Pete Federer
New User
What was your first racket, what do you have now, did you change a lot?
First Racket
- Thread starter Pete Federer
- Start date
Pure Aero (2016 version) -> Clash 100 (Switched due to pain in the elbow) -> in the process of trying new Ezones (100, 98 pro stock, 98 tour currently in my bag) due to bad quality from Wilson. Very disappointed with them. Love the clash if you are lucky to get one that actually plays good.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
My dad’s old Dunlop Maxply wooden racquet was what I fooled around with as a kid in the late Seventies. My first real racquet was a Dunlop Max200G which I used throughout the Eighties when I was in high school and college. I played with a Wilson Sting and Head Prestige briefly in the Nineties although I didn‘t play for most of that decade.
I moved to Babolat racquets in 2000 and have stayed with their 12-oz, thin-beam players racquets since - Pure Control+ to AeroPro Control+ (briefly) to AeroStorm Tour GT to Gen 1 Pure Strike Tour to the Gen3 Pure Strike Tour. My Babolat favorites have been the Pure Control swirly and the current Pure Strike Tour. Don’t let anyone tell you that Babolat makes only lightweight, stiff tweeners.
I moved to Babolat racquets in 2000 and have stayed with their 12-oz, thin-beam players racquets since - Pure Control+ to AeroPro Control+ (briefly) to AeroStorm Tour GT to Gen 1 Pure Strike Tour to the Gen3 Pure Strike Tour. My Babolat favorites have been the Pure Control swirly and the current Pure Strike Tour. Don’t let anyone tell you that Babolat makes only lightweight, stiff tweeners.
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Pete Federer
New User
Whoah cool, I remember that I started playing very little with a badminton wooden racket...
MasterZeb
Hall of Fame
YouTek Radical MP. Currently using the pro staff 95. Have had it since 2014, but as a 14 year old kid, I just wanted to play like fed and have his gear, and so moved to the RF97. Completely destroyed my strokes and my arm. Was far too heavy for a 14 year old. But I was too naive.
Pete Federer
New User
Yeah I had thought about it and went with the 97l
Pete Federer
New User
Whoah sounds really cool!
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Wilson Rally —> Wilson Sting (aluminum snowshoe) —> Donnay Wimbledon Mid —> Head Graphite Vector —> Kneissl White Star Pro Master —> Dunlop Max 200g —> Head Club Pro —> Head Elite Pro —> Fischer Vacuum Elliptic —> 150+ other racquets over 30 years !
Pete Federer
New User
Impressive bro!
coachrick
Hall of Fame
Mine was a PG 'autograph' from Western Auto hardware. $5.65 Wore through the strings in a few weeks and then UPgraded to another PG 'autograph' from the Fort Jackson PX...about $9.00 Maybe a year later, I got the Spalding Smasher from K-Mart $36 All the money I made that week in a pallet-building company.
In the interim, I used a friend's Aristo-rat wood racket...was a cheapy wood "Aristocrat" model with some of the decals worn off
Couldn't guess how many rackets I had in the next 35 years of playing, teaching and selling. Scores of them!!
Bagumbawalla
G.O.A.T.
Started out with a wood racket- Wilson Stan Smith- then for a long time used the Head Master (aluminum),
Then evolved to the Pro Kennex P7 which I used for a long time. Now, I use the Wilson Blade.
Then evolved to the Pro Kennex P7 which I used for a long time. Now, I use the Wilson Blade.
graycrait
Legend
The 5 wooden rackets that carried me from 13-35ish. From age 5-12 or so mom would give us a couple of buck to pick up a drug store racket which seemed to rarely last the summer in northern Iowa.
Pitiful...at age 13 Me and my red Pancho
Age 15 with my cracked Imperial, repaired with black braided fishing line and glue:
Pitiful...at age 13
Me and my red Pancho
Age 15 with my cracked Imperial, repaired with black braided fishing line and glue:
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Was it woody?
Pete Federer
New User
Wood rackets being good memories...Mine was a PG 'autograph' from Western Auto hardware. $5.65 Wore through the strings in a few weeks and then UPgraded to another PG 'autograph' from the Fort Jackson PX...about $9.00 Maybe a year later, I got the Spalding Smasher from K-Mart $36 All the money I made that week in a pallet-building company.
In the interim, I used a friend's Aristo-rat wood racket...was a cheapy wood "Aristocrat" model with some of the decals worn off
Couldn't guess how many rackets I had in the next 35 years of playing, teaching and selling. Scores of them!!
galain
Hall of Fame
My first racquet was a KMart woodie - I can't recall the name. For my birthday the next year I moved to a PowerSport aluminium frame (Woolworths brand). My first 'real' racquet came after that - an aluminium Slazenger Panther.
From then on, in terms of what I used in competition play it's been - Yonex R10 > Rossignol F200 > Rossignol F230 > Head TXE > Völkl V5 Hotspot > Völkl C7 Comp > Völkl Catapult 10 > Prince Precision Response 660 > Head Pyramid Tour > Prince Magnesium Pro 90 > Head Pro Tour 630 > Prince Rebel 95 > back to the PT 630
I've pulled others out of my collection as well but can't say I've played with them often enough to name them as my main stick at any particular point in time.
From then on, in terms of what I used in competition play it's been - Yonex R10 > Rossignol F200 > Rossignol F230 > Head TXE > Völkl V5 Hotspot > Völkl C7 Comp > Völkl Catapult 10 > Prince Precision Response 660 > Head Pyramid Tour > Prince Magnesium Pro 90 > Head Pro Tour 630 > Prince Rebel 95 > back to the PT 630
I've pulled others out of my collection as well but can't say I've played with them often enough to name them as my main stick at any particular point in time.
