Yevgeny Kafelnikov personal racket. Secrets.

[Kalugin]

So, there you are. As i promised, im presenting you one of the most unique rackets in my huge collection.
This racket was the diamond part of Anatoly Lepeshin's collection. He was Kafelnikov's coach from 1991 till 1997. In his interviews Kafelnikov mentioned that the main builder of his success was Lepeshin. Now this racket-treasure is in my hands.

This racket was exclusively made and customized for a new (by that time) Fischer star – Yevgeny Kafelnikov. You can see Fischer Pro Stock trademark - aka nail mark at the throat area.

KJ23 = Kafelnikov Jevgeny and the number of rackets that were produced for him by that time. From number 23 we understand – this racket is right from the very first Fischer branches made for Kafelnikov.

Interestingly Kafelnikov used this model paintjob in "Fischer Austria" version.

It was also "Made in Austria" version of this model. Fischer Vacuum Mid Plus model came out in 1992. And first branches were "Made in Austria", from 1993 - "Fischer Austria".

Kafelnikov used L4 4 1/2 grip.

In the handle we can find a doze of silicone. No lead tape – as Kafelnikov didn’t use them.

Unstrung weight of Kafelnikov's racket is 345 grams (no overgrip).

The uniqueness of this racket in few moments. A real personal racket of an ex-no 1 player in the world that was never used! Not a single stringing! Right away from Ried im Innkreis factory with original Fischer base grip!

Where you can find a racket like this one?! And don’t forget – this is a racket that was a golden part of Anatoly Lepeshin collection. The man who made a great tennis champion named Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

 

[Seth]

Finna string it?

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Extremely cool

 

[NicoMK]

What a beautiful racket. Just realised that I never knew Kafelnikov's racket's actual weight. Fischer made absolute beautiful frames.

 

[sargeinaz]

This is an amazing find. One of my favorite players and my favorite racket. I thought he did add lead to his rackets? I could’ve sworn I saw it somewhere. Maybe this is his stick before the finals mods of lead and athletic tape wrapped around the buttcap?

 

[Kalugin]

This is an amazing find. One of my favorite players and my favorite racket. I thought he did add lead to his rackets? I could’ve sworn I saw it somewhere. Maybe this is his stick before the finals mods of lead and athletic tape wrapped around the buttcap?

As you can see - no lead tape on this racket, and i never saw lead tape on his rackets

 

[chrischris]

As you can see - no lead tape on this racket, and i never saw lead tape on his rackets

No joker or poker cards either?..


.

 

[sargeinaz]

As you can see - no lead tape on this racket, and i never saw lead tape on his rackets

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/kafelnikov-racquet-specs.134041/

This was the thread I was referencing. There’s a cool pic with a bunch of info that I can’t read though.

 

[Kalugin]

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/kafelnikov-racquet-specs.134041/

This was the thread I was referencing. There’s a cool pic with a bunch of info that I can’t read though.

I have read this post and have seen that pic. But more i believe my own eyes and experince. Was following Kafelnikov since 1995, and i dont think that on this planet there are a lot of guys who knew this subject (Career of Yevgeny Kafelnikov) better. Maybe on another planet, why not. Kafelnikov was no 1 on Earth, so potentially could be interesting human being for other childs of Universe. If seriously, never saw lead tape on the hoop of his rackets, or under the bumper guard. Thats the first thing. The second one - i showed you the real racket of Yevgeny Kafelnikov from 1993. By the way, his buttcap grew up with years, back then it wasnt that huge as in XXI century.
Next. On that pic, that you have mentioned, they wrote that strung weight of his racket was 368 grams. Here we have 345. Unstrung and without overgrip. I believe we will get exactly that number - 368.

 

[PistolPete23]

I have read this post and have seen that pic. But more i believe my own eyes and experince. Was following Kafelnikov since 1995, and i dont think that on this planet there are a lot of guys who knew this subject (Career of Yevgeny Kafelnikov) better. Maybe on another planet, why not. Kafelnikov was no 1 on Earth, so potentially could be interesting human being for other childs of Universe. If seriously, never saw lead tape on the hoop of his rackets, or under the bumper guard. Thats the first thing. The second one - i showed you the real racket of Yevgeny Kafelnikov from 1993. By the way, his buttcap grew up with years, back then it wasnt that huge as in XXI century.
Next. On that pic, that you have mentioned, they wrote that strung weight of his racket was 368 grams. Here we have 345. Unstrung and without overgrip. I believe we will get exactly that number - 368.

What is the unstrung weight of the retail version?

 

[Kalugin]

What is the unstrung weight of the retail version?

Fischer produced this mold in two weight versions - 320 and 330 grams. Kafelnikov used the heavier one

 

[PistolPete23]

Fischer produced this mold in two weight versions - 320 and 330 grams. Kafelnikov used the heavier one

So Kafelnikov’s racquet unstrung is 345g, 15g more than the retail spec. If he didn’t use lead tape and the silicone in the handle doesn’t account for all of the extra mass, can one assume that Fischer made a custom frame for him that was heavier?

 

[Kalugin]

Stop, Stop! You was a bit inattentive) On one of the photos you can clearly see silicone in the handle! So Kafelnikov used an ordinary (like Nadal with his APD) Fischer Vaccum Mid Plus / VT Pro 98 / Pro 1 mold in 330 grams version. After that he added silicone in the handle and thats it. Nadal also used (i have his personal racket) an ordinary APD, that was customized with silicone and lead tape under the bumper guard to 340 grams. Kafelnikov customized his ordinary 330 Fischer stick to 368 grams strung.