Most Pros are using stock racquets

vsbabolat said:

They absolutely still make the racquets new! They do full production runs! Never said they made a few. Babolat has production runs going on today for OG AeroPro Drives, OG 1994 Pure Drives, Aero Storms, Pure Storms, Pure Controls, 2000 woofer Pure Drives, AeroPro Drive with cortex, AeroPro Drive with active Cortex, and Pure Drive with Active cortex. That’s what makes it all pro stock. Because they are doing specific production runs for the Pro’s of racquets that are no longer made and sold at the retail level.

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And you probably can have them, just need to buy enough. For example, Wilson Blade 2013, 2015 and CV are all still/again being sold by a big European retailer with serial numbers from actual production. I have a new Blade 2015 from 2019 and an old one, there is not the slightest visible difference except the current production number and the new (rectangular) grip size sticker on that new "pro stock" 2015 Blade.

anarosevoli said:

And you probably can have them, just need to buy enough. For example, Wilson Blade 2013, 2015 and CV are all still/again being sold by a big European retailer with serial numbers from actual production. I have a new Blade 2015 from 2019 and an old one, there is not the slightest visible difference except the current production number and the new (rectangular) grip size sticker on that new "pro stock" 2015 Blade.

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I do not think this is the case. Probably the leftovers or something.
The manufacturer may bring back some old frames (Head MG Radical MP and OS example, Wilson 6.1 95 example) however, I would be surprised if they would bring 3 consecutive old generations (all different) back while existing generation is selling strong.

dr325i said:

I do not think this is the case. Probably the leftovers or something.
The manufacturer may bring back some old frames (Head MG Radical MP and OS example, Wilson 6.1 95 example) however, I would be surprised if they would bring 3 consecutive old generations (all different) back while existing generation is selling strong.

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It is the case, the numbers are from current production! I don't think they store painted hairpins and put the badges on them 5 years later... You can even check the numbers in stock in that online shop by putting multiple in the bag, they are really high (hundreds) and sometimes even increase. Absolutely no doubt possible.

anarosevoli said:

And you probably can have them, just need to buy enough. For example, Wilson Blade 2013, 2015 and CV are all still/again being sold by a big European retailer with serial numbers from actual production. I have a new Blade 2015 from 2019 and an old one, there is not the slightest visible difference except the current production number and the new (rectangular) grip size sticker on that new "pro stock" 2015 Blade.

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That’s called an SMU. If a retailer is willing to put a big enough order in then the racquet company is willing to do this. An example is TW with the many Wilson Pro Staff 85 6.0 that has been done over the years. A pro stock racquet is specific production for the pros that does not go into the retail chain. It can be paint jobs, it can be custom molds, it can be standard mold with a custom layup and custom drill pattern that was not available at retail. I can remember in the mid 1990’s in Ft Lauderdale at a tennis academy a player on the ATP tour was using a Yonex R-22 with the paint job of a Yonex RD-7. A lot of you people will say this is an off the shelf racquet because it’s just a standard R-22. However the R-22 was discontinued at retail and was painted to look like something else That Yonex was marketing at the time. So, yes paint job racquets are also Pro Stock because they were only for the pros and NOT intended to be sold that way to the public.

J011yroger said:

Retail Head bags have sucked for years.

J

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Man, I am loving the Adidas bag. It has proven surprisingly better than any tennis bag I've ever used. The three center pockets is what makes it imo.

dr325i said:

What the heck are you talking about? You are now trying to prove some point that does not exist and you know that.
If the racket was produced in 2008 and discontinued in retail sales but still produced under a different PJ (that may slightly alter its original weight, etc.) and only offered to pro players, it is a Pro Stock, end of story.

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And if I take one of my M-Fil 200s and paint it to look like CX Tour 200, prove it's not a pro stock. Go ahead, prove it. You can't, you won't. Then, I'll sell it to you for, oh, say $400 and you'll buy it and you'll get on these forums and extoll the virtues of your "pro stock" racquet and how it's ever so great blah, blah, blah.....all from a retail racquet.

