I´m starting to collect wood

[michaelscoots]

Originally Posted by coachrick

I've got the plain navy Boast shorts and solid white polo for that look...even found some canvas(actually hemp) sneaks to wear !

I could barely fit into the Fila and Tacchini stuff BACK THEN...I have NO chance now!

How about an 'Aussie' hat to complete the look!!!
https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/im...FvbN5fwZX05jkE

Nice! Yeah, I had a couple of boast shirts. Totally forgot about them! And they still make Stan Smith's!

[michaelscoots]

Back to the woods conversation: Mick, any idea of what your Chris Evert Autograph weighs? I just found one on the big auction site for $10 plus $9 in shipping...looks pretty clean. It's a "light" so I figure I could always add some lead in the butt cap and around the hoop to match my other Wilsons

Played again this morning with the Maxplay McEnroe. The lighter version is definitely easier to work in the modern technique. But, I have to say so far my favorites are the Wilsons The lights with the right string really have a nice buttery feel reminiscent of the later PS85. To me, the Jack Kramer PS feels more like the PS85 than when compared to other manufacture's woods. How they recreated that feeling in the PS85 is beyond me, but it's there. I guess it's fitting that I like the PS wood as it's what I've become used to in the modern frames.

Rally-wise my brother and I seem to be hitting the ball just as hard if not harder (on the flat shots) as we did with our modern frames. I also feel my 1hbh is coming through the contact zone more consistently clean than with the K90. I get more of those "AAAAAAHHHH" (angels singing) when I really let it rip than I do with the modern frame.

Coming off a shoulder injury/self therapy the past year and half (now 100%), it's time to figure out the serve with the woods. Seems like it might be easier in some ways, but not sure if I can create the same pace. My Spring time goal so I can start playing matches

Broke another set of strings today..it was nice to reach in a grab a matching frame Looking forward to trying out the Leonia 66 strings as others had mentioned on a separate post.

[Mick]

i don't have a weight machine, but the racquet label says 12 oz something, i believe. I've got to check it when i get home. if you can play well with wood, i recommend go back even older and get those 1920-30 racquets if the price is reasonable. The head sizes look odd but they play pretty much the same as the ones from the 70's.

A while ago, someone had created a thread about how Bill Tilden would do against today's players. It inpired me to get a Wright & Ditson Big Bill Tilden racquet and try it out against some of my hitting buddies. i beat the guy 6-3 with it. (I remember the score because i had never used a racquet this old before). He got so mad and slammed his new Yonex racquet to the ground, then he wanted to try my racquet. I told him, no way. you might abuse mine and break it

[michaelscoots]

Mick, your stories of wood vs. graphite matches are hilarious. Great answer to the agro guy too!

What got us (my brother Brian and I) on the wood kick was back in February he spotted two Wright and Ditsons in a vintage thrift store in Jamaica Plain, MA (part of Boston). They were $3 each. He showed them to me that weekend and we couldn't wait to hit with them. Well, after about 5 minutes adjusting we started to really swing out. I broke strings on one of them that day so I took it home to string it. The next day it cracked when I was hitting a flying forehand. However, he's picked up a few others (all from the 20's-40's) and they are holding up excellent. One in the bunch had a rare 16 by 21 string pattern! There's a drill hole that goes through the throat to the other side so the mains start at the throat! Do you have any like this? The weight of this one was about 13.35 strung (a bit lighter than the other Wright and Ditsons). He thought it might be the one and he probably played the best tennis I've ever seen him play with it (that was today). The founders as you probably know were baseball players and they made equipment for various sports. Fitting because the wood is nice stiff and solid on those sticks..much like a baseball bat!

[Mick]

Nice! For me, my level doesn't drop very much when I use those vintage racquets, it must be the same for you and your brother too. But the cool thing is most players think that it would drop and then get a big surprise.

Some years ago there's a story about Djokovic and other pro players trying out wood racquets and saying how tough it was to use them. I don't believe it. He must have been djoking. Kuznetsova said she could use them in match play

[texacali]

I know this is old, but the Stan Smith Capri was my first ever racket. I felt a little bit down about that, because my friends all sported JKA, ProStaff, Bancrofts, and Maxply...."real rackets". I tried to think it was really a JKA with different graphics. Moved from this to a real Stan Smith auto.

