does anyone still play with any of the classice rackets???

[jimanuel12]

i have collected a few over the years, picked up a jack krammer auto at a flea market for $2.00 it had never been strung but play with the modern rackets, not the old wood or even the classics from the 80's or 90's.
i am just too cool to play with those old rackets, i mean, i would be laughed off the courts if i show up with a so called classic racket

 

[joe sch]

i have collected a few over the years, picked up a jack krammer auto at a flea market for $2.00 it had never been strung but play with the modern rackets, not the old wood or even the classics from the 80's or 90's.
i am just too cool to play with those old rackets, i mean, i would be laughed off the courts if i show up with a so called classic racket

If you were really good, you could use a classic graphite racket, or maybe even a woody and beat those who are amused. Who would be laughing then ???

 

[Don't Let It Bounce]

It depends. For some people, the experience of what a racquet feels like is a big part of their enjoyment of playing, and they like the feel of the classics. Performance-wise, for me, using a classic racquet from the mid-80's onward has negligible effect on my chances to win as compared to using a modern racquet.

Woodies and standard-size racquets are of course harder to use, but I have occasionally used one as a handicap against a less experienced friend, as a training aid to improve my strokes, or as above to enjoy the feel for a few rallies.

I wouldn't worry about how other people regard whatever racquet you bring to the court. The truth is, most people are too worried about their own coolness to care about yours, and the rest don't merit consideration.

 

[LeeD]

I'd bet I wouldn't drop more than 1/2 level with a new JackKramerAutograph, especially if it's a 5/8 M, which I played with quite often in the '70's. Better with a ProStaff that size.
I play now with a 12oz Mfil and Aero 200, about the same soft flex but bigger headed, no help there.

 

[Virginia]

Since returning to tennis about 5 years ago, I've played with nothing but classic, e.g. Prince Spectrum Comp, Snauwaert Vitas Gerulaitis and now with a 21 year old Chris Competition.

 

[jimanuel12]

returned to tennis after a long lay off

Since returning to tennis about 5 years ago, I've played with nothing but classic, e.g. Prince Spectrum Comp, Snauwaert Vitas Gerulaitis and now with a 21 year old Chris Competition.

i started to play again about 5 years ago, after a 10 year lay off.
last year i started out with a wilson hyper hammer, bad mistake, my TE has still not healed 100%.
before that i used a head midsize when i first returned, i think it was a radical but can't remember.
now i bought a kennex 5G and a couple of fischer M pro 105 - they are all good for the arm.
should have never went to the hammer, but did not know any better at the time.
the older rackets are just too heavy and the sweet spot is so small on some of the classic rackets - i will stick to the modern rackets as long as they are heavy enough and arm friendly.

 

[yuth]

Me too. Sometimes I use donnay Borg pro to fight with K90. 555+

 

[khw72004]

I have only been playing with classics since I have discovered them. The feel of these classic head surpasses any other racket that I have encounter. Its quite the opposite for me. When I bring my classic rackets to the court most people remember how great the rackets I bring are and want to give it a swing for themselves.

I have no shame in bringing classics from the 80's or 90's to play with. And if you encounter those kids that does not know anything but new rackets then you can give them a lesson on classics and they too are sometimes amazed. Being good at tennis helps too.

 

[Danstevens]

I have only been playing with classics since I have discovered them. The feel of these classic head surpasses any other racket that I have encounter. Its quite the opposite for me. When I bring my classic rackets to the court most people remember how great the rackets I bring are and want to give it a swing for themselves.

I have no shame in bringing classics from the 80's or 90's to play with. And if you encounter those kids that does not know anything but new rackets then you can give them a lesson on classics and they too are sometimes amazed. Being good at tennis helps too.

Agreed, I've not once been mocked for using classic rackets, in fact at my club, using classics commands some kind of respect and shows that you're not foolish enough to fool for various racket companies' marketing schemes. I don't solely play with classic rackets and when I do, they tend to be from the 90s but some of the paintjobs and playing characteristics are pretty desirable and not in any way "uncool". If you think you're too cool for classics, you may want to reconsider that view and you may find the opposite :wink:

Another great thing about classic rackets is the story and history behind them. I often find that with other people interested in rackets, classic frames can be as (if not more) interesting as a conversation topic as modern rackets.

