Anyone still playing with old skool racquets?

[TonyB]

Just pulled my R-22 out tonight (the racquet is 24 years young) and was amazed at the control, feel, touch, and comfort of it. It's definitely not going to blow anyone off the court with power, but I guess if I want to increase the power level I can always go with full natural gut at low tension. But as it is right now (syn gut at mid tension), the racquet's a beauty. Quite frankly, I think I played better with this racquet than I have been with my "regular" racquet lately.

I'm actually thinking of switching BACK to this frame if all goes well over the next few sessions.

Anyone else still playing with old school racquets? And I don't mean just for fun, but I mean as your main stick.

 

[fuzz nation]

My ProStaff 6.1 Classics aren't severely old skool, but they go back a ways. Can't leave home without at least one in the bag.

 

[Winners or Errors]

I did bust out my 20 year old Dunlop Max Impact Mids last weekend, and hit OK with them, but tossed them aside in frustration and picked up my new sticks in frustration after 5 sets... just can't get them moving fast enough for doubles.

Singles is a different story, and I fully expect to have some more fun with them when I find a singles match. Way more time to react in singles than doubles, so the heavier frame isn't an issue.

 

[kalic]

I am back to old school (yonex RD7) from a hi-tech modern racquets...
No gimmicks, but big sweetspot, amazing topspin, and both control and power...

 

[roundiesee]

Don't know how old this is- Ashe Competition Edge; I occasionally pull it out but it's really a beast; great when you hit the tiny sweet spot but otherwise it vibrates like hell! Wonder how Arthur Ashe managed to play (and win) so many matches with this!

 

[Pushmaster]

1987 POG 4 stripe here.

 

[In D Zone]

I've played both for 2 years till this summer.
- Yonex SR Tour 90
- Yonex MP 1 Mid

Wanted to try something different... toying between RDS001 mid, N90 and KBlade at the moment.

 

[Pushmaster]

BTW TonyB, I have a R-22 95, sweet stick. Would like to try the 90 some day.

 

[TonyB]

The 90 is the only R-22 that I've ever played with. I didn't know they made a 95 version.

Also, I just found out that they had "heavy" and "light" versions of the R-22. The "light" is what I've always played with... apparently the only indication is on the grip size sticker where it says "4-3/8L". Of course, that sticker fell off about 10 years ago, but I still remember it... I think.

The 90 is just pure sweetness and control all wrapped up together. I'm going to play again with it tonight, hopefully.

 

[gamerx52986]

I recently started playing with my Wilson Profile 95 (gold paint original one) and love it. I havent been able to go back to my other racquets since.

 

[TonyB]

What's interesting is that I hear a lot of people complain about the old flexible racquets as being "underpowered" and that they "can't hit putaway shots" with them. That's such B.S.

I'd guarantee that 90% of the people on this forum are 4.5 NTRP or lower and probably can't keep the ball in play long enough for a good 15 shot rally. Putaway power is the last thing that should be on your mind. Besides, if you have proper stroke mechanics and can actually hit the sweet spot on occasion, there is plenty of putaway power to be had with these old frames. String it with gut or a good synthetic at a low tension and you've got more power than you can handle.

Granted, the putaway power is noticeably lower than a stiffer modern racquet, but it's not totally absent in the older frames. It's just that you actually have to hit the ball WELL to put it away. And aside from that, the control and spin that you're able to generate with the older flexible frames allows you to actually WORK a point and gain a positional advantage where you have EASY putaway shots.

Yes, these frames aren't well suited to the new blast 'em up style of today's younger players, but I'd bet that an older player with an older frame who understands angles, spin, and shot selection would be able to clean up pretty well at the 4.5 level and lower, and probably put away quite a few balls in the process.

 

[anirut]

What's interesting is that I hear a lot of people complain about the old flexible racquets as being "underpowered" and that they "can't hit putaway shots" with them. That's such B.S.

I'd guarantee that 90% of the people on this forum are 4.5 NTRP or lower and probably can't keep the ball in play long enough for a good 15 shot rally. Putaway power is the last thing that should be on your mind. Besides, if you have proper stroke mechanics and can actually hit the sweet spot on occasion, there is plenty of putaway power to be had with these old frames. String it with gut or a good synthetic at a low tension and you've got more power than you can handle.

Granted, the putaway power is noticeably lower than a stiffer modern racquet, but it's not totally absent in the older frames. It's just that you actually have to hit the ball WELL to put it away. And aside from that, the control and spin that you're able to generate with the older flexible frames allows you to actually WORK a point and gain a positional advantage where you have EASY putaway shots.

Yes, these frames aren't well suited to the new blast 'em up style of today's younger players, but I'd bet that an older player with an older frame who understands angles, spin, and shot selection would be able to clean up pretty well at the 4.5 level and lower, and probably put away quite a few balls in the process.

