Sampras working with Wilson on new players racquet...

[JRProstaf9]

According to the below article Pete Sampras, it seems, has a new racquet in the works with Wilson...

http://www.amny.com/sports/am-tennis0312,0,4895406.story

As someone who has played w/ the original prostaff 6.0 and has always been a big fan of the prostaff line it would definitly be interesting to see what Wilson comes out with...

Thoughts?

 

[Fedace]

^^^You are correct, this is definitely not the old Vicent Prostaff he used wield. The beam is thicker and looks like more powerful frame. It is K-factor from what i have read. So this is getting down to business now. This is it. This pretty confirms that Pete is coming back to the ATP tour. Why would Wilson spend Millions of dollars to come up with new line of rackets if Pete wasn't going to play in the tour.? But Pete will probably play very limited schedule though. He may not even be able to meet the Minimum req tournaments of ATP, but still will love to see pete get to the finals of Wimby again.

 

[SempreSami]

This is new and exciting news.

 

[jcstennis]

If Pete keeps playing exo's and packing the house.... and Wilson sells his "production" racquet [that they are working on] at these events, etc... and sell a limited quantity, or limited numbered-signed by Pete...hmmmm

wait in a couple of years Agassi will start this and "another" Agassi racquet will evolve

I can't wait to see what the final "Pete" racquet looks like... and plays like!

 

[MichaelChang]

isn't there threads about this already? btw Pete is not coming back to the tour.

 

[Fedace]

isn't there threads about this already? btw Pete is not coming back to the tour.

i think he is, just is not a public info

 

[jorel]

According to the below article Pete Sampras, it seems, has a new racquet in the works with Wilson...

http://www.amny.com/sports/am-tennis0312,0,4895406.story

As someone who has played w/ the original prostaff 6.0 and has always been a big fan of the prostaff line it would definitly be interesting to see what Wilson comes out with...

Thoughts?

i think its a box beam ~90sqin. very similar to the K90 without the flanges at the throat

 

[Fedace]

i think its a box beam ~90sqin. very similar to the K90 without the flanges at the throat

I hope the public sale version is not too heavy. i am sure pete's racket is much heavier.

 

[jorel]

I hope the public sale version is not too heavy. i am sure pete's racket is much heavier.

i guess the same weight as the 6.0 85... 12.6 oz

Pete adds a crapload of lead on his frames (making it close to 14 oz)

when he was on tour

 

[aceroberts13]

I hope they are something that I can use. I won't play with them if they aren't close to my fave racquet specs, but I want to be able to play with them so badly. Guess I'll just have to wait...*sigh*

EDIT: Ugh, they called the overgrip purple in the article. Noobs!

 

[hoodjem]

This pretty confirms that Pete is coming back to the ATP tour.

Don't bet on it.



But on a more realistic note: as an old PS 85 fan, I too would certainly give a new Pete Sampras Pro Staff racquet a try. We could call it the PS PS, or the PS squared.

 

[jcstennis]

EDIT: Ugh, they called the overgrip purple in the article. Noobs!

yeah, doesn't Unique have patent on the "Blue" color?

 

[Custom+Hybrid]

I'm surprised he's actually do something like this.

Maybe he read the TT boards & was intrigued by all the discussion on the wilson 6.0 series?

 

[CGMemphis]

Does Pete, like Agassi, have a lifetime contract?

Not shocked to see it, all the interest in him lately.

Pete puts a TON of lead on his racquet, even now.

 

[Chauvalito]

This is new and exciting news.

I posted the OP's article a week ago...

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=2155849#post2155849

3/12/08

 

[master_stringer_mitchy]

i wonder if he will maybe play queens? would be a good one for him to do as it has djokovic, nadal, roddick and other top players but not all of them. i bet if he did, there would be a real chance that he could go far, and if he did, get a wildcard into wimbledon a week later as they dont usualy decide on who gets the wild card and till quite close to the tournament. just my thoughts thou!

 

[fastdunn]

i hope it's somewhat approachable for over 40 "players" like me...

mcenroe's seems to target players over 40-50.
sampras' might target over 30 players...

