Best items you found at thrift stores (Goodwill)?

[atatu]

How many people are still playing with these racquets? I understand these are collector items; however, I wouldn't think anyone would take those racquets to the tennis courts and play with them without being laughed at.

It is like competing in the 2020 Indy 500 with a car from 1960 while everyone else is racing with the latest technologies.

Probably not many at all, these may not be considered "classic rackets" yet but I think they are still pretty cool finds. I expect there are still a few people out there using the Yonex. Honestly if I was playing someone and they pulled one of these frames out, I wouldn't be laughing, only a serious player would still be using these.

 

[djNEiGht]

@atatu oh that RD7! i love the paint on that.

 

[bobleenov1963]

Probably not many at all, these may not be considered "classic rackets" yet but I think they are still pretty cool finds. I expect there are still a few people out there using the Yonex. Honestly if I was playing someone and they pulled one of these frames out, I wouldn't be laughing, only a serious player would still be using these.

I also use Yonex but it is the new VCore97, the one use by Wawrinska.

 

[PaddyDutch]

It is like competing in the 2020 Indy 500 with a car from 1960 while everyone else is racing with the latest technologies.

why not play with them? Rios played an RD7 in the mid to late 90’s. racquet technology (not to be confused with marketing) hasn’t made a huge leap since these were introduced. And with huge leap I mean like when wood or metal was replaced by graphite.

By the way, you know what else happened in the late 90’s? The current lap record was set at the Indy 500. So that car would be competitive too, just as this racquet.

 

[13GATOSNEGROS]

edit

 

[Tar Heel Tennis]

@coachrick @struggle Friedman's shop was in Carr Mill in Carrboro. It was originally built as a cotton mill.

CHTC looks more or less the same today except that the shack that served as pro shop and large deck surrounding shack has been replaced with a two-story clubhouse. We also have added an indoor facility.

Next time you're in the area, I'd like to invite you to be my guest for a hit!

 

[coachrick]

@coachrick @struggle Friedman's shop was in Carr Mill in Carrboro. It was originally built as a cotton mill.

CHTC looks more or less the same today except that the shack that served as pro shop and large deck surrounding shack has been replaced with a two-story clubhouse. We also have added an indoor facility.

Next time you're in the area, I'd like to invite you to be my guest for a hit!

Yes! I had forgotten about Carrboro!! I wonder about those little houses they were building(1984) at the end of the road that led to CHTC. I considered moving from Greensboro to there...little bitty places with a "loft" bedroom upstairs and a single-car garage...for about $100K, IIRC. Alas, I moved back to Atlanta for the next 20 years and now in Austin, TX since '08. Still have a house in Highlands, IF you know anyone who needs a place in the mountains!!
That geographical(Research Triangle) area had an eclectic mix of merchandisers ...from the first Performance Bike Shop to Adam and Eve!!!

Thanks for the invite!! We still have folks in the Raleigh/Cary area as well as Smithfield...just can't seem to make the 1400-mile trip!!!

 

[PBODY99]

@bobleenov1963
There has not been anywhere near he change in design & applied technology in tennis as here is in motorsports.
ROK & RD-7; players frames not that different from today's models.

 

[bobleenov1963]

@bobleenov1963
There has not been anywhere near he change in design & applied technology in tennis as here is in motorsports.
ROK & RD-7; players frames not that different from today's models.

I have been playing golf with my son for the past few days. I use the 2005 titleist driver and he uses the 2020 titleist driver, pretty much the same model. Using my 2005 driver, he can drive the ball 250 yards. With his driver, he can drive the ball 280+ yards on a consistent basis, just saying.

 

[struggle]

@coachrick @struggle Friedman's shop was in Carr Mill in Carrboro. It was originally built as a cotton mill.

CHTC looks more or less the same today except that the shack that served as pro shop and large deck surrounding shack has been replaced with a two-story clubhouse. We also have added an indoor facility.

Next time you're in the area, I'd like to invite you to be my guest for a hit!

Yeah, Friedman opened another shop in Woodcroft that didn't last terribly long.

 

[daddabompa]

I also use Yonex but it is the new VCore97, the one use by Wawrinska.

