It is so much work to shop for new racquets and then actually buy them and get them matched and customized and then get used to them. A lot of people just use old stuff because they don't want to go through the process.
Just bought a new set of grommets for my Chicago PS85 on fleabay. I worked Saturdays from August -December 1983 (earning $3.35 an hour) to buy it for 165 dollars from Gibson's Drug store. This was back when a drug store carried everything from air guns to yoyos. I'm so glad I found the grommets as I will never stop using my 38 year old PS85. As Grandville (a play tester from tennis warehouse) said "the PS85 is like going home and kissing an old girlfriend, it never gets old cuz it feels so right".
In the last twenty years rackets haven’t really changed much. Pro Tour 630 and 6.1 are still the most common pro rackets under the paint jobs, and even the pure drive is older than twenty years. I like older rackets and still play with my head Prestige tour 600 from 25 years ago for fun. It’s very comfy actually and I play very well with it. I recently switched to the YY 97H because it’s beautiful and more versatile, especially for serving. But old rackets are great and you are less likely to hurt your arm really.
I'm still playing with a GAMMA tradition 20xl midsize from the 90's. Struggling to find a modern replacement and can't find another duplicate online either. Something about the older rackets I just can't find in today's selection. I'm open to suggestions.
As others in this section have alluded to, there is too much choice for those of us who picked up a racket back in the day. As someone who started with an aluminium racket then a wooden one and then settled down with a Wilson Sting (blue black paint job with PWS), there was just too much decision making 20 years later. To restart my tennis journey, I bought a Head Ti S6 thinking easy power is what the doctor ordered. I could never control that thing. I was so disappointed by it that I went to the other extreme and got myself an RF97 V11. I am finally finding my stroke and able to hit with full power and have balls land in. But wielding that stick over 3 sets is a totally different proposition!
For extreme OLD and near zero elbow shock, pick up a 1980 Prince Woodie Graphite 100 with purported RA 35 from Goodwill or Ebay. I bought an L5 (shaved to L3) for $5, and an L4 for $7. Both Beauties. I had develop some tennis elbow from my graphite players rackets with RA 56 and 62 (soft and medium flex, latter the likely cause!). Now I've been playing with the Woodie to allow the elbow to heal, and once warmed up sometimes switch one of my players racquets. You'll need to string these tightly. (1) Gamma TNT2 React Pro 17 @55#, tests 49.6#@3 months; (2) Gamma Live Wire XP 17 @60#, tests 46#@2 months. Next time I'll restring (2) with XP 17 @65#, since the multi-filament loses more tension and initially played really well. Might someday restraint (1) to 60# with React Pro 17, or 70# with XP17 -- the racquet absorbs shock with great feel. Tighter for control. I turned 75 in summer, and you can see the Woodie can compete quite well among retirees, shown here for serving, my best shot. th-cam.com/video/0GaEP5X-dLs/w-d-xo.html
Another Woodie play demo with a friend. The racquet has great touch, yet power if you stroke the 13 oz beast. All my players racquets are 12.2 oz strung, so just a little more! th-cam.com/video/2FzlskjkRDQ/w-d-xo.html
I picked one up and its a tank. Nothing like it today. I am a fan and previous user of the POG 107 as well. The woodie was heavier than that and I could not believe how nice it felt.
@@vsaminat it is! A very unusual racquet to play with, for me anyways. My choice of racquets were the Prince Ozone series which are far different. Nowadays the pro staff suits me.
@@Jordan-ws6jy I play with the Wilson Pro staff RF97 v11 (blacked out version). I like it except for the feeling of hitting with a 2x4 when I make good contact. I think it has something to do with my string setup (Wilson control duo). Also fatigue creeps up on you when you're playing sets
@Sylas , as a 6.1 95 user myself, you should look into the new Wilson Pro labs 6.1 95 18x20. It has the same specs but the latest version has the softest flex (63 RA, strung) out of all 6.1 generations and a thinner beam of 21.6 mm. I would also love to hear about the people who also got the 6.1 95 v13 and their thoughts on it? thanks.
