Classic Midplus wood/graphite composite racquets?

davesep01

New User
Theres a JK AUTOGRAPH mid that goes around 80 sq in, real nice looking , same graphics as the wood version, but with graphite inlay. Also the Prince woodie is wood/graphite but closer to OS in size, i believe.
 

jorel

Hall of Fame
Theres a JK AUTOGRAPH mid that goes around 80 sq in, real nice looking , same graphics as the wood version, but with graphite inlay. Also the Prince woodie is wood/graphite but closer to OS in size, i believe.
thanks guys but i was thinking of racquets in the 100 sq range...
 

khw72004

Semi-Pro
Snauwaert Lady wood,
again Prince Woodie,
Pro Kennex Golden Ace,
Pro Kennex Graphite Ace,
Spalding Big Bow

Those are a few that I can name
 

joe sch

Legend
Snauwaert Lady wood,
again Prince Woodie,
Pro Kennex Golden Ace,
Pro Kennex Graphite Ace,
Spalding Big Bow

Those are a few that I can name

I got a few of these from TW back when they had the bosworth sticks. Really nice mid woods.

The Snauwaert Graphite La Grande is a fibre composite racquet offering a flexible overall feel. An open throat pattern and enlarged head make this a very lively yet forgiving racquet. A responsive wood core and wide shoulder design help eliminate vibration and torque on off-center hits. A white ash core and full fibre reinforcement outside the frame and inside shoulders and open throat.



http://www.woodtennis.com/snauwaert/lagrande1.jpg
 

vsbabolat

G.O.A.T.
The Le Coq Sportif TCO that Yannick Noah used to win the 1983 French Open.
attachment31b56e09.jpg
 

schu47

Rookie
P3110348.JPG


I've got quite a few wood composites -- and most are about the same head size as the traditional wood racquets. But at least these eight of mine have larger heads, which in this case translates to probably 85-90 sq. in. None of them is as large as the Prince Woodie, the third from the right in the photo above. Even then, Prince was the champion of the oversize racquet.
The racquets, left to right, are: Pro Kennex Golden Ace, Snauwaert La Grande, Pro Kennex Graphite Ace, Head Edgewood, Slazenger Vilas Pro, Prince Woodie, Dunlop A-Player and Spalding Big Bow. They all mix wood with graphite layers or overlays, and the Golden Ace has boron as well. The wood composites, particularly the Golden and Graphite Aces and the Head Edgewood and Vilas, are among the most beautiful racquets ever, IMO. And they play so well, with the feel of wood, but larger and easier to hit, with a little more power. Can't beat 'em.
Anyone else have some in this size range?
 

atatu

Legend
P3110348.JPG


I've got quite a few wood composites -- and most are about the same head size as the traditional wood racquets. But at least these eight of mine have larger heads, which in this case translates to probably 85-90 sq. in. None of them is as large as the Prince Woodie, the third from the right in the photo above. Even then, Prince was the champion of the oversize racquet.
The racquets, left to right, are: Pro Kennex Golden Ace, Snauwaert La Grande, Pro Kennex Graphite Ace, Head Edgewood, Slazenger Vilas Pro, Prince Woodie, Dunlop A-Player and Spalding Big Bow. They all mix wood with graphite layers or overlays, and the Golden Ace has boron as well. The wood composites, particularly the Golden and Graphite Aces and the Head Edgewood and Vilas, are among the most beautiful racquets ever, IMO. And they play so well, with the feel of wood, but larger and easier to hit, with a little more power. Can't beat 'em.
Anyone else have some in this size range?

That's a fantastic collection !
 

atatu

Legend
I just have the Snauwaert, Prince, Edgewood (used) and the Kramer (used). The JK is pretty cool though, not too common, or "medium rare" as my nine year old says...

257dkk2.jpg


1581fts.jpg
 

schu47

Rookie
Atatu,

I had no idea there was a Kramer midsize. Is it entirely wood? I understood that manufacturers weren't really able to make larger racquets until they started strengthening the wood with other materials, which is why composites were born. I have one "oversize" (probably 85 sq. in., which qualified as oversize back then) that looks like a classic wood racquet -- a Spalding Challenge Cup Pro -- but even though it's made of ash, it says it has a fiber-reinforced throat, bow and shaft.

I'm glad to see that other folks appreciate these beautiful composites. Seems they got swallowed up pretty quickly by the graphite revolution.
 

atatu

Legend
The Kramer is not all wood, it has graphite layers that start at about 5 o'clock and run all the way to the top of the frame. Let me see if I can get a picture, because it's hard to explain. It also has the words "graphite reinforced" at the 3 and 9 positions.
 

AndrewD

Legend
The Head Edgewood is, I think, one of the most beautiful wood-graphite frames. It's also great to hit with. More power than the V-24 but less spin.
 

Virginia

Hall of Fame
schu47 - you're starting to catch me up now in the wood composite department. I don't have the Dunlop, or the Snauwaert or the Spalding and really like the look of those. They're now on my wish list.

