Do you have a favourite looking classic frame?

[mmk]

That is gorgeous. With inlay and all. Any idea how it played?

I have a couple and have a Pro Staff and had another Pro Staff, I liked the Pro Staffs a bit better. A friend of mine use to refer to the Advantage as "the furniture", it is like a really good looking piece of furniture.

 

[Keizer]

I was born after the first generation TXP Pro and Prestige Pro released (so no nostalgia bias here) but recently acquired a Prestige Tour 300. That burgundy/deep red PJ is the most beautiful I have seen.

 

[PBODY99]

Wood Wilson Advantage
Head TX Master
Bard Jade Fire
Prince Speedport Gold

 

[WestboroChe]

I have a couple and have a Pro Staff and had another Pro Staff, I liked the Pro Staffs a bit better. A friend of mine use to refer to the Advantage as "the furniture", it is like a really good looking piece of furniture.

Yes it looks like a French desk!

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Could be design, could be cosmetic - I'm just curious as to your tastes.

I have a real fondness for the sticks that came through that very short wood/graphite period. I think the Edgewood and the Golden Ace, for example, are some really classy looking sticks.

In terms of cosmetic - I've always been partial to green. The POG, the Prince Comp I think was also a black/green cosmetic, The Jade Bard Fire (sweet looking stick), the Max 200G of course! I also loved the look of the Le Coq Sportif frames with their spilt yoke.

What about you guys?

From that era, Mecir's Snauvert. Beautiful racquet.

 

[WestboroChe]

Each week there’s a new favourite but this is the current apple of my eye:

http://imgur.com/a/oK1Gdtx

http://imgur.com/a/FYWZJni

Bussey Wimbledon Hexagon 2, probably early to mid-1920s. I knew Peckham’s finest had a reputation for its level of craftsmanship but honestly this thing is a work of art.

Quite apart from the tactile joys of a wooden racket, there’s the quality of the different types of wood in the hoop, the wedge, the flake and the handle (and how the colours work together), the combed handle, the chamfered inside and outside edges of the hoop, the combination of the red cord binding and translucent shoulder reinforcements, the precision of the engraving on the wedge and its 14.5 oz heft.

Granted, it lacks the wavy wedge, the ball handle and the cork-strip grips for which Bussey was famous, and its old red and white gut strings may well have hit their last ball before Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic. But the fact it was hand made - and mass produced - to this standard, I find remarkable and really quite wonderful.

Can you tell me what the purpose of the string woven around the mains at the bottom is for? I’ve always wondered as it doesn’t seem to do anything.

 

[LeoFulgencio]

I prefer graphite composite rackets, but these look good: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6A - 6B

 

[coachrick]

Can you tell me what the purpose of the string woven around the mains at the bottom is for? I’ve always wondered as it doesn’t seem to do anything.

Apart from starting up conversations, the trebling(?three? rows) didn't really DO anything. Some old-timers might call "rough/smooth" according to the weave of the strings, some would match or contrast the string to the color(s) on the frame.
It has been suggested that the trebling strings would help secure the mains from shifting(although it's easy to see they can have little effect on the hitting zone).
As someone who installed them for a couple of years back in the '70s, I can tell you the main thing they did was TAKE UP TIME for the stringer

 

[Plainsman83]

My vote goes to the Snauwaert Brian Gottfried Autograph that I played with briefly as a junior. It did nothing for my game (my worst season as a junior) but it was a gorgeous piece of fine woodworking and had the fancy suede head cover. The geek in me also appreciated the fact that each frame had its exact specs written on the frame, so you could in theory buy a matched set. I recall the Snauwaert ads of the day in Tennis and World Tennis (remember them?) magazines were all about style and sophistication. Switched to a POG after that and had the best 3 years of my junior tennis life. Runner up goes to the Head Vilas and third place to the Wilson Advantage mentioned by another poster.

 

[Steve Huff]

I was always partial to the wood/graphite comps, like the Snaewaert La Grande, Pro Kennex Golden Ace, etc

 

[louis netman]

Dunlop 200G Muscle Weave- Understated, elegant and the neutral color scheme matches any outfit...

 

[anirut]

I, too, have a partial towards wood/graphite. Thus, the Prince Woodie, please ...

In fact, I also really like the Volkl 10 VE Mid. It looks very modern and sporty. The colors and designs go very well with its physical shape.

The Wilson ROK is also very pleasing.

BTW, how about the Head LC?

 

[Seth]

Dunlop 200G Muscle Weave- Understated, elegant and the neutral color scheme matches any outfit...

The gunmetal and braided throat is so good.

 

[coachrick]

I, too, have a partial towards wood/graphite. Thus, the Prince Woodie, please ...

In fact, I also really like the Volkl 10 VE Mid. It looks very modern and sporty. The colors and designs go very well with its physical shape.

The Wilson ROK is also very pleasing.

BTW, how about the Head LC?

The LC was certainly pretty; but what a noodle!!!

 

[Al Czervik]

 

[stapletonj]

white prince ceramic with blue and green pinstripes and grey leather grip. just........cool

 

[vandre]

thanks man! i forgot about all the great looking yamaha racquets until you posted this one.

 

[Autodidactic player]

We had some nice colorful rackets back in my day also!

Here is the Spalding Lotus One:

 

[Lendl and Federer Fan]

Oh yeah! These were expensive for their day but quite beautiful. Even the cover was fancy!

I have this Wilson Advantage in never used condition, beautiful in perfect condition. But my favorite is always the Dunlap 200G. I lost it when I left it on top of my vehicle and forgot about it and drove off.


Very sad Dunlap makes garbage racquets now.