I still play with my Titanium/Graphite Prince Thundercloud 110 with a built in vibration dampener in the handle. Although I did just pick me up two Prince Textreme Tour 100 (290) to us after I heal up from surgery.
You said that it is a different story for rackets 20+ yo. I played long time ago with Wilson Pro Staff Hyper Carbon 5.0 (i think it was late 90s early 00 model). At that time I was 14 year old and it was ok. After 20 years brake, I started playing tennis again. After a few months I have pain in the elbow (not critical). The racket itself is very heavy (360 grams with grip and strings) and feels really stiff. I love the power it gives, but most probably need to change to something modern. Is current pro staff will be more elbow-friendly than the old one? Or what can you suggest? Thank you!
Getting ready to string up an original Davis Topspin diagonal string pattern I bought off ebay. Old school but so am I, should be fun. My go to rackets are the Yonex Vcore pro 330 gram and a Ezone tour. I like to mix them all up. Does it hurt, yeah they all hurt and everything hurts when you are over 50 but can hit a 130 mph serve.
Hello! But I heared an old frame is dead after so many years playing, even not played at all if always on tension (strung) throughout the years. 》Is that true? 》might a dead frame harm my ellbow? I ve been playing my loved Head LM Radicals for 15 years and love that feeling smoother than any racket among the graphene series. but still got a golf arm which has become better but hasnt gone away, though exercising.I use armfriendly strings, multis and a soft poly (Head Sonic Pro, string it soft at 23/23 and change it 5x a year)
I played with the K90 for a few years. The main reason that I disliked it so much as I had two of them and they felt like totally different racquets. I later found out about Wilson Quality Control.
@@transamination I have an RF-97 but have played with 95s since 2010 and the RF-97 does feel a little bigger. It may be partially due to a larger sweetspot that the string pattern helps with but it definitely feels a little more forgiving than my 95s. It is hard to see the difference if you place a 95 over a 97.
The old standard is, “How many times do you play in a month?” For instance, if you play 1x a week, that’s 4x a month, so restring at least every three months (4x a year) If you play a lot you will break your multi strings before they need to be replaced. Polys are a little different. They are more difficult to break, and they will often “bag-out” before they pop. Warning signs are loss of control, strings no longer snapping back into position, etc.
@@villiam7941 Sure, you can actually look up the stiffness rating on your particular racquet. I have a couple stiff racquets and I string them with soft poly or soft synthetic like prince lightening to lessen the shock on my arm. Multifibers are also more likely to be kind to a sensitive arm.
@@villiam7941 Technique or high string tension or stiff racquets are often common variables for tennis elbow. Also, check your grip size. A inadequate grip size can be a pain on the elbow. If you currently have a poly string. You might want to try a softer string like prince lightening or synthetic guts or multifiber strings. Even the soft poly strings are stiffer than synthetic or multifiber strings.
I have a 1970s dunlop still playing with it can't afford a new one. The head is extremely small. Can't figure out the size because i can't find the specs online
It is so much work to shop for new racquets and then actually buy them and get them matched and customized and then get used to them. A lot of people just use old stuff because they don't want to go through the process.
Just bought a new set of grommets for my Chicago PS85 on fleabay. I worked Saturdays from August -December 1983 (earning $3.35 an hour) to buy it for 165 dollars from Gibson's Drug store. This was back when a drug store carried everything from air guns to yoyos. I'm so glad I found the grommets as I will never stop using my 38 year old PS85. As Grandville (a play tester from tennis warehouse) said "the PS85 is like going home and kissing an old girlfriend, it never gets old cuz it feels so right".
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. Great video and great advice :)
In the last twenty years rackets haven’t really changed much. Pro Tour 630 and 6.1 are still the most common pro rackets under the paint jobs, and even the pure drive is older than twenty years.
I like older rackets and still play with my head Prestige tour 600 from 25 years ago for fun. It’s very comfy actually and I play very well with it.
