I would be shocked if any of those sub-$40 rackets contain any actual titanium, regardless of whether they print the word on the side or not. It became a bit of a tennis buzzword and has stuck around ever since. For the record, it makes no mention of it in this case.
I was thinking the around $45 to almost $60 titanium alloy racquets that still are more steel then titanium that people use, still cheaper then most modern beginner/recreational graphite racquets when not on sale. These $45 to almost $60 racquets are using about 5--10% titanium in the steel alloy as the cheaper racquets claiming titanium are probably a modern stainless steel using some kind of National Food Safety stainless steel that is more rust resistant or a really high grade aircraft grade aluminum alloy in 7076/7076-T6 a slightly stiffer style of the 7075/7075-T aluminum alloy possibly even an aluminum bronze that is usually a mix of 10% copper and 90% aluminum, the most durable, lightest of the bronze to fool people into thinking it is titanium due to the color.
I have also suspected that some are Steel as well, a thin walled stainless steel that uses some very thin aluminum alloy plating to look like titanium on the outside coating. Given the weight of these slightly more expensive racquets in the USA $45 to almost $60 range, feeling heavier then most of the aluminum models and being stiffer in the bend and/or snap ratio then just about all aluminum alloys.
It was the Agassi Era and were milking the Denim trend he started when playing Tennis for a few years before he switched to more normal Tennis clothes.Idk why I got so excited when I saw this hanging upon the pegboard wall at Savers but I'm a strange one. I really have been looking for these true oddball fashion statement Spalding frames, this, along with that 'Taxi' frame. Nothing says style and tennis like a pair of bluejeans? But hey, the cover is made from legit denim, which is worth double cool points! I did hit for 45 mins tonight before I felt totally gassed, my energy isn't back all the way and I was coughing like a smoker but at least I was out there. I spent 1 of those 45 mins hitting with this. Loose nylons, 14 mains, high launch angle, also the buttcap swell is smaller than usual so I tried to build it up a bit under the overgrip. Hate to lose the original stencil but wasn't liking these strings at all.
What’s the code on the butt-cap? It’s either a Chicago or early St. Vincent
Oops, forgot to hit "reply"- see above.
And nice part is, the 7G is still made today, most other tennis/similar racquet only online shopping sites besides Tennis Warehouse Only carry the 5G and 7G models, some of the first with the Kinnetic shift Technology in the racquet.
My favorite graphite inlaid wood frame ever. I’ve won woody tournaments with it, and even modern league matches with it. Just a wonderful frame.
I know! I wonder if a really big name of the era had used one if there’d have been a longer taper into the full graphite era. Yes I know Vilas used one in the 70’s and it was popular but I think his might’ve been either a large standard or a small midsize. I’m talking 85-90sq in wood/graphites. Maybe if Mac, Lendl, Steffi, or Becker used them when they started dominating it might’ve been different.
this is becuse most were using wood or a metal frame of steel like Wilson/Spalding or aluminum so there was no change until these graphite frames came along and even then some pros insisted on using Metal frames into the 1980's because they were used to the frames as the very early graphite/wood graphite was as flexible as the metal frames few Pro players jumped on the open throat wood graphite frames or were using older wood graphite models from the late 1970's that were like the person I am replaying to saying they were an 80--90 square inch head. I think the reason why you see the jump so quickly is players like Arthur Ashe having his graphite stuffed aluminum frame along with a few others using similar early graphite and metal models from Wilson and the rest of the brands following suit.
Forgive me as someone who didn’t live through the era but I did know of Mecir, but didn’t really consider him a huge name of the era as he had no slams and endorsed a somewhat minor brand.
This is the way to get a real training racquet for a bargain price, a smart move even if you only use a 95--97 square inch these early graphite/wood graphite models at 85--90 square inch are the way to go as even compared to more modern 95 inch models the old 90 square inch will have a smaller sweet spot then a modern 90 square inch.Can't have too many MAX 150Gs can you? At least when they're straight, and the strings have good tension. This is quite well used, which is also a good sign. Probably because it's 'just' 360g. Most of the scuffing is at the top, but it does look like the previous owner had a few 'McEnroe moments' and hurled it across a hard court as well. One of the few Standards that I don't have to think about the size specifically. Fantastic power, especially serving, and signature IMF comfort. Excellent training stick for £8.
