michael_1265
Professional
I found this Dunlop McEnroe Limited at PIAS yesterday. It looks like Dunlop was trying to capitalize on the success of the 200g, the way they mimicked the paint job. Anyone know anything about this stick?
Best items you found at thrift stores (Goodwill)?
- Thread starter flashfire276
- Start date
michael_1265
Professional
I haven't had a chance to play it yet. It's a hefty 380g, so I expect it to feel pretty solid.
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Found a Dunlop twin shaft steely in very good condition this last weekend, at a very unlikely small-town thrift store - it's at a recycling facility, selling things donated or fished out of the trash cans by the recycling sorters. Someone had thrown it in their garbage can.
Couldn't believe my eyes...
Couldn't believe my eyes...
TheLambsheadrep
Professional
My first quality (I think) racquet find at any Goodwill was this week - a Wilson Ultra 2 Demo. only $3, pretty good condition. Needs a little lead, but should be good to go soon
Just like this, but with "Demo" on the plastic neck collar (collar not shown in the picture)
Just like this, but with "Demo" on the plastic neck collar (collar not shown in the picture)
joe sch
Legend
My first quality (I think) racquet find at any Goodwill was this week - a Wilson Ultra 2 Demo. only $3, pretty good condition. Needs a little lead, but should be good to go soon
Just like this, but with "Demo" on the plastic neck collar (collar not shown in the picture)
"pretty good condition" your kidding ... that is NOS with hang tag, never strung and looks mint. Its one of the best hitters of its time and quite the power hitter. You found a pretty golden nugget ! Should be quite a nice hit if you decide to string it up otherwise quite a collector piece to display on the wall.
Rorsach
Hall of Fame
TheLambsheadrep
Professional
Ya, the one I have has def been used, I would still say it's a 8 out of 10, though. I look forward to trying it, I thought it would be a little heavier in stock form, but it's also missing a base grip and stuff. Hope to get it to 12.6oz soon
Rock Strongo
Legend
Why is it that EVERY time I seem to find something nice that it's already smashed to pieces? Found a Pro Cynetic just right now, and while taking it out of the cover I thought "good condition" and then when I get to the throat it's bulging from cracks. It's unfair.
Rock Strongo
Legend
Not even going to bother with it. Shame that it was in such a nice overall condition apart from that. Someone else bought it instead.
At least now I know what a PS85-type stick looks like (it was the same mold after all) and feels like in the hand. Time to get a PS85 it seems!
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retrowagen
Hall of Fame
I've noticed the same thing lately too. Yesterday, I found, to my great surprise, an original Prince Graphite - one of the first grommetless, one-stripe model. Looked to be in good used condition, nice leather grip. Priced cheaply, too. Then, as I was taking it to pay for it, my fingers felt something rough near the throat... a crack. Too bad. 
jonestim
Hall of Fame
I'm starting to get a bit more picky. Today I passed over three racquets that were in good shape but with grips too small: Prince CTS Graduate OS, Woodie and a Graphite Comp OS. I did walk out with a teal Head Graphite Pro. It was the first time I found one that had grommets good enough to restring. One tie off at the head is tubed, and the rest are fine.
Hannah19
Professional
A fellow collector friend always brings me a racket or two when he comes to visit me. Last friday he brought a LCS TF-40 Noah.
That's the black one with green/gold striping. It's in very good nick and cost him a real fortune at a local thrift store: $2.00..!!
Together we went on a thrift store run near the city of Alkmaar and there I found a n.o.s. Cloud Middy (open throat Prince woodie look a like), a nice Spalding Fifteen woodie and a mint Snauwaert John Newcombe woodie. The latter was a junior version (66.5cm) but still with a 4 3/8 grip size...!! Total investment: $10.00
But my best find had nothing to do with tennis. I stumbled upon a TNF Fortress 43 tent with minor issues (repaired tear in fly sheet) for a stunning $8.00.....! It's currently set up in the backyard for the kids to play in.
That's the black one with green/gold striping. It's in very good nick and cost him a real fortune at a local thrift store: $2.00..!!
