MAX 200G 40th Anniversary?

[Grafil Injection]

Something should be done?

From L-R: version 7 'Purple', version 6 'Glossy', version 5 'Teal', version 3 'Grafil Injection', version 2 'Graphite Injection', version 1 'Graphite'.

 

[vsbabolat]

The current Dunlop is not the same company as the original British Brand. things change and times change sometimes not for the better.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Oh yes, I don't expect SRI-Sports Direct-Sumitomo-Dunlop-Srixon to bring out a new version! There's no way they'll be able to replicate the Grafil injection process nowadays! I'm just thinking about a gathering in the UK around Wimbledon. Perhaps a tournament where it's the only racket allowed, Steffi and JMac in attendance!

 

[bluetrain4]

Oh yes, I don't expect SRI-Sports Direct-Sumitomo-Dunlop-Srixon to bring out a new version! There's no way they'll be able to replicate the Grafil injection process nowadays! I'm just thinking about a gathering in the UK around Wimbledon. Perhaps a tournament where it's the only racket allowed, Steffi and JMac in attendance!

Anyone else use it? Not necessarily Slam-champion caliber players, but just players who were around during that era of racquets and had decent careers.

In high school I used Max 400i which was in the same vein in terms of size and Grafil injection, but not the same weight/balance. I loved it.

Did they ever try some cheeky marketing with Graf and Grafil. Lol.

 

[vsbabolat]

Anyone else use it? Not necessarily Slam-champion caliber players, but just players who were around during that era of racquets and had decent careers.

In high school I used Max 400i which was in the same vein in terms of size and Grafil injection, but not the same weight/balance. I loved it.

Did they ever try some cheeky marketing with Graf and Grafil. Lol.

There were quite a few players that used the Max200G and other IMF’s. Christiano Caratti used the Max 400i. Omar Comparesi used the Max200G. Ramesh Krishnan used the Max200G, Jan Apell used the Max200G

 

[socallefty]

Good memories. After using a wooden racquet for the first 2-3 years of playing tennis in the Borg era, I graduated to a Max200G and used it throughout my high school/college tennis days in the Eighties. For whatever reason, I didn’t bring it with me when I moved to the US for grad school and haven’t played with one for the last thirty years.

 

[Chalkdust]

Max 150g was my first graphite racquet. That thing was a beast! Doubt I'd be able to swing it now.

 

[bluetrain4]

Anyone else use it? Not necessarily Slam-champion caliber players, but just players who were around during that era of racquets and had decent careers.

In high school I used Max 400i which was in the same vein in terms of size and Grafil injection, but not the same weight/balance. I loved it.

Did they ever try some cheeky marketing with Graf and Grafil. Lol.

Whoops. Looking at pictures, I realize I used the 300i, not 400i.

But my point remains the same - I loved it. Good stuff.

 

[vsbabolat]

Whoops. Looking at pictures, I realize I used the 300i, not 400i.

But my point remains the same - I loved it. Good stuff.

Max200G and Max300i were the same molds.

 

[mad dog1]

Whoops. Looking at pictures, I realize I used the 300i, not 400i.

But my point remains the same - I loved it. Good stuff.

I had a 400i and really enjoyed playing with it.

 

[retrowagen]

Martina Navratilova used the 200g briefly, as well!

 

[jxs653]

But if they were so prone to warping as many peope've been saying, isn't it a flawed method of making racquets?

While ago I wrote in another thread that mid plus or oversize version of Max 200G would be great, and someone replied something like the frame getting warped before finishing writing my post.

Sidenote: I've gone through several 200Gs and didn't experience any warpage problem.

 

[coachrick]

But if they were so prone to warping as many peope've been saying, isn't it a flawed method of making racquets?

While ago I wrote in another thread that mid plus or oversize version of Max 200G would be great, and someone replied something like the frame getting warped before finishing writing my post.

Sidenote: I've gone through several 200Gs and didn't experience any warpage problem.

A WAY high percentage of the 200Gs I sold (after Mac switched) warped, owing in part to the heat of the American Southeast and in part to the high tensions folks were using to harness the power(especially those coming from wood to the 200G blaster!!).

I've told the story before...Mac switched to the 200G in my hometown of Columbia, SC in an exo against Vilas. No announcement, he just had a few strung up and switched that night. The 200G had been a fair seller to that point; but the warehouse in Hartwell, GA was completely sold out in three days after the switch(and this was before any sort of "social media" to spread the word).

