How many people still play with rackets that are over 20 years old?
- Thread starter jimanuel12
- Start date
joe sch
Legend
I get so much joy from using this racquet,that even off the court i often keep it close.and I can still win games with it.
Agree, the joy of wood. Also love that bamboo that bancroft used for the extra special feel and look !
Rock Strongo
Legend
The Prince Mono is nearing 20 years old. May I add it?
spaceman_spiff
Hall of Fame
I recently switched back to my original Radical MP. I was playing with the IG Speed Pro, but it was killing my shoulder on serves.
So, back to the bumblebee.
So, back to the bumblebee.
Dino Lagaffe
Hall of Fame
@Rock Strongo, skicka ett pm till mig! Jag har en fråga till dig.
Just for fun just restring my old Head Classic MidPlus's with Kirschbaum PL 17
and wow, still beats the heck out of the new stuff by Head. All the Speed pro, Graphene's & Youteks are pale by comparison. If I can handle the weight over 3 sets just might switch back to them full time. The feel & plow through are addicting!
and wow, still beats the heck out of the new stuff by Head. All the Speed pro, Graphene's & Youteks are pale by comparison. If I can handle the weight over 3 sets just might switch back to them full time. The feel & plow through are addicting!
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Thats the thing, the feel is so addicting of these Twaron Fibre racquets!
I bought my current set of ProStaff 85s in the early 90s and I used them since then (with the exception of a brief and terrible period when I switched to Yonex RQiS somethings while the PS was out of production).
Now that the PS85 is back, I got a new pair and I'll use them tomorrow for the first time. If they feel good, I'll stock up and never buy racquets again.
Now that the PS85 is back, I got a new pair and I'll use them tomorrow for the first time. If they feel good, I'll stock up and never buy racquets again.
BGod
G.O.A.T.
I took out a 36 year old T-4000 and played in house league once. Destructive on the arm but the nylon strings and tiny frame didn't hold me back from winning. I was able to even hit backhand volley. I have video evidence.
I can still play with my Head Ti-Carbon 9000 which is 14 years old.
I can still play with my Head Ti-Carbon 9000 which is 14 years old.
USASAgencyman
New User
Play report update on 44 yr.-old Seamless/Seamco
(FYI, Now I find out there was also a "Hart" identical to the Seamco.)
Both racquets are now strung with some new, (NOS? -thanks to Joe_sch), blue striped multi-filament that was probably pure Nylon, and they did wonderfully. Pic below.
These are quite head-heavy, mine is 13.7 oz, the sweet-spot is at least 1" farther out than modern 110s, but choking up puts it at the now normal reach.
One must move and get ready quickly, and really concentrate on finding strings' center. Payoff is a racquet, (I know that is no longer an accepted spelling), that has amazing "plow through" I think it's called. This forced observance of the the most fundamental of the basics carries over to normal duty racquets in a huge way.
Something occurred to me during this session; I now realize the source of some old muscle-memory moves I had been doing as I get back to the game after decades away, (with back surgery and shoulder injury).
When I had to return, going away, with a high backhand from way behind the ad-court, and could manage to hit with the middle of the stringy stuff, the ball would actually go deep cross court. I was as amazed as if an on-looker,
When we went back to our regulars, (still decades old Prince Graphite 110 for me), swinging them felt like they were made of Balsa wood.
Just for the record, no knots failed, no racquet string supports failed either, no thanks to my playing partner and me.
I began the afternoon session saying that we should consider these ancient 44 year old racquets as something to treasure and use for light, short court precision practice, due to the age of the plastic-ware and reports of racquet failure.
Well that lasted about three minutes, then we hit hard and fast for an hour, several dozens of maybe even 100+mph returns of returns, -it seems to always escalate with us!!! A full set before regular racquets and another set. We always run out of time before enthusiasm. We always run out of gas after about two hours..., but I'm old and he's a wimp. Go figure!
We will continue to use these for such practice.
(FYI, Now I find out there was also a "Hart" identical to the Seamco.)
