Do you have a favourite looking classic frame?

galain

galain

Hall of Fame
Could be design, could be cosmetic - I'm just curious as to your tastes.

I have a real fondness for the sticks that came through that very short wood/graphite period. I think the Edgewood and the Golden Ace, for example, are some really classy looking sticks.

In terms of cosmetic - I've always been partial to green. The POG, the Prince Comp I think was also a black/green cosmetic, The Jade Bard Fire (sweet looking stick), the Max 200G of course! I also loved the look of the Le Coq Sportif frames with their spilt yoke.

What about you guys?
 
R

retrowagen

Hall of Fame
I have a soft spot in my heart (and head?!) for the beautiful metallic green-fade to black 1988 Head Elite Pro, which also employs great restraint in its graphic embellishments and typefaces. When retrofitted with a black bumper/grommet, it’s especially lovely.

I also like the crisp, almost clinical look of the 1987 Kneissl Masters 10, a riff on the stark red and white stripes of the Austrian flag, with a gray stripe to neatly bring in the grommet as a design element.

Though a bit dated now, the “smoke” metallic paintjobs used on several models of Fischer for 1991 is also something special—elegant and interesting. I also like the proprietary typeface used on Fischer models from 1990 on.
 
13GATOSNEGROS

13GATOSNEGROS

Professional
I love (may i say so) all those rackets i kept til today; the oldest is my Wilson Vines Personal from 1935 and the newest is from mid80s. To me they are all unique, they all have their own stories. They all behave different, different shapes, different sizes and i still play each and every one of them; they are like friends to me.
Once i got the Dunlop Maxply McEnroe from the former bavarian ladies-champion; nice lady, nice stick. Her husband played a Snauwaert Graphite Dyno back then and for some reason, he gave it to me and i took it, even though i didn't like it. It was the last racket i got before i quit tennis ... hmmm, actually i got it AFTER my retirement. I put it in one of those bags where i kept all the other rackets and there they survived the next approx 35 years.
Today, it's my favourite racket, my favourite shape and it plays so sweet; it might not be something special in tennis-history but i guess it's my all-time-favourite shape.
https://imgur.com/Qz03q43
 
13GATOSNEGROS

13GATOSNEGROS

Professional
PS: love the diamond-shaped head of my Head Professional, the iconic paintjob of Donnay's Allwood, brute Wilson's Don Budge Auto or the sheer beauty of the red Sirtlamina ...
 
Henry Hub

Henry Hub

Professional
Each week there’s a new favourite but this is the current apple of my eye:

https://imgur.com/a/oK1Gdtx

https://imgur.com/a/FYWZJni

Bussey Wimbledon Hexagon 2, probably early to mid-1920s. I knew Peckham’s finest had a reputation for its level of craftsmanship but honestly this thing is a work of art.

Quite apart from the tactile joys of a wooden racket, there’s the quality of the different types of wood in the hoop, the wedge, the flake and the handle (and how the colours work together), the combed handle, the chamfered inside and outside edges of the hoop, the combination of the red cord binding and translucent shoulder reinforcements, the precision of the engraving on the wedge and its 14.5 oz heft.

Granted, it lacks the wavy wedge, the ball handle and the cork-strip grips for which Bussey was famous, and its old red and white gut strings may well have hit their last ball before Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic. But the fact it was hand made - and mass produced - to this standard, I find remarkable and really quite wonderful.
 
Last edited:
vsbabolat

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
HEAD Edgewood is amazing
HEAD Prestige Pro 600 it’s dark reds and browns and how it glows red in the sun. Amazing details.
HEAD Elite Pro with its green paint is a thing of beauty
Elektra Pro with its white and mist green beautiful.
Prestige Classic 600 beautiful shades of reds.
Pro Tour 630/280 sparkles blue in the sun.
 
Last edited:
Crocodile

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
Dunlop 200g was and still is an amazing frame. So comfortable and no vibration.
Puma Power Beam Pro still even today has great feel and solid as,
Pro Kennex Core 1 Number 6, the West German made Volkl C10pro snd Fischer Pro No 1 represent smoothness ahead of their time
 
Frankc

Frankc

Professional
There is a concept in golf that you must like the look and lay of the club - fits your eyes...
Could be true for tennis - for me, the Austrian Made Fischer Vacuum 90 - all too gorgeous and detailed...
When I played the Austrian early P Pro 600 (for many years) that racquet got compliments all the time on those "snazzy" looks... gorgeous detail...
( The Wilson Ultra 2 strikes me as a looker - but mostly because I can see that beauty in Hana Mandlikova's talented hand...)
 
