TW Review: Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
I don't doubt that you may play better with PS 85 than EXO Tour. I suspect that EXO is not a good fit for you. I do, however, believe that you would play better with a PS 95 or 100 6.0 style than PS 85, esp. when the hitting pace and spin pick up.

i agree. i think this applies to the majority of the recreational players including me. while i really enjoy hitting w/ my 85 sq in sting, when the heat gets turned up, i find it infinitely easier to keep up w/ a 95 or 100.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
Although I love the 6.0 85, I am too old, slow and blind to reep the full benefit of this frame. I would love a 95 closer to the 85 specs (20MM is too thick in my book - 18 would be perfect...keep low swingweight and no more than mid-12, maybe even 12 - 12.5). Would be awesome.
yay!!! i'm not alone.

misery loves company! :D
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
That's EXACTLY what I'm saying. PS 85 6.0 will go down in history as one of, if not the, GOAT frames that revolutionized the sport. So why not use that layout, sprinkle in some new technology and "re-issue" a 95, 98 or 100 version? That would be something.

I completely agree. They made a 110 and 125 sq. in. PS 6.0.. why not a modern 98 or 100? The 110/125 are a bit too large for my taste and beside that it's too difficult to obtain them now.
 

stevewcosta

Professional
yay!!! i'm not alone.

misery loves company! :D

Been searching for such a frame for 25 years. Tried the Donnays (and every other frame with potential)...awful compared to the great box beams of old...I probably will continue to rack up loses with the 6.0 (and enjoy the occasional A$$whooping of my peers when I have that spring in my step when not exhausted and thinking about awful work or some other nonsense distraction that is slowly killing me). When you're on, there's no better frame. I'm on about 20% of the time. Did I say old? Sucks.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
Been searching for such a frame for 25 years. Tried the Donnays (and every other frame with potential)...awful compared to the great box beams of old...I probably will continue to rack up loses with the 6.0 (and enjoy the occasional A$$whooping of my peers when I have that spring in my step when not exhausted and thinking about awful work or some other nonsense distraction that is slowly killing me). When you're on, there's no better frame. I'm on about 20% of the time. Did I say old? Sucks.
i'm totally with you!

have you tried the Vantage frames? of all the modern racquets, i really like the Vantage BC20 and the Bab PSTGT (it's the only version of the PST line i've tried so far).
 

Tennis Man

Hall of Fame
It's a great review format. The racquet was very objectively covered, all true and nothing but true. I just wish that Wilson re-opened the plant in St Vincent. :)
 

stevewcosta

Professional
i'm totally with you!

have you tried the Vantage frames? of all the modern racquets, i really like the Vantage BC20 and the Bab PSTGT (it's the only version of the PST line i've tried so far).

Yeah man. I think I can buy a Honda Accord in cash with all that damn money I've spent on racquets over the past 25 yrs. Ridiculous. I own 2 Vantage 90s, 63 RA, 330 gram, 12 pts HL, 16 x 19 (or was it 18?). I serve great with them, but find them too powerful and can't dial-in the OHBH for some reason. AND, they simply lack the 6.0 feel. I should sell the Vantages.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
I guess there are enough tennis players suffering from delusions of self-grandeur to re-issue PS 85 6.0. Of course the fact that Fed and Sampras, 2 GOAT candidates, have moved on to 90 and 100 won't deter the TT players from leading up this frame to 14.8oz. Instead of buying PS 85, wait a few more years until they re-issue the Jack Kramer vintage wood racket with the wooden press instead of a racket cover.

Seriously speaking, I'd really like to see Wilson make PS 98 or 100 styled just like PS 85. Now that's something that people (including Fed) can realistically use and benefit from.
When Sampras and Federer used the PS 6.0 85, the great majority of the opponents they beat (and that was a lot of them) used bigger racquets. So what's different between then and now? If 10 years ago, a guy using an 85 can beat guys using a 93 or 95 or 98 or 107, why can't they do it today?
 

VGP

Legend
I must correct you on this, as I am an innocent man! It was Chris who thieved the kPS88...he was the man behind the balaclava. I was slated for the role, but couldn't make weight. The character had to be svelte enough to get through the sliver opening of the container door;) I was relegated to one of the mindless henchmen that gets blasted with a tennis ball as Chris made his escape.

