The Wilson 85s

MichaelChang

MichaelChang

Hall of Fame
Would like to see how people think of the Wilson 85s. Jack Kramer prostaff 85, the Prostaff 6.0 85, and the Prostaff 6.6 85. (Is there any other "modern" 85 that I missed?)

How do these 3 compare against each other? I have hit with JK 85 and 6.0 85 (China) and I liked the JK 85 a little better. It feels a little stiffer.

Edit: There is a Staff 85 which comes before Prostaff. And I actually have hit with it briefly and it felt heavier I just can't generate decent pace with it. It felt very flex.
 
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R

retrowagen

Hall of Fame
There are dozens of 85-square-inch composite Wilson mids that came about in the 1980's-2000's, and the Pro Staff wasn't the first of them. :!: (and the Staff came after the original 1983/4 PS Mid...)

There were numerous models, ranging from the Ultra 2 at one end of the spectrum, to the "chain discount store" models such as the Matrix and Aggressor.
 
MichaelChang

MichaelChang

Hall of Fame
Sorry for my ignorance haha. I always thought the Ultra and Ultra2 were smaller than 85? I guess I was refering to the particular "mold" that is used in making the Staff/JK/ProStaff 85.
 
R

retrowagen

Hall of Fame
Bobby Jr said:
You could get the Ultra FPK in 85sq in I thought? They were great racquets.
Click to expand...
The 85 sq-in Ultra FPK was super duper limited production, for Hana Mandlikova. I don't believe it was ever marketed to the general public. The "production" Ultra FPK was available in 95 and 110 sizes.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
retrowagen said:
The 85 sq-in Ultra FPK was super duper limited production, for Hana Mandlikova. I don't believe it was ever marketed to the general public. The "production" Ultra FPK was available in 95 and 110 sizes.
Click to expand...

Imagine a cross between the PC600 and Ps 6.0 85. Have all three FPK, 85, 95, 110 and used all unused, NOS. FPK 85 has no bumperguard. Best Wilson IMHO ever.
 
Bobby Jr

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
retrowagen said:
The 85 sq-in Ultra FPK was super duper limited production, for Hana Mandlikova. I don't believe it was ever marketed to the general public. The "production" Ultra FPK was available in 95 and 110 sizes.
Click to expand...
You sure about that? I'm pretty sure our local shop had them at the time. I got one the same time as my brother - both 85s from what I recall. They definitely weren't 95s.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Bobby Jr said:
You sure about that? I'm pretty sure our local shop had them at the time. I got one the same time as my brother - both 85s from what I recall. They definitely weren't 95s.
Click to expand...

Easy to remember, no bumperguards like the Chicago PS 6.0 85.
 
R

retrowagen

Hall of Fame
Bobby Jr said:
You sure about that? I'm pretty sure our local shop had them at the time. I got one the same time as my brother - both 85s from what I recall. They definitely weren't 95s.
Click to expand...

Well, I never make mistakes. I once thought I did, but I was wrong... :lol:

I could definitely be mistaken about the production FPK 85.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
retrowagen said:
Well, I never make mistakes. I once thought I did, but I was wrong... :lol:

I could definitely be mistaken about the production FPK 85.
Click to expand...

Not sure about whether they were production models. Had a pair from TW. And still do. And have Hana's Auto.
 
max

max

Legend
I once played with something, borrowed it when a string broke on my max 200 g, called the Wilson Ultra Matrix graphite. Looked a lot like a Wilson PS 6.0/85, perhaps a bit more flexible (which seemed to me to ADD to its control) but said "made in Brazil" on the side. It played very nicely. Anyone see this?
 
MichaelChang

MichaelChang

Hall of Fame
max said:
I once played with something, borrowed it when a string broke on my max 200 g, called the Wilson Ultra Matrix graphite. Looked a lot like a Wilson PS 6.0/85, perhaps a bit more flexible (which seemed to me to ADD to its control) but said "made in Brazil" on the side. It played very nicely. Anyone see this?
Click to expand...

