Kinda curious....anyone else use older model racquets as their main sticks? I use Head Flexpoint Radical Team (102 in.). Took them in a while back to get strung and the shop guys were fascinated to see such an older frame. Didn't realize the frames were that old (vintage 2006 or so?). Bought one brand new and one slightly used on line. With technology changing so fast, am I cheating myself by using older frames? Do any of you play matches (league and tourney) with older frames?
Anyone else using old racquets
- Thread starter texacali
- Start date
Rackets havent gotten significantly better in the last 15 years. It's all about preference at this point. The only thing that's available now that wasnt when the flexpoint was available is the super flexy rackets like the clash
However, rackets do wear down over time with use. If your racket is so beat up or worn down, then you might be cheating yourself.
However, rackets do wear down over time with use. If your racket is so beat up or worn down, then you might be cheating yourself.
graycrait
Legend
I use rackets that are 25 yrs old 4-6 times a week. And then there is my collection of 93" rackets from the 80s when I get bored. I tried all the latest greatest and they do nothing for me that more practice & drills can't do. I do have several from the 2000s but they are mainly a "modern" diversion.
Depends on your priorities, old racquets work pretty well. I use some decent shape Volkl DNX 6s (mid 2000s as well) I got off e b a y when I returned to tennis this year and realized my sticks had been lost or stolen in the past 6 years.
Sticks wear down, but even at as an ok 4.0 that's hard to notice unless I could do a side by side and getting 3 racquets for $40 each was worth the savings as a grad student.
As someone who plays pretty topspin and pace heavy, I'm looking forward to getting some brand new racquets in the next year. But if you don't have as much of the "modern" topspin game, and don't have any arm problems, there's even less impetus to switch.
Sticks wear down, but even at as an ok 4.0 that's hard to notice unless I could do a side by side and getting 3 racquets for $40 each was worth the savings as a grad student.
As someone who plays pretty topspin and pace heavy, I'm looking forward to getting some brand new racquets in the next year. But if you don't have as much of the "modern" topspin game, and don't have any arm problems, there's even less impetus to switch.
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shapovalovnextgoat
Rookie
Using a Head Liquidmetal Instinct MP and a Babolat Aeropro Drive Original, both over 15 year old racquet models at this point. Classic tweeners, and not much different from racquets today tbh.
FearlessAnimal
Rookie
My guess: more than half of this forum
In my bag there is always place for something more than 20yo; e.g. Fischer Open, Ti Radicals, PT630. The newest is Yonex DR98 wich is c.a. 4yo.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
I just dusted off my POS OS.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Love my POG OS. Great base lining frame. Great returns.
3virgul14
Rookie
Using Fischer M Pro No1s( `07) and Exo3 Tour Prince (`10).. Oldies but goldies, they are comfortable and very nice feeling sticks for my attacking game. Main issue was arm comfort and I get it, Fischer also has laser accuracy forehand drives for me, I can hit the corners with huge pace. Only modern stick I could do it was a Blade PJ h22 but that was nowhere near comfortable..
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Anyone else using old-school shoes???
Was still using a couple of those before I really got back into tennis...WB 210 and 215. Basically from mid-90's to mid 00's
legrandLeconte
Rookie
PKBA98(1980), RF200(81), Max200G (83), DProC1, PS85, HTXE Edge(86), HP600, HRT630, FVT98, MW200G, VC10Pro, etc etc .........all S.XX
Absolutely! My racquet collection contains about 100 racquets from every era from mid- 80’s up to approx. 2015, all acquired from thrift stores. I Generally have used headlight, 95 to 100 sq. in. 11 to 12 1/2 oz. frames with fairly firm flex, mostly from mid 90s to 2010. I’m 74 years old and recently had shoulder problems. It resolved without surgery or radical treatment. When I resumed playing, I pulled out my Prince mid 80s collection of 110 in. ( actually more like 106 sq. in. racquets), i.e., Graphite Comp, Spectrum Comp, Graphite Supreme, Tournament Graphite, as well as Pro Kennex Tournament Classic oversize and found that these solid, 12 oz. and over, narrow-framed, flexy sticks are the solution to my shoulder issue. They play like a dream, both power and control, and their flex absorbs the shock that was causing my shoulder problem. If you plan on playing as long as I have, keep the old sticks as they are good as gold in your later years. The exception is Wilson Profiles and other super stiff and head heavy racquets which are good for hanging on the wall, but will put you out of action, and in pain, when your joints take the beating.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
twenty eight and a half foot long?
