Jim Courier's nCode paintjob

BreakPoint

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
I was looking at the new "Deuce" magazine at a bookstore today and noticed there is a pic of Courier with his supposedly nSix-One Tour 90 in his hand near the end of the magazine. His racquet has a 16x18 string pattern and definitely looks much smaller than a 90, so I am convinced that it's his usual PS 6.0 85 with the red and white nCode paintjob.

So I guess Wilson does paintjobs even for retired pros, and if they're doing nCode paintjobs of PS 6.0 85's, I wonder how many other pros are using them, too?

Also, I'd bet if and when Sampras joins the senior tour, he'll also be using a PS 6.0 85 with the nCode paintjob, just like Courier's.
 
BP, I get the feeling that if your racquet will be in front of a TV camera, near a TV camera, held by a TV cameraman's relative, or played in front of a crowd, or played in front of a person with his wallet out, they'll do up a paintjob for you...
 
Craig, I agree.

Off topic, but how are you liking your Pro #1? I guess you've given up on your Pro Extreme and Slaz X-1? How do they compare to the Pro #1? I've also heard that people that like the PS 6.0 95 tend to also like the Pro #1.
 
BreakPoint said:
So I guess Wilson does paintjobs even for retired pros, and if they're doing nCode paintjobs of PS 6.0 85's, I wonder how many other pros are using them, too?
Click to expand...
There are nearly no pros using the nSix-One Tour 90 anyway. Beside Fed (only a paintjob) I know only German Bjoern Phau. And he's not using a pj, I got in touch with his stick last summer and it's the real Tour 90.
 
BreakPoint said:
Off topic, but how are you liking your Pro #1? I guess you've given up on your Pro Extreme and Slaz X-1? How do they compare to the Pro #1? I've also heard that people that like the PS 6.0 95 tend to also like the Pro #1.
Click to expand...

BP, really liking the No.1. I think I've finally given up the Pro Extreme (fingers crossed). I haven't touched the X1's since the end of last summer, and I'm looking to get rid of them. The X1 is a comfortable frame, I just like the cushy/flexible feel of the Fischers (both) much better.

The Pro No. 1 is just a touch stiffer than the Extreme. More powerful definitely. Had a little trouble w/ this when my strings lost some tension--balls started flying. I bumped tension up a few lbs and am trying different strings to compensate.

The Pro 1 is a great all-arounder. While the Extreme (27.4") was great for groundies and serves, I found it awkward at the net. Never got confident over the 2 years I used it. Groundies, esp. forehand were killer though. The Pro 1 is much more manueverable and feels better at net, which I attribute to its 27" length (even though it is not as headlight as the Extreme).

Spin is about the same, but the Pro 1 is more forgiving, slightly bigger sweetspot. I must notice the 98", because I think I hit more cleanly w/ the Pro 1. I do like the dampened feel of the Extreme... Not sure if it's the Frequency Tuning doing its job, but its' more muted. The Pro 1 is very comfortable though, just a little less muted. Not a bad thing.

To me both Fischers feel 100% better than the Slaz, but I guess I'm hooked on how Fischers feel now. The Slaz feels very "traditional" to me. No extra tech, just a nice braided graphite/kevlar frame. It's got some of the little shakes and jitters that a more traditional frame has.... Great spin, nice all-court stick, wicked kick serves. Found it less suitable on the baseline though.

Extreme == great for baseliners
X1 == great for S&V'ers/doubles
Pro No. 1 == just in between...Extreme's feel & X1's maneuverability, with a touch better weight from the baseline. Perfect.

Happy w/ the Pro No. 1 now....
 
Thanks for the update, Craig!

I'm going to have to try that Pro #1 one of these days! I have a X-1 that I'm fooling around with, sometimes I really like it and sometimes I don't. I can pretty much play with it interchangably with my PS 6.0 95. I find the X-1 has some nice pop but the PS 6.0 95 still has better feel and touch and since it's softer, probably better for the old elbow. However, I agree that the X-1 is probably a bit better for doubles than for singles.
 
I hit w/ the PS 6.0 a while ago for a few days... I'd agree it's softer than the X1, from what I can remember. The PS 6.0 and Pro 1 aren't that interchangable like the 6.0 and the X1. The Pro 1 to me has a "newer" feel, even though it's not really a new-tech kind of racquet. It's just more quiet...dampened and soft. It's really nice to play with, IMO. I want to hit the court now thinking about it. heh Hope you can get one to demo!

Craig
 
That dampened, soft feel of the Pro #1 probably comes form the fiberglass in its composition. Have you tried the Volkl Tour 10 MP Gen II? That also has fiberglass in it and is pretty soft and has the same headsize and flex. If you have, how would you compare the two?