 

[coachrick]

But if they were so prone to warping as many peope've been saying, isn't it a flawed method of making racquets?

While ago I wrote in another thread that mid plus or oversize version of Max 200G would be great, and someone replied something like the frame getting warped before finishing writing my post.

Sidenote: I've gone through several 200Gs and didn't experience any warpage problem.

IMO, the 400i "should" have been the ticket; but it never caught on in my area. I played the 300i for a minute; but it was a club(much like many 200Gs were).

 

[mad dog1]

IMO, the 400i "should" have been the ticket; but it never caught on in my area. I played the 300i for a minute; but it was a club(much like many 200Gs were).

For me, the 400i was definitely the ticket. much more user friendly.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I believe many pros used the racket early to mid 1980s as woods disappeared, but there wasn't so much marketing in those days unless you were a GS winner. Most keen amateurs had tried it.

Regarding warping, the later version with long handles seem to fair better (Glossy, Purple). I believe the McEnroe Signature version was the first with the 55lbs warning to prevent warp. As far as I can tell, there were 7 main paintjob variants in the 10 years, with about 20 paintjobs in total including 'Pro' sub-variants.

Description

Years

Name on Frame

Beam

Colours

Grip

MAX Letters

Arrows / Chevrons

Case

Graphite / Grafil letters

Patent

Tension Instructions

1a

Graphite Tapered (round holes)

1982

MAX 200G

22-18 (per 150G)

Black - semi-matt

Initially black leather perforated, then solid with gold 'Dunlop' embossed

Gold open

Medium gold & green

Half vinyl case with red velvet lining

GRAPHITE at 12 o'clock

UK Patent Pending (granted May 1982)

None

1b

Graphite Constant (round then square holes)

1983-85

MAX 200G, MAX Series

21.5 constant

Black - semi-matt

Black leather or brown leather

Gold open

Medium gold & green

Half vinyl case with red velvet lining

GRAPHITE at 12 o'clock

UK 2015886 & US PATENT 4297308

None

2

Graphite Injection (McEnroe)

1985-7

MAX 200G, MAX Series

21.5

Dark Green

Brown leather

Gold open

Small gold & green

Half vinyl case with red velvet lining or full case

GRAPHITE INJECTION at 4 o'clock

UK 2015886 & US PATENT 4297308

McEnroe recommends 55lbs

2b

Graphite Injection Pro / Pro II / Pro III

1985-7

MAX 200G, MAX Series

21.5

Dark Green

Brown leather

Gold open

Small gold & green

Half vinyl case with red velvet lining

GRAPHITE INJECTION at 4 o'clock

UK 2015886 & US 4297308

McEnroe recommends 55lbs

3

Grafil Injection

1988-

MAX 200G, MAX Series

21.5

Black semi-matt

Tan leather

Gold swirly

Large gold & green

Half vinyl case or full case with white lining

GRAFIL INJECTION 4 o'clock, HYSOL GRAFIL neck

UK 2015886 & US PATENT 4297308

Performs best at not more than 55lbs

3b

Grafil Injection PRO 1, Pro 2

1988-

MAX 200G, MAX Series

21.5

Black semi-matt

Tan leather

Gold swirly

Large gold & green

Half vinyl case or full case with white lining

GRAFIL INJECTION

UK 2015886 & US PATENT 4297308

Performs best at not more than 55lbs

4

Golden Grand Slam (Steffi)

1989

MAX 200G. Special Edition & Grand Slam

21.5

Dark Green

Black leather Fairway with Grand Slam written in gold

Gold swirly

Solid gold top, open green below and in 2 hoop positions

Full synthetic case with GGS writing

GRAFIL INJECTION

UK 2015886 & US PATENT 4297308

?

