EVER SEEN THIS? --- Abercrombie & Fitch tennis racquet: Rod Laver Graphite LTD

[cozmo5050]

*PICS*EVER SEEN THIS? --- Abercrombie & Fitch tennis racquet: Rod Laver Graphite LTD

headsize: approx 85-90 sq. in.
length: 27''
strings: 16 main, 18 cross.
100% graphite?
weight: 12 oz. unstrung w/ leather grip
Balance: nearly even, possibly a bit head light...? ( i balanced it on my index finger)

The physical dimensions are nearly identical to the new Wilson Nsix-one Ncode racquet used by Federer.

My father used to play tennis during his highschool days during 1970's-1980's (San Diego, CA). I was digging thru his old stuff and found 2 of these. I think the design is classicly Wilson.

im currently using two yonex supergrap overgrips on the racquet. :mrgreen:

just thought it was something cool to share.

 

[gonzalocatalino]

Upload first the pics in www.imageshack.net, then, use the link to post images that they will give you (url+img)

 

[cozmo5050]

ok, pics added using photobucket.

 

[Loud]

Cool. Didn't know Abercrombie was around that long.

 

[bcaz]

Abercrombie and Fitch was a premier purveyor of sporting goods dating back well more than 100 years. They fell on hard times some years ago, but there was still equity embedded in the brand name, which has been sold and resold more than once. THe current A&F bears no resem blance to the original. This is true of many, many consumer product brands. The company falters, then gets completely hollowed out, with nothing left but the value of the brand, which is sold, re-invented and re-marketed. Countless examples, including A&F, Brooks Brothers, Bloomingdale's, Converse, Puma, Izod/LaCoste, Emerson, Stroh's, Hamm's, Olympia, Pabst, Spalding, Maytag ...

 

[Freedom]

So you just found 2 n6.1 90s? Nice find!

 

[Davai]

I'll bet they play like real classics. Nice find, congrats.

 

[Mr.Federer]

That's really cool cozmo...

 

[cozmo5050]

can u guys guess what type of strings this racquet came strung with? im not sure by lookin at it, but it doesnt look multi-filament, and obviously not gut.

plays real nice.

 

[Deuce]

Looks more like 80 to 85 sq. in. to me.

 

[cozmo5050]

yeah, it's something between 85-90 square in.

You suppose think the Wilson is alot stiffer, therefore playing with it will be very different from the A&F racquet?
The A&F racquet has a nice flex feel to it.

 

[mr.fitch]

That is an awesome find. It's in great condition and looks relatively modern for a racket from the 70's. How does it play?

 

[rilokiley]

Looks solid.
Did you ever consider selling it?

 

[cozmo5050]

hmmmmm......

That is an awesome find. It's in great condition and looks relatively modern for a racket from the 70's. How does it play?

Actually, I switched to the thinner beam, more maneuverable NXG Graphite after playing with the Prince TT graphite OS for several years...

While waiting for the NXG's to come in the mail, I needed something to play with today.so i took it to the courts, and started hitting. I assumed nothing would come of it(my thinking was, old school racquet, obsolete performance).

To my suprise, this thing was orgasmic to hit with! I cant explain how exquisite and rewarding it felt when hit. There is so much control, maneuverability, and comfort off the racquet, even with the original, generic 16g nylon strings. For someone who's been accustomed to hitting with 100''-110'' head-sized racquets, I couldnt believe how solid it felt! :mrgreen:

Thus, on this same day, i took it to my local tennis shop to pick the store owner's brain, but he had no idea what the heck it was, nor did he seem to have the time to examine it. so i began wandering around the shop, comparing it to what were on the shelves. The closest thing was the new Wilson N-six-One Ncode 90 sq. in. --- 'federer' racquet. (The A&F racquet's headsize is actually a tiny bit smaller)
After a bit of lookin at the other TW Forum posts, people were talking about Sampra's racquet(Wilson ProStaff 6.0, 85 sq. in.head). Its specifications sounded even closer to the A&F.
------------
As a gear junkie who does alot of review reading and research, it has given me an appreciation/understanding of why serious tennis players still revere racquets such as the Prince "POG" and Wilson ProStaff classics.

In all my years of playing tennis on a recreational/semi-competitive local level, i have never came upon a racquet that felt so good to hit. My only predicament would be if i liked this A&F racquet more than i like the Prince NXG Tour Graphite that will be on its way...

 

[Pomeranian]

Great find. Classic 100% graphite .I heard someone auctioned off an A&F racquet. Probably as a collectors item but that racquet seems pretty solid to me, I wouldn't buy it to hang it on my wall.

Btw, what you pointed out about the dimensions being almost identical to the N-six one ncode, that just proves how much tennis racquets advanced over the years.