BTW, what was your overall opinion of the PS 6.0 95? How was it strung?
 
Nope, haven't tried the Gen II. I am kind of interested in trying it though...but I don't wanna risk finding anything better than the Pro 1 right now ;-) ($ cha-ching). I wasn't much a fan of the Tour 10 MP b/c of a hotspot I thought was in the stringbed (Mojo will slap me now). But I did like the C10 a little... but I probably won't try the Gen II unless I know someone w/ one.

I got the PS 95 as a demo from TW, so it probably had mid-tension NXT in it. It's the best, really. I loved it. I love the Wilson grip shape, BTW. Awesome volleying and serving stick... pretty good from the baseline too. The only reason I didn't want to get involved w/ it (like it was married or something!) was that they kept saying it was discontinued... and the last racquet I bought (Yonex RD-Ti 50) had been discontinued not a year after I bought it and they were hard to come by. So I just moved on really instead of getting the PS 6.0 95's.

I used the Pro Staff Classic for years, and the 6.0 95 w/ it's 16x18 and 95 head reminded me a lot of a smoother, softer version of the PSC. Somewhat harsh on mishits, but that didn't bother me. The spin of the 6.0 95 was great, especially on backhands for me, which I find it tough to get a lot of spin on.

I can't think of anything bad to say about the PS 6.0 95... let me think... nope, sorry. I just prefer the Pro 1's feel these days. Boy if the Pro 1 had the Wilson grip shape... <droooooooooool>

Craig
 
Craig,

I've tried the Pro #1 briefly and agree with you, it's a great racquet. Two questions for you.

1. I didn't have the opportunity to use it in a game situation so I didn't get to see how well it blocked balls back, primarily serves. In doubles, I rely heavily on this shot. Any input?

2. I can hit a pretty good underspin backhand, however, I got the feeling that the Pro #1 couldn't get me that penetrating of an underspin backhand. It tended to pop up or float a little. Is this an accurate assessment?

Thanks for any input.

Rich
 
Rich,

I'm coming from the Pro Extreme FT, which is lower powered than the Pro #1, so I felt the Pro 1 was a good improvement over the Extreme in blocked-back returns. I've noticed more balls going over the net by just sticking my racquet out there and bunting them back... I don't know what you use now, but if you were coming from like a Surge or a PD or something, I assume the Pro 1 woudl be less effective.

I don't think it's the best slice stick, no...but it's not bad either. Slice depends on technique, it might be harder to hit w/ the Pro 1 but it's there...I've got some wicked good flat/slice returns on the backhand side if I hit it right. But no, I wouldn't say it's the easiest ot get agood slice going. The X1 say would be easier IMO. Since I try to hit more topspin backhands, I didn't really find this much of a drawback.

IMO it does everything well, just not anything outstanding. Which means it's up to you to make it work, you can't let it do much for you.
 
it's kinda sad that even Jim Courier (who doesn't even play professionally anymore to my knowledge) has a pj from wilson.
 
Craig,

BP has said a few things previously about the PS 6.0 95 and what a good frame it is but Im a bit loathe to use something of that headsize so was curious to know what you think of the PS 6.0 85. I know that flies in the face of accepted wisdom but after all the wrist problems Ive had the solution seems to be a heavier, smaller headed frame. Dont know the science of it but it appears to work, whether strung tight or loose (think it cuts back an excess 'wrist' and I can just drive through the ball using the weight of the racquet). Also means I can start stringing frames sub 50lbs which is my preference (45lbs I find controllable and suits my very 'old fashioned' playing style). Im using an old Prestige Pro at the moment and while its a very enjoyable frame I find at times it plays far 'softer' than I like. That could be the age of the racquet or just the way it is, not sure entirely.

I got the feeling from BP that the PS 6.0 95 plays a bit softer than the 85, although it is marginally stiffer. What are your thoughts on the difference and how do you feel the 85 plays, especially at low tensions?
 
Andrew, do you mean the difference between the 6.0 85 and 95? Or between the 85 and the Pro 1? To me the 95 is all together nicer to play than the 85. You just have to be almost perfect to get the most out of the 85. I used to hit w/ the "St. Vincent" back a bit... it's just not worth it, IMO. The 95 does play softer, it swings easier, and has more power, and I think is easier to get spin with. The only thing is the 95 is more headlight, which makes it more maneuverable, but I think the 85 might hit a heavier ball from the baseline. But again, you have to deal w/ that 85 head, so it's not a good trade-off IMO.

I've never hit with it at low tension...lowest probably 56. I used to think 85 was the "be-all/end-all" type stick... then I woke up from the Sampras-haze.... heh. If you're a great, clean ball striker, it might be great for you. I find the 85 kind of unwieldy these days though. Unless you can hit that sweetspot every time, your shot won't feel good and the power will be low.

