Best items you found at thrift stores (Goodwill)?

El_Yotamo

Hall of Fame
Finally stopped by a goodwill for the first time, and got myself a Wilson Ceramic midsize and Dunlop Black Max II. I also saw a spalding top flite but I decided not to get it as I'm on vacation and I'm unsure if it'll all fit in the bag on the way back.
 

graycrait

Legend
My sister picked up some rackets for me, nothing too great, but this Wilson Don Budge Signature with "Strata Bow" intrigued me. The racket press is also stamped with the Don Budge "signature." I hadn't seen matched press and racket before.
f0Lky0c.jpg
 
Nice find, Stallion. String that up and enjoy. Looks like you got a 3rd or 4th version (with MW Autograph and with the bottom of the throat filled in). These are heavy and very soft (38 ish stiffness rating). I got a 1st version one within the last month and have hit with it a few times. I like that cover too...wish mine had one.
 
Nice find, Stallion. String that up and enjoy. Looks like you got a 3rd or 4th version (with MW Autograph and with the bottom of the throat filled in). These are heavy and very soft (38 ish stiffness rating). I got a 1st version one within the last month and have hit with it a few times. I like that cover too...wish mine had one.

Hey thanks! I knew that several versions were made but wasn't sure which one this was...I knew it was a later one with the sig. Funny story, I met Mats a few years ago and had him autograph my cheapie wide body Rossignol Quantum...I wish I could get him to sign this one instead. Oh well! Any ideas on what a good tension range would be? Holy wet noodle - a 38 stiffness!?! A far cry from the PD's I've been using for sure!
 
Last edited:
Any ideas on what a good tension range would be? Holy wet noodle - a 38 stiffness!?! A far cry from the PD's I've been using for sure!
I'm not sure what tension to string at. The strings in the one I bought were in decent shape, so the few times I have hit with it I have just used the strings that were in it. I imagine you could go pretty low. This racquet feels a little like a wooden racket in that (1) it is heavy, and (2) you can hit without fear of hitting long. The string pattern is 16 x 17, I think, which sounds fun and should open up some spin and angles if the weight can be mastered. Poly at a low tension could magnify those attributes.
 

mavsman149

Hall of Fame
My Goodwill had a Hyper Hammer 6.2 skunk from probably 2003 for 5 bucks, but it was in really horrendous condition so I passed. That was the first time I've seen a decent racket at a Goodwill though
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
Hey thanks! I knew that several versions were made but wasn't sure which one this was...I knew it was a later one with the sig. Funny story, I met Mats a few years ago and had him autograph my cheapie wide body Rossignol Quantum...I wish I could get him to sign this one instead. Oh well! Any ideas on what a good tension range would be? Holy wet noodle - a 38 stiffness!?! A far cry from the PD's I've been using for sure!
Make sure none of the string holes are failing, allowing the string strip/grommets to pull into the frame. A much bigger problem with the early iterations of this model; but a weak point throughout the series. I would tend toward nat gut or something lively(in keeping with the vintage) below 60#.
 
Make sure none of the string holes are failing, allowing the string strip/grommets to pull into the frame. A much bigger problem with the early iterations of this model; but a weak point throughout the series. I would tend toward nat gut or something lively(in keeping with the vintage) below 60#.

Thanks! Grommets are in remarkable shape. Will keep the tension low.
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
Never mind, I found it on the auction sight, new old stock listed at 199.99 or get a nice used one for 45.00. Glad I only paid $15.00.
MAuRN5E.jpg
Not a bad looking stick. If I was aware of that ca1980 or so, I wiped it from my memory banks. Good find, especially at the price!!!
 

retrowagen

Hall of Fame
I found one of those a few months back. I still haven't strung it up. Are you a fan?
It's a pretty good variant of the Head 600 cm2 family, but not my favorite. Weight and balance are nice, but I find the frame has a few pros and cons :

The "Shock Absorbing System" gimmick (the center eight mains are strung through a pair of floating Kevlar-reinforced polyurethane blocks in the throat) potentially makes the frame obsolete, if they disintegrate. Also, the grommet system was only used on this one model, and its Rest-of-the-world version, the Graphite Tour, so finding a replacement is now impossible. And though it's an 18x20 drill, other grommets i.e., CAPs from Prestige Mids won't really help, thanks to that weird throat [and don't quote me on this, but I think--though I've not gone full Racquet Lab on this to test and verify--the drill pattern spacing is a little different than a full-CAP Prestige mid's].

