Best items you found at thrift stores (Goodwill)?

[kevin qmto]

Ok, scored a few frames from the Salvation Army. I love that unlike Goodwill's, all their rackets are always priced at $3.99 without fail. Some Goodwills have decided to up racket prices to either $7.67 or an ungodly $9.38 (how they come up with these cents I have no idea). And man they were stacked with the goods as of late, 5, count em, Five rackets I picked up from there over a 2 week period. These were the first two.

A Dunlop to make @Grafil Injection happy. A Revelation Tour, and yes, it is quite chipped and scratched up, and the trap door on the buttcap is gone, but I looked it over carefully and there's no cracks anywhere, so for the ultra low price of nearly-free it came home with me. It's a bit lighter than I was expecting for a racket with Tour in its name, but judging by Dunlop's very scientific power/control chart it still aims to be a players stick. Anyone hit with it before?

 

[kevin qmto]

Next was a Sting model I've never seen before, even on the Bay. A Steffi Graf endorsed Sting Tour, with some absolutely radical graphics. It's a 100sq in oval, nearly snowshoe racket shape but its actually heavier than the Revelation Tour if you can believe that. I'd give it a 9/10 condition wise, hope it plays similar. Maybe a rare high beam series frame that has good feel. I actually like the other Sting HB's, the 95 ones. UGN buttcap code, what's that, about 1994-95?

 

[kevin qmto]

Last for the night, a racket that appears Prince dumped all their brightest paint colors on and called it good. It's so loud and I love it. More of this in modern frames, everyone these days just does one solid color, maybe some highlights here and there, almost no graphics at all, its getting sad. Here's a Prince Thunder Extreme, sounds and looks powerful but only rated at 800 on their scale which puts it at the higher end of their low power series. Its 27.5in long so it gets the Longbody stencil, always nice to break that one out. I don't really know what the 'morph beam' is or what it's supposed to do, but I like the soft rubber shock absorbing buttcap.

upon careful inspection, that is a deeper scratch, but not a crack. I even used a magnifying glass to be sure!

 

[Grafil Injection]

That Revelation Tour Techline certainly looks good, and appears to have a straight beam, which is promising. However, it was bottom of the Revelation line in the mid-90s at around £69, so I would expect a hollow feel despite the premium-graphite and ISIS system. The Techline sub-category appears to be a mid-range signifier compared to those with Pro in the name. Not that the price had any relationship to the performance in the Revelation range, indeed it's more like an inverse relationship when you consider the bonkers £250 Max Longbow, so the RTT might hit really nicely.

 

[michael valek]

i had some revelation pro 90 back in (?) 1991/2/3? something like that. was basically a purple cricket bat, except heavier and about as flexible.

 

[Grafil Injection]

i had some revelation pro 90 back in (?) 1991/2/3? something like that. was basically a purple cricket bat, except heavier and about as flexible.

There were two versions of that superb racket. They both have the same dimensions and dual-taper-beam (20-24-23). The first (1991) has a glossy purple and gold faded paintwork with a very slight marble effect. The second (1993) has a semi-matt finish, the marbling has gone, and adds 'Premium Graphite' to the bridge. The first feels more lively to me, which could be the gloss paint or that premium graphite makes the v2 more muted. They both feel very similar to the RF01-Pro (firm and direct), but with more control and less spin. Yes, quite wonderful for hitting cover drives.

 

[michael valek]

Stiff and unforgiving are words that spring to mind. Not superb. Nice colours. I picked up 3 revelations a couple of years ago. Different model, 95 headsize. I could feel the bones in my inner ear vibrating on some shots.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Stiff and unforgiving are words that spring to mind. Not superb. Nice colours. I picked up 3 revelations a couple of years ago. Different model, 95 headsize. I could feel the bones in my inner ear vibrating on some shots.

Stiff unquestionably. Unforgiving, not so sure. A stiff frame means the sweet-spot is bigger, as does the 24mm beam width at 3 & 9. No less forgiving than other 90s IME. Definitely needs a dampener though, and forget about polys! I see it as a Pure Drive 90.

 

[Bambooman]

For the collection! 20 dollars total

That's what I found too. Actually there was three in total but they showed up as a single and a pair. All clearly owned by the same person judging by their hatchet job on the pallets. Not a problem though after a re-build.

