How many people still play with rackets that are over 20 years old?

jimanuel12 · Feb 6, 2011

i was just wondering, i see allot of people on here play with the older "players" rackets.
i just bought two prince 110 rackets, one is a pro series and the other is a spectum 110 composite.
i loved the way the older rackets played and just found these two at a great price so i went ahead and picked them up.
have not hit with them yet (the weather is too bad) but can't wait to get out on the court and hit a few around.
i played with these back about 20 some years ago but sold them and went the newer rackets.
just wanted some more input from folks that love the older rackets.
thanks:???:

Bobby Jr · Feb 7, 2011

I just picked 2 of my Wilson PS85s up from the stringer today. Both bought in 1992... So almost 20 years. They still play like God sticks as far as I'm concerned.

bluroks · Feb 7, 2011

I still play with my older ones also. My main one is a Wilson FPK. But lately I am really happy playing a Yonex R22. This is one sweet racquet.
I just ordered a second one and waiting for it to arrive.

Still too much snow and ice around here. Come on spring!

Also play with Wilson Sting, Pro Kennex Ceramic Destiny. Plus have well over 200 older frames from the Prince Graphites, Spectrums, etc to Wilsons ceramics etc. Love them all but the Wilson FPK and the Yonex R22 are my babies now!!

jimanuel12 · Feb 7, 2011

bluroks said:
I still play with my older ones also. My main one is a Wilson FPK. But lately I am really happy playing a Yonex R22. This is one sweet racquet.
I just ordered a second one and waiting for it to arrive.

Still too much snow and ice around here. Come on spring!

Also play with Wilson Sting, Pro Kennex Ceramic Destiny. Plus have well over 200 older frames from the Prince Graphites, Spectrums, etc to Wilsons ceramics etc. Love them all but the Wilson FPK and the Yonex R22 are my babies now!!

over 200 frames, man, i need to buy some more, i only have 10!!!!

big bang · Feb 7, 2011

I use POG mids (4 stripe ´87) and PSC ´92.

retrowagen · Feb 7, 2011

Me too: 1988 Head Elite Pros, and sometimes (when feeling lazy) 1990 Fischer Elliptic.

N23 · Feb 7, 2011

I have 1 Pro Tour 280 that I use. But I think I"m getting old so it's staying at home now.

kalic · Feb 7, 2011

First generation PT630 here. It's very close to 20 years, I guess...

joe sch · Feb 7, 2011

There are lots of players all over the world that will play wood rackets during the year, especially when there are some special woody tournaments on the plans. I also know lots of players that are still playing rackets that are approx 2 decades old. My favorites are the pc600 and max 200g's. Both are great allcourt sticks that are great for half volleys and aggressive tennis even against todays baseline blasters. Every once in awhile, I will even see somebody playing a steel racket but I think those players are the real dinosaurs.

DBH · Feb 7, 2011

I still play with a Zebra Pro 109 (oversize) racquet (which is a POG OS clone) that was originally bought in the late 1980s. It still fits my game fine, but to be honest I haven't seriously played with any other racquet (other than just messing around for fun). The only problem with it is that the grommets are close to shot, and since it's a long discontinued racquet, I wouldn't be able to find exact replacements. But I'll play with it as long as I can. Then maybe I'd replace it with a Radical OS or POG OS, which are roughly similar in terms of headsize and weight to the Zebra.

DBH

VGP · Feb 7, 2011

The frames I've been using lately are kinda on the "old" side....

Wilson Graphite Force Midsize - 27 years
Wilson PS85 Taiwan - 18 years
Yonex R-18 - 24 years
Prince CTS Precision 90 - 22 years
Prince CTS Synergy DB 26 - 19 years

....at least they're non-wood and non-steel.

Tennis Man · Feb 7, 2011

Right now in my bag are a few of the earliest PS 85 (St Vincent) circa 1983-84, TXPs and original Prestiges from the same era. They are ambitious and mature 27 year olds, no longer teenagers.

I also have a great success lately with my Wilson Ultra FPK 95 and PS 95. Maybe eventually they will become my "retirement" racquets of choice

muddlehead · Feb 7, 2011

wilson profile 95's. 20+ yrs young...

