History of the Fischer Pro # 1

Captain Haddock

Captain Haddock

Rookie
OK, all Fischer fans, please help me reconstruct the Pro # 1 history. I'm sure there are gaps in my recollection, especially as far as cosmetics changes are concerned.
1) VT Pro 98 (blue/pink/silver) used by Kafelnikov to win the 96 French Open. Same cosmetics as the Stich model.
2) VT pro 98 (red and yellow version) used by Kafelnikov to win the Australian Open
Were there other cosmetics as well? The Vacuum 90 came in silver, in neon yellow, in dark blue with red lettering, etc. Did the VT 98 follow the same changes? Can't recall...
3) Pro Number One (silver and red) 330 grams, Ceramics in layup. One of my favorites. There was an XL version as well.
4) Pro Number One (black, white and red), 320 grams, no ceramics although "SICS Ceramics" is still written on the frame? This is still a big mystery to me, BTW. Who ever confirmed the absence of ceramics?
4) Pro Number One (black and red), last version sold by TW, 320 grams, no ceramics despite the mention on the frame (?)
5) FT version, longer than 27 inches
6) Current M Speed version.
I'm sure there are in-between versions with different colors, weights, etc. It would be nice if someone could add the years these versions were produced as well. Tom Martinez, a little help with the "bloodline" as you used to call it? Colpo? 007? Skraggle?
BTW I absolutely LOVE these frames!
 
1) The first one I ever used was blue, black and gold(maybe silver). It was i think 340g. This might be your No. 1. Did the one I used have purple? Can't remember.

1.1) When Fischer released the Vacuum Pro Classic in 90" and 98" headsize in Blue/black/gold and purple, so called Stich cosmetic, the VT Pro was available with a burgundy,gold and black paintjob.

I agree with your 2 and onwards stuff. When the VT Pro came out in bright red and yellow the Pro Classics, both head sizes, were released in dark navy blue with red lettering.
 
Fabrice....I think you've summed up the lineage of this frame very well. I was sponsored by Fischer back then and used the Blue/Purple/Gold one for quite some while. the one with the exposed layup which was a thing of beauty i thought.
I would eliminate the #5 FT version as I dont think that one has the same beam as the rest?
To me, the only ones to play were the ones which called for a stringing range of only 3 pounds or so <something like 54-56>, and those were the ones that had the ceramics in them. If you went outside of this narrow range or some stringer didnt know what 55 should be like, the frames just didnt play well. When they made the range 50-60 and then later 50-70 (which was way off base i think for that frame), i really dont think there was any ceramics used in the frames any longer in spite of what the graphics said. The later #1's just felt too mushy to me for my liking.
Really sweet frames...they somehow played both firm and soft at the same time, did everything great, and there was this special little spot within the sweetspot where you got this amazing feedback.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
 
AAA, you're right, there was some purplish pink in the first version, along with exposed braided graphite fibers covered by a transparent lacquer finish. Those were undoubtedly made in Austria. Subsequent versions had simpler cosmetics and were built in China, still with very tight quality control. I don't know how Fischer does it, but every racquet I've ever bought from them was within 2 grams of the stated specs. I forgot about the burgundy models. Wish I had kept my old Fischer catalogs. Now for the pros who used this racquet? Kafelnikov, Pavel, Ulirach, Bagdhatis (you can tell by the shape of the bottom part of the throat that his frame is a Pro # 1, not an M Speed) and ... who else?
 
Also, going from 1 to 2 led to a change from a constant 21 mm beam to a tapered 20-25 mm beam design which was then maintained in the following editions.
 
Fabrice Leroy said:
AAA, you're right, there was some purplish pink in the first version, along with exposed braided graphite fibers covered by a transparent lacquer finish. Those were undoubtedly made in Austria. Subsequent versions had simpler cosmetics and were built in China, still with very tight quality control. I don't know how Fischer does it, but every racquet I've ever bought from them was within 2 grams of the stated specs. I forgot about the burgundy models. Wish I had kept my old Fischer catalogs. Now for the pros who used this racquet? Kafelnikov, Pavel, Ulirach, Bagdhatis (you can tell by the shape of the bottom part of the throat that his frame is a Pro # 1, not an M Speed) and ... who else?
Click to expand...

