How does Kramer Pro Staff compare to Kramer Autograph?

[Redflea]

I played with the Kramer Autograph as a kid, and have a couple now, but never hit w/the Kramer Pro Staff wood.

How does the Kramer Pro Staff play/feel compared to the Kramer Autograph? Is it as nice a hit? What are the key differences?

Thanks.

 

[LeeD]

Pro Staff's were lighter, headlighter, much less durable in the whole racket from head to throat, and better for weaker players to compensate for the extreme weight and stiffness of the K's and SSmiths.
I used PS's for a couple of years, at 5'11" and maybe 130lbs., and they were great for 3 string jobs max. After that, they'd get soft or often crack mostly at the joint between head and throat.
But that was fine, as they were light and manueverable, quick and solid for it's lifespan.

 

[tacoben]

I played with the Kramer Autograph as a kid, and have a couple now, but never hit w/the Kramer Pro Staff wood.

How does the Kramer Pro Staff play/feel compared to the Kramer Autograph? Is it as nice a hit? What are the key differences?

Thanks.

I was in high school when I played with these woodies. For me, it felt the same, but psychologically, I played better with the Pro Staff because the racquet looked better. The darker wood laminate along with the diamond in-lay on the prostaff was more aesthetically pleasing then the plane jane autograph.

 

[onehandbh]

Pro Staff's were lighter, headlighter, much less durable in the whole racket from head to throat, and better for weaker players to compensate for the extreme weight and stiffness of the K's and SSmiths.
I used PS's for a couple of years, at 5'11" and maybe 130lbs., and they were great for 3 string jobs max. After that, they'd get soft or often crack mostly at the joint between head and throat.
But that was fine, as they were light and manueverable, quick and solid for it's lifespan.

My dad used to play w/the JK Autos and I tried them a
few years ago. Then I founda JK PS and played with that.

JK PS: came in various weights. ranging from 12.0 oz
to 13+. Much stiffer throat b/c it has an addition piece
of wood on top of the throat area above the grip.
To me it was much more stable and had better feel.

JK Auto: also came in various weights. less stiff and felt
like a wet noodle compared to the JK PS. It also came
in a "midsize" version that had a larger head than the
std wood racquet size. The midsize appeared to be
close to the PS85's headsize but was more round in
shape.

I think Johnny Mac used to play w/a JK PS at some point.

I played a wood racquet tournament for fun a few years
ago. I used a JK PS. By the end of the tournament the
strings had ripped through the wood almost all the way
through at several places. After having so much fun w/the
wood racquet in the tournament I started collecting a
bunch of them. I'm going to try and get into the wood
racquet tournament in palm desert they have every year.
I'm thinking of organizing
one in LA w/the proceeds going to a charity. Maybe
something like Habitat for Humanity since I've always
wanted to volunteer for them.

 

[Rabbit]

I always thought there was a difference too. The last wood racquet I played with was the JK ProStaff. I was told, back in the day, that the Auto was more flexible than the ProStaff. But...

That said, Bill Scanlon, the last professional to use the Jack Kramer, said that there was zero difference between the Auto and ProStaff. He said he could use them interchangeably and did. I believe he went on to say that pretty much every "Auto" Wilson made, including the Chris Evert and Stan Smith, was basically a JK Auto with different cosmetics.

I own both now. I don't find any difference between them in relation to playability.

 

[Arafel]

I think the Pro Staff is a little stiffer. A lot of big servers used the PS, including McEnroe and Curren.

 

[Redflea]

Thanks for all the comments, I appreciate the information.

Dana

 

[Deuce]

I think the Pro Staff is a little stiffer. A lot of big servers used the PS, including McEnroe and Curren.

Curren, yes - but when, exactly, was McEnroe a "big server"?

 

[joe sch]

I always thought there was a difference too. The last wood racquet I played with was the JK ProStaff. I was told, back in the day, that the Auto was more flexible than the ProStaff. But...