I am showing a valid point. The point is that pro stock racquets, being retail racquets, are no big deal and don't merit an ounce of the attention they get because they are literally nothing special. That people treat them otherwise is the talking point on TTW by and large and the only reason posters give pro stock the attention it gets. It is the essence of "those two are sleeping together." The fact of this phrase merely means two people sleeping together, yet we all know what it really means.

dr325i said:

You may have a SIMILAR thing that Kenin is using or a similar thing that Simon is using or that Rafa is using, however, you cannot get the same thing they are using today nor you could get it back then when it was sold as the retail.

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BS. People could. People did. Every time they bought it. That it came from one location vs another is moot. Same frame.

Checking out this thread was a mistake.

blablavla said:

yes I am asking you, because @vsbabolat made it very clear that prostock is any racket that is not available to the general public but is available to the pro players
and you came up with your silly example of but what if I can still buy a PD 2018 or what if I bought a racket 15 years ago

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ok, since you are asking me. The example is purposely silly to illustrate the point.

blablavla said:

I'm not involved with any tennis racket brand or manufacturing, so take it for what you think it is worth

1. apparently over time the graphite / resin matrix develops cracks, so the racket that you purchased (theoretically) in 1995, by now should have developed cracks and therefore softened, which means that it will be "flexier", or given all else being equal, it will generate less pace / spin when hitting the ball

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That very well may be. Two points though.
My racket purchased in 1995 has never been used so no cracks/softening happened. It therefore is exactly like the one manufacturer made today for a pro.
It's been stated that some pros actually have the rackets strung hundreds of time to soften them before they use them - so if my racket has softened over the years it resembles those pros frames even more.

blablavla said:

2. lucky you if you purchased some rackets in 1995 and kept them "pristine". The thing is, I for example can't go to a store, be it brick & mortar or online like TTW and order that frame.
So, when a pro player gets that racket, freshly produced in 2020 or 2021 it is unavailable to the public, but it is available to the pro player.
Isn't this a "pro stock" frame?

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It seems you and @vsbabolat think such racket is a 'pro stock' frame. And that's perfectly cool with me. It just means that if I did have such pristine racket purchased in 1995 I would have had a 'pro stock'. And I would have never thought that since I bought is at a retail store. Since I have quite a few such rackets from the past collected over the years apparently I have quite a collection of 'pro stock' frames.

blablavla said:

3. leaving the hyperbole aside.
While today you might still find the Pure Drive in 2018 paint job, in 1 or 2 years down the line you'll probably not be able to find them anymore.
At the same time, a pro player will still have access to the PD 2018. Is it a "pro stock" now?

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It seems you and @vsbabolat think such racket is a 'pro stock' frame. It means that _any racket used by a pro that such pro still gets it via special channels_ becomes a 'pro stock' the moment it goes out of 'regular' production. Since pretty much any racket goes out of production all you need to have a 'pro stock' is to buy a racket used by a pro today, while it is still available, and wait. It also means that there's _nothing special_ about such 'pro stock' as it is literally the exact racket anyone can buy.

blablavla said:

4. Now let's take the #3 and develop it a notch further.
A pro player plays with a PD 2018 painted like PD 2020/ 2021.
Say I have seen how this pro player plays, fell in love with the style and want to purchase that frame.
Where can I go today, and purchase that PD 2018 in a PD 2020/ 2021 paintjob?
this is where for me that PD 2018 painted like PD 2020/ 2021 is not available, but it is available for a pro player.
"Pro Stock"?