Wawrinka actually still use a Vcore 95D under the paint and he is in good company, since many players on tour still plays with older models painted as current ones (e.g. Murray plays a mould dating back to '94).
In general, as for material and manufacturing quality, old frames are way better than modern ones (with some exceptions like ZUS, Angel, ecc).

 

[PT630Wannabe]

The 1960 analogy might work with wood racquets, but both of those racquets are very modern tech. Nothing antiquated about them really. Just maybe a bit smaller and heavier.

 

[NicoMK]

my Katerchen of course

20210206-214325 hosted at ImgBB

Image 20210206-214325 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

20210129-151620 hosted at ImgBB

Image 20210129-151620 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

Lovely!

err, what's the racket inside the Fischer sleeve in the very back there?

 

[dak95_00]

I have been playing golf with my son for the past few days. I use the 2005 titleist driver and he uses the 2020 titleist driver, pretty much the same model. Using my 2005 driver, he can drive the ball 250 yards. With his driver, he can drive the ball 280+ yards on a consistent basis, just saying.

This response tells me you're at best a 3.5 tennis player and at best a 18-handicap golfer. You know nothing of either sport and the changes. I'll help you...

Tennis: The number 1 change has been strings. After that, the racquets have been made lighter and lighter but nothing more. The technology of the racquets has done little and that's why many professional players still play classic frames underneath modern paint jobs.

Golf: There have been so many changes from ball dimple design to shaft to club head materials. Since the ball and the swinger are the same, one can only assume the shafts are different; different kick point, flex/stiffness, weight, and possibly even tip diameter and length. Since the regulation on size has been set, the face thickness could be much different and the variations allow for much more flex and trampoline. Take a 43"-48" club and the changes can be numerous.

The changes in a 27' racquet with an 16/18 x 19/21 racquet is not much. My favorite is the difference between a 98/100/104 racquet head. The naked eye can barely distinguish a difference but nearly all of us can feel the softer string bed.

 

[HBK4life]

Found a very clean head flexpoint radical today for 5 bucks at donation store. Picked it up. Never hit with a FP. But I have a lot of radicals so why not? People like the FP?

 

[kalic]

...talk about RD7, and using it today... I played RD7 as main racquet, after rejecting Pure Drive and O3 Tour. Like it much more, winning much more...

 

[lim]

blast from the past

 

[bobleenov1963]

This response tells me you're at best a 3.5 tennis player and at best a 18-handicap golfer. You know nothing of either sport and the changes. I'll help you...

Tennis: The number 1 change has been strings. After that, the racquets have been made lighter and lighter but nothing more. The technology of the racquets has done little and that's why many professional players still play classic frames underneath modern paint jobs.

Golf: There have been so many changes from ball dimple design to shaft to club head materials. Since the ball and the swinger are the same, one can only assume the shafts are different; different kick point, flex/stiffness, weight, and possibly even tip diameter and length. Since the regulation on size has been set, the face thickness could be much different and the variations allow for much more flex and trampoline. Take a 43"-48" club and the changes can be numerous.

The changes in a 27' racquet with an 16/18 x 19/21 racquet is not much. My favorite is the difference between a 98/100/104 racquet head. The naked eye can barely distinguish a difference but nearly all of us can feel the softer string bed.

Well, I am a 12-handicap golfer, trying to improve into single digit handicap golfer. I am also a 4.0 tennis player.

I still have several Dunlop Max 200G racquets. I also own several Jack Kramer prostaff series racquets. My everyday racquet is the Yonex Vcore97. If I play against another 4.0 player with the Yonex VCore97, someday I win, and someday I lose. if I use the Dunlop Max 200G against another 4.0 player, I lose every time, badly.

 

[silentkman]

This response tells me you're at best a 3.5 tennis player and at best a 18-handicap golfer. You know nothing of either sport and the changes. I'll help you...

Tennis: The number 1 change has been strings. After that, the racquets have been made lighter and lighter but nothing more. The technology of the racquets has done little and that's why many professional players still play classic frames underneath modern paint jobs.

