All Pro Staff 85 editions in photos.

Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
Fellous said:
Great post, really appreciate the details.

I have a Wilson pro staff classic 85 that seems to be this style of frame, but doesn't quite fit into the parameters set out in the table:

The butt cap code is SJN printed above the W, so based on the information I've read this would suggest it was made in Taiwan? The butt cap is white with a red W and the trademark R is to the bottom right of the W.
However it is bumperless (no head/bumper guard), which would suggest one of the earlier production models (i.e. Chicago, Belgium, All St. Vincent)?
Furthermore the End of grommet has a square shape, again suggesting Chicago, Belgium, All St. Vincent.
The undercoat primer paint is not red or grey, but a baby blue, which I have not heard mentioned before, does anyone know if this was used?
Inside the throat is there is information about the PWS and they spell "racquet" the traditional way. On the other side of the throat is written the recommended string tension of 50-60lbs.

Does anyone know if this fits into any of the comparable well known production models?

All my information is from just reading your detailed posts, I'm a rookie and by no means an expert so any information would be gratefully received.
Click to expand...

From the premium paint color & the tension recommendation, mostly a Taiwanese.

I had a late Taiwanese, with the same premium paint color & rec tension.

About the bumperguard, Did you buy it new? It could be just replaced.

Can you post some photos?
 
F

Fellous

New User
Apologies I made a mistake the butt code is SDN not SJN, based on what had been said here regarding the codes that would date it to around 1991 when Edberg first endorsed pro staff classic, sorry for the error.

@dnguyen thank you.

@Pistol10 thanks very much for the information, that makes sense, I agree it was most probably finished in the Taiwan factory in 1991. No I did not buy it from new, but at a guess the grommets look original, however as you say it's very possible they have been replaced. I have a Chris Evert Autograph racquet made later on in Taiwan (SJN) with the exact same mold as the Pro staff original 6.0 85SQ,IN that also has no bumper guard, but the end grommet on this racket is rounded off as would be expected for Taiwan.

I'll post some pictures ASAP. Thank you.
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
PS Classic 85 is definitely made in Taiwan because I have them with the same butt cap codes. I had them removed and reinstall the new butt cap because I don’t like the written words on the original butt cap!
 
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dnguyen

Hall of Fame
Fellous said:
@dnguyen oh great it sounds like you have the same, did they originally come without bumper guards? and do know their weight or any other specs?
Click to expand...

They came with bumper guards. It is the same specs as PS85 except for lighter weight, that's why I applied some lead tapes at 3 and 9. I need more power.
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
Fellous said:
https://ibb.co/VqJSscd
https://ibb.co/zmcLMQS
https://ibb.co/dJ6rsW7
https://ibb.co/tbyLYm2
https://ibb.co/pPSQ3cq
https://ibb.co/PjRNQ9L
https://ibb.co/QQPCj12
https://ibb.co/PTp3ZCt
Click to expand...
This is the "CLASSIC" one. Based on many posters here, it's made in Taiwan for sure, 1991 I guess. Wilson made this paint job for Edberg I think, but he continued using his ST.VINCENT with this paint job!

They did similar thing to Sampras.


Fellous said:
Chris Evert Autograph racquet made later on in Taiwan (SJN)
Click to expand...

Is it the white one?

How does it play comparing to the ps taiwanese? Do you know the specifications?
 
F

Fellous

New User
dnguyen said:
They came with bumper guards. It is the same specs as PS85 except for lighter weight, that's why I applied some lead tapes at 3 and 9. I need more power.
Click to expand...

Out of interest how much did your Wilson pro staff classics weigh before you added lead tape? The one I have seems heavy, I need to get it on some scales.
 
F

Fellous

New User
Pistol10 said:
This is the "CLASSIC" one. Based on many posters here, it's made in Taiwan for sure, 1991 I guess. Wilson made this paint job for Edberg I think, but he continued using his ST.VINCENT with this paint job!

They did similar thing to Sampras.




Is it the white one?

How does it play comparing to the ps taiwanese? Do you know the specifications?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info @Pistol10 :)

I saw the white one for the first time only recently, but the one I have is metallic brown with gold and red detailing, it's says it's graphite, and doesn't mention graphite/Kevlar blend. It has a lovely soft feel and is pretty evenly balanced, sorry I don't know the exact specs. Unfortunately I've never hit with the other ps Taiwan, as I only just got it, so I can't yet compare, but the Chris Evert signature racquet is definitely lighter compared to the ps classic 85, at an estimate I would say 330g with a leather grip. I can post pictures if you're interested?
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
Thanks for the sharing @Fellous .