Spencer, TW.

Sorry Spencer. I was going off my fallible memory.

I guess they needed someone lithe and spidery looking. They needed you to be hustle with the muscle.....to look tough in shades as he's getting pelted by the balls felted.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
Yeah man. I think I can buy a Honda Accord in cash with all that damn money I've spent on racquets over the past 25 yrs. Ridiculous. I own 2 Vantage 90s, 63 RA, 330 gram, 12 pts HL, 16 x 19 (or was it 18?). I serve great with them, but find them too powerful and can't dial-in the OHBH for some reason. AND, they simply lack the 6.0 feel. I should sell the Vantages.

i have a vantage 95 70 RA 16 x 19 and like you, i have a hard time dialing in the OHBH as well. i find that my BC20 have less power. you might consider trying one of those. :)

i wasn't fond of the 6.0 when i tried it in back in the day in the 80s. i want to try it again since i've found that i now like alot of the racquets I disliked back then. unfortunately they're too pricey now so i haven't been able to experience the sublime feel. :)
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Not necessarily. Just because Sampras and Fed can't play at their top level with PS 85 doesn't mean one of the top TTers (like you) can't. I mean, those 2 aren't even semipros on TT. I suppose when they reissue Commodore 64, you will put down the iPad, Dell, etc.
Do you know of any TT's here that have to play against the likes of Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray on a weekly basis? :???:

BTW, what do computers have anything at all to do with tennis racquets??? Don't you still wipe your butt with pretty much the same toilet paper as a decade ago? Does that make it obsolete?
 

zapvor

G.O.A.T.
yea i agree most players on here cant benefit that much from this stick. they just want to use it because its like a classic.
 

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
hey guys you don't get all the benefits of the 85 when going to the 95. It's not like the same racket but more forgiving, if that's the case everyone would play the 95. The sweetspot, mass transfer, stability and serving are different from the two. The volleys too. I've played with both and the serving, stability are very different imo.
 

UCSF2012

Hall of Fame
When Sampras and Federer used the PS 6.0 85, the great majority of the opponents they beat (and that was a lot of them) used bigger racquets. So what's different between then and now? If 10 years ago, a guy using an 85 can beat guys using a 93 or 95 or 98 or 107, why can't they do it today?

Because neither Sampras nor Federer are in their 20's. Both realized a long time ago that they had to dump the PS85.

It's hard as hell to return serves in the 100's with the PS85. Volleying, forehands, backhands, and overheads were easy because there were ample time to react. But man, return of serves were a biotch.
 

stevewcosta

Professional
yea i agree most players on here cant benefit that much from this stick. they just want to use it because its like a classic.

No, they want to use it because it's a great racquet with perfect feel, control, weight, balance, maneuverabilty...absolutely hammers serves. If I could return well (worst part of my game) with it, I would never deviate from this racquet. It's just too small for me, but I'm going to use it until something better comes along (by then I'll have to give up tennis anyway as I'll be dead).
 

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
> I must correct you on this, as I am an innocent man! It was Chris who
> thieved the kPS88...he was the man behind the balaclava. I was slated
> for the role, but couldn't make weight. The character had to be svelte
> enough to get through the sliver opening of the container door I was
> relegated to one of the mindless henchmen that gets blasted with a
> tennis ball as Chris made his escape.

I loved that skit.

I've moved from 88/90 to 95/98 and am experimenting around with setups. I think that Wilson would do to offer a line of sizes for Fed or their other players like the K-Blade line.
 

paulcd77

New User
hey guys you don't get all the benefits of the 85 when going to the 95. It's not like the same racket but more forgiving, if that's the case everyone would play the 95. The sweetspot, mass transfer, stability and serving are different from the two. The volleys too. I've played with both and the serving, stability are very different imo.

this is the reason why i'll be picking up one (at least) when the next shipment comes in. when i compared it to my 95s, the re-issue (despite being "softer" than the original version) was so much more solid, there was really no comparison at all.

UCSF2012 said:
It's hard as hell to return serves in the 100's with the PS85. Volleying, forehands, backhands, and overheads were easy because there were ample time to react. But man, return of serves were a biotch.

the new model is much easier to swing. i can't see how service returns would be a problem.
 

stevewcosta

Professional
this is the reason why i'll be picking up one (at least) when the next shipment comes in. when i compared it to my 95s, the re-issue (despite being "softer" than the original version) was so much more solid, there was really no comparison at all.



the new model is much easier to swing. i can't see how service returns would be a problem.

