Wilson Jim Courier 6.6 tour classic Kool Aid Drinker

P

paulmaben

Rookie
I fell in love with this racquet while teaching tennis in Puerto Rico in 1996. I'd played with every Wilson racquet and could not find something that had some flex with a little heft. All the hammer racquets are pretty much junk at the time and the other prostaffs were just a little too stiff or not powerful enough. The other pro at my resort said "try this, you will never want to play with anything else " Well he was right. I have another tennis pro friend who still plays with this stick too. I think the PS classic's get too much pub from the people on this site. Sampras' racquet can not hold a candle to the stars and stripes. It is unfortunate that it is not made anymore. ( The 95 version)
Well here is the problem. I only have two left and they are in not so great shape. I bought a 6.1 ncode 18x20 thinking that this would approximate the feel of the stars and stripes, but it is not really close....too stiff, a bit heavier, not head light enough. For all you Wilson kool aid drinkers out there, what will play closest to my greatest racquet of all time?

Paul
 
paulmaben....i dont know if it will work for you, but it does for me

i also had the same racquet as you...pro staff 6.6 classic, stars & stripes, 85 sq in head

i used it until like 2 yrs ago when the frame just cracked over long use...i am now using the ncode 90, with additional lead tape, as my previous and only racquet was loaded with lead tape

i was i guess too young to be into the string pattern and stuff of the racquet, but i think it was a 16 x 18...so the ncode 6.1 18x20 95 sq in headsize isnt close..

the ncode 6.1 tour 90 has a 16x19 string pattern...but the racquet is a classic, unreplaceable...
 
Does the 6.6 contain fibreglass? If so, it will be tough to find something that offers similar forgiveness and feel since very few racquets today use fibreglass in the layup.

You could try the PK Redondo, either headsize. I feel like the original edition, the Laver Type C (which I own) would be closer to what you want. I switched from the PS 6.0 85, and the PK Mid offers a softer feel and is more powerful and forgiving. The Redondo plays more like a Prestige, which may be too far in the opposite direction. Try to get your hands on an original, its hefty, fairly flexible (but not too soft) and has an 18x20 string pattern.

Also, the Dunlop M-Fil 200 has similar specs, but I don't know how it plays and doesn't contain any fibreglass, which may make it less flexible and forgiving.
 
The 6.6 has some kevlar in it but no fiberglass.

I played with a prestige flexpoint mid the other day and that wasn't too bad. I'd like just a little more pop though. Maybe the radical flexpoint tour would be better?
 
paulmaben said:
The 6.6 has some kevlar in it but no fiberglass.

I played with a prestige flexpoint mid the other day and that wasn't too bad. I'd like just a little more pop though. Maybe the radical flexpoint tour would be better?
Click to expand...

oh thats weird...i never heard of a 95 sq in version of the racquet,...

mine, being 85 sq in, 16x18 pattern, was also made of like 80% graphite and 20% kevlar i believe....

maybe you could try the pro staff classic 6.1? or hyper pro staff 6.1?
 
paulmaben said:
I fell in love with this racquet while teaching tennis in Puerto Rico in 1996. I'd played with every Wilson racquet and could not find something that had some flex with a little heft. All the hammer racquets are pretty much junk at the time and the other prostaffs were just a little too stiff or not powerful enough. The other pro at my resort said "try this, you will never want to play with anything else " Well he was right. I have another tennis pro friend who still plays with this stick too. I think the PS classic's get too much pub from the people on this site. Sampras' racquet can not hold a candle to the stars and stripes. It is unfortunate that it is not made anymore. ( The 95 version)
Well here is the problem. I only have two left and they are in not so great shape. I bought a 6.1 ncode 18x20 thinking that this would approximate the feel of the stars and stripes, but it is not really close....too stiff, a bit heavier, not head light enough. For all you Wilson kool aid drinkers out there, what will play closest to my greatest racquet of all time?

Paul
Click to expand...


try the discontinued pro staff 7.5
 
The PS 7.5 95 is too headlight to compare to the PS 6.6 95 or 85. May like the old Ultra FPK or Graphite 95 but they have 16x18 patterns. Cannot be that hard to find the old PS 6.6, had a half-dozen in each headsize.
 
Pro Staff 6.6 85/95 frames pop up on e*ay new and used. There's also the Pro Staff 6.0 95, but its string pattern is much more open.
 
yes, besides the bay (they pop up every so often)...you may want to look into the volkl dnx10 mp. the type c 98 (redondo and original heritage) may be other frames you can look into...the iprestige mp had that solid feel for a mp 18x20 as well. the lm prestige mp has that flexy feel that you may be looking for as well.
 
About this 6.6 racquet:

Last year i saw Courier at a senior tournament and i asked him to sign
this racquet for me.

He said that he never liked this "old school" racquet and only played 1
ATP tournament with it.
Philadelphia 1993 were he lost in the first round.

After that defeat he retourned quickly to the famous PS 6.0
 
If you are still interested I have a 4 1/2, 95 sq in, Prostaff 6.6 Stars and Stripes on e*a* right now for sale. I am keeping one for myself, cause I love this racquet.
 
I think I was the one who bought two 6.6's in brand new condition from Paul? the frames came from Puerto Rico.

anway, these frames are the best 18X20 95 money can buy. I am regretting selling them just as paul is regretting selling his to me. I still do have few brand new blue bumpers/grommets if anyone is interested
 
Hiya Folks,
I have a few of these wonderful rackets in 85s and am hoping to get a few more in the same size. Would any body know anyway of getting the mids in decent condition? Thanks a bunch
 
khalmarx said:
Hiya Folks,
I have a few of these wonderful rackets in 85s and am hoping to get a few more in the same size. Would any body know anyway of getting the mids in decent condition? Thanks a bunch
Click to expand...

i've got two available in good shape with prince duratec overgrip and synthetic gut 16 w/duraflex string. contact me to buy. pick up in manhattan or you pay for shipping.
email: nguyea06 "at" nyu.edu
 
Fred The Red said:
About this 6.6 racquet:

Last year i saw Courier at a senior tournament and i asked him to sign
this racquet for me.

He said that he never liked this "old school" racquet and only played 1
ATP tournament with it.
Philadelphia 1993 were he lost in the first round.

After that defeat he retourned quickly to the famous PS 6.0
Click to expand...

last month, i also asked similar questions of him but also asked if he played with the retail version. he said it was a prostaff (6.0) midsize with a star n'stripes pj.
 
So he only played with it in a '93 Philly tournament where he lost in the first round, and hated it, but he says it was a 6.0 with a paintjob, not a 6.6? I'm confused. Did the paintjob throw him off?
 
GS said:
So he only played with it in a '93 Philly tournament where he lost in the first round, and hated it, but he says it was a 6.0 with a paintjob, not a 6.6? I'm confused. Did the paintjob throw him off?
Click to expand...

It was a paintjob after that tournament.
 
Hey, Paul!

Finding more S&S's on auction is probably the best bet, but you mentioned trying the FP Prestige mid–also my first thought for 18x20 and more flex than a PS 6.1–but craving more pop. Have you tried any of the 98 Prestiges (Flexpt, Microgel, or Classic)? Some on these boards do claim the 98 and 93 are more like 95 and 90.

Joel

P.S. I recall the Wilson guys at the time saying unkind things about Courier when he declined to use the S&S after (as they told it) it was designed for him. I can't believe there's no connection between that sentiment and Courier's subsequent use of blacked-out PS85's.
 
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