da johnny boy
New User
I went up to the Goodwill to get two woodies to hit with, and all they had wasy some crappy prince racket. 
Best items you found at thrift stores (Goodwill)?
- Thread starter flashfire276
- Start date
max
Legend
Me, too!
I've stopped in a couple, once ran into a few junk wood department store frames.I confess, though, that I thought about buying one. On YouTube there's a guy playing a ukulele kind of instrument he made, using an old woody. But I figured that even though I could also make one (he has directions for making them on a website), that I probably wouldn't play it much, not worth pursuing. But this is a good modern use for junk wood frames.
rlau
Hall of Fame
I used to play in the Edberg shirt on the right.... Thanks, that brings back nice memories.
coachrick
Hall of Fame
I just scored two Chris Star power-G sticks included in a Craig's lot. I re-furbed the other rackets and donated them so my 'cost per Chris' wasn't too 'thrifty', but not too bad. I played the white model a bit in the early '90s, so I'm looking forward to giving these a go.
Virginia
Hall of Fame
Rick, is this the 100% graphite Chris racquet? I have the boron, 80/20 (Competition) and 50/50 (Avenger) but am missing the graphite from my Chris collection. Could you email me please, if you're willing to part with one?I just scored two Chris Star power-G sticks included in a Craig's lot. I re-furbed the other rackets and donated them so my 'cost per Chris' wasn't too 'thrifty', but not too bad. I played the white model a bit in the early '90s, so I'm looking forward to giving these a go.
max
Legend
Wow: that's outrageous AND amazing! what luck!
jimanuel12
Semi-Pro
michael_1265
Professional
Nice find for me today. Max 200g, solid 8/10, $5.50. I can't wait to hit it!
coachrick
Hall of Fame
Nice find...but those +-100 degree temps might turn that thing into a noodle!
I'd shoot for early morning, evening or indoors! Have fun!
michael_1265
Professional
Nice find...but those +-100 degree temps might turn that thing into a noodle!
Are you serious that temperatures have an affect on these things? Last time I played one of these was in Vermont in the late 80s. It played like a Thunderstick up there
coachrick
Hall of Fame
Nice find...but those +-100 degree temps might turn that thing into a noodle!
Are you serious that temperatures have an affect on these things? Last time I played one of these was in Vermont in the late 80s. It played like a Thunderstick up there
Not so much a playing effect; but a more permanent 'spoon' effect if strung too tight and exposed to high temps. I was the Dunlop rep in the 200G 'heyday' . Sold the heck out of those in South Carolina and Georgia. I'd say well over a third of them warped from heat and 'high' tensions(low to mid 60s).
I wouldn't leave one in my bag on the side of the court with the kinds of temps we've been seeing here in the convection oven known as Austin, TX; that's for sure!
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/78717
Tar Heel Tennis
Professional
Picked up a nearly mint condition Head Arthur Ashe Competition 2 today for $2. Certainly won't be the frame I pick up weekly, but will be a fun hit nonetheless...
jimanuel12
Semi-Pro
Not so much a playing effect; but a more permanent 'spoon' effect if strung too tight and exposed to high temps. I was the Dunlop rep in the 200G 'heyday' . Sold the heck out of those in South Carolina and Georgia. I'd say well over a third of them warped from heat and 'high' tensions(low to mid 60s).
I wouldn't leave one in my bag on the side of the court with the kinds of temps we've been seeing here in the convection oven known as Austin, TX; that's for sure!
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/78717
it has not been that hot here but the humidity is awful - like 84%.
been in the 90's for about 3 weeks now, no tennis for me. i just sit in the house under the AC and watch them on TV.
michael_1265
Professional
I found a really clean Head Graphite Edge at Goodwill Saturday. So, from this particular Goodwill, my take over the last six months has been:
Head Graphite Edge
Wilson Force Mid (like a PS85 without the PWS; got it strung and it is a great hit!)
Dunlop Max 200g (great condition!)
Wilson T3000 & T5000 (both minty)
2 really nice pre-1960 TAD woodies
A number of others not as nice, but still worth the price.