Fellous said:
I can post pictures if you're interested?
Click to expand...
Yes please, if there's no troubles :giggle:. And what about the power?


I'm looking for alternative for ps85. I had 2: the late taiwanese, and a mid chinese (similar to Federer).

The chinese one is lighter (~355g) & much softer with bigger sweetspot than the taiwanes (~375g), unfortunately, very dead power while the taiwanese is very powerful.

Another "huge" difference is the set-up, the taiwanese is very non polarized, while the chinese is the opposite.

ps: they're not made with the same mold, the throat is wider (chinese).
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
Fellous said:
Out of interest how much did your Wilson pro staff classics weigh before you added lead tape? The one I have seems heavy, I need to get it on some scales.
Click to expand...
From memory, I think it was around 345-350g, just exactly the same weight as Taiwanese PS85 because both were produced in Taiwan! Even it’s much better than Chinese production because it has a feel of St Vincent and less vibration. Chinese PS85 has a lot of vibrations with no St Vincent feel and lack of power.

I leaded mine up to 13oz.
 
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D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
I just noticed something about my racquets. One has written words about PWS things, blah blah but the other one has blank black background. Both of them doesn't say recommended tensions 50-60lbs LOL.

Definitely, it is quality control issues by Wilson in Taiwan.
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
dnguyen said:
From memory, I think it was around 345-350g, just exactly the same weight as Taiwanese PS85
Click to expand...

Do you know what was the balance point?

My Taiwanese weight ~375g, I measured the balance point and was 12phl.

I checked it, was no added weight in the handle or the bumperguard.
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
Pistol10 said:
Do you know what was the balance point?

My Taiwanese weight ~375g, I measured the balance point and was 12phl.

I checked it, was no added weight in the handle or the bumperguard.
Click to expand...
It’s the same specs as Taiwanese PS85 but with 13 balance point but it swing too fast hence why I put lead tapes to slow down a bit.
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
dnguyen said:
It’s the same specs as Taiwanese PS85 but with 13 balance point but it swing too fast hence why I put lead tapes to slow down a bit.
Click to expand...
This would be the PS that I'm looking for, very similar specifications to the mid chinese that I had...if it's more powerful!

Can you compare the power of the PS CLASSIC to the chinese?
I'm looking for lighter, same as chinese & the classic, but with some power!



dnguyen said:
Maybe yours is St Vincent in hiding spot.
Click to expand...

:D..
No way, it's the late Taiwanese, printed on the throat the usage of syn gut recommendation.


I'm seeing lots of different PS on the market, as the CLASSIC, the DB (double braided), The SAMPRAS AUTOGRAPH, and the LIMITED EDITION. All of it were made in Taiwan except the DP, I guess.
it's all lighter, around (330g - 350g) strung. But I'm not sure about the power level comparing the chinese, if it's stiffer, then it's a bit more powerful.
 
F

Fellous

New User
dnguyen said:
Exactly the same I got, of course, with bumper guards, and I don't know why your is not, maybe it could be Q.C. problem.
Click to expand...

@dnguyen I really like your setup, looks great, especially love the power pads. Looks like you'd have huge plough through you must hit a very heavy ball!

Do you know what code the original butt caps had?

One small difference is the mold of the racquet at the end of the grommet strip, I'm not sure what that means......

On yours the mold is rounded.

https://ibb.co/1T03thL

On mine it's flattened

https://ibb.co/PjRNQ9L

Were these frames ever sold? I read something about the Japanese market.
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
Pistol10 said:
This would be the PS that I'm looking for, very similar specifications to the mid chinese that I had...if it's more powerful!

Can you compare the power of the PS CLASSIC to the chinese?
I'm looking for lighter, same as chinese & the classic, but with some power!





:D..
No way, it's the late Taiwanese, printed on the throat the usage of syn gut recommendation.


I'm seeing lots of different PS on the market, as the CLASSIC, the DB (double braided), The SAMPRAS AUTOGRAPH, and the LIMITED EDITION. All of it were made in Taiwan except the DP, I guess.
it's all lighter, around (330g - 350g) strung. But I'm not sure about the power level comparing the chinese, if it's stiffer, then it's a bit more powerful.
Click to expand...

I had Chinese PS85 version many years ago, I think it was late production, and I had to put a lot of lead tapes for better stability and increase more power.

Classic 85 version is better than the rest of them. I even got a pair of PS95 Limited with 17mm. I wonder why Japan is so special for getting special racquets such as Classic, Hyper 85, etc.
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
Fellous said:
@dnguyen I really like your setup, looks great, especially love the power pads. Looks like you'd have huge plough through you must hit a very heavy ball!

