First men's finalist and winner to win a slam in singles using a midplus or oversized racquet?

[d-quik]

Did it really take all the way until 1989 for Chang to take down a slam for the big racquets club?

As for the finalists, was Chris Lewis the first one to do it in 1983?

If not, did Curren use an MP or OS in his 1984 run? Did Pernfors or Mecir use an MP in 1986? Did Leconte use MP/OS in his 1988 run?

It really seems like it took a while for people to really start exploiting the advantages of larger racquets!

 

[Pheasant]

The early 1990s is when I first noticed it; especially with the serve speeds. This is when the big boys were regularly hitting in the low-120s. That was mind-blowing back then. Lendl as an old man had ramped up his racket size. He hit 110 on the radar. But that was well past his peak, despite him serving harder than ever. I remember the announcers talking about Seles’ 102 mph serves at the 1992 USO and how they were 7 mph faster than the year before. But that was likely more age-related, since she was only 18 in 1992.

The 1980s gurus will get to the bottom of this. I’m sure that I’m missing the boat here. I’m just spitballing off 33+ year old memories without any research.

One thing that I do remember is getting my sister’s hand-me-down rackets(she was one of the best players in state in the late-1970 to early-1980s). Each racket that I got was substantially better than the previous one. One time, I even got a graphite racket. Wow, was that a game-changer!

 

[vsbabolat]

Did it really take all the way until 1989 for Chang to take down a slam for the big racquets club?

As for the finalists, was Chris Lewis the first one to do it in 1983?

If not, did Curren use an MP or OS in his 1984 run? Did Pernfors or Mecir use an MP in 1986? Did Leconte use MP/OS in his 1988 run?

It really seems like it took a while for people to really start exploiting the advantages of larger racquets!

Yannick Noah uses lager than 85 in his Le Coq Sportif Concept 3 TCO to win the 1983. Le Coq Sportif said it was Oversize on the stick. As far as all the player you mentioned the answer is no also Curren’s big Wimbledon run was 1985 and lost to Becker in 4 sets using the Kneissl White Star Pro Master which as a little larger than standard about 70ish/75. But Chang in 1989 won the French Open with the Graphite Oversize and the first guy to do so.

PS Lewis 1983 run to the Wimbledon Final was also with the Prince Graphite Oversize but he got crushed by McEnroe

 

[mavsman149]

Yannick Noah uses lager than 85 in his Le Coq Sportif Concept 3 TCO to win the 1983. Le Coq Sportif said it was Oversize on the stick. As far as all the player you mentioned the answer is no also Curren’s big Wimbledon run was 1985 and lost to Becker in 4 sets using the Kneissl White Star Pro Master which as a little larger than standard about 70ish/75. But Chang in 1989 won the French Open with the Graphite Oversize and the first guy to do so.

PS Lewis 1983 run to the Wimbledon Final was also with the Prince Graphite Oversize but he got crushed by McEnroe

Is Agassi the only men’s winner that’s used something bigger than 100?

 

[PistolPete23]

Chang was the first with an OS stick. Agassi the last? For how popular the POG OS was, there didn't seem to be many major winners who used an OS.

 

[PistolPete23]

Is Agassi the only men’s winner that’s used something bigger than 100?

Michael Chang, French Open 1989
Still the record holder on the men's tour for youngest slam winner at 17. That record will likely never be broken.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

He didn't the Open, but Paul Annacone (TC commentator and Taylor Fritz coach) beat McEnroe at the 1986 US Open using a OG Prince 110. Served and volleyed with it a lot.

 

[PistolPete23]

He didn't the Open, but Paul Annacone (TC commentator and Taylor Fritz coach) beat McEnroe at the 1986 US Open using a OG Prince 110. Served and volleyed with it a lot.

I still use a POG from time to time. Great for baseline rallies but I can’t serve with it.

 

[Seth]

I still use a POG from time to time. Great for baseline rallies but I can’t serve with it.

The POG is so fun. I think serving with it requires it to be your main frame. I committed to it for a little over a year at one point and I had to put in quite a bit of time on the serve alone.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

I still use a POG from time to time. Great for baseline rallies but I can’t serve with it.

My issue too. The heavy weight makes it super stable on groundstrokes, but sluggish on serves.

 

[PistolPete23]

I just watched the match highlights from Annacone vs McEnroe at the USO. So crazy he used the POG to beat Mac at what Mac was best at.

 

[vsbabolat]

Is Agassi the only men’s winner that’s used something bigger than 100?

No, Micael Chang used the Prince Graphite Oversize to win the 1989 French Open.

 

[vsbabolat]

I just watched the match highlights from Annacone vs McEnroe at the USO. So crazy he used the POG to beat Mac at what Mac was best at.

McEnroe was not at his best in 1986. He had taken a 7 month layoff and came back just before the US Open. John wasn’t too sharp in that match.

 

[esm]

My issue too. The heavy weight makes it super stable on groundstrokes, but sluggish on serves.

Could be the high twistweight. I recall seeing the TWU data for the POG107 is over 18…..
(I am aware of the TWU twistweight “accuracy, even that worst case it’d be at 16-ish… lol)

 

[PistolPete23]

McEnroe was not at his best in 1986. He had taken a 7 month layoff and came back just before the US Open. John wasn’t too sharp in that match.

I was mainly impressed Annacone was using an OS to serve and volley, hitting one-handed backhands too. To each their own I guess …

 

[PistolPete23]

Could be the high twistweight. I recall seeing the TWU data for the POG107 is over 18…..
(I am aware of the TWU twistweight “accuracy, even that worst case it’d be at 16-ish… lol)

I think so. I found it sluggish too through the air on the serve. Maybe high TW causing difficulty pronating.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Michael Chang, French Open 1989
Still the record holder on the men's tour for youngest slam winner at 17. That record will likely never be broken.

In fairness, Wilander and Becker were both only 17 too when they got their first GS, but I know what you mean. Chang's 17 and 3-months is certainly impressive.

 

[Seth]

I was mainly impressed Annacone was using an OS to serve and volley, hitting one-handed backhands too. To each their own I guess …

It’s amazing to watch. I try to S&V a fair amount, and the POG is money at net. So much stability and mass it makes volleying pretty easy (if you’re prepared to get the racquet in place earlier). But to see it at the pro level is something else. Is Annacone the low-key GOAT?

 

[PistolPete23]

It’s amazing to watch. I try to S&V a fair amount, and the POG is money at net. So much stability and mass it makes volleying pretty easy (if you’re prepared to get the racquet in place earlier). But to see it at the pro level is something else. Is Annacone the low-key GOAT?

I didn’t even realize how decent of a player he was. I mostly know him as the guy who coached Sampras and Fed.

 

[PistolPete23]

Look at this backhand passing shot, beauty!

 

[esm]

I think so. I found it sluggish too through the air on the serve. Maybe high TW causing difficulty pronating.

I still need to find one “at a decent price”, for my AA collection. lol.

 

[michael valek]

Great video. One of jonny Mac’s most insane haircuts. But the black macattack jacket he puts on at the end is awesome.