When new, I played these 270's, and the Trisys 300's, for a couple seasons. This was after using the 1988 Elite Pro for a few years, and I thought these two Trisys mids would be a new equivalent. However, the 270 had an overly wooly feeling stringbed (due to the SAS blocks), and the 300 (aka Prestige Tour) felt completely mushy through its funky floating pallet handle system. Neither frame offered the kind of sensory feedback, both comfortable and crisp, of the old Elite Pro. Eventually, when the Prestige Classic 600 came out, I got a batch of those, but modded them with the rare non-CAP TK10 grommets, to achieve a closer match to the more head-light balance of the old Elite Pro.
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
That came out in 1982
Not TOO late in the game, eh? Still a nice looking stick.
Brings up an interesting question...We know McEnroe sounded the death knell for wood frames when he finally switched; but who was the last significant FEmale player to make the switch? IIRC, Chrissie made the switch around '83; but was anyone else on the women's tour still hanging on to wood?
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Not TOO late in the game, eh? Still a nice looking stick.
Brings up an interesting question...We know McEnroe sounded the death knell for wood frames when he finally switched; but who was the last significant FEmale player to make the switch? IIRC, Chrissie made the switch around '83; but was anyone else on the women's tour still hanging on to wood?
Chrisie was with the Chris Evert Pro Staff all of 1983 and made the switch to the Pro Staff Midsize in 1984.
 

PT630Wannabe

Professional
It's a pretty good variant of the Head 600 cm2 family, but not my favorite. Weight and balance are nice, but I find the frame has a few pros and cons :

The "Shock Absorbing System" gimmick (the center eight mains are strung through a pair of floating Kevlar-reinforced polyurethane blocks in the throat) potentially makes the frame obsolete, if they disintegrate. Also, the grommet system was only used on this one model, and its Rest-of-the-world version, the Graphite Tour, so finding a replacement is now impossible. And though it's an 18x20 drill, other grommets i.e., CAPs from Prestige Mids won't really help, thanks to that weird throat [and don't quote me on this, but I think--though I've not gone full Racquet Lab on this to test and verify--the drill pattern spacing is a little different than a full-CAP Prestige mid's].

When new, I played these 270's, and the Trisys 300's, for a couple seasons. This was after using the 1988 Elite Pro for a few years, and I thought these two Trisys mids would be a new equivalent. However, the 270 had an overly wooly feeling stringbed (due to the SAS blocks), and the 300 (aka Prestige Tour) felt completely mushy through its funky floating pallet handle system. Neither frame offered the kind of sensory feedback, both comfortable and crisp, of the old Elite Pro. Eventually, when the Prestige Classic 600 came out, I got a batch of those, but modded them with the rare non-CAP TK10 grommets, to achieve a closer match to the more head-light balance of the old Elite Pro.


Thanks for the detailed reply!
 

graycrait

Legend
I got Babolat APD a few weeks ago with cover for 3.99 at GW. I was walking on a cloud. Got home and discovered that one side of the frame at 10 o'clock was broke. Tossed the whole mess in the trash in disgust.
 

MrRandom247

Semi-Pro
Been a while...

Adidas Typhoon vintage metal - broken strings with cover, - $4, restrung fast & sold for $40
Dunlop Reaction - cheap metal $3, restrung fast & sold for $35
Fischer GDS Spirit titanium - nasty shape, had a makeover - $4
Head Intelligence - IX.1 midplus - with cover $5
Head Radical Jnr - $8, sold for $45
Pro Kennex titanium Innovator oversixe 28inch with cover- $5
Pro Kennex Response metal - $5
Slazenger Challenge vintage metal with cover - makes a pair of them now for the country house -$1
Slazenger Phantom mid - $4
Wilson Pro Staff Tour 90 - yellow inside hoop, chipped edges - $2, added a new grip & sold for $60
Wilson Cobra - electric blue, spotless with cover - $5
Yonex SRQ Ti 350 - blue / white mid range - $4, added a new grip & sold for $60
Prince Precision Elite, cheap metal with broken string $3
Head Titanium 1000 $5
Pro Kennex Destiny Pro 265g $5

plus a few cheap squash rackets that I fix up & move along.
 
