That sounds embarrassing, especially since this was strung at a pro shop, and you’d think if they messed up like that they’d start over.
I'm not an expert on being able to find or even less measure advanced racket stats like swing weight, twist weight. I could probably find balance if I made a board for such things, but alas, all I've done is weigh it, which comes in at 320g (11.3oz).
As far as I can tell, there's 4 generations of Stings,
the originals with the crossbar in multiple headsizes
Then the SC, a midsize mold with no crossbar, I also own that, here it is. It's much heftier at 362g.
Then in the 90s there was the Sting Stretch Comp. Part of the High Beam series.
This last Sting Racket is from anywhere from 2003-2007 I believe. I've seen some NOS examples with Todd Martin on the marketing materials, looking old, as he did even when he was young. (he was 29 in that '99 USO final and looked about 37 but now I'm just getting sidetracked).
There seem to be two versions of the latest Sting, the Sting, and Sting Lite. The Lite lacks the Power slots, but is lighter, one can assume, by how much I have no idea. The regular Sting isn't that heavy to begin with. The rackets were not high end, they might have been sold in big box stores as a "nicer than aluminum two piece garbage sticks, but not high end material" option. All I can say is it hits nicely, and I dig the feel of the finish and the contoured under grip. I wish Wilson still sold that grip today. My rackets was deteriorating even though the racket was NOS, so I put a white Gamma grip over it.
@Grafil Injection
Here's some highlights of me using this Sting recently. Serving was a breeze, I typically do well serving with larger head rackets. Like a lot of power oriented frames, it could sail on me when I really tried to swing through it, so I played more defensive, and lobs came naturally for some reason. Landed a number of deep ones. Occasionally the lobs were so good, my opponent here decided to call them out lol.
Keep your eye on the man in the white hat/dark blue shirt
Loving the multiple camera set-up BTW. Go-Pros, iPhones, something else?I'm not an expert on being able to find or even less measure advanced racket stats like swing weight, twist weight. I could probably find balance if I made a board for such things, but alas, all I've done is weigh it, which comes in at 320g (11.3oz).
As far as I can tell, there's 4 generations of Stings,
the originals with the crossbar in multiple headsizes
Then the SC, a midsize mold with no crossbar, I also own that, here it is. It's much heftier at 362g.
Then in the 90s there was the Sting Stretch Comp. Part of the High Beam series.
This last Sting Racket is from anywhere from 2003-2007 I believe. I've seen some NOS examples with Todd Martin on the marketing materials, looking old, as he did even when he was young. (he was 29 in that '99 USO final and looked about 37 but now I'm just getting sidetracked).
There seem to be two versions of the latest Sting, the Sting, and Sting Lite. The Lite lacks the Power slots, but is lighter, one can assume, by how much I have no idea. The regular Sting isn't that heavy to begin with. The rackets were not high end, they might have been sold in big box stores as a "nicer than aluminum two piece garbage sticks, but not high end material" option. All I can say is it hits nicely, and I dig the feel of the finish and the contoured under grip. I wish Wilson still sold that grip today. My rackets was deteriorating even though the racket was NOS, so I put a white Gamma grip over it.
@Grafil Injection
Here's some highlights of me using this Sting recently. Serving was a breeze, I typically do well serving with larger head rackets. Like a lot of power oriented frames, it could sail on me when I really tried to swing through it, so I played more defensive, and lobs came naturally for some reason. Landed a number of deep ones. Occasionally the lobs were so good, my opponent here decided to call them out lol.
Keep your eye on the man in the white hat/dark blue shirt
Just old fashioned digital cameras and edited in Adobe Premiere. One on a tripod, the other on the fence via QM-1 tripod, which was made for tennis.
Specs? Weight & balance? Rainbow strings suddenly removes the intimidation factor!I picked up a Spalding Intimitdator at Goodwill yesterday for $1.50
I strung it up with some PSGD @45lbs and accidentally ended up with an extra cross that the top so now its an 18x21.
Used it for a set against my son last night, worked well enough to beat him
Thanks for sharing Kevin. If my memory serves me the original blue Strings were super popular for mostly club and weekend warriors back in the day at least in my area. I recall not too many big name players used Stings, however, my 2 favorite underdog players, Jim Grabb and Scott Davis, did for a time.I'm not an expert on being able to find or even less measure advanced racket stats like swing weight, twist weight. I could probably find balance if I made a board for such things, but alas, all I've done is weigh it, which comes in at 320g (11.3oz).
As far as I can tell, there's 4 generations of Stings,
the originals with the crossbar in multiple headsizes
Then the SC, a midsize mold with no crossbar, I also own that, here it is. It's much heftier at 362g.
Then in the 90s there was the Sting Stretch Comp. Part of the High Beam series.
This last Sting Racket is from anywhere from 2003-2007 I believe. I've seen some NOS examples with Todd Martin on the marketing materials, looking old, as he did even when he was young. (he was 29 in that '99 USO final and looked about 37 but now I'm just getting sidetracked).