I still have a few that you don't have though - the Davis CL-500 (though one of those will be coming to you shortly), the PK Blue Ace and Grapower 70, the Rossignol C-12, Snauwaert Meso Composite, the Wimbledon Pro and three V-24's (but I thought you had one of those?)

It looks like we are rivals in this department at least, even if not in others. ;)
 

atatu

Legend
My favorite composite frame of all time was the Donnay Graphite/Wood, which I used in high school, does anyone have one of those those ? It looks like the Borg Pro, except the colors on the frame are green and blue....
 

schu47

Rookie
My dear Virginia,

So nice to see you on this thread. I know you have a wonderful collection, and I also know you have a special love of these composites. We've traded enough racquets between us to know we have the same taste. I envy you your V-24s -- that's one I'm missing.

I think we both need to get one of those Jack Kramer wood composite mids like atatu has, though. And I think you need to post some pictures of those great racquets of yours.

I'm wondering if Bud or Plaz or some of the other regulars on these pages have a collection of wood composites.

In the meantime, here are two more of my favorites, the Head Vilas and Garcia Graphite, both beautiful. I'm willing to bet you have both of them, too.


P3120374.JPG
 

schu47

Rookie
Hey atatu,

I think I've got that Donnay graphite/wood you're wondering about. Is this it?
This baby has vulcanized fiber, beechwood, ash, fiberglass and carbon fiber -- quite a mix! The other interesting thing about it is that it says "my choice" in little letters at about 8 oclock on the frame. On the other side, it says "your choice." I guess that was to help people decide who got the choice of service. It's a very sweet racquet.



P3110372.JPG
 

Virginia

Hall of Fame
So nice to see you on this thread. I know you have a wonderful collection, and I also know you have a special love of these composites. We've traded enough racquets between us to know we have the same taste. I envy you your V-24s -- that's one I'm missing.

I think we both need to get one of those Jack Kramer wood composite mids like atatu has, though. And I think you need to post some pictures of those great racquets of yours.

In the meantime, here are two more of my favorites, the Head Vilas and Garcia Graphite, both beautiful. I'm willing to bet you have both of them, too.

It's good to see you posting here too - it's about time. :)

I've held on to all three 24's up until now, because two of them are different versions, both in cosmetically great condition. Because of that difference, I can't part with either. The third one has a few dings and scratches and so I feel it's OK to hit with it now and again, so I gotta keep that too. I mean it's pretty special to actually hit with such an iconic racquet!

Yes, I do have the Head Vilas and funnily enough, I just got a Garcia Graphite yesterday (I wonder who?).

The other interesting thing about it is that it says "my choice" in little letters at about 8 oclock on the frame. On the other side, it says "your choice." I guess that was to help people decide who got the choice of service. It's a very sweet racquet.
Yes, I've seen that on a couple of racquets. I've also seen "Your Serve" and "My Serve" on a Slazenger I think it was. A fair number of Snauwaerts have a similar sort of thing on the butt cap.

My Ladywood says hello to your Donnay and says she's missing him already.
 

schu47

Rookie
Virginia,

Glad to contribute to your already-extensive collection. But three V-24s is just showing off. :)

The Donnay Ladywood and the Graphite/Wood were a nice couple. You can probably see the Graphite/Wood is a little blue right now.
 

atatu

Legend
Hey atatu,

I think I've got that Donnay graphite/wood you're wondering about. Is this it?
This baby has vulcanized fiber, beechwood, ash, fiberglass and carbon fiber -- quite a mix! The other interesting thing about it is that it says "my choice" in little letters at about 8 oclock on the frame. On the other side, it says "your choice." I guess that was to help people decide who got the choice of service. It's a very sweet racquet.



P3110372.JPG

Oh man, that's it, gorgeous, takes me back to 1981 when I was 17 and anything seemed possible....
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
I must admit, I thought he was talking about the blue FlexPRO or green FibrePro, which have identical look to the BorgPro, only obviously different colours:)
 

Virginia

Hall of Fame
While you're there - take a look at my collection. Speaking of which, I need to take some more photos (Yonex Collection, "Lady" collection, Snauwaert Collection, the list goes on). :)
 

jimbo333

Hall of Fame
Yeah, you need to post some more photos on there:)

By the way the V24 with "Graphite Reinforced" written just above the throat is an Aussie only version and rare in Europe at least:):)
 

TMR

Rookie
Garcia Graphite

I have 3 Jack Kramer wood midsize, 4 Head Vilas, 2 Head Edgewood, 3 Le Coq Sportif Noah wood, 2 Dunlop A Player, 2 Kennex Golden Ace, 2 Prince Woodie, 3 Spalding Big Bow, 2 Spalding Lotus, 2 Slazenger Omega, 2 Spalding Challenge Cup Pro - but alas, no Garcia Graphite - wish I had just one. ahanesthesiaa at gmail dot com
 

plasma

Banned
schu's collection of wood mids is formidable. The one that attracts me is the snauwaert. It looks like a real pro racquet ( I know, I know, various champions used many incarnations of several of the frames depicted, point gladly taken!) there's only one wood mid I'm currently after. I'm hunting it like a creepy stalker. It's the Donnay Graphite Borg clone known as the Borg Mid (???)....a stealth wood mid 85 painted black...
 

