Graphite/composite frames with a nylon throat piece.

[galain]

Talking to my brother today who has just scored a Puma Vilas and I got to wondering how many of the early composite frames had the nylon throat piece. It can't have been all that many? I can think of the early Pumas, the Prince Precision Graphite, and.........that's it. I'm drawing a blank right now. Were there m/any others? I know this style of frame had a very small window but i can really only think of these particular examples.

 

[retrowagen]

Well, let’s see: off the top of my head, there were a few various lesser Pumas, circa 1984-1988, almost every Völkl model prior to 1986, the Dunlop Blue Max, the Pro Kennex Bronze Ace, the Donnay Mid 750, Mid 725, and DX25...

All of these were not ideal from an engineering standpoint (depending on a screwed-in throatpiece, a carryover from aluminum frame orthodoxy), and with the exception of the Völkl line, considered downmarket models.

 

[coachrick]

A few of the early Yamahas

 

[Injured Again]

I still have two of the Precision Graphites. They were my wife's racquet back in the day. I pulled one out a year ago and even with 20 year old synthetic gut strings, it's still a sweet and solid hit.

 

[galain]

How could I forget the Bronze Ace and the early Völkls (I even have one in my attic). Duh! Thank you guys.

 

[vsbabolat]

Snauwaert had a couple and HEAD had one. I can’t remember the names anymore

 

[retrowagen]

Snauwaert had a couple and HEAD had one. I can’t remember the names anymore

The Snauwaert was the Graphite Impact, if I recall correctly. I don’t remember Head making anything like this, however. Closest thing was the Tournament Edge/Pro/Director, high quality aluminum alloy frames circa 1984-1986. The Director was even used by Tim Mayotte on tour.

 

[vsbabolat]

The Snauwaert was the Graphite Impact, if I recall correctly. I don’t remember Head making anything like this, however. Closest thing was the Tournament Edge/Pro/Director, high quality aluminum alloy frames circa 1984-1986. The Director was even used by Tim Mayotte on tour.

Yes, for the European market.

 

[galain]

yes - i remember the Snauwaert version of this construction too.

 

[coachrick]

A few of the early Yamahas

And a few Yonex models in the '70s

 

[galain]

And a few Yonex models in the '70s

Damn - what's happening to my memory? The Graphlex, right? A friend of mine had one of those.