jura said:
Yeah, that was a funny racket: Oversize with only 10(!) main strings. Woodforde used the Hi-Ten 50 a long time with strings up to 1,8 mm thick, as I heard. After the Hi-Ten 50 I think he used a Wimbledon stick for a while before switching ti Wilson. They made him a kind of 6.1 with a special string pattern with 12 main strings I think.
BTW: Völkl made some various rackets for Mantilla with only 14 main strings. (According to the Graphite II LB he used before switching to Völkl.)
My brother used it for a good 10 years before his last frame died. It was one of the most unique racquets because the feel just wasn't comparable to any other racquet. Not that the frame was so unusual, although it was very stiff and a 100sq headsize at a time when that wasn't so common. The unique ingredient was the string, string pattern and tension range. Hugely thick string similar in thickness to the nylon line you get in whipper snippers (not sure what they call them in the States), an exceptionally open string pattern and tensions around 90lbs. End result was huge potential for spin, excellent control but a rather jarring effect when you weren't imparting spin (flat serves were tough).
Once you'd played with the Hi-Ten50 for a while and got used to the feel it was a nightmare trying to play with anything else. I know people talk about the unique feel of the PS85 and the POG OS but those things are twins compared to the Hi-Ten50 and everything else. A normal racquet just produces a 'shrill' (can't think of a better word) and flimsy response compared to it and Im pretty sure that's the reason why Woodforde couldn't make a break from the stringing pattern, during his pro career. When my brother had to change it took him almost two years to adjust to a normal racquet LOL.
One other thing. If anyone ever doubted how good Woodforde was and what an excellent pair of hands he had they should try to volley with the Hi-Ten50.