Last edited:

MrRandom247

Semi-Pro
I got Babolat APD a few weeks ago with cover for 3.99 at GW. I was walking on a cloud. Got home and discovered that one side of the frame at 10 o'clock was broke. Tossed the whole mess in the trash in disgust.
I would have removed grommets, grip & buttcap for spare parts.
Sometimes even cannibalise the strings.
Then have a fit of rage & smash the remains when no one is looking...
Then notice someone looking at you Kyriosing it...
 

frinton

Professional
Found this in second hand store. Unplayed unscratched, mint cover too: WIlson Chris Evert Pro Staff, 4&1/8 Light, hang tag stuff inside the cover. This doesn't look like a player's racket to me. Anyone have a clue what this might be? Fancy Sears model or...?
5L6gF0z.jpg

Absolutely beautiful! Congrats


...fail better!
 

winchestervatennis

Hall of Fame
Nice find, Stallion. String that up and enjoy. Looks like you got a 3rd or 4th version (with MW Autograph and with the bottom of the throat filled in). These are heavy and very soft (38 ish stiffness rating). I got a 1st version one within the last month and have hit with it a few times. I like that cover too...wish mine had one.
I saw this frame or a similar rosi at the goodwill on garners ferry that I didn't pick up - i must have been having a bad day. Is that the one you scored?
 
@winchestervatennis No. I got mine at Play it Again Sports. Go back to Goodwill and pick it up. Then we can play a throwback match. Last time I went to that Goodwill I scored a Head Bumblebee OS for $1.75. I've been winning matches with it for the past couple of months.
 

atatu

Legend
I was at goodwill last night at there were two nice PK copper aces for $7 each, I noticed a guy who was browsing the rackets and he had picked out some crap steel frames that were almost the same price. I told him the PK's were the best rackets there and he bought them. Now, I'm wishing I had kept my mouth shut but oh well. On a side note, does anyone go to goodwill and arrange the rackets neatly when they are in jumbled mess ?
 

jonestim

Hall of Fame
Found a Prestige Tour MP yesterday. $3. Collar was crumbling so I shored it up with silicone and then slapped a leather grip over the collar. Not the most elegant solution but i just want to string it up and give it a hit. It's in my grip size of 4 1/4, so no panic about the pallets on the suspension grip.

I'm not all that familiar with this one - is it a 98 or the 102? I have a chance to grab one with a little effort. Just trying to gauge how much effort to put in.
 

PT630Wannabe

Professional
I'm not all that familiar with this one - is it a 98 or the 102? I have a chance to grab one with a little effort. Just trying to gauge how much effort to put in.

It says 102, but with Head's tendency to up-measure their racquets, it could easily be a 98. It plays great. Grab it if you can. Highly recommended.
 

Henry Hub

Professional
Head ti heat midsize - really grubby despite my best efforts. £5

4eaba143a26b1d6345e86c3076eb06ae.jpg


Wilson Avenger Midsize - beam's so thin it's practically non-existent. £3

d41fd60d4fcba19803bc36635cb993c3.jpg


Head liquidmetal radical - great condition, surprisingly lightweight. £2

2cd0fb2618e03c2df376114a8c9f64ff.jpg


Wilson Profile - ACQ on the buttcap so got the racket that probably finished off the St Vincent operation for good! Some bright spark has tried to mask the carnage on the hoop by applying grey paint liberally around the frame, with all the attention to detail and fine craftsmanship that can be achieved with a roller brush... always saw this number (well the silver one at least) as a junior, can't wait to try it out and watch every joint in my arm fall apart. £3

a2bedd1e5c775786f3ac271d282f51ae.jpg


Head Radial Comp - grommets in a pretty woeful state but just look at the string pattern! They're so tightly bunched, you could probably split an atom with a single swing... £3

0e447e349b23fe3e8a79a0e53cc6bd21.jpg


Dunlop Revelation Braided XL - very good condition, surprisingly thin-beamed for a 90s Dunlop. £4

545788e60a64fcf4aba43e4a0f44a6b8.jpg


Yonex RD-7 Midsize - from what I can glean on other threads, this is supposed to be a goodie. Fantastic used condition, looking forward to taking this one for a spin. £3

95f7d4461535e2926117c5cb3123cc73.jpg


Locations: Camden, Morden, bottom of the King's Rd.
 