I recently switched to the YY 97H because it’s beautiful and more versatile, especially for serving. But old rackets are great and you are less likely to hurt your arm really.
I still use a Jack Cramer wood with blue spiral string. When they invent something better i'll switch.
I'm still playing with a GAMMA tradition 20xl midsize from the 90's. Struggling to find a modern replacement and can't find another duplicate online either. Something about the older rackets I just can't find in today's selection. I'm open to suggestions.
As others in this section have alluded to, there is too much choice for those of us who picked up a racket back in the day. As someone who started with an aluminium racket then a wooden one and then settled down with a Wilson Sting (blue black paint job with PWS), there was just too much decision making 20 years later. To restart my tennis journey, I bought a Head Ti S6 thinking easy power is what the doctor ordered. I could never control that thing. I was so disappointed by it that I went to the other extreme and got myself an RF97 V11. I am finally finding my stroke and able to hit with full power and have balls land in. But wielding that stick over 3 sets is a totally different proposition!
Good move.
Ha! The v11 is lighter than the Sting. Happy swinging.
For extreme OLD and near zero elbow shock, pick up a 1980 Prince Woodie Graphite 100 with purported RA 35 from Goodwill or Ebay. I bought an L5 (shaved to L3) for $5, and an L4 for $7. Both Beauties. I had develop some tennis elbow from my graphite players rackets with RA 56 and 62 (soft and medium flex, latter the likely cause!). Now I've been playing with the Woodie to allow the elbow to heal, and once warmed up sometimes switch one of my players racquets. You'll need to string these tightly. (1) Gamma TNT2 React Pro 17 @55#, tests 49.6#@3 months; (2) Gamma Live Wire XP 17 @60#, tests 46#@2 months. Next time I'll restring (2) with XP 17 @65#, since the multi-filament loses more tension and initially played really well. Might someday restraint (1) to 60# with React Pro 17, or 70# with XP17 -- the racquet absorbs shock with great feel. Tighter for control. I turned 75 in summer, and you can see the Woodie can compete quite well among retirees, shown here for serving, my best shot. th-cam.com/video/0GaEP5X-dLs/w-d-xo.html
Another Woodie play demo with a friend. The racquet has great touch, yet power if you stroke the 13 oz beast. All my players racquets are 12.2 oz strung, so just a little more! th-cam.com/video/2FzlskjkRDQ/w-d-xo.html
If you pre-stretch or double-pull your multi strings to get some of the creep out, you'll get much better tension maintenance.
I picked one up and its a tank. Nothing like it today. I am a fan and previous user of the POG 107 as well. The woodie was heavier than that and I could not believe how nice it felt.
Wow talk about timing! I just gripped an old Wilson Sting that I was considering testing at training today. I usually use a pro staff.
Is it the mid 85 with PWS? That was my stick back in high school
@@vsaminat it is! A very unusual racquet to play with, for me anyways. My choice of racquets were the Prince Ozone series which are far different. Nowadays the pro staff suits me.
@@Jordan-ws6jy I play with the Wilson Pro staff RF97 v11 (blacked out version). I like it except for the feeling of hitting with a 2x4 when I make good contact. I think it has something to do with my string setup (Wilson control duo). Also fatigue creeps up on you when you're playing sets
@Sylas , as a 6.1 95 user myself, you should look into the new Wilson Pro labs 6.1 95 18x20. It has the same specs but the latest version has the softest flex (63 RA, strung) out of all 6.1 generations and a thinner beam of 21.6 mm. I would also love to hear about the people who also got the 6.1 95 v13 and their thoughts on it? thanks.
Will look into this. So the racquet is called Wilson Pro 6.1 95 is it? Can you share a link to it if possible?
I still play with my Titanium/Graphite Prince Thundercloud 110 with a built in vibration dampener in the handle. Although I did just pick me up two Prince Textreme Tour 100 (290) to us after I heal up from surgery.
