Best items you found at thrift stores (Goodwill)?

graycrait · Sep 21, 2016

It wasn't an RX32 or 37 but it wasn't bad for $2.67. This is a Chicago made PS: http://thetenniswiki.com/Wilson+Pro+Staff+6.0+Original+Mid+85
No bumper guard, correct stickers in throat, butt cap is correct but the code seems to be GOO, red primer. So this should be a 1983. I'm not sure about that cover, that doesn't seem correct, made in Taiwan, but it fits. Gold nylon strings, one-piece stringing. I had to cut them out and put new syn gut at 65lbs (recommended 65-70lbs). I'll give it a whirl in about an hour.

MrRandom247 · Sep 21, 2016

With a large racket collection & many decaying old grips I add a sacrificial second hand grip asap.
Then it can rest in storage without making a mess.
If & when time comes to sell it or play with it I add another good quality grip.

joe sch · Sep 21, 2016

graycrait said:
It wasn't an RX32 or 37 but it wasn't bad for $2.67. This is a Chicago made PS: http://thetenniswiki.com/Wilson+Pro+Staff+6.0+Original+Mid+85
No bumper guard, correct stickers in throat, butt cap is correct but the code seems to be GOO, red primer. So this should be a 1983. I'm not sure about that cover, that doesn't seem correct, made in Taiwan, but it fits. Gold nylon strings, one-piece stringing. I had to cut them out and put new syn gut at 65lbs (recommended 65-70lbs). I'll give it a whirl in about an hour.

Always great to find an early Chicago or St. Vincent ps85. The cover is for the JK staff (jkps) graphite also made in St. Vincent, same mold but had fiberglass rather than kevlar like the the ps85. I have a few in outstanding condition and think they play better than the ps85 since I prefer the extra flex rather than stiffness.

graycrait · Sep 21, 2016

joe sch, thanks for the info on the cover. I had a good time hitting with the PS85 for a couple of hours tonight. Serving was especially fun. I'll also be looking for Jack Kramer Staff, now that I know what they look like from the auction site.

dak95_00 · Sep 22, 2016

Picked up two Head Flexpoint Prestige MP in okay condition and a very good Prince TT Graphite Midsize yesterday for under $20.

graycrait · Sep 24, 2016

dak95_00, I'll bet that Head Flexpoint will be fun to hit with.

Steve_j_theo · Sep 24, 2016

Found 2 Yonex RX-32's a week ago, one is virtually mint as well. Didnt realize Yonex made an oval frame.

v-verb · Sep 24, 2016

Steve_j_theo said:
Found 2 Yonex RX-32's a week ago, one is virtually mint as well. Didnt realize Yonex made an oval frame.

Nice Steve!

dak95_00 · Sep 24, 2016

graycrait said:
dak95_00, I'll bet that Head Flexpoint will be fun to hit with.

I just ordered new bumper guards for them. I had a Prestige Mid (Flexpoint) a few months ago. It had a weird feel at the holes. I'm curious to give these a hit.

I just purchased two POG OS on the auction site for $30 shipped to my door. I've got a nice stash of bumpers and grommets for those already.

They're my preferred grip size too.

jonestim · Sep 26, 2016

I had a FXP Prestige MP that I picked up off Craigs list for $20 and it too had a weird feel. I didn't hit with it enough to get used to it so every time I did I was thinking more about the odd ball feel instead of playing. Got rid of that thing.

MrRandom247 · Sep 27, 2016

$2 - Prince Graphite Pro 90 1986 [7/10] condition inc original cover
Only 14 mains.
Lime green restring - Prince Overtime I'd reckon
Replacement grip - think there is some brown leather underneath

Now I have a pair of them...

PBODY99 · Sep 27, 2016

Prince 90's were spin machine with their 14 main patterns.

ItalianStallion · Sep 28, 2016

It must be raining Prince 90's this week in thrift stores, because I found one too!
$1.98 and looks like new.....except for the grip.....ewwwww!
I will re-grip and re-string it one rainy weekend.

graycrait · Sep 28, 2016

14x18's? Those must be fun to serve with and for "hooking" forehands short and wide. Maybe another stick to find for his "senior." For all of Prince's funky business practices they seem to have made and still do make interesting racquets. How much does that 14x18 Prince 90 weigh?