 

[kevin qmto]

Alright the train keeps on rolling, here's a Wilson Pro Staff Extreme 6.7si. No code on the buttcap but I think this came out around the same time as the Pro Staff Zone 7.1 and Surge 5.3 so about 2003-04. They managed to keep this thing a bit flexy by having it composed of 10% Hyper Carbon (someone tell me what this actually means), 50% Graphite, and 40% Fiberglass. Strangely the previous owner stenciled a 5 on the strings like its one of Pete Townshend's guitars but unlike most of his guitars after a concert, its in pretty great shape. Has one of the brightest blues and yellows I've ever seen, it practically glows. Strung with a hybrid of two Prince strings, regular syn gut crosses and a multi of some kind, maybe premiere? The texts has worn down and I couldn't make it out. I actually hit with this today, only for about 20 mins, it's 1pt head light but feels lighter. Something about the super open string pattern made spin generation a breeze, and for a power edition of the Pro Staff it still retains some of its precision. I should have put some lead in the base though, could stand another 10-15g of static weight (currently sitting at 284g). Pics time!

 

[kevin qmto]

Alright, finally got a buttcap onto this Yonex so it can see the light in this thread. I really don't know when this dates to, the Titanium craze was a thing of the early 2000's so I suppose it's gotta date somewhere in there. The original buttcap was made from rubber, not sure why as it's a surface one never makes contact with during normal use. Anyways the cap on there now is a Head intelligence one with the door removed, and I even took the old Yonex logo face plate and stuck it in there to make it look legit lol. I still know little about this frame, the search feature on this site yielded another total goose egg for the "Yonex Super RQ Ti 380 Muscle Long" and man that's a mouthful that only the Japanese would find acceptable for a model name. It does feature the best Yonex paint job since the RD-7 imo, that red really pops and always goes well with a black fade. Shouldn't take much Muscle to get this 27.5in frame moving as it's only 280g strung, will try to get SW rating this coming week when I make it to the pro shop. This isn't the only Yonex I've found in the last 2 weeks though, but that'll have to wait a day or two.

 

[Fuzzface]

I scored a Head Prestige Pro 600 at Goodwill yesterday for $3. Solid 8/10, in the process of cleaning it up and deciding what to do with it. The leather grip was gross and stained from years of a cheap over grip but everything else is in tact.

 

[kevin qmto]

Found this Head Microgel Radical MP at PIAS for $17. in 9.5/10 condition so I decided to grab it. My former best friend used this when they were new back in high school, and I hear he still uses it from time to time. Now I wish he'd just return my phone calls or texts for the first time in over 3 years... but that's another story. his brother is cool though. My own brother also used a Microgel but he used the Extreme MP.

Pics.

 

[vokazu]

Ok, scored a few frames from the Salvation Army. I love that unlike Goodwill's, all their rackets are always priced at $3.99 without fail. Some Goodwills have decided to up racket prices to either $7.67 or an ungodly $9.38 (how they come up with these cents I have no idea). And man they were stacked with the goods as of late, 5, count em, Five rackets I picked up from there over a 2 week period. These were the first two.

A Dunlop to make @Grafil Injection happy. A Revelation Tour, and yes, it is quite chipped and scratched up, and the trap door on the buttcap is gone, but I looked it over carefully and there's no cracks anywhere, so for the ultra low price of nearly-free it came home with me. It's a bit lighter than I was expecting for a racket with Tour in its name, but judging by Dunlop's very scientific power/control chart it still aims to be a players stick. Anyone hit with it before?

isis enhanced feel? wow

 

[kevin qmto]

isis enhanced feel? wow

Apparently it’s one of those magical ‘softens on touch shots, firms up on power shots’ systems that lives under the pallet of these Dunlops. I still haven’t hit with this yet so I can’t comment on feel.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Apparently it’s one of those magical ‘softens on touch shots, firms up on power shots’ systems that lives under the pallet of these Dunlops. I still haven’t hit with this yet so I can’t comment on feel.

In 1991, racquet technologies still involved real things:

 

[kevin qmto]

In 1991, racquet technologies still involved real things:

I guess shortly after they realized they didn’t have to anymore. Or give new names to the same tech lol.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I guess shortly after they realized they didn’t have to anymore. Or give new names to the same tech lol.

Or just make up words and go-faster stencils that have nothing to do with the rackets contents at all.