 

[retrowagen]

I only use the classics. My basic, "everyday" frames were made in 1988. I alternate occasionally with a model made in 1991, and goof around with various models made between 1960 and 1990.

The newer models tend to be too light for my liking, and too stiff, and just have poor ball feel compared to the older classics I enjoy.

 

[Mick]

i must have improved a lot recently due to a lot of practice time (at least 3 hrs a day, every day of the week) . last night, i played with the adidas gtx pro and performed quite well with it, even on the volleys and overheads :shock:

 

[SVP]

Our Beautiful Sport

Agreed, I've not once been mocked for using classic rackets, in fact at my club, using classics commands some kind of respect and shows that you're not foolish enough to fool for various racket companies' marketing schemes. I don't solely play with classic rackets and when I do, they tend to be from the 90s but some of the paintjobs and playing characteristics are pretty desirable and not in any way "uncool". If you think you're too cool for classics, you may want to reconsider that view and you may find the opposite :wink:

Another great thing about classic rackets is the story and history behind them. I often find that with other people interested in rackets, classic frames can be as (if not more) interesting as a conversation topic as modern rackets.

That's the beautiful thing about our sport: the melding of the distant past with the modern.

 

[Larrysümmers]

I played with the wison sting midsized. I really enjoyed playing with it and I loved the paint job. Too bad my coach wouldnt sell it to me

 

[pshulam]

Too bad my coach wouldnt sell it to me

Used Stings are widely available for cheap. I sold two of them recently for $30.

 

[pshulam]

does anyone still play with any of the classice rackets???

All my racquets are considered old-schooled, made in the late 80s and early 90s.

I do like to try the Head Youtek Prestige Mid, however.

 

[007]

I use a 1997 Fischer VT98 Pro 330g because I have yet to find any racquet that comes close to having the superlative impact feel it has.

 

[jorel]

I use a 1997 Fischer VT98 Pro 330g because I have yet to find any racquet that comes close to having the superlative impact feel it has.

yes... sweet butter

 

[jimanuel12]

I use a 1997 Fischer VT98 Pro 330g because I have yet to find any racquet that comes close to having the superlative impact feel it has.

the fischer M pro 105 is pretty good as well

 

[jorel]

the fischer M pro 105 is pretty good as well

blasphemy...

 

[jorel]

If you were really good, you could use a classic graphite racket, or maybe even a woody and beat those who are amused. Who would be laughing then ???

thats an interesting statement

i wonder how Fed would do against a Williams sister if Fed used a woody and the sister used their reg raqcuet

i think it might be close and a ratings grabber

 

[Virginia]

More interesting would be Fed and Nadal playing with woodies.

 

[jorel]

More interesting would be Fed and Nadal playing with woodies.

i think Fed would destry him

imo nadal cant hit his shots with a woodie but fed can

 

[Tina]

i have collected a few over the years, picked up a jack krammer auto at a flea market for $2.00 it had never been strung but play with the modern rackets, not the old wood or even the classics from the 80's or 90's.
i am just too cool to play with those old rackets, i mean, i would be laughed off the courts if i show up with a so called classic racket

How do you define classical rackets? Any type of rackets before 2000?

 

[mmaster]

i think Fed would destry him

imo nadal cant hit his shots with a woodie but fed can

well fed's racquet is actually more woodie like than anyone else's racquet on tour.

 

[jimanuel12]

How do you define classical rackets? Any type of rackets before 2000?

my defination is anything before the 1985.
but that's my opinion and you know what they say about opinions. LOL

 

[Keifers]

I played a lot of last year with a POG OS 1 stripe, from the late 70s-early 80s. Superb combination of power, control and feel/touch. Fave strings: VS gut mains with Gosen JC crosses.

Trying to find a 95" frame that plays similarly (for better maneuverability and precision).

 

[Virginia]

How do you define classical rackets? Any type of rackets before 2000?

