tennis-skater
Semi-Pro
I have a chance at getting one around $40.00. Do you think I should?
blackburne double strung racket
- Thread starter tennis-skater
- Start date
th____44
Rookie
it's illegal....why bothering....
just for fun????.... you should look for a pc600 instead
tennis-skater
Semi-Pro
Actually according to their website its not
tennis-skater
Semi-Pro
Thats what I was thinking just to hang on my wall. Maybe start a tennis-man collection
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
I have one. If you string, it will definitely be a challenge. It's NOT illegal, although I'm not sure it shouldn't be. If it's in good shape, $40 is a good price.
Tennis Man
Hall of Fame
My collection already exist. No need to start a new one
but I will take the blackburne double strung.skater, get one for me, would you? I'll pay $50 for it
.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Steve,
When you use your Blackburne, do you notice any advantage over a similarly weighted conventional frame?
it was Just out
Banned
it's illegal....why bothering....
just for fun????.... you should look for a pc600 instead
Your an idiot. Why do you speak without knowing? Its completely legal. check out the website. You can click on USTA and see the letter from the USTA president. or just check this out:
http://www.blackburneds.com/assets/images/USTA-letter.jpg
I know a lot about these racquets. They are awesome for many reasons,...which I can talk about later. But they are superior to conventional racquets in many aspects.
However, the 107 inch is way to big. The 98 inch is one of the best racquets I have ever played with but you cannot buy one from the company because I bought the last 10 that they have (I also have four 107 inches). I would be willing to sell some but TW only allows Vantage to sell on this website.
If you would like me to give a review of both racquets I will be happy to do that. Just let me know.
Last edited:
tennis-skater
Semi-Pro
My collection already exist. No need to start a new one
skater, get one for me, would you? I'll pay $50 for it
Once the guy at my club calls me back I'll let you know. But of course I'm going to have to take a few swings with it
Tennis Man
Hall of Fame
Once the guy at my club calls me back I'll let you know. But of course I'm going to have to take a few swings with it
N.P. Take your time and some pictures
.Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
I've hit with it, but have never played a match with it. But, I did restring it once. How did it hit? Well, it feels a little soft, but not to the point it didn't play well. It's softness, I think, comes from the fact that the grommets stick out at a little bit of an angle, so they give when you hit the ball. Why I was surprised that they were legal is this. Seems a player that hit topspin off one side and flat or slice off the other could string each side differently--with different strings or at different tensions. Like me for instance. I hit quite a bit of top on my forehand, so I may want some good natural gut, or a lower tension to maintain depth. But, I hit fairly flat on my backhand side, so I may want a poly or higher tension to keep the ball in more, since I don't use the topspin.
T.J. Planas
Rookie
Steve, I may be completely wrong on this, but I could of sworn that I was once told that the Blackburne was only legal if both sides were strung the same. This was back in my days as an official, but I remeber it coming up.
How did you string it?
-T.J.
How did you string it?
-T.J.
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
Both sides are strung with a synthetic gut. One side is purple, the other natural. This is just to show people the 2 sides. But, as far as looks go, a person could string one side with Bab Pro Hurricane and the other with Bab Super Fine Play in white, and they'd look the same..
it was Just out
Banned
You can string either side differently and it would still be completely legal. The problem is if you chnage tensions for forehand and backhand. this really cannot be done because the racquet would warp/bend to one side.
it was Just out
Banned
I thought you would never ask. I can review both th 107 and the 97...but I think the 97 is the only one worth talking about.
Here are my stats. I am a 25 year old 5.5 player and the I played with the Blackburnes 97 for about 5 years and only recently have I switched to the APD plus; however I am not sure it was the wisest of choices and I am probably going back to the balckburne 97.