 

[safin_protege]

Interesting find...

 

[ShooterMcMarco]

Sweet racquet man, congrats. No doubt if I found something like that I would be hitting with it also

 

[MegacedU]

Cool. Didn't know Abercrombie was around that long.

1892. The story of Abercrombie and Fitch used to be printed on the tissue paper. They did away with that at the beginning of 2005 and began using the moose.

 

[tennisadict]

nice raket

 

[Deuce]

Actually, it reminds me of the Wilson Ceramic from the mid-1980s. The Ceramic was also white, and the mold was quite similar, it seems.

 

[SteveI]

Actually, it reminds me of the Wilson Ceramic from the mid-1980s. The Ceramic was also white, and the mold was quite similar, it seems.

Hi,

Could also be a ProKennex build. Looks like the ACE series. They used to make frames for many of the majors in the 1980s.

Regards,
Steve

 

[PBODY99]

It is from the 1980's. Laver was with ProKennex, they made SMU for many of the chains back then.
I'm sure that it felt SWEET, most frames did back then, as they were not as stiff. Wilson braided Ultra's excepted.
The mold looks like their Ace series, which used a common mold but different percentages of Graphite( BLACK 100%) & firbreglass(Silver 80/20){Composite70/30}and even one with BORON(DIAMOND).

 

[cozmo5050]

what synthetic gut, hybrid, or multifilament would u put on a Wilson ProStaff 6.0 90/95 headsized racquet?

and at what tension?

 

[slice bh compliment]

Hi,

Could also be a ProKennex build. Looks like the ACE series. They used to make frames for many of the majors in the 1980s.

Regards,
Steve

Is this no longer the case?

 

[PBODY99]

Pro Kennex still makes frames for some of the companies under contract, but not as many as before from what I have heard.

 

[andfor]

I used to play tennis 5 years or so ago with a guy that played with those exact same sticks. He was a big hitter and liked the flex, touch and low power for control they gave him. He told me his aunt picked them up for him at A&F in europe some time ago. I always thought they played much like the Head Prestige Mid. He always said he'd buy more if he could find them.

Unusual find. Thanks for sharing.

 

[cozmo5050]

woot. i always go back to playing around with this.

 

[cozmo5050]

I used to play tennis 5 years or so ago with a guy that played with those exact same sticks. He was a big hitter and liked the flex, touch and low power for control they gave him. He told me his aunt picked them up for him at A&F in europe some time ago. I always thought they played much like the Head Prestige Mid. He always said he'd buy more if he could find them.

Unusual find. Thanks for sharing.

hey, it's been awhile but ive started playing with these sticks again (sentimental value) just for kicks... man, it's orgasmic if u hit it perfectly in the sweetspot. All i can say is wow. woot!

Question: do u remember what strings that 'guy' used w/ those A&F racquets? Ive only hit them with this cheapo Pro's Pro Poly Nova, and the strings are ****** stiff! just wanted to share, wondering if u had any suggestions.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

I was playing doubles with some guys I had never met before about 2 weeks ago.

On a change over I glanced into this guys back and saw one of those, I meant to ask him about it... I forgot...

I figured it was some sort of gimmick, not really meant to be used for a serious game. I was obviously totally wrong...

I'll see if I can find out where he got it.

 

[FABulous]

Never heard of an A&F racket. I want one.

 

[TokyopunK]

Is your favorite word orgasmic?

 

[AJK1]

Nice racquet, shame about the string worm.

 

[jeffreyfranz]

Abercrombie and Fitch was a premier purveyor of sporting goods dating back well more than 100 years. They fell on hard times some years ago, but there was still equity embedded in the brand name, which has been sold and resold more than once. THe current A&F bears no resem blance to the original. This is true of many, many consumer product brands. The company falters, then gets completely hollowed out, with nothing left but the value of the brand, which is sold, re-invented and re-marketed. Countless examples, including A&F, Brooks Brothers, Bloomingdale's, Converse, Puma, Izod/LaCoste, Emerson, Stroh's, Hamm's, Olympia, Pabst, Spalding, Maytag ...

:grin: Maytag! My God, man!

 

[armand]

Anyone visited the store Abercrombie+Fitch? It's really annoying how they purposely make it cluttered. And the store is dark so you can't see what you want to buy(if you were to buy something as the prices are idiotically high[ok, I bought a golf shirt that was originally $80 but was marked down to $40).

But the girls that work there are gorgeous and wear sexy clothes. And they have a great casual attitude towards the patron as if you are attending the same social event(as opposed to American Eagle Outfitters where the girl called me 'sir'. What a b****.)

 

[cozmo5050]

Is your favorite word orgasmic?

ok, 'euphoric.' better?