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It seems you and @vsbabolat think such racket is a 'pro stock' frame. And I can certainly see the point because indeed a mere mortal can't just go to a store and get such racket. Again, it however means that there's _nothing special_ about such 'pro stock' as it is literally the exact racket except for the paint. If you think that paint makes a difference as to how a racket plays - so be it. My argument is less about when you can use the label 'pro stock' and more about whether 'pro stock' has some magic properties not present in 'regular' rackets. You are essentially saying that 'pro stock', at least the types we are discussing here, are 'different paint wise' but exactly the same material, shape, drilling, manufacturing, etc as any retail racket. Which is perfectly cool.

blablavla said:

5. Let's take the #4 and develop it a bit.
Say this pro player plays another 10 years with the same PD 2018 painted like PD 2020/ 2021.
If today I could still buy a new PD 2018, in the PD 2018 paintjob, where can I buy a "pristine" PD 2018 10 years down the line?
and where can I buy the PD 2018 10 years down the line in the paintjob that will be used by this player 10 years down the line?

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same as above. I see your point. My point is that per this thinking 'pro stock' has no special properties, it is only painted differently. It is no different than saying that a truly retail racket a given low level pro plays with becomes a 'pro stock' because he scratched it certain way. I mean, a pro plays with it, and you can't buy it anywhere scratched that way...........

-"What we've got here is failure to communicate."!!

-part of the issue is that we have people confusing: touring-PROS and racquet-contracted-PROS!!

-both types of "PROS" are different, in the amount of money/gear they can get
-retail frames are around $150
-pro-stock painted/spec'd-out for a "pro-player" is near $1000

-the top tier name professionals ,(contract pros) use "pro-stock frames" (frames not/no-longer available to the general public), specifically CUSTOM to that players SPECS. (UNDER CONTRACT)!, but painted how ever the manufacturer wants it that Year
-touring pros (on a budget), ex-college-players (not under racket contract) are playing with what ever racquet they like/can afford/can accumulate on their own

mtommer said:

And if I take one of my M-Fil 200s and paint it to look like CX Tour 200, prove it's not a pro stock. Go ahead, prove it. You can't, you won't. Then, I'll sell it to you for, oh, say $400 and you'll buy it and you'll get on these forums and extoll the virtues of your "pro stock" racquet and how it's ever so great blah, blah, blah.....all from a retail racquet.

I am showing a valid point. The point is that pro stock racquets, being retail racquets, are no big deal and don't merit an ounce of the attention they get because they are literally nothing special. That people treat them otherwise is the talking point on TTW by and large and the only reason posters give pro stock the attention it gets. It is the essence of "those two are sleeping together." The fact of this phrase merely means two people sleeping together, yet we all know what it really means.


BS. People could. People did. Every time they bought it. That it came from one location vs another is moot. Same frame.

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You are mixing a few things here and you have no idea what are you talking about.
But I’ll let you glow in your own world...

Aren't "most pros" just barely scratching by a living trying to make their tennis careers work? It should then be logical that 1) they have not been pros long enough to have an out of date frame that they need to continue to use and have the company repaint and 2) they may not have the more involved sponsorship deals in which they get their pick of special pro stock models, instead of having to choose among whatever frames the racquet companies give them.

mtommer said:

And if I take one of my M-Fil 200s and paint it to look like CX Tour 200, prove it's not a pro stock. Go ahead, prove it. You can't, you won't. Then, I'll sell it to you for, oh, say $400 and you'll buy it and you'll get on these forums and extoll the virtues of your "pro stock" racquet and how it's ever so great blah, blah, blah.....all from a retail racquet.

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What you describe here is fraud, nothing more... Now if you prefer to play with M-Fil 200, and you can get several of them new, whatever paintjob, today, that would be equal to pro-stock available to pros.
Some people liked DR 98. Not available anymore. 2015 Blade. Well, some shop has stock - great. Some old Prestige. Original APD. Pure Control. Pros can have any today and tomorrow. We cannot but from secondary market.

dr325i said:

Don't think you got that right all the way...
First of all, plenty of sponsored players outside of top 100 do get all kinds of Pro stocks (in Head terms the TGT and PT frames), difference is the amount of frames and a check that comes along with that (just like everything else in life).