Here are the specs of the 97:
Frame: 100% High Modulus Graphite
Strings: Luxilon Ace 18 guage
Tension: 55 pounds
97 square inches (model DS97)
Weight: 10.2 ounces, strung with vibration damper filter
Ratings from United States Racquet Stingers Association, Stringers Assistant, June 1997
Power Ratings: 728
Swing Weight: 341
Length: 27
Flex: 68
(No idea what the balance is but its super head heavy for obvious reasons.)
Serves:
The racquet is a rocket launcher. It serves bombs with no effort at all. because you will never find a racquet on the market that is this head heavy you could imagine just how powerful your serve will be. You will not need any lead tape with this puppy.
I can also use an extreme continental grip as I am not afraid of framing the ball. This racquet is a servers dream.
Volleys
Absolutely the best volleyrs racquet on the market. You would think that because its so head heavy it would not be maneuverable. But because the racquet is so light and the head is relatively small it is quite maneuverable.
The awesome thing is that volleys at your feet and weird angles are now incredibley returnable. Overheads can be smacked with confindence. Its just an awesome racquet for volleys.
Feel
Terrible!! You cannot feel the ball at all. The racquet is so thick that its completely muted. On the other hand if you like a completely muted feel then this racquet is for you!
Return of serve
The best on the market. This racquet is so thick that serves bouncing off of it fire back as if they just hit a brick wall. Since the feeling is so muted you cannot even feel the servers power. you just smack it back for a winner with no vibration.
On top of that the racquet is all sweet spot. Its a returners dream!
Ground strokes
Are very solid and powerful. Baseliners will also love this racquet. I fired some cannons from the baseline; however lobs are difficult. Due to the very muted feeling it hard to control this shot.
Touch shots (droppers, lobs)
Not the best racuqet for touch. As I have said before you have no feel. The racquet dampens everything.
spin
Truly awesome! The ball stays on the racquet quite a bit longer due to the fact that there is no frame to interfere with the ball. Slices were great and topspins really kicked.
...I know its not the best review but I have got to get some sleep.
Wow. You totally bought their marketing. The ball does not stay longer on the strings. It stays on the strings just as long as any racket. Remember, you're only really hitting with one stringbed, so all these, "awesome server/serve returner's dreams" stuffs can easily be emulated in another racket. Just saying.
________
Umberto Maglioli
________
Umberto Maglioli
Last edited:
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
Mine's a 107. Have no idea about the specs, but it feels head heavy.
it was Just out
Banned
Ok...I can give you the review of the 107 as well but its really not for an advanced player. Its a grandpa stick. The only one worth getting is the 97 I bought the last 10 sticks in 97 inches. You will not be able to buy it from the company unless they had a secret stash somewhere. You may want to try the E by the bay (know what I mean
). I may also be willing to part with a couple but not for $40!!!!!!!! here are my reviews in full. I reprinted my 97 inch review because I think both should be on the same page for easy comparison:Here are my stats. I am a 25 year old 5.5 player and the I played with the Blackburnes 97 for about 5 years and only recently have I switched to the APD plus; however I am not sure it was the wisest of choices and I am probably going back to the balckburne 97.
Here are the specs of the 97:
Frame: 100% High Modulus Graphite
Strings: Luxilon Ace 18 guage
Tension: 55 pounds
97 square inches (model DS97)
Weight: 10.2 ounces, strung with vibration damper filter
Ratings from United States Racquet Stingers Association, Stringer’s Assistant, June 1997
Power Ratings: 728
Swing Weight: 341
Length: 27
Flex: 68
(No idea what the balance is but its super head heavy for obvious reasons.)
Serves:
The racquet is a rocket launcher. It serves bombs with no effort at all. because you will never find a racquet on the market that is this head heavy you could imagine just how powerful your serve will be. You will not need any lead tape with this puppy.
I can also use an extreme continental grip as I am not afraid of framing the ball. This racquet is a servers dream.
Volleys
Absolutely the best volleyrs racquet on the market. You would think that because its so head heavy it would not be maneuverable. But because the racquet is so light and the head is relatively small it is quite maneuverable.