Together we went on a thrift store run near the city of Alkmaar and there I found a n.o.s. Cloud Middy (open throat Prince woodie look a like), a nice Spalding Fifteen woodie and a mint Snauwaert John Newcombe woodie. The latter was a junior version (66.5cm) but still with a 4 3/8 grip size...!! Total investment: $10.00
But my best find had nothing to do with tennis. I stumbled upon a TNF Fortress 43 tent with minor issues (repaired tear in fly sheet) for a stunning $8.00.....! It's currently set up in the backyard for the kids to play in.
S&V Specialist
Rookie
Got a Kniessl White Star Masters 25 today for $4.
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Cool! Those are particularly rare; Kneissl only made them for about a year and a half; never sold many of them; was really the pinnacle of their old White Star architecture. Curse the widebody racquets that killed interesting tennis equipment like this!
S&V Specialist
Rookie
I hit with it for a few minutes tonight and it definitely has a strange feel to it. I definitely dig the looks of it. Any idea as to the value of this racquet in 7.9/10 condition?
Hannah19
Professional
Trust me, if rackets are'nt very rare and collectable don't expect any good money for them at the moment. Especially not on the big auction site.com.
Play with it for a while, store it, what ever but wait until times get better if you want to sell. It can only increase in value compared to what rackets fetch today.
Rock Strongo
Legend
Sure, this was more a find on the Swedish version of Craigs but still, a nice Prince Mono for €35 coming my way and arriving in 2-3 days! Seller also had a PT630 for the same price which I sadly missed. But still, a Mono!
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Those I've noticed recently selling in the US auction site have gone for $75-$100 or so. There isn't a particularly huge demand, but some still love that model.
Sanglier
Professional
I haven't come across anything worth sharing in quite a while, possibly because the likelihood of encountering unique finds at any particular venue is inversely proportional to the number of finds one had previously culled from the same venue...
But then this thing showed up at one of my regular haunts:
It's either a racquet that wants to be a walking cane, or a walking cane that enjoyed vintage tennis a little too much. A vastly more remote third possibility is that this was custom made for some conjoint twins with a four-handed backhand. :-?
The racquet is conventionally strung (it even has those 'power pads') and is marginally playable if one 'chokes up' on the grip.
Only shelf-wear is evident throughout, and the grip seems to be a factory job (though the tape is wrapped in the wrong direction - from the throat towards the butt, instead of the other way around), so I suspect there may be more of these out there, even though I've never seen or heard of them before.
Has anyone else come across such a chimera?
But then this thing showed up at one of my regular haunts:
It's either a racquet that wants to be a walking cane, or a walking cane that enjoyed vintage tennis a little too much. A vastly more remote third possibility is that this was custom made for some conjoint twins with a four-handed backhand. :-?
The racquet is conventionally strung (it even has those 'power pads') and is marginally playable if one 'chokes up' on the grip.
Only shelf-wear is evident throughout, and the grip seems to be a factory job (though the tape is wrapped in the wrong direction - from the throat towards the butt, instead of the other way around), so I suspect there may be more of these out there, even though I've never seen or heard of them before.
Has anyone else come across such a chimera?
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rodracquet
Rookie
As I am struggling to make it off court after 3 sets, this racquet seems ideal.
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Obviously for the player who really wants to cane the ball! :lol:
S&V Specialist
Rookie
Found a PK Copper Ace, a Head Graphite Radial (22x23 string pattern), and a Yamaha Fiberglass YFG 30 a couple days ago. They are all in good condition w/headcovers and I got them all together at the same place for ~$10.
robbo1970
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame Racquets
Rookie
Retirement Racquet!
Whenever I am speaking to senior tennis groups I take several of these along to emphasize that there is even a racquet especially designed for those passionate tennis players heading for tennis retirement in their 80s and 90s.
I haven't come across anything worth sharing in quite a while, possibly because the likelihood of encountering unique finds at any particular venue is inversely proportional to the number of finds one had previously culled from the same venue...
But then this thing showed up at one of my regular haunts:
It's either a racquet that wants to be a walking cane, or a walking cane that enjoyed vintage tennis a little too much. A vastly more remote third possibility is that this was custom made for some conjoint twins with a four-handed backhand. :-?
The racquet is conventionally strung (it even has those 'power pads') and is marginally playable if one 'chokes up' on the grip.