Could it be the Wilson Graphite Matrix? It does have a 85ish head size I think, just without the PWS. I had one of those before. The one I had is black paintjob, I have seen silver paint job as well.
 
Hannah19

Hannah19

Professional
MichaelChang said:
Could it be the Wilson Graphite Matrix? It does have a 85ish head size I think, just without the PWS. I had one of those before. The one I had is black paintjob, I have seen silver paint job as well.
Click to expand...

The Graphite Matrix was not made in Brasil....Come to think of it, did Wilson ever have a manufacturing plant in Brasil..??
 
FedererClone

FedererClone

Semi-Pro
I never quite liked the 80/20 fiberglass comp of the Kramer sticks... the older braided 80/20 kevlar was best. This is probably why you don't like the "pop" of the Kramer's - way flexier than the 6.0 for sure... Hit a long time ago w/6.0 that required precision like no other frame. Lots of hours rewarded you with a pristine game... never compared it to later 85s from China etc.. so can't give you a comparison....

I liked the Sting SC (not the SC2000, but the SC with no stabilizer bar), the ceramic felt very good in the frame.

Wilson reflex 85 is also a nice stick, a slimmer PS85 with a narrower throat - but at least 80% graphite in the comp... and the Wilson Graphite Force was a great stick (maybe 88sq in headsize?) that many have said copied, or followed, the Head Edge feel and style... Graphite Matrix / Pro matrix are also 85 sq PWS sticks, but too flexible, less control for me than even the Kramer's ( ... maybe the Graphite Matrix / Pro matrix were only 60% graphite? ) never liked them... I do have an Ultra 95 tapered beam, doesn't fit my game, and wish I had the 85...

As for the stars and stripes 85 that courier pushed (until he didn't like the stick and dropped it from the tour: if he ever played with it?). I prefer the S&S 85 over the S&S 95, but neither rocked my world... The only 95 I've ever felt somewhat comfortable with is the original 6.0 .

... Also hit with Hyper Carbon Pro Staff 90 "tour 90" that came in after the PS85 that was a very difficult sword to wield, and finally I recall one other frame fondly; N code 90 red and white, the older Fed frame ... that was a sweet ride...
 
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joe sch

joe sch

Legend
FedererClone said:
I never quite liked the 80/20 fiberglass comp of the Kramer sticks... the older braided 80/20 kevlar was best. This is probably why you don't like the "pop" of the Kramer's - way flexier than the 6.0 for sure... Hit a long time ago w/6.0 that required precision like no other frame. Lots of hours rewarded you with a pristine game... never compared it to later 85s from China etc.. so can't give you a comparison....

I liked the Sting SC (not the SC2000, but the SC with no stabilizer bar), the ceramic felt very good in the frame.

Wilson reflex 85 is also a nice stick, a slimmer PS85 with a narrower throat - but at least 80% graphite in the comp... and the Wilson Graphite Force was a great stick (maybe 88sq in headsize?) that many have said copied, or followed, the Head Edge feel and style... Graphite Matrix / Pro matrix are also 85 sq PWS sticks, but too flexible, less control for me than even the Kramer's ( ... maybe the Graphite Matrix / Pro matrix were only 60% graphite? ) never liked them... I do have an Ultra 95 tapered beam, doesn't fit my game, and wish I had the 85...

As for the stars and stripes 85 that courier pushed (until he didn't like the stick and dropped it from the tour: if he ever played with it?). I prefer the S&S 85 over the S&S 95, but neither rocked my world... The only 95 I've ever felt somewhat comfortable with is the original 6.0 .

... Also hit with Hyper Carbon Pro Staff 90 "tour 90" that came in after the PS85 that was a very difficult sword to wield, and finally I recall one other frame fondly; N code 90 red and white, the older Fed frame ... that was a sweet ride...
Click to expand...

What did you think of the ROK racket ?
 