Pete Federer
New User
That's alot!
Pete Federer
New User
haha.. we all had autographs, best marketing techinic. btw were are you from, are you greek?(just by the name)
Pete Federer
New User
we all remember wooden raquets
Jake Speeed
Professional
I started with the Dunlop and used it for many years. Replacing with a new one from time to time.
I had interest in the Davis racket which was finished quite nicely and played well. Early 70's
I'm still with Dunlop and would have to go to my bag to see exactly what I have. I believe three different ones. Yellow, green and red. Two of each.
I'm using a couple of Babolat Wimbledon rackets, which were a gift from the Club I worked part time at for just about 30+ years.
Years ago, when I competed in USTA, just for a short time, I played balanced head heavy rackets strung with real gut. I also cut .5" off the butt to shorten the racket. Every racket was balanced and weighed the same. The most rackets I had at one time set up for play was 6 rackets.
Now I no longer care.
Today I have no idea what they weigh or where they balance, but I still cut them down.
Tennis instruction was not my full time vocation. Probably the reason I had unusual views, outstanding teaching methods and training techniques.
I had interest in the Davis racket which was finished quite nicely and played well. Early 70's
I'm still with Dunlop and would have to go to my bag to see exactly what I have. I believe three different ones. Yellow, green and red.
Two of each.I'm using a couple of Babolat Wimbledon rackets, which were a gift from the Club I worked part time at for just about 30+ years.
Years ago, when I competed in USTA, just for a short time, I played balanced head heavy rackets strung with real gut. I also cut .5" off the butt to shorten the racket. Every racket was balanced and weighed the same. The most rackets I had at one time set up for play was 6 rackets.
Now I no longer care.
Today I have no idea what they weigh or where they balance, but I still cut them down.
Tennis instruction was not my full time vocation. Probably the reason I had unusual views, outstanding teaching methods and training techniques.
galain
Hall of Fame
I'm old, mate!
Pete Federer
New User
Haha I'm not
Pete Federer
New User
Lucky me
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
Yes, it was and it was awesome looking. Unfortunately, I don't have it any longer.
Pete Federer
New User
Hadn't seen this love it!The 5 wooden rackets that carried me from 13-35ish. From age 5-12 or so mom would give us a couple of buck to pick up a drug store racket which seemed to rarely last the summer in northern Iowa.
Pitiful...at age 13
Age 15 with my cracked Imperial, repaired with black braided fishing line and glue:
TopspintheTerrible
Hall of Fame
1st racquet-Prince Thunderlite
2nd Racquet- Wilson Hyper Carbon Pro Staff 6.5
3rd Racquet- Yonex Mp-1 Tour Mid
Now- Tecnifibre Tfight XTC 305 (up for sale)
2nd Racquet- Wilson Hyper Carbon Pro Staff 6.5
3rd Racquet- Yonex Mp-1 Tour Mid
Now- Tecnifibre Tfight XTC 305 (up for sale)
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My first was Chemold metal racquet. Played it till it cracked in the riveted throat. Then got a Head Arthur Ashe Competition 1 strung with oil filled nylon from a store called Levy's in West New York New Jersey. A great gentleman named Spider was always gracious and kind to string it on the spot for me....wonderful time in my tennis life back then!
Pete Federer
New User
Wow you changed a lot of brands1st racquet-Prince Thunderlite
2nd Racquet- Wilson Hyper Carbon Pro Staff 6.5
3rd Racquet- Yonex Mp-1 Tour Mid
Now- Tecnifibre Tfight XTC 305 (up for sale)
Pete Federer
New User
I don't know any of them but seems great!
Pete Federer
New User
Just wanted to say thanks to everybody! I just fir a post but I didn't think it would be that big! Seeing all this different stuff, wooden raquets and all the other things, is nostalgic and interesting... Some of you changed a lot (really) So just wanted to say thanks for your replies and some of you send pictures of beauties which was great too, thanks!
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
I played with that Oil filled string when I was a kid in my Yamaha YFG-20. I think the theory was that it would dampen vibration. I recall snapping that stuff and I would end up with oil all over my fingers.
Pete Federer
New User
Didn't know those strings existed actually...
TopspintheTerrible
Hall of Fame
In hindsight I prob wouldn’t have switched to Yonex but I was obsessed with Hewitt at that time
... whichever brand I decide to go with next I’ll probably stick with for a while.
Pete Federer
New User
Good Luck I guess!In hindsight I prob wouldn’t have switched to Yonex but I was obsessed with Hewitt at that time
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
Don't hold me to it as there has been quite a few beers between now and 1978 but I believe they were called Oilon strings.
Pete Federer
New User
Ok thanks...
Remember the oil was held inside by tiny metal pins at each end of the set of string...
Pete Federer
New User
Why did they use those, why did they stop them?
I'm guessing to keep the oil inside. I really miss that string!
No sir, portuguese. Antonis is kind of a nickname, Antonio mixed with adonis, this was a silly joke that happened some 20 years ago, on drunk night out
Pete Federer
New User
Uh ok, interesting
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
I do not actually recall any clips on the end of the strings. I think the surface tension of the oil kept the oil inside the string. When the string sheered/snapped is when the oil got all over but again it was many years ago.
Pete Federer
New User
NiceFirst lesson in 2nd grade - Dunlop XLT-15 - aluminum with leather grip and so heavy it would be considered child abuse by today's light stick standards
In-between - too many various ProStaffs to count.
Today - Wilson Ultra Tour 2.0 @ 365g