5

Teal

1989-

MAX 200G

21.5

Teal-purple fade

Turquoise leather

Red swirly

Large red & white

Half or full case in green textile

Hysol Grafil fibre injection (3x better VR)

Patented

Performs at its best at not more than 55lbs

5b

Teal Pro II

1989-

MAX 200G PRO II

21.5

Teal-purple fade

Turquoise leather

Red swirly

Large red & white

Half or full case in green textile

Hysol Grafil fibre injection

Patented

Performs at its best at not more than 55lbs

6a

Glossy (black)

1990

MAX 200G

21.5

Black top gold spots. Dark green sides. Glossy

Turquoise leather

Gold swirly

Gold & turquoise close

Half or full case in green textile

GRAFIL FIBRE INJECTION

Patented Injection Moulded Frame

52-55lbs recommended

6b

Glossy Pro (1'' longer handle, black)

1990

MAX 200G PRO

21.5

Black top gold spots. Dark green sides. Glossy

Turquoise leather

Gold swirly

Gold & turquoise spaced

Full case in black synthetic

GRAFIL FIBRE INJECTION

Patented Injection Moulded Frame

52-55lbs recommended

7

Purple-Black Pro (1'' longer handle)

1991-93

MAX 200G PRO, PRO III

21.5

Purple-black fade. 16 gold dots

Purple leather

Neon green

None

Full case in black synthetic

GRAFIL (handle). INJECTION MOULDED (outside hoop)

Patented

None

 

[Grafil Injection]

Martina Navratilova used the 200g briefly, as well!

Yep, disguised as a Yonex as was allowed in those days.

 

[Grafil Injection]

But if they were so prone to warping as many peope've been saying, isn't it a flawed method of making racquets?

While ago I wrote in another thread that mid plus or oversize version of Max 200G would be great, and someone replied something like the frame getting warped before finishing writing my post.

Sidenote: I've gone through several 200Gs and didn't experience any warpage problem.

Yes, my 32 year-old frames are also un-warped. As a novel process the MAX 200G was not sufficiently tested at high tensions >60lbs, despite being common in the wood era, so it took until around 1984 for a strong recommendation to not go above 55lbs to be added. So I don't think people can say the process was flawed if the aim was to make a racket comprehensively better than any wood, but with similar playing characteristics (weight & flex). However, by the end of the 1980s the game had changed, so IMF was no longer competitive for larger hoops, but Dunlop/Slazenger were also not slow to move to the current standard pre-preg baking process having used it since the late 1970s.

 

[Grafil Injection]

A WAY high percentage of the 200Gs I sold (after Mac switched) warped, owing in part to the heat of the American Southeast and in part to the high tensions folks were using to harness the power(especially those coming from wood to the 200G blaster!!).

I've told the story before...Mac switched to the 200G in my hometown of Columbia, SC in an exo against Vilas. No announcement, he just had a few strung up and switched that night. The 200G had been a fair seller to that point; but the warehouse in Hartwell, GA was completely sold out in three days after the switch(and this was before any sort of "social media" to spread the word).

That the late 1984/85 McEnroe signature version came with a 55lbs recommendation is no coincidence! I believe he used the 'Medium' version (13.5oz, 380g unstrung), whereas the 'Light' version (12.5oz, 350g unstrung) was most popular.

 

[vsbabolat]

Yep, disguised as a Yonex as was allowed in those days.

She also used it with full Dunlop Max200G cosmetics

 

[vsbabolat]

That the late 1984/85 McEnroe signature version came with a 55lbs recommendation is no coincidence! I believe he used the 'Medium' version (13.5oz, 380g unstrung), whereas the 'Light' version (12.5oz, 350g unstrung) was most popular.

I have 2 of John’s actual Max200G’s.

https://imgur.com/a/W75VQnB

 

[vsbabolat]

But if they were so prone to warping as many peope've been saying, isn't it a flawed method of making racquets?

While ago I wrote in another thread that mid plus or oversize version of Max 200G would be great, and someone replied something like the frame getting warped before finishing writing my post.

Sidenote: I've gone through several 200Gs and didn't experience any warpage problem.

There were 2, 95sq.in head size in the Max800i and the Max500i. The 500i was a real club.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I have 2 of John’s actual Max200G’s.

https://imgur.com/a/W75VQnB

That's a gem! Almost too mint to play with. This is where I get confused: Swirly MAX and Grafil Injection indicate >1984, but black & gold grip suggests original 1982 version. Did you add that grip?

 

[vsbabolat]

That's a gem! Almost too mint to play with. This is where I get confused: Swirly MAX and Grafil Injection indicate >1984, but black & gold grip suggests original 1982 version. Did you add that grip?