ItalianStallion · Sep 28, 2016

graycrait said:
14x18's? Those must be fun to serve with and for "hooking" forehands short and wide. Maybe another stick to find for his "senior." For all of Prince's funky business practices they seem to have made and still do make interesting racquets. How much does that 14x18 Prince 90 weigh?

Yep - a 14x18 too, I'm a big fan of open string patterns. Until this Prince 90, my most "open" frame I've used is a 16x18 Yonex RDS-001 90.
I will weigh the Prince in its stock form tomorrow and will update this post.

UPDATE: It weighed in at 362 grams (12.75 ounce) stock form.

frinton · Sep 29, 2016

5 Francs a pop today: Ashe Competition (Europe) - almost like new, a Dunlop Max 400i and Wilson T-3000 both in not too bad condition... big grips ;-) 6 for the T3 and 5 for the others.

0lFNjqvCs4BCeIlX_v5mrMNtWG6ZtxI2jA4oI6mcLRRfPXpXXbM9FlOEjTsmUJGtFSA-S76oPurl6VqVJHPbzPBnqe81EwMGQdN-HZaVpjwy1LNEXd0OUDLITg_ovUVKY0_0bdggyMdzqk1arUN3kE4hWcWcUuMJkp1DFD34lPC6Rb3fLKaDq2H9Zdx53Kim9HRs6ExDsmJHpNja7RUp12iSdfEhf_ZBzm4qBe0d_ucxsaBf-pBwm0kS1XQujTONyotpeDMf4HyXGMTyjUXnSga8K2-XqofPFJOyCM6T2Nrlt-Biqas8MRtoEoex_jrFF0EB-s7N6wAPI-Vkml5MwZa9UlM2vGvn4XhbvObyMzkpxys75UyzNYL3I7jB1Y88VjO4O4Ku6j-WgfLv8offAt3ChBrLnt73yWbfU_B41qMohaW8Hcbxx12Ujo_qxIDP960eSCDYaPSEu0ZlmYdW7TODsLM53eZYr8HYwZKg5pPyL_aBe3N6izxT90UUrRylPnrDu0OlbDjP_XRKuOkiMHD23iw9sHWNskjX5SCUJUXEMbKaB0uhYt9lSt1Mr3IcPZa3ip5EpEu711L8IWo7TwqmlSRis-sQ-dfWTHzc3F1N7Oti_A=w1262-h1066-no

The 400i comes with a nice feeling, green leather grip - does anybody know, if they were using fairways? ...feels like one.
What's the difference between the T2 and the T3 (other than the label in the heart of the racket?)

Deleted member 743561 · Sep 29, 2016

ItalianStallion said:
It must be raining Prince 90's this week in thrift stores, because I found one too!
$1.98 and looks like new.....except for the grip.....ewwwww!
I will re-grip and re-string it one rainy weekend.

I want a classic Prince for $1.98! Nice score!

coachrick · Sep 30, 2016

That 90 series in its many variants was a real pleasure to string! Record-setting times on those! It was often disappointing to use sets of string on those rather than string off a reel. There was SO much leftover string ! If one got creative, you could have enough left over to string the mains on a second frame! Of course, the one-piece pattern would preclude this under normal circumstances; but it was fun to use the leftover string rather than waste it.

One Christmas Eve, while My Darling was out of town, a regular client's Dad dropped off 6 Graphite 90s for his daughter who was leaving Christmas Day for a long tournament stretch. He figured they would FedEx the finished rackets to one of her tournament sites in a few days as she had 18 frames in her rotation for such times. He was flabbergasted when I showed up at their house about two hours later with ALL six rackets ready to go! Dad wasn't usually involved with the stringing aspect of his daughters' (2) tennis exploits and was duly impressed with the speedy service on a holiday! The only thing that slowed me down was her choice of Velocity 15ga as her string(could have had any string she wanted...loved the cheapo Velocity!). Even that fat Velocity was a pleasure to string in the Prince 90 !!! This was 1998/99, IIRC. Wow, how time flies!!!!