Both racquets are now strung with some new, (NOS? -thanks to Joe_sch), blue striped multi-filament that was probably pure Nylon, and they did wonderfully. Pic below.
These are quite head-heavy, mine is 13.7 oz, the sweet-spot is at least 1" farther out than modern 110s, but choking up puts it at the now normal reach.
One must move and get ready quickly, and really concentrate on finding strings' center. Payoff is a racquet, (I know that is no longer an accepted spelling), that has amazing "plow through" I think it's called. This forced observance of the the most fundamental of the basics carries over to normal duty racquets in a huge way.
Something occurred to me during this session; I now realize the source of some old muscle-memory moves I had been doing as I get back to the game after decades away, (with back surgery and shoulder injury).
When I had to return, going away, with a high backhand from way behind the ad-court, and could manage to hit with the middle of the stringy stuff, the ball would actually go deep cross court. I was as amazed as if an on-looker,
When we went back to our regulars, (still decades old Prince Graphite 110 for me), swinging them felt like they were made of Balsa wood.
Just for the record, no knots failed, no racquet string supports failed either, no thanks to my playing partner and me.
I began the afternoon session saying that we should consider these ancient 44 year old racquets as something to treasure and use for light, short court precision practice, due to the age of the plastic-ware and reports of racquet failure.
Well that lasted about three minutes, then we hit hard and fast for an hour, several dozens of maybe even 100+mph returns of returns, -it seems to always escalate with us!!! A full set before regular racquets and another set. We always run out of time before enthusiasm. We always run out of gas after about two hours..., but I'm old and he's a wimp. Go figure!
We will continue to use these for such practice.
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joe sch
Legend
(FYI, Now I find out there was also a "Hart" identical to the Seamco.)
Both racquets are now strung with some new, (NOS? -thanks to Joe_sch), blue striped multi-filament that was probably pure Nylon, and they did wonderfully. Pic below.
These are quite head-heavy, mine is 13.7 oz, the sweet-spot is at least 1" farther out than modern 110s, but choking up puts it at the now normal reach.
One must move and get ready quickly, and really concentrate on finding strings' center. Payoff is a racquet, (I know that is no longer an accepted spelling), that has amazing "plow through" I think it's called. This forced observance of the the most fundamental of the basics carries over to normal duty racquets in a huge way.
Something occurred to me during this session; I now realize the source of some old muscle-memory moves I had been doing as I get back to the game after decades away, (with back surgery and shoulder injury).
When I had to return, going away, with a high backhand from way behind the ad-court, and could manage to hit with the middle of the stringy stuff, the ball would actually go deep cross court. I was as amazed as if an on-looker,
When we went back to our regulars, (still decades old Prince Graphite 110 for me), swinging them felt like they were made of Balsa wood.
Just for the record, no knots failed, no racquet string supports failed either, no thanks to my playing partner and me.
I began the afternoon session saying that we should consider these ancient 44 year old racquets as something to treasure and use for light, short court precision practice, due to the age of the plastic-ware and reports of racquet failure.
Well that lasted about three minutes, then we hit hard and fast for an hour, several dozens of maybe even 100+mph returns of returns, -it seems to always escalate with us!!! A full set before regular racquets and another set. We always run out of time before enthusiasm. We always run out of gas after about two hours..., but I'm old and he's a wimp. Go figure!
We will continue to use these for such practice.
They look beautiful … Im sure Kenny would be very proud to see them
Soo glad you enjoy that vintage "blue spiral" sun gut … just proves it still plays good after decades if stored correctly. Same goes for vintage natty gut. Keep enjoying those classics and finding your old strokes.
Virginia
Hall of Fame
When I showed my mint Seamco to Rosewall on my visit to the Sydney Olympic Centre in 2009, he was very impressed with its condition, I'm sure it sparked a few memories for him too. Anyway he signed his name in biro on the leather grip, so I have a very special memento. He also autographed his book "Twenty Years at the Top", another treasure.