BEST POST IN THE WHOLE TT FORUM - EVER!

TonyB for President!! (Whenever that may be, if ever. )

 

[T1000]

Tried some old Princes, a graphite one and an all white one, both from the 80s. Really fun to play with and they have tons of control. I can put the ball wherever I want with it (most of the time!)

 

[Thepowerofchoice]

What's interesting is that I hear a lot of people complain about the old flexible racquets as being "underpowered" and that they "can't hit putaway shots" with them. That's such B.S.

I'd guarantee that 90% of the people on this forum are 4.5 NTRP or lower and probably can't keep the ball in play long enough for a good 15 shot rally. Putaway power is the last thing that should be on your mind. Besides, if you have proper stroke mechanics and can actually hit the sweet spot on occasion, there is plenty of putaway power to be had with these old frames. String it with gut or a good synthetic at a low tension and you've got more power than you can handle.

Granted, the putaway power is noticeably lower than a stiffer modern racquet, but it's not totally absent in the older frames. It's just that you actually have to hit the ball WELL to put it away. And aside from that, the control and spin that you're able to generate with the older flexible frames allows you to actually WORK a point and gain a positional advantage where you have EASY putaway shots.

Yes, these frames aren't well suited to the new blast 'em up style of today's younger players, but I'd bet that an older player with an older frame who understands angles, spin, and shot selection would be able to clean up pretty well at the 4.5 level and lower, and probably put away quite a few balls in the process.

Right on...No BS here!!! I love everything about old skool racquets.

 

[tennisinoc]

I currently have been on a mission on searching for "Old School Rackets" to add to my collection and to use as a main stick.

Personally, I prefer the feel and control of 100% Graphite Rackets vs. all this new hybrid materials they make rackets with nowadays.

There is too much focus on Marketing and selling frames now-a-days.
Making people think they will play better if they get the newest model.
But, crazy as it seems, it works. Suckas!

It's out of hand.
Its seems like each racket company is selling a new line every 6 months.

Truth is, take any of these Old pros like McEnroe and give him a wooden racket, and he will still wipe the majority of us off the courts.

Long Live Old School. Don't believe all the Hype.

 

[SirBlend12]

Right on...No BS here!!! I love everything about old skool racquets.

Totally true. I for one am quite different for my age range. I'm nearing 19 and I play with a 100% Graphite 85 sq in. frame with an Eastern forehand, and I do just fine with both.

edit: Oh yeah, it's 12.7 oz, too.

 

[Pushmaster]

If you want an old skool stick with some put away power try the Head XRC. Plows through the ball like nothing I've ever tried, not even the SV PS 85 can compare.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

What's interesting is that I hear a lot of people complain about the old flexible racquets as being "underpowered" and that they "can't hit putaway shots" with them. That's such B.S.

I'd guarantee that 90% of the people on this forum are 4.5 NTRP or lower and probably can't keep the ball in play long enough for a good 15 shot rally. Putaway power is the last thing that should be on your mind. Besides, if you have proper stroke mechanics and can actually hit the sweet spot on occasion, there is plenty of putaway power to be had with these old frames. String it with gut or a good synthetic at a low tension and you've got more power than you can handle.

Granted, the putaway power is noticeably lower than a stiffer modern racquet, but it's not totally absent in the older frames. It's just that you actually have to hit the ball WELL to put it away. And aside from that, the control and spin that you're able to generate with the older flexible frames allows you to actually WORK a point and gain a positional advantage where you have EASY putaway shots.

Yes, these frames aren't well suited to the new blast 'em up style of today's younger players, but I'd bet that an older player with an older frame who understands angles, spin, and shot selection would be able to clean up pretty well at the 4.5 level and lower, and probably put away quite a few balls in the process.

absolutely... i put away much more often with a flexy low power prestige than i do with stiffer more powerfull racquets i possess... it just takes a litlle more patience to strike a few wide angles to make the opponnent run around untill he loses it...

and the fun of making a sharp angle out of the blue in a mid court ball exchange.. so exciting...

you cant beat that with ball-blasters...

 

[TonyB]

I have to admit that I do miss the punch that I get on serves and volleys that I normally get with stiffer modern frames. It takes more effort and a slightly longer swing to get the same pace on volleys. You can't just stick your racquet out there and give it a little tap and expect the ball to go for a winner. You really need to be prepared, get your body weight into the shot, and punch THROUGH the volley to get good pace on it.

Same with serves. You need to really have a good fluid motion to get enough power out of these really flexy frames (52 RDC or so). I'm still in the re-learning process in getting my strokes tuned to my flexy R-22, but I think it'll be worth it in the end.

My elbow/wrist is already feeling much better than it ever has. I've played 4 straight days (2+ hours each) and my arm feels better now than it did 4 days ago.