ItalianStallion · Sep 30, 2016

coachrick said:
That 90 series in its many variants was a real pleasure to string! Record-setting times on those! It was often disappointing to use sets of string on those rather than string off a reel. There was SO much leftover string ! If one got creative, you could have enough left over to string the mains on a second frame! Of course, the one-piece pattern would preclude this under normal circumstances; but it was fun to use the leftover string rather than waste it.

One Christmas Eve, while My Darling was out of town, a regular client's Dad dropped off 6 Graphite 90s for his daughter who was leaving Christmas Day for a long tournament stretch. He figured they would FedEx the finished rackets to one of her tournament sites in a few days as she had 18 frames in her rotation for such times. He was flabbergasted when I showed up at their house about two hours later with ALL six rackets ready to go! Dad wasn't usually involved with the stringing aspect of his daughters' (2) tennis exploits and was duly impressed with the speedy service on a holiday! The only thing that slowed me down was her choice of Velocity 15ga as her string(could have had any string she wanted...loved the cheapo Velocity!). Even that fat Velocity was a pleasure to string in the Prince 90 !!! This was 1998/99, IIRC. Wow, how time flies!!!!

Thanks Coach Rick - I was going to use a set of Prince Synthetic gut to restring it, but I hate wasting string too...I'll just measure some from an old reel of Babolat Superfine 17 or a reel of Forten Tournament Nylon 16 laying round. Any recommendations on either with gauge (16 or 17) on this open pattern? I normally use 17g on all my other frames.

coachrick · Sep 30, 2016

ItalianStallion said:
Thanks Coach Rick - I was going to use a set of Prince Synthetic gut to restring it, but I hate wasting string too...I'll just measure some from an old reel of Babolat Superfine 17 or a reel of Forten Tournament Nylon 16 laying round. Any recommendations on either with gauge (16 or 17) on this open pattern? I normally use 17g on all my other frames.

Since you like the 17ga, I'd go with that...just be prepared to restring soon if you end up liking it and using it a lot. With any spin at all, that 17ga won't last long!

vsbabolat · Oct 2, 2016

ItalianStallion said:
Thanks Coach Rick - I was going to use a set of Prince Synthetic gut to restring it, but I hate wasting string too...I'll just measure some from an old reel of Babolat Superfine 17 or a reel of Forten Tournament Nylon 16 laying round. Any recommendations on either with gauge (16 or 17) on this open pattern? I normally use 17g on all my other frames.

Love Superfine Play!

Steve_j_theo · Oct 2, 2016

iRadical, Max200g, 2 new Fin Shark reflex rackets and a TT Hornet, all on Saturday.

therecanbeonlyone · Oct 3, 2016

I picked up a Wilson Pro Staff Classic 6.1 si yesterday at PlayitAgain Sports for $10. It is in great condition and I knew there was no way I could leave it on that shelf. Has a butt cap code UGR. I'm pretty excited about this one.

joe sch · Oct 3, 2016

therecanbeonlyone said:
I picked up a Wilson Pro Staff Classic 6.1 si yesterday at PlayitAgain Sports for $10. It is in great condition and I knew there was no way I could leave it on that shelf. Has a butt cap code UGR. I'm pretty excited about this one.

They are great playing rackets that can still be used to win championships today as Delpo demonstates. I have a few in my collection and always enjoy hitting them.

Pepecom · Oct 3, 2016

ItalianStallion said:
It must be raining Prince 90's this week in thrift stores, because I found one too!
$1.98 and looks like new.....except for the grip.....ewwwww!
I will re-grip and re-string it one rainy weekend.

Nice pick !
This was my very first "serious" racket, had pair of them, one is still alive the other died when slipping out of my hand in a serve, and cracket into the ground :-(.
They bring me good memories, nice racket although a bit heavy for today's standards.
The grip looks exactly like in mine.

dak95_00 · Oct 4, 2016

Picked up a couple woodies today. Both are in excellent condition with no warping and barely any signs of use.