You said that it is a different story for rackets 20+ yo. I played long time ago with Wilson Pro Staff Hyper Carbon 5.0 (i think it was late 90s early 00 model). At that time I was 14 year old and it was ok. After 20 years brake, I started playing tennis again. After a few months I have pain in the elbow (not critical). The racket itself is very heavy (360 grams with grip and strings) and feels really stiff. I love the power it gives, but most probably need to change to something modern. Is current pro staff will be more elbow-friendly than the old one? Or what can you suggest? Thank you!
Getting ready to string up an original Davis Topspin diagonal string pattern I bought off ebay. Old school but so am I, should be fun. My go to rackets are the Yonex Vcore pro 330 gram and a Ezone tour. I like to mix them all up. Does it hurt, yeah they all hurt and everything hurts when you are over 50 but can hit a 130 mph serve.
rog never played with a 6.1 95 but these are solid player sticks. n95 and k95 were 🔥
Hello! But I heared an old frame is dead after so many years playing, even not played at all if always on tension (strung) throughout the years.
》Is that true?
》might a dead frame harm my ellbow?
I ve been playing my loved Head LM Radicals for 15 years and love that feeling smoother than any racket among the graphene series. but still got a golf arm which has become better but hasnt gone away, though exercising.I use armfriendly strings, multis and a soft poly (Head Sonic Pro, string it soft at 23/23 and change it 5x a year)
@@Hurry19671 a racquet will become more flexible after many restrings over years,
Just a quick point: Federer never played with a 95 racket. He played with the 90 version and even then it was probably just the paintjob.
I played with the K90 for a few years. The main reason that I disliked it so much as I had two of them and they felt like totally different racquets. I later found out about Wilson Quality Control.
Plays with a 95 now though (his 97 is basically 95).
@@transamination I have an RF-97 but have played with 95s since 2010 and the RF-97 does feel a little bigger. It may be partially due to a larger sweetspot that the string pattern helps with but it definitely feels a little more forgiving than my 95s. It is hard to see the difference if you place a 95 over a 97.
I think it depends on the condition of the racket. I find that a grip size too small or too big and playing with flat balls will hurt the arm.
How often should we restring the racket if using mutifilliment? How about poly? Thanks in advance
The old standard is, “How many times do you play in a month?” For instance, if you play 1x a week, that’s 4x a month, so restring at least every three months (4x a year)
If you play a lot you will break your multi strings before they need to be replaced. Polys are a little different. They are more difficult to break, and they will often “bag-out” before they pop. Warning signs are loss of control, strings no longer snapping back into position, etc.
If you string your poly at low tension (less than 50 lbs), you can leave it in till it breaks.
If it plays good, play it until it pops. If it is to sloppy and you lose control and/or games, change it.
Tell that to my pro tour 630 muahaha
Very good advice
Good video! Thanks
What does two by four means?
Stiff!
@@bowsershark thank you!
@@villiam7941
Sure, you can actually look up the stiffness rating on your particular racquet. I have a couple stiff racquets and I string them with soft poly or soft synthetic like prince lightening to lessen the shock on my arm. Multifibers are also more likely to be kind to a sensitive arm.
@@bowsershark thanks so much. I play with Blade 98 v7 and it’s soft. I like it and consider trying soft poly. Something like Rpm Soft or Element.
@@villiam7941
Technique or high string tension or stiff racquets are often common variables for tennis elbow. Also, check your grip size. A inadequate grip size can be a pain on the elbow. If you currently have a poly string. You might want to try a softer string like prince lightening or synthetic guts or multifiber strings. Even the soft poly strings are stiffer than synthetic or multifiber strings.
Fed used a 6.1 95? Pretty sure he used the kfactor six one 90 tour
I have a 1970s dunlop still playing with it can't afford a new one. The head is extremely small. Can't figure out the size because i can't find the specs online
i own a dunlop power series master is it similar?
Roger never used a 6.1 95......
Yep mardy fish, delpo, and others. Fed used the 90 tour.
Why would it ? Stupid question.
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