Second, again, to use the Head example, Head has created the TGT version, pro stock version of the Retail frame, not because they put some magic dust in it (exactly the same layup as retail, same factories) but to allow for wide range customization and to allow players to test and adjust as needed. FYI, I've had a few of Stan's 95d uncustomized frames and Yonex does the same thing -- these were not fully foam filled and were about 20g lighter than the retail 95d.

The "PT" and H19/H22/H25/P25/...frames are also offered to a broader range then top XX players.

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Maybe Yonex did that for Stan because he uses a heavy racket. Was yours an actual match used racket? Whatever pro stock Yonex or Babolat I got my hands on (that is played on tour) it was just made to the exact specs that the player wanted and in the latest paint job. That's it. I've compared their version with a retail version with added lead and it's the same. They said the same.

Dragy said:

What you describe here is fraud, nothing more

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Fraud? However do you mean? I can literally prove that my racquet is the same as the other racquets. Allowing for mfg tolerances, what do you want? Shear strength test? Compression, elongation, deformation, delamination strength, ductility, elasticity, crush, x-ray, ultrasound, tensile.....

mtommer said:

And if I take one of my M-Fil 200s and paint it to look like CX Tour 200, prove it's not a pro stock. Go ahead, prove it. You can't, you won't. Then, I'll sell it to you for, oh, say $400 and you'll buy it and you'll get on these forums and extoll the virtues of your "pro stock" racquet and how it's ever so great blah, blah, blah.....all from a retail racquet.

I am showing a valid point. The point is that pro stock racquets, being retail racquets, are no big deal and don't merit an ounce of the attention they get because they are literally nothing special. That people treat them otherwise is the talking point on TTW by and large and the only reason posters give pro stock the attention it gets. It is the essence of "those two are sleeping together." The fact of this phrase merely means two people sleeping together, yet we all know what it really means.

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You are changing the argument.. No one (well I am not) saying that having a racket that is painted like a different racket makes it any better or worse than the same retail racket. What the point is, as soon as you obtain a racket that is only made available to pro players e.g. a paintjob. custom mould, custom layup you have a pro stock frame. The worth of them is a totally different subject but as with everything, something is worth what someone else will pay for it.

And no I am not saying a frame from a pro player that is current paint and retail specs off shelf but they have customized it with lead or a grip etc is pro stock because that is just a customized frame. But a Head frame made 30g lighter and then customized is again something you can not buy and is therefore pro stock.

mtommer said:

Fraud? However do you mean? I can literally prove that my racquet is the same as the other racquets. Allowing for mfg tolerances, what do you want? Shear strength test? Compression, elongation, deformation, delamination strength, ductility, elasticity, crush, x-ray, ultrasound, tensile.....

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Well, I supposed you were talking used frame - sorry for misunderstanding!
The question is, would you have Biomimetic 200 for me?

I’ve had three ProStock frames - 1. Mardy Fish’s personal stick that was painted to look like the BLX Six One 95 (*it seemed like a heavily modified extended length Pro Staff. 2. Pro Stock Six One 95 (*metallic paint) 3. H19 with the Blade 97S paint job (18x20 string pattern.

Except for Mardy Fish’s personal stick (*which was a heavily modded retail stick), the other two pro stock frames felt super flexible and felt completely different from the retail versions.

Not sure what everyone is arguing about, but it does seem that some pros use the modified retail frames, whereas some players will use the pro stock frames that are not available in retail. I guess it all depends on each player’s preference. Because the two pro stock frames were so flexible, my initial guess was that many pros use the most flexible frames they can handle to protect their arms from playing hours of tennis everyday.

onkystomper said:

You are changing the argument.. No one (well I am not) saying that having a racket that is painted like a different racket makes it any better or worse than the same retail racket.