The first version I saw was in 1991 and called the Vacuum Pro mid plus with the tapered beam of 21/23/25. This racquet should not be confused with the Vacuum Pro Mid which had the same cosmetics and is what Michael Stich used. I have the March 1992 issue of TENNIS MAGAZINE in which the Fischer Vacuum Pro Mid Plus was reviewed that I recently found.
 
Also I think there was a name change in there somewhere when instead of the frame being called VT (Vacuum Technic) Pro98, it was called Vacuum Pro98 (the word Technic was removed)
 
NoBadMojo said:
Also I think there was a name change in there somewhere when instead of the frame being called VT (Vacuum Technic) Pro98, it was called Vacuum Pro98 (the word Technic was removed)
Click to expand...

I think it went from Vacuum Pro Mid Plus to Vacuum Pro 98 and then VT Pro 98.
 
Fabrice Leroy said:
AAA, you're right, there was some purplish pink in the first version, along with exposed braided graphite fibers covered by a transparent lacquer finish. Those were undoubtedly made in Austria. Subsequent versions had simpler cosmetics and were built in China, still with very tight quality control. I don't know how Fischer does it, but every racquet I've ever bought from them was within 2 grams of the stated specs. I forgot about the burgundy models. Wish I had kept my old Fischer catalogs. Now for the pros who used this racquet? Kafelnikov, Pavel, Ulirach, Bagdhatis (you can tell by the shape of the bottom part of the throat that his frame is a Pro # 1, not an M Speed) and ... who else?
Click to expand...

Belgium's Phillipe De Wulf used the red paintjob the one and only year he made it deep into the French Open draw.

Didn't Bodan Ulirach like Carl Uwe Steeb used the 21mm constant profile Pro Classic 98"? I know Steeb did. Also I have pictures in my head of Alex Antonitsch using the Pro Classic 98" at one point in his playing career.

About the tight tolerances, the racquet molds had all air sucked out of them during racquet production so that there were no internal air pockets in the graphite hence the term Vacuum in the frame name. Since the racquets,by design, weren't supposed to have air pockets all racquets had a better chance of having the same amount of graphite hence the almost identical weights. The process they used was more expensive.


vkartikv, The beam profile didn't change. There were two distinct lines at that time.

1) The power feel system on the VT Pro line. Tapered 25mm-23mm-20mm beam.

2) constant beam of the Pro Classic line. Stich went from using the 19mm Pro Classic 90" to the 22mm(or 21mm?) sunburnt yellow Revolution Pro Classic +1.5cm 98".

Always good to hear from fellow Fischer enthusiasts. It's a shame they don't make them like they used to.
 
'92 was the first US release. US frames of the 98 were never Austrian made, always China. Available in L (330) or LM (340) weights. The familiar royal/lavendar/gold/black colorway lasted until '96, when the red/gold/black colorway (Vacuum Pro Classic 98) was intro'ed. Mostly fire engine red/yellow/black version (VT Pro 98) issued in '98 or '99. Nifty matte finish red/silver/black Pro No. One in '00...

Check out TW's own archive of Kafelnikov pics; excellent trove of VP 98 pics there!
 
Thanks for indicating the respective years of each frame, Colpo, and thanks for everyone's input. The Silver/Red Pro # 1 had indeed a matte, almost rubbery finish (not the rubbery kind of the early iPrestige mids, but a grainy, slightly textured sort of paint). The flat 22 mm beam Vac 98 and the tapered "power-feel" 21-25mm Vac 98 will forever be confused. That's what happens when manufacturers don't give racquets distinctive names like The Big Bubba! It's part of Fischer's charm, I think. The flat 22mm beam became the Pro Classic 98, now Retro edition, and the tapered beam the Pro # 1.

