, wait, you meant the RACKET! ).

Your Midland STRange racket ups the ante. What a string suspension system! The Pro Am is pretty conventional by comparison. I wonder if any of the successful metal racket companies even considered 'cast' aluminum? There were a few 'drawn' aluminum sticks(Rawlings TieBreaker) but extrusion seemed to be the order of the day back then. Casting eliminated those pesky throat pieces that had to be screwed in or welded...too bad it didn't work.

It IS amazing how many horrible metal frames were sold with fairly reputable brands attached. The Garcia X-15 is a good example...exposed strings all around the hoop--had to be protected by a plastic 'bumper'. Slazenger had the Aluminum Plus(not the Slazenger PLUS) and at least one terrible Newcombe aluminum model. Tensor was another brand that sold a fair number of really bad metal rackets in the '70s. The T2000 was an exquisite design by comparison.

[retrowagen]

Originally Posted by coachrick

Your Midland STRange racket ...

I wish I hadn't read this with a mouth full of water! That was a good one!! (now where can I find a towel?)