Not if you received 12.9 ounce new models like I did. No way they were 320s. My 3 other Chinas felt very light in comparison. My 2 BLX 85s felt like KPS88 which I hate.
 

zapvor

G.O.A.T.
No, they want to use it because it's a great racquet with perfect feel, control, weight, balance, maneuverabilty...absolutely hammers serves. If I could return well (worst part of my game) with it, I would never deviate from this racquet. It's just too small for me, but I'm going to use it until something better comes along (by then I'll have to give up tennis anyway as I'll be dead).

lol nah 80% of this board isnt at a 4.5 level to use this demanding stick. why dont you post a vid of you hitting with this and crushing forehands huh??
 

paulcd77

New User
Not if you received 12.9 ounce new models like I did. No way they were 320s. My 3 other Chinas felt very light in comparison. My 2 BLX 85s felt like KPS88 which I hate.

really? yours were that far off? i've come to expect variances (especially from wilson), but that's a little disconcerting.
 
Although I love the 6.0 85, I am too old, slow and blind to reep the full benefit of this frame. I would love a 95 closer to the 85 specs (20MM is too thick in my book - 18 would be perfect...keep low swingweight and no more than mid-12, maybe even 12 - 12.5). Would be awesome.

how about SMU of PS 95:)

hope no balsa dust has been laying around in the air when molding the PS 85
 
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stevewcosta

Professional
lol nah 80% of this board isnt at a 4.5 level to use this demanding stick. why dont you post a vid of you hitting with this and crushing forehands huh??

You sound brilliant. I don't care what 14 yr. olds do or what my level is. Hope you're making tons of cash playing tennis. I make it elsewhere.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Because neither Sampras nor Federer are in their 20's. Both realized a long time ago that they had to dump the PS85.

It's hard as hell to return serves in the 100's with the PS85. Volleying, forehands, backhands, and overheads were easy because there were ample time to react. But man, return of serves were a biotch.
Really? Sampras won the US Open with his PS 6.0 85 when he was 31 years old. Krickstein is in his 40's and he's still using the PS 6.0 85 on the senior's tour against guys that were the top players in the world. Nobody on this board in their 40's is competing against the current top 100 pros who are in their 20's. We're competing against mostly other guys that are also in their 40's.

Ivanisevic, Philippoussis, Becker, etc. had just as big or bigger serves than most of the guys on the ATP Tour today and Sampras certainly didn't have all that much trouble returning their serves with his PS 6.0 85. Heck, Roddick had (and probably still has) the biggest serve in pro tennis and Sampras still schooled him in straight sets at the '02 US Open with his PS 6.0 85 at the age of 31. :shock:
 

VGP

Legend
Really? Krickstein is in his 40's and he's still using the PS 6.0 85 on the senior's tour against guys that were the top players in the world.

I recently saw a feature on ATP Tour Uncovered on the senior tour and Krickstein was using the BLX90......but it seems that at Del Ray Beach this year, like Courier, he's donning the Donnay.

5461679821_19fe11951e_b.jpg
 
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Deleted member 120290

Guest
Breakpoint, most of your arguments are highly flawed (and your post about Krickstein is dead wrong.) So I would bet that you are not an attorney or if you are, you work for the government. But I hope that everyone I play takes your advice and plays with PS 85. I know that I would go from 4.5 to 5.5 in a hurry.
 

VGP

Legend
Ah......sensing the demise of yet another PS85 thread.

Can't we just agree that for most people, this frame is for fun and nostalgia? Or to give a new generation an appreciation and a reference point for a classic frame?

If you win, good. If you lose, fine. Either way, as long as you had fun doing so.