 

[vokazu]

In 1991, racquet technologies still involved real things:

This reminds me of Babolat's Cortex technology.

 

[Grafil Injection]

This reminds me of Babolat's Cortex technology.

Yeah, similar concept. The ISIS does actually work. You still get twangy noises from the strings if playing without a dampener, but the vibrations don't get through to your hand.

 

[Grafil Injection]

A nice local find for £12; the Eclipse seems to have been around in the Slazenger range for many decades beforehand, but I think this is a 1950s model that continued into the 1960s, given the great condition of the paintwork and bindings. Low-medium in Slazenger's range, less than half the price of a Challenge, the Eclipse is still beautifully finished. The simple 6-ply layup is so extensively rolled that the hoop appears as one-ply. Dead straight despite no fancy fibre lamination, and still taught spiral strings. For some reason it feels as manoeuvrable as a shorter racket, although it measures 27''. Perhaps the unusually long, and beautifully chamfered, handle flake tricks the mind; it certainly feels nice for 2HBHs.

 

[kevin qmto]

A nice local find for £12; the Eclipse seems to have been around in the Slazenger range for many decades beforehand, but I think this is a 1950s model that continued into the 1960s, given the great condition of the paintwork and bindings. Low-medium in Slazenger's range, less than half the price of a Challenge, the Eclipse is still beautifully finished. The simple 6-ply layup is so extensively rolled that the hoop appears as one-ply. Dead straight despite no fancy fibre lamination, and still taught spiral strings. For some reason it feels as manoeuvrable as a shorter racket, although it measures 27''. Perhaps the unusually long, and beautifully chamfered, handle flake tricks the mind; it certainly feels nice for 2HBHs.

Do you find rackets with no fiber layers are noticeably more flexy than ones with one, two or even three vulcanized layers? or do the woods selected make far more difference than the presence of any fiber ones?

I sometimes wonder to myself why I (and seemingly others) struggle to come across more playable condition frames from the 50s and 60s, when consumer grade woods from the 70s are pretty common still in the 2020s at thrift shops. Sure this seems like a slam dunk 'duh they're older' answer, but I do wonder why the only 50s and 60s frames I see at thrift/antique malls, look like they're not 10 years older, but 30-40 years older than the playable sticks from the 70s I've found... And that's not to say I haven't seen plenty of trashed sticks from the 70s/very early 80s too, but it took me 4 years of collecting to find a dang Wright and Ditson from the 60s that was remotely playable.

My only hunch is: It was the tennis boom of the 70s. There's simply a much larger number of frames out there, and thereby, larger chance of some remaining in good storage shape over the years and making there way to resale shops still being in playable condition.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I've never noticed the fibre layers doing anything special. This Eclipse is not particularly flexy and neither are the Dunlop Blue and Red Flashes, which don't have fibre either. I think the fibre is mainly there when harder woods like beech, walnut or hickory is also present.

I do find the more exotic laminations to have a better feel than just maple and ash, but the most important thing for performance is weight in the hoop. My Blue Flash is a simple layup, but at around 385g, 33cm balance, it handles very nicely.

Finding 70s woods in good condition is certainly easier here too. Most 50s or earlier are often warped or unstrung. A lot of Dunlop, Slazenger, Grays from the 60s turn up fairly regularly, but you have to get lucky for a perfectly playable and nice condition one. I guess a lot were junked when the T2000 and Prince Classic came along.

 

[kevin qmto]

I've never noticed the fibre layers doing anything special. This Eclipse is not particularly flexy and neither are the Dunlop Blue and Red Flashes, which don't have fibre either. I think the fibre is mainly there when harder woods like beech, walnut or hickory is also present.

I do find the more exotic laminations to have a better feel than just maple and ash, but the most important thing for performance is weight in the hoop. My Blue Flash is a simple layup, but at around 385g, 33cm balance, it handles very nicely.

Finding 70s woods in good condition is certainly easier here too. Most 50s or earlier are often warped or unstrung. A lot of Dunlop, Slazenger, Grays from the 60s turn up fairly regularly, but you have to get lucky for a perfectly playable and nice condition one. I guess a lot were junked when the T2000 and Prince Classic came along.

