Spalding "The Professional" - Any info?

netman

netman

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Been away from these forums a long time. Just acquired a mint vintage racquet. It's a Spalding "The Professional". Has an 85 head, 21 mm frame, weighs 336 grams (11.85 oz), and is balanced 6 point HL. White paint with red and black accents. Made in Taiwan. Interestingly no specs other than the head size. Does say "Pro Response Series - It begins where you can't see it" and "Tri-Level Shock Suppression with Sensathane. On the tip it states "For Professionals Only".

Can anyone give more history or insight into this classic player's frame?

Thanks
 
netman said:
Been away from these forums a long time. Just acquired a mint vintage racquet. It's a Spalding "The Professional". Has an 85 head, 21 mm frame, weighs 336 grams (11.85 oz), and is balanced 6 point HL. White paint with red and black accents. Made in Taiwan. Interestingly no specs other than the head size. Does say "Pro Response Series - It begins where you can't see it" and "Tri-Level Shock Suppression with Sensathane. On the tip it states "For Professionals Only".

Can anyone give more history or insight into this classic player's frame?

Thanks
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I remember these coming out in 1988.
 
Don't remember that one, but I do remember that oh so sweet Spalding Taxi from the late 80s. Yellow with the cabbie black/white checkered boxes. Ah, the memories...

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JohnBPittsburgh said:
If you are not a professional, I am afraid you cannot use the frame :D just kidding, have you hit with it yet?
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I'm recovering from Achilles Tendon rupture surgery, so still a few months from returning to the court. Plus it looks brand new, doubt it was ever used. So I might leave it in its pristine state. But probably not. :)
 
Lol, the allure of the old school feel would be too much for me ;) but I would be very careful not to get a mark on it!!!! Hope you heal up quick and get back out on the courts!!
 
Darby K said:
Don't remember that one, but I do remember that oh so sweet Spalding Taxi from the late 80s. Yellow with the cabbie black/white checkered boxes. Ah, the memories...

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Click to expand...
When I look at photos of the Taxi, it has the exact same checkerboard stenciling as the "The Professional" I have. Right down to the "Pro Response Series - It begins where you can't see it" and "Tri-Level Shock Suppression with Sensathane". Only difference is the Taxi is a 90 sq in. head, is painted yellow rather than white and says "Graphite/Composite" on the tip . I'm guessing the Taxi was the next generation of the racquet I have.
 
netman said:
When I look at photos of the Taxi, it has the exact same checkerboard stenciling as the "The Professional" I have. Right down to the "Pro Response Series - It begins where you can't see it" and "Tri-Level Shock Suppression with Sensathane". Only difference is the Taxi is a 90 sq in. head, is painted yellow rather than white and says "Graphite/Composite" on the tip . I'm guessing the Taxi was the next generation of the racquet I have.
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Then you've got yourself a good one, netman...

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Yes I remember this racket vividly . My teaching pro used this back in the day . And it did indeed say for professionals only . He only let me hit with it for a few balls but it was unreal . At least in my 1988 junior high mind .
Remember it being close to an 85 original pro staff visually . But white . It was all the rage for awhile . The white rabbit ! Fox had the whites . Prince had them . Wilson ceramics :)
Tricomps and spectrums ceramic WB 210 s
The Finn rackets !
 
Darby K said:
Don't remember that one, but I do remember that oh so sweet Spalding Taxi from the late 80s. Yellow with the cabbie black/white checkered boxes. Ah, the memories...

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I played the Taxi for about a year...really not a bad racket. The grommet strips were made of the Senthasane material and actually seemed to absorb some of the vibration. If anyone remembers the wacky Gripsy art deco overgrips of the late '80s, I would wrap one of those on the Taxi and string it with a hybrid of red/blue or some such combination. We called it the "Ugly Stick"...not likely to get mixed up with anyone else's racket!!!
 
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