If anyone knows anything about these, please share.

Slazenger Personal
Wilson Bobby Riggs Autograph

BlueB · Oct 10, 2016

I picked this gem other day: Head Titanium 5400. It was kinda expensive at $10, but not a single scuff on it, factory strings in untouched condition, only grip all sticky and flaky from age...

After a bit of research, it turned out that entire 5000 serie is the Ti Radical 102!
It is a perfect platform racquet, at strung specs of 306g, 305 SW, 3HL balance and super soft! 18×19 pattern is not super tight either.
So... a new overgrip, new nice soft poly at low tension, 4g of lead from 1/11 to 3/9, 5g above grip and 5g at the butt and I have a great low powered, yet forgiving, control stick! It almost plays like an easier version of PT280!

Love it!
I'm still going to experiment with more SW.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

MrRandom247 · Oct 10, 2016

$4 Head Universe 720 (OS) racket.
Made In Austria.
A few scuffs from normal use, grip needs attention.
Curious light red / pink restring.

joe sch · Oct 11, 2016

dak95_00 said:
Picked up a couple woodies today. Both are in excellent condition with no warping and barely any signs of use.

If anyone knows anything about these, please share.

Slazenger Personal
Wilson Bobby Riggs Autograph

Those are older woodys, you probably got a few rackets from someone who purchased them almost 1/2 a century ago. The older wood is often better and no warping is an indication. Its also about good storage in a place thats not humid with temperature extremes. Your really be stying if you take out those sticks for a hit. The players still left hitting woods will usually use late 70s .. 80s models like Kramers or Dunlops. BTW, Bobby Riggs was one of the best players in the wood era and was quite a character. Read up if you want to be entertained about the barnstorming days of the tennis tour.

dak95_00 · Oct 11, 2016

joe sch said:
Those are older woodys, you probably got a few rackets from someone who purchased them almost 1/2 a century ago. The older wood is often better and no warping is an indication. Its also about good storage in a place thats not humid with temperature extremes. Your really be stying if you take out those sticks for a hit. The players still left hitting woods will usually use late 70s .. 80s models like Kramers or Dunlops. BTW, Bobby Riggs was one of the best players in the wood era and was quite a character. Read up if you want to be entertained about the barnstorming days of the tennis tour.

Thanks Joe. Of course, I'm familiar with Bobby Riggs from his historic match with Billie Jean King and I knew he was a great champion in his younger days. I just Googled him and realized we share the same birthday (not date). My mother's uncle was also a very good player in his day and played against Bobby Riggs and others from that era around WWII. My mother said if he weren't injured in the war he would have possibly played professionally. As is, he played for Harvard. I only met my great uncle a couple of times and enjoyed asking him about his tennis exploits. He played into his 80s when he gave it up for golf. He was still beating the club pro in his early 70s in singles.

I'll have to upload some pictures.

joe sch · Oct 12, 2016

dak95_00 said:
Thanks Joe. Of course, I'm familiar with Bobby Riggs from his historic match with Billie Jean King and I knew he was a great champion in his younger days. I just Googled him and realized we share the same birthday (not date). My mother's uncle was also a very good player in his day and played against Bobby Riggs and others from that era around WWII. My mother said if he weren't injured in the war he would have possibly played professionally. As is, he played for Harvard. I only met my great uncle a couple of times and enjoyed asking him about his tennis exploits. He played into his 80s when he gave it up for golf. He was still beating the club pro in his early 70s in singles.

I'll have to upload some pictures.

Interesting history, your fortunate to have those personal links.
Here is a book I really enjoyed:
https://www.amazon.com/Court-Hustle...&qid=1476269380&sr=8-1&keywords=court+hustler

MrRandom247 · Oct 24, 2016

$3 Dunlop 6X racket bag - new with tags, black red, white
$2 Prince 03 3X racket bag - new with tags, mostly black
...Laughing...

coachrick · Oct 25, 2016

MrRandom247 said:
$3 Dunlop 6X racket bag - new with tags, black red, white
$2 Prince 03 3X racket bag - new with tags, mostly black
...Laughing...

