Vintage Tennis Shoes

BorgCash

Legend
I never knew that ok cool. Here is one the company retro off my original model last year.
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So this is an original one? Superga reissues this model now as i know.
 

BorgCash

Legend
Thanks guys, those interviews really show my age sheesh seems like so long ago, I am currently in the midst of a book on early tennis cross over appeal to the urban markets.
Prince FST 838 II
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Sergio Tacchini Classico Metro
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Sergio Tacchini Grand Prix
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This Grand Prix model is different from what you posted before, also Grand Prix.
 

KANZA

Semi-Pro
Then the 9.5 Us (Nike, Adidas etc.) corresponds to 9 Diadora? So the US 10 corresponds to the 9.5US? Thanks

I asked Diadora if other models of the past would also be proposed (eg Kafelnikov and Kuerten); they did not answer me ...

I feel like adidas Ubersonic 2 size 9 = diadora 9 = Nike size 9.5 tour vapor = every Nike size 9.5 = every European shoe 42.5

Adidas always seems to run a half size different for me. All other shoes, tretorn, sperry top sider, fila, bass, brooks running, Mizuno running, newton running are all 9.5
 
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BorgCash

Legend
Exactly, I believe Lendl one the Open in 81 in that pair? but yup. Ok as a tennis maestro a few pairs even have the best of the stump, want to see if I can enlist you and the group:
Puma?
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Kronos?
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Prince?
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Don't know anything about Kronos. Seems they are older tham Puma and Prince?
 

bborg2605

New User
It's a Czech company making casual boots, still working, no sports stuff at all, looks like it's frozen in time, the products are of strange design.
Bata, over time was bought by a joint venture floated by the Indian govt back in the late 70s. Over time they have survived the times and even now are a big brand in India. They do collaborative shoes and joint release etx for Hush puppies, North star and sone otger such niche companies
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
my go-to shoe as a junior in the early 1980s was the Adidas Grand Prix. I'd like to find a pair today in the original colors - white w/ navy stripes and polyurethane sole. Also spent a fortune on Shoe Goo - to keep shoes intact until I could make it to the sporting goods store for a replacement.
Switched to Kiwi Shoe Patch, lasted longer. Then Eternal Toe. If the lines were a bit wet/damp, poly soles were dangerous.
 

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
The Adidas wooden racket was similar to the Dunlop in construction but definitely not a pj- Adidas was really playable and a beautiful racket.

I still have the one I bought. It was a beautiful racket. Broke my heart years later when I learned Nastase played with a Kramer Auto painted like the adidas ads550.

My favorite old shoes? adidas Tom Okkers, Brooks Connors, adidas Nastase Master, Nike Air Ace V, and some I never got to own but they looked cool Superga
 

airchallenge2

Hall of Fame
I still have the one I bought. It was a beautiful racket. Broke my heart years later when I learned Nastase played with a Kramer Auto painted like the adidas ads550.

My favorite old shoes? adidas Tom Okkers, Brooks Connors, adidas Nastase Master, Nike Air Ace V, and some I never got to own but they looked cool Superga

This is proper old school gear. Love it.
 

Ultra 2

Professional
So where will the Adidas Rod Laver shoe fit in? Know of a player that used it his whole life. Ventilation was the only reason.

it’s a classic as well. Should be spoken in the same conversation as the Stan Smiths. Many people didn’t like it though because of the PU outsole/midsole. And yes, probably the best ventilated shoe in it’s time.
 

airchallenge2

Hall of Fame
So where will the Adidas Rod Laver shoe fit in? Know of a player that used it his whole life. Ventilation was the only reason.
It's a classic of course. I actually played in them few years back and the PU midsole and outsole were terrific for hard courts. Its durability though, was pretty bad.
 

airchallenge2

Hall of Fame
it’s a classic as well. Should be spoken in the same conversation as the Stan Smiths. Many people didn’t like it though because of the PU outsole/midsole. And yes, probably the best ventilated shoe in it’s time.

For actual playing, I find the Laver to be way better than Stan Smiths.
 

airchallenge2

Hall of Fame
^^^ Not surprised about that. Rod Laver upper was (and kinda still is) revolutionary for a tennis shoe. Not supportive enough for pro level nowadays, and just fine for a 3.5 weekend warrior.
 
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Deleted member 768841

Guest
Enjoy you Trainer 1 while you can. The PU midsole exploded on my pair (granted, it might be 10 year old shoe...)
Wow. I have some old Jordan’s and a pair of Air Max 90’s and some Air Max 1’s that have a PU midsole and the paint is scraping and on my AM1’s the sole is separating from the upper and outsole from midsole. Great shoes, I ran in them in high school.
 

Ultra 2

Professional
Enjoy you Trainer 1 while you can. The PU midsole exploded on my pair (granted, it might be 10 year old shoe...)

yeah the blue one I wore the heck out of and they’re on their last leg. The other 3 are good, and will hibernate in a cool dry place with silica gel.

hoping Nike will do a re-release. These deserve that.
 
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Deleted member 768841

Guest
yeah the blue one I wore the heck out of and they’re on their last leg. The other 3 are good, and will hibernate in a cool dry place with silica gel.

hoping Nike will do a re-release. These deserve that.
Let’s hope they actually put the ATC2 on their website instead of hiding releases on the SNKRS app.
 

RDM

Rookie
My brother in law gave me these recently. Only been worn a handful of times, and a perfect fit.
 

RDM

Rookie
I think there's a reasonably good chance that those are actually badminton shoes, rather than tennis shoes.
Thanks for the reply Wes.
I think you are most probably correct, as I can’t remember seeing Yonex tennis shoes being sold in Australia in the 80’s, now that I think about it. He told me he bought them in Singapore years ago, which makes sense they would be badminton shoes.
 
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d-quik

Hall of Fame
Anyone here know anything about these Duratech Elites? Re-released a few years ago. Which pros even wore these? €120 on release! @BorgCash

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Chairman3

Hall of Fame
Anyone know, on these classic shoes were pro's using the same outsole for hard, clay, and grass?
Now it is common for pro's to be wearing shoes with custom outsoles for the different surfaces, and them not be available to the public.
Just a curiosity of mine and could not find definitive answers by googling this.
 

California

Semi-Pro
Anyone know, on these classic shoes were pro's using the same outsole for hard, clay, and grass?
Now it is common for pro's to be wearing shoes with custom outsoles for the different surfaces, and them not be available to the public.
Just a curiosity of mine and could not find definitive answers by googling this.
I use to work at adidas. Yes, on the old classics, say Edberg shoes in the 90s they would change the outsole depending on the surface requirements. For example the shoes he wore at Wimbledon had the rubber nubs on the bottom in all the models. Even if adidas only sold a shoe with a hard court outsole to the public. Hope that helps.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
I use to work at adidas. Yes, on the old classics, say Edberg shoes in the 90s they would change the outsole depending on the surface requirements. For example the shoes he wore at Wimbledon had the rubber nubs on the bottom in all the models. Even if adidas only sold a shoe with a hard court outsole to the public. Hope that helps.
Yes, that's exactly what I was wondering.
Thanks for the info, both cool and shady that companies do this.
I feel like people wouldn't be as upset if the gear companies were transparent about it.
 

airchallenge2

Hall of Fame
Anyone here know anything about these Duratech Elites? Re-released a few years ago. Which pros even wore these? €120 on release! @BorgCash

19525.jpg
Pretty sure Jim Courier wore them. Maybe Jennifer Capriati, too.
The only difference with the OG is the black part on the forefoot used to be plastic (nylon or TPU)
 
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