I am probably his oldest fan (60 years and counting), having watched him and Hoad at Wimbledon in the 1950's.
I am probably his oldest fan (60 years and counting), having watched him and Hoad at Wimbledon in the 1950's.
Audiophile
Rookie
Up until the last month, I played with the original Dunlop Max 200G for the past many years. I really like the feel of that racquet and even though I demoed many frames throughout the time, I couldn't ever convince myself that anything else felt as good.
However, I finally decided it was time to move to something current. There is no telling how dead those old 200Gs were. If fact, I broke 2 of them from hitting. I know they were wore out.
However, I finally decided it was time to move to something current. There is no telling how dead those old 200Gs were. If fact, I broke 2 of them from hitting. I know they were wore out.
i play with a lot of different frames as my technique is clean. the only thing I find difficult to control are oversize frames and frames that are really light.
Lately I been trying to get my set of Head xrc frames down as they seem to be the only ones that really give me problems. I am changing the balance to get them more head lite. These frames have an extremely small head size but I dont think thats the issue as I have always played well with the arthur ashe comps. something is just different with these frames...they are way more powerful.
Lately I been trying to get my set of Head xrc frames down as they seem to be the only ones that really give me problems. I am changing the balance to get them more head lite. These frames have an extremely small head size but I dont think thats the issue as I have always played well with the arthur ashe comps. something is just different with these frames...they are way more powerful.
Autodidactic player
Professional
USASAgencyman
New User
BlackLendl
New User
I blew the dust off of my very first racquet recently for a hitting session. 1990 Wilson Pro Star mid that still has it's original strings. This might sound crazy but I'm loving the dull sound it makes. 85 sq inch head was considered big back then. Great for perfecting eye/racquet contact accuracy.
oldie but goodie
Wright & Ditson Big Bill Tiden championship racquet
This thread is not about just old racquets but old racquets you still play with, and I seriously doubt you play with this thing.
You do?
Mick
Legend
yes i do and I have never lost with this racquet because I only use it to play against players below my levelThis thread is not about just old racquets but old racquets you still play with, and I seriously doubt you play with this thing.
You do?
the last time i used it, the other guy got so mad that he had lost to me, he smashed his brand new Yonex RDS to the ground. Poor racquet. He then asked me if he could play with my racquet. I told him "No Way Buddy"
If you could play with a wood racquet, this racquet is not that much different than the wood racquets from the 70s. It just looks different and that is what so cool about it
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joe sch
Legend
here it is next to a Donnay. The Donnay is stiffer but I don't feel that much advantage in using it over the Wright & Ditson.
Nice pair Mick.
The wood rackets from two of the best woody players ever and separated by approx 50 years. Both famous rackets for the eras, Donnay Bjorn Borg Pro and W&D Bill Tilden. The Tilden was actually one of the first open throat wood rackets.
nothing wrong with playing with that wright and ditson if it works. I probably wouldnt do it with my winchester frames. These frames are just to old and valuable to go out and gring it on the court. whenever I get the desire to play with a woodie i ussually go with something less rare like a jack kramer.
Please tell me there is a crack in it or something. It would be kind of crazy to play with an antique like that if it is non warped and no cracks.
anyone who thinks you cant play well with wood frames is a little naive. My kickers with the jack kramer are 6' high from the baseline. the only thing i really had to adjust to was the return of serve. i stopped closeing the face on the return of serve and return very well with it now. Funny enough I use the same technique when useing graphites now and my return ismuch more clean, efficient, and consitant.
wood racquets and standard size composites like the XRC, yamaha etc are great tools for fiquring out the dynamics of shots. They allow zero slop and if your fundamentals are not solid you find out real quick. Of course if you allow your ego to get in the way you will make up all kinds of excuses why you cant play with them....the game is more advanced now...blah, blah, blah. But the reality is fundamentals dont change.