My friend Bob who basically has a tennis museum in his basement, has a timeline of rackets by decades, and when it goes from yellowed, faded rackets of the 40s-50s to his pristine, sometimes NOS sticks of the 70s, I like to think “man that was a rough couple of decades.”

 

[Casey 1988]

Alright the train keeps on rolling, here's a Wilson Pro Staff Extreme 6.7si. No code on the buttcap but I think this came out around the same time as the Pro Staff Zone 7.1 and Surge 5.3 so about 2003-04. They managed to keep this thing a bit flexy by having it composed of 10% Hyper Carbon (someone tell me what this actually means), 50% Graphite, and 40% Fiberglass. Strangely the previous owner stenciled a 5 on the strings like its one of Pete Townshend's guitars but unlike most of his guitars after a concert, its in pretty great shape. Has one of the brightest blues and yellows I've ever seen, it practically glows. Strung with a hybrid of two Prince strings, regular syn gut crosses and a multi of some kind, maybe premiere? The texts has worn down and I couldn't make it out. I actually hit with this today, only for about 20 mins, it's 1pt head light but feels lighter. Something about the super open string pattern made spin generation a breeze, and for a power edition of the Pro Staff it still retains some of its precision. I should have put some lead in the base though, could stand another 10-15g of static weight (currently sitting at 284g). Pics time!

Last I looked on Amazon Willson still makes a model called the Wilson Rec Model/Wilson Recreational model with these exact specs and weight but head size is 103 square inches as the only major difference with the rest of frame made the same specs because of how most racquets in mis 2010's onward the over 105--106 square inch frames are made for beginners as noodles or for the top pro level few who use a super oversized head. Notice how this model even has the trademarked pads built in the frame, the colors are similar. https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Prime-103-Tennis-Racket/dp/B07MBQSGTQ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa

 

[Casey 1988]

Do you find rackets with no fiber layers are noticeably more flexy than ones with one, two or even three vulcanized layers? or do the woods selected make far more difference than the presence of any fiber ones?

I sometimes wonder to myself why I (and seemingly others) struggle to come across more playable condition frames from the 50s and 60s, when consumer grade woods from the 70s are pretty common still in the 2020s at thrift shops. Sure this seems like a slam dunk 'duh they're older' answer, but I do wonder why the only 50s and 60s frames I see at thrift/antique malls, look like they're not 10 years older, but 30-40 years older than the playable sticks from the 70s I've found... And that's not to say I haven't seen plenty of trashed sticks from the 70s/very early 80s too, but it took me 4 years of collecting to find a dang Wright and Ditson from the 60s that was remotely playable.

My only hunch is: It was the tennis boom of the 70s. There's simply a much larger number of frames out there, and thereby, larger chance of some remaining in good storage shape over the years and making there way to resale shops still being in playable condition.

My thought is the Wilson Steel, Spalding steel, a few lesser brands, and the aluminum brands of the 1970's were what regular people switched to soon after the final era of wood came out so my guess is most of these frames of the late 1960's to 1970's were rarely played with by non pros, the ones making a living were used to using wood as it was the main design.

I have heard rumors that the reason wood was made for so long was that the Wimbledon tournament forced the use of all Wood racquets when they were being dominated by afew players sponsored by brands in 1920's to 1940's by brands like Wright and Diston with steel heads/aluminum heads so the companies went with all wood becuse of what the players wanted, to compete in Wimbledon. It was not until the 1970's that the pro players sponsored by Willson or Spalding started using the Steel frames skipping the biggest, one of the oldest still going tournaments of the year. There were before this only a few brands like Kawaski
(no relation to the motorcycle brand) making one of the first mass produced all steel and all aluminum frames in 1958--1960 using up scrap stainless/rustless steel or aluminum alloy from WWII left from the USA and Japan fighting.

 

[Sanglier]

Turning away from the rather lopsided and aptly named Superbowl Licks to share an unusual find, though KC might still manufacture a miraculous comeback at the last minute. Who knows.

Not a thrift shop item, but a FB Marketplace discovery. The asking price is 10x what a fellow forum member reported paying for his Lobster Elite about five years back (an unbelievable find), but still less than half of what I typically see these go for. In the description, the seller claimed that the machine was used by a finalist from last year's Wimbledon.

I have been wanting to get a machine for a while, but every FB and Craigslist ad I responded to has turned out to be either a scam or unavailable, so I had no expectations when I reached out to the seller.