Last edited:
galain

galain

Hall of Fame
Frankc said:
There is a concept in golf that you must like the look and lay of the club - fits your eyes...
Could be true for tennis - for me, the Austrian Made Fischer Vacuum 90 - all too gorgeous and detailed...
When I played the Austrian early P Pro 600 (for many years) that racquet got compliments all the time on those "snazzy" looks... gorgeous detail...
( The Wilson Ultra 2 strikes me as a looker - but mostly because I can see that beauty in Hana Mandlikova talented hand...)
Click to expand...

Which Prestige Pro? The brown/red one or the red/black one? They're both beautiful sticks.
 
vsbabolat

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
galain said:
Which Prestige Pro? The brown/red one or the red/black one? They're both beautiful sticks.
Click to expand...
Prestige Pro didn’t have black on it. Very first one was brown with some red that glowed in the brown paint. Second one was red with that same brown paint that had red which would glow in the sun.
 
coachrick

coachrick

Hall of Fame
The Aldila Cannon was a sleeper...sleeker than sleek!!! The 200G is a log in comparison ;) (No offense !!!)
Late '80s TXM(aster)
Hard to pick a single woodie; but the Slaz Professional was elegant!
And who could forget the Greenie???(YY 8500) I actually played the Goldie back then(YY 7500)
PDP Fiberstaff ????? Everyone likes a Creamsicle !
 
T

tennis tom

Legend
galain said:
I have a real fondness for the sticks that came through that very short wood/graphite period. I think the Edgewood and the Golden Ace, for example, are some really classy looking sticks.
Click to expand...

Prince Woodies are great for "Woodies & Whites Tournaments" if they're not banned for being too big and giving an unfair advantage.

galain said:
In terms of cosmetic - I've always been partial to green. The POG, the Prince Comp I think was also a black/green cosmetic,
Click to expand...

POG's are classics and still play well.
 
BlueB

BlueB

Legend
Very few things beat POG in combo with the suede cover.
prince-graphite-oversize-pog-os_1_3d6f37d63e745d416be7496909201365.jpg
 
B

Bagumbawalla

G.O.A.T.
13GATOSNEGROS said:
I love (may i say so) all those rackets i kept til today; the oldest is my Wilson Vines Personal from 1935 and the newest is from mid80s. To me they are all unique, they all have their own stories. They all behave different, different shapes, different sizes and i still play each and every one of them; they are like friends to me.
Once i got the Dunlop Maxply McEnroe from the former bavarian ladies-champion; nice lady, nice stick. Her husband played a Snauwaert Graphite Dyno back then and for some reason, he gave it to me and i took it, even though i didn't like it. It was the last racket i got before i quit tennis ... hmmm, actually i got it AFTER my retirement. I put it in one of those bags where i kept all the other rackets and there they survived the next approx 35 years.
Today, it's my favourite racket, my favourite shape and it plays so sweet; it might not be something special in tennis-history but i guess it's my all-time-favourite shape.
https://imgur.com/Qz03q43
Click to expand...

I have one of these- great racket!
 
galain

galain

Hall of Fame
vsbabolat said:
Prestige Pro didn’t have black on it. Very first one was brown with some red that glowed in the brown paint. Second one was red with that same brown paint that had red which would glow in the sun.
Click to expand...
For years i've been mistaking brown for black!
This is the one I meant.
Classic Prestige Pro
 
U

Ultra 2

Professional
The Elite & Elektra pros are the prettiest frames I’ve ever seen.. that said, I like playing with the Prestige Pro, Prestige Classic & TXP the most.
 
Autodidactic player

Autodidactic player

Professional
Capt. Willie said:
I ran through this tread quick so forgive me if I missed it, but I don't think anyone said Wilson Advantage...which is obviously the correct answer.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! These were expensive for their day but quite beautiful. Even the cover was fancy!



Of course, if your pockets were deep enough back in the day and you wanted the most beautiful wooden racket available you'd defiantly choose the Yamaha Image 99. Built like a fine Yamaha piano!



 
Last edited:
WestboroChe

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
Autodidactic player said:
Oh yeah! These were expensive for their day but quite beautiful. Even the cover was fancy!



Of course, if your pockets were deep enough back in the day and you wanted the most beautiful wooden racket available you'd defiantly choose the Yamaha Image 99. Built like a fine Yamaha piano!



Click to expand...
That is gorgeous. With inlay and all. Any idea how it played?
 
WestboroChe

WestboroChe

Hall of Fame
Autodidactic player said:
Nope, never took it to the courts. I imagine if I played with it I would feel like I did when I got to drive a friend's Ferrari. Too worried about scratching/damaging it to enjoy the experience. :(
Click to expand...
I can imagine. However I think my urge to try would win. Maybe take it to a clay or grass court to minimize the risk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Crocodile
Do you feel that Pro Kennex has a hands off approach to racquet promotion these days ?
Replies
21
Views
840
velvetsledgehammer
V
T
Which is the best-looking Tennis racquet?
4 5 6
Replies
251
Views
65K
ThirdEye
ThirdEye
Top