That said, Bill Scanlon, the last professional to use the Jack Kramer, said that there was zero difference between the Auto and ProStaff. He said he could use them interchangeably and did. I believe he went on to say that pretty much every "Auto" Wilson made, including the Chris Evert and Stan Smith, was basically a JK Auto with different cosmetics.

I own both now. I don't find any difference between them in relation to playability.

I find the JK PS and Wilson Advantage play almost indentical but both have more control than the JK Auto. Kramer had factory modified version of the JKA that was close to 17 oz's

Joe

 

[shadowrtype]

Hi guys. Can't believe I've missed all this classic woodie talk! I have a few of these Wilsons but not strung exactly the same, and they may vary between medium or light weight. I can't tell because any stickers are gone. So my judgement here is not very scientific, but here goes anyways.

My standard for comparison is the jk pro staff that is labelled medium, and this one is my favorite of all my Wilson woodies. In comparison, the Advantage is a bit lighter and stiffer than the pro staff. It swings a little faster too but the balance seems to be less head light. Don't take my word on this though. I've not measuered anything, just basing on "feel" from the few times I've hit with all of these.

The JK Autograph I think has the same weight and balance as the pro staff but to me feels significantly more flexible. Too flexible! Maybe mine are too old. I also have 2 JK Autograph Midsize (85 sq in), and they too are very flexy but slightly firmer than the standard autograph. Advantage is a beautiful looking racquet that will stay on the display shelf. She is too stiff.

Autographs have slightly thinner throats and my guess as to why they flex more. Advantage and Pro Staff look identical as far as thickness and wood laminates. They both have a piece of wood above the handle that I believe contributes to the firmness that the Autographs do not have. From what I've read here the Advantage may have some non-wood laminate that give it firmer flex than the rest. Can anyone confirm? The Midsize Autographs are clearly labeled to have graphite reinforcements, and you can definitely feel that the hoop is more solid, but the throat still feels too much of a noodle.

These all feel and play differently, so I do not think they are clones of each other. I think there definitely is a difference between the pro staffs and autographs. The autographs have more comfortable hits from the baseline, but the pro staff has much better pop from the mid court and control at the net. Just one man's opinion. Overall these Wilson woodies are great fun to play with!

 

[yuth]

In my point of view, I think that JK prostaff is stable than JK autograph........and easy to generate power........So I love JK staff than an autograph one.



Anyway I love wilson men adventage the most.

 

[hoodjem]

I tried both. The JK Auto played flexier in the throat and seemed a little whippy at the top of the head.

The Kramer Staff was heavier, stiffer and had more power IMO. I always thought the JK Staff was a better baseline racquet and the Auto had more touch at the net.

I used a JK PS for years until switching to a PS 6.0 85.

(I also briefly had a Donnay Borg Pro before the JK PS; it was a completely different racquet from either Wilson.)

 

[plasma]

hey Yuth, great pics. Surprised not to see the Chris Evert or Tracy Austin.
Can you compare the Donnay Allwood to the Donnay Borg Pro, pls? thank you VERY much (Khap Khun MAI khapp)
I went to the local thrift store and found a mint Borg Pro (long grip! ungh). I was walking down the street with it almost kissing the friggin thing, when I bump into my friend who is a fellow coach. My friend saw it and I had to give it to him because he gave me a St.Vincent and a PC 600 for $20 once, and he had a head prestige and a Jack Kramer Wood in his bag.
He said he was sick of the Kramer Wood and loved the Donnay better. Please compare them as well please. thanks.
Never a big fan of the Alwood, will post my woods soon but my Room is now covered in a Mayan God painting I was hired to do. Don't ask me which one, there are 160 Mayan Gods.

 

[yuth]

Yes Dan........Just a short review la........Donnay Borg pro is better than all wood in term of feel, stability and power. If compare with the car...........I think Borg pro is Ferrari, but all wood is mazda rx8...........Anyway I love both of them

feel: men advantage > borg pro = JK prostaff > JK autograph > JK autograph mid

stable: men advantage > borg pro > JK prostaff > JK autograph > JK autograph mid

power: JK prostaff > JK autograph > men advantage > borg pro = JK autograph mid

Thanks,