I added nothing. This is an actual John McEnroe Max200G from his personal stock that was set up by Dunlop in England. This is a 1988/1989 model. McEnroe kept the original butt-cap and original black grip with gold Dunlop for his frames no matter the cosmetics.
JPM senior passed away a few years ago. A storage unit went unpaid that senior owned. In the storage unit was a a treasure trove of John’s personal Maxply McEnroe that were really Maxply Fort in Maxply McEnroe paint, personal Max200G from 1988/89, and the infamous 1984 runner-up Davis Cup trophy. All these items found their way to auction

 

[vsbabolat]

That's a gem! Almost too mint to play with. This is where I get confused: Swirly MAX and Grafil Injection indicate >1984, but black & gold grip suggests original 1982 version. Did you add that grip?

This is the original 1982-1983 round string hole Max200G. Then in 1984 the string wholes became square.

https://imgur.com/a/SaRBjvn

This is a 1986/87 Max200G with John’s signature.

https://imgur.com/a/oS0Db67

The grip changed to tan fairway, the butt-cap design changed to more flare, no MIE and a recessed surface where the flying D is.

 

[Grafil Injection]

This is the original 192-1983 round strung whole Max200G. Then in 1984 the string wholes became square.

https://imgur.com/a/SaRBjvn

This is a 1986/87 Max200G with John’s signature.

https://imgur.com/a/oS0Db67

The grip changed to tan fairway, the butt-cap design changed to more flare, no MIE and a recessed surface where the flying D is.

Thanks, that explains it. I like Mac's taste! You don't know the date of the black glossy finished Pro version do you (turquoise & gold chevrons, no lines but gold dots, dark green glossy sides)? I'm guessing 1990.

 

[Grafil Injection]

She also used it with full Dunlop Max200G cosmetics

Yeah, I guess she started a tournament with the Dunlop exposed, then when she got near the final Yonex finalised her contract! Funny seeing her against Graf with the same racket but different logos!

 

[vsbabolat]

Thanks, that explains it. I like Mac's taste! You don't know the date of the black glossy finished Pro version do you (turquoise & gold chevrons, no lines but gold dots, dark green glossy sides)? I'm guessing 1990.

Yeah, that’s from 1990 wasn’t sold in the USA.

 

[vsbabolat]

Yeah, I guess she started a tournament with the Dunlop exposed, then when she got near the final Yonex finalised her contract! Funny seeing her against Graf with the same racket but different logos!

I remember Martina using the Max200G in 1988 in full cosmetics. Then at the 1988 US Open Martina went back to a real Yonex RQ-180.
1987 Wimbledon Martina was using the Max200G blacked out with a white strip and Yonex stencil.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Good memories. After using a wooden racquet for the first 2-3 years of playing tennis in the Borg era, I graduated to a Max200G and used it throughout my high school/college tennis days in the Eighties. For whatever reason, I didn’t bring it with me when I moved to the US for grad school and haven’t played with one for the last thirty years.

I played with one for the first time in 30 years a few weeks ago, expecting it to be a fun nostalgia trip. But this is no mid-life crisis frame, it's completely useable today with everything you need unless you're a Nadal-esque loopy spinner.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I remember Martina using the Max200G in 1988 in full cosmetics. Then at the 1988 US Open Martina went back to a real Yonex RQ-180.
1987 Wimbledon Martina was using the Max200G blacked out with a white strip and Yonex stencil.

She is a great negotiator!

 

[Grafil Injection]

Yeah, that’s from 1990 wasn’t sold in the USA.

I didn't know that. I had heard that some Australia only versions existed too, but I've never seen them. I have a very distant recollection of a sand & green coloured version but that may have been another IMF model. BTW, were the two JMac sticks the same specs? 380g unstrung?

 

[vsbabolat]

I didn't know that. I had heard that some Australia only versions existed too, but I've never seen them. I have a very distant recollection of a sand & green coloured version but that may have been another IMF model. BTW, were the two JMac sticks the same specs? 380g unstrung?

Yes, it was 2 tone light and dark teal green.
McEnroe’s racquets I have are around 350g-360g unstrung. Not 380g
It’s been a while since I weighed them don’t remember what they are exactly.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Ok thanks. The sand/green one I vaguely remember wasn't very teal coloured. At least not like the teal colour in the two teal-purple fade versions, more of a beige to mid-green.

 

[vsbabolat]

Ok thanks. The sand/green one I vaguely remember wasn't very teal coloured. At least not like the teal colour in the two teal-purple fade versions, more of a beige to mid-green.