More importantly- old school thigh high tight white shorts?
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Holla!
PBODY99
Legend
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
cheap shot
Merely 28 INCHES long, gigantic fellow!
NickJ
Professional
I still have 2 pairs of Barricade 2s, a pair of Barricade 3 & 4s. Wear them occasionally to play in.
Not sure. Probably the latter.
Rossignol F230 from the late 80s I think. All my favorite frames now are old fiberglass composites from that time frame. Love the PK Copper Ace as well as some other Rossignols from that era. The F230 is the one that matches my type of specs the best, so that's what I use for matches now. The others I hit for fun or practice. The F200 is actually my favorite for groundstrokes but a bit too heavy for my serve. Probably would have been great when I was a bit younger and in better shape. Unfortunately I only found out about these sticks a bit over a year ago.
PS 6.0 95, as my "go to" sticks, and some flirtation with the 85 sq.i. version
Slazenger Pro Braided as a solid backup, with some lead added
PS n-6.1 18x20 for fun doubles, if the conditions are ok
Dunlop AG 300 and 300 Tour, both weighted up, if I'm feeling lazy and I need something a bit more forgiving - so, I'm definitely all about old school rackets.
I also have a modest graphite classics collection going on, I have something like 35 to 40 rackets now, most of them I've never play with, but I love to have them, and swing them occasionally
Slazenger Pro Braided as a solid backup, with some lead added
PS n-6.1 18x20 for fun doubles, if the conditions are ok
Dunlop AG 300 and 300 Tour, both weighted up, if I'm feeling lazy and I need something a bit more forgiving - so, I'm definitely all about old school rackets.
I also have a modest graphite classics collection going on, I have something like 35 to 40 rackets now, most of them I've never play with, but I love to have them, and swing them occasionally
Classic-TXP-IG MID
Hall of Fame
I'm absolutely using older frames... most of mine are old-school Head racquets (PT630, RT630s, Various Prestige MP & Mids, Various Radicals), Volkl (C10 Pro, BB DC Melbourne, PB10 Mid and MP), Tecnifibre (TFight 335, 315 Limited), Yonex (VCore 95D, RDiS 100 MP, Super RD Tour 90 & 95), Fischer (VT Pro 95, VT Pro 98, M-Comp 95), Dunlop (AG 4D 200 Tour, Bio 200 Lite, Bio 200), Wilson (Various Blades and 6.1 95s).
You get the picture... You're definitely NOT cheating yourself if you are using older frames... after all, most of the Pros are doing exactly that (not that that's a reason to use them... but they can choose the best options and they use those).
Mine are meroon
Both were white and very narrow/thin beams.
LocNetMonster
Professional
Yep. I've tried newer racquets, cheap and expensive, lighter frames, even more flexible ones, but nothing plays better for me than my leaded, headlight Pure Controls.
3 Babolat Pure Control Team (circa 2003)
1 Babolat Pure Control Team+
2 Babolat Pure Storm Tour
3 Babolat Pure Control Team (circa 2003)
1 Babolat Pure Control Team+
2 Babolat Pure Storm Tour
Tommy Haas
Hall of Fame
I've played with the PK5G since the early 2000s. Only last year did I switch to the 93P and I've never regretted it. It actually upped my game. The racquet forces you to have near perfect strokes or the ball doesn't go anywhere. I still have elbow issues and only switched for the power reduction and increased control.
J
joohan
Guest
Dunlop Biomimetic 300 Tour and Yonex Tour G330 are my main frames. Head iPrestige Mid, Fischer Vacuum Pro Mid, Wilson BLX PS90 and Vantage 90 are the other ones I hit with.
I try some new stuff from time to time (my hitting buddy demos/switches a lot) but rarely come across anything worth even considering switching to (notable mentions - Yonex DR98, Wilson Ultra Tour...). Then there’s Angell and their custom line of racquets...
I try some new stuff from time to time (my hitting buddy demos/switches a lot) but rarely come across anything worth even considering switching to (notable mentions - Yonex DR98, Wilson Ultra Tour...). Then there’s Angell and their custom line of racquets...
rafa_prestige89
Professional
Using Head i.Prestige Mid Plus...racquets were released in 2001 but I bought 6 of them brand new last year, I can't believe how lucky I was, specially because there's nothing better than them in the market right now.
