Playing with 25 YO racket: can you identify it?

[BMC9670]

Hi All - I have a 2-part question:

Is playing with a 25 year-old racket detrimental to one's game? Some background: my wife grew up playing in the club system in Germany and was quite good when she was young - won first club tournament at 14, played national level events, etc. 25 years later, she plays 4.5 league and tournaments WITH THE SAME RACKETS. She did take a good 10 years off, playing only occasionally in between. I was thinking of getting her new rackets for her birthday, but she likes her old rackets. So, I got to thinking about what difference a modern racket would make, if any. Do they wear out or go dead? I've had them restrung and replaced the grips.

Part 2:

Has anyone ever heard of "Academy Elegance" rackets? These are her rackets and I'm not sure if they are an OEM or were a start up brand or international brand back then. They were given to her by her club near Munich, Germany in the mid-80's. Here are the specs as far as I could measure:

Length: 27"
Weight: 12.5 oz (356 grams)
Balance: 10pts HL
Head: 95-98 sq. inches

I will post pictures if I can figure out how.

 

[BMC9670]

I think I've got the photo thing figured out:

 

[Irvin]

My wife plays with an old Wilson Stretch 6.1 Hammer. She has bought a few different rackets trying to find something she likes. My wife plays with an old Wilson Stretch 6.1 Hammer.

If there any part of that you do not understand? Save your money.

Irvin

 

[Irvin]

A good friend of mine plays with an Marshall 85 si racket. They came out about the same time as the Wilson Prostaff 84.6 si rackets back in the late 70s. He has bought several rackets since then and told me just the other day he does not know what he will do if it ever breaks.

Irvin

 

[SteveI]

Steve Huff... look @ these frames...Pro Kennex???

Hi All - I have a 2-part question:

Is playing with a 25 year-old racket detrimental to one's game? Some background: my wife grew up playing in the club system in Germany and was quite good when she was young - won first club tournament at 14, played national level events, etc. 25 years later, she plays 4.5 league and tournaments WITH THE SAME RACKETS. She did take a good 10 years off, playing only occasionally in between. I was thinking of getting her new rackets for her birthday, but she likes her old rackets. So, I got to thinking about what difference a modern racket would make, if any. Do they wear out or go dead? I've had them restrung and replaced the grips.

Part 2:

Has anyone ever heard of "Academy Elegance" rackets? These are her rackets and I'm not sure if they are an OEM or were a start up brand or international brand back then. They were given to her by her club near Munich, Germany in the mid-80's. Here are the specs as far as I could measure:

Length: 27"
Weight: 12.5 oz (356 grams)
Balance: 10pts HL
Head: 95-98 sq. inches

I will post pictures if I can figure out how.

Hi,

I am about 95 % sure that the "Academy Elegance" frames were made by... none other than.... Pro Kennex. Pro Kennex used to make frames for all sorts of companies. Looks like one of Graphite "WhatEver (insert name).." series of frames. 95-98 sq inch head is a very good guess. Very solid frames.. easy to swing.. easy on the arm. Soft flex.. I am guessing Graphite..Fiberglass mix.. or 100 % Graphite. Frames can indeed go dead and getting replacement grommets will be a bear. There are frame that match those specs on the market.. or you could lead up other frames to meet those specs.. except I am guessing the flex.. which I am guessing is about 55 or lower on her frames. If your wife is still playing 4.5 USTA.. that is impressive and I would be very careful with frame replacement and selection. Demo... Demo.. demo.

Good luck.. I am guessing... nothing you can find today will have that old Pro Kennex feeling from the 80s.

Regards,
Steve

 

[Rorsach]

I've got that one, or one very close to that, that i've stripped of paint. I think it's 100% graphite.

I'll take some pics tomorrow.

Very nice racquets btw. Classic flex, weight and balance. It just doesn't have a classic name.

 

[LeeD]

Yeah, I was gonna say Kennex also.
Should work just fine.
I know a real good 5.5 who uses 1992 rackets.
Ain't the racket, its' the jock behind it that makes it play.
Maybe change the strings when it breaks.

 

[Rorsach]

The material really looks like the lead of a pencil with extremely long and fine strands in it.

 

[BMC9670]

Hi,

I am about 95 % sure that the "Academy Elegance" frames were made by... none other than.... Pro Kennex. Pro Kennex used to make frames for all sorts of companies. Looks like one of Graphite "WhatEver (insert name).." series of frames. 95-98 sq inch head is a very good guess. Very solid frames.. easy to swing.. easy on the arm. Soft flex.. I am guessing Graphite..Fiberglass mix.. or 100 % Graphite. Frames can indeed go dead and getting replacement grommets will be a bear. There are frame that match those specs on the market.. or you could lead up other frames to meet those specs.. except I am guessing the flex.. which I am guessing is about 55 or lower on her frames. If your wife is still playing 4.5 USTA.. that is impressive and I would be very careful with frame replacement and selection. Demo... Demo.. demo.

Good luck.. I am guessing... nothing you can find today will have that old Pro Kennex feeling from the 80s.

Regards,
Steve

Thanks! I thought I would never know what these were.

So, now for some irony....My wife was the one who got me hooked on tennis in my early 30's. I would go out and hit with her using one of the "Academy Elegance" rackets shown above. Being a relative beginner, I didn't like it, and probably couldn't handle it. Felt like swinging a dead fish. So, the time came when I was playing enough to get my own rackets, and not knowing anything, I went out and got myself a light, stiff, pretty racket and developed arm problems over the next few years.

Jump to today: I'm a much better player, but also 8 months out of shoulder surgery. I'm feeling pretty good, much more educated (thanks in large part to these boards), and now play with..... wait for it.... a Pro Kennex! See signature below. Wish I knew then what I know now.

 

[hrstrat57]

I think I've got the photo thing figured out:

pretty nice looking sticks.......