TennisAddiction
Semi-Pro
I understand that racquet prices have been going up and up but $300 for a Pure Drive with special paint is just silly.
$300 for a Pure Drive is CRAZY!!!
- Thread starter TennisAddiction
- Start date
FootFault18
Rookie
I think that 300 dollars is silly for any racquet.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Depends on how much money you have, doesn’t it? $100 for a racquet might appear crazy for someone else. The demand sets the market for pricing as suppliers try to optimize their profit.
Grafil Injection
Hall of Fame
They are limited editions I believe though. Don't know how many, but my shop said less than 100 in the UK.
Alcawrath
Professional
Classic example of price discrimination. There are enough people willing to pay $300 that it's the going rate. Look at the price of the previous years' models to see a closer approximation of price=value. Blade V8s, Dunlop CXs, etc. all are priced much closer to cost right now as they're trying to clear out stock.
Crocodile
G.O.A.T.
If people want prices to come down start supporting the smaller companies and companies selling racquets well below $300.
For example there is nothing wrong with the Pro Kennex Q Tour frames at $159 US and many of the Prince frames going at great prices.
Obviously the people that post here are a small minority but it’s all the other players in the world who think it’s a good idea to pay big bikkies. Btw those racquets that are $300 in the US are well into the $400’s here in Australia. Start thinking people.
For example there is nothing wrong with the Pro Kennex Q Tour frames at $159 US and many of the Prince frames going at great prices.
Obviously the people that post here are a small minority but it’s all the other players in the world who think it’s a good idea to pay big bikkies. Btw those racquets that are $300 in the US are well into the $400’s here in Australia. Start thinking people.
McLovin
Legend
$300 seems like a deal when compared to $249 for a pickleball paddle…
www.totalpickleball.com
Selkirk LUXX Control Air Epic Pickleball Paddle | Pickleball Warehouse
www.totalpickleball.com
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
With the price of rackets, stringing, and tennis balls, tennis is becoming unaffordable for the middle class and below. Pickleball is exploding for reasons other than just the elderly playing. Most pickleball players don't pay $250 for their paddles, but the industry can still sell them to the people who equate quality to price, and for those who feel the more expensive paddles/rackets will help their game.
Fighting phoenix
Professional
It’s kind of ridiculous. Kudos to Wilson for launching some sweet looking Roland garros edition blade/shift/clash at the same price as their regular sticks. I mean, in the big picture it’s expensive regardless, but $300 for the same racquet is a bridge too far.
codonnell
Semi-Pro
I like the paint job and if in some ways limited edition it makes sense. But like others have said above $300 is too much for me, especially when you see what other frames and things you can get for that price point. Now if babolat rereleased a 2012< pure drive mold more people may find that price tag justifiable. Even the aero 98 last time I checked was at a steep 278.
TennisHound
Legend
Reminds me of the Wilson Ultra XP when it first came out. It was well over $300.
Fighting phoenix
Professional
Check out some 1987 prices in French Francs here
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
1987 french tennis racket, shoe and bag prices
pics from this eday ad: item number 313481178226
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
JEDI MASTER
Professional
$300 seems like a deal when compared to $249 for a pickleball paddle…
Selkirk LUXX Control Air Epic Pickleball Paddle | Pickleball Warehouse
$249 will buy alot of plywood...
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
If you want to see expensive, look at a Champion Ma Long Special ping pong paddle. $427 on sale.
TennisAddiction
Semi-Pro
As I've gotten older I've become more fond of buyer clearance frames. I no longer need the latest and greatest model. That being said, I have used every PD going back to 2002, this is one I will not be buying.
PistolPete23
Hall of Fame
Bab should have re-released the original swirly Pure Drive as a celebration of its anniversary.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
I think he’s referring to the Prince Boron. It was $500/racket back then. It did come with a full length suede leather case.
It had no head guard either.
heavyD
Professional
It took me a while to save up for my first Prince Graphite 110 because they were so expensive relative to other frames and they didn't keep that model in most local racquet shops. I had to mail order one from Nevada Bobs. Head were even more expensive in that day as I always wanted to try one but couldn't afford it in those days and only the specialty Tennis shops sold them.
Fighting phoenix
Professional
Yep I've been researching to and you all are right - these sticks would be in the ~$400 range in today's dollars. Nevada Bob's! That is a blast from the past, totally forgot about them!
heavyD
Professional
In Canada it was harder to get some of the top frames so I would go through the process of saving money, cutting out the Nevada Bobs ad in Tennis Magazine (they always had a big two page ad), filling out the order portion, getting a money order in US funds, sending it via snail mail and waiting 6 weeks or more. When I finally got that Graphite 110 I was the envy of our little tennis group. Also at least in those days you also got a nice full length racquet cover with a frame like a Graphite 110 that was high quality.
TennisAddiction
Semi-Pro
^^^THIS^^^
TennisAddiction
Semi-Pro
That doesn't make $300 any easier to swallow. Mortgage interest rates used to be 12-14% as well but you think that makes people paying 7% interest feel any better about it?
Fighting phoenix
Professional
Agreed, but I don't think that's what he was saying - just an interesting observation and reflective of how cheaper manufacturing helped contribute to lower cost of living in general. It's still ridiculous for them to charge this much for a paint job, and of course back in the 80s/90s most of these racquets were made in places other than China.
pgh10-4
New User
Understandable. I've gotten to that point as well. I'm not convinced that racket tech has advanced enough in the last 10-15 years to warrant buying the latest model. Even less of a reason to pick up the latest vs the heavily discounted prior iteration.
Yes it was mostly just an observation but i don't think a comparison with interest rates is appropriate. 12-14% is 12-14% in any era. But adjusted for inflation, $150 in the early 90's accounted for a larger % of one's income. Of course, just wait a few months and the price will come down. I've only purchased used racquets for the last 20 years.
tennis4me
Hall of Fame
If only players can band together to collectively protest by not buying into this steep price increase that's not even aligned with inflation rate. Yeah, wishful thinking.
Yes, the pickleball paddles pricing comparatively speaking is worse, but I'm not playing pickleball.
Sigh.
Yes, the pickleball paddles pricing comparatively speaking is worse, but I'm not playing pickleball.
Sigh.
Well, mostly it works. I'll bet the majority of members on this forum don't usually buy new racquets w/o some kinda discount. For those who need the latest and greatest, they create a sweet used market for me.
TennisHound
Legend
Babolat racquets are close to $300 anyway - PD98 and PA98 $279.
Wilson Pro Staff 97 $279
All of Head’s Pro racquets are $269
These prices are here to stay, and will only get higher.
Wilson Pro Staff 97 $279
All of Head’s Pro racquets are $269
These prices are here to stay, and will only get higher.
marceloriosfan
Rookie
full disclosure: my buddy let me try his Selkirk $333 paddle and I am considering buying one..
johnmccabe
Hall of Fame
Still makes more sense than $300 for pickleball paddle
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
Absolutely am not buying new release racquets. Once we’re over $250, they may as well price them $500. I’m not buying it.
New blade is 269 I think. Old one is 169 and probably has more room to fall.
stapletonj
Hall of Fame
Just checked my brother's one I got him for Christmas back in the day, you are right, it was $500, but the lux case was saddle leather, not suede, or at least it was that year.
It was INCREDIBLY stiff, but it was a weapon in the right hands. Didn't the Jensen twins play with them?
jmacdaununder2
Legend
They were $800 AU where I worked part time bitd (That's $4000 Aud today by some inflation based calculations, although it didn't seem like that much at the time, not that I dabbled in any case.)