All were in at least 8/10 condition, and all were between $3 and $5.
This is a small Goodwill, and I just can't figure out why nice racquets slowly dribble in. I check three Goodwills on a weekly basis, and almost all my keepers come from this one. Sometimes, I won't see anything for a month; then, suddenly, something nice appears in the basket, wedged in between two baseball helmets underneath some old hockey pads.
Head Graphite Edge
Wilson Force Mid (like a PS85 without the PWS; got it strung and it is a great hit!)
Dunlop Max 200g (great condition!)
Wilson T3000 & T5000 (both minty)
2 really nice pre-1960 TAD woodies
A number of others not as nice, but still worth the price.
All were in at least 8/10 condition, and all were between $3 and $5.
This is a small Goodwill, and I just can't figure out why nice racquets slowly dribble in. I check three Goodwills on a weekly basis, and almost all my keepers come from this one. Sometimes, I won't see anything for a month; then, suddenly, something nice appears in the basket, wedged in between two baseball helmets underneath some old hockey pads.
max
Legend
Picked up a nearly mint condition Head Arthur Ashe Competition 2 today for $2. Certainly won't be the frame I pick up weekly, but will be a fun hit nonetheless...
You know, lately I've been wanting to luck into one of those to try it out. I remember back in the early 80s hitting with one and not really liking it a ton, thinking it was "okay."
atatu
Legend
That's the GSOAT !
Hannah19
Professional
Same here, 4 1/4, 3rd edition, 8.5/10 condition and paid 4 euro's for it including original cover.
michael_1265
Professional
If you're not tennis nut, the 200g is a real Q-Ship. A college tennis player worked at my Goodwill, and when I brought it to the register, he had no idea that it was worth anything.
Hannah19
Professional
Hannah19
Professional
I contacted a guy last year who was looking for some MAX 200G's.
He needed them to play with them with his friends. Another player had come to the court with a Adidas GTX PRO-T and then they decided to play a match with old rackets.
I said I had several 200G's laying around but that they were not cheap.
He then suggested to trade some used beat up 200G's with new, gripsealed GTX PRO-T's.
As soon as he came over to trade 3 of those against 3 200G's, he became suspicious about the value but traded them anyway.
Four weeks later I bought the remaining 6 PRO-T's but had to pay 700 Euro's for the lot. (still a bargain).
Tar Heel Tennis
Professional
michael_1265
Professional
Oddly, he told me the ability of the employees to buy there is highly controlled.
Of course, he could just have a friend come in and grab whatever.
I also got the Wilson Force from him, and he was mystified as to why I would want it. I guess "classic good looks" is a meaningless phrase to him.
VGP
Legend
Glad to hear that Goodwill limits their employees somewhat. But you're right about them just asking a friend to buy some stuff for them. I wonder what happens if the store catches wind of such activities.
When it comes to good solid tennis rackets, as long as kids these days see frames from the 80s and early 90s as "old junk" that's perfectly fine by me.
When it comes to good solid tennis rackets, as long as kids these days see frames from the 80s and early 90s as "old junk" that's perfectly fine by me.
michael_1265
Professional
My personal feeling is that 84-91 is the "golden age" of racquet design. In 1985, nobody would have considered using a 1960 racquet, but racquets based on 1985 designs are still in use by pros and rec players. And some folks (me) consider them in many ways superior. My guess is that 25 years from now, when the YouTex IG Speeds have long since been recycled into resin picnic tables, people will still be happily pulling PS85s out of Goodwill bins.
VGP
Legend
I totally agree with you. I'm fascinated by that era as well.
Post 82-83 when graphite fiber was tested then accepted as a racket material with the Head Graphite Edge being the first commercially successful graphite racket.
By 1984 there was a HUGE proliferation of frames flooding the market. Even though by the late 60s/early 70s metal rackets were available, players were reluctant to switch from wood. That all changed by the early-mid 80s essentially leapfrogging over metal frames.