d-quik

Hall of Fame
what kind of tension rangers (low like wood, or higher like graphite) did the composite frames have?

i know borg liked high tensions, but was his racquet retail or specialy designed for the high tensions?

did composites warp?
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
Oh man, that's it, gorgeous, takes me back to 1981 when I was 17 and anything seemed possible....

please don't bring up now....it's too depressing :)


I have a bunch of Vilas frames and the Fox ATP Pro and a Wilson Advantage...
 

joe sch

Legend
please don't bring up now....it's too depressing :)


I have a bunch of Vilas frames and the Fox ATP Pro and a Wilson Advantage...

Rabbit, I enjoy playing the standard head frames more than the midsize frames and enjoy playing all the classics more than todays oversize, stiff airshells. I been playing an Advantage strung with natural gut recently against modern players and still playing an all out agressive game :)
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
Rabbit, I enjoy playing the standard head frames more than the midsize frames and enjoy playing all the classics more than todays oversize, stiff airshells. I been playing an Advantage strung with natural gut recently against modern players and still playing an all out agressive game :)

Yeah, it's really fun. I've related this before, probably ad nauseum, but I played a year no too long ago with the Vilas and had a blast!
 

Hannah19

Professional
My dear Virginia,

So nice to see you on this thread. I know you have a wonderful collection, and I also know you have a special love of these composites. We've traded enough racquets between us to know we have the same taste. I envy you your V-24s -- that's one I'm missing.

I think we both need to get one of those Jack Kramer wood composite mids like atatu has, though. And I think you need to post some pictures of those great racquets of yours.

I'm wondering if Bud or Plaz or some of the other regulars on these pages have a collection of wood composites.

In the meantime, here are two more of my favorites, the Head Vilas and Garcia Graphite, both beautiful. I'm willing to bet you have both of them, too.


P3120374.JPG


I have got other nice ones to add to the collection: Tretorn Magnum,
Esquire Carbon Mustang, Dunlop McEnroe (open throat, looks a bit like the Head Vilas).
I wish I knew how to post pics on his forum!!!:evil:
 

Donquixote2u

New User
schu47 - you're starting to catch me up now in the wood composite department. I don't have the Dunlop, or the Snauwaert or the Spalding and really like the look of those. They're now on my wish list.

I still have a few that you don't have though - the Davis CL-500 (though one of those will be coming to you shortly), the PK Blue Ace and Grapower 70, the Rossignol C-12, Snauwaert Meso Composite, the Wimbledon Pro and three V-24's (but I thought you had one of those?)

It looks like we are rivals in this department at least, even if not in others. ;)

Hi Virginia,

You may be interested to know that one of those Dunlops on your wish list ("A-Player") is on trademe - yes you can guess where I'm from!

Would love to see more of your collection and details on your website soon!

I'm sooo envious of all those big collections, I think I have just caught the bug (bought a PK Graphite Destiny the other day, such an elegant beast, how could I resist?) and am fighting the temptation to buy everything in sight!

I guess I prefer the early graphites for looks and usability; I currently use a Wilson Prostaff for serious play, but I'm a Yonex fan from way back, so I'll keep an eye out for a Carbonex (found pics of the burgundy Carbonex 7, but my old one was black,was it a Carbonex 7 or 8 perhaps??) but the OPS metals (7500-8600) were cool too)

I can't believe whats available in the US, I guess the sheer size of the market does have its advantages, but the shipping costs !!!!!

oh well, heres hoping for those thrift shop bargains :grin:

cheers,

Bruce
 
P3110348.JPG


I've got quite a few wood composites -- and most are about the same head size as the traditional wood racquets. But at least these eight of mine have larger heads, which in this case translates to probably 85-90 sq. in. None of them is as large as the Prince Woodie, the third from the right in the photo above. Even then, Prince was the champion of the oversize racquet.
The racquets, left to right, are: Pro Kennex Golden Ace, Snauwaert La Grande, Pro Kennex Graphite Ace, Head Edgewood, Slazenger Vilas Pro, Prince Woodie, Dunlop A-Player and Spalding Big Bow. They all mix wood with graphite layers or overlays, and the Golden Ace has boron as well. The wood composites, particularly the Golden and Graphite Aces and the Head Edgewood and Vilas, are among the most beautiful racquets ever, IMO. And they play so well, with the feel of wood, but larger and easier to hit, with a little more power. Can't beat 'em.
Anyone else have some in this size range?

The local tennis store by my house have about 10 Dunlop A-Player (second from the right)Brand new for sale. Don't know how much they are asking but will check it out.
 
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