The awesome thing is that volleys at your feet and weird angles are now incredibley returnable. Overheads can be smacked with confindence. Its just an awesome racquet for volleys.
Feel
Terrible!! You cannot feel the ball at all. The racquet is so thick that its completely muted. On the other hand if you like a completely muted feel then this racquet is for you!
Return of serve
The best on the market. This racquet is so thick that serves bouncing off of it fire back as if they just hit a brick wall. Since the feeling is so muted you cannot even feel the servers power. you just smack it back for a winner with no vibration.
On top of that the racquet is all sweet spot. Its a returners dream!
Ground strokes
Are very solid and powerful. Baseliners will also love this racquet. I fired some cannons from the baseline; however lobs are difficult. Due to the very muted feeling it hard to control this shot.
Touch shots (droppers, lobs)
Not the best racuqet for touch. As I have said before you have no feel. The racquet dampens everything.
spin
Truly awesome! The ball stays on the racquet quite a bit longer due to the fact that there is no frame to interfere with the ball. Slices were great and topspins really kicked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technical Specifications of the Blackburne Double Strung Racquet 107 inch:
Frame: 100% High Modulus Graphite
Strings: Luxilon Ace
Tension: 60 Pounds
Head Size:
107 square inches (model DS107)
Weight: 10.7 ounces, strung with vibration damper filter
Power Ratings: 728
Swing Weight: 341
Length: 27
Flex: 68
Balance: Unknown...but it is the head heaviest racquet in the world!
Serves
This is the absolute head heaviest racquet in the entire world. It probably should be in the guiness book of world records. Therefore its no surprise that it is also the most powerful serving racquet on the face of the earth.
The problem is that its just too powerful. You touch the ball and it flies! Its real easy to over hit and double fault. If you are an older player with no power then you will love this racquet.
Volleys
Terrible. The head is huge. Although its light the head is just too big to maneuver. Its also way too powerful. I hit everything out.
Again if you are a grandpa you may love this racquet.
Feel
Terrible. Even worse than the 97. You feel less than nothing. Again , if you are older you may love that. There is zero vibration with this puppy.
Return of Serve
Incredible!!! Maybe the best on the market. The sweet spot is HUGE. In fact its all sweet spot. Everything is returned with huge power. There is nothing better.
ground strokes
Very good! You can hit with HUGE power. The problem is controlling that power. If you can keep the ball in then all your groundstrokes are winners. Again if you are older then you will love the racquet for its powerful groundstrokes. If you provide your own power then this may not be the racquet for you.
Touch shots
Again depends on who you are. I personally hate it. You feel less than nothing due to the thickness of the head. On the opther hand if you re an older player you basically have to touch the ball and it will go over the net. Its granpas wet dream!
spin
The best I have ever seen. Even better than the 97. Slices and topspin are just downright scary. The ball seems to stay on the racquet forever.
Last edited:
it was Just out
Banned
You are missing the point. There is no edge to the racquet as there is with a conventional racquet. In other words its like hitting with a ping pong paddle. The ball never comes into contact with the frame. The surface of the racquet is 100% flat just like in ping pong. Get it? maybe a visualization may help to illustrate? Check it out here:
http://www.blackburneds.com/html/dwell.html
Last edited:
Attila the tennis Bum
Banned
"The Blackburne is a legitimate tennis weapon, a double edged sword that can help tennis players of all levels slice their way through tournaments--particularly those who bounce too many shots off the frame." Tennis Magazine, May 1997.
it was Just out
Banned
You are absolutely correct. I had a problem at a USTA sectional tournament. I actually did not have the letter with me. the referee came out in the middle of a tiebreaker and disrupted the entire match. I tried to point out it was legal ...but she just would not agree.
She allowed me to finish the match under protest until she checked it out. My opponent was so blown away by this entire scene that I ended up winning the tie breaker.
The next day she called me to tell me that the racquet was in fact legal.