Do you know what code the original butt caps had?

One small difference is the mold of the racquet at the end of the grommet strip, I'm not sure what that means......

On yours the mold is rounded.

https://ibb.co/1T03thL

On mine it's flattened

https://ibb.co/PjRNQ9L

Were these frames ever sold? I read something about the Japanese market.
Click to expand...

It is the same as your code. I am getting new black/gold butt caps to replace them when I send them oversea to get new pallets of L3, get rid of the current ones as I feel something's not right. They were L2 and L4 originally, and I hope L3 will counterbalance them and reduce some vibration. I placed 3 x 1mm Sorbothane sheets with adhesive backing. You will see them on FleaBay. It worked like a charm.
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
@dnguyen @Fellous

Wilson might produced the classic twice, in Taiwan & in china years after. I've found one brand new in Japan market (with a very reasonable price, just 767$!!!!!), and it has a black & red buttcap, so it's a chinese one, here's the link:
https://zenmarket.jp/en/auction.aspx?itemCode=w215939574


dnguyen said:
I had Chinese PS85 version many years ago, I think it was late production, and I had to put a lot of lead tapes for better stability and increase more power.
Click to expand...
Do you mean The BLX buttcap, the TennisWarehouse released issue (2012)?

So the Taiwanese (both versions, normal & the classic) are more powerful than the chinese, despite all of it have the same statistics (weight & balance).
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
Pistol10 said:
@dnguyen @Fellous

Wilson might produced the classic twice, in Taiwan & in china years after. I've found one brand new in Japan market (with a very reasonable price, just 767$!!!!!), and it has a black & red buttcap, so it's a chinese one, here's the link:
https://zenmarket.jp/en/auction.aspx?itemCode=w215939574



Do you mean The BLX buttcap, the TennisWarehouse released issue (2012)?

So the Taiwanese (both versions, normal & the classic) are more powerful than the chinese, despite all of it have the same statistics (weight & balance).
Click to expand...

I’m not sure about PS85 BLX butt cap. I can’t remember as it was more than 10 years ago. Definitely not BLX version, probably before that.

All versions of Taiwanese PS85 are lacking in quality control such as misspelling words, different weights, etc. I totally agree with you that Taiwanese production is better than Chinese versions. St Vincent is always the best in term of solid feeling and immense power.

Congrats on your purchase of Chinese classic 85 version. Didn’t realise it was Chinese version and you’re right about the butt cap.

USDollar is killing AUD is like it’s AUD1000. That’s why I didn’t want to buy it. Happy with mine as I have two for the price of 700AUD shipped from Thailand.
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
A month ago, I met a seller from fleabay to check out 2 Pro Staff 95 Limited, been wanting it for a long time. They were L2 with syn grip and L3 with fairway leather grip. Plastic on handles on both of them but I’m pretty sure that this seller used them to play them because L3 has one paintchip in the upper hoop. L2 is in excellent condition and L3 is 8.8 out of 10.

Why didn’t Wilson produce this Limited version worldwide? Why Japan. RF should use this instead of RF97.
 
Cup8489

Cup8489

G.O.A.T.
74e513a0343b071f6c37d3f1c0a433fd.jpg


Which direction of the China has this buttcap?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
Cup8489 said:
74e513a0343b071f6c37d3f1c0a433fd.jpg


Which direction of the China has this buttcap?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

The buttcap says "GCY", so in the schedule (first post in this thread), this is a late chinese (3 or 4). This is the schedule again:

UkhGroZ.jpg



Another thing @Cup8489 .The PS (CLASSIC) is the same the normal PS (like the one you have) but with different paint job. Like the posts above, and this:
DHbl92xXkAETvpM.jpg
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
Any info about this PS 6.0 edition? It's written "si" beside the ProStaff6.0 on the throat from top. I know that "si" means Stiffness Index for wilson rackets.

I'm interested because the seller claims that this is more flexible than other versions (maybe comparing to Taiwanese & St.vincent OR because it's lighter so it feels more flexible, but the layup is not)!

Based on the buttcap, it's chinese 2 edition (on the schedule). White buttcap, GJT code:

s-l400.jpg
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
Pistol10 said:
Any info about this PS 6.0 edition? It's written "si" beside the ProStaff6.0 on the throat from top. I know that "si" means Stiffness Index for wilson rackets.