 

[Azzurri]

^^^You are correct, this is definitely not the old Vicent Prostaff he used wield. The beam is thicker and looks like more powerful frame. It is K-factor from what i have read. So this is getting down to business now. This is it. This pretty confirms that Pete is coming back to the ATP tour. Why would Wilson spend Millions of dollars to come up with new line of rackets if Pete wasn't going to play in the tour.? But Pete will probably play very limited schedule though. He may not even be able to meet the Minimum req tournaments of ATP, but still will love to see pete get to the finals of Wimby again.

This post is wrong in so many ways.

 

[tennisfan_23]

I HIGHLY doubt Pete is coming back to the tour. Sorry.

 

[DJG]

Don't think Pete is coming back either.

However, isn't there something in the SW19 rules/traditions that allows any ex-champion entry into the tournament if they want? I'm reasonably sure Navratilova used that "loophole" a couple of years back.

 

[nn]

"You need to be a serious player to play that racket. I'm not going to say anything more than that."

that statement says something is cooking...looks like he is coming back..otherwise no meaning to play many expo one is coming with david nab...

 

[shwetty[tennis]balls]

Yeah, I doubt that he'll be coming back. Wilson is just banking on the fact that Pete sold the pro staff 85 to heights unimagined during his career, and in fact continues to do so, even though production stopped some time ago. Pete has launched arguably the most popular racquet the world has ever seen. Since it's no longer in production, why not produce a new racquet "sponsered" or endorsed by the same guy that brought us THE pro staff. The specs from the pro staff Pete used aren't very popular in today's tour so why not "update" it, stamp it w/ Pete's approval and PRESTO: Hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue over the next 10 years. It's actually a very astute marketing move made by our friends at Wilson, at the very least they're keeping us, the average tennis player, interested in Wilson, and potentially gaining money at the same time. I know that all of those who had been using the pro staff for so long and are now moving on to "friendlier" racquets will definately check these out. I'm still a pro staff user and will be for some time, but I know I'm going to demo it when it comes out. I know several that have moved on to other sticks with a sense of longing for the same response they had on their PS 85. This section of the market will be cleaned up by this latest marketing ploy. Genius!

 

[stormholloway]

Agree with above.

But there was already a thread about this. I just want a 90 inch, slightly stiffer version of the PS85. No flashy red paint jobs. In fact, make it white with gold accents ala the Kramer and I'm sold. I'll buy 10 of them.

In my dreams.

 

[VGP]

Sampras doesn't need to come back for Wilson to sell frames.

He's said repeatedly that he's not coming back to the tour.

Like I said in the other thread, look at what Dunlop did for McEnroe with the Maxply McEnroe.

Selling products works extremely well for senior golf. Why then not for senior tennis.

 

[sunflowerhx]

According to the below article Pete Sampras, it seems, has a new racquet in the works with Wilson...

http://www.amny.com/sports/am-tennis0312,0,4895406.story

This is a **** and bull story.
There is no way Wilson is working on a new racket with Sampras.

1. Sampras was never a commercial asset like Agassi/Federer in his hay day, much less now.

2. The market for another demanding frame like the K90 is very small.

The only reason the frame is painted black is cash. Wilson probably was willing to supply but not pay Sampras to use their rackets. Why would they, when they have with Federer.

That article is just Wilson spinning some story to save face.

 

[sureshs]

This is a **** and bull story.
There is no way Wilson is working on a new racket with Sampras.

1. Sampras was never a commercial asset like Agassi/Federer in his hay day, much less now.

2. The market for another demanding frame like the K90 is very small.

The only reason the frame is painted black is cash. Wilson probably was willing to supply but not pay Sampras to use their rackets. Why would they, when they have with Federer.

That article is just Wilson spinning some story to save face.

Then why did he stencil his racquet?

 

[jorel]

This is a **** and bull story.
There is no way Wilson is working on a new racket with Sampras.