Fischer's switch to handles with plastic pallets is another curious thing. Does anyone know if Fischer pallets can be ordered?
 
I used the red silver fischer pro 1's for some time. The ceramic ones. I still have not found a racket that can match it for feel. I have 2 in my bag that i pull out occasionally for coaching or nostalgia. By far Fischer's best racket.
 
this is a old thread but I am becoming interested in Fischer racquets as I think they make some ofthe best players racquets out there.

Could anyone comment on the pro one red and black (probably 2005 or so) in 330g (european version)? How does it compare to the red silver one that it replaced? Thanks
 
Captain Haddock said:
OK, all Fischer fans, please help me reconstruct the Pro # 1 history. I'm sure there are gaps in my recollection, especially as far as cosmetics changes are concerned.
1) VT Pro 98 (blue/pink/silver) used by Kafelnikov to win the 96 French Open. Same cosmetics as the Stich model.
2) VT pro 98 (red and yellow version) used by Kafelnikov to win the Australian Open
Were there other cosmetics as well? The Vacuum 90 came in silver, in neon yellow, in dark blue with red lettering, etc. Did the VT 98 follow the same changes? Can't recall...
3) Pro Number One (silver and red) 330 grams, Ceramics in layup. One of my favorites. There was an XL version as well.
4) Pro Number One (black, white and red), 320 grams, no ceramics although "SICS Ceramics" is still written on the frame? This is still a big mystery to me, BTW. Who ever confirmed the absence of ceramics?
4) Pro Number One (black and red), last version sold by TW, 320 grams, no ceramics despite the mention on the frame (?)
5) FT version, longer than 27 inches
6) Current M Speed version.
I'm sure there are in-between versions with different colors, weights, etc. It would be nice if someone could add the years these versions were produced as well. Tom Martinez, a little help with the "bloodline" as you used to call it? Colpo? 007? Skraggle?
BTW I absolutely LOVE these frames!
Click to expand...
Nice comparison here. I would love to see an update to this list. I REALLY wish there was a photo history of these racquets available to really look at all in one place. I get worn out trying to put the names in and taking so long to weed out the real photos. So many versions and close to names for these racquets. I do not want to buy the wrong one.
 
The six first ones should be safe bets. I am still quite unsure if the 7th and 8th do or do not contain SiC. There are some rumors in the forum claiming that there is not SiC, in spite of what it says in the frame. But who knows for real? (I do not have those frames, nor do I have a proper spectrometer to measure SiC contents. :D )

Pm me for some more images, if these are not sufficient. There are more frames using the mold, at least Gamma T6, Technifibre TFlash 315 VO2, and Pacific XForce Pro No. 1. Personally, I only have the 2nd generation racket and Pacific ones, that I mostly play with.

tQIHzg.png
 
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tmatila said:
The six first ones should be safe bets. I am still quite unsure if the 7th and 8th do or do not contain SiC. There are some rumors in the forum claiming that there is not SiC, in spite of what it says in the frame. But who knows for real? (I do not have those frames, nor do I have a proper spectrometer to measure SiC contents. :D )

Pm me for some more images, if these are not sufficient. There are more frames using the mold, at least Gamma T6, Technifibre TFlash 315 VO2, and Pacific XForce Pro No. 1. Personally, I only have the 2nd generation racket and Pacific ones, that I mostly play with.

tQIHzg.png
Click to expand...
Great photos and years listed on the racquet. This helps a lot. Thank you.
I had the top four here at one time or another. I could not tell you when I had them but they all played great when I used them. ( I wish I still had them)
 
tmatila said:
The six first ones should be safe bets. I am still quite unsure if the 7th and 8th do or do not contain SiC. There are some rumors in the forum claiming that there is not SiC, in spite of what it says in the frame. But who knows for real? (I do not have those frames, nor do I have a proper spectrometer to measure SiC contents. :D )

Pm me for some more images, if these are not sufficient. There are more frames using the mold, at least Gamma T6, Technifibre TFlash 315 VO2, and Pacific XForce Pro No. 1. Personally, I only have the 2nd generation racket and Pacific ones, that I mostly play with.

tQIHzg.png
Click to expand...
Brilliant pic.