If it so happens that an extremely talented junior might pick up this frame and kick some tail maybe a true classic will not just live on in the memories of us enthusiasts rooted in the 80s and 90s......
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
That's EXACTLY what I'm saying. PS 85 6.0 will go down in history as one of, if not the, GOAT frames that revolutionized the sport. So why not use that layout, sprinkle in some new technology and "re-issue" a 95, 98 or 100 version? That would be something.
I think the PS 6.0 85 is a better racquet than the BLX90 and also has better feel. So all of that "technology" they've developed over the past 30 years have done nothing but make the racquets worse. :(
 

zapvor

G.O.A.T.
You sound brilliant. I don't care what 14 yr. olds do or what my level is. Hope you're making tons of cash playing tennis. I make it elsewhere.

lol your complete lack of referece to my post and your random shift of subject proves me right. thanks for trying though!
 

sargeinaz

Hall of Fame
the fact is this is a really demanding stick and most of us on here only snatch them up and play with them in the illusion that we can play well with this legend of a stick when in fact its detrimental. (like stevewcoasta thinking its gotta better feel and he will stick with it anwyays but it's too small for him lol )

It is really demanding, but were here to play for fun. Not once when I play with my friends or cousins or anyone do I think "man if I was using my fischer pro 1 98 I would have won that match/point"
 
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zapvor

G.O.A.T.
you are probably better then me. i hit with it once and except for at net that racket was killing my game. i was definitely thinking 'ok this rackets sucks' lol
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Breakpoint, most of your arguments are highly flawed (and your post about Krickstein is dead wrong.) So I would bet that you are not an attorney or if you are, you work for the government. But I hope that everyone I play takes your advice and plays with PS 85. I know that I would go from 4.5 to 5.5 in a hurry.
Oh, really?

From Sept. 2009:

krickstein1.jpg


http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/5177


BTW, there are plenty of 5.0 to 5.5 players still using the PS 6.0 85 that would smoke you, so if you played against them you'd probably drop from a 4.5 down to a 3.5. :oops:

Oh, and put a PS 6.0 85 in the hands of Sampras or Edberg, and even in their "old" age would still beat 100% of the players in the world that are not pros (or ex-pros). :shock:
 
D

Deleted member 120290

Guest
Dude, that pic is from 2 years ago whereas the one from Delray (using Donnay) is from earlier this year. Yeah 2 years ago he used PS 85 but now he's using Donnay MP (looks 98ish.) That further proves my point.

It's not a matter of whether someone with PS 85 can beat someone or not. Heck I'm quite confident that McEnroe would triple bagel me with his early 80's Dunlop Maxfli. But what I'm saying is that if you take peak McEnroe, current racket Mac > 200G Mac > Maxfli Mac. Tennis is hard enough. Why handicap yourself by using a headsize that even the elite pros don't use anymore?

4.5 to 5.5 is an exaggeration. But there are some 5.0 I'm pretty confident I could beat if they played with PS 85. I would topspin to their 1HBH all day and Nadal them to death by the 3rd set.
 
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maxpotapov

Hall of Fame
I would topspin to their 1HBH all day and Nadal them to death by the 3rd set.

My favorite strategy :)
Still I want to try Nadal-like technique on PS85. Spin window is small, but higher racquet head speed will probably compensate for that...
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
Why do these PS85 threads always devolve into a b1tchfight?

Who cares what somebody else wants to use or try?
 
D

Deleted member 120290

Guest
Why do these PS85 threads always devolve into a b1tchfight?

Who cares what somebody else wants to use or try?

Hahahaha. You are right. Personally it is much too tough for me but hey, if someone can play his best tennis with PS 85, more power to him. I'll still hold out for PS 98.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Dude, that pic is from 2 years ago whereas the one from Delray (using Donnay) is from earlier this year. Yeah 2 years ago he used PS 85 but now he's using Donnay MP (looks 98ish.) That further proves my point.
Um....was not Krickstein in his 40's two years ago playing on the senior's tour against guys that were the top players in the world with a PS 6.0 85? Just as I stated?

It's not a matter of whether someone with PS 85 can beat someone or not. Heck I'm quite confident that McEnroe would triple bagel me with his early 80's Dunlop Maxfli. But what I'm saying is that if you take peak McEnroe, current racket Mac > 200G Mac > Maxfli Mac. Tennis is hard enough. Why handicap yourself by using a headsize that even the elite pros don't use anymore?
Then why are you "handicapping yourself" with only a 100 sq. in. racquet when you could be using a 135 sq. in. Big Bubba and make tennis even easier? :confused:

You sound like you may have an inferiority complex that you have to use a huge 100 sq. in. racquet because you're unable to handle a 85 sq. in. racquet? Sort of like penis size envy in reverse? Are you ashamed that yours is bigger than mine? :oops: :)

