Bring back the Yamaha Secret 04!
- Thread starter hcb0804
- Start date
Tennis Man
Hall of Fame
there are plenty of them on the famous auction site 
There may be many on the famous auction site, but I was surprised to see that the people are asking around a hundred bucks for it. Isn't that hovering in the same radar as what people are selling for a vintage Wilson Pro Staff 85?
In other words, there must be some l-ve for the Yamaha Secret 04.
In other words, there must be some l-ve for the Yamaha Secret 04.
charliefedererer
Legend
There was an old Yamaha Secret TT thread that mentioned that Yamaha dropped out of the racquet because of Wilson claims that one of the lighter Yamaha frames violated it's Hammer patent. http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=181814 (I think my wifed played with that lightweight model - the EX.)
Tremendous power in that racquet. I owned two of them, then two more after cracking them and bought my next two as Gosen Secrets. Apparently Yamaha sold the molds to Gosen after the patent expired.
I loved connecting with a serve or foreand - it felt like unleashing a thunderbolt.
But I realized that all too many of those thunderbolts landed long, no matter how hard I tried to put more spin on it. Interestingly that was before the advent of poly strings.
I would be tempted to take out one of the old ones and see if it could be more tamed with poly in the bed. But the flex rating on these stiff frames was 81 (I thought it couldn't be stiffer than 80) and it sounds like that would be a recipe for tennis elbow. (Some in the above thread state that's what happened to them, even with natural gut.)
Tremendous power in that racquet. I owned two of them, then two more after cracking them and bought my next two as Gosen Secrets. Apparently Yamaha sold the molds to Gosen after the patent expired.
I loved connecting with a serve or foreand - it felt like unleashing a thunderbolt.
But I realized that all too many of those thunderbolts landed long, no matter how hard I tried to put more spin on it. Interestingly that was before the advent of poly strings.
I would be tempted to take out one of the old ones and see if it could be more tamed with poly in the bed. But the flex rating on these stiff frames was 81 (I thought it couldn't be stiffer than 80) and it sounds like that would be a recipe for tennis elbow. (Some in the above thread state that's what happened to them, even with natural gut.)
charliefedererer
Legend
I found another Yamaha thread: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=47156&page=3.
It said it was the Yamaha EOS (Economy of Swing) frame that Wilson claimed violated it's Hammer patent. And it is definitely this frame my wife used for a time because of that light weight.
It said it was the Yamaha EOS (Economy of Swing) frame that Wilson claimed violated it's Hammer patent. And it is definitely this frame my wife used for a time because of that light weight.
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Don't Let It Bounce
Hall of Fame
There is fervent and undying love for the Secret 04, even in this forum filled with flex-o-philes, small-head-o-philes, powerphobes, and elbows that are past their expiration dates! There have been several fun threads about them that are worth a search.
I watch for them on auction even though I have one of the abovementioned elbows–just 'cause they're so damned cool–and I've noticed that prices have gone down recently. Last year a new one went for $350! If you can wait for one that is really being auctioned (i.e., a non-professional seller), you can probably do a little better than $100, depending on condition.
SirSweetSpot
Banned
There are LOADS of threads dedicated to this universally acclaimed weapon. I happen to think it was easily 15 years ahead of its time.
Fedace
Banned
This racket was one of the best Stiffest racket in the world. Only if they made it longer.... it is only 27 inches in length,,right ??
High Roller
Banned
Fedace
Banned
was it good ? Fisher clone, Pacific Sucks big time..:???:
Don't Let It Bounce
Hall of Fame
Really? They look like they could withstand dynamite. What did you hear about their fragility?
dak95_00
Hall of Fame
I had some. They broke easily. My brother still has one of the Yamaha racquets. Its butt cap is broken. I strung it last year for him. I think its a 10II. We had the 04 too or a friend did. They were very powerful. Didn't Gabriela Sabatini use one after her Prince Graphite?
SirSweetSpot
Banned
LOL...hardly fragile. That cool paint might come off but the graphite is from the Planet Nebulon and nothing on Earth can damage it.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
No, discussed this Saturday Jn 19 with several players that used the racquet back-in-the-day. Look sturdy like a Profile but the hoop is quite brittle. This conversation started on how so many players break racquets. Thought it was due to repeated stringing. Btw, it was usually the earth that damaged the Secret.
SirSweetSpot
Banned
Here's an idea for you...don't believe everything people tell you and then run to TT and spout it off like gospel.
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SirSweetSpot
Banned
She also used the heaviest racquet on either tour...I believe she leaded the sum***** to like 15 oz.
She was a strong hottie.
She was a strong hottie.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Dude, I played with a Profile, demo'ed a Secret, strung these old sticks, seen them cracked, and was curious. Why do these guys break racquets. I've only broken Yonex racquets and always believed it was due to poor stringing technique. Must be the Secret gospel.
Don't Let It Bounce
Hall of Fame
Indeed, and she whipped that weight around with a one-hand BH, too.
Off-topic, but I can never decide which is better-looking: Gaby, her Yamaha racquets' PJ's, or her BH.
Don't Let It Bounce
Hall of Fame
There was a racquet in that photo?
That's true--I remember talking to a Prince rep and her agent and got to hold one of her Prince racquets. There was lead tape along the the inside of the head and along the outside of the throat from where the string grommets end to the top of the grip, and I imagine some under the grip. I was using Prince racquets at the time, and I'm a 6'4" male and her racquet was much heavier than mine.
Re: the Secret--I really liked that racquet, I liked the way it looked and the way it played.