There seem to be two versions of the latest Sting, the Sting, and Sting Lite. The Lite lacks the Power slots, but is lighter, one can assume, by how much I have no idea. The regular Sting isn't that heavy to begin with. The rackets were not high end, they might have been sold in big box stores as a "nicer than aluminum two piece garbage sticks, but not high end material" option. All I can say is it hits nicely, and I dig the feel of the finish and the contoured under grip. I wish Wilson still sold that grip today. My rackets was deteriorating even though the racket was NOS, so I put a white Gamma grip over it.
@Grafil Injection
Here's some highlights of me using this Sting recently. Serving was a breeze, I typically do well serving with larger head rackets. Like a lot of power oriented frames, it could sail on me when I really tried to swing through it, so I played more defensive, and lobs came naturally for some reason. Landed a number of deep ones. Occasionally the lobs were so good, my opponent here decided to call them out lol.
Keep your eye on the man in the white hat/dark blue shirt
It weighed in at 363g, and is 4 points HL. For reference, my Phantom 93Ps are 328g and 14 points HL and 97Ps are 318g and 11 points HL.
When the original Head Pro & Master were released around 1970, the Standard was a cheaper version of the Master, with a weaker plastic throat piece.Even though I buy lots of crap, I can usually resist buying cheapo aluminum big box sticks for $3 bucks at goodwill. Not this time. All because of the name.
Meet the 'Head Standard'. The most unpretentious tennis racket ever made. I hope the paper cover that came on it from the factory just said "tennis racket". Anyways, I bought it, took some photos of it, and proceeded to use it in a set against a 4.0 guy on my USTA team and took the set 6/2 with the mighty Standard. (he usually only plays doubles so cut him some slack).
I’m the man in white, wielding the Standard.
As expected, it has heaps of power, so serving with this is actually pretty nice.
does that tension range seem ludicrously high for an aluminum stick?
...and a weaker foam handle and the worst grip since the Davis Hi-Point !!!
sounds like a real challenge, I might have to pick one up if I find one and film myself using it in a set. you really think it would be harder to use that Standard than say, a Rawlings Tiebreaker? Which is most likely to break first LOL!...and a weaker foam handle and the worst grip since the Davis Hi-Point !!!
I vote for the standard would break 1st. The Rawling was a much beefier frame as I recall.
Cold drawn aluminum didn't seem to be the best material...I broke mine(TieBreaker) at the throat in the first week(at a tournament, no less!)
I did not hit hard enough to to break my Spalding Smasher, but I did crack the Head Master They tried to sell me a Standard, but it felt flimsy in my hands at a ripped 145 pounds.
I broke my first Smasher; but it was the early model with the keystone-shaped throat bridge. I thought I was super-cool with the newer one and the fancy S support in the throat. The sporting goods vendor at K-Mart took care of the replacement.
Looks like the Arthur Ashe frames.
Amazing find! The full covers must be worth $6 each to start. Love the RQ-180, especially on serve.
There’s a Teabert C6 for a few bucks at my local tennis shop. It’s not in great shape, but I did hit with it briefly against their small hitting wall, and well, it’s a tennis racket.
Like most of the classic frames I own or "want", the Trabert C-6 is just a childhood nostalgia thing. One of my high school teachers who I would practice with had one, as well as a car with a five speed transmission, both of which were very exciting things to see in the lovely but smaller town I grew up in.
The LC was quite the noodle, even compared to the original AA Competition. It came along quite late and I believe their efforts to make it sleek and aerodynamic just gutted the frame. Pretty little thing, however.
The Cannon was absolutely gorgeous in its day. I went with the rep to the university intramural courts to try them out...he walked onto the court with SIX of them tucked under his arm!!! I was well-known on those courts and folks were already looking to see who I was hitting with...then they noticed the rackets!!!Couple of old ones today, for a couple of dollars each.
A dead straight and barely used Dunlop Maxply Fort, as well as an Aldila Cannon, marking an inflection point in tennis racquet technology.
They chipped like crazy, leaving chunks missing from the glossy finish. We ended up tubing many of the holes as lots of those customers used natural gut. The GREENIE grips were big back then and we installed a few on the C-6s sold in our shop.
Quite late in the line; but very similar construction. Burnished edges all around and the light color suggested "Lady Comp" could have been the name.
Yeah, I think Dunlop / Slazenger had their first fan-string period in the early 90s with the Mystique, which was a serious racket, and then had another bash at it for lower range sticks like this in the 00s. The sweet-zone on the Supercat really is all along the top about 4 strings down. I forgot to mention it's 28 inches, so serving and feeding should be great. I hope someone enjoys it from the charity shop.
I had one of these in the mid 80s when I was getting into tennis. Really flexible. Irritated me that I borrowed it to a buddy who ended up moving. Then bought a Kneissel White Star Aero.
What a good deal!
Were these frames generally considered to be budget models, or were they Donnay's mainstream line? Quality looks to be pretty good.
Yeah, Graphite II is very modern feeling with good manoeuvrability and spin. Elektra is definitely one for the wall display. Head's paintjobs peeked late 80s it seems.
I didn't play the Prince; but I did play the Elektra MASTER and TXM...a bit of nostalgia for me appearance-wise