4.5 to 5.5 is an exaggeration. But there are some 5.0 I'm pretty confident I could beat if they played with PS 85. I would topspin to their 1HBH all day and Nadal them to death by the 3rd set.
Um...they would be at the net putting your high looping shots away for winners all day long and serve and volley you to death just like Dodig did to Nadal this week. :oops:
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Hahahaha. You are right. Personally it is much too tough for me but hey, if someone can play his best tennis with PS 85, more power to him. I'll still hold out for PS 98.
Agree that you have to be a pretty good player to use the PS 6.0 85. Not everyone is good enough to handle it.
 
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stevewcosta

Professional
Why do these PS85 threads always devolve into a b1tchfight?

Who cares what somebody else wants to use or try?

Because so many people are really stupid and don't get it. I play about 2 - 3 days per month and enjoy tennis for the fun sport that it is. I win and lose sometimes with the 6.0, but it's much more fun than any other raquet.
 

aimr75

Hall of Fame
Because so many people are really stupid and don't get it. I play about 2 - 3 days per month and enjoy tennis for the fun sport that it is. I win and lose sometimes with the 6.0, but it's much more fun than any other raquet.

yeah, a bit of perspective.. we arent earning a living playing tennis. :roll:

just get out, play and have some fun
 

Torres

Banned
85sq" heads are a musuem piece. Great for nostalgia and bunting around in the park, but not for competition. Swinging with one of these would be like driving in one of those vintage car rallies.

Great racquet 'back in the day', but the introduction of poly has been the greatest game changer since the introduction of graphite, and with all the spin and action that poly produces in the modern game, a 85sq" head is an irrelevance unless you putting yourself at a disadvantage or your ego so its big that it blinds you to reality *cough* Breakpoint *cough*. The game has moved on since this racquet was first introduced.
 

Bud

Bionic Poster
85sq" heads are a musuem piece. Great for nostalgia and bunting around in the park, but not for competition. Swinging with one of these would be like driving in one of those vintage car rallies.

Great racquet 'back in the day', but the introduction of poly has been the greatest game changer since the introduction of graphite, and with all the spin and action that poly produces in the modern game, a 85sq" head is an irrelevance unless you putting yourself at a disadvantage or your ego so its big that it blinds you to reality *cough* Breakpoint *cough*. The game has moved on since this racquet was first introduced.

Many higher level players still use this frame, BTW ;)
 

stevewcosta

Professional
lol your complete lack of referece to my post and your random shift of subject proves me right. thanks for trying though!

Let me try to explain it to you:

Serves: #1 with the 6.0
OHBH: One of the best; could use more room for slice hit high (due to lazy footwork), but topspin great
Volleys: great
Touch/Drop shots/feel: #1
Return of serve: big challenge because I'm older, slower, can't see as well (stabbing @ hard serves with a 110 sure may help...)
Weight/balance etc: If you can't handle it, you should be playing darts instead (and I'm a 41 yr old with multiple injuries that would make most people quit the game)

As VGP and others have stated, it's for fun and the enjoyment of the sport. I sure would have to waste alot of my time going into every "I love this racquet" thread to slam people's opinions and skill level because they choose a certain racquet. I wouldn't have enough time in my day to criticize every racquet that is too thick, too muted, too hollow, too sucky. And, I hit harder with the 6.0 than 90% of the people at my level playing with 100's - 4.0 - 4.5 for full disclosure who can hit with any 4.5 and look as good (not match tough at all due to infrequent play, age, injuries). But, I still would put $5,000 on the line and challenge you to a weight lifting contest, or maybe $100K. Let's do it. We can post a vid and share with our TW'ers. Now that would be fun and a "LOL" moment! Basketball was my sport and I'm a late tennis adopter (started at 17, never took a lesson, played only a few months per year, took 10 yrs off after college). If I took it seriously from a young age, 5.0 most likely. I have owned more racquets than I care to admit, but as an example - own the Donnay Gold 99 - zero feel, just don't play as well as the 6.0. Can you explain that since it's a 99 and the 6.0 an 85? Also own the POG 110 - terrible balance (new version lacks quality feel) and swings like a large airplane wing, but I sure can stab at those big serves and get a few more balls over the net - who cares - hated playing with it...
 
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