For me personally, it's any that were issued before 1990. The 1980's represents the decade of most interest though.

 

[jimanuel12]

cool

For me personally, it's any that were issued before 1990. The 1980's represents the decade of most interest though.

the 1970's were pretty good too with Jimbo and Chris.

 

[kalic]

'90s are the peak in racquet industry, IMHO.

 

[Virginia]

You're obviously too young!

 

[JT_2eighty]

The newer models tend to be too light for my liking, and too stiff, and just have poor ball feel compared to the older classics I enjoy.

I agree. Although, I fall somewhere in the middle between classic and newer models. I've used the same PT280 since ~ '93, and every now and then someone will remark to me that I need to "get with the new technology, it will help your game." I actually decided to finally see what I was "missing" and demoed all kinds of new stuff last year, and wasn't impressed. Actually I ended up with mild tennis elbow from all those stiff, hollow-feeling, light-weight toys out there now, and am back to my 280/630s, playing the best I have in years.

Only within the past year did I stumble onto this site and realize there's quite a big craze about my trusty racquet, so I feel it is a good one that sort of embodies the transition from classic to modern. Has the old-school comfort and feel with the ability to hang with and dish out modern power and spin.

 

[000KFACTOR90000]

......................

 

[khw72004]

I've been using the PT680 and love ever second of it

 

[pshulam]

I've been using the PT680 and love ever second of it

Do you mean PT630?

 

[CollegeBound]

That's the beautiful thing about our sport: the melding of the distant past with the modern.

No, no, no! It's the worst thing about our sport. We should have maintained our connection to the past by insisting on a limit to the materials used and the size of the racquets. If we'd followed the lead of baseball (minus the roids) we'd have a much stronger connection to the past and it'd be so much easier to compare players across the different eras.


And I define 'classic' racquets as exactly that - racquets which are classics. That means they epitomise the high point of a particular era, not that they only relate to a specific point in time. I consider the Babolat Pure Drive a classic of the past decade just as I consider the PS 6.0 85 a classic of the 1980's and the wooden Maxply as a classic of multiple eras.

 

[khw72004]

Do you mean PT630?

yeah my mistake, I have 3 PT 280 and 3 630 in my bag

 

[joe sch]

No, no, no! It's the worst thing about our sport. We should have maintained our connection to the past by insisting on a limit to the materials used and the size of the racquets. If we'd followed the lead of baseball (minus the roids) we'd have a much stronger connection to the past and it'd be so much easier to compare players across the different eras.


And I define 'classic' racquets as exactly that - racquets which are classics. That means they epitomise the high point of a particular era, not that they only relate to a specific point in time. I consider the Babolat Pure Drive a classic of the past decade just as I consider the PS 6.0 85 a classic of the 1980's and the wooden Maxply as a classic of multiple eras.

Yep !
Baseball and Tennis are quite different in terms of limiting technology allowed for the bats. Tennis would still be an allcourt game with serve and volley players if only wood tennis rackets were legal. Its really strange that non-wood bats are allowed at the non-professional levels of baseball. Its just hitting at plate, not running all over the court hitting. What Im getting at, is think if Pro tennis only allowed wood rackets but amateur tennis could use all the latest modern rackets ! Just think how strange it would be to all the players considering turning pro !

 

[Michael B]

Yep !
Baseball and Tennis are quite different in terms of limiting technology allowed for the bats. Tennis would still be an allcourt game with serve and volley players if only wood tennis rackets were legal. Its really strange that non-wood bats are allowed at the non-professional levels of baseball. Its just hitting at plate, not running all over the court hitting. What Im getting at, is think if Pro tennis only allowed wood rackets but amateur tennis could use all the latest modern rackets ! Just think how strange it would be to all the players considering turning pro !

You probably know this already but a tennis journalist invited a number of touring pros to try out some old wood frames. I think this was this in Indian Wells because both men and women were invited. None have ever used them and there were only a few who took up his invitation. Djokovic was one of the few and had the most interesting take, he said that if the pro players had to play with these they'd have to do much more than what they do now, namely play a full court game.