To me the Pro 1 tops both sticks, just because of how comfortable it is... even on mishits I don't find it that jarring. Some people say it's harsh but I don't see it. I also like having a little smidge of power even on mishits.

HTH,
Craig
 
If you take a look at the throat of his racquet in these pics, it's very, very clear that it's a painted PS 6.0 85. The nSix-One Tour has curved indentations at corners of the top of the "V" at the throat. The PS 6.0 is completely flat or flush in these two areas, as is Courier's racquet in these pics:

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/details_pop.aspx?iid=51826408&cdi=0
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/details_pop.aspx?iid=51820576&cdi=0
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/details_pop.aspx?iid=51820568&cdi=0
 
Nice to see the Courier talk.
As an addition to Jura's post (who else is using the nCode 90)- there's a French player Nicolas Mahut (plays dubs with Benneteau) who was using the Tour 90 when I saw him at the Bronx Challenger, and I've since seen pix of him with an nCode 90. No idea if it's a real switch or a pj.

There's also a hard serving kid from University of Illinois (team went undefeated in 2004 I think?) that uses the Tour 90, and now probably the ncode. Can't recall his name -- just googled -- Rajeev Ram. btw, both these guys are 6'3" or more
Other than these guys...
 
One glaring error in the ESPN paintjob article was that it cost hundereds of dollars to paint a racquet. It costs the same few pennies to put any finish on any racquet - it's just that if it's too big a difference, like painting a widebody as a thinbeam it's too obvious ; so it's no hassle to paint a few for Courier.
He has a stencil of a financial company - Wilson will give him free racquets, but they won't pay him for a stencil.
 
bamboo said:
One glaring error in the ESPN paintjob article was that it cost hundereds of dollars to paint a racquet. It costs the same few pennies to put any finish on any racquet - it's just that if it's too big a difference, like painting a widebody as a thinbeam it's too obvious ; so it's no hassle to paint a few for Courier.
He has a stencil of a financial company - Wilson will give him free racquets, but they won't pay him for a stencil.
Click to expand...

Wrong. In my guess, computer-generated stencils have to be reworked. The question is, how easy is that to do? In the case of one particular frame that I've seen, which happened to be a 6.0 85, many changes had to be done to lay a convincing Hyper paintjob. Things add up, like making a "Midsize" 6 o'clock stencil in the same font/color as the "Midplus" stencil on the retail Hyper 6.0 95. The blended see-through material had to be cut specifically for this frame. And how many players even play anymore with something like the 6.0 85? Not only did these changes to the paintjob make the ensuing frame/cosmetic combination one-of-a-kind, but not many were made. This drives up the cost of each unit. You also have to figure that such frames are made on different lines, sometimes different factories, by different people. This all adds up to the cost of doing business, in this case, a cost apparently worth paying.
 
The assembly line does not paint over an already painted model - it just puts the graphics on an unfinished frame out of the oven. By the logic above, a 110 head size Prince Bandit would be machine painted while a 95 inch Bandit would have to be custom hand painted at a cost of hundreds of dollars.
 
Barricade_steve said:
DAmn, the last link with the 6.1 classic paint jobs look so sexy. OMg I wish i had 1 of those.
Click to expand...

definitely agree....dead sexy.

It's interesting that Courier plays w/ the ncode pj, but doesn't have the wilson stencil on the strings. Who is his sponsor?
 
Steve F. said:
Nice to see the Courier talk.
As an addition to Jura's post (who else is using the nCode 90)- there's a French player Nicolas Mahut (plays dubs with Benneteau) who was using the Tour 90 when I saw him at the Bronx Challenger, and I've since seen pix of him with an nCode 90. No idea if it's a real switch or a pj.

There's also a hard serving kid from University of Illinois (team went undefeated in 2004 I think?) that uses the Tour 90, and now probably the ncode. Can't recall his name -- just googled -- Rajeev Ram. btw, both these guys are 6'3" or more
Other than these guys...
Click to expand...
I think Mahut is using the PS 6.0 95, like Gilles Muller, by looking at some of the pictures.

volley_tennis_master, Courier has a Stanford Financial stencil on his Pro Staff. Yes indeed, it looks like an Estusa.
 
volleys_tennis_master said:
yeah, the stencil... it looks like an estusa one.
2 questions:
1. Is that even an estusa stencil?
2. If so, y is it on courier's racquet?
Click to expand...
It's the logo of some financial company that sponsors the senior tour or one of the tournaments in it. I read about it some time ago on the TW boards. Maybe a search might help you find some more information.
 
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