Retro:At the risk of sounding like King Solomon, I have tried almost everything. I have a Lendl personal frame, in fact… if DAK is ever in my neighborhood, and has taken his vitamins, he’s welcome to try it out.
I think it would be fascinating to play a match with equipment and attire dating from 1900. I would also love to have a Hazell Streamline in my collection, exemplary of beauty and forward thinking almost 100 years ago.
To me, the changes in tennis equipment are analogous with the changes in high altitude alpine mountaineering gear, from the 1920’s to 1950’s, from the 1950’s to 1980’s, and from the 1980’s to today. It’s not too far a stretch for an amateur to bag a 14’er, or an amateur to hit a 100mph serve nowadays. Yet at one point in time, it was extraordinary, and at points prior, impossible.
Yes—Though I live a little off the beaten path, in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Yosemite National Park.Retro:
I’ll bring my 100+ year old Spaldings. Are you in CA? My wife and I were briefly thinking of going to support the Bengals in the Super Bowl.
@dak95_00 @kevin qmto I am not sure where you guys are located. But if you are ever near DC/VA/MD I have the Adidas GTX Pro T and Fox WB-210 that you can try out as well.
My bucket list includes the Donnay Apollo (almost impossible to find with grommets intact) and the Fila Astroceramics.
Maybe we should start a location list in case other members are in the area. I can start:
georgeyew - Leesburg, VA
That's a nice idea George. If anyone is ever in the Black Forest region of Germany (the other side of the Forest from where TW Europe is), I'd be happy to introduce you to slow red clay.
Slow red clay, maybe some sweet Rossignols = paradise.That's a nice idea George. If anyone is ever in the Black Forest region of Germany (the other side of the Forest from where TW Europe is), I'd be happy to introduce you to slow red clay.
Last time I played I had my F300's out for the ride! Good times!Slow red clay, maybe some sweet Rossignols = paradise.![]()
When does the winter season start and end there?
Only if you wanna lose badly to someone with a pure aeroSlow red clay, maybe some sweet Rossignols = paradise.![]()
Friends don't let friends play with modern Babolats...Only if you wanna lose badly to someone with a pure aero![]()
✅ Dream achieved. Magic.One of Agassi’s 20 x 21 radicals. Any.
Where did you get one?✅ Dream achieved. Magic.
I hit with a HiTen before I sold it. It was a thrift store find. That crazy open pattern made it have an extremely high launch angle with lots of topspin. It was designed or designated to be strung with thick gauge strings at ridiculously high tensions. I would think a poly string at a normal tension could be achieved today and be controllable. I also think some of these open “spin” frames that were out in the last five years mimicked them as well.Ok - as the OP I've been keeping stumm because I think you're all more interesting than I am and because I have quite the bucket list.
I'd love to hit with one of the HiTens that Snauwaert put out back in the day.
I'd love to hit with one of the Lacoste Equijets.
To own, I'm pretty content. I have more sticks than I can shake a..errm..stick at so there's nothing really pressing. Perhaps some of those from my young days that have taken up sentimental residence in my head - the wood graphite Yonex Pioneer is one I'd like to have. Le Coq's TXM is another. I plan to pick up a Copper Ace one of these days as well as a Dunlop Turbo Plus, only because together with the Silver Ace it was the graphite stick everyone in my area was using when graphite first became a thing.
There are more! There are always more. But these are the first thoughts that come to mind.
From another collector.Where did you get one?
I'd love to hit with one of the HiTens that Snauwaert put out back in the day.
I'd love to hit with one of the Lacoste Equijets.
Dude!Book the court, I'll bring my Hi-Tens and an Equijet.![]()
That's a hell of a thrift shop find! Of all the things to go through the auction site, I think I've only seen two or three of these come up, ever. I'm not surprised you sold it at a profit.I hit with a HiTen before I sold it. It was a thrift store find. That crazy open pattern made it have an extremely high launch angle with lots of topspin. It was designed or designated to be strung with thick gauge strings at ridiculously high tensions. I would think a poly string at a normal tension could be achieved today and be controllable. I also think some of these open “spin” frames that were out in the last five years mimicked them as well.
It was a weird hit. I sold it to a collector for a ridiculous amount of money.
Same as many others - the Adidas Lendl GTX Pro T. Such a legendary frame of my favorite player. Doubt I’ll ever see one in person and even if I did, my shoulder is such I’ll never be able to actually do anything other than tap some shorter shots off a wall. Either way, I occasionally check used sporting good stores just in the ultra rare chance one shows up. Ironically, I found a Max 200G about 3 weeks ago.
I could have bought one when I first got into tennis back in 1985 but I ended up buying a Kneissel Aero because the store only had that as a demo and it did look cool.![]()
I’m spoiled by the $6 200G. Those GTXs are just a ton of money for what I’d be able to do with it now. May have to change to a Mac fan after hating the guy for 40+ years.They come up on the auction site fairly regularly and you get lucky sometimes with the price.
I hear you. I was never a Mac fan but have really come to appreciate how great he was since he retired. I was lucky enough to find my 200G in a second shop too - paid $10 for it because it had a broken string!I’m spoiled by the $6 200G. Those GTXs are just a ton of money for what I’d be able to do with it now. May have to change to a Mac fan after hating the guy for 40+ years.![]()
-word of cautionI'd like to hit with one of the racquets from each decade or era. I think most of my wood racquets are from the 60s or 70s to 80s, but I have a few that are older like this one.
Message me the postal details of your Queensland contact and I’ll send up the Yonex Pioneer I’ve been saving for you.Ok - as the OP I've been keeping stumm because I think you're all more interesting than I am and because I have quite the bucket list.
I'd love to hit with one of the HiTens that Snauwaert put out back in the day.
I'd love to hit with one of the Lacoste Equijets.
To own, I'm pretty content. I have more sticks than I can shake a..errm..stick at so there's nothing really pressing. Perhaps some of those from my young days that have taken up sentimental residence in my head - the wood graphite Yonex Pioneer is one I'd like to have. Le Coq's TXM is another. I plan to pick up a Copper Ace one of these days as well as a Dunlop Turbo Plus, only because together with the Silver Ace it was the graphite stick everyone in my area was using when graphite first became a thing.
There are more! There are always more. But these are the first thoughts that come to mind.
Good suggestion.-word of caution
-use a SOFT BALL when you try any of these older wood frames!
-these things are so old now that the glue has dried out
-they dont do well with hard tennis balls anymore
Wilson HPS hyper carbon 6.0 95 Sq inch
Head tgk 238.1
Yonex Vcore 95D
I fully agree, I don't know how they were able to transition from the matte to the gloss finish so smoothly. It is just beautiful.I had some of the HPS 6.0 95s. Probably the most beautiful paint jobs of any racquet I ever owned (really nice matte red).
Bought a pr. of HPS 6.0 95 from Canada BITD. Nuff SaidWilson HPS hyper carbon 6.0 95 Sq inch
Head tgk 238.1
Yonex Vcore 95D
It’s been over 15 years since I used any (used the model for about 10 years) but IIRC, the other ones were Taiwan. Before that, they may have been Chicago. That’s really going back.How do you distinguish the China made ones from the others? Where were those made?..
None now. I'll probably start selling off my small collection as my kids don't want them. Kids would want a picture of them just so they could say what I had, but not the actual racket itself.