Please tell me there is a crack in it or something. It would be kind of crazy to play with an antique like that if it is non warped and no cracks.
anyone who thinks you cant play well with wood frames is a little naive. My kickers with the jack kramer are 6' high from the baseline. the only thing i really had to adjust to was the return of serve. i stopped closeing the face on the return of serve and return very well with it now. Funny enough I use the same technique when useing graphites now and my return ismuch more clean, efficient, and consitant.
wood racquets and standard size composites like the XRC, yamaha etc are great tools for fiquring out the dynamics of shots. They allow zero slop and if your fundamentals are not solid you find out real quick. Of course if you allow your ego to get in the way you will make up all kinds of excuses why you cant play with them....the game is more advanced now...blah, blah, blah. But the reality is fundamentals dont change.
Mick
Legend
there is a crack now where the throat is but i bought it to play, so it's ok beside, I don't play with it all the time but I know what you mean about not playing with certain frames. I got a few brand new wood frames and I don't think I will ever use them.
Mick
Legend
funny story. i was playing a match with a cheap wood frame from the 70s. I dont remember the brand. It was not an upper end frame that you would see in the hands of professional players. anyways....it was fairly light and played great for what it was. anyways...midway through the second set I hit a flat serve down the T and the entire hoop snapped off the throat at went flying into the court. The serve did go in and was an ace. I quietly walked up threw the head to the side and pretended to start my serve with my headless racquet. i caught the toss and said just kidding! My opponent was a little rattled after that one. then i played the rest of the match with one of my avant garde frames.
I guess that racquet was made from balsa wood or something. certainly was never meant to be restrung as it had original strings in it. too bad because it played great. Even a bad wood racquet felt good. durability was always the issue.
also, my winchester is a work of art. the frame is finished like an old world quality rifle stock and it says....winchester...as good as the gun! ...on the throat. an old frame back when men didnt need sissy leather on their handles...LOL. straight up wood grip probably around a 6-61/2 grip size. I think I could play well with it but its mint and already allocated to my two sons when they are old enough to appreciate it.
Sander001
Hall of Fame
How'd it go?
uncle pollo
Rookie
I am not a serious player, but I had the opportunity to test 10 different racquets in the last 2 months ... all modern.
The one I hit the best with, albeit not for long or my shoulder falls off, is the bancroft 94.
Half the time I perform my duties as a human ball machine with that one.
It needs a new grip and stri g job.
The one I hit the best with, albeit not for long or my shoulder falls off, is the bancroft 94.
Half the time I perform my duties as a human ball machine with that one.
It needs a new grip and stri g job.
Boristennis
New User
Volkl V1 Classic
Was surprised to see that the rackets I play with and love have just released a 20th Anniversary edition! Tried many others but keep coming back to these.
Was surprised to see that the rackets I play with and love have just released a 20th Anniversary edition! Tried many others but keep coming back to these.
WINZOWAR
Rookie
Just got a Yamaha Bronze 100. I was surprised how much lighter it is than the Bronze 90s. The 100 was 11.6 oz, and all the 90s I have were at least 12.5 when new. I leaded it up to 12.2 and took it out for a first hit yesterday. I appreciated the bigger headsize. It seemed more stable and the flex felt like a long lost friend. It still felt light, I'll add a little more in the throat. I think my Yonex are too stiff now. If I can find two more, this might become my everyday racket!
joe sch
Legend
Love the red, white and blue paint/graphics.
A little too stiff for my likes
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Volkl_Classic_V1_USA/descpageRCVOLKL-VCV1US.html
thedunster
New User
At least once a week I still use either my Dunlop Max 200G or Head Graphite Director.
was out hitting my serve tonight and took the radar with me. had a bunch of different frames as my game is not racquet sensitive. heres what i had..
wilson jack kramer woodie
head xrc
babalot pure drive
pro kennex ceramic elite
of all the racquets the jack kramer was the best for me. the spins had more bite and the speed went up at least 10 mph more than the other frames. The XRC is a fine serving frame but with a 65 inch headsize the jack kramer feels more friendly.