Mick · Feb 7, 2011

i sometimes would play with a t-3000. it has a small sweet spot but it's just as powerful as today's racquets if it has low string tension.

mad dog1 · Feb 7, 2011

here's just what's in my bag...all from the '80s

2 wilson sting mids
1 pog os 4 stripe
1 pog mid 4 stripe
1 yonex r-22
1 prince graphite composite os
1 pro kennex black ace 86
1 rossignol f200

i have a bunch of other sticks from the late '70s and '80 in the closet.

morten · Feb 8, 2011

ps85... have 5 of them, unfortunatly they are all quite different.

kul · Feb 8, 2011

3 x Prince Power Pro 90 (20+ years old)
that's it.

Frankc · Feb 11, 2011

4 Head Comp Pros - more than 20 years ago... Beautifully finished... the dark model...

jimanuel12 · Feb 11, 2011

mad dog1 said:
here's just what's in my bag...all from the '80s

2 wilson sting mids
1 pog os 4 stripe
1 pog mid 4 stripe
1 yonex r-22
1 prince graphite composite os
1 pro kennex black ace 86
1 rossignol f200

i have a bunch of other sticks from the late '70s and '80 in the closet.

so far:

3 fischer pros 105
3 fischer pro 98
2 prince os 110 spectrum
1 prince pro graphite 110

and still i want more!!!!

Hannah19 · Feb 11, 2011

I pick up any old stick from my collection just about every week.
Recent rackets I've played with: Fischer Superform XL, MAX 200G, 400i, Kuebler R50 & R30, PS 85 (Belgium and China versions), Fin Scorpion and Donnay Thierry Tulasne (wood).

pshulam · Feb 11, 2011

I still play with PC600s.

TopspinT · Feb 11, 2011

I play thin beam 80s racquet like black ace 86, wilson GR80 as my main. B

whomad15 · Feb 12, 2011

I've got a POG mid (4stripe) that I got off the bay that I play with. My first POG OS is going on 6years now.

tennytive · Feb 12, 2011

^^^^^

My POG's are all *new* to me.

Don't Let It Bounce · Feb 12, 2011

If I had to play a tournament right now, I'd play it with a Prince Graphite OS 4-stripe.

jimanuel12 said:
i was just wondering, i see allot of people on here play with the older "players" rackets.
i just bought two prince 110 rackets, one is a pro series and the other is a spectum 110 composite.
i loved the way the older rackets played and just found these two at a great price so i went ahead and picked them up.
have not hit with them yet (the weather is too bad) but can't wait to get out on the court and hit a few around.
i played with these back about 20 some years ago but sold them and went the newer rackets.
just wanted some more input from folks that love the older rackets.
thanks:???:

I played with the Spectrum in 1986-87 and picked one up again a year ago out of nostalgia. It is nice and solid, nothing hollow-feeling about it at all, but unlike with the Graphite (which, though stiffer, is more pillow-like), I liked the Spectrum better when I used a string dampener. Enjoy!

mctennis · Feb 12, 2011

I play with Volkl C10 PT and Volkl C10 Comps. Probably close to 20 years old.

jimanuel12 · Feb 18, 2011

mctennis said:
I play with Volkl C10 PT and Volkl C10 Comps. Probably close to 20 years old.

i picked up a couple of prince pro 110 made back in the early 80's love those babies.
got them cheap - less than $20.00 each

Mick · Feb 18, 2011

earlier in the week, i took the adidas gtx pro (30 yrs old racquet endorsed by ivan lendl in the early 80s.) to play a doubles match. surprisingly, my doubles partner and i won easily because our opponents were pretty tough -- one of them was much better than both my partner and I, his partner was our equal, but we were pretty solid that night.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Feb 18, 2011

pshulam said:
I still play with PC600s.