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What I'm saying is that here on TTW, over the years and many threads, few seem to believe that a paintjob racquet can be the same as a retail racquet. That belief and the veneration of pro player sticks HAS shaped the definition of what constitutes "pro-stock", here on TTW. Outside of TTW that definition may change but here on TTW? Nope.

mhkeuns said:

I’ve had three ProStock frames - 1. Mardy Fish’s personal stick that was painted to look like the BLX Six One 95 (*it seemed like a heavily modified extended length Pro Staff. 2. Pro Stock Six One 95 (*metallic paint) 3. H19 with the Blade 97S paint job (18x20 string pattern.

Except for Mardy Fish’s personal stick (*which was a heavily modded retail stick), the other two pro stock frames felt super flexible and felt completely different from the retail versions.

Not sure what everyone is arguing about, but it does seem that some pros use the modified retail frames, whereas some players will use the pro stock frames that are not available in retail. I guess it all depends on each player’s preference. Because the two pro stock frames were so flexible, my initial guess was that many pros use the most flexible frames they can handle to protect their arms from playing hours of tennis everyday.

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Didn't you put them into RDC to get actual stiffness? Also, may it be associated with them being heavily used before arriving to you, where some extra flex sources from?

double post

mtommer said:

What I'm saying is that here on TTW, over the years and many threads, few seem to believe that a paintjob racquet can be the same as a retail racquet. That belief and the veneration of pro player sticks HAS shaped the definition of what constitutes "pro-stock", here on TTW. Outside of TTW that definition may change but here on TTW? Nope.

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I can not control other peoples belief systems either on TTW or elsewhere. But putting aside perceived worth or perceived quality of product, any frame that has been produced solely for professionals would sit in the category of pro stock / stock for professionals.

As for peoples beliefs that a tennis racket is anything other than a tennis racket I do not wish to venture into that area.

Dragy said:

Well, I supposed you were talking used frame - sorry for misunderstanding!
The question is, would you have Biomimetic 200 for me?

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Absolutely. Just give me three weeks to sand down a frame and get all the details of the Biomimetic 200 paint perfect. (I am kidding)

Dragy said:

Didn't you put them into RDC to get actual stiffness? Also, may it be associated with them being heavily used before arriving to you, where some extra flex sources from?

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I only have the H19 now. Putting it under RDC makes sense. Never really been a detailed person equipment wise, so it didn’t really enter my mind. It was more of an “Wow, this is different!” kind of a reaction when I hit with them for the first time,

I thought the H19 felt like a super flexible Prestige MP (*flexible from the throat all the way to the tip). It also has pallets. So, I guessed that it was some sort of a copy of a Head’s frame. This frame makes the harshest poly feel like playing with a full bed of natural gut.

Do I play better with it? Unfortunately the same. I can beat the players I usually beat but does not help me at all when faced against better players. Unless someone is purely going for some specific feel, I don’t think it’s worth the price tag.

mhkeuns said:

I thought the H19 felt like a super flexible Prestige MP (*flexible from the throat all the way to the tip). It also has pallets. So, I guessed that it was some sort of a copy of a Head’s frame. This frame makes the harshest poly feel like playing with a full bed of natural gut.

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I'm playing with UTs which are H19 mold at ~62RA strung measured on RDC. They to feel flexy to me compared to Ezone DRs I used previously. YouTek Radical MP should be softer, but definitely doesn't feel like. I wonder how much flexier pro stock H19 might be
Actually, although I feel the flex in warmups, I absolutely don't remember it later into the session. Sometimes it's harsh (Mishits? Full bed poly...), sometimes it feels like crunching at hit good touch though on softer shots.

onkystomper said:

As for peoples beliefs that a tennis racket is anything other than a tennis racket I do not wish to venture into that area.

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By and large I agree with you on this. Personally, I have no interest in pro frames, strings, tensions, well, anything about pro gear other than maybe a nice pattern/color of a shirt or something I like.