Originally Posted by Migelowsky

last set, I don´t know if I´ll continue because I don´t want to get
addicted, the only one that I really want is a Borg Pro =)

[Mick]

Hi Michael, I was wrong, there's no weight information on the CE racquets at all. Oops.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by texacali

I know this is old, but the Stan Smith Capri was my first ever racket. I felt a little bit down about that, because my friends all sported JKA, ProStaff, Bancrofts, and Maxply...."real rackets". I tried to think it was really a JKA with different graphics. Moved from this to a real Stan Smith auto.

these are my "unreal racquets," i don't think any pro ever used them but i like the brand name and paint job

[DrewRafter8]

Don't know why I'm just now finding this thread. I have probably 35-40 woodies at this point. Here's a small sample that I posted a year ago.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showp...postcount=1350

My prized possessions include a beautiful Pancho that's in great condition, T2000/T3000 combo, a practically new Dunlop Ohka, and my favorite the Borg Donnay.

[joe sch]

Originally Posted by Mick

these are my "unreal racquets," i don't think any pro ever used them but i like the brand name and paint job

The Fila woods are really well made and tour level hitters. Fila did sponsor many players and I have a friend that was sponsored by Fila and still has a stock of new models.

[joe sch]

I just collected 20 Wilson wood rackets for a woody tournament that will be using only these famous wilson woods. Check it out:

http://s920.photobucket.com/albums/a...ennis_Rackets/

[jonestim]

My find today. Pro Kennex Golden Ace Boron with Jose Luis Clerc signature. Strung with gut. One small chip lower on the face on one side, one in the throat area, and two more at the head on one side. None are more than 1/4". 358 grams in an L5 grip size.

[slice bh compliment]

^I want to go to there^
One of the finest open-throated wooden frames ever.

[Migelowsky]

Originally Posted by Mick

these are my "unreal racquets," i don't think any pro ever used them but i like the brand name and paint job

I was suposed to stop buying rackets after I found the Borg Pro, but I also got the Flex Pro, now , you are tempting me, go away Satan

[michaelscoots]

Originally Posted by joe sch

I just collected 20 Wilson wood rackets for a woody tournament that will be using only these famous wilson woods. Check it out:

http://s920.photobucket.com/albums/a...ennis_Rackets/

Nice collection Joe! I know you mentioned the Advantage plays like the JKPS. How do they compare specifically? Is the Advantage a touch stiffer?

thanks and good luck in the tournament!
Michael

[michaelscoots]

Originally Posted by Migelowsky

I was suposed to stop buying rackets after I found the Borg Pro, but I also got the Flex Pro, now , you are tempting me, go away Satan

These are sweet! Anyone know how they play?

[michaelscoots]

Originally Posted by michaelscoots

These are sweet! Anyone know how they play?

Originally Posted by Mick

Hi Michael, I was wrong, there's no weight information on the CE racquets at all. Oops.

No problem, mine will be here next week. It's a light...I'll weigh it when I get it.

[michaelscoots]

Originally Posted by Mick

Nice! For me, my level doesn't drop very much when I use those vintage racquets, it must be the same for you and your brother too. But the cool thing is most players think that it would drop and then get a big surprise.

Some years ago there's a story about Djokovic and other pro players trying out wood racquets and saying how tough it was to use them. I don't believe it. He must have been djoking. Kuznetsova said she could use them in match play

Yeah, if anything my strokes are cleaner...I suppose it makes sense: the smaller the head size = the more control. If you're connecting with the sweet spot most of the time anyway, then you're really rewarded with the wood. Some of the angles you can get on approaches and volleys is pretty insane.

Again, I grew up with wood, but it's been way too long since I've played with them (roughly 30 years). Implementing modern technique with the majority of these woods is truly amazing and rewarding. That "tennis high" (like runners high) is at a whole new level...I can't get enough of this!!! (apologies to the wife but hey, I'm staying in shape and I'm pretty happy)

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Migelowsky

I was suposed to stop buying rackets after I found the Borg Pro, but I also got the Flex Pro, now , you are tempting me, go away Satan

I saw this movie, "The Black Dahlia" (directed by Brian De Palma). In it, there's a scene where this lady says collectors provide great services to the public by preserving artifacts for future generation to enjoy.
I am just a racquet collector

[Mick]

Originally Posted by michaelscoots

Yeah, if anything my strokes are cleaner...I suppose it makes sense: the smaller the head size = the more control. If you're connecting with the sweet spot most of the time anyway, then you're really rewarded with the wood. Some of the angles you can get on approaches and volleys is pretty insane.

Again, I grew up with wood, but it's been way too long since I've played with them (roughly 30 years). Implementing modern technique with the majority of these woods is truly amazing and rewarding. That "tennis high" (like runners high) is at a whole new level...I can't get enough of this!!! (apologies to the wife but hey, I'm staying in shape and I'm pretty happy)

Nice!
This afternoon, I played not with graphite or wood but with steel