FedererClone

FedererClone

Semi-Pro
... have never hit with the ROK... that with hyper carbon in the make up? like 10% I think... I tried the 5.0 95 hyper carbon, but it lacked feel to me... pinged like a tweener... not sure about the hyper carbon vibe, maybe others can comment?

I really have an affinity for the older 80s sticks in general because of the different feel of the graphite... newer, stronger yet lighter materials are too responsive for me - but I like wielding a heavy stick balanced out w/ lead to match my swing.

BTW .. there was one other Wilson 95 that I forgot to mention in the Wilson 85s tradition that I played w/ for a number of years - the pro staff 6.1 95 80% graphite/ 20% kevlar stick - even reminiscing now I love the "feel" of it in my memory... you can pick up that racquet and always be comfortable on the court once you familiarize yourself with its capabilities.... It still fetches a petty penny on the big site, and rightly so.
 
FedererClone

FedererClone

Semi-Pro
MichaelChang, that's an awesome match and really high quality image on youtube - I recommend this classic to any avid tennis fan... real changing of the guard... and the game has so slowed down since then - had Djoker peaked around this time he'd barely make the top five IMHO...

Both Fed and Sampras were indeed hitting with 6.0 85s but Sampras has a much heavier frame here. If you dig deep on the boards here you can uncover his stick stats - pretty insane the weight of his weapon, but he still stands as the best server of all time. Anyone give us the Fed lowdown re: 6.0 ?

He also went on to win Wimbledon the following year after this loss to FedEx before retiring...
 
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mltaylor

mltaylor

Rookie
FedererClone said:
MichaelChang, that's an awesome match and really high quality image on youtube - I recommend this classic to any avid tennis fan... real changing of the guard... and the game has so slowed down since then - had Djoker peaked around this time he'd barely make the top five IMHO...

Both Fed and Sampras were indeed hitting with 6.0 85s but Sampras has a much heavier frame here. If you dig deep on the boards here you can uncover his stick stats - pretty insane the weight of his weapon, but he still stands as the best server of all time. Anyone give us the Fed lowdown re: 6.0 ?

He also went on to win Wimbledon the following year after this loss to FedEx before retiring...
Click to expand...

2002 U.S. Open
 
S

struggle

Legend
retrowagen said:
There are dozens of 85-square-inch composite Wilson mids that came about in the 1980's-2000's, and the Pro Staff wasn't the first of them. :!: (and the Staff came after the original 1983/4 PS Mid...)

There were numerous models, ranging from the Ultra 2 at one end of the spectrum, to the "chain discount store" models such as the Matrix and Aggressor.
Click to expand...

the original Aggressor was a fine racket. there were later rackets labeled "aggressor" (in some fashion) which were not so much...
 
VGP

VGP

Legend
I've been curious to know if the Aggressor was the PWS version of the Graphite Force....

racket012-1.jpg


10pzln5.jpg
 
S

superdave3

Rookie
tbuggle said:
the original Aggressor was a fine racket. there were later rackets labeled "aggressor" (in some fashion) which were not so much...
Click to expand...

The original Aggessor was indeed a fine raquet, and yes they have used the same name on other cheaper racquets later that played like garbage. I used the original Aggressor for years and strung it at 68lbs, which you would have thought would give me TE, but I never had a problem with it and never had a racquet like that with so much control.
 
MichaelChang

MichaelChang

Hall of Fame
I have been hitting with a PS 6.6 85 recently, I have to say it feels better than the 6.0 85 and the JK 85. The 6.6 feels very flex and yet powerful on ground strokes, probably helped by its slightly wider beam. I really like the stick, its power make it feel more like a modern racket, rather than a vintage old-school flat hitting racket.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
MichaelChang said:
I have been hitting with a PS 6.6 85 recently, I have to say it feels better than the 6.0 85 and the JK 85. The 6.6 feels very flex and yet powerful on ground strokes, probably helped by its slightly wider beam. I really like the stick, its power make it feel more like a modern racket, rather than a vintage old-school flat hitting racket.
Click to expand...

S&S 85 had 18 Mains?
 
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