Dragy said:

I'm playing with UTs which are H19 mold at ~62RA strung measured on RDC. They to feel flexy to me compared to Ezone DRs I used previously. YouTek Radical MP should be softer, but definitely doesn't feel like. I wonder how much flexier pro stock H19 might be
Actually, although I feel the flex in warmups, I absolutely don't remember it later into the session. Sometimes it's harsh (Mishits? Full bed poly...), sometimes it feels like crunching at hit good touch though on softer shots.

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I absolutely love the Ultra Tour. It, to me, is an update/upgrade to the H19. It feels firmer in the right places for more pin-point & easier overall play. Also, it still has the best feel, imo.

mtommer said:

What I'm saying is that here on TTW, over the years and many threads, few seem to believe that a paintjob racquet can be the same as a retail racquet. That belief and the veneration of pro player sticks HAS shaped the definition of what constitutes "pro-stock", here on TTW. Outside of TTW that definition may change but here on TTW? Nope.

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you are likely barking at the wrong tree, as you are now arguing precisely with folks that say "prostock" doesn't necessarily have some magical unicorn powder, it can easily be an older frame painted to look like a new offering for the sake of driving sales of the new model

look at Nadal for example.
he plays with a frame that was available to the public
today, that frame is not available in the paintjob he uses
but he gets fresh frames so to speak, which makes it pro stock

then you have Novak frame, that is something that apparently was never available to the public and painted to look like Speed.

but the irony is, if one of the today juniors who play with Speed, will become a say #1 player, and will keep getting Speed frames in 2031, painted like something else, will that Speed in 2031 be a pro stock or not?

blablavla said:

then you have Novak frame, that is something that apparently was never available to the public and painted to look like Speed.

but the irony is, if one of the today juniors who play with Speed, will become a say #1 player, and will keep getting Speed frames in 2031, painted like something else, will that Speed in 2031 be a pro stock or not?

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I think Novak stick painted as Speed allowed to push a very good product to the market, finally. With number of younger pros adopting it as their weapon of choice. And yes, if they continue producing some of current Speeds without offering them retail, they'll be pro stock...

WNB93 said:

Maybe Yonex did that for Stan because he uses a heavy racket. Was yours an actual match used racket? Whatever pro stock Yonex or Babolat I got my hands on (that is played on tour) it was just made to the exact specs that the player wanted and in the latest paint job. That's it. I've compared their version with a retail version with added lead and it's the same. They said the same.

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As I mentioned, it was uncustomized Pro stock of 95d. Different than the retail, not match used.
If you start with the retail and add leather and lead the way Stan/P1 does, and silicone in the handle, I don't think you would arrive at his spec...

anarosevoli said:

And you probably can have them, just need to buy enough. For example, Wilson Blade 2013, 2015 and CV are all still/again being sold by a big European retailer with serial numbers from actual production. I have a new Blade 2015 from 2019 and an old one, there is not the slightest visible difference except the current production number and the new (rectangular) grip size sticker on that new "pro stock" 2015 Blade.

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What retailer is this? I’ve been looking for 2013 Blades.

USPTARF97 said:

Although they start with a stock frame they are generally modified. Not exactly an off the shelf frame they are using.

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I don't think customization changes a retail racket into a pro stock racket. I think what the post is saying is "most" pros use a retail racket with or without customizations and I think that is correct especially if you consider older models of retail rackets as "stock" frames. Adding lead, silicone, grips, etc... does not change a retail frame into a pro stock frame. I think she means the racket manufacturers aren't making a special version of the frames just for pros in general, and I think that is true.

vsbabolat said:

She does not, I’m sorry. She is still using the 2018 Pure Drive with the paint job of the 2021 Pure Drive. So she did use an inline racquets for a couple of years but she can’t be expected to switch racquets every couple of years I’m sorry. A racquet with with a paint job is not an off the shelf model

who else you got?

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if you want the 2018 because that is what she plays with... good news, you can still buy it = on sale!