1. Sampras was never a commercial asset like Agassi/Federer in his hay day, much less now.

2. The market for another demanding frame like the K90 is very small.

The only reason the frame is painted black is cash. Wilson probably was willing to supply but not pay Sampras to use their rackets. Why would they, when they have with Federer.

That article is just Wilson spinning some story to save face.

if ur joking,,, then its funny

if ur not.... then ?????????????????

 

[VGP]

Sampras might not have been an "asset" like Agassi, but not because it wasn't possible.

If anything, the power of Sampras' marketability in selling rackets is still demonstrated today in the demand for the PS85, albeit a niche market.

The "market" for a demanding frame like the k90 isn't fueled by people that could play best with the racket, it's fueled by people that want the "Federer" racket, or possibly the upcoming "Sampras" racket.

If Wilson didn't want to make a new racket, then they very well could have just let Sampras use whatever he was using last year. Why black out an obviously new design and not just black out what he was using last year and leave it at that?

If it happens, it happens, if not, then not.

I'd prefer it to happen because frames like the PS85 don't come around that often. I'm hoping that a possible new one will.

I was never sold on the Tour90, n90, or k90. Cosmetics and feel wise. I suppose I could force myself, but I decided to get a few PS85s instead.

 

[quest01]

"You need to be a serious player to play that racket. I'm not going to say anything more than that."

that statement says something is cooking...looks like he is coming back..otherwise no meaning to play many expo one is coming with david nab...

I'm sure the racket Sampras is working with Wilson on will be a good racket in the hands of the right people but it's not for me. It's a little too demanding for me. I prefer to use a racket I play better with.

 

[drakulie]

^^The frame hasn't even come close to coming out. No one has any idea what the specs will be or if Wilson will actually end up producing this frame. It could be a 8 ounce 110 sq inch frame, or 12 ounce 90 square inch frame. Yet, you are alreay submitting you are not good enough to play with it??? You must be a horrible player.

 

[keithchircop]

I guess it will be a limited edition racquet with a small head that weighs a ton: Sampras' real racquet.

 

[Azzurri]

This is a **** and bull story.
There is no way Wilson is working on a new racket with Sampras.

1. Sampras was never a commercial asset like Agassi/Federer in his hay day, much less now.

2. The market for another demanding frame like the K90 is very small.

The only reason the frame is painted black is cash. Wilson probably was willing to supply but not pay Sampras to use their rackets. Why would they, when they have with Federer.

That article is just Wilson spinning some story to save face.

No doubt you are either new to tennis or were born in the 90's. Your specualtion is way, way off.

 

[quest01]

^^The frame hasn't even come close to coming out. No one has any idea what the specs will be or if Wilson will actually end up producing this frame. It could be a 8 ounce 110 sq inch frame, or 12 ounce 90 square inch frame. Yet, you are alreay submitting you are not good enough to play with it??? You must be a horrible player.

If Sampras is helping Wilson come out with a new players racket its not going to be a 8 ounce, 110 square inch racket Pete. Its going to be a racket similar to what Sampras was using in the exo against Federer. If its similar to the K90 then it's not for me Pete.

 

[drakulie]

^^^The key word is **IF**.

 

[Janne]

I really hope it's the PS 6.0 90, if only to put an end to all speculations and whoop around it.

 

[quest01]

^^^The key word is **IF**.

First off I'm far from being a horrible player. Just because I don't play as well with mid size rackets doesn't make me a horrible player. I'd probably smoke you on the court so bad you would be on your hands and knees begging for mercy.

 

[drakulie]

First off I'm far from being a horrible player. Just because I don't play as well with mid size rackets doesn't make me a horrible player.

what does frame size have to do with how good of a player you are???

 

[Azzurri]

First off I'm far from being a horrible player. Just because I don't play as well with mid size rackets doesn't make me a horrible player. I'd probably smoke you on the court so bad you would be on your hands and knees begging for mercy.

dude, you might as well challenge Drakulie to a fight, a 40 yard dash, a car race...either way saying you would beat him (excuse me, smoke him) is pretty immature, we are on a forum!! Either way I'm sure Drakulie had a nice chuckle.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

I'm pretty sure legends like Agassi, Sampras, etc. will have lifetime contracts and it's not a surprise that this new racquet is coming out. Hell, Head is still marketing every radical to be the one Agassi uses.