Same here, but mine are the final TW batch, does that count?

vwfye · Feb 18, 2011

All my sticks are from the 80s or very early 90s... I never worry about mine.

jimanuel12 · Feb 19, 2011

Mick said:
earlier in the week, i took the adidas gtx pro (30 yrs old racquet endorsed by ivan lendl in the early 80s.) to play a doubles match. surprisingly, my doubles partner and i won easily because our opponents were pretty tough -- one of them was much better than both my partner and I, his partner was our equal, but we were pretty solid that night.

i know what you mean, i play with a guy 15 years younger than me, most of the time i can beat him but the last time we played (last fall) he beat the crap out of me, because i was using a head microgel. i sold it and went back to my old fischers and prince racquets, i am getting my revenge this spring!!!!!

t-swede · Feb 19, 2011

i have two head classic mp rackets aka prestige tour 660/trisys 300 mp albeit without the suspension grip hits a heavy ball with alot of control excellent plowthrough due to the weight . do you guys that play with these older rackets feel competetive against the younger crowds with pure drive gt and aero pro drives and youtek rackets ?

Hannah19 · Feb 19, 2011

Mick said:
earlier in the week, i took the adidas gtx pro (30 yrs old racquet endorsed by ivan lendl in the early 80s.) to play a doubles match. surprisingly, my doubles partner and i won easily because our opponents were pretty tough -- one of them was much better than both my partner and I, his partner was our equal, but we were pretty solid that night.

Last year I played indoor tennis on carpet during the winter.
During that whole period I played doubles with a brand new 1979 wooden Donnay Thierry Tulasne ( Black VS Babolat Gut, 54lbs), against worthy opponents using high tech equipment. We never lost a match...!!
I had forgotten what you can do with wood that can never, ever be surpassed by any other material out there. Dropshots to die for, backhand slices that make your opponents got nuts...

pshulam · Feb 20, 2011

Say Chi Sin Lo said:
Same here, but mine are the final TW batch, does that count?

Definitely, all the PC600s are very similar in playability. I have a few versions: "Prestige Classic 600" in trek font and "Made in Austria" on the side, "Prestige Classic" on the side with "Made in Austria" on top of handle, and "Prestige Classic 600" on side and "Designed in Austria" on top of handle.

pshulam · Feb 20, 2011

jimanuel12 said:
i know what you mean, i play with a guy 15 years younger than me, most of the time i can beat him but the last time we played (last fall) he beat the crap out of me, because i was using a head microgel. i sold it and went back to my old fischers and prince racquets, i am getting my revenge this spring!!!!!

Good luck in your upcoming revenge.

Cesare · Feb 21, 2011

mctennis said:
I play with Volkl C10 PT and Volkl C10 Comps. Probably close to 20 years old.

i'm pretty sure that the c10 comp came out in 1994, and the c10 pt 3 years later..
i currently play the Head graphite radial 22x23. great stick too

jimanuel12 · Feb 21, 2011

pshulam said:
Good luck in your upcoming revenge.

just waiting for this terrible winter to be over. been cold as hell since November.
can't wait to try out my new (old) prince rackets!!!!
thanks

mctennis · Mar 1, 2011

Cesare said:
i'm pretty sure that the c10 comp came out in 1994, and the c10 pt 3 years later..
i currently play the Head graphite radial 22x23. great stick too

I figured the C10 Comp came out close to 1990. I had the TW receipt of the C10 PT and I thought it was back in 1996. I can't remember that far back. Thanks for the info though.

roundiesee · Mar 3, 2011

3 PK Silver Aces made-in-Japan ->
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/roundiesee/PKSilverAce3.jpg
Don't know what the actual specs are but I think the head size is around 90 sq in and the static weight is about 375g. I alternate these with a leaded YTP Mid. However, recently I have discovered that the YT Speed Midplus 18x20 is much easier to use (stock) and have been sort of gravitating towards this newer racket, but I won't be getting rid of my old sticks in a hurry

VGP · Mar 3, 2011

I was looking at my racket bag and I realized it's full of what some might call "old mids."

On one side are my "playing" frames:

5 Wilson Graphite Force Midsize

On the other side are my "fun for flavor" frames:

Wilson Sting Midsize
Dunlop McEnroe Master II
Yonex R-18
Yonex r-22
Prince CTS Precision 90

The most recently made frame is now 23 years old.

roundiesee · Mar 3, 2011

Do you guys ever get tired of being teased by fellow players? Especially those who use the latest Prince and Wilson rackets? I know I do (eg, here comes the "dinosaur"....)......