Do you prefer the 2021 cosmetic but want 2018 performance? I recommend picking your racquet based off performance for your game over cosmetic. Of course, what is more important to you is a personal choice and I respect that.

marceloriosfan said:

if you want the 2018 because that is what she plays with... good news, you can still buy it = on sale!

Babolat Pure Drive USA Racquet | Tennis Warehouse

www.tennis-warehouse.com

Babolat Pure Drive Wimbledon Racquets | Tennis Warehouse

www.tennis-warehouse.com

Do you prefer the 2021 cosmetic but want 2018 performance? I recommend picking your racquet based off performance for your game over cosmetic. Of course, what is more important to you is a personal choice and I respect that.

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I don’t play with Babolat racquets as I don’t like them. However they make some very nice Natural Gut.

vsbabolat said:

I don’t play with Babolat racquets as I don’t like them. However they make some very nice Natural Gut.

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Not sure how can anyone like that blue or yellow one…

gebruikershaes said:

It could be true. Depending on who's considered a pro. Let's say top 100 most play with custom frames. If top 1000 is considered pro. It could very well mean that the majority of the remaining 900 plays with store bought racquets.

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I always thought there was a hidden reason why they were in the top 100

vsbabolat said:

She does not, I’m sorry. She is still using the 2018 Pure Drive with the paint job of the 2021 Pure Drive. So she did use an inline racquets for a couple of years but she can’t be expected to switch racquets every couple of years I’m sorry. A racquet with with a paint job is not an off the shelf model

who else you got?

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In support of this @vsbabolat post: I was watching Indian Wells today and I noticed Kenin (and Putintseva) Pure Drive bumper guards are all black and not the black with blue center of retail 2021 pure drive. I agree - it is likely 2018 painted like 2021 but with 2018 bumper guard.

I played a lot of ice hockey and the argument vs made was centered around not being wrong. In the world of hockey and golf pro stock is something compl different than I can get from my rep vs what you got from your hockey shop. You can blather on about how someone can get a fresh 2018 version in 23 but it’s not pro stock in the sense that you are making it out. Pro stock sticks and golf clubs are labeled clearly “ not for retail sale”. They are not a TRUE ACF 9 or a taylormade pmc. They aren’t for sale and never were for sale. They might become for sale but in every world but VS…. Pro stock is something given to a team for a fee but made for individuals….or straight made for one person. It’s not for sale.
if I could buy the same thing Connor Mcdavid uses that’s no different from his stick…you can call it pro stock but it not holding any performance value as Ovechkins stick which say (it actually is) completely unique.

So Vs wins his stupid little argument…and no one cares. because the person holding a 2016 racquet a pro just handed them… and the person that saved one from 2016 is gaining no advantage over the other. As to collection value. The pros stick value depends on certification and authenticity . Now if you have a completely unique one that no one can get. There are some playability differences and a significant value changes. I’m sorry but in a dollars and cents world Kenins racquet will be a couple more dollars more in value than a regular 2018 even if it was just made… unless you can prove it was the AO wining stick.
for legality I’d believe Babolat Official over VS bc babolat can be sued for misrepresentation. Civil cases are great and 6-7 figures is easy when an official rep lies and you can prove slightly injury. Of course here VS pride is worth more than all that

Hockey is a great thing because no One is changing a team bc his twig from 2016 is the magic sauce.

Once they get an international sponsorship with a major company they get access to pro stocks.

Interesting this is such a contentious point. In cycling pros HAVE to ride bikes that are available to the public. That’s why you see brands like Trek and Specialized selling $14,000 bikes. Well rules aside they know ppl will eat it up lol

Pinarello F $25,000 AUD

I agree with the OP, especially for Pros in the 200-1500 rankings range. However, the 'retail' rackets that most Pros or advanced coaches get, are likely to be close to the official specs and/or close to each other, like official demo rackets. Whereas, actual retail rackets can be more variable unless you check with a matching service like TW's.