Golf: There have been so many changes from ball dimple design to shaft to club head materials. Since the ball and the swinger are the same, one can only assume the shafts are different; different kick point, flex/stiffness, weight, and possibly even tip diameter and length. Since the regulation on size has been set, the face thickness could be much different and the variations allow for much more flex and trampoline. Take a 43"-48" club and the changes can be numerous.

The changes in a 27' racquet with an 16/18 x 19/21 racquet is not much. My favorite is the difference between a 98/100/104 racquet head. The naked eye can barely distinguish a difference but nearly all of us can feel the softer string bed.

why do you have to be so rude? for certain people it can tough, but sheesh. yes, everyone knows that strings in the number one change. even a blind man can see that. I would be curious to know if a large percentage of players are using the old school frames as you claim. I've always said you play golf when you run out of athletic options.

ATP vs WTA Racquets

I often get the question if recreational players should copy WTA player specs over the more demanding ATP specs. Let's look into ATP vs WTA racquets.

tennisnerd.net

 

[jmnk]

I finally found it! The Rossignol F 200. For $0.99

 

[13GATOSNEGROS]

Lovely!

err, what's the racket inside the Fischer sleeve in the very back there?

That's my Slazenger Vilas V-24; a nice one.

 

[Ultra 2]

Why back in the 80’s when graphite came out, why was the recommended tension so tight?! It really took away some of the advantages of the stiffer more powerful racquets. It was crazy.

when the wide bodies came out, everyone was stringing the Profiles & thundersticks @ 65lbs often with pro blend to tame the power. When switching from the TXE to the Graphtech, I couldn’t keep the ball in with so much power that the wide beam and open string pattern provided. I too had to go up in tension to 65 and switched to pro blend.

 

[vsbabolat]

when the wide bodies came out, everyone was stringing the Profiles & thundersticks @ 65lbs often with pro blend to tame the power. When switching from the TXE to the Graphtech, I couldn’t keep the ball in with so much power that the wide beam and open string pattern provided. I too had to go up in tension to 65 and switched to pro blend.

At that time I was playing the Max200G at 48lbs

 

[Ultra 2]

At that time I was playing the Max200G at 48lbs

what strings were they?

 

[vsbabolat]

what strings were they?

Old Tecnifibre 416, Babolat VF, or the seconds of Babolat VS gut that was called Le plus

 

[Ultra 2]

Old Tecnifibre 416, Babolat VF, or the seconds of Babolat VS gut that was called Le plus

oh wow, I tried the 200g with old TF @ 55lbs and could not keep it in the court.

 

[vsbabolat]

oh wow, I tried the 200g with old TF @ 55lbs and could not keep it in the court.

I prestrectched the Tecnifibre back in those days

 

[Ultra 2]

I prestrectched the Tecnifibre back in those days

yeah, I think that may have been my mistake.. not stretching it.

 

[jmnk]

Thrash? Or treasure??
a still in plastic, _with no grommets, no holes drilled_ Wilson racket. I suspect it must have come from Wilson research center that they have here.....

 

[max_brat]

Old Tecnifibre 416, Babolat VF, or the seconds of Babolat VS gut that was called Le plus

Was Le Plus the version of VS Gut that was meant for the oversized racquets of the 80s? I have a Tennis magazine with an ad for Babolat string for oversized racquets.

 

[vsbabolat]

Was Le Plus the version of VS Gut that was meant for the oversized racquets of the 80s? I have a Tennis magazine with an ad for Babolat string for oversized racquets.

No that was Top Size. Le Plus was the seconds (cosmetic defects and gauging that didn’t not meet the strict quality of VS Gut)

 

[coachrick]

No that was Top Size. Le Plus was the seconds (cosmetic defects and gauging that didn’t not meet the strict quality of VS Gut)

Used to be called "declasse", IIRC Interesting name change as 'le plus' translates to "the most..."

 

[Ultra 2]

Thrash? Or treasure??
a still in plastic, _with no grommets, no holes drilled_ Wilson racket. I suspect it must have come from Wilson research center that they have here.....

could this be a blank for a pro stock? The fact that it was shrink wrapped tells me it’s not a reject. Does it have grommet strip channels?

 

[vsbabolat]

Thrash? Or treasure??
a still in plastic, _with no grommets, no holes drilled_ Wilson racket. I suspect it must have come from Wilson research center that they have here.....

