Jack Kramer Autograph Vs Dunlop Maxply Tournament

[pistol]

Hello there,
I would like to know which of the following woodies play better, and why? Please can you give me some feedback between the Jack Kramer Autograph and the Dunlop Maxply Tournament racquets?
http://www.woodtennis.com/newWood/dunlopMaxply.html
(That’s the link for the maxply)
I’m sure you all know the jack Kramer Autograph.
The thing is I have broken all my J.K.A's now I’m looking to buy a D.M.T. Would you recommended this change at all?
If you can give me some specs for the D.M.T and J.K.A. to draw some comparisons that will be great as well.
Thanks
I appreciate all your help
Thanks again
p.s. Nothing beats a good woodie, they're what the game was meant to be played with, well that my nostalgic view anyway!!!

 

[OnyxZ28]

I showed up to club tennis with a wood racquet, and the kids asked me where I got the "ghetto racquet". *sigh*

 

[austro]

You know there is a real renaissance of wood tennis and even tournaments are being held using wood only. Even McEnroe advocates a return to wood in his book (a la baseball where amateurs play on all kinds of material but when it comes to the pro sport, wood rules).

But in reference to your question, why don't you just get one of each? They can be found for $10-15 on **** and then you can make your own comparison,

 

[joe sch]

Hi,
That url link you showing is actually the "dunlop maxply tournament" which has slightly diff cosmetics and and internal graphite lamination, compared to the more famous fort model. This was a trend before the woodies went out of production and composites ruled. The forts played with more flex than the kramers and the maxply tournament played stiffer like the kramers. All wood rackets have great feel and flex and are nothing like playing with graphite rackets.
Joe

 

[pistol]

So does the dunlop maxply tournament play quite similarly to the Jack kramer Autograph?

 

[Ed Lee]

Maxply Fort

Hi Joe,

Do you recall if the Maxply Fort had a relatively stiff shaft, but a flexible head?

 

[FiveO]

Someone that may have the numbers may add some insight, but as I recall, the Kramer Autograph was the firmer of the two. A little stiffer in the head and throat than the Dunlop Maxply Forte (<sp?). The Dunlop had the edges rounded off the entire frame most noteably in the hoop and throat area resulting in a flexier feel than the Wilson. It also created a weak point on the frame. I vividly remember watching a doubles match played in Boston at the US Pro Championships involving the team Marty Riessen and Tom Okker (yes everyone played dubs back then), both playing Maxply's, where Riessen hit an overhead and the entire head of his racquet snapped off at the throat and ended up in the net. As Riessen collected the now "two piece" frame, the chair made a request to the stadium crowd over the PA system "does anyone have a hammer and some nails?"

 

[POGO]

Hi,
That url link you showing is actually the "dunlop maxply tournament" which has slightly diff cosmetics and and internal graphite lamination, compared to the more famous fort model. This was a trend before the woodies went out of production and composites ruled. The forts played with more flex than the kramers and the maxply tournament played stiffer like the kramers. All wood rackets have great feel and flex and are nothing like playing with graphite rackets.
Joe

Joe, isn't that your site that he posted?

 

[Ezekiel]

Hi Joe,

Do you recall if the Maxply Fort had a relatively stiff shaft, but a flexible head?

Hey i have that woody, It was given to me from a special friend. What is the value of it? im not intending to sell though.

 

[serchflores]

All the Wilson wood rackets are so damn hot.

 

[Steve Huff]

I've played with both (when they were all that was used) and can offer this: If you're going to buy one to play with, I'd go with the Kramer. I personally feel the Maxply played a little better (esp. with natural gut), but it also broke more often. I think the should area of the Wilson was much stronger. And, as 5-0 stated, I think it was the stiffer of the two.

 

[Midlife crisis]

I've played with both (when they were all that was used) and can offer this: If you're going to buy one to play with, I'd go with the Kramer. I personally feel the Maxply played a little better (esp. with natural gut), but it also broke more often. I think the should area of the Wilson was much stronger. And, as 5-0 stated, I think it was the stiffer of the two.

I currently have both and the JKA does play stiffer. Of my two, both Medium weight, the JKA is about 15 grams heavier as well. The head is noticeably stiffer, but it also feels like the shaft stiffness is about the same. These are both good hitting racquets but different enough that you'll prefer one or the other. They're WAY different than the Davis racquets, which had very thin, flexy shafts and stiff heads. I could never really get used to those, but the graphics were beautiful.

 

[LoCo]

Maxply's had a flexible head, and firm shaft (no innuendos). The Jack Kramer was pretty much uniform flex medium throughout. Maxply's were the only racquet in a 5" grip back in the day. Felt the Kramer was a smoother ride, but Maxply had more versatility and touch around net. Talking about Maxply Fort, not McEnroe Maxply, and talking about Jack Kramer Autograph, not the Kramer Pro Staff (also a McEnroe racquet).

 

[lstewart]

So, I'm trying to decide if I rebuild the carb in a Ford Model T, if I can then out run the young whipper snapper down the street with one of those new fangled Ford Model A's.... ! Just kidding. I brought out some wood rackets a couple of months ago and hit with them for a week or two. Actually the frame I liked best was a Wilson Chris Evert Autograph. I assume because it was only 12.85 ounces, while the others were 14 to 15.

 

[DanF1961]

I played with both in the 70s. I'd go with the Kramer Autograph. I thought it was a bit more stable, but the Maxply was a bit more manuverable,although the Kramer Auto hit the heavier ball. My favorite woodie from that era was the Jack Kramer Pro Staff wooden frame. That's the frame the McEnroe used before he switched to Dunlop. I may look on line for some wooden Kramer Pro Staffs to hit with for fun.