Speaking of bags, I still have my Babolat duffle ca 1984/5...mint teal green and rose pink(Miami Vice anyone!?!)! It's full of extra bicycle parts I've been meaning to donate. Maybe I'll dump the bike goodies into a box and hang on to the bag

MrRandom247 · Oct 26, 2016

$5 Head Prestige Tour 660 - 6/10 condition, not cracked, no grip, yellow Gosen strings are old but ok (been dreaming of finding one)
$5 Stellar Supreme Graphite Composite - 8/10 condition, not cracked, no grip, original white strings look tired, now I have a pair of them.

joe sch · Oct 26, 2016

coachrick said:
Speaking of bags, I still have my Babolat duffle ca 1984/5...mint teal green and rose pink(Miami Vice anyone!?!)! It's full of extra bicycle parts I've been meaning to donate. Maybe I'll dump the bike goodies into a box and hang on to the bag

As you can see here, I like keeping vintage bags to help store my vintage sticks

python · Oct 26, 2016

BlueB said:
I picked this gem other day: Head Titanium 5400. It was kinda expensive at $10, but not a single scuff on it, factory strings in untouched condition, only grip all sticky and flaky from age...

After a bit of research, it turned out that entire 5000 serie is the Ti Radical 102!
It is a perfect platform racquet, at strung specs of 306g, 305 SW, 3HL balance and super soft! 18×19 pattern is not super tight either.
So... a new overgrip, new nice soft poly at low tension, 4g of lead from 1/11 to 3/9, 5g above grip and 5g at the butt and I have a great low powered, yet forgiving, control stick! It almost plays like an easier version of PT280! Love it!
I'm still going to experiment with more SW.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

I'm jealous. Great find.

I have a Ti Carbon 5000 & 5001 & 6000 and a Ti 5003. All are the same identical racquet with different paint jobs.

They play great. I wish some big box store would sell these again. As I recall they sold for about $40 US when they came out at my discount sporting goods store. I wish I had stocked up.

BlueB · Oct 26, 2016

python said:
I'm jealous. Great find.

I have a Ti Carbon 5000 & 5001 & 6000 and a Ti 5003. All are the same identical racquet with different paint jobs.

They play great. I wish some big box store would sell these again. As I recall they sold for about $40 US when they came out at my discount sporting goods store. I wish I had stocked up.

Yup, it is great. I'm using it now while recovering from wrist injury, softness helps.
Since last specs I published, I added another gram near the top. It definitely added some power.

Yeah I'd buy more if I had a chance...

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

coachrick · Oct 26, 2016

Goll,

joe sch said:
As you can see here, I like keeping vintage bags to help store my vintage sticks

Dang, when you get to be MY age, you have way too many stories to tell!!! Feb. 1983, I'm in Greenville, SC for a meeting at Dunlop HQ. Checking into the hotel, my Dunlop John McEnroe 'autograph' bags were on a cart in the lobby...next to a large group of giant bags/crates marked "Prince 1999". A number of the folks belonging to those bags were hanging around MY cart thinking John McEnroe was actually in town for something with Dunlop. Silly me, I thought the Prince goodies belonged to the company Prince(although the logo was NOT Prince Sports font or type or color or anything). I didn't see the man himself; but the Prince 1999 Tour was in town for a gig!!! Oh, well, I was more a Neil Diamond fan, anyway.

dak95_00 · Oct 29, 2016

I fed my addiction this afternoon. I found a Yonex Rexking R-22 that was in great condition for a bumperless racquet. It has some scuffs but not many. I spent more than I normally do but it was in great shape with the cover and I'd just received an extra $20.

ItalianStallion · Oct 29, 2016

I didn't find this, my friend got it for $1.98 at the thrift store. We took turns trying it today, but he didn't like feel.
I wasn't crazy with its soft, muted feel either. He ended giving it to me since I mentioned seeing reviewed in old Tennis Magazine issue.