Only shelf-wear is evident throughout, and the grip seems to be a factory job (though the tape is wrapped in the wrong direction - from the throat towards the butt, instead of the other way around), so I suspect there may be more of these out there, even though I've never seen or heard of them before.
Has anyone else come across such a chimera?
Whenever I am speaking to senior tennis groups I take several of these along to emphasize that there is even a racquet especially designed for those passionate tennis players heading for tennis retirement in their 80s and 90s.
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retrowagen
Hall of Fame
No, but it could be useful in a Vaudevillian-esque way for truncating long-winded victory speeches by tournament winners.
v-verb
Hall of Fame
Very NICE! Have a couple of those but paid lots more than a sawbuck
frinton
Professional
Wilson Sledge Hammer 95 (Pro Staff)
A few weeks back I found this racket and I am not sure what to make of it. Not sure it can even be considered a classic...
It really is one ugly racket - so ugly that it is almost cool again
Paintjob is actually not bad, but its shape is...well it is what it is.
As I could not find anything much on this stick online, maybe somebody can help me out: Have you played with this stick? as is? It is really, really head-heavy. Well actually it is rather grip-light...fells like there is no material to the grip. Does anybody have any experience in adding lead to the grip to bring the specs back towards a "normal" racket? as the total weight is only 263 grams, plenty of weight could be added I guess.
Interesting detail...it says "Pro Staff" on the frame!
A few weeks back I found this racket and I am not sure what to make of it. Not sure it can even be considered a classic...
It really is one ugly racket - so ugly that it is almost cool again
Paintjob is actually not bad, but its shape is...well it is what it is.
As I could not find anything much on this stick online, maybe somebody can help me out: Have you played with this stick? as is? It is really, really head-heavy. Well actually it is rather grip-light...fells like there is no material to the grip. Does anybody have any experience in adding lead to the grip to bring the specs back towards a "normal" racket? as the total weight is only 263 grams, plenty of weight could be added I guess.
Interesting detail...it says "Pro Staff" on the frame!
Baxter
Professional
Jack Kramer is rolling over in his grave. It would take more than a grip change to make it feel "normal". Interesting artifact, but just looking at it makes my arm hurt.
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retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Didn't Peter Gabriel sing about that racquet? :lol:
frinton
Professional
Not only that, there was an entire TV show about it...the song was the title song by the way: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090525/
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
2 racquets today, total of 5 euro''s, including covers:
Wilson Aggressor
Rossignol FT6.80
that aggressor was a nice offering for it's time. i played them for awhile in HS.
PBODY99
Legend
It is a constant beam from the Wilson Sledge Hammer series, did to late 1990s. Fairly low powered for that line, the idea is that many players hit high on the racket face. The Outer Limits was the 29" 135 sq in with a ~370 sw cannon.A few weeks back I found this racket and I am not sure what to make of it. Not sure it can even be considered a classic...
It really is one ugly racket - so ugly that it is almost cool again
Paintjob is actually not bad, but its shape is...well it is what it is.
As I could not find anything much on this stick online, maybe somebody can help me out: Have you played with this stick? as is? It is really, really head-heavy. Well actually it is rather grip-light...fells like there is no material to the grip. Does anybody have any experience in adding lead to the grip to bring the specs back towards a "normal" racket? as the total weight is only 263 grams, plenty of weight could be added I guess.
Interesting detail...it says "Pro Staff" on the frame!
frinton
Professional
I might be willing to let go if this "beauty" for such a sum... But I wanna hit that stick at least one time to know what it feels like!
Baxter
Professional
Oh absolutely. I buy rackets so I can experience the feel of playing with them. They're cool to look at and all, but hitting with a vintage racket is the cheap thrills version of driving a vintage race car. I'm sure after a short hitting session you'll be able to force yourself to swap it for a nice pair of Benjamins.
chrisberchris
Semi-Pro
I picked up a Ncode Six.One 95 16x18 for $20 at Play it Again Sports. It was in perfect shape. Couldn't resist that deal!
That's a steal!
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Found myself a Kneissl Red Star Mid for 2 euros:
Very nice! It looks as though it was strung incorrectly; there should be another cross at the bottom of that, if I remember well.
