Puma BB Super - extended version !?!?

[I.M. Weasel]

Hi there!

I recently purchased yet another oldie to add to my collection. To my surprise, this new Puma Boris Becker was not exactly the same as the other one I had. First, there is slightly different colour and cosmetics as you can see. Then, the one that I had before had Power Control System (PCS) designed as sliding grip handle. This new one has PCS the same as the older Puma Boris Becker Winner version (which also was my first graphite racquet back when I was junior). For adjusting length of the racquet you have to unwrap the leather grip and remove/add plastic inserts. This is the first time that I ever saw this method on blue-red BB Super. And it doesn't even say Super on it.
The grommets are also slightly different in shape and colour but this is to be expected.
The funniest part of the story is that the racquet is actually 1,3 cm longer than standard. Each one of the two inserts is 0,5 cm and after I removed them both I still got the 0,3 cm longer racquet.
Weight is pretty much the same 366 compared to 372. Balance point 32 cm and 31,8 cm respectively. I measured those after removal of two red plastic inserts. First has 4 1/2 grip and the second 4 5/8.
So I am confused not abut cosmetics but about extended length! And I am not even sure that the signature says B Becker. :???:

Was extended length racquet even legal back in those days of Boris Becker and when those were produced?
Is anyone out there familiar with this version of that famous racquet???

Links:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/JasamLasica/Puma BB/HPIM0219-3.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/JasamLasica/Puma BB/HPIM0225-1.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/JasamLasica/Puma BB/HPIM0227-1.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/JasamLasica/Puma BB/HPIM0228-1.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/JasamLasica/Puma BB/HPIM0236-1.jpg

All the best!!!

 

[samster]

That is very odd indeed. My Puma Boris Becker Super has the PCS system.

 

[I.M. Weasel]

Wow, 71 views and one single reply! C'mon guys! Anyone!!!
Thanks to Samster for response!

chris_in_japan once (01-02-2007, 12:15 AM) wrote (I am quoting him exactly)>

92 sq inch heads on all. The Vilas (Gold) and the Becker Winner (Silver) are 80/20 graphite fibreglass, the Becker Super (Red Navy) and proVanTech are 50/50, and the Becker Pro (White Red Navy) is graphite/ ceramic/ kevlar..

All come to 27 inch in length, but can be shortened if need be with the 2 kinds of PCS Power Control Systems.

The Becker proVanTech doesnt have the PCS, as all Estusa versions, and is a strait 27 inch in length.. The Vilas and Becker Winners are the most flexible, with the Super in the middle. With the added ceramics, the Pro is the most stiff.

So, I am asking you people and especially Chris in Japan, what do you know about this extended length version?
And again, the signature may not be saying Boris Becker.
Just a thought: I got this racquet from Belgrade, Serbia, and ex Yugoslav (Serbian) player played BB Super for the short period of time. Then he switched to Puma Top Speed or so. It may be one of his sticks.
Yet again, was extended length legal back in those days?

Thanks again!!!

 

[Crisp]

Perhaps it was a quality control issue otherwise i am not sure. Idoubt therer was an extennded lenght version

 

[I.M. Weasel]

Perhaps it was a quality control issue otherwise i am not sure. Idoubt therer was an extennded lenght version

I'm pretty sure that the quality control was fine in this case. The mold was obviously the same, only the polyurethane handle is longer. Everything seems to be at its place!
And the picture from the first link clearly shows that the palette between grip and throat is longer on one racquet compared to another.
No matter what, the racquet is still longer and the question remains: was it legal back then???
And I forgot to mention the ex-player's name is Slobodan Zivojinovic AKA Bobo AKA Rambobo.

All the best!!!

 

[samster]

I'm pretty sure that the quality control was fine in this case. The mold was obviously the same, only the polyurethane handle is longer. Everything seems to be at its place!
And the picture from the first link clearly shows that the palette between grip and throat is longer on one racquet compared to another.
No matter what, the racquet is still longer and the question remains: was it legal back then???
And I forgot to mention the ex-player's name is Slobodan Zivojinovic AKA Bobo AKA Rambobo.

All the best!!!

Have you considered it might be a custom mold for him???

 

[plasma]

I heard somewhere that the winner was 80% fiberglass/20% graphite!!!????