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

I HIGHLY doubt Pete is coming back to the tour. Sorry.

Wouldn't it be fun if he did.............but I doubt it. CC

 

[Fedace]

This post is wrong in so many ways.

My question is why would Wilson invest millions of dollars for Pete Sampras' new racket if he wasn't going to come back ?? Marketing alone will cost Wilson, arm and a leg. if they weren't going to recoup this money some way, Wilson would never do this.

 

[BreakPoint]

My question is why would Wilson invest millions of dollars for Pete Sampras' new racket if he wasn't going to come back ?? Marketing alone will cost Wilson, arm and a leg. if they weren't going to recoup this money some way, Wilson would never do this.

Wilson was still making millions off of Jack Kramer's name 20 years after he retired.

 

[stormholloway]

I think if Federer hadn't come along then Wilson could have easily marketed a racquet after Sampras directly after his retirement. This was probably derailed by the fact that Federer played with the same racquet Sampras did and it made more sense to attach new Pro Staff models to Federer's name.

Now that time has passed Wilson can see there are still tons of people who love Sampras and that he is a marketing vehicle for tennis racquets.

They wouldn't even have to change the mold of the current 90 inch for the Sampras frame. Just go back to the old materials and tweak the weighting of the K90, slap on a classic paint finish and put Sampras' signature on it. You would instantly sell thousands of racquets at a relatively low cost.

 

[vsbabolat]

Anybody remember a guy named Jack Kramer? Wilson had the Jack Kramer Autograph decades after Jack retired. Other Wilson racquets with players names on them came and went but there was always a Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph until wood died out. Even after wood there was the graphite and fiberglass Jack Kramer Staff mid and oversize from the Pro Staff mid and oversize molds.

Pete is still a very recognized name and he is still going to be involved in tennis playing in WTT, the Seniors Tour, and exhibitions. So Pete is still fairly visible and viable to market.

 

[aceroberts13]

I dont think Pete has to come back for Wilson to make money off of the racquets. I think people will use Pete's racquet whether he is playing proffessionally or not, I also think it will sell better than Fed's racquet possibly.

 

[J011yroger]

My question is why would Wilson invest millions of dollars for Pete Sampras' new racket if he wasn't going to come back ?? Marketing alone will cost Wilson, arm and a leg. if they weren't going to recoup this money some way, Wilson would never do this.

It doesn't cost anywhere near millions of dollars to make a new racquet, from scratch, ground up.

Did you just pick that number out of a hat? Do you have any clue about the costs of having custom racquets made?

J

 

[aceroberts13]

It doesn't cost anywhere near millions of dollars to make a new racquet, from scratch, ground up.

Did you just pick that number out of a hat? Do you have any clue about the costs of having custom racquets made?

J

Obviously he isn't privy to the vantage racquet company.

 

[J011yroger]

Obviously he isn't privy to the vantage racquet company.

Well vantage doesn't really count, as they are just a mix and match of stuff they already had.

J

 

[Harry_Wild]

Solid Black Prostaff would be Ideal!

I would love to buy a solid color black Prostaff Racket similar to that of the PS 85! I hate the color they use in the tour line the red and black and white. It a lady's color. I try painting the Tour K90 but the paint easily chips when you hit a frame shot! You cannot not easily dupicate the factory paint job.

Hope they don't follow the same color patterns as the Tour line.

 

[AndrewD]

Pete has launched arguably the most popular racquet the world has ever seen.

You are kidding, aren't you? The PS85 was launched by Connors back in about 84 and it was Evert and Edberg who maintained its popularity until Sampras came along. Yes, he helped to keep it popular but he sure as hell didn't launch the thing. Even then, the Wilson Kramer or Dunlop Maxply have outsold the PS85 by, at least, 4 to 1. They are the two most popular racquets the world has seen, the PS85 is just a blip on the radar in comparison.