That’s weird. You picked that up at goodwill?

 

[jmnk]

could this be a blank for a pro stock? The fact that it was shrink wrapped tells me it’s not a reject. Does it have grommet strip channels?

you mean like a channel where the grommets would go? If so yes.

That’s weird. You picked that up at goodwill?

yap

 

[max_brat]

No that was Top Size. Le Plus was the seconds (cosmetic defects and gauging that didn’t not meet the strict quality of VS Gut)

Thank you! Couldn't remember that to save my life!

 

[Ultra 2]

you mean like a channel where the grommets would go? If so yes.

then I would say that’s what it is. Can’t tell what that frame is.. kinda looks like a PS 6.1.

 

[5sets]

Picked up a Donnay Equipe braided graphite 16x19 mid today for $3 at Value Village.

 

[jmnk]

then I would say that’s what it is. Can’t tell what that frame is.. kinda looks like a PS 6.1.

hmmm, maybe? I'm going to dig up that PS 6.1 and compare. I'm sure I have it somewhere in the closet....

 

[jmnk]

I finally found it! The Rossignol F 200. For $0.99

This is work of art, and I'm not kidding. The inverted throat - that I knew. But it has a handle molded at the end like an end cup. Already flared out. Stringing it now. (Why did it take soo many years for these manufacturers to realize that this grommet material is crumbling??)

 

[vsbabolat]

This is work of art, and I'm not kidding. The inverted throat - that I knew. But it has a handle molded at the end like an end cup. Already flared out. Stringing it now. (Why did it take soo many years for these manufacturers to realize that this grommet material is crumbling??)

It’s the white grommets that turn to dust from all manufactures

 

[jmnk]

It’s the white grommets that turn to dust from all manufactures

yes, exactly, which is why I'm surprised all of them kept using that material for so many years.

 

[jmnk]

then I would say that’s what it is. Can’t tell what that frame is.. kinda looks like a PS 6.1.

I've measured the beams. The 'mystery' racket is a bit wider all around the hoop compared to PS 6.1 Not by much - but it is wider. The shape, and the position of PWS is the same though indeed.

 

[dr325i]

Thrash? Or treasure??
a still in plastic, _with no grommets, no holes drilled_ Wilson racket. I suspect it must have come from Wilson research center that they have here.....

Ill buy it off you and drill the holes myself

 

[McEncock]

bought 2 almost new (no scratch on the original bumber, original head leathergrip, never played, strung once with gut that stood for 3 decades) brown/burgundy pt10 for 2euro each.

 

[PT630Wannabe]

bought 2 almost new (no scratch on the original bumber, original head leathergrip, never played, strung once with gut that stood for 3 decades) brown/burgundy pt10 for 2euro each.

i hate you.

 

[atatu]

Someone is selling a Fox Ceramic Pro WB-210 for 10 bucks, trying to decide if it's worth it to go out in the cold to buy it...

 

[McEncock]

i hate you.

It was in Paris, at a second-hand store that tries to sell mainly broken things that nobody wants anymore. And at the sport booth, they appeared to me. TBH they didn't appear to me in person, but to one of my best friend who found them and called me to know if I they were good racquets. I was beginning my pt10 obsession at the time, so when he described me the 2 sticks I was like "BUY THEM, BUY THEM NOW" yelling at the phone. bought them 2euro each. He GAVE one to me lol. And kept the other for him. So, the truth is that I have a 0 euro brown burgundy pt10 in new condition that I mainly played with for 3 years.
I had an elite pro 600 for 20euro, new with the white brittle grommets, I had a pro stock pt57a for..... 15 freakin euro from a guy who actually KNEW they were pt57a as the original pro owner was a friend of his, but didn't bothered selling them 15eu...

You can hate I'll understand xD

 

[PaddyDutch]

It was in Paris, at a second-hand store that tries to sell mainly broken things that nobody wants anymore.

this line made me think of the Paul Auster novel ‘The country of last things’

At this forum it is a gem in a sea of “add some lead at 9 and 3 bro”

 

[McEncock]

Thank you. My grand-ma will be proud, she is a big fan (of his face, mainly, but she'll never admitt it)