ext2hander
Rookie
I pulled my classic AMF Head Professional aluminum from the closet, and tested several days this week. The head seemed so small, and I wondered how I ever hit with the racquet in the mid-70s. I recall the Pro had a solid feel, with good punch and control -- one could direct the ball on target better than the Head Master (Blue). Does anyone know when the Pro was introduced. I'm thinking 1972, since I recall my TAD Imperial immediately snapped at the tapered throat when I started working. Check that cross-section profile I sketched! Constant-beam width of course.
Right from the start, hitting practice baseline strokes the racquet was solid, no vibration yet with good punch and control. Definitely not flexy, very comfortable hitting topspin, flat, or slice. Amazing, after all these years. So my recollection was right, in that it was the best of my racquets in the 1970s, before migrating to the larger Head Tournament Director, and then onto Prince Graphite DB 90 -- and to the heavy & stiff Prince CTS Approach 90 (which gave me a serious case of tennis elbow). That forced me to switch to the now classic Head Prestige Tour Midplus with damped handle I still use, along with the Head i.Prestige Tour MP, and Prince NXG Graphite Tour MP, ... and a Woodie too for fun play. All my graphite racquets are on the flexible side, including a Dunlop CX200 OS 2021 I found for $92 barely used.
Today was the 3rd day with the Head Pro, for 3.5 hours mid-level doubles -- didn't bother switching to my graphite, for having so much fun. Once loose, my serve was strong as ever, hitting deep into the corners -- maybe stronger than my flexy Head Prestige Tour MP (RA 56)? but less stiff than the i.Prestige MP or NXG Graphite Tour MP (~RA 62). And I was able to hit good ground strokes, with good penetration and spin. The measured 12.5 oz strung weight gave good plow-through, which helped hitting strong serves or ground strokes. My serve and two-hand backhand are my best strokes, for which I can compare with my graphite racquets. After 50 years, tension was still 43 lbs measured via Racquet Tune iOS app for the solid core synthetic. I'm getting it restrung with Gamma TNT2 React Pro 17 at 50 lbs, which ought enhance play. The TNT2 React Pro 17 tends to lose 10% tension after break-in, so I expect 45 lbs which is plenty on the small head.
Since the Head Pro is extruded aluminum, I assume its solid aluminum. Correct? If hollow it would bend like a noodle. The angled shape gave the Pro its greater stiffness. Based on the major and minor diameter at inner perimeter, an online calculator gave 72 in2. Another TW poster said 65 in2: Jan 9 2013 post by max legend, more likely for the smaller Head Master. The Head Pro used Alcoa Aluminum 7005, for its greater ultimate strength and resistance to cracking or fracture. Whereas, the Master I believe used Alcoa 6061 with lower yield and ultimate strength. Modulus of Elasticity is 10,400 ksi, ~1% higher than 6061, i.e. stiffness, but the yield stress and ultimate tensile (breaking) stressof 7005 is considerably higher than 6061. This varies with the specific heat treatment used. Here's a good site to investigate for material properties: Aluminum Alloy specs, and for a description of yield vs ultimate tensile stress: Yield Strength vs. Tensile Strength - What's the Difference?
Feel free to add your comments and experiences, or other vintage racquets that perform similarly whether wood, metal, or graphite. In the meantime, I'll continue to have fun with my newly restrung Pro as the small racquet head size was simply not an issue. All my graphite racquets are weighted to 12.25 oz, so weight is not an issue either.

Right from the start, hitting practice baseline strokes the racquet was solid, no vibration yet with good punch and control. Definitely not flexy, very comfortable hitting topspin, flat, or slice. Amazing, after all these years. So my recollection was right, in that it was the best of my racquets in the 1970s, before migrating to the larger Head Tournament Director, and then onto Prince Graphite DB 90 -- and to the heavy & stiff Prince CTS Approach 90 (which gave me a serious case of tennis elbow). That forced me to switch to the now classic Head Prestige Tour Midplus with damped handle I still use, along with the Head i.Prestige Tour MP, and Prince NXG Graphite Tour MP, ... and a Woodie too for fun play. All my graphite racquets are on the flexible side, including a Dunlop CX200 OS 2021 I found for $92 barely used.

Today was the 3rd day with the Head Pro, for 3.5 hours mid-level doubles -- didn't bother switching to my graphite, for having so much fun. Once loose, my serve was strong as ever, hitting deep into the corners -- maybe stronger than my flexy Head Prestige Tour MP (RA 56)? but less stiff than the i.Prestige MP or NXG Graphite Tour MP (~RA 62). And I was able to hit good ground strokes, with good penetration and spin. The measured 12.5 oz strung weight gave good plow-through, which helped hitting strong serves or ground strokes. My serve and two-hand backhand are my best strokes, for which I can compare with my graphite racquets. After 50 years, tension was still 43 lbs measured via Racquet Tune iOS app for the solid core synthetic. I'm getting it restrung with Gamma TNT2 React Pro 17 at 50 lbs, which ought enhance play. The TNT2 React Pro 17 tends to lose 10% tension after break-in, so I expect 45 lbs which is plenty on the small head.
Since the Head Pro is extruded aluminum, I assume its solid aluminum. Correct? If hollow it would bend like a noodle. The angled shape gave the Pro its greater stiffness. Based on the major and minor diameter at inner perimeter, an online calculator gave 72 in2. Another TW poster said 65 in2: Jan 9 2013 post by max legend, more likely for the smaller Head Master. The Head Pro used Alcoa Aluminum 7005, for its greater ultimate strength and resistance to cracking or fracture. Whereas, the Master I believe used Alcoa 6061 with lower yield and ultimate strength. Modulus of Elasticity is 10,400 ksi, ~1% higher than 6061, i.e. stiffness, but the yield stress and ultimate tensile (breaking) stressof 7005 is considerably higher than 6061. This varies with the specific heat treatment used. Here's a good site to investigate for material properties: Aluminum Alloy specs, and for a description of yield vs ultimate tensile stress: Yield Strength vs. Tensile Strength - What's the Difference?
Feel free to add your comments and experiences, or other vintage racquets that perform similarly whether wood, metal, or graphite. In the meantime, I'll continue to have fun with my newly restrung Pro as the small racquet head size was simply not an issue. All my graphite racquets are weighted to 12.25 oz, so weight is not an issue either.
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