There was so much experimentation going on. A mix of composites of graphite, fiberglass, boron, titanium, magnesium, kevlar, etc. Unilateral layups, braided graphite.
Different head sizes....65s all the way to 125s. Midsize, oversize, square heads, round heads, stabilizing cross bars, wide open throats, differing weight distributions....closed string patterns, OPEN string patterns, criss-cross stringing patters.
Then by 86/87 the game changed again with the advent of the Wilson Profile. Every company patented their wide cross section approach. Dual taper, top down taper, bottom up taper, double power wedge, oval pressed shafts, aerodynamic shapes. Flashy cosmetics.
.....and non-leather grips. Cushion grips, shock absorbing grip systems. Quite a big deal in 1988.
Head-heavy, low static weight frames were quite the coup in 1992.
Longer rackets made a splash in the mid 90s (even though they were available in the mid-80s), the "plus" frames of today are indicative of the effectiveness of increased length.
All this stuff is taken for granted now. It's just part and parcel of what you get at the store. As far as I can tell, the last revolutionary frame to come out was the Babolat Pure Drive and that was still in the 1990s.....and that frame was designed for female club doubles players.
Post 82-83 when graphite fiber was tested then accepted as a racket material with the Head Graphite Edge being the first commercially successful graphite racket.
By 1984 there was a HUGE proliferation of frames flooding the market. Even though by the late 60s/early 70s metal rackets were available, players were reluctant to switch from wood. That all changed by the early-mid 80s essentially leapfrogging over metal frames.
There was so much experimentation going on. A mix of composites of graphite, fiberglass, boron, titanium, magnesium, kevlar, etc. Unilateral layups, braided graphite.
Different head sizes....65s all the way to 125s. Midsize, oversize, square heads, round heads, stabilizing cross bars, wide open throats, differing weight distributions....closed string patterns, OPEN string patterns, criss-cross stringing patters.
Then by 86/87 the game changed again with the advent of the Wilson Profile. Every company patented their wide cross section approach. Dual taper, top down taper, bottom up taper, double power wedge, oval pressed shafts, aerodynamic shapes. Flashy cosmetics.
.....and non-leather grips. Cushion grips, shock absorbing grip systems. Quite a big deal in 1988.
Head-heavy, low static weight frames were quite the coup in 1992.
Longer rackets made a splash in the mid 90s (even though they were available in the mid-80s), the "plus" frames of today are indicative of the effectiveness of increased length.
All this stuff is taken for granted now. It's just part and parcel of what you get at the store. As far as I can tell, the last revolutionary frame to come out was the Babolat Pure Drive and that was still in the 1990s.....and that frame was designed for female club doubles players.
michael_1265
Professional
VGP
Legend
Yeah, interesting that companies were advertising shock dampening "techonologies" as well. They knew fair well that these stiff, heavy rackets were tough on the arm. They tried to temper the stiffness with cushion grips and vibration dampening materials.
That's the thing about graphite frames. They are just so damn durable. Back in the days of wood, scraping on the court, humidity and temperature were all the enemy of the racket.
Now, a graphite frame should last a long time barring abuse. You gotta come up with ways to get the consumer to buy a new racket every year. New "tekmologies" and flashy paintjobs on the pros frames famously splashed in high-def is definitely the way to go......
....I wonder how many people really know that Federer's frames and Nadal's frames are techonologically 8 and 6 years old, respectively.
pshulam
Hall of Fame
A round trip plane ticket is about $1,000. It may be better that you buy them for VGP and ship them at cost.
coachrick
Hall of Fame
I'm still trying to figure out a way to take Over Seas Delivery on a new Volvo and spend some time traveling 'over there' . 'Un'-fortunately, I found a good deal on our new C70 convertible at our local dealer; so a new OSD Volvo may have to wait a year or two before we trade our XC60.
What a life! Trip to Europe, pick up new car, drive around and look at tennis racket collections, hit a few balls
. Wait...am I still dreaming? 