It can cause quite a bit of problems.
FlyingBoat
New User
Didn't you try these out with the wedge grip as well? That is the combination I am trying. So far so good. I have had these rackets for about 9 months.
"It was just out", I am wondering what your experience has been in trying different string combinations? Also, what were the bad points that made you go back to try something different? I notice that I hit pretty bad when I go back to using a normal racket, and the normal rackets seem to be vibrating all over the place now in comparison!
I am a 3.5 to 4.0 player and have been happy with how the rackets have helped my tennis elbow, but I have had other injuries to my back, etc. that make it a bit difficult for me to compare between how I am playing now versus before. Overall, I would say I used to hit harder with my PK and now I hit with more spin. But if I get over the back injury and try different strings I may start to be able to hit harder again. I have switched to the 107 as of late for more power. When I first got the rackets, the 107 and even the 97s seemed to powerful, so I deadened the 97's with tight strings and with Kevlar. Since I am not swinging away now, I find I like the 107 power.
Its interesting you say lobs are tougher. I find I can get some great top spin lobs with these rackets because I don't need to worry about hitting the frame. You are probably right though, just a flat lob does not have the same feel to come in as I might have done earlier with my PK.
"It was just out", I am wondering what your experience has been in trying different string combinations? Also, what were the bad points that made you go back to try something different? I notice that I hit pretty bad when I go back to using a normal racket, and the normal rackets seem to be vibrating all over the place now in comparison!
I am a 3.5 to 4.0 player and have been happy with how the rackets have helped my tennis elbow, but I have had other injuries to my back, etc. that make it a bit difficult for me to compare between how I am playing now versus before. Overall, I would say I used to hit harder with my PK and now I hit with more spin. But if I get over the back injury and try different strings I may start to be able to hit harder again. I have switched to the 107 as of late for more power. When I first got the rackets, the 107 and even the 97s seemed to powerful, so I deadened the 97's with tight strings and with Kevlar. Since I am not swinging away now, I find I like the 107 power.
Its interesting you say lobs are tougher. I find I can get some great top spin lobs with these rackets because I don't need to worry about hitting the frame. You are probably right though, just a flat lob does not have the same feel to come in as I might have done earlier with my PK.
Redflea
Hall of Fame
He may have been incorrect, but your response was uncalled for. Why not show some manners and maturity and apologize...
BS. Theirs demonstration is also BS. Normally, a ball makes very short contact with the sweet spot. It never travels along the strings up to the frame as show on in their animation Therefore, frame width does not play any role in the dwell time. If it does hit the frame, such a mis-hit will not be saved by any possible or impossible racket.
Attila the tennis Bum
Banned
Redflea/ RedKat/ James Martin....its time that you were "Outed". You guys are the same person. Both nics were created in Aug of 2004 and both nics begin with "red".
Too many coincidences dude. Its obvious you are just trying to start a fight...next time be a little smarter.
Too many coincidences dude. Its obvious you are just trying to start a fight...next time be a little smarter.
Last edited:
Wrong! It IS a coincidence. I am definitely not Redflea. Ask the moderator to have a look from which IP addresses we are posting and you will see that they are from different parts of the world
In other racquets too, it shouldn't .....
Actually, the ball does move vertically up - but it is just a few mm.
You mean down? OK, a few mm do not contradict to what I said anyway
I was saying that you were correct.
Hmmm.. maybe it is up for ball arriving with backspin, and down for topspin?
Redflea
Hall of Fame
Sorry...but your conspiracy theory is wrong on both counts...
- No idea who the other "reds" are
- Not starting fights, just hoping to generate some improved behavior here. Not my job, but sometimes I just can't resist
I'm not sure how the racket helps with tennis elbow if it's only a little more than 10 oz and is head heavy. I thought a head light and heavier racket (12 oz or so) is the key. The only TE benefit the Blackburne website touts is when you hit the ball on the frame.
