Wilson High beam racquets???

[jimanuel12]

i was reading some old post about wilson high beam racquets.
when i first started collecting racquets - i had several of these, but when i was using them on the court, they just seem to be too stiff, too heavy and not very comfortable.
it might just me but i don't like them at all.
when i first got them, i thought they were very nice looking racquets but the more i used them, the less i liked them.

i just like the old school thinner beam racquets.
just wanted to know what other folks thought as well.

 

[retrowagen]

The Wilson High Beam frames were a cheaper line of widebody racquets dating from the mid-1990's through the mid-2000's, IIRC. They were sold mostly through chain or discount stores, and most of them tended to be on the heavier side of the weight spectrum. A few of the models didn't have bumper guards (obviously a cost-cutting measure) and were made in Thailand where the cost of labor (and maybe the quality level) also was cheaper.

Some of these play decently, if you can play well with a heavier frame that's fairly stiff.

 

[jimanuel12]

The Wilson High Beam frames were a cheaper line of widebody racquets dating from the mid-1990's through the mid-2000's, IIRC. They were sold mostly through chain or discount stores, and most of them tended to be on the heavier side of the weight spectrum. A few of the models didn't have bumper guards (obviously a cost-cutting measure) and were made in Thailand where the cost of labor (and maybe the quality level) also was cheaper.

Some of these play decently, if you can play well with a heavier frame that's fairly stiff.

thanks for the info - i thought they were from the 80's but i guess you are correct.
like i stated - i don't like them at all.

 

[Rock Strongo]

I have one, gave the other to a friend who's trying a spaghetti job. Weighs around 355 grams, head light, 16x18, not really that good or that could be because of the dreaded Babolat synthetic gut... I could post some pictures if you want!

 

[Hannah19]

When I was flying for KLM during the 1990's I picked up several cheap High Beam's from Singapore. Man, did they have loads of the same models but named differently.
My dad played with them for a while, not bad but he was an average middle aged recreational player who was easy to please

 

[Babolatbarry]

Are you all talking about the bright red ones like the pro 95 high beam series?

 

[jimanuel12]

I have one, gave the other to a friend who's trying a spaghetti job. Weighs around 355 grams, head light, 16x18, not really that good or that could be because of the dreaded Babolat synthetic gut... I could post some pictures if you want!

please do, there were allot of them around.

 

[jimanuel12]

Are you all talking about the bright red ones like the pro 95 high beam series?

yes, but also, i think other tennis companies got into the high beam series also around that time.
i think i remember pro kennex, wilson, and others who made allot of the wide bodies too.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Well FINALLY I've been bothered to take some pics, it's a Staff 450ST which was featured in the HB-series. Bonus points if you can identify the accessories for which video game console!

 

[Fearsome Forehand]

As I recall, High Beams were wide bodies. Late 1980's, early 1990's, pre Hammer Series. If you like them, you are in luck because they sell very cheap these days.

 

[anubis]

Brings back memories. My first racquet was a Wilson high beam.

 

[jimanuel12]

The Wilson High Beam frames were a cheaper line of widebody racquets dating from the mid-1990's through the mid-2000's, IIRC. They were sold mostly through chain or discount stores, and most of them tended to be on the heavier side of the weight spectrum. A few of the models didn't have bumper guards (obviously a cost-cutting measure) and were made in Thailand where the cost of labor (and maybe the quality level) also was cheaper.

Some of these play decently, if you can play well with a heavier frame that's fairly stiff.

yeah, you are correct, they are pretty stiff racquets, i did not know that so i sold all the ones i had.
but now i am looking at buying more racquets - not the high beam series but other older collectable racquets.

 

[WARPWOODIE]

I recently got one from the goodwill store, the remake of the Wilson Sting, a 110 Highbeam with 7.0 stiffness rating (in mint condition). Similar to the Prince Graphite Original, with its mid bridge in the throat area, it has almost the same balance, neutral weight (not head heavy or head light). Side by side the beam is thicker compared to the POG. I played with it yesterday and surprisingly, I really enjoyed it, though I like the POG better. I think I will break the stock strings that came with it and restring with some better strings and will see how it plays.

 

[retlod]

In junior high and starting high school, I used to play with a bright blue Wilson Graphite Aggressor. It was part of the High Beam series and was a 95 sq in frame and with a stiffness index of 8.5. My mom bought it for me at K-Mart for about $70. It lasted 4 solid years with the same stock strings. Back then I never even knew you could restring a tennis racquet. IIRC I played pretty well with it.

 

[michael_1265]

Game Console?
A Japanese Super Famicom game console by Nintendo. The equivalent to the Super NES.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Game Console?
A Japanese Super Famicom game console by Nintendo. The equivalent to the Super NES.

European SNES. That one and the Japanese looked exactly the same!

/nerdiness

 

[mad dog1]

I recently got one from the goodwill store, the remake of the Wilson Sting, a 110 Highbeam with 7.0 stiffness rating (in mint condition). Similar to the Prince Graphite Original, with its mid bridge in the throat area, it has almost the same balance, neutral weight (not head heavy or head light). Side by side the beam is thicker compared to the POG. I played with it yesterday and surprisingly, I really enjoyed it, though I like the POG better. I think I will break the stock strings that came with it and restring with some better strings and will see how it plays.

never tried the sting 110 HB, but the sting 95 HB is a very good racquet.

 

[jimanuel12]

yeah, you are correct, they are pretty stiff racquets, i did not know that so i sold all the ones i had.
but now i am looking at buying more racquets - not the high beam series but other older collectable racquets.

sold the last wide beam i had today. too darn stiff for me but they are very powerful!!!

 

[treo]

I recently got one from the goodwill store, the remake of the Wilson Sting, a 110 Highbeam with 7.0 stiffness rating (in mint condition). Similar to the Prince Graphite Original, with its mid bridge in the throat area, it has almost the same balance, neutral weight (not head heavy or head light). Side by side the beam is thicker compared to the POG. I played with it yesterday and surprisingly, I really enjoyed it, though I like the POG better. I think I will break the stock strings that came with it and restring with some better strings and will see how it plays.

I bought the exact same one at Goodwill today. Mint condition. Did it come with Babolat Fine Play strings? How did it play with new strings and at what tension? I used to play with a POG and didn't like how quickly the strings broke with the open pattern and also the lack of power. With the Sting's denser pattern, the strings should last longer.

 

[treo]

I've been using my Wilson Sting Highbeam exclusively and with TF Redcode at 54lbs and I find this combination makes for the loudest racquet I ever played with. Using just a rubber band dampener, it has a very loud popping sound at impact that I like.

 

[Surecatch]

I love my blue Wilson Aggressor High Beam 95 racquet. I don't use it anymore, but I love it and I'll never get rid of it. I purchased it at Meijer in 1990. It's "beloved" to me because it was the first modern design racquet I ever bought. Before that, I didn't play for several years and had used a woodie in high school.

I actually bought a second one on **** a few years back, but it ended up being a different style and so I think I'm going to just try and sell it. It's not beloved like my original one

 

[kuwahara]

Well FINALLY I've been bothered to take some pics, it's a Staff 450ST which was featured in the HB-series. Bonus points if you can identify the accessories for which video game console!

The 450ST and the 850ST plays very solid. 450T has more flex and can send the serve curve ball easily turning into aces (with lead tape at the 12 o clock). 850ST is stiffer and plays like precursor to Pro Staff. Add weight to adjust your launch angle.