6-2/6-4/6-0
Semi-Pro
Hey Coach, if you need someone to carry your racket bag when you do that, let me know. Desperately want to get back to Holland to play the grass and pick up some great sticks at the silly prices that Hannah keeps talking about...
coachrick
Hall of Fame
Reminds me of the 'story' of my S-I-L's 40th birthday. For a year, she told people she was going to Rome(Italy, not Georgia
) to celebrate. Frequently, folks would express their desire to take such a trip.(Wishful thinking for the most part) Lo and behold, she had 21 people for her birthday dinner in Rome! Only two lived in Europe(England), the rest traveled from the States! For many(including me), it was their first trip abroad...for a BIRTHDAY party! Way cool! Most of us spent about a week in Rome and a week on the Amalfi Coast.The OverSeas Delivery of a Volvo might be just what it takes to get us back 'over there'. Volvo picks up the airfare and hotel for a couple of nights. Tour the factory and spend a week or two driving your new vehicle around Europe. Drop it off at one of a dozen or more shipping points, fly home and Bob's your uncle! The economy might need to improve a tad before we would make such a trip
. Hey! I'VE got one of those 'zero' birthdays coming soon(TOO soon). That would be one heck of a present!
Hannah19
Professional
If anyone is in the neighberhood next month....I'm opening my newly renovated "Tennis temple" on Sunday November 6st.
It's nothing more than a 3 by 6 meter garage box but it makes all the difference to me. I'll have all my 500+ rackets on displat and room to photograph, pack and string rackets.
Want to join me for a drink and a bite?....mail me at:mozart19(at)zonnet.nl
I've got a few international collectors from Belgium over to see the lot.
It's nothing more than a 3 by 6 meter garage box but it makes all the difference to me. I'll have all my 500+ rackets on displat and room to photograph, pack and string rackets.
Want to join me for a drink and a bite?....mail me at:mozart19(at)zonnet.nl
I've got a few international collectors from Belgium over to see the lot.
Hannah19
Professional
Mr_Shiver
Semi-Pro
My best thrift store find would be a Donnay Pro Cynetic 1 and Donnay Bjorn Borg Ceramic mp (not sure if that is its actual name. It has the sig on the throat and ceramic mp across the top of the head). Total price paid of $5.00. The ceramic shows some normal wear and tear of being played but the pro cynetic is in damn good condition. An 8 or 8.5/10.
michael_1265
Professional
I would love to find a Pro Cynetic One. That is a sweet-looking racquet!
TCTEN
Rookie
Made a couple of thrift store runs this week and came up with some interesting finds. 1st a T2000 very usable with good strings $1.99, 2nd Stan Smith autograph woodie also in decent shape with good strings $1.99, Lastly a candy apple red Head Classic MP unstrung with bad grommets and chewed up bumper guard $2.99. The great thing about the Classic is that I happened to have an old grommet strip set laying around that was labeled as made to fit either a Prestige tour 660 or a Trisys 300 660, turns out it also fits perfectly on a Classic MP. So after some cleanup, grommet strip install, strings and a fresh over grip this is a very nice frame and a great bargain.
michael_1265
Professional
That Head Classic is a nice find. I haven't found anything decent at Goodwill for a couple of weeks.
TCTEN
Rookie
Its very hit or miss but every now and then persistance can pay off.
michael_1265
Professional
Slazenger Challenge #1, with head cover 9/10: $1.99.
Also got a Prince Comp Sport (which I will flip at Play it Again) in 8.5/10 for $.99.
Also got a Prince Comp Sport (which I will flip at Play it Again) in 8.5/10 for $.99.
FEDERERNADAL13
Legend
I got a New Wilson K 90 for $30
coachrick
Hall of Fame
Speaking of PIAS, I purchased a 50% off Groupon that I still need to use.(Actually paid 1/2 of the coupon value) AND the Entertainment Book for central Texas includes a 20% off(up to $200) coupon, in case you find some sticks you want to purchase. I used two Entertainment coupons last year. Helps when those great 'finds' are a touch overpriced. I prefer GoodWill and Salvation Army, but PIAS has a deeper selection(and higher prices unfortunately).
