Rossignol Graphite 200 - wooden racquet

[Grafil Injection]

I thought this stylish stick needed a thread to clarify its confusing name. It's definitely a wood, albeit a complex composite one, as the advert describes the 5 layers of maple with a fibre lamination and some carbon reinforcement to the layup. It's then wrapped in fibre-glass and graphite. Impressive that they were able to get all those layers with just a 14mm x 12mm beam. Perhaps not surprising that my LM weighs 408g!

The hoop is virtually identical to an F-200, just slightly larger at the shoulders, and the 18x18 pattern is very open and evenly spread. A bit tricky to serve with at my weight, but feels fantastic on groundstrokes. Solid and sweet, and a bit easier to find the middle than with an F-200. Probably because it feels reasonably stiff and the mass gives a bigger sweet-zone. Overall, it performs quite like a Slazenger V-24 with easy power/depth that encourages a decent amount of spin on shots, and has surprising stability on returns. Completely interchangeable with actual graphites of the day. It's a shame it was only sold for a couple of years I believe before the US factory stopped production.

I should think an 'L' around 390g would be highly playable.

 

[Kevo]

That's a nice looking stick. The weight would certainly be an issue, same on serve for me with the regular F200, but if it hits like the F200 on the ground, then I'm sure it is a joy to practice groundies with.

 

[Grafil Injection]

That's a nice looking stick. The weight would certainly be an issue, same on serve for me with the regular F200, but if it hits like the F200 on the ground, then I'm sure it is a joy to practice groundies with.

Yes, my 400g+ version limits it to short sessions, mainly because of the difficulty in serving. Around 380-390g would probably be ideal for the G-200, which is what I find with most other mid-size woods too. Certainly, a stable and plush feel on groundies. Virtually no flutter despite the thinness.

 

[ey039524]

I'm currently deep down the wood composite rabbit hole w/ my Prince woodies.

 

[retrowagen]

I remember these being available circa 1983, and wondered how many mail order purchasers (pre-internet!) discovered to their chagrin that their new Rossignol „Graphite“ was actually mostly bois…

(Of course, their concurrent full composite F200 Carbon played like a midsized wood frame as well, so c‘est la vie!)

 

[michael valek]

Surely only for the most committed mats wilander devotees. And even they would probably admit it’s a terrible frame.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Surely only for the most committed mats wilander devotees. And even they would probably admit it’s a terrible frame.

I've seen Mats used a Rossignol aluminium before the F-200 in 1981, so I guess he missed the G-200.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I remember these being available circa 1983, and wondered how many mail order purchasers (pre-internet!) discovered to their chagrin that their new Rossignol „Graphite“ was actually mostly bois…

(Of course, their concurrent full composite F200 Carbon played like a midsized wood frame as well, so c‘est la vie!)

If anything the G-200 feels more stiff than the F-200. I guess that's not difficult.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I'm currently deep down the wood composite rabbit hole w/ my Prince woodies.

I would recommend this one. Interesting combination of svelteness and stability.

 

[kevin qmto]

I'm currently deep down the wood composite rabbit hole w/ my Prince woodies.

The prince woodie is where it starts. Then you find the PK golden or blue aces and Dunlop A-Players and I’m working my way towards the Le coq sportif Concept 3.

 

[Grafil Injection]

The prince woodie is where it starts. Then you find the PK golden or blue aces and Dunlop A-Players and I’m working my way towards the Le coq sportif Concept 3.

You need a V-24. It makes the others feel puny with its 'massive' 18mm beam.

 

[kevin qmto]

You need a V-24. It makes the others feel puny with its 'massive' 18mm beam.

I have a Slazenger Vilas Pro that I do hold in high regard.

 

[retrowagen]

Head Edgewood or any of several Snauwaert midsize wood composites get my nod for wooden playability excellence.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Head Edgewood or any of several Snauwaert midsize wood composites get my nod for wooden playability excellence.

I wonder if Gerulaitis ever played Mecir when they both had their LaGrandes.

 

[ey039524]

The prince woodie is where it starts. Then you find the PK golden or blue aces and Dunlop A-Players and I’m working my way towards the Le coq sportif Concept 3.

I have a bronze ace that my son's coach gave me. It's fun bc it's head light, but I'm searching for a head light woodie.

 

[vsbabolat]

I wonder if Gerulaitis ever played Mecir when they both had their LaGrandes.

They played once when Madrid was indoors in 1984 in the fall. Vitas won.

Miloslav Mecir Sr. VS Vitas Gerulaitis | Head 2 Head | H2H | ATP Tour | Tennis

Head to head records for players in men's professional tennis. View rivalry results and stats for matches on the ATP Tour.

www.atptour.com

I tend to think that Vitas used the Gerulaitis Mid that had graphite strip that went all the around the frame. Where the LaGrande stopped at the shoulders.

 

[vsbabolat]

But I also have a version that looks just like the LaGrande so who knows what he used. It was one of those versions for sure

 

[Grafil Injection]

They played once when Madrid was indoors in 1984 in the fall. Vitas won.

Miloslav Mecir Sr. VS Vitas Gerulaitis | Head 2 Head | H2H | ATP Tour | Tennis

Head to head records for players in men's professional tennis. View rivalry results and stats for matches on the ATP Tour.

www.atptour.com

I tend to think that Vitas used the Gerulaitis Mid that had graphite strip that went all the around the frame. Where the LaGrande stopped at the shoulders.

Were Mecir's later ones that were dark coloured all over, just paintjobs of the LaGrande, or a different version like the Fibre Composite Lagrande?

 

[vsbabolat]

Were Mecir's later ones that were dark coloured all over, just paintjobs of the LaGrande, or a different version like the Fibre Composite Lagrande?

Mecir used the LeGrande with all the different paint jobs. As far as I know he was last player using a wood racket on tour.

 

[retrowagen]

But I also have a version that looks just like the LaGrande so who knows what he used. It was one of those versions for sure

Mecir started his ATP career with the Graphite LaGrande Mid, then moved to the Brian Gottfried Mid (which was the top Snauwaert wood composite frame around 1984-1985, identical to the Gerulaitis Mid wood composite underneath the graphics), then went to a specially painted Gottfried that resembled a full composite Graphite Mid model.

Mecir‘s career ended much too soon; he was one of my favorite ATP players of his time, quiet, thoughtful, interesting, and athletic. Gerulaitis‘ career also came to too soon a close, as did his life.

 

[wallymann]

@Grafil Injection your post inspired me...i have one of these inbound! will pair nicely with my graphite-wood borg-PRO 25S

 

[wallymann]

is that rossignol's beam thin or what?!

 

[Grafil Injection]

Was that just above the handle? I double checked mine and it seems to have a massive 1mm taper, 13.2mm above the handle to 14.2 at the top. Probably an extra wrap of graphite at 12.

 

[wallymann]

Was that just above the handle? I double checked mine and it seems to have a massive 1mm taper, 13.2mm above the handle to 14.2 at the top. Probably an extra wrap of graphite at 12.

most of the frame is ~12.5mm...but there's a portion from like 1:00 to 11:00 across the top that's ~13.5mm.

mine actually measure out at +4mm in length as well.

i'm in the process of reshaping the handle a skosh, fitting up a wilson 5/8 butt-cap, and trimming the length.

 

[dje31]

I don't know how I missed this racquet, given my Rossi collection. Now, more than a little obsessed about it...