Dunlop Maxply Fort Graphite

[Virginia]

I've just bought (on a NZ auction site) two Dunlop Maxply's - one is the standard Fort and the other the Maxply Fort Graphite - both in immaculate condition. I paid NZ$25 for the pair plus 3 other old racquets which I will probably just dump. (One is the Slazenger Garrick, but unfortunately it's irreparably demaged).

It has graphite reinforcing exactly the same as the Maxply McEnroe (but painted all black instead of black, red and orange), but I've never heard of this model. Does anyone know anything about it?

I now have all of the McEnroe racquets:

1 x Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph - good condition
1 x Dunlop Maxply Fort - as new condition
1 x Dunlop Maxply McEnroe (wood) - excellent condition
2 x Dunlop Max 200G - good condition (except for paint fading)
2 x Dunlop Maxply McEnroe (graphite) - brand new from TW.

 

[JW10S]

Actually McEnroe used the Jack Kramer Pro Staff, not the Jack Kramer Autograph--they are two different racquets.

 

[joe sch]

Actually McEnroe used the Jack Kramer Pro Staff, not the Jack Kramer Autograph--they are two different racquets.

Correct, Mac used the JK prostaff show below:
http://www.woodtennis.com/McEnroe/prostaffpair.jpg

Maybe you should also pickup the new dunlop maxply mac racket since John has been pretty successful with on the seniors tour:

http://www.woodtennis.com/McEnroe/newMaxplyMcEnroe.jpg

 

[AndrewD]

There are a few other McEnroe racquets not on your list.

1) A Dunlop racquet I can't remember the name of but know Mac used it after his break from the tour (post-Gilbert loss). It wasn't his Max200G, rather a Dunlop with some sort of weighting around the 3 and 9 o'clock position. In my mind the weighting looked like tiny ball bearings, but I'm sure that's not correct.

2) His racquets on the senior tour - if you want to go away from Dunlop.

You might also be interested in this web page as it has a number of McEnroe's racquets on it.
http://www.80s-tennis.com/pages/john-mcenroe.html

 

[Capt. Willie]

I now have all of the McEnroe racquets:

1 x Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph - good condition
1 x Dunlop Maxply Fort - as new condition
1 x Dunlop Maxply McEnroe (wood) - excellent condition
2 x Dunlop Max 200G - good condition (except for paint fading)
2 x Dunlop Maxply McEnroe (graphite) - brand new from TW.

He used Volkl's for several years on the Senior's Tour before going back to Dunlop.

 

[Virginia]

Thanks guys for that info (and links) - I didn't know about the Volkl's (or that I had the original Wilson down wrong).

Joe, I have the new Maxply McEnroe's.

Back on topic though, does anyone know anything about the Dunlop Maxply Fort Graphite? I just had another look at it and the head size is a little bit bigger than the standard Fort and the hoop is fractionally narrower. It's also slightly heavier.

 

[vsbabolat]

There are a few other McEnroe racquets not on your list.

1) A Dunlop racquet I can't remember the name of but know Mac used it after his break from the tour (post-Gilbert loss). It wasn't his Max200G, rather a Dunlop with some sort of weighting around the 3 and 9 o'clock position. In my mind the weighting looked like tiny ball bearings, but I'm sure that's not correct.

The racquet you are describing is the Dunlop Max Competition. McEnroe used that racquet at the 1987 U.S. Open. At the 87' U.S. Open McEnroe beat Slobodan Zivojinovic with the Dunlop Max Competition in a really exciting match.

 

[joe sch]

Thanks guys for that info (and links) - I didn't know about the Volkl's (or that I had the original Wilson down wrong).

Joe, I have the new Maxply McEnroe's.

Back on topic though, does anyone know anything about the Dunlop Maxply Fort Graphite? I just had another look at it and the head size is a little bit bigger than the standard Fort and the hoop is fractionally narrower. It's also slightly heavier.

Those fort graphites and tournaments have slightly diff cosmetics and an internal graphite lamination for extra stiffness/power. Those additions and with the shaft also looking slightly wider result in the extra weight. There were lots of those rackets made that did not make it to mass distribution and can now be found for some pretty nice prices. I would recommend buying a few and enjoying a classic woody.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I've just bought (on a NZ auction site) two Dunlop Maxply's - one is the standard Fort and the other the Maxply Fort Graphite - both in immaculate condition. I paid NZ$25 for the pair plus 3 other old racquets which I will probably just dump. (One is the Slazenger Garrick, but unfortunately it's irreparably demaged).

It has graphite reinforcing exactly the same as the Maxply McEnroe (but painted all black instead of black, red and orange), but I've never heard of this model. Does anyone know anything about it?

I now have all of the McEnroe racquets:

1 x Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph - good condition
1 x Dunlop Maxply Fort - as new condition
1 x Dunlop Maxply McEnroe (wood) - excellent condition
2 x Dunlop Max 200G - good condition (except for paint fading)
2 x Dunlop Maxply McEnroe (graphite) - brand new from TW.

Just to correct this layup description. The Maxply Fort Graphite has a graphite lamination running all around the hoop and down into the handle as part of the 6 other layers of wood laminations. The reinforced shoulders in black are made of fibreglass. The black\red\orange shoulders of the Maxply McEnroe are also fibreglass, and there is no graphite in that stick, just the same wood and vulcanised fibre 7-laminations as the Fort. I think the McEnroe also uniquely has a walnut flake (that's the handle join, not an ice cream).