The babolat was weighted up pretty heavy. Spins were there but there was not much weight on the ball and they lacked that violent bite i like to use. speed was lowest with the babolat.
the pro kennex was pretty good. just your basic midsize graphite. Pretty good weight and spin on the ball.
Poorest performer was the babolat. Its already at 13 ounces so i am not sure whats going on. feel is just a bit off as it doesnt have that dwell time I like on impact. How people play with these racquets stock is beyond me. Its a tweener frame in stock form.
i always have to laugh when i go play because i play better tennis with the old kramer frame than just about anything else. People crack jokes until we start playing LOL.
wilson jack kramer woodie
head xrc
babalot pure drive
pro kennex ceramic elite
of all the racquets the jack kramer was the best for me. the spins had more bite and the speed went up at least 10 mph more than the other frames. The XRC is a fine serving frame but with a 65 inch headsize the jack kramer feels more friendly.
The babolat was weighted up pretty heavy. Spins were there but there was not much weight on the ball and they lacked that violent bite i like to use. speed was lowest with the babolat.
the pro kennex was pretty good. just your basic midsize graphite. Pretty good weight and spin on the ball.
Poorest performer was the babolat. Its already at 13 ounces so i am not sure whats going on. feel is just a bit off as it doesnt have that dwell time I like on impact. How people play with these racquets stock is beyond me. Its a tweener frame in stock form.
i always have to laugh when i go play because i play better tennis with the old kramer frame than just about anything else. People crack jokes until we start playing LOL.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
What does your Kramer weigh?
joe sch
Legend
the kramer comes in at 13.6 ounces.
I also prefer the classic rackets to the Babolats. I bet your not a baseline basher
no not a baseline basher. my game and tactics are taken from edberg and rafter.
serving strategy is 100% rafter
volleying is modeled after both but i try to be a clean volleyer ala edberg
ground strokes i hit clean and focus on placement more like edberg and work points to end at the net
return wise....edberg who i feel has a very underrated return
attitude on court is pretty much rafter
Tactically I can some it up in one match. the Rafter agassi wimbledon semifinal in 2000 is the most intelligent match i have ever seen. if you watch rafter from a startegy standpoint that is how i try to play. high pecentage smart all court tennis combined with intelligent serving with lots of change ups.
i study Laver a lot as well but its tough to find good footage with interesting tactical changes. If you watched me play...technique wise i look a lot like laver. continental grip on every shot and lots of different spins.
i watch a lot of different players though. Rostagno, Cash, Mc enroe, conners, nada, federer, rios, Mecir, Wilander, Hewitt etc. Rafter is pretty much always on in the house though. I have hundreds of his matches alone. my youngest son is 2 years old and loves watching rafter. he will sit and watch entire matches with racquet in hand. He started crying because i left to hit serves without him tonight....LOL.
my personal GOAT is Edberg but i find rafter the most interesting to watch and learn from. Rafter is smartest player i have ever seen along with wilander.
as far as the babolat goes i think its fine just kind of light and cold feeling. i can see that players that like to muscle the ball and bash might like it but IMO they would play better with a frame that has some feel.
funny enough i still served better with the Kramer tonight. i think part of it is in my head but there is no denying that the ball clearly has a more violent bite both on sliders and kickers. could be a buch of factors...balance, higher sweetspot, etc. i dont think its the weight as the babolat is weighted up. my best guess is what i would call dwell time. i really feel like i can feel the ball on the racquet with the kramer. the XRC is the same way. I see very little to no benefit to higher stiffness levels in frames. once you loose feel the frame really just works against you.
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joe sch
Legend
Awesome players to study and emulate.
I love the SV game. Edberg was my favorite player and I tried to play his style also, although my FH was is bigger than my BH
RE: I see very little to no benefit to higher stiffness levels in frames. once you loose feel the frame really just works against you.