I'm interested because the seller claims that this is more flexible than other versions (maybe comparing to Taiwanese & St.vincent OR because it's lighter so it feels more flexible, but the layup is not)!

Based on the buttcap, it's chinese 2 edition (on the schedule). White buttcap, GJT code:

s-l400.jpg
Click to expand...
Yes, it is more flexible and swing much easier that’s why RF chose to create better spin.
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
dnguyen said:
Yes, it is more flexible and swing much easier that’s why RF chose to create better spin.
Click to expand...

So, it's true. It's different than the other chinese PS 6.0. did you have one before?

But if it's more flexible, then it's even less power than the already dead power, the other Chinese Ps6.0!! Right?


About Fed, he didn't play with this version, he played with one of the late chinese (3 or 4). As you can see in the photo (zoom), it's not written "si" on it:
wimbledon-2015-saturday1-federer-sampras.jpg
 
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PSC85

PSC85

Semi-Pro
Pistol10 said:
So, it's true. It's different than the other chinese PS 6.0. did you have one before?

But if it's more flexible, then it's even less power than the already dead power, the other Chinese Ps6.0!! Right?


About Fed, he didn't play with this version, he played with one of the late chinese (3 or 4). As you can see in the photo (zoom), it's not written "si" on it:
wimbledon-2015-saturday1-federer-sampras.jpg
Click to expand...

Slightly different string pattern than the SV/TW editions. one piece throat grommet
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
PSC85 said:
Slightly different string pattern than the SV/TW editions. one piece throat grommet
Click to expand...

Thanks you for this. Can you specify How it's different:
_ Is it better for flat (closed string pattern) or for spin (more open)?
_ Is the sweetspot bigger or smaller?

And Is it less powerful than other chinese ps?

I learned that the late edition "TW" was flexible, and very dead power, correct?
 
PSC85

PSC85

Semi-Pro
Pistol10 said:
Thanks you for this. Can you specify How it's different:
_ Is it better for flat (closed string pattern) or for spin (more open)?
_ Is the sweetspot bigger or smaller?

And Is it less powerful than other chinese ps?

I learned that the late edition "TW" was flexible, and very dead power, correct?
Click to expand...

That knowledge came when I was trying to shop for replacement grommets for the SV/TW/China productions. I didn't really test out on the differences in control or spin. I also had them strung in ng so they were easier to hit regardless and not much noticeable differences from what I could tell. But China productions do weigh less, with some more hollow feeling, and less stable in the hoop, and needed some additional lead at times.
 
A

andreh

Professional
"si" in those days meant swing index, not stiffness index. Something to do with swing style required to generate power.
 
D

dnguyen

Hall of Fame
Pistol10 said:
So, it's true. It's different than the other chinese PS 6.0. did you have one before?

But if it's more flexible, then it's even less power than the already dead power, the other Chinese Ps6.0!! Right?


About Fed, he didn't play with this version, he played with one of the late chinese (3 or 4). As you can see in the photo (zoom), it's not written "si" on it:
wimbledon-2015-saturday1-federer-sampras.jpg
Click to expand...

Definitely less powerful, that’s why I put lead tape at 3 and 9. But I don’t like the hollowing feel.

Only Taiwanese PS85 including classic 85 does have a feel of st Vincent. Better solid feeling and less vibration than Chinese version. We all know that RF used custom pro stock 85.
 
Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
A

andreh

Professional
Pistol10 said:
Not sure Andreh. it's written beside the "6.0" so logically it should mean "Swing Index". But it's been discussed her before, and many say that Wilson use it to refer at the "Stiffness Index". Look at this thread:
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/what-it-means-si-of-wilson-prostaff-6-0.277508/
Click to expand...

Then they changed it at some point. My old Pro staffs came with a sheet clearly saying swing index when I bought them. I have at least one from all generations of chinese pro staffs. There's a sticker on the inside of the frame neck saying swing index. Just checked.

Nevertheless, it's most likely the same pro staff, with the same stiffness as all other Chinese pro staffs. If there's any difference between them it's production related, not a special edition that is less or more flexible.
 
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Pistol10

Pistol10

Professional
My next experiment with PS will be one of those limited production for the Japanese market or the TW edition (as it's more flexible), and adding lead tape.

Those japanese ps, weighs around 330g strung, with extra 3_5g of lead tape, things might get perfect for me.

Flexible rackets feels lighter than stiff rackets, don't you agree?!
 
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1

12oz

Rookie
How related are the 6.6 85 stars and stripes and the 7.0 85 white steffi Graf versions?

I have both, but from what I recall the 7.0 85 is 18x20.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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