It turns out the seller is indeed the father of the mixed doubles vice-champion at last year's Wimbledon. She has two sisters in college who are similarly trained, one of whom is also about to turn pro. This Silent Partner Pro is well worn and battle-scarred, as one can imagine after all these years of heavy - and super productive - use. It is certainly no longer very silent. I will have to take it apart to figure out why it's spitting out tiny bits of black plastic alongside the balls, but since all the knobs and important internals work as intended, it shouldn't be too difficult to bring it back to full life.

Here is the proud father of those young ladies bidding farewell to his Loud Partner Pro, which I will endeavor to silence again.

Incidentally, does anyone know if the remote control for (or compatible with) this older model is still available from somewhere?

 

[kevin qmto]

Turning away from the rather lopsided and aptly named Superbowl Licks to share an unusual find, though KC might still manufacture a miraculous comeback at the last minute. Who knows.

Not a thrift shop item, but a FB Marketplace discovery. The asking price is 10x what a fellow forum member reported paying for his Lobster Elite about five years back (an unbelievable find), but still less than half of what I typically see these go for. In the description, the seller claimed that the machine was used by a finalist from last year's Wimbledon.

I have been wanting to get a machine for a while, but every FB and Craigslist ad I responded to has turned out to be either a scam or unavailable, so I had no expectations when I reached out to the seller.

It turns out the seller is indeed the father of the mixed doubles vice-champion at last year's Wimbledon. She has two sisters in college who are similarly trained, one of whom is also about to turn pro. This Silent Partner Pro is well worn and battle-scarred, as one can imagine after all these years of heavy - and super productive - use. It is certainly no longer very silent. I will have to take it apart to figure out why it's spitting out tiny bits of black plastic alongside the balls, but since all the knobs and important internals work as intended, it shouldn't be too difficult to bring it back to full life.

Here is the proud father of those young ladies bidding farewell to his Loud Partner Pro, which I will endeavor to silence again.

Incidentally, does anyone know if the remote control for (or compatible with) this older model is still available from somewhere?

I’ve actually never used a ball machine at any point in my life… so I’m no help.

 

[Sanglier]

I’ve actually never used a ball machine at any point in my life… so I’m no help.

That's because you are blessed with youthful vigor, and an unlimited number of venues and partners! Out-of-shape old fogeys who have difficulty finding the right kind of hitting partner can benefit a great deal from regular remedial sessions using such a device.

 

[kevin qmto]

That's because you are blessed with youthful vigor, and an unlimited number of venues and partners! Out-of-shape old fogeys who have difficulty finding the right kind of hitting partner can benefit a great deal from regular remedial sessions using such a device.

I certainly wasn’t saying that to rub it in, actually just surprised it hasn’t happened yet.

 

[retrowagen]

Found a couple of very rare birds on my travels today: a Fansteel Super Graphite (with its full-length cover) and a Wilson Alex Olmedo Chief.

The Fansteel is one of the first graphite frames, and should be fun to compare to the Trabert C-6 that originated from the same factory around the same time. Siblings, with different family names!

The Olmedo appears to be a circa 1960-1961 Wilson „Strata Bow“ higher-end standard wood frame that must have popped out trying to capitalize on the recent success that Olmedo had (gentlemen’s singles finalist at three of the four 1959 Grand Slam tournaments, winning two of them (Australia and Wimbledon), plus helping the USA win the 1958 Davis Cup, rather controversially while maintaining his native Peruvian citizenship). An interesting historical footnote: prior to his success on the international stage, he played for the same small-town junior college team in Northern California in 1954-1955 that I played for much later! I think it would be appropriate to display this one next to my even rarer Wilson „Fred Earle Jr.“ racquet—Olmedo‘s junior college coach!

 

[kevin qmto]

I know what you're thinking. "Kevin you fool, you've already had one of these before, and you had the good fortune of finding someone local to buy it off you for $25, why buy another?"

Fair. but there were 3 letters painted on the innner throat that made me decide to pony up a few bones for this Prince CTS Synergy 28 OS, and that's the red VIP text. I've seen a few Prince's that have DEMO in that spot in the same font, but never VIP. I wouldn't presume this to be a prostock version but what could this mean?

 

[Casey 1988]

I know what you're thinking. "Kevin you fool, you've already had one of these before, and you had the good fortune of finding someone local to buy it off you for $25, why buy another?"

