Serving with a Dunlop Maxply Fort

[serve/and/volley]

This is the first video as a part of my wooden racquet (racket) project. Got inspired by videos of McEnroe, Borg, Connors, Vitas, Ashe, Laver, Gonzales, etc. Recently got a Dunlop Maxply Fort on e-Bay (4 5/8 gripsize, even though it feels like a 4 1/2); came with a wooden brace, but is still slightly warped. Strung it with cheap synthetic gut @ 55 lbs. Damn thing weighs nearly 15 ounces. Because of the weight, my shoulder isn't strong enough to serve at 100% speed and power. I can't bend my knees too much otherwise I can't control the racquet because I get off-balance. Notice how my motion is not completely fluid (slight pause) due to my discomfort with the weight of the racquet. Since I can't swing too hard, I tried to let the weight of the racquet do most of the work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKlbVEUZ3MA

This racquet is very exhausting to play with. I have much greater respect for the old school guys. Incredible how they could play high-level tennis with these things.

 

[Mick]

to me, dunlop racquets are easier to play with than donnay, and serving and volleying are the most difficult things to do well with the wooden racquets: even after you have delivered a well struck serve, most of the time, the guy with a modern racquet would return the ball back to you faster than when it comes to him and from that point on, you find yourself at a disadvantage.

 

[serve/and/volley]

to me, dunlop racquets are easier to play with than donnay, and serving and volleying are the most difficult things to do well with the wooden racquets: even after you have delivered a well struck serve, most of the time, the guy with a modern racquet would return the ball back to you faster than when it comes to him and from that point on, you find yourself at a disadvantage.

I also paid around US$80 for a Donnay Borg Pro. I don't dare string it to hit with because some of the black paint chips off just from casually handling it! It really is a beautiful racquet!

I heard that in the 90's Sampras and Philippoussis played an exhibition with woodies, and they were still serving in the 120+ mph range. Any info on that? Incredible!