Behold -Tomorrows racquet today! The Pro Kennex Graphite Micro Mid c.1986

coachrick · Oct 29, 2016

ItalianStallion said:
I didn't find this, my friend got it for $1.98 at the thrift store. We took turns trying it today, but he didn't like feel.
I wasn't crazy with its soft, muted feel either. He ended giving it to me since I mentioned seeing reviewed in old Tennis Magazine issue.

Behold -Tomorrows racquet today! The Pro Kennex Graphite Micro Mid c.1986

I have a prototype of that racket and will likely use it along with my Red Head Pro and Yonex 'Greenie' 8500 IF I return to the courts soon! It's an acquired taste; but I've enjoyed hitting with it since 1985 !

v-verb · Oct 29, 2016

ItalianStallion said:
I didn't find this, my friend got it for $1.98 at the thrift store. We took turns trying it today, but he didn't like feel.
I wasn't crazy with its soft, muted feel either. He ended giving it to me since I mentioned seeing reviewed in old Tennis Magazine issue.

Behold -Tomorrows racquet today! The Pro Kennex Graphite Micro Mid c.1986

How would you string it? I would go nuts

coachrick · Oct 29, 2016

v-verb said:
How would you string it? I would go nuts

Badminton stringers would handle it just fine. I had the pleasure of stringing a few "back then"...just have to allow about double the time. The weaving takes a bit of concentration with the strings so loose and so close together. I'm hoping my prototype strings hold up another 30 years!!!!

v-verb · Oct 29, 2016

coachrick said:
Badminton stringers would handle it just fine. I had the pleasure of stringing a few "back then"...just have to allow about double the time. The weaving takes a bit of concentration with the strings so loose and so close together. I'm hoping my prototype strings hold up another 30 years!!!!

Makes sense coachrick! Enjoy that frame!

ItalianStallion · Oct 30, 2016

I think I'm going to give restringing this Micro Mid a try. I strung a T-2000 a few months ago, so I feel up to the challenge ;-)
I don't think any thin gauge strings come in sets more than 40 feet long, so it looks like I'll have to do a 2-piece job. I'm thinking of either using an 18 or 19 gauge poly.

coachrick · Oct 30, 2016

ItalianStallion said:
I think I'm going to give restringing this Micro Mid a try. I strung a T-2000 a few months ago, so I feel up to the challenge ;-)
I don't think any thin gauge strings come in sets more than 40 feet long, so it looks like I'll have to do a 2-piece job. I'm thinking of either using an 18 or 19 gauge poly.

Yikes on the poly! Maybe it will work. Go as 19 as you can...18 is too thick. Kennex had a "graphite" Micro string that I think worked better than the syn because it was stiffer, so factor that in when you think poly. Remember, the tension is in the 40# range, depending on the string. There is little "return" in stringing the Micro too tight(and you almost can't get it too loose!) Good luck!!! Two piece is not a problem...just map out your tie-offs first.

joe sch · Nov 1, 2016

ItalianStallion said:
I didn't find this, my friend got it for $1.98 at the thrift store. We took turns trying it today, but he didn't like feel.
I wasn't crazy with its soft, muted feel either. He ended giving it to me since I mentioned seeing reviewed in old Tennis Magazine issue.

Behold -Tomorrows racquet today! The Pro Kennex Graphite Micro Mid c.1986

Its an ultra control racket with tons of flex and a 24x20 dense string pattern, here is another look

dallastxtennis · Nov 1, 2016

Found a Bancroft Tour+ Nano 21 for $1.99, strung up with Forten Kelvar felt incredibly good.

atatu · Nov 2, 2016

coachrick said:
I have a prototype of that racket and will likely use it along with my Red Head Pro and Yonex 'Greenie' 8500 IF I return to the courts soon! It's an acquired taste; but I've enjoyed hitting with it since 1985 !

Hey Coach, I've got one of those PK Micro's you can have for free if you want, let me know.

dr325i · Nov 2, 2016

joe sch said:
Its an ultra control racket with tons of flex and a 24x20 dense string pattern, here is another look

Looks like 20x24 to me

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