VGP · Mar 3, 2011

roundiesee said:
Do you guys ever get tired of being teased by fellow players? Especially those who use the latest Prince and Wilson rackets? I know I do (eg, here comes the "dinosaur"....)......

Did you win?

I'm competitive with the people I play. Winning enough to be satisfied.

But....

Last time I played, I got the "how do you play with that thing" comment. Followed by, "if I used that I'd break my arm."

roundiesee · Mar 4, 2011

VGP said:
Did you win?

I'm competitive with the people I play. Winning enough to be satisfied.

But....

Last time I played, I got the "how do you play with that thing" comment. Followed by, "if I used that I'd break my arm."

Yes, I do get that a lot; I do win but not enough times to shut the naysayers up...

Rorsach · Mar 4, 2011

VGP said:
How do you play with that thing" comment. Followed by, "if I used that I'd break my arm."

That's what she said...

jimanuel12 · Mar 4, 2011

roundiesee said:
Do you guys ever get tired of being teased by fellow players? Especially those who use the latest Prince and Wilson rackets? I know I do (eg, here comes the "dinosaur"....)......

that is ok, i play a guy 15 years younger than me, and last year i beat his butt almost every time we played using my old fischers.
he had the latest head and prince racket and i still beat him, makes me kinda proud.
but the last time we played, it was very very hot, i am old and could not take the heat, he beat me like a drum.
i will get him this spring, if the snow ever leaves here.

VGP · Mar 4, 2011

^^^^ good job showing the young guys that old tech doesn't mean it's bad or outdated tech.

Just when I thought I might not go check the thrift stores again so soon, I decided to go out this evening after work and find a couple more.

A Yonex RQ-380 for $4 and a Prince CTS Precision 90 for $2.......

Frames sold in 1990 and 1988, respectively.

Now I've got a pair of Precisions to use if I want since I mentioned them in my grouping in my previous post.

I guess I can add the Yonex to my collection of graphite frame models used by major title winners (Seles in the early 90's). Goes with ones like the Wilson Pro Staff midsize, Yonex R-22, Babolat APD original, Yonex R-7. Non-paintjob models.....

Again, I'm not trying to actively purchase these willing to pay too much. Just keep poking into used sporting goods shops and thrift stores.

I'm still hoping to come across a Dunlop Max200g.

Mac_Attack · Mar 9, 2011

I played with my Dunlop Max 200G from 1986 to 2007, when I made the swith to the new Dunlop Maxply McEnroe. But, I still keep the 200g in my bag and break it out once in a while for a friendly doubles match or hitting with my kids. I sometimes debate using it in competition but the modern racquet helps so much on my serve -- I don't want to lose that advantage.

max · Mar 9, 2011

yeah, it was the lack of power on the serve that made me hang up my Max 200 Gs. It was causing me to overhit, and this jeopardized my shoulder.

One thing to keep in mind in this discussion is that if you go to the tennis courts and see young guys with newer frames. . . well, that's all they know, all they could purchase; they just started tennis only about 4 years ago (or something like that)! So the new models are what they can buy for themselves.

roundiesee · Mar 9, 2011

max said:
yeah, it was the lack of power on the serve that made me hang up my Max 200 Gs. It was causing me to overhit, and this jeopardized my shoulder.

One thing to keep in mind in this discussion is that if you go to the tennis courts and see young guys with newer frames. . . well, that's all they know, all they could purchase; they just started tennis only about 4 years ago (or something like that)! So the new models are what they can buy for themselves.

Yes, that's true, but there a lot of us "old" guys who have been with players' frames for a long time, and they are gradually moving away from such heavy and small headed frames. Personally I have had some recent success with a stock Head Speed 18x20, but I am still in two minds re making a permanent switch to a more modern racket

Bobby Jr · Mar 9, 2011

roundiesee said:
Do you guys ever get tired of being teased by fellow players?

Nope. Quite the opposite usually. I get asked all the time by people if they can have a quick hit with my frame. Invariably they say it feels awesome although it a little heavy for them. One guy I played with who used to use a head frame I noticed recently has gone out and changed to the K6.1 Tour (guess it was the closest he could get to a PS85).

How many people still play with rackets that are over 20 years old?

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