teachingprotx
Legend
the blank puma / estusa / head frame .
Anyone have the specs on it or ever played with it?
Anyone have the specs on it or ever played with it?
Oh god she is so glorious! I’d die to have and hit with one ! Absolutely die! Would kill to have the ELUSIVE RA!My god, that is such a beauty !
I've been watching them on *** bay for years but too expensive for me.
How much I'd like to own one, I couldn't tell. Surely I wouldn't use it (stupid, I know).
Congrats.
If you take a close up photo of the label on the racquet I can tell you when it was madeJust picked up off the auction site for a tenner - still has the plastic on the grip and in spit spot condition. No idea how to do an RA test without spaffing a ton of cash - I’ll do a search on here and if there’s a workaround I’ll report back with RAs for the Winner, the Super and the WC.
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The numbers are really smudged. I think I can make out July 24, 1996Here’s a few photos of all of the labels:
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No idea how to do an RA test without spaffing a ton of cash
A tenner?!??!! Wow! Nice catch!!Just picked up off the auction site for a tenner - still has the plastic on the grip and in spit spot condition. No idea how to do an RA test without spaffing a ton of cash - I’ll do a search on here and if there’s a workaround I’ll report back with RAs for the Winner, the Super and the WC.
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That was a great find anyway! HEAD made Boris Becker £10 is amazing!If that’s from the numbers at the bottom right @vsbabolat , I am having no better luck in deciphering them. The previous owner had put a pink overgrip onto to the top of the plastic wrapper for some reason, hence the smudging and pink tinges!
Thanks anyway, great sleuthing!
Do you still have the stock weight record before stringing? Mine is really light and have to lead up a bit together with a leather grip and still swing very fast and light unlike the Estusa as you said.I use them as my main frame. I prefer them to the puma (too heavy and the extendable grip system is crappy) and to the estusa (don’t feel as nice). They feel better made probably due to the grip - with the pumas you feel they are separate parts.
The World Champion has the same basic specs as Beckers personal rackets. Uli Kühnel then made the fine adjustements for Becker which were slightly different from tournament to tournament.
Was the RA above for strung ? Unstrung ?RAs from German Tennismagazin:
Winner 54
Super 62
ProVantech PB 52
Notice that the World Champion Racket has a slightly different mold! Head made a new one in 1992 and did not buy any mold from Sanhosun. That RA is nearly 60.
Mike ? Which pro van did you hit with that you thought was stiff? Red and blue ? Or black / silver ?I played with a provantech. 18x20. Didn’t like it and didn’t feel very soft.
The silver/black. Measured strung. PB is ways softer then Pumas and the Head. That was also the main problem why Becker had so much struggle with the change.The literature I’ve seen from @tennistiger
Says the pro van tech PB
IS A 52RA.. but i can’t tell as it’s in German which provantech PB is it ?
Red / blue PB?
Or
Black / silver checkered PB ?
Thank you so much for clarificationThe silver/black. Measured strung. PB is ways softer then Pumas and the Head. That was also the main problem why Becker had so much struggle with the change.
Indeed. I was lucky to find one in pristine condition and to add to what you have already posted, imo this was a hairpin model for Boris (the paint markings at 3,5,7,9 and squares inside the throat are for his lead tape placement/equivalent), the user I purchased it from had added about 5 grams of lead (3,9). The total weight (with lead) was about 350 grams (strung with gut)I use them as my main frame. I prefer them to the puma (too heavy and the extendable grip system is crappy) and to the estusa (don’t feel as nice). They feel better made probably due to the grip - with the pumas you feel they are separate parts.
That makes sense. I remember Becker would vary his lead placement depending on the tournament. There are paint markings on this frame just for that. Of course, the type of lead he used /multiple strips etc is another question altogether. This frame unstrung (one overgrip) ~ 324 gramsThe World Champion has the same basic specs as Beckers personal rackets. Uli Kühnel then made the fine adjustements for Becker which were slightly different from tournament to tournament.
Beckers personal frames did not have the silver painted pieces , that was only for the retail Version to imitate lead.That makes sense. I remember Becker would vary his lead placement depending on the tournament. There are paint markings on this frame just for that. Of course, the type of lead he used /multiple strips etc is another question altogether. This frame unstrung (one overgrip) ~ 324 grams
I recall a photo in tennis magazine from the 1996 Australian open where he had lead tape inside the throat (extending about half way), the frames paint markings at 3,5,7, 9 were clearly visible. Now when I compare that to his Wimbledon 1999 setup, he definitely had applied lead tape at 3,9. The difference was quite obvious but I didn't see what else he had changed.Beckers personal frames did not have the silver painted pieces , that was only for the retail Version to imitate lead.
Just curious, what was the strung / unstrung RA? I don't feel any difference compared to my puma supers but it's definitely more solid without the PCS System.I was shocked at how stiff the BBWC came out to be from Dino .. I thought Low mid 50’s