There was no beige on the racket.
Light teal and dark teal

https://imgur.com/a/46J3NE0

 

[Grafil Injection]

Yep that's the normal teal (also issued as a Pro-II version). To me they are sage-green fading to purple, but teal seems to be the name most people use.

My recollection is of a light sandy-brown fading to mid-green. It's a real recollection, but I'm probably mistaken. Might have been an original colour that had faded in the sun! To me the original looks slightly green.

 

[vsbabolat]

Yep that's the normal teal (also issued as a Pro-II version). To me they are sage-green fading to purple, but teal seems to be the name most people use.

My recollection is of a light sandy-brown fading to mid-green. It's a real recollection, but I'm probably mistaken. Might have been an original colour that had faded in the sun! To me the original looks slightly green.

There’s no beige racket. The original is black with green/gold chevrons and 2 green stripes.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Thanks. Must have been a squash racket or something! The other weird one is the single-stripe version I have read about. All the pictures I see are only 1-stripe because the 2nd gold stripe has worn away. The gold paint seems to wear easier also on the chevrons. Do you know if there ever was a real single-stripe?

 

[vsbabolat]

Thanks. Must have been a squash racket or something! The other weird one is the single-stripe version I have read about. All the pictures I see are only 1-stripe because the 2nd gold stripe has worn away. The gold paint seems to wear easier also on the chevrons. Do you know if there ever was a real single-stripe?

No single stripe racket

 

[coachrick]

Thanks. Must have been a squash racket or something! The other weird one is the single-stripe version I have read about. All the pictures I see are only 1-stripe because the 2nd gold stripe has worn away. The gold paint seems to wear easier also on the chevrons. Do you know if there ever was a real single-stripe?

The squash bat variant was gorgeous. I was like the game jumped an entire century when compared to wood.

 

[Grafil Injection]

No single stripe racket

Thanks, I agree from what I can see. Strange how many threads talk about it. Must be the gold wearing off easily.

You're probably getting bored of my questions, but finally, are the first versions with 18-22 tapered beams the only ones that mention UK Patent Pending, or are there some straight 20.5mm beamed ones before the patent was received?

 

[Grafil Injection]

The squash bat variant was gorgeous. I was like the game jumped an entire century when compared to wood.

Yeah, I remember every squash player moved in one season. The neck looks so long being similar colour to the grip and hoop.

 

[vsbabolat]

Thanks, I agree from what I can see. Strange how many threads talk about it. Must be the gold wearing off easily.

You're probably getting bored of my questions, but finally, are the first versions with 18-22 tapered beams the only ones that mention UK Patent Pending, or are there some straight 20.5mm beamed ones before the patent was received?

The tapered were very early production and have even some dating patent applied for. But my 1983 straight beam has both US and UK parents.

 

[Grafil Injection]

The tapered were very early production and have even some dating patent applied for. But my 1983 straight beam has both US and UK parents.

Thanks again. I have updated my table above with all these clarifications.

 

[michael valek]

I played with one for the first time in 30 years a few weeks ago, expecting it to be a fun nostalgia trip. But this is no mid-life crisis frame, it's completely useable today with everything you need unless you're a Nadal-esque loopy spinner.

Hmm I tried this and be ready for shoulder surgery. None of us are 15 any more.

 

[Bambooman]

I managed to find a thrift shop one in perfect condition. It plays great even with the battered synthetic gut still in it.

I'm just working up the nerve to re-string it as soon as I decide on what to use in it. Maybe a hybrid with gut/ soft poly.

 

[michael valek]

Soft poly at 18kg

 

[Grafil Injection]

Hmm I tried this and be ready for shoulder surgery. None of us are 15 any more.

True, but I'm enjoying the MAX 200G so much! Funny going back to a 330g 98 afterwards - feels like a TiS6!

 

[coachrick]

True, but I'm enjoying the MAX 200G so much! Funny going back to a 330g 98 afterwards - feels like a TiS6!

It's funny how people pick up my Pickleball paddle that weighs 9.2oz and talk about how heavy it is!!!
The 200G and the Maxply McEnroe bats were the last two I ever thought I wanted to "choke up on"

 

[pianotennis]

Soft poly at 18kg

I'm still using Max 200g as my main stick, along with original Prestige Pro. I played with full gut, guy/syn or gut/poly hybrid, now I string soft poly at 40 lbs. Yes the feel is not as heavenly good as with gut, but I can swing harder, and you still have everything you need: tons of power and precise control. The rest is footwork.