Fair. but there were 3 letters painted on the innner throat that made me decide to pony up a few bones for this Prince CTS Synergy 28 OS, and that's the red VIP text. I've seen a few Prince's that have DEMO in that spot in the same font, but never VIP. I wouldn't presume this to be a prostock version but what could this mean?

VIP could be a specific designation of early production run sent to the tennis magazines for review, if this is an old enough model to have been made before high speed Cable or Satellite became more common type of internet in the mid 2000's right about when magazines started ending the production, about the same time that early YouTube or forums/online sellers started picking up the Tennis reviews.

 

[kevin qmto]

And while I'm at it, here's some more pics I just took when I should be sleeping before another drudgery filled work day (which starts in 4 hours). There was actually two equally excellent condition Pro Kennex frames at my closest Goodwill, and I elected to leave behind a Graphite Vanguard 95, which was hard to do as it's electric blue and in great shape, but I decided since its just a repaint of several frames I already have I'll let someone else's life be changed when they buy it and discover it's greatness. This frame is a unique mold from the rest of the PK 95's I have, the beam tapers, then swells back out, almost like a less severe taper of the Destiny. I like the name, the touch of color, and the N graphic, though I don't know what it's supposed to mean. It carries the same mantra that seemingly all PK models carried in the early to mid 90's.

 

[kevin qmto]

At Savers, I then found this Spalding Graphite Accomplice midsize. I'm sure I can use it to commit all sorts of tennis related crimes on the court. I brought it to the tennis store mostly manned by retirees and one of them said he actually switched from the PS85 to this thing for a couple years (he guessed 1987-88). I must be getting pretty good at guessing racket stats because I speculated it weighed around 350g strung, and I was bang on the money, to the gram. Just ignore how many other times I guessed wrong and that sounds pretty cool right?

You know what else is cool? There were a couple different layups of this frame, and they're color coded. This edition is a Graphite/fiberglass/ceramic composite, and they also sold one that was just labeled Graphite/fiberglass. Weirdly, the teal paint job featured here is the one containing ceramic, while the stereotypical white paint job edition contains no ceramic fibers. How strange. Have a gander at these.

 

[Grafil Injection]

VIP could be a specific designation of early production run sent to the tennis magazines for review, if this is an old enough model to have been made before high speed Cable or Satellite became more common type of internet in the mid 2000's right about when magazines started ending the production, about the same time that early YouTube or forums/online sellers started picking up the Tennis reviews.

Yeah, magazines were at their most influential around that time, so the VIP could definitely be a demo given to the largest retailers, or tennis magazines. The CTS range was possibly even important enough for Prince to have had a launch event, where these were handed out to the influencers of the pre-internet era.

 

[Grafil Injection]

At Savers, I then found this Spalding Graphite Accomplice midsize. I'm sure I can use it to commit all sorts of tennis related crimes on the court. I brought it to the tennis store mostly manned by retirees and one of them said he actually switched from the PS85 to this thing for a couple years (he guessed 1987-88). I must be getting pretty good at guessing racket stats because I speculated it weighed around 350g strung, and I was bang on the money, to the gram. Just ignore how many other times I guessed wrong and that sounds pretty cool right?

You know what else is cool? There were a couple different layups of this frame, and they're color coded. This edition is a Graphite/fiberglass/ceramic composite, and they also sold one that was just labeled Graphite/fiberglass. Weirdly, the teal paint job featured here is the one containing ceramic, while the stereotypical white paint job edition contains no ceramic fibers. How strange. Have a gander at these.

There's been a battered white model on ukbay for a while. You'll have to tell me if it's really a better partner-in-crime than a PS85.

 

[kevin qmto]

There's been a battered white model on ukbay for a while. You'll have to tell me if it's really a better partner-in-crime than a PS85.

Embarrassingly, despite just crossing 180 frames at last re-count, I've still never owned or even seen any version of the PS85 at a thrift store or PIAS... And I KNOW they're out there because my friend and collector mentioned above Bob, has found 4 in the STL area over the last 10 years. All in the same thrift stores I frequent. He has 2 St. Vincent's and is sure he never paid more than $10 for either of them.