Very true unless your game is built to baseline bash
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superstition
Hall of Fame
I really enjoyed hitting pinpoint forehands with my Seamco Rosewall but the rubber grommets were dried out and one broke after just the first match I played with it.(FYI, Now I find out there was also a "Hart" identical to the Seamco.)
Both racquets are now strung with some new, (NOS? -thanks to Joe_sch), blue striped multi-filament that was probably pure Nylon, and they did wonderfully. Pic below.
These are quite head-heavy, mine is 13.7 oz, the sweet-spot is at least 1" farther out than modern 110s, but choking up puts it at the now normal reach.
One must move and get ready quickly, and really concentrate on finding strings' center. Payoff is a racquet, (I know that is no longer an accepted spelling), that has amazing "plow through" I think it's called. This forced observance of the the most fundamental of the basics carries over to normal duty racquets in a huge way.
Something occurred to me during this session; I now realize the source of some old muscle-memory moves I had been doing as I get back to the game after decades away, (with back surgery and shoulder injury).
When I had to return, going away, with a high backhand from way behind the ad-court, and could manage to hit with the middle of the stringy stuff, the ball would actually go deep cross court. I was as amazed as if an on-looker,
When we went back to our regulars, (still decades old Prince Graphite 110 for me), swinging them felt like they were made of Balsa wood.
Just for the record, no knots failed, no racquet string supports failed either, no thanks to my playing partner and me.
I began the afternoon session saying that we should consider these ancient 44 year old racquets as something to treasure and use for light, short court precision practice, due to the age of the plastic-ware and reports of racquet failure.
Well that lasted about three minutes, then we hit hard and fast for an hour, several dozens of maybe even 100+mph returns of returns, -it seems to always escalate with us!!! A full set before regular racquets and another set. We always run out of time before enthusiasm. We always run out of gas after about two hours..., but I'm old and he's a wimp. Go figure!
We will continue to use these for such practice.
Volleying with it was awful, though. I'd say it was the most difficult racquet to volley with of any I've used. Forehands were so precise and satisfying, though.
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BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
I came to the courts in Ivan Lendl gear, except for the short shorts. I was surprised i didn't mishit that much with the GTX-Pro.
We played only a few games and I won them all :shock:
I don't think it's the racquet. My friend was probably tired tonight
What's the exact size of the GTX-Pro? Is it printed on the racquet? It appears to be around 75 sq. in. because it doesn't look that much bigger than a standard wood racquet.
Mick
Legend
http://www.tcpalm.com/sports/no-headline-200902211948-22tray
>>The GTX Pro was based on the Kneissel White Star that Lendl wielded from 1978 to 1980, before he signed with Adidas. Even when he left Adidas for Mizuno in 1990, his new company essentially used the same mold.
And that racket bore almost no resemblance to today's frames.
Most current ATP Tour players use rackets weighing about 11 to 12 ounces and with head sizes ranging from 93 to 100 square inches. Lendl's racket weighed nearly 14 1/2 ounces and had a head size of only 80 square inches, which was heavy and small, even for that era.
For what it's worth, Lendl knew exactly how much his racket weighed 410 grams but had no idea how small the head was.
"I just always thought," he said, "if I hit it in the middle, it didn't matter."
Lendl almost always hit it in the middle.
Among his 94 singles titles were three French Open, three U.S. Open and two Australian Open championships. He played in a men's-record 19 Grand Slam finals, including two at Wimbledon and eight straight at the U.S. Open. He held the No. 1 ranking for 270 weeks.
"The heavier racket was good for hitting groundstrokes on clay and hard courts, but it wasn't made for grass," Lendl said. "It was hard on volleys and, if you got a bad bounce, it wasn't easy to react."<<
slice bh compliment
G.O.A.T.
Haha, the brand new wilson pro staff rf97 autograph is awesome. It feels like a donnay pro one from....2o+ yrs ago.
MichaelChang
Hall of Fame
Have more than 40 rackets in hitting-ready condition, all 20+ years old. damn. sometimes I dare not to open my tennis bag on a public court when strangers don't have a clue wtf I am swinging with.
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