I also have frames here, both really ancient and others more recent, and they all have "Sic ceramics graphite" painted on the frame. Assuming it IS true for the older ones, why would it be false for the most modern ones?
 
My current assumption is also that all the Pro No 1:s in the images were "SiC ceramics graphite". Maybe the confusion is due to fact that alongside with the 8th racket, the Pro No 1 FT was released. That was a slightly different mold, and afaik never released in SiC layup. First FT was AirCarbon, then came two iterations of M PRo No 1:s (Graphite / Fiberglass / Piezotec Fibres) and finally Black Granite No One (Black Granite / F-glass / Graphite). Pacific used "FT" mold for many iterations (maybe) of XForce Pro, which I like less than XForce Pro No 1:s.

These are the FT Pro No 1s by Fischer, as far as I know. (Lacking some sexy images from some of these)

GAz9Lr.png


When it comes to Pacific's "Pro 98" history, I think there are at least these
  • 252 mold (Original Vacuum Pro Mid Plus from 1992)
    • 2010 X Force Lite
    • 2014 BX2 X Force Pro LT
    • 2016 BXT X Force Pro No 1
    • 2016 BXT X Force LT
    • 2020 BXT X Force Pro No 1
  • 252 mold but in 18x20 string pattern
    • 2010 X Force Pro 18x20
    • 2014 BX2 X Force Pro 18x20
  • "FT" mold from 2003
    • 2010 X Force Pro
    • 2010 X Force
    • 2014 BX2 X Force Pro
    • 2014 BX2 X Force
    • 2016 BXT X Force Pro
    • 2016 BXT X Force
    • 2020 X Force Pro 320
    • 2020 X Force Pro 295
    • 2023 X Force Pro 308
    • 2023 X Force Pro 296
 
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I'd never physically seen one of these racquets till literally this morning, went to hit with a mate and he'd just played an hour with another of his mates, an older gent swinging a 2003 Pro 1. Holding it the first thing that struck me was how similar the geometry and beam shape was to the newly released RF01. First ball I hit I knew it was something special, and it had a dead poly in it! The Prince 97P is a stick I rate highly for its feel, but this was just right up there with it. Would be great to get a fresh set of strings into it, maybe a gut/poly hybrid, and see how it plays, but I doubt I'll be able to find one, he got his for pocket change with a Wilson from someone who didn't appreciate it and he's never selling it.
 
It's funny that this 17 year-old thread keeps on going. I just received a brand new Pro One Magnetic Speed 98 from a very good friend and fellow TW poster. I used it yesterday and loved it immediately. When the Magnetic Speed line first came out, I wasn’t sold on the concept. The beam had changed from the old VT 98 and the new ones were also more flexible. I preferred the original design. But now the MSpeed feels wonderful, so I guess I should have judged it by its own merit. The 4 &5/8 Fischer grip shape with the domed butt cap remains my absolute favorite.
 
tmatila said:
The six first ones should be safe bets. I am still quite unsure if the 7th and 8th do or do not contain SiC. There are some rumors in the forum claiming that there is not SiC, in spite of what it says in the frame. But who knows for real? (I do not have those frames, nor do I have a proper spectrometer to measure SiC contents. :D )

Pm me for some more images, if these are not sufficient. There are more frames using the mold, at least Gamma T6, Technifibre TFlash 315 VO2, and Pacific XForce Pro No. 1. Personally, I only have the 2nd generation racket and Pacific ones, that I mostly play with.

tQIHzg.png
Click to expand...
I appreciate the great photos and info posted on the racquet pics. I have a Fischer Pro Classic 98 that's gold in color. I have no idea what year it is. I have tried posting a photo of it without success. For some reason I cannot find the tab to add a photo.
 
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