 

[kevin qmto]

Page 111 is kinda the kevin show, sorry about this. But I'm not done with the studio photos yet. Found this relativly recent Yonex at PIAS for $15. I really don't have anything else to say about it yet. It's blue, isometric, a little too light for me to consider using it as a main stick, but people seem to like these things so maybe I'll give it a try before trying to flip it for like, $30 or something.

 

[Grafil Injection]

At least $30 I would think, if that Ezone 100+ is in good nick. I'm not sure which version that is, but I think it's close to the DR era.

 

[kevin qmto]

At least $30 I would think, if that Ezone 100+ is in good nick. I'm not sure which version that is, but I think it's close to the DR era.

It’s got it’s share of head guard rash and some paint chips but no cracks of course.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Found this Head Microgel Radical MP at PIAS for $17. in 9.5/10 condition so I decided to grab it. My former best friend used this when they were new back in high school, and I hear he still uses it from time to time. Now I wish he'd just return my phone calls or texts for the first time in over 3 years... but that's another story. his brother is cool though. My own brother also used a Microgel but he used the Extreme MP.

Pics.

These photos are superb. You do work in product photography?

 

[gino]

Alright which one of you outbid me on the n90 yesterday lol

 

[Grafil Injection]

Despite already having too many Pro Comps and Comp Pros, I couldn't resist this emerald green Wilson.

From the Matrix mould of 85sqi, 18mm beam, thin neck and 16x19 pattern, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a direct replacement as most Matrices I've seen are from 84-87, and most Pro Comps are from 88.

The usual 356g, 32.5cm balance, it hits rather nicely. If anything a bit more solid and consistent than a Matrix, both those with and without PWS. Almost tempted to add a leather grip and bring the balance down to 32cm.

 

[kevin qmto]

Despite already having too many Pro Comps and Comp Pros, I couldn't resist this emerald green Wilson.

From the Matrix mould of 85sqi, 18mm beam, thin neck and 16x19 pattern, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a direct replacement as most Matrices I've seen are from 84-87, and most Pro Comps are from 88.

The usual 356g, 32.5cm balance, it hits rather nicely. If anything a bit more solid and consistent than a Matrix, both those with and without PWS. Almost tempted to add a leather grip and bring the balance down to 32cm.

This post reminded me I never posted the pics of my Pro Comp from about 25 years later. Yes, I already know you've called it the walmart special, though I cannot recall actually seeing this graphite fusion frame at any Walmart but perhaps other big box stores sold it. I will say that I dig it's black/yellow BLX style aesthetics though it makes no claims to actually belong to that line. I suppose I've found the inherent weakness to the graphite fusion frame design, as the graphite thins where it's connected to the metal hoop, it has a weak point. And if you're inclined to frame the odd ball now and then, and you strike it just wrong, you can crack the throat. I knew I should've just found some black multi instead of using Babolat Natural Gut black in the mains lol (crosses are Yonex Poly Tour Pro). It didn't hit half bad by any means, just the one day I used it I was mentally weak after the first set and a half. Might save the leather grip for some other frame.

 

[Grafil Injection]

That one does look classic BLX style. Was that leather grip original with the frame? Or was this research into whether high-end fixtures can transform a racket?

 

[kevin qmto]

That one does look classic BLX style. Was that leather grip original with the frame? Or was this research into whether high-end fixtures can transform a racket?

No I added that Wilson leather grip. And I do think high end strings and fixtures can improve entry level rackets quite a bit.

 

[Casey 1988]

No I added that Wilson leather grip. And I do think high end strings and fixtures can improve entry level rackets quite a bit.

unless the model is some of the cheaper entry level models made of aluminum or some of the barely titanium alloy where the string made for the model that works best is a nylon/synthetic gut string.

 

[kevin qmto]

unless the model is some of the cheaper entry level models made of aluminum or some of the barely titanium alloy where the string made for the model that works best is a nylon/synthetic gut string.

Well I suppose it’s graphite up from the foam core pallet, to the hoop, then some sort of alloy from there. I think this is open to personal preference, I put alu power in a Federer Walmart racket and suddenly it was a power and spin master.

 

[Casey 1988]

Well I suppose it’s graphite up from the foam core pallet, to the hoop, then some sort of alloy from there. I think this is open to personal preference, I put alu power in a Federer Walmart racket and suddenly it was a power and spin master.

Yes, but was that an aluminum alloy or was it the titanium alloy?