PT630Wannabe

Professional
Head ti heat midsize - really grubby despite my best efforts. £5

4eaba143a26b1d6345e86c3076eb06ae.jpg


Wilson Avenger Midsize - beam's so thin it's practically non-existent. £3

d41fd60d4fcba19803bc36635cb993c3.jpg


Head liquidmetal radical - great condition, surprisingly lightweight. £2

2cd0fb2618e03c2df376114a8c9f64ff.jpg


Wilson Profile - ACQ on the buttcap so got the racket that probably finished off the St Vincent operation for good! Some bright spark has tried to mask the carnage on the hoop by applying grey paint liberally around the frame, with all the attention to detail and fine craftsmanship that can be achieved with a roller brush... always saw this number (well the silver one at least) as a junior, can't wait to try it out and watch every joint in my arm fall apart. £3

a2bedd1e5c775786f3ac271d282f51ae.jpg


Head Radial Comp - grommets in a pretty woeful state but just look at the string pattern! They're so tightly bunched, you could probably split an atom with a single swing... £3

0e447e349b23fe3e8a79a0e53cc6bd21.jpg


Dunlop Revelation Braided XL - very good condition, surprisingly thin-beamed for a 90s Dunlop. £4

545788e60a64fcf4aba43e4a0f44a6b8.jpg


Yonex RD-7 Midsize - from what I can glean on other threads, this is supposed to be a goodie. Fantastic used condition, looking forward to taking this one for a spin. £3

95f7d4461535e2926117c5cb3123cc73.jpg


Locations: Camden, Morden, bottom of the King's Rd.


Almost all great scores. The Avenger is an amazing racquet. Mine weighed 384g but was so head light you'd never know. Wonderful volleys.
 

El_Yotamo

Hall of Fame
Head ti heat midsize - really grubby despite my best efforts. £5

4eaba143a26b1d6345e86c3076eb06ae.jpg


Wilson Avenger Midsize - beam's so thin it's practically non-existent. £3

d41fd60d4fcba19803bc36635cb993c3.jpg


Head liquidmetal radical - great condition, surprisingly lightweight. £2

2cd0fb2618e03c2df376114a8c9f64ff.jpg


Wilson Profile - ACQ on the buttcap so got the racket that probably finished off the St Vincent operation for good! Some bright spark has tried to mask the carnage on the hoop by applying grey paint liberally around the frame, with all the attention to detail and fine craftsmanship that can be achieved with a roller brush... always saw this number (well the silver one at least) as a junior, can't wait to try it out and watch every joint in my arm fall apart. £3

a2bedd1e5c775786f3ac271d282f51ae.jpg


Head Radial Comp - grommets in a pretty woeful state but just look at the string pattern! They're so tightly bunched, you could probably split an atom with a single swing... £3

0e447e349b23fe3e8a79a0e53cc6bd21.jpg


Dunlop Revelation Braided XL - very good condition, surprisingly thin-beamed for a 90s Dunlop. £4

545788e60a64fcf4aba43e4a0f44a6b8.jpg


Yonex RD-7 Midsize - from what I can glean on other threads, this is supposed to be a goodie. Fantastic used condition, looking forward to taking this one for a spin. £3

95f7d4461535e2926117c5cb3123cc73.jpg


Locations: Camden, Morden, bottom of the King's Rd.

Well done on the Radical, looks beautiful!
 

joe sch

Legend
This made me laugh out loud! Cheers--
(I lived in SW14 in the 80's; looks like you're harvesting many of the racquets I dreamt about back then!)
We need more racquet harvesters, its a job that the learning machines will not takeover and there is still lots of harvesting to do especially with the downsizing now ;)
 

Simon_the_furry

Hall of Fame
Head ti heat midsize - really grubby despite my best efforts. £5

4eaba143a26b1d6345e86c3076eb06ae.jpg


Wilson Avenger Midsize - beam's so thin it's practically non-existent. £3

d41fd60d4fcba19803bc36635cb993c3.jpg


Head liquidmetal radical - great condition, surprisingly lightweight. £2

2cd0fb2618e03c2df376114a8c9f64ff.jpg


Wilson Profile - ACQ on the buttcap so got the racket that probably finished off the St Vincent operation for good! Some bright spark has tried to mask the carnage on the hoop by applying grey paint liberally around the frame, with all the attention to detail and fine craftsmanship that can be achieved with a roller brush... always saw this number (well the silver one at least) as a junior, can't wait to try it out and watch every joint in my arm fall apart. £3

a2bedd1e5c775786f3ac271d282f51ae.jpg


Head Radial Comp - grommets in a pretty woeful state but just look at the string pattern! They're so tightly bunched, you could probably split an atom with a single swing... £3

0e447e349b23fe3e8a79a0e53cc6bd21.jpg


Dunlop Revelation Braided XL - very good condition, surprisingly thin-beamed for a 90s Dunlop. £4

545788e60a64fcf4aba43e4a0f44a6b8.jpg


Yonex RD-7 Midsize - from what I can glean on other threads, this is supposed to be a goodie. Fantastic used condition, looking forward to taking this one for a spin. £3

95f7d4461535e2926117c5cb3123cc73.jpg


Locations: Camden, Morden, bottom of the King's Rd.
Send that RD-7 to The Swiss Inn And Tennis Center, 3220 Fiske Blvd, Rockledge, Florida, USA, 32955.
I'll pick it up later. :D:D
 

Henry Hub

Professional
Loving the chalet vibe of the Swiss Inn in the least Swiss surroundings possible! Not an incline to be seen!