I'm also curious why they still have their website with the order page if itwasjustout said he bought their last 10. Are they out of business now?
jeffreyfranz
Rookie
What is it exactly, double strings close together, like a 12-string guitar? What was the idea, just more power? Thanks.
Attila the tennis Bum
Banned
Sorry...but your conspiracy theory is wrong on both counts...
- No idea who the other "reds" are
- Not starting fights, just hoping to generate some improved behavior here. Not my job, but sometimes I just can't resist
Red Flea & Red Kat are in fact one and the same. I have made my decision based on the following facts:
1. Both "Red Flea" and "Red Kat" were created at almost the exact same time.
2. "Red Flea" & "Red Kat" have responded to resurrect this long dead post at almost exactly the same time.
3. Both tags start with the exact same word: "RED".
4. The second word in both tags are almost exactly the same as they are both animals : "Flea" & "Kat" respectively.
VERDICT: GUILTY. Red Flea & Red Kat are one and the same. Nice try!
Last edited:
Redflea
Hall of Fame
Attila the tennis Bum
Banned
Red Flea/Red Kat,
I have stated the uncontroverted facts.
I have stated the uncontroverted facts.
Last edited:
FlyingBoat
New User
I think the other guy bought the last 10 97in. They still make the 107in. I bought my 97's and 107 off of ****.
I see different arguments for tennis elbow. Some say, as you state, to use head light, flexible, and heavy racket. I have also found other research that says that it is vibration that causes the problem and a stiff racket, with head heavy solves the problem. Maybe it is all relative to how you hit or how your body is made up. I think they tought the box construction for less vibration and no twisting and for me no pain!
This I know for sure. I have not been able to play much tennis for 30 years because tennis elbow is so bad! PK 5G helped some, but this racket absolutely ends it for me. There is no elbow problem and I even use kevlar strings now! I am also using the PVG (power V grip), so that may be what is helping as well now, or the combination, or the way I hit is different with this combination. My pain is between the inner two joints, which is really golphers elbow, and I have read about 10% of the people who say they have TE really have this GE. I have seen a lot of doctors, even the Mayo clinic who could do nothing, but this racket combination completely ends the pain!
I have used them for 9 months, and sometimes have been limited due to other injuries, but I have played at times several days in a row for several hours without the elbow pain. More recently, I have been using the 107, which seemed to cause some elbow pain at first, as compared to the 97, but that seems to have gone away as well. I will know better when I get a chance to play a lot more and will give a stronger recommendation if the pain continues to stay away.
Last edited:
Redflea
Hall of Fame
Ooo, ooo. QED - you win! You believe in ancient astronauts too, right?
Here are a bunch of other "Red---" members. Quick, check when they registered at TW, cross-correlate their posts with mine based on spelling, grammar, etc., and report back right away! Conspiracy theorists need to know!!
Sorry to others on this thread. I'll move on now. The sillyness of this was just too hard to resist...
Attila the tennis Bum
Banned
Red Flea/ Red Kat....
Do you really think everyone is that dumb? Its not just the similarities of the names and you know that very well. Just the fact that you have ignored the rest of the facts makes you seem even more guilty.
Do you really think everyone is that dumb? Its not just the similarities of the names and you know that very well. Just the fact that you have ignored the rest of the facts makes you seem even more guilty.
Last edited:
Papa smerf
Banned
I'll buy it from you for $50
sypl
Rookie
I have both a 97 and a 107. "Framing" is indeed eliminated on these things, but is replaced with something not much better. Basically the areas near the edges feel really dead and you'll find a lot of balls hit with these areas just die without clearing the net.
The feel is really, REALLY muted. It's like playing with thick woolen gloves on - can't feel a thing.
Lots of power. Too much for my liking. Haven't done it yet, but I'd like to string them up again with their max recommended tension of 59lb.
Other than that though, it's a nice racquet and definitely worth picking up for $40.