I have these Ace Pro Jr and they are I think a matte enamel that has yet to fail, even the stickers for the Power Contour or name on the head. I think the matte on modern racquets is a wrap much like how NACAR and ARCA cars are now done with a matte sticker like material. I bet after the wrap, a rubber on some models is a rubber paint while on the others a rubber sticker depending on what is being made rubber. Ironically it was ProKennex who lead the charge of racquets being matte with this one and one of the first steel being posed as titanium models from any brand in the 2000's as ProKennex is currently known as one of the last brands making non matte finish racquets.Found this last night at the usually barren mom and pop thrift shop. Once again it had to come with me because it looked like maybe it'd seen a tennis court for an hour or two in its life. Will be fun to compare it to its Pro Staff 4.0 sibling. Comparing the two, they differ in weight by only 2 grams. The beam profile is more rounded on this hammer 5.0, and its also thinner overall. No word on layup compared to the PS 4.0. My balance board is currently buried on my desk, I'll try to measure them soon, but safe to say they're head heavy. If they're not then they're wildly out of spec lol. Lovely fade work as usual. I was in the proshop today due to a string sale, and man they don't paint em like they used to anymore. Just matte finishes and rubberized coatings because I'm sure they've figured out how to make them not turn into tar in 15 years this time, right?
Found this last night at the usually barren mom and pop thrift shop. Once again it had to come with me because it looked like maybe it'd seen a tennis court for an hour or two in its life. Will be fun to compare it to its Pro Staff 4.0 sibling. Comparing the two, they differ in weight by only 2 grams. The beam profile is more rounded on this hammer 5.0, and its also thinner overall. No word on layup compared to the PS 4.0. My balance board is currently buried on my desk, I'll try to measure them soon, but safe to say they're head heavy. If they're not then they're wildly out of spec lol. Lovely fade work as usual. I was in the proshop today due to a string sale, and man they don't paint em like they used to anymore. Just matte finishes and rubberized coatings because I'm sure they've figured out how to make them not turn into tar in 15 years this time, right?
lol you think they’d come with that in the bag from factory?
I’m also guessing like titanium or other fad materials, it might make up like 5% or less of the layup lol?
Maybe but a 50/50 hybrid fabric is readily available.
Nice find! Box Beam beauty! That Fairway grip just needs a little conditioning care like @Grafil Injection suggested.Here's something I found at Goodwill that I'd had on my to-buy list for a few years. Previously I'd found a Pro Line Spalding ATP frame, but I wanted the top tier version, the Pro Stock ones. Those came in two flavors (90sq in and 98sq in) and I managed to stumble across the exact edition I wanted for a mere $4.67 in 9/10 condition. I nearly paid $100 a couple times on the bay. Haven't so much as bounced a ball with it yet, but that'll change tomorrow night when I hit with the oldsters at the park. The Fairway grip, which it came with from factory is in good shape though a little smooth for my liking. If I can't handle that I might put an overgrip on it but I'll likely keep it on here. It's a shame these ATP frames were Spalding's last attempt in the tennis industry in 2000, and I credit them for going out with some players spec frames and not granny sticks. They probably should have ponied up a few more dollars to sign a couple pros though. I mean cmon, they got a pro to use the Orbi-Tech 95, and a few using the Assault line as well. Surely they should have been able to convince a few guys to use a far more conventional design on tour. BTW, what type of material is 'Spectra'? Spalding mentioned it in a few of their other higher end frames as well, but I've not heard of other brands utilizing it. Aesthetically I like it; lovely blue and orange highlights, and a stark departure from Spalding's other offerings during the 90's.
In other news I'll probably be buying a new camera, as my current one is 14 years old, and also its losing the ability to focus in macro situations, there must be a bad tooth on the auto-focus ring, and when objects are closer than about 2ft it simply can't focus anymore, it's making taking close details shots more and more difficult and I'm getting tired of it lol.