Along a similar "so near and yet so far" line, I popped down to Pimlico today and picked up a couple of rackets that would have been up there with my best finds, had they not been bounced all over every court going by their previous owners.

The first was clad in a Wilson Ace cover - almost left it undisturbed but curiosity got the better of me and I looked inside:

90da2c8bc9f0e0ec2df8643e6374073b.jpg


Wilson n code six one tour 90. Once the minging collection of overgrips were peeled off, the original leather grip was in a decent condition. It’s 16x19 but it doesn’t have that stencilled on the throat like others I’ve seen. Filthy great big crack up at 1 o clock and the hoop has some serious weathering on it though. Still, at £8 it's a good deal and potentially still playable.

I had an idle look around the place across the road, which turned up a couple of Slazenger protoges but nothing of real interest until I noticed a dark blue tournagrip behind some ironing boards...

95be647af9334912aaede3c2e6d47512.jpg


Head graphene radical mp. Pricey for a charity shop at £25 but still quite the steal. Or so I thought until I noticed the previous owner had inflicted not one but two death cracks at 5 and 10. At least he was symmetrical, I suppose...

I was going to leave it but then noticed something on the throat

fe8057489812087bfe7827840f123269.jpg


and then I took a little look at what lay underneath the bumper

8946e38c74501e8d7971e57ab6b38730.jpg


Thoughtfully I weighed the racket in my hand and it was clearly significantly heavier than its listed 295g (I've since had a quick look under the buttcap and it is chock full of silicon - it comes in at a punchy 355g all in). Strung with big banger "alu power"?

So I duly snapped it up. I know this question has been asked hundreds of times before but how can I find out more about this racket? The sticker suggests pro stock (G104501), as do the lead and silicon. The thin yoke is consistent with photos I've seen of other graphene radicals so I'm not sure this is just a paintjob of another racket (crushing my dreams of a PT57A!).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
Loving the chalet vibe of the Swiss Inn in the least Swiss surroundings possible! Not an incline to be seen!

Along a similar "so near and yet so far" line, I popped down to Pimlico today and picked up a couple of rackets that would have been up there with my best finds, had they not been bounced all over every court going by their previous owners.

The first was clad in a Wilson Ace cover - almost left it undisturbed but curiosity got the better of me and I looked inside:

90da2c8bc9f0e0ec2df8643e6374073b.jpg


Wilson n code six one tour 90. Once the minging collection of overgrips were peeled off, the original leather grip was in a decent condition. It’s 16x19 but it doesn’t have that stencilled on the throat like others I’ve seen. Filthy great big crack up at 1 o clock and the hoop has some serious weathering on it though. Still, at £8 it's a good deal and potentially still playable.

I had an idle look around the place across the road, which turned up a couple of Slazenger protoges but nothing of real interest until I noticed a dark blue tournagrip behind some ironing boards...

95be647af9334912aaede3c2e6d47512.jpg


Head graphene radical mp. Pricey for a charity shop at £25 but still quite the steal. Or so I thought until I noticed the previous owner had inflicted not one but two death cracks at 5 and 10. At least he was symmetrical, I suppose...

I was going to leave it but then noticed something on the throat

fe8057489812087bfe7827840f123269.jpg


and then I took a little look at what lay underneath the bumper

8946e38c74501e8d7971e57ab6b38730.jpg


Thoughtfully I weighed the racket in my hand and it was clearly significantly heavier than its listed 295g (I've since had a quick look under the buttcap and it is chock full of silicon - it comes in at a punchy 355g all in). Strung with big banger "alu power"?

So I duly snapped it up. I know this question has been asked hundreds of times before but how can I find out more about this racket? The sticker suggests pro stock (G104501), as do the lead and silicon. The thin yoke is consistent with photos I've seen of other graphene radicals so I'm not sure this is just a paintjob of another racket (crushing my dreams of a PT57A!).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
You have a Pro Stock Graphene Radical. Nice that the player gave it away for charity....
 
Top